Ultramafic xenoliths from the Mt. Carmel area (Karem Maharal Volcano), Israel

A suite of xenoliths from the Mt. Carmel area, Israel, is predominantly composed of high-Al clinopyroxene + pyrope-almandine garnet + spinel ± plagioclase. Some garnet clinopyroxenites show exsolution features of the aluminous phases garnet, spinel and amphibole while the garnet granulites have recrystallized completely to an equigranular texture. The garnet granulites were last reequilibrated under maximum pressures of 8 ± 1.5 kbar and temperatures of 600-700°C. The garnet clinopyroxenites equilibrated at temperatures of 880 ± 87°C and were probably extracted from greater depths. The textural and chemical data suggest that the xenoliths are pieces of a gabbroic lower crust formed by accretion of aluminous clinopyroxene basaltic cumulates that have recrystallized extensively before incorporation in the transporting magma.