Ultramafic xenoliths in De la Laguna hill, retro-arc basaltic volcanism in the southeast of Mendoza Province, Argentina

Abstract

Ultramafic xenoliths in Cenozoic retro-arc basalts of the extra-Andean sector of Mendoza province are described here for the first time. The host basalt has a massive structure and porphyritic texture with phenocryst assemblages of olivine-clinopyroxene and olivine-plagioclase. All the ultramafic xenoliths are spinel-bearing peridotites; lherzolite, wehrlite and dunite, in order of abundance, have been recognized. The mineral assemblage is olivine-orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene-spinel. Textures are porphyroclastic Type I and porphyroclastic to equigranular Type I. The xenoliths contain microscopic reaction areas, mainly developed in orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene in the contact with basalt. The reaction indicates at least one disequilibrium event. The peridotites are fragments of the upper mantle situated beneath the study area.