GBomatBriaux / Geomaterials
(Pbtrologie / Petrology)
Le massif ultramafique mantellique des Beni Bousera (Maroc) comporte 2 son toit des pkridotites 2
grenat secondaire. associCes 1 des peridotites 2 spinelle. Les premikes sent plus riches en fer et
moins riches en chrome que les secondes. Ainsi, la cristallisation secondaire du grenat ne refltite pas
une augmentation de la pression (subduction), mais 5 la fois une bake de temperature et une
dispersion mkanique de pyroxenites 2 grenat riches en fer et pauvres en chrome, clans des
pkidotites 2 spinelle. Un tel mkanisme dautocontamination tectonique rend compte dune partie
de la diversite isotopique des pkridotites du manteau.
ABSTRACT
The mantle-derived ultramajic massifof Beni Bousera (Morocco) contains secondaygarnetperidot-
ites located at the roof of the body which are closely associated with spine1 peridotites. The garnet
peridotites are richer in Fe andpoorer in Cr than the spinelperidotites. lbe seconda y cystallisation
of garnet is not related to an increase in pressure (subduction) but is instead due to a decrease in
temperature and the mechanical dhpersion of Fe-rich and Cr-poor garnet pyroxenites within the
spinelperidotites. Such a tectonic autocontamination process explains in part the obserr?ed isotopic
heterogeneities in mantleperidotites.
C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Sciences de la terre et des planetes / Earth & Planetary Sciences
1997.325,665-670
A. Tabit et al.
assemblages a grenat et olivine ont ensuite ete decrits dans (Reuber et al., 1982). Letirement extreme des pyroxenites
le massif ultramafique jumeau de Ronda (Espagne), puis a a conduit ?I la dispersion des grenats dans les p&idotites a
Beni Bousera (Obata, 1980 ; Michard et al., 1983 ; Reuber spinelle, ou des eclats kelyphitises sont allonges dans la
et al., 1989 ; Van der Wal et Vissers, 1993 ; Tubia, 1994), Iineation detirement (illustrations in (Kornprobst, 1966)).
soulignant lexistence du facies des lherzolites a grenat, au Afin declairer les relations petrogenetiques entre perido-
toit de ces edifices ultramafiques. Le caractere secondaire tites a grtenat, pyroxenites a grenat et peridotites a spinelle,
de la paragenese de haute pression a grenat, par rapport a une coupe de 55 cm depaisseur a ete echantillonnee. Du
la paragenese de basse pression a spinelle, a suscite des haut vers le bas, elle montre (figure 2a) : 1) des peridotites
modeles devolution dynamique faisant intervenir une a spinelle ; 2) des peridotites a grenat a flammes etirees de
subduction posterieure a une mise en place initiale a pyroxenite a grenat ; 3) une intercalation de pyroxenite a
haute temperature (Van der Wal et Visser, 1993). II est grenat ; 4) des peridotites a grenat a flammes etirees de
montre ici que les peridotites a grenat sont plus riches en pyroxenite a grenat ; 5) un bane composite de pyroxenite
fer que les peridotites a spinelle et nont done pas de a grenat comportant des bordures et des intercalations de
signification barometrique particuliere par rapport a ces webstkrite 2 grenat. Toutes ces roches ont des textures
dernieres. Le mecanisme de leur enrichissement en fer met porphyroclastiques orientees. Les associations opx-cpx
en lumiere le role de la dispersion tectonique dans un indiquent des temperatures (Wells, 1977) de Iordre de
processus dautocontamination des roches mantelliques. 900 f 50 C.
Don&es de terrain
L
e fe cpx
0.12
Les peridotites a grenat apparaissent au toit du massif
ultramafique, au sein dun horizon discontinu de 100 a
0.10
200 m depaisseur (figure l), petrographiquement hetero-
gene a Iechelle du decimetre ou du centimetre : outre les
peridotites a grenat, il comporte des peridotites b spinelle
et des pyroxenites a grenat (Kornprobst, 1969 ; Kornprobst
et al., 1990 ; Pearson et al., 1991). Cette zone est caracte-
risee par une intense deformation cisaillante, marquee par
Ietirement des porphyroclastes dopx des peridotites
IO 20 30 40 so cm
I
Figure 2. Variation de la composition du clinopyroxene, du grenat
Figure 1. Repartition des facies dans le massif ultramafique des Beni et de Iolivine le long de la coupe. a) Coupe lithologique ; b) con-
Bousera. 1) Metapelites granulitiques ; 2) serpentinites ; 3) peri- centration de Al (carres) et Cr (cercles) dans le cpx ; c) concentra-
dotites i grenat et spinelle ; 4) harzburgites h spinelle ; 5) Iherzo- tion de Ca (carres) et Cr (cercles) dans le grt ; d) concentration de
lites a spinelle et pendage de la foliation. Mg dans Iolivine ; e) concentration de Fe dans le cpx.
: ,~,2 :a@& p:
Geological map of the ultramafic massif from Beni Bousera - Lithologic and mineral chemistry variations across the studied pro-
I: granulitic mefapelites; 2: serpentinites; 3: garnet and spine/ peri- file: a) lithology; b) Al (squares) and Cr (circles) content in cpx; c) Ca
dotites; 4: spine/-harzburgites; 5: spine/-lherzolites and their foliation (squares] and Cr (circles) content in grt; d) forsterrte content of
dip. olivine; e) Fe content in cpx.
666 C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Sciences de la terre et des plar&es / Earth & flcrnefary Sciences
1097, 325,665~670
LESpbidotites b grenot du massif des Beni Bousera (Maroc)
C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Sciences de la terre et des planetes / Earth & Planetary Sciences 667
1997, 325.665470
A. Tabit et al
dkarter Iid6e que les pkridotites relativement riches en tites magksiennes a spinelle par les lambeaux de pyrox6
fer correspondent 2 des structures geochimiques hkritees nites dispersks par le cisaillement ; les processus
du manteau supkieur. Les points 2 et 3 permettent de dintercliffusion, concernant de faGon privil6gike les 6I6-
penser que les pkidotites relativement riches en fer r&l- ments B coefficient de diffusion 6lev6 (Fe, Mg) par rapport
tent dune interaction entre pkidotites 3 spinelle riche en aux autres (Cr, Al, Ca), se seraient produits a une khelle
Mg et pyroxknites h grenat plus riches en Fe. Lidee dune infra-millimetrique, compatible avec les tempkatures
interdiffusion du fer et du magnkium entre niveaux riches (< 1 000 C) d6duites des g6othermom&es. Ce type de
(pkidotites & spinelle) et niveaux moins riches (pyroxeni- mkcanisme, predit par AllPgreetTurcotte (1986), implique
tes ?I grt) en Mg, peut &re kcartke, la figure 2e montrant une contamination h&&og&ne des pkridotites, qui
que des gradients 6levGs de concentration en fer et en concenie non seulement les 6kments majeurs, mais aussi
magksium subsistent actuellement le long de la coupe, les Wments en traces et les rapports isotopiques (Pearson
en particulier entre les horizons webst&itiques dune part, et al., 1993). II peut done rendre compte dune partie des
et les pyroxenites ?I grenat dautre part. l-es observations de h&rog6&it& g6ochimiques observkes dales les peridoti-
terrain, comme les profils de concentration (figure 2) per- tes issues du manteau supkieur, en particulier dans les
mettent plut6t de justifier une contamination des pkrido- massifs des chaines bktico-rifaines (Reisberg et al., 1989).
-
ABRIDGED VERSION
The mantle-derived ultramafic massif of Beni Bousera (Mor- pyroxenites being closely associated (at dm or e\~en cm scale)
roco), essentially composed of spinel-peridotites, also com- with the garnet-peridotites. The entire unit has experienced
prises garnet-peridotites which occur in a discontinuous unit strong shearing deformation (Reuber et al., 1982) characterised
located at the roof of the body (figure 1). This unit is petrologi- by elongated orthopyroxene porphyroclasts and by the boudi-
tally heterogeneous, with spinel-peridotites and garnet- nage OF garnet-pyroxenite layers. Extreme a-retching of the
668 C. R. Acad. Sci. Parts, Sciences de la terre et des plan&es / Earth 2% P/or?eiary*ienCes
1997, 325.665-670
Les peridotites a grenat du massif des Beni Bousera (Maroc)
latter resulted in their tectonic dispersion into the spinel- (3) Olivine in the gn-peridotites (86.5 < F, s 89) is richer in
peridotites (Kornprobst, 1966). The intimate association of Fe than those in the adjacent sp-peridotites ( F, > !>O).
garnet-peridotites (a relatively high pressure-assemblage) to- (4) The Fe contents of cpx also vary across the profile. In the
gether with spinel-peridotites (a relatively low-pressure assem-
grt-peridotites qy = 0.1, which is intermediate between cpx
blage) poses a barometric problem related to the dynamic
in the sp-peridotites ( xFy = 0.085) and the associated grt-
evolution of the ultramafic massif. In order to understand the
pyroxenites ( YFy = 0.11).
petrogenetic relationships between the garnet-peridotites,
spinel-peridotites and garnet-pyroxenites, a 55 cm thick cross
section was continuously sampled (figure 2). From top to Discussion
bottom this profile contains: 1) spinel-peridotites; 2) garnet- In the natural system CMAS + Fe + Cr, the equilibrium
peridotites along with a number of very thin, stretched and opx + cpx + sp = ol+ grt is multivariant in P- T space
dispersed garnet-pyroxenite layers; 3) a relatively t.hick garnet- (ONeill, 1981). An increase in the bulk Fe content and/or a
pyroxenite layer; 4) more garnet-peridotites with a number reduction in the Cr content of the system will shift this
of very thin, stretched and dispersed garnet-pyroxenite equilibrium to lower pressures at constant 7: thereby stabilising
layers; 5) a composite pyroxenite layer composed of the 01 + grt assemblage under isobaric and isothermal condi-
garnet-pyroxenites and websterites. All these rocks have meta- tions Comparison of the experimental data (ONNeill, 1981) with
morphic porphyroclastic textures, In the garnet-peridotites, the different Fe contents in our profile reveals that the sp-lz to
some garnet is observed to have grown from pyroxene + spine1 gn-lz transition will occur at pressures = 100 MPa lower in the
assemblages, demonstrating that the garnet-1her:zolite facies Fe-rich peridotites than in the adjacent Mg-rich peridotites. The
developed from rocks that previously equilibrated in the compkmentary reduction in Cr contents in the Fe-rich peridot-
spinel-lherzolite facies. Orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene geo- ites, as indicated by lower Ct+ (figure 2b), will further shift
thermometry (Wells, 1977) indicates equilibrium temperatures this transition to lower pressures, Although the effect due to Cr
in the range 900 & 50 C. is difficult to assess in our samples, Cr is known to have a strong
effect on the P - Tposition of this transition (ONeill, 1981). It
is therefore likely that Cr had at least as much of an effect as Fe,
Mineral composition variation across the
implying a reduction of > 200 MPa in the pressure of the
profile sp-IZ --jr grt-lz transition in the Fe-peridotites compared to the
relatively Mg-rich peridotites (figure 3). This bulk composi-
Microprobe analyses of clinopyroxene (cpx), garnet (grt) and
tional effect, associated with heterogeneous recrystallisation
olivine (01) were performed across the profile, from which the
and a probable temperature decrease (Obata, 1980), renders
following observations can be made:
unnecessary an absolute increase in pressure related to sub-
(1) In the sp-peridotites, Al,,, (0.25 pfu with 6 oxygens) and
duction processes to account for the formation of gn-
Cr,,, (0.02 to 0.03 pfu) are close to average values for sp-
peridotites from Fe-rich sp-peridotites.
peridotites at Beni Bousera. In the grt-pyroxenires, Al,,, is
significantly higher (0.35 to 0.60 pfu) and Cr,,, significantly Being restricted to the roof of the ultramafic massif, the Fe-rich
lower (< 0.005 pfu) than in sp-peridotites. in agreement with peridorites may be related to tectonic events and the emplace-
data available for gn-pyroxenites in the massif as a whole ment of the body, rather than represeming a primary
(Kornprobst, 1969; Kornprobst et al., 1990; Pearson et al., geochemical structure inherited from the upper mantle. Inti-
1991). mately associated with gn-pyroxenites in a shear z.one, these
(2) In the grt-peridotites, Al,,, is similar to that in the sp- gn-peridotites probably owe their relatively hi,gh Fe contents to
peridotites, except for some spikes (0.3 to 0.5 pfu) which are mechanical interaction between the Mg-rich peridotites and the
indicative of cpx grains inherited from mechanicaly dispersed pyroxenites, which are richer in Fe. The behaviour of Fe and
garnet-pyroxenites. CrcpX values are very scattered, lying be- Mg (figure 2e) does not justify interdiffusion processes at the
tween those typical for sp-peridotites and for gn-pyroxenites. A scale of the profile. Instead, the Mg--peridotites were probably
strict negative correlation exists between Cr,,, and Al,,,. Gar- contaminated by small remnants of pyroxenite that were
nets in the peridotites are characterised by relatively low Ca tectonically dispersed during shearing, involving mm scale
concentrations ( qc < 0.15 ) and have extremely variable Cr interdiffusion of Fe and Mg, which is a realistic scale at the
content, High Cr,,, (up to 0.1 pfu with 24 oxygens) are consis- temperatures deduced from geothermometry The generalisa-
tent with prograde crystallisation of garnet from a Cr-spinel- tion of such an autocontamination process, as predicted by
bearing assemblage. Low Crgrr are characteristic of garnets from Allegre and Turcotte (1986): may account for a large part of
gn-pyroxenites that have been mechanically dispersed and geochemical and isotopic heterogeneities observed in mantle-
imperfectly reequilibrated within peridotites. derived peridotites (Reisberg et al., 1989).
C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Sciences de la terre et des plan&es / Earth & Planetary Sciences
1997. 325,665670
A. Tabit et al.
original plagioclase-rich gabbros recrystallized at depth within Reisberg L.C., Zindler A. et Jagoutz E. 1989. Sr and Nd isotopic
the mantle? .I. Petrol., 3 1, 7 17-745 compositions of garnet and spine1 bearing peridotites in the
Michard A.. Chalouan A., Montigny R. et Ouazzani Touami M. Rondo ultramafic complex, Earth Planet. Sci. Le#.. 96. 161-180
1983. Les nappes cristallophylliennes du Rif (Sebtides, Maroc). Reuber I,, Michard A., Chalouan A., Juteau T. et .Jermouny B.
tbmoins dun edifice alpin de type pennique in&ant le man- 1982. Structure and emplacement of the alpine-type peridotite
teau superieur, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 296, s&ie II, 1337-1340 from Beni Bousera, Rif, Morocco: a polyphase tectonic interpre-
Obata M.. 1980. The Rondo peridotite: garnet-, spinel- and tation,Tectonophy, 82,231-251
plagioclase-lhertzolite facies and the P-T trajectories of a high-
temperature intrusion, J. Petrol, 21,533.572 Reuber I, Niorthe D., Saddiqui 0.. Mawhin B. et Reuber E. 1989.
Essai dapplication des methodes de quantification de la dbfor-
OHara M.J. 1967. Mineral facies in ultrabasic rocks, In: Wyllie
motion aux peridotites ti Iexemple du massif des Beni Bousera.
Ultramafic and related rocks, Wiley, New York, 7-18
Rif, Maroc, Sci. Gbol., 83, 77-95
ONeill H.St. C. 1981. The transition between spine1 lherzolite and
garnet Iherzolite, and its use as a geobarometer, Confrib. Mine- Tubia J.-IW. 1994. The Rondo peridotites (Los Reclles Nappe): an
ral. Petrol., 77. 185194 example of the relationship between lithospheric thickening by
Pearson D.G., Davies G.R.. Nixon P.H.. Greenwood P.B. and Mat- oblique tectonics and late extensional deformation within the
Betic Cordillera (Spain), Tectonophysics, 238,381.-398
tey D.P. 1991, Oxygen isotope evidence for the origin of pyroxeni-
tes in the Beni Bousera Massif. N. Morocco, Earth Planet. Sci. Left.. Van der Wal D. et Vissers R.L.M. 1993. Uplift and emplacement of
102,289-301 upper mantle rocks in the western Mediterranecln. Seology. 21,
Pearson D.G., Davies G.R. et Nixon P.H. 1993. Geochemical cons- 1119-1122
traints on the petrogenesis of diamond facies pyroxenites from
Wells P.R.A. 1977. Pyroxene thermometry in simple and complex
the Beni Bousera peridotite massif, north Morocco, J. Petrol.. 34.
systems, Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 62, 129-l 39
1, 125-172
C. R. Acad. Sci, Paris, Sciences de la terre et des plan&tes / Earth & PkmefaVSciences
670 1997. 325,665.670