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This contribution is concerned with the debated origin of the impact melt rock in the central uplift of the world’s largest confirmed impact structure—Vredefort (South Africa). New major- and trace-element abundances, including those of selected highly siderophile elements (HSEs), Re-Os isotope data, as well as the first Se isotope and Se-Te elemental systematics are presented for the felsic and mafic varieties of Vredefort impact melt rock known as “Vredefort Granophyre.” In addition to the long-recognized “normal” (i.e., felsic, >66 wt% SiO2) granophyre variety, a more mafic (<66 wt% SiO2) impact melt variety from Vredefort has been discussed for several years. The hypothesis that the mafic granophyre was formed from felsic granophyre through admixture (assimilation) of a mafic country rock component that then was melted and assimilated into the superheated impact melt has been pursued here by analysis of the two granophyre varieties, of the Dominion Group lava (actually metalava), and of epidiorite mafic country rock types. Chemical compositions, including high-precision isotope dilution–derived concentrations of selected highly siderophile elements (Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Se, Te), and Re-Os and Se isotope data support this hypothesis. A first-order estimate, based on these data, suggests that some mafic granophyre may have resulted from a significant admixture (assimilation) of epidiorite to felsic granophyre. This is in accordance with the findings of an earlier investigation using conventional isotope (Sr-Nd-Pb) data. Moreover, these outcomes are in contrast to a two-stage emplacement model for Vredefort Granophyre, whereby a mafic phase of impact melt, derived by differentiation of a crater-filling impact melt sheet, would have been emplaced into earlier-deposited felsic granophyre. Instead, all chemical and isotopic evidence so far favors formation of mafic granophyre by local assimilation of mafic country rock—most likely epidiorite—by a single intrusive impact melt phase, which is represented by the regionally homogeneous felsic granophyre.
The Cañadón Asfalto basin, central Chubut, Argentina, comprises a volcano-sedimentary sequence related to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean during Mesozoic times. The Lonco Trapial, Cañadón Asfalto and Cañadón Calcáreo formations are the main units related to the evolution of this basin. The Las Chacritas and Puesto Almada members are distinguished in the Cañadón Asfalto Formation. LA-HR-ICP-MS U-Pb and Lu-Hf data on zircon were obtained on these units. The Lonco Trapial Formation gave a weighted average age of 172.3±1.8 Ma. A pyroclastic level from the Las Chacritas Member gave a weighted average age of 168.2±2.2 Ma. Two U-Pb concordant ages of 160.3±1.7 Ma on a laminated tuffite and 158.3±1.3 Ma on a pyroclastic level were obtained for the Puesto Almada Member. Two maximum depositional ages constrain the sedimentary provenance areas for the basin: 1) A sample from the Sierra de la Manea range, where a
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