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Petrological and chemical evidence for polybaric differentiation across the preserved middle crustal plutonic column of the Famatinian arc, Argentina

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Abstract

This study investigates the formation of the middle layer of the Earth's crust in the Early Ordovician Famatinian arc. We focus on the Valle Fértil–La Huerta batholith, which provides a unique exposure of continuous lower to middle crustal depths, spanning approximately 14 km. The assembly of this batholith took place over a period of approximately 6 million years (473–467 Ma). We collected whole-rock and mineral geochemical data at different emplacement pressures, ranging from < 4 to 7 kbar. Our results indicate that amphiboles crystallized within a temperature range of 774–873 °C but exhibited chemical disequilibrium with the surrounding rocks. Both whole-rock and mineral chemistry provide evidence of plagioclase and amphibole accumulation during magmatic differentiation. Examining the vertical distribution of plutonic rocks, we observe a compositional trend showing decreasing concentrations of MgO, Sr, Sc, and Dy/Yb with decreasing paleo-depths. A comparative analysis of the REE patterns yields that plutonic rocks in the shallow middle crust contain amphibole crystal cores inherited from deeper crustal levels. Moreover, the trace-element compositions of the amphiboles yield valuable insights into the coexistence of distinct magma compositions at different levels within the middle crust. Importantly, mantle-derived mafic rocks with high-Sr/Y ratios are attributed to plagioclase accumulation rather than the presence of garnet as a residual phase. Our study suggests that fractional crystallization played a significant role in the generation and evolution of the Famatinian intermediate crust. Further differentiation occurred through mixing between tonalitic magmas and intra-crustal metasedimentary-derived melts in the middle crust. The findings highlight the importance of variable melt extraction in shaping the petrological stratification of arc crustal columns.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank professors Herve Rezeau and Joshua Schwartz for their thoughtful and helpful peer reviews. This research was supported by FONCyT grants PICT0296/17 and PICT0056/19. Fieldwork was partly funded by grants from the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Argentina. Prof. Jesus de la Rosa enabled us to measure mineral composition (EPMA) and whole-rock (ICP-MS) at the University of Huelva, Spain. Trace elements in minerals were determined at Brown University, USA through LA-ICP-MS analysis supported by NSF-EAR 1829464 to A. Saal. Laboratory work was funded through fellowships granted by: (1) Fulbright—Foundation (USA) and Fundacion Bunge & Born (Argentina), and 2) Asociación Universitaria Iberoamericana de Postgrado.

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  1. ICBIA—CONICET, Rio Cuarto, Argentina

    G. C. Camilletti, J. E. Otamendi, F. A. Escribano & E. A. Cristofolini

  2. Departamento de Geología, Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto, Rio Cuarto, Argentina

    G. C. Camilletti, J. E. Otamendi, F. A. Escribano & E. A. Cristofolini

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  1. G. C. Camilletti
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Camilletti, G.C., Otamendi, J.E., Escribano, F.A. et al. Petrological and chemical evidence for polybaric differentiation across the preserved middle crustal plutonic column of the Famatinian arc, Argentina. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 112, 2025–2047 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-023-02339-w

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