复杂的山东昌乐新生代玄武岩辉石岩捕虏体及其岩石圈演化意义

紧邻郯庐断裂带分布的山东昌乐新生代玄武岩含有丰富的辉石岩捕虏体。根据辉石岩的主、微量元素特征,可以将它们大致分为3类。Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类样品的岩石地球化学特征分别与河北汉诺坝-阳原新生代玄武岩中的Cr系列和Al系列辉石岩捕虏体相对应,都属壳-幔过渡带或岩石圈顶部地幔的分离结晶产物,其中Ⅱ类辉石岩还包含有陆壳物质组成,更可能是壳幔过渡带来源。Ⅲ类辉石岩在岩石地球化学特征上与汉诺坝的石榴石辉石岩相似,但不同的样品则分别表现出与洋岛玄武岩或正常洋中脊玄武岩相似的特征。丰富的昌乐玄武岩中辉石岩捕虏体所表现出来的复杂成因来源,与相对简单的上地幔特征相比,该区新生代时的顶部岩石圈地幔和壳-幔过渡带组成异常复杂,说明岩石圈减薄过程中自下而上的新生地幔物质对古老岩石圈的置换作用。     

鲁西中生代辉长-闪长岩中辉石岩捕虏体的岩石成因

鲁西中生代辉长-闪长岩中包含有变晶结构和堆积结构两种类型辉石岩类捕虏体,它们的矿物化学和岩石地球化学特征可同中国东部新生代玄武岩中的辉石岩类包体相对比.它们代表了上地幔两次岩浆底侵事件的产物.辉石岩类捕虏体母岩浆来自于含有陆壳物质的软流圈及其上部岩石圈地幔的部分熔融.辉石岩类捕虏体是由该母岩浆高压分离结晶堆积的产物.辉石岩的母岩浆在上地幔的运移是引起鲁西中生代岩石圈地幔富硅质交代作用的主要因素.     

河北阳原和山西大同新生代玄武岩的岩石地球化学特征:华北克拉通西部深部地质过程初探

报道了大兴安岭-太行山重力梯度带以西河北阳原和山西大同新生代玄武岩的元素和 Sr- Nd同位素地球化学数据.含幔源包体的阳原早第三纪碱性玄武岩具有均一的 Sr- Nd同位素组成(ε Nd≈ 5.7)和相似于 OIB的微量元素特征,玄武岩主要来自软流圈地幔,岩浆起源较深.大同地区第四纪时期同时产出碱性和拉斑玄武岩 , 碱性玄武岩也主要来自软流圈地幔,岩浆起源深度小于阳原样品 ; 拉斑玄武岩具有较低的ε Nd( 1～ 4),可能是软流圈和岩石圈地幔相互作用的产物,岩浆起源较浅.大同两类玄武岩在空间上分野明显,可能与桑干河断裂对软流圈地幔上涌的控制以及区域上岩石圈-软流圈作用程度的变化有关.     

造山带陆壳增厚的一个岩石学记录——以济南辉长岩及其包体研究为例

深部陆壳的生长及壳幔相互作用是地质学家们关注的一个问题。火成岩及其中的深源包体是研究壳幔深部作用的一个重要途径。文中以济南辉长岩及其深源包体的研究为例,揭示华北陆台地区造山带陆壳增厚的特征。济南辉长岩具造山带火成岩属性。辉长岩中首次发现的尖晶石单辉岩和石榴石单辉岩包体与中国东部新生代玄武岩中的辉石岩包体不同,其主要矿物为深绿辉石,以及钙铝榴石、钙长石、方解石等一些富钙矿物和镁铁尖晶石等。这些辉石岩包体并非来源于上地幔,对岩石组构、矿物组成以及矿物化学研究表明,辉石岩包体也不是从寄主辉长岩中直接结晶出来的。根据相平衡关系、矿物化学特征研究以及热力学计算表明,这种特殊类型的单辉岩包体来自大约５０～６０ｋｍ的深部陆壳,可能是下地壳富钙物质与岩浆底侵作用的产物。这些记录表明本区燕山期是一个增厚的陆壳。     

地幔柱活动对克拉通岩石圈地幔的影响：西伯利亚克拉通地幔橄榄岩包体Sr-Nd-Hf同位素制约

利用单矿物溶液法分析了Obnazhennaya金伯利岩中橄榄岩包体单矿物的Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成,并且与Udachnaya金伯利岩中橄榄岩包体单矿物的Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成进行了对比。结果显示,Obnazhennaya金伯利岩中橄榄岩包体单斜辉石具有亏损的Sr同位素组成和富集的Nd、Hf同位素组成。橄榄岩包体石榴子石的Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成表现出原始的特征,没有受到交代作用的影响。通过对比Udachnaya和Obnazhennaya金伯利岩中地幔包体的特征和单斜辉石的二元混合模拟发现,Udachnaya金伯利岩中的地幔包体的Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成更偏向于金伯利岩的特征,而与之相反,Obnazhennaya金伯利岩中的地幔包体的Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成则位于金伯利岩和地幔柱溢流玄武岩之间,且更加偏向于溢流玄武岩的同位素特征。因此,地幔柱活动对西伯利亚克拉通岩石圈产生了影响,改变了其岩石圈地幔的同位素组成。     

吉林汪清超镁铁岩包体的岩石学特征及辉石岩成因问题的讨论

吉林汪清的新生代碱性玄武岩中含有丰富的超镁铁岩包体,其岩石类型,矿物成分,结构构造及成因均较复杂,是研究包体的良好地点。本文重点研究包体的岩石学特征并讨论辉石岩的成因问题。有关该区碱性玄武岩岩浆及辉石岩岩浆起源,上地幔的演化历史等问题将另文讨论。汪清位于内蒙兴安华力西地槽褶皱区的吉、黑华力西晚期褶皱带的东南边缘。新生代碱性玄武岩不整合复于白垩纪砂页岩层之上,属裂隙式喷发。据吉林区测队,玄武岩时代可能属于新第三纪。按约得和蒂里(1962)的玄武岩分类,本区玄武岩多为碧玄岩。自下而上主要     

汉诺坝辉石岩包体中单斜辉石的微区微量元素组成特征及其地球动力学意义

本文对来自汉诺坝玄武岩中的三类辉石岩包体的单斜辉石（Cpx）利用LA—ICP—MS进行了原位微区微量元素分析研究。金云母单斜辉石岩中的单斜辉石具有低Cr,Co和Ni，高CaO、Zr、Hf、Ta和LREE特征，并且具有较低的Mg^#，反映金云母单斜辉石岩可能是经受了后期交代作用的地慢岩浆堆晶产物尖晶石二辉橄榄岩中的石榴辉石岩脉体中的Cpx具有高Na2O低CaO特征，其Ti、Zr、Hf、Y含量明显高于其它石榴辉石岩Cpx中的含量，反映了石榴辉石岩脉体可能是富Na硅酸盐熔体与地幔尖晶石二辉橄榄岩反应的成因，部分石榴辉石岩包体的Cpx具有特征的La富集或微量元素（如Zr、Hf、Ta、Li、P、REE等）环状对称分布特征，暗示华北克拉通北缘可能存在多期次地幔交代富集作用．通过对同一Cpx颗粒中的流体包裹体密集区和干净区域的对比研究，发现Cpx中的流体包襄体不仅富集LILE和LREE，而且HFSE中的Nb、Ta、Zr和P也具有明显的富集特征，LREE和HFSE未发生明显分异，这可能暗示地幔交代流体中含有少量的络阴离子（如F^-和Cl^-等）．     

造山带陆壳增厚的一个岩石学记录

深部陆壳的生长及壳－幔相互作用是地质学家们关注的一个问题。火成岩及其中的深源包体是研究壳－幔深部作用的一个重要途径。文中以济南辉长岩及基 包体的研究为例,揭示华北陆合地区造山带陆壳增厚的特征。济南辉长岩具造山带火成岩属性。辉长岩中首次发现的尖晶石单辉岩和石榴石单辉岩包体与东部新生代玄武岩中的辉石岩包体不同,其主要矿物为深绿辉石,以及钙铝榴石、钙长石、方解石等一些富钙矿物和镁铁尖晶石等。这些辉石岩包     

内蒙古阿巴嘎旗新生代玄武岩中超镁铁岩包体的特征

内蒙古东部阿巴嘎旗及其以北地区第四纪更新世钠质碱性火山岩中发现的超镁铁岩包体,主要为尖晶石二辉橄榄岩、方辉橄榄岩、纯橄榄岩、橄榄二辉岩、尖晶石单斜辉石岩和单斜辉石巨晶以及辉长岩、花岗闪长岩、石英长石片麻岩等壳源包体。超镁铁岩包体和巨晶的岩相学特征显示它们不是寄主玄武岩岩浆分离结晶堆积体;其主要元素、稀土元素特征与阿尔卑斯型橄榄岩相似,其组成接近于原始地幔岩值;同位素地球化学特征表明它们与寄主岩-玄武岩浆不是同源的;尖晶石二辉橄榄岩包体形成的平衡温度和压力范围分别为1056.9℃～1103.1℃,压力为1.50～1.84GPa,形成相当深度为49.5～60.72km。辉石岩包体形成温度为887.1℃～958.6℃,压力为1.25～1.4GPa,形成相当深度为41.25～46.2km。寄主玄武岩形成温度1390℃～1450℃,压力1.75～2.20GPa,形成相当深度为60～70km。可以认为,研究区在新生代发生了软流圈地幔上涌,导致岩石圈减薄以及地壳的拉张,大量岩浆物质沿构造通道溢出地表。其中超镁铁岩包体与寄主玄武岩浆之间没有熔体与残余物这种成因联系,它们是寄主玄武岩浆在上升过程中捕获的岩石圈地幔碎块。     

内蒙古集宁新生代玄武岩中橄榄岩包体和巨晶的发现及意义

内蒙古集宁新生代玄武岩产于华北克拉通北缘，属于广义的“汉诺坝玄武岩”。首次在三义堂附近的碱性玄武岩中发现了大量的橄榄岩包体、辉石和长石以及少量的含钛磁铁矿巨晶。包体主要是尖晶石二辉橄榄岩，造岩矿物为橄榄石＋斜方辉石＋单斜辉石＋尖晶石，辉石巨晶主要为透辉石和普通辉石，长石巨晶主要是歪长石和少量斜长石。1．5GPa条件下，尖晶石二辉橄榄岩样品所记录的平衡温度与汉诺坝相近，集中于950℃左右，大体上反映了华北克拉通北缘大陆岩石圈地幔尖晶石相部分的温度状态。单斜辉石巨晶的结晶温压大于幔源包体的平衡温压，表明巨晶的来源深度可能大于包体。包体的结构及矿物成分分析表明，这些包体是玄武质岩浆上升过程中偶然捕获岩石圈地幔的岩石碎块。二辉橄榄岩包体中橄榄石高Mg#值（89．5～91．7）和较高的NiO含量（0．29％～0．55％），暗示集宁玄武岩中的橄榄岩包体来自较高熔融程度的岩石圈地幔。     

Magmatic modification of the uppermost mantle beneath the Basin and Range to Colorado Plateau Transition Zone; Evidence from xenoliths, Wikieup, Arizona

Upper mantle xenoliths from Wikieup, AZ, provide abundant evidence for magmatic modification of the uppermost mantle beneath the Transition Zone between the Colorado Plateau and the southern Basin and Range province. Upper mantle lithologies in this xenolith suite are represented by spinel peridotite, wehrlite, plagioclase peridotite, and Al-augite group pyroxenites. Isotopic data for these xenoliths yield relatively uniform values and suggest a common petrogenesis. Al-augite-bearing gabbro and pyroxenite xenoliths from this locality are interpreted to have formed by crystal fractionation processes from parent alkali basalts similar to the Wikieup host basalt. Mineral and whole rock compositions show consistent trends of increasing incompatible element contents (Fe, Al, Ca, Na, K, LIL, and LREE), and decreasing compatible element contents (Mg, Cr, Ni) from spinel peridotite to wehrlite to plagioclase peridotite to the host basalt composition. These compositional trends are interpreted as resulting from varying degrees of magma-mantle wall rock interaction as ascending mafic magmas infiltrated upper mantle peridotite. Small degrees of melt infiltration resulted in slightly modified spinel peridotite compositions while moderate degrees metasomatized spinel peridotite to wehrlite, and the highest degrees metasomatized it to plagioclase peridotite. Whole rock compositions and clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and whole rock isotopic data suggest that the infiltrating magmas were the same as those from which the gabbros and pyroxenites crystallized, and that they were alkalic in composition, similar to the Wikieup host alkali olivine basalts. Relatively uniform ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd for the mineral separates and whole rocks in spite of the significantly wide range in their ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.71–0.23 in clinopyroxene) suggests that the Wikieup xenoliths including gabbro, pyroxenite, peridotite, wehrlite, and plagioclase peridotite, are all relatively young rocks formed or metasomatized by a relatively recent magmatic episode. Received: 21 May 1996 / Accepted: 23 December 1996     

汉诺坝捕虏体辉石岩和麻粒岩的成因探讨

汉诺坝新生代玄武岩中含有丰富的地幔和地壳岩石捕虏体,其中捕虏体辉石岩和庥粒岩由于外观上具有一定的相似性,两者容易混淆,导致研究上的误区.本文以辉石岩和麻粒岩捕虏体作为研究对象,通过岩相学观察结合矿物主量元素分析、单斜辉石微量元素和Sr-Nd同位素分析,对两种捕虏体进行深入的研究和对比以探讨其成因意义.结果表明,上述各方面二者都存在明显的差别,捕虏体麻粒岩具有层状堆晶构造,两种辉石矿物(次透辉石和古铜辉石)相对贫MgO富FeO,单斜辉石的REE相对富集,以高87Sr/86 Sr低143Nd/144Nd为特征;而捕虏体辉石岩一般呈块状构造,两种辉石矿物(透辉石和古铜辉石-顽火辉石)相对富MgO贫FeO,单斜辉石REE总量极低呈亏损模式,同位素组成上介于捕虏体橄榄岩和麻粒岩之间.捕虏体麻粒岩特征表明它是幔源岩浆底侵作用形成,岩浆受到了下地壳的混染;而捕虏体辉石岩明显不同于橄榄岩和麻粒岩的成因,来自于富集地幔.     

辽西中生代晚期岩石圈地幔的性质:来自玄武岩和地幔捕虏体的证据

辽西中生代玄武岩中幔源气榄岩捕虏体的岩石学、矿物学和地球化学研究表明，中生代岩石圈地幔是由古老富集型的岩石圈地幔和新增生的岩石圈地幔所组成。前者以角闪尖晶二辉橄榄岩为代表，它经历了富钠质的地幔交代作用。橄榄岩类捕虏体富含轻稀土元素，并具有较高的ω(^87Sr)/ω(^86Sr)比值；后者以二辉石岩为代表，具典型堆积结构，与本区尖晶石二辉橄榄岩相比，具有较高的稀土元素丰度。在矿物成分和稀土元素丰度上，本区辉石岩捕虏体类似于中国东部新生代玄武岩中幔源辉石岩捕虏体，这意味着辉石岩捕虏体可能是上地幔中更早期的岩浆堆积体。     

Recycled crustal melt injection into lithospheric mantle: implication from cumulative composite and pyroxenite xenoliths

A rare composite xenolith and abundant cumulative pyroxenites obtained from the Mesozoic Fangcheng basalts on the eastern North China Craton record a complex history of melt percolation and circulation in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. The composite xenolith has a dunite core and an olivine clinopyroxenite rim. The dunite is of cumulative origin and has a granular recrystallized texture and extremely low Mg# [100 Mg/(Mg + Fe) = 81–82] contents in olivines. The olivine clinopyroxenite contains larger clinopyroxene and/or orthopyroxene with a few fine-grained olivine and tiny phlogopite, feldspar, and/or carbonate minerals interstitial to clinopyroxene. The clinopyroxene has low Mg# (83–85). Compositional similarity between dunitic olivine and pyroxenitic one indicates a sequential crystallization of dunite and pyroxenite from a precursor melt. Pyroxenite xenoliths include olivine websterites and clinopyroxenites, both are of cumulative origin. Estimation of the melt from major oxides in olivines and REE concentrations in clinopyroxenes in these composite and pyroxenite xenoliths suggests a derivation from subducted crustal materials, consistent with the highly enriched EMII-like Sr and Nd isotopic ratios observed in the pyroxenites. Occurrence of phlogopite, feldspar and carbonate minerals in some xenoliths requires the melt rich in alkalis (K, Na), silica and volatiles (water and CO₂) at the latest stage as well, similar to highly silicic and potassic melts. Thus, the occurrence of these composite and pyroxenite xenoliths provides an evidence for voluminous injection of recycled crustal melts into the lithosphere beneath the southeastern North China Craton at the Late Mesozoic, a reason for the rapid lithospheric enrichment in both elemental and isotopic compositions.     

Combined iron and magnesium isotope geochemistry of pyroxenite xenoliths from Hannuoba,North China Craton: implications for mantle metasomatism

We present high-precision iron and magnesium isotopic data for diverse mantle pyroxenite xenoliths collected from Hannuoba, North China Craton and provide the first combined iron and magnesium isotopic study of such rocks. Compositionally, these xenoliths range from Cr-diopside pyroxenites and Al-augite pyroxenites to garnet-bearing pyroxenites and are taken as physical evidence for different episodes of melt injection. Our results show that both Cr-diopside pyroxenites and Al-augite pyroxenites of cumulate origin display narrow ranges in iron and magnesium isotopic compositions (δ⁵⁷Fe = ?0.01 to 0.09 with an average of 0.03 ± 0.08 (2SD, n = 6); δ²⁶Mg = ? 0.28 to ?0.25 with an average of ?0.26 ± 0.03 (2SD, n = 3), respectively). These values are identical to those in the normal upper mantle and show equilibrium inter-mineral iron and magnesium isotope fractionation between coexisting mantle minerals. In contrast, the garnet-bearing pyroxenites, which are products of reactions between peridotites and silicate melts from an ancient subducted oceanic slab, exhibit larger iron isotopic variations, with δ⁵⁷Fe ranging from 0.12 to 0.30. The δ⁵⁷Fe values of minerals in these garnet-bearing pyroxenites also vary widely (?0.25 to 0.08 in olivines, ?0.04 to 0.25 in orthopyroxenes, ?0.07 to 0.31 in clinopyroxenes, 0.07 to 0.48 in spinels and 0.31–0.42 in garnets). In addition, the garnet-bearing pyroxenite shows light δ²⁶Mg (?0.43) relative to the mantle. The δ²⁶Mg of minerals in the garnet-bearing pyroxenite range from ?0.35 for olivine and orthopyroxene, to ?0.34 for clinopyroxene, 0.04 for spinel and ?0.68 for garnet. These measured values stand in marked contrast to calculated equilibrium iron and magnesium isotope fractionation between coexisting mantle minerals at mantle temperatures derived from theory, indicating disequilibrium isotope fractionation. Notably, one phlogopite clinopyroxenite with an apparent later metasomatic overprint has the heaviest δ⁵⁷Fe (as high as 1.00) but the lightest δ²⁶Mg (as low as ?1.50) values of all investigated samples. Overall, there appears to be a negative co-variation between δ⁵⁷Fe and δ²⁶Mg in the Hannuoba garnet-bearing pyroxenite and in the phlogopite clinopyroxenite xenoliths and minerals therein. These features may reflect kinetic isotopic fractionation due to iron and magnesium inter-diffusion during melt–rock interaction. Such processes play an important role in producing inter-mineral iron and magnesium isotopic disequilibrium and local iron and magnesium isotopic heterogeneity in the subcontinental mantle.     

复杂橄榄岩捕虏体:反演岩石圈演化过程的罕见而重要的样品

地幔和／或下地壳中存在2类“复杂”橄榄岩捕虏体:一类为“混杂”,即“polymict”橄榄岩捕虏体;另一类为相对常见的“复合”,即“composite”橄榄岩捕虏体．复合橄榄岩捕虏体通常由橄榄岩和辉石岩／麻粒岩或由橄榄岩夹辉石岩脉2部分或多部分组成．岩相学上易于辨认,有时手标本上即可辨认．而混杂橄榄岩捕虏体为各种橄榄岩和／或辉石岩来源的矿物和熔体混杂在一起组成的构造岩,岩相学上很难辨认,只有通过矿物组成分析来判断．混杂橄榄岩捕虏体仅见于南非Kaapvaal 克拉通金伯利岩岩管中,该类捕虏体来源于地幔塑性剪切带,记录了流／熔体参与下的地幔变形和交代作用的全过程．复合橄榄岩捕虏体较常见,出现在全球各类玄武岩和金伯利岩中．复合橄榄岩捕虏体有多种成因,如地幔变形、壳幔过渡带样品、交代作用和堆积成因等等．这些复合橄榄岩捕虏体同样记录了岩石圈地幔和／或下地壳交代作用／改造过程的中间状态．因此,这些罕见而重要的复杂橄榄岩捕虏体为大陆岩石圈动力学演化过程提供了最直接的样品．     

The characterisation and origin of graphite in cratonic lithospheric mantle: a petrological carbon isotope and Raman spectroscopic study

Graphite-bearing peridotites, pyroxenites and eclogite xenoliths from the Kaapvaal craton of southern Africa and the Siberian craton, Russia, have been studied with the aim of: 1) better characterising the abundance and distribution of elemental carbon in the shallow continental lithospheric mantle; (2) determining the isotopic composition of the graphite; (3) testing for significant metastability of graphite in mantle rocks using mineral thermobarometry. Graphite crystals in peridotie, pyroxenite and eclogite xenoliths have X-ray diffraction patterns and Raman spectra characteristic of highly crystalline graphite of high-temperature origin and are interpreted to have crystallised within the mantle. Thermobarometry on the graphite-peridotite assemblages using a variety of element partitions and formulations yield estimated equilibration conditions that plot at lower temperatures and pressures than diamondiferous assemblages. Moreover, estimated pressures and temperatures for the graphite-peridotites fall almost exclusively within the experimentally determined graphite stability field and thus we find no evidence for substantial graphite metastability. The carbon isotopic composition of graphite in peridotites from this and other studies varies from δ¹³ C_PDB = ? 12.3 to ? ?3.8%o with a mean of-6.7‰, σ=2.1 (n=22) and a mode between-7 and-6‰. This mean is within one standard deviation of the-4‰ mean displayed by diamonds from peridotite xenoliths, and is identical to that of diamonds containing peridotite-suite inclusions. The carbon isotope range of graphite and diamonds in peridotites is more restricted than that observed for either phase in eclogites or pyroxenites. The isotopic range displayed by peridotite-suite graphite and diamond encompasses the carbon isotope range observed in mid-ocean-ridge-basalt (MORB) glasses and ocean-island basalts (OIB). Similarity between the isotopic compositions of carbon associated with cratonic peridotites and the carbon (as CO₂) in oceanic magmas (MORB/OIB) indicates that the source of the fluids that deposited carbon, as graphite or diamond, in catonic peridotites lies within the convecting mantle, below the lithosphere. Textural observations provide evidence that some of graphite in cratonic peridotites is of sub-solidus metasomatic origin, probably deposited from a cooling C-H-O fluid phase permeating the lithosphere along fractures. Macrocrystalline graphite of primary appearance has not been found in mantle xenoliths from kimberlitic or basaltic rocks erupted away from cratonic areas. Hence, graphite in mantle-derived xenoliths appears to be restricted to Archaean cratons and occurs exclusively in low-temperature, coarse peridotites thought to be characteristic of the lithospheric mantle. The tectonic association of graphite within the mantle is very similar to that of diamond. It is unlikely that this restricted occurrence is due solely to unique conditions of oxygen fugacity in the cratonic lithospheric mantle because some peridotite xenoliths from off-craton localities are as reduced as those from within cratons. Radiogenic isotope systematics of peridotite-suite diamond inclusions suggest that diamond crystallisation was not directly related to the melting events that formed lithospheric peridotites. However, some diamond (and graphite?) crystallisation in southern Africa occurred within the time span associated with the stabilisation of the lithospheric mantle (Pearson et al. 1993). The nature of the process causing localisation of carbon in cratonic mantle roots is not yet clearly understood.     

Pyroxenite xenoliths from an alkali trachybasalt in the Glen Innes area,northeastern New South Wales

Pyroxenite xenoliths are relatively common in an alkali trachybasalt in the Glen Innes area in northeastern New South Wales where they coexist with peridotite xenoliths, probably lherzolitic. The pyroxenites vary widely in modal composition. Several pyroxenite xenoliths are characterised by megacrystals of subcalcic clinopyroxene and enstatite, the former comprising a unique group of high pressure pyroxenes in which exsolution of orthopyroxene has proceeded on a megascopic scale. Garnet is absent from all mineral assemblages. Mineralogical and experimental data suggest that the subcalcic clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene megacrystals equilibrated initially at temperatures and pressures of the order of 1350–1450° C and 10–23 kb respectively. The most common xenoliths, namely diopsideorthopyroxene assemblages in which there is evidence of subsolidus annealing, equilibrated at comparable pressures but a significantly lower temperatures (ca. 1000° C). It is suggested that the pyroxenites and associated peridotite xenoliths are samples of essentially unmodified layered upper mantle.