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Unravelling the processes controlling apatite formation in the Phalaborwa Complex (South Africa) based on combined cathodoluminescence, LA-ICPMS and in-situ O and Sr isotope analyses

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Abstract

The Phalaborwa world-class phosphate deposit (South Africa) is hosted by a Paleoproterozoic alkaline complex mainly composed of phoscorite, carbonatite, pyroxenitic rocks, and subordinate fenite. In addition, syenite and trachyte occur in numerous satellite bodies. New petrological and in-situ geochemical data along with O and Sr isotope data obtained on apatite demonstrate that apatite is in the principal host rocks (pyroxenitic rocks, phoscorite and carbonatite) formed primarily by igneous processes from mantle-derived carbonatitic magmas. Early-formed magmatic apatite is particularly enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE), with a decrease in the REE content ascribed to magma differentiation and early apatite fractionation in isolated interstitial melt pockets. Rayleigh fractionation favored a slight increase in δ18O (below 1%) at a constant Sr isotopic composition. Intrusion of fresh carbonatitic magma into earlier-formed carbonatite bodies locally induced re-equilibration of early apatite with REE enrichment but at constant O and Sr isotopic compositions. In fenite, syenite and trachyte, apatite displays alteration textures and LREE depletion, reflecting interaction with fluids. A marked decrease in δ18O in apatite from syenite and trachyte indicates a contribution from δ18O-depleted meteoric fluids. This is consistent with the epizonal emplacement of the satellite bodies. The general increase of the Sr isotope ratios in apatite in these rocks reflects progressive interaction with the country rocks over time. This study made it possible to decipher, with unmatched precision, the succession of geological processes that led to one of the most important phosphate deposits worldwide.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Ulrich Schüssler and Stefan Höhn for assistance in acquiring electron microprobe analyses at the University of Würzburg. Samples were provided by Grant Cawthorn who gratefully acknowledges the hospitality of the management and geological staff at Foskor (Pty) Ltd for many repeated student excursions to their property. The LA-ICP-MS laboratory from GeoRessources was partly funded by the French National Research Agency through the national program “Investissements d’avenir” of the Labex Ressources21 with the reference ANR-10-LABX-21-RESSOURCES21. The authors are also grateful to Daniela Rubatto (Associate Editor), Sam Broom-Fendley (Reviewer) and an anonymous reviewer, for helpful remarks on the manuscript. Their comments have contributed to improve substantially the quality of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences-Geological Survey of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium

    Sophie Decrée

  2. School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Wits, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa

    Grant Cawthorn

  3. CRPG, UMR 7358, CNRS-Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Etienne Deloule

  4. Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CREGU, GeoRessources Lab, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Julien Mercadier

  5. Bavarian Georesources Centre, Department of Geodynamics and Geomaterials Research, Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Hartwig Frimmel

  6. Department of Geology and Applied Geology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium

    Jean-Marc Baele

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Decrée, S., Cawthorn, G., Deloule, E. et al. Unravelling the processes controlling apatite formation in the Phalaborwa Complex (South Africa) based on combined cathodoluminescence, LA-ICPMS and in-situ O and Sr isotope analyses. Contrib Mineral Petrol 175, 34 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-020-1671-6

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