Nature and Evolution of Cenozoic Lithospheric Mantle beneath Shandong Peninsula,Sino-Korean Craton,Eastern China

The Shanwang and Qixia basalts lie within the North China block and were erupted in Miocene to Pliocene time (18.1 to 4.3 Ma) and Pliocene time (6.4 to 5.9 Ma), respectively. The Shanwang area lies astride the Tancheng-Lujiang (Tanlu) fault zone, a major lithospheric fault, whereas the Qixia area lies east of the fault zone. The basaltic rocks (alkali olivine basalts, basanites, nephelinites) carry abundant deep-seated xenoliths including spinel lherzolite (dominant), dunite, and pyroxenite, and a megacryst suite including augite, anorthoclase, phlogopite, ilmenite, and garnet. Xenoliths with coarse-grained microstructures are common in the Qixia xenolith suite, but are absent in Shanwang. Reconstructed bulk compositions of the lherzolites range from relatively depleted (<3% modal diopside) to fertile (>12% modal diopside). Equilibration temperatures of 850° to 1020°C indicate entrainment of these lherzolites from depths ≤45 km, within the lithosphere; the geotherm may have been higher beneath Shanwang. The Shanwang suite contains less-depleted lherzolites, and more pyroxenites, than the Qixia suite. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns in clinopyroxenes of the Shandong xenoliths vary from LREE depleted, through concave shaped, to LREE enriched; spidergrams for the clinopyroxenes can be divided into depleted, fertile, and metasomatic types. Progressive depletion in Na and Al is accompanied by depletion in moderately incompatible elements such as Y, Yb, and Zr, and an increase in Mg#. Ti and Zr in clinopyroxenes have not been affected by the metasomatic process, and MREE have been little disturbed, whereas the light rare-earth elements, Nb, and Sr have been strongly enriched during metasomatism; this suggests that carbonate-rich fluids/melts were the metasomatic agent. The mantle beneath the Shandong Peninsula sampled by these basalts is dominantly Phanerozoic in character rather than Archean or Proterozoic lithospheric mantle. This mantle probably represents a mixture of older lithospheric mantle and newly accreted material that replaced the Archean lithospheric keel through extension, thermal erosion, and fluid/melt metasomatism. The differences in micro-structures, chemistry, temperature, and fluid/melt activity between Shanwang and Qixia are ascribed to their spatial relationships to the Tanlu fault, which is a major translithospheric suture that hasplayed an important role in the Cenozoic replacement of the pre-existing Archean lithospheric mantle.     

华北东部橄榄岩岩石化学特征及其岩石圈地幔演化意义

华北东部古生代以来火山岩中捕虏体橄榄岩和苏鲁早中生代构造侵位橄榄岩的岩石化学结果表明: 古生代金伯利岩侵位时仍然存在的难熔、漂浮克拉通地幔在中、新生代时其大部被新生饱满的岩石圈地幔物质取代置换.在100 Ma前(但不早于178 Ma), 新生软流圈物质就已开始沿古老岩石圈内的地幔薄弱带和岩石圈深断裂带对克拉通地幔进行侵蚀、交代和混合作用, 引起岩石圈大幅减薄.这一减薄存在时间、空间的不均匀性, 但在老第三纪达最大.新第三纪以来, 上涌的软流圈物质由于温度下降回落(岩石圈小幅增厚)并转化为新生岩石圈地幔, 实现地幔置换过程.分析的苏鲁造山带橄榄岩是早中生代构造侵位改造过的古老岩石圈地幔物质.      

The chemical-temporal evolution of lithospheric mantle underlying the North China Craton

Previous studies of samples of subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) that underlay the North China Craton (NCC) during the Paleozoic have documented the presence of thick Archean SCLM at this time. In contrast, samples of SCLM underlying the NCC during the Cenozoic are characterized by evidence for melt depletion during the Proterozoic, and relatively recent juvenile additions to the lithosphere. These observations, coupled with geophysical evidence for relatively thin lithosphere at present, have led to the conclusion that the SCLM underlying the NCC was thinned and modified subsequent to the late Paleozoic. In order to extend the view into both the Paleozoic and modern SCLM underlying the NCC, we examine mantle xenoliths and xenocrystic chromites extracted from three Paleozoic kimberlites (Tieling, Fuxian and Mengyin), and mantle xenoliths extracted from one Cenozoic basaltic center (Kuandian). Geochemical data suggest that most of the Kuandian xenoliths are residues of small degrees of partial melting from chemically primitive mantle. Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic analyses indicate that the samples were removed from long-term depleted SCLM that had later been variably enriched in incompatible elements. Osmium isotopic compositions of the two most refractory xenoliths are depleted relative to the modern convecting upper mantle and have model melt depletion ages that indicate melt depletion during Paleoproterozoic. Other relatively depleted xenoliths have Os isotopic compositions consistent with the modern convecting upper mantle. This observation is generally consistent with earlier data for xenoliths from other Cenozoic volcanic systems in the NCC and surrounding cratons. Thus, the present SCLM underlying the NCC has a complex age structure, but does not appear to retain materials with Archean melt depletion ages. Results for what are presumed to be early Paleozoic xenoliths from Teiling are generally highly depleted in melt components, e.g. have low Al₂O₃, but have also been metasomatically altered. Enrichment in light rare earth elements, low ε_Nd values (∼−10), and relatively high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.707-0.710) are consistent with a past episode of metasomatism. Despite the metasomatic event, ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios are low and consistent with a late Archean melt depletion event. Thus, like results for xenoliths from other early Paleozoic volcanic centers within the NCC, these rocks sample dominantly Archean SCLM. The mechanism for lithospheric thinning is still uncertain. The complex age structure currently underlying the NCC requires either variable melt depletion over the entire history of this SCLM, or the present lithospheric material was partly or wholly extruded under the NCC from elsewhere by the plate collisions (collision with the Yangtze Craton and/or NNW subduction of the Pacific plate) that may have caused the thinning to take place.     

大陆科学钻探先导孔(CCSD-PP1)橄榄岩地幔属性及动力学意义

早中生代的扬子大陆向华北大陆的深俯冲碰撞作用以及中、新生代的华北东部岩石圈减薄作用是国际大陆动力学问题研究的两个热点。然而,把它们有机联系起来,探讨深部岩石圈演化动力学过程的研究还很少。报道了中国大陆科学钻探先导孔(CCSD-PP1)橄榄岩的矿物岩石化学分析结果。这些橄榄岩亏损玄武质组分(如低w(CaO+Al2O3)、高Mg#等),并经历了中元古代来自软流圈的碳酸岩熔体的交代作用和早中生代的超高压再平衡过程。结合已发表的华北捕虏体橄榄岩资料,对这一橄榄岩的原始地幔属性进行了分析。发现CCSD-PP1橄榄岩与华北古老岩石圈地幔组成相似,是早中生代来自华北岩石圈的构造侵入体。早中生代华北岩石圈的伸展减薄与苏鲁超高压变质岩石的折返提供了早期软流圈物质上涌的构造体制。     

复杂的山东昌乐新生代玄武岩辉石岩捕虏体及其岩石圈演化意义

紧邻郯庐断裂带分布的山东昌乐新生代玄武岩含有丰富的辉石岩捕虏体。根据辉石岩的主、微量元素特征,可以将它们大致分为3类。Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类样品的岩石地球化学特征分别与河北汉诺坝-阳原新生代玄武岩中的Cr系列和Al系列辉石岩捕虏体相对应,都属壳-幔过渡带或岩石圈顶部地幔的分离结晶产物,其中Ⅱ类辉石岩还包含有陆壳物质组成,更可能是壳幔过渡带来源。Ⅲ类辉石岩在岩石地球化学特征上与汉诺坝的石榴石辉石岩相似,但不同的样品则分别表现出与洋岛玄武岩或正常洋中脊玄武岩相似的特征。丰富的昌乐玄武岩中辉石岩捕虏体所表现出来的复杂成因来源,与相对简单的上地幔特征相比,该区新生代时的顶部岩石圈地幔和壳-幔过渡带组成异常复杂,说明岩石圈减薄过程中自下而上的新生地幔物质对古老岩石圈的置换作用。     

华北东部橄榄岩与岩石圈减薄中的地幔伸展和侵蚀置换作用

对比分析了华北不同时代捕虏体橄榄岩及其南部超高压地质体橄榄岩的矿物化学。具古老难熔岩石圈地幔特征的橄榄岩是古生代金伯利岩捕虏体和早中生代苏鲁变质带地质体的主要岩石类型。具这一性质的橄榄岩也构成了河南鹤壁上新世玄武岩捕虏体的主体部分,并可以在辽宁阜新晚中生代玄武岩中被发现。具饱满岩石圈地幔性质的橄榄岩则是阜新晚中生代火山岩、特别是郯庐断裂带(山旺)及其附近地区(栖霞)中新世玄武岩捕虏体的主要类型。从华北东部已有的捕虏体橄榄岩及地质体橄榄岩所表现出的新生饱满与古老难熔地幔的时、空分布特点,即有些地区捕虏体橄榄岩表现出不同性质地幔共存现象(如阜新、鹤壁)或橄榄石Mg#呈渐变关系看:克拉通岩石圈地幔因扬子板块俯冲所引起的早期(如早中生代)地幔伸展、和晚中生代—渐新世因太平洋俯冲所引起的热扰动的软流圈物质上涌对古老地幔产生强烈的侵蚀作用(引起岩石圈的巨大减薄);中新世以来的软流圈热沉降作用出现新生岩石圈地幔并表现为岩石圈的小幅增厚,从而实现地幔置换过程和华北东部岩石圈的整体减薄过程。岩石圈幔内薄弱带及岩石圈深断裂(如郯庐断裂带)起了软流圈物质侵蚀古老岩石圈地幔的通道作用并导引着深部物质运移和不规则减薄作用等。个别地区(如阜新)强烈的软流圈上涌于晚中生代就已经开始,显示地幔置换作用的强烈不均一性。     

河北阳原新生代玄武岩中橄榄岩捕虏体矿物化学:华北岩石圈地幔演化

橄榄岩及其中矿物的组成, 特别是单斜辉石的微量元素, 可以很好的揭示岩石圈地幔性质.在对河北阳原新生代玄武岩中橄榄岩捕虏体详细岩相学和矿物化学研究基础上, 重点分析了单斜辉石的激光原位微量元素, 讨论了新生代华北内部山带岩石圈地幔特征及其演化机制.阳原地区陆下岩石圈, 除个别样品的部分熔融程度为15%~20%外, 多数样品<5%, 显示该区的地幔演化是不均一的, 并表现为饱满与难熔-过渡型地幔的交叉并存.这种共存现象可以用软流圈物质对古老地幔进行不均匀侵蚀、改造和置换作用来解释.      

Petrochemistry of peridotites from North China: Significance for lithospheric mantle evolution

A petrochemical analysis was undertaken of peridotitic xenoliths in volcanic rocks that erupted from the Paleozoic to the Cenozoic within the eastern part of the North China craton, and the peridotites as tectonic intrusion in the Early Mesozoic from the Sulu orogen. The results show that the cratonic mantle, which was refractory and existed when the kimberlites intruded in the Paleozoic, had almost been replaced by the newly accreted fertile lithospheric mantle during the Mesozoic-Cenozoic. The erosion, metasomatism, and intermingling caused by the accreted asthenospheric material acting on the craton mantle along the weak zone and deep fault (such as the Tanlu fault) in the existing lithosphere resulted in the lithospheric thinning at a larger scale 100 Ma ago (but later than 178 Ma). The largest thinning would be in the Eogene. The upwelling asthenospheric material transformed into accreted lithospheric mantle due to the asthenospheric temperature falling in the Neogene (leading to relatively slight lithospheric incrassation), and finally accomplished mantle replacement. The peridotitic body in the Sulu orogen represents the products spreading from the modified cratonic lithospheric mantle. Translated from Earth Science—Journal of China University of Geosciences, 2006, 31(1): 49–56 [译自: 地球科学—中国地质大学学报]     

辉南新生代玄武岩中捕虏体橄榄岩矿物化学与华北岩石圈地幔演化

内容提要：在对吉林辉南新生代玄武岩中捕虏体橄榄岩详细的岩相学和矿物主量元素研究基础上,重点分析了单斜辉石激光原位微量元素,并讨论了辉南陆下岩石圈地幔的性质及其在华北克拉通破坏过程中的意义。橄榄石、单斜辉石和尖晶石的Mg#和Cr#均表明该区陆下岩石圈地幔主体是饱满的,同时也存在少量过渡和难熔型地幔。单斜辉石REE配分形式包括LREE亏损、倒U字型REE和LREE富集等不同类型。这些橄榄岩是地幔经历不同程度的部分熔融作用(低于10%)和复杂地幔交代作用的产物。交代介质主体是硅酸盐熔体,但个别样品有碳酸岩熔体交代的残留。橄榄石Mg#和平衡温度无相关性,说明辉南陆下岩石圈地幔不存在明显的分层而是交叉的。这些地幔特征和华北东部其他地区新生代的主体地幔性质相似,是熔-岩反应、侵蚀作用和上涌软流圈物质冷却转变置换的综合结果。     

华北地台东部古生代与新生代岩石圈地幔特征及其演化

古生代含金刚石及捕虏体的金伯利岩和新生代含捕虏体的玄武岩先后共同侵位于华北地台东部,提供了研究自古生代以来板内岩石圈地幔特征及其演化的深源岩石探针。通过对古生代与新生代,新生代时郯庐断裂带内与带外岩石圈地幔物质之间岩相学,岩石和矿物的主元素,微量元素,地幔热状态的对比研究,结合现代地球物理资料,建立了以新生地幔物质对古老岩石圈置换作用为主的华北地台东部地幔减薄模型。该模型强调,古老岩石圈地幔业已成     

鲁西中生代辉长-闪长岩中辉石岩捕虏体的岩石成因

鲁西中生代辉长-闪长岩中包含有变晶结构和堆积结构两种类型辉石岩类捕虏体,它们的矿物化学和岩石地球化学特征可同中国东部新生代玄武岩中的辉石岩类包体相对比.它们代表了上地幔两次岩浆底侵事件的产物.辉石岩类捕虏体母岩浆来自于含有陆壳物质的软流圈及其上部岩石圈地幔的部分熔融.辉石岩类捕虏体是由该母岩浆高压分离结晶堆积的产物.辉石岩的母岩浆在上地幔的运移是引起鲁西中生代岩石圈地幔富硅质交代作用的主要因素.     

Gold Content of Mantle-Derived Rocks from Eastern China and Its Implications

We have analyzed the gold content of 65 samples of mantle-derived xenoliths and their host rocks from eastern China, which is found to be inhomogeneous, falling in the ranges of 1.0×109-8.2×109 (averaging 3.8 ×10-9) and 0.2×10-9-5.3×10-9 (averaging 2.7×10-9) in the mantle-derived xenoliths and the host basalts respectively. Except the samples from Wanquan County of Hebei Province and Anding County of Hainan Province, the gold content is the highest on the margins of the North China platform and decreases spatially towards the north and south, and temporally the samples of the Tertiary have a higher gold content than those of the Quaternary. The gold content of the mantle-derived xenoliths and the host Paleozoic kimberlites is 3.8×10-9-180×109and 0.1×10-9-38.0×10-9 respectively, which are higher than that in the mantle-derived xenoliths in basalt and the host Cenozoic basalts. The mantle-derived xenoliths have a higher gold content than the host rocks, but their relativity is not very clear, su     

Trace elemental and PGE geochemical constraints of Mesozoic and Cenozoic peridotitic xenoliths on lithospheric evolution of the North China Craton

Whole-rock major, trace, and platinum-group elemental (PGE) data, and major and trace element compositions of diopsides are reported for peridotite xenoliths from (1) early Mesozoic volcanic breccias in Xinyang, located at the southern margin of the North China Craton, and (2) Cenozoic basalts in Hebi and Shanwang, both of which are situated within the craton and lie on the North-South Gravity Line and the Tanlu fault zone, respectively. The early Mesozoic Xinyang xenoliths are harzburgites containing <2% Cpx with high Cr^# and enriched in LREE but depleted in HFSE. These xenoliths have chondritic Pd/Ir (1.9-6.6) and Ru/Ir (3.5-4.0) ratios and high Ni and low CaO, Al₂O₃, and S contents, indicating derivation from a highly refractory mantle that experienced carbonatitic metasomatism. Negative Ce (mean δCe = 0.50) and low Mg/Si ratios of the Xinyang peridotites record the addition of crustal components likely produced from subducted continental material of the Yangtze Craton in the early Mesozoic. The subduction-related modification of the lithospheric mantle was limited to the area close to the collision zone rather than being pervasive throughout the craton. The Cenozoic Hebi peridotite xenoliths are harzburgites with ≤4.5% Cpx and have low CaO and Al₂O₃ but high Ni contents, chondritic Ru/Ir ratios (2.5-5.4), and a wide range of CaO/Al₂O₃, Na₂O/TiO₂, Pt/Ir (0.4-2.3), and Pd/Pt (1.1-8.5) ratios. These peridotites are interpreted as the shallow relics of the cratonic mantle. In contrast, the Cenozoic Shanwang xenoliths are lherzolites (5.6%-19.5% Cpx), which have low Ni contents and low Ni/Cu and Mg/Si ratios, but high CaO, Al₂O₃, S, and HREE contents, and relatively high Ru/Ir and Pd/Ir ratios. The Shanwang peridotites show pronounced positive Ti and Sr, negative Th, and slightly negative Y, Zr, and Hf anomalies. They are believed to represent newly accreted fertile lithospheric mantle derived from cooling of upwelling asthenosphere. The documented temporal and spatial variations in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic mantle support the previous suggestion that the buoyant refractory continental keel in the eastern part of the North China Craton was heterogeneously replaced by younger fertile lithospheric mantle in the late Cretaceous-early Tertiary.     

中国东部地幔橄榄岩捕虏体的Re-Os同位素地球化学：岩石圈地幔的形成年龄和减薄作用的制约

我国东部新生代玄武岩中包含丰富的地幔橄榄岩捕虏体，近年来一些研究者对兴蒙造山带的双辽、汪清，华北克拉通的龙岗、汉诺坝、栖霞、女山和扬子克拉通的盘石山、练山等地8个新生代玄武岩区近百个地幔橄榄岩捕虏体全岩粉末样品获得了Re-Os同位素数据，对澎湖列岛新生代玄武岩的地幔橄榄岩捕虏体中不同产状的硫化物包裹体作了原位的Re-Os同位素体系分析，此外，对辽宁复县和山东蒙阴古生代金伯利岩中的3个地幔橄榄岩捕虏体全岩粉末样品作了Re-Os分析。本文综合了文献中已有的数据，采用Re-Os同位素体系常用的方法，如Os同位素代理等时线年龄和Re亏损模式年龄，计算了SCLM的年龄。结果表明这些地区SCLM的形成年龄主要为早-中元古代，局部地区如辽宁复县有更老的年龄。我国东部新生代玄武岩中的尖晶石相地幔橄榄岩代表的SCLM主体上是元古代SCLM经过显生宙减薄作用后的残余部分，它对我国东部SCLM减薄作用在纵向上的规模和强度提供了制约。     

Carbon Enrichment in the Lithospheric Mantle: Evidence from the Melt Inclusions in Mantle Xenoliths from the Hainan Basalts

It is generally believed that the lithospheric mantle and the mantle transition zone are important carbon reservoirs. However, the location of carbon storage in Earth’s interior and the reasons for carbon enrichment remain unclear. In this study, we report CO₂-rich olivine-hosted melt inclusions in the mantle xenoliths of late Cenozoic basalts from the Penglai area, Hainan Province, which may shed some light on the carbon enrichment process in the lithospheric mantle. We also present ...     

Evolution of subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath eastern China: Re–Os isotopic evidence from mantle xenoliths in Paleozoic kimberlites and Mesozoic basalts

The ages of subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the North China and South China cratons are less well-constrained than the overlying crust. We report Re–Os isotope systematics of mantle xenoliths entrained in Paleozoic kimberlites and Mesozoic basalts from eastern China. Peridotite xenoliths from the Fuxian and Mengyin Paleozoic diamondiferous kimberlites in the North China Craton give Archean Re depletion ages of 2.6–3.2 Ga and melt depletion ages of 2.9–3.4 Ga. No obvious differences in Re and Os abundances, Os isotopic ratios and model ages are observed between spinel-facies and garnet-facies peridotites from both kimberlite localities. The Re–Os isotopic data, together with the PGE concentrations, demonstrate that beneath the Archean continental crust of the eastern North China Craton, Archean lithospheric mantle of spinel- to diamond-facies existed without apparent compositional stratification during the Paleozoic. The Mesozoic and Cenozoic basalt-borne peridotite and pyroxenite xenoliths, on the other hand, show geochemical features indicating metasomatic enrichment, along with a large range of the Re–Os isotopic model ages from Proterozoic to Phanerozoic. These features indicate that lithospheric transformation or refertilization through melt-peridotite interaction could be the primary mechanism for compositional changes during the Phanerozoic, rather than delamination or thermal-mechanical erosion, despite the potential of these latter processes to play an important role for the loss of garnet-facies mantle. A fresh garnet lherzolite xenolith from the Yangtze Block has a Re depletion age of ∼1.04 Ga, much younger than overlying Archean crustal rocks but the same Re depletion ages as spinel lherzolite xenoliths from adjacent Mesozoic basalts, indicating Neoproterozoic resetting of the Re–Os system in the South China Craton.     

The Kharamai kimberlite field, Siberia: modification of the lithospheric mantle by the Siberian Trap event

The kimberlites of the Kharamai field intruded through the Siberian Traps shortly after their eruption in Permo-Triassic time. The composition and thermal state of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) beneath the Kharamai field in lower Triassic time have been reconstructed using major- and trace-element analyses of 345 Cr-pyrope garnet xenocrysts from six of the kimberlites, supplemented by a small suite of mantle-derived peridotite xenoliths. The data define a geotherm lying near a 38 mW/m² conductive model to a depth of ca 170 km, where the base of the depleted lithosphere is defined by a marked increase in melt-related metasomatism and by an inflected geotherm. Compared to the SCLM sampled by Devonian (pre-Trap) kimberlites in the same and adjacent terranes, the Kharamai SCLM in Triassic time was warmer and was cooling from a previous thermal high. It was also thinner than the SCLM beneath the Daldyn and Alakit kimberlite fields, and had been strongly metasomatised. The metasomatism lowered the mean Fo content of olivine (from ≥Fo₉₃ to Fo₉₂), greatly reduced the proportion of subcalcic harzburgites, and increased the proportion of fertile lherzolites, especially in the depth range of 80–130 km. The overall pattern of metasomatism is similar to that observed in the SCLM sampled by the Group I kimberlites of the SW Kaapvaal Craton, and inferred to be related to the Karoo thermal event. These observations suggest that events such as the eruption of the Karoo basalts and Siberian Traps change the composition of the SCLM, but do not necessarily destroy it, at distances of several hundred kilometres from the main eruption centres.     

华北克拉通破坏的物理、化学过程:地幔橄榄岩证据

本文对比了华北东部不同时代、不同位置捕虏体/地质体橄榄岩的地幔属性,讨论了华北克拉通破坏的物理、化学过程。结果表明,拆沉作用不能很好地解释古老难熔、过渡型和新生饱满地幔并存的事实;单纯的熔体-橄榄岩相互作用也不易解释中、新生代岩石圈巨大减薄和新生饱满地幔Cpx中LREE亏损现象,即具复杂演化历史的克拉通地幔向演化历史简单的"大洋型"岩石圈的转换。华北东部克拉通破坏作用包括地幔伸展、熔-岩作用、侵蚀置换等复杂的物理、化学过程。岩石圈先大幅减薄、后小幅增厚实现了最终的地幔置换和岩石圈整体减薄过程。喷发时代为100 Ma的阜新玄武岩所捕获的橄榄岩主体是饱满的,说明华北东部部分地区在此之前有过地幔置换作用。     

Mantle structure and rifting processes in the Baikal–Mongolia region: geophysical data and evidence from xenoliths in volcanic rocks

The origin of the Baikal rift zone (BRZ) has been debated between the advocates of passive and active rifting since the 1970s. A re-assessment of the relevant geological and geophysical data from Russian and international literature questions the concept of broad asthenospheric upwelling beneath the rift zone that has been the cornerstone of many “active rifting” models. Results of a large number of early and recent studies favour the role of far-field forces in the opening and development of the BRZ. This study emphasises the data obtained through studies of peridotite and pyroxenite xenoliths brought to the surface by alkali basaltic magmas in southern Siberia and central Mongolia. These xenoliths are direct samples of the upper mantle in the vicinity of the BRZ. Of particular importance are suites of garnet-bearing xenoliths that have been used to construct P–T- composition lithospheric cross-sections in the region for the depth range of 35–80 km.Xenolith studies have shown fundamental differences in the composition and thermal regime between the lithospheric mantle beneath the ancient Siberian platform (sampled by kimberlites) and beneath younger mobile belts south of the platform. The uppermost mantle in southern Siberia and central Mongolia is much hotter at similar levels than the mantle in the Siberian craton and also has significantly higher contents of ‘basaltic’ major elements (Ca, Al, Na) and iron, higher Fe/Si and Fe/Mg. The combination of the moderately high geothermal gradient and the fertile compositions in the off-cratonic mantle appears to be a determining factor controlling differences in sub-Moho seismic velocities relative to the Siberian craton. Chemical and isotopic compositions of the off-cratonic xenoliths indicate small-scale and regional mantle heterogeneities attributed to various partial melting and enrichment events, consistent with long-term evolution in the lithospheric mantle. Age estimates of mantle events based on Os–Sr–Nd isotopic data can be correlated with major regional stages of crustal formation and may indicate long-term crust–mantle coupling. The ratios of ^143/144Nd in many LREE-depleted xenoliths are higher than those in MORB or OIB source regions and are not consistent with a recent origin from asthenospheric mantle.Mantle xenoliths nearest to the rift basins (30–50 km south of southern Lake Baikal) show no unequivocal evidence for strong heating, unusual stress and deformation, solid state flow, magmatic activity or partial melting that could be indicative of an asthenospheric intrusion right below the Moho. Comparisons between xenoliths from older and younger volcanic rocks east of Lake Baikal, together with observations on phase transformations and mineral zoning in individual xenoliths, have indicated recent heating in portions of the lithospheric mantle that may be related to localised magmatic activity or small-scale ascent of deep mantle material. Overall, the petrographic, P–T, chemical and isotopic constraints from mantle xenoliths appear to be consistent with recent geophysical studies, which found no evidence for a large-scale asthenospheric upwarp beneath the rift, and lend support to passive rifting mechanism for the BRZ.     

Mineral Chemistry of Peridotites from Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Lithosphere: Constraints on Mantle Evolution beneath Eastern China

Major- and trace-element data on the constituent minerals ofgarnet peridotite xenoliths hosted in early Paleozoic (457–500Ma) kimberlites and Neogene (16–18 Ma) volcanic rockswithin the North China Craton are compared with those from thepre-pilot hole of the Chinese Continental Scientific DrillingProject (CCSD-PP1) in the tectonically exhumed Triassic (220Ma) Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane along its southernmargin. P–T estimates for the Paleozoic and Neogene peridotitexenoliths reflect different model geotherms corresponding tosurface heat flows of 40 mW/m² (Paleozoic) and 80 mW/m² (Neogene).Garnet peridotite xenoliths or xenocrysts from the Paleozoickimberlites are strongly depleted, similar to peridotites fromother areas of cratonic mantle, with magnesium olivine (meanFo_92.7), Cr-rich garnet and clinopyroxene with high La/Yb. Garnet(and spinel) peridotite xenoliths hosted in Neogene basaltsare derived from fertile mantle; they have high Al₂O₃ and TiO₂contents, low-Mg-number olivine (mean Fo_89.5), low-Cr garnetand diopside with flat rare earth element (REE) patterns. Thedifferences between the Paleozoic and Neogene xenoliths suggestthat a buoyant refractory lithospheric keel present beneaththe eastern North China Craton in Paleozoic times was at leastpartly replaced by younger, hotter and more fertile lithosphericmantle during Mesozoic–Cenozoic times. Garnet peridotitesfrom the Sulu UHP terrane have less magnesian olivine (Fo_91.5),and lower-Cr garnet than the Paleozoic xenoliths. The diopsideshave low heavy REE (HREE) contents and sinusoidal to light REE(LREE)-enriched REE patterns. These features, and their highMg/Si and low CaO and Al₂O₃ contents, indicate that the CCSD-PP1peridotites represent a moderately refractory mantle protolith.Details of mineral chemistry indicate that this protolith experiencedcomplex metasomatism by asthenosphere-derived melts or fluidsin Mesoproterozoic, and subsolidus re-equilibration involvingfluids/melts derived from the subducted Yangtze continentalcrust during UHP metamorphism in the early Mesozoic. Tectonicextension of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle of the NorthChina Craton and exhumation of the Sulu UHP rocks in the earlyMesozoic induced upwelling of the asthenosphere. Peridotitessampled by the Neogene basalts represent newly formed lithospherederived by cooling of the upwelling asthenospheric mantle inJurassic–Cretaceous and Paleogene time. KEY WORDS: garnet peridotite xenoliths; North China Craton; lithospheric thinning; Sulu UHP terrane; UHP lithosphere evolution; mantle replacement