Abstract
This data set is the second part of a series reporting chemical data for accessory minerals from felsic igneous rocks. Most data refer to plutonic rocks from the Saxothuringian Zone of the Variscan Orogen (Erzgebirge−Vogtland metallogenic province) in Germany performed between about 1995 and 2005 on surface rocks and borehole samples.
This data set assembles the results of electron-microprobe spot analyses of monazite-(Ce), xenotime-(Y) and zircon from the Li-mica granite massif of Eibenstock. This massif is composed of several, compositionally and texturally distinct sub-intrusions. Least evolved members of the fractionation series are exposed as variably sized enclaves. The pluton is cross-cut by fine-grained aplitic dikes. These late-Variscan (c. 318−320 Ma) granites are highly evolved, rich in Si (72.4-75.8 wt% SiO2), F, P, Li, Rb, Cs, and Sn, mildly to strongly peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.14−1.35), of transitional S−I-type affinity, and spatially and genetically associated with coeval significant Sn−W−(Mo) mineralization.
Most notably, a comparatively large population of grains of all three species is distinguished by abnormal composition, reflecting the chemically evolved nature of their hosts. Probe data indicate that the composition of monazite-(Ce) and zircon changes with fractionation-driven evolution of magma chemistry. Monazite-(Ce) composition extends over an abnormally large range. In the course of magma differentiation, mineral chemistry evolves towards enrichment Th and U and development of flattened and kinked chondrite-normalized LREE patterns, with negative anomalies at La or Nd, or both (also known as lanthanide tetrad effect). Many grains are so rich in Th that they classify as cheralite-(Ce). The concentrations (in oxide wt%) of the radionuclides Th and U maximizes to 51.7 and 5.3, respectively. The maximum concentration of Y amounts to 4.7 wt% Y2O3. Composition of zircon displays a large variability. A greater number of grains or domains are distinguished by abnormal enrichment in (in oxide wt%) P (up to 9.6), Th (up to 12.2), U (up to 8.7), Hf (up to 5.6) Al (up to 2.2), Sc (up to 2.0), Y (up to 7.0), HREE and Y. Enrichment in these elements is usually associated with low analytical totals, reflecting precipitation from volatile-rich magmas and/or their interaction with, and alteration by, late-magmatic fluids. Xenotime-(Y) chemistry is comparatively little sensitive to changes of Eibenstock-magma composition relative to what has been observed for monazite-(Ce) and zircon. The U concentrations in xenotime-(Y) are generally high and maximize to 6.7 wt% UO2. Chondrite-normalized MREE and HREE patterns preferentially in xenotime-(Y) from more evolved magma batches mimic that of their host granites in that they are (a) inclined from Tb-Dy towards Lu, (b) partially evolved the lanthanide tetrad effect, and (c) display above-CHARAC Y/Ho ratios up to 41.
The data set published here contains the complete pile of data acquired for these three accessory minerals. Data are provided as three separate excel files, one for each species (monazite-(Ce); xenotime-(Y); zircon). The data are described in detail in the associated data description file.
