Geothermobarometry of Askaoun Pluton in Ouzellarh-Sirwa Promontory (Central Anti-Atlas; Morocco)

Abdeslam Toummite, Moha Ikenne, El Hassane Beraaouz

Applied Geology and Environmental Geology Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco.

DOI: 10.4236/ojg.2012.23014                

Abstract

Rocks of the late Neoproterozoic Askaoun pluton (558 ± 2 Ma) located in the Ouzellarh-Sirwa promontory (Anti-Atlas) include magmatic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) ranging from rounded to ovoid in shape, dark and fine grained and generally 5 to 10 cm in size, some reaching a size of 50 cm. They are composed of microdiorite, quartz microdiorite and micromonzodiorite, whereas the felsic host rocks comprise mainly quartz-diorite and amphibole-biotite granodiorite based on mineralogical compositions. The mineral assemblage is similar to those described in their hosting granitoids but with different proportions. In this study composition of minerals is used to describe the nature of the magma and estimate the pressure, temperature and oxygen fugacity at which Askaoun pluton is emplaced. Based on chemistry of biotite Askaoun pluton formed from calc-alkaline magma. Compositions of plagioclase (An₅ - An₂₉); hornblende (Mg ≠= 0.59 - 0.65) and biotite (Mg ≠= 0.49 - 0.55) of MMEs are slightly distinct or similar to those of host rocks (An_7-40; hbl Mg ≠= 0.64 - 0.69; Bi Mg ≠= 0.49 - 0.50) which suggest partial to complete equilibration during mafic-felsic magma interaction. The coexisting hornblende and plagioclase (hornblende-plagioclase thermometry), Al content in hornblende (aluminum-in-hornblende barometry) and the assemblage titanite-magnetite-quartz were used to constrain the P, T and fO2 during the crystallization of the parent magmas. The Askaoun pluton was emplaced at temperature ca. 504°C - 633°C and at pressure ca. 0.9 - 4.66 ± 0.6 Kbars (average depth = 6.5 km) from a highly oxidized magma (log fO2 = ?24.8 to ?19.2).

Keywords

Askaoun Pluton; MMEs; Hornblende Thermobarometry; Ouzellargh-Sirwa Promontory; Anti-Atlas; Morocco

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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