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Granitic magmas with I-type affinities, from mainly metasedimentary sources: the Harcourt batholith of southeastern Australia

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Abstract

The high-K, calcalkaline granitic rocks of the 370 Ma, post-orogenic Harcourt batholith in southeastern Australia have I-type affinities but are mildly peraluminous and have remarkably radiogenic isotope characteristics, with 87Sr/86Srt in the range 0.70807 to 0.714121 and εNdt in the range − 5.6 to − 4.3. This batholith appears to be a good example of magmas that were derived through partial melting of distinctly heterogeneous source rocks that vary from intermediate meta-igneous to mildly aluminous metasedimentary rocks, with the balance between the two rock types on the metasedimentary side. Such transitional S-I-type magmas, formed from mainly metasedimentary source rocks, may be more common than is generally realised. The Harcourt batholith also contains mainly granodioritic igneous microgranular enclaves (IMEs). Like their host rocks, the IMEs are peraluminous and have rather radiogenic isotope signatures (87Sr/86Srt of 0.71257–0.71435 and εNdt of − 7.3 to − 4.3), though some are hornblende-bearing. Origins of these IMEs by mixing a putative mantle end member with the host granitic magma can be excluded because of the variability in whole-rock isotope ratios and, for the same reason, the IME magmas cannot represent quench cumulates (autoliths) from the host magmas. Less abundant monzonitic to monzosyenitic IMEs cannot represent accumulations of magmatic biotite and/or alkali feldspar because K-feldspar is absent, and there is no co-enrichment of K2O and FeO + MgO, nor can they be mixtures of anything plausible with the host-rock magma. The granodioritic IMEs probably originated through high degrees of assimilation of a range of crustal materials (partial melts?) by basaltic magmas in the deep crust, and the monzonitic IMEs as melts of enriched subcontinental mantle. Such enclave suites provide little or no information on the chemical evolution of their host granitic rocks.

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Acknowledgements

Some travel, accommodation, fieldwork and analytical costs were funded through the former South African NRF scheme of Incentive Funds for Rated Researchers and, in 2017, a DRD Travel Grant to undertake a research visit abroad. The University of Stellenbosch approved a 2-month leave of absence in connexion with the DRD grant. Monash University (Australia) and Prof. A. R. (Sandy) Cruden (Head of the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment) hosted the visit in 2017. Dr Julian Vearncombe, of SJS Resource Management and Geosymposia.com.au, covered my air fare from Cape Town to Melbourne in 2017, in connexion with the granites2017@benalla field symposium organised under the aegis of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and the Geological Society of Australia. Accommodation in 2017 was kindly provided by Prof. Neil Phillips. Dr Allan Rossiter supplied some chemical analyses of Harcourt granitic rocks, from his PhD thesis. Prof. Chris Harris of the University of Cape Town provided the O isotope analysis of sample HAR1. The manuscript was ably reviewed by Tom Sisson and two anonymous referees. All contributed to significant improvements.

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    J. D. Clemens

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Clemens, J.D. Granitic magmas with I-type affinities, from mainly metasedimentary sources: the Harcourt batholith of southeastern Australia. Contrib Mineral Petrol 173, 93 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-018-1520-z

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