Abstract
High-Cr and high-Al podiform chromitites are derived from melts formed by high and low degrees of partial melting in the upper mantle, respectively. The close association of the chromitites, regardless of compositions, with dunites and harzburgites can be explained by interaction between melts and harzburgites or depleted lherzolites in the upper mantle. Continuous reaction between melt and wallrock modifies the compositions of the magmas towards the precipitation of chromite alone under upper mantle conditions. The modified magmas would have higher silica and lower magnesia and would be extracted into the crust or erupted, leaving chromite pods in situ with dunite rinds that grade to harzburgites or lherzolites.
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Zhou, M.F., Robinson, P.T. & Bai, W.J. Formation of podiform chromitites by melt/rock interaction in the upper mantle. Mineral. Deposita 29, 98–101 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326400
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326400