Abstract
The peridotitic and gabbroic rocks described occur a) as a tectonically emplaced layered body in Piton des Neiges volcano, b) as blocks in basaltic agglomerate, Piton des Neiges, and c) as nodular inclusions in lavas of both Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise volcanoes. All are associated with the olivine basalts of the early shield-forming growth stages and not later alkaline lavas, thereby contrasting with the Hawaiian situation. Rock-types include dunite, clinopyroxenite, wehrlite, feldspathic wehrlite, olivine eucrite, allivalite, (bytownite) anorthosite and gabbro. The peridotites and most of the gabbroic rocks are inferred to be cumulates formed in floored magma chambers occurring at depths from 30 km upwards. The inclusion suite is probably derived from repetitive layered units consisting predominantly of ol + sp cumulates with sporadic development of ol + cpx±sp and ol + cpx + plag cumulate horizons.
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Upton, B.G.J., Wadsworth, W.J. Peridotitic and gabbroic rocks associated with the shield-forming lavas of réunion. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 35, 139–158 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00370925
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00370925