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Evolution of the middle crust beneath the western Pannonian Basin: a xenolith study

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Abstract

Felsic to mafic granulite xenoliths from late Neogene basalt pyroclastics in four localities of the western Pannonian Basin (Beistein, Kapfenstein, Szigliget and Káptalantóti (Sabar-hegy) were studied to find out their metamorphic and fluid history. The characteristic mineral assemblage of the granulites consists of Pl + Opx + Qtz ± Cpx ± Bt ± Grt ± Kfs. Based on abundant magmatic relic microstructural domains occurring in these rocks, the potential precursors might have been predominantly felsic igneous or high to ultrahigh temperature rocks. Ternary feldspar thermometry provides a rough estimate of temperatures of about 920–1070 °C. The first fluid invasion event, which is linked with this early high to ultrahigh temperature stage is characterised by primary pure CO2 inclusions in apatite and zircon. The densest primary CO2 inclusions indicate 0.52–0.64 GPa pressure at the estimated temperature range of crystallization. According to mineral equilibria and geothermobarometry, the high to ultrahigh temperature rock cooled and crystallized to granulite of predominantly felsic composition at about 750–870 °C and 0.50–0.75 GPa in the middle crust, between 20 and 29 km depths. The second fluid invasion event is recorded by primary CO2-rich fluid inclusions hosted in the granulitic mineral assemblage (plagioclase, quartz and orthopyroxene). In addition to CO2, Raman spectroscopy revealed the presence of minor N2, H2S, CO and H2O in these inclusions. Partial melting of biotite-bearing assemblages could be connected to the next fluid invasion shown by secondary CO2-rich fluids recorded along with healed fractures in plagioclase, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene. This event could have happened at depths similar to the previous ones. The final step in the granulite evolution was the sampling in the middle crust and transportation to the surface in form of xenoliths by mafic melt. This event generated temperature increase and pressure decrease and thus, limited melting of the xenoliths. The youngest fluid inclusion generation, observed mostly in healed fractures of felsic minerals, could be associated with this event.

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Acknowledgments

The authors kindly acknowledge the support from the Austrian-Hungarian Action Fund (to FK and CSZ). Some of the samples have come from Museum Joanneum, Graz, we are grateful for their contribution.

The authors gratefully appreciate the kind help of Márta Berkesi, Zsanett Pintér and Miklós Veres with the Raman analyses. We wish to acknowledge the two anonymous referees on behalf of the journal for their constructive criticism on the earlier version of the manuscript. A.M. thanks Miss Katharina Kuerbisch for the drawing of Fig. 1c-the sketch of the Styrian Basin. This is the publication N 55 of the LRG, ELTE in collaboration with MFGI and the University of Vienna.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological and Geophysical Institute of Hungary, 1145, Budapest, Columbus u. 17-21, Hungary

    Kálmán Török, Bianka Németh & Júlia Dégi

  2. Department of Lithospheric Research, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Friedrich Koller

  3. School of Geological Sciences, UCD Science Centre, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Eszter Badenszki

  4. Lithosphere Research Group, Department of Petrology and Geochemistry, Eötvös University, 1117, Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Hungary

    Csaba Szabó

  5. Institute of Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Graz, Universitaetsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Aberra Mogessie

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  1. Kálmán Török
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  2. Bianka Németh
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  3. Friedrich Koller
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  4. Júlia Dégi
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Correspondence to Kálmán Török.

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Editorial handling: R. Abart

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Török, K., Németh, B., Koller, F. et al. Evolution of the middle crust beneath the western Pannonian Basin: a xenolith study. Miner Petrol 108, 33–47 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-013-0287-1

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