Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of gabbros in the Los Molinos area, Fuerteventura (Canary Islands) Características mineralógicas y geoquímicas de los gabros del área de Los Molinos, Fuerteventura (Islas Canarias)

Gabbros of Los Molinos area crop out in the northwest part of Fuerteventura (Canary Islands). They are formed by different types of gabbros, and their mineralogy and geochemistry are presented in this work. The results indicate that the most fractionated gabbros are leucogabbros situated in the upper parts of the intrusion, whereas the most primitive (olivine-rich) gabbros occur in the lower parts. Crystallization temperatures range from 1116 to 836oC. Whole rock geochemistry is partly controlled by modal mineralogy and shows moderate alkalinity suggesting, in principle, a higher affinity with miocene volcanic rocks from the Central edifice than with those from the North one. In situ crystallization mechanism followed by progressive segregation of a slightly more differentiated liquid and volatile concentration is proposed.