Petrogenesis of the Xuanwoling mafic–ultramafic intrusion in the northeastern Tarim Block(Northwest China)

Beishan Terrane, located in the northeast of the Tarim Block, in northwest China, has developed a 500-km long and 100-km wide belt of Permian mafic–ultramafic intrusions One of these mafic–ultramafic intrusions, the Xuanwoling Intrusion, is composed of dunite, troctolite, olivine gabbros and gabbros, with cumulate texture and rhythmic layering The crystallization sequence is olivine ? spinel ? plagio clase ? pyroxene, indicating that the crystallization pressure is lower than 0.5–0.8 GPa and that the intrusion has undergone variable degrees of crustal contamination, increasing from dunite to gabbros. The olivines found in the Xuanwoling Intrusion have high Fo values(up to 90), suggesting a primary magma with a high composition of mg. It is likely that this high-mg magma was produced at extremely high temperatures(1,330–1,350 °C), and as a result, Nd–Sr isotopic compositions similar to oceanic island basalts are found in the Xuanwoling Intrusion, which we propose arose from the mantle plume.

Petrogenesis of the Neoarchean zincian chromite within ultramafic xenoliths,Bastar Craton,India

The present study reports and discusses the genesis of zincian chromite in the ultramafic xenoliths from the Dongripali area,Bastar craton,Central India.The zincian chromite is in the ultramafic xenoliths of Bengpal supracrustal rock hosted by Neoarchaean Bundeli gneisses.Compositionally zincian chromite shows a range of Cr_(2)O_(3)(39.69 to 51.66 wt%),Al_(2)O_(3)(05.30 wt%to 08.71 wt%),FeO(21.74 wt%to 27.51 wt%),Fe_(2)O_(3)(10.19 wt%to 19.36wt%)with higher ZnO content ranging from 1.73 wt%to 4.08 wt%.Accordingly,their Cr#[Cr/(Cr+Al)]varies in a narrow range from 0.83 to 0.85.Its calculated melt composition supports metamorphic or post-magmatic nature rather than common occurrences such as inclusion in diamonds,meteorites,and association with any sulfide-rich mineralised belt.This reveals that the post-magmatic processes play a vital role in transforming chromite to zincian chromite.The empirical thermometric calculation from chromite,amphibole,and pyroxene support their metamorphic origin and formed during low-P and high-T amphibolite grade facies of metamorphism(~700℃).The Neoarchaean granitic magmatism has a significant role in generating and transferring the heat during contact metamorphism with hydration of ultramafic xenoliths and further alteration,i.e.,serpentinisation.The olivine is a major repository for Mn,Zn,and Co in peridotite/ultramafic;these elements get mobilised during the metamorphism and serpentinisation.This is a possible reason for the mobilisation of zinc and incorporation in the chromite within altered ultramafic.As a result,chromiterich ultramafic xenolith subjected to metamorphic process gets enrichment of Zn and Fe due to elemental exchange.It converts common chromite into zincian chromite,as reported in altered ultramafics elsewhere.

Geochemical characteristics of mafic and ultramafic rocks from the Naga Hills Ophiolite, India:Implications for petrogenesis

The Naga Hills Ophiolite(NHO) represents one of the fragments of Tethyan oceanic crust in the Himalayan Orogenic system which is exposed in the Phek and Kiphire districts of Nagaland, India. The NHO is composed of partially serpentinized dunite, peridotite, gabbro, basalt, minor plagiogranite,diorite dyke and marine sediments. The basalts are mainly composed of fine grained plagioclase feldspar, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene and show quenching and variolitic textures. The gabbros are characterized by medium to coarse grained plagioclase, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene with ophitic to sub-ophitic textures. The ultramafic cumulates are represented by olivine, Cpx and Opx.Geochemically, the basalts and gabbros are sub-alkaline to alkaline and show tholeiitic features.The basalts are characterized by 44.1-45.6 wt.% of SiO_2 with 28-38 of Mg#, and the gabbros by38.7-43.7 wt.% of SiO_2, and 26-79 of Mg#. The ultramafic rocks are characterized by 37.4-52.2 wt.% of SiO_2, and 80-88 of Mg#. In multi-element diagrams(spidergrams) both basalts and gabbros show fractionated trends with strong negative anomalies of Zr. Nb. Sr and a gentle negative anomaly of P.However, the rare earth element(REE) plots of the basalts and gabbros show two distinct patterns. The first pattern, represented by light REE(LREE) depletion, suggests N-MORB features and can be interpreted as a signature of Paleo-Tethyan oceanic crust. The second pattern, represented by LREE enrichment with negligible negative Eu anomaly, conforms to E-MORB, and may be related to an arc tectonic setting. In V vs. Ti/1000, Cr vs. Y and AFM diagrams, the basalts and gabbros plot within Island Arc Tholeiite(IAT) and MORB fields suggesting both ridge and arc related settings. The ultramafic rocks exhibit two distinct patterns both in spidergrams and in REE plots. In the spidergram, one group displays highly enriched pattern, whereas the other group shows near flat pattern compared to primordial mantle. In the REE plot, one group displays steeper slopes [(La/Yb)N = 4.340-4.341], whereas the other displays moderate to flat slopes [(La/Yb)N = 0.97-1.67] and negative Eu-anomalies. Our study suggests that the ultramafic rocks represent two possible mantle sources(fertile and refractory).

Geology and Genesis of the Mafic-Ultramafic Complexes in the Huangshan-Jingerquan (HJ) Belt, East Xinjiang

More than twenty mafic-ultramafic complexes. which host several medium-or large-sized Cu-Ni deposits, occur along the Huangshan-Jingerquan (HJ ) belt in EastXinjiang. Rock types in these complexes are predominated by peridotite, pyroxene peri-dotite, olivine pyroxenite, gabbronorite, orthopyroxene gabbro, troctolite, gabbro anddiorite. The ultramafic rocks are relatively Fe-euriched and are characterised by an as-semblage of olivine + orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + hornblend ±plagioclase withoutobvious metamorphic textures. Chemically these complexes are relatively Fe-enrichedand show a tholeiitic trend of evolution. The complexes in this belt are intruded underthe extensional environment in a Mid-Carboniferous back-arc basin. They call be consid-ered as a new type of mafic-ultramafic complexes in orogenic belts, as designated by thename of the East-Xinjiang-type complexes.

Zircon U-Pb Age and Geochemistry of the Ore-hosting Ultramafic Complex of Zhou'an PGE-Cu-Ni Deposit,Henan Province,Central China

The Zhou＇an PGE-Cu-Ni deposit was recently discovered in the Qinling orogenic belt bound by the Yangtze and the North China Cratons. It is a blind deposit thoroughly covered by the Cenozoic alluvial sediments in the Nanyang Basin. As the first large PGE-Cu-Ni deposit discovered in the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt, its geological and geochemical characteristic, isotope age, genesis and tectonic setting are of wide concern in both scientific studies and ore exploration. In this contribution, we report the results obtained from a pioneering study. The Zhou＇an ultramafic complex is ferruginous, with m/f = 4.79-5.08, and shows the nature of tholeiite series. It is rich in light rare earth elements, Rb, Th, U, La, Sm, Zr and Hf, and poor in heavy rare earth elements, Nd and Ta, suggesting an intraplate setting. It has high S7Sr/S6Sr and low 143Nd/144Nd ratios. The ratios of Zr/Nb, La/Nb, Ba/ Nb, Rb/Nb, Th/Nb, Th/La and Ba/La, suggest the magma originated from lithosphere mantle. The Fo values of olivine and Pd/Ir-Ni/Cu diagram suggest primary magma was High Mg basalt. The laser ablation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy zircon U-Pb age is 641.5 ± 3.7 Ma.

ULTRAMAFIC XENOLITHS FROM A KAMAFUGITE LAVA IN CENOZOIC VOLCANIC FIELD OF WEST QINLING, CHINA AND ITS GEOLOGICAL IMPLICATION

Cenozoic potassic mafic volcanism (kamafugite magamtism) in West Qinling, Gansu province of China is a important section of Cenozoic volcanic belt of Qingzang (Tibet) plateau and adjacent area. The kamafugite magma show near\|primary magma characteristics. Strong incompatible elements concentrations in the volcanic rocks infer the kamafugite magmas may be origined from a enrichment mantle sources earlier.Four groups of deep\|seated xenoliths were collected from a kamafugite lava in West Qinling, Gansu province, China: (1)spinel Iherzolite and garnet Iherzolite; (2) harzburgite; (3) dunite and (4) clinopyroxenite. All suite of peridotite xenoliths are Cr\|diopside series. The main textures of peridotite xenoliths are granoblastic, porphyroclastic and granular, but the textures of clinopyroxenite are mainly poikilitic. The textural characteristics, mineral chemical variations and mineral geothermometric data show that the mantle source region of the Cenozoic kamafugite magam are very complex and undertook partial melting and enrichment associated with alkaline metasomatism by fluid and carbonatite melts. Geothermometry indicates the equilibration p and T conditions of the spinel lherzolite and garnet lherzolite are 970℃, 18 9GPa and 1219℃,27 61GPa corresponding to depth of 62km and 92km representatively. We suggest, combining with geophysical data, the spinel lherzolite formed at the top of upper mantle, the garnet lherzolite represent the base of lithosphere or the top of asthenosphere, but the clinopyroxenite is formed by cumulation in shallower magma reservoir. Kamafugite magmas formed within the stability field of garnet lherzolite by partial melting, the partial melting degree is only about 1%～2%. There is a superheating condition in Cenozoic mantle of West Qinling, which may be related to strong uplift of Qingzang (Tibet) plateau since cenozoic and extrusion east forward of asthenosphere beneath the Qingzang (Tibet) plateau.

The Gaojiacun Mafic-Ultramafic Complex(Sichuan,SW China):Neoproterozoic Magmatic Activity at the Western Margin of the Yangtze Craton

The Neoproterozoic Gaojiacun intrusive complex （GIC） is composed of one big intrusion （ca. 9 × 7.5 km） and numerous satellite intrusions, emplaced in the low-grade schists of the Neoproterozoic Yanbian Group. The main intrusion is concentrically zoned, with peridotite bodies ＋ leucogabbroids in its core （inner zone） and the sequence： olivine hornblende gabbronorite - porphyric pyroxene hornblende gabbronorite （transitional zone） - pyroxene hornblende gabbronorite ＋ hornblende gabbro ＋ diorite （outer zone）, towards the margins. The satellite intrusions are composed either of a single rock type （peridotite, gabbro, diorite or granite） or of different rock types （peridotite ＋ diorite ＋ granite）. Upper crustal contamination is evidenced by the occurrence of numerous metamorphic enclaves, migmatites and mixed rocks in the outer zone of the main intrusion and in the satellite intrusions. Hornblende （often oikocrystic） is present in all mafic and ultramafic rocks. Cu-Ni （-PGE） deposits occur in several satellite intrusions, hosted in peridotite. The geochemical and mineralogical features of GIC support the presence of a subduction zone at the western edge of the Yangtze Craton. A feederrelated genesis of the satellite intrusions is inferred.

Geochemical Characteristics and Metallogenesis of the Qingkuangshan Ni-Cu-PGE Mineralized Mafic-Ultramafic Intrusion in Huili County, Sichuan Province, SW China

The Qingkuangshan Ni-Cu-PGE deposit, located in the Xiaoguanhe region of Huili County, Sichuan Province, is one of several Ni-Cu-PGE deposits in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province （ELIP）. The ore-bearing intrusion is a mafic-ultramafic body. This paper reports major elements, trace elements and platinum-group elements in different types of rocks and sulfide-mineralized samples in the intrusion. These data are used to evaluate the source mantle characteristics, the degree of mantle partial melting, the composition of parental magma and the ore-forming processes. The results show that Qingkuangshan intrusion is part of the ELIP. The rocks have trace element ratios similar to the coeval Emeishan basalts. The primitive mantle-normalized patterns of Ni-Cu-PGE have positive slopes, and the ratios of Pd/Ir are lower than 22. The PGE compositions of sulfide ores and associated rocks are characterized by Ru depletion. The PGE contents in bulk sulfides are slightly depleted relative to Ni and Cu, which is similar to the Yangliuping Ni-Cu-PGE deposit. The composition of the parental magma for the intrusion is estimated to contain about 14.65 wt% MgO, 48.66 wt% SiO2 and 15.48 wt% FeOt, and the degree of mantle partial melting is estimated to be about 20%. In comparison with other typical Ni-Cu-PGE deposits in the ELIP, the Qingkuangshan Ni-Cu-PGE deposit has lower PGE contents than the Jinbaoshan PGE deposit, but has higher PGE contents than the Limahe and Baimazhai Ni-Cu deposit, and has similar PGE contents to the Yangliuping Ni-Cu-PGE deposit. The moderate PGE depletions in the bulk sulfide of the Qingkuanghan deposit suggest that the parental magma of the host intrusion may have undergone minor sulfide segregation at depth. The mixing calculations suggests that an average of 10% crustal contamination in the magma, which may have been the main cause of sulfide saturation in the magma. We propose that sulfide segregation from a moderately PGE depleted magma took place prior to magma emplacement at Qingkuangshan, that small amounts of immiscible sulfide droplets and olivine and chromite crystals were suspended in the ascending magma, and that the suspended materials settled down when the magma passed trough the Qingkuangshan conduit. The Qingkuangshan sulfide-bearing intrusion is interpreted to a feeder of Emeishan flood basalts in the region.

Late Carboniferous-Early Permian Mafic-Ultramafic Complexes in Beishan,Southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt and Their Significance

Numeral Permian mafic-ultramafic complexes occur in the Beishan terrane atthe northeastern margin of the Tarim craton,southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt,including the Pobei,Cantoushan,Bijiashan,Hongshishan,Xuanwoling,Zhongposhan and Luodong etc.,intrusions(Qin et al.,2011;Zhang et al.,2017;Xue et al.,2018).These Beishan mafic-ultramafic complexes are composed of peridotite,pyroxenite.

The Evolution of Alpine Ultramafic Rocks and Partial Melting of the Upper Mantle

Ultramafic rocks of Tibet and Xinjiang are the products of partial melting of the upper mantle. The evolution of their mineral composition is marked by two parallel evolutionary series: one is the progressive increase of the 100 Mg/(Mg+Fe^(2+) ratio of silicate minerals in order of lherzolite→harzburgite→dunite, i.e. the increase in magnesium; the other is the increase of the 100 Cr/(Cr+Al) ratio of accessory chrome spinel in the same order, i. e. the increase in Chromium. The above-mentioned evolutionary trends are contrary to that of magmatic differentiation. The evolution of fabrics of ultramafic rocks is characterized by progressive variation in order of protogranular texture→melted residual texture, symplectic texture and clastophyritic texture→equigranular mosaic texture and tabular mosaic texture. Experiments of partial melting of lherzolite have convincingly shown that the evolution of Alpine ultramafic rocks resulted from the partial melting of pyrolite. Various subtypes of them represent different degrees of partial melting. The vertical zoning marked by more basic rocks in the upper part and more acid rocks in the lower actually belongs to the fusion zoning of pyrolite.

Geochronology,Petrology and Geochemistry of Xingdi No.3 Mafic-Ultramafic Intrusions in the Northeastern Tarim Craton,NW China

The Xingdi mafic-ultramafic intrusions occur in the northeastern margin of the Tarim craton. The Xingdi No. 3 intrusion is the smallest of four intrusions, with an exposed area of 1.7 km2, and the zircon U-Pb age of the intrusion is 752±4 Ma. The intrusion consists of gabbros, pyroxenites and peridotites, and exhibits a crystallization sequence of the main rock-forming minerals as olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and plagioclase. Mineralization occurred at or near the boundaries of the intrusion between pyroxenites and peridotites, and appears as a layered or lenticular shape about 500 m long and 4–15 m wide. The primary sulfides have a relatively simple mineralogy dominated by pyrrhotite-pentlandite-chalcopyrite assemblages, which occur as droplet, star-like and graphic texture and locally sideronitic structures. Geochronological and geochemistry investigations suggest that the Xingdi mafic-ultramafic intrusions and coeval volcanic rock in the Kuluktag area of the Tarim craton formed in an intracontinental breakup environment. Based on the composition of the dominant rockforming minerals and covariant relationships of other oxides versus Mg O, the parental magma of the Xingdi No.3 intrusion belongs to high-Mg tholeiitic basaltic magmas with Mg O of 10.78 wt%. The Xingdi No.3 intrusive rocks are characterized by light REE enrichment relative to heavy REE, negative Nb-Ta anomalies, low 143Nd/144Nd ratios（from 0.511183 to 0.511793） and high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios（from 0.7051 to 0.7113）. The magma was derived from the enriched-lithospheric mantle and was contaminated during emplacement. According to rock assemblages, mineralization, olivine characteristics, geochemical characteristics and mass balance, there are better copper-nickel ore prospects in the Xingdi No.3 intrusion than in the other three intrusions in the area.

Geochemical and Petrological Studies on the Early Carboniferous Sidingheishan Mafic-Ultramafic Iintrusion in the Southern Margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt,NW China

The Sidingheishan mafic-ultramafic intrusion is located in the eastern part of the Northern Tianshan Mountain, along the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt in northern Xinjiang autonomous region of China. The Sidingheishan intrusion is mainly composed of wehrlite, olivine websterite, olivine gabbro, gabbro and hornblende gabbro. At least two pulses of magma were involved in the formation of the intrusion. The first pulse of magma produced an olivine-free unit and the second pulse produced an olivine-bearing unit. The magmas intruded the Devonian granites and granodiorites.An age of 351.4±5.8 Ma(Early Carboniferous) for the Sidingheishan intrusion has been determined by U-Pb SHRIMP analysis of zircon grains separated from the olivine gabbro unit. A U-Pb age of 359.2±6.4 Ma from the gabbro unit has been obtained by LA-ICP-MS. Olivine of the Sidingheishan intrusion reaches 82.52 mole% Fo and 1414 ppm Ni. On the basis of olivine-liquid equilibria, it has been calculated that the MgO and FeO included in the parental magma of a wehrlite sample were approximately10.43 wt% and 13.14 wt%, respectively. The Sidingheishan intrusive rocks are characterized by moderate enrichments in Th and Sm, slight enrichments in light REE, and depletions in Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf. The εNd(t) values in the rock units vary from +6.70 to +9.64, and initial87Sr/86Sr ratios range between 0.7035 and0.7042. Initial206Pb/204Pb,207Pb/204Pb and208Pb/204Pb values fall in the ranges of 17.23-17.91,15.45-15.54 and 37.54-38.09 respectively. These characteristics are collectively similar to the Heishan intrusion and the Early Carboniferous subduction related volcanic rocks in the Santanghu Basin, North Tianshan and Beishan area. The low(La/Gd)PMvalues between 0.26 and 1.77 indicate that the magma of the Sidingheishan intrusion was most likely derived from a depleted spinel-peridotite mantle.(Th/Nb)PMratios from 0.59 to 20.25 indicate contamination of the parental magma in the upper crust.Crystallization modeling methods suggest that the parental magma of the Sidingheishan intrusion was generated by flush melting of the asthenosphere and subsequently there was about 10 vol%contamination from a granitic melt. This was followed by about 5 vol% assimilation of upper crustal rocks. Thus, the high-Mg basaltic parental magma of Sidingheishan intrusion is interpreted to have formed from partial melting of the asthenosphere during the break-off of a subducted slab.

Geochemical characteristics and tectonic setting of the Tuerkubantao mafic-ultramafic intrusion in West Junggar,Xinjiang,China

Mineral chemistry, whole-rock major oxide, and trace element compositions have been determined for the Tuerkubantao mafic-ultramafic intrusion, in order to understand the early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the West Junggar orogenic belt at the southern margin of the Central Asian orogenic belt. The Tuerkubantao mafic-ultramafic intrusion is a well-differentiated complex comprising peridotite, olivine pyroxenite, gabbro, and diorite. The ultramafic rocks are mostly seen in the central part of the intrusion and surrounded by mafic rocks. The Tuerkubantao intrusive rocks are characterized by enrichment of large ion lithophile elements and depleted high field strength elements relative to N-MORB. In addition, the Tuerkubantao intrusion displays relatively low Th/U and Nb/U （1.13-2.98 and 2.53-7.02, respectively） and high La/Nb and Ba/Nb （1.15 4.19 and 37.7-79.82, respectively）. These features indicate that the primary magma of the intrusion was derived from partial melting of a previously metasomatized mantle source in a subduction setting. The trace element patterns of peridotites, gabbros, and diorite in the Tuerkubantao intrusion have sub-parallel trends, suggesting that the different rock types are related to each other by differentiation of the same primary magma. The intrusive contact between peridotite and gabbro clearly suggest that the Tuerkubantao is not a fragment of an ophiolite. However, the Tuerkubantao intrusion displays many similarities with Alaskan-type mafic-ultramafic intrusions along major sutures of Phanerozoic orogenic belts. Common features include their geodynamic setting, internal lithological zoning, and geochemistry. The striking similarities indicate that the middle Devonian Tuerkubantao intrusion likely formed in a subduction-related setting similar to that of the Alaskan-type intrusions. In combination with the Devonian magmatism and porphyry mineralization, we propose that subduction of the oceanic slab has widely existed in the expansive oceans during the Devonian around the Junggar block.

KT Boundary Chromites Determined to be Terrestrial:Cr Isotopic Evidence for Excavation and Ejection of Mafic/Ultramafic Rocks by the KT Boundary Impact

Evidence for a mantle and/or basaltic component in KT boundary distal ejecta is apparently inconsistent with ejection from Chicxulub Crater since it is located on;5km thick continental crust（De Paolo et al.,1983;Montanari et al.,1983;Hildebrand and Boynton,1988,1990）.Evidence for mafic/ultramafic target rocks was reinforced by discovery of chromites,some with shock planar deformation features（PDF）,in impact layer samples from sites in southern Colorado and eastern Wyoming（Bohor et al.,1990）.However,until now it was unclear whether the chromites originated with an impactor or with terrestrial target rocks.To this end,high-precision 54Cr/52Cr isotope ratios were measured on KT boundary chromites along with known terrestrial chromites.We find a terrestrial 54Cr/52Cr ratio in KT boundary chromites from impact layer samples collected at the above sites over the last several years（Fig.1）.Ejected terrestrial chromites suggest the impact sampled terrestrial mafic and/or ultramafic target rocks not known to exist in the Chicxulub target area.

Baddeleyite and zircon U-Pb ages of the ultramafic rocks in Chigu Tso area,Southeastern Tibet and their constraints on the timing of Comei Large Igneous Province

A suite of ultramafic and mafic rocks developed in the Chigu Tso area,eastern Tethyan Himalaya.Baddeleyite and zircon U-Pb ages acquired by SIMS and LA-ICP-MS from olivine pyroxenite rocks in the Chigu Tso area are 138.9±3.0 Ma and 139.0±1.9 Ma,respectively.These two Early Cretaceous ages are similar with the ages of the more abundant mafic rocks in the eastern Tethyan Himalaya,indicating that this suite of ultramafic and mafic rocks in the Chigu Tso area should be included in the outcrop area of the Comei Large Igneous Province(LIP).These ultramafic rocks provide significant evidence that the involvement of mantle plume/hot spot activities in the formation of the Comei LIP.Baddeleyite U-Pb dating by SIMS is one reliable and convenient method to constrain the formation time of ultramafic rocks.The dating results of baddeleyite and zircon from the olivine pyroxenite samples in this paper are consistent with each other within analytical uncertainties,suggesting that baddeleyite and zircon were both formed during the same magmatic process.The consistency of baddeleyite U-Pb ages in the Chigu Tso area with zircon U-Pb ages for a large number of Early Cretaceous mafic rocks in the eastern Tethyan Himalaya further support that zircon grains from such mafic rocks yielding Early Cretaceous ages are also magmatic in origin.

Petrogenesis of the diamondiferous Pipe-8 ultramafic intrusion from the Wajrakarur kimberlite field of Southern India and its relation to the worldwide Mesoproterozoic(~1.1 Ga) magmatism of kimberlite and related rocks

Detailed mineralogy,bulk rock major,trace and Sr-Nd isotope compositions,and ^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar dating of the Pipe-8 diamondiferous ultramafic intrusion in the Wajrakarur cluster of southern India,is reported.Based on the presence of Ti-rich phlogopite,high Na/K content in amphibole,Al-and Ti-rich diopside,a titanomagnetite trend in spinel and the presence of Ti-rich schorlomite garnet and carbonates in the groundmass,the Pipe-8 intrusion is here more precisely classified as an ultramafic lamprophyre(i.e.,aillikite).An aillikite affinity of the Pipe-8 intrusion is further supported by the bulk rock major and trace element and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry.Sr-Nd isotope data are consistent with a common,moderately depleted upper mantle source region for both the Pipe-8 aillikite as well as the Wajrakarur kimberlites of southern India.A phlogopite-rich groundmass ^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar plateau age of 1115.8±7.9 Ma(2σ) for the Pipe-8 intrusion falls within a restricted 100 Ma time bracket as defined by the 1053-1155 Ma emplacement ages of kimberlites and related rocks in India.The presence of ultramafic lamprophyres,carbonatites,kimberlites,and olivine lamproites in the Wajrakarur kimberlite field requires low degrees of partial melting of contrasting metasomatic assemblages in a heterogeneous sub-continental lithospheric mantle.The widespread association of kimberlite and other mantle-derived magmatism during the Mesoproterozoic(ca.1.1 Ga) have been interpreted as being part of a single large igneous province comprising of the Kalahari,Australian,West Laurentian and Indian blocks of the Rodinia supercontinent that were in existence during its assembly.In India only kimberlite/lamproite/ultramafic lamprophyre magmatism occurred at this time without the associated large igneous provinces as seen in other parts of Rodinia.This may be because of the separated paleo-latitudinal position of India from Australia during the assembly of Rodinia.It is speculated that the presence of a large plume at or close to 1.1 Ga within the Rodinian supercontinent,with the Indian block located on its periphery,could be the reason for incipient melting of lithospheric mantle and the consequent emplacement of only kimberlites and other ultramafic,volatile rich rocks in India due to comparatively low thermal effects from the distant plume.

Efficiency of a re-usable Carius tube for determination of platinum group elements in ultramafic rocks

Digestion with aqua regia in Carius tube is commonly employed for determination of PGEs in geological samples. However, silicates cannot be completely dissolved by aqua regia and PGEs might partially remain in silicate residue. In this study, an ultramafic reference material was used to investigate the efficiencies of a new re-usable Carius tube after digestion at 220 and 240℃, and an autoclave-lined Carius tube at 260 and 280℃. The results show that about 10% of PGEs retained in the silicate residues at 220 and 5% still r℃ emains even digestion temperature increases to 280℃. These results agree with previous works that increasing the digestion pressure and temperature can achieve more effective dissolution. Thus, a modified digestion procedure for determination of PGEs in ultramafic rocks by the re-usable Carius tube was proposed in this study.

Sr AND Nd ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION OF THE ULTRAMAFIC XENOLITHS FROM EASTERM CHINA:INFERENCES ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE SUBCONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE MANTLE AND THE ORIGIN OF BASALTIC MAGMAS

Uliramafie xenoliths provide an important constraint on the composition,strueture and evolution of the lithosphere mantle beneath eastern China. Most of the xenoliths entrained by the Cenzoic basalts have de pleted Sr and Nd isotopie composition. Interestingly evidences have been found for old ehriehed lithosphere mantle beneath thick Arehaean and post-Arehaean erust (＞35 km ) and for relatively homogeneous and depleted lithosphere mantle bencath thin erust (＜ 35 km ). Furthermore the chemieal composition of the lithosphere mantle is overall fertile regardless of the age of the overlying erust. The spatial variability in ehemieal and Sr and Nd isotopie eompositions of the ultramafie xenoliths in relation to the lithospherie ages and geometry implies a mixture strueture of the lithosphere mantle beheath easiern China. which consists of recently aecreted asthenospherie diapirs and old modified remnants. Isotopie eomposition of the Cenozoie basalts show obvious similarities with ocein island basalt (OIH ). We argue that enriehed lithosphere mantle delamineted during Mesozoic-Cenozoie tectonie-thermal events was generally involved in the Cenozoie basaltic voleanism.

Rift-associated ultramafic lamprophyre(damtjernite) from the middle part of the Lower Cretaceous(125 Ma) succession of Kutch,northwestern India: Tectonomagmatic implications

Mineralogical,geochemical and isotopic(Sr and Nd) studies on the recently reported ca. 124 Ma'anorogenic lamproite' dyke from the Palanpur area, Kutch seismogenic rift zone, northwestern India, are presented. We propose a new classification for the dyke as a damtjernite(ultramafic lamprophyre; UML)based on its porphyritic-panidiomorphic texture, abundance of phlogopite, presence of nepheline in the groundmass, and the composition of liquidus phases such as olivine, phlogopite, magnetite, and clinopyroxene(diopside). The Palanpur UML is primitive(Mg# =74-77),silica-undersaturated(SiO_2<40 wt.%),potassic to slightly sodic in nature, and is strikingly similar to the ～69 Ma UML dykes and sills of the Tethyan Indus suture zone, which are considered as the earliest yet known manifestations of the Deccan Large Igneous Province(LIP). Bulk-rock(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_i(0.70460-0.70461) and ε_(N)d(t)(+2.56 to-0.69) of the Palanpur UML signify derivation from a slightly depleted mantle source similar to that of asthenospheric magmas such as OIB. This is further attested to by the high incompatible trace element ratios(viz., La/Ba, Nb/U, Nb/La and Ta/Yb) that are typical of plume-type magmas. However, the Neoproterozoic T_(DM) depleted mantle Nd model ages( ～655-919 Ma) also necessitate some involvement of a lithospheric mantle component in its genesis. High bulk-rock Fe_2 O_3~t and TiO_2 contents require the involvement of a fertile peridotitic mantle source, whereas high La/Yb(60-80) implies a control by residual garnet. Higher Rb/Sr and lower Ba/Rb suggest phlogopite as a residual phase and high Nb and lower La/Sm favour carbonatite, rather than silicate melt as metasomatising agent. Low degrees of partial melting of a primitive garnet lherzolite mantle can account for the observed REE patterns in the Palanpur UML. The Palanpur UML shares a temporal similarity to the Kerguelen plume-derived Rajmahal basalts and associated alkaline rocks from the eastern India. The tectonomagmatic significance of its emplacement during the mid-Cretaceous vis-a-vis various models involving the timing of eruption of the Deccan and the Rahmahal Traps and the rifting in the Kutch basin induced by far-field plate reorganization is evaluated.

MINERALOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS FROM THE INDUS SUTURE OPHIOLITE IN SWAT, NW PAKISTAN

Genetically diverse lithologies, which include blueschist, greenschist, ultramafic, mafic plutonic, e.g. gabbros, and volcanic, e.g. pillowed basalts, and metasedimentary rocks, occur as a wedge\|shaped zone in the area to the north of the Mingora town in Swat, NW Pakistan. This zone of fault\|bounded rock bodies and blocks is distinguished into three principal groups, each of which is itself a composite of lithologies, or a melange—the blueschist melange, greenschist melange and ophiolitic melange. All these lie along the Main Mantle Thrust (MMT)—the westward extension of the Indus\|Tsangbo suture zone and the locus of collision between the Indo\|Pakistan plate and the Kohistan island arc—and, are therefore, collectively termed as the Main Mantle Thrust Melange Group (MMTMG).The ultramafic rocks, locally containing chromite pods and constituting a part of the ophiolitic member of the MMTMG, occur as small to large lenticular bodies, distributed along the marginal part of the Indo\|Pakistan plate. They are invariably serpentinized to varying degrees and, therefore, consist of abundant, fine grained serpentine which is mostly accompanied by subordinate amounts of completely bastitised, medium to coarse grained orthopyroxene, trace to accessory amounts of commonly altered (zoned with ferritchromite and/or magnetite) chrome spinel, variable proportions of olivine, and accessory amounts of diopside. In other words, the ultramafic rocks are mostly harzburgitic in mineralogy and, therefore, the ophiolite as a whole can be classified as the harzburgite sub\|type..Detailed field and mineralogical studies show that the present petrographic ch aracteristics and mineral\|chemical composition of these dominantly harburgitic rocks are the result of a number of phenomena involving partial melting, serpentinization, metamorphism and talc\|carbonate alteration.