长白山新生代玄武岩中橄榄岩包体所揭示的岩石圈地幔特征

长白山地区位于华北克拉通东北部,广泛出露富含地幔橄榄岩包体的新生代玄武岩,为研究岩石圈地幔的性质和演化提供了优越条件。本文对长白山地区天池和龙岗新生代火山岩群中尖晶石相橄榄岩包体进行了岩石学、全岩主微量元素、矿物主量元素、单斜辉石微量元素和Sr-Nd-Hf同位素分析。研究结果表明,尖晶石相橄榄岩包体由二辉橄榄岩和少量的方辉橄榄岩组成,Mg#值为87.4～91.2,表现出新生饱满的特征,平衡温度为900～1100℃。橄榄石的Mg#值(%Fo)为85.6～91.3。单斜辉石包括四种类型:(1)轻稀土元素严重亏损型;(2)轻稀土元素亏损型;(3)向右微倾型和(4)"勺型"。单斜辉石表现出Sr同位素(87Sr/86Sr=0.702749～0.707276)整体亏损,部分样品富集的特征,单斜辉石的Nd-Hf同位素呈现出亏损特征(143Nd/144Nd=0.512886～0.51333、εHf=+17.7～+49.8)。长白山地区二辉和方辉橄榄岩分别经历了小于10%和略大于10%的部分熔融作用,并受到富水硅酸盐熔体的地幔交代作用。太平洋板块向西俯冲作用使得软流圈上涌并携带大量壳源物质进入地幔深部,与岩石圈地幔发生橄榄岩-熔体反应,形成了长白山地区不均一的岩石圈地幔,以新增生饱满地幔为主,夹有少量古老难熔岩石圈地幔碎片。     

吉林省伊通地区橄榄岩包体的同位素特征与岩石圈地幔时代

吉林省伊通新生代火山群中大孤山所伴生的东小山火山含有丰富的地幔橄榄岩包体,详细的岩石学和矿物学工作显示,这些包体的主要岩石类型为尖晶石二辉橄榄岩,含有少量的方辉橄榄岩和异剥橄榄岩。包体的结构类型多样,包括粒状变晶结构、碎斑状结构、糜棱结构和筛状变晶结构。主量元素及矿物化学资料表明,这些地幔橄榄岩包体大都比较饱满,说明其所经历的部分熔融程度较低。微量元素显示,包体在形成以后经受过不同程度地幔交代作用的影响。矿物平衡温度计算结果表明包体的平衡温度为989～1142℃,来源深度约为40～70km。Sr-Nd-Hf同位素资料反映二辉橄榄岩包体具有亏损地幔的特征。Re-Os同位素资料显示上述岩石圈地幔的主体形成于显生宙期间,少量具有中元古代Re亏损年龄的样品所代表的古老地幔与本区上覆地壳成因无关,可能是软流圈中固有的较古老的大陆岩石圈地幔。     

内蒙古阿尔山——柴河地区陆下岩石圈地幔性质研究——第四纪碱性玄武岩中橄榄岩捕掳体中单斜辉石微量元素证据

阿尔山—柴河第四纪碱性玄武岩中地幔捕掳体为尖晶石相的二辉橄榄岩和方辉橄榄岩,方辉橄榄岩数量略多于二辉橄榄岩。采用激光剥蚀等离子体质谱(LA--ICP--MS)对研究区地幔橄榄岩中的单斜辉石和橄榄石等矿物进行了成分分析,结合橄榄岩包体的岩相学、岩石化学的特征,重点探讨了研究区所经历的部分熔融作用和地幔交代作用。结果显示,少数样品的熔融程度5%,大多数样品熔融程度范围为10%~20%,研究区陆下岩石圈地幔性质以难熔、亏损为主要特征。同时也经历了复杂的交代作用改造,交代介质为富挥发组分的硅酸盐熔/流体。与华北克拉通东北缘陆下岩石圈地幔比较,推测研究区遭受破坏和改造的程度较小,并保留有相当量的古老地幔残余。     

吉林蛟河地幔橄榄岩捕虏体的Sr-Nd-Hf-Os同位素特征与岩石圈地幔时代

吉林省蛟河市境内大石河新生代玄武岩中含有丰富的地幔橄榄岩包体,详细的岩石学与矿物学研究显示,这些包体的主要岩石类型为尖晶石二辉橄榄岩-方辉橄榄岩,未发现石榴石橄榄岩。岩相学及地球化学资料显示它们都是经历过熔体抽取而形成的岩石圈地幔残留。矿物平衡温度计算发现,本区的这些地幔橄榄岩包体来自地下40～60km 深度,且下部以二辉橄榄岩为主,而上部以贫单斜辉石的二辉橄榄岩和方辉橄榄岩为主,显示明显的岩石圈地幔分层现象。Sr-Nd-Hf 同位素资料反映这些地幔包体均表现为亏损性质,而 Re-Os 同位素资料确定上述岩石圈地幔形成于中元古代,明显老于上覆地壳的新元古宙时代,反映壳幔年龄上的解耦。因此我们推测,该区曾经历过华北克拉通类似的早期岩石圈地幔的整体丢失事件,然后形成于其它地区的中元古宙岩石圈地幔在本区增生。     

华北中、新生代岩石圈地幔的交代作用：含金云母地幔岩提供的证据

本文对华北克拉通三个不同地区(河北汉诺坝、内蒙古集宁三义堂、河南鹤壁)新发现的含金云母尖晶石二辉橄榄岩和尖晶石橄榄单斜辉石岩捕虏体进行了详细的矿物组成、单斜辉石的微量元素和 Sr-Nd 同位素研究。通过与相同地区不含金云母尖晶石二辉橄榄岩捕虏体的系统对比发现通常含金云母的地幔橄榄岩比不含金云母的地幔橄榄岩岩富 Al_2O_3、CaO、NaO、K_2O、TiO_2,但相对贫镁;其单斜辉石的 LREE 更为富集,但 Sr、Nd 同位素组成则相对亏损。这说明地幔交代作用不仅能够造成地幔橄榄岩的玄武质组分和稀土元素的富集,而且亦能够造成全岩和橄榄石 Mg~#的降低和同位素组成的相对亏损。捕虏体的 Rb-Sr 等时线年龄暗示地幔交代作用发生在中、新生代;其交代熔体来源于软流圈。同时说明华北新生代岩石圈地慢普遍存在的主、微量元素和同位素组成类似于"大洋型"岩石圈地幔的特征很可能是岩石圈地幔橄榄岩与软流圈来源的熔体的大规模反应的结果,而非真正意义上的新增生的岩石圈地幔。     

熔体再富集作用对大陆岩石圈地幔的影响

         二辉橄榄岩通常被认为是低程度部分熔融的残留,但熔体再富集作用为其成因提供了一种新的解释。熔体再富集作 用通常是指软流圈来源的玄武质熔体加入到难熔的方辉橄榄岩或纯橄岩形成更为饱满的二辉橄榄岩的过程。除了使主量元 素富集之外,熔体再富集作用还可以使微量元素与Sr-Nd 同位素从方辉橄榄岩中的富集特征转变为二辉橄榄岩所呈现的亏 损特征。对于熔体再富集作用是否改变橄榄岩的Os 同位素组成还存在较大的争议,它主要取决于加入熔体的比例,熔体中 硫的饱和程度以及熔体再富集作用发生的时间等因素。对于以低熔/岩比例为主的大陆岩石圈地幔来说,熔体再富集作用对 橄榄岩的Os 同位素组成的影响可能较为有限。除了化学成分上的影响之外,熔体的加入也会改变大陆岩石圈地幔的物理特 征。这一过程使得岩石圈地幔的渗透率增大和黏滞度降低,从而会破坏大陆岩石圈地幔的稳定性。虽然熔体再富集作用可 以影响和改变岩石圈地幔的性质,但它是否导致克拉通地幔的减薄以及克拉通破坏尚有疑问。     

兴蒙造山带北部岩石圈地幔橄榄岩氧逸度特征研究

在大兴安岭北部的诺敏和科洛地区的新生代玄武岩中发现了尖晶石相的橄榄岩包体。地幔橄榄岩中橄榄石的Mg~#说明了研究区上地幔具有部分难熔的特点。在橄榄石含量与Fo图解中,有一部分橄榄岩包体落在太古代和元古代的地幔区域,揭示了研究区的岩石圈地幔存在古老岩石圈地幔的残余。研究区方辉橄榄岩与二辉橄榄岩有显示高氧逸度值FMQ+1.95～3.01,这与一般情况下相对还原的古老岩石圈地幔的低氧逸度值形成鲜明对比,可能为古生代的古亚洲洋以及中生代的古太平洋相继俯冲到了兴蒙造山带之下,导致当时岩石圈地幔的氧化所致。在地幔包体的反应边中发现了富钾熔体(K20 1%-6%),这被认为研究区地幔经历了多期富钾流体活动,富钾流体的来源可能与俯冲再循环的壳源物质有关。     

海南岛陆缘扩张带形成及新生代岩石圈动力学机制:来自幔源包体的地球化学证据

海南岛陆缘扩张带蓬莱地区新生代玄武岩中捕获大量尖晶石二辉橄榄岩和方辉橄榄岩幔源包体。激光剥蚀等离子体质谱(LA-ICP-MS)分析结果表明,蓬莱地幔橄榄岩含有三种不同地球化学特征的单斜辉石(Cpx):(1)a类单斜辉石Mg~#=92.3~93.4,来自富集Cpx的二辉橄榄岩,具有极低的LREE和不相容元素含量,HREE平坦,Th、U、La、Sr正异常,经历了7%~10%的尖晶石相部分熔融,仅受到极低程度强不相容元素(Th、U、La、Sr)初期富集交代作用;(2)b类单斜辉石Mg~#=89.9~90.3,来自较富集Cpx的二辉橄榄岩,具有中等的LREE和LILE含量,HREE平坦,微量元素蛛网图上显示Th、U正异常,Rb、Ba、Nb、Ta、Sr、Ti负异常,经历4%~5%的尖晶石相部分熔融,可能受到了含LREE和Th、U等不相容元素的硅酸盐熔体交代;(3)c类单斜辉石Mg~#=91.4~92.8,来自贫Cpx的二辉橄榄岩和方辉橄榄岩,具有富集的LREE和LILE含量,HREE弱分异,微量元素蛛网图上显示Th、U正异常及强烈的Nb、Ta、Ti负异常,经历了8%~20%的尖晶石相部分熔融,其交代熔体可能是来自源区有石榴子石残留的碳酸盐熔体。全岩主、微量元素及模拟计算结果表明,这些幔源包体的主量元素主要受部分熔融程度影响,并且方辉橄榄岩经历的部分熔融程度大于二辉橄榄岩。地幔橄榄岩的Sr-Nd同位素组成表明该区具有MORB-OIB型亏损地幔特征。此外,蓬莱部分地幔橄榄岩包体显示正斜率的HREE分异特征((Gd/Yb)_N=0.4~0.7),暗示该区地幔经历了源自石榴子石稳定区的变压熔融,总体熔融程度为18%以上,指示了较高的地幔潜能温度。综合前人对海南岛新生代玄武岩最新研究成果,我们认为海南地幔柱可能为该区软流圈地幔置换古老岩石圈地幔提供了热源,导致了区域岩石圈地幔的破坏,从而引起包括地幔柱本身、软流圈和富集岩石圈的熔融。岩石圈地幔性质的改变和不均一性可能是海南岛陆缘扩张带新生代岩石圈减薄的主要动力学机制。     

扬子地块东段大陆岩石圈地幔的物质成分

根据苏皖地区新生代碱性玄武岩中的尖晶石二辉橄榄岩包体的化学成分，讨论了扬子地块东段大陆岩石圈地幔的物质成分。以包体的平均成分代表该区岩石圈地幔的平均成分，依照地幔地球化学演化趋势，估计了该区岩石圈地幔的原始组成。采用最近提出的二辉石地质温度计，计算了包体的平衡温度，讨论了该区岩石圈地幔物质成分在垂向上的分布和变化，上地幔橄榄岩中的玄武质组分在垂向上由上而下亏损程度逐渐减小。包体中稀土元素丰度模式反映了该区岩石圈地幔演化的多阶段性。除了程度不同的部分熔融作用外，局部地段曾有隐性地幔交代作用发生，造成了地幔橄榄岩中主量成分和稀土元素的解耦现象。     

女山地幔橄榄岩捕虏体Re-Os同位素地球化学

Re-Os同位素体系可以为大陆岩石圈地幔形成和演化提供重要制约.在近百个女山地幔橄榄岩捕虏体样品经不同程度的岩石学、岩石化学、矿物化学、单斜辉石微量元素等岩矿和地球化学研究基础上,选择了12个有代表性的样品作Re-Os同位素地球化学研究.其中有5个尖晶石二辉橄榄岩;1个尖晶石方辉橄榄岩;2个角闪石-尖晶石二辉橄榄岩;1个金云母-尖晶石二辉橄榄岩;3个石榴石-尖晶石二辉橄榄岩.     

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.     

云南马关地区岩石圈地幔组成和年龄:地幔橄榄岩包体的Re-Os同位素限制

本文对马关地区新生代碱性玄武岩中的地幔包体进行了系统的岩石学和地球化学研究,并首次进行了包体的Re-Os同位素测试。马关地区的橄榄岩包体主量成分上表现为饱满肥沃的特征;具有不同程度的轻稀土亏损特征,亏损Nb、Ti和Zr等高场强元素(HFSE)以及Ba等大离子亲石元素(LILE);橄榄岩包体的Nd同位素特征表明橄榄岩包体代表的是不均一的亏损地幔。5个橄榄岩全岩样品的Re-Os同位素分析结果表明,样品的Os含量总体较高(3.29×10^-9~3.78×10^-9),接近于造山带橄榄岩体的Os含量,Re含量变化范围较大(0.24×10^-9~0.54×10^-9),与Re的迁移能力较强有关。样品的¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os值在0.12295~0.12530之间变化,与¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁸Os值和Al₂O₃含量之间都不存在较好的相关性,说明Re-Os体系不单纯由熔体抽取过程所控制。橄榄岩包体的Re亏损年龄t_RD为254~604Ma,说明马关地区岩石圈地幔形成的时代应该在新元古代之前。马关地区岩石圈地幔并非是由软流圈上涌新增生的地幔,而是经历了如下演化历史:在新元古代之前,由原始地幔的部分熔融和熔体抽取作用形成了岩石圈地幔,之后经历了熔/流体交代和改造而发生了再富集作用,导致部分地幔橄榄岩逐渐从亏损难熔的特征向饱满肥沃转变,而未遭受熔/流体的改造的橄榄岩仍然保持了难熔亏损的特征。这种熔/流体交代和改造作用很可能与晚二叠纪峨眉山地幔柱的活动有关,而新生代以来印度-亚洲大陆碰撞导致地幔物质向东南方向的侧向流动,诱发软流圈上涌和马关地区的钾质岩浆的活动,也对马关地区岩石圈地幔的改造具有重要的影响,但由于喷发时间较新对Os同位素组成的影响还未显现出来。     

Mineralogical and geochemical constraints on the shallow origin, ancient veining, and multi-stage modification of the Lherz peridotite

New major- and trace-element data of bulk-rocks and constituent minerals, and whole-rock Re-Os isotopic compositions of samples from the Lherz Massif, French Pyrenees, reveal complex petrological relationships between the dominant lithologies of lherzolite ± olivine-websterite and harzburgite. The Lherz peridotite body contains elongate, foliation parallel, lithological strips of harzburgite, lherzolite, and olivine-websterite cross-cut by later veins of hornblende-bearing pyroxenites. Peridotite lithologies are markedly bimodal, with a clear compositional gap between harzburgites and lherzolites ± olivine-websterite. Bulk-rock and mineral major-element oxide (Mg-Fe-Si-Cr) compositions show that harzburgites are highly-depleted and result from ∼20-25 wt.% melt extraction at pressures <2 GPa. Incompatible and moderately-compatible trace-element abundances of hornblendite-free harzburgites are analogous to some mantle-wedge peridotites. In contrast, lherzolites ± olivine-websterite overlap estimates of primitive mantle composition, yet these materials are composite samples that represent physical mixtures of residual lherzolites and clinopyroxene dominated cumulates equilibrated with a LREE-enriched tholeiitic melt. Trace-element compositions of harzburgite, and some lherzolite bulk-rocks and pyroxenes have been modified by; (1) wide-spread interaction with a low-volume LREE-enriched melt +/− fluid that has disturbed highly-incompatible elements (e.g., LREEs, Zr) without enrichment of alkali- and Ti-contents; and (2) intrusion of relatively recent, small-volume, hornblendite-forming, basanitic melts linked to modal and cryptic metasomatism resulting in whole-rock and pyroxene Ti, Na and MREE enrichment.Rhenium-Os isotope systematics of Lherz samples are also compositionally bimodal; lherzolites ± olivine-websterite have chondritc to suprachondritic ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os and ¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁸Os values that overlap the range reported for Earth’s primitive upper mantle, whereas harzburgites have sub-chondritic ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os and ¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁸Os values. Various Os-model age calculations indicate that harzburgites, lherzolites, and olivine-websterites have been isolated from convective homogenisation since the Meso-Proterozoic and this broadly coincides with the time of melt extraction controlled by harzburgite Os-isotope compositions. The association between harzburgites resulting from melting in mantle-wedge environments and Os-rich trace-phases (laurite-erlichmanite sulphides and Pt-Os-Ir-alloys) suggests that a significant portion of persistent refractory anomalies in the present-day convecting mantle of Earth may be linked to ancient large-scale melting events related to wide-spread subduction-zone processing.     

Os isotopes in mantle xenoliths from the Eifel volcanic field and the Vogelsberg (Germany): age constraints on the lithospheric mantle

The effects of mantle metasomatism on the sulfide phase in mantle xenoliths in general, and on the Os isotopic system in particular, have received increased attention in recent years. Here, we report on Os isotopic systematics of metasomatized mantle xenoliths from the late Quaternary Eifel (Dreiser Weiher and Meerfelder Maar) and neighboring Vogelsberg volcanic fields, which provide insight into the effects of melt extraction and metasomatism on Os isotopes and place constraints on the evolution of the lithospheric mantle component beneath central Europe. Sixteen harzburgite, lherzolite, and pyroxenite xenoliths from the Eifel and two lherzolite xenoliths from the Vogelsberg were analyzed for Os isotopes. Samples from the anhydrous peridotite suite (Ib) are highly variable in their Os isotopes, ranging from subchondritic values (¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os=0.1236) to suprachondritic values (¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os=0.1420), indicating that some of these samples have been overprinted by the addition of radiogenic Os and have lost the primary mantle Os that was presumably present. The suprachondritic values suggest a source for this Os in a reservoir with a time-integrated Re/Os ratio greater than that of the bulk Earth. Eifel samples with Os contents >1.5 ng/g from the hydrous suite (Ia) have relatively unradiogenic Os isotope compositions (¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os=0.1208-0.1237) and Al₂O₃-Os isotopic systematics consistent with ancient melt depletion and isolation from the convecting asthenospheric mantle for time periods similar to the age of the overlying crust (~1.5 Ga) as well with results from peridotite massifs in the European region. The LREE-metasomatism and the enrichment of Os (up to 6.47 ng/g) and As (sulfide metasomatism?) in the hydrous suite is strongly inversely correlated with the Os isotope ratios, demonstrating that mantle processes such as metasomatism can significantly modify the Os isotope chemistry of mantle xenoliths.     

特提斯洋对流上地幔Os同位素组成估算的新方法及初步运用

对流上地幔Os同位素组成的准确估算是运用Re-Os同位素体系探讨地幔演化的基础。前人研究主要是以地幔橄榄岩为研究对象,由于地幔橄榄岩Os同位素存在明显的不均一性,因而直接影响估算值的准确性。对流上地幔中包含的不同亏损程度的难熔组分在部分熔融过程中难以熔融,对形成的熔体相的Os同位素组成贡献很少或者没有。因此,与对流上地幔具有相同的Os同位素组成初始值的早期分离结晶岩石(如堆晶岩),结合堆晶岩中锆石的准确定年,可以用来估算对流上地幔Os同位素组成。本文根据这一方法测试了那曲地区弧后盆地堆晶岩的Os同位素组成和锆石U-Pb年龄,推测那曲地区新特提斯洋对流上地幔Os同位素组成为碳质球粒陨石型的。根据这一模型,对比了罗布莎和东巧铬铁矿岩、含矿围岩以及不含矿围岩的Os同位素特征,揭示出矿石及围岩均具有古老大陆岩石圈地幔信息,而不含矿围岩(泽当岩体)的Os同位素组成为碳质球粒陨石型的,无古老大陆岩石圈地幔信息。     

Os-isotope constraints on the dynamics of orogenic mantle: The case of the Central Balkans

We used Os isotopic systematics to assess the geochemical relationship between the lithospheric mantle beneath the Balkans (Mediterranean), ophiolitic peridotites and lavas derived from the lithospheric mantle. In our holistic approach we studied samples of Tertiary post-collisional ultrapotassic lavas sourced within the lithospheric mantle, placer Pt alloys from Vardar ophiolites, peridotites from nearby Othris ophiolites, as well as four mantle xenoliths representative for the composition of the local mantle lithosphere. Our ultimate aim was to monitor lithospheric mantle evolution under the Balkan part of the Alpine-Himalayan belt. The observations made on Os isotope and highly siderophile element (HSE) distributions were complemented with major and trace element data from whole rocks as well as minerals of representative samples. Our starting hypothesis was that the parts of the lithospheric mantle under the Balkans originated by accretion and transformation of oceanic lithosphere similar to ophiolites that crop out at the surface.Both ophiolitic peridotites and lithospheric mantle of the Balkan sector of Alpine-Himalayan belt indicate a presence of a highly depleted mantle component. In the ophiolites and the mantle xenoliths, this component is fingerprinted by the low clinopyroxene (Cpx) contents, low Al₂O₃ in major mantle minerals, together with a high Cr content in cogenetic Cr-spinel. Lithospheric mantle-derived ultrapotassic melts have high-Fo olivine and Cr-rich spinel that also indicate an ultra-depleted component in their mantle source. Further resemblance is seen in the Os isotopic variation observed in ophiolites and in the Serbian lithospheric mantle. In both mantle types we observed an unusual increase of Os abundances with increase in radiogenic Os that we interpreted as fluid-induced enrichment of a depleted Proterozoic/Archaean precursor. The enriched component had suprachondritic Os isotopic composition and its ultimate source is attributed to the subducting oceanic slab. On the other hand, a source–melt kinship is established between heterogeneously metasomatised lithospheric mantle and lamproitic lavas through a complex vein + wall rock melting relationship, in which the phlogopite-bearing pyroxenitic metasomes with high ¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁸Os and extremely radiogenic ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os > 0.3 are produced by recycling of a component ultimately derived from the continental crust.We tentatively propose a two-stage process connecting lithospheric mantle with ophiolites and lamproites in a geologically reasonable scenario: i) ancient depleted mantle “rafts” representing fragments of lithospheric mantle “recycled” within the convecting mantle during the early stages of the opening of the Tethys ocean and further refertilized, were enriched by a component with suprachondritic Os isotopic compositions in a supra-subduction oceanic environment, probably during subduction initiation that induced ophiolite emplacement in Jurassic times. Fluid-induced partial melts or fluids derived from oceanic crust enriched these peridotites in radiogenic Os; ii) the second stage represents recycling of the melange material that hosts above mantle blocks, but also a continental crust-derived terrigenous component accreted to the mantle wedge, that will later react with each other, producing heterogeneously distributed metasomes; final activation of these metasomes in Tertiary connects the veined lithospheric mantle and lamproites by vein + wall rock partial melting to generate lamproitic melts. Our data are permissive of the view that the part of the lithospheric mantle under the Balkans was formed in an oceanic environment.     

Heterogeneous lithospheric mantle metasomatism in the eastern North China Craton: He–Ar isotopes in peridotite xenoliths from Cenozoic basalts

The abundances and isotopic compositions of Helium and Argon have been analyzed in a suite of fresh spinel peridotite xenoliths in Cenozoic basalts from the eastern North China Craton (NCC) by step-wise heating experiments, to investigate the nature of noble gas reservoirs in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath this region. The xenoliths include one harzburgite collected from Hebi in the interior of the NCC, two lherzolites from Hannuoba at the northern margin of the craton, and three lherzolites from Shanwang and Nushan on the eastern margin. ³He/⁴He ratios in most of the xenoliths are similar to those of mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) or slightly lower (2–10.5 Ra, where Ra is the ³He/⁴He ratio of the atmosphere), suggesting mixing of MORB-like and radiogenic components. One olivine separate from Nushan has a helium value of 25.3 Ra, probably suggesting cosmogenic ³He addition. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios vary from atmospheric value (296) to 1625, significantly lower than the MORB value. Available data of the peridotite xenoliths indicate the He and Ar isotopic systematics of the mantle reservoirs beneath the NCC can be interpreted as mixtures of at least three end-members including MORB-like, radiogenic and atmospheric components. We suggest that the MORB-like noble gases were derived from the underlying asthenosphere during mantle upwelling, whereas the radiogenic and recycled components probably were incorporated into the lithospheric mantle during circum-craton subduction of oceanic crust. Available data suggest that the MORB-like fluids are better preserved in the interior of the NCC, whereas the radiogenic ones are more prevalent at the margins. The Paleo-Asian ocean subduction system probably was responsible for the enriched and recycled noble gas signatures on the northern margin of the craton, while the Pacific subduction system could account for the observed He–Ar isotopic signatures beneath the eastern part. Therefore, integration of helium and argon isotopes reflects heterogeneous metasomatism in the lithospheric mantle and demonstrates the critical importance of lithospheric mantle modification related to both circum-craton subduction of oceanic crust and asthenospheric upwelling beneath the eastern NCC.     

Xenolith evidence for polybaric melting and stratification of the upper mantle beneath South China

Mantle xenoliths from Hainan and Qilin, South China have been studied to constrain the nature of the upper mantle and mantle processes beneath a continental margin. The extremely low Ti (160–245 ppm) contents in clinopyroxenes from some spinel lherzolites, indicative of high degrees of partial melting are inconsistent with the relatively high clinopyroxene modes (7.4–13%) in these samples. This inconsistency could be due to polybaric melting that started in the garnet stability field, then, after the breakdown of garnet to pyroxene and spinel, continued in the spinel stability field. Polybaric melting, due to adiabatic decompression of upwelling mantle, would leave a residual mantle in which the degree of depletion decreases with depth. The predicted stratified lithospheric mantle is evidenced by the negative correlation between the forsterite content in olivine and the equilibration temperature, proportional to the depth in the lithosphere from which the xenolith was derived. The lower part of the lithospheric mantle beneath South China consists predominantly of fertile and moderately depleted peridotites, which are either devoid of LREE enrichment, or show the trace element signature of incipient metasomatism, and plot within the Phanerozoic mantle domain. In contrast, the upper part of the mantle contains harzburgite and cpx-poor lherzolite, which are strongly affected by metasomatism of melt/fluid of highly variable composition. The anomalously high orthopyroxene mode (up to 47%) makes some of these refractory samples compositionally similar to the Proterozoic/Archean mantle. Their low equilibrium temperature (800–900 °C) points to the presence of old lithospheric relicts in the uppermost mantle beneath South China. Such lithosphere architecture may have resulted from partial replacement of Archean–Proterozoic lithosphere by asthenosphere that rose adiabatically subsequent to lithospheric thinning during the Cenozoic.     

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.     

Genesis and evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Buffalo Head Terrane, Alberta (Canada)

Mantle xenoliths and xenocrysts were retrieved from three of the 88–86 Ma Buffalo Hills kimberlites (K6, K11, K14) for a reconnaissance study of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) beneath the Buffalo Head Terrane (Alberta, Canada). The xenoliths include spinel lherzolites, one garnet spinel lherzolite, garnet harzburgites, one sheared garnet lherzolite and pyroxenites. Pyroxenitic and wehrlitic garnet xenocrysts are derived primarily from the shallow mantle and lherzolitic garnet xenocrysts from the deep mantle. Harzburgite with Ca-saturated garnets is concentrated in a layer between 135–165 km depth. Garnet xenocrysts define a model conductive paleogeotherm corresponding to a heat flow of 38–39 mW/m². The sheared garnet lherzolite lies on an inflection of this geotherm and may constrain the depth of the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB) beneath this region to ca 180 km depth.

A loss of >20% partial melt is recorded by spinel lherzolites and up to 60% by the garnet harzburgites, which may be related to lithosphere formation. The mantle was subsequently modified during at least two metasomatic events. An older metasomatic event is evident in incompatible-element enrichments in homogeneous equilibrated garnet and clinopyroxene. Silicate melt metasomatism predominated in the deep lithosphere and led to enrichments in the HFSE with minor enrichments in LREE. Metasomatism by small-volume volatile-rich melts, such as carbonatite, appears to have been more important in the shallow lithosphere and led to enrichments in LREE with minor enrichments in HFSE. An intermediate metasomatic style, possibly a signature of volatile-rich silicate melts, is also recognised. These metasomatic styles may be related through modification of a single melt during progressive interaction with the mantle. This metasomatism is suggested to have occurred during Paleoproterozoic rifting of the Buffalo Head Terrane from the neighbouring Rae Province and may be responsible for the evolution of some samples toward unradiogenic Nd and Hf isotopic compositions.

Disturbed Re–Os isotope systematics, evident in implausible model ages, were obtained in situ for sulfides in several spinel lherzolites and suggest that many sulfides are secondary (metasomatic) or mixtures of primary and secondary sulfides. Sulfide in one peridotite has unradiogenic ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os and gives a model age of 1.89±0.38 Ga. This age coincides with the inferred emplacement of mafic sheets in the crust and suggests that the melts parental to the intrusions interacted with the lithospheric mantle.

A younger metasomatic event is indicated by the occurrence of sulfide-rich melt patches, unequilibrated mineral compositions and overgrowths on spinel that are Ti-, Cr- and Fe-rich but Zn-poor. Subsequent cooling is recorded by fine exsolution lamellae in the pyroxenes and by arrested mineral reactions.

If the lithosphere beneath the Buffalo Head Terrane was formed in the Archaean, any unambiguous signatures of this ancient origin may have been obliterated during these multiple events.