Carbonatites from the Southern Brazilian platform: I

Abstract

We present a comprehensive overview of the geochemical characteristics and evolution of the carbonatites from the southern Brazilian Platform (Paraná Basin). The carbonatites from different complexes display large compositional variability in terms of abundances of incompatible and rare earth elements. This is in agreement with an origin from heterogeneous lithospheric sources, as confirmed by isotopic data (see Speziale et al., this issue). The characteristic major and trace element abundances of these carbonatites present compelling evidence for invoking liquid unmixing as the main mechanism of their formation and evolution albeit few exceptions. We propose an evolutionary trend for the Brazilian carbonatites, which can be summarized as following: exsolution of the primary Ca- or Mg-carbonatitic liquids systematically takes place at the phonolite-peralkaline phonolite stage of magma differentiation; this is followed by progressive Fe-enrichment and by final emplacement of fluorocarbonatites associated with hydrothermal fluids.