Using nanogranitoids and phase equilibria modeling to unravel anatexis in the crustal footwall of the Ronda peridotites (Betic Cordillera, S Spain)

Anatexis in the crustal footwall of Ronda peridotites (Betic Cordillera, S Spain) is apparently related to the hot emplacement of this mantle slab over metasedimentary rocks. In this study, we combine the analysis of melt inclusions (MI) and phase equilibria calculations on quartzo-feldspathic mylonites (former migmatites) occurring at the contact with the mantle rocks, in the region of Sierra Alpujata (Ojen unit). The goal is to better characterize anatexis in these rocks and to provide new constraints on the geodynamic evolution of the crustal footwall. Such data are important for understanding the mechanisms of crustal emplacement of the mantle slice. The quartzo-feldspathic mylonites are characterized by the mineral assemblage Qtz + Pl + Kfs + Sil + Grt + Ilm + Bt +/- Ap +/- Gr. Clusters of MI are observed both at the core and toward the rim of peritectic garnet. In each cluster, MI range from totally glassy to nanogranitoids, consisting of Qtz + Kfs + Bt + Ms + Pl aggregates. The trapped melt is leucogranitic and peraluminous with variable Na2O/K2O values and low H2O contents (approximate to 2-4 wt%). Phase equilibria modeling in the MnO-Na2O-CaO-K2O-FeO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-H-2-TiO2-O-2-C (MnNCaKFMASHTOC) system with graphite-saturated fluid constrains the P-T conditions of melting at approximate to 6 kbar, approximate to 820 degrees C. MI data support the fluid-absent character of melting. The investigated MI represent the primary anatectic melts produced during prograde anatexis of the host rocks via biotite dehydration melting. Field, compositional, and textural observations indicate that mylonitic migmatites represent strongly deformed former diatexites. The comparison between the new data and some recently published information on migmatites located further from the contact with the peridotites and toward the bottom of the crustal footwall, raises some important issues which question the previously proposed geodynamic models for this region. Among them, (i) the crustal footwall at Sierra Alpujata constitutes an inverted metamorphic sequence, not only in terms of temperature but also in pressure, and (ii) the Oren unit does not seem to represent a coherent high-P portion of a continental subduction system.