Springer Verlag, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 4(153), p. 465-481
DOI: 10.1007/s00410-006-0160-x
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The origin of compositional heterogeneities among the magmas parental to mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) was investigated using a single rock piece of the olivine-phyric basalt from 43 degrees N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge (AII D11-177). The exceptional feature of this sample is presence of very primitive olivine crystals (90-91 mol% Fo) that are significantly variable in terms of CaO (0.15-0.35 wt%). A population of low-Ca olivine (0.15-0.25 wt% CaO) is also notably distinct from high-Ca olivine population in AII D11-177, and primitive MORB olivine in general, in having unusual assemblage of trapped mineral and glass inclusions. Mineral inclusions are represented by high-magnesian (Mg# 90.7-91.1 mol%) orthopyroxene and Cr-spinel, distinctly enriched in TiO2 (up to 5 wt%, c.f.