Item

Abstract

In this study we examine an interesting occurrence of miarolitic pegmatites in the Königshain granite of the Lusatia region of the Bohemian Massif. This granite is characterized by the extensive development of micro-sized miarolitic pegmatites (typically with diameters of 5 to 15 mm) irregularly distributed through its upper levels, and larger miarolitic pegmatites (up to 1 m) in the uppermost levels. This granite also shows evidence of varied forms of transport of extremely volatile rich residual melts/fluids, in the form of more or less discrete inter-granular melt bodies, and associated magmatic quartz veins formed in tectonic fissures. Together, these provide evidence for the origin of miarolitic pegmatites, both in the specific case of Königshain, and more generally. Our evidence suggests that miarolitic pegmatites form from volatile- and alkali-rich residual melts, ranging from 10 to 50% H2O, far more than typical granitic melts, but far more silicate components than aqueous fluids or vapor suggested by some authors. Using melt inclusions in quartz from the aplitic and graphic granite zones in miarolitic pegmatites in the Königshain granite, we show that two different inclusion populations are present. We provide evidence that the first inclusion population are those related to the primary granite at the level of intrusion, and the second were trapped during the re-crystallization of the granite wall rocks by silicate-rich supercritical fluids moving through the solid crystal framework with a porosity < 25 and a permeability > 0 (see Clarke et al., 2013). Our results show that a significant volume fraction of the miarolitic pegmatites was not created by a pegmatite-forming fluid, but formed in-situ by re-crystallization of wall-rocks, triggered by highly reactive volatiles exsolved from the pegmatite-forming melts. Evidence is also presented which suggests the nature and speed of emplacement of the Königshain granite. This evidence may explain the unusual form and abundance of miarolitic pegmatites in the studied area, and may have application to similar occurrences. Thus, there is a mixture of features which are applicable to miarolitic pegmatites in general, and others which help separate the overriding processes, from the variations produced by local or regional chemical or tectonic characteristics.