Origin of Late Permian amphibole syenite from the Panxi area, SW China: high degree fractional crystallization of basaltic magma in the inner zone of the Emeishan mantle plume

The c.a. 259–260 Ma Emeishan mantle plume caused extensive flood basalts and associated peralkaline rocks; petrogenesis of these peralkaline rocks can provide detailed information about the melting process in the mantle. In this paper, we present detailed petrology, chronology, major and trace element geochemistry, Sr-Nd isotope and <i>in situ</i> zircon Hf isotope for an amphibole syenite from Panxi area, inner zone of the Emeishan large Igneous province (ELIP). The amphibole syenite has a zircon U-Pb ages of 260 ± 2 Ma (MSWD = 1.2, n = 22), which is synchronous with Emeishan mantle plume. It displays moderate SiO₂ (64.89–65.67 wt.%), high Na₂O (7.35–7.71 wt.%) and K₂O (4.78–4.96 wt.%) contents, with A/CNK values of 0.86 to 0.90, with high Rittman index of 6.6 to 7.1, showing peralkaline affinity. It displays significantly negative Sr anomalies (133 to 200 ppm) and slightly negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.78–1.04). The rock displays high ε_Nd(t) values of +2.4 to +2.5. Zircons from the amphibole syenite display positive ε_Hf(t) values from +8.9 to +11.0, with single-stage Hf model ages ranging from 0.47 to 0.55 Ga, combined with the well-developed correlation of TFe₂O₃, CaO/Al₂O₃, TiO₂, Ni and Cr with MgO, suggesting the amphibole syenite was derived from the mantle source, and the fractional crystallization played a significant role in the generation of the magma. The MELTS model results show that Houzishan amphibole syenite can be formed by the high degree (~80%) fractional crystallization of ~24% clinopyroxene, ~4% orthopyroxene, ~35% plagioclase and ~5% oxide from parental magma resembling high-Ti basalts. These results indicate that Houzishan amphibole syenite represents the juvenile mantle-derived peralkaline melts addition to the continental lower crust in the inner zone of the ELIP and assimilating with minor crust material.