Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Archaean TTGs as sources of younger granitic magmas: melting of sodic metatonalites at 0.6–1.2 GPa

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

Abstract

Two natural, low K2O/Na2O, TTG tonalitic gneisses (one hornblende-bearing and the other biotite-bearing) were partially melted at 0.8–1.2 GPa (fluid-absent). The chief melting reactions involve the breakdown of the biotite and hornblende. The hornblende tonalite is slightly less fertile than the biotite tonalite, but melt volumes reach around 30% at 1,000°C. This contrasts with results of most previous work on more potassic TTGs, which generally showed much lower fertility, though commonly producing more potassic melts. Garnet is formed in biotite-bearing tonalitic protoliths at P > 0.8 GPa and at > 1.0 GPa in hornblende-bearing tonalitic protoliths. All fluid-absent experiments produced peraluminous granitic to granodioritic melts, typically with SiO2 > 70 wt.%. For the biotite tonalite, increasing T formed progressively more melt with progressively lower K2O/Na2O. However, the compositions of melts from the hornblende tonalite do not vary significantly with T. With increasing P, melts from the biotite tonalite become less potassic, due to the increasing thermal stability of biotite. For the hornblende tonalite, again there is no consistent trend. Fluid-absent melting of sodic TTGs produces melts with insufficient K2O to model the magmas that formed the voluminous, late, potassic granites that are common in Archaean terranes. Reconnaissance fluid-present experiments at 0.6 GPa imply that H2O-saturated partial melting of TTGs is also not a viable process for producing magmas that formed these granites. The protoliths for these must have been more potassic and less silicic. Nevertheless, at granulite-facies conditions, sodic TTGs will produce significant quantities of broadly leucogranodioritic melt that will be more potassic than the protoliths. Upward abstraction of this melt would result in some LILE depletion of the terrane. Younger K-rich magmatism is unlikely to represent recycling of TTG crust on its own, and it seems most likely that evolved crustal rocks and/or highly enriched mantle must be involved.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott RN Jr (1981) AFM liquidus projection for granitic magmas with special reference to hornblende biotite and garnet. Can Mineral 19:103–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Anhaeusser CR (1981) Barberton excursion guidebook: Archaean geology of the barberton mountainland. Geological Society of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa

  • Barboza SA, Bergantz GW (2000) Metamorphism and anatexis in the mafic complex contact aureole, Ivrea zone, northern Italy. J Petrol 41:1307–1327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barker F (1979) Trondhjemite: definition environment and hypothesis of origin. In: Barker F (ed) Trondhjemites dacites and related rocks. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Beard JS, Lofgren GE (1991) Dehydration melting and water-saturated melting of basaltic and andesitic greenstones and amphibolites at 1, 3, and 6.9 kb. J Petrol 32:365–401

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleeker W (2003) The late Archean record: a puzzle in ca. 35 pieces. Lithos 71:99–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bridgewater D, Watson JV, Windley BF (1973) The Archaean craton of the north Atlantic region. Philos Trans R Soc A 273:493–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown GC, Fyfe WS (1970) The production of granitic melts during ultrametamorphism. Contrib Mineral Petrol 28:310–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burnham CW, Nekvasil H (1986) Equilibrium properties of granite pegmatite magmas. Am Mineral 71:239–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Castro A (2004) The source of granites: inferences from the lewisian complex. Scott J Geol 40:49–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cawthorn RG, Brown PA (1976) A model for the formation and crystallisation of corundum normative calc-alkaline magmas through amphibole fractionation. J Geol 84:467–476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemens JD (1984) Water contents of intermediate to silicic magmas. Lithos 17:273–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemens JD (1990) The granulite—Granite connexion. In: Vielzeuf D, Vidal P (eds) Granulites and crustal differentiation. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 25–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Clemens JD (2003) Melting of the continental crust I: fluid regimes, melting reactions and source-rock fertility. In: Brown M, Rushmer T (eds) Evolution and differentiation of the continental crust. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (in press)

  • Clemens JD (2005) Melting of the continental crust I: fluid regimes, melting reactions and source-rock fertility. In: Brown M, Rushmer T (eds) Evolution and differentiation of the continental crust. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge pp 297–331

  • Clemens JD, Droop GTR (1998) Fluids, P-T paths and the fates of anatectic melts in the Earth’s crust. Lithos 44:21–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemens JD, Vielzeuf D (1987) Constraints on melting and magma production in the crust. Earth Planet Sci Lett 86:287–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemens JD, Watkins JM (2001) The fluid regime of high-temperature metamorphism during granitoid magma genesis. Contrib Mineral Petrol 140:600–606

    Google Scholar 

  • Clemens JD, Yearron LM, Stevens G (2006) Barberton (South Africa) TTG magmas: geochemical and experimental constraints on source-rock petrology, pressure of formation and tectonic setting. Precambrian Res 151:53–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Condie KC (1997) Plate tectonics and crustal evolution. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Condie KC (2005) TTGs and adakites: are they both slab melts? Lithos 80:33–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deer WA, Howie RA, Zussman J (1992) An Introduction to the rock forming minerals, 2nd edn. Longman Scientific and Technical, pp 696, Harlow, Essex, UK

  • Dooley DF, Patiño Douce A (1996) Fluid-absent melting of F-rich phlogopite + rutile + quartz. Am Mineral 81:202–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Dziggel A, Stevens G, Poujol M, Anhaeusser CR, Armstrong RA (2002) Metamorphism of the granite-greenstone terrane south of the Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa: and insight into the tectono-thermal evolution of the ‘lower’ portions of the onverwacht group. Precambrian Res 114:221–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friend CRL, Kinny PD (1995) New evidence for protolith ages of lewisian granulites northwest Scotland. Geology 23:1027–1030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friend CRL, Kinny PD (2001) A reappraisal of the lewisian gneiss complex: geochronological evidence for tectonic assembly of disparate terranes in the proterozoic. Contrib Mineral Petrol 142:198–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Fyfe WS (1973) The granulite facies, partial melting and the Archean crust. Phil Trans R Soc Lond A273:457–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardien V, Thompson AB, Grujic D, Ulmer P (1995) Experimental melting of biotite + plagioclase + quartz ± muscovite assemblages and implications for crustal melting. J Geophys Res-solid Earth 100:15581–15591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardien V, Thompson AB, Ulmer P (2000) Melting of biotite + plagioclase + quartz gneisses: the role of H2O in the stability of amphibole. J Petrol 41:651–666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graphchikov AA, Konilov AN, Clemens JD (1999) Biotite dehydration, partial melting, and fluid composition: experiments in the system KAlO2–FeO–MgO–SiO2–H2O–CO2. Am Mineral 84:15–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Guernina S, Sawyer EW (2003) Large-scale melt-depletion in granulite terranes: an example from the Archean Ashuanipi subprovince of Quebec. J Metamorphic Geol 21:181–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jahn BM, Vidal P, Kröner A (1984) Multichronometric ages and origin of Archaean tonalitic gneisses in Finnish Lapland: a case for long crustal residence time. Contrib Mineral Petrol 86:398–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannes W (1984) Beginning of melting in the granite system Qz–Or–Ab–An–H2O. Contrib Mineral Petrol 86:264–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannes W, Bogolepov M, Behrens H (1994) Melting kinetics and equilibrium compositions in the systems Qz–Ab–An–H2O and Qz–Ab–An–Al2O3–H2O. Terra Nova (Abstract Suppl) 1:26

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinny PD, Friend CRL (1997) U-Pb isotopic evidence for the accretion of different crustal blocks to form the lewisian complex northwest Scotland. Contrib Mineral Petrol 129:326–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinny PD, Friend CRL (2004) Proposal for a terrane-based nomenclature for the Lewisian Gneiss complex of NW Scotland. J Geol Soc London (in press)

  • Kinny PD, Friend CRL (2005) Proposal for a terrane-based nomenclature for the Lewisian Gneiss complex of NW Scotland. J Geol Soc London 162:175–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovalenko A, Clemens JD, Savatenkov V (2005) Petrogenetic constraints for the genesis of Archaean sanukitoid suites: geochemistry and isotopic evidence from Karelia, Baltic Shield. Lithos 79:147–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luais B, Hawkesworth CJ (1994) The generation of continental-crust—An integrated study of crust-forming processes in the Archean of Zimbabwe. J Petrol 35:43–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyon TDB, Bowes DR (1977) Rb-Sr, U-Pb and K-Ar isotopic study of the lewisian complex between durness and loch laxford Scotland. Krystalinikum 13:53–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin H (1987) Petrogenesis of Archaean trondhjemites, tonalites and granodiorites from Eastern Finland: major and trace element geochemistry. J Petrol 28:921–953

    Google Scholar 

  • McGregor VR (1979) Archean grey gneisses and the origin of the continental crust: evidence from the Gothab region West Greenland. In: Barker F (ed) Trondhjemites dacites and related rocks. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer FM, Robb LJ, Reimold WU (1994) Contrasting low-Ca and high-Ca granites in the Archaean Barberton mountain land Southern Africa. Lithos 32:63–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patiño Douce AE (1995) Experimental generation of hybrid silicic melts by reaction of high-Al basalt with metamorphic rocks. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 100(B8):15623–15639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patiño Douce AE (1999) What do experiments tell us about the relative contribution of crust and mantle to the origin of granitic magmas. In: Castro A, Fernández C, Vigneresse J-L (eds) Understanding granites: integrating new and classical techniques. Geological Society Special Publication No 168, The Geological Society, London, pp 55–75

  • Patiño Douce AE (2005) Vapor-absent melting of tonalite at 15–32 kbar. J Petrol 46:275–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patiño Douce AE, Beard JS (1994) H2O loss from hydrous melts during fluid-absent piston-cylinder experiments. Am Mineral 79:585–588

    Google Scholar 

  • Patiño Douce AE, Beard JS (1995) Dehydration-melting of biotite gneiss and quartz amphibolite from 3 to 15 kbar. J Petrol 36:707–738

    Google Scholar 

  • Patiño Douce AE, Harris N (1998) Experimental constraints on Himalayan anatexis. J Petrol 39:689–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petford N, Gallagher K (2001) Partial melting of mafic (amphibolitic) lower crust by periodic influx of basaltic magma. Earth Planet Sci Lett 193:483–499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petö P (1976) An experimental investigation of melting relations involving muscovite and paragonite in the silica-saturated portion of the system K2O–Na2O–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O. Prog Exp Petrol 3:41–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Prouteau G, Scaillet B, Pichavant M, Maury R (2001) Evidence for mantle metasomatism by hydrous silicic melts derived from subducted oceanic crust. Nature 410:197–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rapp RP, Shimizu N, Norman MD, Applegate GS (1999) Reaction between slab-derived melts and peridotite in the mantle wedge: experimental constraints at 3.8 GPa. Chem Geol 160:335–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rapp RP, Shimizu N, Norman MD (2003) Growth of early continental crust by partial melting of eclogite. Nature 425:605–608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter MJ, Wyllie PJ (1988) Melting of vapour-absent tonalite at 10 kbar to simulate dehydration-melting in the deep crust. Nature 331:159–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scaillet B, Holtz F, Pichavant M (1998) Phase equilibrium constraints on the viscosity of silicic magmas—1. Volcanic-plutonic association. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 103:27257–27266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh J, Johannes W (1996a) Dehydration melting of tonalites. 1. Beginning of melting. Contrib Mineral Petrol 125:16–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh J, Johannes W (1996b) Dehydration melting of tonalites. 2. Compositions of melts and solids. Contrib Mineral Petrol 125:26–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skjerlie KP, Johnston AD (1992) Vapor-absent melting at 10-kbar of a biotite-bearing and amphibole bearing tonalitic gneiss—Implications for the generation of A-type granites. Geology 20:263–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skjerlie KP, Johnston AD (1993) Fluid-absent melting behaviour of an F-rich tonalitic gneiss at mid-crustal pressures: implications for the generation of anorogenic granites. J Petrol 34:785–815

    Google Scholar 

  • Skjerlie KP, Johnston AD (1996) Vapour-absent melting from 10 to 20 kbar of crustal rocks that contain multiple hydrous phases: implications for anatexis in the deep to very deep continental crust and active continental margins. J Petrol 37:661–691

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storre B (1972) Dry melting of muscovite + quartz in the range Ps = 7 kb to Ps = 20 kb. Contrib Mineral Petrol 37:87–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storre B, Karotke E (1972) Experimental data on melting reactions of muscovite + quartz in the system K2O–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O to 20 kb water pressure. Contrib Mineral Petrol 36:343–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SR, McLennan SM (1985) The continental crust: its composition and evolution. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 312

    Google Scholar 

  • Truckenbrodt J, Ziegenbein D, Johannes W (1997) Redox conditions in piston-cylinder apparatus: the different behavior of boron nitride and unfired pyrophyllite assemblies. Am Miner 82:337–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Vielzeuf D, Clemens JD (1992) Fluid-absent melting of phlogopite + quartz: experiments and models. Am Mineral 77:1206–1222

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins JM (2002) Crustal melting processes and the formation of granulites and granites: a study based on the lewisian complex, NW Scotland. Ph.D. (unpubl.) thesis, Kingston University, 355 pp

  • Wells PRA (1981) Accretion of continental crust: thermal and geochemical consequences. Phil Trans R Soc London A 301:347–357

    Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winther KT (1996) An experimentally based model for the origin of tonalitic and trondhjemitic melts. Chem Geol 127:43–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao L, Clemens JD (2007) Origin of potassic (C-type) adakite magmas: experimental and field constraints. Lithos (in press)

  • Yearron LM (2003) Archaean granite petrogenesis and implications for the evolution of the Barberton mountain land, South Africa. Ph.D. (unpubl.) thesis, Kingston University, 352 pp

Download references

Acknowledgments

The primary material for this paper is taken from the PhD thesis of JMW, supervised at Kingston University by JDC and PJT. Mr. W. Edwards and Mr. D. Plant are thanked for assistance with electron probe analysis at Kingston and Manchester, respectively. Access to the Manchester probe was provided through application to the then NERC-funded Facility. Dr. I. Cartwright (now at Monash University, Australia) provided JDC with the sample of experimental biotite tonalite SC5. Dr. S. Bignold is thanked for assistance in redrafting some of the figures. Earlier versions were reviewed by Dr. A. Patiño Douce and by Prof. S. Harley, who we thank for his constructive criticisms.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Sciences and Geography, CEESR, Kingston University, Penrhyn Rd, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT1 2EE, UK

    J. M. Watkins, J. D. Clemens & P. J. Treloar

Authors
  1. J. M. Watkins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. D. Clemens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. J. Treloar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. D. Clemens.

Additional information

Communicated by I. Parsons.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

XLS 65 kb

XLS 32 kb

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Watkins, J.M., Clemens, J.D. & Treloar, P.J. Archaean TTGs as sources of younger granitic magmas: melting of sodic metatonalites at 0.6–1.2 GPa. Contrib Mineral Petrol 154, 91–110 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-007-0181-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-007-0181-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation