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Geology; May, 2007; v. 35; no. 5; p. 459-462; DOI: 10.1130/G23336A.1
© 2007 Geological Society of America
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Consistent olivine Mg# in cratonic mantle reflects Archean mantle melting to the exhaustion of orthopyroxene

Stefan Bernstein1, Peter B. Kelemen2 and Karen Hanghøj2

1 Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
2 Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964, USA

Shallow (garnet-free), depleted cratonic mantle, occurring as xenoliths in kimberlites and alkaline basaltic lavas, has a high Mg# (100 x Mg/(Mg + Fe) > 92) and is poor in Al and Ca compared to off-cratonic mantle. Here we compile data for many suites of shallow cratonic mantle xenoliths worldwide, and demonstrate a remarkably small range in their olivine Mg#, with an average of {approx}92.8. Via comparison with data for experimental melting of mantle peridotite compositions, we explain consistent olivine Mg# as the result of mantle melting and melt extraction to the point of orthopyroxene exhaustion, leaving a nearly monomineralic olivine residue.

Key Words: cratonic mantle • dunite xenoliths • residues • Archean • spinel peridotite




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