Generation of A-type granitic melts during the late Svecofennian metamorphism in southern Finland

Abstract

Across southern Finland the Late Svecofennian Granite Migmatite zone contains large amounts of migmatites and S-type granites formed during the high temperature and low pressure metamorphism between 1.84 and 1.80 Ga. Within this zone, the Karjaa granite intrudes the surrounding migmatites. The granite is more fine-grained and darker than the surrounding anatectic S-type granites, which are associated with the migmatites. The Karjaa granite cuts the migmatites suggesting that it is coeval or younger than the migmatites. It is a two-feldspar biotite granite containing apatite and zircon as accessory minerals. The granite displays elevated TiO₂, P₂O₅ and F contents and is characterized by high Ba, Zr, Nb, and Ga contents. The REE patterns indicate strong enrichment in LREEs and a pronounced europium minimum. The crystallization temperature of the granite is estimated to about 900°C using the P₂O₅ and Zr-saturation methods. Cathodoluminescence images on zircons indicate core domains and overgrowth structures. SIMS dating of the zircon cores and rims yielded concordia ages of 1880±16 Ma and 1826±11 Ma, respectively. On the basis of these data, it seems that c. 1880 Ma old igneous rocks at deeper crustal levels partially melted during at c. 1825 Ma metamorphism and generated hot melts having a composition close to A-type granites.

Keywords:

• A-type granite
• geochronology
• U-Pb
• zircon
• geochemistry
• Karjaa
• Finland