Petrology and Li-Be-B geochemistry of muscovite-biotite granite and associated pegmatite near Yellowknife, Canada (original) (raw)

Abstract

Prosperous granite (Rb-Sr 2520±25 Ma) occurs as several plutons (1–380 km2 outcrop area) in a thick succession of metamorphosed greywacke-mudstone of the Yellowknife Supergroup. The average mineral content of the Sparrow pluton (in vol.%) is quartz (32), plagioclase (31), K-feldspar (24), muscovite (9), biotite (3), and apatite (<1). Average trace-element concentrations (in ppm) are Li (140), Be (4), B (28), Zn (47), Rb (250), Sr (76), Zr (75) and Ba (360). The central portion of the pluton is slightly richer in K, Sr, and Ba than the margin. Li is concentrated in mica (Li in biotite/Li in muscovite=4.7), and Be and B in muscovite and plagioclase. Countless pegmatite dikes occur in the Sparrow pluton and in schist-hornfels to the east; the outer limit is marked by the cordierite isograd, 9 km from the granite contact. Dikes vary greatly in size (1 km to a few cm in length), in mineral content (quartz, albite, K-feldspar, muscovite, tourmaline, beryl, spodumene), in major element composition (especially the Na∶K ratio), and in trace-element content (Li 18–5000 ppm, Be 5–260 ppm, B 20–150 ppm). Compared with Prosperous granite, the pegmatite bodies are richer in P and Rb, and poorer in Ti, Fe, Mg, Zr, and Ba. Dikes rich in tourmaline, beryl, and spodumene occur in overlapping zones situated progressively farther from the centre of the Sparrow pluton. The composition of tourmaline is related to host rock; the highest concentrations of Fe and Zn occur in crystals from pegmetite and the highest concentrations of Mg and V occur in crystals from tourmalinized schist, while those from granite and quartz veins occupy on intermediate position. Complex compositional zoning is present in some tourmaline crystals in pegmatite. Estimates of temperature (500°–600° C) and pressure (2–4 kb) of granite emplacement, based on the distribution of andalusite and sillimanite in the contact rocks, suggest that the final stage of granite emplacement occurred at sub-solidus conditions. A vaportransport model is proposed to explain the widespread distribution of the pegmatite dikes and their extreme compositional variability. Some of the pegmatite constituents, including Li, Be, and B, were possibly derived from Yellowknife graywacke and mudstone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Ottawa, Canada
    R. Kretz
  2. University of Ottawa Geochemistry Laboratory, K1N 6N5, Ottawa, Canada
    J. Loop & R. Hartree (Analyst)

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  1. R. Kretz
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  2. J. Loop
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  3. R. Hartree
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Kretz, R., Loop, J. & Hartree, R. Petrology and Li-Be-B geochemistry of muscovite-biotite granite and associated pegmatite near Yellowknife, Canada.Contrib Mineral Petrol 102, 174–190 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00375339

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