Chromian spinels in lherzolite inclusions from Itinome-gata,Japan

Spinel, which constitutes from 0.7% to 3% of lherzolite inclusions, occurs as primary anhedral grains (chrome-rich variety) and as a secondary phase as breakdown products of garnet (alumina-rich variety). Although individual primary spinel grains are chemically homogeneous, spinels are characterized by a wide range of Cr/Al ratios and a relatively narrow range of Mg/Fe″ ratios, even in a single lherzolite sample. The chemical variations of spinels are considered to have the following origin: When garnet lherzolite enters the stability field of the spinel peridotite facies as a consequence of slow upward transport, both orthopyroxenes and clinopyroxenes are recrystallized with loss of jadeite and some Tschermak's component to reach equilibrium. A part of the Tschermak's component reacts with olivine to form pyroxene and spinel. This secondary spinel component is alloted to the primary chromian spinel. However, these reactions did not always reach equilibrium with the major constituent minerals in the lherzolites.