Petrography and Geochemistry of Peridotite Xenoliths from Hannuoba and Significance for Lithospheric Mantle Evolution

Abstract

ABSTRACT The compositions of the whole rocks and trace elements of minerals in peridotites can reflect the characteristics of the lithospheric mantle. The nature and evolution of the Cenozoic lithospheric mantle beneath Hannuoba ( ), located on the north edge of the intra-North China orogenic belt, are discussed based on the in-situ LAM-ICPMS detected trace element compositions of clinopyroxenes in the Hannuoba peridotitic xenoliths combined with detailed petrography and geochemistry studies. The Hannuoba lithospheric mantle was formed by different partial meltings of the primitive mantle. Most of the samples reflect the partial melting degree of lower than 5% with a few samples of 15%–20%. Major element compositions of the whole rocks and geochemical compositions of clinopyroxenes reveal the coexistence of both fertile and depleted mantle underneath the Hannuoba region during the Cenozoic. This was probably caused by the asthenospheric mantle replacing the aged craton mantle through erosion, intermingling and modification. Our conclusion is further supported by the existence of both carbonatitic magmatic material and silicate melt/fluid metasomatism as magnified by the trace elements of the clinopyroxenes from the Hannuoba lithospheric mantle.