Factors controlling the noble gas abundance patterns of deep-sea basalts

A number of processes may modify the noble gas composition of silicate liquids so that the composition of noble gases observed in glassy margins of deep-sea basalts is not that of the upper mantle. Differential solubility enhances the light noble gases relative to the heavier gases; however, we demonstrate that the observed abundance pattern cannot be attributed to solubility of noble gases with atmospheric proportions. Partial melting and fractional crystallization increase the noble gas content of all species relative to mantle concentrations, but do not fractionate their relative abundances. Noble gases may be lost from an ascending magma in various ways, the most important, however, may be exclusion of gas from crystals forming at the time of solidification, which is shown to result in marked loss of gas from the basalt. Small amounts of low-temperature alteration of solidified basalt can produce dramatic changes in the noble gas abundance pattern, since the adsorption coefficients for the different noble gas favor uptake of heavy species relative to the light species. Atmospheric contamination can account for observed variations in the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio of oceanic basalts. The degree of crystallinity of glassy margins of deep-sea basalts may control the helium abundance of these samples; however, the uniform ³He/⁴He values reported apparently reflect a relatively constant proportion of radiogenic and primordial helium in the mantle.     

Petrogenesis of basalts from the FAMOUS area: Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Fresh basalt glasses most of which have Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺) of 0.66–0.72 from outcrops within 3 km of one other in the rift valley at the Project FAMOUS locality have been analyzed for major, minor and trace elements in order to determine their petrogenesis.Transition metal abundances of the FAMOUS samples are similar to a wide variety of continental and oceanic basalts with high MgO and Ni, all of which show remarkably little variation, with the exception of Cu, Zn and Ti, on a chondrite-normalized plot. Modelling of these data suggests that the mantle beneath both continents and oceans is systematically fractionated relative to chondrites. This fractionation provides a constraint for models of earth formation and subsequent evolution.The abundances of the rare earth and the incompatible elements, Ba, La, Th, U, and Nb, vary by more than a factor of three and the La/Yb and La/Sm ratios vary by factors of 3.1 and 1.6, respectively, in samples with similar, high Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺). There is no correlation between the degree of light-REE enrichment and the heavy-REE abundance. Furthermore, the trace element variations do not appear correlated with respect to location in the rift valley or to time of eruption. These trace element features demonstrate that successive eruptions in one small area of the rift valley can show wide variations in trace element chemistry over a short span of time; they preclude the derivation of these basalt glasses from a single magma chamber.Despite the heterogeneities in REE and the variable trace element abundances, a homogeneous mantle source is suggested by the similarities among the samples in the incompatible element ratios of La/Ce, Ba/Th, Zr/Nb and K/Ba and the small range in⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios observed in other samples from the FAMOUS region (White and Bryan, 1977). Thus, trace element heterogeneities appear to be generated by processes in the mantle during melting. However, processes such as batch partial melting, fractional fusion, fractional crystallization, zone refining, or mixing of magmas or sources acting alone are incapable of explaining the lack of correlation between the light and heavy REE.It is suggested that the observed variations are a consequence of dynamic partial melting of a homogeneous mantle source region. This process includes varying degrees of partial melting of an uprising mantle source with continuous but incomplete removal of melt as melting proceeds, varying extents of batch partial melting, and zone refining. Dynamic melting can produce different melts from a homogeneous source which have different degrees of light-REE enrichment and crossing REE patterns. The variable trace element abundances which may be produced through dynamic melting may be the cause of the apparent decoupling of major and trace elements (Bryan et al., 1976) which previously has been suggested for the FAMOUS region (Bryan and Moore, 1977).     

87Sr/86Sr ratios for basalt from Loihi Seamount,Hawaii

⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 15 samples of basalt dredged from Loihi Seamount range from 0.70334 to 0.70368. The basalt types range from tholeiite to basanite in composition and can be divided into six groups on the basis of abundances of K₂O, Na₂O, Rb and Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio. The isotopic data require that the various basalt types be derived from source regions differing in Sr isotopic composition. The Loihi basalts may be produced by mixing of isotopically distinct sources, but the tholeiites and alkalic basalts from Loihi do not show a well-developed inverse trend between Rb/Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr that is characteristic of the later stages of Hawaiian volcanoes such as Haleakala and Koolau.     

Helium isotopic variations in volcanic rocks from Loihi Seamount and the Island of Hawaii

Helium isotopic ratios ranging from 20 to 32 times the atmospheric ³He/⁴He(R_A) have been observed in a suite of 15 basaltic glasses from the Loihi Seamount. These ratios, which are up to four times higher than those of MORB glasses and more than twice those of nearby Kilauea, are strongly suggestive of a primitive source of volatiles supplying this volcanism. The Loihi glasses measured span a broad compositional range, and the ³He/⁴He ratios were found to be generally lower for the alkali basalts than for the tholeiites. The component with a lower ³He/⁴He ratio appears to be associated with olivine xenocrysts, within which fluid inclusions are probably the carrier of contaminant helium. One Loihi sample has a much lower isotopic ratio (<5 R_A), but a combination of low He concentration, high vesicularity, and presence of cracks lined with clay minerals suggests that the low ratio is due to gas loss and contamination by atmospheric helium.Crushing and melting experiments show that for modest vesicularities (<5% by volume) the Loihi glasses obey a MORB-type partitioning trend, but at higher vesicularities the data show considerably more scatter due to volatile mobilization. The high vesicularities, low extrusion pressure and generally low helium concentrations are consistent with a considerable degree of degassing. Analyses of dunites, plus a correlation between total helium concentrations with xenocryst abundances also suggest that xenocrysts are a significant carrier of contaminating (low ³He/⁴He) helium.³He/⁴He ratios from samples of other Hawaiian volcanoes (Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and Mauna Kea) show a smooth decrease in ³He/⁴He with increasing volcano age and volume. We interpret this to be a synoptic picture of the time evolution of a hot-spot diapir: the earliest stage is characterized by primitive (> 30 R_A) helium with some (variable) component of lithospheric contamination added during “breakthrough”, while the later stages are characterized by a relaxation toward lithospheric ³He/⁴He ratios (～ 8 R_A) due to isolation of the diapir from the mantle below (as the plate moves on), and subsequent mining of the inherited helium and contamination from the surrounding lithosphere. The abrupt contrast in ³He/⁴He ratios between Kilauea and Loihi, despite their close proximity, is indicative of the small lateral extent of the plume.     

Mechanisms of magmatic gas loss along the Southeast Indian Ridge and the Amsterdam -St. Paul Plateau

New analyses of He, Ne, Ar and CO₂ trapped in basaltic glasses from the Southeast Indian Ridge (Amsterdam-St. Paul (ASP) region) show that ridge magmas degas by a Rayleigh distillation process. As a result, the absolute and relative noble gas abundances are highly fractionated with ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar* ratios as high as 620 compared to a production ratio of ∼3 (where ⁴⁰Ar* is ⁴⁰Ar corrected for atmospheric contamination). There is a good correlation between ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar* and the MgO content of the basalt, suggesting that the amount of gas lost from a particular magma is related to the degree of crystallization. Fractional crystallization forces oversaturation of CO₂ because CO₂ is an incompatible element. Therefore, crystallization will increase the fraction of gas lost from the magma. The He-Ar-CO₂-MgO-TiO₂ compositions of the ASP basalts are modeled as a combined fractional crystallization-fractional degassing process using experimentally determined noble gas and CO₂ solubilities and partition coefficients at reasonable magmatic pressures (2-4 kbar). The combined fractional crystallization-degassing model reproduces the basalt compositions well, although it is not possible to rule out depth of eruption as a potential additional control on the extent of degassing. The extent of degassing determines the relative noble gas abundances (⁴He/⁴⁰Ar*) and the ⁴⁰Ar*/CO₂ ratio but it cannot account for large (>factor 50) variations in He/CO₂, due to the similar solubilities of He and CO₂ in basaltic magmas. Instead, variations in CO₂/³He (≡C/³He) trapped in the vesicles must reflect similar variations in the primary magma. The controls on C/³He in mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs) are not known. There are no obvious correlated variations between C/³He and tracers of mantle heterogeneity (³He/⁴He, K/Ti etc.), implying that the variations in C/³He are not likely to be a feature of the mantle source to these basalts. Mixing between MORB-like sources and more enriched, high ³He/⁴He sources occurs on and near the ASP plateau, resulting in variable ³He/⁴He and K/Ti compositions (and many other tracers). Using ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar* to track degassing, we demonstrate that mixing systematics involving He isotopes are determined in large part by the extent of degassing. Relatively undegassed lavas (with low ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar*) are characterized by steep ³He/⁴He-K/Ti mixing curves, with high He/Ti ratios in the enriched magma (relative to He/Ti in the MORB magma). Degassed samples (high ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar*) on the other hand have roughly equal He/Ti ratios in both end-members, resulting in linear mixing trajectories involving He isotopes. Some degassing of ASP magmas must occur at depth, prior to magma mixing. As a result of degassing prior to mixing, mixing systematics of oceanic basalts that involve noble gas-lithophile pairs (e.g. ³He/⁴He vs. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr or ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar vs. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb) are unlikely to reflect the noble gas composition of the mantle source to the basalts. Instead, the mixing curve will reflect the extent of gas loss from the magmas, which is in turn buffered by the pressure of combined crystallization-degassing and the initial CO₂ content.     

Refractory megacrysts and magnesium-rich melt inclusions within spinel in oceanic tholeiites: Indicators of magma mixing and parental magma composition

Refractory megacrysts of olivine, plagioclase, chromian diopside and Cr-Al spinel, which were not in equilibrium with the host oceanic tholeiite on eruption, are present in samples from several dredge sites and DSDP drill sites in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They have multiple origins: (1) cognate or accidental mantle fragments; (2) relict fragments from fractional crystallization of parental liquids considerably more primitive than oceanic tholeiite; and most commonly (3) the fractional crystallization products of such liquids mixed with oceanic tholeiite magma. Melt inclusions in chrome-spinel phenocrysts provide evidence for this postulated Mg- and Ca-rich magma which has counterparts in the Scottish Tertiary Province and in west Greenland.     

Helium and neon isotopic compositions in the ophiolites from the Yarlung Zangbo River,Southwestern China:The information from deep mantle

The ophiolites from the Yarlung Zangbo River (Tibet),Southwestern China,were analysed for the con-tents of helium and neon and their isotopic compositions by stepwise heating. The serpentinites from Bainang showed a high 3He/4He value of 32.66Ra (Ra is referred to the 3He/4He ratio in the present air) in 700 ℃ fraction. At lower temperature,all of the dolerites displayed as very high 3He/4He ratios as ones investigated for hotspots. It was clear that the high 3He/4He ratio was one of immanent characterics in the magma source formed the dolerites,suggesting that there was a large amount of deep mantle fluids in these rocks. In the three-isotope diagram of neon,the data points from the ophiolites of the Yarlung Zangbo River were arranged along the Loihi Line. This is in agreement with the characteristics of he-lium isotopes,revealing that the high-3He plume from deep mantle had played an important role in the formation of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean. The helium isotopic compositions in the basalts were far higher than atomospheric value but lower than the average value of MORB,although there were various de-grees of alteration. The possible reasons were that basaltic magmas     

Geochemistry of basalts drilled in the North Atlantic by IPOD Leg 49: Implications for mantle heterogeneity

IPOD Leg 49 recovered basalts from 9 holes at 7 sites along 3 transects across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: 63°N (Reykjanes), 45°N and 36°N (FAMOUS area). This has provided further information on the nature of mantle heterogeneity in the North Atlantic by enabling studies to be made of the variation of basalt composition with depth and with time near critical areas (Iceland and the Azores) where deep mantle plumes are thought to exist. Over 150 samples have been analysed for up to 40 major and trace elements and the results used to place constraints on the petrogenesis of the erupted basalts and hence on the geochemical nature of their source regions.It is apparent that few of the recovered basalts have the geochemical characteristics of typical “depleted” midocean ridge basalts (MORB). An unusually wide range of basalt compositions may be erupted at a single site: the range of rare earth patterns within the short section cored at Site 413, for instance, encompasses the total variation of REE patterns previously reported from the FAMOUS area. Nevertheless it is possible to account for most of the compositional variation at a single site by partial melting processes (including dynamic melting) and fractional crystallization. Partial melting mechanisms seem to be the dominant processes relating basalt compositions, particularly at 36°N and 45°N, suggesting that long-lived sub-axial magma chambers may not be a consistent feature of the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge.Comparisons of basalts erupted at the same ridge segment for periods of the order of 35 m.y. (now lying along the same mantle flow line) do show some significant inter-site differences in Rb/Sr, Ce/Yb,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, etc., which cannot be accounted for by fractionation mechanisms and which must reflect heterogeneities in the mantle source. However when hygromagmatophile (HYG) trace element levels and ratios are considered, it is the constancy or consistency of these HYG ratios which is the more remarkable, implying that the mantle source feeding a particular ridge segment was uniform with respect to these elements for periods of the order of 35 m.y. and probably since the opening of the Atlantic. Yet these HYG element ratios at 63°N are very different from those at 45°N and 36°N and significantly different from the values at 22°N and in “MORB”.The observed variations are difficult to reconcile with current concepts of mantle plumes and binary mixing models. The mantle is certainly heterogeneous, but there is not simply an “enriched” and a “depleted” source, but rather a range of sources heterogeneous on different scales for different elements — to an extent and volume depending on previous depletion/enrichment events. HYG element ratios offer the best method of defining compositionally different mantle segments since they are little modified by the fractionation processes associated with basalt generation.     

Origin of some calc-alkalic andesites in the Japanese Islands

Origin of calc-alkalic andesite in the Japanese Islands is reviewed on the basis of the recent trace element data and new experimental results. It is suggested that calc-alkalic andesites in the Japanese Islands have at least four different origins; (1) fractional crystallization with separation of magnetite of high-alumina basalt magma, (2) partial melting of hydrous upper mantle peridotite (for magnesian andesite), (3) fractional crystallization with separation of olivine and/or orthopyroxene of magnesian andesite magma and (4) mixing of dacitic and basaltic magmas. Emphasis is placed on the possible generation of primary magnesian calc-alkalic andesite magmas by direct partial melting of the upper mantle peridotite under hydrous conditions at depths between 40 and 60 km.     

Lateral variation of basalt magma type across continental margins and Island Arcs

Quaternary basalt magmas in the Circum-Pacific belt and island arcs and also in Indonesia change continuously from less alkalic and more siliceous type (tholeiite) on the oceanic side to more alkalic and less siliceous type (alkali olivine basalt) on the continental side. In the northeastern part of the Japanese Islands and in Kamchatka, zones of tholeiite, high-alumina basalt, and alkali olivine basalt are arranged parallel to the Pacific coast in the order just named, whereas in the southwestern part of the Japanese Islands, the Aleutian Islands, northwestern United States, New Zealand, and Indonesia, zones of high-alumina basalt and alkali olivine basalt are arranged parallel to the coast. In the Izu-Mariana, Kurile, South Sandwich and Tonga Islands, where deep oceans are present on both sides of the island arcs, only a zone of tholeiite is represented. Thus the lateral variation of magma type is characteristic of the transitional zone between the oceanic and continental structures. Because the variation is continuous, the physico-chemical process attending basalt magma production should also change continuously from the oceanic to continental mantle. Suggested explanations for the lateral variation assuming a homogeneous mantle are: 1) Close correspondence between the variations of depth of earthquake foci in the mantle and of basalt magma type in the Japanese Islands indicates that different magmas are produced at different depths where the earthquakes are generated by stress release: tholeiite at depths around 100 km, high-alumina basalt at depths around 200 km, and alkali olivine basalt at depths greater than 250 km. 2) Primary olivine tholeiite magma is produced at a uniform level of the mantle (100–150 km), and on the oceanic side of the continental margin, it leaves the source region immediately after its production and forms magma reservoirs at shallow depths, perhaps in the crust, where it undergoes fractionation to produce SiO₂-oversaturated tholeiite magma, whereas on the continental side, the primary magma forms reservoirs near the source region and stays there long enough to be fractionated to produce alkali olivine basalt magma, and in the intermediate zone, the primary magma forms reservoirs at intermediate depths where it is fractionated to produce high-alumina basalt magma.     

Low- and high-TiO2 flood basalts of southern Brazil: origin from picritic parentage and a common mantle source

The Serra Geral (Paraná) continental flood-basalt province of southern Brazil has two main basalt types: low-TiO₂ ( 1 wt.%) basalts occupy the southern portion, and high-TiO₂ (> 3 wt.%) basalts are largely in the northern part. Low-Ti basalts are less evolved (Mg# 60) and more radiogenic (e.g., ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0.708) than high-Ti basalts (Mg# 35; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0.705). This is consistent with a model that invokes variable melting of a single mantle source to produce picritic magmas that have relatively lower and higher incompatible element contents. Varying percentages of melting can be related to varying proximity to the early Tristan da Cunha hotspot. The Mg-rich magmas fractionated 60–75% olivine, clinopyroxene, and plagioclase to yield low- or high-Ti flood basalts, assimilating more or less crust in the process. The extent of fractionation and assimilation depended on crustal “warmth” (also tied to location relative to hotspot): (1) above zones of 25% melting, warm crust relatively easily contaminated crystallizing picritic magma that originated by a high degree of melting (i.e., magma with lower incompatible element contents); additionally, high degrees of melting sustained replenishment of magma with low-Ti magma characteristics; (2) above 10% melting zones, cooler crust comparatively restricted assimilation during crystallization (of magma with higher incompatible element contents) and permitted magma evolution to high-Ti derivatives; lesser degrees of melting also limited replenishment magma and thereby allowed greater evolution of existing magma. This model refers all diagnostic geochemical and isotopic features of Serra Geral basalts to percentages of partial melting of an essentially homogeneous mantle material.     

Petrogenetic relationships of acid and basic rocks in iceland: Sr-isotopes and rare-earth elements in late and postglacial volcanics

Strontium isotope ratios and rare-earth element abundances have been measured in acid, intermediate and basic rocks from three late to postglacial volcanic complexes, and several other postglacial basalts in Iceland. Late and postglacial basalts in Iceland have been generated from a source region which is essentially homogeneous with respect to⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr. The mean⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio for the basalts analysed is 0.70328 and the range is from 0.70317 ± 6to0.70334 ± 5 (2σ).Acid rocks from the Kerlinganfjöll and Namafjall volcanic complexes have⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios which are indistinguishable from analysed basalts from the same complexes. However, intermediate and acid rocks from the Torfajökull complex have significantly higher⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and could not have been derived by fractional crystallization from basaltic magmas similar to those found in the same complex. These latter rocks have most probably been produced by remelting of Tertiary gabbroic rocks in Layer 3. Most of the basalts analysed have higher total rare-earth element abundances than typical dredged ocean-ridge tholeiites, and show less light rare-earth depletion. Intermediate and acid compositions show overall higher abundances and light rare-earth enrichments. The measured rare-earth abundances are compared with abundances generated by differential partial melting of various model source regions.It is shown that both the tholeiitic and alkali basalt compositions could be generated from the same source material by different degrees of partial melting. Variable partial melting of gabbroic material may account for the rare-earth element abundances of both the rhyolitic rocks (small degrees of melting) and the intermediate rocks (more extensive melting).     

Geochemistry of diverse basalt types from Loihi Seamount,Hawaii: petrogenetic implications

The wide variety of basalt types, tholeiitic to basanite, dredged from Loihi Seamount have minor and trace element abundances that are characteristic of subaerial Hawaiian basalts, thereby confirming that Loihi Seamount is a manifestation of the Hawaiian “hot spot”. Within the Loihi sample suite there are well-defined positive correlations among abundances of highly incompatible elements (P, K, Rb, Ba, Nb, light REE and Ta) and moderately incompatible elements (Sr, Ti, Zr and Hf) and between MgO, Ni and Cr. However, within the Loihi suite abundance ratios of geochemically similar elements (Zr/Hf, Nb/Ta and La/Ce) vary by factors of 1.2–1.5 and abundance ratios of highly incompatible elements such as P/Ce, P/Th, K/Rb, Ba/Th and La/Nb vary by factors of 1.2–2.5. These abundance ratios are not readily changed by different degrees of fractionation and melting. Therefore, we conclude that these samples are not genetically related by different degrees of melting of a compositionally homogeneous source.On the basis of K/P, K/Ti, P/Ce, Zr/Nb, Th/P and La/Sm abundance ratios, the twelve samples studied in detail can be divided into six geochemical groups. Samples within each group are similar in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr [1], and intra-group compositional variations may reflect low-pressure fractionation and different degrees of melting. In addition, crossing chondrite-normalized REE patterns within the alkalic basalt groups reflect equilibration of the magmas with garnet. In ratio-ratio plots involving abundance ratios of highly incompatible elements, e.g., La/P, Nb/P, K/P, Rb/P, Ba/P and Th/P, the geochemical groups define linear arrays suggestive of mixing. However, these data combined with the isotopic data are not consistent with two-component mixing.     

A petrologic model for the constitution of the upper mantle and crust of the Koolau shield,Oahu, Hawaii,and Hawaiian magmatism

A petrological model for the uppermost upper mantle and crust under the Koolau shield to a depth of about 60 km has been derived on the basis of petrology of the upper mantle and crustal xenoliths in nephelinites of the Honolulu Volcanic Series. Three main xenolith suites exist in the Koolau shield: dunites, spinel lherzolites, and garnet-bearing pyroxenites. On the basis of mineralogy, it is inferred that the dunites represent cumulates in shallow crustal tholeiitic magma chambers, the spinel lherzolites form a thick (～ 40 km) layer in the upper mantle, and the garnet pyroxenite suite occurs as veins and stringers in the spinel lherzolites at about 60 km depth.The eruption sequence in a Hawaiian volcano, i.e., tholeiite → transitional basalt → alkali basalt, is generated by partial melting of a volatile-bearing garnet-lherzolite part of a lithospheric plate as it rides over a hot spot. If the tholeiite, transitional, and alkali basalts of Hawaiian volcanoes are generated at the same depth, then the observed sequence of lavas requires replenishment of the source area with volatiles and gradual decrease of the degree of partial melting with time. Post-erosional olivine nephelinites are produced from isotopically distinct, deeper source area, which may be the asthenosphere.     

Isotopic and REE studies of lunar basalt 12038: implications for petrogenesis of aluminous mare basalts

We report Sr, Nd, and Sm isotopic studies of lunar basalt 12038, one of the so-called aluminous mare basalts. A precise internal Rb-Sr isochron yields a crystallization age of 3.35±0.09 AE and initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.69922?2 (2σ error limits, 1AE=10⁹ years, λ(⁸⁷Rb)=0.0139AE^?1). An internal Sm-Nd isochron yields an age of 3.28±0.23AE and initial¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd=0.50764?28. Present-day¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd is less than the “chondritic” value, i.e. ?(Nd, 0)=?2.3±0.4 where ?(Nd) is the deviation of¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd from chondritic evolution, expressed as parts in 10⁴. At the time of crystallization ?(Nd, 3.2AE)=1.5±0.6.We have successfully modeled the evolution of the Sr and Nd isotopic compositions and the REE abundances within the framework of our earlier model for Apollo 12 olivine-pigeonite and ilmenite basalts. The isotopic and trace element features of 12038 can be modeled as produced by partial melting of a cumulate mantle source which crystallized from a lunar magma ocean with a chondrite-normalized REE pattern of constant negative slope. Chondrite-normalized La/Yb=2.2 for this hypothetical magma ocean pattern. A plot of I(Sr) versus ?(Nd) for the Apollo 12 basalts clearly shows the influence of varying proportions of olivine, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and plagioclase in the basalt source regions. A small percentage of plagioclase (～5%) in the 12038 source apparently is responsible for low I(Sr) and ?(Nd) in this basalt. Aluminous mare basalts from Mare Crisium (Luna 24) and by inference Mare Fecunditatis (Luna 16) occupy locations on the I(Sr)-?(Nd) plot similar to that of 12038, implying that some basalts from three widely separated lunar regions came from plagioclase-bearing source regions. A summary of model calculations for mare basalts shows a record of lunar mantle solidification during the period when REE abundances in the lunar magma ocean increased from ～20× chondritic to >100× chondritic. Although there is a general trend from olivine to clinopyroxene-dominated source regions with progressive magma ocean evolution, significant mineralogical heterogeneities in mantle composition apparently formed at any given stage of evolution, as evidenced in particular by the three Apollo 12 magma types.     

New constraints on the HIMU mantle from neon and helium isotopic compositions of basalts from the Cook–Austral Islands

High ⁴He/³He ratios of 100 000 to 160 000 found at HIMU ocean islands (“high μ,” where μ is the U/Pb ratio) are usually attributed to the presence of recycled oceanic crust in the HIMU mantle source. However, significantly higher ⁴He/³He ratios are expected in recycled crust after residence in the mantle for periods greater than 1 Ga. In order to better understand the helium isotopic signatures in HIMU basalts, we have measured helium and neon isotopic compositions in a suite of geochemically well-characterized basalts from the Cook–Austral Islands. We observe ⁴He/³He ratios ranging from 56 000 to 141 000, suggesting the involvement of mantle reservoirs both more and less radiogenic than the mantle source for mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs). In addition, we find that the neon isotopic compositions of HIMU lavas extend from the MORB range to compositions less nucleogenic than MORBs. The Cook-Austral HIMU He–Ne isotopic compositions, along with Sr, Nd, Pb, and Os isotopic compositions, indicate that in addition to recycled crust, a relatively undegassed mantle end-member (e.g., FOZO) is involved in the genesis of these basalts. The association of relatively undegassed mantle material with recycled crust provides an explanation for the close geographical association between HIMU lavas and EM (enriched mantle)-type lavas from this island chain: EM-type signatures represent a higher mixing proportion of relatively undegassed mantle material. Mixing between recycled material and relatively undegassed mantle material may be a natural result of entrainment processes and convective stirring in deep mantle.     

Bimodal tholeiitic and mildly alkalic basalts from Bhir area,central Deccan Volcanic Province,India: Geochemistry and petrogenesis

Bimodal tholeiitic and mildly alkalic basalts occur near Bhir, in the central part of Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP). Major and trace element concentrations show that, of the ten flows, nine are tholeiitic and one is an alkalic basalt. The Bhir basalts have a wide range of chemical composition. Geochemical variations in the stratigraphic section define three distinct phases of evolution (zones 1 to 3). Crystal fractionation of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, olivine and Fe–Ti oxide expanded the compositional range. Low Mg#s (39–55), low concentrations of Ni and Cr and high Zr suggest the evolved nature of the Bhir basalts. Fractionation modeling suggests about 42% fractional crystallization.In spite of the dominant role of fractional crystallization in the evolution of Bhir basalts, some other processes must be sought to explain the chemical variations. Crustal contamination, magma mixing and degree of partial melting are suggested to explain the observed chemical variations. Resorption, reverse zoning and compositional bimodality in plagioclase phenocrysts indicate magma mixing. Samples of flows one and four suspected of being contaminated all have enriched SiO₂ and LILE (K, Rb, and Ba) contents and depletion in Ti and P, believed to be due to ‘granitic’ crustal contamination.As compared to tholeiitic basalts, the alkalic basalts are characterized by low SiO₂ and high TiO₂, Na₂O, K₂O and P₂O₅. Alkalic basalts are richer in LILE (Rb and Ba), HFSE (Nb, Zr, and Y) and REE than the tholeiitic basalts. The alkalic basalt occurrence is important from a petrogenetic point of view and also suggests that the sources of alkalic basalt magmas may be of variable ages under different parts of the DVP. Based on major, trace and rare earth element distributions it is suggested that asthenospheric mantle having affinities with the source of OIB was the source material of the magmas and the range in the composition of tholeiitic and alkalic basalts was probably controlled by different degrees of melting and/or inhomogeneities in the mantle source.     

Origin of Icelandic basalts: A review of their petrology and geochemistry

The petrology and geochemistry of Icelandic basalts have been studied for more than a century. The results reveal that the Holocene basalts belong to three magma series: two sub-alkaline series (tholeiitic and transitional alkaline) and an alkali one. The alkali and the transitional basalts, which occupy the off-rift volcanic zones, are enriched in incompatible trace elements compared to the tholeiites, and have more radiogenic Sr, Pb and He isotope compositions. Compared to the tholeiites, they are most likely formed by partial melting of a lithologically heterogeneous mantle with higher proportions of melts derived from recycled oceanic crust in the form of garnet pyroxenites compared to the tholeiites. The tholeiitic basalts characterise the mid-Atlantic rift zone that transects the island, and their most enriched compositions and highest primordial (least radiogenic) He isotope signature are observed close to the centre of the presumed mantle plume. High-MgO basalts are found scattered along the rift zone and probably represent partial melting of refractory mantle already depleted of initial water-rich melts. Higher mantle temperature in the centre of the Iceland mantle plume explains the combination of higher magma productivity and diluted signatures of garnet pyroxenites in basalts from Central Iceland. A crustal component, derived from altered basalts, is evident in evolved tholeiites and indeed in most basalts; however, distinguishing between contamination by the present hydrothermally altered crust, and melting of recycled oceanic crust, remains non-trivial. Constraints from radiogenic isotope ratios suggest the presence of three principal mantle components beneath Iceland: a depleted upper mantle source, enriched mantle plume, and recycled oceanic crust.The study of glass inclusions in primitive phenocrysts is still in its infancy but already shows results unattainable by other methods. Such studies reveal the existence of mantle melts with highly variable compositions, such as calcium-rich melts and a low-¹⁸O mantle component, probably recycled oceanic crust. Future high-resolution seismic studies may help to identify and reveal the relative proportions of different lithologies in the mantle.     

The geochemical characteristics and conditions of petrogenesis of the volcanic rocks of the northern lesser antilles — A review

This paper is concerned with the islands of Montserrat Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Eustatius and Saba, which lie on the inner volcanic are at the northern of the Lesser Antilles. Andesites greatly predominate over basalts and dacites in this part of the arc. Generally the lavas from the northern Lesser Antilles contain low abundances of Ni, Cr and residual trace elements but lavas from Saba are enriched in these elements compared with the other islands in the group. The most important petrogenetic process in this part of the Lesser Antilles is probably partial melting of subducted oceanie tholeiite and this process accounts satisfactorily for the chemistry (especially the low Ni, Cr) and large volumes of the erupted andesites. Some andesites have, however, been produced by fractional crystallisation of basaltic magma and magma mixing probably accounts for some of the peculiar chemical and petrographic properties of the Saba andesites. The rocks from the Northern Lesser Antilles are different from those in the central part of the arc (more acid rocks, higher residual trace elements) and the southern islands have much higher proportions of basalt, some of it undersaturated and alkaline. It is thought that partial melting of mantle peridotite may be the predominant petrogenetic process at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles whereas partial melting of subducted oceanic crust is more important in the north.     

The Natash alkaline volcanic field,Egypt: geochemical and mineralogical inferences on the evolution of a basalt to rhyolite eruptive suite

Extensive lava flows were erupted during the Upper Cretaceous in the Wadi Natash of southern Egypt. The lavas are mainly of alkaline (sodium dominated) composition and include alkali olivine basalt (AOB), hawaiite, mugearite, and benmoreite that intruded with acidic volcanics of trachytic to rhyolitic composition. Abundances of major oxides and trace elements including the REE vary systematically through this compositional spectrum. The gradual decrease of CaO with decreasing MgO is consistent with the dominance of phenocrysts of labradoritic plagioclase (An_75–62) and Mg-rich olivine (Fo_84–80) in the AOB and hawaiite. Olivine phenocrysts are normally zoned with cores consistent with crystallization from a magma having the bulk-rock composition. The sharp decrease of alkalis at low MgO contents (∼0.4% MgO) indicates significant alkali feldspar fractionation during the evolution of trachytes and rhyolites. All Natash lavas show steep chondrite-normalized REE patterns with considerable LREE/HREE fractionation and a regular decrease in La/Lu ratios from the least to the most evolved lavas (La/Lu_n=12.5−9.5). The low absolute abundances of HREE in basic members reflects residual garnet in the source. The basic lavas have experienced compositional modifications after they segregated from the source as evidenced by lower averages of Mg^# (51), Ni (134) and Cr (229) in the AOB. Much of this variation can be explained by variable degrees of polybaric fractional crystallization. Petrographic and geochemical data supported by quantitative modelling suggest the evolution of the Natash Lavas from a common AOB parent in multiple, short-lived magma chambers. In agreement with the phenocryst mineralogy of the Natash lavas, the geochemical models suggest that with increasing degree of differentiation, Mg-rich olivine, calcic plagioclase, and augite are joined and progressively substituted by ferrohedenbergite, alkali feldspars and magnetite. The OIB (ocean island basalt)-like nature of the AOB and hawaiite lavas suggests that the volumetrically dominant source component is the asthenospheric mantle. A mantle-plume source is suggested for the Natash basaltic lavas, with the lavas being generated by partial melting of a garnet peridotite in the asthenosphere.