Petrology of basaltic xenoliths in andesitic to dacitic host lavas from Martinique (lesser antilles): Evidence for magma mixing

Some recent calc-alkaline andesites and dacites from southern and central Martinique contain basic xenoliths belonging to two main petrographic types:

The most frequent one has a hyalodoleritic texture (« H type ») with hornblende + plagioclase + Fe-Ti oxides, set in an abundant glassy and vacuolar groundmass.

The other one exhibits a typical porphyritic basaltic texture (« B type ») and mineralogy (olivine + plagioclase + orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + Fe-Ti oxides and scarce, or absent hornblende).

Gradual textural and mineralogical transitions occur between these two types (« I type ») with the progressive development of hornblende at the expense of olivine and pyroxenes. Mineralogical and chemical studies show no primary compositional correlations between the basaltic xenoliths and their host lavas, thus demonstrating that the former are not cognate inclusions; they are remnants of basaltic liquids intruded into andesitic to dacitic magma chambers. This interpretation is strengthened by the typical calc-alkaline basaltic composition of the xenoliths, whatever their petrographic type (« H », « I » or « B »). The intrusion of partly liquid, hot basaltic magma into colder water-saturated andesitic to dacitic bodies leads to drastic changes in physical conditions. The two components; the basaltic xenoliths are quenched and homogeneized with their host lavas with respect to T^o;fO₂ andpH₂O conditions. « H type » xenoliths represent original mostly liquid basalts in which such physical changes lead to the formation of hornblende and the development of a vacuolar and hyalodoleritic texture. The temperature increase of the acid magma depends on the amount of the intruding basalt and on the thermal contrast between the two components. The textural diversity which characterizes the xenoliths reflects the cooling rate of the basaltic fragments and/or their position relative to the basaltic bodies (chilled margins or inner, more crystallized, portions). In addition to physical equilibration (T, fO₂) between the magmas, mixing involves:

mechanical transfer of phenocrysts from one component to another, in both directions;

volatile transfer to the basaltic xenoliths, with chemical exchanges.

It is here demonstrated that a short period of time (some ten hours to a few days) separates the mixing event from the eruption, outlining the importance of magma mixing in the triggering of eruption. The common occurrence of basaltic xenoliths (generally of « H » type) in calc-alkaline lavas is emphasized, showing that this mechanism is of first importance in calc-alkaline magma petrogenesis.     

Geothermometry and geobarometry of a cummingtonite-bearing dacite from Martinique,Lesser Antilles

A dacite sample from a nuée ardente deposit at Pitons du Carbet, Martinique, contained cummingtonite, orthopyroxene, quartz, magnetite, and ilmenite as phenocrysts, and thus was suitable for evaluation of the conditions of crystallization of nuée ardente materials according to the method of Ewart et al. (1971). The estimations were obtained with the aid of a Fortran IV program, which permitted the operation of all the arrangements between the available microprobe analyses. The results indicated that the phenocrystic association crystallized at moderate temperatures (ca. 750° C), under high oxygen fugacities (> NNO) and total pressures (2.3–4.5 Kb, with a maximal density of points at about 3.5 Kb), and water pressures approximating total pressures. The groundmass Fe-Ti oxides equilibrated at lower temperatures and under relatively increasing oxygen fugacities, the variation of which is tentatively ascribed to the aerial emplacement of the nuée ardente materials. The phenocryst data imply that in the case studied the high fluid pressures characterizing the nuée ardente eruptions were not acquired at a shallow level because of the deep intratelluric stage of crystallization of these differentiated calcalkalic magmas.     

Ground water potential in fractured aquifers of Ophiolite formations,Port Blair,South Andaman Islands using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES)

Ground water occurs in weathered formations of unsaturated zone and fractured rocks of saturated zone. The ground water occurring in the unsaturated zone is not sustainable while the ground water occurring in the fractured rocks are sustainable if properly exploited. But, targeting the productive fractured rocks needs careful evaluation and systematic approach of geophysical survey owing to the heterogeneity, magmatic and metamorphic activities of multiple episodes of rocks. Hence, judicious planning in ground water exploration is warranted because of the huge money involved in drilling, manpower and time factor. In this context, an attempt has been made to locate the fractured rocks of ground water potential in the Ophiolite formations of Port Blair, South Andaman Islands using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) since the ground water database of Andaman and Nicobar islands is poor as not much work has been carried out so far and the ground water is not properly utilised. The ERT have been carried out along different azimuth of fractures to ascertain the resistivities in vertical and horizontal direction and the conductivity and/or the resistivity of the varied fractures was also evaluated by spot VES. The 2-D Electrical Resistivity Images in conjunction with the geoelectrical parameters brought out by VES revealed that E-W fractures are expected to be productive fractures showing more conductivity as it is compared with the NE-SW and NW-SE fractures. The potentiality of the E-W fractures was also validated with the borehole data.