Granulitic orthogneisses geochemistry of Caraiba complex, in Riachao do Jacuipe region - Bahia state, Brazil

This paper describes the granulitic orthogneisses of the Riachao do Jacuipe unit (Caraiba Complex) petrographicaly classified as tonalitic (predominating), trondhjemitic, granodioritic and quartz dioritic hyperstene gneisses. The chemical composition of the orthogneisses is dominantly tonalitic/granodioritic, that is typical of a calc-alkaline parentage depleted in K and enriched in Al sub(2) O sub(3). Their geochemical characteristics are very similar to those of the grey gneisses of other regions of the world, usually named TTG (tonalite-trondhhemite-granodiorite). In the sequence of orthogneiss coexist rocks both normal and depleted in LILE. The patterns of distribution of highly fractioned REE (La/YbN ratio up to 102) with Eu anomaly small or absent points against a direct mantle origin. On the other hand the only Rb-Sr age determination in the se rocks gives an age of 2,35 Ga with an initial ratio (Ro) of 0,702. This initial ratio suggests that the rocks did not originated from reworking of a much older continental crust. The available data suggest that the granulitized orthogneisses of the Caraiba Complex were formed by partial melt of basaltic material (amphibalitized oceanic crust). (author)