Lower precambrian metapelites of the Yenisei Range: REE systematics,provenances, paleogeodynamics

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

Sm—Nd and Zircon U—Pb Isotopic Constraints on the Age of Formation of the Precambrian Crust in Southeast China

Nd model ages(TDM) of the Pre-Mesozoic crustal rock samples from Southeast China range from 1.2 to 3.5Ga.Two age peaks of 1.4Ga and 1.8 Ga are observed in the histogram of TDM model ages.Available U-Pb zircon inheritance ages are concentrated around 1.2-1.4Ga,1.8Ga and 2.5Ga,respectively.The combined use of Sm-Nd and U-Pb zircon inheritance ages suggests that the formation of the Precambrian curst is of episodic character.The oldest crustal nucleus may have been formed during the Late Archean(2.5Ga or older?).A rapid production of the crust took place 1.8 Ga ago,consistent with the global crust formation event at 1.7-1.9Ga.Another important episode of the addition of juvenile crustal material from the mantle in Southeast China took place 1.2-1.4Ga ago,during which the pre-existing crust was strongly reworked and/or remelted.     

Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic and geochemical systematics in Phanerozoic granulites from Fiordland,southwest New Zealand

Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic analyses are reported for granulite facies orthogneisses from Fiordland southwest New Zealand. Whole-rock samples define a Rb-Sr isochron age of 120±15 Ma and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.70391±4. _Nd values (at 120 Ma) show a relatively wide range of from –0.4 to 2.7 indicating decoupling of Sr-Nd isotope systems. Associated ultramafic rocks have initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of from 0.70380 to 0.70430 and _Nd values of from 0.1 to 3.0. The different initial ratios suggest that the various intrusions, although contemporaneous, were not derived through fractionation of a single parent magma. A metasedimentary enclave incorporated during emplacement of the granulitic rocks preserves a Proterozoic isotopic signature with a measured _Nd(0) value of –10.2, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.73679 and a T ^Nd provenance age of 1490 Ma. The Rb-Sr whole rock age of the granulites is the same as obtained from recent U-Pb zircon dating (Mattinson et al. 1986) and is interpreted as the time of magmatic emplacement and essentially contemporaneous granulite facies metamorphism. Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd analyses of mineral systems indicate that the terrain had cooled below 300° C by 100 Ma providing further evidence that high grade metamorphism was of exceptionally short duration.Unmetamorphosed leucogabbros from the Early Cretaceous Darran Complex of eastern Fiordland have significantly higher _Nd values (3.9 to 4.6) and slightly lower ⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr (0.70373 to 0.70386) than the western Fiordland granulites. This indicates that the western and eastern Fiordland complexes are not correlative although both have geochemical similarities to Phanerozoic calc-alkaline island-arc suites. The Fiordland granulites are LREE enriched (La_N/ Yb_N=12 to 40) and have trace element characteristics (e.g. high K/Rb and low Rb/Sr ratios) typical of many Rb-depleted Precambrian granulite terrains. The Fiordland trace element trends, however are attributed to magmatic, not metamorphic processes, reflecting the character of the Early Cretaceous magma sources. The range of _Nd values, but uniform initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of the western Fiordland granulites is consistent with derivation of the parent Early Cretaceous magmas at least in part from a LREE enriched, low Rb/Sr protoliths of mid-to late-Paleozoic age. Partial melting of this protolith occurred during or immediately preceding a period of great crustal thickening culminating in rapid thickening of existing crust by 20 km following emplacement of the granulitic rocks. The rapid crustal thickening was probably a consequence of a collisional event in which an Early Cretaceous magmatic arc was over-ridden by one or more thrust sheets.     

Constraints on the U-Pb isotopic systematics of Mars inferred from a combined U-Pb, Rb-Sr, and Sm-Nd isotopic study of the Martian meteorite Zagami

Uranium-lead, Rb-Sr, and Sm-Nd isotopic analyses have been performed on the same whole-rock, mineral, and leachate fractions of the basaltic martian meteorite Zagami to better constrain the U-Pb isotopic systematics of martian materials. Although the Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd systems define concordant crystallization ages of 166 ± 6 Ma and 166 ± 12 Ma, respectively, the U-Pb isotopic system is disturbed. Nevertheless, an age of 156 ± 6 Ma is derived from the ²³⁸U-²⁰⁶Pb isotopic system from the purest mineral fractions (maskelynite and pyroxene). The concordance of these three ages suggest that the ²³⁸U-²⁰⁶Pb systematics of the purest Zagami mineral fractions have been minimally disturbed by alteration and impact processes, and can therefore be used to constrain the behavior of U and Pb in the Zagami source region. The μ value of the Zagami source region can be estimated, with some confidence from the ²³⁸U-²⁰⁶Pb isochron, to be 3.96 ± 0.02. Disturbance of the U-Pb isotopic systems means that this represents a minimum value. The μ value of the Zagami source is significantly lower than the μ values estimated for most basaltic magma sources from Earth and the Moon. This is surprising given the high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio (0.721566 ± 82) and low initial ε_Nd value (−7.23 ± 0.17) determined for Zagami that indicate that this sample is derived from one of the most highly fractionated reservoirs from any known planetary body. This suggests that Mars is characterized by a low bulk planet U/Pb ratio, a feature that is consistent with its relatively volatile-rich nature.The leachates contain terrestrial common Pb that was probably added to the meteorite during handling, curation, or sawing. The mineral fractions, particularly those with significant amounts of impact melt glass, contain a second contaminant. The presence of this contaminant results in Pb-Pb ages that are older than the crystallization age of Zagami, indicating that the contaminant is characterized by a high ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratio. Such a contaminant could be produced by removal of single-stage Pb from a relatively high μ martian reservoir before ∼1.8 Ga, and therefore could be an ancient manifestation of hydrous alteration of martian surface material.     

Lu-Hf同位素体系及其岩石学应用

Lu-Hf是近几年来发展极为迅速的一门同位素定年和地球化学示踪技术。本文对这一同位素体系的发展历史、岩石学应用和存在的问题进行了全面的评述,对目前常见的样品溶解、质谱测定和激光剥蚀技术进行了全面介绍。虽然Lu-Hf同位素的发展历史可划分为TIMS、hot-SIMS、MC-ICPMS三个阶段,但MC-ICPMS仪器的出现,使Hf同位素发展速度明显加快。在介绍了Lu-Hf同位素的基本地球化学行为和基本原理之后,本文对这一同位素体系在岩石学上的应用作了全面的介绍,内容包括含石榴石和磷灰石岩石的同位素定年、早期大陆地壳形成与演化、不同端元地幔的性质及成因、岩浆作用过程的Hf同位素鉴别、区域地球动力学演化、变质作用过程中的Hf同位素变化等。最后对Lu的衰变常数、测定标准(JMC475溶液和固体锆石/斜锆石标准)的Hf同位素组成及Hf同位素的封闭温度等问题进行了讨论。     

The age of Dar al Gani 476 and the differentiation history of the martian meteorites inferred from their radiogenic isotopic systematics

Samarium-neodymium isotopic analysis of the martian meteorite Dar al Gani 476 yields a crystallization age of 474 ± 11 Ma and an initial ε_Nd¹⁴³ value of +36.6 ± 0.8. Although the Rb-Sr isotopic system has been disturbed by terrestrial weathering, and therefore yields no age information, an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.701249 ± 33 has been estimated using the Rb-Sr isotopic composition of the maskelynite mineral fraction and the Sm-Nd age. The Sr and Nd isotopic systematics of Dar al Gani 476, like those of the basaltic shergottite QUE94201, are consistent with derivation from a source region that was strongly depleted in incompatible elements early in the history of the solar system. Nevertheless, Dar al Gani 476 is derived from a source region that has a slightly greater incompatible enrichment than the QUE94201 source region. This is not consistent with the fact that the parental magma of Dar al Gani 476 is significantly more mafic than the parental magma of QUE94201, and underscores a decoupling between the major element and trace element-isotopic systematics observed in the martian meteorite suite.Combining the ε_Nd¹⁴²-ε_Nd¹⁴³ isotopic systematics of the martian meteorites yields a model age for planetary differentiation of 4.513_+0.033^−0.027 Ga. Using this age, the parent/daughter ratios of martian mantle sources are calculated assuming a two-stage evolutionary history. The calculated sources have very large ranges of parent/daughter ratios (⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr = 0.037-0.374; ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.182-0.285; ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf = 0.028-0.048). These ranges exceed the ranges estimated for terrestrial basalt source regions, but are very similar to those estimated for the sources of lunar mare basalts. In fact, the range of parent/daughter ratios calculated for the martian meteorite sources can be produced by mixing between end-members with compositions similar to lunar mare basalt sources. Two of the sources have compositions that are similar to olivine and pyroxene-rich mafic cumulates with variable proportions of a Rb-enriched phase, such as amphibole, whereas the third source has the composition of liquid trapped in the cumulate pile (i.e. similar to KREEP) after ∼99% crystallization. Correlation between the proportion of trapped liquid in the meteorite source regions and estimates of f_O2, suggest that the KREEP-like component may be hydrous. The success of these models in reproducing the martian meteorite source compositions suggests that the variations in trace element and isotopic compositions observed in the martian meteorites primarily reflect melting of the crystallization products of an ancient magma ocean, and that assimilation of evolved crust by mantle derived magmas is not required. Furthermore, the decoupling of major element and trace element-isotopic systematics in the martian meteorite suite may reflect the fact that trace element and isotopic systematics are inherited from the magma source regions, whereas the major element abundances are limited by eutectic melting processes at the time of magma formation. Differences in major element abundances of parental magma, therefore, result primarily from fractional crystallization after leaving their source regions.     

Sm-Nd isotopic evidence on the age of eclogitization in the Zermatt-Saas ophiolite

Rocks within the Zermatt-Saas ophiolite of the western Alps have undergone eclogite facies metamorphism during subduction prior to the Alpine collision. The metamorphic history of these rocks is well defined, with eclogitic assemblages being followed by the limited growth of blueschist assemblages of glaucophane and paragonite. Subsequent greenschist alteration occurs adjacent to faults, veins and metasediments. Away from such sources of water, retrogression is very limited. Sm-Nd isotopic analyses of an essentially unretrogressed eclogitic metabasalt suggest that eclogite facies metamorphism occurred at 52 ± 18 Ma. The large uncertainty is due to the presence of very small amounts of Nd-rich epidote present as inclusions within garnet. As the closure temperature of garnet to Sm & Nd is thought to be >600C, resetting due to post-high-pressure diffusion is thought to be insignificant. Given the fine-grained protolith to the sample analysed, and its extensive deformation under eclogite facies conditions, incomplete homogenization of pre-metamorphic isotopic variations is also considered unlikely to be responsible for the young age. A Tertiary age of eclogitization means that models of early Alpine evolution based on the cessation of high-pressure metamorphism in the Cretaceous need to be revised.     

Age of the Moncha Tundra fault, Kola Peninsula: Evidence from the Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic systematics of metamorphic assemblages

The first Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr dates were obtained for the dynamometamorphic processes associated with the origin and evolution of the Moncha Tundra fault, Kola Peninsula, which separates two large Early Paleoproterozoic layered intrusions: the Monchegorsk Ni-bearing mafic-ultramafic intrusion and the Main Range massif of predominantly mafic composition. The fault belongs to the regional Central Kola fault system, whose age was unknown. The material for the dating included metamorphic minerals from blastomylonitic rocks recovered by structural borehole M-1. Mineralogical thermobarometry suggests that the metamorphism occurred at 6.9–7.6 kbar and 620–640°C, which correspond to the amphibolite facies. The Sr and Nd isotopic systems were re-equilibrated, and their study allowed us to date the dynamometamorphic processes using mineral isochrons. It was established that the Moncha Tundra fault, and, respectively, the whole Central Kola fault system appeared in the middle of Paleoproterozoic ～2.0–1.9 Ga, simultaneously with the Svecofennian orogen in the central part of the region and the Lapland-Kola orogen in its northeastern part. Another episode of dynamometamorphism that occurred at 1.60–1.65 Ga is envisaged.     

Collision metamorphism of precambrian complexes in the Transangarian Yenisei Range

Three complexes in the zones of the Ishimbinskii and Tatarka deep faults in the Transangarian part of the Yenisei Range were studied to reproduce their metamorphic evolution and elucidate distinctive features of regional geodynamic processes. The results of our geological and petrological studies with the application of geothermobarometry and P-T metamorphic paths indicate that the Neoproterozoic kyanite-sillimanite intermediate-pressure metamorphism overprinted regionally metamorphosed rocks of low pressure of Middle Riphean age. The kyanite-sillimanite metamorphism was characterized by (1) the development of deformational structures and textures and kyanite-bearing blastomylonites with sillimanite, garnet, and staurolite after andalusite-bearing regional-metamorphic mineral assemblages; (2) insignificant apparent thickness of the zone of intermediate-pressure zonal metamorphism (from 2.5 to 7 km), which was localized near overthrusts; (3) a low geothermal gradient during metamorphism (from 1–7 to 12°C/km); and (4) a gradual increase in the total metamorphic pressure from southwest to northeast with approaching the overthrusts. These features are typical of collisional metamorphism during the thrusting of continental blocks and testify that the rocks subsided nearly isothermally. The process is justified within the scope of a model for the tectonic thickening of the crust via rapid thrusting and subsequent rapid exhumation and erosion. The analysis of our results with regard for the northeastern dips of the thrusts allowed us to consider the intermediate-pressure metapelites as products of collision metamorphism, which were formed in the process of a single thrusting of ancient rock blocks from the Siberian Platform onto the Yenisei Range.     

Geochemistry,protolith origin,and age of Lower Proterozoic Fe- and Al-rich metapelites in the Transangarian Yenisei Ridge

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

Constraints on the petrogenesis of Martian meteorites from the Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic systematics of the lherzolitic shergottites ALH77005 and LEW88516

Detailed Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic analyses have been completed on the lherzolitic shergottites ALH77005 and LEW88516. ALH77005 yields a Rb-Sr age of 185 ± 11 Ma and a Sm-Nd age of 173 ± 6 Ma, whereas the Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd ages of LEW88516 are 183 ± 10 and 166 ± 16 Ma, respectively. The initial Sr isotopic composition of ALH77005 is 0.71026 ± 4, and the initial ε_Nd value is +11.1 ± 0.2. These values are distinct from those of LEW88516, which has an initial Sr isotopic composition of 0.71052 ± 4 and an initial ε_Nd value of +8.2 ± 0.6. Several of the mineral and whole rock leachates lie off the Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isochrons, indicating that the isotopic systematics of the meteorites have been disturbed. The Sm-Nd isotopic compositions of the leachates appear to be mixtures of primary igneous phosphates and an alteration component with a low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratio that was probably added to the meteorites on Mars. Tie lines between leachate-residue pairs from LEW88516 mineral fractions and whole rocks have nearly identical slopes that correspond to Rb-Sr ages of 90 ± 1 Ma. This age may record a major shock event that fractionated Rb/Sr from lattice sites located on mineral grain boundaries. On the other hand, the leachates could contain secondary alteration products, and the parallel slopes of the tie lines could be coincidental.Nearly identical mineral modes, compositions, and ages suggest that these meteorites are very closely related. Nevertheless, their initial Sr and Nd isotopic compositions differ outside analytical uncertainty, requiring derivation from unique sources. Assimilation-fractional-crystallization models indicate that these two lherzolitic meteorites can only be related to a common parental magma, if the assimilant has a Sr/Nd ratio near 1 and a radiogenic Sr isotopic composition. Further constraints placed on the evolved component by the geochemical and isotopic systematics of the shergottite meteorite suite suggest that it (a) formed at ∼4.5 Ga, (b) has a high La/Yb ratio, (c) is an oxidant, and (d) is basaltic in composition or is strongly enriched in incompatible elements. The composition and isotopic systematics of the evolved component are unlike any evolved lunar or terrestrial igneous rocks. Its unusual geochemical and isotopic characteristics could reflect hydrous alteration of an evolved Martian crustal component or hydrous metasomatism within the Martian mantle.     

The age of the Stillwater complex—a comparison of U-Pb zircon and Sm-Nd isochron systematics

A zircon U-Pb age of 2713 ± 3 Myr confirms the less precise age of about 2710 Myr (corrected for new decay constants of Jaffeyet al., 1971) obtained from the same sample of zircon from the Stillwater complex chill zone (Nunes and Tilton, 1971). This age compares with Sm-Nd mineral and whole-rock isochron ages of 2701 ± 8 Myr (Depaolo and Wasserburg, 1979); or 2706 ± 8 Myr if the Lugmairet al. (1975) normalization procedure is used. The agreement of these ages to within about 0.4% indicates that the λ₁₄₇ = 0.00654 × 10^?9yr^?1 value is less than 0.8% too large relative to the U decay constants determined by Jaffeyet al. (1971) and enables more correct geological syntheses to be made when working out detailed absolute age stratigraphies using precise data from both systems.     

Lower proterozoic metapelites in the northern Yenisei Range: Nature and age of the protolith and the behavior of material during collisional metamorphism

The variable P-T metamorphic conditions studied in the Fe-Al metapelites of the Karpinskii Range Formation are regarded as typical of collision-related metamorphism in the trans-Angara part of the Yenisei Range. Recently obtained geochronologic (SHRIMP-II U-Pb zircon dating) and geochemical data on the distribution of major and trace elements are used to reproduce the composition of the protolith, the facies conditions under which it was formed, the tectonic setting, and the age of the eroded rocks. The metapelites are determined to be redeposited and metamorphosed material of Precambrian kaolinite-type weathering crusts of predominantly kaolinite-illite-montmorillonite-quartz composition. The protolith of the rocks was formed via the erosion of Lower Proterozoic granite-gneiss complexes of the Siberian craton (dated mainly within the range of 1962–2043 Ma) and the subsequent accumulation of this material in a continent-marginal shallow-water basin in a humid climate and tectonically calm environment. These results are consistent with data of lithologic-facies analysis and geodynamic reconstructions of the Precambrian evolution of geological complexes in the Yenisei Range. Mass-transfer analysis with the use of the evaluated rock compositions and calculated chemical reactions indicates that the differences in the REE patterns of metapelites from distinct zones can be explained mostly by the chemical heterogeneity of the protolithic material and, to a lesser extent, by metamorphic reactions at a pressure increase.     

Sr isotopic characteristic of neoproterozoic carbonate sediments from the southern Yenisei Ridge

This paper presents the first Sr isotopic data for the Late Precambrian carbonate rocks of the southern Yenisei Ridge. Their geochemical study allowed estimation of the degree of secondary alterations and gave the possibility to reveal rocks with a less disturbed Rb-Sr isotopic system. The Sr isotopic data indicated Neoproterozoic sedimentation of the rocks about 1070–750 Ma ago. Sr and C isotopic data showed that carbonate rocks of the Sukhoi Pit, Tungusik, and Shirokino groups are Late Riphean and could be comparable with sedimentary sequences of three Precambrian key sections of the Northern Eurasia: the subsequent Derevnino, Burovaya, and Shorikha formations from the Turukhansk Uplift, the Lakhanda Group from the Uchur-Maya region, and the Karatav Group from the South Urals. All studied carbonate rocks are older than 750 Ma and, according to the International Stratigraphic Chart, accumulated prior to global glaciations in the Cryogenian. This is evident from sedimentological study indicating the absence of tillite horizons in the studied sections. δ¹³C values in the sections vary from +0.4 up to +5.3‰, which testifies to the absence of periods of great cold.     

稳定Sr-Nd同位素体系及其对传统放射成因锶钕同位素组成的影响

稳定Sr、Nd同位素是全新的体系,其重点关注自然过程中稳定Sr和Nd同位素分馏特征与控制机制。这方面的知识可以修正传统Rb Sr和Sm-Nd同位素体系中恒定的稳定Sr、Nd同位素组成的前提假设所带来的认知偏差,补充和完善其知识体系。介绍了稳定Sr、Nd同位素体系的基本概念,综述并点评了最新的分析技术进展,并对稳定Sr、Nd同位素分馏对传统的放射成因Sr、Nd同位素组成的影响进行评估,同时对这两个新的稳定同位素体系的潜在研究应用进行展望。     

Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic systematics of the East Antarctic Manning Massif alkaline trachybasalts and the development of the mantle beneath the Lambert-Amery rift

Summary Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic investigations have been carried out on samples forming a sequence from the bottom to the top of a suite of K-rich olivine trachybasalts from the Manning Massif in the northern Prince Charles Mountains, East Antarctica. Several separate flows, each 3.5-6.5 m thick, occur as individual small outcrops and are related to the Lambert-Amery rift. Nd-Sr isotopic features of the volcanics are similar to those for lherzolite xenoliths from the Mesozoic alkaline ultramafic rocks of the adjacent Jetty Peninsula area, but the trace element abundances and patterns are consistent with the occurrence of minor phases such as apatite, amphibole, ilmenite and perovskite in the source region. According to Nd-Sr isotopic characteristics (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.512026-0.512269;⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.707765-0.708046), the trachybasalts were generated from an enriched mantle source. These features are suggested here to result from isotopic mixing between peridotite wall-rocks similar to the Jetty Peninsula xenolith samples and melts derived from ultramafic veins in the lithosphere. A synthesis from isochron and model ages on volcanics and xenoliths indicates formation of the lithosphere at about 1.2 Ga, followed by two episodes of subsequent enrichment at 0.91.0 Ga and ca. 0.6 Ga. The¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd values for the volcanics show a wide range, but are more enriched for the bottom part of the suite, becoming more depleted towards the top. This may be explained by a steadily decreasing vein/wall-rock ratio from 35% to 10% due to progressive heating of the source region. This variation in ENd is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, which constrains both vein and wall-rock characteristics quite closely: the wall-rock was an enriched peridotite, whereas the vein assemblage comprised dominantly clinopyroxene and amphibole with a lesser, but essential, amount of phlogopite. REE-rich accessory phases such as apatite and perovskite were present in the vein, but were rare, so that the vein as a whole had high Sr/Nd. Rb-Sr age determination on Manning Massif bulk rocks gives an apparent isochron age of 40±1.2 Ma (I_Sr = 0.70762), although the age is probably falsified by the mixing processes during melting.

---

Sm-Nd und Rb-Sr Isotopenuntersuchungen an alkalischen Trachybasalten des ostantarktischen Manning Massivs: Entwicklung des Mantels unter dem Lambert-Amery Rift

Zusammenfassung Sm-Nd- und Rb-Sr-Isotope wurden in einer Abfolge von K-reichen OlivinTrachybasalten im Manning Massiv in den nördlichen Prince Charles Mountains, Ost-Antarktis, untersucht. Proben wurden systematisch von mehreren sich überlagernden Lavaströmen genommen, die Mächtigkeiten von 3,5 bis 6,5 m erreichen und dem Lambert-Amery Rift zugeordnet werden. Nd-Sr Isotopenzusammensetzung der Vulkanite sind ähnlich wie in Iherzolithischen Mantelxenolithen aus alkalischen Ultramafiten der Jetty Halbinsel. Allerdings deuten die Spurenelementgehalte sowie die Spurenelementverteilungen auf die Anwesenheit von Apatit, Amphibol, Ilmenit und Perowskit in der Quellenregionhin. Nd-Sr Isotope der Trachybasalte (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd= 0.512026–0.512269;⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.707765–0.708046) weisen auf eine angereicherte Mantelzusammensetzung hin. Für die hier gefundenen Werte wird ein Mischungsmodell zwischen einem Peridotit-Nebengestein ähnlich wie in den Jetty Halbinsel Xenolithen und einer Schmelze vorgeschlagen, die aus ultramafischen Gängen innerhalb der Lithosphäre stammte. Die Kombination aus Isochronenalter und Modellalter der Vulkanite und der Xenolithe zeigt, daß nach der Bildung vor 1.2 Ga die Lithosphäre zwei Anreicherungsereignisse vor 0.9-1.0 Ga und 0.6 Ga erfahren hatte. Trotz der hohen Variation der¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd Verhältnisse ergeben sich für die unteren Lavaströme höhere Werte, während die oberen Bereiche an¹⁴³Nd verarmt sind. Dies kann auf eine stetige Abnahme des Gang/Peridotit Verhältnisses von 35% auf 10% zurückgeführt werden, das auf eine fortschreitende Aufheizung der Quellenregion hinweist. Die Variation im¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd System wird aber nicht von einem Anstieg des⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr Verhältnisses begleitet, was mit ähnlichen Werten sowohl für die Gänge als auch für den angrenzenden Peridotit erklärt werden kann: das Nebengestein bestand aus einem angereicherten Peridotit, während die Gänge hauptsächlich aus Klinopyroxen und Amphibol zusammengesetzt waren. SEE-reiche Phasen wie Apatit und Perowskit kamen in so geringen Mengen vor, daß die Gesamtzusammensetzung der Gänge hohe Sr/Nd-Verhältnisse hatte. Rb-Sr Altersbestimmungen an Gesamtgesteinen der Manning Massiv-Vulkanite ergeben eine scheinbare Isochrone von 40±1.2 Ma (I_Sr = 0.70762), obwohl diese Altersinformation vermutlich durch die Mischungsprozesse während des partiellen Schmelzens verfälscht ist.