Assimilation and Fractional Crystallization Controlled by Transport Process of Crustal Melt: Implications from an Alkali Basalt-Dacite Suite from Rishiri Volcano, Japan

Mechanisms of fractional crystallization with simultaneous crustalassimilation (AFC) are examined for the Kutsugata and Tanetomilavas, an alkali basalt–dacite suite erupted sequentiallyfrom Rishiri Volcano, northern Japan. The major element variationswithin the suite can be explained by boundary layer fractionation;that is, mixing of a magma in the main part of the magma bodywith a fractionated interstitial melt transported from the mushyboundary layer at the floor. Systematic variations in SiO₂ correlatewith variations in the Pb, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions ofthe lavas. The geochemical variations of the lavas are explainedby a constant and relatively low ratio of assimilated mass tocrystallized mass (‘r value’). In the magma chamberin which the Kutsugata and Tanetomi magmas evolved, a strongthermal gradient was present and it is suggested that the marginalpart of the reservoir was completely solidified. The assimilantwas transported by crack flow from the partially fused floorcrust to the partially crystallized floor mush zone throughfractures in the solidified margin, formed mainly by thermalstresses resulting from cooling of the solidified margin andheating of the crust. The crustal melt was then mixed with thefractionated interstitial melt in the mushy zone, and the mixedmelt was further transported by compositional convection tothe main magma, causing its geochemical evolution to be characteristicof AFC. The volume flux of the assimilant from the crust tothe magma chamber is suggested to have decreased progressivelywith time (proportional to t^–1/2), and was about 3 x 10^–2m/year at t = 10 years and 1 x 10^–2 m/year at t = 100years. It has been commonly considered that the heat balancebetween magmas and the surrounding crust controls the couplingof assimilation and fractional crystallization processes (i.e.absolute value of r). However, it is inferred from this studythat the ratio of assimilated mass to crystallized mass canbe controlled by the transport process of the assimilant fromthe crust to magma chambers. KEY WORDS: assimilation and fractional crystallization; mass balance model; magma chamber; melt transport; Pb isotope     

Geochemical Evolution of Akagi Volcano, NE Japan: Implications for Interaction Between Island-arc Magma and Lower Crust, and Generation of Isotopically Various Magmas

Major and trace element, and Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositionswere determined for whole-rock samples from the ‘isotopicallyanomalous’ Akagi volcano in the volcanic front of theNE Japan arc. Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of phenocrystswere also analyzed together with their major and trace elementcompositions. Compared with the other volcanoes from the volcanicfront, the whole-rock isotope compositions of Akagi show highlyenriched characteristics; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0·7060–0·7088,     

Shift and Rotation of Composition Trends by Magma Mixing: 1983 Eruption at Miyake-jima Volcano, Japan

Pre-eruption processes are investigated for magmas erupted in1983 from Miyake-jima volcano, which is one of the most activevolcanoes in Japan. The whole-rock compositional trends of theeruptive products are principally smooth and linear. Magmaserupted from some fissures have compositions that deviate fromthe main linear trend. Phenocryst contents of samples displacedfrom the linear compositional trends are significantly lowerthan those of samples on the main trends. Anorthite-rich plagioclasephenocrysts, present throughout the 1983 products, are too calcicto have crystallized from the erupted magma composition, andwere derived from a basaltic magma through magma mixing. Althoughthe linear whole-rock composition trends favor simple two-componentmagma mixing, this cannot explain the presence of samples thatdeviate from the main trend. Instead, the observed compositiontrends were formed by mixing of a homogeneous basaltic magmawith andesitic magmas exhibiting compositional diversity. Theoriginal linear composition trends of the andesitic end-membermagma were rotated and shifted to the direction of the basalticend-member magma by magma mixing. The samples out of the maintrends represent magmas with less basaltic component than thoseon the trend. The density and viscosity of the basaltic end-membermagma were comparable with those of the andesitic end-membermagmas. The basaltic magma, discharged from one magma chamberat 2 kbar pressure, was injected into a magma chamber at lowerpressure occupied by the chemically zoned andesite magma (1kbar), and possibly as a fountain. To establish the characteristicmixing trend of the 1983 magma, the basaltic component musthave been distributed systematically in the zoned andesite magma.A requirement is that the basaltic magma spread laterally andmixed with the andesite magma at various levels of ascent ofthe fountain in the host andesite magma. Analysis of compositionalzoning in titanomagnetite crystals revealed that the eruptionof the 1983 magmas was initiated soon after the replenishmentof the basaltic magma in the 1 kbar magma chamber. KEY WORDS: compositional trend; liquid–liquid blending; magma chamber; magma mixing; Miyake-jima Volcano     

The Geochemistry of Ultramafic to Mafic Volcanics from the Belingwe Greenstone Belt, Zimbabwe: Magmatism in an Archean Continental Large Igneous Province

The evolution of the late Archean Belingwe greenstone belt,Zimbabwe, is discussed in relation to the geochemistry of theultramafic to mafic volcanic rocks. Four volcanic types (komatiite,komatiitic basalt, D-basalt and E-basalt) are distinguishedin the 2·7 Ga Ngezi volcanic sequence using a combinationof petrography and geochemistry. The komatiites and D-basaltsare rocks in which isotopic systems and trace elements are depleted.Chemical variations in komatiites and D-basalts can be explainedby fractional crystallization from the parental komatiite. Incontrast, komatiitic basalts and E-basalts are siliceous anddisplay enriched isotopic and trace element compositions. Theirchemical trends are best explained by assimilation with fractionalcrystallization (AFC) from the primary komatiite. AFC calculationsindicate that the komatiitic basalts and E-basalts are derivedfrom komatiites contaminated with 20% and 30% crustal material,respectively. The volcanic stratigraphy of the Ngezi sequence,which is based on field relationships and the trace elementcompositions of relict clinopyroxenes, shows that the leastcontaminated komatiite lies between highly contaminated komatiiticbasalt flows, and has limited exposure near the base of thesuccession. Above these flows, D- and E-basalts alternate. Thekomatiite appears to have erupted on the surface only in theearly stages, when plume activity was high. As activity decreasedwith time, komatiite magmas may have stagnated to form magmachambers within the continental crust. Subsequent komatiiticmagmas underwent fractional crystallization and were contaminatedwith crust to form D-basalts or E-basalts. KEY WORDS: komatiite; crustal assimilation; Belingwe greenstone belt; continental flood basalt; plume magmatism     

Petrology and Geochemistry of Eclogite Xenoliths from the Colorado Plateau: Implications for the Evolution of Subducted Oceanic Crust

Eclogite xenoliths from the Colorado Plateau, interpreted asfragments of the subducted Farallon plate, are used to constrainthe trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositionsof oceanic crust subducted into the upper mantle. The xenolithsconsist of almandine-rich garnet, Na-clinopyroxene, lawsoniteand zoisite with minor amounts of phengite, rutile, pyrite andzircon. They have essentially basaltic bulk-rock major elementcompositions; their Na₂O contents are significantly elevated,but K₂O contents are similar to those of unaltered mid-oceanridge basalt (MORB). These alkali element characteristics areexplained by spilitization or albitization processes on thesea floor and during subduction-zone metasomatism in the fore-arcregion. The whole-rock trace element abundances of the xenolithsare variable relative to sea-floor-altered MORB, except forthe restricted Zr/Hf ratios (36·9–37·6).Whole-rock mass balances for two Colorado Plateau eclogite xenolithsare examined for 22 trace elements, Rb, Cs, Sr, Ba, Y, rareearth elements, Pb, Th and U. Mass balance considerations andmineralogical observations indicate that the whole-rock chemistriesof the xenoliths were modified by near-surface processes afteremplacement and limited interaction with their host rock, aserpentinized ultramafic microbreccia. To avoid these secondaryeffects, the Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of mineralsseparated from the xenoliths were measured, yielding 0·70453–0·70590for ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, –3·1 to 0·5 for Nd and 18·928–19·063for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb. These isotopic compositions are distinctlymore radiogenic for Sr and Pb and less radiogenic for Nd thanthose of altered MORB. Our results suggest that the MORB-likeprotolith of the xenoliths was metasomatized by a fluid equilibratedwith sediment in the fore-arc region of a subduction zone andthat this metasomatic fluid produced continental crust-likeisotopic compositions of the xenoliths. KEY WORDS: Colorado Plateau; eclogite xenolith; geochemistry; subducted oceanic crust