Volatiles in pillow rim glasses from Loihi and Kilauea volcanoes,Hawaii

Volatiles and major elements in submarine glasses from Loihi seamount and Kilauea volcano. Hawaii were analyzed by high temperature mass spectrometry and the electron microprobe. Loihi glasses are subdivided into three groups: tholeiitic, transitional and alkali basalts. The glasses are evolved: Mg numbers range from 48–58. The alkalic lavas are the most evolved.Total volatiles range from 0.73 to 1.40 wt.%. H₂O shows a positive linear correlation with K₂O content [H₂O = 0.83 (± .09) K₂O + 0.08 (± .06)]. Concentrations of H₂O are higher in the alkalic lavas, but Cl and F abundances are highly variable. Variations in ratios of incompatible elements (K₂O, P₂O₅, H₂O) indicate that each group was derived from a distinct source. CO₂ contents range from 0.05 to 0.19 wt.% but show no systematic correlation with rock type or Mg #. A well-defined decrease in glass CO₂ content with increasing vesicularity is shown by the alkalic lavas. CO₂ may have been outgassed from the tholeiitic and transitional magmas prior to eruption during storage in a shallow magma chamber. Reduced carbon species (CO and CH₄) were found in small amounts in most of the alkalic samples. Although the redox histories of Hawaiian lavas are poorly known, these new data indicate the presence of a reduced source for Loihi magmas.The Kilauea tholeiitic glasses are evolved (Mg # 48.3 to 55) and have higher H₂O contents (av. 0.54 wt.%) than Loihi tholeiites (av. 0.42 wt.%) at the same Mg # (~55). Cl is distinctly lower in Kilauea glasses (0.01 wt.%) compared to Loihi glasses (0.09 wt.%). The data indicate significant source differences for the two volcanoes, consistent with results of other geochemical studies.Loihi tholeiites have distinctly higher ³He/⁴He ratios than Kilauea tholeiites and are the highest measured in submarine basalts (KURZ et al., 1983). These high ratios have been used to invoke a primitive source for Loihi basalts. The high Cl content of these basalts, the highest we have ever measured in submarine basalts, may be a fingerprint of this primitive source, as previously noted for Icelandic basalts (Schillinget al. 1980).     

Iron-Titanium Oxide Geothermometry and Petrogenesis of Lava Flows and Dykes from Mandla Lobe of the Eastern Deccan Volcanic Province, India

Compositional studies on different forms of magnetite, ulvospinel, ilmenite and hematite mineral phases occurring in 37 lava flows and 6 dykes of the Mandla lobe are presented in this paper. Ilmenite (0001) in equilibrium with titanomanetite show high values of temperature of equilibration, ranging from 1172–974°C, for high alumina quartz normative tholeiitic lava flows of Chemical Type - A; 1129–1229°C for low alumina quartz normative tholeiitic lava flows of Chemical Type - B; 1283–1124°C for tholeiitic lava flows of Chemical Type - F and 1243°C and 99O°C for two diopside olivine normative tholeiite flows of Chemical Type D. High olivine normative flows of Chemical Type - G and H show 1095°C and 1092°C respectively. Whereas, high hypersthene normative tholeiite flow of Chemical me C shows temperature of 1187°C. Data plots disposition over iron-titanium oxide equilibration temperature vs – logfo₂, diagram for Mandla lava flows and other parts of the Deccan (Igatpuri, Mahabaleshwer, Nagpur and Sagar areas) revealed that tholeiitic (evolved) basalt of the eastern Deccan volcanic province formed at high temperatures whereas, picritic (primitive) lavas of Igatpuri and tholeiitic basalt of Mahabaleshwar areas were formed at low temperatures. Mahabaleshwer basalts follow FMQ (fayalite-magnetite-quartz) buffer curve but, plots of the Mandla basalts lie above this curve indicating higher temperatures of crystallisation of ilmenite-titanomagnetite than that of the lava flows from other parts of Deccan 'Raps. The eastern Deccan Traps are most evolved types of lava as characterised by its low Mg-number and Ni content whereas, Igatpuri lava flows are picritic (primitive), having high Mg-number and Ni contents. Temperature vs FeO + Fe₂O₃ / FeO + Fe₂O₃ + MgO ratio data plots for Mandla and other Deccan lava flows and liquidus data for Hawaiian tholeiites, indicated that Igatpuri basalts lie parallel to the liquidus line of Hawaiian tholeiite but at lower temperatures. Large data plots of Mandla lava flows lie along the liquidus line of the Hawaiian lava. The highly vesicular nature of compound lava flows having large amount of volatile is responsible for low temperature values whereas, lava flows represented by high temperatures show high modal values of glass and opaque minerals.     

Differentiation and crystallization conditions of basalts from the Kerguelen large igneous province: an experimental study

Phase relations of basalts from the Kerguelen large igneous province have been investigated experimentally to understand the effect of temperature, fO₂, and fugacity of volatiles (e.g., H₂O and CO₂) on the differentiation path of LIP basalts. The starting rock samples were a tholeiitic basalt from the Northern Kerguelen Plateau (ODP Leg 183 Site 1140) and mildly alkalic basalt evolved from the Kerguelen Archipelago (Mt. Crozier on the Courbet Peninsula), representing different differentiation stages of basalts related to the Kerguelen mantle plume. The influence of temperature, water and oxygen fugacity on phase stability and composition was investigated at 500 MPa and all experiments were fluid-saturated. Crystallization experiments were performed at temperatures between 900 and 1,160°C under oxidizing (log fO₂ ~ ΔQFM + 4) and reducing conditions (log fO₂ ~ QFM) in an internally heated gas-pressure vessel equipped with a rapid quench device and a Pt-Membrane for monitoring the fH₂. In all experiments, a significant influence of the fO₂ on the composition and stability of the Mg/Fe-bearing mineral phases could be observed. Under reducing conditions, the residual melts follow a tholeiitic differentiation trend. In contrast, melts have high Mg# [Mg²⁺/(Mg²⁺ + Fe²⁺)] and follow a calk-alkalic differentiation trend at oxidizing conditions. The comparison of the natural phenocryst assemblages with the experimental products allows us to constrain the differentiation and pre-eruptive conditions of these magmas. The pre-eruptive temperature of the alkalic basalt was about 950–1,050°C. The water content of the melt was below 2.5 wt% H₂O and strongly oxidizing conditions (log fO₂ ~ ΔQFM + 2) were prevailing in the magma chamber prior to eruption. The temperature of the tholeiitic melt was above 1,060°C, with a water content below 2 wt% H₂O and a log fO₂ ~ ΔQFM + 1. Early fractionation of clinopyroxene is a crucial step resulting in the generation of silica-poor and alkali-rich residual melts (e.g., alkali basalt). The enrichment of alkalis in residual melts is enhanced at high fO₂ and low aH₂O.     

Diversity and origin of abyssal tholeiite from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near 24° and 30° North latitude

On cursory examination of hand specimens and thin sections, the abyssal tholeiite in a dredge haul may appear to be uniform in composition. Chemical analyses of a considerable number of fragments, however, have always revealed the existence of regular compositional variation in them. The MgO content decreases with increasing SiO₂. In abyssal tholeiites with relatively low Al₂O₃ contents, the SiO₂, total iron, Na₂O and P₂O₅ contents tend to increase and the MgO content tends to decrease with increasing iron/magnesia ratio, probably owing to crystallization differentiation.In a certain dredge haul, high-alumina abyssal tholeiites (with Al₂O₃ contents near or over 17%) occur in association with low-alumina abyssal tholeiites. The magma of high-alumina abyssal tholeiites would be generated from that of low-alumina abyssal tholeiites by differentiation at a depth around 30 km.In pillow lavas of abyssal tholeiite free from weathering and metamorphism, the chilled rim of the pillow usually has virtually the same chemical composition as the more crystalline core except for a decrease of K₂O content toward the rim. On the other hand, the weathered rim of pillow lavas shows marked compositional change. The Fe₂O₃/FeO ratio of unweathered abyssal tholeiite is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3. This ratio and the H₂O^– and H₂O⁺ contents increase with advancing weathering.Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory Contribution No. 1339     

Hydrogen isotope systematics of submarine basalts

The D/H ratios and water contents in fresh submarine basalts from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the East Pacific Rise, and Hawaii indicate that the primary D/H ratios of many submarine lavas have been altered by processes including (1) outgassing, (2) addition of seawater at magmatic temperature, and (3) low-temperature hydration of glass. Decreases in δD and H²O⁺ from exteriors to interiors of pillows are explained by outgassing of water whereas inverse relations between δD and H₂O⁺ in basalts from the Galapagos Rise and the FAMOUS Area are attributed to outgassing of CH₄ and H₂. A good correlation between δD values and H₂O is observed in a suite of submarine tholeiites dredged from the Kilauea East Rift Zone where seawater (added directly to the magma), affected only the isotopic compositions of hydrogen and argon. Analyses of some glassy rims indicate that the outer millimeter of the glass can undergo lowtemperature hydration by hydroxyl groups having δD values as low as ?100.δD values vary with H₂O contents of subaerial transitional basalts from Molokai, Hawaii, and subaerial alkali basalts from the Society Islands, indicating that the primary δD values were similar to those of submarine lavas.Extrapolations to possible unaltered δD values and H₂O contents indicate that the primary δD values of most thoteiite and alkali basalts are near ?80 ± 5: the weight percentages of water are variable, 0.15–0.35 for MOR tholeiites, about 0.25 for Hawaiian tholeiites, and up to 1.1 for alkali basalts. The primary δD values of ?80 for most basalts are comparable to those measured for deep-seated phlogopites. These results indicate that hydrogen, in marked contrast to other elements such as Sr, Nd, Pb, and O, has a uniform isotopic composition in the mantle. This uniformity is best explained by the presence of a homogeneous reservoir of hydrogen that has existed in the mantle since the very early history of the Earth.     

Origin and crystallization history of Permian tholeiites from the Saar-Nahe trough,SW Germany

The Hirschberg and Rödern diatremes, within the Permian Saar-Nahe trough, SW Germany, are composed chiefly of basaltic tuffs, with associated small intrusions of K-rich tholeiites. Several tholeiite bodies carry 2–20 mm crystals of magnesian clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene, the latter containing up to 5.5% Al₂O₃ and often extensively resorbed and rimmed by fine-grained olivine and clinopyroxene. Experimental duplication of these pyroxenes has been achieved under conditions of Pload=6–10 kb, T=1280–1080° C and 2–4 wt.-% H₂O, confirming that they represent a rare occurence of high pressure phenocrysts in tholeiitic basalts.These conditions of pyroxene crystallization also place constraints on processes of magma generation, indicating that the tholeiites originated by partial melting of unusually hydrous peridotite mantle (0.4–0.8% H₂O) beneath a relatively thin continental crust (maximum thickness approximately 30 km). Water present in the mantle at the site of magma generation may have been derived from the dehydration of oceanic lithosphere prior to the formation of the Saar-Nahe trough. This lithosphere probably underwent subduction at the margin of the Palaeozoic European continent during the Hercynian cycle of sedimentation, andesitic volcanism and folding. The termination of this cycle was followed by a period of basin-range type tensional faulting, leading to the formation of the Permian basins of present-day Central Europe, and widespread bimodal basalt/rhyolite volcanism.     

Composition and age of tertiary sills and dykes, Jameson Land Basin, East Greenland: relation to regional flood volcanism

The Paleozoic–Mesozoic Jameson Land Basin (East Greenland) is intruded by a sill complex and by a swarm of ESE trending dykes. Together with dykes of the inner Scoresby Sund fjord, they form a regional Early Tertiary intrusive complex located 200–400 km inland of the East Greenland rifted continental margin. Most of the intrusive rocks in the Jameson Land Basin are geochemically coherent and consist of evolved plagioclase–augite–olivine saturated, uncontaminated high-Ti basalt with 48.5–50.2 wt.% SiO₂, 2.2–3.2 wt.% TiO₂, 5.1–7.4 wt.% MgO, 9–17 ppm Nb and La/Yb_N=2.8–3.6. Minor tholeiitic rock types are: (a) low-Ti basalt (49.7 wt.% SiO₂, 1.7 wt.% TiO₂, 6.8 wt.% MgO, 2.6 ppm Nb and La/Yb_N=0.5) akin to oceanic basalts; (b) very-high-Ti basalt (48.6 wt.% SiO₂, 4.1 wt.% TiO₂, 5.1 wt.% MgO and 21 ppm Nb); and (c) plagioclase ultraphyric basalt. The tholeiitic dolerites are cut by alkali basalt (43.7–47.3 wt.% SiO₂, 4.1–5.1 wt.% TiO₂, 4.9–6.2 wt.% MgO, 29–46 ppm Nb and La/Yb_N=16–17) sills and dykes.Modelling of high-field-strength and rare-earth elements indicate that the high-Ti basalts formed from 6–10% melting of approximately equal proportions of garnet- and spinel-bearing mantle of slightly depleted composition beneath thick continental lithosphere. Conversely, dolerite intrusions and flood basalts of similar compositional kindred from adjacent but more rift-proximal occurrences in Northeast Greenland formed from shallower melting of dominantly spinel-bearing mantle beneath extended and thinned continental lithosphere. These variations in lithospheric thickness suggest the continent–ocean transition of the East Greenland rifted volcanic margin is sharp and narrow.⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dating and paleomagnetism show that the high-Ti dolerites were emplaced at 53–52 Ma (most likely during C23r) and hence surprisingly postdate the main flood volcanism by 2–5 Ma and the inception of seafloor spreading between Greenland and Europe by 1–2 Ma. The formation of tholeiitic and alkaline magmas emplaced into the Jameson Land Basin corroborates to the importance of post-breakup magmatism along the East Greenland volcanic rifted margin. Upwelling of the ancestral Iceland mantle plume under central Greenland at 53–52 Ma (rather than under the active rift), perhaps accompanied by a failed attempt to shift the rift zone westward towards the plume axis, may have triggered post-breakup continental magmatism of the Jameson Land Basin and the inner Scoresby Sund region, along preexisting structural lineaments.     

Sur la présence de tholéiites à l'île Saint-Paul (Océan Indien)

The basalts and dolerites from Saint-Paul island, located on the east section of the Indian ridge, are reinvestigated. New chemical rock analysis show that they are caracterized by high Fe, low Mg, and various Al contents; they belong to quartz tholeiites and olivine tholeiites of Yoder and Tilley's classification. Two clinopyroxene analysis allow to confirm this tholeiitic relationship. Compared with abyssal tholeiites, those of Saint-Paul are dissimilar in respect to Al₂O₃/CaO and FeO/MgO ratios, Sr and Rb contents (231–308 ppm and 6 to 29 ppm respectively) and 87 Sr/86 Sr values (0,7041–0,7065). Bearing in mind the structural position of the island, this differences are discussed in light of experimental data. Saint-Paul's basalts and dolerites are products a magma fractionated according to a Fernner trend and probably issued from deeper part of the upper mantle than abyssal tholeiites.     

Textural evolution and metamorphism of pillow basalts from the Franciscan Complex,western Marin County,California

Petrogenesis of Franciscan pillow basalts from the Franciscan Complex of western Marin County California entails both dynamic crystallization of tholeiitic magma and subsequent low-temperature metamorphism. Brittle deformation during tectonic emplacement of pillow basalts into a chert greywacke terrain is manifested by the shearing of interpillow matrix and polishing of pillow rims, but the igneous textures within pillows are well preserved.The cooling history of pillow basalts can be understood through analysis of morphologic variations of primary olivine and plagioclase from rim to core of the pillow. Crystal sizes and plagioclase dendrite spacings are consisted with a cooling rate which generally decreases inward. Some pillows show a marked asymmetry in plagioclase and olivine morphology suggesting lower cooling rates caused by asymmetric cooling of the pillows. Olivine morphologies, primarily hopper and chain forms, are consistent with cooling rates of 2–10 °C/h for pillow cores and 50–75 °C/h for pillow rims.Low temperature hydrothermal alteration has produced secondary minerals indicative of zeolite facies conditions. Pillow matrix is either chloritic or zeolitic (in part laumontized). Pillow rims display incomplete replacement of calcic palagonite by pumpellyite (Fe₂O₃=9–21 wt%), prehnite (Fe₂O₃=5–7 wt%), sphene and quartz. Metamorphism of pillow interiors, manifested by: (1) veins of quartz, pumpellyite, calcite, or harmotome (BaO=15 wt%); (2) amygdules containing analcime, chlorite or quartz; and (3) replacement of olivine by pumpellyite or smectite/illite, of plagioclase by albite (An3)+sericite, and of glassy groundmass by fine-grained chlorite. Primary augite (Wo3₃₉En₁₃Fs₄₈) was not altered. The described paragenesis may be attributed to oceanfloor and/or Franciscan-type metamorphism.     

Basalt geochemistry used to investigate past tectonic environments on Cyprus

Study of the geochemical fingerprints of four geologically distinct suites of volcanic rocks on Cyprus are used to sketch a tectonic history of the island. Lavas from the Mamonia complex resemble alkalic within-plate basalts; lower pillow lavas and diabases of the Troodos Massif have features both of ocean-floor and island-arc tholeiites and could have been erupted in an interarc basin; the upper pillow lavas of the Troodos Massif resemble primitive tholeiitic basalts from island arcs; lavas from the Kyrenia range resemble transitional to alkalic within-plate basalts. The low TiO₂ concentrations from the Troodos Massif may indicate a slow spreading rate. The Sr concentrations in the upper pillow lavas indicate an eruption at a maximum distance of 80 km above a Benioff zone. The results suggest formation of the Troodos Massif in the Campanian by spreading in an interarc basin followed by eruption of island-arc tholeiites. Obduction of continental material and ocean islands may have taken place in the Maestrichtian and Middle Miocene.     

Basalt magmatism along the passive continental margin of SE Brazil (Campos basin)

The SE-Brazil passive continental margin is characterized by tholeiitic magmatism that is particularly widespread in the marginal Campos basin, facing the inland flood basalts of the adjacent Paranà basin. Campos magmatism is represented by Early Cretaceous (EC; 134–122 Ma) flood basalts and minor Upper Cretaceous-Early Tertiary basalt flows and intrusives, which were emplaced in a basin with attenuated crustal thickness (20 km). Petrography, mineral chemistry, wholerock geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotope composition emphasize that the EC-Campos basalts have suffered extensive seawater interaction which caused enrichment in MgO, FeO total, K₂O, Rb and Ba, and depletion in SiO₂ and CaO, while Zr, Nb, Y and REE remained virtually constant in samples with loss-on-ignition values less than 4 wt%. In general, Campos basalts have bulkrock chemistry similar to those of the inland Parana tholeiites (140–130 Ma) with relatively low concentrations of incompatible elements and TiO₂ (<2 wt%). Batch-melting calculations suggest that Campos basalt genesis requires a garnet-peridotite source and variable degree of melting (9–25%) in order to explain the rare-earth-element (REE) patterns with chondrite normalised La/Yb_(N) ratio ranging from 0.9–1.0 to 4.4–7.1. The Sr–Nd isotopic data for the slightly altered Campos basalts, of both Early Cretaceous and Upper Cretaceous-Early Tertiary age, plot close to bulk earth, or in the enriched quadrant of the mantle array. Inter-element (La, Zr, Nb, Ba) ratios preclude for the Campos (and Paranà) basalt genesis any significant participation of N-type (Zr/Nb>16) MORB (mid-ocean-ridge basalt) mantle in simple binary mixing models. On the whole, the Early Cretaceous Campos basalts appear as an easterly, younger extension of the northern Paranà volcanism and probably erupted during early stages of the major riftingprocesses which caused continental thinning. It is notable that in the Campos marginal basin both the basalt magmatism contemporaneous with the continental break-up, as well as that which occurred after the S. America-Africa separation, appears substantially related to subcontinental lithosphere and a Dupal-like OIB (ocean-island basalt) (e.g. Tristan da Cunha) source components.     

Preliminary geochemical study of volcanic rocks in the Pang Mayao area, Phrao, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand: tectonic setting of formation

The least-altered, Permian mafic volcanic rocks from the Pang Mayao area, Phrao District, Chiang Mai Province, part of Chiang Rai–Chiang Mai volcanic belt, have been analyzed and are found to be mid-ocean ridge and ocean–island basalts. The mid-ocean ridge basalts occur as lava flows or dike rocks. They are equigranular, fine- to medium-grained and consist largely of plagioclase, clinopyroxene and olivine. These basalt samples are tholeiitic, and have compositions very similar to T-MORB from the region where the Du Toit Fracture Zone intersects the Southwest Indian Ridge. The ocean–island basalt occurs as pillow breccia, and lava flows or dike rocks. They are slightly to moderately porphyritic, with phenocrysts/microphenocrysts of clinopyroxene, olivine, plagioclase and/or Fe–Ti oxide. The groundmass is very fine-grained, and made up largely of felty plagioclase laths with subordinate clinopyroxene. These basalt samples are alkalic, and chemically analogous to those from Haleakala Volcano, Maui, Hawaiian Chain. These mafic volcanic rocks may have been formed in a major ocean basin rather than in a mature back-arc basin.     

Origin of ultramafic xenoliths containing exsolved pyroxenes from Hualalai Volcano,Hawaii

Hualalai Volcano, Hawaii, is best known for the abundant and varied xenoliths included in the historic 1800 Kaupulehu alkalic basalt flow. Xenoliths, which range in composition from dunite to anorthosite, are concentrated at 915-m elevation in the flow. Rare cumulate ultramafic xenoliths, which include websterite, olivine websterite, wehrlite, and clinopyroxenite, display complex pyroxene exsolution textures that indicate slow cooling. Websterite, olivine websterite, and one wehrlite are spinel-bearing orthopyroxene +olivine cumulates with intercumulus clinopyroxene +plagioclase. Two wehrlite samples and clinopyroxenite are spinel-bearing olivine cumulates with intercumulus clinopyroxene+orthopyroxene + plagioclase. Two-pyroxene geothermometry calculations, based on reconstructed pyroxene compositions, indicate that crystallization temperatures range from 1225° to 1350° C. Migration or unmixing of clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene stopped between 1045° and 1090° C. Comparisons of the abundance of K₂O in plagioclase and the abundances of TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃in spinel of xenoliths and mid-ocean ridge basalt, and a single ⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr determination, indicate that these Hualalai xenoliths are unrelated to mid-ocean ridge basalt. Similarity between the crystallization sequence of these xenoliths and the experimental crystallization sequence of a Hawaiian olivine tholeiite suggest that the parental magma of the xenoliths is Hualalai tholeiitic basalt. Xenoliths probably crystallized between about 4.5 and 9 kb. The 155°–230° C of cooling which took place over about 120 ka — the age of the youngest Hualalai tholeiitic basalt — yield maximum cooling rates of 1.3×10^–3–1.91×10^–3 °C/yr. Hualalai ultramafic xenoliths with exsolved pyroxenes crystallized from Hualalai tholeiitic basalt and accumulated in a magma reservoir located between 13 and 28 km below sealevel. We suspect that this reservoir occurs just below the base of the oceanic crust at about 19 km below sealevel.     

Vesicles,water, and sulfur in Reykjanes Ridge basalts

Dredge hauls of fresh submarine basalt collected from the axis of the Reykjanes Ridge (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) south of Iceland were taken aboard R/ V TRIDENT in 1967 and 1971. The samples show systematic changes as the water depth of collection (and eruption) decreases: radially elongate vesicles and concentric zones of vesicles appear at about 700 m depth and are conspicuous to shallow water; the smoothed volume percent of vesicles increases from 5% at 1000 m, 10% at 700 m, to 16% at 500 m, and the scatter in degree of vesicularity increases in shallower water; specific gravity decreases from 2.7±0.1 at 1000 m to 2.3±0.3 at 100 m. Bulk sulfur content for the outer 2 cm averages 843 ppm up to a depth of 200 m, then drops off rapidly in shallower water owing to degassing. Sulfur content below 200 m is independent of depth (or geographic position), and the melt is apparently saturated with sulfur, but the excess cannot escape the lava unless another vehicle carries it out. Only shallower than 200 m, where intense vesiculation of other gases occurs can excess sulfur be lost from the lava erupting on the sea floor. H₂O^+110° averages about 0.35 percent and H₂O^+150° about 0.25 percent, and both apparently decrease in water shallower than 200 m as a result of degassing. H₂O⁺ (below 200 m) decreases with distance from Iceland or increasing depth, presumably as a result of either adsorption of water on the surface of shallower, more vesicular rocks; or more likely due to the presence of the Iceland hot mantle plume supplying undifferentiated primordial material, relative to lavas of the Reykjanes Ridge supplied from the low velocity layer already depleted in volatiles and large lithophile elements. The H₂O^+110°/S ratio of lava erupting below 200 m water depth ranges from 3 to 5 which is comparable to reliable gas analyses from oceanic basaltic volcanoes. Publication authorized by the Director, U.S. Geological Survey.     

High temperature mass spectrometric gas-release studies of Hawaiian volcanic glass: Pele's tears

The identification of gaseous molecular species and mechanisms of their release from glassy lava have been investigated with a high temperature mass spectrometer. Using Pele's tears as representative of quenched liquids of Hawaiian tholeiitic basalts, it was found that volatiles are released at low temperatures by a rate-limiting diffusion mechanism and, at temperatures in the softening range of the glass, by bursting of bubbles trapped near the vaporizing surface of the sphere-like particles.Gases released by bursting gave pressure surges and were found to be water vapor, CO₂ and CO. Those released principally by diffusion, and in some cases generated by thermal degradation and further reaction with the sample, include H₂, O₂, N₂, S₂, H₂S, SO₂, SO₃, COS, HCl, HF and NH₃. Average mole percent compositions of the volatiles H₂O, CO₂ and SO₂ relative to the total gas released were found to be 95 per cent, 3·5 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively. Minor concentrations of organic constituents, previously unobserved in volcanic gas analyses, were also found. Fragmentation patterns and gas release behavior suggest that these are derived from a mixture of low-molecular weight saturated and unsaturated acyclic hydrocarbons (C₁-C₄).     

Geochemical evolution of Kohala Volcano,Hawaii

Kohala Volcano, the oldest of five shield volcanoes comprising the island of Hawaii, consists of a basalt shield dominated by tholeiitic basalt, Pololu Volcanics, overlain by alkalic lavas, Hawi Volcanics. In the upper Pololu Volcanics the lavas become more enriched in incompatible elements, and there is a transition from tholeiitic to alkalic basalt. In contrast, the Hawi volcanics consist of hawaiites, mugearites, and trachytes. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 14 Pololu basalts and 5 Hawi lavas range from 0.70366 to 0.70392 and 0.70350 to 0.70355, respectively. This small but distinct difference in Sr isotopic composition of different lava types, especially the lower ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in the younger lavas with higher Rb/Sr, has been found at other Hawaiian volcanoes. Our data do not confirm previous data indicating Sr isotopic homogeneity among lavas from Kohala Volcano. Also some abundance trends, such as MgO-P₂O₅, are not consistent with a simple genetic relationship between Pololu and Hawi lavas. We conclude that all Kohala lavas were not produced by equilibrium partial melting of a compositionally homogeneous source.     

Basalts as probes of planetary interiors: Constraints on the chemistry and mineralogy of their source regions

Basalt magmas, derived by the partial melting of planetary interiors, have compositions that reflect the pre-accretionary history of the material from which the planet formed, the planets, subsequent evolutionary history, the chemistry and mineralogy of the source regions, and the intensive thermodynamic parameters operating at the source and emplacement sites. Studies of basalt suites from the Earth, its Moon, and the eucrite parent body reveal compositional differences intrinsic to their source regions which are, in turn, a characteristic of the planet and its formational and evolutionary history.Major interplanetary differences are observed in iron, , TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Na₂O, Cr, Ni, and in volatile element abundances. The most primitive mare basalts have Mg#s 0.6, on the Earth they are 0.70–0.72 for mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs) and up to 0.9 for Archean peridotitic komatiites. Eucrites have Mg#s approaching 0.5 (excepting Binda). These differences reflect inherent differences in of their sources. Striking differences in the TiO₂ abundances of the planetary basalts reflect both inter- and intra-planetary variations in source chemistry. Primitive MORBs and primitive oceanic intraplate tholeiites have a factor of 2–3 difference in TiO₂ at comparable Mg# (0.7–1.2 vs 2–3 wt.% respectively). Three major titania groups are recognized in the mare suite; high TiO₂ (8–13 wt.%), low TiO₂ (2–5 wt.%) and very low TiO₂ (<1 wt.%). The eucrites have TiO₂ contents <1 wt.%.The mare basalts and eucrites have pronounced Na₂O depletion relative to all terrestrial basalts. This is a consequence of the preplanetary accretion loss of volatiles from the material that formed the Moon and the eucrite parent bodies.Mare basalts have consistently lower Al₂O₃ contents than the terrestrial basalts. This may be due either to an inherently lower content of Al₂O₃ in the mare sources or it may reflect Al₂O₃ retention in an aluminous phase.The transition metals are fractionated in all three basalt suites. For terrestrial basalts this may reflect core-separation; however, in the case of the Moon and eucrite parent bodies pre-accretionary separation of metal and silicates is a more reasonable explanation. A pronounced Cr anomaly is observed in terrestrial MORBs but not in the mare basalts. This appears to be related to f_O2 differences in the respective mantles.Overall rare earth element abundances are comparable between all three objects. Mare basalts have a pronounced negative Eu anomaly which is inherited from their source region and is record of plagioclase removal from crystallizing magma ocean early in lunar history (4.4–4.6 Ga). Early separation of plagioclase on the Earth appears to have been a relatively unimportant process.     

An estimate of the juvenile sulfur content of basalt

Sulfur analyses by X-ray fluorescence give an average content of 107 ppm for 9 samples of fresh subaerially-erupted oceanic basalt and 680 ppm for 38 samples of submarine erupted basalt. This difference is the result of retention of sulfur in basalt quenched on the sea floor and loss of sulfur in basalt by degassing at the surface. The outer glassy part of submarine erupted basalt contains 800±150 ppm sulfur, and this amount is regarded as an estimate of the juvenile sulfur content of the basalt melt from the mantle. The slower cooled interiors of basalt pillows are depleted relative to the rims owing to degassing and escape through surface fractures. Available samples of deep-sea basalts do not indicate a difference in original sulfur content between low-K tholeiite, Hawaiian tholeiite, and alkali basalt.The H₂O/S ratio of analyzed volcanic gases is generally lower than the H₂O/S ratio of gases presumed lost from surface lavas as determined by chemical differences between pillow rims and surface lavas. This enrichment of volcanic gases in sulfur relative to water may result from a greater degassing of sulfur relative to water from shallow intrusive bodies beneath the volcano.Publication authorized by the Director, U.S. Geological Survey.     

Role of lithosphere-asthenosphere interaction in the genesis of Quaternary alkali and tholeiitic basalts from Datong, western North China Craton

The geochemistry of Quaternary volcanic rocks from Datong provides important constraints on the petrogenesis of continental alkali and tholeiitic basalts and lithospheric evolution in the western North China Craton. Alkali basalts in north Datong have trace element compositions similar to oceanic island basalts (OIB). They show nearly homogenous isotopic compositions (?_Nd = 5.4-6.8 and ⁸⁷Sr / ⁸⁶Sr = 0.7035-0.7037) that resemble the nearby Hannuoba Miocene basalts, indicating that the two lava suites share a similar asthenospheric source. However, Datong basalts have conspicuously lower Al₂O₃ and CaO, higher SiO₂ and HREE contents and Na / Ti ratios, compared to Hannuoba lavas at comparable MgO. This compositional difference is attributable to the combined effect of source difference and temporal decrease in melting depth. The latter reflects Cenozoic lithospheric thinning of the western North China Craton.Tholeiitic basalts in southeast Datong have incompatible element ratios that differ from OIB; they have lower ?_Nd (1.3-3.7) and higher ⁸⁷Sr / ⁸⁶Sr (0.7039-0.7046) compared to alkali basalts. These moderately evolved rocks (MgO < 7%) display unusually high Cr concentrations (> 200 ppm), a nearly flat LREE pattern and a fractionated HREE with the “kink” occurring at Gd. A shallow melting depth (< 60 km), suggested by their Q-normative composition, is in conflict with the residual garnet in the source (> 75 km) as required by REE modeling. This paradox, which is reminiscent of that for Hawaiian tholeiites, can be reconciled if garnet lherzolite melts react with refractory peridotites during which orthopyroxene is dissolved and olivine precipitates. The diagnostic consequence of this melt-rock reaction includes increases in SiO₂ and Cr, decreases in Al₂O₃ and CaO, and formation of “kinked” REE patterns. Involvement of lithospheric mantle in the genesis of Datong tholeiites may be related to the Cenozoic lithospheric thinning/erosion in the western North China Craton. The spatial distribution of Datong alkali and tholeiitic basalts may be related to enhanced extension along the lithospheric boundary between the Western Block of the North China Craton and the Trans-North China Orogen.     

Fluorine geochemistry of basaltic rocks from continental and oceanic regions and petrogenetic application

Fluorine contents in about 300 samples of various types of basalts and related rocks from continental (southwestern U.S.A.; Zaire; Deccan and South Africa) and oceanic regions (Hawaii and Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 23° N and 40° N) were determined by a selective ion-electrode method.Of all of the major components in these basaltic rocks, F shows good correlation only with K₂O. It increases regularly from tholeiite to perpotassic basalt on continents, and from tholeiite to nephelinite on Hawaii. In the F-K₂O diagram all the basaltic rocks from continents and Hawaii plot between the origin of the coordinate axes and the field of phlogopite in peridotite xenoliths in South African kimberlites. Accordingly, the major proportions of F, K₂O and also H₂O in these basaltic magmas are derived from phlogopite at the source regions in the upper mantle. On the other hand, F in abyssal tholeiites is relatively higher than that of the other tholeiites at equal K₂O content, and it is suggested that most of F, K₂O and H₂O are derived from pargasites.When it is assumed that the upper mantle phlogopite contains about 10% K₂O, 0.4% (0.3–0.5%) F and 4% H₂O, H₂O content in basaltic magmas from continental including island arc and oceanic island regions can be qualitatively estimated based on their proportions of K₂OFH₂O. Similarly, H₂O content in abyssal basaltic rocks is also estimated on the basis of FH₂O in pargasites (Table 2).A suite of Deccan tholeiites shows remarkable F enrichment with increasing K₂O due to separation of anhydrous and K-free minerals during fractionation. F in tholeiitic and alkali basalt magmas in Hawaii also increases regularly with K₂O during progressive fractionation until the later stages, where rhyodacite and trachyte exhibit a relative decrease owing to the effective subtraction of F-bearing amphibole and apatite in addition to anhydrous minerals.