Characteristics and origin of mafic and ultramafic xenoliths in trachyandesite lavas from Heikongshan volcano, Tengchong, Yunnan Province, China

• Published in: Science China. Earth sciences 2010-09, Vol.53 (9), p.1295-1306
• Main Authors: Yu, HongMei, Lin, ChuanYong, Shi, LanBin, Xu, JianDong, Chen, XiaoDe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Crystallization; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Lava; Magma; Mineralogy; Research Paper; Reservoirs; Upper mantle; Volcanic eruptions; Volcanoes
• ISSN: 1674-7313; 1869-1897
• DOI: 10.1007/s11430-010-4044-6

The trachyandesite lavas from Heikongshan volcano of the Tengchong volcanic cluster, Yunnan Province contain relatively abundant mafic and ultramafic small xenoliths comprising mainly gabbro, pyroxenite and rare lherzolites, all less than 2.5 cm in size. Gabbro xenoliths are characterized by “open” texture represented by relatively abundant vesicles and ground-mass fillings, while pyroxenite xenoliths are characterized by equigranular and poikilitic texture. Their mineral compositions (clinopyroxene ± orthopyroxene ± plagioclase) are similar to those of phenocrysts in lavas, and their equilibration temperature (1000–1125°C) is consistent with the crystallization temperature of the phenocrysts (998–1108°C). Thus, the textures and compositions of these xenoliths are different from those of lower crustal and mantle xenoliths, and were derived from the magma chamber. Among them, the gabbroic xenoliths come from the crystal-bubble-liquid zone at the top of the magma reservoir, while the pyroxenite xenoliths come from the cumulates in the bottom of magma reservoir. The studied single lherzolite xenolith with porphyroclastic texture has similar mineral compositions to the mantle xenoliths from eastern China, and is considered to be of upper mantle origin. It was brought into magma reservoir by replenishment magma, and might have experienced a cooling event before eruption. The formation of xenoliths in trachyandesite flows largely reflects the ascent, storage, evolution and eruption processes of magma.