Crystallization history of rhyolites at Long Valley, California, inferred from combined U-series and Rb-Sr isotope systematics

In this study, we present ⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr and ²³⁰Th/²³⁸U isotope analyses of glasses and phenocrysts from postcaldera rhyolites erupted between 150 to 100 ka from the Long Valley magmatic system. Both isotope systems indicate complex magma evolution with preeruptive mineral crystallization and magma fractionation, followed by extended storage in a silicic magma reservoir. Glass analyses yield a Rb-Sr isochron of 257 ± 39 ka, which can be explained by a feldspar-fractionation event ∼150 ky before eruption. Individual feldspar-glass pairs confirm this age result. A mineral ²³⁰Th-²³⁸U isochron in a low-silica rhyolite from the Deer Mountain Dome defines an age of 236 ± 1 ka, but the glass and whole rock do not lie on the isochron. U-Th fractionation of the rocks is controlled by the accessory minerals zircon and probably allanite, which crystallized at 250 ± 3 ka and 187 ± 9 ka, respectively. All major mineral phases contain accessory mineral phases; therefore, the mineral isochron represents a mixture of zircon and allanite populations. A precision of ±1 ka for the mixing array implies that the minor phases must have crystallized within this timescale. Longer periods of crystal growth would cause the mixing array to be less well defined. U-series data from other low- and high-silica rhyolites indicate younger accessory mineral crystallization events at ∼200 and 140 ka, probably related to the thermal evolution of the magma reservoir. These crystallization events are, however, only documented by the accessory minerals and had no further influence on bulk magma compositions. We interpret the indistinguishable age results from both isotope systems (∼250 ka) to record the fractionation of small magma batches by filter pressing from a much larger underlying magma volume, followed by physical isolation and extended storage at the top of the magma reservoir for up to 150 ky.     

‘PALEOVAN’, International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP): site survey results and perspectives

Lake Van is the fourth largest terminal lake in the world (volume 607 km³, area 3570 km², maximum depth 460 m), extending for 130 km WSW–ENE on the Eastern Anatolian High Plateau, Turkey. The sedimentary record of Lake Van, partly laminated, has the potential to obtain a long and continuous continental sequence that covers several glacial–interglacial cycles (ca 500 kyr). Therefore, Lake Van is a key site within the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) for the investigation of the Quaternary climate evolution in the Near East (‘PALEOVAN’). As preparation for an ICDP drilling campaign, a site survey was carried out during the past years. We collected 50 seismic profiles with a total length of ～850 km to identify continuous undisturbed sedimentary sequences for potential ICDP locations. Based on the seismic results, we cored 10 different locations to water depths of up to 420 m. Multidisciplinary scientific work at positions of a proposed ICDP drill site included measurements of magnetic susceptibility, physical properties, stable isotopes, XRF scans, and pollen and spores. This core extends back to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), a more extended record than all the other Lake Van cores obtained to date. Both coring and seismic data do not show any indication that the deepest part of the lake (Tatvan Basin, Ahlat Ridge) was dry or almost dry during past times. These results show potential for obtaining a continuous undisturbed, long continental palaeoclimate record. In addition, this paper discusses the potential of ‘PALEOVAN’ to establish new results on the dynamics of lake level fluctuations, noble gas concentration in pore water of the lake sediment, history of volcanism and volcanic activities based on tephrostratigraphy, and paleoseismic and earthquake activities.     

Cl,Br and I analyses of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks by isotope dilution mass spectrometry

Isotope dilution mass spectrometry with negative thermal ions was applied to determine Cl, Br and I in rocks which, in part, contained less than 100 ppb of Br and I. Two sets of samples have been investigated: a) a series of Al-rich metapelites of increasing metamorphic grade from the Damara Orogen, Namibia and b) fresh and hydrothermally altered greywackes from the Pb−Zn deposit Bad Grund in Germany. It was found that regional metamorphism of Al-rich metapelites causes no strong fractionation of the halides. The Br/Cl ratios in the metapelites are similar to those of sea water. The I/Cl and I/Br ratios, however, are 500 times higher. The I depleted in the ocean most probably is associated with organic matter stored in sediments. The unaltered greywackes from near the Pb−Zn vein have about the same concentrations of halides as the metamorphic Al-rich pelites. By contrast, the hydrothemally altered greywackes contain about twice as much Cl and I, and about 2–5 times as much Br as the unaltered samples. The element ratios, however, are similar for all three categories of rocks, thereby indicating that sea water played no role in the hydrothermal system.     

Untersuchung von isotopenfeinvariationen des calciums in der natur an rezenten carbonaten und sulfaten

Investigations of isotopic variations of calcium were carried out. For that purpose natural calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate samples were analysed. The isotopic ratios ${}^{44}\text{Ca}{}^{40}\text{Ca}$ and ${}^{48}\text{Ca}{}^{40}\text{Ca}$ were measured with a mass spectrometer by thermal ionization. The precision of the isotopic abundance measurements was better than 1%. per mass unit. One can conclude from the results that in general chemical exchange reactions of calcium ions which imply isotopic fractionation do not take place in nature. Only in the case of one sample (‘Gipsrose’) an isotopic variation of calcium was found. This fractionation can be explained by ion exchange or different diffusion rates of the calcium isotopes.     

德国联邦自然保护局副局长Arnd Winkelbrandt:景观规划在德国:现实的问题与法律的解决

景观规划在德国虽然有着很长的历史,可以说在上上个世纪已经开始,但是在这里我想介绍一下二战以后的景观规划的发展情况.这主要是因为在当时人对土地的消耗量非常巨大,基本上可以达到每年130公顷.     

Vegetation and climate variability during the Last Interglacial evidenced in the pollen record from Lake Baikal

A pollen record from the core sediments collected in the northern part of Lake Baikal represents the latest stage of the Taz (Saale) Glaciation, Kazantsevo (Eemian) Interglacial (namely the Last Interglacial), and the earliest stage of the Zyryanka (Weichselian) Glaciation. According to the palaeomagnetic-based age model applied to the core, the Last Interglacial in the Lake Baikal record lasted about 10.6 ky from 128 to 117.4 ky BP, being more or less synchronous with the Marine Isotope Stage 5e. The reconstructed changes in the south Siberian vegetation and climate are summarised as follows: a major spread of shrub alder (Alnus fruticosa) and shrub birches (Betula sect. Nanae/Fruticosae) in the study area was a characteristic feature during the late glacial phase of the Taz Glaciation. Boreal trees e.g. spruce (Picea obovata) and birch (Betula sect. Albae) started to play an important role in the regional vegetation with the onset of the interglacial conditions. Optimal conditions for Abies sibirica–P. obovata taiga development occurred ca. 126.3 ky BP. The maximum spread of birch forest-steppe communities took place at the low altitudes ca. 126.5–125.5 ky BP and Pinus sylvestris started to form forests in the northern Baikal area after ca. 124.4 ky BP. Re-expansion of the steppe communities, as well as shrubby alder and willow communities and the disappearance of forest vegetation occurred at about 117.4 ky BP, suggesting the end of the interglacial succession. The changes in the pollen assemblages recorded in the sediments from northern Baikal point to a certain instability of the interglacial climate. Three phases of climate deterioration have been distinguished: 126–125.5, 121.5–120, and 119.5–119 ky BP. The penultimate cooling signal may be correlated with the cool oscillation recorded in European pollen records. However, such far distant correlation requires more careful investigation.     

Isotopic evidence for open system processes within the Campanian Ignimbrite (Campi Flegrei–Italy) magma chamber

New Sr and Nd isotope data for whole rocks, glasses and minerals are combined to reconstruct the nature and origin of mixing end-members of the 200 km³ trachytic to phonolitic Campanian Ignimbrite (Campi Flegrei, Italy) magmatic system. The least-evolved magmatic end-member shows equilibrium between host glass and the majority of the phenocrysts and is less radiogenic in Sr and Nd than the most-evolved magma. On the contrary, only the Fe-rich pyroxene from the most-evolved erupted magma is in equilibrium with the matrix glass, while all other minerals are in isotopic disequilibrium. These magmas mixed prior to and during the Campanian Ignimbrite eruption and minerals were freely exchanged between the magma batches. Combining the results of the geochemical investigations on magma end-members with geophysical and geological data, we develop the following scenario. In stage 1, a parental, less differentiated magma rose into the middle crust, and evolved through combined crustal assimilation and crystal fractionation. In stage 2, the differentiated magma rose to shallower depth, fed the pre-Campanian Ignimbrite activity and evolved by further open-system processes into the most-evolved and most-radiogenic Campanian Ignimbrite end-member magma. In stage 3, new trachytic magma, isotopically distinct from the pre-Campanian Ignimbrite magmas, rose from ca. 6 km to shallower depth, recharged the most-evolved pre-Campanian Ignimbrite magma chamber, and formed the large and stratified Campanian Ignimbrite magmatic system. During the course of the Campanian Ignimbrite eruption, the two layers were tapped separately and/or simultaneously, and gave rise to the range of chemical and isotopic values displayed by the Campanian Ignimbrite pumices, glasses and minerals.     

Stable isotopes and amphibole chemistry on hydrothermally altered granitoids in the North Chilean Precordillera: a limited role for meteoric water?

Whole rock and mineral stable isotope and microprobe analyses are presented from granitoids of the North Chilean Precordillera. The Cretaceous to Tertiary plutonic rocks contain important ore deposits and frequently display compositional and textural evidence of hydrothermal alteration even in barren rocks. Deuteric alteration includes replacement of biotite and amphibole by chlorite and epidote, sericitization and saussuritization of feldspars, and uralitization of clinopyroxene and/or amphibole. While whole rock compositions are not significantly affected, compositional variations in amphiboles suggest two types of hydrothermal alteration. Hornblende with actinolitic patches and rims and tight compositional trends from hornblende to Mg-rich actinolite indicate increasing oxygen fugacity from magmatic to hydrothermal conditions. Uralitic amphiboles exhibiting irregular Mg-Fe distribution and variable Al content are interpreted as reflecting subsolidus hydration reactions at low temperatures. The δD values of hydrous silicates vary from −63 to −105‰. Most δ¹⁸O values of whole rocks are in the range of 5.7 to 7.7‰ and are considered normal for igneous rocks in the Andes. These δ¹⁸O values also coincide well with the oxygen isotope composition of geochemically similar recent volcanics from the Central Andean Volcanic Zone (δ¹⁸O = 7.0–7.4‰). Only one sample in this study (δ¹⁸O = 3.0‰) appears to be depleted by isotope exchange with light meteoric water at high temperatures. The formation of secondary minerals in all other intrusions is mainly the product of deuteric alteration. This also holds true for the sample from El Abra, the only pluton associated with mineralization. This indicates the dominant role of a magmatic rather than a meteoric fluid in the alteration of the Cretaceous and Tertiary granitoids in northern Chile. Received: 8 July 1998 / Accepted: 15 April 1999     

The Fate of High-Angle Dipping Slabs in the Subduction Factory: an Integrated Trace Element and Radiogenic Isotope (U, Th, Sr, Nd, Pb) Study of Stromboli Volcano, Aeolian Arc, Italy

The subaerial part of the Stromboli stratovolcano was builtup in the last 100 kyr through six periods of activity; theerupted magmas record the largest compositional variation ofall the Aeolian arc volcanoes (calc-alkaline, shoshonitic, andpotassic alkaline magma series). The trace element characteristicsof the less evolved magmas of each period of activity are coherentlycorrelated with their radiogenic isotope (Sr, Nd, Pb) composition,and are typical of volcanic arc rocks. In terms of U-seriesisotopes, samples from the different magma series have both²³⁸U and ²³⁰Th excesses, and this distinctive feature providesadditional constraints on source enrichment processes withinthe mantle wedge and on the mechanism of partial melting. Overallthe complete set of data demonstrates that the genesis of thedifferent magma series at Stromboli can be accommodated in amantle source that experienced two distinct enrichment processesby different parts of the subducting oceanic crust of the Ionianslab. The first was caused by supercritical liquids originatingfrom the basaltic and sedimentary parts of the subducting slabat >5 GPa and 900°C. The second was induced by aqueousfluids, again originating from the basaltic and sedimentaryparts of the slab, released from a shallower part of the subductedIonian slab (< 5 GPa and 800°C). U–Th disequilibriaconstrain the timing of the first metasomatic event (Stage I:supercritical liquids) at >435 ka, whereas the second event(Stage II: aqueous fluids) occurred at 100 ka. The high-angledip of the Ionian slab (70°) caused the superimpositionof the metasomatizing agents of the two enrichment processesin the same volume of the mantle wedge, explaining the occurrenceof such different magma series in a single volcanic edifice.The U–Th disequilibria provide evidence for dynamic meltingof the metasomatized mantle wedge combined with an ageing effectresulting from the restoration of secular equilibrium afterthe perturbation caused by the U-rich aqueous fluids of StageII. The trace element and radiogenic isotope (U, Th, Sr, Nd,Pb) signature of the mantle source of the magmas at Stromboliis thus dependent upon the amount of supercritical liquids andaqueous fluids released by the two components of the subductedslab, whereas the distinctive ²³⁸U and ²³⁰Th excesses of themagmas result from a combination of mantle ageing and time-dependentdynamic melting. The geochemical and radiogenic isotope signatureof the mantle source beneath Stromboli places important constraintson the isotopic polarity from Southern Latium to the Aeolianarc attributed to the effect of a HIMU mantle component followingeither lateral inflow of foreland mantle material or upwellingof a mantle plume in the centre of the Tyrrhenian basin. Ourgeochemical model demonstrates that the high ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ofthe putative ‘HIMU’ mantle component could be equallyformed during metasomatism of the pre-existing mantle wedgeby either the supercritical liquid (Stage I) or aqueous fluid(Stage II) released by the subducted altered basalt of the Ionianplate. KEY WORDS: radiogenic isotopes; U–Th disequilibria; mantle metasomatism; supercritical liquid; aqueous fluid; Stromboli