Clinopyroxene diversity and magma plumbing system processes in an accreted Pacific ocean island, Panama

Abstract

Characterising equilibrium and disequilibrium crystal-melt processes is critical in determining the extent of magma mixing and crystallization conditions in the roots of volcanoes. However, these processes remain poorly investigated in most Pacific intraplate ocean settings that are difficult to access and study. To help address this issue, we investigated crystallization conditions of clinopyroxene phenocrysts in an accreted Palaeogene oceanic island in Panama. Petrographic and geochemical observations, petrological modelling of major and trace elements, and liquid-mineral multicomponent equilibrium tests were carried out using basalts, picrites, and hawaiites of the transitional tholeiitic shield to alkaline post-shield volcanic stages of the island. Five types of clinopyroxene crystals were identified, including (1) microphenocrysts with micron-scale oscillatory zoning, (2) primitive, yet resorbed picrite-hosted phenocrysts, (3) chemically homogeneous, anhedral crystals found in the remaining basalts, (4) Ti–rich euhedral hawaiite-hosted phenocrysts, and (5) evolved sector-zoned phenocrysts. Liquid-clinopyroxene multicomponent equilibrium tests in combination with textural analysis show that ~ 74% of the studied clinopyroxenes are in possible major element equilibrium with one of the available whole rock magma compositions, of which only 21% are equilibrated with their carrier liquid. To deconvolute clinopyroxene-melt pairings and determine plumbing system conditions, we combine rhyolite-MELTS modelling, geothermobarometry, and major- and trace-element equilibrium evaluations, limiting crystallization conditions to crustal levels (< 23 km depth). No migration of magmatic reservoirs to deeper levels is observed during the shield- to post-shield transition. These results suggest the occurrence of an extensive crystal mush system during the late shield to post-shield volcanic stages of this intraplate volcanic system, with both primitive and evolved crystallization domains sampled during eruptions.