Magma emplacement and mafic–felsic magma hybridization: structural evidence from the Pan-African Negash pluton, Northern Ethiopia

• Published in: Journal of structural geology 2003-09, Vol.25 (9), p.1451-1469
• Main Authors: Asrat, Asfawossen, Gleizes, Gérard, Barbey, Pierre, Ayalew, Dereje
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS); Ethiopia; Granite; Hybridization; Pan-African; Pluton emplacement
• ISSN: 0191-8141; 1873-1201
• DOI: 10.1016/S0191-8141(02)00182-7

The Negash pluton (50 km 2) consists of late Pan-African, high-K, calc-alkaline granitoids intruded into low-grade metavolcanics–metasediments. This almost circular massif consists of monzogranites, granodiorites, diorites–gabbrodiorites, and hybrid diorites. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) method was used to determine internal structures of the pluton. The foliation trajectories are concentric and inward dipping. The lineation pattern displays an external zone characterised by horizontal concentrically oriented lineations and an internal zone with NW–SE oriented lineations. These petro-structural data clearly locate the feeder zone at the north-western tip of the pluton and indicate the subsequent expansion of the magmas towards the SE. The pluton is a result of in-situ assembly of four magma batches, which were forcefully injected into pre-existing foliated country rocks in relation to transpressional tectonic regime. Two types of mafic–felsic magma interactions are recognised: homogeneous and heterogeneous hybrid diorites at the north-western part, and mingled interfaces at the diorite–granodiorite contact zones mainly visible in the eastern and south-eastern parts. The in-situ mingling along diorite–granodiorite contacts was achieved at the level of emplacement during the injection of dioritic magma into the felsic magmas while the hybrid diorites are assumed to result from two-way conduit mixing and mingling during simultaneous rising of mafic and felsic magmas.