科马提岩成因研究述评

科马提岩仅限于超镁铁质熔融体(Mgo>30wt%)所生成的火山岩.它具有高温、高密度和低粘度的特征.以及独特的地球化学性质.结合高压熔融实验成果,评述了有关科马提岩成因的干地幔熔融模式、湿地幔熔融模式、温超镁铁质板块俯冲模式和热地幔柱熔融模式,并认为热地幔柱熔融模式较好地解释了科马提岩的成因.     

闽中早—中元古代科马提岩

闽中下一中元古界东华组绿片岩原岩主要为一套超镁铁质-镁铁质火山岩。其岩石学特征、岩石化学特征、区域变质特征和国外太古代的科马提岩极为相似；和桂北、湖南益阳中元古代的科马提岩也可对比，但变质程度较高，达低角闪岩相。该绿片岩自下而上分别为辉石质科马提岩、玄武质科马提岩，并伴生有拉斑玄武岩。它和上部卓地组中酸性、酸性火山岩组成一套完整的岩浆演化系列，且具有双模式特征。闽中早一中元古代科马提岩产于拉张盆地的构造环境。     

大兴安岭吉峰科马提岩地质地球化学特征

野外地质调查和室内岩石学研究表明,大兴安岭北段吉峰林场一带变质超基性岩为具有典型鬣刺结构的科马提岩。科马提岩系列由橄榄质科马提岩、玄武质科马提岩及拉斑玄武岩、辉长岩等岩石组成。科马提岩显示了从超镁铁质到镁铁质地球化学趋势,拉斑玄武岩具有从富镁到富铁的趋势,而上覆长英质火山岩则遵循钙-碱趋势。科马提岩稀土配分型式为类似于南非超镁铁质科马提岩的平坦型或轻稀土略富集而重稀土平坦型。科马提岩系列8件样品的Sm-Nd同位素数据构成一条相关性较好的等时线,等时线年龄为1727Ma±74.7Ma,I_Nd=0.510725±0.0000798,ε_Nd(t)=6.94±1.56,表明科马提岩形成于中元古代早期,其源区为亏损的软流圈地幔。这一地壳增生事件可能与松嫩地块从西伯利亚地台南缘裂解有关。      

华北地块东段和龙超镁铁质科马提岩的发现及特征

和龙岩体赋存于新太古代夹皮沟—金城洞花岗绿岩带中,与围岩发生同变形变质。岩体具有典型的科马提岩冷凝结构分层和鬣刺结构、冷凝多面体节理。上述特征是作者1990年发现确认的。该科马提岩的矿物学特征:玻璃质脱玻形成铁皂石等矿物;斜方辉石和橄榄石鬣刺呈中空骸晶状,大部被滑石、铁白云石、绿泥石、磁铁矿等取代,但仍保留完好的长柱状假像;堆积带中橄榄石呈微细粒、新鲜,仅发生网状蛇纹石化。岩石化学特征富MgO,CaO/Al_2O_3=1.04,用科马提岩分类图判别为超镁铁质科马提岩。     

什么是科马提岩?

最早的用法科马提岩一名是由Viljoen兄弟(1969)提出的,当时他们宣布在南非巴伯顿山区发现了超镁铁质熔岩,作为以前未知火山岩类型存在的证据,他们描述了野外的观察结果,如冷凝流顶,似枕状构造,鬣刺结构及超镁铁质岩层与伴生的镁铁质熔岩对比时的系统地层情况。     

哥伦比亚发现中生代科马提岩

维尔乔恩(M.J.Viljon and R.P.Viljon,1969)在研究南非巴伯顿地区科马提河流域的太古界剖面时,确认了一类火山成因的超基性熔岩,以及与之伴生的基性熔岩和超镁铁质岩墙、岩床等,并根据这套岩石产出的地点将这种富镁的超基性熔岩系列命名为科马提岩(Komatiite).在1979年8月彭罗斯(Penrose)科马提岩会议上,与会者将科马提岩定义为橄榄岩的火山岩当量体,亦即喷发的超镁铁质岩.其特征是呈岩流     

桂北中元古代的科马提岩

桂北四堡群的科马提岩,自下而上分为堆晶带、鬣剌带和冷凝带。它们分别由辉石质科马提岩、具鬣刺结构的玄武质科马提岩和淬碎熔岩组成。与国外太古代绿岩带科马提岩对比,岩石化学成分、分带性、特有的鬣刺结构及区域变质特征、含矿性等方面亟相似。但我国华南元古代科马提岩也有自己的特点,产于元古代古大陆边缘,化学成分为超镁铁—镁铁质,且以镁铁质为主。     

华北地埠东段和龙超镁铁质科马提岩的发现及特征

和龙岩体赋存于新太古代夹皮沟-金城洞花岗绿岩带中，与围岩发生同变形变质，岩体具有典型的科马提岩冷凝结构分层和鬣刺结构、冷凝多面体节理，上述特征是作者1990年发现确认的，该科马提岩的矿物学特征；玻璃质脱玻形成铁皂石等矿物；斜方辉石和橄榄石鬣刺呈中空骸晶状，大部被滑石、铁白云石、绿泥石、磁铁矿等取代，但仍保留完好的长柱状假像；堆积带中侯榄石呈微细粒、鹇，仅发生网状蛇纹石化。岩石化学特征富MgO,CaO/Al2O3=1.04，用科马提岩分类图判别为超镁铁质科马提岩。     

绿岩带金矿不均匀分布的控制因素及桂北绿岩带金矿远景

控制绿岩带金矿不均匀分布的因素,除构造环境、形成时代、岩石原始含金性及镁铁质、超镁铁质岩的规模外,科马提岩成因类型及绿岩形成时的海水深度也是重要的控制因素。低程度部分熔融使Ⅱ类科马提岩具低的原始金含量,对成矿不利。浅水环境下海水的流动及氧化条件不利于保留海底交代阶段由镁铁质、超镁铁质火山岩释入海水中的金,对成矿不利。桂北元古宙绿宕带中科马提岩属Ⅱ类,所何岩石具有较低的金含量,故金成矿远景不太乐观,但仍具一定的找金前景。     

辽东后仙峪地区元古界超镁橄榄岩岩石学及其成因

超镁橄榄岩是作者在辽东大石桥后仙峪地区发现并命名的一种新类型岩石,是以镁橄榄石分子组成为标准而定义、阳离子过剩的一种岩石。由于阳离子过剩而形成独立的铁镁氧化物矿物,因此岩石的主要矿物为镁橄榄石、硅镁石、水镁石及磁铁矿。该超镁橄榄岩中矿物呈粒状、板状结构,具有角砾状火山喷发构造、类鬣刺状熔岩冷凝构造及团块状熔离构造。岩石具有分层现象,下部为镁橄榄岩,上部为磁铁矿硅镁石岩,其中含有镍黄铁矿,并构成海绵陨铁结构。岩石学研究表明这是一套富镁质超基性火山岩,相当于科马提岩,作为辽东硼矿的容矿岩石,它为镁硼酸盐矿床的形成提供了丰富的镁质来源。     

Spinifex-textured komatiites in the south border of the Carajas ridge,Selva Greenstone belt,Carajás Province,Brazil

Spinifex-textured komatiites in the Selva greenstone belt are the first unequivocal examples of komatiites in the Transition Subdomain of the Carajás Mineral Province. Outcrops of spinifex-textured komatiites, located ∼1.5 km to the south of the Carajás ridge, were discovered during regional exploration for Ni–Cu–(PGE) sulfide deposits by VALE. They are associated with a 3.8 km long unit consisting of variable types of ultramafic rocks (talc schist, serpentinite and spinifex-textured komatiite). This ultramafic unit follows the steep dipping NW–SE trending Selva greenstone belt composed mainly by quartz-chlorite schists (interpreted as metasediments) and chlorite-actinolite schists (interpreted as metabasalts). Greenschist facies metamorphic parageneses characterize all rock types in the Selva greenstone belt.The komatiitic rocks in the Selva belt comprise a sequence of flows consisting of an upper spinifex-textured layer and a lower olivine cumulate layer. Although the spinifex and cumulus textures are well preserved in the field, the primary mineralogy of the komatiites has been completely replaced by greenschist facies metamorphic minerals. Platy olivine spinifex texture, consisting of an array of roughly parallel olivine plates, and random spinifex texture, consisting of randomly oriented olivine plates, are the most common primary volcanic textures in komatiites in the Selva greenstone belt. Platy and random spinifex texture is defined by former plates of olivine replaced by serpentine with minor actinolite, chlorite and magnetite, alternating with former matrix replaced by abundant actinolite and minor chlorite, talc, serpentine, and magnetite. The domains between olivine plates in both platy and random spinifex-textured rocks contain irregular arrays of fine-grained parallel crystals, representing primary fine-grained “quench” clinopyroxene crystals replaced by actinolite.Spinifex-textured komatiites have MgO contents bracket between 22.8 and 26.9 wt.%, and cumulate textured komatiites have MgO contents up to 40.6 wt.%. When plotted vs MgO contents, most major and minor elements fall on well-defined linear trends indicating control by olivine fractionation or accumulation. Komatiites from the Selva and Seringa (located in the Rio Maria Domain) belts are Al-undepleted with Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratios close to 20. Results for CaO, Na₂O, and REE suggest that these elements were mobile and their abundances have been modified during metasomatic alteration. REE contents in some samples are very high (up to 40 times primitive mantle values) and REE patterns vary from flat (La/Yb_MN ∼ 1) to highly enriched in LREE (La/Yb_MN up to ∼ 10). The REE mobility may be related to hydrothermal alteration associated to Cu–Au mineralization in the region.The identification of spinifex-textured komatiites close to the Carajás Basin suggests the continuation of 3.0–2.9 Ga greenstone belts of the Rio Maria Domain within the Transition Subdomain, and enlarges the area with potential to host komatiite-associated Ni–Cu–PGE deposits.     

大兴安岭吉峰地区中元古代科马提岩及成因类型

大兴安岭吉峰地区的橄榄质科马提岩具有良好的显微鬣刺结构,在橄榄石和辉石晶体间隙中充填有基质物质,说明其为火山岩.通过研究,对其初步划分了冷凝带和鬣刺带,它们构成一个不完整的冷凝单元.吉峰科马提岩在岩石化上表现了良好的科马提岩属性,与南非及西澳大利亚橄榄质科马提岩一致.岩石地球化学研究表明,科马提岩及与其伴生的玄武岩具有紧密的成因联系,它们的演化符合科马提岩-拉斑玄武岩的演化趋势,具良好的正相关特点.在主量元素、微量元素及REE特征上,本区科马提岩具有较好的II类科马提岩属性,与南非巴伯顿、印度、西格陵兰II类科马提岩极为相似.吉峰科马提岩的εNd（T）=+7.51,说明源于亏损地幔,并且以LREE轻度富集为特征,显示它们系亏损地幔经较小程度部分熔融产生的.吉峰拉马提岩的形成时代为中元古代,其形成环境可能是地壳拉伸减薄,上涌的科马提质岩浆在淬火快速冷却的条件下形成.这一岩石类型的发现为研究大兴安岭地区元古宙大地构造演化提供了一个新线索.     

Partial melting and recrystallization of Archeaan komatiites by residual heat from rapidly accumulated flows

Spinifex-textured komatiites at Honeymoon Well, Western Australia, show evidence of partial melting and recrystallization of original igneous textures. Their textures and mineral compositions differ markedly from those typical of komatiites. Spinifex olivine plates are bent and broken, while interstitial space between spinifex and cumulus olivine is occupied by polygonal aggregates of clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, minor olivine and plagioclase. Similar granular pyroxene-plagioclase aggregates occur as diffuse veins cutting spinifex zones and cumulate zones of the flows and, in places, form the matrix to a breccia containing corroded fragments of spinifex rock. Thermometry based on the two pyroxene assemblages yields temperatures of 1055° to 1141° C, just below the low-pressure komatiite solidus. Mineral compositions are different from those of typical komatiites: clinopyroxenes are Al-poor and Cr-rich, olivines are unusually iron-rich and depleted in Cr and Ca, and the low-Ca pyroxene is bronzite rather than the more typical pigeonite. We interpret these observations as the results of thermal metamorphism, partial remelting and subsequent slow crystallization of originally normal spinifex-textured komatiite flows. The rocks in question occupy a 40–70 m interval sandwiched between two olivine-rich units: an underlying 90 m-thick olivine adcumulate layer, forming part of the cumulate zone of a basal 160 m-thick flow, and an overlying 1 km-thick extrusive body composed mostly of olivine mesocumulate and adcumulate and capped in turn by spinifex-textured flows. Thermal modelling shows that a sinusoidal temperature profile of cool flow tops and hot flow centres would exist within this sequence shortly after eruption. Conductive thermal relaxation of this profile could reheat spinifex zones to the extent of inducing partial melting and textural reconstitution. Such reheating is largely dependent on the time interval between the emplacement of successive flows. Calculations suggest that at Honeymoon Well the emplacement interval must have been of the order of 10 years or less. Textural reconstitution may have contributed to the development of the thick orthocumulate sequences characteristic of komatiites in the Agnew-Wiluna belt. Present address: Geochemex Australia, P.O. Box 281, West Perth, 6005, Western Australia     

Mantle melting in equilibrium with an Iron–Wüstite–Graphite buffered COH-fluid

Partial melting experiments on a San Carlos peridotite were done in a Walker type multi-anvil press at pressures from 5 to 12.5 GPa. Experiments were done in the presence of a COH-fluid and at oxygen fugacity controlled by the Fe–FeO buffer. Olivine, clinopyroxene, garnet and orthopyroxene are stable in all but the highest temperature 10 GPa experiments where olivine and garnet coexist, and the highest temperature 5 GPa experiments where olivine is the single crystalline phase. The solidus at 5 GPa was found to be at approximately 1,200°C and the liquidus was estimated to be at 1,325°C, which is ∼500°C lower than has been reported for dry melting of peridotite. The aluminum concentration of the melts decreases with increasing melt fraction and decreases also with increasing pressure. At 5 GPa the melts have a CaO/Al₂O₃-ratio of 0.85–1.0, which is similar to that of undepleted komatiites; major element concentrations are also identical to those of undepleted komatiites such as the Munro komatiites. At 10 and 12.5 GPa the partial melts have CaO/Al₂O₃-ratios above 1.5 and major element composition almost identical to aluminum depleted komatiites such as the Barberton komatiites. We therefore conclude that in the presence of a reducing COH-fluid both aluminum-depleted and -undepleted komatiites could have formed at temperatures much lower than generally accepted.     

Physical volcanology and geochemistry of Palaeoarchaean komatiite lava flows from the western Dharwar craton,southern India: implications for Archaean mantle evolution and crustal growth

ABSTRACT

Palaeoarchaean (3.38–3.35 Ga) komatiites from the Jayachamaraja Pura (J.C. Pura) and Banasandra greenstone belts of the western Dharwar craton, southern India were erupted as submarine lava flows. These high-temperature (1450–1550°C), low-viscosity lavas produced thick, massive, polygonal jointed sheet flows with sporadic flow top breccias. Thick olivine cumulate zones within differentiated komatiites suggest channel/conduit facies. Compound, undifferentiated flow fields developed marginal-lobate thin flows with several spinifex-textured lobes. Individual lobes experienced two distinct vesiculation episodes and grew by inflation. Occasionally komatiite flows form pillows and quench fragmented hyaloclastites. J.C. Pura komatiite lavas represent massive coherent facies with minor channel facies, whilst the Bansandra komatiites correspond to compound flow fields interspersed with pillow facies. The komatiites are metamorphosed to greenschist facies and consist of serpentine-talc ± carbonate, actinolite–tremolite with remnants of primary olivine, chromite, and pyroxene. The majority of the studied samples are komatiites (22.46–42.41 wt.% MgO) whilst a few are komatiitic basalts (12.94–16.18 wt.% MgO) extending into basaltic (7.71 – 10.80 wt.% MgO) composition. The studied komatiites are Al-depleted Barberton type whilst komatiite basalts belong to the Al-undepleted Munro type. Trace element data suggest variable fractionation of garnet, olivine, pyroxene, and chromite. Incompatible element ratios (Nb/Th, Nb/U, Zr/Y Nb/Y) show that the komatiites were derived from heterogeneous sources ranging from depleted to primitive mantle. CaO/Al₂O₃ and (Gd/Yb)_N ratios show that the Al-depleted komatiite magmas were generated at great depth (350–400 km) by 40–50% partial melting of deep mantle with or without garnet (majorite?) in residue whilst komatiite basalts and basalts were generated at shallow depth in an ascending plume. The widespread Palaeoarchaean deep depleted mantle-derived komatiite volcanism and sub-contemporaneous TTG accretion implies a major earlier episode of mantle differentiation and crustal growth during ca. 3.6–3.8 Ga.     

Komatiites from west Shandong, North China craton: Implications for plume tectonics

The Mengyin komatiites are located at the base of the Taishan Complex ( 2.7 Ga), in the western Shandong greenstone belt of the eastern block of North China craton. The Mengyin komatiites have high-magnesian, low-titanium, and aluminum-undepleted chemical characteristics. Although the ultramafic rocks underwent amphibolite to greenschist facies metamorphism, they preserve remnant igneous spinifex textures. Some komatiite samples even preserve rare fresh olivine. According to the mass equilibrium between the olivine and melt, the potential eruption temperature of the Mengyin komatiites at 1 atm is about 1270 °C which might indicate a plume tectonic setting. It is inferred that komatiites in Mengyin, west Shandong may be part of a plume-related global magmatic event related to the break-up of a supercontinent that included the eastern block of the North China craton.     

Low- and high-alumina komatiites from a Late Archaean sequence,Newton Township,Ontario

Late Archaean komatiitic lavas from Newton Township, Ontario, consist of 6 chemically distinct magma types: 3 komatiites and 3 komatiitic basalts. The succession is unusual in containing both Al- and HREE-depleted komatiites and Al- and HREE-undepleted komatiites. The two types form distinct stratigraphic units separated by komatiitic basalts. Two komatiite types are strongly LREE depleted, whilst the third and the associated komatiitic basalts range from mildly depleted to enriched. Of the six magma types, only the two strongly LREE depleted komatiites represent primary mantle melts. The other komatiite type and the komatiitic basalts were derived from the primary komatiite magmas by combinations of olivine (+chromite) fractionation, assimilation of continental crust, and magma mixing. The two primary magmas may have been derived from similar sources, their contrasting chemistry being due to differing degrees of garnet segregation during melting. A generally applicable conclusion is that a wide range of komatiitic magma types can be generated from a relatively homogeneous depleted mantle, under conditions likely to prevail during the eruption of late Archean greenstone belt sequences.     

山东蒙阴科马提岩地球化学特征及其意义

山东蒙阴科马提岩具有典型的鬣刺结构，高镁低钛，铝不亏损，具有正的Rb、Ba、Sr、U异常，轻稀土元素亏损，重稀土元素平坦，稀土元素总量很低，高场强元素与稀土元素发生分异，Nb/Nb^＊〉1，与加拿大蒙罗镇科马提岩地球化学特征和同位素特征相似。研究表明，蒙阴科马提岩可能起源于长期亏损的地幔源区，岩浆不可能来源于以橄榄石、辉石和石榴石（或者majorite）为主要矿物相的地幔源区。最新Sm-Nd同位素研究显示，蒙阴科马提岩样品的εNd值为-0．4～＋3．6，新鲜样品一般为＋3．3，也证实了科马提岩来自长期亏损的地幔源区，并且地幔柱在上升过程中受到地壳混染程度很小，推测研究区科马提岩的喷出可能是新太古代大陆增生事件的重要组成部分。     

Komatiitic and Iron-rich Tholeiitic Lavas of Munro Township, Northeast Ontario

Munro Township, in the Archean Abitibi greenstone belt of northeastOntario, contains volcanic and hypabyssal rocks of two magmaseries: (1) an Fe-rich tholeiitic series of basaltic to daciticlava flows (3–10 m thick), layered peridotite-pyroxenite-gabbroflows (120 m thick), and layered sills (700 m thick); (2) anultramafic-mafic komatiitic series, comprising discrete lavaflows of peridotitic to andesitic composition (1–17 mthick), layered peridotite-gabbro flows (120 m thick), and layeredsills (500 m thick). The komatiitie lavas form a successionabout 1000 m thick that is both underlain and overlain by thickersuccessions of tholeiitic volcanic rocks. Three types of komatiite are recognized: peridotitic, pyroxenitic,and basaltic komatiites. The most ultramafic are peridotiticcumulates rich in forsteritic olivine (Fo_89–94), at thebases of flows and sills. Many less mafic peridotitic komatiites(MgO: 20–30 per cent), which typically form the upperparts of flows and the marginal parts of small intrusions, exhibitspinifex textures indicative of their formation from ultrabasicliquids. Pyroxenitic komatiites (MgO: 12–20 per cent)also may contain olivine, but are dominated by clinopyroxene,usually in spinifex textures. Basaltic komatiites (MgO <12per cent) are composed mainly of clino-pyroxene and plagioclaseor devitrified glass, rarely in spinifex texture and more commonlyin equigranular textures. Peridotitic komatiite with roughly30 per cent MgO appears to represent a parental liquid fromwhich the more ultramafic komatiites formed by accumulationof olivine, and the less mafic types were derived by fractionationof olivine, joined and finally succeeded in later stages byclinopyroxene and plagioclase. Komatiites of Munro Township share many of the characteristicsof the komatiites from the Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa(Voljoen & Viljoen, 1969a and b), but lack the high CaO/Al₂O₃ratios that distinguish the Barberton rocks. The Munro komatiitesare identical in this respect to ultramafic volcanic rocks inAustralia, Canada, Rhodesia, and India. It is proposed thatthe definition of the term komatiite be broadened so that itincludes all members of this ultramafic-mafic rock series, notonly those from Barberton Mountain Land. The proposed criteriaare: (1) highly ultramafic compositions in noncumulate lavas;(2) unusual volcanic structures such as spinifex texture andpolyhedral jointing; (3) low Fe/Mg ratios at given Al₂O₃ valuesor high CaO/Al₂O₃ ratios; low TiO₂ at given SiO₂; and high MgO,NiO, and Cr₂O₃.     

Crystallochemistry and origin of pyroxenes in komatiites

We present a detailed mineralogical and major- and trace-element study of pyroxenes in two Archean komatiitic flows in Alexo, Canada. The pyroxenes in spinifex-textured lavas commonly are zoned with cores of magnesian pigeonite and rims of augite. Concentrations of incompatible trace elements are low in pigeonite and jump to higher values in the augite mantles, a variation that can be modelled using accepted partition coefficients and assuming crystallization from komatiitic liquids. Crystallization sequences are very different in different parts of both flows. In the flow top, the sequence is olivine followed by augite: deeper in the spinifex sequence, pigeonite crystallizes after olivine, followed by augite; in lower cumulates, orthopyroxene or augite accompany olivine. In spinifex lavas, pigeonite crystallizes sooner than would be predicted on the basis of equilibrium phase relations. We propose that contrasting crystallization sequences depend on the position in the flow and on the conditions of crystal growth. In the flowtop, rapid cooling causes quench crystallization. Deeper in the spinifex layer, constrained growth in a thermal gradient, perhaps augmented by Soret differentiation, accounts for the early crystallization of pigeonite. The cumulus minerals represent a near-equilibrium assemblage. Augites in Al-undepleted Archean komatiites in various localities in Canada and Zimbabwe have high moderate to high Wo contents but their Mg# (Mg/(Mg + Fe) are lower than in augites in komatiites from Barberton, South Africa. We attribute the combination of high Wo and high Mg# in Barberton rocks to the unusually high CaO/Al₂O₃ of these Al-depleted komatiites.