Trace elements in minerals as indicators of the evolution of alkaline ultrabasic dike series: LA-ICP-MS data for the magmatic provinces of northeastern Fennoscandia and Germany

Abstract

In this paper we report the results of the analysis of rare earth (REE), large-ion lithophile (LILE), and high field strength (HFSE) elements in minerals from the alkaline lamprophyre dikes of the Kola region and the Kaiserstuhl province by the local method of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The contents of Y, Li, Rb, Ba, Th, U, Ta, Nb, Sr, Hf, Zr, Pb, Be, Sc, V, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Ga, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu were measured in olivine, melilite, clinopyroxene, amphibole, phlogopite, nepheline, apatite, perovskite, and the host fine-grained groundmass. The obtained data on trace element partitioning among the mineral phases of the alkaline ultrabasic rocks of the dike series indicate that the main mineral hosts for the HFSEs and REEs in alkaline picrites, olivine melanephelinites, and melilitites are perovskite and apatite comprising more than 90% of these elements. Among major rock-forming minerals, melilite, clinopyroxene, and highly magnesian amphibole make a significant contribution to the balance of REEs during the evolution of melanephelinite melts. The partition coefficients of Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Sc, V, Cr, Ga, Y, Li, Rb, Ba, Th, U, Ta, Nb, Sr, Hf, Zr, Pb, Be, and all of the REEs were calculated for olivine, clinopyroxene, amphibole, phlogopite, nepheline, perovskite, and apatite on the basis of mineral/groundmass ratios. Variations in the composition of complex zoned clinopyroxene phenocrysts reflect the conditions of polybaric crystallization of melanephelinite melt, which began when the magmas arrived at the base of the lower crust and continued during the whole period of their ascent to the surface. The formation of green cores in clinopyroxene is an indicator of mixing between primary melanephelinite melts and phonolite magmas under upper mantle conditions. The estimation of the composition of primary melts for the rocks of the alkaline ultrabasic series of the Kola province indicated a single primary magma for the whole series. This magma produced pyroxene cumulates and complementary melilitolites, foidolites, and nepheline syenites.