Compositions of Upper Mantle Fluids Beneath Eastern China: Implications for Mantle Evolution

The composition of gases trapped in olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene in Iherzolite xenoliths collected from different locations in eastern China has been measured by the vacuum stepped-heating mass spectrometry. These xenoliths are hosted in alkali basalts and considered as residues of partial melting of the upper mantle, and may contain evidence of mantle evolution. The results show that various kinds of fluid inclusions in Iherzolite xenoliths have been released at distinct times, which could be related to different stages of mantle evolution. In general, primitive fluids of the upper mantle (PFUM) beneath eastern China are dominated by H2, CO2 and CO, and are characterized by high contents of H2 and reduced gases. The compositions of PFUM are highly variable and related to tectonic settings. CO, CO2 and H2 are the main components of the PFUM beneath cratons; the PFUM in the mantle enriched in potassic metasomatism in the northern part of northeastern China has a high content of H2, while CO2 a     

中国东部早第三纪玄武岩中幔源包体的变形特征及其上地幔流变学意义

中国东部含幔源包体的早第三纪玄武岩已发现的有吉林双辽、河北阳原和山西繁峙。本文详细研究了这三个地点幔源包体的变形特征，结果表明，这些地点的幔源包体以尖晶石二辉橄榄岩为主，其结构主要为残斑结构。     

中国东部早第三纪玄武岩中幔源包体的变形特征及其上地幔流变学意义

中国东部含幔源包体的早第三纪玄武岩已发现的有吉林双辽、河北阳原和山西繁峙。本文详细研究了这三个地点幔源包体的变形特征，结果表明，这些地点的幔源包体以尖晶石二辉橄榄岩为主，其结构主要为残斑结构。包体中橄榄石显示明显的优选方位，发育有反映高温位错蠕变机制的位错亚构造。包体的平衡温度在８００一１１００℃之间，压力为０．７一１．７ＣＰａ。来源深度为２８一５２ｋｍ。采用显微构造应力计计算的差异应力在１７一２４ＭＰａ之间，由橄榄岩高温流变律计算的应变速率为１０￣（－１５）－１０￣（－１８）ｓ￣（－１）等效粘滞度为１０￣（２１）一１０￣（２５）ｓｐａ．Ｓ之间。中国东部早第三纪与晚第三纪以后的幔源包体具有基本相同的特征，表明晚第三纪以后的上地幔继承和发展了早第三纪时的特征。中国东部早第三纪以来的上地幔符合大陆拉张带和裂谷上地幔的流变特征。     

Ultramafic Xenoliths in Plio-Pleistocene Alkali Basalts from the Eastern Transylvanian Basin: Depleted Mantle Enriched by Vein Metasomatism

Ultramafic xenoliths from alkali basalts in the Perjani Mountainsin the Eastern Transylvanian Basin (ETB) of Romania are mainlyspinel Iherzolites, although spinel harzburgites, websterites,clinopyroxenites and amphibole pyroxenites are also present.Amphibole veins cut some spinel peridotite samples. All arederived from the shallow lithospheric upper mantle. In general,textural variations are restricted to protogranular and porphyroclastictypes, compared with the more varied textures found in mantlexenoliths from the alkali basalts of the neighbouring PannonianBasin. Also, ETB peridotites are richer in amphibole. Thus,the mantle beneath the edge of the ETB is less deformed butmore strongly metasomatized than the mantle closer to the centreof the Pannonian Basin.Mineralogical and bulk-rock geochemicalvariations resemble those of spinel Iherzolites from other sub-continentalshallow mantle xenolith suites. There is no apparent correlationbetween deformation and geochemistry, and much of the majorand trace element variation is due to variable extraction ofpicritic melts. The REE patterns of separated clinopyroxenesfrom the peridotite xenoliths are mostly LREE depleted, althoughclinopyroxenes from regions adjacent to amphibole veins haveexperienced an enrichment in La and Ce and a change in theirSr and Nd isotopic values towards those of the vein, while stillretaining an overall LREE depletion. Clinopyroxenes from thewebsterites and clinopyroxenites are more variable. Amphibolein the hydrous pyroxenites and amphibole veins is strongly LREEenriched and is considered to be metasomatic in origin. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Srand ¹⁴³Nd/^l44Nd isotopic ratios of the xenoliths vary between07018 and 07044, and 051355 and 0 51275, respectively. Thesevalue are more depleted than those obtained for xenoliths fromthe Pannonian Basin. The lower ^l43Nd/^l44Nd and higher ⁸⁷Sr/Sr⁸⁶values are found in anhydrous pyroxenites, metasomatic amphibolesin veins and amphibole pyroxenites, and in the only exampleof an equigranular spinel Iherzolite in the suite.The ETB xenolithswere brought to the surface in alkaline vokanism which post-dateda period of Miocene to Pliocene subduction-related cak-alkalinevolcanism. However, the effects of the passage of either slab-derivedfluids or cak-alkaline magmas through the ETB lithospheric mantlecannot be discerned in the chemistry of the xenoliths. The metasomaticamphibole has ⁸⁷Sr/Sr⁸⁶ and ¹⁴³Sr/Sr¹⁴⁴ ratios similar to thehost alkali basalts, but the least evoked cak-alkaline magmasalso have similar Sr and Nd isotope compositions. The REE patternsof the amphibole resembk those of amphiboles considered to havecrystallized from alkaline melts. No preferential enrichmentin elements typically associated with slab-derivedfluids (K,Rb and Sr) relative to elements typically depleted in cak-alkalinemagmas (Ti, 2jr and Nb) has been observed in the vein amphiboles,although some interstitial amphibole is depleted in all incompatibletrace elements, including LREE. Thus, despite its position closeto the calc-alkaline volcanic arc of the Eastern Carpathians,we cannot readily detect any interaction between the lithosphericupper mantle beneath the ETB and subduction-related magmas orfluids. Metasomatism in the lithospheric mantle is instead largelyrelated to the passage of a primitive alkaline magma similarto the host alkali basal ^*corresponding author     

河北阳原新生代玄武岩中橄榄岩捕虏体矿物化学:华北岩石圈地幔演化

橄榄岩及其中矿物的组成, 特别是单斜辉石的微量元素, 可以很好的揭示岩石圈地幔性质.在对河北阳原新生代玄武岩中橄榄岩捕虏体详细岩相学和矿物化学研究基础上, 重点分析了单斜辉石的激光原位微量元素, 讨论了新生代华北内部山带岩石圈地幔特征及其演化机制.阳原地区陆下岩石圈, 除个别样品的部分熔融程度为15%~20%外, 多数样品<5%, 显示该区的地幔演化是不均一的, 并表现为饱满与难熔-过渡型地幔的交叉并存.这种共存现象可以用软流圈物质对古老地幔进行不均匀侵蚀、改造和置换作用来解释.      

制约中国东部新生代上地幔物质组成的因素探讨

探讨了制约中国东部新生代上地幔物质组成不均一性和复杂多阶段演化史的主要因素。中国东部新生代上地幔物质组成特征主要为地幔部分熔融，地幔交代和软流圈底辟等作用所决定。这些深部地质过程与中新生低以来中国东部受相邻板块俯冲并导致岩石圈伸展，减薄等过程密切相关。     

中国东部新生代碱性玄武岩及幔源捕虏体中的流体组成

中国东部新生代碱性玄武岩及其幔源二辉橄榄岩捕虏体中的流体组分存在差异,幔源二辉橄榄岩形成于以Ｈ２,ＣＯ等还原性气体为主的流体环境中,其流体组分以含Ｈ２高,挥发性气体总量低为特征;碱性玄武岩中流体组分以ＣＯ２,ＳＯ２和挥发性气体总量高为特征,在其形成演化过程中有ＳＯ２等氧化性气体的流体加入。     

Geochemical Records of Mantle Processes in Mantle Xenoliths from Three Cenozoic Basaltic Volcanoes in Eastern China

Rare earth element (REE) contents, and Sr and Nd isotopic compositions were measured for three suites of mantle xenoliths from the Kuandian, Hannuoba and Huinan volcanoes in the north of the Sino-Korean Platform. From the correlations of Yb contents with Al/Si and Ca/Si ratios, the peridotites are considered to be the residues of partial melting of the primitive mantle. The chondrite-normalized REE compositions are diverse, varying from strongly LREE-depleted to LREE-enriched, with various types of REE patterns. Metasomatic alteration by small-volume silicate melts, of mantle peridotites previously variably depleted due to fractional melting in the spinel peridotite field, can account for the diversity of REE patterns. The Sr/ Ba versus La/Ba correlation indicates that the metasomatic agent was enriched in Ba over Sr and La, suggestive of its volatile-rich signature and an origin by fluid-triggered melting in an ancient subduction zone. The Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of these xenoliths, even from     

The Evolution of Alpine Ultramafic Rocks and Partial Melting of the Upper Mantle

Ultramafic rocks of Tibet and Xinjiang are the products of partial melting of the upper mantle. The evolution of their mineral composition is marked by two parallel evolutionary series: one is the progressive increase of the 100 Mg/(Mg+Fe~(2+) ratio of silicate minerals in order of lherzolite→harzburgite→dunite, i.e. the increase in magnesium; the other is the increase of the 100 Cr/(Cr+Al) ratio of accessory chrome spinel in the same order, i. e. the increase in Chromium. The above-mentioned evolutionary trends are contrary to that of magmatic differentiation. The evolution of fabrics of ultramafic rocks is characterized by progressive variation in order of protogranular texture→melted residual texture, symplectic texture and clastophyritic texture→equigranular mosaic texture and tabular mosaic texture. Experiments of partial melting of lherzolite have convincingly shown that the evolution of Alpine ultramafic rocks resulted from the partial melting of pyrolite. Various subtypes of them represent different degrees of partial melting. The vertical zoning marked by more basic rocks in the upper part and more acid rocks in the lower actually belongs to the fusion zoning of pyrolite.     

金刚石包裹体矿物化学特征与华北东部克拉通岩石圈地幔属性

华北地台金刚石的包裹体中含有丰富的地幔信息.对山东蒙阴、辽宁复县两地金刚石中包裹体矿物包括橄榄石、石榴石、单斜辉石和铬铁矿的化学成分进行了深入分析,金刚石包裹体矿物的主量元素显示华北地台至少在古生代金伯利岩侵位时具高度亏损玄武质的难熔克拉通岩石圈地幔特征.应用适用于石榴石橄榄岩相的单斜辉石温压计对金刚石包裹体中透辉石进行了计算,得出华北地台金刚石形成于1 083～1 194℃、5.3-6.1 GPa的地质环境下.蒙阴和复县两地金刚石包裹体所反映的古老岩石圈地幔虽然都表现为克拉通岩石圈地幔特征,但也存在一定的不均一性.同时,通过对华北东部古生代与新生代地幔矿物的主量元素及地幔热状态的对比,结合现有的地幔岩石学和地幔地球化学的研究成果,认为软流圈物质对古老岩石圈地幔的侵蚀作用能较好地解释华北岩石圈减薄.     

Mineral Chemistry of Peridotites from Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Lithosphere: Constraints on Mantle Evolution beneath Eastern China

Major- and trace-element data on the constituent minerals ofgarnet peridotite xenoliths hosted in early Paleozoic (457–500Ma) kimberlites and Neogene (16–18 Ma) volcanic rockswithin the North China Craton are compared with those from thepre-pilot hole of the Chinese Continental Scientific DrillingProject (CCSD-PP1) in the tectonically exhumed Triassic (220Ma) Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane along its southernmargin. P–T estimates for the Paleozoic and Neogene peridotitexenoliths reflect different model geotherms corresponding tosurface heat flows of 40 mW/m² (Paleozoic) and 80 mW/m² (Neogene).Garnet peridotite xenoliths or xenocrysts from the Paleozoickimberlites are strongly depleted, similar to peridotites fromother areas of cratonic mantle, with magnesium olivine (meanFo_92.7), Cr-rich garnet and clinopyroxene with high La/Yb. Garnet(and spinel) peridotite xenoliths hosted in Neogene basaltsare derived from fertile mantle; they have high Al₂O₃ and TiO₂contents, low-Mg-number olivine (mean Fo_89.5), low-Cr garnetand diopside with flat rare earth element (REE) patterns. Thedifferences between the Paleozoic and Neogene xenoliths suggestthat a buoyant refractory lithospheric keel present beneaththe eastern North China Craton in Paleozoic times was at leastpartly replaced by younger, hotter and more fertile lithosphericmantle during Mesozoic–Cenozoic times. Garnet peridotitesfrom the Sulu UHP terrane have less magnesian olivine (Fo_91.5),and lower-Cr garnet than the Paleozoic xenoliths. The diopsideshave low heavy REE (HREE) contents and sinusoidal to light REE(LREE)-enriched REE patterns. These features, and their highMg/Si and low CaO and Al₂O₃ contents, indicate that the CCSD-PP1peridotites represent a moderately refractory mantle protolith.Details of mineral chemistry indicate that this protolith experiencedcomplex metasomatism by asthenosphere-derived melts or fluidsin Mesoproterozoic, and subsolidus re-equilibration involvingfluids/melts derived from the subducted Yangtze continentalcrust during UHP metamorphism in the early Mesozoic. Tectonicextension of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle of the NorthChina Craton and exhumation of the Sulu UHP rocks in the earlyMesozoic induced upwelling of the asthenosphere. Peridotitessampled by the Neogene basalts represent newly formed lithospherederived by cooling of the upwelling asthenospheric mantle inJurassic–Cretaceous and Paleogene time. KEY WORDS: garnet peridotite xenoliths; North China Craton; lithospheric thinning; Sulu UHP terrane; UHP lithosphere evolution; mantle replacement     

The Evolution of Alpine Ultramafic Rocks and Partial Melting of the Upper Mantle1

Abstract Ultramafic rocks of Tibet and Xinjiang are the products of partial melting of the upper mantle. The evolution of their mineral composition is marked by two parallel evolutionary series: one is the progressive increase of the 100 Mg / (Mg+Fe²⁺) ratio of silicate minerals in order of lherzolite?harzburgite?dunite, i.e. the increase in magnesium; the other is the increase of the 100 Cr/(Cr+Al) ratio of accessory chrome spinel in the same order, i.e. the increase in Chromium. The above- mentioned evolutionary trends are contrary to that of magmatic differentiation. The evolution of fabrics of ultramafic rocks is characterized by progressive variation in order of protogranular texture? melted residual texture, symplectic texture and clastophyritic texture? equigranular mosaic texture and tabular mosaic texture. Experiments of partial melting of lherzolite have convincingly shown that the evolution of Alpine ultramafic rocks resulted from the partial melting of pyrolite. Various subtypes of them represent different degrees of partial melting. The vertical zoning marked by more basic rocks in the upper part and more acid rocks in the lower actually belongs to the fusion zoning of pyrolite.     

华北东部上地幔破裂带

利用天然地震的走时和S波震相的层析成像方法可以提供上地幔S波速度扰动精细图像。我们对华北东部(32°～44°N,114°～126°E)进行了高分辨率S波地震层析成像研究,揭示了苏鲁及环渤海地区上地幔速度结构的差异,为研究该区域深部构造演化提供新的地球物理证据和制约。本次成像取得的最醒目的成果是揭示了由波速剧烈变化指示的两条上地幔破碎带,它们分别出现在渤海湾裂谷区与苏鲁超高压变质带下方。苏鲁超高压变质带下方上地幔破碎带包含多个有序排列的高速团块,推测与扬子走滑并向前俯冲、以及前锋超高压变质块体拆沉及折返作用有关。地幔地震S波速的成像结果支持华北东部渤海湾地区发育地幔热羽柱体系的观点,并对地幔热羽柱的鉴识提供了新的标识。     

Mantle Redox State Evolution in Eastern China and Its Implications

Using the secondary spinel standard, the authors have precisely measured the Fe3+/∑ Fe values of spinels in mantle xenoliths from Cenozoic basalts in eastern China, and estimated the oxygen fugacities recorded by 63 mantle xenoliths through olivine-orthopyroxene-spinel oxygen barometry. The results indicate that the oxygen fugacities of the lithospheric mantle in eastern China are higher in the south than in the north. Among them, the oxygen fugacity of the North China craton lithospheric mantle is the lowest, similar to that of the oceanic mantle, while that of Northeast and South China are the same as that of the global continental mantle. The variations of mantle redox state in eastern China are mainly controlled by the C-O-H fluids derived from the asthenospheric mantle. According to the mantle oxidation state, it can be concluded that the C-O-H fluids in the lithospheric mantle of eastern China consist mainly of CO2 and minor H2O, but CH4-rich fluids should come from the asthenosphere where the ox     

中国东北地区上地幔组成、结构及热状态

本文通过对中国东北地区新生代玄武岩中超镁铁质包体的研究,根据地质压力计所估算的包体形成深度、玄武岩浆及辉石岩浆起源的深度等,建立了中国东北地区上地幔组成模式:1.壳幔过渡带;2.尖晶石二辉橄榄岩层;3.含有痕量硅酸盐熔体的低速层;4.尖晶石方辉橄榄岩层;5.石榴石二辉橄榄岩层。与此同时,根据地质温度计与地质压力计推算资料,作者认为中国东北地区上地幔属大洋地温。与典型克拉通地温相比,低速层位置较浅,上地幔处于过热状态,这与大陆裂谷的发育有关。     

中国大陆新生代上地幔铅同位素特征

收集了新生代(含少量晚中生代) 301件幔源玄武岩的Pb同位素数据, 编制了系统的Pb同位素变化趋势(等值线) 图件, 现仅提供“中国大陆新生代上地幔的206Pb/204Pb比值变化趋势图”.图件显示, Pb同位素在南北方向的差异比较显著, 南北的界线大体从合肥-郑州-银川-汗腾格里峰, 结合Nd同位素的资料, 以206Pb/204Pb比值为18~18.5作为分界, 以北小于18~18.5;以南大于该值.此外初步辨认出该时期存在3种类型的地幔: 造山带地幔、裂谷型地幔及“非典型地幔”.与依据不同时代、各种类型的样品铅同位素的比值, 统一编制的“中国大陆岩石圈206Pb/204Pb比值变化趋势图”进行比较, 显示出在东北的西北部的206Pb/204Pb比值、南北向东经104°附近的高206Pb/204Pb比值区是否存在、渤海周边Pb异常区的强度以及华南DUPAL异常区问题等方面都有区别, 表明晚中生代-新生代时期, 中国大陆进入了一个新的软流圈地幔对流体系, 近代地幔并没有完全继承老地幔的全部特征而是被注入了新的软流圈物质.此外, 两张趋势图都显示了南北分块的特征, 而东西向的系统变化, 仅在近代Pb比值趋势图中华南块体的东南沿海地区出现, 暗示太平洋板块俯冲对中国大陆的影响处于次要地位.      

河南鹤壁地区金伯利岩中地幔包体矿物化学特征

河南鹤壁地区位于太行山构造带上,该区金伯利岩中的地幔包体携带有岩石圈地幔的丰富信息。本文报道了石榴石二辉橄榄岩包体中的镁橄榄石和镁铝榴石的矿物化学特征。金伯利岩中地幔包体的镁橄榄石I(Mg~#)为91.7±0.2(n=69)。与鹤壁地区尖晶石相方辉橄榄岩相比,I(Mg~#)略偏小,指示二辉橄榄岩经历的熔融程度较低,具有过渡型地幔的特征。根据Cr_2O_3含量,镁铝榴石可以划分为高铬系列和低铬系列两类。橄榄石-石榴石矿物温压计计算表明,包体压力在1.7~2.5 GPa之间(55~80 km),温度在641~1055℃之间,对应的大地热流值为50~60m W/m~2,甚至更高。指示金伯利岩侵位时对应于较高的大地热流条件。根据Grutter的镁铝榴石划分方案,镁铝榴石主要划分为G9型、G3和G4型,其中G3和G4型镁铝榴石记录了岩石圈地幔被交代的过程。根据温压条件及岩石圈地幔性质,可以认为鹤壁地区不具有形成金刚石矿的深部地质条件。     

中国东部上地幔岩石相转变及其意义

中国东部新生代玄武岩和大别-苏鲁超高压变质带中的含石榴石相橄榄岩, 带来了发生在上地幔的尖晶石→石榴石相转变和铝辉石→贫铝辉石+石榴石的重要信息, 为中国东部上地幔岩石结构分层奠定了重要基础.通过岩石学与实验岩石学的研究, 推导出发生相转变的P-T条件, 为建立中国东部大陆上地幔岩石分层结构提供了重要约束.尖晶石二辉橄榄岩向石榴石二辉橄榄岩相转变发生在55~70km, 随着深度增加, 石榴石二辉橄榄岩从富铝石榴石二辉橄榄岩(70~120km) 转变为贫铝石榴石二辉橄榄岩(> 120~150km).      

The Evolution of the Upper Mantle beneath the Canary Islands: Information from Trace Elements and Sr isotope Ratios in Minerals in Mantle Xenoliths

Laser ablation microprobe data are presented for olivine, orthopyroxeneand clinopyroxene in spinel harzburgite and lherzolite xenolithsfrom La Palma, Hierro, and Lanzarote, and new whole-rock trace-elementdata for xenoliths from Hierro and Lanzarote. The xenolithsshow evidence of strong major, trace element and Sr isotopedepletion (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0·7027 in clinopyroxene in themost refractory harzburgites) overprinted by metasomatism. Thelow Sr isotope ratios are not compatible with the former suggestionof a mantle plume in the area during opening of the AtlanticOcean. Estimates suggest that the composition of the originaloceanic lithospheric mantle beneath the Canary Islands correspondsto the residues after 25–30% fractional melting of primordialmantle material; it is thus significantly more refractory than‘normal’ mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) mantle. Thetrace element compositions and Sr isotopic ratios of the mineralsleast affected by metasomatization indicate that the upper mantlebeneath the Canary Islands originally formed as highly refractoryoceanic lithosphere during the opening of the Atlantic Oceanin the area. During the Canarian intraplate event the uppermantle was metasomatized; the metasomatic processes includecryptic metasomatism, resetting of the Sr–Nd isotopicratios to values within the range of Canary Islands basalts,formation of minor amounts of phlogopite, and melt–wall-rockreactions. The upper mantle beneath Tenerife and La Palma isstrongly metasomatized by carbonatitic or carbonaceous meltshighly enriched in light rare earth elements (REE) relativeto heavy REE, and depleted in Zr–Hf and Ti relative toREE. In the lithospheric mantle beneath Hierro and Lanzarote,metasomatism has been relatively weak, and appears to be causedby high-Si melts producing concave-upwards trace element patternsin clinopyroxene with weak negative Zr and Ti anomalies. Ti–Al–Fe-richharzburgites/lherzolites, dunites, wehrlites and clinopyroxenitesformed from mildly alkaline basaltic melts (similar to thosethat dominate the exposed parts of the islands), and appearto be mainly restricted to magma conduits; the alkali basaltmelts have caused only local metasomatism in the mantle wall-rocksof such conduits. The various metasomatic fluids formed as theresults of immiscible separations, melt–wall-rock reactionsand chromatographic fractionation either from a CO₂-rich basalticprimary melt, or, alternatively, from a basaltic and a siliceouscarbonatite or carbonaceous silicate melt. KEY WORDS: mantle xenoliths; mantle minerals; trace elements; depletion; carbonatite metasomatism     

Petrochemical Study of Mantle Xenoliths in Alkali Basalts from South Korea: P/T Regime of the Upper Mantle

Mantle xenoliths in alkali basalt at three locations in South Korea—Boun, the Gansung area, and Baegryung Island—are spinel lherzolites composed of olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and spinel. The xenoliths generally display triple junctions between grains, kink-banding in olivine and pyroxenes, and protogranular and equigranular textures, with no preferred crystal orientation. Anhedral brown spinels occur interstitially. Minerals in lherzolites from each of the three localities are compositionally homogeneous. Olivine compositions have Fo_89.0 to Fo_90.2, low CaO (.03 to 0.12 wt%), and NiO of 0.34 to 0.40 wt%; the orthopyroxene is enstatite with En_89.0 to En_90.0 Al₂O₃ of 4 to 5 wt%; the clinopyroxene is diopside with En_47.2 to En_49.1 and Al₂O₃ of 7.42 to 7.64 wt% from Boun and 4.70 to 4.91 wt% from Baegryung. Spinel chemistry shows a distinct negative trend, with increasing Al corresponding with decreasing Cr, and Mg# and Cr# of 75.1 to 81.9 and 8.5 to 12.6, respectively.

Temperatures and pressures of equilibration for these mantle xenoliths were estimated using various pyroxene geothermometers (Wood and Banno, 1973; Wells, 1977; Mercier, 1980; Sachtleben and Seck, 1981; Bertrand and Mercier, 1985; Brey and Köhler, 1990) and the Al-solubility geobarometer (Mercier, 1980; Lane and Ganguly, 1980). Temperature estimates from the recipes of Mercier (1980) and Sachtleben and Seck (1981) are compatible. The equilibrium temperatures of these xenoliths, taken as the average obtained from these two methods, lie between 970 and 1020° C, and equilibrium pressures derived from Mercier (1980) fall within the range of 12 to 19 kbar (i.e., 42 to 63 km). These temperatures and pressures are reinforced by considerations of the Al-isopleths in the MAS system (Lane and Ganguly, 1980), as adjusted for the Fe effect on Al solubility in orthopyroxene (Lee and Ganguly, 1988).

The equilibrium temperatures and pressures of xenoliths, as considered in P/T space, belong to the oceanic geotherm, based upon the various mantle geotherms presented by Mercier (1980). This geotherm is completely different from continental geotherms, e.g., from South Africa (Lesotho) and southern India. Mineral compositions of spinel-lherzolites in South Korea and eastern China are primitive; paleogeotherms of both are quite similar, but degrees of depletion of the upper mantle could vary locally. This is demonstrated by eastern China, which has various depleted xenoliths caused by different degrees of partial melting.