Geodynamic Information in Peridotite Petrology

Systematic differences are observed in the petrology and majorelement geochemistry of natural peridotite samples from thesea floor near oceanic ridges and subduction zones, the mantlesection of ophiolites, massif peridotites, and xenoliths ofcratonic mantle in kimberlite. Some of these differences reflectvariable temperature and pressure conditions of melt extraction,and these have been calibrated by a parameterization of experimentaldata on fertile mantle peridotite. Abyssal peridotites are examplesof cold residues produced at oceanic ridges. High-MgO peridotitesfrom the Ronda massif are examples of hot residues producedin a plume. Most peridotites from subduction zones and ophiolitesare too enriched in SiO₂ and too depleted in Al₂O₃ to be residues,and were produced by melt–rock reaction of a precursorprotolith. Peridotite xenoliths from the Japan, Cascades andChile–Patagonian back-arcs are possible examples of arcprecursors, and they have the characteristics of hot residues.Opx-rich cratonic mantle is similar to subduction zone peridotites,but there are important differences in FeO_T. Opx-poor xenolithsof cratonic mantle were hot residues of primary magmas with16–20% MgO, and they may have formed in either ancientplumes or hot ridges. Cratonic mantle was not produced as aresidue of Archean komatiites. KEY WORDS: peridotite; residues; fractional melting; abyssal; cratonic mantle; subduction zone; ophiolite; potential temperature; plumes; hot ridges