Geology, geochemistry and Sr-Nd isotope analysis of the Vredenburg batholith and Cape Columbine granites

Abstract

The late− to post−collisional Cape Granite Suite (CGS) located in the southwest of South Africa is comprised of S−, I−, and A−type granites, mafic intrusives, and volcanic flows. The CGS is interpreted to have formed during the closing of the Adamastor Ocean during the Late−Proterozoic to Early−Cambrian. Recently, the S−type granites have received much attention concerning their petrogenesis and sources. However, the I− and A−type granites remain poorly understood and little studied. Therefore, with new geochemical and isotopic data the petrogenesis, sources, and tectonic settings of I− (Vredenburg Batholith) and A−type (Cape Columbine) granites of the CGS form the focus for this study. The major and trace element data presented in this thesis show that the granites from the Vredenburg Batholith are weakly peraluminous to metaluminous, ferroan, and alkali−calcic. Associated with the granites are metaluminous, magnesian, and calc−alkalic igneous enclaves. Formerly, the granites have been interpreted to have formed by fractionation. However, with new geochemical analyses and reassessment of such models, it can be shown that such processes are incompatible with accounting for the chemical variation displayed by the granites and their enclaves. Moreover, the I−type granites and enclaves exhibit positive linear trends between whole−rock major and trace elements vs. maficity (Fe + Mg), which can be explained by co−entrainment of peritectic and accessory phases. The lithogeochemical characteristics of the enclaves and host granite reflect melting of a heterogeneous source. Moreover, the granite and enclave's εNd(t) values reflect melting of Paleoproterozoic-aged crustal sources. Finally, with tectonomagmatic discrimination diagrams, it can be shown that the tectonic setting of the granites indicates a transition from a collisional to extensional regime which corroborates the inferences of previous studies. The Cape Columbine Granites lithogeochemical characteristics are ferroan, calc−alkalic and weakly peraluminous. They show typical A−type granite characteristics in having high silica content, high Na + K values, REE enrichment as compared to S− and I−type granites and strong negative Eu anomalies. For this thesis, it can be shown that anatexis of quartzofeldspathic protolith in an extensional regime produced the chemical variation of the Cape Columbine Granite. Moreover, their isotope ratios are typically radiogenic, indicative of a crustal origin. With this new geochemical data evidence is provided against and in support of previous inferences made about the petrogenesis of the I− and A−type granites of the CGS. This also betters our understanding of the magmatic processes involved in the construction of the CGS over time.