Tonian granitic magmatism of the Borborema Province, NE Brazil: A review

Abstract

Tonian granitoids, today augen-gneisses and migmatites, showing crystallization ages ranging from 870 Ma to 1000 Ma occur in the Borborema Province, NE Brazil. The majority of them have ages within the 925–970 Ma interval. Few intrusions with ages of ∼1.0 Ga and <900 Ma occur in the Transversal and South subprovinces. The Tonian granitoids constitute the most expressive magmatic rocks of the Cariris Velhos event. The studied granitoids (herein CVG -Cariris Velhos granitoids) intrude slightly older bimodal (but mostly felsic) volcanic successions and metasedimentary sequences in the Transversal and South subprovinces. Tonian granitoids are unknown in the North subprovince. The CVG comprise mainly coarse-grained augen-gneisses of granite to granodiorite composition. Fe-rich biotite (annite) is the main mafic mineral phase, constituting up to 15% of the modal composition. Garnet, muscovite and tourmaline occur as accessory phases in many plutons. The CVG augen–gneisses have high SiO2 (>71%) and alkali contents, they vary from slightly peraluminous to slightly metaluminous, and from slightly magnesian to typical ferrroan rocks. In the migmatized orthogneisses the SiO2 contents are usually <70%. Trace element variations in the CVG are extensive, reflecting the migmatization recorded in some plutons and/or distinct sources. They are Ca-, Sr- and Nb-poor, showing variable Ba (100–1260 ppm), Rb (164–400 ppm) and Zr (144–408 ppm) contents, and high abundances of Y (>40 ppm). The chondrite normalized REE patterns are characterized by strong to moderate negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.23–0.70). In general, the spidergram patterns show deep troughs at Ti, P, Ba and Sr and less pronounced Nb–Ta troughs. These patterns are similar to those reported for anorogenic granites evolved from mixtures of magmas from both crustal and mantle sources. The CVG exhibit TDM model ages ranging from 1.9 to 1.1Ga, with slightly negative to slightly positive ƐNd(t) values, suggesting the involvement of distinct proportions of mantle and crustal components in the source of their protoliths. There is no consensus in the literature about the tectonic setting of the CVG ie they have been related to either continental margin magmatic arc, with possible back–arc association, or extention-related setting, with generation of A-type granites. However, all the available geochemical data suggest that the CVG represent extension related magmatism. The geochemical signature associated to bimodal volcanism, including pyroclastic rocks, with similar ages, and absence, up to now, of evidence for metamorphism of Tonian age, support the hypothesis of extension - related magmatism.