Journal of Economic Geology (Apr 2013)
Granitoid, upper Cretaceous, contamination, Lut block, Kaje, Iran
Abstract
Granitoid rocks of Kaje area, northwest Ferdows, with the composition of diorite, monzodiorite, monzonite, monzogranite, syenogranite and granite, with calk-alkaline and high potassium affinities, have trace and rare earth element geochemical characteristics similar to those from subduction zones, belonging to I-type granitoid rocks. Most of these rocks are oxidized (magnetite series), while one suite is reduced (ilmenite series) showing S-type characteristics. Three samples of granitoid rocks were dated using zircon U-Pb method. Granitoid rocks belong to upper Cretaceous epoch. A granite porphyry with the age of 84.2±1.3 Ma (Santonian stage) is the oldest body followed by a biotite hornblende monzogranite of 70.8±1.4 Ma (Campanian stage) and the youngest body is a hornblende quartz diorite with the age of 67.9±1 Ma (Maastrichtian stage). Initial 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd ratios as well as єNdi for the granite porphyry are 0.708080, 0.512129 and -7.81, respectively. Those ratios for the biotite hornblende monzogranite are 0.706125, 0.512416 and -2.55, respectively; and for the hornblende quartz diorite are 0.707491, 0.512221 and -6.43, respectively. Based on geochemical and isotopic data, three types of granitoid can be distinguished having three different sources and characteristics. The first and oldest one is the granite porphyry of continental crust source, the second one is the monzonite and monzodiorite and the third group is the diorite of mantle source which originated and emplaced in different depths with various rates of contamination. These rocks have higher (87Sr/86Sr)i values compared with the other upper Cretaceous rocks in Bazman and Gazu areas, and lower (87Sr/86Sr)i values in comparison with the Bejestan rocks. Petrochemistry of the granite group is similar to the Bejestan rocks, but these are 10 m.y. younger and the other two groups have similar geochemistry and source to Bazman and Gazu with more contamination by the crust.
