Mantle xenoliths from Befang (Oku Massif) in the Cameroon Volcanic Line

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvin S. T. Tedonkenfack ◽  
Jacek Puziewicz ◽  
Theodoros Ntaflos ◽  
Sonja Aulbach ◽  
Anna Kukula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mantle Xenoliths ◽  
Melt Crystallization ◽  
Cameroon Volcanic Line ◽  
Volcanic Chain ◽  
Continental Part ◽  
Continental Lithospheric Mantle ◽  
Low Degrees ◽  
Ree Patterns ◽  
Ree Pattern

<p>Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) is a ca. 1600 km long Cenozoic volcanic chain which crosses the boundary between ocean and continent in West Africa. Its origin, as well as  the nature and age of the underlying continental lithospheric mantle (CLM), is still a matter of debate. Some of the CVL lavas contain peridotite xenoliths that can provide data elucidating the role of the CLM in the sustained magma generation along the line. In this abstract we describe xenolith suite from the Befang pyroclastic cone (< 1Ma) in the Oku Massif in the continental part of CVL, consisting of 14 spinel lherzolites, one spinel harzburgite and one websterite. The xenoliths are between 3 and 21 cm in diameter and have porphyroclastic to serial or equigranular texture, with porphyroclasts of olivine or orthopyroxene up to 9 mm in diameter. Some are weakly foliated. Olivine is Fo 88.6-90.4, contains 0.36 to 0.42 wt.% NiO and 180-750 ppm of Ca. Orthopyroxene (Mg# 0.89-0.91) contains 0.14 – 0.19 atoms of Al pfu, and clinopyroxene (Mg# 0.90-0.92) contains 0.24 – 0.31 atoms of Al pfu. The Cr# of lherzolite spinel is 0.09-0.15, in the harzburgitic one it is 0.18-0.19. Pyroxenes in all studied peridotites record a temperature range of 910 – 1010°C (Brey and Köhler 1990). Clinopyroxenes’ REE patterns are flat at HREE-MREE and make a spectrum from slightly LREE-depleted to slightly LREE-enriched (La<sub>N</sub>/Lu<sub>N</sub> from 0.08 to 2.65). The trace-element patterns are flat except well-defined negative Nb-Ta and positive Th-U anomalies. Orthopyroxenes’ REE patterns are variably depleted from HREE to LREE (LaN/LuN from 0.001 to 0.037). The REE pattern of clinopyroxene occurring in websterite exhibits enrichment from HREE towards LREE with hump in Sm/Nd, typical of silicate melt crystallization. The REE pattern of clinopyroxene The Befang lherzolites represent CLM metasomatised by melts produced by various, but generally low degrees of melting of DMM-like (Depleted MORB Mantle) source. Conversely, the harzburgite was formed by low degrees (few percent) of melting of DMM.</p><p>Acknowledgements. The study was funded by Polish National Centre for Science project UMO-2017/27/B/ST10/00365 to JP. EPMA analyses were done thanks to the Polish-Austrian project WTZ PL 08/2018.</p><p><strong>References:</strong></p><p>Brey, G.P. & Köhler, T. (1990). Geothermobarometry in four-phase lherzolites II. New thermobarometers and practical assessment of existing thermobarometers. Journal of Petrology 31, 1353-1378.</p>

scholarly journals Petrology of Mafic Dykes from the Njimom Area (West-Cameroon): A Contribution to the Characterization of Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic Magmatism in the Southern Continental Part of the Cameroon Volcanic Line

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Noël-Aimée Kouamo Keutchafo ◽  
Nicole Armelle Wambo Simeni ◽  
Brillant Kandzi Nforba ◽  
Agathe Arrissa Noucoucouk ◽  
Josiane Demlabin Sonmo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Element ◽  
Stability Field ◽  
Mafic Dykes ◽  
Cameroon Volcanic Line ◽  
Element Concentrations ◽  
Incompatible Elements ◽  
Basement Rocks ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Continental Part ◽  
Low Degrees

In the western Cameroon, crop out several dyke swarms of Paleozoic–Mesozoic age. These dykes intrude the Precambrian basement in the southern continental part of the Cretaceous Cameroon Volcanic Line. In the Njimom area, two groups of mafic dykes that crosscut the Neoproterozoic basement rocks have been observed. A first group intrudes the mylonites whereas the second group intrudes the granites. The dykes are alkaline basalts and hawaiites. The mineralogical assemblage of both groups of dykes consists of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, altered olivine, and opaque oxides. The dykes that cross-cut the Precambrian mylonitic gneisses show moderate TiO2 (1.7–2.0 wt.%), low MgO (4.4–7.1 wt.%), and compatible trace element concentrations (e.g., Cr = 70–180 ppm; Ni = 30–110 ppm). The dykes that intrude the granites have TiO2 contents between 2.3 and 2.5 wt.% and moderate compatible trace element concentrations (e.g., Cr = 260–280 ppm; Ni = 170–230 ppm). MgO varies from 5.9 to 9.2 wt.%. All mafic dykes are enriched in light lanthanide element and show moderate Zr/Nb and high Zr/Y, Nb/Yb, and Ti/V ratios similar to those of average ocean island basalt (OIB)-type magmas. Some dykes that intrude the mylonites show evidence of contamination by continental crust. The composition of the clinopyroxenes of the dykes that intrude the mylonites clearly indicate different and unrelated parental magmas from dykes that intrude the granites. Contents and fractionation of the least and the most incompatible elements suggest low degrees of partial melting (3–5%) of heterogeneous source slightly enriched in incompatible elements in the spinel stability field. The geochemical features of Njimom dykes (in particular the dykes that intrude the granites) are similar to those of Paleozoic and Mesozoic dykes recorded in the southern continental part of the Cameroon Volcanic Line, suggesting multiple reactivations of pre-existing fractures that resulted in the fragmentation of western Gondwana and the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean.

Evolution of lithospheric mantle beneath mobile belt between two cratons: An example from the Oku Massif, Cameroon Volcanic Line (W Africa)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Puziewicz ◽  
Sylvin S. T. Tedonkenfack ◽  
Sonja Aulbach ◽  
Theodoros Ntaflos ◽  
Mary-Alix Kaczmarek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lithospheric Mantle ◽  
Mantle Peridotite ◽  
Mobile Belt ◽  
Constant Composition ◽  
Cameroon Volcanic Line ◽  
Western Africa ◽  
Equatorial Africa ◽  
Cenozoic Volcanism ◽  
Continental Part ◽  
Ree Patterns

<p>Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) is located in the western part of equatorial Africa and consists of volcanoes which were active from Eocene to recent, stretching ca. 1700 km from the Atlantic in the SW into the African continent in the NE. The continental part of the CVL is located on the Neoproterozoic Central African Orogenic Belt and is situated between the Congo craton and Sahara/Western Africa craton. Mantle peridotite xenoliths which occur locally in lavas of the CVL come from the spinel facies only, suggesting a relatively shallow lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB). This is supported by seismic studies, showing the LAB at 90-100 km.</p><p>In order to understand better the evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath the CVL, we studied xenolith suite (16 xenoliths) from Befang in the Oku Massif (Tedonkenfack et al., submitted). The Befang xenoliths are almost entirely lherzolites which have cataclastic to weakly porphyroclastic texture. Harzburgites and websterites occur subordinately. Spinel is interstitial and has amoeboidal shape. The studied peridotites (14 lherzolites, 1 harzburgite) consist of minerals with almost constant composition (olivine Fo<sub>88.7-90.3</sub>, orthopyroxene Al 0.17-0.19 atoms per formula unit (a pfu), clinopyroxene Al 0.28-0.30 a pfu, spinel Cr# dominantly 0.09-0.11). Spinel of Cr# 0.15 occurs in one of the lherzolites, whereas that occurring in harzburgite has Cr# 0.19. Clinopyroxene REE patterns are similar to those of Depleted MORB Mantle (DMM) except LREEs, which vary from depleted to enriched. The A-type olivine fabric occurs in the EBSD-studied subset of 8 samples (one harzburgite and 7 lherzolites). Orthopyroxene shows deformation consistent with olivine. The fabric of LREE-enriched clinopyroxene is equivalent to those of orthopyroxene and olivine, whereas spinel and LREE-depleted clinopyroxene are oriented independently of the fabric of host rock.</p><p>These data, thermometry, phase relationships and phase equilibria diagrams suggest that the Befang mantle section was refertilised by MORB-like melt at pressures 1.0-1.4 GPa and temperatures slightly above 1200 – 1275 ºC. The olivine-orthopyroxene framework and LREE-enriched clinopyroxene preserve the fabric of protolith. On the other hand, the LREE-depleted clinopyroxene shows discordant orientation relative to olivine-orthopyroxene protolith framework, and amoeboidal spinel crystallized from the melt. The major element and REEs composition of pyroxenes occurring in the Befang peridotites indicate chemical reequilibration at temperatures 930 – 1000 ºC. Trace element modeling shows that websterites can be linked to Cenozoic volcanism. We speculate that they form veins in the lithospheric mantle. Our study therefore supports the origin of fertile SCLM via refertilization rather than by extraction of small melt fractions, and further emphasizes the involvement of depleted melts in this process, which contrasts with the incompatible element-enriched melts typically invoked in within-plate settings.</p><p>This study originated thanks to the project of Polish National Centre of Research NCN 2017/27/B/ST10/00365 to JP. The bilateral Austrian-Polish project WTZ PL 08/2018 enabled extensive microprobe work.</p><p>References:</p><p>Tedonkenfack SST, Puziewicz J, Aulbach S, Ntaflos T., Kaczmarek M-A, Matusiak-Małek M, Kukuła A, Ziobro M: Lithospheric mantle refertilization by DMM-derived melts beneath the Cameroon Volcanic Line – a case study of the Befang xenolith suite (Oku Volcanic Group, Cameroon). Submitted.</p>

scholarly journals Lithospheric mantle refertilization by DMM-derived melts beneath the Cameroon Volcanic Line—a case study of the Befang xenolith suite (Oku Volcanic Group, Cameroon)

2021 ◽  
Vol 176 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvin S. T. Tedonkenfack ◽  
Jacek Puziewicz ◽  
Sonja Aulbach ◽  
Theodoros Ntaflos ◽  
Mary-Alix Kaczmarek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lithospheric Mantle ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
African Plate ◽  
Cameroon Volcanic Line ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
Volcanic Group ◽  
Cenozoic Volcanism ◽  
Composition Of Minerals ◽  
Ree Patterns

AbstractThe origin and evolution of subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) are important issues of Earth’s chemical and physical evolution. Here, we report detailed textural and chemical analyses on a mantle xenolith suite from Befang (Oku Volcanic Group, Cameroon Volcanic Line), which represents a major tectono-magmatic structure of the African plate. The samples are sourced from spinel-facies mantle and are dominated by lherzolites. Their texture is cataclastic to porphyroclastic, and foliation defined by grain-size variation and alignment of spinel occurs in part of peridotites. Spinel is interstitial and has amoeboidal shape. Clinopyroxene REE patterns are similar to those of Depleted MORB Mantle (DMM) except LREEs, which vary from depleted to enriched. The A-type olivine fabric occurs in the subset of one harzburgite and 7 lherzolites studied by EBSD. Orthopyroxene shows deformation consistent with olivine. The fabric of LREE-enriched clinopyroxene is equivalent to those of orthopyroxene and olivine, whereas spinel and LREE-depleted clinopyroxene are oriented independently of host rock fabric. The textural, chemical and thermobarometric constraints indicate that the Befang mantle section was refertilised by MORB-like melt at pressures of 1.0–1.4 GPa and temperatures slightly above 1200–1275 °C. The olivine-orthopyroxene framework and LREE-enriched clinopyroxene preserve the protolith fabric. In contrast, the LREE-depleted clinopyroxene, showing discordant deformation relative to the olivine-orthopyroxene protolith framework, and amoeboidal spinel crystallized from the infiltrating melt. The major element and REEs composition of minerals forming the Befang peridotites indicate subsequent reequilibration at temperatures 930–1000 °C. This was followed by the formation of websterite veins in the lithospheric mantle, which can be linked to Cenozoic volcanism in the Cameroon Volcanic Line that also brought the xenoliths to the surface. This study therefore supports the origin of fertile SCLM via refertilization rather than by extraction of small melt fractions, and further emphasizes the involvement of depleted melts in this process.

scholarly journals Bionomics and vectorial role of anophelines in wetlands along the volcanic chain of Cameroon

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Amvongo-Adjia ◽  
Emmanuela L. Wirsiy ◽  
Jacob M. Riveron ◽  
Winston P. Chounna Ndongmo ◽  
Peter A. Enyong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Chain
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