Complex zoning of clinopyroxenes in the lavas of vulsini, latium, Italy: Evidence for magma mixing

Abstract

Microprobe analyses of pyroxene phenocrysts occurring in two tephritic leucitites, two leucite phonolites and one trachyte from Vulsini are reported. Three compositionally distinct types of pyroxene occur in the tephritic leucitites: (a) salite, forming resorbed cores in pyroxene phenocrysts; (b) diopside, forming euhedral-anhedral cores in pyroxene phenocrysts: and (c) pyroxene of intermediate composition to (a) and (b), which occurs as mantels around the phenocryst cores, as separate phenocrysts and as microphenocrysts. The pyroxenes in the leucite phonolites and in the trachyte do not show discontinuous zoning such as that shown by pyroxenes in the tephritic leucitites. The compositional characteristics of the latter are most easily explained by the mixing of two magmas, both tephritic leucitite in composition, one of which was relatively evolved (Fe-rich) and carried salite phenocrysts, the other relatively primitive (Mg-rich) which carried diopside phenocrysts. A review of petrographic and geochemical evidence indicates that magma mixing may have been an important process, in addition to fractional crystallization, at Vulsini and at other central Italian volcanic centres. The implications for theories about the origin of potassium-rich magmas in western Italy are briefly discussed.