Geochemistry of Pegmatites associated with the cape coast granite complex in the Egyaa and Akim Oda areas of southern Ghana

Abstract

The Cape Coast granite complex, which is associated with  metasedimentary rocks of the Birirmian in Ghana, is characterised by various minor intrusions that include pegmatites. The pegmatites, which are feldspar-rich, occur within, and at the margins of the granite batholiths and the surrounding schists. The major and trace element compositions of the pegmatites sampled from Egyaa and Akim Oda areas have been determined. The data indicates that the pegmatites from these areas have granitic compositions. The rocks are medium-K to high-K, calc-alkaline, S-type granitoids that are peraluminous and magnesian. Lower values of molar CaO/ (MgO + FeO tot ) coupled with higher values of molar Al2O3/(MgO + FeOtot) suggest their derivation from partial melting from metapelitic sources, with the Birimian metasedimentary rocks being the likely source material. The rocks are depleted in Rb, Ba, Nb, Ce and Ti but rich in U, K, La, Hf and Y relative to primitive mantle. The data suggest that the pegmatites from these areas are late orogenic, and were emplaced at upper to middle crustal levels in a volcanic arc geotectonic environment.