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Trace-element partitioning between gregoryite, nyerereite, and natrocarbonatite melt: implications for natrocarbonatite evolution

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Abstract

Trace-element partitioning between gregoryite, nyerereite, and natrocarbonatite melt is primordial for understanding trace-element distribution and fractionation in alkali-rich carbonatites. However, trace-element data are scarce for gregoryite and nyerereite. Here, we provide the first partition coefficients and lattice strain model parameters for trace-element partitioning between these carbonate minerals and natrocarbonatite at Oldoinyo Lengai (Tanzania). Nyerereite and gregoryite phenocrysts crystallize within a shallow magmatic reservoir (< 3 km depth, ~ 600 °C), and gregoryite continues to crystallize during magma ascent at lower pressures. At these low-temperature and pressure conditions, trace elements behave incompatibly in both gregoryite and nyerereite. Trace-element partitioning is characterized by a parabolic fit between the partition coefficients and ionic radii that is explained by a lattice strain model in which the site radius (r0) decreases with increasing charge from r01+  = 1.1 Å to r04+  = 0.75 Å. We observed different partition coefficients in gregoryite (Ggy) and nyerereite (Nye): those in nyerereite are greater than those in gregoryite for REEs (\({D}_{Nd}^{Nye}\)= 0.58 vs. \({D}_{Nd}^{Ggy}\) = 0.21; \({D}_{La}^{Nye}\) = 0.27 vs. \({D}_{La}^{Ggy}\) = 0.12), Sr (\({D}_{Sr}^{Nye}\)= 0.92 vs. \({D}_{Sr}^{Ggy}\) = 0.5), Ba (\({D}_{Ba}^{Nye}\)= 0.22 vs. \({D}_{Ba}^{Ggy}\) = 0.1), and Rb (\({D}_{Rb}^{Nye}\)= 0.35 vs. \({D}_{Rb}^{Ggy}\) = 0.26), but lower for HFSEs (e.g., \({D}_{Hf}^{Nye}\) = 0.13 vs. \({D}_{Hf}^{Ggy}\) = 0.28; \({D}_{Nb}^{Nye}\) = 0.02 vs. \({D}_{Nb}^{Ggy}\) = 0.08). Because all trace elements are incompatible, their concentrations increase in the melt during differentiation and the crystallization of both gregoryite and nyerereite. Due to their different partition coefficients, we can constrain the shallow crustal crystallization history of natrocarbonatite melts at Oldoinyo Lengai: the crystallization of roughly equal proportions of gregoryite and nyerereite can produce aphyric natrocarbonatite compositions from a typical natrocarbonatite composition. The late-stage crystallization of gregoryite alone during magmatic ascent and eruption can significantly impact the concentrations of key elements, such as increasing LREE contents and LREE/HFSE and LILE/HFSE ratios in the residual melt. Our results also highlight that natrocarbonatite melt crystallization during the 2019 eruption proceeded at temperatures from 600 °C to as low as 300 °C.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. Anenburg and an anonymous reviewer for their helpful and constructive comments, and also O. Müntener for efficient editorial handling and suggestions. We offer special thanks to Kate Laxton for providing samples and useful discussions. The authors would like to thank O. Rouer for help with microprobe measurements and C. Peiffert for assistance during LA-ICP-MS analyses. This work was supported by the French National Research Agency through the national program “Investissements d’avenir” with the reference ANR-10-LABX-21-01/LABEX RESSOURCES21, and through the project GECO-REE (ANR-16-CE01-0003-01; P.I., Lydéric France). This study was also supported by the Région Lorraine, and PNP and CESSUR programs from INSU-CNRS (grants to Lydéric France). This is CRPG contribution number 2846 and GECO-REE contribution number 7.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISTeP-Earth Sciences Institute-CNRS-Sorbonne Université, 4 Pl. Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France

    Céline Baudouin

  2. Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRPG, 54000, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France

    Lydéric France

  3. Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France

    Lydéric France

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  1. Céline Baudouin
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Correspondence to Céline Baudouin.

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Communicated by Othmar Müntener.

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Baudouin, C., France, L. Trace-element partitioning between gregoryite, nyerereite, and natrocarbonatite melt: implications for natrocarbonatite evolution. Contrib Mineral Petrol 178, 40 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-023-02021-z

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