Effects of fluids on the interaction of granites with limestones: The Notch Peak stock, Utah

Abstract

In this paper we consider the mechanisms by which the mineralogy and composition of the margins of the Notch Peak granitic stock, Utah, were affected by calcareous argillite country rocks. The contact zone of the granite relative to the unaffected granite is enriched in: K₂O from about 4 to 10 wt.%, Rb from 250 to 510 ppm, Sr from 150 to 790 ppm and Ba from 250 to 2160 ppm. Locally, some of the intrusive rocks at the contact are nearly devoid of quartz and can be classified as syenites. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios range from 0.7069 in the unaffected rocks to 0.7100 in the potassium-enriched samples, approaching the values of the calc-silicate country rocks of about 0.7110.

Calculations show that the characteristics of the contact zone near the top of the stock are the result of a number of sequential processes. CO₂-rich fluids derived from the heated calcareous argillites apparently caused a shift in the phase boundaries in the magma, enhancing accumulation of K-feldspar and high-Ca augite at the expense of other phases. The accumulation resulted in the high Ba and Sr concentrations in some samples. However, the high K₂O and Rb concentrations and magmatic δ¹⁸O values indicate infiltration of magmatic fluid emanating from the solidifying lower portions of the pluton subsequent to solidification of the cap. The minimum fluid-rock ratios of 4.6 by mass, calculated on the basis of K₂O and Rb concentration shifts, indicate that a substantial amount of the fluid was channeled through this contact zone. The desilication of the rocks forming the syenitic samples at the contact apparently occurred when a chemical potential gradient of silica between the granite and wall-rocks was established as quartz was consumed in the wall-rocks during calc-silicate reactions. The infiltrating magmatic fluid probably acted as a medium for transport of silica across the contact and perhaps exchange of Sr between the country rocks and the intrusion where up to 30% of strontium in the granitic and syenitic samples from the contact zone was derived from the calc-silicates. The syenitic rocks cannot be explained by desilication reactions involving assimilation of the calc-silicates by the granite magma. The results of this study show that fluids interacting with the country rocks need to be considered to explain the effects of country rocks on the composition of the margins of granitic intrusions.