Geochemistry and petrogenesis of intrusions at the Golden Pride gold deposit in the Nzega greenstone belt, Tanzania

S. Kwelwa, S. Manya, Ivo Vos

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    9 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The greenstone sequence at Golden Pride gold deposit in Nzega greenstone belt of northern Tanzania is cross-cut by several intrusions whose geochemistry and petrogenesis is unknown. We present major and trace elements geochemistry of the Golden Pride igneous intrusions with the aim of constraining their petrogenesis and their ancient tectonic setting. The Golden Pride intrusions are geochemically categorized into two main rock suites: the granodiorites (which include the porphyries) and the lamprophyres (formerly intermediate intrusions). The granodiorites are characterized by SiO2 contents of 54.5-69.9wt%, elevated MgO (1.22-3.59wt%) Cr (up to 54ppm), Mg# (35-55) pointing to a mantle component in the source. Compared to the TTG and adakites, the granodiorites are characterized by higher K2O (1.52-4.30wt%), medium HREE (Gd/ErCN=2.13-3.77) and marked enrichment in Ba and Sr (Ba+Sr=819-2922ppm) and are in these respects similar to Archean high Ba-Sr sanukitoids. The rocks in this suite are interpreted to have formed by partial melting of an enriched mantle wedge through two metasomatic events: subduction-related fluids/melts and by metasomatism related to asthenospheric mantle upwelling caused by slab break-off.Compared to the granodiorites, the lamprophyres have higher MgO contents (2.37-3.81wt%), Cr (60-298ppm), Co (31-57ppm) and Mg# (32-40). They also show slight enrichment of the LREE relative to HREE (La/YbCN=3.3-7.1), moderate Nb-Ti depletion and sub-chondritic Zr/Hf ratios (34-41). These geochemical features are attributed to derivation of the Golden Pride lamprophyres by partial melting of the amphibole-rich metasomatized mantle by slab derived hydrous fluids. Both of the Golden Pride intrusion suites show strong affinity to subduction related magmas and we interpret that the entire greenstone sequence and the associated intrusions at Golden Pride gold deposit formed in a late Archaean convergent margin. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)53-64
    JournalJournal of African Earth Sciences
    Volume86
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Geochemistry and petrogenesis of intrusions at the Golden Pride gold deposit in the Nzega greenstone belt, Tanzania'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this