Kalt, Angelika

2009, Kaeser, Benjamin, Olker, Bettina, Kalt, Angelika, Altherr, Rainer, Pettke, Thomas

Garnet-bearing and garnet-free pyroxenite xenoliths from Quaternary basanites of Marsabit, northern Kenya, were analysed for microstructures and mineral compositions (major and trace elements) to constrain the thermal and compositional evolution of the lithospheric mantle in this region. Garnet-bearing rocks are amphibole-bearing websterite with ~5–10 vol% orthopyroxene. Clinopyroxene is LREE-depleted and garnet has high HREE contents, in agreement with an origin as cumulates from basaltic mantle melts. Primary orthopyroxene inclusions in garnet suggest that the parental melts were orthopyroxene-saturated. Rock fabrics vary from weakly to strongly deformed. Thermobarometry indicates extensive decompression and cooling (~970–1,100°C at ~2.3–2.6 GPa to ~700–800°C at ~0.5–1.0 GPa) during deformation, best interpreted as pyroxenite intrusion into thick Paleozoic continental lithosphere subsequently followed by continental rifting (i.e., formation of the Mesozoic Anza Graben). During continental rifting, garnet websterites were decompressed (garnet-to-spinel transition) and experienced the same P–T evolution as their host peridotites. Strongly deformed samples show compositional overlaps with cpx-rich, initially garnet-bearing lherzolite, best explained by partial re-equilibration of peridotite and pyroxenite during deformation and mechanical mingling. In contrast, garnet-free pyroxenites include undeformed, cumulate-like samples, indicating that they are younger than the garnet websterites. Major and trace element compositions of clinopyroxene and calculated equilibrium melts suggest crystallisation from alkaline basaltic melt similar to the host basanite, which suggests formation in the context of alkaline magmatism during the development of the Kenya rift.

2006, Kaeser, Benjamin, Kalt, Angelika

Mantle xenoliths, rock fragments sampled by magmas during their ascent from depth to the surface, provide direct information on the nature and composition of the Earth’s mantle. This thesis is the result of a petrographic, geochemical and petrological case study on mantle xenoliths hosted by Quaternary basanitic and alkali basaltic scoriae of the Marsabit volcanic field (northern Kenya). Magmatic activity is related to the development of the East African rift system. Results from previous seismic, geological and petrological studies show that continental rifting in East Africa is strongly controlled by pre-existing structures in the lithosphere. Further, the nature of the lithosphere has been shown to play a crucial role for the locus and composition of volcanic rocks, as magmas partly derive from, or at least interacted with the lithospheric mantle. The xenoliths from Marsabit provide a direct window in the mantle and allow constraining the nature of the East African Rift lithosphere. The xenoliths comprise several groups of ultramafic (peridotite) and mafic (pyroxenite and gabbro) rocks. Peridotite includes porphyroclastic or statically recrystallised, formerly garnet-bearing lherzolite (Group I and II, respectively), porphyroclastic spinel harzburgite and dunite (Group III) and mylonitic spl harzburgite and lherzolite (Group IV). Mafic rocks comprise garnet-bearing and garnet-free pyroxenite (Group V and VI, respectively) and gabbro (Group VII). The integration of textural and compositional data, together with results from thermobarometry and evaluation of mineral zoning indicate a complex evolution of the lithospheric mantle. The possibly oldest features are preserved in the formerly garnet-bearing lherzolites (Group I and II) and in the garnet pyroxenites. These rocks provide evidence of an earlier high-pressure / high temperature stage (~970-1100°C at depths around 60-90 km), similar to non-rifted sub-continental lithospheric mantle such as actually present underneath southern Kenya. This stage most likely corresponds to the lithospheric conditions prior to continental rifting which started during Mesozoic times with the formation of the Anza Graben (an older rift perpendicular to the present-day East African rift). The garnet pyroxenites formed prior to rifting as well. It is suggested that the garnet pyroxenites represent the products of high-pressure crystallisation of opx-saturated melts, possibly formed during Pan-African (Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic) orogenesis. Crustal rocks issued from this time period make up most of the present-day crystalline basement of the Marsabit area. All peridotite types, as well as the garnet pyroxenites were subjected to later cooling, decompression and pervasive deformation (to very low mantle P-T conditions of ~700-800°C at depths ~30-40 km). These features are best explained by continental rifting during Mesozoic-Paleogene times that led to the formation of the Anza Graben Subsequently magmatism and metasomatism related to the development of the Tertiary-Quaternary East African rift obliterated features related to Mesozoic-Paleogene rifting. Evidence for this comes, for example, from the statically recrystallised lherzolites, where textural annealing is associated with a young heating event (up to 1100°C). Heating was accompanied by cryptic metasomatism (i.e., enrichment of clinopyroxene in Fe-Ti and incompatible trace elements). The metasomatising melts were compositionally similar (and possibly genetically related) to the Quaternary basanites erupted at the surface of Marsabit. Probably in the same period, garnet-free pyroxenites (Group VI xenoliths) crystallised from alkaline melts, presumably in dykes within the shallow mantle or at the mantle-crust boundary (between ~30-60 km depths). Also these alkaline melts were most likely related to the lavas erupted at the surface. Further evidence for Tertiary-Quaternary metasomatism can be found in the porphyroclastic Group III peridotite xenoliths (Group III), which show a textural transition from virtually non-metasomatised spl harzburgite to modally metasomatised amphibole dunite. The latter contain rather unusual mantle minerals such as apatite, graphite, Na-rich phlogopite and katophorite (amphibole). The phase assemblage, as well as major and trace element characteristics indicate that this type of metasomatism resulted from the infiltration of volatile (H2O, CO2)-rich silicic melt and/or fluid in a pre-existing heterogeneous and probably reduced mantle. Such melts may have evolved from previous melt-rock reaction processes. In a very late stage (i.e., shortly before the xenoliths were transported to the surface in their host magma), the metasomatic minerals partially melted. This led to the formation of patches consisting of newly formed minerals (microlites) and glass (quenched melt). The metasomatised harzburgites and dunites are further strongly enriched in the low-atomic mass elements (light elements) Lithium, Beryllium and Boron. Therefore, these elements were investigated with special emphasis. The light elements are now widely used to trace recycled components in mantle and volcanic rocks in subduction zone settings. In the case of Marsabit, the light element systematics could potentially be interpreted as reflecting such components in the mantle, added by ancient, pre-rift subduction events. The detailed investigation of Li, Be and B systematics in minerals from the Marsabit xenoliths, however, clearly points to young disequilibrium features and to modification of light element budgets during very late-stage melting events (i.e. the formation of melt pockets). These results highlight that the application of light element systematics to trace subduction-related components is not un-problematic. This applies in particular to xenoliths where a careful quantification of late-stage metasomatic events with respect to the light elements is necessary.

2007, Kaeser, Benjamin, Kalt, Angelika, Ludwig, Thomas

The light elements Li, Be, and B have been analyzed in situ in minerals from three groups of peridotite xenoliths hosted in Quaternary basanites from the Marsabit volcanic field (northern Kenya). Group I and II are fertile lherzolites that experienced deformation, decompression, and cooling in the context of Mesozoic rifting (Group I), followed by heating, static recrystallization, and associated cryptic metasomatism (Group II) as a result of Tertiary-Quaternary rifting and magmatism. Group III xenoliths are spinel harzburgites and dunites that experienced strong cryptic and modal metasomatism. The Li-Be-B systematics in minerals of Group I and II are similar to unmetasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle. In contrast, Group III samples are characterized by significant enrichment in all light elements and disequilibrium partitioning between different phases. Light element concentrations levels are similar to that expected for mantle rocks metasomatized by melts and fluids released from subducting slabs, while light element/rare earth element ratios (especially Li/Yb) approach those of typical Island Arc basalts. However, detailed investigation of textures and chemical zoning shows that at least Li concentrations in primary minerals were modified (i.e., decoupled from Yb) during late-stage melting and/or fluid percolation related to Tertiary-Quaternary alkaline magmatism in Marsabit (formation of melt pockets consisting of silicate glass, clinopyroxene, olivine, and chromite), ultimately followed by xenolith entrapment and transport to the surface. Mass balance calculations show that the melt pockets formed at the expense of earlier metasomatic phases. During this process the melt pockets mostly preserved the B, Be, and rare earth element budget of the precursor phase assemblage, whereas Li was added. Elevated B/Be and low Ce/B of metasomatic phases prior to late melting could result from metasomatism by a slab fluid. However, similar characteristics are expected for evolved Si- and CO₂-rich fluids derived from basanite melt-peridotite interaction, not related to any subduction zone process. The results of this study imply that the inference of a “slab signature” exclusively based on trace element data of metasomatized peridotite is ambiguous.

2007, Kaeser, Benjamin, Kalt, Angelika, Pettke, Thomas

Mantle-derived xenoliths from the Marsabit shield volcano (eastern flank of the Kenya rift) include porphyroclastic spinel peridotites characterized by variable styles of metasomatism. The petrography of the xenoliths indicates a transition from primary clinopyroxene-bearing cryptically metasomatized harzburgite (light rare earth element, U, and Th enrichment in clinopyroxene) to modally metasomatized clinopyroxene-free harzburgite and dunite. The metasomatic phases include amphibole (low-Ti Mg-katophorite), Na-rich phlogopite, apatite, graphite and metasomatic low-Al orthopyroxene. Transitional samples show that metasomatism led to replacement of clinopyroxene by amphibole. In all modally metasomatized xenoliths melt pockets (silicate glass containing silicate and oxide micro-phenocrysts, carbonates and empty vugs) occur in close textural relationship with the earlier metasomatic phases. The petrography, major and trace element data, together with constraints from thermobarometry and fO₂ calculations, indicate that the cryptic and modal metasomatism are the result of a single event of interaction between peridotite and an orthopyroxene-saturated volatile-rich silicate melt. The unusual style of metasomatism (composition of amphibole, presence of graphite, formation of orthopyroxene) reflects low P –T conditions (~850–1000°C at < 1•5 GPa) in the wall-rocks during impregnation and locally low oxygen fugacities. The latter allowed the precipitation of graphite from CO₂. The inferred melt was possibly derived from alkaline basic melts by melt–rock reaction during the development of the Tertiary–Quaternary Kenya rift. Glass-bearing melt pockets formed at the expense of the early phases, mainly through incongruent melting of amphibole and orthopyroxene, triggered by infiltration of a CO₂-rich fluid and heating related to the magmatic activity that ultimately sampled and transported the xenoliths to the surface.