Composition and processes of the mantle lithosphere in northeastern Brazil and Fernando de Noronha: evidence from mantle xenoliths

Spinel–peridotite facies mantle xenoliths in Cenozoic alkali basalts of the Pico Cabuji volcano (Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeast Brazil) and the adjacent South Atlantic oceanic island of Fernando de Noronha are studied for: (1) the information they provide on the composition of the lithospheric component in the erupted basalt geochemistry, and (2) to check the effects of the Fernando de Noronha plume track on the mantle lithosphere. Xenoliths from Pico Cabuji are protogranular lherzolites and porphyroclastic harzburgites recording average equilibrium temperatures of 825 ± 116 and 1248 ± 19 °C, respectively. Pressure in the porphyroclastic xenoliths ranges from 1.9 to 2.7 GPa (Ca-in-olivine geobarometer). Both groups show major element chemical variation trends in whole-rock and Ti and HREE (Er, Yb) variations in clinopyroxene consistent with fractional melting and basalt extraction. REE (rare earth element) profiles of clinopyroxenes vary from LREE (La, Ce) enriched (spoon shaped) to LREE depleted in the protogranular group, whereas they are slightly convex upward in most porphyroclastic clinopyroxenes. HFSE (Ti and Zr) negative anomalies are in general modest in the clinopyroxenes of both groups. Xenoliths from Fernando de Noronha have textural variations similar to those of Pico Cabuji. Protogranular and porphyroclastic samples have similar temperature (1035 ± 80 °C) and the pressure is 1–1.9 and 2.3 GPa, respectively. Whole-rock chemical variation trends overlap and extend further than those of Pico Cabuji. The trace element profiles of the clinopyroxenes of the porphyroclastic xenoliths are enriched in La up to 30 × PM and are smoothly fractionated from LREE to HREE, with deep, negative, Zr and Ti anomalies. The geochemical heterogeneities of the xenoliths from both localities are interpreted in terms of reactive porous percolation. The porphyroclastic xenoliths from Pico Cabuji represent the lower part of a mantle column (the head of a mantle diapir, at the transition conductive–adiabatic mantle), where OIB infiltration triggers melting, and the protogranular xenoliths the top of the mantle column, chromatographically enriched by percolation at a low melt/rock ratio. This interpretation may also apply for Fernando de Noronha, but the different geochemical signature recorded by the clinopyroxenes requires a different composition of the infiltrated melt. Nd and Sr isotopes of the Pico Cabuji porphyroclastic clinopyroxenes (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd= 0.51339–0.51255, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.70275–0.70319) and of Fernando de Noronha (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd=0.51323–0.51285, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.70323–0.70465) plot on distinct arrays originating from a similar, isotopically depleted composition and trending to low Nd–low Sr (EMI) and low Nd–high Sr (EMII), respectively. Correlation of the isotope variation with geochemical parameters indicates that the isotopic variation was induced by the metasomatic component, of EMI type at Pico Cabuji and of EMII type at Fernando de Noronha. These different components enriched a lithosphere isotopically similar to DMM (depleted MORB mantle) at both localities. At Fernando de Noronha, the isotopic signature of the metasomatic component is similar to that of the ∼ 8 Ma old lavas of the Remedios Formation, suggesting that this is the age of metasomatism. At Pico Cabuji, the mantle xenoliths do not record the high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr component present in the basalts. We speculate that the EMII component derives from a lithospheric reservoir, which was not thermally affected during mantle metasomatism at Pico Cabuji, but was mobilized by the hotspot thermal influence at Fernando de Noronha. This interpretation provides a plausible explanation for the presence of distinct metasomatic components at the two localities, which would be difficult to reconcile with their genetic relationship with the same plume. Received: 12 June 1999 / Accepted: 13 December 1999     

Petrology of late proterozoic mafic dikes in the Nico Perez region,central Uruguay

Summary Tholeiitic basaltic and basaltic andesite dikes of Brasiliano (or PanAfrican) age ( 600 Ma) intrude the basement of the Nico Perez region, Uruguay. Major and trace element geochemistry of the basalts indicates that they suffered fractionation in shallow magma chambers. The variation in element ratios, which remain virtually unchanged during fractionation (K/Rb, Rb/Ba, Ba/Nb, La/Nb, Zr/Nb and Ti/Zr), indicate that the dikes are not strictly comagmatic. However, they have certain features in common: LILE and LREE enrichment with respect to HFSE and HREE; high Rb/Ba (> 0.9) and Rb/Sr (> 0.08); low K/Rb (< 214); negative Nb and Ti anomalies (La _n /Nb _n > 2; Ba/Nb > 22 Ti/Zr < 60).⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd at 665 Ma are in the range 0.7052 – 0.7119 and 0.51158 – 0.51177, respectively.The lack of correlations between isotope and trace element variations indicate that these characteristics are not controlled by crustal contamination of the melts. They are interpreted as being due to the melting of an enriched mantle (C1) under the influence of a fluid-rich component (C2) which stabilized a Nb-retaining titanate phase in the residuum. Although this process may be related to a subduction environment, it is also possible that it occurred in an ensialic region by the interaction of deep mantle fluids with the lithospheric continental mantle.The parent mantle underlying the early Proterozoic (1.8 Ga) Florida region had isotope and geochemical characteristics which could evolve to the values observed in the adjacent Nico Perez region. It is therefore proposed that mantle enrichment took place in the early Proterozoic and that this mantle melted under the influence of fluids in the late Proterozoic to derive the Nico Perez dikes.

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Petrologie von spätproterozoischen, mafischen Gängen in der Nico Perez-Region, Zentral Uruguay

Zusammenfassung In das Grundgebirge der Nico Perez-Region, Uruguay, intrudierten tholeiitische und basaltandesitische Gange panafrikanischen (Brasiliano) Alters ( 600 Ma). Die Hauptund Spurenelementgeochemie der Basalte zeigt eine Fraktionierung in seichten Magmakammern an. Die Streuung jener Elementverhältnisse, die während der Fraktionierung scheinbar unverändert bleiben (K/Rb, Rb/Ba, Ba/Nb, La/Nb, Zr/Nb und Ti/Zr), weist darauf hin, daß die Gänge nicht streng komagmatisch sind. Sie haben aber dennoch bestimmte Merkmale gemeinsam: Anreicherung von LILE und LREE in Bezug auf HFSE and HREE; hohes Rb/Ba (> 0, 9) and Rb/Sr (> 0, 08); niedriges K/Rb (< 214); negative Anornalien bei Nb and Ti (La _n /Nb _n > 2; Ba/Nb > 22, Ti/Zr < 60). Bei 665 Ma liegen⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr und¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd im Bereich von 0, 7052 bis 0, 7119 beziehungsweise von 0,51158 bis 0,51177.Fehlende Korrelationen zwischen Isotopen- und Spurenelement-Streuungen zeigen, daß these Eigenschaften nicht durch Kontamination der Schmelzen mit Krustenmaterial kontrolliert werden. Sie werden mit der Aufschmelzung von angereichertem Mantel (C1) unter dem Einfluß einer Fluid-reichen Komponente (C2) erklärt. Diese Komponente stabilisierte eine Titanat-Phase im Residuum, die Nb zurückhielt. Obwohl dieser Prozeß einem Subduktions-Milieu zugeordnet werden kann, ist es auch möglich, daß er in einem intrakontinentalen Bereich durch Wechselwirkung von Fluiden aus dem tiefen Mantel mit dem kontinentalen Lithosphärenmantel stattfand.Der Ausgangsmantel, der die frühproterbzoische (1, 8 Ga) Florida-Region unterlagert, weist isotopische and geochemische Merkmale auf, aus denen sich die in der benachbarten Nico Perez-Region beobachteten Werte entwickelt haben könnten. Daher wird angenommen, daß die Anreicherung im Mantel im frühen Proterozoikum stattfand und daß dieser Mantel unter tern Einfluß von Fluiden im späten Proterozoikum Schmelzen bildete, von denen die Gange von Nico Perez abgeleitet werden können.

     

The helium abundance and ΔY/ΔZ in lower main-sequence stars

We use nearby K dwarf stars to measure the helium-to-metal enrichment ratio  Δ Y /Δ Z   , a diagnostic of the chemical history of the solar neighbourhood. Our sample of K dwarfs has homogeneously determined effective temperatures, bolometric luminosities and metallicities, allowing us to fit each star to the appropriate stellar isochrone and determine its helium content indirectly. We use a newly computed set of Padova isochrones which cover a wide range of helium and metal content.
Our theoretical isochrones have been checked against a congruous set of main-sequence binaries with accurately measured masses, to discuss and validate their range of applicability. We find that the stellar masses deduced from the isochrones are usually in excellent agreement with empirical measurements. Good agreement is also found with empirical mass-luminosity relations.
Despite fitting the masses of the stars very well, we find that anomalously low helium content (lower than primordial helium) is required to fit the luminosities and temperatures of the metal-poor K dwarfs, while more conventional values of the helium content are derived for the stars around solar metallicity.
We have investigated the effect of diffusion in stellar models and the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) in deriving metallicities. Neither of these is able to resolve the low-helium problem alone and only marginally if the cumulated effects are included, unless we assume a mixing-length which is strongly decreasing with metallicity. Further work in stellar models is urgently needed.
The helium-to-metal enrichment ratio is found to be  Δ Y /Δ Z = 2.1 ± 0.9  around and above solar metallicity, consistent with previous studies, whereas open problems still remain at the lowest metallicities. Finally, we determine the helium content for a set of planetary host stars.     

The Serra Pelada Au-PGE deposit, Serra dos Carajás (Pará State, Brazil): geological and geochemical indications for a composite mineralising process

The Serra Pelada Au-PGE-rich deposit is located in the Serra dos Carajás, a leading mining area in Brazil. This region is characterised by a complex geological and structural framework and is affected by deep lateritisation which has lasted for more than 70 Ma. The Serra Pelada deposit is emplaced in a late-Archean low-grade metasedimentary sequence (Rio Fresco/Águas Claras Formation) which is host to other gold deposits in the region (Igarapé Bahia, Águas Claras). The Rio Fresco/Águas Claras sequence was deposited in tectonic basins developed on Archean basement and Au-bearing greenstone terranes which were intruded by PGE-rich layered mafic complexes (e.g. Luanga). The Serra Pelada mineralisation is located along a regional, complex system of strike-slip faults (Cinzento-Carajás systems) which were active during the late Archean to early Proterozoic. The mineralisation appears to be concentrated along a faulted hinge zone of a fold. Ore zone rock facies are dominated by low-grade ferruginous to carbonaceous metasiltstones and minor sandstones, locally brecciated and cemented by quartz (-sulphide) stockwork. Supergene alteration led to partial to total transformation into friable aggregates of kaolinite, Fe oxide-hydroxides, silica and secondary phosphate-sulphates even at depths exceeding 200 m. Precious metals are exceptionally enriched, with up to more than 1,000 ppm Au+PGE in some peculiar ferruginous-graphitic zones locally called "hidrotermalito". Geochemistry shows complex patterns of major and trace elements, particularly rare-earth elements (REE), in mineralised vs. nonmineralised samples. These patterns are interpreted in terms of variable degree of superposition of hydrothermal and supergene alteration. Precious metals show progressive increase from samples with hydrothermal imprint to samples with supergene imprint. The geological evolution of the Carajás region and the characteristics of mineralisation at Serra Pelada may suggest a composite mineralising process: hydrothermal activity (by fluids likely originated from granitoids) was followed by supergene alteration during long-lasting lateritisation to develop extreme precious metal enrichments in a geological context probably already anomalous for Au and PGE.     

Petrology of potassic alkaline ultramafic and carbonatitic rocks from Planalto da Serra (Mato Grosso State), Brazil

The Planalto da Serra igneous rocks form plugs, necks and dykes of carbonate-rich ultramafic lamprophyres (aillikites and glimmerites with kamafugitic affinity) and carbonatites (alvikites and beforsites). Phlogopite and/or tetraphlogopite, diopside and melanitic garnet are restricted to aillikitic rock-types, whereas pyroclore occurs only in carbonatites. Aillikites and carbonatites are altered to hydrotermalites, having chlorite and serpentine as dominant minerals. Planalto da Serra igneous rock association has kamafugitic affinity (i.e. effusive, ultrapotassic. High LREE/HREE fractionation, incompatible elements data and Sr-Nd isotopes, suggest that the K-ultramafic alkaline and carbonatite rocks originated from a variably metasomatized mantle source enriched in radiogenic Sr. Crustal contamination is negligible or absent. Age values of 600 Ma rule out the geochronological relationship between the investigated intrusions and the Mesozoic alkaline bodies from the Azimuth 125° lineament. The TDM model ages allow to conclude that Planalto da Serra magma is derived from the partial melting of a mantle source metasomatised by K-rich carbonatated melt during the Early to Late Neoproterozoic. On the basis of alkaline magmatism repetitions at 600 Ma and 90–80 Ma we question the subsistence of a stationary mantle plume for so long time.     

The effect of the Fernando de Noronha plume on the mantle lithosphere in north-eastern Brazil

New xenolith occurrences in the Cenozoic alkali basalts of north-eastern Brazil have been studied in order to constrain the possible imprint on the continental mantle lithosphere of its passage over the Fernando de Noronha plume and the regional mantle processes. Texturally, the lherzolite and harzburgite xenoliths define three groups: group 1, porphyroclastic; group 2, protogranular; group 3, transitional between groups 1 and 2. Equilibrium temperatures are highest for group 1 and lowest for group 2. Clinopyroxenes from group 1 peridotites have Primitive Mantle (PM)-normalised REE patterns varying from L-MREE-enriched convex-upward, typical of phases in equilibrium with alkaline melts, to LREE-enriched, spoon-shaped, to LREE-enriched, steadily fractionated in a wehrlite. Group 2 clinopyroxenes show patterns slightly depleted in LREE to nearly flat. The M-HREE are at 3–5 ×PM concentration level, as typical in fertile lithospheric lherzolites. Most of group 3 clinopyroxenes show LREE-depleted patterns similar to the group 2 ones, but in two samples the clinopyroxenes are characterised by LREE-enriched, spoon-shaped profiles. Sr and Nd isotopes of the group 1 clinopyroxenes form an array between DM and EMI-like components, both of them are also present in the host basalts. Melts estimated to be in equilibrium with the group 1 clinopyroxenes having L-MREE-enriched, convex-upward patterns are similar to the Cenozoic alkaline magmas. The groups 2 and 3 clinopyroxenes define two distinct compositional fields at higher ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd values, correlated with their LREE composition. The isotopes of the groups 2 and 3 LREE-depleted clinopyroxenes form an array from DM towards the isotopic composition of Mesozoic tholeiitic basalts from north-eastern Brazil. Melts in equilibrium with these clinopyroxenes are similar to these basalts, thus suggesting that such xenoliths record geochemical imprint from older melt-related processes.

The LREE-enriched spoon-shaped group 3 clinopyroxenes are characterised by the highest ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd values at any given ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr composition. These results are interpreted in terms of a lithospheric mantle section which underwent thermo-chemical and mechanical erosion by infiltration of asthenospheric alkali basalts having EMI-like isotope characteristics during Cenozoic time. At that time, the lithospheric mantle consisted of fertile lherzolites and harzburgites recording the geochemical imprint of Mesozoic mantle processes. The onset of the interaction between lithospheric peridotites and alkaline melts was characterised by the porous flow percolation of small melt volumes that induced chromatographic enrichments in highly incompatible elements and the isotope signature of the spoon-shaped, group 3 clinopyroxenes. Group 1 peridotites represent the base of the lithospheric column eroded by the ascending alkaline melts, whereas the group 2 documents the shallower lithospheric section, with group 3 being the transition. The similarity of processes and isotope components in the protogranular xenoliths from Fernando de Noronha area and north-eastern Brazil supports the hypothesis that the lithosphere beneath Fernando de Noronha is a detached portion of the continental one. Furthermore, the similarity in terms of textural and geochemical features documented by the mantle samples coming from the two different regions seems to confirm the interference of the two regions with the same plume.