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Geochemical distinctions between igneous carbonate, calcite cements, and limestone xenoliths (Polino carbonatite, Italy): spatially resolved LAICPMS analyses

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Abstract

Petrography-controlled laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LAICPMS) analyses of carbonate in fresh shallow level sub-volcanic Polino monticellite calcio-carbonatite tuffisite have been performed to assess the geochemical differences between fresh igneous, epigenetic carbonates and sedimentary accidental fragments. Igneous calcite has consistently high LREE/HREE ratios (La/Yb N , 15–130) due to high LREE (ΣLREE, 425–1,269 ppm). Secondary calcite cements are characterized by progressively lower and more variable trace element contents, with lower LREE/HREE ratios. A distinguishing geochemical feature is progressively increasing negative Ce anomalies observed through coarse secondary calcite that can be related to the surface environment processes. The limestone accidental fragments in the tuffisite have trace element contents almost two orders of magnitude lower than igneous carbonate and low LREE (ΣLREE < 9.5 ppm) with low LREE/HREE fractionation (La/Yb N ratios < 18). The stable isotope composition of different carbonate types is consistent with their formation in different environments. The tuffisitization processes during diatreme formation under high CO2-OH fugacity conditions may account for the differences noted in the igneous carbonates.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank John Spratt and Terry Williams for help with electron microprobe analyses, Teresa Jeffries for help with LAICPMS, and Tony Wighton for sample preparation. The paper has been improved with the critical review of Ken Bailey and Alex Teague, who we thank. This research was funded by Synthesis 2006.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università G. d’Annunzio, Via dei Vestini, 30, 66013, Chieti, Italy

    G. Rosatelli & F. Stoppa

  2. Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, TR10 9EZ, UK

    F. Wall

  3. CNR, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185, Rome, Italy

    M. Brilli

Authors
  1. G. Rosatelli
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  2. F. Wall
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  3. F. Stoppa
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  4. M. Brilli
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Correspondence to G. Rosatelli.

Additional information

Communicated by J. Blundy.

G. Rosatelli and F. Wall were formerly with the Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK.

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Rosatelli, G., Wall, F., Stoppa, F. et al. Geochemical distinctions between igneous carbonate, calcite cements, and limestone xenoliths (Polino carbonatite, Italy): spatially resolved LAICPMS analyses. Contrib Mineral Petrol 160, 645–661 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-010-0499-x

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