Petrological characteristics of mantle xenoliths from the Azrou-Timahdite quaternary basalts, middle atlas, Morocco: A mineral chemistry perspective

Abstract

Quaternary alkali basalts of the Azrou-Timahdite area contain a wide variety of ultramafic mantle xenoliths (e.g. lherzolites, wehrlites, pyroxenites and amphibolites). A comprehensive mineral chemistry studies using electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) allows us to propose a petrogenetic history of these ultramafic rocks.The studied mantle xenoliths contain spinel, which attests for their derivation from depths from 30 to 70 km, i.e. the intermediate zone of continental lithospheric upper mantle. The olivine forsterite (Fo) content is higher in lherzolites than in wehrlite, Fo88–91 and Fo80-83, respectively. The orthopyroxene is enstatite with relatively high Mg number (Mg#) (0.88–0.91). The clinopyroxene displays Mg# (0.88–0.92) similar to or slightly higher than that of olivine and orthopyroxene, indicating equilibrium between these phases. Progressive depletion of this ratio in lherzolite clinopyroxene suggests the generation of peridotitic rocks through a series of partial melting processes at different degrees. LREE enrichment in clinopyroxene combined with decoupling of Ti and Na (Fusible major elements) indicates mantle metasomatic processes, which possibly resulted in recrystallization of clinopyroxene. The wehrlitic lithologies are possibly the end product of the metasomatism. The LaN/YbN and Ti/Eu ratios of spine-bearing lherzolites and non-spongy clinopyroxenes combined with the low Ti contents and the Zr and Nb negative anomalies argue for an alkali-silicate metasomatism.Given the above scenario, we conclude that the mineralogical variations in the upper mantle beneath this part of the Middle Atlas Mountains can be attributed to a combination of mantle processes including partial melting that occurs in response of a mantle upwelling, and an alkali-silicate metasomatism.