A fractional crystallisation link between komatiites, basalts, and dunites of the Palaeoproterozoic Winnipegosis Komatiite Belt, Manitoba, Canada

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Documents

  • Waterton, Pedro
  • D. Graham Pearson
  • Stanley A. Mertzman
  • Karen R. Mertzman
  • Bruce Kjarsgaard
The rock type most commonly associated with komatiite throughout Earth’s history is tholeiitic basalt. Despite this well-known association, the link between komatiite and basalt formation is still debated. Two models have been suggested: that tholeiitic basalts represent the products of extensive fractional crystallisation of komatiite, or that basalts are formed by lower degrees of mantle melting than komatiites in the cooler portions of a zoned plume. We present major and trace element data for tholeiitic basalts (~7.5 wt% MgO) and dunites (46 – 48 wt% MgO) from the Palaeoproterozoic Winnipegosis Komatiite Belt (WKB), which, along with previous data for WKB komatiites (17 – 26 wt% MgO), are utilised to explore the potential links between komatiite and basalt via crystallisation processes. The dunites are interpreted as olivine + chromite cumulates that were pervasively serpentinised during metamorphism. Their major and immobile trace element relationships indicate that the accumulating olivine was highly magnesian (Mg# = 0.91 – 0.92), and that small amounts (4 – 7 wt% on average) of intercumulus melt were trapped during their formation. These high inferred olivine Mg#s suggest the dunites are derived from crystallisation of komatiite. The tholeiitic basalts have undergone greenschist facies metamorphism and have typical geochemical characteristics for Palaeoproterozoic basalts, with the exception of high FeO contents. Their REE patterns are similar to Winnipegosis komatiites, although absolute concentrations are higher by a factor of ~2.5. The ability of thermodynamic modelling with MELTS software to reproduce komatiite liquid lines of descent (LLD) is evaluated by comparison to the crystallisation sequence and mineral compositions observed for Winnipegosis komatiites. With minor caveats, MELTS is able to successfully reproduce the LLD. This modelling is extended to higher pressures to simulate crystallisation of komatiitic melt in an upper crustal magma chamber. All major and rare-earth element characteristics of the tholeiitic basalts can be reproduced by ~60% crystallisation of a Winnipegosis komatiite-like parental melt at pressures of ~1.5 – 2.5 kbar at oxygen fugacities between QFM – 1 and QFM+1. Winnipegosis basalts have low Mg#s that are not in equilibrium with mantle peridotite. They therefore cannot represent primary mantle melts derived from cooler mantle than the komatiites, and require fractional crystallisation processes in their formation. Furthermore, their trace element characteristics indicate a depth of melting indistinguishable from that of the Winnipegosis komatiites, and derivation from an identical depleted mantle source. All geochemical and geological evidence is therefore consistent with their derivation from a komatiitic melt, and the presence of a large komatiite-derived dunite body in the WKB provides evidence of extensive fractionation of komatiite in the upper crust. The observed uniform basalt compositions are interpreted as the result of a density minimum in the evolving komatiitic melt at temperatures between clinopyroxene and plagioclase saturation, with efficient extraction of melt from a mixture containing ~60% crystals. We conclude that the WKB basalts formed by fractional crystallisation of a komatiitic parental melt, and suggest that this model may be more broadly applicable to other localities where komatiites and associated basalts show similar geochemical or isotopic characteristics.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Petrology
Volume61
Issue number5
Number of pages34
ISSN0022-3530
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

    Research areas

  • Faculty of Science - fractional crystallization, MELTS thermodynamic modelling, XRF major elements, Circum-Superior Belt, Large igneous Province

Number of downloads are based on statistics from Google Scholar and www.ku.dk


No data available

ID: 240693100