Olivine and Cr-spinel as indicators of the petrogenesis and partial melting conditions of the high-MgO ultramafic volcanic rocks from NW Ad Dhala Province—Yemen

Abstract

The high-MgO ultramafic volcanic rocks in the NW Ad Dhala province are classified as meimechite according to the IUGS classification scheme. This province represents the southeastern outcrops of the Yemen Volcanic Group (YVG), which constitutes part of the Afro-Arabian continental large igneous province (LIP) and located within the boundary of the Afar mantle plume. In this study, we present the chemical compositions of olivine and Cr-spinel in meimechite rocks from Bagah Village in NW Ad Dhala province, aiming to characterize the genesis and partial melting conditions and to estimate the crystallization temperatures of these high-MgO rocks. Olivine crystals are characterized by high forsterite, ranges from Mg-rich core (up to Fo89.69) to relatively Fe-rich rim (down to Fo78.57), high CaO, MgO and MnO whereas Cr-spinel crystals have high TiO2 and Cr# values ranging from 0.49 to 0.63 which indicate that they are crystallized from primary magma and are typical of volcanic olivine and Cr-spinel that formed in intraplate tectonic setting. Olivine and Cr-spinel compositional data and primary melt composition (MgO ~ 23 wt.%) are compatible with the derivation of studied meimechite rocks from peridotite mantle source by small degrees of partial melting under conditions of high temperature and pressure at great depths, mostly within the garnet stability field. Also, these data provide a compelling indicator for the important role of upwelling Afar mantle plume in the genesis of these high-MgO ultramafic volcanic rocks. Finally, based on the different olivine-liquid equilibrium methods and Al-in-olivine thermometer approach the estimated crystallization temperature ranges from 1450 to 1490 °C, and mantle potential temperature (Tp) ranges from 1617 to 1677 °C, at high pressure (3–4.8 GPa). These high temperatures substantiate the existence of the Afar thermal mantle plume and its important role in the genesis of the studied meimechite rocks.