The Sidi El Hemissi Triassic “ophites” (Souk Ahras, NE Algeria): petrology, geochemistry, and petrogenesis

Summary Lodran is a unique meteorite consisting of roughly equal amounts of metal, olivine, and pyroxene with minor amounts of sulphide, chromite, phosphide, chrome-diopside, and a new phase with a composition close to (K,Na)AlSi 5 O 12 . Zähringer reported planetary-type rare gases in both the metal and silicates, suggesting a primitive nature. The pyroxene composition is Fs 13.8 with little variation. Olivine composition averages Fa 12.6 , but varies at least ±20 % both among grains and zoned within single grains; only the Fe-rich olivine is in equilibrium with the pyroxene. The metal probably cooled rapidly (700 K/Myr) at high temperatures and slower (30 K/Myr) at lower temperatures. Two compositional populations of chromite are found. A model for the formation of Lodran includes three steps: Formation of large olivine, pyroxene, and metal grains, with the trapping of small olivine inclusions in pyroxene and pyroxene in olivine. Equilibration and recrystallization of olivine, pyroxene, and metal, loss of alkalis and Ca; this probably occurred in a parent-body setting. And incorporation of reducing materials and mild reheating sufficient to produce the zoning in the olivine but not enough to re-equilibrate the pyroxene. Phase compositions and rare-gas concentrations in ureilites are similar to those in Lodran. In some respects Lodran appears to be a metal-rich ureilite, but the higher Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios in the latter (Fa 21 olivine) suggest origin on separate parent bodies. The Harvard University meteorite is a mesosiderite and not closely related to Lodran.

Pyroxene

Chromite

Parent body

Diopside

10.1180/minmag.1976.040.315.06

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Petrogenesis and Tectonic Setting of the Baluogenguole Mafic Dykes, Zongwulong Belt: Implications for Evolution of the Northern East Paleo-Tethys Ocean

Minerals (2024)

Min Chen T. Pan Wentao Zhao Yan-He Wang Chunji Xue

The late Paleozoic tectonic setting of the Zongwulong Belt (ZWLB), a significant unit located in the northern Qaidam margin, Qinghai province, remains uncertain. Diabase dykes in the western part of the Zongwulong Belt offer insights into this issue. Field investigations reveal that the dips of the dykes are almost vertical, and they have sharp boundaries with the host rocks. These dykes consist of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and opaque minerals exhibiting a characteristic porphyritic texture and massive structure. Zircon U-Pb dating of the dykes yields a weighted 206Pb/238U age of 289 ± 1 Ma. The dykes exhibit relatively high concentrations of TFeO, K2O + Na2O, and TiO2, while the SiO2 and MgO concentrations are relatively low. They display relative light-over-heavy REE enrichment, and lack negative Nb-Ta and Eu anomalies. The dykes underwent negligible crustal contamination, and experienced extensive fractional crystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene, and Fe-Ti oxides. Originating from the spinel–garnet transition zone at depths of approximately 75 km, the dykes result from garnet facies low-degree melting (5%–10%) in a continental rift setting. Combining these findings with regional geological data, we propose that the ZWLB likely experienced a continental rift in the west and exhibited a narrow oceanic environment in the east in the late Paleozoic period, potentially representing the most distant north branch of the East Paleo-Tethys Ocean.

Petrogenesis

10.3390/min14050473

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