Rare-earth data on monzonoritic rocks related to anorthosites and their bearing on the nature of the parental magma of the anorthositic series

Major and trace elements have been determined in monzonoritic rocks (hypersthene-monzodiorite or jotunite) from two intrusions belonging to the South Rogaland anorthositic complex (Norway). The rare-earth abundance pattern reveals no Eu anomaly, or only a very small one. This fact together with field observations suggest that these rocks represent the parental magma of the anorthositic suite. High Ti and P abundances, low Si content, high Fe/Mg and K₂O/SiO₂ ratios are characteristics of the major element geochemistry. Absolute amounts of some trace elements abundances vary distinctly between the two intrusions. K/Rb ratios as high as 1700 are observed. Partial fusion of upper mantle kaersutite is proposed as a possible mechanism of magma generation. Partition coefficients between plagioclase phenocrysts and liquid are determined.