Character of formation of the Erdenet-Ovoo porphyry Cu-Mo magmatic center (northern Mongolia) in the zone of influence of a Permo-Triassic plume

Abstract

Abstract The Erdenet-Ovoo magmatic center (EOMC) lies within the North Mongolian magmatic area formed through the interaction of a Permo-Triassic plume with the lithosphere in an environment of active continental margin. Two stages are recognized in the EOMC history: subduction stage with participation of basalt-andesite-dacite-rhyolite series and rifting stage with trachybasalt series. The granitoid magmatism (258–220 Ma) is expressed as the Selenge, Shivota, and ore-bearing porphyry complexes. The formation of the Selenge and Shivota granitoids was preceded by the intrusion of gabbroids. Trachybasalts formed during the granitoid magmatism after the Selenge complex, nearly synchronously with the Shivota and ore-bearing porphyry complexes. At the subduction stage of the EMC evolution, the plume influence is documented from the appearance of gabbros both depleted and enriched in lithophile trace elements similar to volcanic rocks of trachybasalt series and basaltoids of bimodal series in northern Mongolia. The Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotope characteristics of the enriched gabbros suggest the participation of a lower mantle source in their formation. The plume, as a heat carrier, led to a large-scale manifestation of volcanism and, obviously, a wide development of basic rocks of this stage at depth. The basic rocks were the source of granitoid magma that produced the Selenge granitoids. The protolith melted in the >50 km thick crust preventing the wide manifestation of basaltoid volcanism in that period. The increased plume influence, rifting, uplift of the region, and extension of the crust favored the basaltoid and granitoid (Shivota and ore-bearing porphyry) magmatism activity.