Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Petrology of the uppermost upper mantle deduced from spinel-lherzolite and harzburgite nodules at Calton Hill, Derbyshire

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A suite of protogranular- to porphyroclastic-textured spinel lherzolites and harzburgites from the Lower Carboniferous ankaramite vent at Calton Hill has been investigated for trends of modal variation and mineral composition and for variation in calculated bulk composition. The results indicate that the nodules are accidental xenoliths derived from a source at approximately 45 km depth and at 950 °C, i.e. within the mantle but above the Low Velocity Zone. The lherzolites and harzburgites have a complex petrogenetic history involving initital formation as residues from partial melting of peridotite; it is proposed that the residues were then admixed with veins of pyroxenite, followed by a complex series of metamorphic cycles of mineral reaction and exsolution, deformation, recrystallization and annealing and finally by rupture and incorporation in the ankaramite. During ascent to the surface chrome diopside in some nodules has undergone partial, incongruent melting to form a less sodic pyroxene and a soda-rich basalt melt.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aoki, K., Kushiro, I.: Some clinopyroxenes from ultramafic inclusions in Dreiser Weiher, Eifel. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 18, 326–337 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold-Bembrose, H.H.: On olivine nodules in the basalt of Calton Hill, Derbyshire. Geol. Mag. 57, 1–8 (1910)

    Google Scholar 

  • Avé Lallement, H.G., Carter, N.L.: Syntectonic recrystallization of olivine and modes of flow in the upper mantle. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 81, 2203–2220 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Babkine, J., Conquéré, F., Vilminot, J.-C., Phan, K.D.: Les spinelles des basaltes de Monistrol d'Allier (chaîne due Devès, Haute-Loire). Bull. Soc. France Mineral. Crist. 88, 447–559 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacon, C.R., Carmichael, I.S.E.: Stages in the P-T path of ascending basalt magma: an example from San Quintin, Baja California. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 41, 1–22 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bamford, D., Faber, S., Jacob, B., Kaminski, W., Nunn, K., Prodehl, C., Fuchs, K., King, R., Willmore, P.: A lithosphere seismic profile in Britain-I. Preliminary results. Geophys. J. 44, 145–160 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu, A.R., Murthy, V.R.: Ancient lithospheric lherzolite xenolith in alkali basalt from Baja California. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 35, 239–246 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beeson, M.H., Jackson, E.D.: Origin of the garnet pyroxenite xenoliths at Salt Lake Crater, Oahu. Min. Soc. Am. Spec. Papers 3, 95–112 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Carswell, D.A.: Primary and secondary phlogopites and clinopyroxenes in garnet lherzolite xenoliths. Phys. Chem. Earth 9, 417–429 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, J.L.: Mineralogy and chemistry of the Earth's upper mantle based on the partial fusion-partial crystallization model. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 81, 2021–2034 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, N.A.: Ultrabasic inclusions from Coalyard Hill vent, Fife. Scott. J. Geol. 10, 223–227 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, N.A.: Inclusions and megacrysts from undersaturated tuffs and basanites, East Fife, Scotland. J. Petrol. 17, 472–498 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Conquéré, F.: Pétrologie des pyroxenites litées dans les complexes ultramafiques de l'Ariège (France) et autres gisements de lherzolites a spinelle. H. Petrogenèse: une discussion. Bull. Soc France Mineral. Crist. 100, 123–137 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunning, F.W., Stubblefield, J.: Tectonic map of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Inst. Geol. Sci. (1966)

  • Ernst, T.: Der melilith-bas des Westbergers bein Hofgeismar, nördlich von Kassel, ein assimilationsprodukt ultrabsischer gesteine. Chem. Erde 10, 631–666 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey, F.A., Green, D.H.: The mineralogy, geochemistry and origin of lherzolite inclusions in Victorian basanites. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 38, 1023–1059 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, P.: Principles of phase diagrams in materials systems. New York: McGraw-Hill 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamad, S. el D.: The chemistry and mineralogy of the olivine nodules of Calton Hill, Derbyshire. Mineral. Mag. 33, 483–497 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, P.G., Reay, A., White, I.G.: Chemical composition of the upper mantle. J. Geophys. Res. 72, 6359–6369 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Herzberg, C.T., Chapman, N.: Clinopyroxene geothermometry of spinel lherzolites. Am. Mineralogist 61, 626–637 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchison, R., Chambers, A.L., Paul, D.K., Harris, P.G.: Chemical Variation among French ultramfic xenoliths-evidence for a heterogeneous upper mantle. Mineral. Mag. 40, 153–170 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, E.D.: The character of the lower crust and upper mantle beneath the Hawaiian islands. Int. Geol. Congr., 23rd Prague, 1, 48–55 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, E.D., Wright, T.L.: Xenoliths in the Honolulu volcanic series, Hawaii. J. Petrol. 11, 405–430 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jahn, B., Nyquist, L.E.: Crustal evolution in the early Earth-Moon system: constraints from Rb-Sr studies. In: The early history of the earth (B.F. Windley, ed.), pp. 55–71. London: Wiley 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleeman, J.D., Green, D.H., Lovering, J.F.: Uranium distribution in ultramafic inclusions from Victorian basalts. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 5, 449–458 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kudo, A.M., Brookins, D.G., Laughlin, A.W.: Sr isotopic disequilibrium in lherzolites from the Puerco necks, New Mexico. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 15, 291–295 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuno, H.: Mafic and ultramafic nodules in basaltic rocks of Hawaii. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. 115, 189–234 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutolin, V.A., Frolova, V.M.: Petrology of ultrabasic inclusions from basalts of Minusa and Transbaikalian regions (Siberia, U.S.S.R.). Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 29, 163–179 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leggo, P.J., Hutchison, R.: A Rb-Sr isotope study of ultrabasic xenoliths and their basaltic host rocks from the Massif Central, France. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 5, 71–75 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • MacGregor, I.D.: Stability fields of spinel and garnet peridotites in the synthetic system MgO-CaO-Al2O3-SiO2. Carnegie Inst. Washington Year Book 64, 126–134 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • MacGregor, I.D.: The effect of CaO, Cr2O3, Fe2O3 and Al2O3 on the stability of spinel and garnet peridotites. Phys. Earth Planet. Inter. 3, 372–377 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercier, J.-C.C., Nicolas, A.: Textures and fabrics of upper-mantle peridotites as illustrated by xenoliths from basalts. J. Petrol. 16, 454–487 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moorbath, A.: Age and isotope constraints for the evolution of Archaean crust. In: The early history of the earth (B.F. Windley, ed.), pp. 351–360. London: Wiley 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Mori, T.: Geothermometry of spinel lherzolites. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 59, 261–279 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mysen, B.O.: Experimental determination of some geochemical parameters relating to conditions of equilibration of peridotite in the upper mantle. Am. Mineralogist 61, 677–683 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neilson Pike, J.E., Schwarzman, E.C.: Classification of textures in ultramafic xenoliths. J. Geol. 85, 49–61 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Obata, M.: The solubility of Al2O3 in orthopyroxenes in spinel and plagioclase peridotites and spinel pyroxenite. Am. Mineralogist 61, 804–816 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Hara, M.J., Richardson, S., Wilson, G.: Garnet peridotite stability and occurrence in crust and mantle. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 32, 48–68 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ottonello, G., Piccardo, G.B., Joron, J.L., Trevil, M.: Evolution of the upper mantle under the Assab region (Ethiopia): suggestions from petrology and geochemistry of the mantle xenoliths-fissure basalts association. Ofioliti 2, 189–195 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul, D.K.: Strontium isotope studies on ultramafic inclusions from Dreiser Weiher, Eifel, Germany. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 34, 22–28 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterman, Z.E., Carmichael, I.S.E., Smith, A.L.: Strontium isotopes in Quaternary basalts of southeastern California. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 7, 381–384 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid, A.M., Donaldson, C.H., Brown, R.W., Ridley, W.I., Dawson, J.B.: Mineral chemistry of peridotite xenoliths from the Lashaine volcano, Tanzania. Phys. Chem. Earth 9, 525–543 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter, D., Simmons, G.: Microscopic tubes in igneous rocks. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 34, 1–12 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ringwood, A.E.: Composition and petrology of the earth's mantle. New York: McGraw-Hill 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, C.S., Foster, M.D., Myers, A.T.: Origin of dunites and olivine-rich inclusions in basaltic rocks. Am. Mineralogst 39, 693–737 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakhno, V.G., Denisov, E.P.: On the origin of ultrabsaic inclusions in the basalts of the South Far East (in Russian). Izv. Akad. Nauk SSR, Ser. Geol. 8, 43–55 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sial, A.N.: Petrology and mineral chemistry of peridotite nodules included in Tertiary basaltic rocks of northeast Brazil. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 88, 1173–1176 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Simkin, T., Smith, J.V.: Minor-element distribution in olivine. J. Geol. 78, 304–325 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinton, J.M.: Equilibration history of the basal alpine-type peridotite. Red Mountain, New Zealand. J. Petrol. 18, 216–246 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, M.: Counting and sampling errors in modal analysis by point counter. J. Petrol. 4, 367–382 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, S.S., Hanson, G.N.: Evolution of the mantle: geochemical evidence from alkali basalt. Geology 2, 297–302 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R.N.: One-atmosphere melting behaviour and nomenclature of terrestrial lavas. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 41, 197–204 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomkeieff, S.I.: The volcanic complex of Calton Hill, Derbyshire. Quart. J. Geol. Soc. 84, 703–716 (1928)

    Google Scholar 

  • Varne, R.: The origin of spinel lherzolite inclusions in basaltic rocks from Tasmania and elsewhere. J. Petrol. 18, 1–23 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells, P.R.A.: Pyroxene thermometry in simple and complex systems. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 62, 129–139 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • White, R.W.: Ultramafic inclusions in basaltic rocks from Hawaii. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 12, 245–314 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilshire, H.G., Binns, R.A.: Basic and ultrabasic xenoliths from volcanic rocks of New South Wales. J. Petrol. 2, 185–208 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilshire, H.G., Jackson, E.D.: Problems in determining mantle geotherms from pyroxene compositions of ultramafic rocks. J. Geol. 83, 313–329 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilshire, H.G., Shervais, J.W.: Al-augite and Cr-diopside ultramafic xenoliths in rocks from western United States. Phys. Chem. Earth 9, 257–272

  • Wood, B.J., Banno, S.: Garnet-orthopyroxene and orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene relationships in simple and complex systems. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 42, 109–124 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyllie, P.J.: The dynamic earth. New York: Wiley 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Zartman, R.E., Tera, F.: Lead concentration and isotopic composition in five peridotite inclusions of probable mantle origin. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 20, 54–66 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Colin H. Donaldson

    Present address: Department of Geology, University of St. Andrews, KY169AA, St. Andrews, Scotland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, Manchester, Great Britain

    Colin H. Donaldson

Authors
  1. Colin H. Donaldson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Donaldson, C.H. Petrology of the uppermost upper mantle deduced from spinel-lherzolite and harzburgite nodules at Calton Hill, Derbyshire. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 65, 363–377 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00372284

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00372284

Keywords

Search

Navigation