Victoria erupts: The Newer Volcanics Province of south-eastern Australia

The Newer Volcanics Province of south-eastern Australia is often overlooked, though it comprises a multitude of volcanic features worthy of exploration. The province contains > 416 eruption centres varying in nature from simple to complex, ranging from lava shields and scoria cones to some of the largest maar volcanoes in the world. Explorable caves and lava tubes showcase well-preserved lava flow features, while the province is a fossickers dream, containing abundant mantle xenolith and megacryst collecting localities. As the most recent eruption was ~5000 bp at Mt. Gambier, the Newer Volcanics is considered an active province, and may yet provide Australia with more eruptions, adding to the glorious volcanic features of the wonderful landscape.

Criteria for interpreting kimberlite as coherent: Insights from the Muskox and Jericho kimberlites (Nunavut, Canada)

The Jurassic Muskox and Jericho kimberlites (Northern Slave Province, Nunavut, Canada) contain a variety of facies exhibiting different geometries, contact relationships, internal organisation, country rock abundance and olivine shapes, although many have similar matrix/groundmass mineralogies and textures. Five facies are examined that either have characteristics consistent with coherent rocks in general (i.e. intrusive and extrusive non-fragmental rocks) or are mineralogically and texturally similar to kimberlite described as coherent (or apparent coherent). Three facies are interpreted as coherent on the basis of: (1) geological setting, (2) apparent-porphyritic texture, (3) sharp contacts with fragmental kimberlite, (4) relative abundance of elongate and unbroken olivine crystals and (5) paucity of country rock xenoliths, while the remaining two facies are interpreted as fragmental on the basis of: (1) the gradational contacts with demonstrably fragmental kimberlite, (2) relative abundance and range of sizes of country rock lithic clasts and (3) numerous broken olivine crystals. Comparisons are made with coherent and apparent-coherent kimberlite from the literature. Our three coherent facies are similar to literature reported coherent kimberlite dykes hosted in country rock (CKd) in terms of internal organisation, low abundance of country rock xenoliths, and apparent-porphyritic texture. Conversely, our two fragmental facies share attributes with previously described pipe-filling coherent and apparent-coherent kimberlite (CKpf) in terms of geometry, internal organisation and abundance of country rock xenoliths. We conclude that CKd and most CKpf, although similar in matrix/groundmass mineralogy and texture, can be distinguished on the basis of internal organisation, country rock lithic clast abundance, texture (e.g. apparent-porphyritic texture) and possibly olivine crystal shapes and suggest that fragmental kimberlite is more common than reported.

Petrology and textural classification of the Jericho kimberlite, northern Slave Province, Nunavut, Canada

The paper presents data on petrology, bulk rock and mineral compositions, and textural classification of the Middle Jurassic Jericho kimberlite (Slave craton, Canada). The kimberlite was emplaced as three steep-sided pipes in granite that was overlain by limestones and minor soft sediments. The pipes are infilled with hypabyssal and pyroclastic kimberlites and connected to a satellite pipe by a dyke. The Jericho kimberlite is classified as a Group Ia, lacking groundmass tetraferriphlogopite and containing monticellite pseudomorphs. The kimberlite formed, during several consecutive emplacement events of compositionally different batches of kimberlite magma. Core-logging and thin-section observations identified at least two phases of hypabyssal kimberlites and three phases of pyroclastic kimberlites. Hypabyssal kimberlites intruded as a main dyke (HK1) and as late small-volume aphanitic and vesicular dykes. Massive pyroclastic kimberlite (MPK1) predominantly filled the northern and southern lobes of the pipe and formed from magma different from the HK1 magma. The MPK1 magma crystallized Ti-, Fe-, and Cr-rich phlogopite without rims of barian phlogopite, and clinopyroxene and spinel without atoll structures. MPK1 textures, superficially reminiscent of tuffisitic kimberlite, are caused by pervasive contamination by granite xenoliths. The next explosive events filled the central lobe with two varieties of pyroclastic kimberlite: (1) massive and (2) weakly bedded, normally graded pyroclastic kimberlite. The geology of the Jericho pipe differs from the geology of South African or the Prairie kimberlites, but may resemble Lac de Gras pipes, in which deeper erosion removed upper fades of resedimented kimberlites.

Difficulties in distinguishing coherent from fragmental kimberlite: A case study of the Muskox pipe (Northern Slave Province, Nunavut, Canada)

Kimberlite drill core from the Muskox pipe (Northern Slave Province, Nunavut, Canada) highlights the difficulties in distinguishing coherent from fragmental kimberlite and assessing the volcanological implications of the apparent gradational contact between the two facies. Using field log data, petrography, and several methods to quantify crystal and xenolith sizes and abundances, the pipe is divided into two main facies, dark-coloured massive kimberlite (DMK) and light-coloured fragmental kimberlite (LFK). DMK is massive and homogeneous, containing country-rock lithic clasts (~ 10%) and olivine macrocrysts (~ 15%) set in a dark, typically well crystallised, interstitial medium containing abundant microphenocrysts of olivine (~ 15%), opaques and locally monticellite, all of which are enclosed by mostly serpentine. In general, LFK is also massive and structureless, containing ~ 20% country-rock lithic clasts and ~ 12% olivine macrocrysts. These framework components are supported in a matrix of serpentinized olivine microphenocrysts (10%), microlites of clinopyroxene, and phlogopite, all of which are enclosed by serpentine. The contact between DMK and LFK facies is rarely sharp, and more commonly is gradational (from 5 cm to ~ 10 m). The contact divides the pipe roughly in half and is sub-vertical with an irregular shape, locally placing DMK facies both above and below the fragmental rocks. Most features of DMK are consistent with a fragmental origin, particularly the crystal- and xenolith-rich nature (~ 55-65%), but there are some similarities with rocks described as coherent kimberlite in the literature. We discuss possible origins of gradational contacts and consider the significance for understanding the origin of the DMK facies, with an emphasis on the complications of alteration overprinting of primary textures.

Suomen maankuoren kivilajikoostumuksen tulkinta seismisistä aineistoista

Aim of this study is to investigate composition of the crust in Finland using seismic wide-angle velocity models and laboratory measurements on P- and S-wave velocities of different rock types. The velocities adopted from wide-angle velocity models were compared with laboratory velocities of different rock types corrected for the crustal PT conditions in the study area. The wide-angle velocity models indicate that the P-wave velocity does not only increase step-wise at boundaries of major crustal layers, but there is also gradual increase of velocity within the layers. On the other hand, the laboratory measurements of velocities indicate that no single rock type is able to provide the gradual downward increasing trends. Thus, there must be gradual vertical changes in rock composition. The downward increase of velocities indicates that the composition of the crust becomes gradually more mafic with increasing depth. Even though single rock types cannot simulate the wide-angle model velocities, it can be done with a mixture of rock types. There are a large number of rock type mixtures giving the correct P-wave velocities. Therefore, the inverse solution of rock types and their proportions from velocities is a non-unique problem if only P-wave velocities is available. Amount of the possible rock type mixtures can be limitted using S-wave velocities, reflection seismic results and other geological and geophysical results of the study area. Crustal model FINMIX-2 is presented in this study and it suggest that the crustal velocity profiles can be simulated with rock type mixtures, where the upper crust consists of felsic gneisses and granitic-granodioritic rocks with a minor contribution of quartzite, amphibolite and diabase. In the middle crust the amphibolite proportion increases. The lower crust consists of tonalitic gneiss, mafic garnet granulite, hornblendite, pyroxenite and minor mafic eclogite. This composition model is in agreement with deep crustal kimberlite-hosted xenolith data in eastern Finland and reflectivity of the FIRE (Finnish Reflection Experiment). According to FINMIX-2 model the Moho is deeper and the crustal composition is a more mafic than an average global continental model would suggest. Composition models of southern Finland are quite similar than FINMIX-2 model. However, there are minor differencies between the models, which indicates areal differences of composition. Models of northern Finland shows that the crustal thickness is smaller than southern Finland and composition of the upper crust is different. Density profiles calculated from the lithological models suggest that there is practically no density contrast at Moho in areas of the high-velocity lower crust. This implies that crustal thickness in the central Fennoscandian Shield may have been controlled by the densities of the lower crustal and upper mantle rocks.

Oxygen, carbon and hydrogen isotope studies of contact metamorphism

The O¹⁸/O¹⁶, C¹³/C¹², and D/H ratios have been determined for rocks and coexisting minerals from several granitic plutons and their contact metamorphic aureoles in northern Nevada, eastern California, central Colorado, and Texas, with emphasis on oxygen isotopes. A consistent order of O¹⁸/O¹⁶, C¹³/C¹², and D/H enrichment in coexisting minerals, and a correlation between isotopic fractionations among coexisting mineral pairs are in general observed, suggesting that mineral assemblages tend to approach isotopic equilibrium during contact metamorphism. In certain cases, a correlation is observed between oxygen isotopic fractionations of a mineral pair and sample distance from intrusive contacts. Isotopic temperatures generally show good agreement with heat flow considerations. Based on the experimentally determined quartz-muscovite O¹⁸/O¹⁶ fractionation calibration curve, temperatures are estimated to be 525 to 625°C at the contacts of the granitic stocks studied.

Small-scale oxygen isotope exchange effects between intrusive and country rock are observed over distances of 0.5 to 3 feet on both sides of the contacts; the isotopic gradients are typically 2 to 3 per mil per foot. The degree of oxygen isotopic exchange is essentially identical for different coexisting minerals. This presumably occurred through a diffusion-controlled recrystallization process. The size of the oxygen isotope equilibrium systems in the small-scale exchanged zones vary from about 1.5 cm to 30 cm. A xenolith and a re-entrant of country rock projecting into on intrusive hove both undergone much more extensive isotopic exchange (to hundreds of feet); they also show abnormally high isotopic temperatures. The marginal portions of most plutons have unusually high O¹⁸/O¹⁶ ratios compared to "normal" igneous rocks, presumably due to large-scale isotopic exchange with meta-sedimentary country rocks when the igneous rocks were essentially in a molten state. The isotopic data suggest that outward horizontal movement of H₂O into the contact metamorphic aureoles is almost negligible, but upward movement of H₂O may be important. Also, direct influx and absorption of water from the country rock may be significant in certain intrusive stocks.

Except in the exchanged zones, the O¹⁸/O¹⁶ ratios of pelitic rocks do not change appreciably during contact metamorphism, even in the cordierite and sillimanite grades; this is in contrast to regional metamorphic rocks which commonly decrease in O¹⁸ with increasing grade. Low O¹⁸/O¹⁶ and C¹³/C¹² ratios of the contact metamorphic marbles generally correlate well with the presence of calc-silicate minerals, indicating that the CO₂ liberated during metamorphic decarbonation reactions is enriched in both O¹⁸ and C¹³ relative to the carbonates.

The D/H ratios of biotites in the contact metamorphic rocks and their associated intrusions show a geographic correlation that is similar to that shown by the D/H ratios of meteoric surface waters, perhaps indicating that meteoric waters were present in the rocks during crystallization of the biotites.

Oxygen isotope ratios in coexisting minerals of regionally metamorphosed rocks

The O¹⁸/O¹⁶ ratios of coexisting minerals from a number of regionally metamorphosed rocks have been measured, using a bromine pentafluoride extraction-technique. Listed in order of their increasing tendency to concentrate O¹⁸, the minerals analyzed are magnetite, ilmenite, chlorite, biotite, garnet, hornblende, kyanite, muscovite, feldspar, and quartz. The only anomalous sequence detected occurs in a xenolith of schist, in which quartz, muscovite, biotite, and ilmenite, but not garnet, have undergone isotopic exchange with surrounding trondjemite.

With few exceptions, quartz-magnetite and quartz-ilmenite fractionations decrease with increasing metamorphic grade determined by mineral paragenesis and spatial distribution. This consistency does not apply to quartz-magnetite and quartz-ilmenite fractionations obtained from rocks in which petrographic evidence of retrogradation is present.

Whereas measured isotopic fractionations among quartz, garnet, ilmenite, and magnetite are approximately related to metamorphic grade, fractionations between these minerals and biotite or muscovite show poor correlation with grade. Variations in muscovite-biotite fractionations are relatively small. These observations are interpreted to mean that muscovite and biotite are affected by retrograde re-equilibration to a greater extent than the anhydrous minerals analyzed.

Measured quartz-ilmenite fractionations range from 12 permil in the biotite zone of central Vermont to 6.5 permil in the sillimanite-orthoclase zone of southeastern Connecticut. Analyses of natural assemblages from the kyanite and sillimanite zones suggest that equilibrium quartz-ilmenite fractionations are approximately 8 percent smaller than corresponding quartz-magnetite fractionations. Employing the quartz-magnetite geothermometer calibrated by O'Neil and Clayton (1964), a temperature of 560°C was obtained for kyanite-bearing schists from Addison County, Vermont. Extending the calibration to quartz-ilmenite fractionations, a temperature of 600°C was obtained for kyanite-schists from Shoshone County, Idaho. At these temperatures kyanite is stable only at pressures exceeding 11 kbars (Bell, 1963), corresponding to lithostatic loads of over 40 km.

华北克拉通新生代玄武岩携带的地幔橄榄岩Fe同位素地球化学及含金云母地幔岩岩石学研究

In recent years, thanks to the improvement of analytical methods and the use of MC-ICP-MS, Fe isotope can be measured precisely. Fe isotope shows considerable variation both in biological and inorganic processes (from low T to high T) in nature, Therefore, Fe isotope has become one of the exciting frontier sciences and has favorable prospects of the application to the geosciences and life sciences. Based on a comprehensive review of available references in the related field, this study focuses on the development of techniques for high-precision measurement of iron isotope using MC-ICP-MS, and application of the techniques developed to study the Fe isotopes as well as major and trace element compositions of minerals (Ol, Opx, Cpx and Sp) from spinel peridotitic xenoliths from Cenozoic alkaline basalts to investigate Fe isotopic features of the lithospheric mantle beneath the North China Craton. The minerals from these xenoliths are similar to those off-cratonic peridotites world-wide, but are remarkably different from those on-cratonic peridotites and clinopyroxenes from these spinel lherzolites exhibit two types of chondrite-normalized REE patterns i.e. LREE-depleted and flat or spoon-shaped. It is noted that total abundances of REE in clinopyroxenes from these peridotites show a broad negative correlation with Cr# numbers of Cpx and Sp. The Fe isotope results show that the spinel peridotitic xenoliths have small but distinguishable Fe isotopic variations in minerals (generally Ol < Opx < Cpx) and samples, and the isotopic range in spinel is relatively large. Positive linear relationship with the ε57Fecpx/ε57Feopx ratio close to one unit has been observed between Fe isotopes of coexistent Opx and Cpx, indicating that the Cpx and Opx have generally reached Fe isotopic equilibrium. However, Fe isotopes between the Ol and Sp show apparent disequilibrium. The broadly negative correlation between mineral Fe isotopes and oxygen fugacity (fo2), metasomatic indexes such as spinel Cr#, (La/Yb) N and (La/Sm) N ratios of clinopyroxenes suggest that Fe isotopic variations in different minerals and peridotites were probably produced by melt-peridotite interaction. This study further confirms the previous observation that the lithospheric mantle has distinguishable and heterogeneous Fe isotopic variations at a scale of xenoliths. Mantle metasomatism that induces the interaction of the lithospheric mantle peridotite with metasomatic agent is a most potential mechanism for the Fe isotope fractionation in mantle peridotites. Therefore, Fe isotope could be a new and powerful tool to probe the evolution of the lithospheric mantle. We also report mineral compositions, clinopyroxene trace element concentrations and Sr-Nd isotopes for newly-discovered phlogopite-bearing spinel lherzolite and olivine clinopyroxenite xenoliths from three different localities （Hannuoba, Hebei Province; Jining Sangyitang, Inner Mongolia; Hebi, Henan Province）of the North China Craton. Systematic comparisons with phlogopite-free spinel lherzolite xenolith from the same locality reveals that the phlogopite-bearing peridotitic xenoliths have relatively higher Al2O3, CaO, Na2O, K2O, TiO2 contents and lower MgO contents than those phogopite-free counterparts. The former also has higher LREE concentrations, but relatively less radiogenic Sr-Nd isotopic ratios. This demonstrates that mantle metasomatism can not only enrich the basaltic components and trace element concentrations, but also make a decrease in Mg# of the peridotites and olivines and a relative depletion in Sr-Nd isotopes. 87Rb/86Sr-87Sr/86Sr isochrons of the phlogopite-bearing xenoliths indicate that mantle metasomatism happened in the Mesozoic and/or Cenozoic time. The metasomatic agent was derived from the asthenosphere. The result also manifests that the widespread similarity of the geochemical features such as major and trace elements and isotopic compositions in the Cenozoic lithospheric mantle beneath the North China Craton to those “oceanic” lithospheric mantle could be as a result of the ubiquitous presence of the interaction between the old refractory peridotites and the infiltrated asthenospheric melt, rather than the actually newly-accreted lithospheric mantle.

藏东及滇东南新生代钾质岩浆作用及其深部制约

The dissertation focuses on the petrology, geochemistry of the volcanic rocks in east Tibet and southeast Yunnan. It lucubrates the Magmatic process, forming mechanism and the possible tectonic settings of the volcanic rocks. The volcanic rocks of Nangqen basin in east Tibet, Qinghai province are mainly Cenozoic intermediate-acid shoshonites. The rocks are LREE enriched and the LREE/HREE = 3～34; (La/Yb)_N = 18.17-53.59, and ΣREE 222～1260μg/g. There are no Eu anomaly, and Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, Ti are markedly depleted. The isotopic composition is ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr = 0.70497～0.70614, ~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb = 18.622～18.974, ~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb = 38.431～38.996, ~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb = 15.511～15.613, respectively. K-Ar age of the whole rocks and the single mineral are between 32.0-36.5Ma. Based on the trace elements and isotopic elements, we get the conclusion that the partial melting is one of the dominated forming mechanisms for the volcanic rocks in Naneqen basin. The magma did not experience the crustal contamination en route to the surface; however, the complex mixture took place in the upper mantle before the melt was formed. There are at least two kinds of mixed sources that can be identified. The basalt in southeast Yunnan province is studied. They are distributed in Maguan, Tongguan, and Pingbian County, which is located on the both sides of the Red River belt, and the ultrabasic xenolith are cursory introduced. The volcanic rocks belongs to the alkali series, which can be subdivided into trachybasalt and basanite(Ol normal molecule >5). The volcanic rocks are characteristics by high Ti and low Mg#. According to the magma calculation model, the original rocks of the basalt in southeast Yunnan province are Spinel Lherzolite in Tongguan, Garnet Lherzolite in Pingbian and Maguan, while Togguan undergoes 2-5 percent and percent of partial melting, whereas volcanism in Maguan and Pingbian was so complex to calculate. The fractional crystallization took place during the magma evoltion in southeast Yunnan. The basalt is enriched in LREE with LREE/HREE=9.23-20.19. All of the trace elements display weak Nb, Ta peak, and the depletion of Zr, Hf and Ti in Maguan and pingbian represent the presence of Garnet in the source. The composition of the isotope ratio are ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr = 0.70333-0.70427, ~(143)Nd/~(144)Nd = 0.512769-0.512940, ~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb = 18.104-18.424, ~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb = 15.483 -15.527; ~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb = 37.938-38.560, respectively, which shows the characteristics of the HIMU type OIB. The volcanic rocks of the southwest Yunnan are derived from the enriched, OIB type mantle sources by synthesizing all the data from trace and isotope elements. It is similar to that of the volcanic rocks in Hawaii, a typical kind of the mixtures of the recycled oceanic crust plume and depleted asthenosphere. To sum up, the volcanic rocks in southeast Yunnan are formed by the intraplate hotpot volcanism.

Chemical analysis and argon geochronology from dive SAR_1 on Cornacya seamount of the Sardinia Channel

Sarcya 1 dive explored a previously unknown 12 My old submerged volcano, labelled Cornacya. A well developed fracturation is characterised by the following directions: N 170 to N-S, N 20 to N 40, N 90 to N 120, N 50 to N 70, which corresponds to the fracturation pattern of the Sardinian margin. The sampled lavas exhibit features of shoshonitic suites of intermediate composition and include amphibole-and mica-bearing lamprophyric xenoliths which are geochemically similar to Ti-poor lamproites. Mica compositions reflect chemical exchanges between the lamprophyre and its shoshonitic host rock suggesting their simultaneous emplacement. Nd compositions of the Cornacya K-rich suite indicate that continental crust was largely involved in the genesis of these rocks. The spatial association of the lamprophyre with the shoshonitic rocks is geochemically similar to K-rich and TiO2-poor igneous suites, emplaced in post-collisional settings. Among shoshonitic rocks, sample SAR 1-01 has been dated at 12.6±0.3 My using the 40Ar/39Ar method with a laser microprobe on single grains. The age of the Cornacya shoshonitic suite is similar to that of the Sisco lamprophyre from Corsica, which similarly is located on the western margin of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Thus, the Cornacya shoshonitic rocks and their lamprophyric xenolith and the Sisco lamprophyre could represent post-collisional suites emplaced during the lithospheric extension of the Corsica-Sardinia block, just after its rotation and before the Tyrrhenian sea opening. Drilling on the Sardinia margin (ODP Leg 107) shows that the upper levels of the present day margin (Hole 654) suffered tectonic subsidence before the lower part (Hole 652). The structure of this lower part is interpreted as the result of an eastward migration of the extension during Late Miocene and Early Pliocene times. Data of Cornacya volcano are in good agreement with this model and provide good chronological constraints for the beginning of the phenomenon.

Chemistry of orthopyroxenes, clinopyroxenes, and spinels of ODP Hole 103-637A peridotites

Mineral compositions of the plagioclase-bearing ultramafic tectonites dredged and cored seaward of the continental slope of the Galicia margin (Leg 103, Site 637) were compared to mineral compositions from onshore low-pressure ultramafic bodies (southeastern Ronda, western Pyrenees, and Lizard Point), on the basis of standardized (30-s counting time) probe analyses. The comparison was extended to some plagioclase-free harzburgites related to ophiolites (Santa Elena in Costa Rica, north Oman, and the Humboldt body in New Caledonia) on the basis of new analytical data and data from the literature. The behavior of Cr, Na, Al, Mg, Fe, Ni, and Ti in olivine, pyroxenes, and spinel was examined in order to distinguish between the effects of partial melting and mineral facies change, from the spinel to plagioclase stability fields. The peridotite from the Galicia margin appears slightly depleted in major incompatible elements and experienced a minor partial melting. However, it experienced large scale but heterogeneous recrystallization in the plagioclase field. These features are very similar to those observed in Ronda, whereas in the western Pyrenees the minerals exemplify a very minor partial-melting event (or none at all) and have retained compositions corresponding to those of the relatively high-pressure Seiland sub facies. The minerals from the Lizard Point peridotite have characteristics (low Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratio; high Cr/(Cr + Al) ratio in spinel) more related to cumulate from a differentiated tholeiitic melt than related to ophiolitic tectonite. Diffusion profiles of Al and Cr across pyroxenes and spinel show that recrystallization features occurred at different speeds or temperatures in the different bodies. The pyroxenes from Ronda would have experienced recrystallization about 14 times faster than the peridotite from the Galicia margin. The western Pyrenean lherzolites also experienced rapid recrystallization; nevertheless, because they are of a different mineral facies, the data are not directly comparable to that from Ronda and Galicia. The harzburgite at Santa Elena as well as a xenolith from alkali basalt exemplify rapid cooling characterized by very weak re-equilibration. Recrystallization speed is related to emplacement speed in the present geological environment. The slow-rising Galicia margin peridotite was emplaced by thinning of the lithospheric subcontinental mantle near an incipient mid-oceanic ridge. The fast-rising peridotites from Ronda and the western Pyrenees were hot diapirs emplaced from the asthenosphere along transcurrent faults, possibly related to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean.

Major element and mineral composition of gabbroic xenoliths and megacrysts from Jeju Island, South Korea

Gabbroic xenoliths and diverse megacrysts (e.g., clinopyroxenes, amphiboles and plagioclases), which correspond to the lithology ranging from gabbro-norite to gabbro, occur in the Pleisto-Holocene alkali basalts from Jeju Island, South Korea. The gabbroic xenoliths consist primarily of moderate-K2O plagioclase, Ti-Al-rich clinopyroxene and CaO-rich orthopyroxene; additionally, TiO2-rich amphibole (kaersutite) and Ti-Fe oxides might or might not be present. The plagioclase is the most dominant phase (approx. 60-70 vol.%). The xenoliths and megacrysts provide evidence for the modal metasomatism of the lower continental crust by the mafic magmas during the Pleistocene. The coarse grain size (up to 5 mm), moderate Mg# [=100xMg/(Mg+Fe(total)) atomic ratio] of pyroxenes (70-77) and textural features (e.g., poikilitic) indicate that the gabbroic xenoliths are consistent with a cumulus origin. The clinopyroxenes from these xenoliths are enriched in REE with smooth convex-upward MREE patterns, which are expected for cumulus minerals formed from a melt enriched in incompatible trace elements. The strikingly similar major and trace element variations and the patterns of constituent minerals clearly indicate a genetic link between the gabbroic xenoliths (plus megacrysts) and the host basalt, indicating that the xenoliths belong to the Jeju Pleisto-Holocene magma system. On the basis of the textural features, the mineral equilibria and the major and trace element variations, the xenoliths appear to have crystallized from basaltic melts at the reservoir-roof environment within the lower crust (4-7 kbars) above the present Moho estimates beneath Jeju Island, where the xenoliths represent wall rocks. Following the consolidation of the xenolith lithologies, volatile- and incompatible element-enriched melt/fluid, as metasomatic agents, infiltrated through the grain boundaries and/or cracks and reacted with the preexisting anhydrous phases, which produced the metasomatic amphiboles. This volatile-enriched melt/fluid could have evolved from the initially anhydrous compositions to the volatile-saturated compositions by the active fractional crystallization in the Jeju Pleisto-Holocene magma system. This process was significant in that it was a relatively young event and played an important role in the formation of the hydrous minerals and the metasomatization of the lower continental crust, which is a plume-impacted area along the Asian continental margin. The major and trace element analyses of the mineral phases from the xenoliths were performed to define the principal geochemical characteristics of the crustal lithosphere segment represented by the studied xenoliths.

Geochemistry of Qeqertaa xenoliths

This study presents electron microprobe data for dunite xenoliths from a lamprophyre dyke located on the island of Qeqertaa, West Greenland. The minimum age of this dyke is Palaeoproterozoic and it experienced amphibolite facies metamorphism and deformation during that era. The samples consist of nearly 200 xenoliths with a size range of 0.5-8 cm. These dunite xenoliths have olivine Mg#, that range from 80.3 to 94.6 (n = 579) with a mean of 92.6. Orthopyroxene is found in three xenoliths and garnet in five others. The latter suggests the depth of the Qeqertaa xenolith suite to be near the diamond stability-field, which is substantiated by the finding of diamonds in bulk samples of the Qeqertaa dyke. This further indicates the presence of a lithospheric mantle domain dominated by high-Mg# dunite to this depth in Palaeoproterozoic time. Cr-rich spinel, in the 0.1-0.2 mm size range, is found within and between olivine grains in individual xenoliths. These Cr-spinels yield Fe-Mg exchange temperatures of 400-600°C. However, the presence of intermediate spinel compositions spanning the lower temperature solvus suggests that equilibration temperatures were >550°C. Fe3+#, expressed as 100xFe3+/(Fe3++Al+Cr)), is shown to be a useful parameter in order to screen for altered spinel (Fe3+#>10) with disturbed Mg# and Cr#. The screened spinel data (Fe3+#<10) show a distinctly different trend in terms of spinel Cr# versus Mg#, compared to unmetamorphosed xenoliths in Tertiary lavas and dikes from Ubekendt Ejland and Wiedemann Fjord, respectively, also located within the North Atlantic craton. This difference likely reflects amphibolite facies metamorphic resetting of the Qeqertaa xenolith suite by Fe-Mg exchange. Given the similarity of the Qeqertaa xenolith suite with the Ubekendt and Wiedemann suites, in terms of their olivine Mg# and spinel Cr# distribution, high-Mg# dunite is likely to be an important component of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the North Atlantic craton and appears to have spanned a vertical distance of at least 150 km in this region, even during the Palaeoproterozoic.