ISSN:
1432-0967
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
Notes:
Abstract Incipient charnockite formation at Kurunegala in Sri Lanka is characterized by the growth of orthopyroxene at the expense of amphibole and biotite in an originally homogeneous gneiss. Mineral equilibria in the charnockite assemblage record pressure-temperature (P-T) conditions of 738±60° C and 6.9±1.2 kbar at-17.0±1.2 log fO2 and aH2O=0.18±0.16. Wholerock trace-element and isotopic measurements show that charnockite formation was accompanied by a systematic depletion of Sm〉Rb〉Pb〉U〉Sr〉Nd, with a fractionation of Rb/Sr, Sm/Nd and Th/U ratios, and crystallization of the charnockite assemblage at 535±5 Ma. Major element (Fe−Mg−Ca) and Sm−Nd equilibration between minerals occurred at 524±9 Ma, whereas, Pb and Rb−Sr underwent continued exchange to 501±5 Ma and 486±1 Ma, respectively. Trace-element data for both amphibolite and charnockite minerals show that depletion on a whole-rock scale can be accounted for either by changes in mineral modes or trace-element abundances, within the immediate area of dehydration. The fractionation of Sm/Nd on a whole-rock scale is controlled by the breakdown of amphibole, without the growth of a major new host-phase for Sm in the charnockite. Rubidium and Sr are dependent on the relative behaviour of biotite, plagioclase and alkali-feldspar. Modelling of dehydration-melting involving the breakdown of amphibole, biotite, and alkali-feldspar reproduces the observed Sm/Nd and Rb/Sr fractionation, and indicates the loss of small melt fractions, on a cm scale, from the charnockite. These observations suggest that partial melting is the most plausible means of effecting both the dehydration and depletion that accompanies charnockite formation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00306409
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