The Calatrava paradox to decipher the origin of carbonatites: A petrological insight on Finca La Nava, Calatrava Province (central Spain)

• Published in: Lithos Vol. 416-417; p. 106649
• Main Authors: Rosatelli, G., Humphreys-Williams, E., Wall, F., Castorina, F., Perna, M.G., Stoppa, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-05-2022
• Subjects: Calatrava Volcanic Province; Carbonatite-nephelinite; Decarbonatation; Mantle metasomatism; Mingling; Silicate carbonate reaction; Carbonatite-nephelinite; Mantle metasomatism; Silicate carbonate reaction; Calatrava Volcanic Province; Decarbonatation; Mingling
• ISSN: 0024-4937; 1872-6143
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lithos.2022.106649

The paper presents a detailed petrographic and geochemical study of the pyroclastites outcropping at La Nava maar (Calatrava Volcanic Province-CVP). Here, extrusive carbonatites mix with melilite nephelinite lapilli and bombs, crustal and mantle debris. Nephelinite and carbonatite are not characterised by a HFSE distribution typical of immiscible pairs. ΣREE and La/Lu ratios reflect primitive mantle carbonates and kimberlites. Igneous carbonates have δ13C and δ18O isotopic ratios in the range of extrusive carbonatites and differ from local sedimentary carbonates. Carbonatites have 87Sr/86Sr and 144Nd/143Nd isotopic ratios similar to Calatrava leucitites but different to melilite nephelinite. The difference indicates that melilite nephelinites and carbonatites are co-eruptive but not comagmatic. The mingled magmatic convoy, underwent decarbonation processes, releasing Ca and Mg that reacted with parental silicate melt. Consequently, the nephelinitic melt evolved towards a melilititic composition producing Ca-rich overgrowths on mafic phenocrysts and reacted to produce high Mg#, low Cr + Ni forsterite. Mass balance calculations indicats that the nephelinite magma assimilated up to 30% of the carbonatite magma. Mixing modelling based on the Sr and Nd isotopic composition of mantle xenoliths and carbonatites indicate that La Nava carbonatite may represent the mantle metasomatic agent.
•Nephelinite and carbonatite co-erupted at La Nava Calatrava Volcanic Province, Spain.•The paradox: SrNd isotopic disequilibrium between co-erupted melts, mingled not comagmatic.•Carbonatite decarbonation contaminate with Ca the nephelinite melt and forming liquidus calcite.•Modelling major and SrNd indicate that 30% mass of carbonatite was assimilated by nephelinite.•The asthenospheric carbonatite is a suitable metasomatizing agent of CVP lithosphere.