GEOTHERMOBAROMETRY OF THE FLUORINE- AND BERYLLIUM-RICH SPOR MOUNTAIN RHYOLITE, WESTERN UTAH 148-10

Shane R. Dailey , Eric H. Christiansen , Michael J. Dorais , Bart J. Kowallis , Diego P. Fernandez
1 1 1 1 2
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 2University of Utah, Salt Lake City, daileysr1@gmail.com
1

I. Abstract III. Geothermometry V. Viscosity

Table 1. Eruption temperature (oC) estimates for the Spor Mountain rhyolite at 2 kbar and 5 wt% H2O
The Miocene rhyolites of the Spor Mountain Formation host the worlds largest beryllium deposit. We have examined the rhyolite to understand Sample SM-31 SM-35 SM-37 SM-14 SM-831 SM-86 Table 3. Calculated viscosity (in log Pa s) of the Spor Mountain
the magmatic Be enrichment (up to 75 ppm in matrix glass). The Spor Mountain rhyolite contains ~40% quartz, ~40% sanidine, ~10% biotite, rhyolite
Lithology Thermometer V V D V V V
and ~10% plagioclase, along with accessory fluorite, columbite, euxenite, fergusonite, monazite, thorite, and zircon. Two types of lava erupted, a Sample SM-31 SM-35 SM-14 SM-831 SM-86
Group Model LE LE LE EV EV EV
less evolved magma (1150 ppm Rb, 42 ppm Be, 0.68 wt% F in matrix glass) and evolved magma (1710 ppm Rb, 75 ppm Be, 1.56 wt% F). Lithology V V V V V
Average SD Average SD Average SD Average SD Average SD Average SD
Boehnke et al., 2013 Zrn-sa. (MG) 689 34 724 9 633 10 619 23 Group LE LE EV EV EV
Eruption temperatures estimated using zircon saturation, feldspar-liquid, two feldspar, and Ti-in-quartz geothermometers converge on 718 C for Melt viscosity
the less evolved magma and 682 C for the evolved magma. Zircon saturation temperatures using whole-rock compositions were as much as Boehnke et al., 2013 Zrn-sat. (WR) 715 10 716 11 726 12 692 11 696 15 690 17
Giordani et al. 6.1 6.3 5.9 5.8 5.7
70C higher than those based on glass compositions. Using the Ti-in-Qz equation of Thomas et al. (2010) and a temperature of 700C gives un- Putirka, 2008 Pl-Liq 763 3 754 3 701 5 703 5 752 5
reasonably high P of 8-12 kb. Using the Huang and Audetat (2012) calibration, the pressure of the Spor Mountain rhyolite system is estimated to Hui et al. 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5
Putirka, 2008 Afs-Liq 752 2 693 2 693 3 678 4 698 1
be ~ 2 kb at 700C. Water content of the rhyolite melt was less than <5 wt%, based on the presence of all four major mineral phases at 700C Ardia et al. 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3
Putirka, 2008 Two Fsp 704 3 711 3 682 11 668 7 663 9
and the magma was water undersaturated (Webster et al., 1987) before eruption. The calculated viscosity of the melt is about 6.2 log Pas for the Elkins & Grove, 1990 Two Fsp 707 4 715 4 739 5 648 25 670 13 665 20
less evolved rhyolite and 5.8 log Pas for the evolved rhyolite. Fluorine lowered the melt viscosity, though not by a large amount (less than 0.5 Magma viscosity
Benisek, 2010 Two Fsp 496 13 492 13 496 15 462 35 401 28 408 36 Einstein-Roscoe 6.6 6.8 7.1 7.0 7.0
log units at 1.7 wt% F compared to an F-free melt). Thus, it seems that the crystal fractionation may not have been greatly accentuated by a low
viscosity melt. Instead, the principal role of F may have been to allow the melt to remain liquid to low temperature. Huang and Audetat, 2012 Ti-in-Qz 678 18 689 19 703 14 702 28
Thomas et al., 2010 Ti-in-Qz 536 14 545 15 556 11 555 22
Righter et al., 1996 Biotite 799 3 804 3 783 5 787 6 788 7
a TiO2 0.39 0.10 0.35 0.10 0.18 0.10 0.24 0.20 9

II. Introduction and Methods Figure 5. Comparison of the different

geothermometers used in an attempt to 800
8
estimate the crystallization tempera- 7
11314'0"W 11312'0"W 11310'0"W 1138'0"W 14 80 ture. Columns match Table 1. Most

Temperature (oC)
Na2O + K2O (wt%)

12 Trachydacite 700
Q Quaternary alluvium Legend
Rhyolite 60
thermometers agree that the tempera- 6

Viscosity (log Pa*s)

Ttm Topaz Mtn. rhyolite
Be (ppm)
Fault
10
Ttmt Thomas Mtn. tuff
ture of crystallization was around 700

Inferred
Tsp Spor Mtn. rhyolite 8
~30 C. Of note, however, is that
Mine
3948'0"N
Tsb Spor Mtn. Be tuff 1 North End 40
Td Dell Tuff 2 Taurus 6 5
Tls Spor Mtn. breccia 3 Monitor 4 the Righter et al. (1996) model, based 600
Dacite 20
on biotite and glass composition, is
Tlw Wildhorse Spring breccia 4 Roadside Mine
2
4
Tj Joy Tuff 5 Fluoro Mine
Tdr Drum Mtn. Rhyodacite
p CD Devonian to Precambrian
6 Rainbow
7 Blue Chalk Mine
0 60 64 68 72 76 80 060 64 68 72 76 80
consistently too high whereas the Figure 10. Viscosity of the Spor Mountain melt. The Spor
sedimentary rocks
SiO2 (wt%) SiO2 (wt%) Thomas et al. (2010) values, based on 500 Mountain rhyolite has a calculated melt viscosity (using the
80 0.4
Ti in Qz, are too low. V = vitrophyre, 3
Boehnke Zrn-sat. (MG) Boehnke Zrn-sat. (WR) Putirka Pl-Liq Putirka Afs-Liq Putirka 2 Fsp Giordani et al., 2008 method) comparable to a high-silica rhy-
3946'0"N
60 0.3 D = devitrified, LE = less evolved, EV olite with between 5 and 6 wt% H2O. Modified from Best and
Be (ppm)

= evolved, SD = standard deviation, 2

Elkins and Grove 2 Fsp Benisek 2 Fsp Huang and Audetat Ti-in-Qz Thomas et al. Ti-in-Qz Righter et al. Biotite Christiansen (2000).
Cl (wt%)

0.2
40 MG = matrix glass, WR = whole rock.
1
20 0.1

0
0 0.4 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.6
0
0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6
0
3944'0"N 1 F (wt%) F (wt%) SM-31 SM-35 SM-14 SM-831 SM-86

IV. Geobarometry
1000
SM-831
SM-86
2
SM-14
1000
Syn-collisional Within plate
Giordani et al. Hui et al. Ardia et al.
Within plate 100
100
Nb (ppm)

Figure 9. Comparison of viscosity models used for the Spor Mountain melt. The models by Giordani et al. (2008) and Hui et al. (2009) are similar (within
Rb (ppm)

SM-31 15 15

4
14
A
14
B
1 log Pa*s), whereas the model by Ardia et al. (2008) gives viscosities approx. 2-3 log Pa*s higher.
Syn-collisional
SM-31 (Less evolved) SM-831 (Evolved)
SM-35 10
SM-37 10 Volcanic arc
6 7 Volcanic arc 13 13 The model developed by Giordani et al. (2008) is taken to be the best fit for the Spor Mountain melt, due to the fact that their model utilizes both a F and

5
Ocean ridge Ocean ridge
H2O term, whereas the models by Hui et al. (2009) and Ardia et al. (2008) only utilize a H2O term. For all samples, 5 wt% H2O was used, and for the
3942'0"N
3
12 12
1

Qz
1 10 100 1000 1 1 10 100 1000 11 Giordani et al. (2008) equation, the weight% measured in the matrix glass (~1 wt% F for less evolved samples and ~2.2 wt% F for evolved samples). De-
11

in
Y + Nb (ppm) Y (ppm)
10 10 spite its lower temperature, the evolved melt has a lower viscosity due to the increased F content (nearly double that of the less evolved melt).

Ti
Pressure (kbar)

Pressure (kbar)

tat
SM-14 (WR) SM-86 (WR) SM-35 (WR) Macdonald et al., 1992 9 9 The Einstein-Roscoe equation was used to estiamte viscosity of the magmas, assuming 20% crystallinity for the less evolved samples and 40% crystallini-

de
SM-14 (MG) SM-86 (MG) SM-35 (MG) Christiansen et al., 1984 ty for the evolved samples, based on observations with a petrographic microscope.

Au
SM-831 (WR) SM-31 (WR) SM-37 (WR) 8 8
Figure 1. Geologic map of Spor Mountain and the surrounding area in

g&
SM-831 (MG) SM-31 (MG) 7 7

an
western central Utah. The Spor Mountain Formation dominately con-

Hu
Qz
6 6
tacts Devonian to Precambrian carbonates, though at a few locations, Figure 2. Whole-rock variation diagrams. A) Total alkali silica (TAS) in
5 i 5
it contacts the Eocene Drum Mountain Rhyodacite. The Be mines are diagram with whole rock (WR, closed symbols) and matrix glass (MG, a l. T Qz
4 t 4 in
located in the SW portion of the map (labeled 1 through 7). Samples open symbols) for the Spor Mountain rhyolite, Utah. All samples plot se i
l. T
VI. Conclusions
3 a 3
were taken from the following mines: Taurus (SM-14, -831, -86), well within the rhyolite field, similar to other topaz rhyolites. ho m
z P-T from Experiments eta
2 T in Q 2 a s
Roadside (SM-31), and Blue Chalk (SM-35, -37). Modified from B) SiO2 vs Be. C) F vs Be. D) F vs Cl. t Ti (Webster et al., 1987) m P-T from Experiments
1 u d eta 1 ho (Webster et al., 1987)
Lindsey (1979). E and F) Tectonic discrimination diagrams (Pearce et al., 1984). All Huang & A T The Be-mineralized Spor Mountain rhyolite (21.4 Ma) is a highly evolved, topaz rhyolite associated with Basin and Range extension.
0 0
samples (with the exception of two glass analyses from the evolved 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950
samples) plot in the Within plate fields, consistent with the Spor Temperature (oC) Temperature (oC) The rhyolite formed by partial melting (~30%) of continental crust hybridized with mantle components, followed by extensive fractional crystallization
Mountain rhyolites A-type signature. Blue dots represent rhyolite ob- Boehnke Zrn-sat. (Matrix glass) Boehnke Zrn-sat. (Whole rock) Putirka Pl-Liq Putirka Afs-Liq Putirka 2 Fsp (75% crystallization). (Dailey et al., in preparation).
sidians from the compilation of Macdonald et al. (1992). Elkins and Grove 2 Fsp Benisek 2 Fsp Huang and Audetat Ti-in-Qz Thomas et al. Ti-in-Qz Righter et al. Biotite
Be is highly enriched in the matrix glass (up to 75 ppm), 30 times greater than average continental crust; other rare elements (e.g., Li, Ga, Rb, Nb, Sn, and
Figure 6. Comparison of temperatures calculated over a range of pressures for A) SM-31, a less evolved rhyolite and B) SM-831, an evolved rhyolite. The Ta) are similarly enriched.
A B temperatures were calculated at pressures from 0-15 kbar. Geothermometers that are not pressure sensitive (have no pressure term) are vertical. The degree
Sa Sa
of pressure sensitivity can then be estimated by the slope of a geothermobarometers curve. The Benisek 2-Fsp thermometer and the Righter biotite ther- Fractional crystallization set the stage for later hydrothermal alteration, which subsequently concentrated the Be into the Be Tuff Member of the Spor Moun-
Bt Bt
mometer give anomalously low and high temperatures. The intersections of these thermobarometeric curves are estimates of the crystallization pressure of tain Formation.
Pl Pl the system. The Huang and Audtat (2012) Ti in Qz curve crosses most of the less pressure sensitive models between 1-3 kbar, while the Thomas et al.
1000
2 kbar (2010) model for Ti in Qz requires a crystallization pressure of 5 to 13 kbar, much too high for this volcanic system. Water content of the Spor Mountain rhyolite was around 5 wt% H2O, based on experimental results of Webster et al. (1987).
2 mm Qz Qz
C Qz 20
D
Qz Qz
900
A Ti-in-Qz, feldspar saturation, two feldspars, and zircon saturation temperatures calculated for the crystallization of the Spor Mountain magma converge at
Sa Water 660 and 710 C, with the evolved rhyolite crystallizing at a slightly lower temperature than the less evolved rhyolite.
A B 15
Sa Sa Saturated
Frequency

Pressure-dependent geothermobarometers suggest that the Spor Mountain magma crystallized at ~2 kbar, consistent with the experiments of Webster et al.
Temperature (C)

PlBt PlBt 14
800 16 10
2 mm
Pl 13 (1987).
13
E Pl F Pl
Bt Bt 5
Bt
Sa Sa 700 Pre-eruptive
Conditions
Qz Qz Pl
0
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55

2 mm
G H
600

Solidus
C
15 15
D
28
70
60
B
VII. References
15 28 50
25 Ardia, P., Giordano, D., and Schmidt, M.W., 2008, A model for the viscosity of rhyolite as a function of H2O-content and pressure: a calibration based on centrifuge piston cylinder experiments: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 72,
Frequency

Fl
Bt
0.5 mm
Figure 3. Representative photomicrographs of the three groups of rocks stud-
ied. A and B) SM-14 (evolved vitrophyre); C and D) SM-31 (less evolved
vitrophyre); E and F) SM-37 (less evolved devitrified). G and H show an ex-
ample of magmatic fluorite within SM-37. Note the evolved samples have
more phenocrysts than the less evolved samples. Biotite in devitrified sample
has altered to magnetite and ilmenite. Qz = quartz; Sa = sanidine; Pl = pla-
gioclase; Bt = biotite; Fl = fluorite
500
Fl 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 40 no. 24, p. 6103-6123.
Benisek, A., Dachs, E., and Kroll, H., 2010, A ternary feldspar-mixing model based on calorimetric data: development and application: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 160, no. 3, p. 327-337.
Bt Water content in melt (wt%) 17
13 30 Best, M.G., and Christiansen, E.H., 2001, Igneous petrology, Blackwell Science.
Boehnke, P., Watson, E.B., Trail, D., Harrison, T.M., and Schmitt, A.K., 2013, Zircon saturation re-revisited: Chemical Geology, v. 351, p. 324-334.
20 Christiansen, E.H., Bikun, J.V., Sheridan, M.F., and Burt, D.M., 1984, Geochemical evolution of topaz rhyolites from the Thomas Range and Spor Mountain, Utah: American Mineralogist, v. 69, no. 3-4, p. 223-236.
15 Elkins, L.T., and Grove, T.L., 1990, Ternary feldspar experiments and thermodynamic models: American Mineralogist, v. 75, no. 5-6, p. 544-559.
10 Giordano, D., Russell, J.K., and Dingwell, D.B., 2008, Viscosity of magmatic liquids: a model: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 271, no. 1, p. 123-134.
Huang, R., and Audtat, A., 2012, The titanium-in-quartz (TitaniQ) thermobarometer: a critical examination and re-calibration: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 84, p. 75-89.
Figure 4. Phase diagram of the Spor Mountain rhyolite at 2 0 Hui, H., Zhang, Y., Xu, Z., Del Gaudio, P., and Behrens, H., 2009, Pressure dependence of viscosity of rhyolitic melts: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 73, no. 12, p. 3680-3693.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
kbar, modified from Webster et al. (1987). The Spor Mountain Kularatne, K., and Audtat, A., 2014, Rutile solubility in hydrous rhyolite melts at 750900 C and 2kbar, with application to titanium-in-quartz (TitaniQ) thermobarometry: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 125, p. 196-209.
Lindsey, D.A., 1979, Geologic map and cross sections of Tertiary rocks in the Thomas Range and northern Drum Mountains, Juab County, Utah: Reston, VA, United States (USA), U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, 1 sheet p.
rhyolite crystallized at about 700 C at 2 kbar and under wa- Figure 7. Cathodoluminescence (CL) images of quartz in sample SM-831 Figure 8. Histograms depicting Ti concentration (ppm) in A) Spor Moun- Macdonald, R., Smith, R.L., and Thomas, J.E., 1992, Chemistry of the subalkalic silicic obsidians: U.S.Geological Survey Professional Paper.
ter-undersaturated conditions. Qz = quartz; Sa = sanidine; Pl = (A and C) and SM-31 (B and D). Quartz commonly displays oscillatory tain quartz and B) Bishop Tuff quartz (Anderson, 2000). Quartz from Putirka, K.D., 2008, Thermometers and barometers for volcanic systems: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 69, no. 1, p. 61-120.
Righter, K., and Carmichael, I.S., 1996, Phase equilibria of phlogopite lamprophyres from western Mexico: biotite-liquid equilibria and PT estimates for biotite-bearing igneous rocks: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 123,
plagioclase; Bt = biotite. These phase co-crystallized before zoning in CL images. Numbers are Ti concentrations (ppm) determined Spor Mountain has very low Ti concentrations, which could be explained no. 1, p. 1-69.
eruption. by LA-ICP-MS. Most of the grains show small oscillations in the bright- by either low crystallization temperatures or high pressures. Thomas, J.B., Watson, E.B., Spear, F.S., Shemella, P.T., Nayak, S.K., and Lanzirotti, A., 2010, TitaniQ under pressure: the effect of pressure and temperature on the solubility of Ti in quartz: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v.
160, no. 5, p. 743-759.
ness and Ti concentrations but individual bands are smaller than the laser Wark, D.A., and Watson, E.B., 2006, TitaniQ: a titanium-in-quartz geothermometer: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 152, no. 6, p. 743-754.
Webster, J.D., Holloway, J.R., and Hervig, R.L., 1987, Phase equilibria of a Be, U and F-enriched vitrophyre from Spor Mountain, Utah: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 51, no. 3, p. 389-402.
spot size (50 microns) Grain B displays evidence of rapid dendritic
growth followed by infilling.