PROBABLE DEPTH OF GENERATION OF THE ELDZHURTA GRANITE MAGMA, KABARDINO-BALKARIA ASSR

Abstract

To ascertain the possible generation depth of the El'dzhurta granite magma, we determined the strontium-isotope composition of granite and plagioclase from different levels in the pluton. For this purpose, granite samples were collected from outcrops and drill cores at the 0, 1000 and 1500 m marks. After crushing these samples, we used the combined flotation-centrifuging method in the mineralogy laboratory of the Institute of the Lithosphere to extract plagioclase, the principal rock-forming strontium accumulator and carrier mineral in the granite. Strontium isotopes were measured in the geochronology laboratory of the Institute of Economic Geology by an earlier discussed procedure. Results of this study are presented in this paper.