Lau Basin basalts (LBB): trace element and SrNd isotopic evidence for heterogeneity in backarc basin mantle

Diverse⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd isotopic compositions among basalts from the Lau Basin (LBB), an active backarc basin in the southwest Pacific, indicate heterogeneity in the underlying mantle. Isotopic compositions display bimodal distributions which are related to geographic location. Type I LBB (⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶Sr 0.70366;¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd 0.51297) include tholeiites from the central basin, Peggy Ridge, and Rochambeau Bank, while Type II basaltic and andesitic glasses from the northeastern portion of the basin, near Niua Fo'ou island, have higher⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ( 0.7038) and lower ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ( 0.51288). Both depleted (e.g. N-MORB) and enriched (e.g. E-MORB) trace element abundances occur among Type I and Type II LBB.Covariation between trace element and isotopic ratios among Type I LBB is consistent with mixing between depleted mantle similar to the source for MORB and relatively enriched peridotite similar to the source for E-MORB. Relative to MORB, uniformly high⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ( +0.0005) among all Type I LBB for given Nd isotopic compositions ( ε_Nd = +8 to +12) may reflect a lithospheric component, such as ancient recycled altered ocean crust. Type II LBB have SrNd isotopic compositions which are gradational between enriched mantle similar to the source of OIB and a component with distinct Sr isotopic composition such as that observed in Samoan post-erosional basalts. Isotopic and geographic discontinuity between Type I and Type II LBB, and isotopic affinity of Type II and Niua Fo`ou island basalts with those from Samoa suggests that volcanism in the northeastern portion of the basin is tapping deeper mantle beneath the adjoining Pacific plate, as well as Indo-Australian mantle overlying the Pacific lithosphere that is subducted into the Tonga Trench.     

Development of continental lithospheric mantle as reflected in the chemistry of the Mesozoic Appalachian Tholeiites, U.S.A.

Geochemical analyses of dikes, sills, and volcanic rocks of the Mesozoic Appalachian Tholeiite (MAT) Province of the easternmost United States provide evidence that continental tholeiites are derived from continental lithospheric mantle sources that are genetically and geochronologically related to the overlying continental crust. Nineteen olivine tholeiites and sixteen quartz tholeiites from the length of this province, associated in space and time with the last opening of the Atlantic, display significant isotopic heterogeneity: initial ε_Nd = +3.8 to −5.7; initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr= 0.7044−0.7072; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 17.49−19.14; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 15.55−15.65; ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 37.24−39.11. In PbPb space, the MAT define a linear array displaced above the field for MORB and thus resemble oceanic basalts with DUPAL Pb isotopic traits. A regression of this array yields a secondary PbPb isochron age of ≈ 1000 Ma (μ₁ = 8.26), similar to Sm/Nd isochrons from the southern half of the province and to the radiometric age of the Grenville crust underlying easternmost North America. The MAT exhibit significant trace element ratio heterogeneity (e.g., Sm/Nd= 0.226−0.327) and have trace element traits similar to convergent margin magmas [e.g., depletions of Nb and Ti relative to the rare earth elements on normalized trace element incompatibility diagrams, Ba/Nb ratios (19–75) that are significantly greater than those of MORB, and low TiO₂ (0.39–0.69%)].Geochemical and geological considerations very strongly suggest that the MAT were not significantly contaminated during ascent through the continental crust. Further, isotope and trace element variations are not consistent with the involvement of contemporaneous MORB or OIB components. Rather, the materials that control the MAT incompatible element chemistry were derived from subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Thus: (1) the MAT/arc magma trace element similarities; (2) the PbPb and Sm/Nd isochron ages; and (3) the need for a method of introducing an ancient (> 2−3 Ga) Pb component into subcontinental mantle that cannot be much older than 1 Ga leads to a model whereby the MAT were generated by the melting of sediment-contaminated arc mantle that was incorporated into the continental lithosphere during arc activity preceding the Grenville Orogeny (≈ 1000 Ma).     

Nd and Sr isotope ratios and rare earth element abundances in Reykjanes Peninsula basalts evidence for mantle heterogeneity beneath Iceland

Post-glacial tholeiitic basalts from the western Reykjanes Peninsula range from picrite basalts (oldest) to olivine tholeiites to tholeiites (youngest). In this sequence there are large systematic variations in rare earth element (REE) abundances (La/Sm normalized to chondrites ranges from 0.33 in the picrite basalts to 1.25 in the fissure tholeiites) and corresponding variations in ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51317 in the picrite basalts to 0.51299 in the fissure tholeiites). The large viaration in ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, more than one-third the total range observed in most ocean islands and mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB), is accompanied by only a small variation in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7031–0.7032). These ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are within the range of other Icelandic tholeiites, and distinct from those of MORB.We conclude that the mantle beneath the Reykjanes Peninsula is heterogeneous with respect to relative REE abundances and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios. On a time-averaged basis all parts of this mantle show evidence of relative depletion in light REE. Though parts of this mantle have REE abundances and Nd isotope ratios similar to the mantle source of “normal” MORB, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr is distinctly higher. Unlike previous studies we find no evidence for chondritic relative REE abundances in the mantle beneath the Reykjanes Peninsula; in fact, the data require significant chemical heterogeneity in the hypothesized mantle plume beneath Iceland, as well as lateral mantle heterogeneity from the Reykjanes Ridge to the Reykjanes Peninsula. The compositional range of the Reykjanes Peninsula basalts is consistent with mixing of magmas produced by different degrees of melting in different parts of the heterogeneous mantle source beneath the Reykjanes Peninsula.     

Correlated Nd,Sr and Pb isotope variation in Walvis Ridge basalts and implications for the evolution of their mantle source

Basement intersected in DSDP holes 525A, 528 and 527 on the Walvis Ridge consists of submarine basalt flows and pillows with minor intercalated sediments. These holes are situated on the crest and mid and lower northwest flank of a NNW-SSE-trending ridge block which would have closely paralleled the paleo mid-ocean ridge [13, 14]. The basalts were erupted approximately 70 m.y. ago, an age equivalent to that of immediately adjacent oceanic crust in the Angola Basin and consistent with formation at the paleo mid-ocean ridge [14]. The basalt types vary from aphyric quartz tholeiites on the ridge crest to highly plagioclase phyric olivine tholeiites on the ridge flank. These show systematic differences in incompatible trace element and isotopic composition. Many element and isotope ratio pairs form systematic trends with the ridge crest basalts at one end and the highly phyric ridge flank basalts at the other.The low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51238), ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (17.54), ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (15.47), ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (38.14) and high⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70512) ratios of the ridge crest basalts suggest derivation from an old Nd/Sm-, Rb/Sr- and Pb/U-enriched mantle source. This isotopic signature is similar to that of alkaline basalts on Tristan de Cunha but offset to significantly lower Nd and Pb isotopic ratios. The isotopic ratio trends may be extrapolated beyond the ridge flank basalts with higher¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51270), ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (18.32), ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (15.52), ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (38.77) and lower ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70417) ratios in the direction of increasingly Nd/Sm-, Rb/Sr- and Pb/U-depleted source compositions. These isotopic correlations are equally consistent with mixing od depleted and enriched end member melts or partial melting of an inhomogenous, variably enriched mantle source. However, observe ZrBaNbY interelement relationships are inconsistent with any simple two-component model of magma mixing, as might result from the rise of a lower mantle plume through the upper mantle. Incompatible element and Pb isotopic systematics also preclude extensive involvement of depleted (N-type) MORB material or its mantle sources. In our preferred petrogenetic model the Walvis Ridge basalts were derived by partial melting of mantle similar to an enriched (E-type) MORB source which had become heterogeneous on a small scale due to the introduction of small-volume melts and metasomatic fluids.     

Enriched back-arc basin basalts from the northern Mariana Trough: implications for the magmatic evolution of back-arc basins

The composition of basalts erupted at the earliest stages in the evolution of a back-arc basin permit unique insights into the composition and structure of the sub-arc mantle. We report major and trace element chemical data and O-, Sr-, Nd-, and Pb- isotopic analyses for basalts recovered from four dredge hauls and one ALVIN dive in the northern Mariana Trough near 22°N. The petrography and major element chemistry of these basalts (MTB-22) are similar to tholeiites from the widest part of the Trough, near 18°N (MTB-18), except that MTB-22 have slightly more K₂O and slightly less TiO₂. The trace element data exhibit a very strong arc signature in MTB-22, including elevated K, Rb, Sr, Ba, and LREE contents; relatively lowK/Ba and highBa/La andSr/Nd. The Sr- and Nd- isotopic data plot in a field displaced from that of MTB-18 towards Mariana arc lavas, and the Pb-isotopic composition of MTB-22 is indistinguishable from Mariana arc lavas and much more homogeneous than MTB-18. Mixing of 50–90% Mariana arc component with a MORB component is hypothesized. We cannot determine whether this resulted from physical mixing of arc mantle and MORB mantle, or whether the arc component is introduced by metasomatism of MORB-like mantle by fluids released from the subducted lithosphere. The strong arc signature in back-arc melts from the Mariana Trough at 22°N, where the back-arc basin is narrow, supports general models for back-arc basin evolution whereby early back-arc basin basalts have a strong arc component which diminishes in importance relative to MORB as the back-arc basin widens.     

Geochemical approach to magmatic evolution of Mt. Erciyes stratovolcano Central Anatolia, Turkey

Erciyes stratovolcano, culminating at 3917 m, is located in the Cappadocian region of central Anatolia. During its evolution, this Quaternary volcano produced pyroclastic deposits and lava flows. The great majority of these products are calc-alkaline in character and they constitute Kocdag and Erciyes sequences by repeated activities. Alkaline activity is mainly observed in the first stages of Kocdag and approximately first-middle stages of Erciyes sequences. Generally, Kocdag and Erciyes stages terminate by pyroclastic activities. The composition of lavas ranges from basalt to rhyolite (48.4–70.5 wt.% SiO₂). Calc-alkaline rocks are represented mostly by andesites and dacites. Some compositional differences between alkaline basaltic, basaltic and andesitic rocks were found; while the composition of dacites remain unchanged. All these volcanics are generally enriched in LIL and HFS elements relative to the orogenic values except Rb, Ba, Nb depleted alkaline basalt. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd isotopic composition of the volcanics range between 0.703344–0.703964, 0.512920–0.512780 for alkaline basalts and change between 0.704322–0.705088, 0.512731–0.512630 for alkaline basaltic rocks whereas calc-alkaline rocks have relatively high Sr and Nd isotopic ratios (0.703434–0.705468, 0.512942–0.512600). Low Rb, Ba, Nb content with high Zr/Nb, low Ba/Nb, La/Yb ratio and low Sr isotopic composition suggest an depleted source component, while high Ba, Rb, Nb content with high La/Yb, Ba/Nb, low Zr/Nb and low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios indicate an OIB-like mantle source for the generation of Erciyes alkaline magma. These elemental and ratio variations also indicate that the different mantle sources have undergone different degree of partial melting episodes. The depletion in Ba, Rb, Nb content may be explained by the removal of these elements from the source by slab-derived fluids which were released from pre-collisional subduction, modified the asthenospheric mantle. The chemically different mantle sources interacted with crustal materials to produce calc-alkaline magma. The Ba/Nb increase of calc-alkaline samples indicates the increasing input of crustal components to Erciyes volcanics. Sr and Nd isotopic compositions and elevated LIL and HFS element content imply that calc-alkaline magma may be derived from mixing of an OIB-like mantle melts with a subduction-modified asthenospheric mantle and involvement of crustal materials in intraplate environments.     

U&z.sbnd;Th isotopic systematics at 13°N east Pacific Ridge segment

Fresh basaltic glasses have been analyzed for U&z.sbnd;Th disequilibrium systematics as part of an extensive study on the East Pacific Rise (EPR) at 12°45′N. These samples are well described in terms of major and trace elements as well as in Nd, Pb and Sr isotopes. Our results show significant heterogeneities in the mantle source at a small scale, and show heterogeneities at larger scales also when compared to other EPR data.U and Th concentration and isotopic data rule out fractional crystallization as a main process and support a mixing model in agreement with the marble cake model developed by Alle`gre and Turcotte and constrained by trace elements and Nd, Sr and Pb isotopes on the same samples by Prinzhofer et al.Based on the high ( ²³⁰Th/²³²Th ) isotopic ratios on recent tholeiites especially the Th/U values inferred for their sources clearly show that the upper mantle Th/U has decreased with time.     

Nd and Sr isotope geochemistry of hydrous mantle nodules and their host alkali basalts: implications for local heterogeneities in metasomatically veined mantle

Nd and Sr isotopic data on pargasite Iherzolite inclusions, kaersutite megacrysts and their host alkali basalts are presented here to clarify some questions regarding isotopic equilibration during mantle metasomatism and the role of metasomatism in basalt genesis. Five alkali basalts from Nunivak Island within the Aleutian back-arc basin, have⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.70251–0.70330 and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios of 0.51289–0.51304. On a Nd versus Sr isotope composition diagram the basalts overlap the fields of MORB and ocean island basalts. Pargasites and mica separated from hydrous nodules found in these basalts have a range in⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.70256–0.70337 but identical¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios of 0.51302. The metasomatic fluid represented by the pargasite is in isotopic equilibrium, both for Sr and Nd, with the dry mantle as represented by diopside. Eight alkali basalts from the Ataq diatreme, South Yemen, have⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr range of 0.70335–0.70426 and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd range of 0.51252–0.51305. On a Nd versus Sr isotope composition diagram the basalts from Ataq plot in two distinct fields, (1) within the field of ocean island basalts, and (2) within the range of continental rift basalts but to the left of the Nd-Sr correlation line, somewhat similar to the Skye and Oslo rift basalts. Diopside and pargasite separated from three nodules at Ataq have a more complex history than those at Nunivak. Two nodules contain pargasite and diopside with identical⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios but different¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios. A third nodule contains diopside with a¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratio similar to that of other diopsides.The Nunivak basalts are derived from a source with a time-integrated light-REE depletion, in contrast to the light-REE-enriched nature of the basanites. This is best explained by a recent metasomatic event in the source region which increased the LIL element content of the peridotite thus accommodating higher degrees of melting. The Ataq volcanic rocks seem to tap different sources characterized by both light-REE enrichment and depletion, in contrast to the uniform source of the Nunivak basanites. Production of the Ataq basanites is believed to involve anataxis of metasomatically veined continental mantle where local mantle heterogeneities survived the melting event.     

Isotopic and REE studies of lunar basalt 12038: implications for petrogenesis of aluminous mare basalts

We report Sr, Nd, and Sm isotopic studies of lunar basalt 12038, one of the so-called aluminous mare basalts. A precise internal Rb-Sr isochron yields a crystallization age of 3.35±0.09 AE and initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.69922?2 (2σ error limits, 1AE=10⁹ years, λ(⁸⁷Rb)=0.0139AE^?1). An internal Sm-Nd isochron yields an age of 3.28±0.23AE and initial¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd=0.50764?28. Present-day¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd is less than the “chondritic” value, i.e. ?(Nd, 0)=?2.3±0.4 where ?(Nd) is the deviation of¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd from chondritic evolution, expressed as parts in 10⁴. At the time of crystallization ?(Nd, 3.2AE)=1.5±0.6.We have successfully modeled the evolution of the Sr and Nd isotopic compositions and the REE abundances within the framework of our earlier model for Apollo 12 olivine-pigeonite and ilmenite basalts. The isotopic and trace element features of 12038 can be modeled as produced by partial melting of a cumulate mantle source which crystallized from a lunar magma ocean with a chondrite-normalized REE pattern of constant negative slope. Chondrite-normalized La/Yb=2.2 for this hypothetical magma ocean pattern. A plot of I(Sr) versus ?(Nd) for the Apollo 12 basalts clearly shows the influence of varying proportions of olivine, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and plagioclase in the basalt source regions. A small percentage of plagioclase (～5%) in the 12038 source apparently is responsible for low I(Sr) and ?(Nd) in this basalt. Aluminous mare basalts from Mare Crisium (Luna 24) and by inference Mare Fecunditatis (Luna 16) occupy locations on the I(Sr)-?(Nd) plot similar to that of 12038, implying that some basalts from three widely separated lunar regions came from plagioclase-bearing source regions. A summary of model calculations for mare basalts shows a record of lunar mantle solidification during the period when REE abundances in the lunar magma ocean increased from ～20× chondritic to >100× chondritic. Although there is a general trend from olivine to clinopyroxene-dominated source regions with progressive magma ocean evolution, significant mineralogical heterogeneities in mantle composition apparently formed at any given stage of evolution, as evidenced in particular by the three Apollo 12 magma types.     

Oxygen- and strontium-isotopic investigations of subduction zone volcanism: the case of the Volcano Arc and the Marianas Island Arc

Recent, fresh, volcanic rocks of the intra-oceanic Mariana and Volcano Arcs were analyzed for O and Sr isotopic compositions in order to determine the source of these magmas. Fresh, non-arc, volcanic rocks from the regions surrounding the Mariana-Volcano Arcs and some DSDP sediments were also analyzed for comparison. The oxygen isotopic ratios of the arc lavas (5.5–6.8‰) exhibited a small inter-island variation that cannot be entirely explained by fractional crystallization. The Sr isotopic composition of the arc lavas is remarkably uniform (0.70332–0.70394 for the Marianas). Three models are considered in order to explain the observed isotopic characteristics: (1) bulk mixing and melting of MORB-type mantle with (a) subducted sediments, and (b) subducted oceanic crust (excluding sediments); (2) melting of a mixture of sediment-derived fluids and MORB-type mantle; and (3) melting of a mixture of sediment-derived fluids and oceanic island or “hot-spot” type mantle. The last model fits the data best. The conclusion that very small, and variable, amounts of sediment-derived fluid ( 1%) are required to explain the observed inter-island O isotopic variation, is consistent with that of other workers who used different isotopic and trace element methods. The generation of magmas in the Mariana-Volcano Arcs involves very little sediment and the source region of Mariana lavas is isotopically indistinguishable from that of hot-spot basalts.     

Isotopic geochemistry of Fernando de Noronha

Volcanic and hypabyssal rocks ranging in age from 12 to 3 Ma from the Fernando de Noronha archipelago in the western equatorial Atlantic Ocean can generally be divided into two age-compositional groups that have variable and distinct isotopic compositions. Predominantly older alkali basalts and trachytes are generally characterized by more radiogenic Sr-isotopic (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr= 0.70457–0.70485) compositions and less radiogenic Nd-isotopic (¹⁴³/Nd¹⁴⁴Nd= 0.51271–0.51281) and Pb-isotopic (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 19.132–19.282) compositions relative to the generally younger, more alkaline Si-undersaturated rocks which include nephelinites, ankaratrites, and melilitites (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr= 0.70365–0.70418,¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd= 0.51277–0.51290,²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 19.317–19.565). These variations suggest the influence of at least two separate components in the source(s) of both series. One component is characterized by highRb/Sr and low μ, possibly derived from delaminated subcontinental lithosphere, whereas the other has high μ and lowRb/Sr similar to the source of St. Helena lavas. A third component is suggested by correlated compositions in the latest alkaline, Si-undersaturated lavas, and this component may be derived from depleted mantle. These isotopic variations in conjunction with the generally increasing degree of alkalinity with time are consistent with the temporal depletion of a low-μ, highRb/Sr component and increasing contributions from a high-μ component in the sources of the volanic rocks of Fernando de Noronha.     

The southeast Australian lithospheric mantle: isotopic and geochemical constraints on its growth and evolution

Trace elements and isotopic compositions of whole rocks and mineral separates are reported for 15 spinel-bearing harzburgite and lherzolite xenoliths from southeastern Australia. These samples have an exceedingly large range in isotopic compositions, with⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ranging from 0.70248 to 0.70834 and ε_Nd values ranging from +12.7 to −6.3. This range in isotopic compositions can be found in xenoliths from a single locality. The isotopic compositions of clinopyroxene separates and their whole rocks were found to be different in some xenoliths. Samples containing small glass pockets, which replace pre-existing hydrous minerals, generally show only small differences in isotopic composition between clinopyroxene and whole rock. In a modally metasomatized peridotite, significant differences in the Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of a coexisting phlogopite-clinopyroxene pair are present. Coexisting clinopyroxenes and orthopyroxenes from an anhydrous lherzolite have Sr isotopic compositions that are significantly different (0.70248 versus 0.70314), and yield an apparent age of 625 Ma, similar to that found previously by Dasch and Green [1]. However, the Nd isotopic compositions of the clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene are identical indicating recent (within 40 Ma) re-equilibration of Nd.Sr and Nd concentrations in the whole rocks and clinopyroxenes show an excellent positive correlation, and have an average Sr/Nd ratio of 15. This ratio is similar to the primitive mantle value, as well as that found in primitive MORBs and OIBs, but is much lower than that measured in island arc basalts and what might be predicted for a subduction zone-derived fluid. This indicates that a significant proportion of the Sr and Nd in these peridotites is introduced as a basaltic melt with intraplate chemical characteristics.The isotopic compositions of the peridotites reflect long-term, small-scale heterogeneities in the continental lithospheric mantle, and are in marked contrast to the near uniform isotopic compositions of the host alkali basalts (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr= 0.7038–0.7041andε_Nd = +3.6 to +2.9). A minimum of three evolutionary stages are identified in the growth of the continental lithospheric mantle: an early basalt depletion event, recording the initial development and stabilization of the lithospheric mantle, followed by at least two enrichment episodes. These observations are consistent with continental lithospheric mantle growth involving the underplating of refractory peridotite diapirs.     

The relationship between calc-alkaline volcanism and within-plate continental rift volcanism: evidence from Scottish Palaeozoic lavas

Lower Carboniferous lavas from the Midland Valley and adjacent regions of Scotland are mildly alkaline and intraplate in nature. The sequence is dominated by basalt and hawaiite, although mugearite, benmoreite, trachyte and rhyolite are also present. Basic volcanic rocks display the LIL element and LREE enrichment typical of intraplate alkali basalt terrains. Low initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7029–0.7046), high ε_Nd (−0.4 to +5.6) and moderately radiogenic²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (17.77–18.89) ratios are also comparable with alkali basalts from other continental rifts and oceanic islands.When the Carboniferous lavas are compared with subduction-related lavas of Old Red Sandstone age, erupted in and around the Midland Valley ca. 50 Ma earlier (at 410 Ma) remarkable similarities are apparent. Significant overlap occurs in Nd and Pb isotopic compositions. Sr isotopic compositions are, however, more radiogenic in the older subduction-related lavas. This, combined with high K and Rb concentrations in ORS lavas may be explained by the incorporation of a sediment component derived from the subducted slab, which by Lower Carboniferous times had been lost from the mantle source region by convection. A pronounced negative Nb anomaly in the ORS subduction-related lavas may be explained by the retention of a Nb-bearing phase in the mantle during hydrous melting of the mantle wedge above the subduction zone.Allowing for the effects of the added component from the subducted slab, there appears to be no necessity to invoke separate mantle source regions for the two suites of lavas: both may have been derived from chemically similar portions of mantle. If volcanic arc lavas are derived from the mantle wedge, the implication is that such a source lies at relatively shallow depth within the upper mantle: the same may therefore apply to the Carboniferous continental rift basalts. This evidence, combined with the fact that there is no evident hot-spot trail across the Midland Valley despite a long period of within-plate volcanism and rapid plate movements during the Carboniferous, suggests that the alkali basalt magmatism is not the product of a deep-seated mantle plume. Rather, the volcanism appears to owe more to passive rifting and to diapiric upwelling from a source region within the uppermost mantle.     

Characteristics of the mantle source region of sodium lamprophyres and petrogenetic tectonic setting in northeastern Hunan,China

~~Characteristics of the mantle source region of sodium lamprophyres and petrogenetic tectonic setting in northeastern Hunan,China~~     

Sr and Nd isotopes in basalts from the East Pacific Rise: significance for mantle heterogeneity

Isotopic data for Sr and Nd from fresh glassy East Pacific Rise basalts suggest that this part of the suboceanic mantle is characterized by subtle but distinct large-scale regional isotopic variability which may reflect differences between cells of the convecting mantle. In spite of a systematic N—S change in spreading rate of a factor of three along the sampled portion of the EPR, no correlation is observed between spreading rate and range of isotopic composition, indicating that the regional variations override homogenization effects which may be correlated with rate of magma generation and hence spreading rate. There is no clear signature in our data of effects from the postulated global “Dupal Anomaly” [30,31]. However, for a restricted ridge segment at the latitude of Easter Island, anomalously high⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and low¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd occur, coupled with high incompatible element concentrations. These features are most easily understood as being the result of inclusion of a “plume” component in these ridge basalts.     

The origin of Samoa: new evidence from Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes

We report Sr, Nd and Pb isotope ratios and parent and daughter element concentrations in 34 volcanic rocks from Samoa. The highly undersaturated post-erosional volcanics, which have erupted in Recent to Historic time along a 250-km-long fissure, have isotopic compositions that define fields distinct from those of the tholeiitic to alkalic lavas of the older Samoan shield volcanoes. Most shield lavas have²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 18.9–19.4,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7045–0.7055 and⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (to 0.7075). In general, isotopic compositions of the shield lavas are similar to those of the Marquesas and Society Islands. Post-erosional samples have lower²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and higher⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr than most shield lavas. The most striking feature of the post-erosional data is a negative correlation between²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb. This suggests that post-erosional lavas are derived from mixtures of the shield source and a high-²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, low-²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd post-erosional source which may contain recycled ancient sediment. This enriched mantle domain may also underlie the Ontong-Java and Manihiki Plateaus to the north and west. Although both the Samoan shield and post-erosional lavas show chemical characteristics often associated with mantle plumes, only the shield volcanism can plausibly be related to a plume. The post-erosional eruptions appear to be the result of flexure and rifting due to plate bending at the northern termination of the Tonga Trench.     

143Nd/144Nd,87Sr/86Sr and trace element constraints on the petrogenesis of Aleutian island arc magmas

¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and trace element results are reported for volcanic and plutonic rocks of the Aleutian island arc. The Nd and Sr isotopic compositions plot within the mantle array with ε_Nd values of from 6.5 to 9.1 and⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of from 0.70289 to 0.70342. Basalts have mildly enriched light REE abundances but essentially unfractionated heavy REE abundances, while andesites exhibit a greater degree of light to heavy REE fractionation. Both the basalts and andesites have significant large ion lithophile element to light rare earth element (LILE/LREE) enrichments. Variations in the isotopic compositions of Nd and Sr are not related to the spatial distribution of volcanoes in the arc, nor are they related to temporal differences. ε_Nd and⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr do not correlate with major element compositions but do, however, correlate with certain LILE/LREE ratios (e.g. Ba_N/La_N). Plutonic rocks have isotropic and trace element characteristics identical to some of the volcanic rocks. Rocks that make up the tholeiitic, calc-alkaline and alkaline series in the Aleutians do not come from isotopically distinct sources, but do exhibit some differing LILE characteristics.Given these elemental and isotopic constraints it is shown that the Aleutian arc magmas could not have been derived directly from homogeneous MORB-type mantle, or fresh or altered MORB subducted beneath the arc. Mixtures of partially altered MORB with deep-sea sediment can in principle account for the isotopic characteristics and most of the observed LILE/LREE enrichments. However, some samples have exceedingly high LILE/LREE enrichments which cannot be accounted for by sediment contamination alone. For these samples a more complex scenario is considered whereby dehydration and partial melting of the subducted slab, containing less than 8% sediment, produces a LILE-enriched (relative to REE) metasomatic fluid which interacts with the overlying depleted mantle wedge. The isotopic and LILE characteristics of the mantle are extremely sensitive to metasomatism by small percentages of added fluid, whereas major elements are not substantially effected, Major element compositions of Aleutian magmas are dominantly controlled by the partial melting of this mantle and subsequent crystal fractionation; whereas isotopic and LILE characteristics are determined by localized mantle heterogeneities.     

Mariana Trough basalts (MTB): trace element and SrNd isotopic evidence for mixing between MORB-like and Arc-like melts

Mariana Trough basalt (MTB) glasses from zones of of active seafloor volcanism have incompatible trace element compositions which are intermediate between normal MORB and basaltic rocks from the active northern Mariana Island Arc (MIAB). The chemical variation is observed in trace elemental abundances and ratios such as LIL/LIL and LIL/HFS. MTB glasses with high LIL/HFS and Ba/Sm ratios, and low K/Rb, K/Ba, and Sm/Nd ratios have more enriched Sr and Nd isotopic compositions.Comparison of the SrNd isotopic compositions of MTB and MIAB suggests that the source region within the mantle wedge is heterogeneous. The diverse trace element and isotopic compositions of MTB glasses both within and between dredge sites near 18°N imply small-scale source heterogeneity. Correlation between Sm/Nd and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of the MTB glasses is interpreted as due to recent binary mixing, rather than closed system evolution of a common homogeneous source. Mixing of melts at or near the source region between a mantle component with long-term LREE and LIL element depletion (MORB-like) and a relatively enriched component with lower integrated¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (Arc-like) is suggested by trends of the MTB data on ratio-ratio, ratio-element and element-element plots.     

Indian Ocean-MORB-type isotopic signature of Yushigou ophiolite in North Qilian Mountains and its implications

Many researchers have focused on the tectonic evolution of North Qilian Mountains (NQM) since the 1970s[1―7]. However, the tectonic affinity of the an- cient oceanic mantle in early Paleozoic remains in de-bate. Three general explanations for it have been pro- posed. The first one suggests that the ancient ocean was a part of Proto-Tethys, and the tectonic evolution of NQM should be regarded as a portion of the562 Science in China: Series D Earth Sciences Tethyan tectonic domain[1]. …     

The La Breña — El Jagüey Maar Complex,Durango, Mexico: II. Petrology and geochemistry

A suite of 16 basanitic volcanic rocks, representing all stages in the evolution of the La Breña — El Jagüey (LBEJ) Maar Complex, has been studied petrographically and analyzed for mineral compositions and whole-rock major element, trace element, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions. Two feldspathic granulite xenoliths were also studied as possible lower-crustal contaminants to the LBEJ magmas. The volcanic rocks contain the stable minerals olivine, plagioclase, augite, and titanomagnetite±ilmenite, plus a diverse suite of xenocrusts derived from disaggregation of mantle xenoliths of spinel lherzolite (olivine, orthopyroxene, spinel) and lower-crustal granulite xenoliths (plagioclase, quartz, augite, ilmenite). Late-stage interstitial melts rich in Fe and Ti migrated into vesicles in several samples, forming coarse-grained segregation vesicles that are dominated by ilmenite blades up to 2 mm long. The whole-rock elemental data are typical of intra-plate basanitic rocks, with strong enrichments in large ion lithophile elements (i.e. K, Th, U) as well as high field strength elements (i.e. Nb, Ta) relative to mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) and estimates of primordial mantle abundances. Mg# increased systematically with time during the evolution of the LBEJ Maar Complex, from 57.0–58.2 in the pre-maar lavas to 59.1–63.8 in the post-maar lavas. Compatible elements (Ca, Sc, Cr, Co, Ni) correlate positively with Mg#, whereas a large group of incompatible elements (Al, Na, K, P, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Hf, Ta, Th, U) correlate negatively with Mg#. These trends can be closely reproduced by simple models of fractional crystallization, provided that the incompatible element abundances of the parental, high-Mg# magmas are allowed minor variability. All successful fractionation models demand an important role for augite, despite its presence in the LBEJ volcanic rocks as only a late-stage microphenocrystic and groundmass mineral. Minor garnet fractionation is necessary to produce depletion of heavy rare earth element (REE) abundances in the pre-maar lavas, whose REE patterns cross those for the rest of the suite. The importance of augite and garnet fractionation indicate that the differentiation of the LBEJ magmas took place within the upper mantle, a conclusion that is supported by the presence of spinel lherzolite xenoliths in magmas from all stages in the evolution of the maar complex. Isotopic data for seven LBEJ volcanic rocks show the following ranges: ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0.70327–0.70347, ^Nd 4.2–5.0, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb 18.60–18.81, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb 15.58–15.65, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb 38.19–38.58. Sr-Nd values are negatively correlated and form a trend parallel to the mantle array, overlapping the field for ocean island basalts (OIB). The LBEJ rocks have similar ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values but lower ^Nd compared to basanitic rocks from the US Basin and Range Province (BRP). Pb isotopic ratios are positively correlated and overlap the braod fields for MORB and OIB and the small fields for Mexican ore deposits and volcanic rocks from the active subduction-related Mexican Volcanic Belt. The LBEJ rocks have slightly more radiogenic Pb than basanitic rocks from the US BRP. Despite correlations among the isotopic ratios of the LBEJ suite, none of these ratios correlate with position in the eruption sequence, Mg#, or any other compositional parameter. The two lower-crustal xenoliths have high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values (0.707, 0.710) and low ^Nd (-1.5,-8.0) compared to the LBEJ volcanic rocks, but their Pb isotopic compositions are only slightly more radiogenic than the volcanic rocks. These data do not support the widely held view that the lower crust is a major reservoir of unradiogenic Pb. In order to further constrain the role played by crustal contamination in generating the isotopic diversity in the LBEJ suite, we conducted an extensive investigation of Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic ratios for scoria clasts from different levels of a single scoria-fall horizon in the pyroclastic sequence related to the formation of La Breña Maar. Our results do not support an important role for crustal contamination in the LBEJ magmas. Rather, we conclude that minor isotopic variability exists in the mantle source regions beneath the maar complex.