Metasomatic processes in the lithospheric mantle beneath the V. Grib kimberlite pipe (Arkhangelsk diamondiferous province,Russia)

New data on metasomatic processes in the lithospheric mantle in the central part of the Arkhangelsk diamondiferous province (ADP) are presented. We studied the major- and trace-element compositions of minerals of 26 garnet peridotite xenoliths from the V. Grib kimberlite pipe; 17 xenoliths contained phlogopite. Detailed mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical studies of peridotite minerals (garnet, clinopyroxene, and phlogopite) have revealed two types of modal metasomatic enrichment of the lithospheric-mantle rocks: high temperature (melt) and low-temperature (phlogopite). Both types of modal metasomatism significantly changed the chemical composition of the peridotites. Low-temperature modal metasomatism manifests itself as coarse tabular and shapeless phlogopite grains. Two textural varieties of phlogopite show significant differences in chemical composition, primarily in the contents of TiO₂, Cr₂O₃, FeO, Ba, Rb, and Cs. The rock-forming minerals of phlogopite-bearing peridotites differ in chemical composition from phlogopite-free peridotites, mainly in higher FeO content. Most garnets and clinopyroxenes in peridotites are the products of high-temperature mantle metasomatism, as indicated by the high contents of incompatible elements and REE pattern in these minerals. Fractional-crystallization modeling gives an insight into the nature of melts (metasomatic agents). They are close in composition to picrites of the Izhmozero field, basalts of the Tur’ino field, and carbonatites of the Mela field of the ADP. The REE patterns of the peridotite minerals make it possible to determine the sequence of metasomatic enrichment of the lithospheric mantle beneath the V. Grib kimberlite pipe.     

Timing of Precambrian melt depletion and Phanerozoic refertilization events in the lithospheric mantle of the Wyoming Craton and adjacent Central Plains Orogen

Garnet peridotite xenoliths from the Sloan kimberlite (Colorado) are variably depleted in their major magmaphile (Ca, Al) element compositions with whole rock Re-depletion model ages generally consistent with this depletion occurring in the mid-Proterozoic. Unlike many lithospheric peridotites, the Sloan samples are also depleted in incompatible trace elements, as shown by the composition of separated garnet and clinopyroxene. Most of the Sloan peridotites have intermineral Sm–Nd and Lu–Hf isotope systematics consistent with this depletion occurring in the mid-Proterozoic, though the precise age of this event is poorly defined. Thus, when sampled by the Devonian Sloan kimberlite, the compositional characteristics of the lithospheric mantle in this area primarily reflected the initial melt extraction event that presumably is associated with crust formation in the Proterozoic—a relatively simple history that may also explain the cold geotherm measured for the Sloan xenoliths.

The Williams and Homestead kimberlites erupted through the Wyoming Craton in the Eocene, near the end of the Laramide Orogeny, the major tectonomagmatic event responsible for the formation of the Rocky Mountains in the late Cretaceous–early Tertiary. Rhenium-depletion model ages for the Homestead peridotites are mostly Archean, consistent with their origin in the Archean lithospheric mantle of the Wyoming Craton. Both the Williams and Homestead peridotites, however, clearly show the consequences of metasomatism by incompatible-element-rich melts. Intermineral isotope systematics in both the Homestead and Williams peridotites are highly disturbed with the Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of the minerals being dominated by the metasomatic component. Some Homestead samples preserve an incompatible element depleted signature in their radiogenic Hf isotopic compositions. Sm–Nd tie lines for garnet and clinopyroxene separates from most Homestead samples provide Mesozoic or younger “ages” suggesting that the metasomatism occurred during the Laramide. Highly variable Rb–Sr and Lu–Hf mineral “ages” for these same samples suggest that the Homestead peridotites did not achieve intermineral equilibrium during this metasomatism. This indicates that the metasomatic overprint likely was introduced shortly before kimberlite eruption through interaction of the peridotites with the host kimberlite, or petrogenetically similar magmas, in the Wyoming Craton lithosphere.     

Phlogopite in mantle xenoliths and kimberlite from the Grib pipe,Arkhangelsk province,Russia:Evidence for multi-stage mantle metasomatism and origin of phlogopite in kimberlite

We present petrography and mineral chemistry for both phlogopite,from mantle-derived xenoliths(garnet peridotite,eclogite and clinopyroxene-phlogopite rocks)and for megacryst,macrocryst and groundmass flakes from the Grib kimberlite in the Arkhangelsk diamond province of Russia to provide new insights into multi-stage metasomatism in the subcratonic lithospheric mantle(SCLM)and the origin of phlogopite in kimberlite.Based on the analysed xenoliths,phlogopite is characterized by several generations.The first generation(Phil)occurs as coarse,discrete grains within garnet peridotite and eclogite xenoliths and as a rock-forming mineral within clinopyroxene-phlogopite xenoliths.The second phlogopite generation(Phl2)occurs as rims and outer zones that surround the Phil grains and as fine flakes within kimberlite-related veinlets filled with carbonate,serpentine,chlorite and spinel.In garnet peridotite xenoliths,phlogopite occurs as overgrowths surrounding garnet porphyroblasts,within which phlogopite is associated with Cr-spinel and minor carbonate.In eclogite xenoliths,phlogopite occasionally associates with carbonate bearing veinlet networks.Phlogopite,from the kimberlite,occurs as megacrysts,macrocrysts,microcrysts and fine flakes in the groundmass and matrix of kimberlitic pyroclasts.Most phlogopite grains within the kimberlite are characterised by signs of deformation and form partly fragmented grains,which indicates that they are the disintegrated fragments of previously larger grains.Phil,within the garnet peridotite and clinopyroxene-phlogopite xenoliths,is characterised by low Ti and Cr contents(TiO_21 wt.%,Cr_2 O_31 wt.% and Mg# = 100 × Mg/(Mg+ Fe)92)typical of primary peridotite phlogopite in mantle peridotite xenoliths from global kimberlite occurrences.They formed during SCLM metasomatism that led to a transformation from garnet peridotite to clinopyroxene-phlogopite rocks and the crystallisation of phlogopite and high-Cr clinopyroxene megacrysts before the generation of host-kimberlite magmas.One of the possible processes to generate low-Ti-Cr phlogopite is via the replacement of garnet during its interaction with a metasomatic agent enriched in K and H_2O.Rb-Sr isotopic data indicates that the metasomatic agent had a contribution of more radiogenic source than the host-kimberlite magma.Compared with peridotite xenoliths,eclogite xenoliths feature low-Ti phlogopites that are depleted in Cr_2O_3 despite a wider range of TiO_2 concentrations.The presence of phlogopite in eclogite xenoliths indicates that metasomatic processes affected peridotite as well as eclogite within the SCLM beneath the Grib kimberlite.Phl2 has high Ti and Cr concentrations(TiO_22 wt.%,Cr_2O_31 wt.% and Mg# = 100× Mg/(Mg + Fe)92)and compositionally overlaps with phlogopite from polymict brecc:ia xenoliths that occur in global kimberlite formations.These phlogopites are the product of kimberlitic magma and mantle rock interaction at mantle depths where Phl2 overgrew Phil grains or crystallized directly from stalled batches of kimberlitic magmas.Megacrysts,most macrocrysts and microcrysts are disintegrated phlogopite fragments from metasomatised peridotite and eclogite xenoliths.Fine phlogopite flakes within kimberlite groundmass represent mixing of high-Ti-Cr phlogopite antecrysts and high-Ti and low-Cr kimberlitic phlogopite with high Al and Ba contents that may have formed individual grains or overgrown antecrysts.Based on the results of this study,we propose a schematic model of SCLM metasomatism involving phlogopite crystallization,megacryst formation,and genesis of kimberlite magmas as recorded by the Grib pipe.     

内蒙古集宁橄榄岩包体微区微量元素与Sr同位素特征及其岩石圈地幔演化的指示意义

为完整了解华北克拉通的破坏程度和机制,加深对其西部陆块岩石圈地幔的研究十分重要,而位于华北克拉通西部集宁新生代碱性玄武岩中的地幔橄榄岩包体,为研究人员认识该地区的岩石圈地幔的性质和演化起到指示作用.运用LA-ICP-MS和LA-MC-ICP-MS对集宁地区橄榄岩矿物进行原位微区测试,获得其主量、微量元素和Sr同位素成分的数据.根据矿物组成,可以将集宁地区的橄榄岩分为两类:第一类为贫单斜辉石橄榄岩 (单斜辉石体积分数小于8%),它们经历了高程度的部分熔融,可能是古老难熔岩石圈地幔的残留;第二类为二辉橄榄岩 (单斜辉石体积分数大于13%),其熔融程度低,代表了新生饱满的岩石圈地幔.第一类橄榄岩中单斜辉石REE含量整体偏低且轻微富集LREE,第二类橄榄岩中单斜辉石具有LREE富集和轻微亏损两种配分模式,大部分样品的核边有一定的强不相容元素及Sr同位素组成变化.这些微量元素和同位素特征都表明集宁橄榄岩包体经历过交代作用.(La/Yb)_N和Ti/Eu比值特征表明它们经历过多阶段的交代作用,交代介质有硅酸盐、碳酸盐熔/流体,这些交代介质可能为来源于古亚洲洋板块俯冲时释放的熔/流体.      

加拿大Slave 克拉通橄榄岩的平衡温压计算

加拿大Slave克拉通Jericho金伯利岩筒携带的橄榄岩包体提供了研究大陆岩石圈地幔物质组成和热结构的窗口。文章总结了地幔岩矿物温压计的研究进展,测量了Jericho金伯利岩携带的9个新鲜橄榄岩包体的矿物主量元素和微量元素,并使用不同的矿物温压计估算了平衡温度和压力。结果表明Nickel 和 Green（1985）的石榴子石—斜方辉石压力计可以较好地估算含石榴子石橄榄岩形成时的压力,Taylor（1998）二辉石温度计和Nimis 和 Taylor（2000）单斜辉石温度计的计算结果一致。具有粗粒变晶结构的尖晶石—石榴子石橄榄岩和石榴子石橄榄岩样品的平衡温度为575~843℃,压力为2.4~3.6 GPa,表明Slave克拉通岩石圈地幔温度较低。而残斑结构尖晶石—石榴子石二辉橄榄岩的平衡温度1109℃,压力为5.0 GPa,来源深度为~156 km,可能被早期金伯利岩浆携带到岩石圈地幔中部冷却,然后再被侏罗纪喷发的Jericho金伯利岩筒带到地表。使用石榴子石—单斜辉石稀土元素温压计获得的平衡温度高于主量元素温度计的结果,表明Slave克拉通岩石圈地幔经历了逐渐冷却的过程。此外,Slave克拉通浅部的尖晶石橄榄岩保留了强烈亏损的早期岩石圈地幔特征,而下部的岩石圈地幔经历了金伯利岩熔体和硅酸盐熔体的交代作用。     

地幔橄榄岩中橄榄石的指示意义

橄榄石是地幔橄榄岩和辉石岩的主要组成矿物,但也经常以斑晶和捕虏晶的形式出现在玄武质岩石中。结合近年来在地幔橄榄岩的主要元素（如Mg和Fe）组成特征以及Li、Mg和Fe稳定同位素地球化学方面的研究成果,重点对橄榄石的地球化学特征与华北克拉通岩石圈地幔演化过程之间的联系进行了讨论,旨在加深对华北克拉通岩石圈地幔演化过程的理解。现有研究表明：地幔橄榄岩中橄榄石的矿物学特征、元素和同位素地球化学组成能够很好地指示岩石圈地幔的特征及其演化过程,因而具有重要的意义。对于克拉通地区的地幔橄榄岩来说,橄榄石的Mg#通常可以指示岩石圈地幔的属性,古老、难熔的地幔橄榄岩中的橄榄石一般具有较高的Mg#（〉92）,而新生的岩石圈地幔橄榄岩中的橄榄石则具有较低的Mg#（〈91）。因此,地幔橄榄岩中橄榄石的Mg#在一定程度上具有年龄意义。橄榄岩中橄榄石的Li、Mg和Fe同位素组成也可以明确指示岩石圈地幔的属性及其所经历的演化过程,正常地幔的δ7Li、δ26Mg和δ57Fe组成相对均一,如果上述同位素组成偏离正常地幔值,则说明岩石圈地幔经历了熔体/流体的交代作用。华北克拉通地区地幔橄榄岩捕虏体中橄榄石的Li、Mg和Fe同位素组成研究表明：该区的岩石圈地幔经历了多个阶段、不同来源的熔体/流体的改造过程。     

华北克拉通西部陆块北缘新生代岩石圈地幔特征的初步研究

凉城、四子王旗、三义堂和大同的地幔包体的岩石学和矿物的主、微量元素成分显示华北克拉通中、西部北缘总体为过渡型岩石圈地幔,为原始地幔经过不同程度的熔体抽取和后期交代富集作用的残留.凉城岩石圈地幔经历的熔体抽取程度最低,后期交代富集作用比较强烈,这与其橄榄岩中尖晶石的Cr#较低,并且共存的单斜辉石的Mg#较低一致.三义堂岩石圈地幔经历的熔体抽取程度最高,后期交代富集作用最强烈,不同样品甚至同一样品中不同单斜辉石颗粒的La/Yb和LREE配分模式变化范围非常大,且矿物边部比核部更富集微量元素.大同、四子王旗岩石圈地幔经历的熔体抽取程度介于凉城和三义堂之间,但后期的交代富集作用明显不如凉城和三义堂强烈.研究区的岩石圈地幔主要受硅酸盐熔体交代作用的影响,只有三义堂岩石圈地幔还可能也受到了碳酸盐交代作用的影响.     

Metasomatic origin of garnet xenocrysts from the V. Grib kimberlite pipe,Arkhangelsk region,NW Russia

This paper presents new major and trace element data from 150 garnet xenocrysts from the V. Grib kimberlite pipe located in the central part of the Arkhangelsk diamondiferous province (ADP). Based on the concentrations of Cr₂O₃, CaO, TiO₂ and rare earth elements (REE) the garnets were divided into seven groups: (1) lherzolitic “depleted” garnets (“Lz 1”), (2) lherzolitic garnets with normal REE patterns (“Lz 2”), (3) lherzolitic garnets with weakly sinusoidal REE patterns (“Lz 3”), (4) lherzolitic garnets with strongly sinusoidal REE patterns (“Lz 4”), (5) harzburgitic garnets with sinusoidal REE patterns (“Hz”), (6) wehrlitic garnets with weakly sinusoidal REE patterns (“W”), (7) garnets of megacryst paragenesis with normal REE patterns (“Meg”). Detailed mineralogical and geochemical garnet studies and modeling results suggest several stages of mantle metasomatism influenced by carbonatite and silicate melts. Carbonatitic metasomatism at the first stage resulted in refertilization of the lithospheric mantle, which is evidenced by a nearly vertical CaO-Cr₂O₃ trend from harzburgitic (“Hz”) to lherzolitic (“Lz 4”) garnet composition. Harzburgitic garnets (“Hz”) have probably been formed by interactions between carbonatite melts and exsolved garnets in high-degree melt extraction residues. At the second stage of metasomatism, garnets with weakly sinusoidal REE patterns (“Lz 3”, “W”) were affected by a silicate melt possessing a REE composition similar to that of ADP alkaline mica-poor picrites. At the last stage, the garnets interacted with basaltic melts, which resulted in the decrease CaO-Cr₂O₃ trend of “Lz 2” garnet composition. Cr-poor garnets of megacryst paragenesis (“Meg”) could crystallize directly from the silicate melt which has a REE composition close to that of ADP alkaline mica-poor picrites. P-T estimates of the garnet xenocrysts indicate that the interval of ～60–110 km of the lithospheric mantle beneath the V. Grib pipe was predominantly affected by the silicate melts, whereas the lithospheric mantle deeper than 150 km was influenced by the carbonatite melts.     

Composition and thermal evolution of cratonic mantle beneath the central Archean Slave Province, NWT, Canada

The composition and thermal evolution of the upper mantle lithosphere beneath the central Archean Slave Province has been studied using mineral chemical and petrographic data from mantle xenoliths entrained in the Torrie kimberlite pipe. Coarse-, granuloblastic-, and porphyroclastic- textured harzburgite, lherzolite, and pyroxenite xenoliths yield equilibration temperatures ranging between 850 and 1350 °C. Thermobarometry of these samples requires a minimum lithospheric thickness of approximately 180 km at the time of kimberlite magmatism. The distribution of pressures and temperatures of equilibration for the xenoliths lie on a calculated 42 mWm⁻² paleogeotherm, ∼10 mWm⁻² lower than the present heat flow measured at Yellowknife, near the SW margin of the Slave Province. The Mg# [Mg/(Mg + Fe)] of olivine in peridotites varies between 0.906 and 0.938 with an average of 0.920. The Torrie xenolith suite shows variable degrees of serpentinization and/or carbonation with the rim compositions of many clinopyroxene grains showing Ca enrichment, but in general, the xenoliths are homogeneous at all scales. The Torrie xenoliths are rich in orthopyroxene similar to low temperature (<1100 °C) peridotites from southern Africa, and Siberia. Estimates of bulk rock composition based on mineral chemical and modal data reveal a negative correlation between Si and Fe, similar to peridotite xenoliths from Udachnaya. The similarity of olivine Mg#s with other cratons combined with the negative correlation of Fe and Si suggest that the lithosphere beneath the Slave craton has experienced a evolution similar to other cratons globally. Received: 22 January 1998 / Accepted: 27 August 1998     

Iron isotope variations in spinel peridotite xenoliths from North China Craton: implications for mantle metasomatism

Iron isotopes, together with mineral elemental compositions of spinel peridotite xenoliths and clinopyroxenites from Hannuoba and Hebi Cenozoic alkaline basalts, were analyzed to investigate iron isotopic features of the lithospheric mantle beneath the North China Craton. The results show that the Hannuoba spinel peridotite xenoliths have small but distinguishable Fe isotopic variations. Overall variations in δ⁵⁷Fe are in a range of ?0.25 to 0.14‰ for olivine, ?0.17 to 0.17‰ for orthopyroxene, ?0.21 to 0.27‰ for clinopyroxene, and ?0.16 to 0.26‰ for spinel, respectively. Clinopyroxene has the heaviest iron isotopic ratio and olivine the lightest within individual sample. No clear linear relationships between the mineral pairs on “δ-δ” plot suggest that iron isotopes of mineral separates analyzed have been affected largely by some open system processes. The broadly negative correlations between mineral iron isotopes and metasomatic indexes such as spinel Cr#, (La/Yb)_N ratios of clinopyroxenes suggest that iron isotopic variations in different minerals and peridotites were probably produced by mantle metasomatism. The Hebi phlogopite-bearing lherzolite, which is significantly modified by metasomatic events, appears to be much heavier isotopically than clinopyroxene-poor lherzolite. This study further confirms previous conclusions that the lithospheric mantle has distinguishable and heterogeneous iron isotopic variations at the xenoliths scale. Mantle metasomatism is the most likely cause for the iron isotope variations in mantle peridotites.     

Geochemistry and oxygen isotopic composition of olivine in kimberlites from the Arkhangelsk province: Contribution of mantle metasomatism

The paper presents data on the composition of olivine macrocrysts from two Devonian kimberlite pipes in the Arkhangelsk diamond province: the Grib pipe (whose kimberlite belongs to type I) and Pionerskaya pipe (whose kimberlite is of type II, i.e., orangeite). The dominant olivine macrocrysts in kimberlites from the two pipes significantly differ in geochemical and isotopic parameters. Olivine macrocrysts in kimberlite from the Grib pipe are dominated by magnesian (Mg# = 0.92–0.93), Ti-poor (Ti < 70 ppm) olivine possessing low Ti/Na (0.05–0.23), Zr/Nb (0.28–0.80), and Zn/Cu (3–20) ratios and low Li concentrations (1.2–2.0 ppm), and the oxygen isotopic composition of this olivine δ¹⁸O = 5.64‰ is higher than that of olivine in mantle peridotites (δ¹⁸O = 5.18 ± 0.28‰). Olivine macrocrysts in kimberlite from the Pionerskaya pipe are dominated by varieties with broadly varying Mg# = 0.90–0.93, high Ti concentrations (100–300 ppm), high ratios Ti/Na (0.90–2.39), Zr/Nb (0.31–1.96), and Zn/Cu (12–56), elevated Li concentrations (1.9–3.4 ppm), and oxygen isotopic composition δ¹⁸O = 5.34‰ corresponding to that of olivine in mantle peridotites. The geochemical and isotopic traits of low-Ti olivine macrocrysts from the Grib pipe are interpreted as evidence that the olivine interacted with carbonate-rich melts/fluids. This conclusion is consistent with the geochemical parameters of model melt in equilibrium with the low-Ti olivine that are similar to those of deep carbonatite melts. Our calculations indicate that the variations in the δ¹⁸O of the olivine relative the “mantle range” (toward both higher and lower values) can be fairly significant: from 4 to 7‰ depending on the composition of the carbonate fluid. These variations were formed at interaction with carbonate fluid, whose δ¹⁸O values do not extend outside the range typical of mantle carbonates. The geochemical parameters of high-Ti olivine macrocrysts from the Grib pipe suggest that their origin was controlled by the silicate (water–silicate) component. This olivine is characterized by a zoned Ti distribution, with the configuration of this distribution between the cores of the crystals and their outer zones showing that the zoning of the cores and outer zones is independent and was produced during two episodes of reaction interaction between the olivine and melt/fluid. The younger episode (when the outer zone was formed) likely involved interaction with kimberlite melt. The transformation of the composition of the cores during the older episode may have been of metasomatic nature, as follows from the fact that the composition varies from grain to grain. The metasomatic episode most likely occurred shortly before the kimberlite melt was emplaced and was related to the partial melting of pyroxenite source material.     

The origin of coarse garnet peridotites in cratonic lithosphere: new data on xenoliths from the Udachnaya kimberlite, central Siberia

We report new textural and chemical data for 10 garnet peridotite xenoliths from the Udachnaya kimberlite and examine them together with recent data on another 21 xenoliths from the 80–220 km depth range. The samples are very fresh (LOI near zero), modally homogeneous and large (>100 g). Some coarse-grained peridotites show incipient stages of deformation with <10 % neoblasts at grain boundaries of coarse olivine. Such microstructures can only be recognized in very fresh rocks, because fine-grained interstitial olivine is strongly affected by alteration, and may have been overlooked in previous studies of altered peridotite xenoliths in the Siberian and other cratons. Some of the garnet peridotites are similar in composition to low-opx Udachnaya spinel harzburgites (previously interpreted as pristine melt extraction residues), but the majority show post-melting enrichments in Fe and Ti. The least metasomatized coarse peridotites were formed by 30–38 % of polybaric fractional melting between 7 and 4 GPa and ≤1–3 GPa. Our data together with experimental results suggest that garnet in these rocks, as well as in some other cratonic peridotites elsewhere, may be a residual mineral, which has survived partial melting together with olivine and opx. Many coarse and all deformed garnet peridotites from Udachnaya underwent modal metasomatism through interaction of the melting residues with Fe-, Al-, Si-, Ti-, REE-rich melts, which precipitated cpx, less commonly additional garnet. The xenoliths define a complex geotherm probably affected by thermal perturbations shortly before the intrusion of the host kimberlite magmas. The deformation in the lower lithosphere may be linked to metasomatism.     

Mineral chemistry and zircon geochronology of xenocrysts and altered mantle and crustal xenoliths from the Aries micaceous kimberlite: Constraints on the composition and age of the central Kimberley Craton,Western Australia

The Neoproterozoic (∼ 820 Ma) Aries micaceous kimberlite intrudes the central Kimberley Basin, northern Western Australia, and has yielded a suite of 27 serpentinised ultramafic xenoliths, including spinel-bearing and rare, metasomatised, phlogopite–biotite and rutile-bearing types, along with minor granite xenoliths. Proton-microprobe trace-element analysis of pyrope and chromian spinel grains derived from heavy mineral concentrates from the kimberlite has been used to define a ∼ 35–40 mW/m² Proterozoic geotherm for the central Kimberley Craton. Lherzolitic chromian pyrope highly depleted in Zr and Y, and Cr-rich magnesiochromite xenocrysts (class 1), probably were derived from depleted garnet peridotite mantle at ∼ 150 km depth. Sampling of shallower levels of the lithospheric mantle by kimberlite magmas in the north and north-extension lobes entrained high-Fe chromite xenocrysts (class 2), and aluminous spinel-bearing xenoliths, where both spinel compositions are anomalously Fe-rich for spinels from mantle xenoliths. This Fe-enrichment may have resulted from Fe–Mg exchange with olivine during slow cooling of the peridotite host rocks. Fine exsolution rods of aluminous spinel in diopside and zircon in rutile grains in spinel- and rutile-bearing serpentinised ultramafic xenoliths, respectively, suggest nearly isobaric cooling of host rocks in the lithospheric mantle, and indicate that at least some aluminous spinel in spinel-facies peridotites formed through exsolution from chromian diopside. Fe–Ti-rich metasomatism in the spinel-facies Kimberley mantle probably produced high-Ti phlogopite–biotite + rutile and Ti, V, Zn, Ni-enriched aluminous spinel ± ilmenite associations in several ultramafic xenoliths. U–Pb SHRIMP ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb zircon ages for one granite (1851 ± 10 Ma) and two serpentinised ultramafic xenoliths (1845 ± 30 Ma; 1861 ± 31 Ma) indicate that the granitic basement and lower crust beneath the central Kimberley Basin are at least Palaeoproterozoic in age. However, Hf-isotope analyses of the zircons in the ultramafic xenoliths suggest that the underlying lithospheric mantle is at least late Archean in age.     

A Re–Os isotope and PGE study of kimberlite-derived peridotite xenoliths from Somerset Island and a comparison to the Slave and Kaapvaal cratons

The concentrations of platinum-group elements (PGE; Os, Ir, Ru, Pd and Pt) and Re, and the Os isotopic compositions were determined for 33 lithospheric mantle peridotite xenoliths from the Somerset Island kimberlite field. The Os isotopic compositions are exclusively less radiogenic than estimates of bulk-earth (¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os as low as 0.1084) and require a long-term evolution in a low Re–Os environment. Re depletion model ages (T_RD) indicate that the cratonic lithosphere of Somerset Island stabilised by at least 2.8 Ga, i.e. in the Neoarchean and survived into the Mesozoic to be sampled by Cretaceous kimberlite magmatism. An Archean origin also is supported by thermobarometry (Archean lithospheric keels are characterised by >150 km thick lithosphere), modal mineralogy and mineral chemistry observations. The oldest ages recorded in the lithospheric mantle beneath Somerset Island are younger than the Mesoarchean (>3 Ga) ages recorded in the Slave craton lithospheric mantle to the southwest [Irvine, G.J., et al., 1999. Age of the lithospheric mantle beneath and around the Slave craton: a Rhenium–Osmium isotopic study of peridotite xenoliths from the Jericho and Somerset Island kimberlites. Ninth Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conf., LPI Cont., 971: 134–135; Irvine, G.J., et al., 2001. The age of two cratons: a PGE and Os-Isotopic study of peridotite xenoliths from the Jericho kimberlite (Slave craton) and the Somerset Island kimberlite field (Churchill Province). The Slave–Kaapvaal Workshop, Merrickville, Ontario, Canada]. Younger, Paleoproterozoic, T_RD model ages for Somerset Island samples are generally interpreted as the result of open system behaviour during metasomatic and/or magmatic processes, with possibly the addition of new lithospheric material during tectono-thermal events related to the Taltson–Thelon orogen. PGE patterns highly depleted in Pt and Pd generally correspond to older Archean T_RD model ages indicating closed system behaviour since the time of initial melt extraction. Younger Proterozoic T_RD model ages generally correspond to more complex PGE patterns, indicating open system behaviour with possible sulfide or melt addition. There is no correlation between the age of the lithosphere and depth, at Somerset Island.     

Erratum to: Iron isotope variations in spinel peridotite xenoliths from North China Craton: implications for mantle metasomatism

Iron isotopes, together with mineral elemental compositions of spinel peridotite xenoliths and clinopyroxenites from Hannuoba and Hebi Cenozoic alkaline basalts, were analyzed to investigate iron isotopic features of the lithospheric mantle beneath the North China Craton. The results show that the Hannuoba spinel peridotite xenoliths have small but distinguishable Fe isotopic variations. Overall variations in δ⁵⁷Fe are in a range of −0.25 to 0.14‰ for olivine, −0.17 to 0.17‰ for orthopyroxene, −0.21 to 0.27‰ for clinopyroxene, and −0.16 to 0.26‰ for spinel, respectively. Clinopyroxene has the heaviest iron isotopic ratio and olivine the lightest within individual sample. No clear linear relationships between the mineral pairs on “δ-δ” plot suggest that iron isotopes of mineral separates analyzed have been affected largely by some open system processes. The broadly negative correlations between mineral iron isotopes and metasomatic indexes such as spinel Cr#, (La/Yb)_N ratios of clinopyroxenes suggest that iron isotopic variations in different minerals and peridotites were probably produced by mantle metasomatism. The Hebi phlogopite-bearing lherzolite, which is significantly modified by metasomatic events, appears to be much heavier isotopically than clinopyroxene-poor lherzolite. This study further confirms previous conclusions that the lithospheric mantle has distinguishable and heterogeneous iron isotopic variations at the xenoliths scale. Mantle metasomatism is the most likely cause for the iron isotope variations in mantle peridotites.     

Peridotites from the Mariana Trough: first look at the mantle beneath an active back-arc basin

Two dives of the DSV Shinkai 6500 in the Mariana Trough back-arc basin in the western Pacific sampled back-arc basin mantle exposures. Reports of peridotite exposures in back-arc basin setting are very limited and the lack of samples has hindered our understanding of this important aspect of lithospheric evolution. The Mariana Trough is a slow-spreading ridge, and ultramafic exposures with associated gabbro dykes or sills are located within a segment boundary. Petrological data suggest that the Mariana Trough peridotites are moderately depleted residues after partial melting of the upper mantle. Although some peridotite samples are affected by small-scale metasomatism, there is no evidence of pervasive post-melting metasomatism or melt-mantle interaction. Spinel compositions plot in the field for abyssal peridotites. Clinopyroxenes show depletions in Ti, Zr, and REE that are intermediate between those documented for peridotites from the Vulcan and Bouvet fracture zones (the American-Antarctic and Southwest Indian ridges, respectively). The open-system melting model indicates that the Mariana Trough peridotite compositions roughly correspond to theoretical residual compositions after ~7% near-fractional melting of a depleted MORB-type upper mantle with only little melt or fluid/mantle interactions. The low degree of melting is consistent with a low magma budget, resulting in ultramafic exposure. We infer that the mantle flow beneath the Mariana Trough Central Graben is episodic, resulting in varying magma supply rate at spreading segments.     

Constraints on the Trace Element Composition of the Archean Mantle Root beneath Somerset Island, Arctic Canada

Peridotites that sample Archean mantle roots are frequentlyincompatible trace element enriched despite their refractorymajor element compositions. To constrain the trace element budgetof the lithosphere beneath the Canadian craton, trace elementand rare earth element (REE) abundances were determined fora suite of garnet peridotites and garnet pyroxenites from theNikos kimberlite pipe on Somerset Island, Canadian Arctic, theirconstituent garnet and clinopyroxene, and the host kimberlite.These refractory mantle xenoliths are depleted in fusible majorelements, but enriched in incompatible trace elements, suchas large ion lithophile elements (LILE), Th, U and light rareearth elements (LREE). Mass balance calculations based on modalabundances of clinopyroxene and garnet and their respectiveREE contents yield discrepancies between calculated and analyzedREE contents for the Nikos bulk rocks that amount to LREE deficienciesof 70–99%, suggesting the presence of small amounts ofinterstitial kimberlite liquid (0·4–2 wt %) toaccount for the excess LREE abundances. These results indicatethat the peridotites had in fact depleted or flat LREE patternsbefore contamination by their host kimberlite. LREE and Sr enrichmentin clinopyroxene and low Zr and Sr abundances in garnet in low-temperatureperidotites (800–1100°C) compared with high-temperatureperidotites (1200–1400°C) suggest that the shallowlithosphere is geochemically distinct from the deep lithospherebeneath the northern margin of the Canadian craton. The Somersetmantle root appears to be characterized by a depth zonationthat may date from the time of its stabilization in the Archean. KEY WORDS: Canada; mantle; metasomatism; peridotite; trace elements     

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.     

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。     

Chemical Variations in Peridotite Xenoliths from Vitim, Siberia: Inferences for REE and Hf Behaviour in the Garnet-Facies Upper Mantle

Peridotite xenoliths in a Miocene picrite tuff from the Vitimvolcanic province east of Lake Baikal, Siberia, are samplesof the off-craton lithospheric mantle that span a depth rangefrom the spinel to garnet facies in a mainly fertile domain.Their major and trace element compositions show some scatter(unrelated to sampling or analytical problems), which is notconsistent with different degrees of partial melting or metasomatism.Some spinel peridotites and, to a lesser degree, garnet-bearingperidotites are depleted in heavy rare earth elements (HREE)relative to middle REE (MREE), whereas some garnet peridotitesare enriched in HREE relative to MREE, with Lu abundances muchhigher than in primitive mantle estimates. Clinopyroxenes fromseveral spinel peridotites have HREE-depleted patterns, whichare normally seen only in clinopyroxenes coexisting with garnet.Garnets in peridotites with similar modal and major elementcompositions have a broad range of Lu and Yb abundances. Overall,HREE are decoupled from MREE and Hf and are poorly correlatedwith partial melting indices. It appears that elements withhigh affinity to garnet were partially redistributed in theVitim peridotite series following partial melting, with feweffects for other elements. The Lu–Hf decoupling may disturbHf-isotope depletion ages and their correlations with meltingindices. KEY WORDS: garnet peridotite; lithospheric mantle; Lu–Hf isotope system; Siberia; trace elements