Oxidized, magnetite-series, rapakivi-type granites of Carajas, Brazil: Implications for classification and petrogenesis of A-type granites

The varying geochemical and petrogenetic nature of A-type granites is a controversial issue. The oxidized, magnetite-series A-type granites, defined by Anderson and Bender [Anderson, J.L., Bender, E.E., 1989. Nature and origin of Proterozoic A-type granitic magmatism in the southwestern United States of America. Lithos 23, 19-52.], are the most problematic as they do not strictly follow the original definition of A-type granites, and approach calc-alkalineand I-type granites in some aspects. The oxidized Jamon suite A-type granites of the Carajas province of the Amazonian craton are compared with the magnetite-series granites of Laurentia, and other representative A-type granites, including Finnish rapakivi and Lachlan Fold Belt A-type granites, as well as with calc-alkaline, I-type orogenic granites. The geochemistry and petrogenesis of different groups of A-types granites are discussed with an emphasis on oxidized A-type granites in order to define their geochemical signatures and to clarify the processes involved in their petrogenesis. Oxidized A-type granites are clearly distinguished from calc-alkaline Cordilleran granites not only regarding trace element composition, as previously demonstrated, but also in their major element geochemistry. Oxidized A-type granites have high whole-rock FeOt(FeO(t)t + MgO), TiO2/MgO, and k(2)O/Na2O and low Al2O3 and CaO compared to calc-alkaline granites. The contrast of Al2O3 contents in these two granite groups is remarkable. The CaO/(FeOt + MgO + TiO2) vs. CaO + Al2O3 and CaO/(FeOt + MgO + TiO2) vs. Al2O3 diagrams are proposed to distinguish A-type and calc-alkaline granites. Whole-rock FeOt(FeOt+MgO) and the FeOt(FeOt+MgO) vs. Al2O3 and FeOt/(FeOt+MgO) vs. Al2O3/(K2ONa2O) diagrams are suggested for discrimination of oxidized and reduced A-type granites. Experimental data indicate that, besides pressure, the nature of A-type granites is dependent of fO(2) conditions and the water content of magma sources. Oxidized A-type magmas are considered to be derived from melts with appreciable water contents (>= 4 wt.%), originating from lower crustal quartz-feldspathic igneous sources under oxidizing conditions, and which had clinopyroxene as an important residual phase. Reduced A-type granites may be derived from quartz-feldspathic igneous sources with a metasedimentary component or, alternatively, from differentiated tholeiitic sources. The imprint of the different magma sources is largely responsible for the geochemical and petrological contrasts between distinct A-type granite groups. Assunting conditions near the NNO buffer as a minimum for oxidized granites, magnetite-bearing granites formed near FMQ buffer conditions are not stricto sensu oxidized granites and a correspondence between oxidized and reduced A-type granites and, respectively, mangetite-series and itmenite-seties granites is not always observed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.