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Petrology of spinel lherzolite xenoliths from Youkou volcano, Adamawa Massif, Cameroon Volcanic Line: mineralogical and geochemical fingerprints of sub-rift mantle processes

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Abstract

The basaltic maar of Youkou, situated in the Adamawa Volcanic Massif in the eastern branch of the continental segment of the Cameroon Volcanic Line, contains mantle-derived xenoliths of various types in pyroclastites. Spinel-bearing lherzolite xenoliths from the Youkou volcano generally exhibit protogranular textures with olivine (Fo89.4−90.5), enstatite (En89 − 91Fs8.7−9.8Wo0.82−1.13), clinopyroxene, spinel (Cr#Sp = 9.4–13.8), and in some cases amphibole (Mg# = 88.5–89.1). Mineral equilibration temperatures in the lherzolite xenoliths have been estimated from three–two pyroxene thermometers and range between 835 and 937 °C at pressures of 10–18 kbar, consistent with shallow mantle depths of around 32–58 km. Trends displayed by bulk-rock MgO correlate with Al2O3, indicating that the xenoliths are refractory mantle residues after partial melting. The degree of partial melting estimated from spinel compositions is less than 10%: evidences for much higher degrees of depletion are preserved in one sample, but overprinted by refertilization in others. Trace element compositions of the xenoliths are enriched in highly incompatible elements (LREE, Sr, Ba, and U), indicating that the spinel lherzolites underwent later cryptic metasomatic enrichment induced by plume-related hydrous silicate melts. The extreme fertility (Al2O3 = 6.07–6.56 wt% in clinopyroxene) and the low CaO/Al2O3 ratios in the spinel lherzolites suggest that they could not be a simple residue of partial melting of primitive mantle and must have experienced refertilization processes driven by the infiltration of carbonatite or carbonated silicate melts.

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Acknowledgements

The authors warmly thank the German Academic Exchange Organization DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) for financial support in the mineralogical and geochemical data acquisition as well as the research stay of one of the authors (Robert Temdjim) at the Institute of Geosciences of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. The constructive and useful remarks of the two anonymous reviewers who helped to improve the manuscript are greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Merlin Patrick Wagsong Njombie & Robert Temdjim

  2. ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Stephen F. Foley

Authors
  1. Merlin Patrick Wagsong Njombie
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  2. Robert Temdjim
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  3. Stephen F. Foley
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Correspondence to Merlin Patrick Wagsong Njombie.

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Communicated by Hans Keppler.

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Njombie, M.P.W., Temdjim, R. & Foley, S.F. Petrology of spinel lherzolite xenoliths from Youkou volcano, Adamawa Massif, Cameroon Volcanic Line: mineralogical and geochemical fingerprints of sub-rift mantle processes. Contrib Mineral Petrol 173, 13 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-018-1438-5

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