The Anvil plutonic suite, Faro, Yukon Territory
The Anvil plutonic suite consists of three phases: a peraluminous muscovite–biotite granite (Mount Mye phase) and two metaluminous to peraluminous hornblende–biotite granodiorite and minor granite intrusions (Orchay and Marjorie phases). The suite is massive or foliated, equigranular or seriate, and...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1985
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e85-122 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e85-122 |
| Summary: | The Anvil plutonic suite consists of three phases: a peraluminous muscovite–biotite granite (Mount Mye phase) and two metaluminous to peraluminous hornblende–biotite granodiorite and minor granite intrusions (Orchay and Marjorie phases). The suite is massive or foliated, equigranular or seriate, and contains alkali-feldspar megacrysts. The Marjorie phase is characteristically porphyritic.Geochemical trends are irregular for the suite and for individual phases. High-K 2 O, low-CaO, and low-MgO compositions typify the silicic, calc-alkaline suite. Hornblende-bearing phases contain less SiO 2 , K 2 O, and Rb and more cafemic oxides, TiO 2 , Sr, Ba, and Y than the Mount Mye phase and are compositionally similar to coeval South Fork volcanics.Isochrons from some of the Orchay phase whole-rock samples (t = 99 ± 2.5 Ma; 87 Sr/ 86 Sr i = 0.7161 ± 0.0001) and from whole rocks and minerals of the Mount Mye phase (t = 100 ± 2 Ma; 87 Sr/ 86 Sr i = 0.7405 ± 0.0001) indicate they are coeval but not comagmatic, accounting for the lithologic, petrographic, and geochemical distinctions. Similar K–Ar isotopic ages (81–102 Ma) suggest rapid cooling and therefore high-level emplacement. Together, the isotopic ages provide a minimum (youngest) age for the main deformation of the surrounding metasediments and a maximum (oldest) age for movement along the Tintina Fault.A petrographically and geochemically distinct sample from the Orchay phase yielded a Rb–Sr isochron age of 61 ± 1.5 Ma and an initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of 0.7090 ± 0.0001, implying intrusive activity in the Paleocene.Field relations, lithology, petrography, geochronometry, and geochemistry suggest that the Orchay and Marjorie phases are plutonic equivalents of the South Fork volcanics. Similarities in plutonic style characterize the extensive mid-Cretaceous igneous event in southeast Yukon. |
|---|