Late Riphean age of the Karsakpai massif of alkaline syenites of South Ulutau (Central Kazakhstan)

The Ulutau massif is located in the western part of Central Kazakhstan and is one of largest Precambrian sialic massif of this region. Geologically, the southern part of the massif is composed of volcanogenic and volcanogenic–sedimentary rocks of acid and rare basic composition metamorphosed under the green schist metamorphism facies. The northern and eastern parts of the massif are composed mainly of amphibolite facies metamorphic rocks, represented by amphibolites, gneisses, and amphibole crystalline schists (Fig. 1a).