Petrofabrics and compositional differentiation of mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) in the granite in South China: A case study of the Lingshan granite in Jiangxi Province

<p indent="0mm">A case study of the Lingshan granite in Jiangxi Province has been carried out in this paper by employing the macro X-ray fluorescence scanning analysis (MA-XRF) and X-ray CT technology for analyzing compositions of combined mafic microgranular enclave (MME)-granite pairs, to investigate the petrofabric characteristics of granite-hosted MMEs and their interaction with their host granites in South China. The results show that the mineral shape preferred orientations of MMEs in the Lingshan granite are consistent with those of the host granite, indicating that they were both transported in a magmatic state, reflecting the magma mixing. Significant material exchange occurred between the enclaves and the granite, altering their mineral associations and chemical compositions. For example, the enclave margin is depleted in K-feldspar but enriched in magnetite. The enclaves are enriched in rare earth elements and high-field-strength elements, leading to the decrease of those corresponding elements in the granite. This study implies that the magma mixing is a crucial factor influencing the magmatic crystallization differentiation and mineralization potential of granites in South China. It is of great significance to understand the magmatic crystallization differentiation mechanism and metallogenic potential of granites in this area.