Granitoid magmatism of the Japan and Okhotsk seas

Abstract

This paper presents a study of Middle Paleozoic, Late Paleozoic, Early Cretaceous, and Early—Late Cretaceous granitoid complexes from two Pacific marginal seas. The granitoid complexes are subdivided into two large groups: (1) mantle-crust derivatives, including andesite differentiates, and (2) crustal palingenetic granites. In terms of formation depth, they are subdivided into abyssal, mesoabyssal, and hypabyssal granites, with decreasing depth from the old to young complexes. It was established that the granitoids of different genesis have peculiar geochemical features. The granitoids of distinguished genetic types differ in the content and proportions of alkalis, primarily, K, as well as Rb, Sr, and Ba. The palingenetic granites show the predominance of K over Na and are classified as high-K calc-alkaline rocks, whereas andesitic derivatives correspond to the calc-alkaline rocks. The former are characterized by the higher Rb and Ba contents, which is related to the geochemical affinity of these elements to K. In contrast, the Okhotsk Sea rocks are characterized by the predominance of Na over K, the elevated Sr content, and the lower Ba and Rb contents. In terms of geodynamic setting, the studied granitoids fall in the field of volcanic arcs and syncollisional rocks. The latters are represented by the palingenetic granitoids of the Sea of Japan.