Geochronology, geochemistry and Nd, Sr and Pb isotopes of syn-orogenic granodiorites and granites (Damara orogen, Namibia) - Arc-related plutonism or melting of mafic crustal sources?

The Gawib pluton (Damara Belt, Namibia) consists of two main intrusive rock types; magnesian, calc-alkaline, mostly metaluminous hornblende- and titanite-bearing granodiorites and magnesian to ferroan, metaluminous to slightly peraluminous calc-alkaline granites. Uranium-Pb zircon data obtained on the granodiorites gave concordant ages of 548.5 ± 5.6 Ma indicating that the pluton belongs to the early syn-orogenic magmatism in the Damara orogen. Major and trace element variations indicate that fractional crystallization was the major rock-forming mechanism for the granodiorites. In the absence of high-precision geochronological data, the granites may represent more advanced fractionation products of the granodiorites although distinct Ba-Sr-Rb relationships preclude a direct derivation of the granites from the exposed granodiorites. If the granites originated by extensive fractional crystallization from similar granodiorites, they can only be derived from high-Ba, high-Sr, and low-Rb granodiorites. Crustal contamination was also important in the petrogenesis of both rock types (granodiorites: εNd(init.): − 7 to − 13; 87Sr/86Sr(init.): 0.708-0.713; granites: εNd(init.): − 14 to − 18; 87Sr/86Sr(init.): 0.712-0.726). In contrast to the granodiorites, the granites show more radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios and less radiogenic εNd values indicating different contaminants for both rock types. εNd vs. MgO relationships imply some genetic link to isotopically unevolved quartz diorites similar to those observed at the Palmental complex. This pluton, however, is located c. 80 km NE from the Gawib pluton and probably cannot be viewed as the direct source of the Gawib granodiorites. If such a relationship is allowed, the granodiorites must be viewed as hybrid rocks containing a juvenile component because they were derived from unevolved quartz diorites by fractional crystallization. In addition, AFC processes have also played a role implying that the granodiorites contain also a reprocessed crustal component. Alternatively, comparison with experimentally derived melts implies that the granodiorites are generated by dehydration melting of a mafic, amphibole-bearing lower crustal source. Chemical parameters of the granodiorites compared to experimental results indicate high temperatures of c. 1040 °C. Zirconium saturation temperatures obtained on the most primitive samples gave c. 830 °C whereas apatite saturation temperatures obtained on the same samples give temperatures of c. 960-980 °C; the latter seems to be a more reliable temperature estimate. Interpretation of geochemical and isotope data from the complex suggests that the early synorogenic Pan-African igneous activity in this part of the Damara Belt was a high-temperature intra-crustal event. In contrast to igneous processes along active continental margins that produce also intermediate plutons with calc-alkaline affinities, this igneous event was not a major crust-forming episode and the granodiorites represent mostly reprocessed crustal material.