Publication Date:
2016-03-02
Description:
Textural and compositional variations of apatite from rift-related gabbros, syenogabbros, syenites, quartz-syenites, and nepheline syenites of the Mid-Proterozoic Gardar Province (South Greenland) are presented and compared to apatite compositions from other rock suites. The observed zoning textures of apatite are interpreted to represent (1) primary growth zonation (concentric and oscillatory) that formed during magmatic differentiation and (2) secondary irregular overgrowths, patchy zonation, and resorption textures, assigned to metasomatic overprinting due to interaction with fluids/melts and intra-crystalline diffusion. Compositional variation in the apatites is mainly due to coupled substitutions of Ca and P by variable amounts of Si, Na, and REE, which show increasing concentrations during magmatic differentiation. Furthermore, F concentrations in apatites increase from gabbroic through syenogabbroic to syenitic rocks, whereas Cl concentrations show the opposite trend. Compared to apatite compositions from gabbroic, dioritic, and granitic rocks in general, apatites from alkaline rock suites are characterized by exceptionally high contents of REE and Si and in some alkaline rocks they attain Sr contents comparable to those reported from carbonatites. Typical low Mn and S contents are probably a result of low oxygen fugacity during crystallization at relatively high temperatures.
Print ISSN:
0003-004X
Electronic ISSN:
1945-3027
Topics:
Geosciences
