Partial melting of diverse crustal sources — Constraints from Sr–Nd–O isotope compositions of quartz diorite–granodiorite–leucogranite associations (Kaoko Belt, Namibia)

The Torrabaai–Koigabmond Complex (southern Kaoko Belt, Namibia) consists of three main intrusive rock types including metaluminous hornblende- and titanite-bearing quartz diorites, metaluminous hornblende- and biotite-bearing granodiorites and peraluminous garnet- and muscovite-bearing leucogranites. Uranium–Pb zircon data obtained on the granodiorites and leucogranites indicate concordia upper intercept ages of 553 ± 40 Ma although 207Pb/206Pb ages of ca. 650 Ma in zircon from the granodiorites suggest some inheritance of older material. Uranium–Pb monazite data obtained on the leucogranites give concordant ages of 550 Ma ± 3 Ma. These ages are similar to the 87Rb/86Sr whole rock age of 584 ± 35 Ma obtained on the granodiorites and leucogranites although the Rb–Sr age seems to be biased towards older ages due to limited assimilation of older material. In contrast to other plutonic complexes from the Kaoko Belt, the quartz diorites, granodiorites and granites show a restricted range in their initial Nd, Sr and O isotope compositions (quartz diorites: εNd (init.): − 5.4 to − 6.7; δ18O: 8.3–9.4‰; 87Sr/86Sr: 0.7081–0.7098; granodiorites: εNd (init.): − 6.1 to − 7.7; δ18O: 9.9–10.9‰; 87Sr/86Sr: 0.7071–0.7105; leucogranites: εNd (init): − 4.9 to − 8.7; δ18O: 9.8–11.3‰; 87Sr/86Sr: 0.7060–0.7125). Enclaves are found in the granodiorites and leucogranites but not in the quartz diorites. They have a granodioritic composition with quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar and hornblende and some have additional garnet. Relative to the country rock gneisses (the so called Nk Formation), enclaves are depleted in SiO2, Na2O, K2O, Sr, Ba and enriched in CaO, FeO(total), MgO, TiO2, Sc, V, Cr, Ni, Rb and Y. Rare garnet-bearing enclaves are additionally depleted in LREE and enriched in HREE relative to the granodiorites. These features are qualitatively consistent with the hypothesis that these enclaves may represent moderately depleted melting residues of Nk Formation gneisses. In comparison with experimentally derived melts and based on low Al2O3/(FeO + MgO + TiO2) ratios and high Al2O3 + FeO +MgO + TiO2 values it is suggested that the quartz diorites are generated by dehydration melting of a mafic, amphibole- and plagioclase-bearing lower crustal source of Pan-African age. The granodiorites likely represent fractionation products of the quartz diorites. However, it is also possible that the granodiorites represent partial melting products of a mafic to intermediate lower crustal source but experienced likely slightly lower degrees of melting probably at water present conditions. The leucogranites display higher Al2O3/(FeO + MgO + TiO2) ratios but lower Al2O3 + FeO + MgO + TiO2 values and are most likely generated by biotite dehydration melting of felsic crustal sources. Major and trace element and isotope variations indicate that fractional crystallization with only limited crustal contamination was the major rock-forming mechanism. It is suggested that most of the isotope variation reflects pre-existing heterogeneities of the sources. Consequently, interpretation of geochemical and isotope data from the complex suggests that the Pan-African igneous activity in this part of the Damara–Kaoko Belt was not a major crust-forming episode and all rock types represent reprocessed crustal material.