Fig. 3. Fragmental andesite with 15 – 30 cm fragments of massive andesite with fragments of uniform mineralogic com-
position but varying in colour from grey to green. North shore of Lake Verkhnee; hammer 35 cm long.
tion pattern with the sills and dikes concentrated on the northeast side of the belt Fig. 2, Table 1.
As the goal of the present paper is to character- ize and interpret a quartz arenite – andesite associ-
ation, uncommon for Archean greenstone belts, these units are described in more detail below.
3. Quartz arenite-bearing assemblage
This assemblage is comprised of three members: calc-alkaline andesites unit A, quartz arenite
horizons unit Q and a unit dominated by felsic volcanic, volcano-sedimentary, reworked volcanic
and chemical sedimentary rocks unit F. The boundary between the andesites unit A and the
underlying Lower Mafic assemblage is most prob- ably a thrust, indicated by intense carbonatization
and silicification near the contact as well as marked up to 1300 stretching of the andesite
amygdale elongation along the a-lineation paral- lel to dip Kozhevnikov et al., 1992. The upper
boundary of the assemblage is the unconformity at the base of the coarse clastic assemblage and
the upper mafic assemblage.
3
.
1
. Andesite unit unit A
3
.
1
.
1
. Field description Massive amygdaloidal, glomeroporphyritic and
coarse pyroclastic andesites are distinguished. The andesite unit varies markedly in thickness 100 –
700 m laterally Fig. 2. In the thickest part of the andesite unit, the following succession of rock
types is observed from the base upward: 1 ca. 200 m-thick amygdaloidal, partly coarse, frag-
mental andesites Fig. 3; 2 massive andesites locally showing some vague indications of internal
heterogeneity thickness about 450 m; 3 amyg- daloidal types, seldom with indications of primi-
tive pillow textures; thickness on the scale of a few metres to tens of metres; and 4 thick andesite
flows with concentrations of plagioclase phe- nocrysts occasionally glomerophenocrysts to-
ward
the top.
The thin
glomeroporphyritic andesite horizon is overlain by the quartz arenite
unit that can be mapped laterally for several km. However, there are substantial structural differ-
belt as well as thin lenticular units among the rocks of the previous assemblage. Some indica-
tions of discordance between these rocks and the underlying and overlying assemblages are appar-
ent in the map patterns Fig. 2. The dacite-rhyo- lite to rhyolite clasts within these rocks are
compositionally uniform and are more felsic than the dacitic matrix. This unit may represent either
oligomictic conglomerates or matrix-supported volcaniclastic rocks. The latter interpretation is
favoured by their close association with felsic flow top breccia observed at some localities.
2
.
3
.
4
. Upper mafic assemblage The fourth essentially volcanogenic assemblage
is represented by a thick pile of pillowed tholeiitic basalts with some thin pyroxenitic komatiite flows
and sills in the lower part. This unit rests uncon- formably on the second and third assemblages
and is cut by individual undated rhyodacite and granodiorite dykes.
2
.
3
.
5
. Intrusi6e rocks Near the margins of the belt, supracrustal rocks
are cut by tonalites in the north and by granites in the south. The interior of the belt is cut by
andesite-dacite sills, rhyodacite-rhyolite quartz and
quartz-plagioclase porphyry
dykes and
stocks as well as mafic and ultramafic sills and dykes. The rocks that cut the volcano-sedimentary
assemblages show an asymmetric areal distribu-
ences between detailed sections A and B Fig. 2. The basic difference lies in the fact that on the
southern shore of Lake Verkhneye section B two stratigraphic subunits of andesites A1 and A2
are distinguished Fig. 4. Here, as in section A, glomeroporphyritic andesites are overlain by a
cross-bedded quartz arenite unit. Resting on the quartz arenites are two texturally similar andesite
horizons, each 6 – 7 m thick. The horizons consist of flow material succeeded upwards by subunits
which display vertical grading from pyroclastic breccia to tuff and lapilli tuff. The third horizon,
a massive flow is overlain by a ca. 7.0 m-thick quartz arenite bed Fig. 5. Except for this local-
ity, no sedimentary rocks have been found in the andesite unit. All the contacts between andesites
and quartz arenites are well-defined and occasion- ally tectonized.
In section B, A.B. Samsonov exposed a contact between glomeroporphyritic andesites and a lower
quartz arenite horizon Fig. 6. In the ca. 50 cm-thick zone near the contact, weathering in the
andesite is indicated by rock disintegration and fine regolith-filled cracks. The andesite immedi-
ately beneath the quartz arenite contact displays coarse garnet and quartz stringers not found else-
where in the unit. These features suggest modifica- tion of original chemical composition near the
contact. At two points, the reddish colour of andesite, observed near the contact within a ca.
1.0 m-wide band, is due to groundwater circula- tion in the more porous contact zone.
3
.
1
.
2
. Petrography All varieties of andesites have consistent min-
eral compositions. Their distinct crystallization, schistosity, mineral or aggregate lineation and
nematogranoblastic structure indicate the meta- morphic nature of the mineral assemblages. The
assemblage green hornblende + plagioclase An =
Fig. 4. Outcrop map of the andesite-quartz arenite association in the section B area.
Fig. 5. Stratigraphic columns for andesite-quartz arenite asso- ciation in sections A and B. Sample numbers appear to the left
of the columns.
23 + quartz + brown biotite + chlorite + epi-
dote is most common. Magnetite and apatite occur as accessories. Hornblende is clearly oriented along
the earlier lineation which is parallel to the dip. The homoaxial replacement of hornblende by colour-
less twinned cummingtonite, observed along ca. 10 m-thick subconcordant zones within the andesite
unit, suggests a local rise in temperature in these zones. The formation of carbonate ankerite near
the lower contact with ferrobasalts is related to the circulation of carbon dioxide solutions in the tec-
tonically active contact zone. In a ca. 1.0 m-thick zone near the upper contact with the quartz arenite
unit, the garnet poikiloblasts with numerous unde- formed rounded quartz inclusions are flattened in
the schistosity plane. Also in this zone, large hornblende poikiloblasts are oriented across earlier
lineation along the late subhorizontal lineation which is parallel to the A
c
-axes of late shear zones. Fine up to 2.0 mm granoblastic quartz veinlets
and chlorite rosettes, concordant with schistosity, are observed here. In amygdaloidal andesites,
amygdales are filled with milky quartz as well as quartz-plagioclase or quartz – chlorite – carbonate
aggregates. Plagioclase plates, up to 1.0 cm in length, that occasionally form stellate aggregates
are characteristic of glomeroporphyritic andesites.
3
.
1
.
3
. Geochemistry The Hisovaara andesites belong to the tholeiitic
magma clan using the scheme of Jensen 1976. With respect to major element geochemistry, the
Hisovaara andesites are tholeiitic andesites similar to those of the Blake River Group in the Abitibi
greenstone belt Xie, 1996. Based on the field appearance of the unit in general and the low LOI
values, we expected to see little evidence for alter- ation. Two pairs of andesite samples 94-PCT-002
004 and 94-PCT-022 023 were taken, with one of each pair from within a few cm of the
quartz arenite and the other member of the pair from 1 – 2 m beneath the contact. When major
element data for the andesites are compared, we observe with increasing proximity to the con-
tact: addition of Fe
+ 3
, K, and P, loss of Mg and Na and variable behaviour of Si, Fe
+ 2
, Al, Na and Ca. Spidergrams of trace element geochemistry
Fig. 7 display a fractionated pattern with nega-
Fig. 6. The basal contact of the quartz arenite with the underlying andesite at location B. The lighter coloured quartz
arenite lies above the lighter about 7.5 cm long and the weathered andesite beneath the lighter.
tive anomalies for TiO
2
, Ta and Nb typical of island arc volcanism. The negative Hf anomalies
in some samples are due to incomplete sample dissolution verified by comparing Zr values ob-
tained by XRF with those obtained by ICP-MS and corroborated by complete dissolution of simi-
lar samples using the closed beaker technique Jenner, 1996.
REE data for these sample pairs are plotted in Fig. 8a and b. The LREE are quite variable for a
suite of samples obtained within a stratigraphic section of a mesoscopically similar rock type a
few metres in thickness. In basaltic rocks within a coherent unit, LREE variation is conventionally
ascribed to fractionation of clinopyroxene 9 pla- gioclase. No conventional igneous fractionation
process will yield sample-to-sample variation in Ce anomalies or crossing REE patterns.
Comparison of the samples immediately under- lying the quartz arenite vs. those somewhat re-
moved from the contact reveals: marked LREE depletion, a negative Ce anomaly, some depletion
of the HREE and loss of Rb and Cs Figs. 7 and 8a, b. A sample of the regolith Fig. 8c shows
negative Ce and Eu anomalies and extreme deple- tion of the HREE. Precambrian weathering of
basaltic rocks Kimberley and Grandstaff, 1986 results in Na depletion, variable behaviour of the
heavier alkalies K,Rb, Cs and the alkaline earths Ca, Mg. Fe shows an upward decrease into the
paleosol but this pattern can be disturbed by downward percolation of Fe-bearing ground-
water. These authors also report depletion of the LREE in weathering of the Kinojevis basalts in
the Abitibi subprovince. In general the behaviour of REE in weathering of mafic rocks seems some-
what variable Braun et al., 1990; Marsh, 1991; Price et al., 1991. Leaching experiments indicate
that incipient alteration tends to release REE with behaviour controlled by groundwater parameters
flux, Eh, pH and the secondary minerals pro- duced during alteration Price et al., 1991. The
proximity of samples 94-PCT-004 and 94-PCT- 022 to the quartz arenite contact and the presence
of mineralogical changes near the contact and the similarity to the above studies of Precambrian and
younger basaltic weathering suggest that the chemical changes we observe may be related to
weathering of andesite. If the alteration were due to recent weathering, this cannot explain the min-
Fig. 7. Spidergram extended trace element diagram using the normalizing factors of Wood et al. 1986 for the Hisovaara andesites.
eralogical differences in samples proximal to the quartz arenites, reddening of the fresh surface
near the quartz arenite or the more intense alter- ation being in samples taken closest to the quartz
arenites. Therefore weathering took place prior to quartz arenite deposition.
3
.
2
. Quartz-arenite unit Q
3
.
2
.
1
. Field description Quartz arenites associated with andesites were
traced over several kilometres on the northern flank of the Hisovaara structure and were studied
in detail at some localities Fig. 2. Quartz arenite unit Q is subdivided into subunits Q1 and Q2.
Lower subunit Q1, in contact with the andesite unit, was revealed at all the points shown on the
map Fig. 2. Upper subunit Q2 was found only on the northern shore of Lake Verkhneye in
section B. Considerable variations in diverse tex- tures and primary structures, apparent both later-
ally and vertically, are characteristic of unit Q. For example, subunit Q1 varies in thickness from
6 – 8 m points C and D, Fig. 2 to 10 – 12 points B, E, 913 and even 40 m in section A. Other
differences are apparent in comparing sections A and B. In section A, white fine- to medium-
grained thin-laminated quartz arenites rest with a sharp direct contact on glomeroporphyritic andes-
ites Fig. 9. Hummocky cross-bedding with char- acteristic low angles between cross-bedded units
and erosion surfaces is observed in some out- crops, depressions being filled with micaceous
argillic material Fig. 10. Quartz clasts are pre- dominantly sand sized, except sample 94-PCT-012
that includes small B 1.0 cm quartz pebbles. The fairly high degree of rounding of fine quartz
pebble material reflects the textural maturity of the rocks. The prevalent white colour of the rocks
with a very small admixture of stained minerals indicates the high mineralogical maturity of these
quartz arenites. One-centimetre-thick feldspar-rich laminae are preserved locally. Primary stratifica-
tion is retained, despite a pressure-solution cleav- age which cross-cuts bedding at a medium angle.
The rocks are recrystallized strongly enough to form metamorphic quartz veins, with the degree
of recrystallization increasing toward the upper contact of subunit Q1.
Fig. 8. A Chondrite normalized REE profile for andesites 94-PCT-002 and 94-PCT-004 taken from beneath the quartz
arenite at location A. B Chondrite normalized REE profile for andesites 94-PCT-022 and 94-PCT-023 taken from beneath
the quartz arenite at location B. C Regolith.
Fig. 9. Unconformity between massive andesite bottom of photo and overlying quartz arenite. Lighter colour of andesite
adjacent to the quartz arenite can be seen. Lens cap, 52 mm in diameter.
tion A. Here, a 10 – 20 cm-thick fine pebble quartz conglomerate horizon lies at its base and has a
sharp contact with weathered glomeroporphyritic andesite. White, moderately rounded, flattened
quartz pebbles, up to 3.0 cm in size along the long axis, are closely packed and supported by sand-
sized mica and quartz matrix. These rocks gradu- ally pass upwards to fine pebble arenites. Poorly
rounded, often angular pebbles measuring 1.0 – 1.5 cm are represented solely by white quartz. The
grey quartz arenite matrix consists of unequally rounded commonly angular quartz grains, 1.0 –
2.0 mm in size, with the addition of biotite, which suggests the low textural and mineralogical matu-
rity of the rock. In this unit, which has an ex- posed thickness of ca. 7.0 m, trough bedding,
most distinct in its lower half, is obvious. The upper contact between subunit Q1 and the andes-
ites of subunit A2 is not visible because it is covered by Quaternary deposits.
In section B, both subunits are represented, with subunit Q1 markedly differing in some char-
acteristics from its stratigraphic analogue in sec-
Fig. 10. Map of quartz arenite exposures with hummocky cross-bedding subunit Q1 in section A.
The second quartz-rich rock horizon subunit Q2 is up to 7.0 m thick. It rests with a sharp
contact on the weathered andesites of subunit A2. Subunit Q2 differs in some macroscopic features
from subunit Q1. It is characterized by:
1. The yellowish, locally rusty colour of the rocks caused by the presence of finely dispersed al-
tered iron sulphides. 2. Thin, locally deformed parallel lamination.
3. A dominant sand size and smaller dimensions of quartz grains and scarce thin 10 – 15 cm
horizons containing fine B 1.0 cm quartz pebbles sample 94-PCT-015.
4. The presence of ca. 30 cm-thick horizons with very fine-grained B 0.05 mm quartz sample
94-PCT-021. 5. The occurrence of thin 10 – 15 cm muscovite-
enriched horizons sample 94-PCT-019 re- sponsible for the graded nature of individual
beds of this subunit. Resting directly on subunit Q2 are 2.0 – 3.0 m of
carbonaceous rocks overlain by felsic rocks that represent rhyolitic ash flows.
3
.
2
.
1
.
1
. Petrography. Highly siliceous rocks are divided based upon microscopy into several types
that differ in the nature of clastic material, the degree of quartz recrystallization, and the rela-
tionships between quartz and other silicates etc.
Quartz arenites, the most abundant rock type of the unit, are bedded rocks in which quartz-rich
beds alternate with beds that contain quartz and other silicates. Ninety to ninety-five per cent of
the rock consists of quartz grains varying from 0.2 to 2 – 3 mm in diameter. Intense recrystalliza-
tion gives rise to the less common sutured polygo- nal boundaries of grains in quartz monocrystals
and deformation that continues until lenticular aggregates are formed. It is, therefore, impossible
to estimate the degree of roundness of fine clastic quartz. Two types of plagioclase are observed in
the quartz arenites: a fine, poorly rounded clas- tic grains are commonly filled with grey dust-like
opaque material along cleavage cracks, which is presumably due to weathering; b newly-formed
plagioclase grains occur together with garnet and amphibole in the form of fine chains that fill
interstices between quartz grains. Trace minerals occur as newly-formed grains or chains of mica,
amphibole, garnet, kyanite, staurolite and chlorite aggregates. Zircon, sphene and opaque ore miner-
als occur as detrital accessories.
Pebbly quartz arenites are second in abundance in the section. Unlike the quartz arenites de-
scribed above, they contain polycrystalline quartz interpreted as vein quartz strongly elongated
along the A
c
axis which is parallel to the mineral lineation and dip of the rocks. In cross section,
normal to lineation, various shapes of quartz pebbles subrounded to angular, but generally
poorly rounded that vary in size from 0.2 × 1 – 1 × 2 cm over 5 cm along lineation in these
cross-sections are easily observed in sawed slabs. Individual quartz pebbles constitute thin centime-
tre-scale laminae in quartz arenites that provide the matrix for coarser quartz. Trace minerals and
accessories are similar to those described above, but their quantities vary markedly. For example,
pebbly quartz arenites from section B contain more biotite, and at station 913 zircon is present
in large amounts about 30 grains in one thin section.
In subunit Q2, two more rock types were seen in
section B.
In sample
94-PCT-021, fine
equigranular quartz grain size B 0.05 mm in which individual coarser 1 – 2 mm deformed de-
trital grains are observed. The quartz arenites pass upwards into thin-laminated muscovitic quartz
arenites. This subunit includes chemical sediments and tuffaceous material.
Several populations of zircon are found in the quartz-rich sedimentary rocks of the quartz
arenite-andesite association at Hisovaara. The transparent long-prismatic grains are probably
metamorphic based upon similarity to metamor- phic zircons cf. D.W. Davis, pers comm 1996
Rounded, transparent and dark metamict grains are prominent among detrital zircons. Of great
interest are scarce poorly rounded, broken zircon prisms that may indicate a fairly proximal source
of zircon. It is also important that both macro- scopic and petrographic observations point to the
absence of lithic fragments in the quartz arenite unit. Vein quartz pebbles and clastic zircons are
the most distinct indications of detritus whose textural maturity was presumably variable. A neg-
Table 2 Mean chemical compositions of quartz-arenites from Hisovaara and other Archean regions
a
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
94.5 92.13
SiO
2
95.97 94.4
87.02 88.65
92.11 93.45
0.05 0.06
0.02 0.1
0.04 0.26
TiO
2
0.07 0.04
2.21 Al
2
O
3
2.44 4.34
2.24 4.47
7.71 4.58
4.07 1.4
1.07 Fe
2
O
3
0.79 1.58
1.95 0.7
1.09 0.55
0.02 0.01
0.01 0.08
0.02 MnO
0.01 0.02
0.42 MgO
0.35 0.31
0.2 2.47
0.44 0.88
0.27 0.26
0.26 0.07
2.98 CaO
0.1 0.43
0.09 0.14
0.46 0.98
0.04 0.07
0.76 0.36
Na
2
O 0.24
0.17 0.15
K
2
O 0.42
0.83 0.65
0.83 1.76
1.01 1.24
0.05 0.02
B 0.01
P
2
O
5
0.02 0.02
0.01 0.01
0.03 38.8
21.2 42.8
19.5 42.7
11.5 SiO
2
Al
2 3
20.1 23
0.2 K
2
ONa
2
O 0.9
0.8 16.2
11.9 4.9
4.21 7.3
5.3 4.2
56 63.9
21.4 19.1
23.9 Al
2
O
3
Na
2
O 2.9
63 62
71 n.d.
52 74
CIA 73
69 4
9 N
1 10
22 3
8 49
a
Recalculated to 100 on a volatile-free basis. 1–4 Quartz arenites from Hisovaara: quartz arenites, subunits Q1 1 and Q2 2; pebbly quartz arenites, subunits Q1 3 and Q2 4. 5–6 Quartz arenites, Keewaywin formation 5 and Keeyask Lake Formation
6, Sandy Lake greenstone belt Superior Province, Canada Cortis, 1991. 7 Quartz arenites, Pongola supergroup, S. Africa Wronkiewicz, Condie, 1989. 8 Quartz arenites, Yavanahalli belt, S. India Argast and Donnelly, 1982.
ligible amount of plagioclase and the absence of lithic fragments suggest that in a quartz-feldspar-
lithic fragment sandstone provenance, the compo- sitions of the quartz-rich metasediments of the
quartz arenite-andesite assemblage at Hisovaara lie on the ‘quartz-feldspar line’ near the quartz
apex i.e. in field 1, suggestive of a cratonic provenance Dickinson, 1985.
3
.
2
.
1
.
2
. Geochemistry. The major and rare earth element geochemistry of quartz arenites and asso-
ciated rocks from the Hisovaara greenstone belt is shown in Tables 2 – 4. Both field and microscopic
characteristics are used to define three groups: quartz arenites Q1 and Q2 and pebbly quartz
arenites Q1. Pebbly quartz arenite sample 94- PCT-015
and mica
quartz arenite
sample 94PCT-019 from subunit Q2 were analysed sepa-
rately. In the above groups, some major compo- nents such as SiO
2
, Al
2
O
3
, FeO, Fe
2
O
3
, CaO, Na
2
O and K
2
O vary over a wide range. Variations in TiO
2
and MgO content are less appreciable. We compare the average compositions of the Hiso-
vaara quartz arenites with similar rocks from other Archean regions Table 2 but they have
some distinctive characteristics. For example, Hisovaara quartz arenites contain more SiO
2
, CaO and Na
2
O and less Al
2
O
3
and K
2
O. Their SiO
2
Al
2
O
3
ratio is higher and K
2
ONa
2
O ratio is lower. The high CaO content of the quartz
arenites in the Keewaywin Formation is obviously due to superimposed carbonatization Cortis,
1991. The CIA value CIA = [Al
2
O
3
Al
2
O
3
+ CaO + Na
2
O + K
2
O] × 100; Nesbitt and Young, 1982 estimated for this group is not given be-
cause in the calculations CaO represents Ca in a silicate form McLennan et al., 1990. Many sam-
ples collected in subunit Q1 show ultralow B 0.2 K
2
ONa
2
O ratios Fig. 11. The above character- istics of the rocks described, emphasized by the
strong predominance of Na
2
O over K
2
O, indicate that the matrix of Hisovaara arenites, in which
undecomposed plagioclase grains play a major role and the pelite component is less significant
and chemically immature. The only exception is mica quartz arenite sample 94-PCT-019 which is
abnormally poor in SiO
2
and abnormally rich in Al
2
O
3
and K
2
O. The chemical indices of alteration CIA; Nes-
bitt and Young, 1982, calculated for the above rock groups are much lower than those for quartz
arenites from other Archean regions. This indi-
Fig. 11. SiO
2
Al
2
O
3
-K
2
ONa
2
O plot for quartz arenites.
cates the lower chemical maturity of quartz arenites at Hisovaara. The lowest mean CIA value
of 52 was determined for the quartz arenites of subunit Q1. A fairly unusual combination of low
chemical maturity and very high SiO
2
content, observed in the rocks discussed, is largely respon-
sible for their trace element geochemistry. Analysis of REE content and REE distribution
patterns has revealed some distinctive features of sedimentary rocks at Hisovaara. First of all, it
should be noted that their SREE values are much lower than those of Pongola quartzose sandstones
Fig. 12. Extremely small quantities of rare earths SREE=4.46–15.20 ppm were determined for
the quartz arenites of subunit Q1. The pebbly arenites of both subunits and the quartz arenites
of subunit Q2 contain REE in much greater quan- tities. The REE content of mica quartz arenite in
sample 94-PCT-019 is abnormally high SREE= 96.76 ppm. This supports the conclusion that
REE dominantly form part of micas, i.e. the argillic matrix of quartz arenites Wronkiewicz
and Condie, 1989. All rock samples show a nega- tive Eu anomaly Eu Eu = Eu
n
Sm
n
,Gd
n
12 value of 0.67 Taylor, 1979. About 80 of
Archean sedimentary
rocks have
Eu ] 0.85 McLennan et al., 1984, 1990.
There are marked differences in REE distribu- tion pattern between the groups studied. This
primarily applies to the quartz arenites of sub- units Q1 and Q2. In subunit Q1, two types of
samples are distinguished. Type 1 samples 94- PCT-005 and 011 is characterized by slightly
fractionated REE distribution La
N
Yb
N
= 2.78 –
4.32, flat HREE distribution Gd
N
Yb
N
= 0.9 –
Fig. 12. Chondrite-normalized generalized REE diagrams for quartz-rich sedimentary rocks at Hisovaara and Pongola
Wronkiewicz and Condie, 1989. Hisovaara rocks are markedly depleted in REE. Both groups are similar to typical
post-Archean REE distribution pattern with a negative Eu anomaly.
Fig. 13. Chondrite normalized REE profiles for Hisovaara quartz arenites. A Unit Q1 type 1; B unit Q1, type 2; C unit Q2 fractionated REE patterns; and D pebbly quartz arenites.
1.02, a higher EuEu value 0.75 and a mini- mum SREE value 4.46–6.41 ppm Fig. 13A.
Type 2 samples 94-PCT-007, 008 and 010 is characterized by a higher La
N
Yb
N
ratio 8.82 – 12.15, more fractionated SREE distribution
Gd
N
Yb
N
= 1.74 – 2.0,
lower EuEu
values 0.59 – 0.74 and higher SREE values 10.23–
15.20 ppm Fig. 13B. Subunit Q2 shows even more diverse REE characteristics. For example,
sample 94-PCT-016 is fairly similar in REE frac- tionation pattern La
N
Yb
N
= 3.91, Gd
N
Yb
N
= 0.92 to samples of type 1 from subunit Q1.
However, its higher REE value is observed to- gether with a far more intense negative Eu
anomaly EuEu = 0.59 Fig. 9A. Samples 018 and 020 occupy an intermediate position in terms
of REE characteristics between types 1 and 2 in subunit Q1 La
N
Yb
N
= 8.29 – 8.51, Gd
N
Yb
N
= 1.20 – 1.49, EuEu = 0.70 – 0.73 Fig. 13B. Sam-
ples 94-PCT-019 and 021 show maximum REE La
N
Yb
N
= 24.57 and 25.43 and SREE Gd
N
Yb
N
= 3.08 and 2.76 fractionation, but they dif-
fer markedly in EuEu ratio 0.82 and 0.59, respectively Fig. 13C. In both subunits, pebbly
quartz arenites generally have more persistent REE and SREE fractionation patterns, but their
EuEu values vary substantially 0.53 – 0.80 Fig. 13D. Sample 94-PCCT-017 from altered felsic
tuff differs greatly in REE distribution from the rocks described. It has a slightly fractionated
La
N
Yb
N
= 2.46
REE distribution,
marked SREE enrichment Gd
N
Yb
N
= 0.76 and a pro-
nounced positive Eu anomaly EuEu = 2.00 Fig. 13C.
In the Gd
N
Yb
N
– EuEu diagram McLennan and Taylor, 1991, Hisovaara quartz-rich sand-
stones plot outside the Archean sedimentary rock field because they have a stronger negative Eu
anomaly. Partial overlap with the Archean sedi- mentary rock field is observed in the low Gd
N
Yb
N
range Fig. 14A. Th and U content varies between and within
the rock groups differentiated Fig. 14. In sub- unit Q1, quartz arenites contain less U average U
content is 1.02 ppm and especially Th average Th content is 3.62 ppm than pebbly arenites
U = 1.57 ppm, Th = 8.95 ppm. One exception is sample 94-PCT-013 with an abnormally small
amount of U 0.49 ppm and, correspondingly, an abnormally high 15.1 ThU ratio. The quartz
arenites of subunit Q2 are markedly richer in both elements U = 1.58 ppm and Th = 7.28 ppm than
the quartz arenites of subunit Q1. ThU values vary from 2.7 to 15.1, extremely high values being
due to either extremely low U content sample 013 or abnormally high Th content sample 94-
PCT-021. Generally speaking, in Th versus ThU coordinates McLennan and Taylor, 1991 the
Hisovaara quartzose sandstones plot completely within the Archean sedimentary rock field. Th
and U distribution seems to be largely controlled by the distribution of heavy minerals, primarily
zircon, indicated by the fact that anomalous quantities of some trace elements Zr = 933 ppm;
Th = 338 ppm; Y = 57 ppm and Pb = 72 ppm that can only be explained by the accumulation of
relatively abundant zircon as found in sample 913 Kozhevnikov, 1992.
3
.
2
.
1
.
3
. Interpretation. The above geological, pet- rographic and geochemical data on the quartz
arenite unit can be discussed from two aspects. One aspect is related to the source of both quartz
and the other detrital components which consti- tute the unit. The other aspect is the reconstruc-
tion
of the
depositional environment
and depositional mechanism of these rocks that are
the oldest sedimentary rocks in the Hisovaara greenstone belt.
With respect to the provenance of the quartz arenites, identification of class types is the most
informative data set. Hisovaara rocks contain no lithic fragments that directly indicate possible
sources. Therefore, data on the geochemistry of immobile elements such as REE, major element
chemistry, abundance of quartz pebbles and some textural characteristics of the rocks discussed are
critical.
Vein quartz, normally present in addition to other types of rock fragments, has been reported
from practically all Archean quartz-rich sediments Eriksson, 1980; Srinivasan and Ojakangas, 1986;
Bhattacharyya et al., 1988; Wronkiewicz and Condie, 1989; Cortis, 1991, etc.. Several rock
types can be proposed as hypothetical sources.
Fig. 14. Gd
N
Yb
N
-EuEu A and Th-ThU B plot for quartz-rich rocks. Same symbols as in Fig. 8. Negative Eu
anomalies are markedly higher in Hisovaara rocks than in Archean and a large part of Proterozoic rocks. In the Th-Th
U coordinates, they are, in fact, completely delineated by Archean rocks. In Proterozoic rocks, ThU ratio is generally
lower. Archean and Proterozoic rock fields are given after McLennan and Taylor, 1991; Fig. 7c, d and Fig. 8c, d.
Geochemical, mineralogical and other data place a limit on some sources that are probable in
principle. It should be noted that when using REE geochemistry to constrain sources of the clastic
material in the quartz arenites, we assume that:
1. Quartz-rich clastic rocks adequately reflect source area geochemistry. This follows from
flat REE distribution patterns in quartz sands normalized in terms of the REE content of
associated muds in both present-day passive margin environments Biscay, Ganges and ac-
tive continental margin settings such as back- arc basins Japan and continental arcs Java
McLennan et al., 1990.
2. The low SREE content of Hisovaara rocks is presumably due to the diluting effect of
quartz. This phenomenon was used to explain small quantities of SREE in Archean quartz
arenites McLennan et al., 1984; Wronkiewicz and Condie, 1989 and the commonly ob-
served low REE content of modern sands in comparison to that of associated muds, in
which LaYb, LaSm and GdYb ratios being either
unchanged or
slightly disturbed
McLennan et al., 1990. 3. The role of vein quartz in the REE distribu-
tion pattern, i.e. La
N
Yb
N
, La
N
Sm
N
, Gd
N
Yb
N
and EuEu
values, is
presently impossible to assess properly because there are
no data on these parameters for the vein quartz of Hisovaara rocks. The relevant evi-
dence, in the literature, is scanty Siddaiah et al., 1994. Therefore, such an assessment is of
limited value.
4. Low CIA, low K
2
ONa
2
O and Al
2
O
3
Na
2
O and high SiO
2
Al
2
O
3
values observed in the Hisovaara quartz arenites indicate that the
initial geochemical parameters of the felsic source areas are retained better here than in
similar rocks from other regions.
The chemical-exhalative mechanism for devel- opment of a high SiO
2
concentration in a hypo- thetical source of clastic quartz cannot really be
applied to Hisovaara rocks because of their dis- tinct negative Eu anomaly which is sharply posi-
tive in chemically precipitated rocks Bavinton and Taylor, 1980; Siddaiah et al., 1994. An ad-
mixture of chemically precipitated material is pos- sible, in principle, in sample 94-PCT-017 which
has slightly fractionated REE distribution and a strong positive Eu anomaly.
Weathering of quartz-rich amygdaloidal andes- ites could provide a source of quartz. It could
accumulate in some settings, e.g. a nearshore beach zone. However, the possible mechanism for
such complete andesite decomposition, needed to explain the complete absence of lithic fragments,
remains obscure. Furthermore, weakly positive Eu anomalies in andesites do not favour this
option.
Quartz-rich metasomatic rocks could be a source of quartz, as observed, for example, in
some Proterozoic rocks in Karelia Kozhevnikov and Golubev, 1995. Fragments of metasomatic
rocks, fuchsite schists, tourmaline quartz arenites and other rocks are found in some Archean belts
Luukkonen, 1988; Cortis, 1991; Kozhevnikov, 1992. Metasomatic quartz rocks usually contain
no plagioclase, and the rocks consist of a quartz- mica association, Ca and Na being completely
removed. The presence of plagioclase in the detri- tal material of quartz arenites at Hisovaara and
their low CIA value does not seem to favour a metasomatic source. The REE distribution pat-
tern of most of the samples analysed indicates that the major constituent of the source was rep-
resented by felsic rocks, which is reflected in LREE enrichment, fractionated HREE distribu-
tion and a negative Eu anomaly. Their sodic nature, which is retained even during partial
weathering, suggests that they could be tonalite- type granitoids or felsic volcanics of a sodic series.
Judging by the presence of at least two types of detrital zircon in the samples analysed, the felsic
source is assumed to be complex. Some problems that arise when the ‘quartz budget’ in quartz-rich
sediments is estimated using a granitoid destruc- tion mechanism Pettijohn et al., 1972 can be
overcome by assuming that hypabbysal subvol- canic bodies, typically containing abundant vein
quartz, were destroyed.
To assess the possible sources of the material, which comprises subunit Q, calculations were
made using the REE content of the rocks. The amount of REE in the tonalites, rhyolites and
komatiites of the lower mafic assemblage was
employed as end members. Komatiites were in- cluded in calculations for several reasons. Firstly,
it has been found earlier that the Cr content of subunit Q1 varies over a very broad range from 42
to 581 ppm Kozhevnikov and Travina, 1993. Secondly, thin maximum 15 cm Cr-enriched
metasandstone horizons that contain finely dis- persed metamorphic fuchsite were observed in
quartz arenites at several levels above quartz arenite subunit Q, which testifies to the presence
and
weathering of
an ultramafic
source Kozhevnikov, 1992. Thirdly, flat HREE distribu-
tion and slight LREE enrichment at low La
N
Yb
N
and a strong negative Eu anomaly require the use of an additional component for interpretation. This
component must have characteristics most similar to those of the komatiites in the lower mafic
association.
Table 5 shows the chondrite-normalized REE content of the rocks that hypothetically form the
end members of possible sources tonalites, komati- ites and rhyolites, for a series of quartz-rich
samples from subunits Q1 and Q2 and in estimated mixtures diluted with quartz containing negligible
REEs. Estimated normalized REE values are sim- ilar to those observed in the Hisovaara quartz
arenites. Their distribution curves are similar, too Fig. 15. This suggests that such REE distribution,
e.g. those observed in samples from unit Q1, could be indicated by the deposition of the products of
destruction of a bimodal source with various ratios of felsic to ultramafic components. Tonalite de-
struction products were deposited dominantly within individual thin horizons sample 94-PCT-
007. In the course of subunit Q2 formation, the role of a felsic source increased steadily, the degree
of quartz dilution being possibly lower.
Intense weathering of tonalites and ultramafic rocks must have followed the uplift and deep
erosion of the roots of the greenstone belts domi- nated by the rocks of the mafic assemblage, includ-
ing komatiites and hypabbyssal tonalitic plutons saturated with vein quartz. In this case, conditions
favourable for the concentration of the most resis- tant rock destruction products, e.g. quartz, heavy
minerals and partly plagioclase, must have been formed locally. A river channel in a deeply eroded
mountain system or in any other small, seasonally drained basin is a possible environment. It seems
to be the type of setting in which clastic e.g. pebbly quartz material could be abraded for a short time
and the multiple intense scour of deposits, accom- panied by the formation of quartz sands and coarse
gravel, could occur. The proximity of sources of clastic material and its very rapid transport without
long abrasion is indicated by:
1. The textural immaturity of pebble-sized clasts. 2. The occurrence of unrounded, euhedral zircon
fragments. Some characteristics of the quartz arenite accumu-
lation field can be reconstructed by summarizing the above evidence. Judging by the bedding pat-
terns in quartz-rich and associated rocks, they were deposited in a marine setting. In section A quartz
arenites, hummocky cross bedding could be formed in a shelf zone affected by contour currents and
storm waves at a depth up to 90 m, i.e. above the storm wave base Duke, 1985. Other possible
environments for the occurrence of hummocky cross stratification are known [flash-flood braided
delta Hjellbakk, 1993, eolian systems Langford 1989, and antidunes in a fluvial channel Rust and
Gibling 1990]. The angularity of quartz pebbles is presumably due to limited transport distances.
Furthermore, the transition to overlying sulfidic argillites, could represent basin deepening e.g.
Hoffman, 1987 or development of lagoonal condi- tions. This transition could be rapid enough for the
burial of texturally immature quartz-rich rocks. The trough cross-bedding, observed in the quartz-
rich sandstones of section B, could form in small channels near the shoreline Mueller and Dimroth,
1985. Association of these rocks with subaerial andesites and rhyolites favours such a setting.
The two andesite units Fig. 5 differ in texture, but are identical geochemically, thus indicating
similar magma-generating conditions. This points to a short time interval between the two episodes
of andesite volcanism, the succession of processes being: andesite volcanism — a non-depositional
interval — the formation of a thin weathered crust-rapid transport and deposition of quartz rich
sedimentary rocks. Addition of tuffaceous material to subunit Q2 indicates that sedimentation associ-
ated with the completion of andesite volcanism continued
as well
as rhyolite
volcanism.
P .C
. Thurston
, V
.N .
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313 –
340
a
6 7
8 9
10 11
12 13
14 15
16 17
18 1
2 3
4 5
94-PCT- 94-PCT-
92-8 92-12
92-14 94-PCT-
92-10 94-PCT-
92-16 094-
92-35 94-PCT-
92-37 92-38
94-PCT- 94-PCT-
92-36 94-PCT-
003 012
012 008
003 011
010 PCT-05
007 93.80
94.40 96.08
96.48 SiO
2
96.98 91.92
87.52 88.42
91.80 91.94
92.06 92.64
93.48 94.30
92.00 93.00
93.24 03.50
0.08 0.02
0.02 0.02
B 0.01
0.01 0.01
0.10 0.08
0.04 0.06
0.07 0.06
0.03 0.04
TiO
2
0.06 0.06
0.02 2.35
2.35 1.70
1.84 1.18
6.72 6.15
4.20 4.45
3.28 4.46
2.62 3.15
2.62 2.75
2.31 Al
2 3
2.36 2.03
0.16 1.29
1.16 1.28
0.04 0.16
0.10 1.14
t
0.26 0.63
t
0.63
t
0.10 153
t
0.44 0.44
149 1.13
0.72 Fe
2
O
3
0.57 1.00
0.58 0.29
1.22 0.57
0.72 –
0.93 –
– 0.72
– 0.86
0.50 1.00
0.43 1.15
FeO 0.00
0.99 0.01
0.01 0.01
0.02 0.01
B 0.01
0.02 0.01
0.01 MnO
0.02 0.01
0.01 0.02
0.00 0.02
0.10 0.35
0.20 0.20
0.15 0.45
0.30 0.60
0.20 MgO
B 0.05
0.75 0.30
0.30 0.60
0.20 0.80
0.65 0.40
0.25 0.63
0.42 0.07
0.07 0.07
0.42 0.07
0.52 0.42
0.07 0.07
0.98 0.50
0.07 0.07
CaO 0.30
0.49 1.12
169 1.25
0.85 0.35
0.63 0.56
0.12 0.36
0.03 0.52
1.50 0.87
0.55 0.87
0.06 0.85
0.30 1.00
Na
2
O 0.05
0.31 0.06
0.10 0.21
2.23 0.19
1.15 0.33
K
2
O 0.91
0.04 0.43
0.38 0.90
0.04 0.62
0.07 0.03
0.08 0.10
0.05 0.02
0.07 0.20
0.10 0.10
0.15 0.05
0.04 0.08
0.07 0.15
0.95 H
2
O 0.04
0.08 0.10
0.14 0.25
0.16 0.23
0.17 0.19
0.11 0.76
011 0.58
0.18 0.28
0.56 0.21
0.35 0.27
0.28 0.20
L.O.1 P
2
O
5
n.d. n.d.
n.d. B
0.01 B
0.01 B
0.01 0.05
B 0.01
0.03 0.03
B 0.01
0.03 B
0.01 0.01
n.d. n.d.
0.24 B
0.01 100.03
99.95 100.19
100.16 100.03
99.80 99.95
99.77 99.71
99.77 99.89
99.62 99.84
99.76 99.68
99.76 Total
100.08 99.78
53 37
47 58
58 61
68 64
54 58
55 64
58 57
69 36
56 50
CIA SiO
2
28.51 38.95
39.91 40.17
56.52 52.43
82.19 13.02
14.38 21.86
20.66 20.64
2941 35.68
34.29 45.32
35.50 40.36
Al
2
O
3
0.02 0.06
0.89 0.10
0.18 1.75
6.19 0.06
2.21 2.07
0.22 0.07
105 0.78
0.44 15.0
0.05 0.03
K
2
O Na
2
O 1.94
2.76 6.71
2.70 3.28
9.82 18.67
Al
2
O 2.03
1.89 8.08
3.00 5.13
8.73 3.01
45.83 2.39
8.73 2.31
Na
2
O 24
25 26
27 28
29 30
31 21
32 20
33 34
35 36
37 22
23 19
94-PCT- 94-PCT-
94-PCT- 94-PCT-
94-PCT- 94-PCT-
94-PCT- 913
94-PCT- 94-PCT-
576-4 578-2
577-2 92.39
94-PCT- 94-PCT-
831-1 94-PCT-
94-PCT- 016
021 019
24 017
018 004
002 020
014 022
023 021
95.44 77.76
78.30 66.00
57.88 57.98
56.72 57.10
56.40 57.00
56.02 60.42
37.75 SiO
2
67.00 94.36
21.10 93.48
95.20 96.20
0.02 0.12
0.35 0.72
0.77 0.60
0.84 1.32
1.30 0.02
1.04 TiO
2
1.42 0.64
0.31 0.35
0.04 0.08
0.07 0.05
2.23 13.02
12.38 17.74
13.39 13.25
15.73 14.48
14.88 14.20
14.41 14.27
Al
2
O
3
6.24 2.09
16.40 3.11
2.84 2.07
1.70 0.16
0.52 0.88
2.04 1.65
3.56 11.60
t
2.99 2.82
0.44 2.92
0.84 3.44
2.02 1.90
1.10 0.12
Fe
2
O
3
1.55 0.68
0.50 0.50
0.57 1.15
1.01 1.94
7.64 6.36
– 8.38
8.98 8.62
9.05 7.54
4.57 2.15
1.01 0.50
1.15 FeO
0.01 0.01
0.02 0.04
0.12 0.17
0.14 0.13
0.11 MnO
0.15 0.01
0.12 0.11
0.27 0.05
0.02 0.03
0.01 0.01
0.20 0.61
0.40 1.00
4.33 4.44
2.11 3.02
3.98 0.25
4.03 0.10
2.62 3.33
26.40 1.43
MgO 0.40
0.36 0.40
0.07 0.07
0.07 0.42
0.70 2.10
6.03 6.20
6.16 5.68
6.10 4.28
6.00 4.51
5.74 3.27
0.42 0.42
0.14 CaO
0.05 0.15
0.04 0.32
1.51 2.42
5.17 5.98
5.47 4.33
3.45 5.15
4.01 5.17
0.08 5.88
Na
2
O 1.22
0.07 0.41
0.65 4.00
2.75 2.91
0.08 0.26
0.27 0.52
0.33 0.42
0.40 0.76
0.51 0.23
0.02 1.22
K
2
O 0.59
0.38 0.29
0.05 0.07
0.11 0.03
0.10 0.23
0.09 0.66
0.15 0.15
0.33 0.19
0.22 0.06
0.29 0.14
0.07 0.03
0.02 H
2
O 0.28
0.59 0.20
1.79 1.39
2.23 2.56
0.71 0.35
1.18 1.47
1.49 1.45
1.37 11.51
0.83 0.40
0.50 0.10
L.O.1 B
0.01 0.01
0.06 0.16
0.17 0.22
0.24 0.24
0.22 B
0.01 0.18
P
2
O
5
0.26 0.17
n.d. 0.15
B 0.01
n.d. 0.20
0.01 99.70
99.77 99.85
99.52 99.94
99.74 99.78
99.52 100.37
99.65 99.53
99.87 100.08
99.96 Total
100.23 99.98
99.87 99.89
100.09 71
70 73
50 68
61 CIA
66 46.00
45.15 56.59
42.80 5.97
6.32 3.72
29.61 32.92
SiO
2
Al
2
O
3
2.80 16.25
K
2
O 12.5
10.86 1.82
1.20 0.24
0.93 11.80
Na
2
O 11.33
55.75 40.69
8.20 7.33
6.93 41.4
Al
2
O
3
29.86 2.55
Na
2
O
a
n.d. Not detected. t-Fe recalculated to Fe
2
O
3
. See Figs. 2–5 for locality locations. 1–10 Quartz arenites from the subunit Q1. 11–19 Pebbly quartz arenite from the subunit Q1. 20–23 Quartz arenites from the subunit Q2. 24 Pebbly quartz arenite from the subunit Q2. 25 Mica quartz arenite from the subunit Q2. 26 Altered rhyolite. 27 Altered luff-sandstone. 28–29 Amygdaloidal 28 and homogeneous 29 andesite fom the lower
part of the andesite sequence subunit Al. 30–32 Glomeroporphyritic andesites from the upper part of the subunit Al. Unaltered 30, 31 and altered 32 near contact with quartz-rich subunit Q1. 33–35 Andesites from subunit A2; homogeneous unaltered 33 and altered 34 near contact with quartz-rich subunit Q2, coarse pyroclastic 35 from dark fragment. 36 Peridotitic komatlite 2. 37 Tonalite.
P .C
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333
Table 4 Trace element geochemistry ppm of Hisovaara rocks
6 7
8 9
10 11
1 2
3 4
5 94-PCT-011
94-PCT-005 94-PCT-012
94-PCT-013 94-PCT-003
94-PCT-001 94-PCT-021
94-PCT-020 94-PCT-010
94-PCT-008 94-PCT-007
7.53 5.19
4.31 8.17
7.16 6.14
1.96 La
0.70 2.23
3.06 1.12
2.59 1.67
15.48 10.46
9.50 13.95
13.52 11.21
6.59 5.04
Ce 4.35
0.52 0.22
1.84 1.19
1.06 1.93
1.72 128
0.78 Pr
0.57 0.33
6.67 4.16
3.73 6.74
6.08 4.72
0.90 1.95
1.96 Nd
1.25 2.94
0.22 0.27
1.17 0.67
0.68 1.12
0.93 0.85
0.58 0.35
0.40 Sm
0.21 0.11
0.16 0.16
0.15 0.19
Eu 0.06
0.12 0.06
0.08 0.05
0.91 0.52
0.55 0.89
0.65 0.74
0.19 0.22
Gd 0.33
0.28 0.42
0.02 0.03
0.13 0.06
0.07 0.11
0.08 0.11
0.05 0.03
0.04 Tb
0.61 0.26
0.34 0.56
0.33 Dy
0.58 0.18
0.24 0.17
0.22 0.13
0.12 0.05
0.06 0.11
0.06 0.11
0.03 0.04
Ho 0.03
0.05 0.03
0.33 0.14
0.18 0.32
0.17 0.37
Er 0.11
0.14 0.10
0.13 0.10
0.04 0.02
0.02 0.04
0.02 0.06
0.02 Tm
0.02 0.01
0.02 0.02
0.17 0.17
0.34 0.18
0.25 0.39
0.19 0.50
0.17 013
0.15 Yb
0.06 0.04
0.04 0.06
0.03 0.08
0.04 0.03
Lu 0.03
0.02 0.03
0.46 6.41
35.44 23.05
20.95 34.55
31.09 26.94
15.20 10.87
10.23 SREE
2.78 4.32
14.95 19.47
11.64 14.11
25.43 8.29
12.15 11.58
8.82 La
N
Yb
N
4.05 4.88
4.00 4.60
4.85 4.55
2.00 3.32
3.09 4.01
La
N
Sm
N
2.61 1.78
1.02 0.90
2.16 2.34
1.78 1.84
2.76 1.20
2.00 1.74
Gd
N
Yb
N
0.62 0.57
0.80 0.49
0.59 0.73
EuEu 0.75
0.74 0.59
0.67 0.75
9.33 7.39
8.46 10.62
14.59 6.35
3.32 4.38
Th 2.84
21.38 5.18
1.12 1.24
1.78 0.49
1.78 2.22
1.95 1.64
1.29 0.72
0.71 U
3.0 3.5
5.2 15.1
4.8 4.8
7.5 3.9
4.0 3.3
4.0 ThU
17 18
19 20
21 22
15 23
16 24
14 13
12 94-PCT-017
568-2 577-2
94-PCT-004 94-PCT-002
94-PCT-023 94-PCT-022
94-PCT-018 94-PCT-014
94-PCT-016 94-PCT-015
94-PCT-019 94-PCT-024
6.89 24.64
4.09 4.24
9.73 14.63
28.83 14.45
La 3.56
21.11 5.79
3.30 3.28
690 58.82
145 46 50.80
12.42 9.81
23.35 49.79
39.43 9.50
716 12.66
Ce 43.54
1.93 6.14
1.71 1.78
3.00 4.59
6.70 4.40
0.82 1.58
Pr 5.04
1.46 0.84
23.63 2.96
706 25.70
857 8.71
12.70 19.68
18.49 8.07
3.14 5.26
18.02 Nd
0.57 3.45
1.38 4.88
1.71 3.24
3.19 4.35
4.35 3.09
0.70 0.89
Sm 2.99
0.93 1.26
0.43 1.22
1.18 1.37
0.83 1.46
0.13 1.03
0.69 Eu
0.12 0.13
2.54 0.48
1.47 4.57
2.11 3.95
3.85 4.45
4.72 3.41
0.65 0.63
2.21 Gd
0.30 n.d.
n.d. 0.64
0.62 0.62
Tb 0.72
0.06 0.53
0.11 0.08
0.30 0.31
2.05 3.78
1.89 3.67
3.65 3.35
1.38 3.91
0.35 2.99
Dy 1.30
0.36 0.70
0.23 0.07
0.47 n.d.
n.d. 0.70
0.70 0.64
0.75 0.59
0.15 0.06
0.22 Ho
Er 1.50
0.20 1.99
1.03 1.89
1.91 1.76
2.04 1.63
0.46 0.18
0.58 0.68
0.22 n.d.
n.d. 0.26
0.25 0.24
0.08 0.28
0.03 0.23
Tm 0.08
0.02 0.08
0.65 0.26
1.57 2.14
0.90 1.66
1.67 1.51
1.80 1.54
0.57 0.20
0.58 Yb
0.24 0.28
0.17 0.24
0.24 0.21
Lu 0.24
0.04 0.22
0.09 0.03
0.10 0.10
41.47 124.19
35.03 42.01
66.04 107.19
128.23 97.04
16.19 37.97
SREE 96.76
27.75 18.08
29.94 8.51
2.96 7.75
3.09 1.72
3.93 6.54
5.42 1.56
3.91 19.55
24.57 La
N
Yb
N
3.14 3.18
1.50 0.82
1.92 2.12
2.09 0.72
La
N
Sm
N
3.62 2.97
4.10- 4.44
5.26 3.16
0.76 1.72
1.91 1.92
1.86 2.38
3.08 2.12
0.92 1.79
2.55 Gd
N
1.49 Yb
N
0.70 0.86
2.00 0.82
0.69 1.04
1.03 0.95
0.99 0.97
0.59 0.53
EuEu 0.82
4.41 7.46
4.91 2.97
3.02 3.53
3.17 Th
5.22 2.21
5.97 6.30
9.82 6.21
0.88 1.01
0.92 0.37
0.53 0.59
1.18 0.81
2.69 0.75
U 0.81
1.90 1.52
ThU 5.0
2.7 7.4
5.3 8.03
5.7 6.0
3.9 7.0
3.1 4.1
3.7 5.3
SREE without Tb, Dy, Ho and Tm; breccia Fig. 13.
P .C
. Thurston
, V
.N .
Kozhe 6
niko 6
Precambrian
Research
101 2000
313 –
340
Table 5 Chondrite-normalized REE contents in komatiite, tonalite, rhyolite and in quartz-rich rocks from Hisovaara and calculated compositions of mixtures that result with various dilutions by
quartz
a
6 7
1 8
9 10
11 12
13 14
15 16
17 18
19 2
3 4
5 La
12.51 2.17
12.55 8.01
7.97 17.62
17.64 30.78
31.14 23.67
24.66 29.27
28.82 86.30
89.92 49.43
117.9 4.58
4.60 10.33
10.04 6.82
6.58 14.89
14.11 24.27
24.92 19.85
3.86 19.52
Ce 21.19
22.65 68.25
70.63 4.06
92.21 40.80
2.48 Pr
809 2.18
7.86 5.39
5.56 11.00
11.06 19.09
19.77 15.15
15.12 17.84
17.29 52.28
53.88 34.47
69.50 3.42
3.28 6.20
5.87 4.14
4.24 7.87
8.26 14.08
14.59 11.10
2.61 11.02
2.64 12.83
12.49 38.03
38.93 Nd
2.98 26.32
49.87 3.77
3.13 2.60
2.56 4.42
4.41 7.60
7.62 5.78
Sm 5.40
3.77 604
5.84 19.42
18.19 15.91
22.40 1.75
1.76 2.07
1.92 1.38
1.58 2.76
2.70 3.62
4.78 2.24
1.03 3.41
Eu 2.59
3.71 11.90
11.56 1.03
14.31 9.83
1.72 2.06
1.90 1.62
1.48 2.69
2.68 4.45
4.33 3.08
3.04 3.18
3.26 10.82
10.16 Gd
3.87 9.20
12.43 1.08
1.17 0.94
1.11 0.87
1.02 1.34
1.56 2.40
2.49 1.42
0.84 1.58
3.07 1.30
1.40 5.12
4.35 Dy
0.71 5.43
6.34 0.66
2.71 0.84
0.87 0.78
0.76 0.84
1.22 1.99
1.87 1.08
1.18 1.02
1.17 3.49
3.64 4.70
4.10 0.66
Er 0.82
3.57 1.03
0.99 0.91
0.90 1.51
1.39 2.06
2.08 1.21
1.26 1.15
1.17 3.51
3.68 5.63
3.94 103
Yb 1.18
1.13 1.18
1.02 1.57
1.59 2.36
2.26 1.18
0.92 1.33
Lu 1.18
1.22 3.94
3.80 1.18
3.94 6.30
4.72 12.15
11.11 LaYb
8.82 0.61
8.85 11.64
12.69 14.95
14.99 19.56
19.57 25.43
24.63 24.57
24.43 8.82
29.92 4.32
5.61 3.32
4.01 3.09
3.11 4.00
4.00 4.05
4.08 4.10
2.61 4.57
2.61 4.85
4.93 4.44
4.94 LaSm
0.58 3.11
5.26 2.00
1.68 1.78
1.64 1.78
1.93 2.16
2.08 2.55
2.41 2.76
2.79 3.08
GdYb 2.76
1.08 1.64
3.15 0.02
1.43 0.74
0.79 0.67
0.81 0.80
0.78 0.62
0.83 0.53
0.84 0.59
0.85 0.82
0.72 0.85
EuEu 0.45
0.81 0.86
0.75
a
1 Komatiite s.576-4; 2 tonalite s.831-1; 3 rhyolite 94-PCT-.024; 4 quartz arenite 94-PCT-.011; 5 mixture of komatiite: tonalite = 1; 1, diluted 5.6 times by quartz; 6 quartz arenite 94-PCT-010; 7 mixture of komatiite: tonalite: rhyolite : 1:1:1 diluted 4.4 times by quartz; 8 quartz arenite 94-PCT-007; 9 contents in tonalite diluted 6.2 times by quartz; 10
pebbly quartz arenite 94-PCT-003; 11 mixture of komatiite:tonalite:rhyolite : 1:1:1 diluted 3.1 times by quartz; 12 pebbly quartz arenite 94-PCT-012; 13 mixture of tonalite:rhyolite c
3.2 diluted 2.4 times by quartz; 14 pebbly quartz arenite 94-PCT-015; 15 mixture of tonalite:rhyolite = 2:3. diluted 3.7 times by quartz; 16 quartz arenite 94-PCT-021; 17 mixture of tonalite:rhyolite = 1.4 diluted 3.6 times by quartz, 18-mica quartz arenite 94-PCT-019; 19 mixture of tonalite:rhyolite = 1:4, diluted 1.1 times by quartz.
Fig. 15. Chondrite-normalized REE diagrams for tonalite, komatiite, rhyolite, some quartz-rich rock samples and rated mixtures at various degrees of quartz dilution. The normalized values given in Table 3 were used. Sample numbers in this figure are those used
in Table 3.
Fairly aggressive acid rains, related to fumarolic activity between volcanic paroxysms, could well
be responsible for the development of weathering on andesites.
In summary, the Hisovaara quartz arenites are associated with intermediate to felsic volcanics
providing an example of a combination of some features characteristic of platformal settings with
those typical of environments that display an active continental margin- or island-arc type of
calcareous-alkaline volcanism. It is a rare case in Archean greenstone belts.
3
.
3
. Felsic fragmental rocks unit F
3
.
3
.
1
. Field description This unit is composed of felsic pyroclastic rocks
and subordinate
reworked equivalents
Kozhevnikov, 1992. In this section we provide the field evidence for interpretation of the deposi-
tional environment of the unit. In the vicinity of location B, the sequence consists of metre scale
units of tuff breccia and lapilli tuff with occa- sional tuff intercalations. Primary textures and
structures indicate the presence of both pumice and lithic fragments. Each unit is defined by
distinct size ranges of clasts, texture of pumice, a distinct phenocryst content and a regular succes-
sion of size and density grading. Within individual units as defined above, reverse grading of pumice,
normal grading of lithic fragments, sporadic ex- amples of basal ground surge beds and thinly
laminated
fine ash
tuff beds
occur which
indicate the units represent ignimbrite deposition Sparks et al., 1973. Evidence for welding con-
sists of the presence of branching fumarolic struc- tures cf. Thurston, 1980 and the presence of
flattened silicified pumice fragments concentrated toward the middle of the stratigraphic unit. The
silicified
pumice ignores
depositional unit
boundaries and is thus interpreted as evidence of vapour phase recrystallization Ross and Smith,
1961 indicative of subaerial eruption and deposi- tion.
At location A, in a few exposures, the quartz arenite is overlain by a few metres of a fragmental
aluminous metaconglomerate with granitoid and possible metavolcanic clasts. This is overlain by
about a 100 m thickness of thin graded beds of sulfidic argillite and carbonate bearing silty
sandstones.
3
.
3
.
2
. Petrography The rhyolites at location B consist of varying
proportions of quartz, plagioclase and minor potassium feldspar with accessory biotite and
sericite. Primary textures are completely obliter- ated by metamorphic recrystallization but gross
grain size variation seen mesoscopically is present in thin section. Silicified pumice fragments contain
irregular polycrystalline plates of quartz whereas the matrix contains finer rained quartz, feldspar,
biotite and sericite.
3
.
3
.
3
. Geochemistry The sole analysis of the rhyolitic unit done for
the present study shows the unit to be a high silica rhyolite with potassium dominant over sodium
Table 3. In trace element terms, the unit displays a fractionated REE pattern similar to the FI
rhyolites of Lesher et al. 1986.
4. Summary and conclusions