Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thermal history of the upper mantle beneath a young back-arc extensional zone: ultramafic xenoliths from San Luis Potosí, Central Mexico

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

At the San Luis Potosí (SLP) volcanic field (Central Mexico), Quaternary basanites and tuff breccias have sampled a suite of ultramafic xenoliths, predominately spinel lherzolites, spinel-olivine websterites, spinel pyroxenites, and hornblende-rich pyroxenites. Spinel lherzolites from the La Ventura maars have protogranular to equigranular textures, those from the Santo Domingo maars are strongly sheared. Both spinel-lherzolite types show similar whole-rock major and trace-element abundances. They are fertile to slightly depleted with mineralogical and geochemical heterogeneities induced by partial melting processes. Pyroxenites with either magmatic or metamorphic textures are high-pressure cumulates. Hornblende-rich pyroxenites are genetically linked to the host basanites. Most of the protogranular spinel lherzolites contain veinlets of glass along grain boundaries. These glasses are chemically homogeneous and have trachybasaltic to trachyandesitic compositions. Mg- and Fe2+-partitioning between olivine and glass suggests chemical equilibrium between the melts represented by the glasses and the spinel-lherzolite mineral assemblage at about 1,000°C and 10 to 15 kbar. The melts are interpreted to be of upper mantle origin. They may have been formed by in-situ partial melting in the presence of volatiles or represent percolating melts chemically buffered by the spinel-lherzolite mineral assemblage at uppermost mantle conditions. Mineral chemistry in all rock types of the whole xenolith suite reveals distinct disequilibrium features reflecting partial re-equilibration stages towards lower temperatures estimated to be from 1,050°C to 850°C at 9 to 15 kbar. The presence of similar zoning and exsolution features mainly documented in pyroxenes along with similar maximum and minimum temperatures requires all sampled xenoliths to have undergone the same temperature regime within the upper mantle. The sheared spinel lherzolites from the Sto. Domingo field are interpreted as formerly protogranular material which was sheared during uplift and cooling. The estimated mantle temperatures are higher than those predicted by low heat-flow measurements at the SLP fild, indicating that surface heat flow has not equilibrated to elevated temperatures at depth. This strongly supports a young perturbation event beneath the SLP area and connects the onset of uplift and cooling of the SLP-mantle segment with the back-arc extensional regime of the Quaternary volcanic cycle of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aranda-Gómez JJ, Ortega-Gutiérrez F (1987) Mantle xenoliths in Mexico. In: Nixon PH (ed) Mantle xenoliths. Wiley, London, pp 75–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Besch T, Heinrich W, Schaaf P (1990) Crustal evolution by underplating: evidence from the Sierra Madre Terrain, NE Mexico (abstract). Terra abstr 2:42

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabanes N, Mercier JC (1988) Insight into the upper mantle beneath an active extensional zone: the spinel-peridotite xenoliths from San Quintin (Baja California, Mexico). Contrib Mineral Petrol 100:374–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantagrel JM, Robin C (1978) K−Ar dating on eastern Mexican volcanic rocks: relations between the andesitic and alkaline provinces. J Volcanol Geothermal Res 5:99–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox KG, Bell JD, Pankhurst RJ (1979) The interpretation of igneous rocks. Clowes, London

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCserna Z (1989) An outline of the geology of Mexico. In: Bally AW, Palmer AR (eds) The geology of North America — an overview. Geol Soc Am, Boulder, pp 233–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson CH (1978) Petrology of the uppermost upper mantle deduced from spincl lherzolite and harzburgite nodules at Calton Hill, Derbyshire. Contrib Mineral Petrol 65:363–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Downes H (1990) Shear zones in the upper mantle — relation between geochemical enrichment and deformation in mantle peridotites. Geology 18:374–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Edgar AD, Lloyd FE, Forsyth DM, Barnett RL (1989) Origin of glass in upper mantle xenoliths from the Quaternary volcanics of Gees, West Eifel, Germany. Contrib Mineral Petrol 103:277–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Engi M (1983) Equilibria involving Al−Cr spinel: Mg−Fe exchange with olivine: experiments, thermodynamic analysis, and consequences for geothermometry. Am J Sci 283-A:29–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Evensen NW, Hamilton PJ, O'Nions RK (1978) Rare-earth abundances in chondritic meteorites. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 42:1199–1213

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabriès J, Figucroa O, Lorand JP (1987) Petrology and thermal history of highly deformed mantle xenoliths from the Montferrier basanites (Languedoc, Southern France). Comparison with ultramafic complexes from the North Pyrenean Zone. J Petrol 28:887–919

    Google Scholar 

  • Fix JE (1975) The crust and upper mantle of Central Mexico. Geophys J R Astron Soc 43:453–499

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis DM (1976) The origin of amphibole in lherzolite xenoliths from Nunviak Island, Alaska. J Petrol 17:357–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis DM (1987) Mantle-melt interaction recorded in spinel lherzolite xenoliths from the Alligator Lake volcanic complex, Yukon, Canada. J Petrol 28:569–597

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey FA, Green DH (1974) The mineralogy, geochemistry, and origin of lherzolite inclusions in Victorian basanites. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 38:1023–1059

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey FA, Prinz M (1978) Ultramafic inclusions from San Carlos, Arizona: petrologic and geochemical data bearing on their petrogenesis. Earth Planet Sci Lett 38:129–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Gamble JA, Kyle PR (1987) The origins of glass and amphibole in spinel-wehrlite xenoliths from Foster Crater, McMurdo volcanic group, Antarctica. J Petrol 28:755–780

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasparik T (1984) Two-pyroxene thermobarometry with new experimental data in the system CaO−MgO−Al2O3−SiO2. Contrib Mineral Petrol 87:87–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Girod M, Dautria JM, de Giovanni R (1981) A first insight into the constitution of the upper mantle under the Hoggar area (southern Algeria): the lherzolite xenoliths in the alkali basalts. Contrib Mineral Petrol 77:66–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene GM, Butler JC (1979) Spinel lherzolites from Xalapasco de la Joya, San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico. Mineral Mag 43:483–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Herzberg CT (1978) Pyroxene geothermometry and geobarometry: experimental and thermodynamic evaluation of some subsolidus phase relations involving pyroxenes in the system CaO−MgO−Al2O3−SiO2. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 42:945–957

    Google Scholar 

  • Irving AJ (1974) Pyroxene-rich ultramafic xenoliths in the Newer Basalts of Victoria, Australia. Neues Jahrb Mineral Abh 128:147–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Jagoutz E, Palme H, Baddenhausen E, Blum K, Cendales M, Dreibus G, Spettel B, Lorenz V, Wänke H (1979) The abundances of major, minor, and trace elements in the Earth's mantle as derived from primitive ultramafic nodules. Proc Lunar Planet Sci Conf 10:2031–2050

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones AP, Smith JV, Dawson JB (1983) Glasses in mantle xenoliths from Olmani, Tanzania. J Geol 91:167–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Jurewicz AJ, Watson EB (1988) Cations in olivine, part 2: diffusion in olivine xenocrysts, with applications to petrology and mineral physics. Contrib Mineral Petrol 99:186–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Köhler TP, Brey GP (1990) Calcium exchange between olivine and clinopyroxene calibrated as a geothermobarometer for natural peridotites from 2 to 60 kbar with applications. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 54:2375–2388

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuo LC, Essene EJ (1986) Petrology of spinel harzburgite xenoliths from the Kishb Plateau, Saudi Arabia. Contrib Mineral Petrol 93:335–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Labarthe G (1978) Algunos xalapazcos en el Estado de San Luis Potosi. Foll Téc, Univ Auto San Luis Potosi, Inst Geol Metal VIII 55:5–34

    Google Scholar 

  • LeBas MJ, LeMaitre RW, Streckeisen A, Zanettin B (1986) A chemical classification of volcanic rocks based on the total alkali-silica diagram. J Petrol 27:745–750

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang Y, Elthon D (1990) Geochemistry and petrology of spinel lherzolite xenoliths from Xalapasco de la Joya, San Luis Potosi, Mexico: partial melting and mantle metasomatism. J Geophys Res 95:15859–15877

    Google Scholar 

  • Luhr JF, Aranda-Gomez JJ, Pier JG (1989) Spinel-lherzolite-bearing, Quaternary volcanic centers in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, I: geology, mineralogy, and petrology. J Geophys Res 94:7916–7940

    Google Scholar 

  • Maaloe S, Printzlau I (1979) Natural partial melting of spinel lherzolite. J Petrol 20:727–741

    Google Scholar 

  • McGuire AV (1988) Petrology of mantle xenoliths from Harrat al Kishb: the mantle beneath Saudi-Arabia. J Petrol 29:73–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercier JC (1980) Single-pyroxene thermobarometry. Tectonophysics 70:1–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercier JC, Nicolas A (1975) Textures and fabrics of upper mantle peridotites as illustrated by xenoliths from basalts. J Petrol 16:454–487

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan P (1983) Constraints of rift thermal processes from heat flow and uplift. Tectonophysics 94:277–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Mysen BO, Boettcher AL (1975) Melting of a hydrous mantle (parts I and II). J Petrol 15:520–593

    Google Scholar 

  • Navon O, Stolper E (1987) Geochemical consequences of melt percolation: the upper mantle as a chromatographic column. J Geol 95:285–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholls IA (1974) Liquids in equilibrium with peridotitic mineral assemblages at high water pressures. Contrib Mineral Petrol 45:289–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolas A, Lucazcau F, Bayer R (1987) Peridotitc xenoliths in Massif Central basalts, France: textural and geophysical evidence for asthenospheric diapirism. In: Nixon PH (ed) Mantle xenoliths. Wiley, London, pp 563–574

    Google Scholar 

  • Nixon GT (1982) The relationship between Quaternary volcanism in Central Mexico and the scismicity and structure of subducted ocean lithosphere. Geol Soc Am Bull 93:514–523

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Neill HS (1981) The transition between spinel lherzolite and garnet lherzolite, and its use as a geobarometer. Contrib Mineral petrol 77:185–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearce JA, Alabaster T, Shelton AV, Searle MC (1981) The Oman ophiolite as a Cretaceous arc-basin complex: evidence and implications. Philos Trans R Soc London Ser A 300:299–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Robin C, Demant A (1975) Les quatre provinces volcaniques du Mexique; relations avec l'évolution géodynamique depuis le Crétacé: province orientale et axe transmexicain. CR Acad Sci Paris Ser D 280:1345–1348

    Google Scholar 

  • Roeder PL, Emslie RF (1970) Olivine-liquid equilibrium. Contrib Mineral Petrol 29:275–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachtleben T, Seck HA (1981) Chemical control of Al-solubility in orthopyroxene and its implications on pyroxene geothermometry. Contrib Mineral Petrol 78:157–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith D (1977) The origin and interpretation of spinel-pyroxene clusters in peridotite. J Geol 85:476–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith DL, Nuckels CE, Jones RL, Cook GA (1979) Distribution of heat flow and radioactive heat generation in northern Mexico. J Geophys Res 84:2371–2379

    Google Scholar 

  • Stosch HG, Seck HA (1980) Geochemistry and mineralogy of two spinel peridotite suites from Dreiser Weiher, W. Germany. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 44:457–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi E (1980) Thermal history of lherzolite xenoliths I. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 44:1643–1658

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi E, Kushiro I (1983) Melting of a dry peridotite at high pressures and basalt magma genesis. Am Mineral 68:859–879

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulmer P (1989) The dependence of the Fe2+−Mg cation partitioning between olivine and basaltic liquid on pressure, temperature, and composition. Contrib Mineral Petrol 101:261–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Wänke H, Baddenhausen H, Blum K, Cendales M, Dreibus G, Hofmeister H, Kruse H, Jagoutz E, Palme C, Spettel B, Thackler R, Vilcsek E (1977) On the chemistry of lunar samples and achondrites — primary matter in the lunar highlands: a reevaluation. Proc Lunar Sci Conf 8:2191–2213

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells PR (1977) Pyroxene geothermometry in simple and complex systems. Contrib Mineral Petrol 62:129–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilshire HG, Shervais JW (1975) Al-augite and Cr-diopside ultramafic xenoliths in basaltic rocks from western United States. Phys Chem Earth 9:257–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Witt G, Seck HA (1987) Temperature history of sheared mantle xenoliths from the West Eifel, West Germany: evidence for mantle diapirism beneath the Rhenish Massif. J Petrol 28:475–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Witt G, Seck HA (1989) Origin of amphibole in recrystallized and porphyroclastic mantle xenoliths from the Rhenish Massif: implications for the nature of mantle metasomatism. Earth Planet Sci Lett 91:327–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyllie P (1987) Metasomatism and fluid generation in mantle xenoliths. In: Nixon PH (ed) Mantle xenoliths. Wiley, London, pp 609–621

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziagos JP, Blackwell DD, Mooser F (1985) Heat flow in southern Mexico and the thermal effects of subduction. J Geophys Res 90:5410–5420

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Angewandte Geophysik, Petrologie und Lagerstättenforschung, Technische Universität Berlin, Strasse des 17, Juni 135, EB 310, W-1000, Berlin 12, Germany

    Wilhelm Heinrich

  2. Bohr-und Sprengtechnik Adolf Alexander KG GmbH and Co, Kurfürstenstrasse 114, W-1000, Berlin 30, Germany

    Thomas Besch

Authors
  1. Wilhelm Heinrich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas Besch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heinrich, W., Besch, T. Thermal history of the upper mantle beneath a young back-arc extensional zone: ultramafic xenoliths from San Luis Potosí, Central Mexico. Contrib Mineral Petrol 111, 126–142 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00296583

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00296583

Keywords

Search

Navigation