[go: up one dir, main page]
More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/ Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

A-type granites: geochemical characteristics, discrimination and petrogenesis

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

New analyses of 131 samples of A-type (alkaline or anorogenic) granites substantiate previously recognized chemical features, namely high SiO2, Na2O+K2O, Fe/Mg, Ga/Al, Zr, Nb, Ga, Y and Ce, and low CaO and Sr. Good discrimination can be obtained between A-type granites and most orogenic granites (M-, I and S-types) on plots employing Ga/Al, various major element ratios and Y, Ce, Nb and Zr. These discrimination diagrams are thought to be relatively insensitive to moderate degrees of alteration. A-type granites generally do not exhibit evidence of being strongly differentiated, and within individual suites can show a transition from strongly alkaline varieties toward subalkaline compositions. Highly fractionated, felsic I- and S-type granites can have Ga/Al ratios and some major and trace element values which overlap those of typical A-type granites.

A-type granites probably result mainly from partial melting of F and/or Cl enriched dry, granulitic residue remaining in the lower crust after extraction of an orogenic granite. Such melts are only moderately and locally modified by metasomatism or crystal fractionation. A-type melts occurred world-wide throughout geological time in a variety of tectonic settings and do not necessarily indicate an anorogenic or rifting environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
£29.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson JL (1983) Proterozoic anorogenic granite plutonism of North America. In: Medaris LG, Byers CW, Mickelson DM, Shanks WC (eds) Proterozoic geology. Geol Soc Am Mem 161:133–154

  • Anderson JL, Thomas WM (1985) Proterozoic anorogenic two-mica granites: Silver Plume and St Vrain batholiths of Colorado. Geology 13:177–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey DK (1978) Continental rifting and mantle degassing. In: Neumann ER, Ramberg IB (eds) Petrology and geochemistry of continental rifts. Reidel, Holland, pp 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker F, Wones DR, Sharp WN, Desborough GA (1975) The Pikes Peak Batholith, Colorado Front Range, and a model for the origin of the gabbro-anorthosite-syenite-potassic granite suite. Precambrian Res 2:97–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonin B, Grelou-Orsini C, Vialette Y (1978) Age, origin and evolution of the anorogenic complex of Evisa (Corsica): a K-Li-Rb-Sr study. Contrib Mineral Petrol 65:425–432

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourne JH (1986) Geochemistry of the felsic metavolcanic rocks of the Wakeham Group: a metamorphosed peralkaline suite from the eastern Grenville Province, Quebec, Canada. Can J Earth Sci 23:978–984

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown GC, Thorpe RS, Webb PC (1984) The geochemical chacteristics of granitoids in contrasting arcs and comments on magma sources. J Geol Soc Lond 141:413–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Buma G, Frey FA, Wones DR (1971) New England granites: trace element evidence regarding their origin and differentiation. Contrib Mineral Petrol 31:300–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Chappell BW, White AJR (1974) Two contrasting granite types. Pac Geol 8:173–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Clemens JD, Holloway JR, White AJR (1986) Origin of an A-type granite: experimental constraints. Am Mineral 71:317–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Collerson KD (1982) Geochemistry and Rb-Sr geochronology of associated Proterozoic peralkaline and subalkaline anorogenic granites from Labrador. Contrib Mineral Petrol 81:126–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins WJ, Beams SD, White AJR, Chappell BW (1982) Nature and origin of A-type granites with particular reference to south-eastern Australia. Contrib Mineral Petrol 80:189–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Currie KL (1976) The alkaline rocks of Canada. Geol Surv Can Bull 239

  • Currie KL (1985) An unusual peralkaline granite near Lac Brisson, Quebec-Labrador. In: Current research — Part A. Geol Surv Can Pap 85-1A, pp 73–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Currie KL, Eby GN, Gittins J (1986) The petrology of the Mount Saint Hilaire complex, southern Quebec: an alkaline gabbroperalkaline syenite association. Lithos 19:67–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson A (1982) Petrochemistry of the Blachford Lake complex near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. In: Maurice YT (ed) Uranium in granites. Geol Surv Can Pap 81-23:71–80

  • di Girolamo P (1984) Magmatic character and geotectonic setting of some Tertiary-Quaternary volcanic rocks: orogenic, anorogenic and transitional associations — a review. Bull Volcanol 47:421–432

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewart A, Taylor SR, Capp AC (1968) Geochemistry of the pantellerites of Mayor Island, New Zealand. Contrib Mineral Petrol 17:116–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Floyd PA, Winchester JA (1975) Magma type and tectonic setting discrimination using immobile elements. Earth Planet Sci Lett 27:211–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson IL (1974) A review of the geology, petrology and geochemistry of the volcano Fantale. Bull Vollcanol 38:791–802

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris NBW, Marriner GF (1980) Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Lithos 13:325–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermes OD, Zartmar RE (1985) Late Proterozoic and Devonian plutonic terrane within the Avalon zone of Rhode Island. Geol Soc Am Bull 96:272–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermes OD, Gromet LP, Zartman RE (1981) Zircon geochronology and petrology of plutonic rocks in Rhode Island. In: Boothroyd JC (ed) Guidebook to geologic field studies in Rhode Island and adjacent areas. Annual Meeting New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, pp 315–338

  • Hill JD (1982) Geology of the Flowers River — Notakwanon River area, Labrador. Min Dev Div Dept, Mines and Energy, Gov Newfoundland and Labrador Report 82:6

    Google Scholar 

  • Imeokparia EG (1985) Mesozoic granite magmatism and tin mineralization in Nigeria; In: Taylor RP, Strong DF (eds) Granite-Related Mineral Deposits — Extended Abstracts of Papers. CIMM Conf, Halifax, Nova Scotia, pp 137–141

  • Jackson EV (1968) Geological report, Welsford granite study. New Brunswick Dept Natural Resurces Map Series 68:2

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson NJ, Walsh JN, Pegran E (1984) Geology, geochemistry and petrogenesis of the late Precambrian granitoids in the Central Hijaz Region of the Arabian Shield. Contrib Mineral Petrol 87:205–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkham RV (in press) Tectonic setting of the Buchans Group. In: Kirkham RV (ed) Buchans Geology, Newfoundland. Geol Surv Can Pap 86–24

  • Loiselle MC, Wones DR (1979) Characteristics and origin of anorogenic granites. Geol Soc Am Abst Prog 11:468

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludington S (1981) The Redskin granite: evidence for thermogravitational diffusion in a Precambrian granite batholith. J Geophys Res 86:10423–10430

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin RF, Bonin B (1976) Water and magma genesis: the association hypersolvus granite-subsolvus granite. Can Mineral 14:228–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason DR, McDonald JA (1978) Intrusive rocks and porphyry copper occurrences in the Papua — New Guinea-Solomon Islands region: a reconnaissance study. Econ Geol 73:857–877

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy TS, Hasty RA (1976) Trace element distribution patterns and their relationship to the crystallization of granitic melts. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 40:1351–1358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mutschler FE, Wright EG, Ludington S, Abbott JT (1981) Granite molybdenite systems. Econ Geol 76:874–877

    Google Scholar 

  • Norrish K, Chappell BW (1977) X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. In: Zussman J (ed) Physical methods of determinative mineralogy. Academic Press, London, pp 201–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearce JA, Cann JR (1973) Tectonic setting of basic volcanic rocks investigated using trace element analysis. Earth Planet Sci Lett 19:290–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce JA, Harris NBW, Tindle AG (1984) Trace element discrimination diagrams for the tectonic interpretation of granitic rocks. J Petrol 25:956–983

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitcher WS (1983) Granite type and tectonic environment. In: Hsu K (ed) Mountain Buiding Processes. Academic Press, London, pp 19–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Pupin JP (1980) Zircon and granite petrology. Contrib Mineral Petrol 73:207–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith IEM (1976) Peralkaline rhyolites from the D'Entreasteaux Islands, Papua New Guinea. In: Johnson RW (ed) Volcanism in Australasia. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 275–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Teng HC, Strong DF (1976) Geology and geochemistry of the St. Lawrence granite and associated fluorspar deposits, southeast Newfoundland. Can J Earth Sci 13:1374–1385

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor RP (1979) Topsails igneous complex — further evidence of middle Paleozoic epeirogeny and anorogenic magmatism in the northern Appalachians. Geology 10:488–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor RP, Strong DF, Kean BF (1980) The Topsails igneous complex: Silurian-Devonian peralkaline magmatism in western Newfoundland. Can J Earth Sci 17:425–439

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Staal CR (1987) Tectonic setting of the Tetagouche Group in northern New Brunswick: implications for plate tectonic models of the northern Appalachians. Can J Earth Sci, in press

  • Whalen JB (1980) Geology and geochemistry of the molybdenite showings of the Ackley City Batholith. Can J Earth Sci 17:1246–1258

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen JB (1983) The Ackley City Batholith, southeastern Newfoundland: evidence for crystal versus liquid-state fractionation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 47:1443–1457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whalen JB (1985) Geochemistry of an island-arc plutonic suite: the Uasilau-Yau Yau intrusive complex, New Britain, PNG. J Petrol 26:603–632

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen JB (1986a) A-type granites in New Brunswick. In: Current Research-Part A. Geol Surv Can Paper 86-1A:297–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen JB (1986b) Geochemistry of the mafic and volcanic components of the Topsails igneous suite, western Newfoundland. In: Current Research — Part B. Geol Surv Can Pap 86-1B, pp 121–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen JB, Currie KL (1983a) The Topsails igneous terrane of western Newfoundland. In: Current research — Part A. Geol Surv Can Pap 83-1A:15–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen JB, Currie KL (1983b) The Topsails igneous terrane, Western Newfoundland — 1:100,000 map and marginal notes. Geol Surv Can Open File 923

  • Whalen JB, Currie KL (1984) The Topsails igneous terrane, Western Newfoundland: evidence for magma mixing. Contrib Mineral Petrol 87:319–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen JB, Currie KL, Chappell BW (1987) A-type granites: descriptive and geochemical data. Geol Surv Can Open File 1411

  • Whalen JB, Currie KL, van Breemen O (1987) Episodic Ordovician-Silurian plutonism in the Topsails igneous terrane, Western Newfoundland. Trans Soc Edinburgh, Earth Sci (in press)

  • White AJR (1979) Sources of granite magmas. Geol Soc Am Abst Prog 11:539

    Google Scholar 

  • White AJR, Chappell BW (1977) Ultrametamorphism and granitoid genesis. Tectonophysics 43:7–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White AJR, Chappell BW (1983) Granitoid types and their distribution in the Lachlan Fold Belt, southeastern Australia. Geol Soc Am Mem 159:21–34

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street, K1A 0E8, Ottawa, Canada

    Joseph B. Whalen & Kenneth L. Currie

  2. Department of Geology, The Australian National University, G.P.O. Box 4, 2600, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia

    Bruce W. Chappell

Authors
  1. Joseph B. Whalen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kenneth L. Currie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bruce W. Chappell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Geological Survey of Canada contribution no. 18886

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Whalen, J.B., Currie, K.L. & Chappell, B.W. A-type granites: geochemical characteristics, discrimination and petrogenesis. Contrib Mineral Petrol 95, 407–419 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402202

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402202

Keywords

Search

Navigation