Redox evolution of differentiating hydrous basaltic magmas recorded by zircon and apatites in mafic cumulates: The case of the Malayer Plutonic Complex, Western Iran

Mafic-ultramafic cumulates can provide records of basaltic magma chambers' conditions and processes, which are often difficult to determine in areas dominated by crustal-derived felsic intrusions, such as the Malayer Plutonic Complex (MPC), Western Iran. New U-Pb zircon ages for mafic cumulates in the MPC confirm the presence of isolated magma chambers of contrasting compositions during Middle Jurassic. Mafic cumulates found in seven separate zones across the MPC vary from olivine gabbro to anorthosite. While the mineralogical, textural, and geochemical lines of evidence recorded in mafic cumulates indicate pH(2)O controls on the liquidus phases, the estimated oxygen fugacity (logfO(2)) using zircon and apatite chemistry suggests a smoothly rising redox state during the fractionation process, consistent with the trend expected for late-stages differentiation of hydrous arc magmas. This trend is further confirmed by sulfur speciation in apatites determined from microbeam sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (mu-XANES) spectra (Sigma(6+)/Sigma(S) = 0.93-0.98 similar to FMQ + 2 to 0.99 similar to FMQ + 3, where Sigma(S) = S6++S4++S2-). The low S content and increasing redox state of the fractionating basaltic melts most likely resulted from preferential removal of sulfur en-route to the magma chambers along with effective assimilation of oxidizing crustal components. The reduced condition in the early basaltic melt is also evidenced by the presence of pyrite and magnetite inclusions in olivines in mafic cumulates. The shift in the prevailing fO(2) from sulfide-saturated to sulfate-bearing recorded by MPC mafic cumulates, similar to that in other magmatic arcs, is accompanied by changes in the differentiation path from transitional tholeiitic to calc-alkaline.

Automated summary

Mafic-ultramafic cumulates in the Malayer Plutonic Complex (MPC), Western Iran, provide records of basaltic magma chambers' conditions and processes during the Middle Jurassic. The evidence suggests a rising redox state during the fractionation process, consistent with the differentiation of hydrous arc magmas. The shift in fO(2) from sulfide-saturated to sulfate-bearing is accompanied by changes in the differentiation path from transitional tholeiitic to calc-alkaline.