Major, Trace, and Rare-Earth Element Geochemistry of Nb-V Rich
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minerals Article Major, Trace, and Rare-Earth Element Geochemistry of Nb-V Rich Andradite-Schorlomite-Morimotoite Garnet from Ambadungar-Saidivasan Alkaline Carbonatite Complex, India: Implication for the Role of Hydrothermal Fluid-Induced Metasomatism Amiya K. Samal 1 , Rajesh K. Srivastava 1,* and Dewashish Upadhyay 2 1 Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India; [email protected] 2 Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur 721 302, India; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] Abstract: In situ major, trace and rare-earth element composition of Ti-rich garnets from Ambadungar- Saidivasan alkaline carbonatite complex (ASACC) are presented to constrain its likely genesis. The garnets are characterized by high andradite (42.7–57.3), schorolomite (22.0–31.0), and morimotoite (15.6–26.5) end members. No distinct chemical zonation is noticed except for minor variations in Ti content. The garnets are enriched in LREE (average 731 ppm) and relatively depleted in HREE Citation: Samal, A.K.; Srivastava, (average 186 ppm) and show an M-type first tetrad that leads to a convex upward pattern between R.K.; Upadhyay, D. Major, Trace, and Ce and Gd. Mildly positive to no Eu anomalies are observed (Eu/Eu* = 1.06–1.17). The REE patterns Rare-Earth Element Geochemistry of (LaN/YbN = 1.11–2.11) are similar to those of garnets from skarn deposits. The presence of tetrad Nb-V Rich Andradite-Schorlomite- effect in the LREE pattern suggests an active role of metasomatic processes involving hydrothermal Morimotoite Garnet from fluids during the growth of the garnets. These garnets also contain high Nb (282–2283 ppm) and V Ambadungar-Saidivasan Alkaline Carbonatite Complex, India: (1083–2155 ppm) concentrations, which stand out against the composition of the host rock. Therefore, Implication for the Role of late-stage metasomatic reactions of earlier formed minerals with hydrothermal fluid enriched in Hydrothermal Fluid-Induced Fe, Si, LREE, Nb, V, and Ti led to the formation of garnet. The primary source for these elements Metasomatism. Minerals 2021, 11, 756. could be magnetite, ilmenite, and pyrochlore present in different varieties of carbonatites in the https://doi.org/10.3390/min11070756 ASACC, with the required elements being released during their interaction with the hydrothermal fluid. The hydrothermal fluid was likely to be moderately acidic, and having fluoride and sulfate as Academic Editor: Vincenza Guarino the primary ligands. Received: 28 May 2021 Keywords: Ti-rich garnet; andradite-schorlomite-morimotoite; REE; Ambadungar-Saidivasan; Accepted: 11 July 2021 carbonatite agglomerate/breccia; metasomatism Published: 13 July 2021 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in 1. Introduction published maps and institutional affil- iations. The garnet supergroup comprises orthosilicate minerals that include twenty-one end- members found in a variety of geological environments [1,2]. Garnet is a characteristic mineral found in many metamorphic rocks as well as in some granites, pegmatites, and alkaline and felsic volcanic rocks [3]. The mineral usually preferentially incorporates the heavy rare earth elements (HREE) during growth resulting in high Lu/Hf and Sm/Nd ra- Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. tios. Garnet-controlled fractionation of the REE is a commonly used geochemical tracer [4]. This article is an open access article The incorporation of REE in garnet is controlled by the composition of garnet as well as by distributed under the terms and the composition of the rock matrix/melt/fluid from which the garnet grows/crystallizes. conditions of the Creative Commons In many geologic environments involving the presence of fluid phase, external factors Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// such as fluid composition, water/rock (W/R) ratios, dynamics of metasomatism including creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ physicochemical conditions can control the major and trace element chemistry of gar- 4.0/). net [4]. The complex process of the partitioning of REE between metasomatic fluid and Minerals 2021, 11, 756. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11070756 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals Minerals 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 19 as by the composition of the rock matrix/melt/fluid from which the garnet grows/crystal- Minerals 2021, 11, 756 lizes. In many geologic environments involving the presence of fluid phase, external2 offac- 20 tors such as fluid composition, water/rock (W/R) ratios, dynamics of metasomatism in- cluding physicochemical conditions can control the major and trace element chemistry of garnet [4]. The complex process of the partitioning of REE between metasomatic fluid and growing garnetgarnet is is primarily primarily guided guided by crystalby crystal chemistry, chemistry, crystal-fluid crystal-fluid equilibrium, equilibrium, growth growthrate, and rate, surface and surface adsorption adsorption (e.g., [4 (e.g.,–8]). [4–8 Therefore,]). Therefore, the REE the geochemistryREE geochemistry of garnet of gar- is neta potential is a potential tool to tool comprehend to comprehend the evolution the evolution of metasomatic of metasomatic fluids fluids [4]. Although[4]. Although dis- discriminationcrimination between between igneous igneous and and metasomatic metasomatic andradite-grossularite andradite-grossularite garnets garnets basedbased onon chemical zonation, color and trace element content is challenging, however, for petrological chemical zonation, color and trace element content is challenging, however, for petrolog- interpretations, it is always indispensable to classify whether the garnets are of igneous ical interpretations, it is always indispensable to classify whether the garnets are of igne- origin crystallizing from a melt phase or of subsolidus origin growing from a fluid phase ous origin crystallizing from a melt phase or of subsolidus origin growing from a fluid during hydrothermal processes [9]. phase during hydrothermal processes [9]. The Ambadungar-Saidivasan alkaline carbonatite complex (ASACC) is one of the The Ambadungar-Saidivasan alkaline carbonatite complex (ASACC) is one of the several alkaline complexes present within the Chhota Udepur subprovince of the Deccan several alkaline complexes present within the Chhota Udepur subprovince of the Deccan flood basalt province, Western India, which occur approximately 5–8 km north of the flood basalt province, Western India, which occur approximately 5–8 km north of the Nar- Narmada rift (see Figure1) (e.g., [ 10–16]). Besides carbonatite and carbonatite breccia, mada rift (see Figure 1) (e.g., [10–16]). Besides carbonatite and carbonatite breccia, these these complexes also host several alkaline rocks like nephelinite, phonolite, tinguaite, complexes also host several alkaline rocks like nephelinite, phonolite, tinguaite, syenite, syenite, nepheline syenite [12,17]. Garnets have been reported from most of the felsic nepheline syenite [12,17]. Garnets have been reported from most of the felsic rock types rock types of these complexes [17–20]; however, their origin and genesis have not been ofinvestigated these complexes in detail [17–20]; except however, for a handful their oforigin studies and (e.g.,genesis [19 ,have20]). not Most been of theinvestigated previous instudies detail are except primarily for a basedhandful on of the studies major element(e.g., [19,20]). chemistry Most of of garnet. the previous Based on studies a limited are primarilyset of electron based microprobe on the major data, element compositional chemistry variation of garnet. in Based zoned on melanite a limited phenocrysts set of elec- tronfrom microprobe nephelinites data, of Ambadungar compositional complex variation has in been zoned presented melanite [19 phenocrysts]. Similarly, thefrom mineral neph- eliniteschemistry of Ambadungar of zoned Ti-rich complex melanite-schorlomite has been presented from [19]. a tephrite Similarly, plug the in themineral complex chemistry is also ofdiscussed zoned Ti-rich [20]. However, melanite-schorlomite due to the lack from of trace a tephrite and rare-earth plug in elementthe complex data, theis also genesis dis- cussedof these [20]. garnets—whether However, due theyto the are lack primary of trac magmatice and rare-earth or secondary element metasomatic—is data, the genesis still of thesecontentious. garnets—whether The prime objective they are of primary this work magm is toatic provide or secondary first-hand metasomatic—is rare-earth, trace andstill contentiousmajor element. The data prime on garnetsobjective from of this ASCC work to is constrain to provide their first-hand genesis. rare-earth, trace and major element data on garnets from ASCC to constrain their genesis. Figure 1. Geological map ofof thethe Ambadungar-SaidiwasanAmbadungar-Saidiwasan alkalinealkaline carbonatitecarbonatite complex,complex, modifiedmodified after [10,12,14,15]. [10,12,14,15]. Area of sample locations are markedmarked by a redred star.star. Inset:Inset: mapmap showsshows locationlocation ofof the ASACC. 2. Geological Framework The Ambadungar alkaline carbonatite complex in western India near the Chhota Udepur region is intrusive into basalts of the Deccan Volcanic Province and cretaceous Minerals 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 19 Minerals 2021, 11, 756 2. Geological Framework 3 of 20 The Ambadungar alkaline carbonatite complex in western India near the