Character and tectonic setting of plutonic rocks in the Gällivare area, northern Norrbotten, Sweden

Abstract

Petrographical and lithogeochemical investigations in combination with mapping in the Gällivare area, northern Norrbotten, Sweden, have led to the identification of several igneous intrusive rock types. These include: (1) ultramafic-mafic complexes, (2) mafic-intermediate rocks, (3) dolerites and (4) felsic plutons. The ultramafic-mafic rocks include the ca. 1.88 Ga Dundret complex and ca. 1.80 Ga Vassaravaara complex. The Dundret complex has tholeiitic to calc-alkaline affinity, shows a primitive mineral content and was formed in an extensional tectonic setting. The Vassaravaara complex has a similar chemical signature as the Dundret complex. The mafic-intermediate plutons vary in composition from gabbro to diorite. The chemical signature of the dioritic rocks indicate formation in a volcanic arc setting. Dolerites occur as solitary dikes and have calc-alkaline affinity. The felsic plutons include granite and syenite of ca. 1.88, 1.80 and 1.78 Ga age. The felsic plutons have calc-alkaline to shoshonitic affinity and mostly show a metaluminous I-type character. Results indicate subduction at 1.90 Ga resulting in a volcanic arc system, and including extensional events generating back-arc environments leading to mafic, intermediate and felsic magmatism in the Gällivare area. Subduction at 1.80 Ga is suggested to have caused a similar process generating mafic and felsic magmatic rocks in the same area. A subsequent collision event finally generated 1.78 Ga granitic rocks.