Geochemistry, origin and anatexis temperature of monzogranite formation in Mount Khalaj (Mashhad, Iran)

زمین شناسی اقتصادی

Volume 13, Issue 1 - Serial Number 28, 2021, Pages 145-164   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/econg.v13i1.84933

Authors

Ramin Samadi¹; Ghodrat Torabi^{* 1}; Hassan Mirnejad²

¹Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

²Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Granitoids are the main rock units in the continental crust. Study of granitoids reveals significant information on tectonic mantle and upper crust. Many researchers have investigated petrogenesis and origin of granitoids (e.g., Chappell and White, 2001; Barbarin, 1999; Frost et al., 2001). For example, Chappell and White (1992), Pitcher (1993) and Chappell et al., (1998) have divided granites into two major groups of: (1) I-type granites (high-temperature or Cordellerian granitoids, including low-K granitoid to high-Ca tonalite, without inherited zircons) formed by partial melting of mafic rocks at >1000 ℃ in mantle or subduction zones of continental margins, and (2) S-type (low-temperature or Caledonian granitoids with inherited zircons) granites formed by partial melting of felsic crust at ~700-800 ℃. Northeast of Iran is a key location for studying the Cimmerian Orogeny, which is related to the Late Triassic collision between it and Eurasia, and the closure of the Paleo-Tethys (Samadi et al., 2014). Mesozoic Mashhad granitoids have cropped out along with the Paleo-Tethys suture zone. Distinct granitoid suites, i.e., monzogranite, granodiorite, tonalite, and diorite occur in Mount Khalaj located in the south of Mashhad. It comprises of monzogranite and granodiorite. However, monzogranite is the most abundant. To study the plutonic events during the Turan and Central Iran collision, the origin and tectonic setting of monzogranite of Mount Khalaj are investigated in this study based on whole rock geochemical data.
 
Materials and methods
This research study is based on field studies and petrography. Fresh thin sections samples were selected for geochemical analysis. Whole rock composition was measured on pressed powder tablets by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) using a Philips PW 1480 wavelength dispersive spectrometer with a Rh-anode X-ray tube and a 3 MeV electron beam Van de Graaff Accelerator, at the center for Geological Survey of Iran. The trace element data of a sample was measured at the Activation Laboratories, Ontario, Canada (ActLabs). Samples were digested by lithium metaborate/tetraborate fusion and analyzed with a Perkin Elmer Sciex ELAN 6000, 6100 or 9000 ICP/MS. GCDkit 4.1 and CorelDraw software packages were used for plotting diagrams and calculation of saturation temperatures.
 
Results
The Khalaj granitoid is mineralogically composed of quartz, potassic feldspar, plagioclase, mica, and accessory minerals of zircon and apatite. Geochemically, it is an unaltered acidic intrusion with ~72-73 wt.% SiO₂. It is a granitoid (monzogranite) based on various classification diagrams (e.g., Cox et al., 1979; etc.). It shows the peraluminous nature (A/CNK~ 1.08-1.24) with negative Eu anomaly of ~0.62-0.73 (Eu/Eu*<1), low HREE and high LREE and LILE contents.
 
Discussion
Geochemically, the low HREE and high LREE and LILE content in the Mount Khalaj monzogranite indicate a more differentiated melt for it. Monzogranite samples from the Khalaj-Khajeh Morad regions are similar to ferroan alkali-calcic, felsic peraluminous S-type granitoids based on discrimination diagrams by various researchers (e.g., Chappell and White, 2001; Villaseca et al., 1998). In fact, the Mount Khalaj monzogranite is a collisional granite (based on diagrams by: Batchelor and Bowden, 1985; Sahin et al., 2004), produced by anatexis and partial melting of felsic upper crust pelitic sediments (based on diagrams by: Almeida et al., 2007; Patiño Douce, 1999). It is classified as a low-temperature S-type granite formed at 730-800 ℃ (based on the diagram of Rapp and Watson, 1995), with T_Zr of ~732-745 ℃ (by using GCDKit software). Therefore, S-type syn- to post-collisional Mount Khalaj monzogranite is a consequence of partial melting (anatexis) of hydrous sedimentary rocks of upper crust after Paleo-Tethys subduction under Turan plate and continental collision and compressional tectonism.
 
References
Almeida, M.E., Macambira, M.J.B. and Oliveira, E.C., 2007. Geochemistry and zircon geochronology of the I-type high-K calc-alkaline and S-type granitoid rocks from southeastern Roraima, Brazil: Orosirian collisional magmatism evidence (1.97-1.96 Ga) in central portion of Guyana Shield. Precambrian Research, 155(1–2): 69–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2007.01.004
Barbarin, B., 1999. A review of the relationships between granitoid types, their origin and their geodynamic environments. Lithos, 46(3): 605–626. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-4937(98)00085-1
Batchelor, R.A. and Bowden, P., 1985. Petrogenetic interpretation of granitoid rocks series using multicationic parameters. Chemical Geology, 48(1–4): 43–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(85)90034-8
Chappell, B.W. and White, A.J.R. 2001. Two contrasting granite types: 25 years later. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 48: 489–499. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-0952.2001.00882.x
Chappell, B.W. and White, A.J.R., 1992. I- and S-type granites in the Lachlan fold belt. Earth and Envioronmental Sciennce Transactions of The Royal Society Edinburgh, 83(1–2): 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263593300007720
Chappell, B.W., Bryant, C.J., Wyborn, D., White, A.J.R. and Williams, I.S., 1998. High- and low-temperature I-type granites. Resource Geology, 48(4): 225–236. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-3928.1998.tb00020.x
Cox, K.G., Bell, J.S. and Pankhurst, R.J., 1979. The interpretation of igneous rocks. Allen and Unwin, London, 450 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3373-1
Frost, B.R., Barnes, C.G., Collins, W.J., Arculus, S.R.J., Ellis, D.J. and Frost, C.D., 2001. A geochemical classification for granitic rocks. Journal of Petrology, 42(11): 2033–2048. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/42.11.2033
Patiño Douce, A.E., 1999. What do experiments tell us about the relative contributions of crust and mantle to the origins of granitic magmas? Geological Society, London, Special Publication, 168: 55–75. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1999.168.01.05
Pitcher, W.A.S., 1993. The nature and origin of granite. Chapman and Hall, London, 321 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5832-9
Rapp, R.P. and Watson, E.B., 1995. Dehydration melting of metabasalt at 8–32 kbar: Implications for continental growth and crust-mantle recycling. Journal of Petrology, 36(4): 891–931. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/36.4.891
Sahin, S.Y., Güngör, Y. and Boztuğ, D., 2004. Comparative petrogenetic investigation of Composite Kaçkar Batholith granitoids in Eastern Pontide magmatic arc-Northern Turkey. Earth, Planet and Space, 56(4): 429–446. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352496
Samadi, R., Mirnejad, H., Kawabata, H., Valizadeh, M.V., Harris, C. and Gazel, E., 2014. Magmatic garnet in the Triassic (215 Ma) Dehnow pluton of NE Iran and its petrogenetic significance. International Geology Review, 56(5): 596–621. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2014.880659
Villaseca, C., Barbero, L. and Herreros, V., 1998. A re-examination of the typology of peraluminous granite types in intracontinental orogenic belts. Earth and Envioronmental Sciennce Transactions of The Royal Society Edinburgh, 89(2): 113–119. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263593300007045

Keywords

Petrography; geochemistry; monzogranite; Mesozoic; Khalaj; Mashhad

References

Alderton, D.H.M., Pearce, J.A. and Potts, J., 1980. Rare earth element mobility during granite alteration: Evidence from southwest England. Earth and planetary Science Letters, 49(1): 149–165.  https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(80)90157-0

Almeida, M.E., Macambira, M.J.B. and Oliveira, E.C., 2007. Geochemistry and zircon geochronology of the I-type high-K calc-alkaline and S-type granitoid rocks from southeastern Roraima, Brazil: Orosirian collisional magmatism evidence (1.97-1.96 Ga) in central portion of Guyana Shield. Precambrian Research, 155(1–2): 69–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2007.01.004

Barbarin, B., 1999. A review of the relationships between granitoid types, their origin and their geodynamic environments. Lithos, 46(3): 605–626. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-4937(98)00085-1

Batchelor, R.A. and Bowden, P., 1985. Petrogenetic interpretation of granitoid rocks series using multicationic parameters. Chemical Geology, 48(1–4): 43–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(85)90034-8

Chappell, B.W., Bryant, C.J. and Wyborn, D., 2012. Peraluminous I-type granites. Lithos, 153: 142–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2012.07.008

Chappell, B.W., Bryant, C.J., Wyborn, D., White, A.J.R. and Williams, I.S., 1998. High- and low-temperature I-type granites. Resource Geology, 48(4): 225–236. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-3928.1998.tb00020.x

Chappell, B.W. and White, A.J.R. 2001. Two contrasting granite types: 25 years later. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 48: 489–499. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-0952.2001.00882.x

Chappell, B.W. and White, A.J.R., 1984. I- and S-type granites in the Lachlan fold belt, southeastern Australia. In: X. Keqin and T. Guangchi (Editors), Geology of granites and their metallogenic relations, Science Press, Beijing, pp. 87–101. Retrieved July 11, 2019 from http;//www.jstor.org/stable/37315

Chappell, B.W. and White, A.J.R., 1992. I- and S-type granites in the Lachlan fold belt. Earth and Envioronmental Sciennce Transactions of The Royal Society Edinburgh, 83(1–2): 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263593300007720

Clarke, D.B., 1992. Granitoid rocks. Chapman and Hall, London, 283 pp.

Clemens, J.D. and Stevens, G., 2012. What controls chemical variation in granitic magmas? Lithos, 134–135: 317–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2012.01.001

Cox, K.G., Bell, J.S. and Pankhurst, R.J., 1979. The interpretation of igneous rocks. Allen and Unwin, London, 450 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3373-1

El-Kammar, A.M., Salman, A.E., Shalaby, M.H. and Mahdy, A.I., 2001. Geochemical and genetical constraints on rare metals mineralization at the central Eastern Desert of Egypt, Geochemical Journal, 35(2): 117–135. https://doi.org/10.2343/geochemj.35.117

Frost, B.R., Barnes, C.G., Collins, W.J., Arculus, S.R.J., Ellis, D.J. and Frost, C.D., 2001. A geochemical classification for granitic rocks. Journal of Petrology, 42(11): 2033–2048. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/42.11.2033

Gill, R., 2010. Igneous rocks and processes. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, USA 428 pp. Retrieved July 11, 2019 from https://www.wiley.com/en-gb/Igneous+Rocks+and+Processes%3A+A+Practical+Guide-p-9781444362435

Henderson, P. 1984. Rare earth element geochemistry. Elsevier, New York, USA, 510 pp. Retrieved July 11, 2019 from https://www.elsevier.com/books/rare-earth-element-geochemistry/henderson/978-0-444-42148-7

Hughes, C.J., 1973. Spilites, keratophyres, and the igneous spectrum. Geological Magazine, 109(6): 513–527. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756800042795

Jazi, M.‌A., Karimpour, M.H. and Malekzadeh Shafaroudi, A., 2012. Overview of the geochemistry and Rb/Sr, Sm/Nd isotopes of Middle Jurassic and Tertiary granitoid intrusions: a new insight on tectono-magmatism and mineralization of this period in Iran. Journal of Economic Geology, 4(2): 171–198. (in Persian with English abstract) https://doi.org/10.22067/econg.v4i2.16489

Jung, S. and Pfänder, J.A., 2007. Source composition and melting temperatures of orogenic granitoids: constraints from CaO/Na₂O, Al₂O₃/TiO₂ and accessory mineral saturation thermometry. European Journal of Mineralogy, 19(6): 859–870. https://doi.org/10.1127/0935-1221/2007/0019-1774

Karimpour, M.H., Malekzadeh Shafaroudi, A. and Saadat, S., 2014. Mineralogy, geochemistry, genesis, and industrial application of silica in Arefi area, south of Mashhad. Journal of Economic Geology, 6(2): 259–276. (in Persian with English abstract) https://doi.org/10.22067/econg.v6i2.34264

Karimpour, M.H., Stern, C.R. and Farmer, L., 2010. Zircon U-Pb geochronology, Sr-Nd isotope analyses, and petrogenetic study of the Dehnow quartz diorite and Kuhsangi granodiorite (Paleo-Tethys), NE Iran. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 37(4): 384–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2009.11.001

Karsli, O., Dokuz, A., Uysal, I., Aydin, F., Kandemir, R. and Wijbrans, R.J., 2010. Generation of the Early Cenozoic adakitic volcanism by partial melting of mafic lower crust, Eastern Turkey: Implications for crustal thickening to delamination. Lithos, 114(1–2): 109–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2009.08.003

Koepke, J., Berndt, J., Feig, S.T. and Holtz, F., 2007. The formation of SiO₂-rich melts within the deep oceanic crust by hydrous partial melting of gabbros. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 153(1): 67–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-006-0135-y

Le Maitre, R.W. 1976, The chemical variability of some common igneous rocks. Journal of Petrology, 17(4): 589–637. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/17.4.589

Maniar, P.D. and Piccoli, P.M., 1989. Tectonic discrimination of granitoids. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 101(5): 635–643. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1989)101<0635:TDOG>2.3.CO;2

McDonough, W.F. and Sun, S.S., 1995. Composition of the Earth. Chemical Geology, 120(3–4): 223–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(94)00140-4

Miller, C.F., McDowell, S.M. and Mapes, R.W., 2003. Hot and cold granites? Implications of zircon saturation temperatures and preservation of inheritance. Geology, 31(6): 529–532. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0529:HACGIO>2.0.CO;2

Mirnejad, H., Lalonde, A.E., Obeid, M. and Hassanzadeh, J., 2013. Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Mashhad granitoids: An insight into the geodynamic history of the Paleo-Tethys in northeast of Iran. Lithos, 170–171: 105–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2013.03.003

Natalin, B.A. and Sengör, A.M.C., 2005. Late Paleozoic to Triassic evolution of the Turan and Scythian platforms: The pre-history of the Palaeo-Tethyan closure. Tectonophysics, 404(3–4): 175–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2005.04.011

Patiño Douce, A.E., 1999. What do experiments tell us about the relative contributions of crust and mantle to the origins of granitic magmas? Geological Society, London, Special Publication, 168: 55–75. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1999.168.01.05

Pearce, J.A., Harris, N.B.W. and Tindle, A.G., 1984. Trace element discrimination diagrams for the tectonic interpretation of granitic rocks. Journal of Petrology, 25: 956–983. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/25.4.956

Peccerillo, A. and Taylor, S.R., 1976. Geochemistry of Eocene calcalkaline volcanic rocks from Kastamonu area, northern Turkey. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 58(1): 63–81. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384745

Pitcher, W.A.S., 1993. The nature and origin of granite. Chapman and Hall, London, 321 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5832-9

Rapp, R.P. and Watson, E.B., 1995. Dehydration melting of metabasalt at 8–32 kbar: Implications for continental growth and crust-mantle recycling. Journal of Petrology, 36(4): 891–931. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/36.4.891

Rollinson, H., 1993. Using Geochemical Data: evaluation, presentation, interpretation, Longman Group UK Ltd., London, United Kingdom, 352 pp.

Sahin, S.Y., Güngör, Y. and Boztuğ, D., 2004. Comparative petrogenetic investigation of Composite Kaçkar Batholith granitoids in Eastern Pontide magmatic arc-Northern Turkey. Earth, Planet and Space, 56(4): 429–446. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352496

Samadi, R., 2013. Chemistry and origin of garnet in the granitoids and metamorphic rocks in the south of Mashhad (Khajeh-Morad, Khalaj and Dehnow). Ph.D. Thesis, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, 398 pp. (in Persian with English Abstract) Retrieved July 11, 2019 from https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir/#/articles/8da0469754e7f65b5428493a1ed92e2c

Samadi, R., Mirnejad, H., Kawabata, H., Valizadeh, M.V., Harris, C. and Gazel, E., 2014. Magmatic garnet in the Triassic (215 Ma) Dehnow pluton of NE Iran and its petrogenetic significance. International Geology Review, 56(5): 596–621. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2014.880659

Samadi, R., Shirdashtzadeh, N. and Kawabata, H., 2015. Petrography and petrogenesis of aplite-pegmatite dykes and granitoids of Khajeh Morad (SE Mashhad, Iran). Scientific Quaterly Journal, Geosciences, 25(97): 49–60. (in Persian with English abstract) http://dx.doi.org/10.22071/gsj.2015.41351

Shikazono, N., 2003. Geochemical and Tectonic Evolution of Arc-Backarc Hydrothermal Systems: Implication for the Origin of Kuroko and Epithermal Vein-Type Mineralizations and the Global Geochemical Cycle. Elsevior, Amestrdam, 463 pp. Retrieved July 11, 2019 from https://www.sciencedirect.com/bookseries/developments-in-geochemistry/vol/8/suppl/C

Soltani, A., 2000. Geochemistry and geochronology of I type granitoid rocks in the northeastern Central Iran. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia, 300 pp. Retrieved July 11, 2019 from https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2970&context=theses

Streckeisen, A.L. and Le Maitre, R.W., 1979. Chemical approximation to the modal QAPF classification of the igneous rocks. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen, 136: 169–206. Retrieved July 11, 2019 from http://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/bitstream/2445/172864/1/704879.pdf

 

Sylvester, J., 1998. Post-collisional strongly peraluminous granites. Lithos, 45(1–4): 29–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-4937(98)00024-3

Taheri, J. and Ghaemi, F., 1994. Geological sheet map of Mashhad, 1:100000 scale. Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration of Iran, Tehran.

Taylor, S.R. and McLennan, S.M., 1981. The composition and evolution of the continental crust: Rare earth element evidence from sedimentary rocks. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, A301: 381–399. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.1981.0119

Taylor, S.R. and McLennan, S.M., 1985. The continental crust: Its composition and evolution. Blackwell, Oxford, 312 pp. Retrieved July 11, 2019 from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/gj.3350210116

Villaseca, C., Barbero, L. and Herreros, V., 1998. A re-examination of the typology of peraluminous granite types in intracontinental orogenic belts. Earth and Envioronmental Sciennce Transactions of The Royal Society Edinburgh, 89(2): 113–119. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263593300007045

Villaseca, C., Bellido, F., Pérez-Soba, C. and Billström, K., 2009. Multiple crustal sources for post-tectonic I-type granites in the Hercynian Iberian Belt. Mineralogy and Petrology, 96(3): 197–211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-009-0057-2

Watson, E.B. and Capobianco, C.J., 1981. Phosphorus and rare earth elements in felsic magmas: An assessment of the role of apatite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 45(12): 2349–2358. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(81)90088-0

Watson, E.‌B. and Harrison, T.M., 1983. Zircon saturation revisited: temperature and composition effects in a variety of crustal magma types. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 64(2): 295–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(83)90211-X

Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W., 2010. Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95(1): 185–187. https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2010.3371

Zanchi, A., Berra, F., Balini, M., Ghassemi, M.R., Heidarzadeh, G. and Zanchetta, S., 2011. The Palaeotethys suture zone in NE Iran: New constraints on the evolution of the Eo-Cimmerian belt (Darius Programme). Proceeding of AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Milano Convention Centre, Milan, Italy. Retrieved July 11, 2019 from http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/documents/2012/30222zanchi/ndx_zanchi.pdf