Nature of mantle source contributions and the role of contamination and in situ crystallisation in the petrogenesis of Proterozoic mafic dykes and flood basalts Labrador

Abstract

 Proterozoic tholeiitic dyke swarms share many compositional features with, and pose similar petrogenetic problems to, Phanerozoic continental flood basalts, but there are few extrusive equivalents of such swarms. The Mesoproterozoic (1.27 Ga) Harp dyke swarm in Labrador is one where possible extrusive equivalents exist in the Seal Lake group, but are slightly displaced in space and time, and can probably be related by models of progressive crustal extension. Here we try to evaluate the roles of crystal differentiation, in situ crystallisation, crustal assimilation and the relative contributions of asthenosphere- and lithosphere-derived melts in the petrogenesis of the mafic magmas. Modelling of the major and trace element variations both within individual dykes and between dykes, and within the lava sequence, does not suggest an important role for continental crust involvement. While in situ crystallisation processes could account for some of the compositional variations, the most successful models invoke mixing or contamination of asthenospheric magmas with/by veined material in the lower lithosphere / upper asthenosphere which carries the ‘continental’ characteristics. The results imply an important role for hydrous phases such as phlogopite and hornblende in the sub-lithosphere mantle. Much of the low-MgO character of mafic dykes may result from significant removal of mafic phases during in situ crystallisation within the lithosphere.