Diverse origins of pyroxenite xenoliths from Yangyuan, North China Craton: implications for the modification of lithosphere by magma underplating and melt-rock interactions

Abstract

We present detailed major-, trace-element and Sr-Nd-Mg isotopic geochemistry for a suite of pyroxenite xenoliths entrained in Oligocene basalts in Yangyuan county, North China Craton, to reveal their origins and to further constrain the evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath this area. The Yangyuan pyroxenites exhibit a lithologic spectrum ranging from orthopyroxenite, through orthopyroxene-rich websterite and clinopyroxene-rich websterite to clinopyroxenite. Their equilibrium temperatures (874–975 °C), which are within the temperature range of the upper mantle and lower crust, suggest that they came from the crust-mantle transition zone. The Yangyuan pyroxenite xenoliths can be subdivided into three types based on the compositions of their constituent clinopyroxene. Clinopyroxenes in the type I pyroxenites are characterized by high Mg# (88.3–92.0; Mg# = Mg/(Mg + Fe2+)*100) and Cr2O3 contents (0.86–1.63 wt.%). Their resemblance to those from the peridotite xenoliths, together with their light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment, indicates that the type I pyroxenites should be produced by lithological heterogeneity in the mantle, which may have including metasomatism. Clinopyroxenes in the type II pyroxenites have intermediate Mg# (81.0–86.7) and Cr2O3 contents (0.53–0.73 wt.%), which are similar to those of strongly metasomatized mantle-derived Fe-lherzolite xenoliths. Their LREE-enriched compositions, as well as the high Ni contents of the orthopyroxenes and clinopyroxenes, suggest that the type II pyroxenites were produced by melt-peridotite interactions. Clinopyroxenes from type III pyroxenites have the lowest Mg# (65.2–76.5) and Cr2O3 contents (0.05–0.38 wt.%), which are comparable to those formed by fractional crystallization of primary basalts, suggesting that they are the products of fractional crystallization. The high Mg#, Ti/Eu ratios, the low (La/Yb)N and Ca/Al ratios, and Rb and Ba contents of the clinopyroxenes, as well as the depleted Sr-Nd isotopes of most of the Yangyuan pyroxenites, suggest that asthenosphere or juvenile lithospheric mantle-derived silicate melts were probably involved in their formation, whereas the enriched Sr-Nd isotopes of sample YY17-5 indicate that its source may have mixed with melts derived from recycled ancient lower crust. The light and variable Mg isotopic compositions (δ26Mg = −0.23 to −0.46‰) of the Yangyuan pyroxenites suggest contributions from a subducted oceanic slab. The diverse origins of these pyroxenite xenoliths provide evidence that the deep lithosphere beneath Yangyuan has been modified by multiple melt-rock interactions and magma underplating.