Petrology and geochemistry of spinel peridotite xenoliths from Hannuoba and Qixia, North China craton

We report mineralogical and chemical compositions of spinel peridotite xenoliths from two Tertiary alkali basalt localities on the Archean North China craton (Hannuoba, located in the central orogenic block, and Qixia, in the eastern block). The two peridotite suites have major element compositions that are indistinguishable from each other and reflect variable degrees (0–25%) of melt extraction from a primitive mantle source. Their compositions are markedly different from typical cratonic lithosphere, consistent with previous suggestions for removal of the Archean mantle lithosphere beneath this craton. Our previously published Os isotopic results for these samples [Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 198 (2002) 307] show that lithosphere replacement occurred in the Paleoproterozoic beneath Hannuoba, but in the Phanerozoic beneath Qixia. Thus, we see no evidence for a compositional distinction between Proterozoic and Phanerozoic continental lithospheric mantle. The Hannuoba xenoliths equilibrated over a more extensive temperature (hence depth) interval than the Qixia xenoliths. Neither suite shows a correlation between equilibration temperature and major element composition, indicating that the lithosphere is not chemically stratified in either area. Trace element and Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of the Hannuoba xenoliths reflect recent metasomatic overprinting that is not related to the Tertiary magmatism in this area.     

广西花山花岗岩的岩石学和地球化学特征及成岩物质来源的探讨

本文研究了花山花岗岩的岩石学、地球化学和同位素地质学特征,确定了花山岩体是一个由三期独立的、不同时代、不同成因和不同物质来源的花岗质岩浆岩所组成的复式岩体。第一期印支期牛庙石英二长岩和同安石英二长岩,属以幔源物质为主的壳幔混合来源,由上地幔分异岩浆上侵并同化混染了地壳物质而形成;第二期燕山早期花山主体花岗岩亦属壳幔混合来源,但其壳幔物质比值有所增高。上地幔沿东西向区域性深断裂的上拱和地壳物质(包括沉积组分和火成组分)受热重熔,是该期花岗岩的可能成因;第三期燕山晚期细粒花岗岩小岩体是由以沉积组分为主的地壳物质经部分熔融、重熔或深熔而成。     

Origin of clinopyroxene megacrysts in volcanic rocks from the North China Craton: a comparison study with megacrysts worldwide

ABSTRACT

Clinopyroxene megacrysts in volcanic rocks can provide substantial information on the evolution of the magmatic system at depth. Although considerable attention has been paid to these crystals, their origin is not yet completely resolved. The clinopyroxene megacrysts worldwide can be divided into two major types in general: the green Cr-diopside type and the black Al-augite type. There is a consensus view that the Cr-diopside megacrysts are mantle xenocrysts, whereas two contrasting opinions exist regarding the origin of the black Al-augite megacrysts. One favours a cognate origin, viewing them as crystallization products of the host magmas under high-pressure; while the other argues that they are xenocrysts crystallized from previous alkali basalts or fragments of mantle peridotites, pyroxenites or pegmatite veins. A review study on the clinopyroxene megacrysts in Meso-Cenozoic volcanic rocks from the North China Craton (NCC) and their comparison with those worldwide provides new constraints on their origin, namely, the Cr-diopside megacrysts, as previously thought, are all xenocrysts, representing disaggregated clinopyroxene crystals from clinopyroxene-rich mantle rocks. Contrary to the formerly proposed cognate origin, the Al-augite megacrysts are also xenocrysts, having no direct genetic link to their host rocks. They crystallized from melts that have formed earlier than the host magmas, and probably accumulated in a magma chamber or occurred as sheets or veins filling a fracture network surrounding a magma chamber in the upper mantle. During the subsequent eruption of the host lavas, these previously formed crystals were incorporated into the magma and were brought up to the surface.     

Geochemistry of organic-rich river waters in Amazonia: Insights on weathering processes of intertropical cratonic terrain

In this study, eight organic-rich rivers that flow through the Brazilian craton in the southwestern Amazon rainforest are investigated. This investigation is the first of its type in this area and focuses on the effects of lithology, long-term weathering, thick soils, forest cover and hydrological period on the dissolved load compositions in rivers draining cratonic terrain. The major dissolved ion concentrations, alkalinity (TAlk), SiO₂, trace element concentrations, and Sr isotope contents in the water were determined between April 2009 and January 2010. In addition, the isotopic values of oxygen and hydrogen were determined between 2011 and 2013. Overall, the river water is highly dilute and dominated by the major dissolved elements TAlk, SiO₂ and K⁺ and the major dissolved trace elements Al, Fe, Ba, Mn, P, Zn and Sr, which exhibit large temporal and spatial variability and are closely correlated with the silicatic bedrock and hydrology. Additionally, rainwater and recycled water vapor and the size of the basin contribute to the geochemistry of the waters. The total weathering flux estimated from our results is 2–4 t km⁻².yr⁻¹, which is one of the lowest fluxes in the world. The CO₂ consumption rate is approximately 21–61 10³ mol km⁻² yr⁻¹, which is higher than expected given the stability of the felsic to basic igneous and metamorphic to siliciclastic basement rocks and the thick tropical soil cover. Thus, weathering of the cratonic terrain under intertropical humid conditions is still an important consumer of CO₂.     

Elemental mobility in subduction metamorphism: insight from metamorphic rocks of the Franciscan Complex and the Feather River ultramafic belt,California

The degree of element mobility in subduction metamorphism has generated much debate; some workers advocate considerable mobility during metamorphism, whereas others postulate minimal mobility. We assess this issue by examination of major and trace element concentrations and Pb-, Nd-isotopic data for 39 mafic metavolcanic rocks from the Franciscan subduction complex, related units of coastal California, and the Feather River ultramafic belt of the northern Sierra Nevada, California; these samples span a wide range of metamorphic grade. We conclude that these rocks, despite their metamorphism up to eclogite facies, preserve protolith major and trace elemental compositions and isotopic ratios, with the exception of some mobile large ion lithophile elements such as Ba, Pb, and to a smaller extent La, U, and Sr. Thus subduction metamorphism of these metabasalts occurred in a largely closed system. Lack of light rare earth element enrichment in the rocks demonstrates lack of chemical exchange with subducted metasediments. Relatively low SiO₂ content (<48 wt.%) of many of the metamorphic rocks and the lack of correspondence between silica depletion and metamorphic grade suggests that the silica depletion resulted from seafloor hydrothermal alteration before subduction. In spite of demonstrated mobility of Pb, and possible mobility of Nd, isotopic ratios of Pb and Nd were not modified during subduction metamorphism. In contrast to our results from metabasaltic rocks, our analysis of actinolite-rich rinds from high-grade Franciscan mélange blocks suggests some chemical exchange between metachert and the overlying mantle. The increasing enrichment in Ba and Pb with increasing metamorphic grade suggests that Ba- and Pb-rich fluids interacted more intensely with metabasalt at the higher grades of metamorphism. Comparison of these results with studies of the active Mariana forearc suggests that fluids interacting with the mantle wedge up-dip of the region of magma genesis are derived from subducting sediments overlying the down-going plate.     

长江源各拉丹冬地区晚三叠世火山岩锶、钕同位素地球化学特征及其意义

对各拉丹冬地区晚三叠世火山岩进行了颗粒锆石U-Pb测年和Sr、Nd同位素分析,颗粒锆石的U-Pb年龄值为(212±1.7)Ma,全岩样品的ISr、εNd(t)和Nd模式年龄tDM变化在0.70325~0.70917、-0.8~-4.6和1064~1379Ma之间。分析结果表明,形成晚三叠世火山岩的原始岩浆是壳幔混合型。结合岩石化学、稀土元素、微量元素等特征,该套火山岩的形成与岛弧-活动陆缘环境有关。     

Cenozoic volcanic rocks in the Belog Co area, Qiangtang, northern Tibet, China： Petrochemical evidence for partial melting of the mantle-crust transition zone

Neogene volcanic rocks in the Belog Co area, Qiangtang, northern Tibet, are represented by a typical intermediate-basic and intermediate alkaline rock association, with latite-trachyte as the main rock type. The results of chemical analysis are: SiO2=52%–62%, Al2O3>15%, Na2O/K2O>1 and MgO<3.30%. In addition, the volcanic rocks are LREE-enriched with LREE/HREE=10–13, (La/Yb)N=15–19, and show a weak negative Eu anomaly with δEu=0.71–0.89. The close relationship between Mg# and SiO2 and the co-variation of the magmatophile elements and ultra-magmatophile elements such as La/Sm-La and Cr-Tb indicate that this association of volcanic rocks is the product of comagmatic fractional crystallization. The rock association type and lower Sm/Yb values (Sm/Yb=3.23–3.97) imply that this association of volcanic rocks should have originated from partial melting of spinel lherzolite in the lithospheric mantle. On the other hand, the weak negative Eu anomaly and relative depletion in Nb, Ta and Ti reflect the features of terrigenous magma. So the Neogene Belog Co alkaline volcanic rocks should be the result of partial melting of the special crust-mantle transition zone on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.     

Zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope compositions of migmatite from the North Dabie terrane in China: constraints on partial melting

Migmatite gneisses are widespread in the Dabie orogen, but their formation ages are poorly constrained. Eight samples of migmatite, including leucosome, melanosome, and banded gneiss, were selected for U–Pb dating and Hf isotope analysis. Most metamorphic zircon occurs as overgrowths around inherited igneous cores or as newly grown grains. Morphological and internal structure features suggest that their growth is associated with partial melting. According to the Hf isotope ratio relationships between metamorphic zircon and inherited cores, three formation mechanisms for metamorphic zircon can be determined, which are dissolution–reprecipitation of pre‐existing zircon, breakdown of Zr‐bearing phase other than zircon in a closed system and crystallization from externally derived Zr‐bearing melt. Four samples contain magmatic zircon cores, yielding upper intercept U–Pb ages of 807 ± 35–768 ± 12 Ma suggesting that the protoliths of the migmatites are Neoproterozoic in age. The migmatite zircon yields weighted mean two‐stage Hf model ages of 2513 ± 97–894 ± 54 Ma, indicating reworking of both juvenile and ancient crustal materials at the time of their protolith formation. The metamorphic zircons give U–Pb ages of 145 ± 2–120 ± 2 Ma. The oldest age indicates that partial melting commenced prior to 145 Ma, which also constrains the onset of extensional tectonism in this region to pre‐145 Ma. The youngest age of 120 Ma was obtained from an undeformed granitic vein, indicating that deformation in this area was complete at this time. Two major episodes of partial melting were dated at 139 ± 1 and 123 ± 1Ma. The first episode of partial melting is obviously older than the timing of post‐collision magmatism, corresponding to regional extension. The second episode of partial melting is coeval with the widespread post‐collision magmatism, indicating the gravitational collapse and delamination of the orogenic lithospheric keel of the Dabie orogen, which were possibly triggered by the uprising of the Cretaceous mid‐Pacific superplume.     

北淮阳晓天盆地早白垩世玄武岩地球化学:富集地幔的证据

产出于北淮阳地区晓天盆地的早白垩世玄武岩的主量元素具有碱性系列和亚碱性系列过渡的特征。其微量元素特征表现为Rh、Ba、Th、K、Pb的显富集和Nb、Ti的亏损。锶和钕同位素的初始比值分别为0．7076，0.7080和—13．9，—12．7。这些特征表明所研究玄武岩来自富集的源区，很可能是古老的扬子型岩石圈地馒。与长江中下游和大别造山带中同时代幔源岩石相比表明，虽然总体上都表现为富集特征，但具有明显的不均一性。长江中下游地幔源区最亏损，可能反映来自亏损的软流圈地慢和富集的岩石圈地幔的物质的混合。大别造山带的源区最富集，代表古老岩石圈的贡献。北准阳地区玄武岩的源区特征与大别造山带的非常相似，但富集程度略低。     

阿拉善断块富碱侵入岩岩石地球化学和Nd、Sr、Pb同位素特征及其意义

阿拉善断块富碱侵入岩具有硅过饱和(出现石英,w(SiO2)=62.01%~67.28%)、准铝(w(Al2O3)=12.20%~16.83%)、富碱(w(Na2O) +w(K2O) = 11. 14% ~ 14. 18%,里特曼指数σ= 6. 40 ~ 8. 65)、富钾(w(K2O)/w(Na2O)=1.01~1.79)和低铁、镁的特征。总稀土较高,稀土配分曲线呈陡右倾模式。微量元素强烈富集LILE和LREE,相对亏损Nb、Ta、Ti 和P。上述特征以及低钕(ε(Nd,t) = - 7. 3 ~ - 9. 4)高锶(ε(Sr,t)=+53.9~+99.9)的同位素特征反映物质来源主要与富集型上地幔有关,但受到不同程度壳源物质的混染作用。Nd、Sr、Pb联合示踪表明阿拉善断块富碱侵入岩与华北断块北缘印支期富碱侵入岩带具有相似性,但不同于塔里木北缘富碱侵入岩。结合时空分布、同位素组成以及所处的构造动力学体系等因素将阿拉善断块富碱侵入岩和燕辽—阴山印支期富碱性侵入岩带划归为同一印支期富碱性侵入岩带。指出至少到晚古生代—印支期时阿拉善断块已经与华北断块构成了一个整体。     

Mafic plutonic rocks in a continental‐arc setting: geochemistry of 1.87–1.78 Ga rocks from south‐central Sweden and models of their palaeotectonic setting

Mafic intrusive rocks (1.79–1.78 Ga) of the Transscandinavian Igneous Belt (TIB) and the c. 1.87 Ga Hedesunda Igneous Complex in the Fennoscandian Shield of south‐central Sweden were studied using whole‐rock and isotope geochemistry. Rock types vary from gabbros/norites (and leucogabbros) to quartz diorites, with Mg# between 76 and 49, and wt% SiO₂ between 43.6 and 59.7, indicating some variation in evolutionary levels and variable cumulus components. Geochemical signatures are calc‐alkaline to shoshonitic, large ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements enriched and high‐field strength elements depleted of continental‐arc type. ε_Nd(t) ranges between +1.0 and +2.7, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(t) between 0.7020 and 0.7038. There is no systematic correlation between chemical parameters and isotope ratios. These isotopic data overlap with other mafic plutonic TIB rocks; samples from the Dala Province (DP) tend to overlap with the c. 1.7 Ga basic Dala lavas of TIB at slightly elevated relative Sr/Nd ratios. With two exceptions, the ε_Nd(t) of +1 to +2 conform to an isotopically ‘mildly depleted’ source, typical for mafic TIB rocks and many Svecofennian rocks in the region. Reported values above ε_Nd(t) +2.0 are scarce in the TIB. Mantle sources represent depleted mantle wedge material that was enriched by fluids/melts not long before (T_DM c. 2.0 Ga), that is during subduction in the preceding Svecofennian (2.0–1.87 Ga) and/or during the TIB‐0&1 event (1.85–1.78 Ga). The palaeotectonic settings inferred are active continental margins; N–S‐directed convergence at 1.87 Ga and E–W‐directed at 1.79–1.78 Ga. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

藏北羌塘比隆错一带新生代火山岩的成因：壳幔过渡带局部熔融的地球化学证据

羌塘比隆错新近纪火山岩主要岩石类型为安粗岩-粗面岩,为一套中基性-中性的碱性系列岩石组合,SiO2含量介于52%～62%之间,Al2O3＞15%,Na2O/K2O＞1,MgO＜3.30%.岩石轻稀土元素较强富集,LREE/HREE=10～13,(La/Yb)N=15～19,弱负Eu异常,δEu=0.71～0.89.Mg#与SiO2的相关关系和La/Sm-La、Cr-Tb等亲岩浆元素与超亲岩浆元素协变关系表明,该套岩石为共源岩浆分离结晶的产物.岩石组合类型和低的Sm/Yb值(3.23～3.97)表明,它们应来源于岩石圈地幔尖晶石二辉橄榄岩的局部熔融;弱的负Eu异常和Nb、Ta、Ti的相对亏损,又反映了陆源岩浆的特征,可见,比隆错新近纪碱性火山岩应为青藏高原特殊的壳幔过渡带局部熔融的产物.     

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of Early Cretaceous andesitic-dacitic rocks,western Qinling(Central China):Geochronological and geochemical constraints

~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar and zircon U-Pb geochronological and whole-rock geochemical analyses for the Laozanggou intermediate-acidic volcanic rocks from the western Qinling orogenic belt,Central China,constrain their petrogenesis and the nature of the Late Mesozoic lithospheric mantle.These volcanic rocks yield hornblende or whole-rock ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau ages of 128.3-129.7 Ma and zircon U-Pb age of131.3±1.3 Ma.They exhibit Si02 of 56.86-66.86 wt.%,K_2 O of 0.99-2.46 wt.% and MgO of 1.03-4.47 wt.%,with Mg# of 42-56.They are characterized by arc-like geochemical signatures with significant enrichment in LILE and LREE and depletion in HFSE.All the samples have enriched Sr-Nd isotopic compositions with initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratios ranging from 0.7112 to 0.7149 and ε_(Nd)(t) values from 10.2 to 6.3.Such geochemical signatures suggest that these volcanic rocks were derived from enriched lithospherederived magma followed by the assimilation and fractional crystallization(AFC)process.The generation of the enriched lithospheric mantle is likely related to the modification of sediment-derived fluid in response to the Triassic subduction/collision event in Qinling orogenic belt.The early Cretaceous detachment of the lithospheric root provides a reasonable mechanism for understanding the petrogenesis of the Laozanggou volcanic sequence in the western Qinling orogenic belt.     

Geochemical,and stable and radiogenic isotope records in Devonian and Early Carboniferous carbonates from Valle de Tena,central Pyrenees (Spain): evidence for their diagenetic environments

Mineralogical, textural and geochemical investigations were made to determine the post-depositional evolution of Devonian and Early Carboniferous carbonates from Valle de Tena. The carbonate association is made up of low-Mg calcite, which occurs as micrite, spar cements, neomorphic patches and spar filling veinlets. Non-stoichiometric dolomite and ankerite occur as cements (dolomite also as replacements) in the Middle Devonian, post-dating calcite types. All these phases pre-date tectonic stylolites, indicating compaction after stabilization of the carbonate minerals. Strontium concentrations indicate that Early Devonian and Early Carboniferous micrites initially precipitated as aragonite; Middle and Late Devonian micrites precipitated as high-Mg calcites. Both precursors were diagenetically stabilized to low-Mg calcites through interaction with meteoric waters in phreatic environments. Trace elements in dolomite and ankerite indicate precipitation from Sr-enriched meteoric water. All studied carbonates, except Middle Devonian limestones, precipitated in reducing environments, which favoured incorporation of Fe and Mn. Late calcite generations precipitated from more saline waters than micrites. Light ¹⁸O values in micrites suggest alteration mainly in meteoric-phreatic environments. The dolomites and ankerites precipitated from more ¹⁸O-depleted fluids than the calcites, suggesting a greater contribution from meteoric waters. Variations in ¹³C of micrites represent primary secular trends, according to published ¹³C variations. The ¹³C oscillations within each succession probably relate to sea-level oscillations. Strontium isotopes also point to a meteoric origin of diagenetic fluids. Model calculations suggest that O and Sr isotopes equilibrated between calcites and fluid at relatively low water/rock ratios, whereas C isotopic signatures are inherited from limestones.     

Petrology and geochemistry of the Karaj Dam basement sill: Implications for geodynamic evolution of the Alborz magmatic belt

The northeastward subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere beneath the Iranian block produced vast volcanic and plutonic rocks that now outcrop in central (Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic assemblage) and north–northeastern Iran (Alborz Magmatic Belt), with peak magmatism occurring during the Eocene. The Karaj Dam basement sill (KDBS), situated in the Alborz Magmatic Belt, comprises gabbro, monzogabbro, monzodiorite, and monzonite with a shoshonitic affinity. These plutonic rocks are intruded into the Karaj Formation, which comprise pyroclastic rocks dating to the lower–upper Eocene. The geochemical and isotopic signatures of the KDBS rocks indicate that they are cogenetic and evolved through fractional crystallization. They are characterized by an enrichment in LREEs relative to HREEs, with negative Nb–Ta anomalies. Geochemical modeling using Sm/Yb versus La/Yb and La/Sm ratios suggests a low-degree of partial melting of a phlogopite–spinel peridotite source to generate the KDBS rocks. Their low I_Sr = 0.70453–0.70535, ɛNd (37.2 Ma) = 1.54–1.9, and T_DM ages ranging from 0.65 to 0.86 Ga are consistent with the melting of a Cadomian enriched lithospheric mantle source, metasomatized by fluids derived from the subducted slab or sediments during magma generation. These interpretations are consistent with high ratios of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.43–18.67, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.59, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.42–38.71, indicating the involvement of subducted sediments or continental crust. The sill is considered to have been emplaced in an environment of lithospheric extension due to the slab rollback in the lower Eocene. This extension led to localized upwelling of the asthenosphere, providing the heat required for partial melting of the subduction-contaminated subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the Alborz magmatic belt. Then, the shoshonitic melt generates the entire spectrum of KDBS rocks through assimilation and fractional crystallization during the ascent of the magma.     

Trace element and isotopic studies of Permo-Carboniferous carbonate nodules from Talchir sediments of peninsular India: Environmental and provenance implications

Syngenetic carbonate nodules constitute an interesting feature of the glaciogene sediments of various Talchir basins in peninsular India. Petrographic, cathodoluminescence and sedimentary results suggest that many of these nodules contain primary carbonate precipitates whose geochemical signatures can be used for determining environment of deposition and provenance of the sediments and drainage source. Several nodules were collected from Gondwana basins of east-central India and analyzed for stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios, REE and trace element composition, and Sr isotope ratio. The mean δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values of the calcites in the nodules are — 19.5% and-9.7% (w.r.t. PDB) respectively suggesting a freshwater environment (probably lacustrine) for formation of these objects. Trace element ratios (Eu/Eu * and La/Yb) of the nodule samples show that the source of the sediments in the Damodar valley basin was the granites, gneisses and intrusives in the Chotanagpur region. The sediments in the Mahanadi valley were derived from granulites, charnockites and granites of the eastern ghat region. The Sr concentration of the carbonate phase of the nodules is low, ranging from 10–60 ng/g. The⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the samples from the west Bokaro basin and Ramgarh basin vary from 0.735 to 0.748 (mean: 0.739) and from 0.726 to 0.733 (mean: 0.730) respectively. These values are consistent with our proposition that water of these basins drained through the granitic rocks of the Chotanagpur region. In contrast, the⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the samples from the Talchir basin (Type area) of Mahanadi valley vary from 0.718 to 0.723 (mean: 0.719). These⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are close to those of the granulites in the adjoining eastern ghat belt suggesting that area as the drainage source.     

张家口水泉沟正长岩杂岩体成因的REE和Sr、Nd、Pb同位素证据

水泉沟杂岩体位于尚义 赤城断裂的南侧,侵位于太古宙桑干群变质岩中。岩体形成于晚加里东至早海两期。其稀土元素含量为8.543×10~(-6)～211.6×10~(-6),随着岩石的CaO、MgO、FeO、Fe_2O_3含量降低,SiO_2、K_2O、Na_2O含量增大,稀土含量减小,稀土分布模式由右倾直线型变为近平直的“～”型。在铅同位素构造模式图上杂岩体落在地幔铅同位素演化线附近。在ε_(Nd)-ε-(Sr)图解上处于地幔演化线的下方。杂岩体的钕模式年龄低于围岩桑干群的形成年龄。岩体可能来源干上地幔与下地壳太古宙变质杂岩混熔作用所形成的正长岩岩浆。     

Sr and Nd isotope systematics of Francistown plutonic rocks, Botswana: implications for Neoarchaean crustal evolution of the Zimbabwe craton

The Francistown plutonic rocks at the south-western margin of the Zimbabwe craton consist of three igneous suites: Sanukitoid, Tonalite–Trondhjemite–Granite (TTG) suites and High-K granites. The TTG suite is subdivided into High Aluminum-TTG (HA-TTG) and Low Aluminum-TTG (LA-TTG) sub-suites. Their Rb–Sr isotope systems were partially homogenized by post-crystallization thermo–tectonic events, in which hydrothermal solutions and migmatization played an important role. Therefore, the Rb–Sr isochron age of 2427±54 Ma can only be regarded as a lower limit to the Francistown plutonic rock age. The large errors in the Sm–Nd isochron dates of Francistown granitoids indicate that these dates are not really constrained. In this study we compared the rock types of Francistown and adjacent areas, adopting the precise U, Th–Pb single zircon SHRIMP ages from the Vumba area as references. For TTG and Sanukitoid suites, the age we adopted is ca. 2.7 Ga, which is close to their depleted-mantle Sm–Nd model ages (T _DM). For High-K granites, the age adopted is ca. 2.65 Ga, which is also close to their Sm–Nd isochron age. The highest ε _Nd ^t values of Sanukitoids and TTG are +2.1 and +2.3, respectively. The positive ε _Nd ^t values and trace element geochemistry support partial melting of a depleted mantle and young oceanic crust for the genesis of Sanukitoid and the TTG suites respectively. The lowest ε _Nd ^t values of Sanukitoids and TTGs are −1.0 and −1.1, respectively, indicating contamination by continental crust, up to 10 and 14%, respectively. The ε _Nd ^t values of TTG decrease with decreasing Al₂O₃ and Sr contents and increasing Eu negative anomalies (Eu*–Eu), suggesting that the TTG magmas underwent a coupled fractionation crystallization and crustal contamination, and that the LA-TTG was the product of the fractionation and contamination of the HA-TTG sub-suite. In contrast, negative ε _Nd ^t values for the High-K granites (from −0.4 to −3.5) indicate the involvement of LA-TTG and some materials from an old continental crust in their genesis. The products of partial melting of both oceanic and continental crusts at the south-western margin of the Zimbabwe craton occurred within a short time interval (from 2.7 to 2.65 Ga ago) suggesting that the Francistown plutonic rocks were formed in a active continental margin environment, where a young ocean plate (Limpopo oceanic plate) subducted underneath an old continental plate (Zimbabwe craton).     

Origins of Xenolithic Eclogites and Pyroxenites from the Central Slave Craton, Canada

Major- and trace-element and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic compositionsof garnet and clinopyroxene in kimberlite-borne eclogite andpyroxenite xenoliths were used to establish their origins andevolution in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneaththe central Slave Craton, Canada. The majority of eclogitescan be assigned to three groups (high-Mg, high-Ca or low-Mgeclogites) that have distinct trace-element patterns. Althoughpost-formation metasomatism involving high field strength element(HFSE) and light rare earth element (LREE) addition has partiallyobscured the primary compositional features of the high-Mg andhigh-Ca eclogites, trace-element features, such as unfractionatedmiddle REE (MREE) to heavy REE (HREE) patterns suggestive ofgarnet-free residues and low Zr/Sm consistent with plagioclaseaccumulation, could indicate a subduction origin from a broadlygabbroic protolith. In this scenario, the low REE and smallpositive Eu anomalies of the high-Mg eclogites suggest moreprimitive, plagioclase-rich protoliths, whereas the high-Caeclogites are proposed to have more evolved protoliths withhigher (normative) clinopyroxene/plagioclase ratios plus trappedmelt, consistent with their lower Mg-numbers, higher REE andabsence of Eu anomalies. In contrast, the subchondritic Zr/Hfand positive slope in the HREE of the low-Mg eclogites are similarto Archaean second-stage melts and point to a previously depletedsource for their precursors. Low ratios of fluid-mobile to lessfluid-mobile elements and of LREE to HREE are consistent withdehydration and partial melt loss for some eclogites. The trace-elementcharacteristics of the different eclogite types translate intolower _Nd for high-Mg eclogites than for low-Mg eclogites. Withinthe low-Mg group, samples that show evidence for metasomaticenrichment in LREE and HFSE have lower _Nd and _Hf than a samplethat was apparently not enriched, pointing to long-term evolutionat their respective parent–daughter ratios. Garnet andclinopyroxene in pyroxenites show different major-element relationshipsfrom those in eclogites, such as an opposite CaO–Na₂Otrend and the presence of a CaO–Cr₂O₃ trend, independentof whether or not opx is part of the assemblage. Therefore,these two rock types are probably not related by fractionationprocesses. The presence of opx in about half of the samplesprecludes direct crystallization from eclogite-derived melts.They probably formed from hybridized melts that reacted withthe peridotitic mantle. KEY WORDS: eclogites; pyroxenite xenoliths; mantle xenoliths; eclogite trace elements; eclogite Sr isotopes; eclogite Hf isotopes; eclogite Nd isotopes