Upper-mantle amphiboles: a review

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Abstract
Textural and chemical data are reviewed for amphiboles occurring in Cr-diopside series and Al-augite series xenoliths; as megacrysts in a variety of igneous environments; and also as minor phases in tectonic slices of upper-mantle peridotite. New data are given for pargasite and associated phases in a lherzolite from Tanzania and in kelyphite replacing garnet in a S. African kimberlite xenolith. It is concluded that only pargasites and titaniferous pargasites occurring in Cr-diopside series blocks have formed under upper-mantle conditions. Although amphibole is present in the upper mantle, as suggested by Oxburgh (1964), its relative paucity suggests it is not a major alkali and water storage site; phlogopite is a more likely candidate, particularly in the deeper parts of the upper mantle.