Mobility of trace elements during subduction metamorphism as exemplified by the blueschists of the Kurtushibinsky Range, Western Sayan

• DOI: 10.1134/s0016702909040053
• Publication Date: 2009-05-04T20:29:51Z
• Authors: N. I. Volkova; S. I. Stupakov; G. A. Babin; S. N. Rudnev; A. A. Mongush
• Keywords: TRACE (psycholinguistics)

In order to evaluate the mobility of trace elements during subduction metamorphism, the geochemistry of blueschists of the Dzhebash Group from the Kurtushibinsky Range of the Western Sayan (basins of the Koyard and Oresh rivers) was studied, and the chemical compositions of high-pressure rocks were compared with weakly altered basalts from the same region. The protoliths of the blueschists were probably metabasalts of similar age from the ophiolitic dike complex, the pillow lavas of the Verkhnekoyardsky Formation crowning them, and the pillow basalts of the Kurtushibinsky Formation. The spatial association of the blueschists with the Kurtushibinsky Formation basalts and identical trace element patterns in these rocks allow us to suppose the cogenetic character of their protoliths. Geological and geochemical data suggest their formation in an oceanic plateau setting, whereas the mafic rocks of the dike complex and the Verkhnekoyardsky Formation show island-arc affinity. A comparison of the Dzhebash Group blueschists with the chemically equivalent Kurtushibinsky basalts showed that high-pressure metamorphism caused only minor changes in their compositions. These rocks are almost indistinguishable with respect to such fluid-immobile components as Ti, P, Zr, Hf, Y, and middle and heavy rare earth elements. On the other hand, the blueschists are strongly depleted in potassium. The selective removal of Rb and Ba during blueschist metamorphism was observed only in those samples that showed the most extensive removal of potassium.