Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2022, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (5): 438-463.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.1.19

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Petrogenesis of Early Cretaceous Qibaoshan alkaline intrusive rocks in the Wulian area and its geological significance

LI Xiaowei1,2(), SHAN Wei2, YU Xuefeng2, LI Dapeng2, XIE Yuanhui1, ZHANG Guokun1, CHI Naijie2, WANG Wenlu1, ZHANG Yan1,2, LI Zengsheng2, MA Xiangxian2   

  1. 1. Research Center of Genetic Mineralogy, School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
    2. MNR Key Laboratory of Gold Mineralization Processes and Resources Utilization/Shandong Key Laboratory of Mineralization Geological Processes and Resources Utilization in Metallic Minerals, Shandong Institute of Geological Sciences, Jinan 250013, China
  • Received:2021-05-06 Revised:2021-10-22 Online:2022-09-25 Published:2022-08-24

Abstract:

Located in the central part of the volcanic edifice, the Qibaoshan alkaline intermediate-mafic intrusive pluton is characterized by high Ba-Sr contents, high Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf ratios, and low Ti/Eu ratio. Previous studies indicate this pluton originates from an enriched metasomatized mantle source; however, its dynamic processes—reflected by the changes in its lithology and geochemical composition—are not yet clear. Here, through detailed mineralogical and whole-rock geochemical analyses, we identified the Qibaoshan alkaline intrusive rocks are of both sodic and potassic series. These alkaline intrusive rocks display enrichments in total alkalis, light rare earth element (LREE), and large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) (e.g., Ba and Sr), as well as high (La/Yb)N and (Gd/Yb)N values. Two types of clinopyroxenes/plagioclases are identified; and they, as antecrysts, record multiple batches of magmas/melts during the formation of these alkaline intrusive rocks. Combined with previously published data, we propose that the source region of the Qibaoshan alkaline intrusive rocks is of enriched mantle metasomatized by sediments, and contains phlogopite and amphibole veins. Concurrent partial melting of these veins and ambient mantle peridotites produced primitive alkaline melts. The high Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf ratios, low Ti/Eu ratio, as well as negative Ti* and Hf* anomalies in the primitive mantle-normalized trace element patterns collectively indicate significant contribution by carbonatite melt to forming the Qibaoshan alkaline rocks. The presence of both sodic and potassic series points to the pivotal roles different dominating buffering minerals (amphibole vs. phlogopite) play in the mantle source. In addition, the potassic series exhibit abnormally high Rb-Zr-Hf-U contents, probably reflecting an upward transport of zircon melts—formed from dissolution of hydrothermal zircons—to the magma reservoir during the partial melting in the source region. This study highlights the significant contribution by carbonate melts in the formation of high Nb/Ta alkaline intermediate-mafic rocks, and also emphasizes the addition of dissolved hydrothermal zircons to form high Zr-Hf-U alkaline magmas.

Key words: alkaline intrusive rocks, carbonatite metasomatism, high Ba-Sr, the Qibaoshan area in Shandong

CLC Number: