Geochemical Journal, Vol. 28, pp.

517 to 540, 1994

Geochemistry of two volcanic cones from the intra-continental plateau

basalt of Harra El-Jabban, NE-Jordan

AHMAD AL-MALABEH*

Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Institute of Geology and Mineralogy

,
Schlossgarten 5, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany

(Received September 16, 1993; Accepted September 13, 1994)

Harra El-Jabban is the Jordanian part of the large intra-continental basalt terrain of Harra Ash Shamah .
It covers an area of about 11,400 sq. km and lies in NE-Jordan . It consists of six successive thick basalt
flows, dotted with tephra volcanoes of Oligocene-Holocene age . This Harra is one part of a large number
of very poorly studied Cenozoic basalt fields, that are known to exist from Yemen through Saudi Arabia
,
Jordan, Syria, and Turkey.
Detailed investigations of two volcanic cones, namely, Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem , aligned along a
fissure system trending NNW-SSE in the middle part of the Harra , indicate that they consist of scoria air
fall deposits, dominated by lapilli. They are reasonably classified as "cinder cones" of Strombolian type of
volcanicity. The petrographical and geochemical data show that they are of scoriaceous glassy olivine
phyric basalts, with average modal olivine (-23 vol%) derived from primary magmas giving magnesian
chrysolite (Fo89) with NiO contents of 0.33-0.47 wt% and CaO > 0 .1 wt%.
The chemical composition of 20 fresh pyroclastic samples taken from the two cones is similar in
contents of the major oxides and trace elements with limited variations. Their chemical trend suggests that
the parental magmas ascended rapidly, and underwent only limited fractional crystallization , without sig
nificant crustal contamination. The primary nature of this magma is reflected by the high MgO content
(>8 wt%), the high Mg-number (0.69-0.75), the low silica content (<50 wt%) and the high Cr and Ni
contents of 147-353 ppm and 180-341 ppm, respectively. This conclusion is further supported by the
occurrence of mantle-derived ultramafic xenoliths. The similarity in major and trace element composition
of the two suites suggests that the magmas were derived from a single homogeneous mantle source . It is
estimated that the magmas were generated by low degrees of partial melting (3-8%) of garnet peridotite at
>I 00 km depth.

Sea, within the Arabian shield, and another two

INTRODUCTION
lie beyond the shield boundaries. One of the latter,
A large number of Cenozoic basalt fields, named Ash Shamah, lies in the northwestern parts
"Harrat"
, are known to exist in the Arabian Pen of the Arabian plateau (Coleman et al., 1983).
insula over a south-to-north distance of 3,000 km These widespread, poorly studied basalt-fields rank
from Yemen through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria globally among the largest fields of predominantly
and Turkey, covering an area of about 180,000 alkali olivine basalt. The eruptive history of these
sq. km. The estimated volume of eruptive material rocks apparently spans from Oligocene time to the
equals 103 to 105 km3 (Coleman and Mc Guire, present. The tectonic control and the evolution of
1988), at locations near the coast of the Red Sea these volcanic fields are until now poorly defined.
and within the Arabian shield. Eleven of these lava Many assumptions have been proposed by differ
fields are located near the eastern coast of the Red ent authors to relate these volcanic fields to the

*Contact address: P .O. Box 6181, Zarka, Jordan.

517
518 A. A1-Malabeh

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37 39

Fig. 1. Location map showing the extent of Harra Ash Shamah, the boun daries of Harra El-Jabban in Jordan,
and the studied volcanoes: Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem.
 Intra-continental
main regional structures in the area. However, the
volcanism of these basalt-fields was contempora
neous with the opening of the Red Sea (Africa
Red Sea rift system), the collision of the Arabian
and Eurasian plates, and the uplift of the Afro
Arabian dome (Barberi et al., 1972; Almond,
1986).
GEOLOGIC SETTING
Harra Ash Shamah is a large intra-continental
basalt terrain, which covers an area of about
45,000 sq. km, about 25% of the Arabian Harrat.
It stretches over about 700 km in a NW-SE di
rection (Fig. 1), and extends from the southern
rim of the Damascus Basin in Syria, which is
marked by the folded mountain of Antilebanon,
southwards through North-Jordan up to the north
ern rim of El-Azraq depression, and then to the
"Al -Nofuth" desert in the northwestern part of
Saudi Arabia. In the latter, the extension of Harra
Ash Shamah, locally known as Harra Al-Hammad
(Shah, 1986), covers an area of about 15,000 sq.
km, and extends up to 210 km. The Syrian ex
tension of this plateau is locally known as Jebal
El-Arab (Otaki, 1989).
In Jordan, many names have been used by
different authors for the extension of Ash Shamah.
Van den Boom and Sawwan (1966) and Bender
(1975) refer to this plateau as the "Plateau
Basalts", whereas Moffat (1988) used the name
"continental basalts of northern Jordan" for the
same plateau. Since the western part of this plateau
is locally known as El-Jabban land, and the eastern
part as El-Harra, the name "Harra El-Jabban" (Al
Malabeh, 1989) will be used in this study. Geo
graphically, the area of Harra El-Jabban lies ap
proximately between latitudes 31°30'-33°N and
longitudes 36°-38°E.
Harra El-Jabban is the least studied region in
Jordan, despite its vast areal extent (11,400
sq. km). The most thorough published investiga
tion of the plateau volcanics (Van den Boom and
Sawwan, 1966) revealed that they consist of a
succession of six basalt flows (Fig. 2), only three
of which are exposed. The study also showed that,
basalt, NE-Jordan 519
prior to the eruption of the last flow, volcanic ac
tivity produced numerous prominent tephra cones
(B't episode), mainly in the western part of the
Harra and aligned in chains striking generally
NNW-SSE and N-S. The few published studies
on the Harra have primarily concentrated on crys
talline basalts rather than the pyroclastic rocks
constituting the tephra cones.
In order to shed light on this particular episode
of volcanic activity, two volcanic cones-Jebal
Aritan and Jebal Fahem (Fig. 1)-were selected
for a detailed study. This selection was guided by
the fact that they represent two of the better-de
veloped volcanic cones on Harra El-Jabban. The
study of these volcanoes constitutes the first de
tailed geochemical study of Pleistocene volcanoes
in Jordan.
Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem are located about
30 km north of Azraq (Fig. 1). The former at
latitude 32°7' 30" North and longitude 36°53' East,
and the latter at latitude 32'14' 10" North and
longitude 36°54' 17" East.
Jebal Aritain is about 900 m high and show
an elliptical overall shape. The N-S extension of
the Jebal is about 2000 m and its E-W extension
approximately 1500 m. Jebal Fahem is about
40 m high, and show an elongated shape with a
long axis of about 100 m running approximately
in a N-S direction, and short axis of about 50 m
with an E-W strike direction.
VOLCANIC SUCCESSIONS
The volcanic successions of Jebal Aritain and
Jebal Fahem consist mainly of air-fall scoria. Both
volcanoes resulted from multiple eruptions, giving
rise to dissimilar volcanic successions, but their
overall character is comparable. The pyroclastic
rocks of Jebal Aritain show three distinct lithologic
units. The lower part of the volcano consists of
loose lapilli and agglutinated pyroclasts of grey
colour, the middle part of welded air-fall lapilli
tuff (Al-Malabeh and Hafez, 1991), and the up
permost part of lapilli pyroclasts and three
extrusive basalt flows. In Jebal Fahem, the lower
part consists of brown lapilli pyroclasts, and the
 520 A. Al-Malabeh

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 Intra-continental basalt, NE-Jordan 521

Table 1. Description of the main characteristics of the studied volcanoes

Volcano Aritain Fahem

Height 900 m 40 m
Dispersal area 4km2 0.2 km 2
Type of ejecta and size range dominated by air-fall, scoria and mostly lapilli size (<2.5 cm)
Bedding well bedded
Agglutination abundant in the lower parts occasionally recorded
in the middle strata
Welding abundant in the middle parts absent
Sorting the majority of the beds are well sorted
Grading mostly symmetrical (reverse and rarely reverse
normal), rarely normal and reverse
Xenoliths ultramifc, and abundant mainly absent
in the lower and middle parts
Lithic fragments abundant, limestone, quartzite not recorded
and granite
Basalt flow three flows in the upper parts not observed
Basalt dike one arcuate dike one ring dike

upper parts of dark brown to grey blocks and The field relation, overall elliptical shape of
bombs with limited agglutinated zones. The vol the two volcanoes, and the stratification patterns
canic succession of each volcano is intersected by suggest a magmatic source occurring along a fis
huge basaltic dikes (Al-Malabeh, 1993). Ultramafic sure system trending NNW-SSE.
xenoliths are abundant in Jebal Aritain and have
been identified as websterite, wehrlite, spinel
PETROGRAPHY AND MINERAL CHEMISTRY
lherzolite and spinel pyroxenite. A few angular to
subangular lthic fragments of limestone, sand A total of 25 thin sections were prepared from
stone, quartzite, gabbro and granite have also been fresh samples from all parts of the investigated
noted in this volcanic succession. The main char cones, after special treatment using Epofix solution
acteristics of the studied volcanoes are summa and Vacuum apparatus. Modal proportions were
rized in Table 1. obtained by point counting on these sections. For
The pyroclastic rocks, which make up to 95% every slide, more than 1000 points covering phe
or more of the well-bedded successions of both nocrysts and groundmass were counted. Modal
volcanoes, are arranged in planar stratification or
"shower bedding" . As the stratification maintains
a uniform thickness, it may be described as
"mantle bedding" (Cas and Wright
, 1987). Re Table 2. Averages of modal proportions of the pyro
markably, the beds of the studied volcanoes are clastic rocks from Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem, given
well sorted, and some of them exhibit different in vol%, normalized to 100%, i.e., vesiclefree
types of grading (Table 1). The pyroclastic rocks
Component Jebal Aritain Jebal Fahem
are mostly angular to subangular lapilli, with (vol%) (vol%)
<2.5 cm as the dominant size . This classifies both
Olivine phenocrysts 16 14
volcanoes as "cinder cones", having a low content
Olivines needles 6 10
of fines. Field criteria, low degree of fragmentation Plagioclase microlites 3 6
and dispersal areas of <5 km2 suggest Strombolian Opaque <2 <2

type of eruption. Fresh glass 73 68

522 A. Al-Malabeh

data are.given in normalized to 100 percent form, nesium-rich chrysolite. The olivine phenocrysts in
i.e., vesicle-free (Table 2). Generally, the rocks rocks from Jebal Aritain have a composition of
have fairly uniform petrographic features, and may Fo89 at the core, decreasing to F086 at the rim,
be classified as scoriaceous glassy olivine-phyric whereas the composition of the olivine needles
basalt, with average modal olivine of about 22 varies from Fo87 at the core, to Fo84 at the rim. The
and 24 vol%, in rocks from Jebal Aritain and Jebal zoning in olivine phenocrysts from Jebal Fahem
Fahem, respectively (Fig. 3 and Table 2). Olivine ranges from Fo89_86at the core to Fo87_82at the
forms dominantly subhedral crystals and needles. rim (Table 3). The CaO content is greater than
Plagioclase as minute microlites, and few opaque 0.1 wt% and ranges from 0.13 to 0.37 wt% in
grains (magnetite) occur as inclusions within oli olivines from Jebal Aritain rocks, and from 0.17
vine. The sideromelane in the studied samples to 0.31 wt% in olivines from Jebal Fahem rocks;
shows little evidence of alteration, is light gray to this demonstrates the magmatic origin of the oli
light green, and constitutes about 73 and 68 vol% vine phenocrysts, rather than xenocrysts from ul
in rocks from Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem, re tramafic rocks (Francis, 1985; Helz, 1988). The
spectively. The vesicles are circular to sub-circu compositional trends of olivine in the studied
lar, and account from 39 to 53 vol% of the whole samples are considered to reflect primary olivine
rock. crystals crystallising in ascending primary magmas
Chemical analysis of olivines was carried out (O'Hara, 1968; Kushiro, 1969; Al-Malabeh, 1992).
using a CAMECA-SU-30 scanning electron mi Moreover, the olivine contains from 0.33 to 0.47
croprobe, which is housed in the Department of wt% nickel. This is within the range found for
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Yarmouk Uni olivine that contains between 46.72 and 55 wt%
versity-Jordan. The settings used for analysis were MgO (Deer et al., 1962). Sato (1977) and Sato et
as follows: acceleration potential 20 Kv, specimen al. (1991) demonstrated that olivines of primary
current 25-50 nA, and integration time 10 sec magmas should have NiO around 0.4 wt%; such
onds. The results are listed in Table 3. olivines may be called primary crystals. However,
The olivines show limited chemical variation they include minor alumina and alkalies. The nor
all falling within the compositional range of mag mal compositional zoning in all the studied crys

Plagioclase microlite

Fresh glass

O
i
Olivine phenocryst
O
Olivine needle Or-.

0 V

ooD
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I 2mm~
Fig. 3. Sketch photomicrograph showing representative scoriaceous glassy olivinephyric basalt from the studied
volcanoes. It consists of olivine phenocrysts, olivine needles, plagioclase microlites and opaque, set in a vesicu
lated glassy groundmass.
 Intra-continental basalt, NE-Jordan 523

Table 3. Olivine analyses from the pyroclastic rocks of Jebal Aritain and Jebal 'ahem

Jebal Aritain Jebal Fahem

Al (phenocryst) A4 (needle) M3 (phenocryst) M6 (phenocryst)
Sample core rim core rim core rim core rim

SiO2 40.49 40.05 40.10 39.01 39.62 41.14 40.28 38.21

TiOZ 0.04 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00
A1203 0.07 0.05 0.02 0.17 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.66
FeO 9.70 13.15 11.57 15.62 10.17 11.48 12.28 16.69
MnO 0.13 0.14 0.12 0.21 0.15 0.13 0.12 0.28
MgO 47.28 46.40 47.36 46.09 49.10 45.62 45.45 43.58
CaO 0.21 0.13 0.33 0.37 0.17 0.31 0.21 0.79
Na2O 0.14 0.01 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.22
NiO 0.41 0.33 0.41 0.35 0.33 0.45 0.47 0.34
Cr2O3 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01

Total 98.49 100.26 100.03 101.86 99.57 99.16 98.86 100.78

Number of Cations on the basis of 4 oxygens

Si 1.0087 0.99558 0.9937 0.96 0.9833 1.0265 1.0112 0.9667

Ti 0.0007 0.00 0.0004 0.0004 0.00 0.00 0.0002 0.00
Al 0.0021 0.0015 0.0006 0.0017 0.0009 0.0003 0.0006 0.0197
Cr 0.0004 0.00 0.0004 0.0005 0.00 0.002 0.00 0.0003
Fe2+ 0.2021 0.2735 0.2398 0.3238 0.2111 0.238 0.2578 0.3531
Mn 0.0027 0.0029 0.0025 0.0044 0.0032 0.0027 0.0026 0.006
Ni 0.0082 0.0066 0.0082 0.007 0.0082 0.009 0.0095 0.0069
Mg 1.7554 1.7194 1.7491 1.7026 1.816 1.6854 1.7005 1.644
Ca 0.0056 0.0035 0.0088 0.0098 0.0019 0.0082 0.0057 0.0214
Na 0.0068 0.0005 0.0038 0.00 0.00 0.0005 0.001 0.01

Sum 2.9997 3.0037 3.0073 3.026 3.0163 2.9726 2.9880 3.028

End members

Fo 89.68 86.28 87.94 84.02 89.59 87.63 86.83 82.32

Fa 10.32 13.72 12.06 15.98 10.41 12.37 13.17 17.68

tals reflects lack of equilibration with the liquid this purpose after microscopic examination of thin
during crystallization. sections.
Whole-rock analysis for major oxides Ti, Al,
Fe, Mg, Mn, Ca, Na, K, and P, trace elements Ni,
GEOCHEMISTRY
Cr, Co, Cu, Ba, Sr, Zr, Nb and Y as well as se
Methods lected rare earth elements was carried out using
The sensitivity of volcanic glass to post-depo the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission
sitional changes, which may modify the chemical Source Spectrometry (ICP-AES) method in the
affinities of the glass, makes the selection of Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Erlangen
samples for analysis one of the most careful pro University, Germany. The samples were prepared
cesses. To avoid errors in the geochemical analy following the method described by Heinriches and
ses, every effort was made in the present study to Herrmann (1991). Si and Rb analyses were de
select only the freshest materials, and 20 samples rived by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF)
from all parts of the volcanoes were selected for using powder disks at the same university. Cali
 524 A. Al-Malabeh

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N O v 1 c c
'-+ N .--~ .--i M O CD
M N M N M

(6CSd0OOp0vOp6b6
v~HQww UzxaNU:)p4r) U a o 9b
U
o a

O
526 A. Al-Malabeh

Table 5. REE-element concentrations in the studied volcanoes (in ppm), first column. The second
column for each volcano gives normalized values against the chondrite-values after Taylor (1968)

Elements Chondorite Jebal Aritain Jebal Fahem Standard

(Taylor, 1968) deviations

ppm normalized ppm normalized

La 0.315 43 136.5 32 101.6 0.01

Ce 0.813 100 123 84 103.3 0.05
Pr 0.116 10 86.2 8 68.9 0.03
Sm 0.192 12 62.5 5.9 31.7 0.02
Eu 0.072 2.8 38.8 2.3 31.9 0.03
Dy 0.325 7 21.5 8 24.6 0.06
Er 0.213 4.3 20.1 4.8 22.5 0.01
Yb 0.208 2.1 10 1.9 9.1 0.03
Lu 0.032 0.15 4.8 0.14 4.6 0.05
La/Yb 1.514 20.4 13.6 16.8 11.2

bration was performed against international refer
ence samples (e.g., BM, BR, BE-N and Musi-8).
Standard deviations of all analysis are given in
Tables 4 and 5. Data and detailed information on
precision and accuracy of the ICP-method are
given in Thompson and Walsh (1989) and of the
XRF are presented in Hahn-Weinheimer et al.
(1984) and Bennett and Oliver (1992). FeO and
CO2 were determined using titration and
calcimetric methods, respectively. H20 and H20'
were determined by weight loss after drying at
110°C and 1000°C, respectively.
The contents of major oxides in weight %, of
trace elements in ppm and the calculated CIPW
norms for the studied rocks are shown in Table 4.
The rare earth elements data are listed in Table 5.
Several variation diagrams (Fig. 4) were con
structed using MgO content as abscissa, as the
MgO content serves as an indicator of the degree
of differentiation, and other trends of magmatic
evolution. Moreover, binary diagrams of
interelemental relationships, particularly for in
compatible trace elements, were constructed to aid
interpretation.
Major elements
Major element analysis shows that systematic
compositional variations within each volcano and
between the two volcanoes, are not large. The
studied rocks are characterised by a similar range
of silica content: between 44.01 and 43.83 wt%,
with an average of 44.71 wt%, in samples Jebal
Fahem; and between 44.38 and 46.65 wt%, with
an average of 45.15, in those from Jebal Aritain
(Table 4). The Si02 averages match the average
for alkali basalts given by Nockolds et al. (1979).
The rocks are also characterised by high and
comparable MgO content (>8 wt%) range between
8.29 and 10.45 wt%. The Mg# (defined as the
molecular ratio Mg++/(Mg+++Fe++);Jenner et al.,
1987) ranges between 0.69 to 0.74 in samples from
Jebal Aritain and from 0.71 to 0.75 in those from
Jebal Fahem. The studied rocks have low differ
entiation index, D.I. (defined as the sum of the
weight percent of normative Qz + Or + Ab +
Ne + Lc + Ks; Thornton and Tuttle, 1960). It av
erages 31 and 28 for samples from Jebal Aritain
and Jebal Fahem, respectively (Table 4). The
Na2O/K2O ratio is greater than two, and reflects
the Na-enrichment of the samples. A1203, Fe203,
FeO, CaO and MnO contents show very limited
variations (Table 4 and Fig. 4). The A12O3/TiO2
ratio ranges between 4.3 and 6.4 in samples from
Jebal Aritain, and from 6.4 to 6.8 in those from
Jebal Fahem; the CaO/TiO2 ratio lies between 3
and 3.6 in Jebal Aritain samples, and 4.2 and 5 in
those from Jebal Fahem. The samples of Jebal
Aritain are relatively enriched in Ti02, K20 and
 Intra-continental basalt, NE-Jordan 527

47 400

9
Oz E
300

A
e *
Z 200 AO A
A A AA A A • 4AA
44

i 100
7 8 9 10 11 12 7 8 9 10 11 12

MgO % MOO

16 300

A
15
A
A e

A g
d, 14 200 • oe
L)
8E A •' g
13 150

12 100
7 8 9 10 11 12 7 8 9 10 11 12
% MgO % MgO
6
100

5 80 A
O
W4 e~ A a
CL 8
.° g 0 A
04
3 40 •• A
A e

2
20
7 8 9 10 11 12 7 8 9 10 11 12
MgO MgO
9
100

8
80 A
E A
• ••
60 g
aR A* ° A
7 e
e C)
4,
•• A

6
20
7 8 9 10 11 12 7 8 9 10 11 12
MgO
MgO
12

• Aritain
11
' AA A Fahem
10 A ' A
t) e

~t 9

7
7 8 9 10 11 12
MgO

Fig. 4. Variation diagrams showing compositional ranges of selected major and compatible elements in the
pyroclastic rocks from the studied volcanoes.

aS
528 A. Al-Malabeh

15
14 Phonolite
13 Tephri
12
phonolite Trachyte
11 31fali'
10 Phono
9 tephrite / \ Benmoreite \ \ Trachydacite • Aritain

0N 78 Tephrite / Mugearite n Fahem

z 6 Basanite awaiite
Dacite
5 b`O 4 Basaltic
3 Andesite
Picro andesite
2 Basalt
1 basalt
0
39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69
S'02

Fig. 5. Total alkalies versus silica (TAS) diagram (Le Bas et al., 1986) for the pyroclastic rocks from the studied
volcanoes.

P205 in comparison to those from Jebal Fahem.
The rocks are olivine and nepheline norma
tive. Olivine norms range from 10.6 to 18.8 wt%
in samples from Jebal Aritain, and between 12.3
and 17.3 wt% in samples from Jebal Fahem.
Moreover, all samples (except one) from Jebal
Aritain and four samples from Jebal Fahem have
ne-norms below 5 wt%; the rest of the samples
have ne-norms between 5-10 wt%. However,
nepheline is not recorded modally. Also, none of
the samples show normative hypersthene or quartz.
The normative compositions indicate that the rocks
may be classified as alkali olivine basalt (<5%
norm-ne) and basanitoid (>5% norm-ne). This
classification is supported by total alkali versus
silica (TAS) diagram (Le Bas et al., 1986), on
which the analyzed samples from Jebal Aritain plot
as a cluster in the alkali basalt field, whereas those
from Jebal Fahem plot in the basanite field
(Fig. 5).
Trace elements
The concentrations of trace elements in the
basaltic rocks are potentially more useful than the
major elements for identifying mantle geochemical
sources. They can be used to test specific models
of petrogenetic processes such as fractional crys
tallization, partial melting and source heterogene
ity.
Compatible elements: Ni, Cr, Co and Cu In the
studied rocks, these elements are characterised by
their high concentration and significant variation
(Fig. 4). Ni content ranges between 161 and 341
ppm, averages 212 ppm, and suggests that the
rocks underwent very limited olivine fractionation.
Cr content varies from 148 to 353 ppm, averaging
189 ppm, whereas cobalt lies between 30 and 79
ppm, with an average of 49 ppm. These values
signal the primary nature of the rocks which un
derwent little differentiation. The high content of
Cr, Ni and Co may also indicate derivation of the
parental magma by partial melting of a peridotite
mantle source (Wilson, 1989). The rocks from both
volcanoes show a comparable Cu content, which
ranges between 30 ppm and 76 ppm, with an av
erage of 51 ppm (Fig. 4).
Low-Field Strength (LFS) elements: Rb, Sr and
Ba The studied rocks have low Rb content, aver
aging about 26 ppm in rocks from Jebal Aritain,
and 18 ppm in those from Jebal Fahem. More
over, they are characterised by high K/Rb ratios,
which average 390 and 504 in rocks from Jebal
Aritain and Jebal Fahem, respectively. The low
Rb content and high K/Rb ratio preclude crustal
contamination. Sr content averages 1048 and 948
ppm in samples from Jebal Aritain and Jebal
Fahem, respectively. Within the rocks of the same
 Intra-continental basalt, NE-Jordan 529

volcano, limited Sr variations may reflect that no with K2O in all samples, and Ti02 and P205 show
plagioclase fractionation occurred. Jebal Aritain a slight positive correlation with Zr in samples
and Jebal Fahem rocks have an approximately from Jebal Fahem (Fig. 6).
similar K/Sr average ratio of 9.9. On the other Nb content averages about 61 ppm in samples
hand, the Ca/Sr ratio shows some variability, and from Jebal Aritain, and 40 ppm in those from Jebal
averages 72 and 84 for Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem. The low Nb content in the latter is con
Fahem rocks, respectively. The rocks from both sistent with its low Zr content. Nb is positively
volcanoes have a similar Rb/Sr average ratio of correlated with Zr (Fig. 6). Zr/Nb average ratios
about 0.02. range from 4.2 to 5.2. An average value of 7 is
Barium content in Jebal Aritain rocks averages given by Sunkel (1990) as a boundary between
445 ppm, whereas those from Jebal Fahem have a alkalic and tholeiitic basalt, with the former giv
lower average of 287 ppm. However, all the rocks ing values of less than 7.
show a comparable K/Ba ratio that averages 23 Y contents show approximately constant aver
32. In addition, the rocks have comparable Ba/Rb ages of 27 and 26 in Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem
and Ba/Sr average ratios of 16 and 0.3, respec rocks, respectively. The Y/Nb ratio averages 0.43
tively. The Ca/Ba ratio averages 173 and 274 in in Jebal Aritain rocks and 0.64 in those from Jebal
rocks from Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem, re Fahem. These ratios are consistent with the ratio
spectively. of <1 for intercontinental alkali basalts reported
A distinction can be made between the samples by Pearce and Cann (1973). Winchester and Floyd
from Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem, in which the (1977) suggested a ratio of 0:67 as a boundary
former are relatively enriched in Rb and Ba (Fig. between alkaline and subalkaline basalts. More
6). This may reflect the different degrees of par over, the samples have high Zr/Y and Ti/Y ratios
tial melting at the same source. Moreover, the low which average 9.6 and 640, in samples from Jebal
Ca/Sr ratio in rocks from Jebal Aritain compared Aritain, respectively; and 8.2 and 492 in those
to the high values in rocks from Jebal Fahem, may from Jebal Fahem, respectively.
indicate a lower degree of partial melting for the The high Ti/Y ratio and the constancy of the
former than for the latter. The low and comparable Y content may indicate that the source magmas
Rb/Sr, K/Sr and Ba/Sr values may reflect the originated in garnet-bearing rocks (Frey et al.,
relatively unfractionated nature of the studied rocks 1978; Cox et al., 1979). On the other hand, Erlank
since these ratios increase as differentiation pro and Kable (1976), Sun et al. (1979), Pearce and
ceeds. Rb, Sr and Ba are positively correlated with Norry (1979), and Francis and Ludden (1990) have
K20 content in samples from Jebal Aritain; in emphasized the sensitivity of the Zr/Nb ratio in
those from Jebal Fahem, Rb and Ba are indepen basaltic rocks to the composition of the source
dent of K2O, and Sr shows a slight negative cor region. In particular, Zr/Nb is a useful indicator
relation with K20 (Fig. 6). of the "depleted" or "enriched" nature of the
source region. The studied samples are distin
High-Field Strength (HFS) elements: Zr, Nb and guished by their low Zr/Nb and Y/Nb ratios, and
Y The Zr content in the analysed rocks exhibits high Zr/Y ratios. The ratios of these incompatible
some variability. It averages 255 ppm in samples elements indicate that the studied samples are
from Jebal Aritain and 211 ppm in those from geochemically "enriched" (i.e., Zr/Nb < 15).
Jebal Fahem. The studied samples have high
Ti/Zr averages of 66 and 60, for Jebal Aritain and Rare Earth Elements The REE (La, Ce, Pr, Sm,
Jebal Fahem, respectively. On the other hand, the Eu, Dy, Er, Yb and Lu) were analysed (Table 5),
samples are characterised by high K/Zr (LFS/HFS) and the data were normalized to the average
ratios of 40 and 44 for Jebal Aritain and Jebal chondritic abundance using published values
Fahem, respectively. Zr is positively correlated (Taylor, 1968). The chondrite-normalized REE
 530 A. Al-Malabeh

r~. 3,5

• Aritain
30
ECL ON Fahem
F 2,5
= 25
o~o
20 A A0a A

A
e n
e
15 1,5
1,2 1,6 100 150 200 250 300
0,8
% K20 Zr (ppm)

1200 0,7

0
1100
ECL Q O 0
0 wN
6. e 0,4 e
Am0
N 1000

e A

900 0,1
0,8 1,2 1,6 100 150 200 250 300

% K20 Zr (ppm)
600

500
•j
0a
400 160
z 40 m
300 ba A& AA G A A
e

200 20
0,8 1,2 1,6 100 150 200 `av1r: 300
% K20 Zr (ppm)

1,6 30

O "~ o •: 26 m nn

1,2 n cm
AAA
A y 24
A Ad

`y7

0,8 20
100 150 200 250 300 100 150 200 250 300
Zr (ppm) Zr (ppm)

Fig. 6. Variation diagrams showing interelemental relationships of the incompatible elements in the studied
volcanoes.

distribution patterns for the studied rocks are es fractionating phase in the rocks, or that Eu was
sentially regular, linear and almost parallel (Fig. present in the magma as Eu3+ rather than Eu2+. The
7). No Eu anomaly is observed, which may indi former reason is much more likely, and supported
cate either that plagioclase was not an important by the low variability of Sr content in samples

e
 Intra-continental basalt, NE-Jordan 531

1000

100
0
z • Aritain
0
x
A Fahem
Y
O 10 W

J v a Z CL
EE= W O H o x° w }

Fig. 7. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns for the pyroclastic rocks from the studied volcanoes.

from the same volcano. mic scale. Similar patterns of incompatible ele
In general, the rocks are enriched in light REE ment distribution are revealed for Jebal Aritain and
relative to heavy ones, and have high light/heavy Jebal Fahem, reflecting lower concentrations of
REE ratios, which reflect their alkalinity. The the elements (Fig. 8). Both are characterised by
La/Yb ratio averages 21 and 17 in rocks from Jebal positive Nb and P anomalies. In addition, the pat
Aritain and Jebal Fahem, respectively. The rocks tern for Jebal Aritain is characterised by a Ba
from Jebal Aritain are relatively more enriched in anomaly. The Nb anomaly may reflect a deep
light REE. This supports a positive correlation seated magma. The P and Ba anomalies can be
between total abundances of REE and of other explained in terms of selective enrichment of the
incompatible elements, which may reflect a lower mantle source regions from which the parental
degree of partial melting. basalts were derived, rather than by crystal frac
tionation and accumulation. However, the most
Spiderdiagram distinctive feature is that both patterns have a close
The normalized diagram, or so-called normalised Y content. Moreover, the general
spiderdiagram, is a technique for comparing the similarity of the patterns for the studied volca
distribution pattern of incompatible trace elements noes suggests that the effect of a volatile phase,
in samples with some reference composition. On which may distort the patterns, was limited.
this diagram, the contents of these elements are The patterns of the incompatible-element av
normalized to estimates of their abundance in the erages for the studied rocks are compared with
primordial mantle i.e., a weight average of the those of averages for alkali olivine basalt from
present mantle, crust, hydrosphere, and astheno Harra Shawahit and hawaiite from Harra Rahat in
sphere (Wood et al., 1979). The incompatible el Saudi Arabia, about 750 km to the south of Harra
ements are arranged in order of increasing incom Ash Shamah (Camp and Roobol, 1989). These
patibility (KD-value) for normal mantle mineral patterns display overall similarity (Fig. 8). All are
assemblage from right to left. characterised by positive Nb anomalies common
The average abundances of the incompatible to both continental and oceanic alkali basalt
elements Rb, Ba, K, Nb, La, Ce, Sr, P, Zr, Ti and provinces (Norry and Fitton, 1983). The patterns
Y are normalized to the primordial mantle values for the studied rocks are most closely resemble to
of Wood et al. (1979) and plotted on a logarith the Harra Rahat hawaiite pattern.
 532 A. Al-Malabeh

Tectonomagmatic-geochemical discrimination the associated lava flows on Harra El-Jabban were

diagrams: "tectonic classification" emplaced in a "within-plate" environment. This
The "tectonic classification" of the studied interpretation is supported by the chemical com
basalts, as inferred from tectonomagmatic geo position of the studied rocks. On the logarithmic
chemical discrimination diagrams, helps in identi binary plot of TiO2 versus Zr (Pearce, 1980) the
fying the tectonic regimes at the time of their samples from Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem fall
eruption. However, the accuracy of these diagrams in the "within plate lava" field (Fig. 9). A consis
relies upon the assumption that the used elements tent result is given on the plot of Zr-Zr/Y (Pearce
have not been significantly affected by alteration. and Norry, 1979) although some samples of Jebal
The field occurrence gives no doubt that, in a Aritain plot beyond the "within plate" field
broad tectonic sense, the studied volcanoes and (Fig. 10).

1000

WJ
H
Z
100 - • Aritain
J --6 Fahem
0 cc
O
f -;r Rahat
2 FE
-* Shawahit
Y 10
U O

Rb Ba K Nb La Ce Sr P Zr Ti Y

Fig. 8. Spiderdiagram of average incompatible elements from the studied volcanoes compared with alkali olivine
basalt from Harra Shawahit, and hawaiite from Harra Rahat (Camp and Roobol, 1989). The data are normalized
to primordial mantle of Wood et al. (1979).

10

\.Ip
• Aritain
i
1 1~'O~ within
plate
laves e Fahem

arelaves \
0

0,1

Zr (ppm)
Fig. 9. TiO2-Zr diagram (Pearce, 1980) for the pyroclastic rocks from the studied volcanoes.

H
 Intra-continental basalt, NE-Jordan 533

20

A: Within plate basalts

B: Island arc basalts

0
10
C: Mid-ocean ridge basalts
I

A
O Aritain
A,
A Fahem

1
10 100 1000
Zr (PPM)

Fig. 10. Zr-Zr/Y diagram (Pearce and Norry, 1979) for samples from the studied volcanoes.

low Rb/Sr, K/Sr. and Ba/Sr ratios are consistent

PETROGENESIS
with this interpretation.
Differentiation and fractionation of magma The investigated samples are characterised by
The magmas of the studied volcanoes can be low differentiation index values. This also reflects
qualified as primary: silica content never exceeds that they did not undergo significant differentia
50 wt% and ranges between 44.5 and 46.7 wt%. tion. Continued fractionation inexorably leads to
This matches the content of below 50 wt% re rocks with very high DI-values approaching 100
ported for primary magmas (BVSP, 1981; Wil (Hughes, 1982).
son, 1989). MgO content in the investigated The occurrence of ultramafic mantle xenoliths
samples (>8 wt%) is also compatible with a pri is another criteria for identifying the primary na
mary nature of the magma, and argues for rapid ture of the studied magmas. Such xenoliths are
ascent from the mantle with minimal fractionation. recorded in the volcanic succession of Jebal
Consequently, the Mg#, which is considered as Aritain. Their occurrence indicates that the paren
one of the most important petrogenetic indicators, tal magma ascended rapidly without fractional
ranges in the studied rocks between 0.69 and 0.75. crystallization and crustal contamination, and
These values fit well with the values of 0.65, 0.77 supports the mantle origin of the host magma.
and >0.70 reported for primary magmas by Clague Mantle derived xenoliths are reported within many
and Frey (1982), Kesson (1973), and Wilson Harrat of the Arabian peninsula, especially in
(1989), respectively. Quaternary volcanics (Ghent et al., 1980; Coleman
The studied rocks are characterised by high Ni et al., 1983; Thornber and Pallister, 1985; Hafez,
and Cr concentrations. Their values are comparable 1986; Kuo and Essene, 1986; Nixon, 1987; Mc
with the concentration of Ni in primary magma Guire, 1988; Bilal, 1992).
of 250 ppm (Green, 1980; Clague and Frey, 1982) The petrographic data show that the studied
to 300-320 ppm (Frey et al., 1978; Green, 1980). rocks are characterised by relatively low crystal
The Cr value is higher than the published value content and glassy texture, which may indicate that
of 142 ppm for alkali basalt (Prinz, 1967) and the rocks resulted from rapid cooling of rapidly
relatively lower than those of between 500 and ascending, primary magmas. This is consistent
600 ppm for primary magmas (Green, 1980). The with the general phenomenon that the primary
534 A. Al-Malabeh

nature of magma increases where phenocrysts de On the basis of genuine incompatible element
crease (Cole, 1973; Huppert and Sparks, 1985). concentrations and their significant variation, a
The mineral chemistry shows that olivine, the distinction can be made between the samples from
main mineral phase, has an identical compositional Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem. The former are
range and underwent slight fractionation reflected relatively enriched in Ti, K, P, Sr, Ba, Rb, Nb,
by limited rim-core as well as slight phenocrysts Zr, La and Ce. This may reflect that they resulted
needle compositional variation in the rocks from from different degrees of partial melting.
both volcanoes. The analyses reflect the primary A quantitative measure of the degree of par
nature of the magma, bearing magnesian chryso tial melting is provided by using the mineral-melt
lite. distribution coefficient model for Rb and Zr
(Clague and Frey, 1982; Camp and Roobol, 1989).
Type of source and degree of partial melting Based on the solution of the mass balance calcu
A fundamental problem in understanding the lations and the modal batch melting equation
magmatic process of development of the studied (Shaw, 1970):
volcanoes centers on 1) the composition, miner
alogy and nature of the inferred source, and 2) C1/C0 = 1/(D + F (1 D),
the degree of partial melting.
The studied rocks are thought to have been the degree of partial melting for the investigated
derived from a mantle of garnet peridotite com volcanoes are calculated, where Co and C1 are the
position. This interpretation is based on: 1) the concentration of a given trace element in the
uniform and low Y content, 2) the high Zr/Y ratio, original (parental) and residual (derivative)
3) the high Ti02/Y ratio (Frey et al., 1978; Clague magma, respectively, F is the degree of partial
and Frey, 1982), and 4) the high La,,/Yb„ ratio melting, and D is the bulk mineral-melt distribu
(Saunders et al., 1987) with averages of 11 and tion coefficient for the solid phases removed from
14, in rocks from Jebal Aritain and Fahem, re the melt. The incompatible elements have very low
spectively. The indicators which support that the D values which are much smaller than the nu
mantle was of peridotite composition are the high merical value for partial melting. For the study
Ni, Co and Cr concentrations (Wilson, 1989). In case, D = 0, then C,,/C1 = F. The F values are
addition to that, the low Zr/Nb and Y/Nb, and calculated using concentrations in primitive mantle
high Y/Zr ratios illustrate the "enriched" nature source (C0) of 15.5 (of 2.5 times chondritic val
of the garnet peridotite mantle source. ues) and 1 ppm for Zr and Rb, respectively
Based on major and trace element abundances (Philpotts and Schnetzler, 1970; Griffin and
in the studied rocks, it can be concluded that they Murthy, 1969; Shaw, 1972; Frey et al. 1978). The
crystallised from compositionally homogeneous samples from Jebal Aritain give partial melting
magma. The uniformity of the major element dis degrees of 3-6%, lower than the 5-8% partial
tribution, particularly, Si02, A1203,MgO, FeOt°tal melting given by those from Jebal Fahem. These
and MnO is consistent with this model. The ho results are consistent with relative depletion of the
mogeneity of the mantle is also mimicked by the incompatible elements in Jebal Fahem rocks, since
similar incompatible elements ratios such as their concentration in the residual melt is inversely
Rb/Sr, K/Sr and Ba/Sr. proportional to the degree of partial melting.
The comparable petrographical characteristics, These calculated values are comparable to
the slight modal differences and chemical simi published estimates of partial melting values 8
larity, and the primary nature of the studied rocks 13% for alkali olivine basalt by Camp and Roobol
suggest that they are genetically related, and re (1989), <5% for oceanic basalt by Engel et al.
sulted from similar magmatic processes from a (1965) and O'Hara (1968), and <10% for basic
single mantle source, forming co-magmatic rocks. magma by Weaver et al. (1979).
 Intra-continental
Crustal contamination
The interaction of basaltic magma and conti
nental crust is not simple, and very few magmas
can erupt without some degree of contamination
(Waston, 1982; Wilson, 1989; Dobosi et al., 1991).
Whether a parental magma is likely to be
contaminated by the crust is the subject of con
siderable debate, but there is convincing evidence
that the primary geochemical characteristics of the
rocks are obscured by contamination. The compa
rable geochemical data deduced from the similar
major element concentrations, the primary nature
of the magma, and the high Mg# (0.69-0.75), all
serve as evidence for a closed-system magma
chamber, and suggest that contamination of upper
crust was minimal. Moreover, the high K/Rb ra
tios, and low Rb/Sr and K/Sr ratios in the studied
rocks are considered to represent primary
uncontaminated magmas (Gast, 1960; Erlank and
Hofineyer, 1966; Abbot, 1967; Taylor, 1968).
The occurrence of accessory lithic fragments
can not be considered as a sign of assimilation
because of the strong chemical similarity between
the rocks from both volcanoes, although those
from Jebal Aritain bear such lithic fragments,
whereas those from Jebal Fahem are free of lithic
fragments. The direct and rapid ascent of the
magma is indicated by a) the lack of crustal con
tamination, and b) the occurrence of mantle xe
noliths (a good portion of which appears to have
been derived from deep sources). Moreover, the
lithic fragments have preserved their original
character. This supports the contention that the
lithic fragments were introduced into the magma
during its ascent, and were transported very rap
idly. The mechanism of any magma/lithic frag
ments interaction must be by diffusion in the
molten state (Bowen, 1928; Wilson, 1989). The
unaltered state and the absence of the heat effects
in the lithic fragments preclude such interaction.
All the evidence is against crustal contamina
tion, and makes the modification of the magma
by crustal material en route to the surface highly
unlikely. The small differences in incompatible
element concentrations were explained due to the
degree of partial melting rather than contamina
tion.
basalt, NE-Jordan 535
Tectonomagmatic model
A fundamental scope of this study is to inves
tigate the structure of the crust and upper mantle
beneath the studied volcanoes. Despite many
publications (Gass, 1970; Ilies, 1975; Pilger and
Rosier, 1976; Almond, 1986), the origin of the
Arabian Harrat is still not fully understood. Their
tectonic and volcanic evolution is very complex,
and their spatial and temporal distribution makes
it clearly impossible for a single petrogenetic
model to be devised. The magmas are thought to
have risen through crustal fractures, which pro
vided conduits for the basalt eruptions, produced
during the tectonic evolution and the mantle con
vection of the Arabian plate. The magma eruption
took place initially through a deep-seated fissure
system, then through a series of circular and lin
ear conduits, building scoria cones. The N-S and
NNW-SSE directions of the fissures are also
shown by the dike swarm directions and the
alignment of the cones. The overall elongated
shape of Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem, with the
long axis trending NNW-SSE, suggests that both
volcanoes resulted from fissure eruptions trending
NNW-SSE.
The lithic framgents and mantle xenoliths offer
a direct insight into the crust under the Harra. On
the other hand, seismic data can provide important
constraints on the velocity and density structure
of the crust and upper mantle beneath the studied
volcanoes, and thus are of great value in devel
oping a detailed petrogenetic model. Correlation
of xenoliths and lithic fragments with the geo
physical investigations helps to clear the cross
section of the lithosphere and asthenosphere be
low Harra El-Jabban. A deep seismic refraction
profile in northeastern Jordan (El-Isa et al., 1987)
has shown that the continental crust below the
Harra consists of four zones (Fig. 11). The first
has a thickness of about 5.5 km (Gettings et al.,
1986; El-Isa et al., 1987) and represents the Cre
taceous, Tertiary and Quaternary sediments and
basalt flows under the Harra. The granitic lithic
fragments found within the samples from Jebal
Aritain may indicate that sialic crust is present in
the upper crust in NE-Jordan. The lithic fragments
 536 A. Al-Malabeh

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 Intra-continental
of gabbro may represent the lower mafic crust
under the Harra (Nasir, 1992). The boundary be
tween the lower crust (gabbro) and the upper crust
(granite) lies at about 18 km (Fig. 11), which is
shown as a seismic discontinuity (El-Isa et al.,
1987). The ultramafic xenoliths recorded in the
succession of Jebal Aritain, namely spinel
lherzolite, spinel websterite, wehrlite, and
clinopyroxenite, represent fragments of upper
mantle brought up during the magma ascent.
Thermobarometry of spinel lherzolite and pyrox
enite xenoliths from cones in NE-Jordan yields
temperatures of 920°C to 1280°C at pressures of
about 15 to 17 kb, at depth 40-60 km (Nasir and
Al-Fugha, 1988). This is consistent with a Moho,
or crust-mantle boundary at about 37 km depth
under the studied volcanoes (Fig. 11).
An important problem in the genetic study of
the volcanoes is the depth of generation of the
parental magma and whether it is from the
lithocrustal part of the mantle or the asthenosphere.
The distinct Nb peak (Fig. 8) is a good indicator
that the rocks are products of the asthenospheric
part of the mantle (Thompson, 1986; Wilson,
1989). The same trace element pattern is also re
corded for Harra Madinah (Camp et al., 1987) and
Harra Rahat, the magmas for which were generated
from a garnet peridotite source. Further evidence
of an asthenospheric source is the similarity of
major and trace element contents of the studied
rocks to those of oceanic island alkali basalts
(OIB). The latter basalts cannot be formed in
subcontinental lithosphere (Camp and Roobol,
1989, and references therein).
The distinctive geochemical character of the
studied volcanoes is interpreted to be derived by
different, but low degrees of partial melting of a
garnet peridotite mantle source in the astheno
sphere at >I 00 km depth (Fig. 11).
Petrogenetic studies on the Arabian Harrat have
indicated that the magmas of these volcanic fields
initially originated by a partial melting of garnet
peridotite in the asthenosphere, and subsequently
a possible accumulation of these derived magmas
at the crust-mantle boundary (37-44 km) due to
the upper Miocene uplift of the Afro-Arabian
basalt, NE-Jordan 537
dome may have occurred (Cloos, 1939; Almond,
1986; Mc Guire, 1988; Coleman and Mc Guire;
1988; Camp and Roobol, 1989). The time span
(Oligocene-Holocene), the location of Harra Ash
Shamah as well as the rapid ascent of the studied
magmas may preclude possible crust-mantle ac
cumulation of the initial magmas.
CONCLUSIONS
1) Jebal Aritain and Jebal Fahem are mono
genetic cinder cones. Their volcanic successions
consist of scoria, air-fall lapilli deposits of
Strombolian type of volcanicity. Both volcanoes
resulted from multiple eruptions, giving rise to
dissimilar volcanic successions.
2) The petrographical data show that the rocks
are scoriaceous glassy olivine-phyric basalts with
average modal olivine (-23 vol%), derived from
primary magmas giving magnesian chrysolite
(Fo89), with NiO contents of 0.33-0.47 wt% and
CaO > 0.1 wt%.
3) The magma giving rise to the studied vol
canoes is of silica undersaturated type, and be
longs to a Na-alkaline magma series. The rocks
show typical characteristics of intra-plate conti
nental alkali basalt, in terms of ratios of incom
patible elements, e.g., Ti-Zr. The averages of the
major oxides for all the analysed rocks show that
the average chemical composition can be ex
pressed in rock nomenclature terms as alkali oli
vine basalts, and basanites.
4) The studied rocks show a significant simi
larity in chemical composition, demonstrated by
comparable ranges of content of major and minor
elements, with limited variations in the concen
trations of incompatible elements. This similarity
indicates that the rocks are co-magmatic, gener
ated from a single source.
5) The studied volcanoes were produced by
primary magmas, generated by low degrees of 3
8% partial melting of an enriched and homoge
neous garnet peridotite mantle source, at > 100 km
depth. The magmas were transported very rapidly
with limited crystal fractionation, and without
crustal contamination, and erupted explosively.
538
Acknowledgments-The author is very much
ate to Prof. Dr. A. Hafez of Cairo University,
for her constructive reviews and thoughtful
on this manuscript.
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