Tamara Tsutsunava, Giorgi Beridze, Irakli Javakhishvili, Rezo Vekua

NEW DATA ON PETROGEOCHEMICAL RESEARCH OF PRE-ALPINE QUARTZ DIORITES AND GRANITOIDS OF THE LOKI CRYSTALLINE MASSIF (LESSER CAUCASUS)

Introduction

New data on petrogeochemical research of pre-alpine quartz diorites and granitoids of the loki crystalline massif (lesser caucasus). New petrogeochemical data on pre-Alpine quartz diorites and granitoids in Loki massif, Lesser Caucasus. Reveals geochemistry, genesis, I, S, M types, and subduction origin.

Abstract

The issues of geochemistry and genesis of the Upper Devonian quartz diorites and Late Variscan granitoids of the pre-Alpine basement of the Loki crystalline massif are discussed. According to I, S and A types of the geochemical classification of granits, quartz diorites belong to S and partly M type granites, and granitoids belong to S and I types. The chemical composition of granitoids corresponds to normal, mostly normal alkaline-acid rocks. The granitoids and quartz diorites of the massif are characterized by the signs of magmatic rocks of volcanogenic-arc origin, which indicates mainly the subduction conditions of their formation.

Review

This study presents new petrogeochemical data on the pre-Alpine quartz diorites and granitoids within the Loki crystalline massif of the Lesser Caucasus. Investigating the Upper Devonian and Late Variscan magmatic suites, the research aims to unravel their geochemical characteristics and genesis, which is crucial for reconstructing the complex geodynamic evolution of this segment of the Tethyan realm. Such regional studies provide essential building blocks for broader paleotectonic models, making this an area of significant geological interest. The abstract highlights several key findings regarding the geochemical classification and tectonic setting of these magmatic rocks. According to the I, S, and A-type granite classification, the quartz diorites primarily exhibit S-type characteristics with some M-type affinities, while the granitoids are classified as a mix of S and I-type. Their chemical compositions are broadly described as normal to normal alkaline-acid rocks. Crucially, the study concludes that both the granitoids and quartz diorites display geochemical signatures consistent with magmatic rocks formed in a volcanogenic-arc environment, strongly implying their generation under subduction conditions. Overall, this research promises to deliver valuable new insights into the magmatic and tectonic history of the Loki crystalline massif. The application of established geochemical classification schemes provides a robust framework for interpreting the petrogenesis of these rocks, and the inference of a subduction-related setting is a significant contribution to understanding the pre-Alpine geodynamics of the Lesser Caucasus. A full paper would undoubtedly elaborate on the specific geochemical evidence supporting these classifications and genetic interpretations, including detailed major, trace, and rare earth element data, along with relevant petrographic and isotopic context, further solidifying its contribution to regional geological understanding.

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