Abstract:
The study area is situated within Eastern Gimbi, western Ethiopian Precambrian basement terrain
which can be classified into Didesa Domain group. It covers about 170 km2. This study generally
considered the petrogenesis of granitoids of Gaba Sanbata area, Eastern Gimbi, Western
Ethiopia. Field investigation, petrographic interpretation and geochemical data analyses have
been applied to meet the objectives. The study area is dominated by migmatites gneiss, gabbro,
quartz vein and granitoids. On the basis of modal analysis the studied samples are classified as
syenogranite and alkali-feldspar granite. The petrographic interpretation suggested that the
studied samples are characterized by phaneritic texture with dominance of K- feldspars, quartz,
polysynthetic twining plagioclase and minor amount of biotite and opaque.
Petrography and geochemical compositions of granitoids indicates that they are shoshonitic to
high-K calc-alkaline affinities and characterized by high SiO2, high total alkali (Na2O+k2O)
concentrations (8.42–10.32 wt. %). The negative correlation between SiO2 with other oxide such
as Al2O3, MgO, CaO, Fe2O3total, TiO2 and P2O5 and positive correlation with other alkali K2O
and Na2O indicate fractional crystallization process controls the evolution of magma. The
enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (LILE), depletion of high field strength
elements (HFSE) indicates a partial melting and crustal contamination of magma and were
formed in the post-collisional tectonic setting. The negative Eu anomaly and depletion in Sr, Nb,
Ba, and Ti are imply that fractionation of plagioclase. The studied samples are A-type,
metaluminous granitoids and display slightly enriched in light rare earth elements relative to
heavy rare earth elements. Thus, we concluded that the granitoids rocks are A-type and likely
derived from mantle–crust (magma mixing) source of juvenile crust. The negative anomalies of
Nb, Ti and P might indicate a source and contamination origin. Therefore, studied samples of Atype granitoids were formed by assisted of fractional crystallization from a crustal contamination
of mantle derived magmas and partial melting of crustal materials within plate granite tectonic
setting.
Key words: Granitoids, petrogenesis, partial melting, fractionational crystallizations, crustal
contamination, and tectonic setting