ABSTRACT This contribution is concerned with the debated origin of the impact melt rock in the central uplift of the world’s largest confirmed impact structure—Vredefort (South Africa). New major- and trace-element abundances, including those of selected highly siderophile elements (HSEs), Re-Os isotope data, as well as the first Se isotope and Se-Te elemental systematics are presented for the felsic and mafic varieties of Vredefort impact melt rock known as “Vredefort Granophyre.” In addition to the long-recognized “normal” (i.e., felsic, >66 wt% SiO 2 ) granophyre variety, a more mafic (<66 wt% SiO 2 ) impact melt variety from Vredefort has been discussed for several years. The hypothesis that the mafic granophyre was formed from felsic granophyre through admixture (assimilation) of a mafic country rock component that then was melted and assimilated into the superheated impact melt has been pursued here by analysis of the two granophyre varieties, of the Dominion Group lava (actually meta-lava), and of epidiorite mafic country rock types. Chemical compositions, including high-precision isotope dilution–derived concentrations of selected highly siderophile elements (Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Se, Te), and Re-Os and Se isotope data support this hypothesis. A first-order estimate, based on these data, suggests that some mafic granophyre may have resulted from a significant admixture (assimilation) of epidiorite to felsic granophyre. This is in accordance with the findings of an earlier investigation using conventional isotope (Sr-Nd-Pb) data. Moreover, these outcomes are in contrast to a two-stage emplacement model for Vredefort Granophyre, whereby a mafic phase of impact melt, derived by differentiation of a crater-filling impact melt sheet, would have been emplaced into earlier-deposited felsic granophyre. Instead, all chemical and isotopic evidence so far favors formation of mafic granophyre by local assimilation of mafic country rock—most likely epidiorite—by a single intrusive impact melt phase, which is represented by the regionally homogeneous felsic granophyre.

ABSTRACT The Vredefort granophyre dikes have long been recognized as being derived from the now-eroded Vredefort melt sheet. One dike, in particular, the Daskop granophyre dike, is notable for a high abundance of lithic clasts derived from various stratigraphic levels. In this study, we mapped the distribution of the clasts throughout the continuously exposed section of the dike using field mapping and aerial drone photography and attempted to constrain the emplacement mechanisms of the dike. We found that the clasts are not homogeneously spread but instead are distributed between clast-rich zones, which have up to 50% by area clasts, and clast-poor zones, which have 0–10% by area clasts. We examined three models to explain this distribution: gravitational settling of clasts, thermally driven local assimilation of clasts, and mechanical sorting of clasts due to turbulent flow. Of the three models, the gravitational settling cannot be supported based on our field and geophysical data. The assimilation of clasts and turbulent flow of clasts, however, can both potentially result in inhomogeneous clast distribution. Zones of fully assimilated clasts and nonassimilated clasts can occur from spatial temperature differences of 100 °C. Mechanical sorting driven by a turbulent flow can also generate zones of inhomogeneous clast distribution. Both local assimilation and mechanical sorting due to turbulent flow likely contributed to the observed distribution of clasts.