Melt-rock interactions and melt-assisted deformation in the Lherz peridodite, with implications for the structural, chemical and isotopic evolution of the lithospheric mantle

• Main Author: Le Roux, Véronique
• Language: ENG
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: [SDU:STU:GC] Sciences of the Universe/Earth Sciences/Geochemistry; Lherz massif; refertilization; melt-rock reaction; erosion of lithospheric mantle; melt segregation; strain localization; diffusion; isotopic decoupling; melt transport
• Online Access: http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00431325; http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/43/13/25/PDF/theseleroux08.pdf

Differentiation of the lithospheric mantle occurred principally through partial melting and extraction of melts. Harzburgites are generally considered as melting residues whereas lherzolites are regarded as pristine mantle weakly affected by melting. However, some orogenic peridotites show evidence of igneous refertilization. In this context, this work re-investigates the nature of the Lherz lherzolites (Pyrenees), type-locality of lherzolites, described as a piece of preserved fertile mantle. Structural and geochemical data show that these lherzolites are not pristine but formed through a refertilization reaction between MORB-like melts and refractory lithosphere. Moreover, the Lherz peridotites were partly used to infer the composition of the primitive upper mantle and these results may have important implications for the nature of the late veneer. Additionally, crystal-preferred orientations of minerals (CPO) highlight a strong feedback between melt percolation and finite strain in the percolated rocks. CPO variations are ruled by a subtle balance between instantaneous melt fraction and local strain rate. This work also investigated the effect of melt percolation on Hf, Nd and Sr isotopes. Isotope systematics in Lherz shows that strong isotopic decoupling may arise in a percolation front. The modelling suggests that decoupled isotopic signatures are generated during porous flow and governed by the melt/matrix elements concentrations, chemical diffusivities or efficiency of isotopic homogenization. Melt-rock interactions can generate “intraplate-like” isotopic signatures. This suggests that a part of isotopic signatures of mantle-related rocks could be generated by diffusional processes associated with melt transport.