Petrologic implications of trace element variation in clinopyroxene megacrysts from the Nógrád volcanic province, north Hungary: a study by laser ablation microprobe-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Abstract

Clinopyroxene megacrysts in alkali basalts are an important source of information about the evolution of magmatic systems at depth. In this study, we have undertaken a detailed examination of the trace element contents in a suite of megacrysts from ∼2.5 Ma old alkali basalts in the Nógrád volcanic province of Hungary and Slovakia. The megacrysts range in composition from Mg-rich and in equilibrium with their host magmas, to those that are Fe-rich and must have evolved in more fractionated magmas. The conditions of crystallization of these megacrysts, as calculated from the Al VI/Al IV ratios, suggests they all formed at about 30 km, or the crust–mantle boundary in this area. Using the most magnesian megacrysts and compositions of the host lavas, we have calculated the partition coefficients for a range of trace elements. However, the trace element contents in the megacrysts show a systematic variation with major element composition. Moreover, the rate of increase or change in the trace element concentrations is not consistent with models involving constant or steady state partition coefficients. Using a series of assumptions and models, we hypothesize that the partition coefficients between clinopyroxene and melt change substantially during the magmatic evolution of the system. This change is not constant for each element group, with the high field strength elements showing the most substantial increases. Electrostatic charge balance may have been the most important factor in controlling the mineral/melt partitioning.