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S-type ignimbrites with polybaric crystallisation histories: the Tolmie Igneous Complex, Central Victoria, Australia

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An Erratum to this article was published on 13 July 2011

Abstract

The Late Devonian Tolmie Igneous Complex (in north-eastern Victoria, Australia) contains S-type, intracaldera, rhyolitic ignimbrites with multiple generations of phenocrysts of biotite, garnet, cordierite and orthopyroxene; one unit also contains fayalitic olivine. Geothermometry and calculated phase relations indicate high-T deep- to mid-crustal origins for the magmas, with crystallisation at several levels. At least four separate magma groups make up the complex. Compositional variations within and between ignimbrites are adequately modelled by selective entrainment of peritectic garnet, ilmenite, orthopyroxene and plagioclase into the magmas. Neither crystal fractionation nor mafic-felsic magma mixing played a role. Chemical and isotope data suggest that the magma sources were once variably Ba-enriched arc greywackes with different proportions of clay. The deep origin of some of the Tolmie Complex magmas means that supracrustal rocks underlie parts of north-eastern Victoria at depths of around 35 km. This has important implications for understanding the region’s tectonic development.

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Acknowledgments

This paper contains some whole-rock geochemical data on the TI, from unpublished work towards an MSc thesis that was being prepared, for Melbourne University, by the late Raymond Dudley. These data are included here by kind permission of Raymond’s widow Janice. Likewise, many whole-rock analyses reported here are also taken from the MSc and PhD theses of Dr Anthony Gaul. These data were made available to us through permission from both Tony and his former supervisor, Dr Ian Nicholls, at Monash University. We are grateful to these people for providing us with these data. Work for this paper was supported partly through NRF Incentive Funds and Stellenbosch University Establishment Funds awarded to JDC. We also acknowledge the valuable contributions made by Gary Stevens and another anonymous reviewer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa

    J. D. Clemens

  2. Geosciences Section, Museum Victoria, PO Box 666, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia

    W. D. Birch

  3. School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia

    R. A. Dudley

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  1. J. D. Clemens
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  2. W. D. Birch
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  3. R. A. Dudley
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Correspondence to J. D. Clemens.

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Communicated by J. Hoefs.

R. A. Dudley: deceased.

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00410-011-0666-8

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Clemens, J.D., Birch, W.D. & Dudley, R.A. S-type ignimbrites with polybaric crystallisation histories: the Tolmie Igneous Complex, Central Victoria, Australia. Contrib Mineral Petrol 162, 1315–1337 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-011-0652-1

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