Abstract
The Plio-Quaternary Balhaf–Bir Ali volcanic field (BBAVF) constitutes one of the largest volcanic fields in SE Yemen, covering some 500 km2. It comprises cinder cones complexes associated with vesicular lava flows and scoria–spatter cones. In many places, ultramafic xenoliths are encountered within these volcanics. The explosive volcanism is mainly of alkaline character including alkali olivine basalt, hawaiite and mugearite together with subordinate tuffaceous trachytes. Major, trace and REEs data from the basaltic rocks of the BBAVF are interpreted in terms of a mantle-lithospheric origin in which crustal contribution during the initial stage of rift magmatism has occurred. Magma genesis may have resulted from plume-derived melt introducing into the base of the lithosphere. A mantle plume source is proposed for the Balhaf–Bir Ali basaltic lavas that are here interpreted as having been generated by partial melting of garnet lherzolite in the uppermost part of asthenosphere. The magmatic evolution of Balhaf–Bir Ali volcanic field may be accounted for by the recent models developed for plume structure.
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