The geochemistry and petrogenesis of dolerites and gabbros from the Tertiary central volcanic complex of Slieve Gullion,North East Ireland |
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| Authors: | John A Gamble |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Geology, The University of Newcastle, 2308 New South Wales, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Basaltic magmas emplaced into the root zone of the Slieve Gullion volcano have crystallised to rocks varying in texture from dolerite to gabbro. A mineralogical variation from olivine bearing to quartz bearing varieties has been recorded and with the presence of coexisting Ca-rich and Ca-poor pyroxenes, a tholeiitic assemblage is indicated.Geochemical data confirm this prognosis and a continuous spread of compositions from basalt to tholeiitic andesite are interpreted in terms of fractional crystallisation. Modelling of the fractional crystallisation processes indicate an approach to cotectic conditions with fractionation at low pressures involving olivine, plagioclase, clinopyroxene and Ti-magnetite. Primitive magma compositions, indicated by low values of D.I. and 100 Mg/Mg + Fe2+ (atomic)>61, show low concentrations of the large ion lithophile elements such as Rb, Ba, Zr, Y, and K. The relatively high CaO content (>11 %) of these rocks invite comparison with high-calcium low-alkali tholeiitic liquids recognised in extrusive and intrusive magmas elsewhere in the North Atlantic Tertiary volcanic province and with magmas currently erupted at active spreading ridges.In north west Britain the field and stratigraphic distribution of these high-calcium low-alkali magmas suggests that they occupy a distinct chronological niche towards the top of the Palaeocene-Eocene volcanic succession succeeding eruption of mildly alkali and transitional basalts. As such, the refractory (high CaO, MgO, etc.) and large ion lithophile depleted geochemistry can be explained either by differential partial melting in the upper mantle source region or melting of a depleted and refractory mantle source which has already contributed to basalt genesis. |
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