The juxtaposition of Cambrian and early Ordovician magmatism in the Tafi del Valle area. Characteristics and recognition of Pampean and Famatinian magmatic suites in the easternmost Sierras Pampeanas
Journal
JOURNAL OF SOUTH AMERICAN EARTH SCIENCES
Date Issued
2020-12
Author(s)
Bellos, Laura Iudith
Díaz-Alvarado, Juan
López, Jose Pablo
Rodríguez, Natalia
Acosta Nagle, Ana Eugenia
Tassinari, Colombo Celso Gaeta
Altenberger, Uwe
Schleicher, Anja
Abstract
Along more than 1000 km, the boundary between the Pampean and Famatinian belts separates the Cambrian magmatism to the east (540-515 Ma) from the easternmost granitic rocks ascribed to the Famatinian orogeny to the west (early Ordovician). The geochronological and geochemical study presented in this work has revealed the first Cambrian magmatism in the Sierras de Aconquija and Cumbres Calchaquies at the northeastern edge of the Famatinian belt. Pabell ' on (522 +/- 2.8 Ma) and Nunorco Grande (478.3 +/- 2.3 Ma) intrusive units form part of the small plutons exposed together in the Tafi del Valle area, which have been related according to their geochemical characteristics. The good correlation observed between ages and characteristic geochemical signatures have motivated the comparison with other intrusive complexes along the Pampean and eastern Famatinian belts, resulting in regional diagnostic geochemical features and a petrogenetic and evolutive proposal for the Cambrian and early Ordovician magmatism in the eastern Sierras Pampeanas. Easternmost early Ordovician granitic rocks constitute a calcic, weak to moderately peraluminous series. They are Sr-rich tonalitic to monzogranitic magmas (SiO2 >62 %wt.) with steep REE patterns, positive and negative Eu anomalies, high Sr/Y and moderate Ce/Yb ratios. Accordingly, the water-fluxed melting of a mafic source under high to moderate pressures may be involved in the origin of silicaand Ca-rich parental magma. The shallower evolution of these melts consists of Pl-dominated fractionation trends that finally constituted Pl-rich crystal mushes (tonalites) and more felsic residual liquids. Regarding Cambrian granodiorites and monzogranites, any petrogenetic scheme must consider the magnesian, high-K calc-alkalic characteristics for a short-range silica variation, low to moderate peraluminosity and high zircon saturation temperatures (>850 degrees C). Source conditions are determined by the presence of Pl and Hbl in the solid assemblage based on the REE patterns. These geochemical characteristics point to the extensive HT-LP melting of a dominantly crustal source, probably assisted by the injection of hot H2O-rich mafic melts.


