Using airborne gamma-ray spectrometry and geochemistry to characterize the late Neoproterozoic ferroan magmatism in the Transversal subprovince of the Borborema Province, NE-Brazil

Abstract

Ferroan granites (585-530 Ma) in the Transversal subprovince of the Borborema Province (BP) comprise two groups: G1) slightly peraluminous to metaluminous, alkali-calcic rocks (Aroeiras Complex and Serra Branca-Coxixola dike swarms (SBCDS)); G2) metaluminous to slightly peraluminous, alkalic to alkali-calcic rocks (Queimadas and Prata intrusions). G1 are transitional from collision to transcurrence (ca. 585 Ma), or transcurrence to transtension (ca. 545 Ma). G2 represents the granitoids intruded during post-collisional crustal thinning (ca. 550 Ma), or coeval with deposition of intracratonic basins (ca. 530 Ma). The large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) and high field strength elements (HFSE) enriched geochemical signature of these granitoids are recognizable in gamma spectrometric maps of regional scale, highest values of K(%), eTh(ppm), and eU(ppm) contrast significantly with country rocks and magnesian granites. This study shows that gamma-ray spectrometric regional maps reflect the geochemical characteristics of the ferroan intrusions. Moreover, in the local maps for each intrusion, it is possible to identify internal heterogeneities in these plutons, which correlate to geological processes, geochemistry, and petrography. Diorites and gabbros show low to medium values of K (1-3%), eTh (5-20 ppm) and eU (0.2-2 ppm), contrasting with the high values of regions with a dominance of ferroan granitoids (K, 3-6%; eTh, 15-60 ppm; eU, 2-4 ppm).