Melt inclusions in granitoids of the Timma igneous complex, southern Israel

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Geology, Beer-Sheva, Israel

High temperature microthermometry and Scanning Electron Microprobe (SEM) analyses were used to study natural magmatic remnants in quartz crystals in granitoids from the Timna Igneous Complex, southern Israel, and to constrain physicochemical parameters during their crystallization. For the porphyritic granite, alkali granite and quartz monzodiorite, liquidus temperatures are 710-770, 770-830 and 770-840 degrees C, respectively; solidus temperatures are 690-770, 710-790 and 770 degrees C, respectively. Pressures during crystallization and water content in the magmas were determined using the phase diagram of the modal granite system. The determined P-T-conditions are typical for water-saturated granitoid magmas (>4-8 wt.%) generated and crystallized at a shallow crustal level. SEM data on melt inclusions support conclusions of previous investigations on two types of granitoid magmas exposed in the Timna Igneous Complex: the porphyritic and alkali granites. Different trends of crystallization are proposed for these granites. Crystallization of the porphyritic granite started with cotectic crystallization of plagioclase and terminated in residual K-feldspar-rich crystallization; crystallization of the alkali granite took place at higher temperatures, starting with K-rich alkali-feldspar crystallization and terminating in residual Na-rich eutectic crystallization. Parameters not available from other sources-temperature and pressure of the liquidus and solidus stages, water content, trends of crystallization-were obtained for the porphyritic and alkali granites.

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