Mantle metasomatism and refertilization beneath the SW margin of the São Francisco Craton, Brazil
de Freitas Rodrigues, R A ; Gervasoni, F; Jalowitzki, T; Bussweiler, Y; Berndt, J; Francisquini Botelho, N; Queiroga, G; de Castro, MP; da Silva, SW; Ciriaco, BA; Lopes de Oliveira, I; Klemme S
Research article (journal)
Abstract
A suite of kimberlite-hosted mantle xenoliths from the Catalão region, southwestern margin of the São Francisco Craton (SFC), Brazil, consists of spinel lherzolites (type I and II) and garnet-phlogopite wehrlites. The chemical composition of these xenoliths provides evidence of enrichment and refertilization of the SFC lithosphere which were caused by distinct metasomatic agents. Garnet-phlogopite wehrlites have porphyroclastic textures and were equilibrated between 1005 and 1010 °C and 2.9–3.0 GPa (∼99 km). They record metasomatism caused by carbonatite and proto-kimberlite melts. Type I spinel lherzolite contains spinel-pyroxene symplectites indicating garnet destabilization due to variations of the P-T conditions. The minerals in this rock were equilibrated between 975 and 990 °C and its chemical composition contains evidence of carbonatite metasomatism. High-Cr and low-Al clinopyroxene of garnet-phlogopite wehrlites and type I spinel lherzolite have high Mg#, Ca/Al, La/YbN, Zr/Hf ratios, and high Sr contents, coupled with low to intermediate Ti/Eu and Ti/Nb, which also suggests that they were formed by carbonatite melt. These geochemical features, together with the presence of carbonate inclusions in the olivines, corroborate the interaction with carbonatite melt. The low-Ti-Cr phlogopite (Phl1), which is restricted to only the garnet-phlogopite wehrlites, was probably produced through the release of volatiles components from the carbonatite melt that reacted with garnet porphyroclasts. Furthermore, metasomatic reactions involving garnet-phlogopite wehrlites and a proto-kimberlite melt formed high-Ti-Cr phlogopite (Phl2), consuming the original phlogopite (Phl1). Phl2 occurs as rims around Phl1, as isolated flakes around garnets, and in the matrix of wehrlites. Therefore, we assume that the proto-kimberlite metasomatism responsible for generation of Phl2 occurred prior to the eruption of the host kimberlite magma. Conversely, type II spinel lherzolites (876–915 °C; ∼1.5 GPa) contain evidence of metasomatic reactions with silicate melts. These samples have high cpx/opx ratios (1.10–2.93) with low-Cr and high-Al clinopyroxene, and depleted incompatible trace element compositions. Some clinopyroxene crystals, however, show some enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE), large ion lithophile elements (LILE), and Ti. Their low Ca/Al, La/YbN, and Zr/Hf, low Sr contents, high Ti/Eu and Ti/Nb, and a strong positive correlation of Ti with the other high field strength elements (HFSE) and LREE, may indicate that these clinopyroxene crystals were formed by refertilization caused by a silicate melt that was depleted in incompatible elements. Overall, these metasomatic processes suggest a pervasive refertilization of the cratonic lithosphere where the typically depleted peridotites of cratonic regions were replaced by a pyroxene-rich lithology.
Details zur Publikation
Release year: 2023
Link to the full text: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024493723001482?CMX_ID=&SIS_ID=&dgcid=STMJ_AUTH_SERV_PUBLISHED&utm_acid=79978991&utm_campaign=STMJ_AUTH_SERV_PUBLISHED&utm_in=DM358383&utm_medium=email&utm_source=AC_