Geothermometry of spinel lherzolites

Three methods of geothermometry, currently used for spinel lherzolites, are refined based on new experiments on subsolidus phase equilibria of olivine, pyroxenes and spinel in CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ and natural rock systems at 16 kb and 1200 °C. Although quasi-thermodynamic modelling is employed, the methods are essentially based on the pyroxene solvus, alumina contents in clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene. Increasing alumina contents in pyroxenes reduce enstatite and diopside components in clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene, respectively. Thus, neglect of alumina in pyroxenes causes underestimates of temperatures by the solvus method.The three geothermometers were tested by applying them to homogeneous spinel lherzolites which were especially selected for this purpose. Coincidence of the three temperatures thus estimated gives confidence in the effectiveness of the geothermometers.They were also applied to spinel lherzolite nodules in basalts and intrusive lherzolites described in the literature. It was found that equilibration temperature of the nodules varies from 1000 °C to 1300 °C, i.e., temperatures somewhat higher than have been generally thought. In contrast to the nodules, the intrusive spinel lherzolites show extensive disequilibrium, which is probably due to retrogressive metamorphism suffered by the intrusives.