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Kyanite/corundum eclogites from the Kaapvaal Craton: subducted troctolites and layered gabbros from the Mid- to Early Archean

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Abstract

An oceanic crustal origin is the commonly accepted paradigm for mantle-derived eclogites. However, the significance of the aluminous members of the eclogite suite, containing kyanite and corundum, has long been underrated and their role neglected in genetic models of cratonic evolution. Here, we present a geochemical and petrological study of a suite of kyanite- and corundum-bearing eclogites from the Bellsbank kimberlite, S. Africa, which originate from depths between 150 and 200 km. Although clearly of high-pressure provenance, these rocks had a low-pressure cumulative origin with plagioclase and olivine as major cumulate phases. This is shown by the very pronounced positive Eu anomalies, low REE abundances, and δ 18O values lower than the Earth’s mantle. Many chemical features are identical to modern-day troctolitic cumulates including a light REE depletion akin to MORB, but there are also distinguishing features in that the eclogites are richer in Na, Fe, and Ni. Two of the eclogites have a minimum age of ~3.2 Ga, defined by the extremely unradiogenic 87Sr/86Sr (0.7007) in clinopyroxene. Phase equilibria indicate that the parent melts were formed by partial melting below an Archean volcanic center that generated (alkali-)picritic to high-alumina tholeiitic melts from a mantle whose oxygen fugacity was lower than today. Fractional crystallization produced troctolites with immiscible sulfide melt droplets within the mafic crust. Instability of the mafic crust led to deep subduction and re-equilibration at 4–6 GPa. Phase relationships plus the presence of a sample with appreciable modal corundum but no Eu anomaly suggest that kyanite- and corundum-bearing eclogites may also originate as plagioclase-free, higher pressure cumulates of highly aluminous clinopyroxene, spinel, and olivine. This is consistent with the crystallizing phase assemblage from an olivine tholeiitic to picritic magma deeper in the Archean oceanic crust or uppermost mantle. We postulate that the magmatic and subduction processes driving modern plate tectonics already existed in the Meso- to Early Archean.

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Acknowledgments

The authors profited from the continuous help and support in the laboratory, in the field, and through discussions by A. Gerdes, J. Heliosch, F. Kneissl, L. Marco, A. Neumann, and H.-M. Seitz (Frankfurt), Chiranjeeb Sarkar (Edmonton), Jeff Harris (Glasgow), and Jock Robey (Kimberley). Jim Davidson and Andrew Rogers (Petra Diamonds) and Christo du Preez (Frontier Mining) gave permissions for the visits to the Bellsbank diamond mine. The project was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (BR 1012/33-1 and BR 1012/37-1). Dave Green (University of Tasmania) gave decisive advice for the interpretation of the data and carefully read the manuscript. The comments and suggestions of L.A. Coogan and an anonymous reviewer on an earlier version greatly helped to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, and School of Earth Science and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Qiao Shu & Zhidan Zhao

  2. Institut für Geowissenschaften, FE Mineralogie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Altenhöferallee 1, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany

    Qiao Shu, Gerhard P. Brey & Heidi E. Hoefer

  3. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Qiao Shu & D. Graham Pearson

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  1. Qiao Shu
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Correspondence to Qiao Shu.

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Communicated by Othmar Müntener.

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Shu, Q., Brey, G.P., Hoefer, H.E. et al. Kyanite/corundum eclogites from the Kaapvaal Craton: subducted troctolites and layered gabbros from the Mid- to Early Archean. Contrib Mineral Petrol 171, 11 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-015-1225-5

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