Geochemistry of basic dikes in the Lanzo massif (Western Alps): Petrogenetic and geodynamic implications

The Alpine peridotite massif of Lanzo (Italy) contains three generations of basic dikes (gabbros and basalts). The older gabbros are plagioclase-rich mantle segregates while the younger gabbro dikes are cumulates very similar in chemical composition to recent oceanic gabbros and gabbros from ophiolitic complexes. They both were derived from the N-type mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) magmas which were progressively more depleted in incompatible elements and were probably generated during a dynamic melting of a rising mantle diapir. The basaltic dikes are the N-type MORB and closely resemble the Alpine-Apennine ophiolitic basalts. They were derived from a different upper mantle source than the parental magmas of the gabbros. The source of the basalts was less depleted in light REE. The presence of basic magmas with N-type MORB affinities in the Lanzo massif is consistent with the close genetic relationship between the Alpine peridotite body and the ophiolites of the Liguro-Piemontese basin.     

西准噶尔石炭纪洋中脊俯冲岩浆活动:以玛里雅蛇绿岩为例

玛里雅蛇绿岩位于新疆准噶尔西缘达拉布特断裂东侧的弧前增生楔内,形成于石炭纪,出露岩石类型齐全,其中硅质岩与火山岩相间出露,多表现为非构造接触。地球化学特征表明,它们大致可以分为四个系列:(1)A系列为岛弧英安岩,Th强烈富集,可能有洋壳沉积物参与,高场强元素Nb亏损,与洋壳的俯冲有关;(2)M系列与典型洋中脊玄武岩的稀土元素配分模式一致,不过Ba强烈富集,可能受到俯冲流体的影响;(3)E系列位于地幔序列N-MORB和E-MORB之间,表明它可能是地幔岩浆的混合产物,未受到地幔岩浆源区之外物质的影响;(4)O系列与典型的洋岛玄武岩基本一致,只是Ta、La和Th含量略偏低,但都处于地幔序列范围内,可能与其他岩浆源有轻微的混合。这种岩浆特征与智利洋中脊俯冲环境下所产生的岩浆特征一致;由于西准噶尔晚古生代仍然发生俯冲消减,因此推测玛里雅蛇绿岩可能形成于洋中脊俯冲环境。     

甘肃省榆中地区中元古代兴隆山岩群火山岩地球化学特征及构造环境

分布于甘肃省榆中县兴隆山地区的兴隆山岩群为一套浅变质火山岩与浅变质碎屑岩所组成的岩石组合,其火山岩主要出露于兴隆山岩群中岩组和上岩组。兴隆山岩群火山岩岩性主要为变质玄武岩,具有低w（K2O）、w（Na2O＋K20）和w（TiO2）的特点,且w（TiO2）和w（P2O5）接近于洋中脊玄武岩的平均质量分数,为亚碱性的拉斑玄武岩系列,火山岩稀土元素总量低,轻、重稀土元素分馏不明显,稀土元素配分曲线为轻稀土元素略亏损、重稀土元素平坦型,与洋中脊玄武岩的配分曲线类似,火山岩大离子亲石元素相对富集,高场强元素和重稀土元素平坦,稀土元素、微量元素特征及构造环境判别显示兴隆山岩群的火山岩形成于中元古代秦祁昆多岛洋中部略富集的E型洋中脊的海底扩张环境。     

Hidden melting signatures recorded in the Troodos ophiolite plutonic suite: evidence for widespread generation of depleted melts and intra-crustal melt aggregation

The main plutonic complex of the Troodos ophiolite, north of the Arakapas Fault Zone, has been re-examined both from field and geochemical perspectives. Ion microprobe analyses of clinopyroxene crystal cores show that the range of melt compositions added to the lower crust far exceeds that of published lavas in the main Troodos massif. This suggests that the lower crust acted as a filter into which a large range of melt compositions were added and out of which a homogenised (and generally fractionated) derivative was extracted. This crustal-level aggregation homogenised diverse melt fractions from a broad range of degrees of melting. Depleted melts with U-shaped rare earth element (REE) patterns were a significant component of the melts added to the crust, but because of their low incompatible element abundances, mixing with less depleted melts prior to eruption masked their signature in the lavas. The discovery that highly depleted melts constituted a significant component of the melts added to the Troodos crust, but not of the lavas, demonstrates that the spatial distribution of lava-types is not necessarily a good indicator of where different parental melt compositions are generated within the mantle. Compared with normal mid-ocean ridge basalts, the Troodos parental melts were (1) generally depleted in immobile incompatible trace elements, (2) less depleted in light REE (LREE) than would be expected for the concomitant depletion in middle and heavy REE, (3) enriched in Sr with respect to the LREE and (4) more oxidised. Modelling of these characteristics suggests a mantle source that had previously lost a significant melt fraction under relatively reducing conditions. This was followed by remelting under more oxidising conditions in an environment in which Sr and LREE were added to the source consistent with previous models of a supra-subduction zone setting.     

The Stonyford Volcanic Complex: a Forearc Seamount in the Northern California Coast Ranges

Jurassic age volcanic rocks of the Stonyford volcanic complex(SFVC) comprise three distinct petrological groups based ontheir whole-rock geochemistry: (1) oceanic tholeiites; (2) transitionalalkali basalts and glasses; (3) high-Al, low-Ti tholeiites.Major and trace element, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic dataindicate that the oceanic tholeiites formed as low-degree partialmelts of normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB)-source asthenospheresimilar in isotope composition to the East Pacific Rise today;the alkalic lavas were derived from an enriched source similarto that of E-MORB. The high-Al, low-Ti lavas resemble second-stagemelts of a depleted MORB-source asthenosphere that formed bymelting spinel lherzolite at low pressures. Trace element systematicsof the high-Al, low-Ti basalts show the influence of an enrichedcomponent, which overprints generally depleted trace elementcharacteristics. Tectonic discrimination diagrams show thatthe oceanic tholeiite and alkali suites are similar to present-daybasalts generated at mid-oceanic ridges. The high-Al, low-Tisuite resembles primitive arc basalts with an enriched, alkalibasalt-like overprint. Isotopic data show the influence of recycledcomponents in all three suites. The SFVC was constructed ona substrate of normal Coast Range ophiolite in an extensionalforearc setting. The close juxtaposition of the MORB-like olivinetholeiites with alkali and high-Al, low-Ti basalts suggestsderivation from a hybrid mantle source region that includedMORB-source asthenosphere, enriched oceanic asthenosphere, andthe depleted supra-subduction zone mantle wedge. We proposethat the SFVC formed in response to collision of a mid-oceanridge spreading center with the Coast Range ophiolite subductionzone. Formation of a slab window beneath the forearc duringcollision allowed the influx of ridge-derived magmas or themantle source of these magmas. Continued melting of the previouslydepleted mantle wedge above the now defunct subduction zoneproduced strongly depleted high-Al, low-Ti basalts that werepartially fertilized with enriched, alkali basalt-type meltsand slab-derived fluids. KEY WORDS: CRO; oceanic basalts; California     

REE distribution in corundum-bearing and other metasomatic rocks during the exhumation of metamorphic rocks of the belomorian belt of the Baltic Shield

The paper reports data on the distribution of REE in metasomatic rocks, including those with corundum, that were formed during the exhumation of the rocks of the Belomorian Belt at 1.9–1.75 Ga. This process is thought to have occurred concurrently with the horizontal extension and tectonic denudation of the upper crust, which, in turn, induced the massive release of fluids. The latter formed two major groups of silicic metasomatic rocks. The deepest-sitting corundum-bearing and other mafic metasomatic rocks are enriched in REE, alkalis, and alumina compared to the host rocks. The coeval acid metasomatic rocks such as orthotectites are, conversely, depleted in REE (with positive Eu anomalies), mafic elements, and HFSE but are also enriched in alumina. These complimentary rocks are thought to have been produced early during the exhumation of deep rocks under the effect of reduced fluids whose genesis was related to decompression. The silicic metasomatic rocks of the second group (with muscovite) have elevated REE concentrations (with negative Eu anomalies) and were formed by already oxidized fluids at shallower depths. The fact that the corundum-bearing metasomatic rocks are enriched in REE (in spite of the ultrabasic composition of these rocks) suggests that they were generated in an extensional environment with the participation of deep fluids, which enriched the rocks in Al, Na, K, Ba, Sr, Zr, and LREE.     

Rare earth geochemistry of fused ophiolitic and alpine lherzolites—I. Othris,Lanzo and Troodos

Lherzolites from two Mediterranean peridotite masses have major and trace element data compatible with an origin as a fragment of relatively undepleted mantle. Field observations indicate a close association with in situ basaltic melt (gabbroic dikes and segregations) and a barren refractory residue (harzburgite) produced by the removal of the melt fraction.Two lherzolites Othris (ophiolite) and Lanzo (alpine¹ periodotite) have approximately chondritic rare earth abundances with a slight depletion in light rare earths. The refractory material is moderately to heavily depleted in light REE dependent on the efficiency of removal of basaltic melt. Lherzolite xenoliths from the Massif Central probably contain an interstitial light REE enriched fraction as the recalculated lherzolite is depleted and not light REE enriched like the actual whole rock. These basaltic xenoliths are similar in major, trace and REE profile to the Lanzo and Othris mantle lherzolites, giving some indication of source homogeneity in the Mediterranean area. Partial fusion calculations on the Othris and Lanzo peridotites reveal that tholeiitic liquids could be generated by 10–30% partial melting. Such tholeiitic liquids separated from the Othris mantle section and probably formed early sea floor in a small ocean basin. Alkalic basalts are also associated with the Othris ophiolite as an early rifting sequence, and such liquids could have been generated from the source Iherzolite but difficulties would occur in removing such a liquid from the refractory residue.     

Tetrad effects in the rare earth element patterns of granitoid rocks as an indicator of fluoride-silicate liquid immiscibility in magmatic systems

This paper focuses on reasons for the appearance of tetrad effects in chondrite-normalized REE distribution patterns of granitoids (Li-F granites, peralklaine granites, ongonites, fluorine-rich rhyolites, and granitic pegmatites). The analysis of published data showed that the alteration of such rocks by high- and/or low-temperature metasomatic processes does not result in most cases in the appearance or enhancement of M-type tetrad effects in REE patterns. These processes are accompanied by the removal or addition of lanthanides, a W-type sag appears between Gd and Ho, and negative or positive Ce anomalies develop sometimes in REE patterns. The formation conditions of peculiar rocks enriched in Ca and F from the Ary Bulak ongonite massif (eastern Transbaikalia) and the character of REE distribution in these rocks and melt inclusion glasses were discussed. Based on the obtained data and the analysis of numerous publications, it was concluded that REE tetrad effects in rare-metal granitoids are caused by fluoride-silicate liquid immiscibility and extensive melt differentiation in the accumulation chambers of fluorine-rich magmas. A considerable increase in fluorine content in a homogeneous granitoid melt can cause its heterogenization (liquation) and formation of fluoride melts of various compositions. The redistribution of lanthanides between the immiscible liquid phases of granitoid magma will result in the formation of M-type tetrad effects in the silicate melts, because the REE patterns of fluoride melts exhibit pronounced W-type tetrad effects. The maximum M-type tetrad effect between La and Nd, which is observed in many rare-metal granitoids, is related to the character of REE partitioning between fluoride and silicate melts and F- and Cl-rich magmatic fluids. The low non-chondritic Y/Ho ratio (<15) of many rare-metal granitoids may be indicative of a contribution of fluoride melts to the differentiation of F-rich silicic magmas, from which these rocks were formed. The influence of high-temperature F-Cl-bearing fluids on melts and/or granitoid rocks results in an increase in Y/Ho ratio owing to the elevated solubility of Ho in such fluids.     

西藏隆巴俄桑地区玄武岩与安山玢岩的地球化学:对班公湖-怒江洋构造演化的启示

狮泉河-永珠-嘉黎蛇绿混杂岩带的构造属性及其与班公湖-怒江缝合带演化的关系,是了解班公湖-怒江洋中生代构造演化的关键.对隆巴俄桑地区的玄武岩和安山玢岩脉开展了岩石地球化学研究.结果表明,玄武岩属拉斑玄武岩系列,富集LREE和大离子亲石元素Rb、Ba、K、Sr、Pb等,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、Ti,与岛弧拉斑玄武岩特征一致.安山玢岩脉属拉斑玄武岩系列,有向钙碱系列演化的趋势,富集大离子亲石元素Rb、Ba、K、Sr、Pb、U等,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta,显示岛弧成因岩浆岩地球化学特征,低ΣREE（11.8×10-6~13.8×10-6）,（La/Yb）_N=0.37~0.43,亏损LREE,与N-MORB相似,具有岛弧岩浆岩（IAB）和正常洋中脊玄武岩（N-MORB）双重特征,与不成熟的弧后盆地玄武岩（BABB）特征一致.综合区域地质资料认为,隆巴俄桑玄武岩和安山玢岩形成的构造环境均与俯冲相关,可能分别形成于班公湖-怒江洋壳南向俯冲消减相关的洋内或者活动大陆边缘的岛弧环境和不成熟的弧后盆地环境,是中侏罗至早白垩世期间班公湖-怒江洋壳南向俯冲消减的再循环的产物.      

Rare earth element geochemistry of Thetford Mines ophiolite complex,Northern Appalachians,Canada

The Thetford Mines complex is a complete ophiolite which is part of an ultramafic-mafic belt within Québec Appalachians. These allochtonous bodies were emplaced during the Early Ordovician. The Thetford Mines complex comprises a lower unit of metamorphic harzburgite (in which tabular, dyke-like, dunitic bodies occur) overlain successively by ultramafic cumulates, mafic cumulates, ophitic gabbros, diabase sills and dykes, and basaltic volcanic rocks. Field evidence, petrography and chemical data indicate that the tabular dunitic bodies formed when fractures in the metamorphic harzburgite (which constituted the floor of the magma chamber) filled with early cumulates (i.e., olivine±chromite). Representative rocks from all units were analyzed for major and rare earth elements (REE). Metamorphic harzburgite samples from Thetford Mines complex have U-shaped chondrite-normalized REE patterns. Pyroxenites and wehrlites of the cumulate sequence are all strongly light-REE depleted and have heavy REE ranging from 0.4 to 1.5 times chondrite. REE data from ultramafic and volcanic rocks of Thetford Mines complex and geochemical modelling indicate that the metamorphic harzburgite has the chemical characteristics of depleted upper mantle residues with U-shaped patterns, and that the ultramafic cumulates crystallized from magmas having different La/Yb ratios.     

Chemical composition of melts of the Early Eocene volcanic center at Cape Khairyuzova,western Kamchatka: Evidence from inclusions in minerals

Original authors’ data on the mineralogy and composition of melt inclusions in two samples show that the Early Eocene magmatic rocks at Cape Khairyuzova were formed by mixing melts of mafic, intermediate, and acid composition, which were derived from different sources. The mafic melt was rich in MgO, and its temperature was 1100–1150°C. The temperature of the acid melt varied from 1070 to 1130°C. The melts are also different in concentrations of trace elements and in their ratios. All three melt types are enriched in LILE and LREE and depleted in HFSE and were likely derived in suprasubductional environments. The mafic and intermediate magmas were formed by melting a mantle wedge and subsequent fractionation of the melts. The acid melts could be formed by melting crustal rocks when they were overheated in the newly formed orogen of significant thickness. When ascending, the mantle melts could mix in variable proportions with acid melts in crustal chambers.     

华北板块北缘中段花岗闪长岩-苏长辉长岩的锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学特征及其形成机制

华北板块北缘中段土牧尔台地区发育大量的酸性侵入岩,仅局部出露一些苏长辉长岩岩体.前人对该基性岩岩体的研究较少,且缺少其与周围同时代酸性侵入岩演化关系的讨论.基于年代学和地球化学方法,锆石U-Pb测年结果显示,花岗闪长岩年龄为275.3±2.6 Ma,苏长辉长岩为270.1±4.2 Ma,两者均为早二叠世产出.苏长辉长岩贫硅（SiO₂=46.2%~49.8%）和高场强元素（Nb、Ti、Zr等）,富Mg#（59.16~67.58）和大离子亲石元素（Cs、Ba、Sr等）,具有较低的稀土总量和较平缓的配分曲线,及Eu正异常（δEu=1.02~2.41）,显示幔源侵入岩的特点;花岗闪长岩SiO₂含量在65.6%~67.0%之间,K₂O含量为3.71%~4.15%,为准铝质系列（A/CNK=0.94~0.98）,属于高钾钙碱性I型花岗岩.样品富集轻稀土、大离子亲石元素（Cs、Rb、K等）,亏损重稀土元素、高场强元素（Nb、Ti、Th等）,存在Eu负异常（δEu=0.61~0.69）,具有大陆弧火山岩的特征,同时岩石中存在镁铁质包体,表明其岩浆来源是壳幔混源的.两者的时空关系及地球化学特征显示,基性岩浆来自于受俯冲流体交代的亏损岩石圈地幔,底侵加热地壳产生花岗质岩浆并与之发生混合作用.结合区域研究背景,表明花岗闪长岩-苏长辉长岩岩体形成于俯冲的构造背景下,且在早二叠世,古亚洲洋仍未闭合.      

Further Study on Geochemical Characteristics and Genesis of the Boninitic Rocks from Bikou Group, Northern Yangtze Plate

INTRODUCTIONCompositionally ,the term“boninite”refers to alarge variety of pri mary or near-pri mary ( Mg#=0 .60 -0 .85) magmas with a wide variation of CaO/Al2O3(most range from0 .55 to 0 .75) (Crawford etal .,1989) . With regard to its definition as recom-mended bythe I UGS (Deng et al .,1993) and Hickeyand Frey (1982) ,the classification of boninitic rocksis still a matter of petrological debate ( Qiu et al .,2004) .In general ,rock with some typical geochemi-cal features of bon…     

Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Amphibolites, Kolar Schist Belt, South India: Evidence for Komatiitic Magma Derived by Low Percentages of Melting of the Mantle

The Kolar Schist Belt of the Dharwar Craton of South India isan Archean greenstone belt dominated by metavolcanic rocks.The mafic metavolcanic rocks occur as komatiitic and tholeiiticamphibolites. The komatiitic amphibolites occur along the marginsof the N–S trending, synformal belt. They are much lessabundant than the tholeiitic amphibolites and have 14 to 21–3wt. per cent MgO. The komatiitic amphibolites from the west/centralpart of the belt have two distinctive REE patterns: (1) thoseenriched in the middle to light REE but depleted in Ce relativeto Nd; and (2) those with patterns that are convex up, i.e.depleted in both light and heavy REE, although more depletedin the light REE. Associated tholeiites have light REE depletedto flat REE patterns. Komatiitic and tholeiitic amphibolitesfrom the eastern part of the belt have enriched light REE patterns. The tholeiitic amphibolites from the Kolar Schist Belt are similarto the TH I and TH II types of Archean tholeiites of Condie(1981). The komatiitic amphibolites are similar to komatiitesand komatiitic basalts of Barberton Mountainland, but have higherFeO and TiO2 abundances and lower Yb/Gd ratios. The petrogenetic interpretations for these rocks are based primarilyon a modification of the MgO-FeO diagram of Hanson & Langmuir(1978), and modelling of Zr, Ni and REE. All of the rocks haveundergone some fractionation. While the modelling does not giveaccurate temperatures, pressures, compositions and extents ofmelting of the mantle sources for the various amphibolites,it does present an approach which can be used for estimatingthese parameters. For example, the komatiitic amphibolites appearto be derived from melts generated by 10 to 25 per cent meltingof the mantle over a range of depths and temperatures greaterthan 80 km and 1575?C. The variation in the P-T conditions ofmagma generation is possibly due to adiabatic melting in mantlediapirs with a range of FeO/MgO ratios. If the tholeiitic amphibolitesare derived from similar mantle sources (it is not clear thatthey are), their parent melts may have been generated by similarextents of melting, but at depths of less than 80 km. The komatiiticamphibolites from the west central part of the belt were generatedfrom light REE depleted mantle, whereas those from the easternpart of the belt appear to have been generated from light REEenriched mantle. The sources for the komatiitic amphibolitesin both areas were significantly enriched in FeO relative topyrolite. Thus, a light REE depleted and a light REE enrichedsource appear to have provided mafic volcanics with similarmajor element chemistry to this belt during its evolution.     

Geochemical signature and rock associations of ocean ridge-subduction: Evidence from the Karamaili Paleo-Asian ophiolite in east Junggar,NW China

Subduction of active spreading ridges most likely occurs throughout Earth's history. Interaction or collision between spreading center and trench, with the active spreading ridge downgoing and shallowly being buried in subduction zone, results in low-pressure but high-temperature near-trench magmatism in the forearc and accretionary prism setting. The Central Asian region, a complex orogenic belt created during the evolution and closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) at ~ 1000–300 Ma, provides an ideal place to study the subduction of PAO spreading ridges beneath ancient continental margins. It had been suggested that the low-pressure and high-temperature mafic and intermediate to felsic magmas from the Karamaili ophiolite (KO) in the NE corner of the Junggar basin (NW China) in Central Asia were likely produced by ridge subduction (Liu et al., 2007). In this paper, we combine our new geochemical data with previous results to show that the geochemical characteristics of the bulk of KO mafic rocks range from arc basalt-like to mid-ocean ridge basalt-like and ocean island basalt-like. Their trace element patterns range from depleted to enriched in highly incompatible elements, but depleted in Nb and Ta, indicating a subduction-influenced origin. The KO intermediate to felsic rocks are calc-alkaline and boninitic in composition and have trace element signatures similar to the associated mafic rocks. The low Nb/Ta ratios of some of the mafic rocks and boninitic character of some of the intermediate to felsic rocks reflect a highly depleted source, perhaps due to prior backarc magmatism. Major and trace element models indicate complex fractional crystallization histories of parental KO magmas to generate both the mafic and intermediate to felsic rocks, but in general, crystal fractionation occurred at 1000 to 1200 °C and moderate to low (0.5 kbar to 10 kbar) pressure or < 23 km depth. We conclude that the KO was formed in a forearc region of a subduction system that experienced ridge subduction.     

Petrological and geochemical variations along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 46°S and 32°S: Influence of the Tristan da Cunha mantle plume

Basalts from a section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge close to the active volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic have been analysed to investigate the influence of the mantle plume on the geochemistry of basalts being erupted at the spreading center. Although petrographically the rocks show only limited variation, two basaltic types were determined to be erupting in this region based on their major, trace and REE compositions. One group shows depletion in the incompatible and LRE elements, and can be characterised as N-type mid-ocean ridge basalts. The second group shows “enriched” geochemical characteristics and is similar to T-type MORBs.Mixing hyperbolae for the incompatible element and REE ratios suggest that extensive mixing of an end-member, characteristic of a plume region with an end-member of normal depleted MORB, canaccount for the occurrence of the T-type MORBs in this region.Based on the nature and development of the Tristan da Cunha mantle plume over the past 100 Ma, a composite model of evolution is suggested,in which a ridge-centered hotspot progressed to a near ridge hotspot, and finally to a totally intraplate situation. The fact that Tristan da Cunha is highly alkalic now, but that an irregular geochemical anomalyis also present on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at this latitude would suggest an intermediate stage between the near-ridge and totally intraplate situation. This model leads to the conclusion that, as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge migrated away from the Tristan hotspot, a preferential sublithospheric flow towards the Ridge was established. This discontinuous feature can explain the geochemical variations seen along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge by providing a mechanism for mixing of a depleted N-type MORB component with an enriched component originating through processes active at the Tristan da Cunha mantle plume.     

The Generation of Kimberlites, Lamproites, and their Source Rocks

Measurements of rare earth element (REE) concentrations in SouthAfrican kimberlites and in the Argyle lamproite from WesternAustralia constrain the composition of the source rocks fromwhich these melts originate. To account for the concentrationsof Tm, Yb, and Lu in these magmas, their sources must firsthave been strongly depleted by 20% melting in the garnet stabilityfield, and then enriched by a metasomatic melt rich in lightREE and other incompatible elements. The calculated source compositionsclosely resemble those of coarse, low-temperature, depletedperidotite nodules that are the commonest nodules in kimberlites.Rarer nodule types have undergone either more or less depletionthan have the source regions of kimberlites and lamproites.The REE composition of the metasomatic melt calculated fromthe diopsides and garnets in the sheared nodules, from the diopsidemegacrysts, and from majorite garnet inclusions in diamonds,is in excellent agreement with that expected for a melt producedby melting 0.5% of the source region of ocean ridge basalts.The initial depletion event requires the extraction of 20% meltfrom a region in which garnet and chrome-spinel were stable.The melt distribution obtained from inversion of komatiite compositionssatisfies both these conditions. Kimberlite source rocks areshallower than the layer from which fertile nodules originate.Such nodules must therefore be transported by entrainment ofthe lower boundary of the layer that becomes unstable. Thisproposal can account for their strong fabric.     

Geochemistry of late Paleozoic mafic igneous rocks from the Kuerti area,Xinjiang, northwest China: implications for backarc mantle evolution

The composition of Kuerti mafic rocks in the Altay Mountains in northwest China ranges from highly geochemically depleted, with very low La, Ta and Nb and high ε_Nd(t) values, to slightly enriched, arc lava-like composition. They display flat to light rare earth element (REE)-depleted patterns and have variable depletions in high field-strength elements (HFSE). These mafic rocks were most probably derived from a variably depleted mantle source containing a subduction component beneath an ancient intra-oceanic backarc basin. Together with the slightly older arc volcanic rocks in the Altay region, the Kuerti mafic rocks display generally positive correlations of their key elemental ratios (e.g., Th/Nb, La/Yb and Th/Yb). These indicate that the more mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) component was contained in these magmas, the less arc component was present in their mantle source. Therefore, we propose a two-stage melting evolution model to interpret the compositional evolution of the Kuerti mafic rocks and associated arc volcanic rocks. First, arc basaltic melts were extracted from the hydrated arc mantle wedge beneath Kuerti, leaving behind a mantle source that is variably depleted in incompatible trace elements. Then, mafic rocks were erupted during seafloor spreading in the Kuerti backarc basin from the upwelling asthenospheric mantle. The variably depleted mantle source produced mafic rocks with composition ranging from arc lava-like to more geochemically depleted than MORB. The recognition of Kuerti mafic rocks as backarc basin basalts (BABB) is consistent with the proposed tectonic model that an active backarc basin–island arc system along the paleo-Asian ocean margin was formed in the Altay region during Devonian–Early Carboniferous. New data further indicate that the final orogenic event in the Altay Mountains, i.e. the collision of the north and south continental plates in the region, most probably took place in Late Carboniferous and Permian.     

长江源区新生代火山岩的系列及成因

长江源区的新生代火山岩系包括高钾钙碱性系列和钾玄岩系列.高钾钙碱性火山岩形成于始新世, 钾玄岩系列火山岩形成于中、上新世.总体而言, 该区火山岩富碱高钾, 富集大离子亲石元素, 稀土元素含量高且轻稀土相对富集.相对而言, 高钾钙碱性火山岩富集SiO₂、Al₂O₃, 无负Eu异常, 属于壳源岩浆系列, 其原始岩浆由加厚陆壳的榴辉岩质下地壳经部分熔融产生.钾玄岩系列火山岩富集K₂ O、TiO₂、P₂ O₅、MgO、FeO, ∑REE、HFSE、I_Sr值均较高, 弱负Eu异常, 属于幔源岩浆系列, 其原始岩浆由EMⅡ型富集地幔的部分熔融生成.2个系列的火山岩均是大陆碰撞造山后期岩浆作用的产物.始新世以来, 随着该区由碰撞、挤压作用发展到出现走滑, 应力环境由挤压转变为张性, 导致依次喷发高钾钙碱性火山岩和钾玄岩系列火山岩.      

Pb and nd isotope and trace element constraints on the origin of basic rocks in an early proterozoic igneous complex,minnesota

A suite of early Proterozoic basic to granitic rocks exposed near St. Cloud, Minnesota are cut by northeast-trending basaltic dikes. Pb isotope data for all of these rocks overlap and plot about an 1800 Ma PbPb correlation line. The basic rocks, which are light REE enriched, have ϵ_Nd values between +0.4 and −4.8. Petrogenetic considerations suggest that the basic rocks were derived from a light REE enriched source which had an Fe/Mg ratio greater than that for pyrolite. The enrichment in Fe/Mg is probably a result of the addition of basic melts to the source. The light REE enrichment may have a mantle origin by the addition of mantle-derived, light REE enriched basic melts or fluids; or a sedimentary origin by the addition of light REE enriched fluids or melts derived from subducted sediments with an early Proterozoic provenance. In either case, the Nd isotopes suggest that the light REE enriched component existed since c. 2300 Ma. The igneous complex may have formed at a convergent margin. An anorthositic gabbro near Mora, has an ϵ_Nd of +5 indicating that it was derived from a mantle source with a history of light REE depletion. This gabbro may have been part of an early Proterozoic ocean crust.