大别超高压变质过程中部分熔融作用的地球化学约束

报道了大别超高压变质带西部麻城四道河榴辉岩-围岩剖面系统的元素和同位素地球化学研究成果, 对超高压变质榴辉岩在俯冲和折返过程中的部分熔融作用进行了探讨. 研究表明, 榴辉岩原岩性质类似于N-MORB, 其长英质围岩可分为TTG片麻岩和含石榴石花岗岩; 两类长英质围岩Sm -Nd同位素特征与其寄主的榴辉岩相似; REE特征、w (Nb)/w (Ta) 比值、Nd同位素组成及锆石U -Pb定年等地球化学证据支持了TTG片麻岩为大别地区陆壳俯冲过程中发生部分熔融作用而形成, 其与超高压榴辉岩的关系属特殊的异地关系; 含榴花岗岩为超高压榴辉岩折返过程中的部分熔融作用形成, 但因其形成环境为石榴石稳定场的深度, 故含榴花岗岩与超高压榴辉岩被视为近似原地的构造关系.      

大别造山带北缘中生代地层中榴辉岩砾石地球化学特征及构造意义

大别造山带北缘中生代地层凤凰台组和毛坦厂组中榴辉岩砾石的主元素、稀土元素以及微量元素具有如下特征，主元素中K2O富集(1．2l％)，高∑REE(278μg／g)，高(La／Yb)N(14．4)和大离子亲石元素(LILE，如Rb、Ba、K和Th等)富集。LILE明显富集，显著的Nb-Ta负异常槽，以及与原始地幔、N型大洋中脊玄武岩(N-MORB)相比，一些高场强元素(HFSE)相对于REE亏损，这些都支持榴辉岩砾石原岩的岛弧环境成因。在Th-Hf-Ta判别图上，榴辉岩砾石原岩属于火山弧玄武岩。推测原岩物质成分来源于地幔楔，在俯冲过程中并可能被海底沉积物所混染，所以富集了LILE。因此，榴辉岩砾石原岩可能形成于火山岛弧构造背景，同时也表明大别碰撞造山带在三叠纪陆-陆碰撞之前存在古岛弧发育阶段。根据地球化学特征特别是与稀土元素的比较，榴辉岩砾石与目前在大别造山带发现的榴辉岩有明显差别，因此后者可能不是前者的源区岩石。     

白银厂矿田玄武岩地球化学特征及其形成地质环境

白银厂矿田玄武岩主要由玄武岩和碱性玄武岩组成 ,其中玄武岩属于钙碱性系列和拉斑系列 ,碱性玄武岩属于钾质碱性玄武岩系列和钠质碱性玄武岩系列。相对于N -MORB ,本区钙碱性系列和拉斑系列玄武岩明显富集Ba、Rb、Th、U ,而亏损Ti;碱性系列玄武岩高度富集K、Ba、Rb、Th、U ,而Ti、Zr、Ce相对亏损 ,表明该区玄武岩的形成与板块俯冲作用有关。钙碱性玄武岩系列和拉斑玄武岩系列玄武岩具有低的REE含量和亏损的LREE配分型式 ,表明它是由LREE亏损和HREE略有富集的地幔部分熔融形成 ;碱性系列玄武岩的REE含量和 (La/Yb) N 比值高 ,LREE和HREE的分馏程度较高 ,表明其形成于演化的岩浆 ,可能来自于富集LREE的地幔源区或地幔橄榄岩较低程度的熔融。痕量元素地球化学特征表明 ,本区玄武岩应是与板块俯冲作用有关的地幔部分熔融形成 ,成岩环境为火山弧环境 ,是岛弧向成熟岛弧转化过程中的产物。     

大别山碧溪岭地区榴辉岩的铁同位素地球化学

<正>前人的研究表明,洋中脊玄武岩δ56Fe值很均一,高于地幔的δ56Fe值,因此在壳幔分异过程中,铁同位素会发生部分熔融的。而洋岛玄武岩的铁同位素组成较不均一,可能反映了其源区铁同位素的不均一性。俯冲带是壳幔循环过程中的重要场所,同时俯冲折返的板块为我们研究俯冲带提供了很好的条件。为了研究俯冲板块俯冲折返过程中铁同位素的地球化学行为,分析了大别—苏鲁造山带的超高压变质榴辉岩的全     

长白山区二道白河流域早更新世玄武质熔岩的成因

采用岩石化学和同位素分析方法,研究了二道白河流域早更新世玄武质熔岩的成因。玄武质熔岩由钠质拉斑玄武岩和钾质粗面玄武岩、玄武质粗面安山岩组成。它们的REE分配形式比较相近,表明它们来自共同的源区。Sr、Nd、Pb同位素示踪表明,二道白河流域早更新世玄武质熔岩岩浆源区接近于似原始地幔。它们的Mg#=100Mg O/(Mg O+Fe O)低于中国东部新生代玄武岩原始岩浆的Mg#(60~68),Ni(27.76×10-6~200.6×10-6)低于原始地幔,Rb/Sr(0.05~0.09)、Ba/Rb(15.64~264)高于原始地幔,说明这些岩石不是源自原始地幔。玄武质熔岩的DI变化于42~67,具有高Ca、高Sr、Eu正异常,微量元素图解显示玄武岩保留部分熔融趋势,粗面玄武岩、玄武质粗安岩具有结晶分异趋势,岩浆上升过程中发生了不同程度的地壳混染作用。玄武质熔岩的Nb/Ta之比为14.8~15.8,与勘察加半岛深俯冲带火山类似。Nb/Ta-(Na2O-K2O)关系图解显示研究区玄武质岩浆的形成与俯冲板片的部分熔融有关。     

准噶尔盆地东北缘石炭系火山岩形成机制:对准噶尔洋盆闭合时限的新启示

准噶尔古大洋作为古亚洲洋北部的重要分支及阶段性演化产物,其洋盆的俯冲、闭合时限以及盆地基底属性一直存在分歧。本文选取准噶尔盆地东北缘(乌伦古地区)石炭系火山岩来说明其岩浆来源及成因机制,通过主微量元素、Sr-Nd同位素分析结果,进一步阐明准噶尔洋盆在晚古生代的闭合时限。本次研究包括玄武岩、玄武质安山岩和安山岩三类火山岩,岩体显示低TiO₂(0.60%~0.84%)、较高的全碱K₂O+Na₂O含量(1.18%~8.59%),玄武岩为岛弧拉斑系列,安山岩类的钙碱元素含量高,具有火山弧火山岩特征。中-低⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i)(0.703 250~0.704 559)、相对亏损的Nd同位素(+4.8~+6.8)以及t_DM2(483~625 Ma)值表明玄武岩、玄武质安山岩和安山岩同为亏损地幔熔融岩浆分异结晶的产物,安山岩为地幔熔融岩浆后期分离结晶形成;微量元素与同位素地球化学示踪暗示玄武岩、玄武质安山岩和安山岩含有洋壳俯冲过程的脱水流体交代上覆地幔楔的消减组分,安山岩在深部岩浆房经历了壳-幔混合作用,受地壳成分的混染程度更大。大离子亲石元素(LILE)Ba、Sr和轻稀土元素、不相容元素(Th、U、K)相对富集,高场强元素(HFSE)Nb、Ta相对亏损,以及Pb、Zr、Hf的富集,说明该区属于与俯冲消减带相关的构造背景;结合本套火山岩高Ba/La(30.14~208.86)值、低TiO₂(0.60%~0.84%)值,以及Ce/Nb比(8.71~12.05)、Th/Nb比(0.93~1.74)等,表明准噶尔洋盆于石炭纪沿着大陆板块下部持续俯冲,洋壳板片的俯冲脱水流体交代地幔楔后增生岛弧。该套中-基性火山岩建造佐证了准噶尔洋盆闭合时限为晚石炭世(ca. 305.5±4.4 Ma),结合区域地质资料分析,提出与俯冲带有关的岩浆通过岛弧拼贴增生到大陆地壳上,进一步为准噶尔盆地基底的岛弧拼贴成因提供了新依据。     

弧后盆地玄武岩(BABB)数据挖掘:与MORB及IAB的对比

弧后盆地玄武岩(BABB)全球分布有限,与板块俯冲有关,位于岛弧外侧,规模小,寿命短,现代BABB主要分布于西太平洋。通常认为,BABB地球化学成分变化较大,包括正常洋中脊玄武岩(N-MORB)、富集洋中脊玄武岩(E-MORB)、岛弧玄武岩(IAB)及少量洋岛玄武岩(OIB)组分。在玄武岩构造判别图中,BABB大多在洋中脊玄武岩(MORB)范围内,说明BABB类似MORB。新的全球MORB数据研究表明,MORB包含了从MORB到OIB及IAB的组分,而BABB相对于MORB更富集Cs,Rb,U,Ba,Th和Pb等不相容元素,有明显的Nb-Ta负异常,表明BABB兼具MORB和IAB的地球化学特征,是俯冲流体及沉积物参与其岩浆作用过程所致,大多是在湿的条件下部分熔融形成的。弧后盆地可分为初始弧后盆地和成熟弧后盆地,前者玄武岩具有明显的岛弧玄武岩的地球化学特征,而后者玄武岩更接近MORB的特征。     

俯冲洋岛玄武岩脱水释放的水流体成分：来自西天山榴辉岩相高压脉的约束

俯冲洋壳的脱水作用对于岛弧火山岩的成因具有重要意义。西天山高压低温变质带中切割主岩蓝片岩/榴辉岩的榴辉岩相脉体记录了古生代俯冲带中的脱水过程。脉体具有典型高压矿物组合：石榴石(＞8%)+绿辉石(15%)+石英(＞55%)+蓝闪石(5%)+冻蓝闪石(10%)±黝帘石±方解石。高压脉及其主岩的岩相学与矿物化学研究表明流体是在俯冲过程中蓝片岩向榴辉岩进变质条件下释放。脉的主量元素成分显示流体富Si。主岩的稀土元素和微量元素表明其原岩为洋岛玄武岩(OIB)。脉和主岩具有相似的微量元素配分模式,并且相对N-MORB都显示富Li、Be、Cs、Rb、Ba、Pb、La的特点。通过模拟计算,在高压脉、与脉平衡的流体以及模拟的原生流体中都富集流体活动性元素(Li、Be、Pb)和LILE(Cs、Rb、Ba),贫HFSE(Nb)和REE(Nd、Sm)。证实了在古生代南天山洋俯冲时洋岛玄武岩脱水释放出富Li、Be、LILE、La和Pb,贫HFSE和HREE的流体。     

大别造山带南坡晚白垩世玄武岩源区地幔特征

大别造山带南坡中生代断陷盆地中出露大量晚白垩世碱性玄武岩类。因岩浆受结晶分异和陆壳混染影响微弱,其成分基本可代表本区原生玄武岩浆。在微量元素原始地幔标准化蛛网图上,本区玄武岩具有地壳富集组分Pb、K、Rb、Ba等的正异常和Nb、P、Hf等高场强元素的负异常。同位素和微量元素特征显示,玄武岩浆来自亏损地幔(DM)和富集地幔(EM+EM)混合源区。玄武岩源区地幔中Pb的富集和Nb、P、Hf等的亏损基本可由中国东部亏损地幔与榴辉岩的混合获得,由此揭示富集地幔端元组成特征可能与晚白垩世前造山带根部榴辉岩拆沉并参与地幔再循环有关。     

西天山伊犁地区石炭纪火山岩地球化学特征及构造环境

伊犁板块南北缘广泛发育石炭纪火山岩。其中阿希、巩乃斯和恰西石炭纪火山岩主要由玄武岩、安山玄武岩、玄武粗安岩、粗安岩和粗面岩组成,为基性冲性-酸性连续岩系,以中基性岩为主;它们多为钙碱性岩;轻稀土较重稀土元素富集,富集大离子亲石元素Rb,Ba,Th,U,K,相对亏损高场强元素Nb,Ta,Ti,具有大陆边缘火山岛弧火山岩亲缘性。其可能形成于准噶尔洋向南俯冲于伊犁板块之下的大陆边缘岛弧环境,伊犁板块南缘火山岩也有可能产出于南天山洋向伊犁-中天山板块之下俯冲的岛弧环境。     

Constraints from high-pressure veins in eclogites on the composition of hydrous fluids in subduction zones

Hydrous high-pressure veins formed during dehydration of eclogites in two paleo-subduction zones (Trescolmen locality in the Adula nappe, central Alps and Münchberg Gneiss Massif, Variscan fold belt, Germany) constrain the major and trace element composition of solutes in fluids liberated during dehydration of eclogites. Similar initial isotopic compositions of veins and host eclogites at the time of metamorphism indicate that the fluids were derived predominantly from the host rocks. Quartz, kyanite, paragonite, phengite, zoisite and omphacite are the dominant minerals in the veins. The major element compositions of the veins are in agreement with experimental evidence indicating that the composition of solutes in such fluids is dominated by SiO₂ and Al₂O₃. Relative to N-MORB, the veins show enrichments of Cs, Rb, Ba, Pb, and K, comparable or slightly lower abundances of Sr, U, and Th, and very low abundances of Nd, Sm, Zr, Nb, Ti and Y. The differential fractionation of highly incompatible elements such as K, U and Th in the veins, as well as the presence of hydrous minerals in the eclogites rule out partial melting as a cause for vein formation. These results confirm previous suggestions that fluids derived from subducted basalt may have low abundances of high field strength elements, rare earth elements and Y. Variable vein-eclogite enrichment factors of incompatible alkalis and to a lesser extent Pb appear to reflect mineralogical controls (phengite, epidote-group minerals) on partitioning of these elements during dehydration of eclogite in subduction zones. However, abundance variations of incompatible elements in minerals from eclogites suggest that the composition of fluids released from eclogites at temperatures <700°C may not reflect true equilibrium partitioning during dehydration. Simple models for the trace elements U and Th indicate the relative importance of the basaltic and sedimentary portions of subducted oceanic crust in producing the characteristic chemical signatures of these elements in convergent plate margin volcanism.     

Elemental and isotopic variations in subduction related basalts: evidence for a three component model

Subduction related basalts display wide ranges in large ion lithophile element ratios (e.g., Rb/Ba and Rb/ Sr) which are unlikely to result from mixing, but suggest a role for small degree partial melting of a relatively Rb-poor mantle wedge source. However, these variations do not correlate with other trace element criteria, such as the depletions of high field strength elements (HFSE) and light rare earth elements (LREE) relative to the LILE, which characterise subduction related magmatism. Integration of radiogenic isotope and trace element data demonstrates that the elemental enrichment cannot be simply related to two component mixtures inferred from isotopic variations. Thus a minimum of three components is required to describe the geochemistry of subduction zone basalts. Two are subduction related: high Sr/Nd material is derived from the dehydration of subducted basaltic ocean crust, and a low Sr/Nd component is thought to be from subducted terrigenous sediment. The third component is in the mantle wedge, it is usually similar to the source of MORB, particularly in its isotopic composition. However, in some cases, notably continental areas, more enriched mantle wedge material with relatively high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and elevated incompatible trace element contents may be involved Mixing of these three components is capable of producing both the entire range of Sr, Nd and Pb isotope signatures observed in destructive margin basalts, and their distinctive trace element compositions. The isotope differences between Atlantic and Pacific island arc basalts are attributed to the isotope compositions of sediments in the two oceans.     

拉萨地体北部永珠地区早白垩世岩浆岩地球化学、锆石U-Pb年代学、Hf同位素组成及其地质意义

拉萨地体北部出露大面积早白垩世岩浆岩,对它们的成因和形成机制的研究,有助于揭示拉萨地块白垩纪时期的岩浆作用过程及动力学背景.通过岩石学、地球化学和同位素地质学方法对拉萨地体北带永珠地区早白垩世中-酸性岩浆岩进行了研究.结果显示黑云母二长花岗岩、流纹岩和安山岩的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄分别为118±1.0 Ma、121±0.8 Ma和115±0.8 Ma,代表了其侵入和喷出时代.黑云母二长花岗岩、花岗斑岩和流纹岩为高钾钙碱性过铝质-强过铝质岩浆岩（A/CNK=1.01~1.35）,亏损高场强元素Nb、P、Ti和大离子亲石元素Ba、Sr,富集大离子亲石元素Rb、K和放射性元素U、Th;稀土配分图显示LREE富集,HREE近平坦,Eu明显负异常,为形成于大陆边缘的岛弧岩浆岩特征.黑云母二长花岗岩和流纹岩的锆石Hf初始比值ε_Hf（t）分别为-1.21~3.01和-0.68~5.35,对应的两阶段模式年龄分别为0.99~1.26 Ga和0.84~1.22 Ga,为壳幔混源岩浆.安山岩为高钾钙碱性,亏损Nb、Ta、P、Ti、U和Sr,富集Rb、K和Th,稀土配分图显示LREE富集,HREE近平坦,Eu轻微负异常,为形成于大陆边缘弧的岩浆岩.结合前人研究成果,分析认为永珠地区早白垩世岩浆岩形成于班公湖-怒江特提斯洋壳南向俯冲作用下的大陆边缘弧环境,由俯冲的班公湖-怒江中特提斯洋板片在深部脱水熔融,进而诱发上覆地幔楔部分熔融形成基性岩浆上涌,导致下地壳物质发生部分熔融形成酸性岩浆,它们在上升过程中按不同比例混合,形成中性和酸性岩浆侵入到地下或喷出地表,形成侵入岩和火山岩.      

Trace element modelling of the origin and evolution of the Oyaca‐Boyalik volcanic rocks (NE of Haymana,Ankara, Turkey)

Lower Miocene Boyalik volcanic rocks, situated approximately 80 km south of Ankara, exhibit both alkaline and calc‐alkaline characteristics. Alkaline products are trachybasaltic and trachyandesitic, whereas calc‐alkaline products are dacitic. The phenocrysts in the dacites consist primarily of plagioclase and hornblende, with lesser amounts of biotite. The groundmass contains plagioclase and quartz microcrysts. Trachyandesites are mainly composed of plagioclase and biotite phenocrysts with a groundmass of alkali feldspar microlites and minor clinopyroxene microcrysts. Trachybasalts are mainly composed of olivine and plagioclase phenocrysts, with minor clinopyroxene phenocrysts associated with alkali feldspar, plagioclase and clinopyroxene microlites and microcrysts in the groundmass. Oxides are common accessory phases in all products. Boyalik volcanic rocks have essentially homogeneous incompatible trace element patterns with variable Nb and Th anomalies, enrichment in Rb, Ba, K, La, Ce and Nd, and positive Sr anomalies. Some trace element ratios (e.g. Ba/Ta, Ba/Nb, Th/U and Ce/Pb) are variable among the series. For instance, dacites and trachyandesites have higher Ba/Ta (724–2509), Ba/Nb (45–173) and Th/U (3.5–8.7) and lower Ce/Pb (7.1–3.9) values than the trachybasalts. Trace element data indicate that the series are chemically distinct but probably were derived from a common lithospheric mantle source via variable degrees of partial melting. The magmas then underwent a process of evolution involving assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) during ascent to the surface. Although trachyandesites and dacites were generated from a lithospheric mantle source via ～1% and ～1.5% to ～5% degrees of partial melting, respectively, trachybasalts were derived from the same source via higher degrees of partial melting (～20%) with neglegible crustal contamination. Boyalik volcanism is linked to an intracontinental transpressional setting. However, the overall geochemical features are consistent with derivation from a mantle source that records earlier Eocene subduction between the Sakarya continental fragment and the K?r?ehir block during time.     

辽西早白垩世义县组火山岩的地质特征及其构造背景

早白垩世义县组火山岩虽辽西地区分布最为广泛的中代火山岩。岩石学、元素－同位素地球化学研究表明，义县组火山岩主要为高钾钙碱性系列，相容元素（Cr,Co,Ni,V等）和大离子亲石元素（如Rb,Sr,Ba等）相对富集，市场强元素（如Nb,Ta,Ti,Zr,Hf等）和放射性元素（U,Th）相对亏损，轻重稀土元素分 馏明显，δEu弱负异常，放射成因的Nd,Sr,Pb同位素较低， 具有板内和活动大陆边缘弧地球化学特点。作者认为辽西早白垩世义县组火山岩起源于富集的岩石圈地幔的部分熔融。岩浆在演化过程中以结晶分异作用为主，伴有少量的地壳混染作用，即AFC过程。结合区域构造，作者认为义县组火山岩形成于板内岩石圈的不均匀拉伸环境，是燕山板内造山作用的产物，与中生代古太平洋板块向欧亚板块俯冲没有直接关系。     

准噶尔盆地西北缘中拐凸起石炭纪安山岩年代学、地球化学特征及其构造意义

为加深对中亚造山带西段石炭纪构造背景的认识,对准噶尔盆地西北缘中拐凸起金龙10井区石炭纪安山岩岩心样品开展岩相学、年代学和地球化学研究。安山岩的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年结果显示,其结晶年龄为(322.4±1.1) Ma,属中石炭世。地球化学分析结果表明,研究区安山岩属于低钾-中钾钙碱性岩石系列,其稀土元素配分曲线均略向右倾,具微弱的Eu负异常;微量元素原始地幔标准化蛛网图显示整体相对富集Pb和大离子亲石元素Rb、Ba等,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、Zr等,具有消减带弧火山岩的特征。安山岩的Th/La、Th/Ce和Lu/Yb值均低于大陆地壳的平均值,而接近幔源岩浆的比值。研究区安山岩属于正常的岛弧火山岩,源于富水地幔楔,是由俯冲板片脱水产生的流体交代地幔楔发生部分熔融所形成的。结合区域地质背景并对比相近时期岩浆岩,综合认为研究区安山岩形成于大陆弧环境,为西准噶尔残余洋盆俯冲消减作用的产物,且残余洋盆在(322.4±1.1) Ma时还未完全关闭。     

Early Indosinian Weiya Gabbro in Eastern Tianshan, China： Elemental and Sr-Nd-O Isotopic Geochemistry, and Its Tectonic Implications

The Weiya gabbro in eastern Tianshan was formed during the early Indosinian. This rock, with low ratios of Ce/Pb （5.74-10.16）, is notably characterized by enrichment in large ion lithophile elements （LILE）, such as Rb, K, Ba and Pb, and in high field strength elements （HSFE）, such as U and Th, but depletion in Nb and Ta. All samples of the Weiya gabbro display similar chondrite-normalized patterns with moderate enrichment in LREE （72.58-135.61ppm）, moderate depletion in HREE （15.26-25.31ppm） and mild fractionation between LREE and HREE （L/ H=4.09-5.98）. The average initial Sr value of the rock is 0.7069, and δ18O values of the rock range from 5.67‰-8.04‰. In terms of Nd isotope ratios, the Weiya gabbro is characterized by positive eNd（t） values （0.52-0.76）. All these characteristics indicate that the source region of the Weiya gabbro was metasomatized by fluids released from subducted young continental crust, with limited crustal contamination during magma ascent and emplacement. Continental （A-type） subduction was induced by northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethyan oceanic plate during the latest Permian to Triassic. From this point of view, it is supposed that tectonic conversion from the Paleo-Asian to the Paleo-Tethys regime occurred during the latest Permian or earliest Triassic.     

延边天佛指山花岗岩的形成时代及成因

延边天佛指山花岗岩年代学和地球化学研究表明,花岗岩中的锆石U-Pb年龄为(188.5±2.2)Ma,其侵位时间为早侏罗世。岩石总体上具有高硅、低铝、贫钙镁及富碱的特征,属高钾钙碱性系列I型花岗岩;富集轻稀土元素(LREE)和大离子亲石元素(LILE)Rb、Th、U、K等,相对亏损高场强元素(HFSE)Zr、Hf、Y、Yb等,显著亏损Ba、Nb、Ta、P、Ti等元素,δEu呈轻微程度负异常。该花岗岩岩浆源于地壳物质的部分熔融,可能形成于与古太平洋板块俯冲相关联的活动大陆边缘环境。     

Geochemistry of mafic igneous rocks of the northern Prince Charles Mountains,Antarctica

Rare mafic dykes, which intrude 1000 Ma high‐grade metamorphic rocks of the northern Prince Charles Mountains‐Mawson Coast area, are compositionally distinct from abundant early to middle Proterozoic tholeiite dykes, which are confined to Archaean or early Proterozoic terrains in the southern Prince Charles Mountains and elsewhere in East Antarctica, and which have therefore proved useful as stratigraphic markers. The younger dykes (and extrusive rocks) are a composition‐ally heterogeneous group with a wide range of ages (at least Cambrian to Eocene), although most are of K‐rich alkaline composition or have alkaline affinites. Their strong enrichment in highly incompatible elements (Rb, Ba, Th, Nb, K, Pb, Th and U) relative to less incompatible elements (La, Ce and P) suggests derivation by partial melting of more enriched mantle source regions than those of most of the Proterozoic tholeiite suites. However, unlike the latter, many incompatible element ratios have been significantly affected by fractional crystallisation and possibly also by the presence of residual minor phases during low degrees of melting.