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Permian pegmatites and spodumene pegmatites in the Alps: Formation

during regional scale high temperature/low pressure metamorphism

Conference Paper · June 2017

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NGF Abstracts and Proceedings, No. 2, 2017 122

Permian pegmatites and spodumene pegmatites in the Alps:

Formation during regional scale high temperature/low pressure
metamorphism
Ralf Schuster1, Tanja Ilickovic1, Heinrich Mali2, Benjamin Huet1 & Albert Schedl1
1
Geological Survey of Austria, Neulinggasse 38, 1030 Vienna, Austria, Ralf.Schuster@geologie.ac.at
2
Department of Applied Geosciences and Geophysics, Montanuniversität Leoben, Peter-Tunnerstraße 5, 8700
Leoben, Austria

Keywords: Pegmatites, Permian, Alps, metamorphism, spodumene

Introduction
During Permian and Triassic times the continental units of the present day Alps were affected by
lithospheric extension, causing crustal basaltic underplating, high temperature-low pressure
metamorphism and intense magmatic activity within the crust (Schuster & Stüwe, 2008; Thöni et al.,
2008). In this abstract we discuss the distribution of Permian pegmatites, spodumene pegmatites and
leucogranites and their genetic relations in the framework of regional geology of the Alps.

Figure 1. Map of the Alps showing the distribution of Permian metamorphism and related magmatic rocks.
Pegmatites are frequent in most of the amphibolite to granulite facies units. Numbers refer to locations
described in the text, R indicates area of St. Radegund shown in Fig. 3. Map modified from Schuster & Stüwe
(2008).

The distribution of magmatic and metamorphic rocks related to the Permian event in the Alps is shown
on Fig. 1. A section through the base of the Permian crust with gabbroic intrusion, diorites and restitic
kinzigites is exposed in the Ivrea Zone (Quick et al., 1995) (1). Deep crustal levels are indicated by
amphibolite to granulite facies rocks with sillimanite, andalusite and indications for local anatexis.
Therein gabbros, diorites, granites and pegmatitic dykes occur. Such sections are well preserved in the
Kreuzeck-Gailtaler Alpen nappe (2), at the base of the Silvretta nappe (3) or within the Campo nappe
(4). The Permian middle crust is represented by greenschist facies metamorphic units with garnet-
bearing assemblages, e.g. the Donnersbach nappe (5). Higher levels are characterized by large
volumes of biotite-granites that intruded within greenschist facies metapelites partly showing contact
metamorphism. Such units can be studied in the easternmost part of the Eastern Alps (6) but are also
represented in the Southalpine unit (7). Subvolcanic dykes and intrusions occur within the uppermost
Permian crust and at the surface Permian sedimentary sequences typically contain volcanic layers. One
of the most famous volcanic centre is represented by the Bozen quartzporphyry (8), but similar rocks
NGF Abstracts and Proceedings, No. 2, 2017 123

are also known from the Subpenninic nappes of the Tauern Window (9). The Permian crust
experienced an Alpine overprint up to eclogite facies conditions.

Field relations of pegmatites and associated leucogranites

Fieldwork and detailed mapping revealed that Permian pegmatites in the Alps are restricted to distinct
complexes with typical lithological associations and petrological features. Three different domains can
be distinguished (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Synoptic diagram showing field relations for Permian pegmatites and leucogranites in the
Austroalpine unit of the Eastern Alps. Three domains (orange, yellow and reddish) can be distinguished (see
text). Outcrop pictures of A - spodumene pegmatite, B - concordant barren pegmatite and C - migmatitic mica
schist with pegmatitic networks and dykes. Compilation of typical lithologies: D - spodumene pegmatite (width
of image 7 cm), E - comb structures of deformed tourmaline (width of image 37 cm), F - inhomogeneous
leucogranite (width of image 20 cm), G - muscovite pegmatite (width of image 25 cm), H - deformed pegmatitic
network (width of image 40 cm), I - pegmatitic patches within deformed migmatitic mica schist (width of image
30 cm), J) garnet-rich restitic paragneiss (width of image 20 cm). K - Schematic column showing the distribution
of typical lithologies, magmatic assemblages and depth-pressure-temperature relations.

(1) In structurally lower parts, pegmatitic patches, narrow pegmatitic dykes and larger feldspar
dominated pegmatites occur in aluminosilicate bearing, garnet-rich mica schists and paragneisses
NGF Abstracts and Proceedings, No. 2, 2017 124

representing restites after initial melting. The pegmatitic patches have a thickness of a few centimetres
to decimetres. Associated pegmatites formed by accumulation of melts from the patches are present as
networks of centimetre thick veins or up to a few meters thick concordant dykes. They are mostly
composed of feldspar and quartz. Metamorphism in the surrounding mica schist and paragneiss
indicate that during the Permian event this domain experienced upper-amphibolite facies metamorphic
conditions (~ 0.4 GPa and 650°C; e.g. Stöckert, 1987; Habler & Thöni, 2001), corresponding to a
depth of c. 15 km. (2) Structurally higher domains are characterized by frequent concordant barren
pegmatites of several meters thickness and mineral assemblages with feldspar, quartz, muscovite,
garnet and tourmaline. In some places (e.g. Martell valley, Uttenheim valley, Geißrücken near
Judenburg) associated inhomogeneous leucogranitic bodies with pegmatitic and aplitic striae parts
occur. They extend up to a few kilometres in size. (3) Higher evolved pegmatites are present as partly
discordant dykes in the structurally uppermost levels. Feldspar, quartz, muscovite, garnet and
tourmaline form the common assemblage, but additionally spodumene and beryl are present. Very
rarely tiny grains of cassiterite, columbite and REE-minerals have been found. The spodumene
pegmatites occur in about a dozen places, forming up to a few metres thick dykes with lengths up to
more than one kilometre (Göd, 1989; Mali, 2004). However, they also occur as a few cubic meter
sized domains in barren pegmatites or as several decimetre sized boudins within the country rocks.
According to the presence of contemporaneously formed garnet in surrounding mica schists and
paragneisses these pegmatites intruded in upper greenschist facies (~0.3 GPa at 500°C) crustal levels,
corresponding to c. 10 km depth.

It is important to note that the Permian pegmatites described in the synoptic diagram are not associated
with the huge bodies of biotite-granites. Pegmatites related to these granites are very rare or absent and
never contain spodumene.

Regional distribution of fractionated pegmatites

In the course of a project dealing with spodumene pegmatites and other fractionated pegmatites in the
Austroalpine unit of the Eastern Alps more than 800 outcrops have been investigated and sampled for
trace element investigations on magmatic muscovite. As shown in Ilickovic et al. (this volume)
muscovites from barren pegmatites, leucogranites and spodumene pegmatites are similar in age and
plot on continuous fractionation trends in the diagrams of Černý & Ercit (2005). When plotted in map
view, the K/Rb ratio of the muscovites reveals a regional zonation. One of the clearest zoning is
visible in the area of St. Radegund (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. Cutout from a database synthetizing Permian pegmatites and leucogranites from the Eastern Alps
showing the surroundings of the St. Radegund village (Styria/Austria), based on 1:50000 maps from the Austrian
Geological Survey. The brownish colour shows mica schists and paragneisses of the Rappold Complex in the
Pusterwald nappe and the bluish colour represents Devonian marbles of the overlying Schöckel nappe. In A -
pegmatites and the thickness of the dykes is displayed. In B - the K/Rb ratio from magmatic muscovites is
plotted. The data indicate a clear fractionation trend with decreasing ratios toward the top of the Rappold
Complex. This indicates an upright position of the Rappold Complex with respect to the Permian situation.
 NGF Abstracts and Proceedings, No. 2, 2017 125

In general the regional fractionation trends allow a better subdivision of the Austroalpine basement
units, as higher K/Rb ratios of less fractionated pegmatites can be expected in the lower parts of the
Permian crustal sections, whereas lower K/Rb ratios should occur in the upper parts. Using this
characteristic it is possible to identify units which have been tectonically overturned during Alpine
nappe stacking. Further, distinct breaks in the distribution of the K/Rb ratios may indicate alpine shear
zones that are difficult to map.

Conclusion
x Thousands of Permian pegmatites form a more than 400 km wide pegmatite field in the Alps.
x Based on field relations (and trace element characteristics on magmatic muscovites; Ilickovic et al.,
this volume) there is a genetic relation of barren pegmatites, leucogranites and spodumene
pegmatites.
x Melts were generated by anatexis from mica schists and paragneisses at upper amphibolite to
granulite facies on c. 15 km depth (at c. 0.4 GPa and 650 °C). During ongoing fractionation they
rose up to about 10 km (c. 0.3 GPa and 500 °C) where partly spodumene-bearing pegmatites
crystallized.
x The pegmatites are not related to Permian biotite-granites which appear in different areas.
x The regional trend of K/Rb ratios of magmatic muscovites from pegmatites can be used of a better
tectonic subdivision of areas formed by middle and lower crustal rocks.

References
Černý, P. & Ercit, T.S. 2005: The classification of granitic pegmatites revisited. The Canadian
Mineralogist 43, 2005-2026.
Göd, R. 1989: The spodumene deposit at “Weinebene”, Koralpe, Austria. Mineralium Deposita 24,
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Cretaceous high-pressure metamorphic Saualpe crystalline basement (Eastern Alps, Austria). Journal
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