’Vulcano’ Petrology and Geochemistry Research Group

Belonging to the crystalline basement of the Tisza Megaunit, Hungary, a-few-meter-thick marble bodies are known (e.g. Dorozsma marble, Baksa marble). Our knowledges of them, however, are rather restricted; some studies on general textural features and classification of index minerals have been reported previously. The so called Dorozsma High, a characteristic elevated block of the basement, is generally considered as an integral part of the Békés–Codru nappe system by most authors. Recently, however, it was attributed to the Biharia Unit which occupies the tectonical highest position of the Apuseni Mountains. Complex petrological and geochemical examination of the marbles of the Tisza Megaunit, especially those of the Dorozsma High, can provide an effective tool and independent evidences both for recognition of the crystalline basement and for resolving of open questions about the regional correlation.

The aims of the research are the examination of  REE-bearing vein fillings and the identification of REE-bearing mineral phases in the northern area of the Ditrău Alkaline Massif. With fluid inclusion microthermometry we can reconstruct the origin of the subsequent magmatic and hidrothermal evolution of the veins. An important goal is the assessment of the developmental age of the vein phases from the applicable mineral phases.

 Geochemistry of alkaline igneous rocks (Ditrău Alkaline Massif)

Amphiboles of the Ditrău Alkaline Massif’s rocks

The study contains geochemical properties (pressure, temperature) determination of amphiboles in the alkaline system and magma storage modelling with amphibole thermobarometry.

Investigation of pyroxenes from the Ditrău Alkaline Massif

Mafic and ultramafic cumulate rocks from the Ditrău Alkaline Massif

The Ditrău Alkaline Massif in the Eastern Carpathians (Romania) is a Mesozoic alkaline igneous complex, which was formed during an extended phase of the Alpine orogeny related to a rifted continental margin adjacent to Tethys. The mafic–ultramafic cumulates crop out in the north- and central west and western part of the massif. They are enclosed in gabbroic–dioritic rocks as lenticular or block shaped bodies and in the western part the nephelinesyenite are closed in the ultramafic cumulates. These possess important information concerning the magma’s genetics and evolution stages. In this research we investigate the petrographic, geochemical and mineral chemistry of the mafic and ultramafic cumulates, evaluating the petrogenesis of these rocks.

Petrogenesis of alkaline syenite from the Ditrău Alkaline Massif

Mingling and mixing process in the Ditrău Alkaline Massif

The aim of the study is the research of the mingling and mixing process in the alkaline system (between two or more magmas); macroscopic and microscopic analysis of these structures and textures and survey of the geochemical evidences of the mingling and mixing process.

Alkaline magmatism’s dyke phases of the Ditrău Alkaline Massif

Relationships of the alkaline systems: basaltic (basanitic) and foidsyenite, alkaline syenite together with alkaline granite

The Triassic sequence of the Transdanubian Range is predominated by different carbonates with evaporitic and mixed carbonate-siliciclastic rocks in some stratigraphic levels (e.g. Lower Triassic Hidegkút Formation, Carnian Veszprém Marl). These later ones can be regarded as geological records of elevated terrigenous input related probably significant changes in the sedimentation controlling factors include palaeoclimate. They can be discovered by detailed petrographic analysis and clay mineralogical investigation. Additionally, results of the investigations can provide information about the degree and types of diagenetic alterations. Major and trace element geochemistry and stable isotope analysis of bulk samples and separated fractions of rocks are integrant part of this exploration as well.

The Lower Jurassic sequence of the Mecsek Hills is composed of predominantly hemipelagic marine sediments. Investigation of their clay mineralogical composition provides information about coeval weathering conditions on the provenance area and about the degree of diagenetic alterations driven by burial heating. The same conditions can be traced by detailed major and trace element and stable isotope geochemical examinations. The Lower Toarcian black shale of the Rékavölgy Siltstone Formation, a distinct organic-rich horizon of the sequence, is fairly important from both pure scientific and practical point of view because it represents a geological signal of the Jenkyns Event and it has a significant economical potential as petroleum source rock.

The Szalatnak Slate contains a Silurian marine microfossil assemblage in its type locality which is interpreted as a nappe outlier. The Szalatnak section contains coarse grained sediments (conglomerate) or volcanic agglomerate in a significant thickness. The major goal of the topic is to provide a detailed petrographic and microtectonical comparative study of these rocks based on archive thin sections and core samples, regarding both Szalatnak and Horváthertelend sections. Characterization of the peak metamorphism will be modelled by Raman spectrometry of the organic matter and illite and chlorite ’crystallinity’ measurements by XRD.

Major goal of this topic is a complex mineralogical, petrological and geochemical examination of the metamorphic and sedimentary pre-Neogene basement rocks and basin filling sediments cropped out by boreholes in the southern part of the Great Hungarian Plain (Dorozsma High, Algyő High, Makó Trough and surrounding areas). The research involves characterization of the ’Dorozsma marble’ known from the polimetamorphic Variscan basement, investigation of the Permian ’red beds’ (Korpád Sandstone and Gyűrűfű Rhyolite) and reambulation of the Triassic Szeged Dolomite Formation.