Layered intrusions are fossilized natural laboratories that historically have constrained many fundamental principles of igneous petrology. Layered intrusions are typically stratiform, usually sill-like bodies of cumulate rocks, at least a few hundred metres to as much as 10 km thick, characterized by the presence of a variety of different types of layering over a range of length scales. They are the solid record of crystallization, differentiation and solidification processes of mainly basaltic magmas. The importance of layered intrusions also lies in hosting a significant proportion of the world's known reserves and resources of important critical metals: particularly, the majority of the global resource of platinum-group elements (PGE), chromium (Cr) and vanadium (V) and also very large resources of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co). This paper summarizes the progress that has been made in the study of layered intrusions during the last three decades. The progress is marked by a number of novel observations from layered intrusions. Among them are: (1) draping of igneous layering over a few-km-high sloping step in the chamber floor; (2) development of igneous layering on the overturned to undercutting portions of a chamber floor; (3) magmatic karstification of the floor cumulates, (4) existence of three-dimensional framework of crystals in (oxide) cumulates; (5) systematic variations in dihedral angles between touching grains, and other microtextural features; (6) Cr-rich structures at the base of magnetitite layers; (7) co-existence of melt inclusions of contrasting composition in minerals; (8) thermal and chemical histories recorded by plagioclase; (9) textural and chemical features of minerals revealed by X-ray microscopy, (10) intrusion-scale to mineral-scale isotopic heterogeneity; (11) out-of-sequence zircon ages; and (12) skeletal/dendritic growth of minerals revealed by minor element zonation. The progress is also evident from development of several new concepts and refinement of some established ones. These include: (1) time and length scales in layered intrusion processes, (2) catastrophically fast growth of magma chambers, (3) out-of-sequence emplacement in layered intrusions, (4) large-scale slumping and mineral sorting in layered intrusions, (5) production of monomineralic cumulates from single phase-saturated melts, (6) origin of non-cotectic cumulate by in situ growth, (7) the arrival of new phases on the liquidus, (8) inward propagation of solidification fronts, (9) mushy and hard chamber floor, (10) absence of roof sequences due to their disruption, (11) basal reversals and chilled margins, (12) adcumulus growth theory, (13) compositionally stratified magma chambers, (14) melt-sediment interactions during magma chamber growth, (15) lateral reactive infiltration in a crystal mush, (16) reactions involving conjugate immiscible liquids in crystal mushes, and (17) constraints on subsolidus processes from non-traditional Fe-Mg-Cr stable isotopes. Finally, we show that the major controversies regarding layered intrusions currently revolve around whether: (a) the microstructure of igneous rocks are primary or secondary and (b) compaction in layered intrusions is pervasive or non-existent (c) large, long-lived and entirely-molten magma chambers exist or not. The review shows that layered intrusions provide ground-truth information on the processes of magma crystallization, differentiation, and solidification in crustal chambers as well as on mechanisms of ore-forming elements concentration into economically viable mineral deposits. We propose a few lines for future research that may potentially raise igneous petrology to a new level of understanding of the processes that govern the evolution of terrestrial magmatic systems.
During few recent decades, a surge in thermodynamically controlled geochemical models for igneous systems has occurred.These provide considerable potential to study the evolution of economically important primitive open magma systems, including layered intrusions.Here we provide an overview of the recent findings of the PALIN-research project based at the University of Helsinki that utilizes such tools for studying various magmatic settings.The findings indicate that assimilation of wall-rocks, often crucial to ore formation, is a complex and selective process and can have unforeseen consequences related to geochemical evolution of primitive magmas.We further consider future challenges related to modeling and understanding of intrusive open systems.
Magmas readily react with their wall-rocks forming metamorphic contact aureoles. Sulphur and possibly metal mobilization within these contact aureoles is essential in the formation of economic magmatic sulphide deposits. We performed heating and partial melting experiments on a black shale sample from the Paleoproterozoic Virginia Formation, which is the main source of sulphur for the world-class Cu-Ni sulphide deposits of the 1.1 Ga Duluth Complex, Minnesota. These experiments show that an autochthonous devolatilization fluid effectively mobilizes carbon, sulphur, and copper in the black shale within subsolidus conditions (≤ 700 °C). Further mobilization occurs when the black shale melts and droplets of Cu-rich sulphide melt and pyrrhotite form at ∼1000 °C. The sulphide droplets attach to bubbles of devolatilization fluid, which promotes buoyancy-driven transportation in silicate melt. Our study shows that devolatilization fluids can supply large proportions of sulphur and copper in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusion-hosted Cu-Ni sulphide deposits.
The interactions of magmas with their surroundings are important in the evolution of igneous systems and the crust. In this chapter, we conceptually distinguish assimilation from other modes of magmatic interaction and discuss a range of geochemical assimilation models. We define assimilation in its simplest form as an end-member mode of magmatic interaction in which an initial state ( t 0 ) that includes a system of melt and solid wall rock evolves to a later state ( t n ) where the two entities have been homogenized. In complex natural systems, assimilation can refer more broadly to a process where a mass of magma wholly or partially homogenizes with materials derived from wall rock that initially behaves as a solid. The first geochemical models of assimilation used binary mixing equations and then evolved to take account mass balance and fractional crystallization. Most recent tools, such as the Magma Chamber Simulator, treat open systems thermodynamically in order to simulate geochemical changes in crystallizing magma and partially melting wall rock. Such thermodynamic considerations are a prerequisite for understanding the consequences of assimilation. The geochemical signatures of magmatic systems—although dominated for some elements (particularly major elements) by crystallization processes—may be considerably influenced by simultaneous assimilation of partial melts of compositionally distinct wall rock.
Magmas readily react with their surroundings, which may be other magmas or solid rocks. Such reactions are important in the chemical and physical evolution of magmatic systems and the crust, for example, in inducing volcanic eruptions and in the formation of ore deposits. In this contribution, we conceptually distinguish assimilation from other modes of magmatic interaction and discuss and review a range of geochemical (+/- thermodynamical) models used to model assimilation. We define assimilation in its simplest form as an end-member mode of magmatic interaction in which an initial state (t0) that includes a system of melt and solid wallrock evolves to a later state (tn) where the two entities have been homogenized. In complex natural systems, assimilation can refer more broadly to a process where a mass of magma wholly or partially homogenizes with materials derived from wallrock that initially behaves as a solid. The first geochemical models of assimilation used binary mixing equations and then evolved to incorporate mass balance between a constant-composition assimilant and magma undergoing simultaneous fractional crystallization. More recent tools incorporate energy and mass conservation in order to simulate changing magma composition as wallrock undergoes partial melting. For example, the Magma Chamber Simulator utilizes thermodynamic constraints to document the phase equilibria and major element, trace element, and isotopic evolution of an assimilating and crystallizing magma body. Such thermodynamic considerations are prerequisite for understanding the importance and thermochemical consequences of assimilation in nature, and confirm that bulk assimilation of large amounts of solid wallrock is limited by the enthalpy available from the crystallizing resident magma. Nevertheless, the geochemical signatures of magmatic systems-although dominated for some elements (particularly major elements) by crystallization processes-may be influenced by simultaneous assimilation of partial melts of compositionally distinct wallrock.
Earth and Space Science Open Archive This work has been accepted for publication in AGU Books. Version of RecordESSOAr is a venue for early communication or feedback before peer review. Data may be preliminary. Learn more about preprints. preprintOpen AccessYou are viewing an older version [v1]Go to new versionFrom Binary Mixing to Magma Chamber Simulator - Geochemical Modeling of Assimilation in Magmatic SystemsAuthorsJussi SHeinoneniDKieran AIlesAkuHeinoneniDRiikkaFrediDVille JVirtanenWendy ABohrsonFrank JSperaSee all authors Jussi S HeinoneniDCorresponding Author• Submitting AuthorUniversity of HelsinkiiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8998-4357view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressKieran A IlesUniversity of Helsinkiview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressAku HeinoneniDUniversity of HelsinkiiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6650-4146view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressRiikka FrediDUniversity of HelsinkiiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4549-9082view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressVille J VirtanenUniversity of Helsinkiview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressWendy A BohrsonColorado School of Minesview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressFrank J SperaUniversity of California Santa Barbaraview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email address
Abstract Paleoproterozoic (2.05 Ga) komatiites are widespread in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt (CLGB), northern Finland. Close association with sulfur (S)-rich country rocks and spatiotemporal connection with the Cu-Ni(-PGE) deposits of Kevitsa and Sakatti make these komatiites interesting targets for sulfide deposit exploration. We provide whole-rock geochemical data from Sattasvaara komatiites and combine it with literature data to form a geochemical database for the CLGB komatiites. We construct a model for the komatiites from adiabatic melting of the mantle source to fractional crystallization at crustal conditions. Using MELTS, we calculate three parental melts (MgO = 20.6–25.7 wt%) in equilibrium with Fo 92 , Fo 93 , and Fo 94 olivine for the CLGB komatiites. Based on REEBOX PRO simulations, these parental melts can form from a single mantle source by different pressures and degrees of melting when the potential temperature is 1575–1700 °C. We calculate ranges of S contents for the parental melts based on the different mantle melting conditions and degrees of melting. We use Magma Chamber Simulator to fractionally crystallize the parental melt at crustal conditions. These simulations reproduce the major element oxide, Ni, Cu, and S contents from our komatiite database. Simulated Ni contents in olivine are compatible with literature data from Kevitsa and Sakatti, hence providing a baseline to identify Ni-depleted olivine in CLGB komatiites and related intrusive rocks. We show that fractional crystallization of the komatiitic parental melt can form either Ni-rich or Cu-rich sulfide melt, depending on the initial Ni and S content of the parental melt.
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