Identifying crystal accumulation and melt extraction during formation of high-silica granite

Lu T, He ZY, Klemd R (2022)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Book Volume: 50

Pages Range: 216-221

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1130/G49434.1

Abstract

High-silica (>70 wt% SiO2) magmas are usually believed to form via shallow crustal-level fractional crystallization of intermediate magmas. However, the broad applicability of this model is controversial, because the required crystal-melt separation processes have rarely been documented globally up to now. The ca. 50 Ma Nyemo composite pluton of the Gangdese batholith belt in southern Tibet, which comprises intrusive rocks with intermediate-to high-silica compositions (65-78 wt%), offers a unique opportunity for substantiating the coexistence of extracted melts and complementary silicic cumulates in one of Earth's most complete transcrustal silicic magmatic systems. The Nyemo pluton intrusive rocks exhibit similar zircon Hf isotopic compositional ranges (mean epsilon(Hf(t)) = +5.7 to +8.3), suggesting a common, non-radiogenic magma source with crustal assimilation in the deep crust. Yet, these rocks have distinct geochemical characteristics. High-silica miarolitic and rapakivi granites are strongly depleted in Ba, Sr, and Eu, and their zircon trace elements show extremely low Eu/Eu* and Dy/Yb. In contrast, monzogranite is relatively enriched in Ba and Sr with minor Eu anomalies, and the zircon trace elements are characterized by relatively high Eu/Eu* and Dy/Yb. Therefore, we propose that the high-silica granites represent highly fractionated melt extracted from a mush reservoir at unusually low storage pressure (similar to 99-119 MPa), and that the monzogranite constitutes the complementary residual silicic cumulates.

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APA:

Lu, T., He, Z.-Y., & Klemd, R. (2022). Identifying crystal accumulation and melt extraction during formation of high-silica granite. Geology, 50(2), 216-221. https://doi.org/10.1130/G49434.1

MLA:

Lu, Tianyu, Zhen-Yu He, and Reiner Klemd. "Identifying crystal accumulation and melt extraction during formation of high-silica granite." Geology 50.2 (2022): 216-221.

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