Petrography and chemical evidence for multi-stage emplacement of western Buem volcanic rocks in the Dahomeyide orogenic belt, southeastern Ghana, West Africa

Abstract

The volcanic rocks of the Buem Structural Unit in the Dahomeyide orogenic belt of southeastern Ghana, constitute a unique assemblage among the monocyclic sedimentary formations of this structural unit. Representative volcanic rock samples were collected from the Asukawkaw, Bowiri-Odumase and Nkonya areas which form a roughly north-south trend. The volcanic rocks comprise spherulitic, amygdaloidal, vesicular, phyric and aphyric varieties. Whole rock geochemistry shows that these volcanic rocks exhibit both alkaline and subalkaline characteristics. The alkaline varieties are relatively enriched in REE and incompatible trace element concentrations, similar to OIB; the subalkaline varieties show E-MORB and N-MORB REE and incompatible element characteristics. The rocks have low La/Nb (<1), low K/Nb (<450) and high Nb/U (averagely 47.3) values, suggesting no significant effect of crustal contamination. The key characteristics of these volcanic rocks are the distinct petrography and geochemistry, shown from the three separate localities, which may suggest source fractionation at different depths or modes of emplacement. The association of volcanic rocks of OIB, E-MORB and N-MORB affinities, with no significant crustal contamination, may suggest mantle derived magma that may have been related to rifting event and eventual emplacement at the eastern passive margin of the West African Craton.