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Petrological and geochemical relationships between pyroxene megacrysts and associated alkali-basalts from Massif Central (France)

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Abstract

Major, trace element, and REE analyses, as well as Sr isotopic ratios, have been obtained on twelve clinopyene megacrysts and phenocrysts and their alkali-basalt hosts from the French Massif Central. Equilibrium between crystals and host was examined based on petrographic and geochemical data.

Two types of pyroxenes are recognized: the acmite-bearing clinopyroxenes, rich in incompatible elements and the salitic clinopyroxenes, poor in incompatible elements. 87Sr/ 86Sr isotopic data reveal no significant difference between clinopyroxenes and host lavas: they are in apparent isotopic equilibrium. The Sr isotopic ratios of the two types of pyroxenes are also quite similar. However pyroxene crystals from the first group are not in equilibrium with their host; they have crystallized at high-pressure from differentiated alkali-lavas and have been incorporated in a more primitive magma. Pyroxene crystals from the second group are in apparent equilibrium with their host lava; they have crystallized at various pressures. For the latter, distribution coefficients are proposed for compatible elements, trace elements and REE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Pétrographie, G.P.F.A., U.S.T.L., Place E. Bataillon, F-34060, Montpellier Cédex, France

    J. M. Liotard

  2. C.R.V., U.A. 10, C.N.R.S., 5 Rue Kessler, F-63038, Clermont-Ferrand Cédex, France

    D. Briot & P. Boivin

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  1. J. M. Liotard
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  2. D. Briot
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  3. P. Boivin
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Liotard, J.M., Briot, D. & Boivin, P. Petrological and geochemical relationships between pyroxene megacrysts and associated alkali-basalts from Massif Central (France). Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 98, 81–90 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371912

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