Late Neoproterozoic A-type granites in the northernmost Arabian-Nubian Shield formed by fractionation of basaltic melts

Geochemical, isotopic and age constraints support a comagmatic origin for Ghuweir Mafics and the Feinan A-type granites. The two rocks types, named collectively in this paper as the Feinan Ghuweir Magmatic Suite (FGMS), formed between 556 and 572 Ma ago according to Rb-Sr whole-rock dating. FGMS has low Sr initial ratios, which preclude a significant contribution of much older crust in the magma genesis. The FGMS has a wide range of silica contents, with a gap at 55-65wt% SiO2. It has a transalkaline to alkaline character, belongs to the medium to high K calc-alkaline series, it ranges from metaluminous to mildly peraluminous character and belongs to the alkali and alkali-calcic series. The Feinan granites and the Ghuweir rhyolites and rhyodacites are classified as A-type granites and belong to group A2 of Eby [Eby, N.G., 1992. Chemical subdivision of the A-type granitoids: petrogenetic and tectonic iplications. Geology 20, 641-644]. According to geochemical modeling the Ghuweir Mafics were derived from a subduction modified lithospheric mantle by 10% batch modal partial melting of a phlogopite-bearing spinel therzolite. The intra-suite geochemical variations can be ascribed to fractional crystallization of olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase. The accumulation of apatite in the most evolved samples is responsible for the high concentrations of REE. The Feinan granites and the Ghuweir rhyolites and rhyodacites were derived from the mafic magma by the fractional crystallization of approximate to 78% of the original magma to the mineral assemblage olivine + pyroxene + plagioclase+magnetite. The intra-suite geochemical variations in the Feinan A-type granites are due to the fractional crystallization of the mineral phases: amphibole + Na and K-feldspar + apatite + magnetite + zircon + allanite. The FGMS correlates with time-equivalent rocks in many parts of the Arabian-Nubian Shield and the surrounding areas. (C) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.