U-Pb isotopic geochemistry of the post-collisional mafic-ultramafic rocks from the Dabie Mountains

The U-Pb isotope geochemical study of the pyroxenite-gabbro intrusion in the Dabie Mountains shows that the post-collisional mafic-ultramafic rocks of the Dabie Mountains are characterized by relative high Pb contents, low U contents and low U/Pb ratios. These characters may be results of interaction between lithosphere or depleted asthenospheric mantle (DMM) and lower crust, but have nothing to do with mantle plume and subducted continental crust. It was first observed that some samples with lower ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and higher ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios show typical characters of the LOMU component. The Pb, Sr, and Nd isotopic tracing shows that three components are needed in the source of the Zhujiapu pyroxenite-gabbro intrusion. They could be old enriched sub-continental lithospheric mantle (LOMU component), lower crust and depleted asthenospheric mantle. The crust-mantle interaction process producing primitive magma of post-collisional mafic-ultramafic rocks in the Dabie Mountains could be described by a lithospheric delamination and magma underplating model. After continent-continent collision, delamination of the thickened lithosphere induced the upwelling of depleted asthenospheric mantle, which caused partial melting of asthenospheric mantle and residual sub-continental lithospheric mantle. The basaltic magma produced in this process underplated in the boundary between the crust and mantle and interacted with lower crust resulting in the geochemical characters of both enriched lithospheric mantle and lower crust.     

Differential exhumation of tectonic units and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Dabie Mountains, China

A model involving buoyancy, wedging and thermal doming is postulated to explain the differential exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks in the Dabie Mountains, China, with an emphasis on the exhumation of the UHP rocks from the base of the crust to the upper crust by opposite wedging of the North China Block (NCB). The Yangtze Block was subducted northward under the NCB and Northern Dabie microblock, forming UHP metamorphic rocks in the Triassic (240–220 Ma). After delamination of the subduction wedge, the UHP rocks were exhumed rapidly to the base of the crust by buoyancy (220–200 Ma). Subsequently, when the left-lateral Tan–Lu transform fault began to be activated, continuous north–south compression and uplifting of the orogen forced the NCB to be subducted southward under the Dabie Orogen (`opposite subduction'). Opposite subduction and wedging of the North China continental crust is responsible for the rapid exhumation of the UHP and South Dabie Block units during the Early Jurassic, at ca 200–180 Ma at a rate of ∼ 3.0 mm/year. The UHP eclogite suffered retrograde metamorphism to greenschist facies. Rapid exhumation of the North Dabie Block (NDB) occurred during 135–120 Ma because of thermal doming and granitoid formation during extension of continental margin of the Eurasia. Amphibolite facies rocks from NDB suffered retrograde metamorphism to greenschist facies. Different unit(s) and terrane(s) were welded together by granites and the wedging ceased. Since 120–110 Ma, slow uplift of the entire Dabie terrane is caused by gravitational equilibrium.     

U-Pb isotopic geochemistry of the post-collisional mafic-ultramafic rocks from the Dabie Mountains——Crust-mantle interaction and LOMU component

Geochronological studies of mafic-ultramafic intrusions occurrence in the northern Dabie zone (NDZ) suggest that these pyroxenite-gabbro intrusions formed 120—130 Ma ago should be post-collisional magmatic rocks[1—4]. These mafic-ultramafic rocks provid…     

Eclogites from the Northern Dabie Mountains,eastern China: Geochemical characteristics,Sr−Nd isotopic compositions and tectonic implications

The petrologic geochemical and Sr−Nd isotopic compositions of the eclogites from the mafic-ultramafic rock belt (MUMRB) in the Northern Dabie Mountains indicate that: (1) the protoliths of most of eclogites are tholeitic basalt and a few may be gabbro, and most of them produced from the Yangtze subducted continental crust (lower crust and formed during the deep subduction) and a part may be from paleo-oceanic relics between the Yangtze and North China continental plates; (2) their positive Nb anomalies and related trace element characteristics show that they did not form in the island-arc setting; (3) the metamorphosed MUMRB with eclogite and meta-peridotite blocks along the southern part of the Mozitan-Xiaotian fault zone may represent the suture zone produced during the collision between the Yangtze and North China continental plates, which included the Yangtze subducted continental crust and paleo-oceanic relics.

     

Hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions of eclogites from the Dabie Mountains and geodynamic implications

Heterogeneous δ¹⁸O values as low as - 2.6‰ to+7.0% are observed for ultrahigh pressure eclogites from the Dabie Mountains in East China. Oxygen isotope equilibrium has been approached between the eclogite minerals, suggesting that the rocks would have acquired the unusual δ¹⁸O values prior to ultrahigh pressure metamorphism by interaction with¹⁸O-depleted fluid. δD values of hydroxyl-bearing are between — 51% and - 83‰, precluding the possibility of paleoseawater involvement. The only likely fluid is ancient meteoric water that exchanged oxygen isotopes with the eclogite precursor (a kind of basaltic rocks) formerly resident on the continental crust. This suggests a crustal recycling process in the suture zone of late subduction. Because silicate minerals undergo rapid oxygen isotope exchange at mantle pressures, preservation of the isotopic signature of meteoric water in the eclogites indicates limited crust-mantle interaction and thus a short residence time (<20 Ma) when the plate containing the eclogite precursor was subducted to mantle depths. The agreement in oxygen isotope temperatures for different mineral pairs suggests a rapid cooling and ascent process for the eclogites subsequent to their formation at mantle depths. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.     

Eclogites from the Northern Dabie Mountains,eastern China: Geochemical characteristics,Sr−Nd isotopic compositions and tectonic implications

The petrologic geochemical and Sr?Nd isotopic compositions of the eclogites from the mafic-ultramafic rock belt (MUMRB) in the Northern Dabie Mountains indicate that: (1) the protoliths of most of eclogites are tholeitic basalt and a few may be gabbro, and most of them produced from the Yangtze subducted continental crust (lower crust and formed during the deep subduction) and a part may be from paleo-oceanic relics between the Yangtze and North China continental plates; (2) their positive Nb anomalies and related trace element characteristics show that they did not form in the island-arc setting; (3) the metamorphosed MUMRB with eclogite and meta-peridotite blocks along the southern part of the Mozitan-Xiaotian fault zone may represent the suture zone produced during the collision between the Yangtze and North China continental plates, which included the Yangtze subducted continental crust and paleo-oceanic relics.     

Pb-isotopic compositions of volcanic rocks in the West and East Philippine island arcs: presence of the Dupal isotopic anomaly

The Philippine islands are situated between two oppositely dipping zones of seismicity. With the exception of a few areas, such as in the west central Philippines where the North Palawan continental terrane (NPCT) has collided with the archipelago, these seismic zones are well defined to depths of 200 km. Active volcanic chains overlay segments in each of these zones, suggesting that subduction is presently taking place both east and west of the islands. Lavas we have studied are thus divided between what has been termed the West Philippine arc and the East Philippine arc.West Philippine arc volcanic rocks which were extruded before the Philippine archipelago collided with the NPCT, or which are younger than the collision but crop out hundreds of kilometers from the collision zone, and all but one of the rocks from the East Philippine arc fall in the MORB field on²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb versus²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb covariation diagrams. This is surprising considering the frequency with which arc materials have²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios higher than those of MORB, the highBa/REE and Sr/REE ratios in the lavas and the possibility of sediment subduction given the small accretionary prisms. All of these rocks have high²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios with respect to Pacific and Atlantic Ocean MORB, but are similar to Indian Ocean MORB and IOB. Thus the Philippines consist of island arcs with the peculiar Dupal isotopic anomaly documented between 0° and 60°S in the southern hemisphere and particularly in the Indian Ocean region. This demonstrates that the Dupal isotopic anomaly is not restricted to the southern hemisphere, or to MORB and OIB.Post-collision rocks cropping out near the NPCT, in the West Philippine arc, have elevated²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios that could be attributed to assimilation of the newly introduced continental crust (NPCT) by mantle-derived magmas or to the addition of a sedimentary component to mantle-derived magmas.     

Crustal structure beneath the Dabie orogenic belt from ambient noise tomography

The Qinling–Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt in east-central China is the largest high and ultrahigh pressure (HP and UHP) metamorphic zone in the world. The Dabie Mountains are the central segment of this orogenic belt between the North China and Yangtze cratons. This work studies the nature of the crustal structure beneath the Dabie orogenic belt to better understand the orogeny. To do that, we apply ambient noise tomography to the Dabie orogenic belt using ambient noise data from 40 stations of the China National Seismic Network (CNSN) between January 2008 and December 2009. We retrieve high signal noise ratio (SNR) Rayleigh waves by cross-correlating ambient noise data between most of the station pairs and then extract phase velocity dispersion measurements from those cross-correlations using a spectral method. Taking those dispersion measurements, we obtain high-resolution phase velocity maps at 8–35 second periods. By inverting Rayleigh wave phase velocity maps, we construct a high-resolution 3D shear velocity model of the crust in the Dabie orogenic belt.The resulting 3D model reveals interesting crustal features related to the orogeny. High shear wave velocities are imaged beneath the HP/UHP metaphoric zones at depths shallower than 9 km, suggesting that HP/UHP metaphoric rocks are primarily concentrated in the upper crust. Underlying the high velocity HP/UHP metamorphic zones, low shear velocities are observed in the middle crust, probably representing ductile shear zones and/or brittle fracture zones developed during the exhumation of the HP/UHP metamorphic rocks. Strong high velocities are present beneath the Northern Dabie complex unit in the middle crust, possibly related to cooling and crystallization of intrusive igneous rocks in the middle crust resulting from the post-collisional lithosphere delamination and subsequent magmatism. A north-dipping Moho is revealed in the eastern Dabie with the deepest Moho appearing beneath the Northern Dabie complex unit, consistent with the model of Triassic northward subduction of the Yangtze Craton beneath the North China Craton.     

根据地球物理资料分析大别——苏鲁超高压变质带演化的运动学与动力学

中国中央造山带东部的大别-苏鲁是全球最大的超高压变质带,本文基于地球物理资料的分析和综合研究,进一步指出这一超高压变质带演化的复杂性.在扬子与中朝克拉通碰撞后大别-苏鲁地体的俯冲产生超高压变质作用.之后由于两个克拉通之间的倾斜碰撞,产生旋转与局部的拉张为岩石折返造成了良好条件.扬子的旋转也形成一对剪切力使俯冲海洋岩石圈断开和陆块反弹.然而由于南北压挤力的继续作用与大别-苏鲁地体的折返,扬子克拉通继续向大别苏鲁地体下方俯冲.这种陆-陆俯冲携带了大量大陆物质进入上地幔,诱发部分熔融和后期的地幔上隆.本文给出了大别-苏鲁演化动力学的修正模型.     

Possible origin of K-rich volcanic rocks from Virunga,East Africa,by metasomatism of continental crustal material: Pb,Nd and Sr isotopic evidence

The isotopic compositions of Sr, Nd and Pb together with the abundances of Rb, Sr, U and Pb have been determined for mafic and felsic potassic alkaline rocks from the young Virunga volcanic field in the western branch of the East African rift system.⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr varies from 0.7055 to 0.7082 in the mafic rocks and from 0.7073 to 0.7103 in the felsic rocks. The latter all come from one volcano, Sabinyo. Sabinyo rocks have negative ε_Ndvalues ofε_Nd = ?10. Nd and Sr isotopic variations in the basic potassic rocks are correlated and plot between Sabinyo and previously reported [1] compositions (ε_Nd = +2.5;⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr≈ 0.7047) for Nyiragongo nephelinites. The Pb isotopic compositions for Sabinyo rocks are nearly uniform and average²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb≈ 19.4,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 15.79–15.84,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb≈ 41.2. The basic potassic rocks have similar²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values but range in²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb from the Sabinyo values to less radiogenic compositions.Excellent correlations of⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr with Rb/Sr, 1/Sr and²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb for Sabinyo rocks suggest these to be members of a hybrid magma series. However, the nearly uniform Pb compositions for this series points to radiogenic growth of⁸⁷Sr in the magma source region following an event which homogenized the isotopic compositions but not Rb/Sr. The Rb-Sr age derived from the erupted Sabinyo isochron-mixing line is consistent with the ～500 Myr Pb-Pb age from Nyiragongo [1], which suggests that this event affected all Virunga magma sources. The event can again be traced in the Pb-Pb, Pb-Sr and Nd-Sr isotopic correlations for all Virunga rocks, including Nyiragongo, when allowances are made for radiogenic growth subsequent to this mixing or incomplete homogenization event. Inferred parent/daughter element fractionations point to a metasomatic event during which a mantle fluid invaded two lithospheric reservoirs: a +ε_Nd reservoir sampled by the Nyiragongo nephelinites and suggested to be the subcontinental mantle and a ?ε_Nd reservoir sampled by the mafic and felsic potasssic volcanism. Whether this ?ε_Nd reservoir is the crust, continental crustal material in the mantle or anomalous mantle cannot be decided from the data. The simplest answer, that this reservoir is the continental crust, seems to be at variance with experimental evidence suggesting a subcrustal origin for basic potassic magmas. Partial melting of the ancient metasomatised lithospheric domains and ensuing volcanism seems to be entirely a response to decompression and rising geotherms during rifting and thinning of the lithosphere.     

The origin of ocean island basalt end-member compositions: trace element and isotopic constraints

Ocean island basalt (OIB) suites display a wide diversity of major element, trace element, and isotopic compositions. The incompatible trace element and isotopic ratios of OIB reflect considerable heterogeneity in the mantle source regions. In addition to the distinctive Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic signatures of the HIMU, EMI and EMII OIB end-members, differences in incompatible trace element ratios among these end-members are of great help in identifying the nature and origin of their sources. Examination of trace element and isotopic constraints for the three OIB end-members suggests a relatively simple model for their origin. The dominant component in all OIB is ancient recycled basaltic oceanic crust which has been processed through a subduction zone, and which carries the trace element and isotopic signature of a dehydration residue (enrichment in HFSE relative to LILE and LREE, low Rb/Sr, but high U/Pb and Th/Pb ratios leading to the development of radiogenic Pb isotope compositions). HIMU OIB are derived from such a source, with little contamination from other components. Both the EMI and EMII OIB end-members are also dominantly derived from this source, but they contain significant proportions (up to 5–10%) of sedimentary components derived from the continental crust. In the case of EMI OIB, ancient pelagic sediment with high LILE/HFSE, LREE/HFSE, Ba/Th and Ba/La ratios, and low U/Pb ratios, is the contaminant. EMII OIB are also contaminated by a sedimentary component, in the form of ancient terrigenous sediment with high LILE/HFSE and LREE/HFSE ratios, but lacking relative Ba enrichment, and with higher U/Pb and Rb/Sr ratios. A model whereby the source for all OIB is ancient (1–2 Ga old) subducted oceanic crust ± entrained sediment (pelagic and/or terrigenous) is therefore consistent with the trace element and isotopic data. Although subducted oceanic lithosphere will accumulate and be dominantly concentrated within the mesosphere boundary layer, forming the source for hot-spots, such material may also become convectively dispersed within the depleted upper mantle as blobs or streaks, giving rise to small-scale chemical heterogeneities in the upper mantle.     

himu-em: The French Polynesian connection

himu, em i andem ii are three of the main geochemical mantle components that give rise to oceanic island basalts [1]. They represent the end members that produce the extreme isotopic compositions measured on intraplate volcanics. In French Polynesia, all three mantle components are represented in volcanic rocks. The characteristichimu signature is found in Tubuai, Mangaia and Rurutu,em i is present in the source of Rarotonga and Pitcairn volcanics andem ii dominates the composition of most Society Islands. Intermediate values between the three end members are found on most islands.We suggest that the three components are not independent but are physically related in the mantle. Thehimu component is thought to be recycled oceanic crust that lost part of its Pb through hydrothermal processes prior to and during subduction.em i andem ii are believed to acquire their isotopic and trace element characteristics through entrainment of sediments that were subducted together with the oceanic crust.The trace element pattern and the isotopic composition ofhimu lavas can be quantitatively modelled using a mixture of 25% old recycledmorb crust and 75% mantle peridotite. The extreme Pb composition is modelled assuming that Pb was lost from oceanic crust when hydrothermal alteration at the ridge leached Pb from the basalt to redeposit it as sulphides on top of and throughout the crust, followed by preferential dissolution of sulphides during dehydration in the subduction zone. These processes led to a drastic increase of theU/Pb ratio of the subducted material which evolved over 2 Ga to very radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions. Pb isotopic compositions similar to those ofem i andem ii are modelled assuming that sediments with average crustal Pb isotopic compositions were subducted and recycled into the mantle together with the underlyingmorb oceanic crust. Pelagic sediments (μ 5 andκ 6) account for the Pb isotopic composition ofem i whereas terrigenous sediments (μ 10 andκ 4.5) evolve towards theem ii end member. A few percent of sediment in the recycled crust-sediment mixture will destroy the characteristic Pb isotopic signature of thehimu component. This, together with the low probability of isolating oceanic crust in the mantle for 2 Ga, explains why the extremehimu composition, as seen on Tubuai and St Helena, is sampled so rarely by oceanic volcanism.     

Deep structures of the east Dabie ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt,East China

The Dabie Mountain is one of the best places for geologists to study the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism (UHPM) because coesite-bearing eclogites and other UHPM rocks are well ex-posed on the surface. The Dabie UHPM belt has been studied by many geoscientists with re-markable results[1—9]. Recent researches show that the host rocks of the coesite-bearing eclogites, such as gneiss and marble, also contain coesites[10—14], thus undergoing ultrahigh-pressure meta-morphism. The idea of con…     

Origin of the deep fluids in the paleosubduction zones in western Tianshan: Evidence from Pb- and Sr-isotope compositions of high-pressure veins and host rocks

Fluids in the deep subduction zones play an impor-tant role in the process of crust-mantle interaction. This has been proved by a large number of studies on the geochemistry of island arc volcanic rocks[1―9]. Study on high-pressure metamorphic rocks within orogen shows that the dehydration and devolatilization of subducted oceanic crust and sediments can release amounts of water during progressive metamorph- ism[10―13]. The origin of the fluids in the subduction zones provides important info…     

Pleistocene volcanic rocks from the Fly-Highlands province of western Papua New Guinea: A note on new Sr and Nd isotopic data and their petrogenetic implications

RB-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic and trace-element-abundance values have been determined for 15 mafic and intermediate rocks from six Pleistocene volcanic centres of the Fly-Highlands province. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and _{N d} values range from 0.70362 to 0.70540, and +1.9 to +5.9, respectively. These new data can be accounted for by contamination of mantle-derived magmas by the continental crust through which the magmas have risen. They do not, however, preclude derivation of some of the Sr and Nd from subducted crust, nor are they inconsistent with Sr and Nd enrichments having taken place by means of mantle metasomatic events. Nevertheless, there is no Benioff zone beneath the Fly-Highlands province (although there is geological evidence for Cretaceous subduction). A preferred interpretation is that uncontaminated, mantle-derived magmas are related to the Pliocene crustal uplift that caused the development of the highlands and which formed in response to a mid-Tertiary continent/island-arc collision.     

Interaction between subducted continental crust and the mantle

The syncollisional mafic-ultramafic rocks with Nb, Zr, Ti negative anomalies in the North Dabie terrane have Sr and Nd isotopic compositions with EMI features. Their low and variable initial e_Nd values ranging from ?2 to ?18 are similar to those of their gneissic country rocks and the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in the South Dabie terrane. These Sr and Nd isotopic features are difficult to be interpreted by mantle metasomatism related to oceanic subduction or crust assimilation, but is best explained by the mantle metasomatism related to continental subduction.     

RbSr systematics and crustal contamination models for calc-alkaline igneous rocks

New strontium isotopic data of calc-alkaline Pliocene-to-Quaternary lavas (southern Peru) confirm their anomalous isotopic composition compared to those of calc-alkaline rocks from active margins where continental crust is not involved. Gradual enrichment of radiogenic Sr occurs during fractional crystallization of calc-alkaline magma. The variation of the isotopic composition of these lavas as well as⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr versus 1/(⁸⁶Sr) diagrams form the basis for a model involving processes of fractional crystallization combined with mixing and addition of radiogenic Sr that originated in continental crust and was transported by a fluid phase.     

Nd and Sr isotopic study of volcanic rocks from Japan

Two older granitic rocks and some selected Quaternary volcanic rocks from the Japanese Islands were analyzed in a reconnaissance study for the purpose of examining the relationships between Nd and Sr isotopic abundances and the megatectonic structure around the Japanese Islands. Model ages of ～0.9 AE were determined by the Nd and Sr methods on a Paleozoic gneiss which confirms that a relatively ancient acidic basement exists in the Japanese Islands. The Nd and Sr isotopic data show that the Cretaceous granodiorite is the result of partial melting of older crust.The Nd of tholeiitic rocks from the Izu arc gives ε_Nd ranging from 8.3 to 9.3 and with the corresponding ε_Sr from ?14.5 to ?18.5. These results are identical to those found for the Mariana arc. These values are distinctly lower than typical MORB by around 1～2 εu. This difference in ε_Nd between arcs and MORB is attributed to the contribution of oceanic sediments to the partial melts produced during subduction of oceanic crust. The Hakone volcano is clearly confirmed as belonging to an oceanic source by Nd isotopic results.ε_Sr-ε_Nd values of the volcanics from a section along the Fossa Magna show a clear indication that they are a blend of oceanic mantle material and continental crustal material. The crustal component clearly increases in going from south to north. Volcanics across the Northeast Japan arc also show a distinct correlation of ε_Sr-ε_Nd related to the position relative to the active subduction zone but with the opposite trend. These relationships of the present isotopic pattern and the zonal arrangement relative to the subduction zone suggest the former existence of a local spreading center in the Japan Sea.In general there appear to be regular isotopic relationships between the Izu-Mariana oceanic island arc and the continental island arc of Japan which indicates that partially melted or assimilated older continental basement is admixed with young rising oceanic arc magmas.     

The role of lower continental crust and lithospheric mantle in the genesis of Plio–Pleistocene volcanic rocks from Sardinia (Italy)

The first comprehensive chemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic data set of Plio–Pleistocene tholeiitic and alkaline volcanic rocks cropping out in Sardinia (Italy) is presented here. These rocks are alkali basalts, hawaiites, basanites, tholeiitic basalts and basaltic andesites, and were divided into two groups with distinct isotopic compositions. The vast majority of lavas have relatively high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7043–0.7051), low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.5124–0.5126), and are characterised by the least radiogenic Pb isotopic composition so far recorded in Italian (and European) Neogene-to-Recent mafic volcanic rocks (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=17.55–18.01) (unradiogenic Pb volcanic rocks, UPV); these rocks crop out in central and northern Sardinia. Lavas of more limited areal extent have chemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic ratios indicative of a markedly different source (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7031–0.7040; ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd=0.5127–0.5129; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.8–19.4) (radiogenic Pb volcanic rocks, RPV), and crop out only in the southern part of the island. The isotopic ratios of these latter rocks match the values found in the roughly coeval anorogenic (i.e. not related to recent subduction events in space and time) mafic volcanic rocks of Italy (i.e. Mt. Etna, Hyblean Mts., Pantelleria, Linosa), and Cenozoic European volcanic rocks. The mafic rocks of the two Sardinian rock groups also show distinct trace element contents and ratios (e.g. Ba/Nb>14, Ce/Pb=8–25 and Nb/U=29–38 for the UPV; Ba/Nb<9, Ce/Pb=24–28 and Nb/U=46–54 for the RPV). The sources of the UPV could have been stabilised in the Precambrian after low amounts of lower crustal input (about 3%), or later, during the Hercynian Orogeny, after input of Precambrian lower crust in the source region, whereas the sources of the RPV could be related to processes that occurred in the late Palaeozoic–early Mesozoic, possibly via recycling of proto-Tethys oceanic lithosphere by subduction.