Trace element characteristics in the diopsides of peridotite xenoliths: a laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry study

Among the various xenoliths entrained by the Cenozoic Hannuoba basalts, peridotite is the most abundant one. The trace elements of the diopsides from the peridotite xenoliths were analysed by LA-ICP-MS. The overall depletion and some heterogeneity of the continental mantle beneath northern North China Craton were indicated by the characteristics of the trace elements. The ΣREE amount in diopside correlates with the Cr/(Cr + Al) ratio of diopside which is indicative of xenolith’s partial melting degree. An the peridotite hosts and pyroxenite veins show similar REE distribution patterns, the composite xenoliths are probably formed by mantle deformation, rather than by the late metasomatism of mantle fluids/melts.