Feldspar microtextures and multistage thermal history of syenites from the Coldwell Complex, Ontario

Abstract

Optical and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) observations of perthites from augite syenites in the Coldwell Complex (Ontario) reveal a complex set of microtextures that outline a multistage thermal history. Regular microtextures (linear or braid texture, straincontrolled, coherent intergrowths) show a progressive evolution from the margin of the intrusion inwards with lamellar spacings in the range 40–100 nm. The textures evolve in a manner similar to those for the Klokken intrusion and reflect differences in cooling rates and bulk composition. Superimposed upon the regular microtexture are 10 μm scale compositional fluctuations which we call “ripples”. The boundary relationships and bulk composition of ripples, which are themselves Ab-rich and Or-rich linear coherent cryptoperthites, suggest that they formed by coarsening during a phase of high-temperature (∼530°C) fluid-feldspar interaction. This was followed by a return to coherent exsolution in which fluid was not involved. Coarse, irregular, patch microperthite cross-cuts all other microtextures. These final “deuteric” intergrowths are believed to result from a further low-temperature (< 380° C) fluid-feldspar interaction and are associated with subgrain formation and the presence of micropores. The outermost syenite sample, against a gabbro ring structure, has distinctive, modified microtextures, indicating that the gabbro is, at least in part, a later intrusion. Our findings show that TEM work on alkali feldspar microtextures can identify discrete thermal events in the cooling history of igneous plutons and illustrates the potential of such microtextures for establishing the relative ages of intrusive rocks.