XII.—Petrology and Petrogenesis of some Garnetiferous Peridotites

Abstract

SynopsisGarnetiferous peridotite masses which occur among gneisses in the Tafjord district of Norway are cold intrusions emplaced as crystalline rocks late in the metamorphic history of the region. No relationship other than similarity of mineral facies can be established between the peridotites and the eclogite bodies in the surrounding gneiss. Chemical analyses of twelve olivines, fourteen orthopyroxenes, nine chrome diopsides, nine garnets, three amphiboles and two rocks are presented, representing material from the Tafjord and Almklovdalen districts of Norway, a garnetiferous peridotite mass near Bellinzona, Switzerland, and the garnet-peridotite inclusions in the kimberlite pipes of South Africa. Optical and X-ray data for the analyzed and some unanalyzed assemblages are also presented. The mineral assemblages of these rocks are compared with each other, and with data from the peridotites of layered tholeiitic intrusions, alpine-type peridotites and the peridotite nodules in basalts. The garnet-peridotites of Norway, Switzerland and South Africa are believed to be little altered fragments of the mantle, whereas the peridotite nodules in basalts and the alpine-type peridotites are believed to be of igneous origin. Examination of the distribution of cations between the coexisting phases suggests that there are too many variables to permit a reliable interpretation of the results.The orthopyroxenes from the garnetiferous peridotites are not rich in A1203, contrary to expectations based upon recent experimental work.