Journal of South American Earth Sciences 12 (1999) 109121

Cretaceous rift related magmatism in central-western South America

J.G. Viramonte a,*, S.M. Kay b, R. Becchio a, M. Escayola a, I. Novitski c
a

Universidad Nacional de Salta, GEONORTE and CONICET, Buenos Aires, 177, 4400, Salta, Argentina b Cornell University, Dept. Earth Sciences, Snee Hall, Ithaca, New York, NY, USA c Institute of the Lithosphere, Staromonetney per, 22, Moscow, l 109180, Russia

Abstract The CretaceousPaleocene Andean basin system of central-western South America, comprises northwestern Argentina and southwestern Bolivia. It is situated between 628688W and 188278S, but extends westward to northern Chile and northward to Bolivia and Peru. These basins have been interpreted as an aborted foreland rift. In a general sense, it may be possible to relate this rift to the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean, however it was directly associated, in a backarc position, with the subduction of the Nazca Plate below the South American Plate. Three main magmatic episodes were recognized: the pre-rift stage (130120 Ma) which is characterized by an early phase of anorogenic plutonism, with subalkaline and alkaline granitic intrusives; the syn-rift volcanic episode which started with a mainly alkaline volcanic activity (110100) in which alkaline rocks prevail; a second more voluminous volcanic episode (8075 Ma) which is characterized by an alkaline suite represented by basanites and tephriphonolites; and the last volcanic episode (6560 Ma) which consists of lamproitic sills and basic K rich lava ows. Petrography, chemistry and chronology of the Cretaceous plutonic bodies indicate anorogenic pre-rift related A-type granite complexes closely related to the further evolution of the Cretaceous rift basin. The petrology and geochemistry of the Cretaceous volcanic rocks show strong alkaline anities and suggest a similar rift-related origin. The geochemical and isotopic characteristics of the alkaline basalts suggest that they originated through low degrees of partial melting of a depleted mantle subcontinental lithosphere which was previously enriched by processes such as the introduction of veins rich in amphibole, high Ti phlogopite, and apatite. Cretaceous plutonic and volcanic rocks from central-southwestern South America are related to an intracontinental rift environment and although their ages are correlative with those of the Parana volcanic province, their petrology, geochemistry and isotopic compositions reveal dierent source regions and petrogenetic processes. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Resumen El Sistema de cuencas cretacicaspaleocenas de la zona centro-oeste de Sudamerica comprende el noroeste de Argentina y las cuencas andinas del sur de Bolivia. Este sistema esta situado entre los 628 y 688 W y los 288 y 278S y se extiende hacia el norte hasta Bolivia y Peru y hacia el oeste hasta las cuencas cretacicas del norte de Chile. Estas cuencas han sido interpretadas como un rift de trasarco abortado. En sentido general es posible relacionar el regimen extensional de rift a la apertura del oceano Atlantico Sur, sin embargo se asocia su evolucion a una extension de trasarco debido a la subduccion de la Placa de Nazca en el margen Pac co de Sudamerica. Fueron reconocidos tres episodios magmaticos diferentes relacionados a distintas etapas de evolucion del rift. El estadio de prerift (130120 Ma) caracterizado por una fase de plutonismo anorogenico de composicion gran tica alcalina a subalcalina. El estadio sin-rift comenzo con actividad volcanica alcalina entre los 110 y 100 Ma. y siguio con un segundo pulso volcanico (8075 Ma) que esta representado por una suite alcalina de basanitas y tefrifonolitas. La ultima fase volcanica (6560 Ma) consiste de sills lampro ticos y ujos de lavas basicas ricas en potasio. Las caracter sticas geoqu micas e

* Corresponding author. E-mail address: viramont@ciunsa.edu.ar (J.G. Viramonte) 0895-9811/99/$ - see front matter # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 8 9 5 - 9 8 1 1 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 0 9 - 7

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isotopicas de los basaltos alcalinos sugieren que los mismos fueron originados por bajos grados de fusion parcial de un manto litosferico empobrecido, enriquecido en LREE por diferentes procesos entre ellos el metsomatismo producido por la intrusion de venas ricas en anf bol, ogopita y apatita. Si bien las rocas plutonicas y volcanicas cretacicas del centro-sudoeste de Sudamerica estan relacionadas a un ambiente geotectonico de rift de antepa s y sus edades son coincidentes con las efusiones de la Provincia volcanica de Parana, su geoqu mica sugiere una diferente fuente de generacion de los magmas y distintos procesos petrogeneticos. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction 1.1. General geological setting The CretaceousPaleocene Andean basin system of central-southwestern South America comprises the northwestern Argentina basins and the Andean basins of central-south Bolivia. It is situated between 628 688W and 188278 S. It extends northward to the north of Bolivia and Peru. The western boundary is connected to the Cretaceous basin of northern Chile

(Antofagasta or Purilactis basin) (Reyes and Salty, 1973; Schwab, 1984; Marquillas and Salty, 1988). The Cretaceous basins of central-western South America were interpreted as an aborted foreland rift (Galliski and Viramonte, 1988) consisting of interconnected grabens meeting at a triple junction and a central horst (Fig. 1). This phenomenon is related, in a general sense, to the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean. This rift, however, was directly associated, in a transarc position, to the subduction of the Nazca Plate below the South American Plate.

Fig. 1. (a) Paleostructural sketchmap of the Cretaceous rift with outcrops of Cretaceous volcanic and plutonic rocks; (b) stratigraphic columns of the Potos basin; (c) stratigraphic column of the Aleman a sub-basin. Modied from Salty and Marquillas (1981).

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Fig. 1 (continued)

The Cretaceous rift-related structures are well preserved in some cases (Bianucci and Homovc, 1982) in other cases they have been obliterated by later Andean structures (Cahill, 1990; Bianucci et al., 1993). The sedimentary inll is situated to the south of the SaltaJujuy horst on the Pampean craton, whereas to the north the pre-Cretaceous basement is of Paleozoic age. The sedimentary inll and associated igneous rocks of the basin, known as the Salta Group in Argentina and Puca Group in Bolivia, exceed 6 km in thickness. The stratigraphic sequence of the Salta Group is well known in northwestern Argentina and comprises three units: the Pirgua subgroup (La Yesera, Las Curtiembres and Los Blanquitos Formations), Balbuena subgroup (Lecho, Yacoraite and Olmedo Formations) and Santa Barbara subgroup (Mealla, Maiz Gordo and Lumbrera Formations) (Moreno, 1970; Reyes and Salty, 1973; Salty and Marquillas, 1981; Salty, 1982; Gomez Omil et al., 1989) (Fig. 1). The sedimentary rocks characterizing each subgroup are: redbeds (Pirgua), sandstones, limestones, evapor-

ites and claystones (Balbuena), mudstones and evapor ites (Santa Barbara). The lithostratigraphic sequence of the Puca Group (Fig. 1) in the Potos basin in Bolivia, comprises four megasequences with a range of subgroups (Sempere et al., 1988): P1 subgroup (Condo, Kosmina, Sucre and the La Puerta Formations); P2 subgroup (Tarapaya and Miraores Formations) mainly marine limestone; P3 subgroup (Aroilla, Chaunaca, Coroma and Toro Toro Formations); and P4 subgroup (El Molino limestones, Santa Lucia and Impora Formations) (Russo and Rodrigo, 1965; Reyes and Salty, 1973; Cherroni, 1977). The paleogeographic development of the Salta and Puca Groups and their relationship with the Cretaceous basins of central South America have been studied by Marquillas and Salty (1988) and Salty and Zambrano (1989). The southern outcrops of the Salta Group and the development of the basin during the syn and post-rift stages was studied by Bossi and Peral (1992). The Pirgua subgroup (Argentina) and P1, P2 and P3

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subgroups (Bolivia) are typical continental red beds inlling the intracontinental rift, with minor marine transgressive? episodes (Miraores and Lower Chaunaca Formations) in Bolivia. These sequences represent the maximum subsidence of the basin during the syn-rift stage development. The Balbuena and P4 subgroups are the most characteristic lithostratigraphic units of the CretaceousPaleocene basins in central-western South America and represent the culmination of the syn-rift sequences. Because of their white color, relief, and wide distribution, the Yacoraite Formation in Argentina and El Molino Formation in Bolivia, represent a ``marker bed'' along the basins for the Salta and Puca Groups sediments. The transition from Maastrichtian to Paleocene lies within these strata but its stratigraphic level remains to be determined. In our opinion Yacoraite Formation is a product of lime precipitation in a series of interconnected shallow salt lakes. On the other hand, the Santa Barbara Subgroup and Santa Lucia Formation represent the culmination of the CretaceousEocene post-rift sequences in central-southwestern South America when the thermotectonic collapse of the rift structures began. 1.2. Development of the rift and related igneous activity The subdivision of the northwestern Argentina and central-south Bolivia Cretaceous magmatism into three major phases was previously recognized by Galliski and Viramonte (1988), Avila Salinas (1986), Salty and Marquillas (1981), and Omarini et al. (1989). These igneous phases were associated with the development of the rift by Galliski and Viramonte (1988): the earliest phase (130100 Ma) is characterized by the intrusion of anorogenic alkaline and subalkaline plutonic bodies (Rangel, Hornillos, Abra Laite, Aguilar, Tusaquillas, Fundiciones in Argentina and Rejara in Bolivia, Fig. 1). These may have been emplaced during the pre-rifting stage of epirogenic doming and the extrusion of the rst lava ows (Alto de las Salinas-El Cadillal-Isonza in Argentina and Maragua in Bolivia) predominantly within the borders of the grabens at the beginning of the syn-rift stage. This rst stage can be related to the initial doming produced by the rise of hot asthenospheric masses with associated crustal thinning. The second phase (8075 Ma) includes basanites and mugearites of the Las Conchas Basalt (Argentina) and the Basalto Betanzos, Ravelo and Tarabuco (Bolivia). It represents the syn-rift stage, with magmatic products located in the center of the structures. The last igneous phase (6560 Ma) comprises lamproitic sills intruded into Los Blanquitos Formation
Fig. 2. Normative QAPF classication of alkaline and subalkaline Cretaceous plutonic rocks from northwestern Argentina and south Bolivia.

(Omarini et al., 1989), the basanites interbedded in the Balbuena and Santa Barbara subgroups in Argentina (Schlagintweit, 1937; Lyons, 1951; Bercowski, 1982; Madel, 1984; Rubiolo, 1992), the basanites and pho nothephrites from Tupiza (Vargas Gil, 1965; Galliski and Viramonte, 1988) and lava ows from Mandeyapecua, Tacuarend , and Abaroa (Castanos and Rodrigo, 1978) in Bolivia. It marks the start of the thermal subsidence and collapse of the basin in the post-rift stage, just before the Cretaceous Paleocene rift basins were closed by a dramatic change in the geodynamic style of the region caused by the Incaic compressive diastrophic phase in the Upper Paleocene. Galliski and Viramonte (1988), proposed that the foreland rift was developed by a viscous drag of the mantle which caused a foreland extension. This phenomenon was related to three changes in the geometry of the subduction in the Pacic margin during three periods of low spreading rates in the Pacic ridge. Each is preceded by a stage of faster spreading associated with compressive tectonic phases (Piraces, 1979; Frutos, 1981).

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2. The magmatism 2.1. Cretaceous plutonism Some small alkaline and subalkaline complexes crop out in the Eastern Andes from Southern Peru to northwestern Argentina. They comprise the complexes of Macusani in Peru, and Ayopaya, Velazco, Candelaria, Khoallaqui, Vichacla, Tacsara, and Rejara in Bolivia. Outcrops of Cretaceous granitoid rocks are restricted to the northern sections of the Salta Group basins (Fig. 1). The alkaline plutonic complexes of Peru and Bolivia except for the Rejara magmatic com plex (Avila Salinas, 1986) are not considered in this study. The northwestern Argentina complexes are located on both sides of the Tres Cruces sub-basin. On the western side, they include the Rangel, Tusaquillas, Abra Laite, Aguilar, and Fundiciones plutons, all of which intrude slates, graywackes and minor quartzites of CambrianOrdovician age. These bodies developed a limited contact aureole. At Sierra de Santa Victoria (the eastern side of the branch) the Hornillos, Rejara and Maiguasi intrusive granitoid and lamprophyre complexes intrude Cambrian quartzites, upper Proterozoic greenschist facies rocks and Ordovician marine sequences. The rocks are alkaline and subalkaline granitoid plutons and mac to ultramac dikes (Rubiolo et al., 1994). 2.1.1. Alkaline plutonism Alkaline plutons include the Rangel, Fundiciones, Hornillos, Rejara and Maiguasi complexes. The alkaline granite of the Rangel pluton is situated in the Cobres range and consists of a partially exposed complex of about 30 km2 described by Toselli and Rossi de Toselli (1977) and recently by Menegatti et al. (1997). By using Rb/Sr whole rock methods these rocks were dated at 123 26 and 1292 8 Ma (Halpern and Latorre, 1973). New data on biotite give ages of 146 21.6 Ma and 122 2 1.5 Ma (Menegatti et al., 1997). The major rocks are alkali feldspar granite, alkali feldspar quartz syenite and syenite cut by dikes of similar composition. They plot in the granite, alkalifeldspar granite and syenite eld (Fig. 2). The granites are medium- to ne-grained rocks. The K-feldspars are microperthitic microcline or orthoclase. According to Toselli and Rossi de Toselli (1977), the plagioclase is albite (An 10). The mac minerals are riebeckitic amphibole and annite-rich biotite. These rocks have undergone secondary alteration including albitization with aegirine development, as well as thorite or pyrochlore mineralization. The alkali feldspar quartz syenite has microperthitic K-feldspar, augite surrounded by hastingsite, and late biotite. The dierentiated dikes comprise rare nepheline syenite with

Fig. 3. SiO2 vs Na2O+K2O diagram after Irvine and Baragar (1971) for plutonic Cretaceous rocks.

aegirine and arfvedsonite, aegirine granite, porphyritic syenite, and some lamprophyres. This intrusive complex is crosscut by genetically related uorite-thorite-bearing veins and hydrothermal carbonate dykes (Santomero, 1958; Lurgo and Zappettini, 1989). It is surrounded by thorite-alkali feldspar-quartz veins and dykes (Sureda et al., 1987). The chemistry of major elements demonstrates that the suite is alkaline with both non-peralkaline and peralkaline granitic facies. Fundiciones is a small plutonic body located near the Quebrada de Humahuaca (Fig. 1). The pluton is intruded into Eopaleozoic host rocks. There are no published geochemical or geochronological data, but petrographic studies suggest alkaline anities consistent with the Cretaceous alkaline magmatism observed in other outcrops of the basin. The Hornillos complex is a small (nearly 6 km2) high-level, almost sub-volcanic, stock surrounded by numerous, mainly northsouth aligned dikes (Rubiolo, 1992). The rocks of this complex do not have published ages, but genetically related mineralizations have U/Pb ages of 65 2 5 Ma and 169 210 Ma (Sureda et al., 1987; Linares, 1961). The principal rock types are nordmarkites, syenites, monzonites, monzodiorites, pulaskites and trachytes (Rubiolo, 1992) (Fig. 2). Two dierent types of rocks are found: one with silica undersaturated (foyaitic trend) and another with silica oversaturated character (nordmarkitic range). In the locality of Maiguasi (Iruya) a few kilometers to the south from Hornillos Complex, several sannaite and tinguaite dykes cut the upper Precambrian to lower Cambrian sediments (Rubiolo et al., 1994). The Rejara complex is located on the southern part of the Tarija Province in Bolivia. The rocks are predominantly granodiorites and biotite+hornblende+aegirine+riebeckite-bearing granites, with some fenitized zones (Avila Salinas, 1986; Rubiolo, 1992). The age of

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the Rejara complex is actually under discussion. A K/ Ar age of 141 Ma was reported by Linares (in Castanos and Rodrigo, 1978). These rocks were con sidered Cretaceous by Avila Salinas (1986), although Troeng et al. (1993) consider an Upper Proterozoic age for them. Rubiolo (1992) indicates a Vendianlower Cambrian age for the intrusion and a Cretaceous age for the fenitization processes related to the stock. 2.1.2. Sub-alkaline plutonism Subalkaline plutons include the Tusaquillas, Abra Laite and Aguilar plutons and some rocks from Rangel. The Tusaquillas intrusive body is located to the northeast of the Rangel complex and may be a part of it (Fig. 1). It is the largest Cretaceous pluton, about 24 km wide, with its principal axis oriented northsouth. K/Ar isotopic ages range between 147 210 and 962 5 Ma (Turner et al., 1979). Petrographically, the rocks of this pluton consist of subalkaline biotite and muscovite granites cut by aplitic dykes and uorite veins. The Tusaquillas pluton also includes diorites, monzodiorites and minor alkaline granite facies (Galliski and Viramonte, 1988). Thin tephrite dykes crosscut the plutonic body. The Abra Laite stock is situated northeast of Tusaquillas granite. There are large discrepancies in relation to its geochronological data, with K/Ar ages of 200 210 Ma and 802 5 Ma (Turner et al., 1979). The petrographic features are similar to those of the Tusaquillas, with subalkaline biotite-muscovite facies and uorite plus quartz-tourmaline veins. The Aguilar pluton is an epizonal intrusive of 40 km2 located immediately to the northeast of Abra Laite (Brodtkorb et al., 1978). Petrographically, its rocks consist of hornblende biotite granodiorite or granite facies with restricted minor metasomatized rapakivi granites, monzonites, diorites and alkalic granites. It is cross-cut by lamprophyric and aplitic dikes that carry uorite and tourmaline. Rb/Sr ages range between 110 25 and 1332 8 Ma (Halpern and Latorre, 1973). On the basis of K/Ar and Rb/Sr dating, Linares and Latorre (1975) assigned a main age of 118 215 Ma for these rocks. Chemical analysis of the principal rock types show that the pluton has a subalkaline anity (Fig. 3). 2.2. Cretaceous volcanism Cretaceous volcanism is widespread in the Salta and Puca Groups (see Reyes et al., 1976; Avila Salinas, 1986; Galliski and Viramonte, 1988). The best outcrops are found on the southwestern and eastern sides of the Aleman a sub-basin in Argentina and the Betanzos area in the Bolivian basin (Fig. 1). They belong mainly to the second volcanic phase. We

specically refer to them because we consider them to be the best representatives of Cretaceous rift-related magmatism in the region. In northwestern Argentina, the volcanic sequence begins with the Alto de las Salinas Complex, El Cadillal Formation and the Isonza Basalt (Fig. 1). The former was described by Bossi (1969) and is composed of lava ows, volcanic necks, dykes and minor pyroclastic ows of trachytic, and nephelinite composition intruded by basanitic dykes and sills (Galliski and Viramonte, 1988). Numerous xenoliths of spinel peridotites and partially digested crustal rocks can be found in the basanitic lava ows. Whole rock K/Ar dating of the felsic rocks gave ages of 128 2 5 and 112 2 10 Ma for the lower levels and 103 2 10 to 972 5 Ma for the upper levels (Bossi and Wampler, 1969). The Isonza Basalt is located on the northwestern border of the Aleman a sub-basin and is interbeded with the lower sequences of the La Yesera Formation (Fig. 1). K/Ar dating gave an age of 1142 5 Ma for the lower lava ow and 992 5 to 96 2 5 Ma for the upper lava ow (Valencio et al., 1976). Both lava ows are basanitic in composition with olivine and augite. In Bolivia, the volcanic sequence begins with the Basalto Maragua which is interbedded in La Puerta Formation (Avila Salinas, 1986). The second volcanic pulse is mainly represented by Las Conchas Basalt in Argentina and Basalto Betanzos in Bolivia. The former comprises the volcanism associated with the upper levels of the Las Curtiembres Formation. The best outcrops of the unit are widely distributed on both sides of the Las Conchas River. K/Ar ages of 78 25 and 76.4 2 3.5 Ma are considered for this unit (Valencio et al., 1976; Reyes et al., 1976). The lithology of the sequence is indicative of a strombolian volcanism with frequent hydromagmatic pulses. The products of the volcanism are lava ows interbedded with wet surge deposits, lahars, explosion breccias, air fall strombolian deposits, and minor uvial sedimentary beds. In the lower part of the Las Curtiembres Formation it is possible to see the roots of this volcanism, with dykes and volcanic necks. This hypabyssal volcanism is present in the central-western sector of the Las Conchas River (Santa Barbara and El Sapo area). In several places (Las Curtiembres, El Sunchal, ``km 49'', El Sapo, Cerro Amarillo) the rocks contain, particularly the necks and dykes, abundant xenoliths. Both mantle and crustal-derived xenoliths have been identied (Galliski et al., 1990; Risso and Viramonte, 1992; Lewerenz, 1977) including spinel lherzolithes, websterites, wehrlites, harzburgites, dunites, mac and acid granulites, granitoids, gneisses, schists, and quartzites. Likewise, megacrysts (olivine, pyroxene, feldspar)

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are common in the basanites. They possibly come from broken peridotitic xenoliths, pyroxenitic cumulates and granitoids, with reaction rims from the host basanites in some samples. Basalto Betanzos (Ravelo, Tarabuco, etc.) crops out mainly in the Chuquisaca Valley interbedded with sediments of the middle levels of the Puca Group. K/Ar ages are 83 and 82.5 Ma (Evernden et al., 1977). In the Betanzos area, lava ows and sills of basanites, mugearites and trachytes crop out. The petrography is similar to that of rocks from Las Conchas volcanic suite. Rare tiny spinel lherzolite xenoliths can be found. The third volcanic event is represented by the lamprophyre sill intruded into Los Blanquitos Formation and the lava ows and tus interbedded with the Balbuena and Santa Barbara subgroup. K/Ar ages are 65 and 60 2 2 Ma (Omarini et al., 1988; Fernandez, 1975). In the eastern branch of the rift, near the ArgentinaParaguay border (Palmar Largo well), lava ows and volcanic pyroclastics related to Yacoraite Formation are found (Madel, 1984). The compositions of the volcanic rocks are, in general, basanites, trachytes and tephriphonolites. Likewise, in the Bolivian basin, lava ows interbedded in the Tocloca Formation, equivalent to Los Blanquitos-Yacoraite Formation, are present near Tupiza (Vargas Gil, 1965, Fig. 1). The rocks represent an alkaline suite, with basanites and minor mugearites, trachytes and tephriphonolites (Fig. 7). 2.3. Petrography and mineralogy The basanites are dark colored with idiomorphic olivine (Fo80) and salitic pyroxene in an aphanitic groundmass. The groundmass contains clinopyroxene, biotite, opaque minerals, interstitial analcime 2 sanidine 2 nepheline and scarce plagioclase microliths. The mugearites are greyish rocks with plagioclase (An40) and altered olivine phenocrysts in a plagioclase microlith (An2030) groundmass. Secondary deuteric calcite and calcite-analcime veinlets and nodules are frequent. The tephriphonolites are greyish rocks, with megacrysts of pyroxene and K feldspar, interstitial nepheline and Ti-rich biotites. The trachytes are greyishpink, occasionally coarse grained rocks. In the El Cadillal area the trachytes have sanidine+pyroxene+olivine 2 anorthoclase, whereas in Betanzos they have phenocrysts of sanidine+plagioclase+biotite. In the ``km 49'' locality in the Aleman a sub-basin, numerous fresh, ne- and coarse-grained monzogabbro clasts come from the upper parts of La Billetera Creek. An aereal photographic survey reveals a small intrusive gabbro body that intruded into the Las Curtiembres sediments. Olivine is the dominant phenocryst phase in Las

Conchas basanites, except in some mugearites and tephryphonolites. Crystals are euhedral to subhedral and range in size from 0.05 to 1.5 mm. Compositions of the olivine phenocrysts range from Fo90 to Fo70 and there is no distinction in composition between the olivines in the basanites and the other rocks. Clinopyroxene phenocrysts are ubiquitous in Las Conchas lavas. They are subhedral to euhedral and range in size from 0.02 to 1.2 mm. Clinopyroxene is usually colorless to pale green but in some cases they are pale to pinkish brown. The latter is attributed to a higher TiO2 content. Clinopyroxenes are often of titanoaugite composition with TiO2 ranging between 0.55 and 2.10 wt%. On the Wo-En-Fs composition triangle they project predominantly in the salite-augite eld. Al2O3 contents are generally high (Galliski et al., 1990). Feldspars vary in composition between labradorite (An59) in basanites through oligoclase (An20) in tephryphonolites. Plagioclase occurs as microlites in basanites and as phenocrysts in mugearites. Anorthoclase or sanidine are also found in the groundmass but are dicult to distinguish. They also occur as phenocrysts in the trachytic rocks. Normal zoning is common in plagioclase with rims more sodic than the cores. Apatite commonly occurs as inclusions. Nepheline has been positively identied by XRD and occurs as interstitial patches in the groundmass. In the phonotephrytes of the Cerro Amarillo, some nepheline crystals are fresh but most of them are altered. Opaque minerals occur in all lavas as small anhedral grains in the groundmass, and some titanomagnetite phenocrysts (1.5 mm) are present as well. Titanomagnetite is the only FeTi oxide identied in the lavas (Risso, 1990; Galliski et al., 1990). Biotite with amphibole is important in the groundmass of the tephryphonolites. Red biotite (Ti rich?) also occurs in the groundmass of the basanites and mugearites. Interstitial analcime, natrolite and calcite are common in all rocks. 2.4. Xenoliths Xenoliths from Las Conchas alkaline basalts (Galliski et al., 1990) are predominantly peridotites and pyroxenites. Peridotitic xenoliths are 0.510 cm in diameter. They are predominantly spinel lherzolite, spinel harzburgite and scarce dunite. Lherzolite xenoliths are medium to ne-grained, with protogranular to protoclastic textures with equilibrium grain boundaries and vermicular spinel in a recrystallized metamorphic texture. Olivine is sometimes serpentinized in the rims of the crystals. Spinel is included in clinopyroxene and in orthopyroxene. Along the contact between clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene reaction rims are developed.

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Fig. 4. Tectonic discriminant diagram after Pearce et al. (1984), for Hornillos and Rangel plutonic rocks.

Fig. 6. REE chondrite normalized patterns of selected samples from Rejara plutonic complex (after Taylor and McLennan, 1985).

Orthopyroxene shows clinopyroxene exsolution lamellae textures. Isolated crystals of phlogopite were observed. Harzburgite is similar in texture and composition to lherzolite although without clinopyroxene which is observed only as exsolution lamellae inside orthopyroxene. Pyroxenitic xenoliths, up to 30 cm in diameter were found as nodules hosted in basanites. These xenoliths consist mainly of clinopyroxene and secondary minerals such as natrolite. Some opaque minerals were determined as chromite, magnetite, pyrrotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite. Granulite xenoliths were found at Quebrada Don Javier, they are 15 cm in diameter and are composed of acidic and basic granulites. Acidic granulites are mainly composed of plagioclase, quartz, garnet and pyroxene. Basic granulites are composed of clinopyroxene, garnet, olivine and scarce interstitial plagioclase (Risso and Viramonte, 1992; Lewerenz, 1997; Lucassen et al., 1999).

2.5. Geochemistry Plutonic rocks exhibit both alkaline and subalkaline anities. Fig. 3 shows that the Hornillos complex rocks fall in the alkaline eld of the SiO2 vs Na2O+K2O diagram of Irvine and Baragar (1971); Rangel complex rocks fall in the alkaline and subalka line elds of the diagram. Aguilar and Rejara complexes plot in the subalkaline eld. Hornillos and Rejara complexes are geochemically characterized by LREE enrichment (light rare earth elements, Figs. 5 and 6). The Hornillos complex was interpreted by Rubiolo (1992) as an alkaline complex while the Rejara is interpreted as granite with a strong crustal Stype anity. The tectonic discriminant diagram of Pearce et al. (1984) shows that both the Hornillos and Rangel complexes plot in the ``within plate granite eld'' (Fig. 4). The volcanic rocks of Las Conchas are represented by a suite of basanite to hawaiite and alkaline basalts

Fig. 5. REE chondrite normalized patterns of selected samples from Hornillos plutonic complex (normalization after Taylor and McLennan, 1985).

Fig. 7. Normative classication of volcanic Cretaceous rocks from northwestern Argentina and south Bolivia after Cox et al. (1979).

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Fig. 8. Trace elements spiderdiagram of selected samples from Las Conchas basanites, MORB normalized (Wilson, 1989).

(Fig. 7). None of the samples are Qz normative, and normative En varies from 4 to greater than 25%. Some samples are leucite normative. The lavas are alkalic in composition, and they range in SiO2 from 41.83 to 49.99%, except the El Cadillal trachytes that contain 62.51%, but most of them contain around 43% SiO2. They exhibit high abundance of TiO2 (2.3 4.2%), Na2O, K2O and P2O5. Their MgO content is variable between 10.61 and 11.34% for Betanzos basanites; El Cadillal mugearites and basanites content is of 8.92 and 14.43% respectively. Las Conchas hawaiite and basanite content is between 5.35 and 10.1% MgO. Mg number [Mg] range is between 47 and 71, except for El Cadillal trachytes which is 9. Cr content is between 311 and 349 ppm in rocks of basanitic composition; hawaiites and mugerites are between 86 and 159 ppm. Ni major values are 140 ppm for El Cadillal basanites, and 238 ppm for Las Conchas basanites. No data are available for Betanzos basanites. Trace element contents show an enrichment in incompatible elements relative to MORB (Fig. 8) es-

Fig. 10. REE patterns for selected samples from Las Cochas basanites (after Taylor and McLennan, 1985).

pecially Rb, Ba, Sr, K, Nb and Ce. Zr/Nb ratio is very low, less than 10 and the K/Nb ratio is between 583 and 702. Fig. 9 shows an OIB/rock normalized diagram (data after Wilson, 1989) that shows that the rocks perhaps have a crustal contamination showing positive peaks in Rb, Ba and LaCe, although Ba content is similar to other continental rift basalts (around 622 ppm for Mt Kenia basanites, Price et al., 1985). High enrichment of LREE is shown by the steep slope of the REE patterns. Enrichment of LREE is similar for both Betanzos and Las Conchas lavas (Figs. 10 and 11 ). Sm/Yb ratios are between 3.11 and 4.58, Ce/Yb ratio is 37.57 and 48.5, and Ba/Yb is between 250 and 292.9 for Las Conchas basanites. For Betanzos these values are 6.19 to 6.66 Sm/Yb and 52.8

Fig. 9. Trace elements spiderdiagrams of selected samples from Las Conchas basanites, OIB normalized (Wilson, 1989).

Fig. 11. REE patterns for selected samples from Betanzos basanites (after Taylor and McLennan, 1985).

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J.G. Viramonte et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 12 (1999) 109121

Fig. 12. 208Pb/206Pb vs 206Pb/204Pb isotopic diagram for basanites and xenoliths from Las Conchas outcrops.

and 62 Ce/Yb. A Eu negative anomaly is not present in basanites or mugearites but is present in trachytes, possibly caused by the removal of plagioclase. 2.6. Isotopic studies Preliminary isotopic studies in volcanic rocks and xenoliths from Basalto Las Conchas were carried out (Figs. 12 and 13). A basanite sample from Km 49 has a 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.703544 20.0009; a 143Nd/144Nd ratio of 0.512794 20.0007 and a 206Pb/204Pb of 19.347; a 207Pb/204Pb of 15.632; and a 208Pb/204Pb of 39.352. Basanite samples from El Sunchal, have a 87Sr/86Sr

ratio of 0.703330; 143Nd/144Nd ratio of 0.512862; a Pb/204Pb of 19.72; a 207Pb/204Pb of 15.66; and a 208 Pb/204Pb of 39.45. The Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of a spinel lherzolite xenolith from Cerro Amarillo are similar (87Sr/86Sr=0.703416; 143Nd/144Nd=0.512885) to those of the host alkaline basalt. Likewise, a clinopyroxenite block, 30 cm in diameter, (87Sr/86Sr=0.703301 and 143 Nd/144Nd=0.512883) from El Sapo area, gave values similar to that of the host basanites. They may be crystal cumulates formed in magma conduits from previous magmatic events (Galliski et al., 1990). The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the mac granulites are much higher (87Sr/86Sr=0.705279) than the previous ones and the acid granulites show typical crustal values (87Sr/86Sr=0.7091410 to 0.714136). Rare lherzolite xenoliths, crossed by amphibole+Tirich-phlogopite+apatite veins, are found in El Sapo area, which has the lowest Sr isotopic values (87Sr/86Sr=0.703074) of the Las Conchas Basalts suite. Volcanic rocks from Basalto Las Conchas have Pb isotopic compositions which plot in the high 206 Pb/204Pb end of the MORB array (Fig. 12). They plot outside the DUPAL OIB anomaly, which provides a source component for the basalts of certain oceanic islands basalts at latitudes south of the Equator (e.g., Tristan da Cunha, Wilson, 1989). This is in agreement with the NdSr isotopic data (Fig. 13) which appears to indicate enriched MORB source characteristics.
206

Fig. 13.

87

Sr/86Sr vs

144

Nd/143Nd isotopic diagram for basanites and xenoliths from Las Conchas outcrops.

J.G. Viramonte et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 12 (1999) 109121

119

3. Discussion and conclusion The petrography, chemistry and chronology of the Cretaceous plutonic bodies indicate an anorogenic prerift related A-type origin for the granitic complexes, closely associated with the genesis and evolution of the Cretaceous rift basin, similar to that described by Collins et al. (1982). These high level plutons show strong similarities with the granitic ring complexes of Nigeria which have been reviewed by Bowden and Turner (1974). The petrology and geochemistry of the volcanic Cretaceous rocks of central-southwestern South America show strong alkaline anities and suggest a similar origin for all of them. In general, the most basic end members of the basanitic suites have rather low concentrations in compatible trace elements, such as Ni, suggesting that they have experienced some degree of olivine fractionation prior to or en route to the surface. Olivine basalt shows higher values in Ni and MgO content probably because it represents more primary magma. Trace element ratios shows enriched mantle sources, the K/Nb ratio shows an enriched phlogopite bearing source, and the high Sm/Yb, and Ce/Yb values for Betanzos basalts represent a residual garnet source. Dierences between these ratios for Las Conchas and Betanzos basalts could either reect that these suites do not come from the same mantle sources or that Las Conchas basalts have some crustal contamination. The Sr isotope values fall in the range suggested for a mantle lithosphere depleted in REE content. Pb and Nd isotope compositions have P-MORB- (OIB) like signatures. The variation shown by Pb isotopes of Km 49 and El Sunchal basanites could reect a metasomatism event also expressed by the K/Nb ratio. Likewise, Pb isotopic compositions and incompatible trace element ratios, such as Ba/Yb, Sm/Yb, Ce/Yb and the REE pattern of these samples, do not contain subduction slab-derived components. In this sense it is possible to suggest that the pre-Cretaceous mantle lithosphere, below the Central Andes, has experienced an enrichment in REE elements by dierent processes. One of them would be the introduction of amphibolehigh Ti phlogopite-apatite rich veins. Some peridotite xenoliths found in the El Sapo neck show this type of vein although the same xenolith exhibits lower 87 Sr/86Sr values than basanites. Comparison with isotopic data of NdSr of spinel lherzolite xenoliths reveals a considerable overlap, which could reect that these basalts are the product of the partial melting of subcontinental mantle lithosphere, with a very low participation of crustal contamination. Fig. 12 also shows LPT and HPT (low Ti and high Ti basalt types) elds for the Parana Basalts and Etendeka Basalts. Rocks from Las Conchas basalts

plot far from these elds and show that high crustal contamination events were not involved in their genesis. Although these are preliminary data, the NdSr isotopes diagram suggests that the alkaline basalts and xenoliths from Las Conchas are near the P-MORB (OIB) in the mantle array eld; their geochemical and isotope features let us propose that these rocks originated by low degrees of partial melting of a depleted subcontinental mantle lithosphere in which metasomatic enrichment events occurred. They resemble PMORB-OIB anities, but are dierent than DUPAL OIB sources (Allegre et al., 1981). The implication of the petrochemistry of xenoliths found in Las Conchas Basalt is that the preCretaceous subcontinental lithospheric mantle was mineralogically and chemically heterogeneous, consisting of various proportions of spinel lherzolite, wehrlite, harzburgite, and minor dunite and pyroxenite, occasionally transected by amphibole-Ti rich phlogopiteapatite veins. The pyroxenite cumulate may have formed at depths similar to the former and represents cumulate bodies originated in previous magmatic episodes, as suggested by both its geothermometry and geobarometry. On the other hand, mac and acid granulites may be the constituents of the lower and middle crust, respectively. Preliminary data for temperature and pressure equilibration, based on dierent geothermometers and the Al content of pyroxenes in dierent types of peridotite xenoliths, indicate that they were equilibrated at depths between 3055 km (Ellam, 1992). Likewise, they suggest a high geothermal gradient of about 208C/km, depths between 3055 km, and a temperature of 11008C at 55 km (Lewerenz, 1997; Luccasen et al., 1999). The temperature of equilibration of Las Conchas peridotite xenoliths is below the liquidus temperature of the basalts. These characteristics suggest that the source of the Cretaceous basins of central-southwestern South America alkaline basalts was either in the deepest parts of the sub-continental lithosphere or at greater depths than the mantle section that they sampled en route to the surface. The Cretaceous plutonic and volcanic rocks from south-central western South America are related to an intracontinental rift environment and although their ages are correlative with the Parana Volcanic Province magmatism, the geochemistry of these rocks show dierent source regions and petrogenetic processes. Acknowledgements This research project was developed with funding from CIUNSa grant 570 (Consejo de Investigaciones

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J.G. Viramonte et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 12 (1999) 109121 Frutos, J., 1981. Andean tectonics as a consequence of sea-oor spreading. Tectonophysics 72, 2132. Galliski, M.A., Viramonte, J.G., 1988. The Cretaceous paleorift in northwestern Argentina; A petrologic approach. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 1 (4), 329342. Galliski, M.A., Aparicio, Yague A., Risso, C., Viramonte, J.G., Arana Saavedra, V., 1990. Contribucion a la petrologia y geoqu mica de los xenolitos y basaltos alcalinos cretacicos de la Quebrada de las Conchas, provicia de Salta, Republica Argentina. Revista de la Asociacion de Mineralog a, Petrolog a y Sedimentolog a 20 (14), 7187. Gomez Omil R., Boll, A., Hernandez, R., 1989. Cuenca CretacicoTerciaria del noroeste argentino (Grupo Salta). Cuencas Sedimentarias de la Republica Argentina. In: Chebli, G., Spalletti, L. (Eds.)., Serie Correlacion Geologica 6, Tucuman. Halpern, M., Latorre, C.O., 1973. Estudio geocronologico inicial de las rocas del Noroeste de la Republica Argentina. Revista de la Asociacion Geologica Argentina 28 (2), 196205. Irvine, T.N., Baragar, W.R., 1971. A guide to the chemical classication of the common rocks. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 8, 523548. Lewerenz, S., 1977. Geothermobarometrie an granulistischen Xenolithen del Quebrada de Las Conchas, Provinz Salta, Nordwest-Argentinien. Clausthaler Geowissenchaftien I der Technischen Universitat, Berlin (94 pp.). Linares, E., 1961. Los metodos geocronologicos y algunas edades de la Argentina por medio de la relacion Plomo-Uranio. Revista de la Asociacion Geologica Argentina 14 (34), 181217. Linares, E., Latorre, C., 1975. La edad del granito de Aguilar, Provincia de Jujuy, Argentina. Segundo Congreso Iberoamericano de Geolog a Economica 1, 9198 (Buenos Aires). Lucassen, F., Lewerenz, S., Franz, G., Viramonte, J., Mezger, K., 1999. Metamorphism, isotopic ages and composition of lower crustal granulite xenoliths from the cretaceous Salta Rift, Argentina. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 134, 325 341. Lurgo, C., Zappettini, E., 1989. Hallazgo de carbonatitas en el area de Castro Tolay, Provincia de Jujuy. Revista de la Asociacion Argentina de Geolog a Economica 7, 3739. Lyons, W.A., 1951. El lon-capa basaltico de la Formacion petrol fera de Jujuy. Revista de la Asociacioan Geologica Argentina 6 (2), 114132. Madel, F., 1984. Estratigraf a del tramo inferior del pozo descubri dor Palmar Largo X1. Bolet n Informaciones Petroleras 1 (2), 109. Marquillas, R.A., Salty, J.A., 1988. Tectonic framework and correlation of the Cretaceous-Eocene Salta Group; Argentina. In: Bahlburg Breitkreuz, G. (Ed.), The Southern Central Andes Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 17. Menegatti, N., Omarini, R., Del Moro, A., Mazzuoli, R., 1997. El granito alcalino de la Sierra de Rangel (Cretacico Inferior) Provincia de Salta, Argentina. Octavo Congreso Geologico Chileno Actas 2, 13791384 (Antofagasta). Moreno, J.A., 1970. Estratigraf a y paleogeograf a del Cretacico su perior en la cuenca del noroeste argentino, con especial mencion de los Subgrupos Balbuena y Santa Barbara. Revista de la Asociacion Geologica Argentina 25 (1), 944. Omarini, R.H., Salty, J.A., Linares, E., Viramonte, J.G., Gorustovich, S.A., 1989. Petrolog a geoqu mica y edad de un lon lampro tico en el Subgrupo Pirgua (Aleman a-Salta). Revista del Instituto de Geolog a y Miner a 7 (Universidad Nacional de Jujuy). Piraces, R., 1979. Velocidades de depositacion de las secuencias mesozoicas en los Andes a la latitud de Chile central: Su relacion con los eventos magmaticos y tectonicos. In: II Congreso Geologico Chileno Arica 1, pp. 83106. Price, R.C., Johnson, R.W., Gray, C.M., Frey, F.A., 1985.

de la Universidad Nacional de Salta) CONICET grant 4879 (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient cas y Tecnologicas de la Republica Argentina) and the Agencia de Promocion Cient ca y Tecnologica de la Republica Argentina grant 07-00000-02237.

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