Kaersutite — a product of reaction between pargasite and basanite at Dish Hill, California

Abstract

Paragasitic amphibole, occurring interstitially and as veins in peridotite inclusions in basanite, has reacted with the host basanite to form kaersutitic amphibole. The amphibole compositions vary with respect to distance from the edge of the xenolith; iron, titanium, and potassium contents are higher and magnesium, silicon, sodium, and chromium contents are lower closer to the basanite. Pargasite was exposed to the basanite when peridotite blocks broke open along amphibole veins during transport to the surface. Small amphibole fragments isolated in the basanite show the most reaction; compositional gradients in interstitial and vein amphibole are steep into peridotite inclusions where the amphibole was shielded from reaction. The compositions of amphiboles so modified have no direct bearing on high pressure fractionation trends if the amphibole is cognate, or on the bulk composition of the upper mantle if it is accidental.