Lithium isotope systematics of lavas from the Cook–Austral Islands: Constraints on the origin of HIMU mantle

Radiogenic isotope variations in lavas from the Cook–Austral volcanic chain have delineated three distinct mantle sources: a HIMU component, a depleted component (DM), and an enriched component (EM). To better constrain the mantle sources for South Pacific hot spot volcanism, we determined lithium isotopic compositions of lavas from Raivavae, Rapa, Mangaia and Tubuai of the volcanic chain. The study includes whole rock and mineral analyses. In general, δ⁷Li of most olivines resemble bulk rock composition whereas clinopyroxenes are variably lighter. This implies that clinopyroxene is more susceptible to diffusion-induced fractionation, in agreement with previous studies. Olivine δ⁷Li values span a narrower range than whole rock values, and do not extend to the very heavy compositions previously reported in HIMU bulk lavas. This discrepancy likely reflects alteration of bulk lavas, and suggests that Li-isotope analyses of bulk lavas should be interpreted with caution. Olivines from HIMU lavas have heavy δ⁷Li values (up to 6.2‰), and extend beyond the range reported for fresh MORB. Correlations between Li-isotopes and radiogenic isotopes suggest that the heavy δ⁷Li values in HIMU olivines are a source characteristic and not the result of post-magmatic alteration. Although the Li-isotope composition of recycled, dehydrated oceanic crust is currently under debate, our results suggest that HIMU lavas derive from a source containing recycled dehydrated oceanic crust, and that the “heavy” Li-isotope signature of altered oceanic crust is partially preserved during passage through the subduction factory.     

Helium and neon isotopic compositions in the ophiolites from the Yarlung Zangbo River,Southwestern China:The information from deep mantle

The ophiolites from the Yarlung Zangbo River (Tibet),Southwestern China,were analysed for the con-tents of helium and neon and their isotopic compositions by stepwise heating. The serpentinites from Bainang showed a high 3He/4He value of 32.66Ra (Ra is referred to the 3He/4He ratio in the present air) in 700 ℃ fraction. At lower temperature,all of the dolerites displayed as very high 3He/4He ratios as ones investigated for hotspots. It was clear that the high 3He/4He ratio was one of immanent characterics in the magma source formed the dolerites,suggesting that there was a large amount of deep mantle fluids in these rocks. In the three-isotope diagram of neon,the data points from the ophiolites of the Yarlung Zangbo River were arranged along the Loihi Line. This is in agreement with the characteristics of he-lium isotopes,revealing that the high-3He plume from deep mantle had played an important role in the formation of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean. The helium isotopic compositions in the basalts were far higher than atomospheric value but lower than the average value of MORB,although there were various de-grees of alteration. The possible reasons were that basaltic magmas     

Elemental and isotopic compositions of the hydrothermal sulfide on the East Pacific Rise near 13°N

The mineralogical,elemental,and isotopic characteristics of a hydrothermal sulfide sample from one dredge station (12°42.30'N,103°54.48'W,water depth 2655 m) on the East Pacific Rise near 13°N were analyzed.The hydrothermal sulfide was composed mainly of sphalerite,chalcopyrite,and pyrite and was a Zn-rich sulfide;in layer ep-s-1,goethite formed by secondary oxidation was found.The concentrations of rare elements,such as Li (0.15×10-6-0.30×10-6),Be (0.01×10-6-0.05×10-6),Zr (73.8×10-9-1344×10-9),Nb (8.14×10-9-64.7×10-9),Hf (2.54×10-9-28.0×10-9),and Ta (0.203×10-9-1.21×10-9),were far lower in the hydrothermal sulfide than in the ocean crust,whereas the content of Au was higher and the contents of Co,Ni,Sr,Cs,Ba,Bi,and U were low.The correlations between Zn and Cr,Cd and Ga,Cu and P,P and In (R2 0.8) were positive,whereas those between Zn and Fe,Cu,and Ba (R2 0.8) were distinctly negative.From low-temperature mineral assemblages to high-temperature mineral assemblages,the spatial distributions of dispersive and rare elements (e.g.In,Li,Cs) in the hydrothermal sulfide displayed corresponding variations.The variations observed in some elements (e.g.,Cd,Cs,P) are controlled by Zn,Fe,and Cu sulfides,respectively.Seafloor weathering accounts for the enrichment of V,Mn,and rare earth elements (REE) in the henna sulfide-oxidation layer that bears the secondary oxide mineral,leading to identical REE patterns for this layer (ep-s-1) and seawater.Seafloor weathering also distinctly affects the correlations between the element ratios of the hydrothermal sulfide.From high-temperature mineral assemblages to low-temperature mineral assemblages,Fe content and δ 34S value of the hydrothermal sulfide increase gradually,and Zn content and lead isotopic ratios decrease gradually on the contrary,which indicate the influences of seawater on elements and the sulfur and lead isotopic compositions enhance gradually during the formation of hydrothermal sulfides.     

Geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic characteristics of the Mugouriwang Cenozoic volcanic rocks from Tibetan Plateau:Constraints on mantle source of the underplated basic magma

The Mugouriwang Cenozoic volcanic rocks exposed in the north Qiangtang Block of Tibetan Plateau are mainly composed of basalt and andesitic-basalt,both characterized by the lower SiO2 (51%―54%),high refractory elements (i.e. Mg,Cr,Ni) as well as the moderate enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE) relative to a slight depleted in Eu and high strength field elements (HFSE,i.e. Nb,Ta,Ti). Be-sides,the fairly low Sm/Yb value (3.07―4.35) could signify that the rocks should be derived directly from partial melting of the spinel lherzolite at the upper part of the asthenosphere. These rocks have radiogenic Sr and Pb (87Sr/86Sr = 0.705339 to 0.705667; 208Pb/204Pb = 38.8192 to 38.8937; 207Pb/204Pb = 15.6093 to 15.6245; 206Pb/204Pb = 18.6246 to 18.6383),and non-radiogenic Nd (143Nd/144Nd = 0.512604 to 0.512639; εNd = 0.02 to -0.66) in agreement with those values of the BSE mantle reservoir. The DUPAL anomaly of the rocks can be evidently attested by the △8/4Pb = 66.82 to 74.53 ,△7/4Pb = 9.88 to 11.42,△Sr>50,implying that the Mugouriwang volcanic rock is likely to be generated by partial melting of a Gondwana-bearing asthenospheric mantle ever matasomatised by the fluid from subduction zone. Depending on the previous study on the high-K calc-alkaline intermediate-felsic volcanics in the study area,this paper proposed that the fluids derived from the subducted Lhasa Block metasomatised the asthenosphere beneath the Qiangtang Block,and induced its partial melting,and then the melt under-plated the thickened Qiangtang lithosphere and caused the generation of the Cenozoic adakite-like felsic magmas in the Qiangtang region.     

Geochemical and Pb-Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of granitoids from western Qinling belt: Constraints on basement nature and tectonic affinity

Geochemical and Pb-Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of five Indosinian granitoid intrusions from the western Qinling belt provide insights into basement nature and tectonic affinity. The results show that the western Qinling granitoids incline towards basic in their bulk chemical composition. The granitoids belong to high-K to shoshonitic series with K2O/Na2O=1.04-1.86 and are dominantly metaluminous with A/CNK=0.90-1.05 (most samples have A/CNK of <1.0). They have similar trace elemental compo- sitional patterns. In Sr-Nd isotopic compositions, they display some extent heterogeneity with Isr=0.70682-0.70845, εNd(t)=?4.85 to ?9.17 and TDM=1.26-1.66 Ga. They are characterized by high ra- diogenic Pb isotopic compositions. Their initial Pb isotopic ratios are 206Pb/204Pb=17.996-18.468, 207Pb/204Pb=15.565-15.677 and 208Pb/204Pb=38.082-38.587. Geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic composi- tions reveal that magma for the granitoids was derived from partial melting of high-K (Rb) basaltic rocks, which might be formed in 900-1400 Ma. It is suggested that a large amount of the Proterozoic high-K (Rb) basaltic rocks, which underlie the Phanerozoic sedimentary cover, constitute the crustal basement of the western Qinling belt. Pb-Sr-Nd isotopic compositional comparison between the east- ern Qinling and the western Qinling Indosinian granitoids indicates that the crustal basement of the western Qinling is distinct from that of the eastern Qinling. The Baoji-Chengdu railway close to south-north orientation can be taken as an approximate boundary between both basements. The Pb-Nd isotopic compositional characteristics of the western Qinling granitoids suggest that the basement of the western Qinling belt has an affinity with the Yangtze block.     

Study on lithogeochemistry of Middle Jurassic basalts from southern China represented by the Fankeng basalts from Yongding of Fujian Province

There exists an E-W trending Middle Jurassic volcanic zone in southern China. The Fankeng basalts in the Yongding basin of Fujian Province are considered to be a typical example. The Fankeng basalts have TiO2 contents in the range of 1.92%-3.21%. They are classified as high-Ti basalts. They also have higher total Fe (averaging FeO* = 11.09%). The Middle Jurassic Fankeng basalts from southwestern Fujian have obvious distinctive lithogeochemical features from early Cre- taceous basalts from southeastern coast of China. They have higher HFSE, such as Th, Nb, Ta, Zr and Ti. Their element ratios related with HFSE, such as Zr/Ba, La/Nb, La/Ta ,Zr/Y, Ti/Y, Ba/Nb, K/Ti and Rb/Zr are similar to those of OIB. The most samples have ε Nd(T) of-0.70-0.24, which are near chondrite. Some samples have higher ε Nd(T) of 1.87-3.55.Therefore, these basaltic magmas might be derived from depleted asthenospheric mantle. The lithogeochemical characteristics of the Fankeng basalts may be caused by interaction between asthenosphere and lithosphere at the time. The (Early-) Middle Jurassic basalts and gabbros from southeastern Hunan, southern Jiangxi and northern Guangdong provinces show similar geochemical features to those of the Fankeng basalts from the Yongding of Fujian. Occurrence of these OIB-type basalts in the area may be regarded as the petrological mark of upwelling of asthenosphere at the time. Upwelling of asthenosphere has led to tectonic extension and the formation of rifted basin in the area.     

Geochemical and Pb-Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of Indosinian granitoids from the Bikou block,northwest of the Yangtze plate:Constraints on petrogenesis,nature of deep crust and geodynamics

This paper reports geochemical and Pb-Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of the Indosinian Yangba (215 Ma),Nanyili (225 Ma) and Mopi granitoids from the Bikou block of the northwestern margin of the Yangtze plate. These granitoids are enriched in Al (Al2O3:14.56%―16.48%) and Sr (352 μg/g―1047 μg/g),and depleted in Y (<16 μg/g) and HREE (e.g. Yb<1.61 μg/g),resulting in high Sr/Y (36.3―150) and (La/Yb)N (7.8―36.3) ratios and strongly fractionationed REE patterns. The Indosinian granotoids show initial Sr isotopic ratios (ISr) from 0.70419 to 70752,εNd(t) values from-3.1 to -8.5,and initial Pb isotopic ratios 206Pb/204Pb=17.891-18.250,207Pb/204Pb=15.494-15.575,and 208Pb/204Pb=37.788-38.335. Their geochemi-cal signatures indicate that the granitoids are adakitic. However,they are distinct from some adakites,generated by partial melting of subducted oceanic slab and/or underplated basaltic lower crust,be-cause they have high K (K2O: 1.49%―3.84%) and evolved Nd isotopic compositions,with older Nd iso-topic model ages (TDM=1.06―1.83 Ga). Geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions suggest that the magmas of the Insoninian adakitic rocks in the Bikou block were derived from partial melting of thick-ened basaltic lower crust. Combined with regional analyses,a lithospheric delamination model after collision between the North China and South China plates can account for the Indosinian adakitic magma generation. On the other hand,based on the Pb-Sr-Nd isotopic probing to the magma sources of the adakitic rocks,it is suggested that there is an unexposed continent-type basement under the exposed Bikou Group volcanic rocks. This can constrain on the Bikou Group volcanic rocks not to be MORB-or OIB-type.     

Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes of the Early Paleozoic maficultramafic dykes and basalts from South Qinling belt and their implications for mantle composition

Late Early Paleozoic mafic-ultramafic dykes and volcanic rocks from the South Qinling belt are char- acterized by εNd( t ) = 3.28― 5.02, (87Sr/86Sr)i= 0.70341― 0.70555, (206Pb/204Pb)i = 17.256― 18.993, (207Pb/204Pb)i= 15.505―15.642, (208Pb/204Pb)i=37.125―38.968, ?8/4=21.18―774.43, ?7/4=8.11―18.82. These charac- teristics suggest that they derived from a Middle Neoproterozoic mantle with isotopic compositions of mixed HIMU, EMII and minor EMI components. We interpret that these rocks were melting products of depleted mantle modified by subducted ancient oceanic crust and continental margin sediments along the northern margin of Yangtze block during Early Neoproterozoic.     

Molecular and carbon isotopic compositions of gas inclusions of deep carbonate rocks in the Tarim Basin

Gaseous components of gas inclusions in deep carbonate rocks (>5700 m) from the Tacan 1 well were analyzed by online mass spectrometry by means of either the stepwise heating technique or vacuum electromagnetism crushing. The carbon isotopic compositions of gases released by vacuum electromagnetism crushing were also measured. Although the molecular compositions of gas inclusions show differences between the two methods, the overall characteristics are that gas inclusions mainly contain CO2, whilst hydrocarbon gases, such as CH4, C2H6 and C3H8, are less abundant. The content of CO is higher in the stepwise heating experiment than that in the method of vacuum electromagnetism crushing, and there are only minor amounts of N2, H2 and O2 in gas inclusions. Methane δ13C values of gas inclusions in Lower Ordovician and Upper Cambrian rocks (from 5713.7 to 6422 m; -52‰-63‰) are similar to those of bacterial methane, but their chemical compositions do not exhibit the dry character in comparison with biogenic gases. These characteristics of deep gas inclusions may be related to the migration fractionation. Some deep natural gases with light carbon isotopic characteristics in the Tazhong Uplift may have a similar origin. The δ13C1 values of gas inclusions in Lower Cambrian rocks (7117-7124 m) are heavier (-39‰), consistent with highly mature natural gases. Carbon isotopic compositions of CO2 in the gas inclusions of deep carbonate rocks are similar (from -4‰ to -13‰) to those of deep natural gases, indicating predominantly an inorganic origin.     

The hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of hydroxyl in clay mineral from a weathering profile: New proxies for paleo-climate change?

Recent studies suggest that the hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of clay minerals can indicate paleoclimate.Here,we report mineralogy and stable isotopic records(d D and δ~(18)O_(OH))of a weathering profile located in the Fujian Province,aiming to validate whether hydroxyl stable isotopes can indicate paleo-precipitation and paleo-temperature.Our results indicate that the d D and δ~(18)O_(OH)changes in the kaolinite hydroxyl of the weathering profile are basically determined by the isotopic composition of paleo-meteoric water and paleotemperature,respectively.Nevertheless,whether the d D and δ~(18)O_(OH)of kaolinite can quantitatively indicate paleo-precipitation and paleo-temperature needs to be verified further,and especially,the structural oxygen isotopic composition that is the essential element for the kaolinite formation temperature calculation has to be constrained in future work.     

Heterogeneous accretion,composition and core–mantle differentiation of the Earth

A model of core formation is presented that involves the Earth accreting heterogeneously through a series of impacts with smaller differentiated bodies. Each collision results in the impactor's metallic core reacting with a magma ocean before merging with the Earth's proto-core. The bulk compositions of accreting planetesimals are represented by average solar system abundances of non-volatile elements (i.e. CI-chondritic), with 22% enhancement of refractory elements and oxygen contents that are defined mainly by the Fe metal/FeO silicate ratio. Based on an anhydrous bulk chemistry, the compositions of coexisting core-forming metallic liquid and peridotitic silicate liquid are calculated by mass balance using experimentally-determined metal/silicate partition coefficients for the elements Fe, Si, O, Ni, Co, W, Nb, V, Ta and Cr. Oxygen fugacity is fixed by the partitioning of Fe between metal and silicate and depends on temperature, pressure and the oxygen content of the starting composition. Model parameters are determined by fitting the calculated mantle composition to the primitive mantle composition using least squares minimization. Models that involve homogeneous accretion or single-stage core formation do not provide acceptable fits. In the most successful models, involving 24 impacting bodies, the initial 60–70% (by mass) of the Earth accretes from highly-reduced material with the final 30–40% of accreted mass being more oxidised, which is consistent with results of dynamical accretion simulations. In order to obtain satisfactory fits for Ni, Co and W, it is required that the larger (and later) impactor cores fail to equilibrate completely before merging with the Earth's proto-core, as proposed previously on the basis of Hf-W isotopic studies. Estimated equilibration conditions may be consistent with magma oceans extending to the core–mantle boundary, thus making core formation extremely efficient. The model enables the compositional evolution of the Earth's mantle and core to be predicted throughout the course of accretion. The results are consistent with the late accretion of the Earth's water inventory, possibly with a late veneer after core formation was complete. Finally, the core is predicted to contain ~ 5 wt.% Ni, ~ 8 wt.% Si, ~ 2 wt.% S and ~ 0.5 wt.% O.     

Structural heterogeneity of an ultra-low-velocity zone beneath the Philippine Islands: Implications for core–mantle chemical interactions induced by massive partial melting at the bottom of the mantle

An ScP phase reflected and converted at the core–mantle boundary (CMB) beneath the region east of the Philippine Islands shows clear pre- and postcursors, recorded on short-period seismic networks in Japan. These waveform variations can be explained by interaction of the ScP wavefield with thin layers at the CMB. The results of forward modeling of double-array stacks reveal two different structural heterogeneities in the lowermost mantle beneath the region east of the Philippine Islands. One of the structures represents a decreased velocity, and increased density across the reflector at the lowermost ～10 km of the mantle, with P- and S-wave velocity reductions of 5–10% and ～30%, respectively, and an increase in density of 5–10%. Another structure consists of a pair of reflectors at ～10 km and ～5 km above the CMB, both of which are characterized by reduced P- and S-wave velocities. The upper reflector is the interface of a low-velocity zone in which P- and S-wave velocities decrease of 10% and 30%, respectively, accompanied by an extremely large increase in density (20–25%). The lower reflector is characterized by a 25% reduction in S-wave velocity relative to the above low-velocity layer, as well as a 5% decrease in P-wave velocity and no change in density. The nature of the low-velocity zone detected locally at the CMB is comparable with that of ultra-low-velocity zones (ULVZs) observed by various seismic probes in the South Pacific and Central America. Extensive observations of the ULVZ beneath the region east of the Philippine Islands indicate massive partial melting at the bottom of the mantle. Low-S-velocity basal layer partly detected within the ULVZ may be resulting from core–mantle chemical interactions, driven by massive partial melting.     

On mechanical Q parameters of the lower mantle inferred from data on the Earth’s free oscillations and nutation

A new method for the interpretation of recent tidal and astrometry data based on integral relations connecting the mantle Q parameters to variations in frequencies of the main Earth’s spheroidal oscillation, nearly diurnal free nutation, Chandler wobble, and Love numbers is proposed in this paper. The normalized weighting functions in the aforementioned integral relations are shown to be very close to each other in a wide range of oscillation periods (from 54 minutes to 14 months) for the actual Earth’s model and therefore the detection of the dependence of the mantle Q parameters averaged with these weighting functions on frequency does not need to be solved for the inverse problem of the Q parameters as a function of the oscillation frequency and depth: instead, it is sufficient to determine the dependence of the adequate integral characteristics of the mantle’s inelasticity only on frequency. This makes it possible to significantly simplify the solution of the inverse problem and improve the rheologic models of the lower mantle.     

Geochemical monitoring of the 2002–2003 eruption at Stromboli volcano (Italy): precursory changes in the carbon and helium isotopic composition of fumarole gases and thermal waters

Significant changes in the helium and carbon isotopic composition of shallow thermal waters vs. gas and a crater fumarolic gas have been recorded at Stromboli prior and during the 2002–2003 eruption. The³He/⁴He ratios corrected for air contamination (Rc/Ra), and δ¹³C of fumarolic gases gradually increased from May to November 2002 before the eruption onset. These variations imply early degassing of a gas-rich magma at depth that likely fed both the intense Strombolian activity and small lava overflows recorded during that period. The lava effusion of late December 2002 was shortly preceded by a marked Rc/Ra decrease both in water and fumarolic gases. Comparison of He/CO₂ and CH₄/CO₂ ratios in dissolved gas and with values rules out the Rc/Ra decrease due to an increasing input of radiogenic⁴He. The Rc/Ra decrease is attributed to the He isotope fractionation during rapid magma ascent and degassing. A new uprising of ³He-rich magma probably occurred in January to February 2003, when Rc/Ra ratios displayed the highest values in dissolved gases ever measured before (4.56 Rc/Ra). The increase in He/CO₂ and CH₄/CO₂ ratios and decrease in δ¹³C of dissolved CO₂ was recorded after the 5 April 2003 explosive paroxysm, likely caused by enhanced gas-water interaction inducing CO₂ dissolution. No anomalous Rc/Ra values were recorded in the same period, when usual Strombolian activity gradually resumed.Editorial responsibility: H Shinohara     

Plume capture by divergent plate motions: implications for the distribution of hotspots,geochemistry of mid-ocean ridge basalts,and estimates of the heat flux at the core–mantle boundary

The coexistence of stationary mantle plumes with plate-scale flow is problematic in geodynamics. We present results from laboratory experiments aimed at understanding the effects of an imposed large-scale circulation on thermal convection at high Rayleigh number (10⁶≤Ra≤10⁹) in a fluid with a temperature-dependent viscosity. In a large tank, a layer of corn syrup is heated from below while being stirred by large-scale flow due to the opposing motions of a pair of conveyor belts immersed in the syrup at the top of the tank. Three regimes are observed, depending on the ratio V of the imposed horizontal flow velocity to the rise velocity of plumes ascending from the hot boundary, and on the ratio λ of the viscosity of the interior fluid to the viscosity of the hottest fluid in contact with the bottom boundary. When V≪1 and λ≥1, large-scale circulation has a negligible effect on convection and the heat flux is due to the formation and rise of randomly spaced plumes. When V>10 and λ>100, plume formation is suppressed entirely, and the heat flux is carried by a sheet-like upwelling located in the center of the tank. At intermediate V, and depending on λ, established plume conduits are advected along the bottom boundary and ascending plumes are focused towards the central upwelling. Heat transfer across the layer occurs through a combination of ascending plumes and large-scale flow. Scaling analyses show that the bottom boundary layer thickness and, in turn, the basal heat flux q depend on the Peclet number, Pe, and λ. When λ>10, q∝Pe^1/2 and when λ→1, q∝(Peλ)^1/3, consistent with classical scalings. When applied to the Earth, our results suggest that plate-driven mantle flow focuses ascending plumes towards upwellings in the central Pacific and Africa as well as into mid-ocean ridges. Furthermore, plumes may be captured by strong upwelling flow beneath fast-spreading ridges. This behavior may explain why hotspots are more abundant near slow-spreading ridges than fast-spreading ridges and may also explain some observed variations of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) geochemistry with spreading rate. Moreover, our results suggest that a potentially significant fraction of the core heat flux is due to plumes that are drawn into upwelling flows beneath ridges and not observed as hotspots.     

Crust and uppermost mantle structure of the Ailaoshan-Red River fault from receiver function analysis

S-wave velocity structure beneath the Ailaoshan-Red River fault was obtained from receiver functions by using teleseismic body wave records of broadband digital seismic stations. The average crustal thickness, Vp/Vs ratio and Poisson’s ratio were also estimated. The results indicate that the interface of crust and mantle beneath the Ailaoshan-Red River fault is not a sharp velocity discontinuity but a characteristic transition zone. The velocity increases relatively fast at the depth of Moho and then increases slowly in the uppermost mantle. The average crustal thickness across the fault is 36―37 km on the southwest side and 40―42 km on the northeast side, indicating that the fault cuts the crust. The relatively high Poisson’s ratio (0.26―0.28) of the crust implies a high content of mafic materials in the lower crust. Moreover, the lower crust with low velocity could be an ideal position for decoupling between the crust and upper mantle.     

Zircon U–Pb age and geochemical constraints on the origin and tectonic implication of the Tuotuohe Cenozoic alkaline magmatism in Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

A large number of Eocene-Oligocene alkaline/alkali-rich igneous rocks were developed in the Tuotuohe region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.In this study,we present zircon U-Pb ages,Hf isotope data,and major and trace element compositions of the Cenozoic alkaline rocks from the Tuotuohe region in order to constraint the petrogenesis and tectonic evolution history of Qiangtang Block.Zircon U-Pb ages were measured via LA-ICP-MS to be39.6,37.6 and 32.0 Ma.The 39.6 Ma trachyte was characterized by low SiO2 and high K2O and MgO contents.The 37.6 and 32.0 Ma orthophyres show enrichment in SiO2 and K2O,but deficient in MgO.All of the samples belong to the alkaline rocks.These rocks display enrichment in REE,LREE,and LILE,depletion in HFSE,and no obvious Eu anomalies.Geological and geochemical features suggest that there were two possible mechanisms for the origin of the alkaline rocks in the Tuotuohe region:(1)the removed mafic lower crust dropped into the asthenosphere,forming the mix magma(Nariniya trachyte);(2)the upwelling asthenosphere triggered the crustal melting(Nariniya and Zamaqu orthophyre).The Eocene-Oligocene alkaline rocks in the study and adjacent areas are likely to be the result of the same tectonic-magmatic event of deep lithospheric evolution that is the crustal material melting triggered by lithospheric delamination.This conclusion extends the influence scope of lithospheric delamination eastward to the Tuotuohe region(*92°E)from Banda Co(*82°E).     

Hf–Nd isotope constraints on the origin of the Cretaceous Caribbean plateau and its relationship to the Galápagos plume

Formation of the Cretaceous Caribbean plateau, including the komatiites of Gorgona, has been linked to the currently active Galápagos hotspot. We use Hf–Nd isotopes and trace element data to characterise both the Caribbean plateau and the Galápagos hotspot, and to investigate the relationship between them. Four geochemical components are identified in the Galápagos mantle plume: two ‘enriched’ components with ϵHf and ϵNd similar to enriched components observed in other mantle plumes, one moderately enriched component with high Nb/Y, and a fourth component which most likely represents depleted MORB source mantle. The Caribbean plateau basalt data form a linear array in Hf–Nd isotope space, consistent with mixing between two mantle components. Combined Hf–Nd–Pb–Sr–He isotope and trace element data from this study and the literature suggest that the more enriched Caribbean end member corresponds to one or both of the enriched components identified on Galápagos. Likewise, the depleted end member of the array is geochemically indistinguishable from MORB and corresponds to the depleted component of the Galápagos system. Enriched basalts from Gorgona partially overlap with the Caribbean plateau array in ϵHf vs. ϵNd, whereas depleted basalts, picrites and komatiites from Gorgona have a high ϵHf for a given ϵNd, defining a high-ϵHf depleted end member that is not observed elsewhere within the Caribbean plateau sequences. This component is similar, however, in terms of Hf–Nd–Pb–He isotopes and trace elements to the depleted plume component recognised in basalts from Iceland and along the Reykjanes Ridge. We suggest that the Caribbean plateau represents the initial outpourings of the ancestral Galápagos plume. Absence of a moderately enriched, high Nb/Y component in the older Caribbean plateau (but found today on the island of Floreana) is either due to changing source compositions of the plume over its 90 Ma history, or is an artifact of limited sampling. The high-ϵHf depleted component sampled by the Gorgona komatiites and depleted basalts is unique to Gorgona and is not found in the Caribbean plateau. This may be an indication of the scale of heterogeneity of the Caribbean plateau system; alternatively Gorgona may represent a separate oceanic plateau derived from a completely different Pacific plume, such as the Sala y Gomez.     

Eclogites from the Northern Dabie Mountains,eastern China: Geochemical characteristics,Sr−Nd isotopic compositions and tectonic implications

The petrologic geochemical and Sr?Nd isotopic compositions of the eclogites from the mafic-ultramafic rock belt (MUMRB) in the Northern Dabie Mountains indicate that: (1) the protoliths of most of eclogites are tholeitic basalt and a few may be gabbro, and most of them produced from the Yangtze subducted continental crust (lower crust and formed during the deep subduction) and a part may be from paleo-oceanic relics between the Yangtze and North China continental plates; (2) their positive Nb anomalies and related trace element characteristics show that they did not form in the island-arc setting; (3) the metamorphosed MUMRB with eclogite and meta-peridotite blocks along the southern part of the Mozitan-Xiaotian fault zone may represent the suture zone produced during the collision between the Yangtze and North China continental plates, which included the Yangtze subducted continental crust and paleo-oceanic relics.     

Eclogites from the Northern Dabie Mountains,eastern China: Geochemical characteristics,Sr−Nd isotopic compositions and tectonic implications

The petrologic geochemical and Sr−Nd isotopic compositions of the eclogites from the mafic-ultramafic rock belt (MUMRB) in the Northern Dabie Mountains indicate that: (1) the protoliths of most of eclogites are tholeitic basalt and a few may be gabbro, and most of them produced from the Yangtze subducted continental crust (lower crust and formed during the deep subduction) and a part may be from paleo-oceanic relics between the Yangtze and North China continental plates; (2) their positive Nb anomalies and related trace element characteristics show that they did not form in the island-arc setting; (3) the metamorphosed MUMRB with eclogite and meta-peridotite blocks along the southern part of the Mozitan-Xiaotian fault zone may represent the suture zone produced during the collision between the Yangtze and North China continental plates, which included the Yangtze subducted continental crust and paleo-oceanic relics.