大别山北麓尖晶石橄揽岩中石榴辉石岩包体的成因

最近在大别山北坡霍山铙钹寨等地的超基性岩中发现了石榴辉石岩的包体．石榴辉石岩草绿色致密块状,呈分米级的块体出现于蛇纹石化强烈的橄榄岩中．主要矿物组成是：石榴子石（Ｐｒｐ ２５－３５）,钠质普通辉石（Ｊｄ１０－２５）和少量的钛铁矿．有相当显著的退变质现象,退变质有两期：麻粒岩相矿物组合,明显地被角闪岩相所切割．石榴辉石岩的寄主岩是尖晶石橄榄岩类．包括尖晶石方辉橄榄岩和尖晶石二辉橄榄岩,由于强烈的蛇纹石化,残余的橄榄石（Ｆｏ９２－９３）仅占５％－４０％,斜方辉石富镁（Ｅｎ８７－９３）并有解理弯曲等韧性变形现象．采用Ｅｌｌｉｓ和Ｇｒｅｅｎ（１９７９）及Ｋｒｏｇｈ（１９８８）石榴子石单斜辉石Ｆｅ－Ｍｇ交换平衡温度计,计算出石榴辉石岩的Ｆｅ－Ｍｇ分配系数（ＫＤ）为４．０６－５．２８．温度Ｔ＝ ７９３°－９１９℃,估算压力 Ｐ＝１．５ ＧＰａ．可以推测该橄榄岩体是从深度约 ６０ ｋｍ的地慢,固态侵位于下地壳,而后与之一起隆升到地表．显然,此种石榴辉石岩与其寄主岩之间具有密切的成因联系．石榴辉石岩和橄榄岩的稀土配分型式及其他地球化学特征均说明它们的化学性质相当于大陆地幔部分熔融所形成的玄武岩熔体及其残留体     

西南天山托云盆地新生代玄武岩中巨晶的研究

西南天山托云盆地新生代玄武岩中同时产出有深源岩石包体和辉石、角闪石、长石、金云母等高压巨晶. 巨晶主要产于火山活动早期形成的锥状岩席中, 辉石巨晶主要产于剖面下部, 角闪石、金云母以及深源岩石包体主要分布在中部, 长石巨晶主要分布在上部. 晶体的完整性、缺乏变形组构及其与寄主岩的关系表明, 它们是从寄主岩浆中晶出并快速上升到地表的. 矿物学研究表明, 辉石巨晶为铝质普通辉石, Al₂O₃含量高(>9%); 角闪石TiO₂含量很高(>4.5%), 为钛闪石; 长石巨晶主要为歪长石, 双晶发育. 部分普通辉石和钛闪石巨晶发育磁黄铁矿包裹体. 巨晶辉石结晶温度为1185~1199℃, 压力约为1.53~1.64 GPa, 为壳幔边界晶出的产物; 巨晶角闪石结晶压力约为0.85 GPa, 温度约为1000℃, 大致于30 km处晶出. 巨晶歪长石结晶压力在0.8~1 GPa, 温度为900℃左右. 角闪石巨晶中没有金红石等富钛包裹体, 反映了岩浆的快速上升. 辉石巨晶和斑晶成分计算的温压条件位于玄武岩液相线附近, 其大致的P-T轨迹斜率较大, 也可以作为岩浆快速上升的证据之一. 但是, 角闪石巨晶形成温度明显低于同等压力条件下的辉石巨晶, 可能暗示角闪石巨晶形成于岩浆活动前锋温度较低且富含挥发分的环境. 因此, 托云新生代玄武岩应当形成于拉张环境中, 巨晶的形成和上升具有较为复杂的历史.     

大别山北麓尖晶石橄揽岩中石榴辉石岩包体的成因

最近在大别山北坡霍山铙钹寨等地的超基性岩中发现了石榴辉石岩的包体．石榴辉石岩草绿色致密块状,呈分米级的块体出现于蛇纹石化强烈的橄榄岩中．主要矿物组成是：石榴子石（Ｐｒｐ ２５－３５）,钠质普通辉石（Ｊｄ１０－２５）和少量的钛铁矿．有相当显著的退变质现象,退变质有两期：麻粒岩相矿物组合,明显地被角闪岩相所切割．石榴辉石岩的寄主岩是尖晶石橄榄岩类．包括尖晶石方辉橄榄岩和尖晶石二辉橄榄岩,由于强烈的蛇纹石化,残余的橄榄石（Ｆｏ９２－９３）仅占５％－４０％,斜方辉石富镁（Ｅｎ８７－９３）并有解理弯曲等韧性变形现象．采用Ｅｌｌｉｓ和Ｇｒｅｅｎ（１９７９）及Ｋｒｏｇｈ（１９８８）石榴子石单斜辉石Ｆｅ－Ｍｇ交换平衡温度计,计算出石榴辉石岩的Ｆｅ－Ｍｇ分配系数（ＫＤ）为４．０６－５．２８．温度Ｔ＝ ７９３°－９１９℃,估算压力 Ｐ＝１．５ ＧＰａ．可以推测该橄榄岩体是从深度约 ６０ ｋｍ的地慢,固态侵位于下地壳,而后与之一起隆升到地表．显然,此种石榴辉石岩与其寄主岩之间具有密切的成因联系．石榴辉石岩和橄榄岩的稀土配分型式及其他地球化学特征均说明它们的化学性质相当于大陆地幔部分熔融所形成的玄武岩熔体及其残留体     

华北克拉通岩石圈破坏的榴辉岩熔体-橄榄岩反应机制:实验约束

以碧溪岭榴辉岩和大麻坪尖晶石二辉橄榄岩为起始原料,在压力2.0GPa,温度1250～1400℃条件下进行榴辉岩熔体-橄榄岩反应的高温高压实验.实验结果显示,在榴辉岩熔体-二辉橄榄岩反应过程中,熔体消耗橄榄岩中的橄榄石和斜方辉石生成单斜辉石.实验产物的岩石序列为橄榄岩-辉石岩-石榴辉石岩,与Liu等在华北克拉通内部的汉诺坝地区发现的大量中生代地幔复合包体结构非常吻合.在温度1300和1350℃时,榴辉岩熔体-二辉橄榄岩反应产生的熔体具有高镁安山岩的成分特征(Mg#>45),表明榴辉岩熔体-橄榄岩反应可能是高镁安山岩形成的主要原因之一.实验结果表明华北克拉通下地壳榴辉岩在中生代可能发生过拆沉作用;榴辉岩拆沉进入软流圈地幔后,部分熔融产生的熔体可以消耗岩石圈地幔橄榄岩,导致华北克拉通的减薄,从而为华北克拉通岩石圈地幔被软流圈地幔改造的熔体-橄榄岩反应机制提供实验约束.     

大别-苏鲁造山带橄榄岩:进展和问题

大别-苏鲁造山带橄榄岩原岩属性可分为壳源和幔源橄榄岩,它们在矿物结构、变质演化以及全岩和单矿物化学成分上存在一系列差别.幔源橄榄岩来自于俯冲板块之上的古老华北克拉通岩石圈地幔,记录了俯冲板块与地幔楔之间相互作用的信息.石榴橄榄岩峰期条件下都显示石榴石和尖晶石共存,石榴石和尖晶石的稳定性和成分都受全岩富化程度控制,尖晶石成分不能用来判别部分熔融程度.难熔幔源纯橄岩中普遍发育低Mg高Ca橄榄石取代早期斜方辉石结构,指示硅不饱和熔体-橄榄岩反应过程,它可能是导致纯橄岩Re-Os同位素年龄偏年轻的原因之一.幔源橄榄岩/辉石岩中的金红石、钛斜粒硅镁石和锆石是俯冲地壳熔/流体迁移高场强元素进入地幔楔的直接矿物学证据,只有通过精细的原位元素和同位素工作,才能准确限定交代介质来源、时间和交代过程.大陆俯冲带地幔楔氧逸度变化范围宽泛(FMQ=5.50~1.75),并随深度增加而减小,但其氧逸度计算结果受矿物组合、温压条件以及折返过程中的脱氢-氧化作用等因素影响.本文对橄榄岩-辉石岩复杂体系相关系、大陆俯冲之前的地幔过程、地壳交代对地幔楔元素-同位素-氧逸度以及物理性质的改造等重要研究方向提出了建议.     

上地幔尖晶石-石榴石相转变实验研究及其意义

采用新生代玄武岩中地幔岩捕掳体的矿物、岩石天然样品进行尖晶石与石榴石的相转变实验研究,结果发现尖晶石二辉橄榄岩与石榴石二辉橄榄岩相转变条件(T=1100℃和P=1.8～2.0GPa)与中国东部五相共存的尖晶石/石榴石二辉橄榄岩P-T平衡条件一致.提出中国东部大陆上地幔55～70km深处存在几公里至十几公里厚的尖晶石二辉橄榄岩与石榴石二辉橄榄岩相转变带.尖晶石辉石岩向石榴石辉石岩相转变深度小于55km.实验结果还揭示水促使地幔交代作用,但又抑制了相转变.同时讨论了矿物成分分带现象.     

秦岭造山带松树沟纯橄岩体成因: 地球化学和岩浆包裹体的制约

松树沟纯橄岩体是东秦岭造山带规模最大的超镁铁岩体, 出露面积达20 km², 纯橄糜棱岩、粗粒纯橄岩占岩体出露面积的95%以上. 岩石组合、结构构造、矿物成分、全岩主元素和微量元素组成、原生岩浆包裹体等方面研究揭示该岩体是熔体多孔隙流动渗滤成因纯橄岩块体. 与Oman等蛇绿岩剖面底部熔体渗滤成因纯橄岩席和方辉橄榄岩中纯橄岩脉的对比研究显示, 该岩体具有低的Al₂O₃, CaO和HREE丰度, 高的强不相容元素以及Zr和Hf含量. LREE富集的稀土模式和原始地幔标准化微量元素蛛网图都显示与Oman纯橄岩有明显不同. 结合橄榄石中原生熔体包裹体的发现, 认为该岩体是地幔柱源高镁熔体大尺度渗滤流动改造其顶部高度亏损地幔橄榄岩形成的纯橄岩块体. 岩体产出的地质背景支持其与新元古代超级地幔柱在扬子板块的物质活动相关.     

再循环陆壳物质对岩石圈地幔的改造:鲁西早白垩世高镁闪长岩中异剥橄榄岩捕虏体证据

本文报道了鲁西早白垩世高镁闪长岩中异剥橄榄岩捕虏体的岩相学与矿物化学资料,以便揭示异剥橄榄岩的成因和岩石圈地幔的深部过程.岩相学研究表明,异剥橄榄岩捕虏体呈浑圆状产于高镁闪长质侵入体中,大小介于3cm×4cm×5cm～3cm×2cm×1cm,并且橄榄石呈残留孤岛状存在于单斜辉石中.矿物化学研究表明,橄榄石的镁橄榄石分子(Fo)介于89～91,Ni=1414～3629ppm,类似于新生代幔源橄榄岩捕虏体中橄榄石的成分,但略低于早白垩世方辉橄榄岩中橄榄石的成分.橄榄石的δ18O值介于(6.03‰±0.33‰)～(6.82‰±0.35‰)(平均值为(6.5‰±0.4‰)),高于典型幔源橄榄岩中橄榄石的δ18O组成(5.2‰±0.3‰).与晚白垩世和新生代玄武岩中地幔橄榄岩捕虏体里的单斜辉石相比,异剥橄榄岩捕掳体中单斜辉石的Na2O,TiO2和Al2O3含量相对偏低,而CaO含量、Mg#值(91.2～94.1)和Ti/Eu比值(Ti/Eu=2082～2845)明显偏高,但与早白垩世高镁闪长岩中方辉橄榄岩里的单斜辉石成分类似单斜辉石以较低的稀土元素(REE)丰度、富集轻稀土元素(LREE)的配分型式和强烈亏损高场强元素(如Nb,Ta,Zr和Hf)为特点.此外,异剥橄榄岩的87Sr/86Sr,143Nd/144Nd和187Os/188Os(125Ma)比值分别变化于0.70596～0.70737,0.512181～0.512416和0.12661～0.57650.上述特征表明异剥橄榄岩为地幔橄榄岩受再循环陆壳物质熔体改造所成.     

大冶-九江地区Fe, Cu(Au)和Au(Cu)矿床夕卡岩矿物里的熔融包裹体特征

在大冶-九江沿长江分布的Fe, Cu(Au)和Au(Cu)矿床的夕卡岩矿物中, 除含气-液包裹体外, 还含大量熔融包裹体和流体-熔融包裹体. 熔融包裹体形态多样, 它们主要由不同相比例的晶质硅酸盐(C_Si)、铁质(Fe)、非晶质硅酸盐(A_Si)及气体(V)多相组成. 其中有的含有几个结晶硅酸盐相. 所研究的熔融包裹体大小一般为(10~46) mm×(6~15) mm. 流体-熔融包裹体与熔融包裹体的区别是在前者中出现液体(L)相, 均一温度较低. 在所获得的48个温度数据中, 夕卡岩石榴石和辉石中熔融包裹体有39个均一温度数据, 流体-熔融包裹体有两个数据, 其余属流体包裹体所有. 石榴石和辉石中的熔融包裹体具有890~1115℃均一温度, 流体-熔融包裹体具有745~750℃均一温度, 流体包裹体的均一温度介于580~675℃之间. 39个熔融包裹体的均一温度平均值为1029.9℃. 现有包裹体相态特征及其均一温度表明, 所研究的夕卡岩应为岩浆成因.     

华北古生代地幔岩捕掳体中石榴石和巨晶石榴石的主、微量元素

山东蒙阴和辽宁复县古生代金伯利岩中产有众多的地慢岩捕掳体（橄榄岩、榴辉岩）和巨晶矿物．通过对这些捕掳体中石榴石以及石榴石巨晶的电子探针、离子探针微区分析及有关模拟计算,发现这些石榴石在捕获前都受到过金伯利岩质的硅酸盐岩浆不同程度的交代改造．其中辽宁复县榴辉岩型石榴石受地慢交代作用的影响很小,反映原亏损地幔石榴石的组成．相反,山东蒙阴橄榄岩中的石榴石和所有石榴石巨晶则受到了交代流体的彻底改造,并与流体相达到完全的平衡,因此反映的是富集地幔的特征,据此可推测中国华北克拉通下古老的岩石圈地幔在古生代金伯利岩岩浆喷出之前已受到过相当强烈的交代作用的改造。     

碳酸盐化橄榄岩的电性研究

为进一步探讨上地幔的高导层成因,了解碳酸盐在上地幔电性方面的作用并估算上地幔高导层的碳酸盐含量,本文对不同碳酸盐含量的橄榄岩及玄武岩样品在2~3 GPa、300~1300℃的条件下进行了电性实验研究.研究初步发现:碳酸盐熔体显著增强橄榄岩、玄武岩样品的导电能力;单纯用含硅酸盐熔体的橄榄岩或单纯用含水橄榄岩可能难以解释上地幔某些区域的异常高导现象;同样,单纯用碳酸盐化的橄榄岩可能也难以解释上地幔某些区域的高导现象;上地幔的高导区很可能是碳酸盐熔体、硅酸盐熔体及水的共存区域.     

H2OCO2 fluids supplied in alpine-type mantle peridotites: electron petrology of relic fluid inclusions in olivines

Fluids supplied in alpine-type mantle peridotites and trapped as fluid inclusions in olivines have been fixed by low-temperature reactions, and theirCO₂/H₂O ratios can be deduced from the minerals in the inclusions. Relic fluid inclusions were commonly observed by the optical microscope in olivines from almost all examined solid intrusive ultramafic complexes (Papua, Oman, Troodos and eleven alpine-type complexes of Japan). Such complexes were emplaced into the crust in a solid state. Electron microscopic studies of olivines from three complexes, Higashiakaishi, Horoman and Iwanai-dake, showed that relic fluid inclusions in these olivines have distinctive mineral parageneses: serpentine + magnesite + talc, serpentine + magnesite + brucite, and serpentine + brucite, respectively, depending on theCO₂/(H₂O+CO₂) ratio of the trapped fluid.It is deduced that the fluids had been supplied to peridotites, at least partly, but almost wholly in some case, when the peridotites were still hot, probably at the upper mantle for the following reasons: (1) the curved surfaces along which the inclusions are distributed are cut by post-emplacement serpentine veins; (2) for the Higashiakaishi dunite, the relic fluid inclusions are exclusively found in porphyroclast olivines and are totally absent in matrix olivines recrystallized during the Sanbagawa metamorphism.Recent models on the derivation of ophiolitic or some alpine-type peridotites favor the island-arc or fore-arc settings. Dehydration of the descending oceanic slab may supply H₂OCO₂ vapor to the overlying mantle wedge. Fluid inclusions trapped in such mantle wedge may abound in H₂O component. H₂O-bearing fluid inclusions may, therefore, be important H₂O containers in the upper mantle, especially near the edge of the mantle wedge above downgoing oceanic slabs.     

云南地壳和上地幔的岩石学结构

通过对地表出露变质岩、深部地震测深资料和高温高压岩石波速测试资料的综合分析 ,研究了云南地壳和上地幔岩石组成。结果表明 ,云南上、中、下地壳分别由绿片岩相 (顶部为沉积层 )、角闪岩相和麻粒岩相变质岩组成或分别由与之相当的花岗岩类、闪长岩类、辉长岩类组成 ,部分地区地壳底部有镁铁质榴辉岩存在。上地幔由橄榄岩组成 ,部分地区 (兰坪思茅坳陷和滇中坳陷 )壳幔过渡带可能由镁铁质榴辉岩和橄榄岩组成     

Major- and trace-element systematics and isotope geochemistry of Cenozoic mafic volcanic rocks from the Vogelsberg (central Germany): Constraints on the origin of continental alkaline and tholeiitic basalts and their mantle sources

The Cenozoic basaltic province of the Vogelsberg area (central Germany) is mainly composed of intercalated olivine to quartz tholeiites and near-primary nephelinites to basanites. The inferred mantle source for the alkaline and tholeiitic rocks is asthenospheric metasomatized garnet peridotite containing some amphibole as the main hydrous phase. Trace element modelling indicates 2 to 3% partial melting for the alkaline rocks and 5 to 7% partial melting for the olivine tholeiites. Incompatible trace element abundances and ratios as well as Nd and Sr radiogenic isotope compositions lie between plume compositions and enriched mantle compositions and are similar to those measured in Ocean Island Basalts (OIB) and the Central European Volcanic Province elsewhere. The mafic olivine tholeiites have similar Ba/Nb, Ba/La and Nd–Sr isotope ratios to the alkaline rocks indicating derivation of both magma types from chemically comparable mantle sources. However, Zr/Nb ratios are slightly higher in olivine tholeiites than in basanites reflecting some fractionation of Zr relative to Nb during partial melting. Quartz tholeiites have higher Ba/Nb, Zr/Nb, La/Nb, but lower Ce/Pb ratios and lower Nd isotope compositions than the alkaline rocks which can be explained by interaction of the basaltic melt with lower (granulite facies) crustal material or partial melts thereof during stagnation within the lower crust. It appears most likely that upwelling of hot, asthenospheric material results in the generation of primitive alkaline rocks at the base of the lithosphere at depths of 75–90 km. Lithospheric extension together with minor plume activity and probably lower lithosphere erosion induced melting of shallower heterogenous upper mantle generating a spectrum of olivine tholeiitic melts. These olivine tholeiitic rocks evolved via crystal fractionation and probably limited contamination to quartz tholeiites.     

Complete mantle section of a slow-spreading ridge-derived ophiolite: An example from the Isabela ophiolite in the Philippines

Abstract   The Isabela ophiolite shows a complete ophiolite sequence exposed along the eastern coast of northern Luzon, the Philippines. It forms the Cretaceous basement complex for the northeastern Luzon block. This ophiolite is located at the northern end of a trail of ophiolites and ophiolitic bodies along the eastern margin of the Philippine Mobile Belt. This paper presents new findings regarding the nature and characteristics of the Isabela ophiolite. Peridotites from the Isabela ophiolite are relatively fresh and are composed of spinel lherzolites, clinopyroxene-rich harzburgites, depleted harzburgites and dunites. The modal composition, especially the pyroxene content, defines a northward depletion trend from fertile lherzolite to clinopyroxene-rich harzburgites and more refractory harzburgites. Variation in modal composition is accompanied by petrographic textural variations. The chromium number of spinel, an indicator of the degree of partial melting, concurs with petrographic observations. Furthermore, the Isabela ophiolite peridotites are similar in spinel and olivine major-element geochemistry and clinopyroxene rare earth-element composition to abyssal peridotites from modern mid-oceanic ridges. Petrological and mineral compositions suggest that the Isabela ophiolite is a transitional ophiolite subtype, with the fertile lherzolites representing lower sections of the mantle column that are usually absent in most ophiolitic massifs. The occurrence of the fertile peridotite presents a rare opportunity to document the lower sections of the ophiolitic mantle. The variability in composition of the peridotites in one continuous mantle section may also represent a good analogy of the melting column in the present-day mid-oceanic ridges.     

Deep melting and sodic metasomatism underneath the highly oblique-spreading Lena Trough (Arctic Ocean)

Abyssal peridotites collected along the highly oblique-spreading Lena Trough north of Greenland and Spitsbergen have mineral compositions that are similar to residual abyssal peridotites, except for high sodium concentrations in clinopyroxene (cpx). Most samples are lherzolites with light rare earth element (REE)-depleted cpx trace element patterns, but significantly fractionated middle to heavy REE ratios at relatively high heavy REE concentrations. Such characteristics can only be explained by initial melting of a garnet peridotite followed by low degrees of melting in the stability field of spinel peridotite. The residual garnet signature requires either a high potential temperature of the upwelling mantle, or elevated solidus-lowering water contents. The limited spinel field melting suggests a deep cessation of melt extraction, possibly because of the presence of a thick lithospheric cap. This is consistent with the extremely low effective spreading rate and the vicinity to a passive continental margin, which allow conductive cooling to reach deeper levels than commonly estimated for faster mid-ocean ridges. High sodium concentrations in cpx are neither explainable by melt refertilization, nor by a simple diffusion mechanism. The efficient fractionation of sodium from the light REE requires post-melting metasomatism, which is typically restricted to the subcontinental lithosphere. This might imply that the Lena Trough peridotites represent unroofed subcontinental mantle, from which no melt was extracted during the opening of the Lena Trough. It is more likely that sodic metasomatism occurred after partial melting underneath the Lena Trough, and that such an enrichment process is responsible for elevated sodium concentrations in abyssal peridotites elsewhere. Sodium in cpx of residual peridotites can therefore not serve as an indicator of partial melting or melt refertilization.     

Subduction of mantle wedge peridotites: Evidence from the Higashi-akaishi ultramafic body in the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt

The Higashi-akaishi garnet-bearing ultramafic body in the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt, Southwest Japan, represents a rare example of oceanic-type ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism. The body of 2 km × 5 km is composed mostly of anhydrous dunite with volumetrically minor lenses of clinopyroxene-rich rocks. Dunite samples contain high Ir-type platinum group elements (PGE) and Cr in bulk rocks, high Mg and Ni in olivine, and high Cr in spinel. On the other hand, clinopyroxene-rich rocks contain low concentrations of Ir-type PGE and Cr, high concentrations of fluid-mobile elements in bulk rocks, and low Ni and Mg in olivine. Clinopyroxene is diopsidic with low Al₂O₃. The compositions of bulk rocks and mineral chemistry of spinel, olivine, and clinopyroxene suggest that the olivine-dominated rocks are residual mantle peridotites after high degrees of influx partial melting, and that the clinopyroxene-rich rocks are cumulates of subduction-related melts. Thus, the Higashi-akaishi ultramafic body originated from the interior of the mantle wedge, most likely the forearc upper mantle. It was then incorporated into the Sanbagawa subduction channel by a mantle flow, and underwent high pressure metamorphism to a depth greater than 100 km. Such a strong active flow in the mantle wedge is likely facilitated by the lack of serpentinites along the interface between the slab and the overlying mantle, as it was too hot for serpentine. These unusually hot conditions and strong active mantle flow may reflect conditions in the earliest stage of development of subduction, and may have been maintained by massive upwelling and subsequent eastward flow of asthenospheric mantle in the northeastern Asian continent in Cretaceous time when the Sanbagawa belt began to form.     

Mineralogic variability of the uppermost mantle along mid-ocean ridges

Modal analyses of 273 different peridotites representing 43 dredge stations in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Indian Oceans define three separate melting trends. Peridotites dredged in the vicinity of “mantle plumes” or hot spots have the most depleted compositions in terms of basaltic components, while peridotites dredged at locations removed from such regions are systematically less depleted. The modal data correlate well with mineral compositions, with the peridotites most depleted in pyroxene also having the most refractory mineral compositions. This demonstrates that they are the probable residues of variable degrees of mantle melting. Further, there is a good correlation between the modal compositions of the peridotites and the major element composition of spatially associated dredged basalts. This demonstrates for the first time that the two must be directly related, as is frequently postulated. The high degree of depletion of the peridotites in basaltic major element components in the vicinity of some documented mantle plumes provides direct evidence for a thermal anomaly in such regions—justifying their frequent designation as “hot spots”. The high incompatible element concentrations in these “plume” basalts, however, are contrary to what is expected for such high degrees of melting, and thus require either selective contributions from locally more abundant enriched veins and/or contamination by a volatile-rich metasomatic front from depth.     

Ultramafic inclusions from San Carlos,Arizona: Petrologic and geochemical data bearing on their petrogenesis

Ultramafic inclusions from San Carlos, Arizona, are classified into two groups. Group I inclusions are dominated by magnesian (Mg/Mg + ΣFe= 0.86 – 0.91), olivine-rich peridotites containing Cr-rich clinopyroxene and spinel. The less abundant Group I pyroxenites (containing Mg- and Cr-rich pyroxenes) occur as discrete inclusions and as portions of composite inclusions where they have a sharp, planar interface with lherzolite. Group II inclusions are dominated by clinopyroxene-rich peridotites containing Al- and Ti-rich augite and commonly abundant, Al-rich spinel. Compared to Group I inclusions, they are more Fe-rich (Mg/Mg + ΣFe= 0.62 – 0.78) and more hetereogeneous in composition and modal proportions. Similar groups occur at many ultramafic inclusion localities.Our petrographic and geochemical results lead to the following conclusions. Olivine-rich Group I inclusions are not genetically related to the host basanite, and they are formed from two components. Component A is a partial melting residue; it comprises the major portion of these inclusions and determines the modal mineralogy and major and compatible trace element composition. Component B results from a small degree (<5%) of garnet peridotite melting (probably, within the low-velocity zone). This highly LIL-element-enriched melt has migrated upwards into the overlying component A where it crystallized primarily as clinopyroxene and amphibole, and thus, introduced LIL elements into the residual component A. Subsequent cooling and subsolidus recrystallization have removed textural evidence of this mixing. This model has also been proposed for olivine-rich Group I inclusions from Victoria, Australia. At Victoria and San Carlos some relatively clinopyroxene-rich Group I lherzolites are not contaminated by component B, and they represent the best estimates of upper mantle composition prior to melting. Group I orthopyroxenites may be fragments of tectonic layers formed in lherzolite, but they could also be early cumulates (now metamorphosed) from the melt in equilibrium with component A. Group I clinopyroxenites have geochemical features of clinopyroxene in equilibrium with a magma. Thus, they could also represent early cumulates (now metamorphosed) from a magma unrelated to the host basanite. Alternatively, their geochemical characteristics could result from more complex models such as residues from partial remelting of pyroxenite dikes and veins or intradike segregation processes such as filter pressing. All Group II inclusions studied appear to be cumulates derived from a SiO₂-undersaturated magma, possibly an early magma in the same volcanic episode which culminated with eruption of the host basanite. The poikilitic texture of amphibole-rich (kaersutite) inclusions is consistent with a cumulate origin. The bulk compositions of Group II inclusions are not equivalent to typical basaltic compositions.     

Mantle–crust interactions during Variscan subduction in the Eastern Alps (Nonsberg–Ulten zone): geochronology and new petrological constraints

We have analyzed the Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr whole-rock and mineral isotope systematics of garnet peridotites and associated eclogites and migmatitic gneisses from the Nonsberg–Ulten zone of the Eastern Alps. The garnet peridotites include coarse-grained varieties, characterized by well-preserved to slightly modified mantle geochemical signatures, and finer-grained varieties enriched in amphibole and LILE. Hydration of some of the most strongly deformed, fine-grained peridotites by crustal fluids caused isotopic disequilibrium between the peridotite minerals, preventing accurate age determinations. The coarse-grained peridotites, the eclogites and the country migmatitic gneisses yield garnet–whole-rock and garnet–clinopyroxene Sm–Nd ages that indicate for all rock types an isotopic homogenization event at ca. 330 Ma. The similar ages suggest that all rock types shared a common history since the incorporation of the peridotites in the crust, and constrain the garnet-facies metamorphism of the peridotites, as well as partial melting of the crust, to an episode of crustal subduction at the end of the Variscan orogenic cycle.