Geochemical and geochronological constraints on 1.88 and 1.80 Ga magmatic events in the Gällivare area, northern Sweden

Abstract: The Gällivare area is situated in northern Norrbotten, Sweden, and hosts the Aitik Cu-Au deposit and the Malmberget Fe deposit. In addition, more than 17 mineral prospects and mineralizations are present, among these the currently developed Nautanen Cu-Au deposit. All deposits are hosted within Paleoproterozoic volcanic and volcano-sedimentary successions intruded and surrounded by multiple generations of intrusive suites, including large bodies of ultramafic to mafic layered complexes. Detailed field mapping combined with geochemical and petrological investigations and geochronology have revealed the role of intrusive igneous events and their control on ore formation. Main key igneous rocks include 1) tholeiitic, ultramafic-mafic layered intrusive complexes; 2) calc-alkaline mafic to intermediate plutonic and volcanic units; 3) calc-alkaline, mafic-intermediate dykes and sills; 4) calc-alkaline and shoshonitic granitoids. U-Pb multigrain zircon SIMS analysis combined with litho-geochemical investigations suggest two magmatic episodes at 1.88 and 1.80 Ga, respectively, with coeval mafic-felsic magmatism including the generation of voluminous layered complexes. Based on their MORB-type, tholeiitic character, these layered complexes are suggested to have formed in an extensional setting, preferentially in a back-arc environment. U-Pb multigrain zircon SIMS analysis and field mapping also reveal that granitoids in the area range from 1886 to 1779 Ma with the oldest granitoids containing mafic enclaves. This suggests magma interaction between basic and felsic magma sources. Geochemical data suggest generation of granitoids in a volcanic arc environment in a mainly post-collisional setting. Results suggest the formation of layered complexes and a volcanic arc system in an extensional setting followed by a subsequent compressional phase of arc accretion producing post-collisional granitoids. The 1.88 Ga event that generated the ultramafic-mafic layered complexes is is associated with a back-arc setting generated in response to 1.90 Ga NNE trending subduction. The later event at ~1.80 Ga generating voluminous mafic-felsic units is associated with the TIB event also coupled to the regional IOCG overprint.