High Field Strength Element Fractionation in the Upper Mantle: Evidence from Amphibole-Rich Composite Mantle Xenoliths from the Kerguelen Islands (Indian Ocean)

A basanite dyke in the Kerguelen Archipelago contains abundantcomposite mantle xenoliths consisting of spinel-bearing dunitescross-cut by amphibole-rich veins. Two types of veins (thickand thin) have been distinguished: the thick veins representalmost complete crystallization products of highly alkalinemelts similar to the host basanites, whereas thin veins areprecipitates from fractionates of the parental melts to thethick veins. These fractionated fluids are enriched in H₂O relativeto the parental melts. The amphiboles in the thin veins arelower in Ti and higher in Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf than amphibolesin the thick veins. This fractionation of high field strengthelements (HFSE) is consistent with a combination of the changingcomposition of the fractionated fluids and the change in intrinsicamphibole–fluid partition coefficients for HFSE in fluidswith higher a_H2O and lower a_TiO2. The trace element contentof amphiboles disseminated in dunitic wall-rocks is closelyrelated to the composition of adjacent veins and thus theseamphiboles are precipitates from fluids percolating into thedunite from the veins. Disseminated amphibole reflects the compositionof the percolating melt, which is similar to that of the associatedveins. KEY WORDS: mantle amphibole; Kerguelen; HFSE fractionation; mantle HFSE; mantle xenoliths