The Val Gabbro Plutonic Suite: A Sub-volcanic Intrusion Emplaced at the End of Flood Basalt Volcanism on the Kerguelen Archipelago

The age, petrology, major and trace element geochemistry, andSr–Nd–Hf–Pb isotopic geochemistry of basicand felsic rocks from the Val gabbro plutonic suite on the KerguelenArchipelago, Southern Indian Ocean, are used to constrain thetemporal and compositional relationships between sub-volcanicintrusions and flood basalt volcanism during the formation ofa major oceanic island. The 4 km² Val gabbro plutonic suitewas emplaced at 24·25 ± 0·15 Ma (U–Pbzircon) into 25 Ma volcanic rocks of the Southeast Province,locally producing a large zone of overlying basaltic breccia.Cumulate basic–ultrabasic rocks are the dominant lithologyin the intrusion, with horizontally layered peridotites at thebase of the exposed part of the intrusion, overlain by verticallylayered, coarse-grained plagioclase-bearing peridotites, melagabbrosand equigranular gabbros. The intrusion was formed by repeatedinjections of relatively crystal-rich and crystal-poor magmasinto an open-system magma reservoir. Strong geochemical andisotopic similarities between the fine-grained marginal microgabbrosand cross-cutting felsic rocks and the hosting mildly alkalicbasalts and trachytes of the Southeast Province indicate thatthey were derived from similar alkalic basaltic parental magmas,which were dominated by the enriched component of the Kerguelenmantle plume source. At 25 Ma, the change from tholeiitic–transitionalto mildly alkalic basalts marks the terminal stage of floodbasalt volcanism on the Kerguelen Archipelago. This compositionalchange was associated with deeper melting within the Kerguelenplume source, lower extents of melting, a decrease in magmasupply, and the emplacement of high-level intrusions such asthe Val gabbro plutonic suite. KEY WORDS: Kerguelen Archipelago; Val gabbro plutonic suite; oceanic island; gabbros; sub-volcanic intrusion; alkalinity; Sr–Nd–Hf–Pb isotopes     

The Lilloise intrusion,east Greenland: Hydrogen isotope evidence for the efflux of magmatic water into the contact metamorphic aureole

The epizonal, Tertiary Lilloise layered intrusion (5–9 km diameter) has a well developed amphibolitised basalt aureole, several hundred metres wide. The sequence of main cumulate minerals is olivine, augite, plagioclase, amphibole (Ti-hornblende to hastingsite), with amphibole first appearing as an intercumulus mineral about 2000 m below the present top of the intrusion. The range of D and ¹⁸O values (SMOW) of amphiboles and biotites from early intercumulus, and cumulus minerals and late pegmatites is very narrow, -70 to -88 and +4.3 to 5.5 respectively. Amphiboles or whole rocks from the basaltic country rocks change from D= -85 near the contact to -116 in the outer part of the aureole, and to -118 in the non-metamorphosed basalts up to 9km away. All basalts are depleted in ¹⁸O relative to normal values with the largest depletion (up to 2–3) in the outer part of the aureole. Meteoric water did not interact with either the magma or the hot plutonic rocks. This is in contrast to the results from most other plutonic complexes in the North Atlantic Tertiary igneous province (Skaergaard, Kangerdlugssuaq, Skye, etc.) many of which were similarly emplaced into basaltic country rocks. A meteoric-hydrothermal convective system was established in the basalts including the inner contact zone prior to the complete crystallisation of the Lilloise magma. The inner part of the aureole was finally modified by magmatic-hydrothermal fluids which evolved non explosively from the Lilloise magma. The meteoric-hydrothermal system in the outer part of the aureole, with integrated water/rock ratios of about 0.2 (atom % oxygen), did not collapse in on the hot pluton or inner contact metabasalts. Several factors may have reduced the permeability of the basalt country rocks. The emplacement of dykes prior to the Lilloise intrusion and possible associated weak hydrothermal activity could have restricted circulation of meteoric water; major fracture permeability was not generated during the quiet non-explosive crystallisation history of the Lilloise single magma pulse; metasomatism and alteration accompanying the magmatic-hydrothermal fluids may have reduced permeabilities in the inner aureole. Meteoric waters, however, did enter locally, at a very late stage, during low temperature serpentinisation of periodotite.     

Magmatic Evolution of the Skye Igneous Centre, Western Scotland: Modelling of Assimilation, Recharge and Fractional Crystallization

The Skye igneous centre, forming part of the British Tertiarymagmatic province, developed over a 7 Myr period (61–54Ma) and is characterized by a complex suite of lavas, hypabyssaland intrusive rocks of picritic to granitic composition. Theintrusion of magma from mantle to crust at 2x10^–3km³/yr(6 Mt/yr) advected magmatic heat of roughly 0·2 GW averagedover the period of magmatism supporting an ‘excess’heat flux of about 130 mW/m², or about twice the present-dayaverage continental heat flow. The volume of new crust generatedat Skye (15000 km³) spread over the present-day area of Skyecorresponds to 9 km of new crust. The geochemical evolutionof the Skye magmatic system is constrained using the Energy-ConstrainedRecharge, Assimilation, and Fractional Crystallization (EC-RAFC)model to understand variations in the Sr- and Pb-isotopic andSr trace-element composition of the exposed magmatic rocks withtime. The character (composition and specific enthalpy) of bothassimilant and recharge magma appears to change systematicallyup-section, suggesting that the magma reservoirs migrated toprogressively shallower levels as the system matured. The modelof the magma transport system that emerges is one in which magmabatches are stored initially at lower-crustal levels, wherethey undergo RAFC evolution. Residual magma from this stagethen migrates to shallower levels, where mid-crustal wall rockis assimilated; the recharge magma at this level is characterizedby an increasingly crustal signature. For some of the stratigraphicallyyoungest rocks, the data suggest that the magma reservoirs ascendedinto, and interacted with, upper-crustal Torridonian metasediments. KEY WORDS: assimilation; EC-RAFC model; geochemical modelling; magma recharge; Skye magmatism     

The Shape and Volume of the Skaergaard Intrusion, Greenland: Implications for Mass Balance and Bulk Composition

Re-examination of the Skaergaard intrusion in the context ofits regional setting, combined with new data from explorationdrilling, has resulted in a revised structural model for theintrusion. It is modelled as an irregular box, c. 11 km fromnorth to south, up to 8 km from east to west, and 3·4–4km from the lower to the upper contact. The walls of the intrusionare inferred to follow pre-existing and penecontemporaneoussteep faults, and the floor and roof seem largely controlledby bedding planes in the host sediments and lavas, similar toregional sills. The suggested shape and volume are in agreementwith published gravimetric modelling. Crystallization alongall margins of the intrusion concentrated the evolving meltin the upper, central part of the intrusion, best visualizedas an ‘onion-skin’ structure inside the box. Thetotal volume is estimated to c. 280 ± 23 km³, of which13·7% are referred to the Upper Border Series (UBS),16·4% to the Marginal Border Series (MBS) and 69·9%to the Layered Series (LS). In the LS, the Lower Zone (LZ) isestimated to constitute 66·8%, the Middle Zone (MZ) 13·5%and the Upper Zone (UZ) 19·7%. The new volume relationshipsprovide a mass balance estimate of the major and trace elementbulk composition of the intrusion. The parental magma to theSkaergaard intrusion is similar to high-Ti East Greenland tholeiiticplateau basalts with Mg number c. 0.45. The intrusion representsthe solidification of contemporary plateau basalt magma trappedand crystallized under closed-system conditions in a crustalreservoir at the developing East Greenland continental margin. KEY WORDS: bulk composition; emplacement; mass proportions; Skaergaard intrusion; structure     

Phase Equilibria Constraints on Relations of Ore-bearing Intrusionswith Flood Basalts in the Panxi Region, Southwestern China

There are two types of temporally and spatially associated intrusions within the Emeishan large igneous province (LIP); namely, small uitramafic subvolcanic sills that host magmatic Cu-Ni-Platinum Group Element (PGE)-bearing sulfide deposits and large mafic layered intrusions that host giant Ti-V magnetite deposits in the Panxi region. However, except for their coeval ages, the genetic relations between the ore-bearing intrusions and extrusive rocks are poorly understood. Phase equilibria analysis (Q-PI-OI-Opx-Cpx system) has been carried out to elucidate whether ore-bearing Panzhihua, Xinjie and Limahe intrusions are co-magmatic with the picrites and flood basalts (including high-Ti, low-Ti and alkali basalts), respectively. In this system, the parental magma can be classified as silica-undersaturated olivine basalt and silica-saturated tholeiite. The equivalents of the parental magma of the Xinjie and Limahe peridotites and picrites and iow-Ti basalts are silica-undersaturated, whereas the Limahe gabbro-diorites and high-Ti basalts are silica-saturated. In contrast, the Panzhihua intrusion appears to be alkali character. Phase equilibria relations clearly show that the magmas that formed the Panzhihua intrusion and high-Ti basalts cannot be co-magmatic as there is no way to derive one liquid from another by fractional crystallization. On the other hand, the Panzhihua intrusion appears to be related to Permian alkali intrusions in the region, but does not appear to be related to the alkali basalts recognized in the Longzhoushan lava stratigraphy. Comparably, the Limabe intrusion appears to be a genetic relation to the picrites, whereas the Xinjie intrusion may be genetically related to be low-Ti basaits. Additionally, the gabbro-diorites and peridotites of the Limahe intrusion are not co-magmatic, and the former appears to be derived liquid from high-Ti basalts.     

Phase Equilibria Constraints on Relations of Ore‐bearing Intrusions with Flood Basalts in the Panxi Region,Southwestern China

There are two types of temporally and spatially associated intrusions within the Emeishan large igneous province (LIP); namely, small ultramafic subvolcanic sills that host magmatic Cu-Ni-Platinum Group Element (PGE)-bearing sulfide deposits and large mafic layered intrusions that host giant Ti-V magnetite deposits in the Panxi region. However, except for their coeval ages, the genetic relations between the ore-bearing intrusions and extrusive rocks are poorly understood. Phase equilibria analysis (Q-Pl-Ol-Opx-Cpx system) has been carried out to elucidate whether ore-bearing Panzhihua, Xinjie and Limahe intrusions are co-magmatic with the picrites and flood basalts (including high-Ti, low-Ti and alkali basalts), respectively. In this system, the parental magma can be classified as silica-undersaturated olivine basalt and silica-saturated tholeiite. The equivalents of the parental magma of the Xinjie and Limahe peridotites and picrites and low-Ti basalts are silica-undersaturated, whereas the Limahe gabbro-diorites and high-Ti basalts are silica-saturated. In contrast, the Panzhihua intrusion appears to be alkali character. Phase equilibria relations clearly show that the magmas that formed the Panzhihua intrusion and high-Ti basalts cannot be co-magmatic as there is no way to derive one liquid from another by fractional crystallization. On the other hand, the Panzhihua intrusion appears to be related to Permian alkali intrusions in the region, but does not appear to be related to the alkali basalts recognized in the Longzhoushan lava stratigraphy. Comparably, the Limahe intrusion appears to be a genetic relation to the picrites, whereas the Xinjie intrusion may be genetically related to be low-Ti basalts. Additionally, the gabbro-diorites and peridotites of the Limahe intrusion are not co-magmatic, and the former appears to be derived liquid from high-Ti basalts.     

Flood and Shield Basalts from Ethiopia: Magmas from the African Superswell

The Ethiopian plateau is made up of several distinct volcaniccentres of different ages and magmatic affinities. In the NE,a thick sequence of 30 Ma flood basalts is overlain by the 30Ma Simien shield volcano. The flood basalts and most of thisshield volcano, except for a thin veneer of alkali basalt, aretholeiitic. In the centre of the province, a far thinner sequenceof flood basalt is overlain by the 22 Ma Choke and Guguftu shieldvolcanoes. Like the underlying flood basalts, these shieldsare composed of alkaline lavas. A third type of magma, whichalso erupted at 30 Ma, is more magnesian, alkaline and stronglyenriched in incompatible trace elements. Eruption of this magmawas confined to the NE of the province, a region where the lavaflows are steeply tilted as a result of deformation contemporaneouswith their emplacement. Younger shields (e.g. Mt Guna, 10·7Ma) are composed of Si-undersaturated lavas. The three maintypes of magma have very different major and trace element characteristicsranging from compositions low in incompatible elements in thetholeiites [e.g. 10 ppm La at 7 wt % MgO (=La₇), La/Yb = 4·2],moderate in the alkali basalts (La₇ = 24, La/Yb = 9·2),and very high in the magnesian alkaline magmas (La₇ = 43, La/Yb= 17). Although their Nd and Sr isotope compositions are similar,Pb isotopic compositions vary considerably; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb variesin the range of     

新街镁铁—超镁铁侵入体的铂族元素地球化学特征

采用镍硫试金预处理中子活化分析方法,系统测定了新街层状侵入体镁铁－超镁铁岩和与其有成因联系的玄武岩及正长岩的铂族元素含量,探讨了岩浆作用过程中铂族元素的地球化学行为。结果表明,新街岩体的铂元素分异特征与布什维尔德等铁质超镁铁岩相似,而明显不同于科马提岩和阿尔卑斯型橄榄岩,二叠系峨眉山玄武岩的铂族元素分异特征与新街岩体相似,再次证实二者为同源岩浆分异产物。     

Petrogenesis of Cogenetic Silica-Oversaturated and -Undersaturated Syenites by Periodic Recharge in a Crustally Contaminated Magma Chamber: the Kangerlussuaq Intrusion, East Greenland

The Palaeogene Kangerlussuaq Intrusion (50 Ma) of East Greenlanddisplays concentric zonation from quartz-rich nordmarkite (quartzsyenite) at the margin, through pulaskite, to foyaite (nephelinesyenite) in the centre; modal layering and igneous laminationare locally developed but there are no internal intrusive contacts.This is an apparent violation of the phase relations in Petrogeny'sResidua System. We propose that this intrusion is layered, gradingfrom quartz syenite at the bottom to nepheline syenite at thetop. Mineral and whole-rock major and trace element data andSr–Nd–Hf–Pb isotope data are presented thatprovide constraints on the petrogenesis of the intrusion. Radiogenicisotope data indicate a continuously decreasing crustal componentfrom the quartz nordmarkites (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0·7061; _Ndi= 2·3; _Hfi = 5·2; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_meas = 16·98)to the foyaites (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0·7043–0·7044;_Ndi = 3·8–4·9; _Hfi = 10·7–11·1;²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_meas = 17·78–17·88); the foyaitesare dominated by a mantle isotopic signature. The average Mg-numberof amphibole cores becomes increasingly primitive, varying from26·4 in the nordmarkites to 57·4 in the pulaskites.Modal layering, feldspar lamination and the presence of hugebasaltic xenoliths derived from the chamber roof, now restingon the transient chamber floor, demonstrate bottom-upwards crystallization.The intrusion cannot, therefore, have formed in a system closedto magmatic recharge. The lack of gneissic xenoliths in thenordmarkites suggests that most contamination took place deeperin the crust. In the proposed model, the nordmarkitic magmaformed during crustal assimilation in the roof zone of a large,silica-undersaturated alkali basaltic/basanitic, stratifiedmagma chamber, prior to emplacement in the uppermost crust.The more primitive syenites, terminating with foyaite at thetop of the intrusion, formed as a consequence of repeated rechargeof the Kangerlussuaq Intrusion magma chamber by tapping lesscontaminated, more primitive phonolitic melt from deeper partsof the underlying chamber during progressive armouring of theplumbing system. KEY WORDS: Kangerlussuaq; East Greenland; syenite; crustal contamination; magma mixing     

Ca-rich Ilvaite-Epidote-Hydrogarnet Endoskarns: a Record of Late-Magmatic Fluid Influx into the Persodic Ilimaussaq Complex, South Greenland

Endoskarn assemblages involving the Ca-silicates ilvaite, epidoteand Ca-rich garnet occur along fracture zones in the persodicIlímaussaq intrusion, South Greenland. The 1·16Ga intrusion solidified at a depth of about 3–4 km, belowa cover of sandstones and pillow-basalts of the Eriksfjord Formation.In contrast to typical skarn assemblages, the Ilímaussaqendoskarns contain albite as a main phase and they did not formin metacarbonate rocks, as these are completely lacking in thevicinity of Ilímaussaq. Instead, they record late- topost-magmatic interaction of possibly external Ca-rich fluidswith the alkaline to agpaitic magmatic rocks. Accordingly, endoskarntextures clearly reflect the magmatic textures of the precursorrocks. Phase relations in two endoskarn varieties with epidote+ albite + andradite-rich garnet ± ilvaite ± retrogradeprehnite suggest their formation at about 500°C at highoxygen fugacities slightly above the hematite–magnetiteoxygen buffer [FMQ (fayalite–magnetite–quartz) +5 to FMQ + 7] with later small modifications as a result offluid influx or cooling of the original fluid at about 300–350°C(formation of prehnite) and at about 200–250°C (oxygenisotopic re-equilibration of the albite). One model for theformation of the observed assemblages is the decomposition ofCa-bearing minerals, such as primary eudialyte, clinopyroxeneor ternary feldspar, and redistribution of the Ca by a metasomatizinglate-magmatic fluid. Stable isotope (O, H) investigations, however,favour a model in which seawater was the metasomatizing fluid,which entered the Eriksfjord basalts above the intrusion, reactedwith them (spilitization) and brought about 10^–3 mol/lCa along fractures into the metasomatized rocks. Fluid–rockinteraction in the Eriksfjord basalts is documented by abundantchlorite–epidote–quartz assemblages; high fluid/rockratios allowed the fluid to retain its seawater oxygen isotopecomposition. KEY WORDS: agpaite; endoskarn; Ilímaussaq; ilvaite; metasomatism; seawater     

Isotopic and Chemical Evidence Concerning the Genesis and Contamination of Basaltic and Rhyolitic Magma Beneath the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field

Since 2.2 Ma, the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field has produced6000 km³ of rhyolite tuffs and lavas in >60 separate eruptions,as well as 100 km³ of tholeiitic basalt from >50 vents peripheralto the silicic focus. Intermediate eruptive products are absent.Large calderas collapsed at 2?0, 1?3, and 0?6 Ma on eruptionof ash-flow sheets representing at least 2500, 280, and 1000km³ of zoned magma. Early postcollapse rhyolites show largeshifts in Nd, Sr, Pb, and O isotopic compositions caused byassimilation of roof rocks and hydrothermal brines during collapseand resurgence. Younger intracaldera rhyolite lavas record partialisotopic recovery toward precaldera ration. Thirteen extracalderarhyolites show none of these effects and have sources independentof the subcaldera magma system. Contributions from the Archaeancrust have extreme values and wide ranges of Nd-, Sr-, and Pb-isotoperatios, but Yellowstone rhyolites have moderate values and limitedranges. This requires their deep-crustal sources to have beenpervasively hybridized (and the Archaean components diluted)by distributed intrusion of Cenozoic basalt, most of which wasprobably contemporaneous with the Pliocene and Qualernary volcanism.In hybrid sources yielding magmas parental to the subcalderarhyolites, half or more of the Nd and Sr may have been contributedby such young basalt. Parents for the extracaldera rhyolites,generated beyond the leading edge of the northeast-propagatingfocus of basaltic intrusion and deep-crustal mobilization, containedsmaller fractions of mantle-derived components. Most Yellowstone basalts had undergone cryptic clinopyroxenefractionation in the lower crust or crust-mantle transitionzone and, having also ascended through or adjacent to crustalzones of silicic-magma generation, most underwent some crustalcontamination. A high fraction of the Pb in most basalts isof crustal derivation. Anomalously low seismic velocities toa depth of 250 km and a high flux of ³He at Yellowstone suggestsublithospheric magma contributions. Elevated baseline Nd- andSr-isotopc ratios suggest additional contributions from oldlithospheric mantle, but this is hard to quantify because ofthe crustal overprint. Foundering of crustally contaminatedmain-stage cumulates into the low-viscosity upper mantle beneaththe principal focus of basaltic intrusion may influence theisotopic compositions of low-K tholeiites and Snake River olivinetholeiites subsequently generated along the Snake River Plainaxis in the wake of the main migrating melting anomaly.     

The Panafrican Stratoid Granites of Madagascar: Alkaline Magmatism in a Post-Collisional Extensional Setting

A major alkali province of late Panafrican age occupies centralMadagascar and takes the form of a thick sequence of ‘stratoid’(sheet-like)granites emplaced in a mid-crustal gneissic basement This alkalinemagmatism has been interpreted as a consequence of extensionaltectonics accompanying the collapse of the Mozambique belt.The rocks belong to three petrographic types: subsolvus granites,hypersolvus alkaline granites and syenites. Major and traceelement analyses have typical A-type characteristics. Two distinctmagmatic suites are recognized: a mildly alkaline suite includingall the subsolvus granites and a strongly alkaline suite includingthe hypersolvus alkaline granites and the syenites. We proposethat the mildly alkaline suite was derived from a granodioriticcrustal protolith. Some of the strongly alkaline granites andthe quartz syenites display low ¹⁸O isotopic signatures of around+6.The parental magmas for this suite are most probably of mantlederivation. The more evolved compositions are consistent withcrystal fractionation processes. Contemporaneous alkaline silicicplutonismoccurs in many parts of the Panafrican belt of Eastern Africa;however, sheet-like intrusions have rarely been described. Asa large-scale province, the nearest analogues of the stratoidgranites of Madagascar are the rapakivi granites of earlierProterozoic age in Scandinavia and Greenland. KEY WORDS: alkaline granite; Madagascar; Panafrican; pastcollisional magmatism ^*Corresponding author     

Crustal Contamination of Picritic Magmas During Transport Through Dikes: the Expo Intrusive Suite, Cape Smith Fold Belt, New Quebec

The Proterozoic Expo Intrusive Suite comprises a series of maficto ultramafic intrusions crosscutting the Povungnituk Groupof the Cape Smith Fold Belt in New Quebec. The intrusions aremainly in the form of blade-shaped dikes that penetrate a sediment-richhorizon in the middle of the Beauparlant Formation and terminatedownward against massive basalts of the lower Beauparlant Formation.Significant accumulations of magmatic sulfide occur at the basalterminations of the dikes. At stratigraphic levels above theBeauparlant Formation the intrusions appear as broad dikes orsills within the Nuvilik Formation, below the mineralized lavaflows and subvolcanic intrusions of the Raglan Formation. TheExpo Intrusive Suite and the mineralized bodies of the RaglanFormation are probably coeval and comagmatic with the overlyingChukotat Group. Post-emplacement folding has exposed the ExpoIntrusive Suite over about 5 km of structural relief, revealingthe basal sulfide concentrations where dike segments terminateon the flanks of anticlines. The parent magma as preserved inchilled margins and narrow dikes was a picrite containing 17wt % MgO (i.e. komatiitic basalt) and slightly depleted in Th,U and Nb relative to middle and heavy rare earth elements. Thecompositions of ultramafic cumulate rocks within the intrusionsare strongly enriched in Th, U and Nb relative to heavy rareearth elements, reflecting assimilation of the enclosing basaltsand metasediments. Modeling of the assimilation process suggeststhat the picritic magma was capable of assimilating masses ofbasalt or sediment up to 50% of the original mass of magma.Assimilation of 10% of a mixture of basalt and sediment causedthe magma to become sulfide-saturated, and was accompanied bythe crystallization of masses of ultramafic cumulates approximatelyequal to the mass of rock assimilated. The presence of dikeswhose chilled margins resemble uncontaminated primary magmasbut that contain abundant cumulates recording wholesale assimilationof host-rocks indicates that the process of assimilation andfractional crystallization required to produce continental tholeiitesfrom picritic parent magmas may not require the presence oflong-lived magma chambers, but can occur during transport alongdikes and reaction with wall-rocks. KEY WORDS: komatiite; Expo Intrusive Suite; assimilation; fractional crystallization; sulfide mineralization     

Geochronology and Petrogenesis of the Cretaceous Antampombato-Ambatovy Complex and Associated Dyke Swarm, Madagascar

The Antampombato–Ambatovy complex is the largest intrusionin the central–eastern part of the Cretaceous flood basaltprovince of Madagascar, with an exposed surface area of about80 km². It has an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar incremental heating age of 89·9± 0·4 Ma and a U–Pb age of 90 ± 2Ma. The outcropping plutonic rocks range from dunite and wehrlite,through clinopyroxenite and gabbro, to sodic syenite. A dykeswarm cross-cutting some of the above lithologies (and the nearbyPrecambrian basement rocks) is formed of picritic basalts, alkalito transitional basalts, benmoreites and rhyolites; some ofthe latter are peralkaline. A few basaltic dykes have cumulateolivine textures, with up to 26 wt % MgO and 1200 ppm Ni, whereasothers have characteristics more akin to those of primitiveliquids (9 wt % MgO; Mg-number 0·61; 500 ppm Cr; 200ppm Ni). These basalts have relatively high TiO₂ (2·2wt %) and total iron (14 wt % as Fe₂O₃), and moderate contentsof Nb (10–11 ppm) and Zr (c. 100 ppm). Initial (at 90Ma) Sr- and Nd-isotope ratios of the clinopyroxenites and basaltdykes are 0·7030–0·7037 and 0·51290–0·51283,respectively. Syenites and peralkaline rhyolites have Sr- andNd-isotope ratios of 0·7037–0·7039 and 0·51271–0·51274,respectively. The data suggest derivation of the parental magmasfrom a time-integrated depleted mantle source, combined withsmall amounts of crustal contamination in the petrogenesis ofthe more evolved magmas. The isotopic compositions of the mafic–ultramaficrocks are most similar to those of the mid-ocean ridge basalt(MORB)-like igneous rocks of eastern Madagascar, and suggestthe existence of an isotopically ‘depleted’ componentin the source of the entire Madagascar province, even thoughthe Antampombato basalts are chemically unlike the lavas anddykes with the same depleted isotopic signature found in westernMadagascar. If this depleted component is plume-related, thissuggests that the plume has a broadly MORB-source mantle composition.The existence of isotopically more enriched magma types in theMadagascan province has several possible petrogenetic explanations,one of which could be the interaction of plume-related meltswith the deep lithospheric mantle beneath the island. KEY WORDS: geochronology; flood basalts; Antampombato–Ambatovy intrusion; Cretaceous; Madagascar     

O18/O16 Ratios in Rocks and Coexisting Minerals of the Skaergaard Intrusion, East Greenland

The Skaergaard intrusion of East Greenland is a gravitationallystratified gabbroic mass that has undergone extreme fractionalcrystallization. Oxygen-isotopic analyses have been obtainedfor the various rock types of this intrusion and for severalcoexisting minerals of these rocks. The general relationshipsamong the O¹⁸/O¹⁶ ratios of the minerals are the same as havebeen found for other igneous rocks, but the isotopic fracticnationsare smaller, probably as a result of the higher temperatureof formation of the Skaergaard rocks. The later differentiatesare progressively depleted in O¹⁸ to a marked degree relativeto the earlier-formed portions of the layered series; the late-stagegranophyres are 4–5 per mil lower in O¹⁸/O¹⁶ than thelayered Lower Zone gabbros, and are 7–9 per mil lowerthan normal granitic rocks from other localities. This progressivedepletion in O¹⁸ is a result of crystallization and settlingout of minerals that are, on the whole, about 1 per mil higherin O¹⁸/O¹⁶ than the magma liquid. Calculations based on a simplecrystallization model are in agreement with the experimentalresults.     

Olivine Compositions in Picrite Basalts and the Deccan Volcanic Cycle

Olivine phenocryst compositions and whole-rock chemical compositionsare used to identify primitive picrite basalts from widely separatedparts of the Deccan flood basalt province. Overall, primitivepicrites constitute a significant volume of rocks within theprovince. Most were probably emplaced along deep faults in theCambay graben and Narmada rift regions. We combine mineral compositiondata on previously described samples from boreholes at Dhandhuka,Wadhwan and Botad with information on new finds of picriticbasalts at Paliad, Anila, Pawagarh, Kawant and Ambadongar tohelp delineate the petrogenesis of these mafic rocks, and wealso examine the nature and probable origin of picrite basaltsfrom other regions of the Deccan, such as the Western Ghats.The combined data suggest that the incidence of high-MgO lavasdecreased with time during the Deccan volcanic cycle. KEY WORDS: Deccan Traps; olivine composition; picrite basalts; volcanic cycle     

Origin of the picrite blocks in the Marginal Border Group of the Skaergaard Intrusion,East Greenland

New evidence shows that the picrite blocks in the margins of the Skaergaard intrusion, East Greenland are gabbro-contaminated xenoliths of ultramafic rock. Earlier studies suggested that the picrite blocks were cumulates formed in the Marginal Border Group or in the Hidden Zone. However, there are no known occurrences of undisturbed picrite or ultramafic rocks in the Skaergaard intrusion, and an extensive Hidden Zone is not supported by geophysical data. The picrite blocks are most abundant near a body of wehrlite in Precambrian rocks near Watkins Fjord. The wehrlite, which has a composition and mineralogy similar to the most mafic of the picrite blocks, lies structurally below the northern margin of the intrusion. It is possible that the refractory precursors of picrite in the Skaergaard intrusion may have been ultramafic xenoliths and are not representative of the earliest differentiated pan of the intrusion.     

Physicochemical processes involved in Cenozoic volcanism in eastern China

Eastern China is a Cenozoic composite volcanic rock province, where volcanic rocks of the tholeiite series, calc-alkali series, Hy-norm-bearing olivine basalt series, Na-alkali series and K-alkali series coexist. Eastern China is separated into the northern and southern volcanic rock regions by the Changzhou-Yueyang old deep fault. Magma generation and magmatic activities in the northern region were controlled by the mantle uplift and old deep faults. These old deep faults were revived and some of them were changed into a multiple rift system due to back-arc expansion. The Bohai Sea depression is situated at the intersection of the Lujiang-Tancheng-Shenyang-Mishan and Zhangjiakou-Tianjin uplift belts of the upper mantle. Eogene (71.5-28.5 Ma) tholeiites largely occur in the central part of the mantle uplift; the well developed Neogene (23.8-2.6 Ma) alkali olivine basalts are distributed in the outer lane of the former and the Quaternary (1.48 Ma-recent) peralkali volcanic rocks are far away from them. In the southern region magma generation and magmatic activities were controlled mainly by plate subduction and three sets of old deep faults. Studies of incompatible elements and REE show that the degree of enrichment of incompatible elements and LREE increases with decreasing age, increasing source depth and decreasing degree of partial melting of the upper mantle. This presumably is an indication of a rapid uplifting and then waning magmatic hearth with gradually decreasing temperature, accompanied with down-cutting of the lithospheric faults. We call such a process “a reverse process of magma generation”. And the opposite process of the magmatic evolution of the East African rift in Kenya can be called “a positive process of magma generation”.     

The origin of basaltic rocks in Niutoushan area— high pressure differentiation

The Niutoushan basaltic cone, consisting of subalkali (quartz-tholeiite and olivine-tholeiite) and alkali basalts, is Late Tertiary in age. Its major characteristics are generalized as follows:

1. Both early subalkali and late alkali bali basalts are formed under the same geological environment.
2. The continuity in chemical composition from subalkali to alkali and the low FeO/MgO in alkali basalts show that they are the products of cognate magmatic differentiation.
3. The change from low REE abundance and weak enrichment of LREE in subalkali to high REE abundance and strong enrichment of LREE in alkali basalts indicates obvious REE enrichment and fractionation during magmatic differentiation. Weak positive Eu anomalies in the REE patterns are indicative of their formation under low oxygen fugacity conditions.
4. According to the calculated values, 70–75% of the primary olivine tholeiitic magma had been separated as subalkaline basaltic magma, the rest residual magma became alkaline basaltic magma. This result is consistent to the field observation that the outcrop area of subalkali basalts is four times as much as that of alkali basalts.
5. The basaltic rocks of Niutoushan show an S-type distribution straddling the thermal barrier on Ol′-Ne′-Qu′ diagram and an evolution tendency for Ne to increase with increasing FeO/MgO. This is in agreement with the melting experimental data on olivine basalts at 10–20 kb.
6. Mantle-derived inclusions (spinel lherzolite) in this area occur in both alkali olivine basalts and olivine tholeiites. The latter is of extremely rare occurrence. The formation temperature and pressure of the inclusions in alkalibasalts and olivine tholeiites have been calculated. The results show that the alkaline basaltic magma was separated from the subalkaline basaltic magma at about 20 kb.

Basaltic rocks in Niutoushan were formed through the so-called “high pressure differentiation”, that is, at about 20 kb the crystallization of clinopyroxene and orthpyroxene resulted in the separation of subalkaline basaltic magma from the primary olivine tholeiitic magma, and then the residue gradually became alkaline olivine basaltic magma.     

Petrogenesis of the Fiambal Gabbroic Intrusion, Northwestern Argentina, a Deep Crustal Syntectonic Pluton in a Continental Magmatic Arc

The Fiambala gabbroic intrusion is an Ordovician pluton, 30km² in outcrop area, situated in the Sierras Pampeanas of NWArgentina. It was emplaced at a depth of 21–24 km in anactively deforming continental magmatic are, and it representssome of the earliest are magmatism in the southern Cordillera.Its formation was accompanied by the emplacement of voluminousgabbroic sills and dikes, and was synchronous with regionalamphibolite facies metamorphism that is locally upgraded togranulite facies along the edges of the intrusion. The intrusionhas been tilted to the east and now stands almost verticallyon edge, striking NNW-SSE. It has a 200–500-m basal cumulatezone of dunite and websterite along its western margin, overlainstratigraphically to the east by 2.5 km of poorly layered two-pyroxenegabbro and homblende gabbro. Although olivine is present inthe basal ultramafic cumulates, nowhere does it coexist withplagioclase. The common differentiation indices, such as Ancontent of plagioclase, 100 Mg/(Mg+Fe) in the pyroxenes andthe whole rocks, and the concentrations of various incompatibletrace elements, all vary systematically through the intrusion.The parental magma was evidently a hydrous, high-Mg tholeiitewith >11 wt.% MgO, 100 Mg/(Mg+Fe)=73–74, and REE abundancesapproximately 10 chondrites. Its estimated trace element characteristicswere strikingly similar to those of primary island are magmasfrom occanic regions. Most of the gabbroic rocks represent orapproach liquid compositions; they are hypersthene-normative,almost silica-saturated tholeiites. Evolution from the mostmafic compositions comparable to primitive island are basaltsto derivative compositions with the typical characteristicsof continental are basalts occurred through the combined effectsof fractional crystallization, multiple magma batch injection,and crustal assimilation. There appears to be no need to invokea special subcontinental mantle source to produce the traceelement signatures that are so characteristic of continentalare magmas. These signatures can be developed by limited crystallizationand assimilation in the lower crust.