Mafic potassic lavas of the Quaternary West Eifel volcanic field

Major and trace element analyses for 103 volcanoes of the Quaternary West Eifel volcanic field show the lavas to be dominantly primitive (MgO>7 wt.%) and potassic (Na₂O/K₂O∼1). The rocks are divided into (1) a foidite (F)-suite, volumetrically dominant and consisting of four types: leucitites and nephelinites, melilite-bearing foidites, olivine-free foidites, sodalite-bearing melilite-free foidites, and (2) a younger olivine-nephelinite and basanite (ONB)-suite, concentrated in the southeastern part of the field. Dominantly cpx-phyric F-suite magmas differ from the dominantly ol-phyric ONB-suite mainly in higher K₂O/ Na₂O and CaO/Al₂O₃-ratios, higher Rb, Cu, H₂O, CO₂ and LREE concentrations and slightly lower Sr, Ni and Y contents. Most magmas have fractionated small amounts of olivine, clinopyroxene, and minor phlogopite. Systematic compositional variations within volcanoes or volcano groups are rare. Five more differentiated volcanoes (2 tephrites, 3 phonolites) occur in the center of the field. Their magmas are interpreted to have formed by fractionation within crustal magma chambers. Chemical differences between primary magmas (43% of volcanoes sampled) within both suites can be explained by different degrees of crystal fractionation at high pressures in the ascending magma column and possibly by varying degrees of partial melting (about 2–8%) in a garnetlherzolite mantle source. Distinct isotope ratios, parallel element variations, and different ratios of similarly incompatible elements, however, indicate a heterogeneous mantle beneath the West Eifel. The F-suite magmas originated from a mantle source more strongly enriched in alkalis and incompatible elements than the ONB-suite mantle source. The following model is proposed, based also on experimental studies and geophysical data: Within a large low velocity body of garnet-lherzolite, enriched in fluids and LIL elements (metasomatized mantle) between about 50 and 150 km depth, two different magma types were produced at different depths. Above a detachment level at about 50 km depth, these magmas rose to different stagnation levels or rapidly directly to the surface along vertical, dominantly NW-SE orientated fissures. The F-suite magmas probably formed in a phlogopite-bearing, CO₂-rich, strongly metasomatized source at about 100 km, the ON-Bmagmas from an amphibole-bearing, CO₂-poorer melting anomaly at about 60–75 km depth.