Ultramafic Xenoliths from the Bearpaw Mountains, Montana, USA: Evidence for Multiple Metasomatic Events in the Lithospheric Mantle beneath the Wyoming Craton

Ultramafic xenoliths in Eocene minettes of the Bearpaw Mountainsvolcanic field (Montana, USA), derived from the lower lithosphereof the Wyoming craton, can be divided based on textural criteriainto tectonite and cumulate groups. The tectonites consist ofstrongly depleted spinel lherzolites, harzburgites and dunites.Although their mineralogical compositions are generally similarto those of spinel peridotites in off-craton settings, somecontain pyroxenes and spinels that have unusually low Al₂O₃contents more akin to those found in cratonic spinel peridotites.Furthermore, the tectonite peridotites have whole-rock majorelement compositions that tend to be significantly more depletedthan non-cratonic mantle spinel peridotites (high MgO, low CaO,Al₂O₃ and TiO₂) and resemble those of cratonic mantle. Thesecompositions could have been generated by up to 30% partialmelting of an undepleted mantle source. Petrographic evidencesuggests that the mantle beneath the Wyoming craton was re-enrichedin three ways: (1) by silicate melts that formed mica websteriteand clinopyroxenite veins; (2) by growth of phlogopite fromK-rich hydrous fluids; (3) by interaction with aqueous fluidsto form orthopyroxene porphyroblasts and orthopyroxenite veins.In contrast to their depleted major element compositions, thetectonite peridotites are mostly light rare earth element (LREE)-enrichedand show enrichment in fluid-mobile elements such as Cs, Rb,U and Pb on mantle-normalized diagrams. Lack of enrichment inhigh field strength elements (HFSE; e.g. Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf)suggests that the tectonite peridotites have been metasomatizedby a subduction-related fluid. Clinopyroxenes from the tectoniteperidotites have distinct U-shaped REE patterns with strongLREE enrichment. They have ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd values that range from0·5121 (close to the host minette values) to 0·5107,similar to those of xenoliths from the nearby Highwood Mountains.Foliated mica websterites also have low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd values (0·5113)and extremely high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in their constituent phlogopite,indicating an ancient (probably mid-Proterozoic) enrichment.This enriched mantle lithosphere later contributed to the formationof the high-K Eocene host magmas. The cumulate group rangesfrom clinopyroxene-rich mica peridotites (including abundantmica wehrlites) to mica clinopyroxenites. Most contain >30%phlogopite. Their mineral compositions are similar to thoseof phenocrysts in the host minettes. Their whole-rock compositionsare generally poorer in MgO but richer in incompatible traceelements than those of the tectonite peridotites. Whole-rocktrace element patterns are enriched in large ion lithophileelements (LILE; Rb, Cs, U and Pb) and depleted in HFSE (Nb,Ta Zr and Hf) as in the host minettes, and their Sr–Ndisotopic compositions are also identical to those of the minettes.Their clinopyroxenes are LREE-enriched and formed in equilibriumwith a LREE-enriched melt closely resembling the minettes. Thecumulates therefore represent a much younger magmatic event,related to crystallization at mantle depths of minette magmasin Eocene times, that caused further metasomatic enrichmentof the lithosphere. KEY WORDS: ultramafic xenoliths; Montana; Wyoming craton; metasomatism; cumulates; minette     

安徽女山地幔橄榄岩捕虏体的同位素组成:中国东部新生代岩石圈地幔时代制约

位于安徽省境内的女山新生代碱性玄武岩中含有大量而且类型丰富的地幔橄榄岩包体,主要类型有尖晶石相、石榴石相、尖晶石-石榴子石过渡相二辉橄榄岩以及少量的方辉橄榄岩,其中部分尖晶石二辉橄榄岩样品中出现富含挥发分的角闪石、金云母和磷灰石。本文选择该区的尖晶石二辉橄榄岩和方辉橄榄岩包体进行了较为详细的岩石学、矿物学、地球化学研究工作。结果显示,除2个方辉橄榄岩表现难熔特征外,其它25件尖晶石相二辉橄榄岩均具有饱满的主量元素组成。二辉橄榄岩样品的Sr-Nd-Hf同位素均表现为亏损地幔的性质,不同于古老克拉通型难熔、富集的岩石圈地幔。富含挥发份交代矿物的出现以及轻稀土元素不同程度的富集,表明女山岩石圈地幔经历了较为强烈的交代作用,然而Re-Os同位素及PGE分析结果表明交代作用并没有显著改变Os同位素组成。二辉橄榄岩样品均具有较高的Os同位素组成,结合其饱满的主量元素组成,亏损的同位素特征,表明女山地区岩石圈地幔整体为新生岩石圈地幔。但1个方辉橄榄岩样品给出了较低的Os同位素比值0.1184,其Re亏损年龄为1.5Ga,它可能来自于软流圈中残留的古老难熔地幔。     

Genesis of Young Lithospheric Mantle in Southeastern China: an LAM-ICPMS Trace Element Study

Geological and geophysical evidence indicates that at least100 km of Archaean to Proterozoic lithospheric mantle has beenremoved from beneath large areas of eastern and southeasternChina during late Mesozoic to Cenozoic time. Mantle-derivedxenoliths in Tertiary basalts from several localities acrossthis region have been studied by X-ray fluorescence, electronmicroprobe and laser ablation microprobe–inductively coupledplasma-mass spectrometry to characterize this thinner lithosphere.Trace element patterns of clinopyroxenes in the peridotitesfrom southeastern China can be divided into four groups: fertilegarnet lherzolites, fertile spinel (± garnet) lherzolites,and depleted and enriched peridotites. The addition of Nb, Sr,light rare earth elements, but not of Ti and Zr, suggests ametasomatizing agent containing both H₂O and CO₂. This studyalso demonstrates that the negative Ti anomaly commonly observedin clinopyroxene from mantle peridotites cannot be balancedby the Ti in coexisting orthopyroxene, but can be explainedby small degrees of partial melting, using appropriate distributioncoefficients. Most of the peridotites from southeastern China,whether spinel or garnet facies, are highly fertile in termsof Al₂O₃ and CaO contents and mg-number; many resemble commonlyused primitive mantle compositions. Modelling of trace elementpatterns in clinopyroxene indicates that most spinel and garnetperidotites from the Nushan, Mingxi and Niutoushan localitiesexperienced less than 5%, and many less than 2%, partial melting.A few depleted spinel peridotites from Nushan, and all spinelperidotites from Mingxi, require 10–25% fractional partialmelting; almost all spinel peridotites from the Qilin localityshow evidence of higher degrees (6–25%) of fractionalpartial melting. At both Nushan and Mingxi, the more depletedcompositions occur in the upper part of the lithospheric mantle,which now is     

西藏雅鲁藏布江缝合带西段巴尔地幔橄榄岩成因及构造意义

巴尔蛇绿岩属于雅鲁藏布江缝合带的西延部分,距拉萨约1200km,主要由地幔橄榄岩、少量的橄长堆晶岩和玄武岩组成.地幔橄榄岩主体为合单辉方辉橄榄岩,少量为二辉橄榄岩.根据巴尔蛇绿岩地幔橄榄岩的结构构造特征,将矿物组合划分为3个世代,第一世代残余地幔矿物组合:橄榄石+斜方辉石+单斜辉石;第二世代部分熔融及熔-岩反应矿物组合:橄榄石+斜方辉石+单斜辉石+尖晶石;第三世代地幔交代作用矿物组合,主要为含水矿物角闪石.将3个世代的矿物组合归并为2个演化阶段:第一阶段,包括第一世代和第二世代矿物组合,形成于MOR(mid-ocean ridge)构造环境下的洋脊扩张阶段;第二阶段,为第三世代矿物角闪石,形成于SSZ(super-subduction zone)环境下的俯冲阶段.对比雅鲁藏布江缝合带不同区段蛇绿岩中地幔橄榄岩的特征,发现雅鲁藏布江缝合带存在MOR和SSZ两种类型的蛇绿岩,其中中段的蛇绿岩主要以典型的SSZ型地幔橄榄岩为主,而东、西段则以受到不同程度SSZ环境改造的MOR型地幔橄榄岩为主,认为雅鲁藏布江缝合带蛇绿岩地幔橄榄岩演化分段性的特征,与新特提斯洋沿弧方向上板块活动的动力学机制的不均一有关.     

Petrogenesis of ultramafic and mafic xenoliths from Mesozoic basanites in southern Sweden: constraints from mineral chemistry

Jurassic basanite necks occurring at the junction of two major fault zones in Scania contain ultramafic (peridotites, pyroxenites) and mafic xenoliths, which together indicate a diversity of upper mantle and lower crustal assemblages beneath this region. The peridotites can be subdivided into lherzolites, dunites and harzburgites. Most lherzolites are porphyroclastic, containing orthopyroxene and olivine porphyroclasts. They consist of Mg-rich silicates (Mg# = Mg/(Mg + Fe_tot) × 100; 88–94) and vermicular spinel. Calculated equilibration temperatures are lower in porphyroclastic lherzolites (975–1,007°C) than in equigranular lherzolite (1,079°C), indicating an origin from different parts of the upper mantle. According to the spinel composition the lherzolites represent residues of 8–13% fractional melting. They are similar in texture, mineralogy and major element composition to mantle xenoliths from Cenozoic Central European volcanic fields. Dunitic and harzburgitic peridotites are equigranular and only slightly deformed. Silicate minerals have lower to similar Mg# (83–92) as lherzolites and lack primary spinel. Resorbed patches in dunite and harzburgite xenoliths might be the remnants of metasomatic processes that changed the upper mantle composition. Pyroxenites are coarse, undeformed and have silicate minerals with partly lower Mg# than peridotites (70–91). Pyroxenitic oxides are pleonaste spinels. According to two-pyroxene thermometry pyroxenites show a large range of equilibration temperatures (919–1,280°C). In contrast, mafic xenoliths, which are mostly layered gabbronorites with pyroxene- and plagioclase-rich layers, have a narrow range of equilibration temperatures (828–890°C). These temperature ranges, together with geochemical evidence, indicate that pyroxenites and gabbroic xenoliths represent mafic intrusions within the Fennoscandian crust.     

Petrology and Thermal History of Highly Deformed Mantle Xenoliths from the Montferrier Basanites, Languedoc, Southern France: A Comparison with Ultramafic Complexes from the North Pyrenean Zone

The Oligocene basanites from Montferrier near Montpellier containvarious ultramafic xenoliths, predominantly spinel-lherzoliteslocally rich in amphibole, and a unique garnet-clinopyroxenite.The sulfide content of spinel-lherzolites is unusually highfor xenoliths and approaches that of MORB mantle sources. Thegarnet-clinopyroxenite, now consisting of recrystallized cpx+ garnet + opx + sp assemblage, results from subsolidus evolutionof a primary subcalcic clinopyroxene (plus minor spinel) compositionallysimilar to those experimentally obtained during high-pressurecrystallization of MORB; such an origin is also attested bythe Ni/Cu ratio of the coexisting sulfide component which isclose to 1. The spinel lherzolites display generally fine-grained porphyroclastictextures with varying proportions of porphyroclasts and neoblasts,and more rarely granuloblastic textures. Within each singlesample, the cores of the pyroxene and spinel porphyroclastshave nearly constant compositions. Significantly inhomogeneouschemical changes appear at the extreme edges of some large crystals,as well as in the fine-grained pyroxenes and spinel, whereasolivine composition is invariable. Such compositional variationsresult from the superimposed effects of two episodes of deformationand recrystallization. Geothermometric determinations show that all the spinel lherzolitesand the garnet-pyroxenite attained an equilibrium state around950?C. From a discussion on the origin of relict opx–cpx–spclusters and relatively high sulfide contents in peridotites,on the reconstructed primary paragenesis of the garnet-pyroxenite,and from a comparison with the North Pyrenean ultramafic associations,it is inferred that this equilibration occurred at the end ofan episode involving partial melting, crystallization, and subsolidusrecrystallization consequent on plastic deformation. Sulfideswere probably retained as sulfide melt early in this episodewhile metasomatism responsible for the crystallization of amphiboleoccurred late. This event is ascribed to a diapiric uplift upto a 45–50 km depth in relation with Oligocene riftingwhich started 35–40 m.y. ago in the Languedoc area. The compositional disequilibrium observed in a number of lherzolitesis related to a second episode of shearing deformation responsiblefor generating porphyroclastic textures, grading locally intomylonites. As a consequence of a concomitant cooling, Al andCr contents decrease in both pyroxenes, and Na content alsodecreases in clinopyroxene. The main chemical change of spinelconsists of a systematic substitution of MgAl₂O₄ by FeCr₂O₄,linked to the development of a porphyroclastic texture, i.e.to the degree of shearing deformations imposed upon the peridotites.The temperature decrease down to 750?C resulted from the ascentof previously equilibrated mantle blocks into colder parts nearthe Moho. This event occurred a few millions years before thecollection of xenoliths by the Montferrier basanites, probablyas the Cevennes fault zone below Oligocene grabens was reactivedat depth.     

An early Palaeozoic supra-subduction lithosphere in the Variscides: new evidence from the Maures massif

Petrographic and geochemical studies of peridotites and melagabbros from the Maures massif (SE France) provide new constraints on the Early Palaeozoic evolution of the continental lithosphere in Western Europe. Peridotites occur as lenses along a unit rooted in the main Variscan suture zone. They are dominantly spinel peridotites and minor garnet–spinel peridotites. Spinel peridotites represent both residual mantle and ultramafic cumulates. Mantle-related dunites and harzburgites display high temperature textures, with olivine (Mg#_0.90), orthopyroxene (Mg#_0.90) and spinel (TiO₂ < 0.2%; Cr#_0.64–0.83) compositions typical of fore-arc upper mantle. Ultramafic cumulates are dunite adcumulates, harzburgite heteradcumulates and mesocumulates, melagabbro heteradcumulates and amphibole peridotites, with olivine (Mg#_0.85–0.89), orthopyroxene (Mg#_0.86–0.89) and Cr-spinel (TiO₂ = 0.5–3.3%; Cr#_0.7–0.98) compositions typical of ultramafic cumulates. Cr-spinel compositions of both spinel peridotite types suggest their genesis in a supra-subduction zone lithosphere. Core to rim zoning in spinel is related to the incomplete influence of regional metamorphism and serpentinisation. The covariation of major and minor elements with Al₂O₃ for cumulates is consistent with igneous processes involving crystal accumulation. Both mantle and cumulate dunites and harzburgites have U-shaped REE patterns and extremely low trace element contents, similar to peridotites from modern fore-arc peridotites (South Atlantic) and from ophiolites related to supra-subduction zones (Semail, Cyclops, Pindos, Troodos). Melagabbros also have U-shaped REE patterns similar to xenoliths from the Philippine island arc, but also similar to intrusive ultramafic cumulates from the Semail nappe of Oman related to a proto-subduction setting. A wehrlite has a REE pattern similar to that of amphibole peridotites reflecting metasomatism of clinopyroxene-bearing peridotites due to subduction-related fluids. The Maures spinel peridotites and melagabbros are therefore interpreted as the lowermost parts of a crustal sequence and minor residual mantle of lithosphere generated in a supra-subduction zone during Early Palaeozoic time. Garnet–spinel peridotites are chemically close to melagabbros, but have recorded high pressure metamorphism before their retrogression similar to spinel peridotites into amphibolites to greenschists facies metamorphism. They indicate burial to mantle depths of the margin of the supra-subduction lithosphere during the Early Palaeozoic continental subduction. Both peridotite types were exhumed during the Upper Palaeozoic continental collision. Comparable observations from other Variscan-related peridotites, in particular of the Speik complex of the Autroalpine basement, and a common age for the subduction stage allow extension of these regional conclusions to a broad area sharing the Cambrian suture zone, extending from the Ossa-Morena to the Bohemian massif.     

Transformation of Spinel Lherzolite to Garnet Lherzolite in Ultramafic Lenses of the Austridic Crystalline Complex, Northern Italy

Numerous lenticular bodies of ultramafic rocks occur withinthe upper amphibolite- to granulitefacies metamorphic terraneof the Austrides between the Non and Ultimo valleys (Nonsbergregion), northern Italy. The ultramafic rocks are divided intotwo textural types: (a) coarse-type; and (b) finetype. The coarse-typerocks have the protogranular texture and are predominantly spinellherzolite. Some coarse-type spinel lherzolites have partlytransformed to garnet lherzolite. The fine-types are consideredto be metamorphic derivatives of the former, and the observedmineral assemblages are: (1) olivine + orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene+ garnet + amphibole ? spinel, (2) olivine + orthopyroxene +garnet + amphibole + spinel; (3) olivine + orthopyroxene + amphibole+ spinel; and (4) olivine+ orthopyroxene + amphibole + chlorite.Based on the microprobe analyses of constituent minerals fromten representative peridotite samples, physical conditions ofthe metamorphism, particularly that of the spinel to garnetlherzolite transformation, are estimated. Applications of pyroxenegeothermometry yield temperature estimates of 1100–1300?Cfor the formation of the primary spinel lherzolite, and 700–800?Cfor that of the fine-type peridotites. A pressure range of 16–28kb is obtained for the garnet lherzolite crystallization dependingon the choice of geobarometers. Two alternative P-T paths, i.e.(1) isobaric cooling or (2) pressure-increase and temperaturedecrease are considered and their geodynamic implications discussed.     

Composition and evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath the interior of the South China Block: insights from trace elements and water contents of peridotite xenoliths

Major and trace elements and water contents were analyzed in 16 peridotite xenoliths embedded by the Cenozoic basalts in Pingnan (southeastern Guangxi Province), to constrain the chemical composition and evolution of the lithospheric mantle located in the central part of the South China Block (SCB). The peridotites are mainly moderately refractory harzburgites and lherzolites (Mg#-Ol?=?90.3–91.7) and minor fertile lherzolites (Mg#-Ol?=?88.9–89.9). Clinopyroxenes in the peridotites show LREE-depleted pattern, and commonly exhibit negative anomalies in Nb and Ti, suggesting the peridotites probably represent residues after 1–10% of partial melting without significant mantle metasomatism. Water contents range from 146 to 237 ppm wt. H₂O in clinopyroxene, and from 65 to 112 ppm wt. H₂O, in orthopyroxene but are below detection limit (2 ppm wt. H₂O) in olivine. Calculated bulk water contents, based on the mineral modes and partition coefficient, range from 14 to 83 ppm wt. H₂O (average 59 ppm wt. H₂O). There is a correlation between melting indices (such as Mg#-Ol, Yb_n in clinopyroxene) and water contents in clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene, but no correlation is observed between the whole-rock water contents and the redox state (Fe³⁺/∑Fe ratios in spinel), suggesting that water contents in the peridotites are mainly controlled by the degree of partial melting rather than by oxygen fugacity. The lithospheric mantle beneath the interior of the SCB may not be compositionally stratified; fertile and moderately refractory mantle coexist at the similar depths. Geochemical data and water contents of the studied peridotites are similar to the proposed MORB source and indicate that the ancient refractory lithospheric mantle was irregularly eroded or reacted by the upwelling asthenosphere, and eventually replaced by juvenile fertile accreted mantle through the cooling of the asthenosphere.     

Mantle metasomatism and magma formation in continental lithosphere: Data on xenoliths in alkali basalts from the Makhtesh Ramon,Negev desert,Israel

Mantle xenoliths (lherzolites, clinopyroxene dunites, wehrlites, and clinopyroxenites) in the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks of Makhtesh Ramon (alkali olivine basalts, basanites, and nephelinites) represent metasomatized mantle, which served as a source of basaltic melts. The xenoliths bear signs of partial melting and previous metasomatic transformations. The latter include the replacement of orthopyroxene by clinopyroxene in the lherzolites and, respectively, the wide development of wehrlites and olivine clinopyoroxenites. Metasomatic alteration of the peridotites is accompanied by a sharp decrease in Mg, Cr, and Ni, and increase of Ti, Al, Ca contents and ³⁺Fe/²⁺Fe ratio, as well as the growth of trace V, Sc, Zr, Nb, and Y contents. The compositional features of the rocks such as the growth of ³⁺Fe/²⁺Fe and the wide development of Ti-magnetite in combination with the complete absence of sulfides indicate the high oxygen fugacity during metasomatism and the low sulfur concentration, which is a distinctive signature of fluid mode during formation of the Makhtesh Ramon alkali basaltic magma. Partial melting of peridotites and clinopyroxenites is accompanied by the formation of basanite or alkali basaltic melt. Clino- and orthopyroxenes are subjected to melting. The crystallization products of melt preserved in the mantle rock are localized in the interstices and consist mainly of fine-grained clinopyroxene, which together with Ti-magnetite, ilmenite, amphibole, rhenite, feldspar, and nepheline, is cemented by glass corresponding to quartz–orthopyroxene, olivine–orthopyroxene, quartz–feldspar, or nepheline–feldspar mixtures of the corresponding normative minerals. The mineral assemblages of xenoliths correspond to high temperatures. The high-Al and high-Ti clinopyroxene, calcium olivine, feldspar, and feldspathoids, amphibole, Ti-magnetite, and ilmenite are formed at 900–1000°. The study of melt and fluid inclusions in minerals from xenoliths indicate liquidus temperatures of 1200–1250°C, solidus temperatures of 1000–1100°C, and pressure of 5.9–9.5 kbar. Based on the amphibole–plagioclase barometer, amphibole and coexisting plagioclase were crystallized in clinopyroxenites at 6.5–7.0 kbar.     

Exhumation History of a Garnet Pyroxenite-bearing Mantle Section from a Continent-Ocean Transition (Northern Apennine Ophiolites, Italy)

Garnet clinopyroxenite and garnet websterite layers occur locallywithin mantle peridotite bodies from the External Liguride Jurassicophiolites (Northern Apennines, Italy). These ophiolites werederived from an ocean–continent transition similar tothe present-day western Iberian margin. The garnet clinopyroxenitesare mafic rocks with a primary mineral assemblage of pyrope-richgarnet + sodic Al-augite (Na₂O 2·5 wt %, Al₂O₃ 12·5wt %), with accessory graphite, Fe–Ni sulphides and rutile.Decompression caused Na-rich plagioclase (An_50–45) exsolutionin clinopyroxene porphyroclasts and extensive development ofsymplectites composed of secondary orthopyroxene + plagioclase(An_85–72) + Al-spinel ± clinopyroxene ±ilmenite at the interface between garnet and primary clinopyroxene.Further decompression is recorded by the development of an olivine+ plagioclase-bearing assemblage, locally under syn-kinematicconditions, at the expense of two-pyroxenes + Al-spinel. Mg-richgarnet has been also found in the websterite layers, which arecommonly characterized by the occurrence of symplectites madeof orthopyroxene + Al-spinel ± clinopyroxene. The enclosingperidotites are Ti-amphibole-bearing lherzolites with a fertilegeochemical signature and a widespread plagioclase-facies myloniticfoliation, which preserve in places a spinel tectonite fabric.Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd mineral isochrons (220 ±13 Ma and 186.0 ± 1·8 Ma, respectively) have beenobtained from a garnet clinopyroxenite layer and interpretedas cooling ages. Geothermobarometric estimates for the high-pressureequilibration have yielded T 1100°C and P 2·8 GPa.The early decompression was associated with moderate cooling,corresponding to T 950°, and development of a spinel tectonitefabric in the lherzolites. Further decompression associatedwith plagioclase–olivine growth in both peridotites andpyroxenites was nearly isothermal. The shallow evolution occurredunder a brittle regime and led to the superposition of hornblendeto serpentine veining stages. The garnet pyroxenite-bearingmantle from the External Liguride ophiolites represents a raretectonic sampling of deep levels of subcontinental lithosphereexhumed in an oceanic setting. The exhumation was probably accomplishedthrough a two-step process that started during Late Palaeozoiccontinental extension. The low-pressure portion of the exhumationpath, probably including also the plagioclase mylonitic shearzones, was related to the Mesozoic (Triassic to Jurassic) riftingthat led to continental break-up. In Jurassic times, the studiedmantle sequence became involved in an extensional detachmentprocess that resulted in sea-floor denudation. KEY WORDS: garnet pyroxenite; ophiolite; non-volcanic margin; mantle exhumation; Sm–Nd and Lu–Hf geochronology     

Melt/peridotite interaction in the Southern Lanzo peridotite: Field, textural and geochemical evidence

This paper presents field, petrographic–structural and geochemical data on spinel and plagioclase peridotites from the southern domain of the Lanzo ophiolitic peridotite massif (Western Alps). Spinel lherzolites, harzburgites and dunites crop out at Mt. Arpone and Mt. Musinè. Field evidence indicates that pristine porphyroclastic spinel lherzolites are transformed to coarse granular spinel harzburgites, which are in turn overprinted by plagioclase peridotites, while strongly depleted spinel harzburgite and dunite bands and bodies replace the plagioclase peridotites. On the northern flank of Mt. Arpone, deformed, porphyroclastic (lithospheric) lherzolites, with diffuse pyroxenite banding, represent the oldest spinel-facies rocks. They show microstructures of a composite subsolidus evolution, suggesting provenance from deeper (asthenospheric) mantle levels and accretion to the lithosphere. These protoliths are locally transformed to coarse granular (reactive) spinel harzburgites and dunites, which show textures reminiscent of melt/rock reaction and geochemical characteristics suggesting that they are products of peridotite interaction with reactively percolating melts. Geochemical data and modelling suggest that <1–5% fractional melting of spinel-facies DMM produced the injected melts. Plagioclase peridotites are hybrid rocks resulting from pre-existing spinel peridotites and variable enrichment of plagioclase and micro-gabbroic material by percolating melts. The impregnating melts attained silica-saturation, as testified by widespread orthopyroxene replacement of olivine, during open system migration in the lithosphere. At Mt. Musinè, coarse granular spinel harzburgite and dunite bodies replace the plagioclase peridotites. Most of these replacive, refractory peridotites have interstitial magmatic clinopyroxene with trace element compositions in equilibrium with MORB, while some Cpx have REE-depleted patterns suggesting transient geochemical features of the migrating MORB-type melts, acquired by interaction with the ambient plagioclase peridotite. These replacive spinel harzburgite and dunite bodies are interpreted as channels exploited for focused and reactive migration of silica-undersaturated melts with aggregate MORB compositions. Such melts were unrelated to the silica-saturated melts that refertilized the pre-existing plagioclase peridotites. Finally, MORB melt migration occurred along open fractures, now recorded as gabbroic dikes.

Our data document the complexity of rock-types and mantle processes in the South Lanzo peridotite massif and describe a composite tectonic and magmatic scenario that is not consistent with the “asthenospheric scenario” proposed by previous authors. We envisage a “transitional scenario” in which extending subcontinental lithospheric mantle was strongly modified (both depleted and refertilized) by early melts with MORB-affinity formed by decompression partial melting of the upwelling asthenosphere, during pre-oceanic rifting and lithospheric thinning in the Ligurian Tethys realm.     

Ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism and exhumation of garnet peridotite in Pohorje, Eastern Alps

New evidence for ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphism (UHPM) in the Eastern Alps is reported from garnet‐bearing ultramafic rocks from the Pohorje Mountains in Slovenia. The garnet peridotites are closely associated with UHP kyanite eclogites. These rocks belong to the Lower Central Austroalpine basement unit of the Eastern Alps, exposed in the proximity of the Periadriatic fault. Ultramafic rocks have experienced a complex metamorphic history. On the basis of petrochemical data, garnet peridotites could have been derived from depleted mantle rocks that were subsequently metasomatized by melts and/or fluids either in the plagioclase‐peridotite or the spinel‐peridotite field. At least four stages of recrystallization have been identified in the garnet peridotites based on an analysis of reaction textures and mineral compositions. Stage I was most probably a spinel peridotite stage, as inferred from the presence of chromian spinel and aluminous pyroxenes. Stage II is a UHPM stage defined by the assemblage garnet + olivine + low‐Al orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + Cr‐spinel. Garnet formed as exsolutions from clinopyroxene, coronas around Cr‐spinel, and porphyroblasts. Stage III is a decompression stage, manifested by the formation of kelyphitic rims of high‐Al orthopyroxene, aluminous spinel, diopside and pargasitic hornblende replacing garnet. Stage IV is represented by the formation of tremolitic amphibole, chlorite, serpentine and talc. Geothermobarometric calculations using (i) garnet‐olivine and garnet‐orthopyroxene Fe‐Mg exchange thermometers and (ii) the Al‐in‐orthopyroxene barometer indicate that the peak of metamorphism (stage II) occurred at conditions of around 900 °C and 4 GPa. These results suggest that garnet peridotites in the Pohorje Mountains experienced UHPM during the Cretaceous orogeny. We propose that UHPM resulted from deep subduction of continental crust, which incorporated mantle peridotites from the upper plate, in an intracontinental subduction zone. Sinking of the overlying mantle and lower crustal wedge into the asthenosphere (slab extraction) caused the main stage of unroofing of the UHP rocks during the Upper Cretaceous. Final exhumation was achieved by Miocene extensional core complex formation.     

Mesozoic evolution of the upper mantle beneath the eastern Pyrenees: evidence from xenoliths in Triassic and Cretaceous alkaline volcanics of the eastern Corbières (France)

Upper mantle material can be sampled from two distinctive suites in the North Pyrenean Zone (NPZ) of the Pyrenees. These occur either as ultramafic tectonic slices in the central and western part of the NPZ, or as discrete xenoliths in alkaline magmas in its eastern part, know as the Corbières. In the eastern part of the PNZ, two ultramafic xenolith suites have been found. The first suite is enclosed within Triassic basalts and the second suite is enclosed within Cretaceous monchiquites. Both suites essentially comprise spinel peridotites showing varying degrees of depletion, but each clearly distinguishable by texture and mineral chemistry.

The Triassic suite of ultramafic xenoliths is characterized by coarse texture and homogeneous composition of mineral constituents. This records equilibrium temperature of around 950 ° C before inclusion in the host basalt. They represent fragments of an upper mantle type normally occurring beneath continental rift systems.

The Cretaceous suite of ultramafic xenoliths display porphyroclastic textures, which grade locally to ultramylonites. The pyroxene porphyroclasts are compositionally zoned, titanian pargasite is ubiquitous, and equilibrium temperatures of around 750–800 ° C are indicated. They appear to be similar to peridotites occurring in ultramafic tectonic massifs in the NPZ, and with a common texture, mineralogy and thermal history. This indicates therefore that shear deformation and alkaline magmatism, experienced during the Middle Cretaceous, affected the upper mantle along the entire length of the NPZ. This can then be related to the regional transcurrent movements that were produced by sinistral strike-slip of Iberia with respect to the rest of Europe.     

Archean-Paleoproterozoic Lithospheric Mantle at the Northern Margin of the North China Craton Represented by Tectonically Exhumed Peridotites

Tectonically emplaced peridotites from North Hebei Province, North China Craton, have retained an original harzburgite mineral assemblage of olivine(54%–58%) + orthopyroxene(40%–46%)+minor clinopyroxene(1%)+spinel. Samples with boninite-like chemical compositions also coexist with these peridotites. The spinels within the peridotites have high-Al end-members with Al_2O_3 content of 30 wt % –50 wt %, typical of mantle spinels. When compared with experimentally determined melt extraction trajectories, the harzburgites display a high degree of melting and enrichment of SiO_2, which is typical of cratonic mantle peridotites. The peridotites display variably enriched light rare earth elements(REEs), relatively depleted middle REEs and weakly fractionated heavy REEs, which suggest a melt extraction of over 25% in the spinel stability field. The occurrence of arc-and SSZ-type chromian spinels in the peridotites suggests that melt extraction and metasomatism occurred mostly in a subduction-related setting. This is also supported by the geochemical data of the coexisting boninite-like samples. The peridotites have ~(187)Os/~(188)Os ratios ranging from 0.113–0.122, which is typical of cratonic lithospheric mantle. These ~(187)Os/~(188)Os ratios yield model melt extraction ages(TRD) ranging from 981 Ma to 2054 Ma, which may represent the minimum estimation of the melt extraction age. The Al_2O_3-~(187)Os/~(188)Os-proxy isochron ages of 2.4 Ga–2.7 Ga suggest a mantle melt depletion age between the Late Achaean and Early Paleoproterozoic. Both the peridotites and boninite-like rocks are therefore interpreted as tectonically exhumed continental lithospheric mantle of the North China Craton, which has experienced mantle melt depletion and subduction-related mantle metasomatism during the Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic.     

Petrogenesis of Dunite Xenoliths from Koolau Volcano, Oahu, Hawaii: Implications for Hawaiian Volcanism

Ultramafic xenoliths from Koolau Volcano on the island of Oahu,Hawaii, are divided into spinel lherzolite, pyroxenite, anddunite suites. On the basis of a study of the petrography andmineral compositions of 43 spinel lherzolites, 12 pyroxenites,and 20 dunites, the following characteristics of the dunitesin relation to the other nodule types and to Hawaiian lavasemerge. (1) The forstente content of olivines in the Koolaudunites (Fo_82.6-Fo_{89 7} ) overlap those of Hawaiian tholeiiticand alkalic lavas and are generally lower than those in abyssallherzolites and dunites and in Koolau spinel lherzolites. (2)Most of the dunites contain no orthopyroxene, all except twocontain chrome spinel, and a few contain interstitial plagioclaseand clinopyroxene. (3) Chrome spinels from the Koolau dunitesare distinctly higher in Cr/(Cr+Al), lower in Mg/(Mg+ Fe²⁺)and higher in TiO₂ than those from abyssal basalts and peridotites.Chrome spinels in the dunites correspond closely in compositionto chrome spinels in Hawaiian tholeiitic and alkalic lavas.(4) The abundance of dunite relative to other nodule types decreasesoutward from the central part of the volcano. The dunites areinterpreted not as residues of partial fusion of the mantlebut as crystal accumulations stored at shallow depths beneaththe central part of Koolau Volcano and derived from picriticmagmas parental to the shield-building tholeiitic lavas.     

Abyssal peridotites >3,800 Ma from southern West Greenland: field relationships, petrography, geochronology, whole-rock and mineral chemistry of dunite and harzburgite inclusions in the Itsaq Gneiss Complex

Within the northern part of the early Archaean Itsaq Gneiss Complex (southern West Greenland) on the southern side of the Isua supracrustal belt, enclaves up to ~500 m long of variably altered ultramafic rocks contain some relics of unaltered dunite-harzburgite. These are associated with mafic supracrustal and plutonic rocks and siliceous metasediments. SHRIMP U/Pb zircon geochronology on non-igneous zircons in altered ultramafic rocks and on igneous zircons from components of the surrounding orthogneisses intruding them, indicate an absolute minimum age for the ultramafic rocks of ca. 3,650 Ma, but with an age of ca. 3,800 Ma most likely. The diverse ultramafic and mafic rocks with rarer metasediment were all first tectonically intercalated and then became enclosed in much more voluminous tonalitic rocks dated at ca. 3,800 Ma. This is interpreted to have occurred during the development of a 3,810-3,790-Ma composite magmatic arc early in the evolution of the Itsaq Gneiss Complex. This northern part of the Itsaq Gneiss Complex is the most favourable for the geochemical study of early Archaean protoliths because it experienced peak metamorphism only within the amphibolite facies with little or no in-situ melt segregation, and contains some areas that have undergone little deformation since ca. 3,800 Ma. Most of the ultramafic enclaves are thoroughly altered, and largely comprise secondary, hydrous phases. However, the centres of some enclaves have escaped alteration and comprise dunite and harzburgite with >95% olivine (Fo_89-91) + orthopyroxene (En₈₉) + Al-spinel (Cr_8-20) assemblages. The dunites and harzburgites are massive or irregularly layered and are olivine-veined on 5-10-m to 10-cm scales. Their whole rock major and rare earth element, and olivine and spinel compositions differ significantly from xenoliths representing the Archaean cratonic lithospheric mantle, but are typical of some modern abyssal peridotites. The harzburgites and dunites show both LREE depleted and enriched patterns; however, none show the massive REE depletion associated with the modelled removal of a komatiite. They are interpreted as being the products of small degrees of melt extraction, with some showing evidence of refertilisation. These Greenland dunites and harzburgites described here are currently the best characterised 'sample' of the early Archaean upper mantle.     

Ultrabasic Xenoliths and Lava from the Lashaine Volcano, Northern Tanzania

The Lashaine tuff-ring consists of carbonatite tuff and glassyscoria of ankaramitic composition. The pyroclastics encloseejected blocks of country-rock metamorphic rocks and a suiteof ultramafic blocks which are divisible into two groups. Thefirst group, characterized by xenomorphic granular textures,contains rocks comprising varying combinations of pyrope garnet,spinel, magnesian olivine and orthopyroxene, chromiferous diopside,and phlogopite. Analyses are given for garnet lherzolite, lherzolite,harzburgite, and wehrlite and their separate phases. The chemistryof the garnet lherzolite and its phases resembles that of garnetperidotite nodules in kimberlite diatremes, and the A1₂O₂ contentand Ca/Ca+Mg ratio of the clinopyroxenes in the lherzolite andwehrlite indicate more affinities with those in mantle-derivedrocks rather than with peridotites derived by accumulation froma basaltic melt. The phlogopite in a mica garnet lherzolite,that otherwise resembles other mantle garnet peridotites, isan unusual variety containing > 9 per cent TiO₂. The othergroup of ultramafic xenoliths, characterized by cumulate andidiomorphic textures, comprises pyroxenite, with or withoutolivine, mica and amphibole, and mica dunite. Analyses are givenfor a mica dunite and its separate phases. The pressure andtemperature of formation of the various rock-types are estimated,and the relationship of the rocks to each other and to the hostlava is discussed. The chemistry of the host lava is discussedin the light of current experimental data and also in relationto the Northern Tanzania volcanic province. The significanceof the presence of mica in the upper mantle is also discussed.     

Crystallization of Cr-poor and Cr-rich megacryst suites from the host kimberlite magma: implications for mantle structure and the generation of kimberlite magmas

Cr-poor and Cr-rich megacryst suites, both comprising of varying proportions of megacrysts of orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, garnet, olivine, ilmenite and a number of subordinate phases, coexist in many kimberlites, with wide geographic distribution. In rare instances, the two suites occur together on the scale of individual megacryst hand specimens. Deformation textures are common to both suites, suggesting an origin related to the formation of the sheared peridotites that also occur in kimberlites. Textures and compositions of the latter are interpreted to reflect deformation and metasomatism within the thermal aureole surrounding the kimberlite magma in the mantle. The megacrysts crystallized in this thermal aureole in pegmatitic veins representing small volumes of liquids derived from the host kimberlite magma, which were injected into a surrounding fracture network prior to kimberlite eruption. Close similarities between compositions of Cr-rich megacryst phases and those in granular lherzolites are consistent with early crystallization from a primitive kimberlite liquid. The low-Cr megacryst suite subsequently crystallized from residual Cr-depleted liquids. However, the Cr-poor suite also reflects the imprint of contamination by liquids formed by melting of inhomogeneously distributed mantle phases with low melting temperatures, such as calcite and phlogopite, present within the thermal aureole surrounding the kimberlite magma reservoir. Such carbonate-rich melts migrated into, and mixed with some, but not all, of the kimberlite liquids injected into the mantle fracture network. Contamination by the carbonate-rich melts changed the Ca–Mg and Mg–Fe crystal–liquid distribution coefficient, resulting in the crystallization of relatively Fe-rich and Ca-poor phases. The implied higher crystal-melt Mg–Fe distribution coefficient for carbonate-rich magmas accounts for the generation of small volumes of Mg-rich liquids that are highly enriched in incompatible elements (i.e. primary kimberlite magmas). The inferred metasomatic origin for the sheared peridotites implies that this suite provides little or no information regarding vertical changes in the thermal, chemical and mechanical characteristics of the mantle.     

Metasomatic parageneses in deep-seated xenoliths from pipes Udachnaya and Komsomol'skaya-Magnitnaya as indicators of fluid transfer through the mantle lithosphere of the Siberian craton

The petrography, major element, and trace element (TE) compositions of minerals from two types of modal metasomatites (metasomatized peridotites and pyroxenites) from kimberlite pipes Udachnaya and Komsomol'skaya-Magnitnaya, Yakutia, have been studied. It is shown that texturally and chemically equilibrated metasomatites A consist of a set of superimposed minerals: phlogopite + diopside ± ilmenite ± apatite ± sulfides ± graphite. Their major and trace element compositions have specific features. The contents of TEs in garnet and clinopyroxene from these metasomatites are close to those in garnet and clinopyroxene from low-temperature coarse-grained peridotites richest in TEs. The distribution of a significant portion of TEs between garnet and clinopyroxene from A-type metasomatites and from coarse-grained lherzolites rich in TEs is close to experimental values reported for minerals coexisting with carbonatitic and basaltic fluids. We assume that this metasomatic process was nearly synchronous with the global metamorphism and cratonization of the mantle lithosphere and that high-density silicate–carbonate fluidmelts were metasomatizing agents.Another large mantle metasomatism process in the lithosphere of the Siberian craton was associated with the Middle Paleozoic kimberlite magmatic event, induced by the Yakutian thermochemical plume. Metasomatic minerals (Mg phlogopite + Cr diopside + chromite ± sulfides ± graphite) intensely replaced the minerals of the primary paragenesis, particularly, garnet. These reaction metasomatites show a sine-shaped REE pattern in garnet and disequilibrium between garnet and clinopyroxene. It is supposed that the reaction metasomatism in the mantle lithosphere of the Siberian craton was associated with ingress of reduced asthenospheric fluids at early stages of the kimberlite formation cycle. Metasomatic graphite formed in metasomatites of both types, and this fact evidences for two diamond formation epochs in the history of the mantle lithosphere of the Siberian craton.