Garnetites from Marun-Keu eclogite complex (Polar Urals): geochemistry and the problem of genesis

Abstract

A comprehensive mineralogical and geochemical characterization (XRF, ICP-MS, SEM-EDS, SIMS methods) of garnetites and their protoliths from the Marun-Keu complex (Polar Urals), one of the key objects in understanding the evolution of the Uralian Orogen, is presented. Garnetites and their protoliths from the Marun-Keu complex, Polar Urals, a key locality for understanding the evolution of the Uralian Orogen, are described mineralogically and geochemically using XRF, ICP-MS, SEM-EDS and SIMS methods. Ultramafic (in most cases) and mafic rocks are understood as protoliths for garnetites. A general trend for garnetites is an increase in total REE concentration relative to that of their protoliths. All the analyzed garnetites display a considerable decrease in Cr, Ni and Co. V concentration in the garnetites is also lower than that of the protoliths, though not so markedly. Garnets from garnetites evolving after peridotites generally exhibit elevated (relative to garnets from garnetites evolving after mafic rocks, such as porphyrites) Prp and lowered Alm content, which seems to be due to high Mg concentration in the protolith. In garnetites after peridotites a garnet exhibiting an uncommon non-differentiated REE spectrum with a considerable positive Eu-anomaly was found, which could be due to the inheritance of a REE spectrum by garnet from a precursor mineral, in this case plagioclase. Slyudyanaya Gorka garnetites were probably formed from mafic and ultramafic rocks in oceanic crust, which migrated to higher levels of the section under the influence of the crustal fluid flowing along fracturing zones.

Keywords

• garnetites
• eclogites
• garnets
• trace elements
• rare earth elements
• marun-keu complex