Strontium isotope studies on ultramafic inclusions from Dreiser Weiher,Eifel, Germany

The isotopic composition of strontium, and rubidium and strontium concentrations in eight ultramafic inclusions and two host basalts from Dreiser Weiher, Eifel, Germany are presented. Comparison of the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the inclusions with the basaltic hosts indicates that the lherzolite inclusions are exotic in nature but the wehrlite-clino-pyroxenites are probably cognate with the host rocks. An apparent age of 550 m.y. (±a large uncertainty) shown by the lherzolites is believed to reflect a mantle event.     

New data on kimberlite magmatism in southwestern Angola

First data on the geologic and geochemical compositions of kimberlites from nine kimberlite pipes of southwestern Angola are presented. In the north of the study area, there are the Chikolongo and Chicuatite kimberlite pipes; in the south, a bunch of four Galange pipes (I–IV); and in the central part, the Ochinjau, Palue, and Viniaty pipes. By geochemical parameters, these rocks are referred to as classical kimberlites: They bear mantle inclusions of ultrabasites, eclogites, various barophilic minerals (including ones of diamond facies), and diamonds. The kimberlite pipes are composed of petrographically diverse rocks: tuffstones, tuff breccias, kimberlite breccias, autolithic kimberlite breccias, and massive porphyritic kimberlites. In mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical compositions the studied kimberlites are most similar to group I kimberlites of South Africa and Fe-Ti-kimberlites of the Arkhangel’sk diamondiferous province. Comparison of the mineralogical compositions of kimberlites from southwestern Angola showed that the portion of mantle (including diamondiferous) material of depth facies in kimberlite pipes regularly increases in the S-N direction. The northern diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes are localized in large destructive zones of NE strike, and the central and southern diamond-free pipes, in faults of N-S strike.     

Emplacement age and isotope geochemistry of Sung Valley alkaline–carbonatite complex, Shillong Plateau, northeastern India: implications for primary carbonate melt and genesis of the associated silicate rocks

The early Cretaceous (Albian–Aptian) Sung Valley ultramafic–alkaline–carbonatite complex is one of several alkaline intrusions that occur in the Shillong Plateau, India. This complex comprises calcite carbonatite and closely associated ultramafic (serpentinized peridotite, pyroxenite and melilitolite) and alkaline rocks (ijolite and nepheline syenite). Field relationship and geochemical characteristics of these rocks do not support a genetic link between carbonatite and associated silicate rocks. There is geochemical evidence that pyroxenite, melilitolite and ijolite of the complex are genetically related. Stable (C and O) and radiogenic (Nd and Sr) isotope data clearly indicate a mantle origin for the carbonatite samples. The carbonatite Nd (+0.7 to +1.8) and Sr (+4.7 to +7.0) compositions overlap the field for Kerguelen ocean island basalts. One sample of ijolite has Nd and Sr isotopic compositions that also plot within the field for Kerguelen ocean island basalts, whereas the other silicate–carbonatite samples indicate involvement with an enriched component. These geochemical and isotopic data indicate that the rocks of the Sung Valley complex were derived from and interacted with an isotopically heterogeneous subcontinental mantle and is consistent with interaction of a mantle plume (e.g. Kerguelen plume) with lithosphere. A U–Pb perovskite age of 115.1±5.1 Ma obtained for a sample of Sung Valley ijolite also supports a temporal link to the Kerguelen plume. The observed geochemical characteristics of the carbonatite rocks indicate derivation by low-degree partial melting (0.1%) of carbonated mantle peridotite. This melt, containing a substantial amount of alkali elements, interacted with peridotite to form metasomatic clinopyroxene and olivine. This process could progressively metasomatize lherzolite to form alkaline wehrlite.     

Strontium isotope composition of alpine-type ultramafic rocks in the Lake Chatuge District,Georgia—North Carolina

The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios for a series of ultramafic rocks from the Lake Chatuge region range from 0.7023 to 0.7047, suggesting a direct upper mantle source and precluding a multiple differentiation origin for these alpine-type rocks. Higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7058–0.7068) for serpentinized rocks from this suite apparently reflect the influx of radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr from the surrounding gneisses and schists during serpentinization.     

Mineralogy of the upper mantle: A review of the minerals in mantle xenoliths from kimberlite

The importance of ultramafic and eclogitic xenoliths in kimberlite as representing the rocks and minerals of the upper mantle has been widely perceived during the last decade. Studies of the petrology and mineral chemistry of these mantle fragments as well as of inclusions in diamond, have led to significant progress in our understanding of the mineralogy and chemistry of the upper mantle. For example, it is now known that textural differences in the ultramafic xenoliths (lherzolite, harzburgite, pyroxenite and websterite) are partially reflected in chemical differences. Thus xenoliths that display a ‘fluidal’ texture, indicative of intense deformation are less depleted in Ca, Al, Na, Fe and Ti than those xenoliths in which granular textures are predominant. It is believed this relative depletion may indicate the sheared (fluidal texture) xenoliths are representative of primary, undifferentiated mantle. This material on partial melting would produce ‘basaltic-type’ material, and leave a residuum whose chemistry and mineralogy is reflected by the granular xenoliths.Also present in kimberlite are large single phase xenoliths that may be either one single crystal (xenocryst, megacryst) or an aggregate of several crystals of the same mineral (discrete xenolith, or discrete nodule). These large single phase samples consist of similar minerals to those occurring in the ultramafic xenoliths but chemically they are distinct in being generally more Fe-rich. The relation between these xenocrysts to their counterparts in the ultramafic xenoliths is unknown. Also unknown, at the present time, is the exact relation between diamond and kimberlite. Evidence obtained from study of the mineral inclusions in diamond suggests that diamond forms in at least two chemically distinct environments in the mantle; one eclogitic, the other, ultramafic. Interestingly, this suggestion is true for diamonds from worldwide localities.The mineral-chemical results of studies on xenoliths and inclusions in diamond have been convincingly interpreted in the light of experimental studies. It is now possible based on several different geothermometers and barometers to determine relatively reasonable physical conditions for the final genesis of many of these mantle rocks. For the most part the final equilibration temperatures range between 1000 and 1400°C and pressure in the region 100–200 km. These conditions are consistent with an upper mantle origin. Future studies will undoubtedly attempt to more concisely, and accurately, define these conditions, as well as understand better the chemical and spatial relationship of the rock-types in the mantle.     

Petrogenetic processes in the ultramafic, alkaline and carbonatitic magmatism in the Kola Alkaline Province: A review

Igneous rocks of the Devonian Kola Alkaline Carbonatite Province (KACP) in NW Russia and eastern Finland can be classified into four groups: (a) primitive mantle-derived silica-undersaturated silicate magmas; (b) evolved alkaline and nepheline syenites; (c) cumulate rocks; (d) carbonatites and phoscorites, some of which may also be cumulates. There is no obvious age difference between these various groups, so all of the magma-types were formed at the same time in a relatively restricted area and must therefore be petrogenetically related. Both sodic and potassic varieties of primitive silicate magmas are present. On major element variation diagrams, the cumulate rocks plot as simple mixtures of their constituent minerals (olivine, clinopyroxene, calcite, etc). There are complete compositional trends between carbonatites, phoscorites and silicate cumulates, which suggests that many carbonatites and phoscorites are also cumulates. CaO / Al₂O₃ ratios for ultramafic and mafic silicate rocks in dykes and pipes range up to 5, indicating a very small degree of melting of a carbonated mantle at depth. Damkjernites appear to be transitional to carbonatites. Trace element modelling indicates that all the mafic silicate magmas are related to small degrees of melting of a metasomatised garnet peridotite source. Similarities of the REE patterns and initial Sr and Nd isotope compositions for ultramafic alkaline silicate rocks and carbonatites indicate that there is a strong relationship between the two magma-types. There is also a strong petrogenetic link between carbonatites, kimberlites and alkaline ultramafic lamprophyres. Fractional crystallisation of olivine, diopside, melilite and nepheline gave rise to the evolved nepheline syenites, and formed the ultramafic cumulates. All magmas in the KACP appear to have originated in a single event, possibly triggered by the arrival of hot material (mantle plume?) beneath the Archaean/Proterozoic lithosphere of the northern Baltic Shield that had been recently metasomatised. Melting of the carbonated garnet peridotite mantle formed a spectrum of magmas including carbonatite, damkjernite, melilitite, melanephelinite and ultramafic lamprophyre. Pockets of phlogopite metasomatised lithospheric mantle also melted to form potassic magmas including kimberlite. Depth of melting, degree of melting and presence of metasomatic phases are probably the major factors controlling the precise composition of the primary melts formed.     

Geochronology, geochemistry and petrogenesis of mafic and ultramafic rocks from Southern Beishan area, NW China: Implications for crust–mantle interaction

The Liuyuan mafic and ultramafic rocks are exposed in Southern Beishan, which is along the southern branch of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Zircon SHRIMP U–Pb dating showed that Liuyuan gabbros intruded during the early Permian (~ 270–295 Ma) coeval with the basalts and the ultramafic rocks were emplaced at about 250 Ma. The basalts are within–plate tholeiites with slight enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE) relative to heavy rare earths (HREE) and small negative anomalies of Nb and Ta. Gabbros including olivine gabbros, olivine gabbronorites and troctolites are grouped into two: the cumulate gabbros are depleted in LREE and show small negative Nb and Ta anomalies but distinct positive Sr and Eu anomalies; non–cumulate gabbros resemble tholeiitic basalts. Lamprophyres and cumulate ultramafic rocks are characterized by large enrichment of LREE relative to HREE with depletion in Nb and Ta. The enriched Sr–Nd isotopic trend from DM towards the EM II end member component implies that the lithospheric mantle was progressively enriched with depth by the involvement of subducted crustal material due to the delamination of thickened mantle lithosphere after collision. The digestion of subducted crustal material into the mantle resulting in the metasomatized and enriched mantle is inferred to be an important process during crust–mantle interaction.     

The Kimberlites and related rocks of the Kuruman Kimberlite Province,Kaapvaal Craton,South Africa

The Kuruman Kimberlite Province is comprised of 16 small pipes and dikes and contains some of the oldest known kimberlites (>1.6 Ga). In this study, 12 intrusions are subdivided into three groups with distinct petrology, age, and geochemical and isotopic compositions: (1) kimberlites with groundmass perovskites defining a Pb–Pb isochron age of 1787 ± 69 Ma, (2) orangeite with a U–Pb perovskite age of 124 ± 16 Ma, and (3) ultramafic lamprophyres (aillikite and mela-aillikite) with a zircon U–Pb age of 1642 ± 46 Ma. The magma type varies across the Province, with kimberlites in the east, lamprophyres in the west and orangeite and ultramafic lamprophyres to the south. Differences in the age and petrogenesis of the X007 orangeite and Clarksdale and Aalwynkop aillikites suggest that these intrusions are probably unrelated to the Kuruman Province. Kimberlite and orangeite whole-rock major and trace element compositions are similar to other South African localities. Compositionally, the aillikites typically lie off kimberlite and orangeite trends. Groundmass mineral chemistry of the kimberlites has some features more typical of orangeites. Kimberlite whole-rock Sr and Nd isotopes show zoning across the Province. When the kimberlites erupted at ~1.8 Ga, they sampled a core volume (ca 50 km across) of relatively depleted SCLM that was partially surrounded by a rim of more metasomatized mantle. This zonation may have been related to the development of the adjacent Kheis Belt (oldest rocks ~2.0 Ga), as weaker zones surrounding the more resistant core section of SCLM were more extensively metasomatized.     

西藏日喀则白马让蛇绿岩:亚洲大陆边缘的小洋盆

藏南雅鲁藏布蛇绿岩被认为是新特提斯大洋岩石圈的残留。该带中段的日喀则白马让蛇绿岩是保存较完整的蛇绿岩岩块之一。该蛇绿岩主要由橄榄岩、蛇纹岩、镁铁质侵入岩和玄武岩组成,缺堆晶岩系。镁铁质侵入岩主要呈辉绿岩脉、岩床和少量的岩墙产出。辉绿岩脉在整个蛇绿岩层序中均有分布,侵入橄榄岩的部分岩脉已经变为变辉绿岩和异剥钙榴岩。辉绿岩床(墙)向上逐渐过渡为玄武岩。局部可见日喀则群整合覆盖在玄武岩之上。地球化学分析显示不同产状的镁铁质岩均属于低钾或中钾的拉斑玄武岩,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti和LREE,具有弧前玄武岩(FAB)或弧后盆地玄武岩(BABB)的特征,它们的Ti/V和Yb/V的比值与BABB或正常大洋中脊玄武岩(N-MORB)相似,Sr-Nd-Pb同位素数据指示了亏损地幔(DM)与富集地幔(EM)过渡的源区。镁铁质岩野外产出关系和地球化学特征表明,白马让蛇绿岩的镁铁质岩组合可能形成于SSZ环境。考虑到超镁铁质岩、镁铁质岩和日喀则群在空间上的连续性,认为白马让蛇绿岩可能是起源于亚洲大陆边缘俯冲带上的洋盆,属于原地系统,而非外来的构造岩片。     

Chromian spinel as a petrogenetic indicator in abyssal and alpine-type peridotites and spatially associated lavas

The composition of chromian spinel in alpine-type peridotites has a large reciprocal range of Cr and Al, with increasing Cr# (Cr/(Cr+Al)) reflecting increasing degrees of partial melting in the mantle. Using spinel compositions, alpine-type peridotites can be divided into three groups. Type I peridotites and associated volcanic rocks contain spinels with Cr#<0.60; Type III peridotites and associated volcanics contain spinels with Cr#>0.60, and Type II peridotites and volcanics are a transitional group and contain spinels spanning the full range of spinel compositions in Type I and Type II peridotites. Spinels in abyssal peridotites lie entirely within the Type I spinel field, making ophiolites with Type I alpine-type peridotites the most likely candidates for sections of ocean lithosphere formed at a midocean ridge. The only modern analogs for Type III peridotites and associated volcanic rocks are found in arc-related volcanic and intrusive rocks, continental intrusive assemblages, and oceanic plateau basalts. We infer a sub-volcanic arc petrogenesis for most Type III alpine-type peridotites. Type II alpine-type peridotites apparently reflect composite origins, such as the formation of an island-arc on ocean crust, resulting in large variations in the degree and provenance of melting over relatively short distances. The essential difference between Type I and Type III peridotites appears to be the presence or absence of diopside in the residue at the end of melting.Based on an examination of co-existing rock and spinel compositions in lavas, it appears that spinel is a sensitive indicator of melt composition and pressure of crystallization. The close similarity of spinel composition fields in genetically related basalts, dunites and peridotites at localities in the oceans and in ophiolite complexes indicates that its composition reflects the degree of melting in the mantle source region. Accordingly, we infer from the restricted range of spinel compositions in abyssal basalts that the degree of mantle melting beneath mid-ocean ridges is generally limited to that found in Type I alpine-type peridotites. It is apparent, therefore, that the phase boundary OL-EN-DI-SP +meltOL-EN-SP+melt has limited the degree of melting of the mantle beneath mid-ocean ridges. This was clearly not the case for many alpine-type peridotites, implying very different melting conditions in the mantle, probably involving the presence of water.     

韭菜地等地的新生代玄武岩及其超镁铁岩包体的岩石学研究

韭菜地和鸡笼山两地的玄武岩为新生代的火山锥体,主要岩石为碧玄岩和碱性橄榄玄武岩,其中含有较丰富的超镁铁岩包体。玄武质岩石属碱性系列的钾质亚系,SiO_2不饱和,Al_2O_3较低且富含K、Ti和P等不相容元素,具有Al_2O_3/CaO值较高、M值在60—70之间、固结指数近于40、熔融程度低(4％)等特征,表明玄武质岩石是地幔橄榄岩低度熔融的产物。超镁铁岩包体中易熔组分与不饱和型包体组分相近,其矿物化学特征为:橄榄石的Fo值和斜方辉石的En值较低,单斜辉石的Al_2O_3、TiO_2和Na_2O较高,表明包体相对地富集易熔组分,与原始地幔组分相似。估算包体的矿物平衡温度和压力分别为1050℃和21.6×10~3Pa。     

Zircon megacrysts from kimberlite: oxygen isotope variability among mantle melts

The oxygen isotope ratios of Phanerozoic zircons from kimberlite pipes in the Kaapvaal Craton of southern Africa and the Siberian Platform vary from 4.7 to 5.9‰ VSMOW. High precision, accurate analyses by laser reveal subtle pipe-to-pipe differences not previously suspected. These zircons have distinctive chemical and physical characteristics identifying them as mantle-derived megacrysts similar to zircons found associated with diamond, coesite, MARID xenoliths, Cr-diopside, K-richterite, or Mg-rich ilmenite. Several lines of evidence indicate that these ¹⁸O values are unaltered by kimberlite magmas during eruption and represent compositions preserved since crystallization in the mantle, including: U/Pb age, large crystal size, and the slow rate of oxygen exchange in non-metamict zircon. The average ¹⁸O of mantle zircons is 5.3‰, ∼0.1 higher and in equilibrium with values for olivine in peridotite xenoliths and oceanic basalts. Zircon megacrysts from within 250 km of Kimberley, South Africa have average ¹⁸O=5.32±0.17 (n=28). Small, but significant, differences among other kimberlite pipes or groups of pipes may indicate isotopically distinct reservoirs in the sub-continental lithosphere or asthenosphere, some of which are anomalous with respect to normal mantle values of 5.3±0.3. Precambrian zircons (2.1–2.7 Ga) from Jwaneng, Botswana have the lowest values yet measured in a mantle zircon, ¹⁸O=3.4 to 4.7‰. These zircon megacrysts originally crystallized in mafic or ultramafic rocks either through melting and metasomatism associated with kimberlite magmatism or during metamorphism. The low ¹⁸O zircons are best explained by subduction of late Archean ocean crust that exchanged with heated seawater prior to underplating as eclogite and to associated metasomatism of the mantle wedge. Smaller differences among other pipes and districts may result from variable temperatures of equilibration, mafic versus ultramafic hosts, or variable underplating. The narrow range in zircon compositions found in most pipes suggests magmatic homogenization. If this is correct, these zircons document the existence of significant quantities of magma in the sub-continental mantle that was regionally variable in ¹⁸O and this information restricts theories about the nature of ancient subduction. Received: 8 August 1997 / Accepted: 6 May 1998     

山东临朐山旺新生代玄武岩中超镁铁岩包体的研究

山旺新生代玄武岩中的超镁铁质包体分为五类:尖晶石纯橄榄岩、尖晶石二辉橄榄岩、尖晶石方辉橄榄岩、尖晶石石榴石二辉岩和石榴石二辉橄榄岩。对它们的地质学,岩相学、岩石化学,造岩矿物的化学成分,稀土配分模式及热力学计算的研究表明,前三种岩石属原始地幔岩,后二种是地幔中岩浆作用的产物。     

金伯利质岩管的认识及其找矿意义

金伯利岩是世界上分布较少和较难寻找的岩石。因其含有金刚石, 具经济价值,含有地幔捕虏体,给科学界带来地壳深部和上地幔信息,一直为地学界所关注。金伯利岩多呈管状产出,岩管中含有来自上地幔的同源包体以及上升通道周边各种岩石的捕虏体,火山爆发所形成的火山碎屑的复杂性造成其岩石命名有多种不同的认识,有关术语及其用法非常多。在研究国内外关于金伯利岩成果的基础之上,本文将术语用法和岩石命名原则进行分析和总结,解剖三种类型金伯利质岩管在纵向上的变化,分析在中国所发现的含金刚石的金伯利质岩管的特征和分析可能存在的金刚石砂矿。     

博茨瓦纳和中国含金刚石金伯利岩的地质特征及对寻找类似岩体的启示

金刚石及其寄主岩石是人类认识地球深部物质组成和性质、壳幔和核幔物质循环重要研究对象。本文总结了中国不同金刚石类型的分布,着重对比了博茨瓦纳和中国含金刚石金伯利岩的地质特征,取得如下认识:(1)博茨瓦纳含矿原生岩石仅为金伯利岩,而中国含矿岩石成分复杂,金伯利岩主要出露在华北克拉通,展布于郯庐、华北中央和华北北缘金伯利岩带,具有工业价值的蒙阴和瓦房店矿床分布于郯庐金伯利岩带中;钾镁煌斑岩主要出露在华南克拉通,重点分布在江南和华南北缘钾镁煌斑岩带中;(2)钙钛矿原位U-Pb年龄和Sr、Nd同位素显示,86～97 Ma奥拉帕金伯利岩群和456～470 Ma蒙阴和瓦房店金伯利岩均具有低87Sr/86Sr(0.703～0.705)和中等εNd(t)(-0.09～+5)特征,指示金伯利岩浆源自弱亏损地幔或初始地幔源区;(3)博茨瓦纳金伯利岩体绝大多数以岩筒产出,而中国以脉状为主岩筒次之;博茨瓦纳岩筒绝大部分为火山口相,中国均为根部相,岩筒地表面积普遍小于前者;(4)奥拉帕A/K1和朱瓦能金伯利岩体是世界上为数不多的主要产出榴辉岩捕虏体和E型金刚石的岩筒之一,而同位于奥拉帕岩群的莱特拉卡内、丹姆沙和卡罗韦岩体与我国郯庐带的金伯利岩体类似,均主要产出地幔橄榄岩捕虏体以及P型和E型金刚石;(5)寻找含矿金伯利岩重点注意以下几点:克拉通内部和周缘深大断裂带是重要的控岩构造;镁铝榴石、镁钛铁矿、铬透辉石、铬尖晶石和铬金红石等是寻找含金刚石金伯利岩重要的指示矿物;航磁等地球物理测量需与土壤取样找矿方法相结合才能取得更好效果;(6)郯庐金伯利岩带、江南钾镁煌斑岩带和塔里木地块是中国重要含矿岩石的找矿靶区,冲积型金刚石成矿潜力巨大。     

Petrology of rodingites from the equatorial Mid-Atlantic fracture zones and their geotectonic significance

Rodingites were dredged from fracture zones of the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge along with serpentinized ultramafics, and fresh and metamorphosed basalts and gabbroids. These rodingites were generated by a metasomatic process at low temperature involving an enrichment in lime and water, and a loss of silica and alkalis. The parent rocks were gabbronorites which intruded ultramafic material as it ascended from the upper mantle to its present location in the upper oceanic crust. The gabbronorites were probably altered to rodingites while they were still in the lower oceanic crust. Since the rodingitization process appears to be concomitant, complementary and simultaneous with the serpentinization of the host ultramafic rocks, we infer that the serpentinization process also took place in the deeper part of the oceanic crust. These two simultaneous metasomatic processes thus predate the major phase of tectonic events which uplifted these blocks as cold, solid diapiric emplacements of ultramafic material and accompanying rodingites to their present positions along lines of weakness expressed as fracture zones.     

岩浆(型)碳酸岩研究进展

主要从岩石学，矿物学，岩石分类，C，O，Sr同位素，碳酸岩与矿化的关系等各方面对（碱性）碳酸岩的研究进行了较为全面的总结，并结合近20年来实验岩石等，流体包裹体研究，CO2^- H2O－NaCl流体体系的性质的研究，对碳酸岩岩浆的来源及成因，岩浆－热液的演化进行了分析和探讨，碳酸岩形成至少经历了三个阶段，即岩浆阶段，岩浆期后阶段（气相碳酸岩／岩浆热液阶段），交代碳酸岩阶段，而作为与碳酸岩在空间和成因上有密切联系的基性，超基性岩，碱性岩杂岩体，则经历了碳酸岩成岩阶段以前的岩浆不混熔作用，结晶分异作用，岩浆结晶作用以及碳酸岩形成之后的围岩蚀变（霓长岩化）作用。     

Tertiary basalts and peridotite xenoliths from the Hessian Depression (NW Germany), reflecting mantle compositions low in radiogenic Nd and Sr

A total of 17 alkali basalts (alkali olivine basalt, limburgite, olivine nephelinite) and quartz tholeiites, and of 10 peridotite xenoliths (or their clinopyroxenes) were analyzed for Nd and Sr isotopes. ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of all basalts and of the majority of ultramafic xenoliths plot below the mantle array with a large variation in Nd isotopes and a smaller variation in Sr isotopes. The tholeiites were less radiogenic in Nd than the alkali basalts. Volcanics from the Eifel and Massif Central regions contain Nd and Sr, which is more radiogenic than that of the basalts from the Hessian Depression. Nd and Sr isotopic compositions of all rocks from the latter area, with the exception of one tholeiite and one peridotite plot in the same field of isotope ratios as the Ronda ultramafic tectonite (SW Spain), which ranges in composition from garnet to plagioclase peridotite. The alkali basaltic rocks are products of smaller degrees of partial melting of depleted peridotite, which has undergone a larger metasomatic alteration compared with the source rock of tholeiitic magmas. For the peridotite xenoliths such metasomatic alteration is indicated by the correlation of their K contents and isotopic compositions. We assume that the upper mantle locally can acquire isotopic signatures low in radiogenic Nd and Sr from the introduction of delaminated crust. Such granulites low in radiogenic Nd and Sr are products of early REE fractionation and granite (Rb) separation.     

A reappraisal of the high-Ti and low-Ti classification of basalts and petrogenetic linkage between basalts and mafic–ultramafic intrusions in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China

Based on published data, we reappraise the classification of high-Ti and low-Ti basalt from the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP) and the correlations between basalts and mafic–ultramafic intrusions. Because of the lack of clear spatial and temporal variations of different types of basalts, we suggest that the basalts in the ELIP cannot be classified into high-Ti and low-Ti groups, by TiO₂ contents and/or Ti/Y ratios. The distinctive characteristics of these high-Ti and low-Ti lavas probably result largely from the different fractionating assemblages. Whether or not fractional crystallization of the Fe–Ti oxides occurred probably is the key factor that controls the Ti abundances and Ti/Y ratios in the residual melts, e.g., lavas, although the nature of the mantle sources, variable degrees of partial melting of mantle and crustal contamination also influence the geochemical signatures of the lavas. Therefore, neither Ti abundance nor Ti/Y ratios in basalts can reflect the nature of their mantle source. Moreover, the different types of mafic–ultramafic intrusions in the ELIP cannot simply be attributed to be genetically related special types of basalts, either high-Ti or low-Ti basalts. It is likely that they are merely the cumulus phases, i.e. chamber or conduit of the basaltic lavas. Hence, caution should be exercised in the use of high-Ti or low-Ti basalts as prospecting vectors for ore deposits in the region. Potential implications are proposed that both the Fe–V–Ti oxide and Cu–Ni–(PGE) sulfide mineralization in the ELIP intrusions is largely due to the variable differentiation and crustal contamination during magmatic processes.