Discovery of Mg-righ volcanic rock series in western Altay area, Xinjiang and its geologic significance

Abstract

A series of Mg-rich volcanic rocks, including rare Mg-rich dacites in the Asherle copper mine, western Altay Area, has been found. This suite of Mg-rich volcanic rocks is characterized by high SiO₂, MgO and low Ti contents. Compared with the island arc tholeiite and MORB, these rocks are depleted in HFSE and are therefore similar to boninite. The dacites show V-shaped distribution REE patterns whereas the basalts display flat or LREE-depletton patterns. Based on their geochemical features and occurrence, it is suggested that they were formed in oceanic island arc setting. Its petrogenesis is related to the slab movement. At the early stage, the peridotite of the ocean upper mantle diapirically uprised to the shallow level and started to melt owing to subduction of the ocean slab, forming the island arc tholeiite with pillow structure. At the late stage, the residual refractory peridotites melted again, giving rise to the formation of the parent magma of Mg-rich basalt.