Evidences of metasomatism in the sublitospheric mantle of Patagonia

Abstract

Ultramafic xenoliths from Estancia Poklepovic, Santa Cruz province, comprise lherzolites, harzburgites and wehrlites, hosted by alkaline lavas and cinder cones. Most of the samples carry glass veins and/or melt pockets and most of them also bear amphibol, mica or both. Criptic metasomatism is demonstrated by enrichment of light rare earth elements in bulk rock analyses of samples devoid of hydrous phases, melt pockets and glass veins. Modal metasomatism is evident in samples carrying hydrous phases, melt pockets and glass veins, which led to high contents of incompatible elements in bulk rock analyses. Textural evidences suggest that two metasomatic events affected this part of the mantle. One event allowed the crystallization of amphibol and mica, and the second is responsible for the melt pockets. The presence of glass veins (± carbonate) in samples devoid of melt pockets may be the result of a different metasomatic episode. Textural evidences demonstrate that at least part of the carbonate was precipitated by carbonate-rich meteoric water.