Title:

Insights on the genesis of the Cretaceous Damaraland igneous complexes in Namibia from a Nd- and Sr-isotopic perspective

Publication Year:
2000
Abstract:

This study presents new Sr and Nd isotopic and major and trace element data from seven Cretaceous igneous complexes in the Damaraland, NW Namibia (Erongo, Brandberg, Paresis, Messum, Etaneno, Kalkfeld, Ondurakorume). The samples analysed represent the full range of compositions present in the province, including felsic magmas whose compositions reflect in large part crustal sources and silica-undersaturated alkaline magmas whose composition gives insight to the mantle component involved. Malic and alkaline rocks (lamprophyres, phonolite, alkaline basalt and nepheline syenite) and carbonatites yield a surprisingly narrow cluster of values for εNd and Sri (at 132 Ma) of -2 to + 1 and 0.7040 to 0.7050, respectively, which represent a near bulk-earth isotopic composition similar to that of the present-day Tristan plume. Other studies of the Damaraland complexes have reported similar findings and it can now be suggested that the dominant mantle component represented in the complexes is plume-derived. There is no evidence in any of the rocks studied for involvement of an old, isotopically enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle. The felsic complexes differ greatly in their Nd isotopic compositions. This can be related to different proportions of mantle to crustal material in the source and the type of crust involved. The peraluminous Erongo granites (εNd = -7 to -9) overlap in isotopic composition with Damara Belt metasediments and granites and are considered to represent crustal melts. In contrast, mantle-derived material dominates the source of metaluminous to peralkaline Brandberg granites (εNd = -1 to -3). Extremely low εNd values and moderate Sr initial ratios of rhyolites from Paresis are unique to that complex (-21 at Sri = 0.71170) and indicate an important contribution of pre-Damara basement in the source.

Publication Title:

Communications of the Geological Survey of Namibia

Publisher:
Geological Survey of Namibia
Volume:
12
Pages:
355-367
Item Type:
Journal Article
Language:
en
Keywords:

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