Geochemical characterization, U–Pb apatite geochronology, and geodynamic significance of olivine minette dykes from the Julian Alps, NE Italy

Abstract

Abstract We investigated olivine minette dykes from the Rio Colan Valley of the Julian Alps (NE Italy) to provide new constraints on the mantle geochemistry underneath this extreme sector of the Italian Southern Alps. Petrographic observations, high Mg#s, high Cr and Ni contents, low Dy/YbCN ratios and flat heavy rare earth element (REE) profiles imply these are primary magmas derived from a depleted peridotite with olivine and garnet as possible residual phases. However, high K2O and incompatible trace element contents, coupled with superchondritic Nb/Ta ratios, suggest that the source was modified into a rutile–phlogopite-bearing carbonated peridotite by multiple metasomatic events such as recycling of crustal material and carbonatitic metasomatism related to an old orogenic event and rutile-rich metasomatism linked to the Pangaea break-up. Laser ablation – multi-collector – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometer (LA-MC-ICP-MS) U–Pb geochronology of apatites from two dykes yielded differences between unforced and forced discordia ages up to ∼45 Ma, likely due to the initial 207Pb/206Pb correction adopted. Nonetheless, because forced discordia and 206Pb/238U weighted mean ages are overall similar within the uncertainty, our preferred interpretation is that olivine minettes intruded and crystallized at ∼67 Ma. The age and anorogenic signature of these magmas are consistent with the regional extensional tectonics in the Julian Alps due to the advance of the external Dinaric front following Adria plate eastward subduction. Eventually, we show also that Rio Colan magmas are geochemically hybrid products between lamprophyres and lamproites compared with similar Italian and Western Mediterranean volcanics.