THE PLUTONIC IGNEOUS COMPLEX AT SOREL POINT, JERSEY, CHANNEL-ISLANDS - A HIGH-LEVEL MULTI-MAGMA ASSEMBLAGE

Sorel Point lies on the north coast of Jersey, Channel Islands, and co mprises a variety of lithologies within the compositional spectrum gab bro-diorite-granodiorite-granite. The rocks of the complex can be sepa rated into four groups, each representing a separate intrusive episode . Each group consists of at least two lithologies which were present a s coexisting magmas. The groups are separated by the time required for the preceding intrusive episode to crystallize completely. The rocks thus display a variety of contact relationships. Certain of the rocks present were produced by physical and chemical interactions between co existing magmas. The rocks have calc-alkaline chemistry and were forme d at high crustal levels during the latter stages of the Cadomian orog eny. The Sorel Point complex demonstrates the availability of a wide v ariety of magmas in a relatively condensed space and time and allows a n insight into the formation of a constantly evolving subvolcanic magm a chamber. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.