Isotope disequilibrium during anatexis: a case study of contact melting, Sierra Nevada, California

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

7

Scientific paper

The geochemical consequences of contact melting were investigated in the Sierra Nevada Batholith, where trachyandesite magmas have intruded and melted the host granitic rocks. Partial melting of the granite varies from 10-20% at contact regions, to 50-70% in a granite block within the trachyandesite. Thermal modelling suggests that the temperature of the granite block exceeded its solidus within 3 months of trachyandesite intrusion, reached a maximum of ˜ 1000°C after ca. 1.5 yr, and remained above 500°C for ca. 40 yr. Sr, Nd and Pb isotope data of granitic melts record marked Sr isotope, and to a lesser extent Pb isotope, disequilibrium both within different glass fractions and between glasses and their source. Rb/Sr isochron calculations on residual mineral-glass pairs fail to yield the age of melting obtained by40Ar-39Ar dating (11.9 Ma). Sr and Pb isotope data of glasses establish that major rock-forming minerals of the granite had not attained isotope equilibrium before the onset of melting. Consequently, the isotopic composition of the successive liquid fractions originating from granite melting depended on the relative contribution of each mineral to the elemental budget of the melts. The extrapolation of these results to the petrogenesis of crustal melts and more generally to studies of crustal evolution, suggests that isotope disequilibrium during anatexis and high-grade metamorphism may be a common characteristic of many geologic settings. If future studies substantiate these results, some geochemical models of crustal melting and assimilation may need revision. In addition, marked Sr isotope disequilibrium in the residual mineral phases within the partially melted granite raises concerns about the reliability of radiometric dating in metamorphic terranes.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Isotope disequilibrium during anatexis: a case study of contact melting, Sierra Nevada, California does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Isotope disequilibrium during anatexis: a case study of contact melting, Sierra Nevada, California, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Isotope disequilibrium during anatexis: a case study of contact melting, Sierra Nevada, California will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1317745

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.