The trace element geochemistry of clinopyroxenes from pyroxenites in the Lewisian of NW Scotland: insights into light rare earth element mobility during granulite facies metamorphism

Abstract

Clinopyroxenes from layered pyroxenites and from pyroxenite pods in felsic gneisses of the Lewisian granulite complex, NW Scotland, have distinctive chemistries suggestive of different origins. Clinopyroxenes in the layered pyroxenites crystallised from mafic melts in a magma chamber located in the middle to shallow crust, whereas clinopyroxenes in pods in the felsic gneisses crystallised from the tonalitic protolith to the felsic gneisses. In detail clinopyroxenes in the layered pyroxenites are variably enriched in the light REE. Inversion modelling shows that this is not a primary feature inherited from their parent magmas. Rather selective light rare earth element enrichment took place through reaction with a felsic melt generated by the localised partial melting of the hornblende pyroxenites during granulite facies metamorphism. Published isotopic evidence suggests that the light REE mobilisation took place at ca 2.7 Ga, about 200 Ma after the time of crust formation. This observation provides an explanation for the scattered pattern of whole-rock isochron ages from the Lewsian granulites.