Paleoproterozoic Variolitic Lavas from the Onega Basin, Fennoscandian Shield: Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Origin

The Yalguba Ridge volcanic rocks form part of the Middle Paleoproterozoic (ca. 1.97 Ga) volcano-sedimentary sequence within the Karelian Craton in the Fennoscandian Shield. Yalguba variolitic textures are known worldwide and have been previously considered to originate from liquid immiscibility. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Minerals
Main Authors: Sergei A. Svetov, Svetlana Y. Chazhengina, Alexandra V. Stepanova
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3390/min13101320
https://doaj.org/article/4eac090f842c4dcb915f5bbd2e919031
Description
Summary:The Yalguba Ridge volcanic rocks form part of the Middle Paleoproterozoic (ca. 1.97 Ga) volcano-sedimentary sequence within the Karelian Craton in the Fennoscandian Shield. Yalguba variolitic textures are known worldwide and have been previously considered to originate from liquid immiscibility. The present study reveals two new variolite types recognized in the Yalguba sequence: (1) Variolites with unzoned varioles have distinct chemical and mineralogical compositions of varioles and matrix that support an origin by liquid immiscibility. They were recognized in quenched zones of pillows, so it might be assumed that melt separation caused by liquid immiscibility occurred before magma emplacement. The difference from the previously described variolites lies in the variole microtexture and might be caused by the various cooling conditions. (2) Spherulitic variolites have varioles composed of andesine–oligoclase spherulites embedded in the cryptocrystalline matrix with oligoclase–anorthoclase composition, thus the variole and matrix have similar chemical and mineralogical composition. The mineralogical and textural features of these variolites suggest that the spherulites have a primary magmatic origin due to the rapid cooling of superheated magma. The variety of variolitic textures in the Yalguba section might be caused by the different H 2 O saturation of parental magma and cooling conditions.