The late Cretaceous lithospheric mantle beneath the Central Andes: Evidence form phase equilibria and composition of mantle xenoliths.

LUCASSEN, F., FRANZ, G., VIRAMONTE, J.G., ROMER, R.L., DULSKI, P. & A. LANG

LITHOS

Elsevier

Lugar: Holanda; Año: 2005 vol. 88 p. 379 - 406

0024-4937

Temperature estimates and chemical composition of mantle xenoliths from the Cretaceous rift system of NW Argentina (268S) constrain the rift evolution and chemical and physical properties of the lithospheric mantle at the eastern edge of the Cenozoic Andean plateau. The xenolith suite comprises mainly spinel lherzolite and subordinate pyroxenite and carbonatized lherzolite. The spinel lherzolite xenoliths equilibrated at high-T (most samples N1000 8C) and P below garnet-in. The Sm–Nd systematics of compositionally unzoned clino- and orthopyroxene indicate a Cretaceous minimum age for the high-T regime, i.e., the asthenosphere/lithosphere thermal boundary was at ca. 70 km depth in the Cretaceous rift. Major elements and Cr, Ni, Co and V contents of the xenoliths range between values of primitive and depleted mantle. Calculated densities based on thebulk composition of the xenoliths are b3280 kg/m3 for the estimated P–T conditions and indicate a buoyant, stable upper mantle lithosphere. The well-equilibrated metamorphic fabric and mineral paragenesis with the general lack of high-T hydrous phases did not preserve traces of metasomatism in the mantle xenoliths. Late Mesozoic metasomatism, however, is obvious in the gradual enrichment of Sr, U, Th and light to medium REE and changes in the radiogenic isotope composition of an originally depleted mantle. These changes are independent of the degree of depletion evidenced by major element composition.143Nd/144Ndi ratios of clinopyroxene from the main group of xenoliths decrease with increasing Nd content from N0.5130 (depleted samples) to ca. 0.5127 (enriched samples). 87Sr/86Sri ratios (0.7127–0.7131, depleted samples; 0.7130–0.7134, enriched samples) show no variation with variable Sr contents. Pbi isotope ratios of the enriched samples are rather radiogenic (206Pb/204Pbi 18.8–20.6, 207Pb/204Pbi 15.6–15.7, 208Pb/204Pbi 38.6–47) compared with the Pb isotope signature of the depleted samples. The large scatter and high values of 208Pb/204Pbi ratios of many xenoliths indicates at least two Pb sources that are characterized by similar U/Pb but by different Th/Pb ratios. The dominant mantle type in the investigated system is depleted.8S) constrain the rift evolution and chemical and physical properties of the lithospheric mantle at the eastern edge of the Cenozoic Andean plateau. The xenolith suite comprises mainly spinel lherzolite and subordinate pyroxenite and carbonatized lherzolite. The spinel lherzolite xenoliths equilibrated at high-T (most samples N1000 8C) and P below garnet-in. The Sm–Nd systematics of compositionally unzoned clino- and orthopyroxene indicate a Cretaceous minimum age for the high-T regime, i.e., the asthenosphere/lithosphere thermal boundary was at ca. 70 km depth in the Cretaceous rift. Major elements and Cr, Ni, Co and V contents of the xenoliths range between values of primitive and depleted mantle. Calculated densities based on thebulk composition of the xenoliths are b3280 kg/m3 for the estimated P–T conditions and indicate a buoyant, stable upper mantle lithosphere. The well-equilibrated metamorphic fabric and mineral paragenesis with the general lack of high-T hydrous phases did not preserve traces of metasomatism in the mantle xenoliths. Late Mesozoic metasomatism, however, is obvious in the gradual enrichment of Sr, U, Th and light to medium REE and changes in the radiogenic isotope composition of an originally depleted mantle. These changes are independent of the degree of depletion evidenced by major element composition.143Nd/144Ndi ratios of clinopyroxene from the main group of xenoliths decrease with increasing Nd content from N0.5130 (depleted samples) to ca. 0.5127 (enriched samples). 87Sr/86Sri ratios (0.7127–0.7131, depleted samples; 0.7130–0.7134, enriched samples) show no variation with variable Sr contents. Pbi isotope ratios of the enriched samples are rather radiogenic (206Pb/204Pbi 18.8–20.6, 207Pb/204Pbi 15.6–15.7, 208Pb/204Pbi 38.6–47) compared with the Pb isotope signature of the depleted samples. The large scatter and high values of 208Pb/204Pbi ratios of many xenoliths indicates at least two Pb sources that are characterized by similar U/Pb but by different Th/Pb ratios. The dominant mantle type in the investigated system is depleted.