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Olivine decadence of continental flood basalts in the light of recent experiments: A case study from Khandwa, Eastern Deccan Volcanic Province
Journal
Journal of Earth System Science
ISSN
23474327
Date Issued
2022-12-01
Author(s)
Dey, Payel
Ray, Jyotisankar
Sheikh, Janisar M.
Patel, Suresh C.
Koeberl, Christian
Dutta, Simran
Abstract
Abstract: Continental flood basalts of the world are represented either by picrobasalt/picrite layers (with abundant growth of olivine) or by (almost) olivine-depleted tholeiite basalts. We have taken a case study from the olivine-depleted basaltic rocks from Khandwa (21°49′N: 76°21′E) Eastern Deccan Volcanic Province. Our research shows that recent cooling experiments (available in the literature) involving a dry basalt and construction of some selected binary major element variation diagrams (entailing lever rules) can explain (and quantify) the insignificant level (~2–4%) of olivine crystallization (~ olivine decadence) in tholeiite basalts. Such decadent olivine retains a skeletal crystallographically-oriented geometry. We contemplate that our simplistic model of olivine decadence can be extended to other flood basalt provinces of the world as well. Research Highlights: First-time cogent model of olivine decadence in Deccan basaltsIntegration of newly obtained experimental data and binary variation diagramsPetrographic support validates the modelModel can be extended to other continental Flood basalts
Volume
131
Subjects