The Permian-Triassic Intracratonic Magmatic Corridor of La Pampa province, Argentina: new U-Pb SHRIMP ages, Hf isotopic composition, and geodynamic implications

  • Carlos J. Chernicoff Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Servicio Geológico-Minero Argentino, Av. Gral Paz 5445, San Martín, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Eduardo O. Zappettini Servicio Geológico-Minero Argentino, Av. Gral Paz 5445, San Martín, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • João O. Santos Center of Exploration Targeting, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, Australia.
  • Neal McNaughton John de Laeter Centre, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley 9102, Australia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22201/cgeo.20072902e.2019.1.930
Keywords: intracratonic magmatic corridor, U-Pb SHRIMP age, Hf isotopes, Permian-Triassic, La Pampa province, Argentina

Abstract

A study and review of the magmatic units that make up the Permian-Triassic Intracratonic Magmatic Corridor of La Pampa (CMPT-LP), south-central Argentina, has been carried out. New U-Pb SHRIMP ages, Hf isotopic composition, and chemical composition of some units of the CMPT-LP have been obtained, i.e. 1) Chacharramendi Syenogranite, age 254.7 ± 1.3 Ma (Late Permian, Lopingian), Hf model age of 1640 Ma

with εHf average of -5.68; 2) Lihue Calel Rhyolite, 239.3 ± 1.5 Ma (Middle Triassic), Hf model age of 1640 Ma with εHf average -5.56. This indicates that the two dated units were crystallized from a mantle-derived melt that incorporated crust of late Statherian up to Calymmian age, taking also into account a Nd model age of 1483 Ma for the more distal (southeasternmost) sector (López Lecube Granite) of the CMPT-LP obtained by other authors.

New geochemical data reported here, analyzed together with previous geochemical data, denote the anorogenic signature –intraplate environment– of the CMPT-LP magmatic corridor, highlighting its consistency with A1-type granites due to the similarity of their sources with those from which the oceanic island basalts (OIB) derive, as evidenced, e.g., by Y/Nb ratios <1.2. The classification of the rocks of the CMPT-LP mainly within the high potassium type is also consistent with its occurrence in an intraplate tectonic environment. The magmatism in the CMPT-LP has been considered as part of the Choiyoi Group, which is also related to late Permian to Early Triassic extension. Nevertheless, there is a marked contrast between the anorogenic environment of the CMPT-LP and the orogenic context of the Choiyoi Magmatic Arc. For this reason, the convenience of excluding the CMPT-LP from the Choiyoi Group is analyzed. In addition, the tectonic frames of the orogenic belts adjoining the CMPT-LP –San Rafael (or Sanrafaelic, or Choiyoi Arc-retroarc) and Northpatagonian Gondwanide belts– are compared briefly.

Published
2019-03-27
Issue
Vol 36 No 1 (2019)
Section
Regular Papers

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