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Chapter 19: Continental Alkaline Magmatism
Chapter 19: Continental Alkaline Magmatism
Magmatism
Alkaline rocks occur in all tectonic environments,
including the ocean basins
Conversely, Chapters 12, 15, 17, and 18 have shown
us that magmatism on the continents can be highly
varied, including tholeiitic and calc-alkaline varieties
Now focus on the alkaline rocks that compose an
extremely diverse spectrum of magmas occurring
predominantly in the anorogenic portions of
continental terranes
Chapter 19: Continental Alkaline Magmatism
Alkaline rocks generally have more alkalis than can be
accommodated by feldspars alone. The excess alkalis appear
in feldspathoids, sodic pyroxenes-amphiboles, or other
alkali-rich phases
In the most restricted sense, alkaline rocks are deficient in
SiO2 with respect to Na2O, K2O, and CaO to the extent that
they become “critically undersaturated” in SiO2, and
Nepheline or Acmite appears in the norm
Alternatively, some rocks may be deficient in Al2O3 (and not
necessarily SiO2) so that Al2O3 may not be able to
accommodate the alkalis in normative feldspars. Such rocks
are peralkaline (see Fig. 18-2) and may be either silica
undersaturated or oversaturated
Table 19.1. Nomenclature of some alkaline igneous rocks (mostly volcanic/hypabyssal)
Basanite feldspathoid-bearing basalt. Usually contains nepheline, but may have leucite + olivine
Tephrite olivine-free basanite
Leucitite a volcanic rock that contains leucite + clinopyroxene olivine. It typically lacks feldspar
Nephelinite a volcanic rock that contains nepheline + clinopyroxene olivine. It typically lacks feldspar. Fig. 14-2
Urtite plutonic nepheline-pyroxene (aegirine-augite) rock with over 70% nepheline and no feldspar
Ijolite plutonic nepheline-pyroxene rock with 30-70% nepheline
Melilitite a predominantly melilite - clinopyroxene volcanic (if > 10% olivine they are called olivine melilitites)
Shoshonite K-rich basalt with K-feldspar ± leucite
Phonolite felsic alkaline volcanic with alkali feldspar + nepheline. See Fig. 14-2. (plutonic = nepheline syenite)
Comendite peralkaline rhyolite with molar (Na2O+K2O)/Al2O3 slightly > 1. May contain Na-pyroxene or amphibole
Pantellerite peralkaline rhyolite with molar (Na2O+K2O)/Al2O3 = 1.6 - 1.8. Contains Na-pyroxene or amphibole
Lamproite a group of peralkaline, volatile-rich, ultrapotassic, volcanic to hypabyssal rocks. The mineralogy is variable,
but most contain phenocrysts of olivine + phlogopite ± leucite ± K-richterite ± clinopyroxene ± sanidine. Table 19-6
Lamprophyre a diverse group of dark, porphyritic, mafic to ultramafic hypabyssal (or occasionally volcanic), commonly
highly potassic (K>Al) rocks. They are normally rich in alkalis, volatiles, Sr, Ba and Ti, with biotite-phlogopite and/or
amphibole phenocrysts. They typically occur as shallow dikes, sills, plugs, or stocks. Table 19-7
Kimberlite a complex group of hybrid volatile-rich (dominantly CO2), potassic, ultramafic rocks with a fine-grained
matrix and macrocrysts of olivine and several of the following: ilmenite, garnet, diopside, phlogopite, enstatite,
chromite. Xenocrysts and xenoliths are also common
Group I kimberlite is typically CO2-rich and less potassic than Group 2 kimberlite
Group II kimberlite (orangeite) is typically H2O-rich and has a mica-rich matrix (also with calcite, diopside, apatite)
Carbonatite an igneous rock composed principally of carbonate (most commonly calcite, ankerite, and/or dolomite), and
often with any of clinopyroxene alkalic amphibole, biotite, apatite, and magnetite. The Ca-Mg-rich carbonatites are
technically not alkaline, but are commonly associated with, and thus included with, the alkaline rocks. Table 19-3
For more details, see Sørensen (1974), Streckeisen (1978), and Woolley et al. (1996)
Chapter 19: Continental Alkaline Magmatism
Figure 19.1. Variations in alkali ratios (wt. %) for oceanic (a) and continental (b) alkaline series. The heavy dashed lines distinguish the
alkaline magma subdivisions from Figure 8-14 and the shaded area represents the range for the more common oceanic intraplate series.
After McBirney (1993). Igneous Petrology (2nd ed.), Jones and Bartlett. Boston. Winter (2001) An Introduction to Igneous and
Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
Chapter 19:
Continental Alkaline
Magmatism.
The East African Rift
Figure 19.6a. Ta vs. Tb for rocks of the Red Sea, Afar, and the Ethiopian Plateau. Rocks from a particular area show nearly constant
ratios of the two excluded elements, consistent with fractional crystallization of magmas with distinct Ta/Tb ratios produced either by
variable degrees of partial melting of a single source, or varied sources (after Treuil and Varet, 1973; Ferrara and Treuil, 1974).
Chapter 19: Continental Alkaline Magmatism
Figure 19.7. Phase diagram for the system SiO2-NaAlSiO4-KAlSiO4-H2O at 1 atm. pressure. Insert shows a T-X section from the silica-
undersaturated thermal minimum (Mu) to the silica-oversaturated thermal minimum (Ms). that crosses the lowest point (M) on the
binary Ab-Or thermal barrier that separates the undersaturated and oversaturated zones. After Schairer and Bowen (1935) Trans. Amer.
Geophys. Union, 16th Ann. Meeting, and Schairer (1950), J. Geol., 58, 512-517. Winter (2001) An Introduction to Igneous and
Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
Chapter 19: Continental Alkaline Magmatism
Figure 19.8. Part of the Ne-Ks-SiO2-H2O system at 1 atm, 0.1 GPa, and 0.2 GPa, illustrating the reduction in the leucite field with
increasing PH2O. At 0.2 GPa the Lc-liquid field crosses the Ab-Or join, and the system goes from peritectic to eutectic behavior. Also
shown are contours for analyses of 122 undersaturated volcanics. After Gittins, (1979), The feldspathoidal alkaline rocks. In H. S. Yoder
Jr. (ed.), The Evolution of Igneous Rocks Fiftieth Anniversary Perspectives. Princeton University Press. Winter (2001) An Introduction to
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
Figure 19.9. Hypothetical cross sections
(same vertical and horizontal scales)
showing a proposed model for the
progressive development of the East African
Rift System. a. Pre-rift stage, in which an
asthenospheric mantle diapir rises
(forcefully or passively) into the lithosphere.
Decompression melting (cross-hatch-green
indicate areas undergoing partial melting)
produces variably alkaline melts. Some
partial melting of the metasomatized sub-
continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) may
also occur. Reversed decollements (D1)
provide room for the diapir. b. Rift stage:
development of continental rifting, eruption
of alkaline magmas (red) mostly from a deep
asthenospheric source. Rise of hot
asthenosphere induces some crustal anatexis.
Rift valleys accumulate volcanics and
volcaniclastic material. c. Afar stage, in
which asthenospheric ascent reaches crustal
levels. This is transitional to the development
of oceanic crust. Successively higher
reversed decollements (D2 and D3)
accommodate space for the rising diapir.
After Kampunzu and Mohr (1991),
Magmatic evolution and petrogenesis in the
East African Rift system. In A. B.
Kampunzu and R. T. Lubala (eds.),
Magmatism in Extensional Settings, the
Phanerozoic African Plate. Springer-Verlag,
Berlin, pp. 85-136 and P. Mohr (personal
communication). Winter (2001) An
Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic
Petrology. Prentice Hall.
Chapter 19: Continental Alkaline Magmatism.
Carbonatites
Table 19-4. Some Minerals in Carbonatites.
Carbonates Sulfides
Calcite Pyrrhotite
Table 19-3. Carbonatite Nomenclature Dolomite Pyrite
Ankerite Galena
Alternative Siderite Sphalerite
Name
Coarse Med.-Fine Strontanite Oxides-Hydroxides
Calcite-carbonatite sövite alvikite Bastnäsite (Ce,La)FCO3) Magnetite
Dolomite-carbonatite rauhaugite* beforsite * Nyerereite ((Na,K)2Ca(CO3)2) Pyrochlore
Ferrocarbonatite * Gregoryite ((Na,K)2CO3) Perovskite
Natrocarbonatite
Silicates Hematite
* Rarely used, beforsite may be applied to any grain size.
Pyroxene Ilmenite
Aegirine-augite Rutile
Diopside Baddeleyite
Augite Pyrolusite
Olivine Halides
Monticellite Fluorite
Alkali amphibole Phosphates
Allanite Apatite
Andradite Monazite
Phlogopite
Zircon
Source: Heinrich (1966), Hogarth (1989) * only in natrocarbonatite
Chapter 19:
Continental Alkaline
Magmatism.
Carbonatites
Alkaline Magmatism. Li
Be
Sc
2
7
0.1 -
<5
14
10
12
10
-
-
-
V 80 89 191 116
Carbonatites Cr
Co
Ni
13
11
18
55
17
33
62
26
26
0
0
-
Cu 24 27 16 -
Zn 188 251 606 88
Ga <5 5 12 <20
Table 19-5. Representative Carbonatite Compositions Rb 14 31 - 178
Y 119 61 204 7
Zr 189 165 127 0
Calcite- Dolomite- Ferro- Natro-
Nb 1204 569* 1292 28
% carbonatite carbonatite carbonatite carbonatite Mo - 12 71 125
SiO2 2.72 3.63 4.7 0.16 Ag - 3 4 -
TIO2 0.15 0.33 0.42 0.02 Cs 20 1 1 6
Hf - 3 - 0
Al2O3 1.06 0.99 1.46 0.01 Ta 5 21 1 0
Fe2O3 2.25 2.41 7.44 0.05 W - 10 20 49
FeO 1.01 3.93 5.28 0.23 Au - - 12 -
Pb 56 89 217 -
MnO 0.52 0.96 1.65 0.38
Th 52 93 276 4
MgO 1.80 15.06 6.05 0.38
U 9 13 7 11
CaO 49.1 30.1 32.8 14.0 La 608 764 2666 545
Na2O 0.29 0.29 0.39 32.2 Ce 1687 2183 5125 645
K2O 0.26 0.28 0.39 8.38 Pr 219 560 550 -
Nd 883 634 1618 102
P2O5 2.10 1.90 1.97 0.85
Sm 130 45 128 8
H2O+ 0.76 1.20 1.25 0.56 Eu 39 12 34 2
CO2 36.6 36.8 30.7 31.6 Gd 105 - 130 -
BaO 0.34 0.64 3.25 1.66 Tb 9 5 16 -
Dy 34 - 52 2
SrO 0.86 0.69 0.88 1.42
Ho 6 - 6 -
F 0.29 0.31 0.45 2.50 Er 4 - 17 -
Cl 0.08 0.07 0.02 3.40 Tm 1 - 2 -
S 0.41 0.35 0.96 Yb 5 10 16 -
SO3 0.88 1.08 4.14 3.72 Lu 1 0 - 0
Wooley & Kempe (1989), natrocarb. from Keller & Spettel (1995).
* one excluded analysis contained 16,780 ppm Nb.
Chapter 19:
Continental Alkaline
Magmatism.
Carbonatites
Figure 19.14. Grid showing the melting products as a function of pressure and % partial melting of model pyrolite mantle with 0.1%
H2O. Dashed curves are the stability limits of the minerals indicated. After Green (1970), Phys. Earth Planet. Inter., 3, 221-235. Winter
(2001) An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
Chapter 19: Continental Alkaline Magmatism.
Carbonatites
Figure 19.18a. Initial 87Sr/86Sr vs. 143Nd/144Nd for lamproites (red-brown) and kimberlites (red). MORB and the Mantle Array are
included for reference. After Mitchell and Bergman (1991) Petrology of Lamproites. Plenum. New York. Typical MORB and OIB from
Figure 10-13 for comparison. Winter (2001) An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
Chapter 19: Continental Alkaline Magmatism.
Lamproites
Figure 19.18b. 207Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb for lamproites and kimberlites. After Mitchell and Bergman (1991). Mitchell and Bergman
(1991) Petrology of Lamproites. Plenum. New York. Typical MORB and OIB from Figure 10-13 for comparison. Winter (2001) An
Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
Chapter 19: Continental Alkaline Magmatism.
Lamprophyres
Magmatism. FeO*
MnO
MgO
7.6
0.14
34.0
5.9-12.2
0.1-0.17
17.0-38.6
7.1
0.19
27.
4.6-9.3
0.1-0.6
10.4-39.8
6.0
11.2
Kimberlites CaO
Na2O
6.7
0.12
2.1-21.3
0.03-0.48
7.5
0.17
2.9-24.5
0.01-0.7
11.8
0.8
K2O 0.8 0.4-2.1 3.0 0.5-6.7 7.8
P2O5 1.3 0.5-1.9 1.0 0.1-3.3 2.1
LOI 10.9 7.4-13.9 11.7 5.2-21.5 3.5
Sc 14 20 19
V 100 95 66
Cr 893 1722 430
Ni 965 1227 152
Co 65 77 41
Cu 93 28
Zn 69 65
Ba 885 3164 9831
Sr 847 1263 3860
Zr 263 268 1302
Hf 5 7 42
Nb 171 120 99
Ta 12 9 6
Th 20 28 37
U 4 5 9
La 150 186 297
Yb 1 1 1
Data from Mitchell (1995), Mitchell and Bergman (1991)
* Leucite Hills madupidic lamproite
Chapter 19:
Continental Alkaline
Magmatism.
Kimberlites
Figure 19.21. Hypothetical cross section of an Archean craton with an extinct ancient mobile belt (once associated with subduction) and a
young rift. The low cratonal geotherm causes the graphite-diamond transition to rise in the central portion. Lithospheric diamonds
therefore occur only in the peridotites and eclogites of the deep cratonal root, where they are then incorporated by rising magmas (mostly
kimberlitic- “K”). Lithospheric orangeites (“O”) and some lamproites (“L”) may also scavenge diamonds. Melilitites (“M”) are generated
by more extensive partial melting of the asthenosphere. Depending on the depth of segregation they may contain diamonds. Nephelinites
(“N”) and associated carbonatites develop from extensive partial melting at shallow depths in rift areas. After Mitchell (1995) Kimberlites,
Orangeites, and Related Rocks. Plenum. New York. Winter (2001) An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.