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Journal of Petrology Advance Access published online on March 18, 2005
Journal of Petrology, doi:10.1093/petrology/egi029
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oupjournals.org
Received May 28, 2004
Accepted February 17, 2005

Article

Continuous Gradations among Primary Carbonatitic, Kimberlitic, Melilititic, Basaltic, Picritic, and Komatiitic Melts in Equilibrium with Garnet Lherzolite at 3-8 GPa

GUDMUNDUR H. GUDFINNSSON 1* and DEAN C. PRESNALL 2

1 GEOPHYSICAL LABORATORY, CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON, 5251 BROAD BRANCH RD, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20015-1305, USA
2 GEOPHYSICAL LABORATORY, CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON, 5251 BROAD BRANCH RD, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20015-1305, USA; DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS, P.O. BOX 830688, RICHARDSON, TX 75083-0688, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
GUDMUNDUR H. GUDFINNSSON, E-mail: g.gudfinnsson{at}gl.ciw.edu


  Abstract

Multianvil melting experiments in the system CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-CO2 (CMAS-CO2) at 3-8 GPa, 1340-1800°C, involving the garnet lherzolite phase assemblage in equilibrium with CO2-bearing melts, yield continuous gradations in melt composition between carbonatite, kimberlite, melilitite, komatiite, picrite, and basalt melts. The phase relations encompass a divariant surface in P-T space. Comparison of the carbonatitic melts produced at the low-temperature side of this surface with naturally occurring carbonatites indicates that natural magnesiocarbonatites could be generated over a wide range of pressures >2·5 GPa. Melts analogous to kimberlites form at higher temperatures along the divariant surface, which suggests that kimberlite genesis requires more elevated geotherms. However, the amount of water found in some kimberlites has the potential to lower temperatures for the generation of kimberlitic melts by up to 150°C, provided no hydrous phases are present. Compositions resembling group IB and IA kimberlites are produced at pressures around 5-6 GPa and 10 GPa, respectively, whereas the compositions of some other kimberlites suggest generation at higher pressures still. At pressures <4 GPa, an elevated geotherm produces melilitite-like melt in the CMAS-CO2 system rather than kimberlite. Even when a relatively CO2-rich mantle composition containing 0·15 wt % CO2 is assumed, kimberlites and melilitites are produced by <1% melting and carbonatites are generated by even smaller degrees of melting of <0·5%.

Keywords: carbonatite; CO2; kimberlite; melilitite; melt generation.
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