HR: 09:30h
AN: DI41B-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Carbonated Eclogite Solidus Between 14 and 20 GPa: Results from the Model CMAS-CO2 System and Contrasting Solidus Behavior to Carbonated Peridotite
AU: * Keshav, S
EM: keshav@uni-bayreuth.de
AF: BGI, Germany, Bayreuth, 95440, Germany
AU: Gudfinnsson, G H
EM: g.gudfinnsson@uni-bayreuth.de
AF: BGI, Germany, Bayreuth, 95440, Germany
AB: The carbonate ledge at ~2.0 GPa is a pronounced feature of the carbonated peridotite solidus. At the ledge, where the CO₂-bearing phase changes from vapour to carbonate, the melt composition becomes carbonatitic. After this drop, the solidus of carbonated peridotite gradually rises in P-T space, up to at least 12 GPa. Between 14 and 16 GPa, Keshav et al. (2007) reported another drop in the solidus of carbonated peridotite in the model CMS-CO₂ system. Similar to the lower-pressure topology, the solidus at higher pressure resumes a positive slope between 16-20 GPa, and seems to flatten between 22 and 26 GPa. Concomitant with this second drop, the melts become extremely calcic (Ca/Ca+Mg, Ca no.-0.62) at 16 and 20 GPa, but attain more magnesio-carbonatitic (Ca no.-0.40) character both at shallower or greater depths than the transition zone. Clearly, the second drop in the carbonated peridotite solidus has tremendous consequences for geological processes in the deep mantle. The other major rock-type presumed to be present in the mantle is eclogite of broadly basaltic composition. Clarifying the solidus topology of carbonated eclogite in model systems over a similar pressure range is also an important task, because the solidus topology affects the fate of subducted carbonate in the deeper mantle. The position of the solidus of carbonated eclogite will address its impact on local or extensive melting (if it occurs), the possible relationship between the carbonated peridotite and carbonated eclogite solidi at these depths (400-600 km), their respective incipient melts, and ultimately the possibility of carbonate survival at these and greater depths. With these issues in mind, we have determined the solidus of model carbonated eclogite in model CMAS- CO₂ system between 14 and 20 GPa. At 14 and 16 GPa, the melts are in equilibrium with cpx, majoritic garnet, stishovite, and magnesite. At 20 GPa, the melts are in equilibrium with calcium-perovskite (capv), garnet, stishovite, and magnesite. From average calculated melting reactions along these isobarically univariant curves, stishovite is produced upon melting at all pressures investigated. Significantly, cpx at 14 and 16 GPa and capv at 20 GPa are the dominant contributors toward melt production/composition, in contrast to lower pressures (3-8 GPa) where carbonate dominantly contributes toward melt generation/composition at the solidus. The solidus of model carbonated eclogite at 14, 16, and 20 GPa, lies at 1350, 1450, and 1600 degrees C, respectively, and is nearly linear in P-T space. Melts in equilibrium with all the crystalline phases are highly calcic (Ca no.-0.70), resembling calcio-carbonatites. When magnesite is exhausted from the crystalline assemblage, the melts become slightly less calcic (Ca no.-65). The model carbonated eclogite solidus is always lower than the model carbonated peridotite solidus in the same pressure range. The most remarkable feature of this work is the absence of a drop in the solidus of model carbonated eclogite between 14 and 16 GPa, a result that is in stark contrast to that observed for the model carbonated peridotite at identical pressures. Therefore, even though the solidus temperatures in both carbonated peridotite and eclogite are strongly influenced by the presence of crystalline carbonate, melt compositions and the shape of the solidus in the pressure range investigated seem to be dominantly controlled by the silicate component of the rock in question. Given these results, it is fair to say that a wide range of petrological and geochemical processes operate at these depths in the mantle, and that we have barely scratched the surface in our investigation.
DE: 1037 Magma genesis and partial melting (3619)
DE: 3612 Reactions and phase equilibria (1012, 8412)
DE: 3619 Magma genesis and partial melting (1037)
DE: 3621 Mantle processes (1038)
DE: 3630 Experimental mineralogy and petrology
SC: Study of the Earth's Deep Interior [DI]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting