Acta Geochim

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-023-00648-0

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Mafic and felsic magmatism in the Wadi Kalalat area, South

Eastern Desert, Egypt: mineralogy, geochemistry and geodynamic
evolution during the Neoproterozoic in the Nubian Shield
Adel A. Surour1,2 • Ahmed A. Madani2 • Mohamed A. El-Sobky3

Received: 15 June 2023 / Revised: 8 October 2023 / Accepted: 15 October 2023

Ó The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Science Press and Institute of Geochemistry, CAS and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of
Springer Nature 2023

Abstract In the south Eastern Desert of Egypt, two con- ppm. It is believed that the Gabal Batuga felsic intrusion
trasting types of magmatism (mafic and felsic) are recorded started to emplace during the waning stage of an arc sys-
in the Wadi Kalalat area, and form the Gabal El Mota- tem, with transition from the pre-collisional (i.e., arc set-
ghiarat and Gabal Batuga intrusions, respectively. The two ting) to post-collisional and within plate settings. Magma
intrusions post-dates ophiolitic and arc associations repre- from which the Gabal Batuga granites were fractionated is
sented by serpentinite and metagabbro-diorite, respec- high-K calc-alkaline giving rise to a typical post-collisional
tively. The mafic intrusion has a basal ultramafic member A-type granite (A2-subtype) indicating an origin from an
represented by fresh peridotite, which is followed upward underplating crustal source. Accordingly, it is stressed here
by olivine gabbro and anorthositic or leucogabbro. This that the younger granites in the ANS are not exclusively
mafic intrusion pertains to the Alaskan-type mafic–ultra- post-collisional and within-plate but most likely they star-
mafic intrusions in the Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS) ted to develop before closure of the arc system. The pos-
being of tholeiitic nature and emplaced in a typical arc sible source(s) of mafic magmas that resulted in the
setting. On the other hand, the Gabal Batuga intrusion formation of the two intrusions are discussed. Mineralog-
comprises three varieties of fresh A-type granites of high ical and geochemical data of the post-intrusion dykes
K-calc alkaline nature, which is peraluminous and garnet- (mafic and felsic) suggest typical active continental rift/
bearing in parts. A narrow thermal aureole in the olivine within-plate settings.
gabbro of the mafic intrusion was developed due to the
intrusion of the Batuga granites. This results in the devel- Keywords Wadi Kalalat
Gabal El Motaghairat mafic
opment of a hornfelsic melagabbro variety in which the intrusion
Gabal Batuga felsic intrusion
Arc setting

composition changed from tholeiitic to a calc-alkaline Post-collision
Within-plate
composition due to the addition of SiO2, Al2O3, alkalis,
lithosphile elements (LILEs) such as Rb (70 ppm) and Y
(28 ppm) from the felsic intrusion. Outside the thermal 1 Introduction
aureole, Rb amounts 2–8 ppm and Y lies in the range\2–6
The post-ophiolite epoch in the Eastern Desert of Egypt,
representing part of the western segment of the Arabian–
& Adel A. Surour Nubian Shield (ANS), is characterized by island-
[email protected] arc(s) mafic magmatism with an average 881 ± 58 Ma age
1
Faculty of Science, Galala University,
(Abdel-Rahman 1990). This magmatism produced com-
New Galala City, Suez 43511, Egypt plex arc-related intrusions of gabbro-diorite-tonalite that
2
Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Cairo
formed mostly by fractional crystallization (e.g., Abu El-
University, Giza 12613, Egypt Ela 1997; Ali et al. 2005; Abdel-Karim et al. 2021). Rel-
3 atively older metagabbros partially formed part of the
Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority,
P.O. Box 11517, Abbasiya, Cairo, Egypt ophiolites and crystallized from mantle-derived magma,

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 Acta Geochim

with some crustal fusion, which sourced from recycling of which took place in a within-plate regime. Accordingly, the
ancient oceanic mafic slabs (e.g., Abu El-Ela 1997; Abdel- Wadi Kalalat area represents a target area for studying the
Karim et al. 2008, 2014; Maurice et al. 2013). In addition, major tectonic stages that constitute the major components
some authors proposed that they are Alaskan-type mafic of the ANS evolution (Johnson et al. 2011). Prior to the
intrusions in the Egyptian Eastern Desert that formed at the identification of ophiolites in Egypt, Bassiony et al. (1970)
arc stage with no metamorphism (e.g., Helmy et al. 2008; maintained in the geology of the Wadi Kalalat area was
Abdel Halim et al. 2016). The Cryogenian island-arc and dominated by a geosynclinal rock association represented
Alaskan-type gabbros in Egypt differ geochemically from by two types of serpentinites, in addition to an undiffer-
the post-collisional younger gabbros that formed in a typ- entiated metagabbro-diorite complex and plutons of fresh
ical within-plate setting during the late Ediacaran (e.g., gabbro and granite. The first documentation of an ophiolitic
Azer et al. 2022). The former have typical arc compositions mélange and the fingerprints of the Pan-African orogeny in
that are depleted in high-field strength elements (HFSE) the area was reported in Ali et al. (2005) who concentrated
such as Zr, Nb and Ti (e.g., Abu Anbar 2009; Abd El- their work on the within-plate granites and related peg-
Rahman et al. 2012; Abdel-Karim 2012). matites especially those that are anomalously radioactive.
Abundance of granitic rocks in Egypt, as well as in the Abdel Aziz and Hegazy (2007), Abdel Halim et al. (2016),
rest of the ANS, lies in the range 50–70% (Stern and Hedge Ghazaly et al. (2016) and El Sobky (2021) concentrated
1985; Farahat et al. 2007, 2011; El-Bialy and Streck 2009; their research on the diverse magmatic rocks, which belong
Johnson et al. 2011). They comprise two distinct groups; to both arc and post-arc tectonic regimes.
namely the arc stage granitoids (I) followed by post colli- In this paper, the authors present the first detailed
sional to within-plate younger granites (GII&III). The first account on the magmatic history in terms of geological
group formed at 720–650 Ma in a compressional setting constraints (mineralogy, geochemistry and geodynamic
(e.g., Greiling et al. 1984; Stern and Hedge 1985; Abdel- evolution) in the Wadi Kalalat area. It is planned to dis-
Karim and Arva-Sos 2000; El-Bialy and Streck 2009) tinguish the different types of fresh or non-metamorphosed
whereas the second group formed at B 650–590 Ma, but intrusions that range in composition from mafic (Gabal El
magmatism possibly continued into the Cambrian (* 520 Motaghiarat) to felsic (Gabal Batuga) and assign each
Ma) in a transpressional setting (e.g., Hassan and Hashad phase of magmatism to its tectonic regime. In addition, the
1990; Moussa et al. 2008; Farahat et al. 2011; Fritz et al. authors try to present a comprehensive model of magma
2013; El-Bialy and Omar 2015). El Bahariya (2021) evolution at different stages of orogenic activity from the
stressed the parameters that resulted in different tectonic arc to within-plate settings passing through the post-colli-
settings for magma generation and emplacement; namely sional stage in the Arabian–Nubian Shield. Special atten-
transition from the calc-alkaline compressional magmatism tion is paid to the dykes that traverse the shield rocks in the
to extensional alkaline to peralkaline within-plate repre- area.
senting older and younger granites, respectively. According
to a recent review on the Egyptian granitic rocks, Abd El-
Naby (2021) proposed the generation of calc-alkaline 2 Methods
magma(s) from either melting of crustal rocks or by frac-
tionation from mantle-derived, LILE-enriched basaltic The field excursions to the Wadi Kalalat area concentrated
melts in subduction settings. By contrast, the younger on its eastern part, which is adjacent to the Miocene Red
granites are 635–590 Ma highly fractionated calc-alkaline Sea coastal plain and the Quaternary to Recent wadi allu-
(mostly metaluminous I-type and alkaline 608–580 Ma vium. The authors focused on the mafic and felsic plutons
(mostly peraluminous to peralkaline) A-type Ma granites. with special attention to the contact relationships with the
The Wadi Kalalat area in the south Eastern Desert country rocks either lithological or structural. Some recent
represents a unique part of Neoproterozoic crust in the Landsat-8 images merged with band 2 of the Sentinel-2
western segment of the Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS) were helpful for the field work. Different varieties of
(Ghazaly et al. 2016; Abdel Halim et al. 2016; El Sobky gabbroic and granitic rocks have been sampled systemati-
et al. 2020; Sadek et al. 2020; El Sobky 2021). The cally in order to provide a collective overview of miner-
uniqueness is attributed to the exposures of a wide variety alogical and geochemical variations for the sake of
of Neoproterozoic rocks that represent almost all stages of petrogenesis.
Late Cryogenian and Ediacaran magmatic and metamor- The samples from the two intrusions were collected
phic evolution from opening of old ocean and the forma- along E–W and N–S profiles taking in consideration vari-
tion of ophiolites until the arc and collisional stages were ation in colour, grain size and freshness. Total number of
terminated, followed by the final phase(s) of magmatism, samples from the felsic intrusion was forty-two whereas it

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Acta Geochim

Fig. 1 a Location map of the study area. b Geological map of the Wadi Kalalat area modified after El Sobky et al. (2020)

was thirty-six from the mafic intrusion. Systematic sam- determined by using software Super Q and Semi Q pro-
pling has been performed taking in consideration all rock grams with 99.99% accuracy and 96.7% confidence limit.
varieties in the same pluton and to be representative for all The estimation of major and some trace elements was done
parts; namely center, intermediate zone and margin. Thin- on powdered pellets, which were prepared by pressing the
sections as well as some representative polished-sections powder of the sample in aluminum cup using a Herzog
were prepared to identify minerals and their textural rela- presser. The fusion method in platinum crucibles (i.e. the
tionships both in transmitted and reflected light. Whole- bead method) at * 1050–1000 °C gives better results for
rock chemical analyses for major oxides and some the rest of trace elements especially the light ones. But due
important trace elements were carried out using the X-ray to the presence of phosphate and sulphide minerals, even in
Fluorescence (XRF) technique. This facility was accessed accessory amounts, in some analyzed samples, the pellet
at the central laboratories of the Egyptian Mineral method was applied. The analytical uncertainty for most
Resources Authorities (EMRA) in Dokki, Egypt. This elements was better than 5%, although this was approxi-
technique enables the detection and measurement of a wide mately 10% for some elements with low concentrations.
range of elements from beryllium to uranium using a The reference material for trace element analysis was
ceramic Rh wide range tube. The XRF analyses were done USGS andesite standard AGV-2, and the obtained values
on powdered (\ 74 lm) samples using a Philips X-ray were all consistent with their recommended values.
Fluorescence model PW 2404 with six analyzing crystals.
Crystals (LIF-200) were used for the estimation of Ca, Fe, 2.1 Geological and tectonic settings
K, Ti, Mn and other trace elements from nickel to uranium
while crystal (TIAP) was used for determining Mg and Na. In the last three years, mapping of the felsic intrusive rocks
Crystal (Ge) was used for estimating P, crystal (PET) for in the Wadi Kalalat area, particularly the Gabal Batuga
determining Si, and Al PXI to determine sodium and younger granites, utilized remote sensing data combined
magnesium. The concentration of the analyzed elements is with field observations to discriminate the different granitic

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Fig. 2 a Aplite dyke (Ap) intruding the Gabal El-Motaghiarat peridotite. b Barren quartz vein (Qz) in the olivine gabbro. c Spheroidal
weathering of fresh olivine gabbro. d Dyke-like body of olivine gabbro intruding the island arc association, photograph looking SW. e,
f Layering in leucocratic/anorthositic gabbro

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Acta Geochim

Fig. 3 a General view of the Gabal Batuga pluton in which the alkali granite (AG) occurs as low hills with a mountainous mass of leucogranite
(LG) in the background. b Intrusive contact between younger granite (YG) and metagabbros (MG). c The younger granite (YG) intruding the
ophiolitic serpentinite (Sp). d Mafic dyke (MD) intruding the monzogranite. e Aplite dyke (Ap) intruding the Batuga younger granites. f Shearing
in some aplite dyke

bodies (El Sobky et al 2020; Sadek et al. 2020). El Sobky The country rocks for the fresh younger plutons in the
(2021) extended the application of remote sensing tech- Wadi Kalalat area are represented by serpentinite-
niques based on the integration of Landsat-8 and reflec- metagabbro as the ophiolite or oceanic association and by a
tance spectroscopic data to map the Gabal El Motaghairat few island arc related metadiorite and sheared granodiorite.
younger gabbro pluton to produce the newest geological Based on extensive field work, the Gabal El Motaghairat
map of the Wadi Kalalat area (Fig. 1). This map, scale mafic–ultramafic intrusion is approximately elliptical-
1:40.000, produced from fusion colour composites (FCC) shaped (Fig. 1). The majority of its lithologies are massive,
and band ratios can easily discriminate the three lobes of dark brown or black, and with no evidence for either
the Gabal Batuga granites, and the Gabal El Motaghirat metamorphism or deformation. In some instances, the most
gabbros on the southern and northern banks of the wadi, prominent feature is rhythmic layering of different scales
respectively. In fact, the latter is mapped as a composite and gradation with a typical consisting of basal ultramafic
mafic–ultramafic intrusion pertaining to the younger gab- peridotite overlain by light-colored or leucocratic lithol-
bros of Egypt (Abu El-Ela 1984; Abdel Halim et al. 2016). ogy. The field work, confirmed by the petrography (next

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Secondary Minerals
section), indicates this leucocratic variety is anorthositic
gabbro and not anorthosite as previously suggested by
Abdel Halim et al. (2016). The mafic–ultramafic intrusion
is dissected by a set of NW-trending aplite dykes and
barren quartz veins (Fig. 2a, b). The country rocks for the
Gabal El Motaghairat mafic–ultramafic intrusion include
6
6
2
6
7
7
5
serpentinite and a metagabbro-diorite complex. The
Opaques

mafic–ultramafic intrusion itself is intruded by apophyses

10 of the Batuga younger granites, especially along the
southern bank of the Wadi Kalalat (Fig. 1). The Batuga
5
8

6
3
2
3
granite led to the formation of a narrow contact aureole
Quartz

(0.70–1.15 m wide) for the southwestern contact of the

Gabal El Motaghairat mafic–ultramafic intrusion leading
17

35
24
32
–
2

in the formation of a coarse melanocratic gabbro with

distinct hornfelsic texture. This hornfelsic melagabbro is
K-feldspar ? Perthite

hard, silicified and exhibit pegmatitic appearance as

hornblende crystals reach up to * 4.5 cm.
The basal peridotite is coarse-grained and has very fresh
crystals of pyroxene with an average length of 0.65 cm.
The outcrops with no layering are characterized by coarse-
37
41
38
–
–
–
–

grained gabbro that displays boulder weathering (Fig. 2c).

In some instances, the gabbro occurs as dykes within the
Plagioclase

main mass of the intrusion (Fig. 2d). The rhythmic layers

in the intrusion are shallow dipping (21–33° NW) and
Table 1 Modal analysis of the investigated peridotite, gabbro and granite from the Wadi Kalalat area

range in thickness, mostly from * 0.85 to * 12 cm

42
34
70
10
12
13
7

(Fig. 2e, f). Towards the top of the section, the leucocratic
layers are represented by the anorthositic gabbro with
Garnet

visible cumulus fabrics. Although is coarse-grained,

–
–
–
–
–
8
–

micro-layering is evident within an individual layer.

Figure 3a is a general view of the Gabal Batuga granitic
Mica

intrusion in which the main granitic mass is represented by

–
3
5
3
8
8
9

leucogranite and alkali feldspar granite (Fig. 3a). The

intrusion is approximately circular in outline (Fig. 1),
Hornblende

forming highly mountainous rugged topography, and dis-

plays sharp intrusive contacts with the older island-arc
metagabbro-diorite association to the south of the Wadi
31
–
2

2
–
–
–

Kalalat main stream (Fig. 3b). Some small outcrops show

the Batuga granite intruding along the northeastern part of
Pyroxene

the area at the mouth of the wadi traversing the ophiolitic

serpentinite (Fig. 3c). Based on our field work supported
44
20

14
1

–
–
–

by remote sensing data, the authors subdivide the granitic

rocks of the Gabal Batuga pluton into three varieties,
Olivine

namely (1) monzogranite, (2) cataclastic garnetiferous

38
17
–
–
–
–
–

leucogranite and (3) alkali feldspar granite.

Based on the field relationships along lithological con-
Garnet-bearing leucogranite
Leucogranite monzogranite

tacts, it is evident that the monzogranite is the oldest

variety and it represents the western lobe of the pluton. It
Hornfelsic melagabbro

Alkali feldspar granite

is pink, coarse-grained, exfoliated and is intruded by a

Anorthositic gabbro

second granitic variety or the leucogranite termed as ‘‘bi-

Olivine gabbro
Rock Variety

otite granite’’ in the field. Any possible thermal effect of

Peridotite

the monzogranite on the metagabbro-diorite country rocks

was disrupted and obliterated by the intrusion of the sec-
ond pulse of the Batuga granite contains garnet and is

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Fig. 4 Petrography of the Gabal El Motaghairat younger gabbros. PPL = Plane polarized light, CN = Crossed nicols. a Recrystalized
plagioclase (Pl) enclosing pyroxene (Px), hornfelsic mela gabbro, CN. b Recrystalized opaque (Op) minerals interstitial to pyroxene (Px),
hornfelsic mela gabbro, PPL. c Biotite (Bt) corroding pyroxene (Px) along periphyries, hornfelsic mela gabbro, PPL. d Cumulus olivine (Ol) in
plagioclase (Pl), olivine gabbro, CN. e Brown hornblende (Hbl) enclosing pyroxene (Px) forming corona-like texture, olivine gabbro, PPL.
f Deformed plagioclase crystals (Pl), anorthositic gabbro, CN

characterized by cataclastic txture. This garnetiferous most weathered granitic variety and is bounded from south
variety is medium- to coarse-grained, leucocratic and rep- by low hills of island-arc metadiorite and granodiorite. At
resents the central lobe of the intrusion. The eastern lobe some outcrops, the alkali-feldspar granite encloses frag-
represented by the alkali feldspar granite show clear ments of metagabbro and metadiorite suggesting an intru-
intrusive contact against the leucogranite and in some sive relatioship. Dykes of different composition intrude the
instances, there are few xenoliths of the former in the latter. three lobes of the Batuga granite (Fig. 3d, e) and locally the
No shield margins are observed but in few cases a grada- island-arc rock association. These dykes are either mafic or
tional contact can be seen. The alkali-feldspar granite is the felsic. The majority of mafic dykes and follow a NE–SW

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Fig. 5 Ore minerals and their textures in the Gabal El Motaghiarat younger gabbros. All microphotographs in reflected polarized light.
a Recrystallized interstitial ilmenite (Ilm) with some exsolved hematite laminae (Hem), hornfelsic mela gabbro. b Well-developed colloform
goethite (Gth) with relics of magnetite (Mag), hornfelsic mela gabbro. c Fine gold speaks specks (Au) and well-developed colloform goethite
(Gth), hornfelsic mela gabbro. d Inter-cumulus hematite-ilmenite exsolution intergrowth, olivine gabbro. e Subhedral gold (Au) and colloform
goethite (Gth), olivine gabbro. f Pyrrhotite (Po) showing alteration to goethite (Gth), olivine gabbro

trend occur as resistant ridges where they intrude the several kilometers in length. Felsic dykes are represented
island-arc rocks, in the majority of them intrude the Gabal by aplite and microgranite/granophyre. The aplite dykes
Batuga pluton and the post-granitic dykes. Generally, the intrude most of the island-arc association as well as the
mafic dykes are fine-grained, black to greenish black, Gabal El Motaghairat pluton, as well as the younger
jointed and are locally off-set by normal faults. Some mafic granites (Fig. 3e). The aplite is extremely fine-grained,
dykes contain coarse pyrite crystals (up to 0.6 cm), vary in highly fractured and sheared in parts (Fig. 3f). Major trends
width from tens of centimeters to few meters, and are

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Fig. 6 Petrography of the Gabal Batuga younger granites. a Typical microcline perthite, CN. b Muscovitized (Ms) biotite (Bt) flakes, CN.
c Undulose extinction of quartz (Qz) and openly folded plagioclase (Pl) with some sericite (Ser) alteration, CN. d Cataclazed granite with
microcrystalline silica between coarse quartz clasts (Qtz), CN. e Euhedral to subhedral garnet (Grt), PPL. f Graphic texture in the Batuga granite,
CN

of the felsic dykes are NE-SW and E-W, and their width the dyke rocks. Modal analysis of coarse-grained rocks is
ranges from few centimeters to few meters. provided (Table 1).

2.2 Petrography of the intrusive rocks 2.2.1 Mafic–ultramafic rocks

The petrographic description of the studied intrusive rocks Ultramafic rocks are dominated by peridotite, which is
includes (1) the Gabal El-Motaghiarat mafic–ultramafic coarse-grained and consists of pyroxene (mostly diopside
intrusion, (2) the Gabal Batuga granite intrusion, and (3) and much lesser enstatite), olivine and minor inter-cumulus

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Fig. 7 Petrography of the dyke

rocks. a Zoning in plagioclase
phenocryst (Pl), andesitic basalt,
CN. b General view of
diabase/dolerite texture,
andesitic basalt, CN. c Fresh
skeletal ilmenite (Ilm)
associated with partly martitized
magnetite (Mag) in andesitic
basalt. d Coarse-trellis ilmeno
(Ilm)-magnetite (Mag)
intergrowth in andesitic basalt.
Notice martitization of the
magnetite host in the basalt.
e Composite ilmeno-magnetite
intergrowth in the andesitic
basalt. f Colloform goethite
(Gth) with island-like relics of
pyrite (Py) in andesitic basalt.
Notice the presence of ilmenite
(Ilm) adjacent to oxidized
sulphide

plagioclase (An88-95). Brown spinel and pyrrhotite are and it shows occasional exsolution of thin clinopyroxene
common accessories. lamellae along the cleavage planes Augite shows intersti-
Two varieties of olivine gabbros are distinguished. tial fabrics against recrystallized opaque minerals
Hornfelsic melagabbro variety is composed of olivine, (Fig. 4b). Olivine is lesser in abundance and most of the
pyroxene (augite & hypersthene), plagioclase, hornblende, olivine the grains show extensive replacement by serpen-
biotite and epidote. Recrystallized inter-cumulus plagio- tine along cracks. Hornblende shows hornfelsic and peg-
clase encloses pyroxene (Fig. 4a). Pyroxene is coarse, fresh matitic textures either in the hand specimen or

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microscopically. Minor inter-cumulus biotite shows reac- minerals are sericite, chlorite and serpentine. Olivine is
tion relationship against pyroxene along peripheries cumulus and granular (Fig. 4d), and is partly altered to
(Fig. 4c). Opaque minerals (* 6–8%) are mostly repre- serpentine along cracks forming typical mesh texture. The
sented by extremely fresh inter-cumulus hematite-ilmenite plagioclase is coarse, slightly sericitized and may contain
exsolution intergrowth. There is some recrystallized inter- inclusions of hornblende. A second generation of horn-
stitial ilmenite with some exsolved hematite laminae blende is coarse and it is partly altered to chlorite and
(Fig. 5a). Much lesser and finer homogeneous magnetite is biotite. Augite is partly altered to hornblende forming a
present either as oriented fine crystals along cleavage of corona like texture (Fig. 4e), or slightly altered to form
pyroxene or as homogeneous crystals, showing low-tem- bastite. Quartz and biotite are interstitial. The modal
perature oxidation (martitiation), that are sometimes seen abundance of opaque minerals vary from * 1 to 8%.
intimately associated with colloform goethite after a pre- Opaque minerals are represented by sulfide and Fe-Ti
existing pyrite (Fig. 5b). Common gold grains of variable oxides, which are predominantly represented by ilmenite-
size are recorded (Fig. 5c). hematite intergrowth (Fig. 5d). The intergrown hematite
Olivine gabbro is coarse-grained, inequigranular and takes the form of minute oriented worm-like or spindle-
consists mainly of plagioclase (An70-75), augite, olivine, shaped crystals or as thin parallel bands. Some homoge-
biotite, hornblende and rare hypersthene. Secondary neous magnetite is seen but composite sandwich ilmeno-

Table 2 Major oxides (wt%) Rock type Peridotite Olivine gabbro Hornfelsic melagabbro
and trace elements (ppm)
analyses of the fresh mafic– Major oxides
ultramafic rocks
SiO2 44.27 40.55 47.6 55.64 47.38 63.33
TiO2 0.29 0.29 0.16 0.87 0.78 0.43
Al2O3 11.5 13.36 15.02 13.95 13.03 7.17
Fe2O3 11.29 9.36 13.38 9.41 13.98 8.22
MnO 0.17 0.21 0.06 0.13 0.2 0.18
MgO 15.72 16.1 5.28 7.18 11.57 6.31
CaO 14.15 14.79 15.01 8.65 10.67 9.15
Na2O 0.38 0.3 0.87 2.34 0.56 2.42
K2O 0.18 0.19 0.23 0.19 0.12 2.18
P2O5 0.01 0.01 \ 0.01 0.13 0.05 0.06
LOI 1.78 4.57 1.97 1.24 1.43 0.32
Total 99.74 99.73 99.74 99.73 99.77 99.77
Trace elements
V 85 92 43 149 129 113
Cr 865 1303 1034 98 115 652
Ni 308 270 127 53 98 146
Cu 80 76 118 61 37 85
Zn 29 103 8 60 77 79
Co 47 33 14 31 45 25
Ga \2 \2 17 \2 \2 \2
Rb 6 8 7 2 4 70
Sr 215 280 615 367 435 51
Y 3 \2 4 6 4 28
Zr 25 30 58 79 55 21
Nb 2.4 \2 9 3 3 9
Ba \2 61 26 127 91 10
La \2 \2 \2 \2 \2 \2
Yb 74 64 27 10 20 33
Ta \2 \2 \2 \2 \2 \2
Pb 2 4 \2 \2 \2 10

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Fig. 8 a Classification of the fresh mafic–ultramafic rocks from El Motaghairat pluton using the total Alkali Oxide-Silica (TAS) diagram of Cox
et al. (1979) adopted by Wilson (1989). b ANOR-Q’ normative plot of Streckeisen and Maitre (1979) for the classification of the Gabal Batuga
younger granites. Adopted by Whalen and Frost (2013) for the trends of granitic rocks from different magma compositions. c R1–R2 plot of De la
Roche et al. (1980) to classify the studied younger gabbros and younger granites

magnetite is also present. The sulphide minerals are mostly be also seen. In some samples, the intergrowths are rep-
pyrrhotite with subordinate amount of chalcopyrite. Pyr- resented by sandwich or composite ilmeno-magnetite.
rhotite occurs outside the olivine crystals. Colloform goe-
thite is present and it is associated with gold occasionally 2.2.2 Granitic rocks
(Fig. 5e). The majority of pyrrhotite crystals are hydrated
to goethite along cleavage planes and peripheries (Fig. 5f). Leucocratic monzogranite consists essentially of orthoclase
Anorthositic gabbro is a leucogabbro rich in plagioclase and microcline, plagioclase, quartz as well as muscovite
(An73-80), with subordinate hypersthene, hornblende, Fe-Ti and biotite. Potash feldspar is represented by microcline
oxides, sulfides with subordinate actinolite and epidote perthite and homogeneous orthoclase that occur as med-
(zoisite, rare pistachite). It shows some remarks of defor- ium- or coarse-sized subhedral crystals (Fig. 6a). Plagio-
mation (e.g. bending) and interlocking fabrics are very clase is coarse, sub-prismatic, slightly z0ned, slightly
distinct (Fig. 4f). Compositionally, the pyroxene is hyper- deformed with oriented sericite alteration, and host inclu-
sthene. This hypersthene displays sub-ophtic textures and sions of muscovite. Quartz occurs as interstitial grains with
is interstitial. Opaque minerals (* 5–6%) are represented characteristic wavy extinction. Mafic minerals are pre-
by sulphides and Fe-Ti oxides in nearly equal amounts. The dominated by biotite. Also, white mica is present (mus-
sulfides (pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite) are either homoge- covite) that partly corrodes feldspar. Orthoclase is partly
neous or form a composite intergrowth. They are altered to altered to granular epidote. Opaque minerals are relatively
goethite and chalcocite-covellite, respectively, especially low in abundance (* 2–3%) and they are represented by
along their rims. The Fe-Ti oxides (magnetite and ilmenite) Fe-Ti oxides. The latter comprises fresh homogeneous
are mostly intergrown but few homogeneous crystals can ilmenite and hematite-ilmenite intergrowth with slight

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Table 3 Major oxides (wt%) and trace elements (ppm) analyses of the younger granites
Rock type Granodiorite Mica granite Garnet-bearing leucogranite Alkali granite Graphic
granite

Major oxides

SiO2 70.72 75.37 74.55 75.64 73.06 74.36 75.11 74.78 76.14 77.34 76.29 75.89 76.76
TiO2 0.08 0.15 0.2 0.14 0.19 0.04 0.04 0.01 \ 0.01 0.07 0.02 0.02 0.02
Al2O3 13.52 13.21 12.7 11.99 13.99 14.15 12.91 14.78 13.43 11.89 12.53 12.78 12.63
Fe2O3 2.85 1.38 1.8 2.31 2.06 1.26 1.64 0.54 1.85 1.82 2.27 1.51 0.8
MnO 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.12 0.04 0.07 0.05 \ 0.01 0.14 0.05 0.11 0.04 0.07
MgO 1.72 0.28 0.2 0.26 0.42 0.4 0.21 0.12 0.1 0.2 0.07 0.13 0.18
CaO 2.49 1.33 1.88 1.48 1.76 1.11 0.47 0.62 0.53 0.3 0.53 0.71 0.82
Na2O 3.11 3.19 3.4 3.01 3.64 3.42 4.44 4.59 4.01 3.55 3.23 3.35 3.67
K2O 4.09 4.15 4.2 4.46 4.12 4.23 4.07 4.54 3.82 4.15 4.88 5.26 3.87
P2O5 0.01 0.02 \ 0.01 \ 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 \ 0.01 \ 0.01 0.01 \ 0.01 \ 0.01 0.01
LOI 1.1 0.63 0.73 0.31 0.41 0.67 0.79 0.08 0.12 0.36 0.33 0.32 0.89
Total 99.75 99.76 99.87 99.72 99.7 99.73 99.75 100.06 100.14 99.74 100.26 100.01 99.72
Trace elements
V 27 15 14 13 19 5 4 \2 \2 4 \2 \2 \2
Cr 235 \2 16 2 \2 63 44 \2 \2 56 \2 \2 \2
Ni 101 \2 2 8 2 23 31 3 2 35 \2 7 \2
Cu 27 5 4 17 21 27 \2 9 10 5 9 11 \2
Zn 24 18 17 33 41 22 217 18 184 47 63 53 30
Co 11 36 41 40 75 \2 \2 68 42 \2 44 69 26
Rb 95 55 69 76 81 93 204 153 217 140 197 206 85
Sr 62 140 132 154 195 22 28 48 41 18 34 24 11
Y 65 20 30 22 37 49 87 111 146 55 100 129 50
Zr 41 63 72 56 74 32 42 58 53 50 51 48 49
Nb 11 10 13 10 46 16 27 22 46 9 32 34 18
Ba \2 322 217 364 397 \2 \2 122 125 \2 126 139 \2
La \2 \2 \2 23 24 \2 \2 12 11 \2 13 13 11
Yb 36 5 10 5 7 6 18 9 12 11 10 8 10
Pb 13 11 8 19 18 15 25 19 20 13 18 19 17

titanite peripheral alteration. Slightly martitized magnetite Alkali-feldspar granite is leucocratic, medium- to coarse-
is present but uncommon. grained and with evidence of very minor or no cataclasis. This
Garnet-bearing leucogranite is moderately to highly cataclased, rock is composed essentially of alkali feldspar (mainly perthite),
slightly altered and inequigranular. It is composed of plagioclase, plagioclase, quartz, biotite and muscovite. Alkali feldspars occur
quartz, perthitic microcline, biotite and muscovite. Biotite is pre- as subhedral to anhedral prismatic crystals. They are slightly
sent in the form of coarse flakes, which displays muscovitization deformed and represented by perthite, orthoclase and microcline
(Fig. 6b). Plagioclase is coarse, subhedral, sub-prismatic, perthite. Also, the rock is characterized by a very diagnostic
deformed, corroded by muscovite stained by iron oxides and graphic texture (Fig. 6f). Quartz occurs as coarse crystals and as
hydroxides. Some plagioclase grains are bent as result of defor- minor microcrystalline grains along the cracks of coarse
mation and are slightly sericitized along the twinning lamellae K-feldspar. Plagioclase is coarse with some sericite veinlets
(Fig. 6c). Mostly, microcline forms micro-perthite intergrowth. along cracks. Biotite occurs as flakes that are partly altered to
Quartz is represented by two generations (primary and secondary); chlorite. Opaque minerals (* 2–3%) and are represented by fine
primary quartz is coarse and secondary quartz is microcrystalline magnetite only that exhibits some alteration to martite.
as silica veinlets along cracks resulting from cataclasis (Fig. 6d).
Garnet (spessartine) occurs as euhedral to subhedral crystals 2.2.3 Dyke rocks
(Fig. 6e) that are occasionally segregated into aggregates. Opaque
minerals are scarce (* 2%) and they are represented only by The mafic dykes are mostly diabase consisting of plagio-
homogeneous, fresh magnetite with very slight martitization. clase (An82-87) forming porphyritic crystals embedded in

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Table 4 Major oxides (wt%) and trace elements (ppm) analyses of occurs as thin prisms that are mainly skeletal. Sometimes,
the felsic and mafic dyke fresh skeletal ilmenite occurs adjacent to partly martitized
Rock type Felsic dykes Mafic dykes magnetite (Fig. 7e). Hemo-ilmenite crystals are present but
uncommon. Homogeneous magnetite is coarse, skeletal,
Major oxides
slightly martitized and it encloses rounded to sub-rounded
SiO2 76.18 74.89 50.88 50.26 51.96 inclusions of silicate minerals. The ilmeno-magnetite
TiO2 0.05 0.07 2.92 3.03 2.79 intergrowth is common (composite and coarse-trellis)
Al2O3 12.86 14.03 11.85 11.83 10.56 (Fig. 7f, g). In some dykes of andesitic basalt, pyrite is
Fe2O3 2.1 1.29 14.44 14.15 16.09 common * 15% of the opaque content. Pyrite occurs as
MnO 0.04 0.08 0.15 0.17 0.23 coarse cubes (up to 2 mm wide) that is extensively altered
MgO 0.21 0.29 5.96 7 3.18 to goethite forming typical colloform texture (Fig. 7h).
CaO 0.36 1.26 6.94 8.24 10.12
Na2O 2.49 3.5 2.03 1.83 2.93 2.3 Geochemistry
K2O 4.25 3.53 1.19 0.52 0.83
P2O5 0.01 0.02 0.29 0.8 0.49 2.3.1 Gabal El Motaghairat mafic–ultramafic intrusion
LOI 1.25 0.76 3.07 1.87 0.59
Total 99.8 99.72 99.72 99.7 99.77 Whole-rock geochemical data of the mafic–ultramafic
Trace elements rocks from the Motaghairat pluton (Table 2) indicate wide
V 6 7 188 274 239 variations in the chemical composition as a function of
Cr 55 66 9 59 21 lithological variations (peridotite, olivine gabbro, hornfel-
Ni 37 31 15 38 15 sic melagabbro and anorthositic gabbro). Peridotite and
Cu 5 6 14 40 22 olivine gabbro have narrow variations in major oxides and
Zn 38 24 98 127 114 both are characterized by a low loss on ignition (LOI) value
Co \2 \2 45 45 54 (1.2–4.5 wt%). The hornfelsic melagabbro is characterized
Ga \2 \2 \2 \2 \2 by remarkable increase of SiO2, Na2O and K2O signifi-
Rb 54 50 33 7.6 12.6 cantly higher (63.3 wt%, 2.4 wt% and 2.1 wt%, respec-
Sr 71 102 418 455 348 tively). The total alkali oxides versus silica or the so-called
Y 48 21 24 26 30 ‘‘TAS diagram’’ of Cox et al. (1979) classifies the inves-
Zr 51 46 176 264 180 tigated peridotite samples at the basal parts of the intrusion
Nb 10 10 21 10 15 as ultrabasic rocks while the olivine gabbros are plot as
Ba 696 448 463 534 348 basic to intermediate members (Fig. 8a, c). The hornfelsic
La 3 \2 17 11 5 melagabbro plots along the boundary separating interme-
Yb 12 \2 \2 10 3 diate to acidic composition, consistent with the view that
Ta \2 \2 \2 2 2
this rock represents a hybrid or metasomatized rock inside
Pb 5 13 3 2 3
the contact aureole (Fig. 4a).
The Harker’s variation diagrams of SiO2 and MgO
versus some major oxides reveal that the gabbro shows a
systematic increase of CaO and Fe2O3 with increasing SiO2
and on the other hand a decrease of Na2O ? K2O with
an apatite- and augite-rich groundmass. Plagioclase in
increasing SiO2. The anorthositic gabbro can be distin-
some andesitic basalt samples (An53-57) displays distinct
guished from olivine gabbro by its higher CaO (15.01
zoning and glomeroporphyritic (Fig. 7a) or doleritic tex-
wt%), Al2O3 (15.02 wt%), Ni (127 ppm) and Cr (1034
ture (Fig. 7b). Frequency of the granophyre dykes in the
ppm), and lower MgO (5.28 wt%), Co (14 ppm) and Ba (26
main mass of the Batuga granite is sub-ordinate if com-
ppm) (Supplementary File #1).
pared to the common basalt, andesitic diabase and aplite.
Granophyre texture is very common (Fig. 7c). Aplite is
2.3.2 Gabal Batuga granitic intrusion
leucocratic, fine- to medium-grained and equigranular. The
aplite consists of plagioclase and quartz micro-phenocrysts
Younger granites from the Gabal Batuga intrusion are
set in a very fine groundmass rich in quartz and sericite,
classified as mica granite (monzogranite), garnetiferous
which gives the rock its saccharoidal nature (Fig. 7d).
leucogranite and alkali feldspar granites. Sub-varieties of
The diabase has a considerable amount of opaque
the latter are alkali amphibole and graphic granite. Very
minerals (7–17%), represented by homogeneous magnetite,
minor granodiorite also exists. A sum of 13 granite samples
homogeneous ilmenite, hemo-ilmenite and pyrite. Ilmenite
from the Gabal Batuga intrusion were analyzed for their

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Fig. 9 Magma type and tectonic setting of the Gabal El Motaghairat younger gabbros. a FeOt–MgO–Al2O3 ternary diagram of Pearce et al.
(1977). b, c Tectonic setting of mafic rocks based on ratio of ferromagnesian oxides versus Ni (a) and Ba (b) of Miyashiro and Shido (1975),
respectively. Symbols are as in Fig. 8

major oxide and trace element compositions (Table 3). (0.1–0.4 wt%), Fe2O3 (0.5–2.3 wt%), Na2O (3.0–4.5 wt%)
Using the ANOR-Q’ normative plot of Streckeisen and and K2O (3.8–5.2%), except for the granodiorite sample,
Maitre (1979), with modification by Whalen and Frost which has a higher content of MgO (1.7 wt%), Fe2O3 (2.9
(2013), indicates that the mica granite, graphic granite, wt%) and low SiO2 (71 wt%). Variation of major oxides
granodiorite and one sample of garnetiferous leucogranite and trace elements versus SiO2 are shown on the Harker
plot in the monzogranite field, two samples of the alkali diagrams (Supplementary File #1). Generally, major oxides
amphibole granite and three samples of the garnetiferous exhibit semi-continuous trends as Fe2O3, CaO and MgO
leucogranite plot in the field of syenogranite, and one decrease with increasing SiO2. Trace element correlation
sample from garnetiferous leucogranite plots in the alkali with SiO2 shows no trends. The mica granites have high
feldspar granite field (Fig. 8b). The R1–R2 plot of De la contents of Sr, Zr and Ti, but low Rb. On the other hand,
Roche et al. (1980) classifies the samples of mica granite, the garnetiferous leucogranite and alkali amphibole granite
graphic granite and garnetiferous leucogranite as typical have low Sr, Zr and Ti, but a slightly high content of Rb.
granite. The granodiorite sample falls in the granodiorite
field whereas the amphibole granite samples and one 2.3.3 Dyke rocks
sample of the mica granite plot in the field of alkali feld-
spar granite (Fig. 8c). Three samples of mafic dykes and two samples of felsic
Analyses of the Batuga younger granite samples dykes (granophyre and aplite) were analyzed to determine
revealed a relatively narrow range of SiO2 (73.0–77.3 the contents of major oxides and some trace elements
wt%), Al2O3 (11.8–14.7 wt%), CaO (0.3–1.8 wt%), MgO (Table 4). Analyses of the mafic dykes show narrow

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3 Discussion

3.1 Magma type and tectonic setting

The AFM diagram of Irvine and Baragar (1971) is used to

determine magma type of the intrusive mafic–ultramafic
rocks from the Motaghairat pluton. Figure 9a indicates
crystallization from tholeiitic magma. On the MgO-FeOt-
Al2O3 ternary diagram of Pearce et al. (1977), most sam-
ples fall in the field of oceanic island arc (Fig. 9b). On the
discrimination diagram of Miyashiro and Shido (1975),
which relates Ni and Ba with FeOt/MgO ratio (Fig. 9c, d),
the majority of olivine gabbro samples are confined to the
field of island arc intrusions, whereas the hornfelsic
melagabbro falls within the abyssal tholeiite field.
As for the Batuga intrusions, the SiO2 versus K2O dia-
gram of Peccerillo and Taylor (1976) (Fig. 10a) suggests
that they represent a high-K calc-alkaline series. On the
SiO2 versus Na2O ? K2O–CaO plot of Frost et al. (2001),
most samples fall in the calc-alkaline field (Fig. 10b). The
majority of the Batuga younger granite samples fall in the
ferroan field on the SiO2 versus FeOt/(FeOt ? MgO) plot
of Frost et al. (2001), except for the granodiorite sample
and one sample of the garnetiferous leucogranite, which are
‘‘magnesian’’ (Fig. 10c). One of the most useful ways to
discriminate different granitic types is by use of the molar
ratio Al2O3/(Na2O ? K2O ? CaO) which has been refer-
red to as A/CNK and the alumina saturation index (ASI) by
Maniar and Piccoli (1989). Using this relationship, the
Batuga younger granites are mostly peraluminous with
only two samples (a granodiorite and a mica granite) show
a slightly metaluminous character (Fig. 11a). On the binary
B versus A diagram of Debon and Fort (1983) modified by
Villaseca et al. (1998), (Fig. 11b), most samples are low to
moderately peraluminous field except for the graphic
granite sample and a garnetiferous leucogranite sample,
which plot in the felsic peraluminous field. Two samples of
granodiorite and mica granite are confined to the metalu-
Fig. 10 Magma type of the Gabal Batuga younger granites. a SiO2 minous field.
versus K2O (Peccerillo and Taylor 1976). b SiO2 versus Na2O ? K2- The Rb versus (Y ? Nb) diagram of Pearce et al. (1984)
O–CaO (Frost et al. 2001). c SiO2 versus FeO/(FeO ? MgO) (Frost
is based essentially on fluid-immobile high field strength
et al. 2001). Symbols are as in Fig. 8
elements (Y and Nb) against one of a fluid-mobile large ion
variations in major oxides, e.g. SiO2 (50.2–51.9 wt%), lithophile element (Rb). All the Batuga granite samples fall
Al2O3 (10.5–11.8 wt%), CaO (6.9–10.1 wt%), Fe2O3 in the within-plate granite field, except for a mica granite
(14.1–16 wt%), MnO (0.15–0.2 wt%), MgO (3.1–7 wt%), sample that falls in the field of volcanic arc granite
Na2O (1.8–2.9 wt%), K2O (0.5–1.1 wt%), in contrast to the (Fig. 11c). Y ? Nb content increases in rocks with higher
felsic dykes. The TAS diagram of Le Bas et al. (1986) is Rb contents suggesting their evolution by crystallization of
used to confirm the field and petrographic nomenclatures. anhydrous phases (Pearce 1996). On the Y versus Nb
The mafic dykes fall in the field of basalt and have tholeiite (ppm) diagram of Pearce et al (1984), the mica granite and
to slight alkaline affinity (Supplementary File #2). aplite dyke samples plot in the field of volcanic arc & syn-
collision granite whereas the garnetiferous leucogranite,
alkali amphibole granite and graphic granite samples plot

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Fig. 11 Magma composition of granites from the Gabal Batuga granites with respect to enrichment of alumina: a B-A plot of Debon and Fort
(1983) modified by Villaseca et al. (1998) where f-P, h-P, m-P and l-P are felsic high-, medium-, and low-peralumious granitoids, respectively.
b Aluminum saturation index as molar Al2O3/Na2O ? K2O ? CaO (ASI)-molar Al2O3/Na2O ? K2O (A/KN) (after Maniar and Piccoli 1989).
Tectonic setting: c, d trace elements discrimination diagrams (Pearce et al. 1984). Symbols are as in Fig. 8

in the field of within-plate granite. The granodiorite and The ternary diagram (Na2O ? K2O) - (Fe2O3t*5) -
one sample of alkali amphibole granite plot in the field of (CaO ? MgO) of Grebennikov (2014). The granophyre
orogenic granite whereas a granophyre dyke is plotted at sample falls in the field of A1-type granite (silicic rocks of
the boundary between volcanic arc and orogenic granite within-plate geodynamic setting: oceanic island and con-
(Fig. 11d). tinental rifts), whereas the aplite sample falls in the field of
Plots of the chemical analyses of the dykes on the SiO2 A2-type granite (silicic rocks of post-collisional and late-
versus Na2O ? K2O diagram (Irvine and Baragar 1971) collisional geodynamic setting. On the Y ? Nb versus Rb
illustrates that the samples fall in the tholeiitic and calc- and Y versus Nb binary diagrams of Pearce et al. (1984),
alkaline fields (Supplementary File #2). On the AFM dia- the aplite plots in the volcanic arc granite field whereas the
gram, the basalt samples mainly display a tholeiitic sig- granophyre falls along the boundary between volcanic arc
nature whereas the felsic dykes plot in the calc-alkaline granite and within-plate granite fields. On the other hand,
field. The ternary discrimination diagram Ti/100-Zr-3*Y of aplite on the Y versus Nb plot falls in the volcanic arc and
Pearce and Cann (1973) shows that the mafic dykes are syn-collision granite field whereas the granophyre falls
within-plate basalt, and this is supported by the Zr–Zr/Y along the boundary between volcanic arc and syn-collision
binary plots of Pearce and Norry (1979), and Zr-Ti of granite field and orogenic granite field.
Pearce (1982) as shown in the Supplementary File #2.

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Table 1, it is evident that the hornfelsic melagabbro inside

the contact aureole has anomalously high contents of some
large ion lithosphile elements (LILEs) such as Rb and Y
(70 ppm and 28 ppm, respectively), due to the invasion of
fluids from the felsic intrusion. This indicates that thermal
metamorphism happened when the granite was still wet
and partially unconsolidated. On the other hand, Rb and Y
in the peridotite and gabbro, which has not been thermally
affected lies in the ranges 2–8 ppm and \ 2–6 ppm,
respectively. The gabbro does not exhibit the increase in
SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O and K2O in the hornfelsic melagabbro
(63.33 wt%, 7.17 wt%, 2.42 wt% and 2.18 wt%,
respectively).
Due to the low content of hydrous minerals and the
remarkably low LOI content (0.32–1.97 wt%) in the Gabal
El Motaghiarat gabbro and peridotite, it seems that
mobility of trace elements was limited in case of one
peridotite sample with 4.57 wt% LOI because at least the
LILEs were not affected in this sample by some alteration
to serpentine minerals. Therefore, the present authors do
not agree Abdallah et al. (2019) that the arc or younger
gabbros in the Eastern Desert are depleted in LILEs upon
partial serpentinization. On the other hand, the present
authors agree with them that our Egyptian arc gabbros were
generated from mafic magma that suffered from early event
of melt extraction as indicated by the extremely low
Ta \ 2 and 9 ppm Nb content. This event of melt extrac-
tion is possible only if the Nb/Ta ratio lies in the range
2–15 (Polat and Hofmann 2003). Our data support the
conclusion of Abdel Halim et al. (2016) that the Gabal El
Motaghiarat mafic intrusion represents an Alaskan-type
intrusion similar to some of the younger gabbros in the
Eastern Desert of Egypt (e.g., Helmy et al. 2015; Abdallah
et al. 2019). This is also consistent with the general concept
of low Nb in the igneous rocks derived from a mantle
source in the Arabian–Nubian Shield and elsewhere in
similar shields in the world (e.g., Shaw et al. 2007; Maurice
et al. 2013; Helmy et al. 2014; Su et al. 2014; Abdel Halim
et al. 2016; Gamaleldien et al. 2021a, b). The spider dia-
grams (Fig. 12) of the Gabal El Motaghiarat gabbro and
Fig. 12 Spider diagrams of the Gabal El Motghairat mafic–ultramafic
intrusion (younger gabbros). Normalizing values belong to chon- peridotite indicate a normal fractionation and differentia-
drites, primitive mantle and mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) from tion trend of mafic magma source regardless of whether
Sun et al. (1980), Sun and McDonough (1989) and Pearce (1983), they are normalized to chondrites, primitive mantle or mid-
respectively. Symbols are as in Fig. 8
ocean ridge basalt (MORB). The positive Ba and Sr
anomalies support the freshness of the calcic plagioclase
3.2 Behaviour of trace elements: thermal
whereas the depletion in Zr indicates negligible contami-
metamorphism and magma evolution
nation of the mafic magma with some crustal materials
upon the emplacement of magma (Plank 2005; Yang and
Here the authors distinguish between possible crustal
Zhou 2009). Figure 12 also show the clear discrimination
contamination of the magma from which the Gabal El
between hornflesic melagabbro and the gabbros outside the
Motghairat mafic–ultramafic intrusion was formed, and the
thermal aureole).
geochemical modification of the gabbro due to the thermal
The Gabal Batuga younger granites show similar geo-
effect by the Gabal Batuga granite. Based on the data in
chemical characteristics to many younger granites in

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Fig. 13 Spider diagrams of the Gabal Batuga felsic intrusion (younger granites). Symbols are as in Fig. 8. Normalizing values belong to
chondrites, MORB, upper continental crust and ocean-ridge granite (ORG) from Sun et al. (1980), Pearce (1983), Taylor and McLeannan (1995)
and Pearce et al. (1984), respectively

Egypt, either I- or S-type (Farahat et al. 2007). The Batuga granites in Egypt that develop in post-collisional and
younger granites have considerable contents of Fe and K within-plate settings (e.g., El-Bialy and Omar 2015). This
(Table 2, Fig. 10c) indicating they are highly fractionated is consistent with similar terrains elsewhere in the world in
granites that formed from fractionation of the magma which the granitic series range from arc to within-plate
derived from melting continental crust melt rather than by passing through a post-collisional phase (e.g., Bonin 2007;
a melt from the mantle. The spider diagrams of the Batuga Frost and Frost 2011; Yang et al. 2017; Gamaleldien et al.
younger granites (Fig. 13) show relative enrichment of K, 2021a, b; Khudeir et al. 2021).
Rb and Sm and a prominent Ti negative anomaly promi-
nentsupports fractionation of felsic magma derived from 3.3 History of igneous activity at the Wadi Kalalat
melting continental crust. The Harker diagrams suggest area
that the three pulses of felsic magmatism at Gabal Batuga
are co-magmatic (Supplementary File #1). The generated Generally, younger gabbros in Egypt either in the Eastern
magma is highly potassic (Fig. 10a) and likely formed by Desert or Sinai, are fresh, not metamorphosed and occur as
fractional crystallization without any kind of alkali meta- layered intrusions in most cases (Basta 1988; Ghoneim
somatism (Heikal et al. 2019). The majority of the Batuga 1988; Essawy et al. 1997; Abdel-Karim et al. 2011). These
younger granites formed as crustal type rocks based on magmas are diverse in composition from tholeiitic to calc-
their Nb, Y and Ce contents and accordingly are considered alkaline emplaced in arc and within-plate settings (e.g.,
as post-collisional A2-subtype with few A1-subtype of Eby Abu El Ela 1991; Abu Anbar 2001; Mohamed and Hassan
(1992) similar to some transitional Egyptian younger 1996; Abdel-Karim et al. 2011; Azer et al. 2016, 2022).

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magmatism that formed gabbros was calc-alkaline in

composition and represents typical post-collisional mag-
matism in the Arabian–Nubian Shield (e.g., Madbouly
1991; Azer and El-Gharbawy 2011; Azer et al. 2022). Our
results support the concept that the Gabal El Motaghairat
gabbros are Alaskan-type formed in a typical arc setting
from a subduction-related magma, has been proposed for
similar bodies in the Arabian–Nubian Shield (e.g., Abd El-
Rahman et al. 2012; Abdallah et al. 2019). Although these
post-collisional gabbros form in the extensional stage of
shield formation, in some cases they maintain signatures of
arc-like magma (e.g., Ali and Alshammari 2021) but in
other cases this signature is negligible (e.g., Eldougdoug
et al. 2020; Azer et al. 2022).
The second major phase of magmatism is represented by
the Gabal Batuga younger granites that started to form
during the waning stage of the volcanic arc system, suc-
ceeded by the bulk of magmatism during post-collisional
and intracontinental rifting, i.e. extensional regime as
indicated by the Grebennikov (2014) diagram (Fig. 14a).
The majority of samples are A2-subtype so represent the
post-collisional stage contemporaneous with the vanished
arc(s). The few A1-subtypes show a typical of within-plate
fingerprint. Therefore, the two subtypes indicate derivation
from recycled oceanic (mafic) arc rocks, followed by
extensional or continental rift magmatism (Loiselle and
Wones 1979; Collins et al. 1982; Eby 1992; King et al.
1997; Bonin 2007; Yang et al. 2017). This conclusion
indicates that not all the younger granites in the Arabian–
Nubian Shield are within-plate and that they are derived
Fig. 14 a Dominance of the post-collisional A2-subtype, and lesser from silicic continental melt only. The contents of TiO2
A1-subtype of the Gabal Batuga younger granites (Grebennikov and Al2O3 are useful parameters, to deduce the magmatic
2014). b Curvilinear trend of these younger granites displayed by the processes by which granitic rocks crystallze from felsic
binary TiO2 versus Al2O3/TiO2 relationship as an indication of
igneous magmas. The plot of TiO2 versus Al2O3/TiO2
magmatic differentiation. Symbols are as in Fig. 8
shows a curvilinear trend, and is a strong support that the
Batuga younger granites formed by fractional crystalliza-
Heterogeneity of the lithosphere beneath the Arabian– tion and normal magmatic differentiation. This is typical of
Nubian Shield resulted in the grouping of the younger A-type granites formed from alkaline, mostly hydrous and
gabbros into Alaskan-type (rich in PGE) and non-Alaskan- anorogenic magmas. The geochemistry of the dyke rocks
type (rich in Fe-Ti ores) (Abdel-Gawad 2002; Khedr et al. much younger than the Gabal El Motaghairat and Gabal
2020, 2022). The Gabal El Motaghiarat intrusion falls in Batuga igneous intrusions are exclusively within-plate
the Alaskan-type group. Based on the data presented (Supplementary File # 3). The mafic dykes spider indicates
herein, mafic magmatism beneath the Wadi Kalalat area is slightly differentiated intraplate mafic magma, i.e. conti-
typical of an arc setting, a conclusion consistent with the nental rift basalt (Agrawal et al. 2008).
findings of Abu El-Ela (1984) and El-Haddad et al. (1984). Finally, the present paper suggests a geodynamic model
Mineralogy and geochemistry of the Gabal El Motaghairat for the generation of mafic underplating magma in the
mafic–ultramafic intrusion show evidence of magma extensional regime of the northern segment of the Arabian–
formed by fractionation of an asthenospheric mantle- Nubian Shield for the west Wadi Kalalat post-collisional
derived melt during the incipient stage of the arc evolution. magmatism (Fig. 15). This model is a modification of the
The present authors propose that the mantle-derived most recent and acceptable model of post-collisional
tholeiitic magma was emplaced in an active continental magmatism in the Eastern Desert, Egypt (Sami et al. 2018).
margin setting as the arc matured (e.g., Abdel-Karim et al. The new data and model by the present authors suggest that
2011; Surour et al. 2017). Another pulse of mafic the mantle-derived mafic melt produced the two pulses of

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Fig. 15 Geodynamic model representing post-collisional magmatism in the west Wadi Kalalat area. The mafic underplating magma produced
two plutons; namely the calc-alkaline El Motghaiarat pluton and the calc-alkaline to highly fractionated A-type granite of the Batuga pluton. The
figure is a modification for the geodynamic model of post collisional felsic magmatism presented by Sami et al. (2018) until 550 Ma. The
suggested time span of mafic and felsic magmatism in the present modified model (680–550 Ma, from arc to post-collisional and within-plate
settings) is based on data from Stern (2002), Johnson et al. (2011), Khudeir et al. (2021), Sami et al. (2018) for tectonism and associated
magmatism in the northern segment of the Arabian–Nubian Shield

post-collisional magmatism; namely the Gabal El Mota- contact. There are remarkable enrichment of SiO2,
ghiarat ultramafic–mafic pluton (dominated by calc-alka- Al2O3, alkalis, Rb and Y in this melagabbro variety.
line younger gabbro) and the Gabal Batuga felsic pluton 5. Geochemically, the Batuga felsic granites are high-K
(calc-alkaline and A-type younger granites) during the calc-alkaline in nature and represent fractionation
Neoproterozoic from 680 to 550 Ma building up a major products of the felsic melt in an arc setting bridging
part of the south Eastern Desert of Egypt. to a within-plate setting. Therefore, they are post-
collisional granites with typical A2-subtype signature.
6. The two investigated intrusions are dissected by
4 Conclusions several diabase and aplite dykes characterizing an
extensional regime defined by a proper within-plate
1. In the Wadi Kalalat area, felsic and mafic intrusions setting.
show no evidence of metamorphism and they represent 7. Based on combined mineralogical and geochemical
the Gebel E Motaghairat and Gabal Batuga plutons, evidence, the fresh igneous intrusions in the Wadi
respectively. They were emplaced in country rocks Kalalat area give important clues that post-collisional
made up of ophiolitic serpentinites and arc metagab- mafic and felsic magmatism in the Arabian–Nubian
bro-diorite. Shield (ANS) is calc-alkaline, which formed in the
2. The Gabal El Motaghairat mafic intrusion has a basal transitional phase from arc to within-plate settings.
ultramafic member represented by fresh peridotite 8. Finally, it is concluded that the younger granites are
followed upwards by olivine gabbro and anorthositic post-collisional A-types granites, which started to
or leucogabbro. emplace during the waning stage of the arc system,
3. Although some outcrops show limited scale layering, and extended until a proper post-collisional extensional
the Gabal El Motaghairat intrusion cannot be assigned regime dominated.
as a layered intrusion but as an Alaskan-type intrusion
with typical tholeiitic nature. Declarations
4. Due to the intrusion of the Batuga felsic granites, some
of the olivine gabbro belonging to El Motaghairat Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no known
competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have
mafic intrusion is converted into hornfelsic melagab- appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
bro, which form a narrow thermal aureole at the

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