Petrogenesis of peraluminous magmas from the Akum-Bamenda Massif, Pan-African Fold Belt, Cameroon

Abstract

Peraluminous intrusives of the Akum-Bamenda Massif, Pan-African Belt, Central Cameroon, were synkinematically emplaced in a Pan-African sinistral strike-slip shear zone. The rock sequences consist of medium-grained leucogranites, fine-grained leucogranites, and orthogneisses of biotite granite composition; in aggregate, they cover a range from about 65 to 74 wt.% SiO2, defining a continuous chemical evolutionary trend and displaying characteristics of the high-K and medium calc-alkaline series. Leucogranites are strongly peraluminous (A/CNK 1.1) and plot in the field of S-type granites, whereas orthogneisses are metaluminous and plot in the field of I-type granitoids. Major and trace element compositions and the Rb/Sr isotopes of the leucogranites indicate crustal derivation by remelting of a composite metapelite + metagreywacke protolith similar to the metasedimentary rocks of the central domain of the Cameroon Pan-African North-Equatorial fold belt.