Niobium Mineralogy of Pliocene A1-Type Granite of the Carpathian Back-Arc Basin, Central Europe

Abstract

A1-type granite xenoliths occur in alkali basalts erupted during Pliocene–Pleistocene continental rifting of Carpathian back-arc basin (Central Europe). The Pliocene (5.2 Ma) peraluminous calc-alkalic granite contains unusually high concentrations of critical metals bound in Nb, Ta, REE, U, Th-oxides typical for silica-undersaturated alkalic granites, and syenites: columbite-Mn, fergusonite-Y, oxycalciopyrochlore, Nb-rutile, and Ca-niobate (fersmite or viggezite). In contrast, it does not contain allanite and monazite—the main REE-carriers in calc-alkalic granites. The crystallization of REE-bearing Nb-oxides instead of OH-silicates and phosphates was probably caused by strong water deficiency and low phosphorus content in the parental magma. Increased Nb and Ta concentrations have been inherited from the mafic parental magma derived from the metasomatized mantle. The strong Al- and Ca-enrichment probably reflects the specific composition of the mantle wedge modified by fluids, alkalic, and carbonatitic melts liberated from the subducted slab of oceanic crust prior to the Pliocene-Pleistocene rifting.