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Anorogenic metaluminous and peraluminous granite plutonism in the mid-proterozoic of Wisconsin, USA

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Abstract

A magmatic gap from 1.82 to 1.76 b.y. in the Lake Superior region represents the transition from synorogenic calc-alkaline igneous activity of the Penokean Orogeny to anorogenic potassic granophyric granite and ignimbrite. This paper deals with the petrogenetic evolution of 1.76 b.y. granites which represent a major change in source material and conceivably tectonic setting. Although perhaps related to a termination of the Penokean Orogeny by melting of a tectonically thickened crust during collision, these post-Penokean granites may represent the initial appearance of anorogenic, potentially rift-related igneous activity that was widespread throughout North America during late Precambrian time.

These post-Penokean granites are too iron-rich and Al-poor to be considered calc-alkaline, a compositional feature shared with most anorogenic igneous activity of continental regions. Within this suite in central and northern Wisconsin, regional differences in composition indicate at least two different granite magma types: one a metaluminous suite of biotite and biotite-hornblende granite and a peraluminous suite of two-mica granite. The systematic compositional differences (Al, Fe/Mg, Ba/Sr, REE) in the two magma suites are likely the result of small differences in residue mineralogy and/or source composition. In general, the degree of fusion was small (10%) and probably of relatively young Penokean material. Both suites have a range of composition due to feldspar dominated fractional crystallization. Removal of the accessory minerals apatite, zircon, and allanite resulted in the REE depletion with differentiation of the two-mica granites.

The granites intruded into the upper levels of the crust, and the appearance of primary celadonitic muscovite and subsolvus alkali feldspars (silicic members only) in the two mica granites indicate crystallization at depths of 10–11 km. The biotite granites contain both hypersolvus and subsolvus members and are intruded at depths less than 6 km with the more shallow members generating major volumes of ignimbrite. As a marked departure from the characteristics of most anorogenic granites, these melts crystallized at fairly oxidizing conditions (higher for the two-mica suite) as reflected in the composition of biotite, predominance of magnetite over ilmenite, and early appearance of the Fe-Ti oxides in the crystallization sequence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Southern California, 90007, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    J. Lawford Anderson

  2. Department of Geology, Kansas State University, 66506, Manhattan, Kansas, USA

    Robert L. Cullers

  3. Department of Geology, University of Kansas, 66045, Lawrence, Kansas, USA

    W. R. Van Schmus

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  1. J. Lawford Anderson
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  2. Robert L. Cullers
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  3. W. R. Van Schmus
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Anderson, J.L., Cullers, R.L. & Van Schmus, W.R. Anorogenic metaluminous and peraluminous granite plutonism in the mid-proterozoic of Wisconsin, USA. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 74, 311–328 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371700

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