Picritic primary magma and its source mantle for Oshima-ōshima and back-arc side volcanoes,Northeast Japan arc

Oshima-shima volcano is an endmember of a geochemical variation which is characterized by a low FeO content toward the back-arc side across the NE Japan arc. Analyses of the basalts show primitive characteristics. Variation trends of the chemical compositions indicate initial olivine control then olivine+clinopyroxene control from a picritic to a differentiated basalt. The more magnesian basalts have the more magnesian olivine phenocrysts. The most magnesian (MgO 15%) of all rock samples, contains olivine phenocrysts with a composition of Fo 93.7 as a liquidus phase and is considered a product of a mantle-derived magma. The possible range in FeO and MgO content of source mantle for the Oshima-shima magma can be demonstrated. Ichinomegata lherzolite inclusions, also from the back-arc side of NE Japan, is unlikely to be a candidate for the source mantle for high FeO. The upper mantle beneath the back-arc side is considered to be compositionally zoned; a Fe-rich mantle (Ichinomegata lherzolite) at shallower place and a Fe-poor mantle (the source mantle for back-arc side volcanoes).