Petrology of the Younger Andesites and Dacites of Iztacc?huatl Volcano, Mexico: II. Chemical Stratigraphy, Magma Mixing, and the Composition of Basaltic Magma Influx

The Younger Andesites and Dacites of Iztacc?huatl volcano, Mexico,constitute a medium-K calcalkaline rock suite (58–66 wt.per cent SiO₂) characterized by high Mg-numbers (100Mg/(Mg+0?85Fe²⁺=55–66) and relatively high abundances of MgO (2?5–6?6wt. per cent), Ni(17–158 p.p.m.), and Cr (42–224p.p.m.). Chemical stratigraphy plots of eruptive sequences indicatethe existence of a plexus of long-lived dacite magma chambersperiodically replenished by influxes of basaltic magma ascendingfrom depth. Short-term geochemical evolution after batch influxwas dictated by magma mixing and eventual dilution of the basalticcomponent by ‘quasi-steady state’ hornblende dacitemagma. The chemical data support textural and mineralogicalevidence for rapid homogenization of originally diverse magmasby convective blending of residual liquids accompanied by dynamicfractional crystallization (Nixon, 1988). Internally-consistent mixing calculations used to derive thecomposition of basaltic magma influx incorporate analyticaluncertainties and the observed range of salic end-member compositions.Mafic end-members are basalts to basaltic andesites (52–54wt. per cent SiO₂) with Mg-numbers (73–76), MgO (9–11wt. per cent), Ni (250 p.p.m.), and Cr (340–510 p.p.m.)concentrations, and liquidus olivine compositions (Fo_90–88),appropriate for unfractionated partial melts of mantle peridotite.The majority of model compositions are Ol-Hy-normative, similarto those of primitive basaltic lavas on the flanks of Iztacc?huatland in the Valley of Mexico. However, calculated magma batchesrange from weakly Qz-normative to strongly Ne-normative. Bothcalculated and analyzed basaltic compositions are distinguishedby highly variable abundances of alkalies and incompatible traceelements, notably Rb, Ba, Sr, P, Zr, and Y. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios for Iztacc?huatl lavas (0?7040–0?7046;n=24) are comparable to those for primitive basaltic rocks (0?7037–0?7045;?=4) and indicate that (1) mantle source regions are isotopicallyheterogeneous; and (2) contamination of iztacc?huatl magma chambersby radiogenic crustal rocks was not a significant factor inthe evolution of calc-alkaline andesites and dacites. The replenishment of Iztacc?huatl dacite reservoirs by Ne-normativemagmas late in the history of cone growth precludes exhaustionof mantle source regions by progressive partial melting. Thewaning stages of volcanic activity at Iztacc?huatl appear toreflect the inability of dense basaltic influxes to successfullypenetrate a large high-level chamber of low density hornblendedacite magma.