Thesis advisor: Seth C. Kruckenberg / The West Antarctic rift system is one of the most expansive regions of extended continental crust on Earth, but relatively little is known about the structure of the mantle lithosphere in this region. This research aims to examine a suite of ultramafic mantle xenoliths from several volcanic centers located throughout Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica. Through the use of several complementary analytical methods, the deformational and compositional heterogeneity of the lithospheric mantle in this region is characterized. The Marie Byrd Land xenoliths have equilibration temperatures between 779 and 1198°C, which is a range that corresponds to extraction depths between 39 and 72 km. These samples preserve significant mineralogical and microstructural heterogeneities that document both lateral and vertical heterogeneities within the Marie Byrd Land mantle lithosphere. The modal mineralogy of spinel peridotites varies between 40 – 99% olivine, 0 – 42% diopside, 0 – 45% enstatite and 0 – 5% chromite. Minimum olivine grain sizes range from 60 to 110 µm and maximum olivine grain sizes range from 2.5 to 10.0 mm. The geometric mean grain size of olivine in these samples ranges from 100 µm to 2 mm and has an average of 694 µm. The geometric mean grain size of diopside ranges from 90 to 865 µm and has an average of 325 µm, whereas that of enstatite ranges from 120 µm to 1.2 mm and has an average of 625 µm. Comparatively, the pyroxenites contain 0 – 29% olivine, 29 – 95% diopside, 1 – 36% enstatite and 1 – 11% chromite. Deformation mechanism maps suggest that the olivine within the MBL peridotite xenoliths primarily accommodate strain through the operation of dislocation-accommodated grain-boundary sliding at strain rates between 10-19/s and 10-11/s. This is consistent with microstructural observations of the suite made using optical microscopy (e.g., deformation bands and subgrains in olivine; aligned grain boundaries between contrasting phases). Application of the olivine grain size piezometer indicates that the suite preserves differential stresses ranging from 0.5 MPa to 50 MPa, with mean differential stresses ranging from 4 to 30 MPa. Values of mean differential stress only vary slightly throughout the field area, but generally decrease in magnitude towards the east with maximum values migrating upwards in the lithospheric mantle along this transect. The samples from some volcanic centers are highly homogenous with respect to their microstructural characteristics (e.g., Mount Avers – Bird Bluff), whereas others display heterogeneities on the sub-five-kilometer-scale (e.g., Demas Bluff). Comparatively, mineralogical heterogeneities are more consistent throughout the sample suite with variations generally being observed between the sub-five-kilometer-scale and the sub-ten-kilometer-scale. Most samples within the MBL peridotite suite display axial-[010] or A-type olivine textures. Although less dominant, axial-[100], B-type and random olivine textures are also documented within the suite. Axial-[010] textures have J-indices and M-indices ranging from 1.7 – 4.1 and 0.08 – 0.21, respectively. The average value of the J-index for axial-[010] textures is 2.9, whereas the average M-index of these samples is equal to 0.15. Overall, A-type textures tend to be stronger with J- and M-indices ranging from 1.4 – 9.0 and 0.07 – 0.37, respectively. The olivine crystallographic textures of the MBL xenolith suite are heterogeneous on scales that are smaller than the highest resolution that is attainable using contemporary geophysical methods, which implies that patterns of mantle flow and deformation are far more complex than these studies suggest. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Processos de fusão parcial e metassomatismo foram identificados em xenólitos mantélicos da Província Ígnea Alto Paranaíba (PIAP), na região de Coromandel (Minas Gerais), pela combinação de técnicas de análise textural (petrografia, microscopia eletrônica de varredura), análises químicas minerais pontuais de elementos maiores (por Microssonda Eletrônica), traços (por LA-Q-ICPMS) e isótopos (Sr em clinopiroxênio por LA-MC-ICPMS). Os xenólitos, oriundos dos kimberlitos Indaiá 1, Limeira 1 e Forca, foram divididos em três grupos exibindo texturas, mineralogia e química distintas: peridotitos com espinélio ou Cr- espinélio, interpretados como fragmentos de fácies espinélio no manto litosférico raso; xenólitos com flogopita e/ou clinopiroxênio secundário representando porções do manto litosférico que sofreram metassomatismo por interação com fluidos ou magmas; e dunitos e harzburgitos com textura mosaico porfiroclástica a fluidal compatíveis com porções que sofreram efeitos de um fluxo térmico maior, possivelmente associadas a astenosfera ou a zonas de maior permeabilidade na litosfera. De modo geral os xenólitos mantélicos da Província Ígnea do Alto Paranaíba foram afetados por intensa fusão parcial, indicada especialmente pelo alto valor de mg# em olivina e ortopiroxênio, e pelo empobrecimento de Al em clinopiroxênio e minerais do grupo do espinélio. Boa parte desses xenólitos foi modificada por metassomatismo modal e/ou críptico, que atingiu inclusive níveis rasos do manto litosférico (fácies espinélio). Os harzburgitos e dunitos com textura porfiroclástica com mosaico têm baixos valores de mg# em olivina e ortopiroxênio, e altas concentrações de de Ti, Ca e Na em relação aos demais grupos de amostras sugerindo um processo de metassomatismo críptico de alta temperatura (astenosfera, ou zonas permeáveis da litosfera). Estimativas com base em razões \'Y IND.N\' e \'Yb IND.N\' (normalizadas por Manto PrimitivoPM) em clinopiroxênio, indicam que os peridotitos com Cr-espinélio sofreram uma porcentagem maior de fusão parcial (15-20%), em relação aos peridotitos com espinélio (5-8%), e preferencialmente fracionada. Em algumas amostras nos peridotitos com Crespinélio ainda são encontrados padrões enriquecidos de \'ETRL IND.N\', indicando processos de metassomatismo críptico. Os cristais de clinopiroxênio das amostras de xenólitos metassomatisados têm padrão de distribuição de \'ETR.IND.N\' semelhantes entre si, com padrão de \'ETRL IND.N\' convexo e enriquecido em relação aos \'ETRP IND.N\' (\'La IND.N\' e \'Lu IND.N\', respectivamente 5-14xPM e 0,3-1xPM). Uma amostra de harzburgito com bolsões de clinopiroxênio (In1-12), tem o clinopiroxênio com as maiores razões de \'ETR IND.N\' do conjunto, mantendo o padrão de \'ETRL IND.N\' convexo e enriquecido em relação aos \'ETRP IND.N\' \'(La IND.N\' e \'Lu IND.N\', respectivamente 2543xPM e 1-2,5xPM) dos peridotitos metassomatisados. Razões \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/ANTPOT. 86 Sr\' de clinopiroxênio desta última amostra (0,706-0,714) e de flogopita ilmenita wehrlito (0,706-7,10) sugerem que o metassomatismo seria derivado de porção da astenosfera ou litosfera com material proveniente de subducção de crosta. Um valor mais baixo de razão \'ANTPOT. 87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 Sr\' para clinopiroxênio de peridotito com espinélio (0,703),indica, juntamente com aspectos texturais e de química de maiores e traços, pouca ou nenhuma, influencia do metassomatismo nesta amostra. / Partial melting processes and metasomatism were identified in mantle xenoliths of the Alto Paranaíba Igneous Province (APIP), next Coromandel (Minas Gerais), by combining textural analysis techniques (petrography, scanning electron microscopy) and specific mineral chemical analyzes of major elements (for Electronic Microprobe), trace elements (LA-Q-ICPMS) and isotopes (Sr in clinopyroxene by LA-MC-ICPMS). The xenoliths which are from Indaiá 1, Limeira 1 and Forca kimberlite were divided into three groups displaying different textures, mineralogy and chemistry: peridotites with spinel or Cr-spinel, were interpreted as fragments in the shallow lithospheric mantle; xenoliths with phlogopite and/or secondary clinopyroxene representing the lithospheric mantle portions that suffered metasomatism by interaction with fluids or magmas; and dunites and harzburgites with porphyroclastic texture with mosaic are compatible with portions that have suffered the effects of a higher heat flow, possibly associated with asthenosphere or zones of greater permeability in the lithosphere. Mantle xenoliths from APIP were affected by intense partial melting, suitable for high-value mg# of olivine and orthopyroxene, and the depletion of Al in clinopyroxene and spinel minerals from the group. Many of these xenoliths were modified by modal and/or cryptic metasomatism, which reached even shallow levels of the lithospheric mantle (facies spinel). Harzburgites and dunites with prophyroclastic texture with mosaic have low values of mg# and high concentrations of Ti, Ca and Na in olivine and orthopyroxene compared to other groups of samples suggesting a cryptic metasomatism process of high temperature. \'Y IND.N\' and \'Yb IND.N\' (normalized by Primitive Mantle-PM) ratios in clinopyroxene indicate that the peridotites with Cr-spinel suffered a higher percentage of partial melting (15-20%) compared to the peridotites with spinel (5-8%), and preferably fractional. Some samples in peridotites with Cr-spinel are still found \'LREE IND.N\' enriched ratios patterns, indicating cryptic metasomatism processes. The clinopyroxene crystals of metasomatized xenoliths samples have similar \'REE IND.N\' ratios pattern, with convex \'LREE IND.N\' pattern with higher ratios compared to \'HREE IND.N\' (LaN:5-14xPM and LuN 0,3-1xPM). A harzburgite with insterticial pockted clinopyroxene (In1-12), has the clinopyroxene with the highest \'REE IND.N\' of the set, the convex and enriched \'LREE IND.N\' pattern as well (\'La IND.N\': 25-43xPM and \'Lu IND.N\' 1-2.5XPM) of metasomatized peridotites. Clinopyroxene \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 Sr\' ratios of the latter sample (0,706 to 0,714) and from phlogopite wehrlite ilmenite sample (0,706 to 0,710) suggest that metassomatism fluids from astenosphere or lithosphere were derivative from crust subduction processes. A lower value ratio \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/ANTPOT.86 Sr\' for clinopyroxene in peridotite with spinel (0,703), is in agreement with textural aspects, major and trace elements information, that this group of xenolith little, or no influence of metasomatism.

Processos de fusão parcial e metassomatismo foram identificados em xenólitos mantélicos da Província Ígnea Alto Paranaíba (PIAP), na região de Coromandel (Minas Gerais), pela combinação de técnicas de análise textural (petrografia, microscopia eletrônica de varredura), análises químicas minerais pontuais de elementos maiores (por Microssonda Eletrônica), traços (por LA-Q-ICPMS) e isótopos (Sr em clinopiroxênio por LA-MC-ICPMS). Os xenólitos, oriundos dos kimberlitos Indaiá 1, Limeira 1 e Forca, foram divididos em três grupos exibindo texturas, mineralogia e química distintas: peridotitos com espinélio ou Cr- espinélio, interpretados como fragmentos de fácies espinélio no manto litosférico raso; xenólitos com flogopita e/ou clinopiroxênio secundário representando porções do manto litosférico que sofreram metassomatismo por interação com fluidos ou magmas; e dunitos e harzburgitos com textura mosaico porfiroclástica a fluidal compatíveis com porções que sofreram efeitos de um fluxo térmico maior, possivelmente associadas a astenosfera ou a zonas de maior permeabilidade na litosfera. De modo geral os xenólitos mantélicos da Província Ígnea do Alto Paranaíba foram afetados por intensa fusão parcial, indicada especialmente pelo alto valor de mg# em olivina e ortopiroxênio, e pelo empobrecimento de Al em clinopiroxênio e minerais do grupo do espinélio. Boa parte desses xenólitos foi modificada por metassomatismo modal e/ou críptico, que atingiu inclusive níveis rasos do manto litosférico (fácies espinélio). Os harzburgitos e dunitos com textura porfiroclástica com mosaico têm baixos valores de mg# em olivina e ortopiroxênio, e altas concentrações de de Ti, Ca e Na em relação aos demais grupos de amostras sugerindo um processo de metassomatismo críptico de alta temperatura (astenosfera, ou zonas permeáveis da litosfera). Estimativas com base em razões \'Y IND.N\' e \'Yb IND.N\' (normalizadas por Manto PrimitivoPM) em clinopiroxênio, indicam que os peridotitos com Cr-espinélio sofreram uma porcentagem maior de fusão parcial (15-20%), em relação aos peridotitos com espinélio (5-8%), e preferencialmente fracionada. Em algumas amostras nos peridotitos com Crespinélio ainda são encontrados padrões enriquecidos de \'ETRL IND.N\', indicando processos de metassomatismo críptico. Os cristais de clinopiroxênio das amostras de xenólitos metassomatisados têm padrão de distribuição de \'ETR.IND.N\' semelhantes entre si, com padrão de \'ETRL IND.N\' convexo e enriquecido em relação aos \'ETRP IND.N\' (\'La IND.N\' e \'Lu IND.N\', respectivamente 5-14xPM e 0,3-1xPM). Uma amostra de harzburgito com bolsões de clinopiroxênio (In1-12), tem o clinopiroxênio com as maiores razões de \'ETR IND.N\' do conjunto, mantendo o padrão de \'ETRL IND.N\' convexo e enriquecido em relação aos \'ETRP IND.N\' \'(La IND.N\' e \'Lu IND.N\', respectivamente 2543xPM e 1-2,5xPM) dos peridotitos metassomatisados. Razões \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/ANTPOT. 86 Sr\' de clinopiroxênio desta última amostra (0,706-0,714) e de flogopita ilmenita wehrlito (0,706-7,10) sugerem que o metassomatismo seria derivado de porção da astenosfera ou litosfera com material proveniente de subducção de crosta. Um valor mais baixo de razão \'ANTPOT. 87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 Sr\' para clinopiroxênio de peridotito com espinélio (0,703),indica, juntamente com aspectos texturais e de química de maiores e traços, pouca ou nenhuma, influencia do metassomatismo nesta amostra. / Partial melting processes and metasomatism were identified in mantle xenoliths of the Alto Paranaíba Igneous Province (APIP), next Coromandel (Minas Gerais), by combining textural analysis techniques (petrography, scanning electron microscopy) and specific mineral chemical analyzes of major elements (for Electronic Microprobe), trace elements (LA-Q-ICPMS) and isotopes (Sr in clinopyroxene by LA-MC-ICPMS). The xenoliths which are from Indaiá 1, Limeira 1 and Forca kimberlite were divided into three groups displaying different textures, mineralogy and chemistry: peridotites with spinel or Cr-spinel, were interpreted as fragments in the shallow lithospheric mantle; xenoliths with phlogopite and/or secondary clinopyroxene representing the lithospheric mantle portions that suffered metasomatism by interaction with fluids or magmas; and dunites and harzburgites with porphyroclastic texture with mosaic are compatible with portions that have suffered the effects of a higher heat flow, possibly associated with asthenosphere or zones of greater permeability in the lithosphere. Mantle xenoliths from APIP were affected by intense partial melting, suitable for high-value mg# of olivine and orthopyroxene, and the depletion of Al in clinopyroxene and spinel minerals from the group. Many of these xenoliths were modified by modal and/or cryptic metasomatism, which reached even shallow levels of the lithospheric mantle (facies spinel). Harzburgites and dunites with prophyroclastic texture with mosaic have low values of mg# and high concentrations of Ti, Ca and Na in olivine and orthopyroxene compared to other groups of samples suggesting a cryptic metasomatism process of high temperature. \'Y IND.N\' and \'Yb IND.N\' (normalized by Primitive Mantle-PM) ratios in clinopyroxene indicate that the peridotites with Cr-spinel suffered a higher percentage of partial melting (15-20%) compared to the peridotites with spinel (5-8%), and preferably fractional. Some samples in peridotites with Cr-spinel are still found \'LREE IND.N\' enriched ratios patterns, indicating cryptic metasomatism processes. The clinopyroxene crystals of metasomatized xenoliths samples have similar \'REE IND.N\' ratios pattern, with convex \'LREE IND.N\' pattern with higher ratios compared to \'HREE IND.N\' (LaN:5-14xPM and LuN 0,3-1xPM). A harzburgite with insterticial pockted clinopyroxene (In1-12), has the clinopyroxene with the highest \'REE IND.N\' of the set, the convex and enriched \'LREE IND.N\' pattern as well (\'La IND.N\': 25-43xPM and \'Lu IND.N\' 1-2.5XPM) of metasomatized peridotites. Clinopyroxene \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 Sr\' ratios of the latter sample (0,706 to 0,714) and from phlogopite wehrlite ilmenite sample (0,706 to 0,710) suggest that metassomatism fluids from astenosphere or lithosphere were derivative from crust subduction processes. A lower value ratio \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/ANTPOT.86 Sr\' for clinopyroxene in peridotite with spinel (0,703), is in agreement with textural aspects, major and trace elements information, that this group of xenolith little, or no influence of metasomatism.