Petrology, Geochemistry and Magnetization of Remah Volcano North Eastern Jordan

Abstract

Peridotite ultramafic mantle xenoliths are occurring abundantly in the Harrat Al-Shaam basaltic province. Jabal Remah volcano is located in the Jordanian parts of the plateau and contains considerable amounts of mantle xenoliths within its pyroclastic successions. Mineralogical investigations show that the xenoliths are mostly of the spinel Iherzolite type, which are characterized by a protogranular texture. Modally, the xenoliths are composed of olivine (55-65%), orthopyroxene (12-16 %) clinopyroxene, (10-15%) and spinel (- 5%). The xenoliths are classified as type I and belong to the Cr-diopside group. They are characterized by its higher content of MgO (42.1-43.2%), Cr (2460-2540 ppm) and Ni (2196-2301 ppm). Three selected spinel-lherzolite xenolith samples were analysed for their magnetic characteristics. They were found to behave similarly in their ferromagnetic phase, as indicated by their narrow hysteresis curves and because they never reach saturation even at high-applied field. They exhibit ferrimagnetic hystertesis curves similar to world known mantle xenoliths, which is due to the presence of Fe in the form of oxides.