This theme deals with the relations between spinels and other phases present in ultramafic rocks as well as other petrological aspects such as effects of metasomatism on mantle xenoliths.

List of selected papers about this theme

Lenaz D., O’Driscoll B., Princivalle F. 2011 – Petrogenesis of the anorthosite – chromitite association: crystal-chemical and petrological insights from the Rum Layered Intrusion, NW Scotland. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 162, 1201-1213, DOI 10.1007/s00410-011-0647-y.

Derbyshire E.J., O’Driscoll B., Lenaz D., Gertisser R., Kronz A. 2013 – Compositionally heterogeneous podiform chromitite in the Shetland Ophiolite Complex (Scotland): implications for chromitite petrogenesis and late-stage alteration in the upper mantle portion of a supra-subduction zone ophiolite.  Lithos, 162-163, 279-300, DOI 10.1016/j.lithos.2012.11.013. 

Princivalle F., De Min A., Lenaz D., Scarbolo M., Zanetti A. 2014 – Ultramafic xenoliths from Damaping (Hannuoba region, NE-China): petrogenetic implications from crystal chemistry of pyroxenes, olivine and Cr-spinel and trace element content of clinopyroxene. Lithos, 188, 3-14, DOI 10.1016/j.lithos.2013.10.013.

Lenaz D., Musco M.E., Petrelli M., Caldeira R., De Min A., Marzoli A., Mata J., Perugini D., Princivalle F., Boumehdi M.A., Bensaid I.A.A., Youbi N. 2017 - Restitic or not? Insights from trace element content and crystal - structure of spinels in African mantle xenoliths. Lithos, 278-281, 464-476, DOI 10.1016/j.lithos.2017.02.012.

Rollinson H., Adetunji J., Lenaz D., Szilas K. 2017 – Archaean chromitites show constant Fe³⁺/ΣFe in Earth’s asthenospheric mantle since 3.8 Ga. Lithos, 282-283, 316-325, DOI 10.1016/j.lithos.2017.03.020. 

Su B.-X., Zhou M.-F., Jing J., Robinson P.T., Chen C., Xiao Y., Liu X., Shi R., Lenaz D., Hu Y. 2019 – Distinctive melt activity and chromite mineralization in Luobusa and Purang ophiolites, southern Tibet: Constrains from trace element compositions of chromite and olivine. Science Bulletin, 64, 108-121, DOI 10.1016/j.scib.2018.12.018. 

Xiong F., Liu Z., Kapsiotis A., Lenaz D., Yang J., Robinson P.T. 2019 – Petrogenesis of lherzolites from the Purang ophiolite, Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone, Tibet: origin and significance of ultra-high pressure and other ‘unusual’ minerals in the Neo-Tethyan lithospheric mantle. International Geology Review, 61, 2184-2210, DOI 10.1080/00206814.2019.1584771. 

Schmitz B., Feist R., Meier M.M.M., Martin E., Heck P.R., Lenaz D., Topa D., Busemann H., Maden C., Plant A.A., Terfelt F. 2019 - The micrometeorite flux to Earth during the Frasnian-Famennian transition reconstructed in the Coumiac GSSP section, France. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 522, 234-243, DOI 10.1016/j.epsl.2019.06.025.

Lenaz D., Princivalle F., De Min A., Petrelli M., Caldeira R., Marzoli A., Mata J., Perugini D., Youbi N., Boumehdi M.A., Bensaid I.A.A. 2019 – A comparison between the Sub-Continental Lithospheric Mantle of Libya, Morocco and Cameroon: evidences from structural data and trace elements of mantle xenoliths Cr-diopsides.  Journal of African Earth Sciences, article 103521, DOI 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2019.103521.

Su B.-X., Robinson P.T., Chen C., Xiao Y., Melcher F., Bai Y., Gu X.-Y., Uysal I., Lenaz D. 2020 – The occurrence, origin and fate of water in chromitites in ophiolites. American Mineralogist, 105, 894-903, DOI 10.2138/am-2020-7270.