A.V. Kotlyarov

Petrogenesis of meymechites of Sikhote Alin inferred from melt inclusions

The analysis of the composition of minerals and their melt inclusions yielded new information on the physicochemical conditions that determined the formation of Sinkhole Alin meymechites. The data on the compositions of the minerals in ultramafic subvolcanic rocks from two localities (Barakhta and Katen rivers) indicate the similarity of these meymechites with standard rocks in the Maimecha-Kotyi province and their formation in untraplate environments. The experiments with melt inclusions in olivine and calculations using the data on the compositions of glasses in the inclusions revealed insignificant differences in the thermal regimes of the magmatic systems during the formation of meymechites from the Barakhta (1235–1280°C) and Katen (1230–1300°C) river localities. The investigations of inclusions in olivine show that the meymechites of Sikhote Alin crystallized from basaltic melts (corresponding in their chemical composition to olivine basalts and picrobasalts) due to cumulation of olivine. The data on the distribution of the titanium, trace, and rare earth elements in the melt inclusions imply a significant contribution of plume systems to the formation of the meymechite complexes of Sikhote Alin. The direct analysis of the compositions of the volatile components in the glasses from the heated melt inclusions in olivine using an ion microprobe revealed significant differences in the concentrations of water in the magmatic systems that formed the meymechites of the Barakhta (0.82–0.90 wt % to 2.45 wt %) and Katen (0.22–0.30 wt %) river basins.

Petrogenesis of Late Cenozoic Basaltic Complexes in the Southern Baikal and Southern Khangai Volcanic Areas in Central Asia: Evidence from Melt Inclusions

Data on melt inclusions in minerals provide direct information on the physicochemical petrogenetic parameters of Late Cenozoic basaltic complexes in the Southern Baikal and Southern Khangai Volcanic Areas (SBVA and SKVA, respectively) in Central Asia. Newly obtained data on inclusions in olivine reveal differences between the temperatures of the magmatic systems that produced basalts in SBVA and SKVA. The comparison of the experimentally determined homogenization temperatures and parameters calculated from data on the composition of glasses in the melt inclusions allowed us to realistically evaluate the temperatures of the petrogenetic processes that generated Late Cenozoic basaltic complexes in SBVA (1130–1160°C and 1175–1250°C) and SKVA (1145–1185°C, 1210–1270, and about 1300–1310°C). The analysis of fluid phases in the inclusions testifies that basaltic melts in SBVA were rich in carbon dioxide, which ensured elevated pressures (up to 5–6.6 kbar) during the crystallization of the minerals. Data on the composition of inclusions in the olivine highlight differences between the chemistries of magmatic systems in the two territories: elevated TiO2, Al2O3, and CaO concentrations at relatively low FeO and MgO contents in the SBVA melts as compared to analogous concentrations in the SKVA basaltic magmas. The petrochemical and geochemical parameters of the primary melt inclusions and the composition of the olivine generally testify that deep plume magmatic processes were actively involved in the generation of basalts in both SBVA and SKVA. Data on melt inclusions in olivine and the composition of the clinopyroxene reveal similarities between the geochemistry, mineralogy, and crystallization parameters of Late Cenozoic basalts in both SBVA and SKVA and Cretaceous-Paleogene basalts in the Tien Shan and their certain differences from the plume-related systems of the OIB type. These data suggest that the geodynamic environment of the Cenozoic and Late Mesozoic intraplate plume magmatism in Central Asia were different from the geodynamic environment of typical long-lived mantle plumes like that at Hawaii.

Physicochemical Conditions of Crystallization of Rocks from Ultrabasic Massifs of the Siberian Platform

A great volume of original information on the formation of the ultrabasic rocks of the Siberian Platform has been accumulated owing to the study of melt inclusions in Cr-spinels. The inclusions show the general tendencies in the behavior of the magmatic systems during the formation of the ultrabasic massifs of the Siberian Platform, tracing the main evolution trend of decreasing Mg number with SiO2 increase in the melts with subsequent transition from picrites through picrobasalts to basalts. The compositions of the melt inclusions indicate that the crystallization conditions of the rocks of the concentrically zoned massifs (Konder, Inagli, Chad) sharply differ from those of the Guli massif. Numerical modeling using the PETROLOG and PLUTON softwares and data on the composition of inclusions in Cr-spinels yielded maximum crystallization temperatures of the olivines from the dunites of the Konder (1545–1430°C), Inagli (1530–1430°C), Chad (1460–1420°C), and Guli (1520–1420°C) massifs, and those of Cr-spinels from the Konder (1420–1380°C), Inagli (up to 1430°C), Chad (1430–1330°C), and Guli (1410–1370°C) massifs. Modeling of the Guli massif with the PLUTON software using the compositions of the melt inclusions revealed the possible formation of the alkaline rocks at the final reverse stage of the evolution of the picritic magmas (with decrease of SiO2 and alkali accumulation) after termination of olivine crystallization with temperature decrease from 1240–1230°C to 1200–1090°C. Modeling with the PLUTON software showed that the dunites of the Guli massif coexisted with Fe-rich (with moderate TiO2 contents) melts, the crystallization of which led (beginning from 1210°C) to the formation of pyroxenes between cumulate olivine. Further temperature decrease (from 1125°C) with decreasing FeO and TiO2 contents provided the formation of clinopyroxenes of pyroxenites. For the Konder massif, modeling with the PLUTON software indicates the possible formation of kosvites from picrobasaltic magmas beginning from 1350°C and the formation of clinopyroxenites and olivine–diopside rocks from olivine basaltic melts from 1250°C.