TRACE ELEMENTS AND EVOLUTION OF GRANITE MELT AS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE RAUMID PLUTON, SOUTHERN PAMIRS

Abstract

New trace element data were obtained by ICP-MS for 58 samples representing eight intrusive phases of the Raumid granite Pluton. All of the rocks, except for one sample that was deliberately taken from a greisenized zone, were not affected by postmagmatic fluid alteration. The sequential accumulation of incompatible trace elements (Rb, Ta, Nb, Pb, U, and others) in the Raumid Pluton from the early to late phases coupled with a decrease in incompatible element contents (Sr, Eu, Ba, and others) indicates a genetic link between the granites of all phases via fractional crystallization of a granite melt. The REE distribution patterns of final granite phases are typical of rare-metal granites. The Ta content in the granites of phase 8 is only slightly lower than that of typical rare-metal granites. Greisenization disturbed the systematic variations in trace element distribution formed during the magmatic stage. The ranges of trace element contents (Rb, Sr, Ta, Nb, and others) and ratios (Rb/Sr, La/Lu, Eu/Eu*, and others) in the Raumid granite overlap almost entirely the ranges of granitic rocks of various compositions, from the least differentiated with ordinary trace element contents to rare-metal granites. This indicates that the geochemical signature of rare-metal granites can develop at the magmatic stage owing to fractional crystallization of melts, which is the case for the melt of the Raumid granite. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. 2007.