Characterization, provenance, and tectonic setting of Fig Tree greywackes from the Archaean Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa

Abstract In this study, mineralogical and geochemical data, as well as Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of early Archaean greywackes from the Fig Tree Group are presented to provide further information about the evolution of the Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB) of the Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa. The chemical data on the collected greywackes from the BGB suggest limited chemical modification of the source rocks. The Eu/Eu * anomaly is negative with an average value of 0.76 which is slightly higher than that of Eu-depleted crustal rocks (0.65). High Cr and Ni concentrations and a Cr/Ni ratio of about 1.6 indicate derivation from ultramafic sources without fractionation. Although rounded zirc…