Origin of carbonatites-liquid immiscibility caught in the act

Carbonatites are rare but worldwide occurring igneous rocks and their genesis remains enigmatic. Field studies show a close spatial but controversially debated genetic relationship with alkaline silicate rocks, and petrological and experimental studies indicate liquid immiscibility from mantle-derived magmas being one viable model for the generation of carbonatites. However, unaltered carbonatitic melts are rare and the composition of primary carbonate liquids and their silicate conjugates is poorly constrained. Here we show an example of primary Ca-carbonatitic melt formed by liquid immiscibility from a phonolitic magma of the Laacher See volcano (Eifel, Germany). The conjugate blebs of carbonate-silicate liquids are found in hauyne-hosted melt inclusions. The Ca-carbonatite melts are moderately alkali-rich and contain high F and Cl at elevated SiO2 and Al2O3 concentrations. Such carbonatite liquids are viable parental magmas to the globally dominating intrusive Ca-carbonatite complexes and may provide the missing link to extrusive Na-carbonatitic magmas. Carbonatites are fascinating igneous rocks and their genesis remains enigmatic. Here the authors show that a Ca-rich carbonatite melt formed by liquid immiscibility from a phonolitic magma of the Laacher See volcano in the Eifel, Germany.

Automated summary

Carbonatites are rare igneous rocks with a global distribution, and their genesis is still a mystery. This study provides evidence that a calcium-rich carbonatite melt found in the Laacher See volcano was formed by liquid immiscibility from a phonolitic magma.