S. V. Kovyazin

Genesis of platiniferous massifs in the southeastern Siberian Platform

Data obtained on melt inclusions in Cr-spinel suggest a magmatic genesis of dunite in the Konder and Inagly placer-forming platiniferous massifs in the southeastern Siberian Platform. These data make it possible to evaluate the physicochemical parameters of the magmatic processes that produced these concentrically zoned alkaline-ultrabasic complexes. The comparative analysis of the composition of the Cr-spinel with inclusions highlights remarkable differences between this mineral in the Konder and Inagli massifs, on the one hand, and in ultramafic rocks in ophiolites and the modern oceanic crust, on the other. Minute clinopyroxene crystals included in Cr-spinel from the Konder Massif have a composition and configurations of their REE patterns contrastingly different from those of clinopyroxene in basite-hyperbasite complexes of ophiolite associations but are close to those of clinopyroxene in the Kytlym and Nizhnii Tagil platiniferous massifs in the Urals. The composition of the quenched melt inclusions suggests that the chromite crystallized predominantly from picrite alkaline magmas. The concentrations of most elements in the high-Mg inclusions are close to those in biotite-pyroxene alkaline picrites, a fact testifying to the significant contribution of ultrabasic (picrite) alkaline magmatic systems to the origin of the Konder and Inagli massifs. Ion-probe analyses of the inclusions suggest that the melts were rich in water (up to 0.6 wt %). Data on the distribution of REE and other trace elements in the inclusions provide evidence of the influence of a deep plume. Our simulations with the use of the composition of the melt inclusions suggest that dunite in the Konder and Inagli massifs were produced mainly by water-bearing magmas at temperatures of 1460–1300°C. As the melts evolved to less magnesian ones, olivine continued to crystallize from them until the temperature decreased to 1230°C.

Petrogenesis of the Fe-Ti intrusive complexes in the Sierra Leone region, Central Atlantic

The study of melt inclusions in Cr-spinels from melanocratic troctolites provided the first direct information on the physicochemical parameters of enriched magmatic systems that produced high-Fe and high-Ti intrusive complexes in the Sierra-Leone region (Central Atlantic, 6°N). These complexes are made up of predominating hornblende Fe-Ti oxide gabbronorites and gabbrodiorites with subordinate amount of ultramafics, diorites, quartz diorites, and trondhjemites. The study of melt inclusions and rocks showed that the majority of gabbroids of the Central Atlantic (Sierra Leone area and 15°20′ Fracture Zone) were derived from N-MORB-type melts, whereas differentiated Fe-Ti-oxide rocks were crystallized from other melts, which were preserved as inclusions in the Cr-spinels from the melanocratic troctolites of the Sierra Leone region. The ion-microprobe study of these inclusions yield direct evidence on the elevated water content (up to 1.24–1.77 wt %) in the parental melts of Fe-Ti oxide rocks. Data on trace and rare-earth element distribution together with high (La/Sm)N and (Ce/Yb)N ratios in the inclusions indicate the possible influence of deep plume source on the generation of these magmas. Simulation based on melt inclusion data testifies that high-Fe intrusions of the Sierra Leone area were crystallized from the water-saturated magmas at relatively low temperatures (1020–1240°C). It was shown that the geochemically enriched Fe-Ti melts were presumably formed regardless of N-MORB-type magmatism predominant in Central Atlantic, under the influence of new mantle plume that caused melting of hydrated oceanic lithosphere.

The composition of melt and fluid inclusions in spinel of peridotite xenoliths from Avacha volcano (Kamchatka)

This work considers the studies of melt and fluid inclusions in spinel of ultramafic rocks in the mantle wedge beneath Avacha volcano (Kamchatka). The generations of spinel were identified: 1 is spinel (Sp-I) of the “primary” peridotites, has the highest magnesium number (#0.69–0.71), highest contents of Al2O3 and lowest contents of Cr2O3 (26.2–27.1 and 37.5–38.5 wt %, respectively), and the absence in it of any fluid and melt inclusions; 2 is spinel (Sp-II) of the recrystallized peridotites, has lower magnesium number (Mg# 0.64–0.61) and the content of Al2O3 (18–19 wt %), a higher content of Cr2O3 (45.4–47.2 wt %) and the presence of primary fluid inclusions; 3 is spinel (Sp-III) that is characterized by the highest content of Cr2O3 (50.2–55.4 wt %), the lowest content of Al2O3 (13.6–16.6 wt %), and the presence of various types of primary melt inclusions. The data obtained indicate that metasomatic processing of “primary” peridotites occurred under the influence of high concentrated fluids of mainly carbonate-water-chloride composition with influx of the following petrogenic elements: Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Na, K, S, F, etc. This process was often accompanied by a local melting of the metasomatized substrate at a temperature above 1050°C with the formation of melts close to andesitic.

Petrogenesis of the island-arc complexes of the Chara zone, East Kazakhstan

The study of clinopyroxenes and melt inclusions provided direct (independent on secondary alteration) information on the petrogenesis of the island arc complexes of the Chara zone, East Kazakhstan. It was shown that magmatism of this zone evolved from primitive island-arc systems with boninites to mature island arc with calc-alkaline melts. In terms of trace and rare-earth element distribution, the melt inclusions in the clinopyroxenes of the Chara zone differ from mid-ocean ridge basalts, being closer to the island-arc calcalkaline series. Based on inclusion composition, the parental melts of the considered complexes crystallized within 1150–1190°C with decreasing iron, magnesium, calcium, and sodium contents. Simulation based on melt inclusion data in clinopyroxenes indicates that the melts contained up to 1 wt % water, which was confirmed by direct ion-microprobe determination of 0.84 wt % H2O in the inclusions. Calculated liquidus temperatures are consistent with homogenization temperatures of the inclusions. Our calculations on the basis of inclusion data testify that the primary melts of the studied basaltic series of the Chara zone were generated from the mantle protolith within temperatures of 1350–1530°C at depths of 50–95 km. Similar parameters are typical of the generation of the tholeiitic and boninitic island-arc magmas in the modern ocean-continent transition zones of the Pacific type. In general, the study of clinopyroxenes and melt inclusions suggests that the considered complexes of the Chara zone were formed with the participation of tholeiitic and calcalkaline volcanogenic systems of basaltic, basaltic andesite, and, possibly, boninitic composition in the paleogeodynamic setting of evolving ancient island arc.

Problem of water in the upper mantle: Antigorite breakdown

The subducting oceanic crust has a heterogeneous composition but mainly is composed of a mixture of anhydrous dolerite and gabbro with mafic green schist (albite + epidote + chlorite + actinolite) and amphib� olite [1]. An increase in pressure and temperature results in rock dehydration in the subducting oceanic crust [2]. As this takes place, dehydration proceeds successively depending on phase transitions in hydrous phases (chlorite, lawsonite, amphibole, phengite, zoisite–clinozoisite, and others). The sub� ducting oceanic crust contains >5 wt % Н2О at the ini�

Trace Element Distribution in Mineral Inclusions in Zoned Garnets from Eclogites of the Atbashi Range (South Tianshan)

Ion microprobe data for minerals from the eclogites of the Atbashi Range (South Tianshan) constrain the distribution of trace (Rb, Sr, Ba, Cr, V, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, U, Th, and Y) and rare-earth elements (REE) in zoned garnets and mineral inclusions in them. This study showed that garnets from the Atbashi eclogites are the main hosts for heavy REE; epidotes are important hosts for REE, Y, Sr, Th, and U; and omphacites are depleted in almost all trace elements compared with the bulk-rock compositions. Garnet, as well as epidote and omphacite inclusions exhibit systematic rimward depletion in a number of trace elements, which is related to the depletion of the rock matrix in these elements during crystallization. Deviations from this trend, including the enrichment of garnet rims in HREE and strong variations in the REE contents of garnets and mineral inclusions, can be explained by metamorphic reactions involving the destabilization of REE-bearing minerals. Our data suggest that the mobility of trace elements under eclogites-facies conditions is mainly controlled by the stability of certain minerals.

Fluid regime of formation of clinopyroxenites from the mantle wedge beneath Avacha volcano (Kamchatka)

This work presents the study results of melt and fluid inclusions in minerals of clinopyroxenite xenoliths from the suprasubduction mantle wedge beneath the Avacha volcano. Clinopyroxenites are composed of clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, amphibole, and rare olivine and have largely coarse-grained texture.

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.

Rhyolite xenolith from the neovolcanic basalts of the rift valley of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, northeastern pacific: Reconstructsen MOR silicic rocks and basic magmas

In this paper, we discuss the formation conditions of rhyolites and results of their interaction with later portions of basic magmas on the basis of the investigation of melt and fluid inclusions in minerals from a rhyolite xenolith and host neovolcanic basalts of the Cleft segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. In terms of bulk chemistry and the compositions of melt inclusions in pyroxene and olivine phenocrysts, the basic rocks of the southern part of this segment are typical MOR basalts. Their olivine, clinopyroxene, and plagioclase crystallized at temperatures of 1160–1280°C and a pressure range between 20 and 100 MPa. The xenolith is a leucocratic rock with negligible amounts of mafic minerals, which clearly distinguishes it from the known occurrences of silicic rocks in the rift valleys of MOR. The rhyolite melt crystallized at temperatures of 900–880°C. The final stages of rhyolite melt crystallization at temperatures of 780–800°C were accompanied by the release of a saline aqueous fluid with high chloride contents. Based on the geochemical characteristics of melt inclusions and melting products, it can be suggested that the magmatic melt was produced by melting of metamorphosed oceanic crust within the Cleft segment under the influence sof saline aqueous fluid trapped in the pores and interstices of the rock. The rock represented by the xenolith is a late differentiation product of such melts. The ultimate products of silicic melt fractionation show high volatile contents: H2O > 3.0 wt %, Cl ∼ 2.0 wt %, and F ∼ 0.1 wt %. The interaction of the xenolith with the host basaltic melt occurred at temperatures equal or slightly higher than those of ferrobasalt melts (1190–1180°C). During ascent the xenolith occurred for a few tens of hours in high-temperature basic magma, and diffusion exchange between the basaltic and silicic melts was very minor.

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.