The geochemistry and evolution of early precambrian mantle

Seven high-purity cumulate clinopyroxenes from 2.7 b.y. maficultramafic rock associations from the Abitibi belt, Superior Province, Canada, have been analyzed for major elements and K, Rb, Cs, Ba, Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio. Attempts to reconstruct the trace element patterns of the original parent magmas were partially successful; Sr contents (140 ppm), K/Rb (470) and K/Ba (16) ratios are similar to those of modern low-K island arc tholeiites. K/Cs ratios (2700) are significantly lower than island arc tholeiites (17,000) or oceanic island and oceanic ridge basalts (> 30,000); the presentday mantle seems to be more depleted in Cs than in Archean times. Initial Sr isotope ratios of the 7 Archean clinopyroxenes average 0.70114±13(2σ) with relatively little variation; this value is in good agreement with initial ratios published for felsic and mafic rocks of the same age, though the latter show much larger variations and uncertainties. The pyroxene Sr isotope data, in conjunction with data for rocks of other ages, defines the following simple model for mantle evolution:

1. starting with primordial Sr, a short period of relatively rapid ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr growth, followed by Rb depletion;
2. a period between ≧ 3.5 b.y. and ～ 1.7 b.y. when closed-system Sr isotope evolution occurred (with Rb/Sr ～ 0.023);
3. development of large-scale Rb/Sr heterogeneities in the mantle at ～ 1.7 b.y., leading to a present-day mantle with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ranging from 0.7023 to 0.7065 and Rb/Sr ranging from ～ 0 to 0.065.

     

Rb—Sr and Sm—Nd geochronology of lower Proterozoic granite—greenstone terrains in French Guiana,South America

Nine samples of metavolcanic rock from the lower parts of greenstone belts in central French Guiana (the Paramaca series) and 14 granitic samples from the intrusive gneisses (the Degrad Roche and Arawa gneisses) were selected for Sm—Nd and Rb—Sr analysis.The Sm—Nd results from the metavolcanic series (including two tholeiites, five peridotitic komatiites and two andesites) yield an isochron age of 2.11±0.09 (2 σ) Ga with an initial ${}^{143}\text{Nd}{}^{144}\text{Nd}$ ratio (I_Nd) of 0.51002±9 (2 σ), corresponding to ?_Nd(T) = + 2.1 ± 1.8. This isochron is interpreted as representing the age of initial volcanism of the Paramaca series. Acid intrusives were dated by the Rb—Sr method. A whole rock Rb—Sr isochron, including data points from both the Degrad Roche and Arawa gneisses, yields an age of 2.00±0.07 (2 σ) Ga with initial ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratio (I_Sr value) of 0.7019±4 (2 σ). This result is considered to be the time of emplacement of the orthogneiss protoliths.The positive ε_Nd value (+ 2.1 ± 1.8) obtained from the metavolcanic rocks of French Guiana suggests that their mantle sources have evolved in reservoirs slightly depleted in Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE). This result confirms the possible existence of ancient LREE-depleted reservoirs within the lower Proterozoic mantle. Moreover, the high ε_Nd(T) value for these rocks excludes any significant crustal contamination during magma genesis.The French Guianese orthogneisses yield a low I_Sr value (0.7019±4 (2 σ)) which, together with geochemical considerations, suggests that their granitic protoliths could have originated by partial melting of short-lived crustal precursors of basaltic to granodioritic composition.The present geochronological and isotopic study suggests that the Guiana Shield may represent a major continental accretion event during the lower Proterozoic.     

Rubidium,strontium content and strontium isotopic composition of strongly alkalic basaltic rocks from the Cape Verde islands

The Cape Verde islands are characterized by the presence of very strongly alkalic lavas. Cenozoic volcanics—covering the broadest compositional range present in the archipelago—and ranging from alkali-basalts to phonolites, associated with plutonic essexites and nepheline syenites, were analyzed for Sr isotopic compositions and concentrations in K, Rb and Sr. The close values of the Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ ratios (ranging from 0.7029 to 0.7033) indicate a comagmatic origin for the different rock types; no correlation appears between the Sr isotopic composition and the K-content of the lavas, thus indicating that the lavas with high K₂O/K₂O + Na₂O ratio are generated from a primary magma by differentiation at shallow depths. The values of the Sr isotopic composition are distinctly lower than most values obtained for lavas of other oceanic islands. The origin of the magma type is discussed on the basis of these isotopic compositions and the K/Rb and Rb/Sr ratios: it is suggested that the primary magma has a nephelinitic composition and was formed by partial melting of a small fraction of undepleted mantle peridotite, containing phlogopite; the deeper part of the mantle where this nephelinitic magma generates would have a strontium isotopic ratio of about 0.703 and a Rb/Sr ratio lower than that of the upper part.     

Age of younger tonalitic magmatism and granulitic metamorphism in the South Indian transition zone (Krishnagiri area); comparison with older Peninsular gneisses from the Gorur–Hassan area

Abstract A major episode of continental crust formation, associated with granulite facies metamorphism, occurred at 2.55–2.51 Ga and was related to accretional processes of juvenile crust. Dating of tonalitic–trondhjemitic, granitic gneisses and charnockites from the Krishnagiri area of South India indicates that magmatic protoliths are 2550–2530 ± 5 Ma, as shown by both U–Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb single zircon methods. Monazite ages indicate high temperatures of cooling corresponding to conditions close to granulite facies metamorphism at 2510 ± 10 Ma. These data provide precise time constraints and Sr–Nd isotopes confirm the existence of late tonalitic–granodioritic juvenile gneisses at 2550 Ma. Pb single zircon ages from the older Peninsular gneisses (Gorur–Hassan area) are in agreement with some previous Sr ages and range between 3200 ± 20 and 3328 ± 10 Ma. These gneisses were derived from a 3.3–3.5-Ga mantle source as indicated from Nd isotopes. They did not participate significantly in the genesis of the 2.55-Ga juvenile magmas. All these data, together with previous work, suggest that the 2.51-Ga granulite facies metamorphism occurred near the contact of the ancient Peninsular gneisses and the 2.55–2.52-Ga ‘juvenile’tonalitic–trondhjemitic terranes during synaccretional processes (subduction, mantle plume?). Rb–Sr biotite ages between 2060 and 2340 Ma indicate late cooling probably related to the dextral major east–west shearing which displaced the 2.5-Ga juvenile terranes toward the west.     

Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr dating of Archaean gneisses,eastern Yilgarn Block,Western Australia

Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr isotopic data for Archaean gneisses from three localities within the eastern Yilgarn Block of Western Australia indicate that the gneisses define a precise Rb‐Sr whole rock isochron age of 2780 ± 60 Ma and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7007 ± 5. The Sm‐Nd isotopic data do not correspond to a single linear array, but form two coherent groups that are consistent with a c. 2800 Ma age of crust formation, with variable initial Nd. These results indicate that the gneiss protoliths existed as continental crust for a maximum period of only c. 100 Ma, and probably for a much shorter time, prior to the formation of the 2790 ±30 Ma greenstones.     

Sr, Nd and Pb isotopes in Proterozoic intrusives astride the Grenville Front in Labrador: Implications for crustal contamination and basement mapping

We report Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of mid-Proterozoic anorthosites and related rocks (1.45-1.65 Ga) and of younger olivine diabase dikes (1.4 Ga) from two complexes on either side of the Grenville Front in Labrador. Anorthositic or diabasic samples from the Mealy Mountains (Grenville Province) and Harp Lake (Nain-Churchill Provinces) complexes have very similar major, minor and trace element compositions, but distinctly different isotopic signatures. All Mealy Mountains samples have I_Sr = 0.7025−0.7033, ε_Nd = +0.6 to +5.6 and Pb isotopic compositions consistent with derivation from a mantle source depleted with respect to Nd/Sm and Rb/Sr. Pb isotopic compositions for the Mealy Mountains samples are slightly more radiogenic than model mantle compositions. All Harp Lake samples have I_Sr = 0.7032−0.7066, ε_Nd = −0.3 to −4.4 and variable, but generally unradiogenic ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb compared to model mantle, suggesting mixing between a mantle-derived component and a U-depleted crustal contaminant. Crustal contaminants are probably a variety of Archean high-grade quartzofeldspathic gneisses with low U/Pb ratios and include a component that must be isotopically similar to the early Archean (>3.6 Ga) Uivak gneisses of Labrador or the Amitsoq gneisses of west Greenland. This would imply that the ancient gneiss complex of coastal Labrador and Greenland is larger than indicated by present surface exposure and may extend in the subsurface as far west as the Labrador Trough. If Harp Lake and Mealy Mountains samples were subjected to the same degree of contamination, as suggested by their chemical similarities, then the Mealy contaminants must be much younger, probably early or middle Proterozoic in age. The Labrador segment of the Grenville Front, therefore, appears to coincide with the southern margin of the Archean North Atlantic craton and may represent a pre mid-Proterozoic suture.     

Geochemical variations in lavas from Kahoolawe volcano,Hawaii: evidence for open system evolution of plume-derived magmas

The Kahoolawe shield volcano produced precaldera and caldera-filling tholeiites and mildly alkalic post-caldera lavas that petrographically and compositionally resemble such lavas from other Hawaiian shield volcanoes. However, Kahoolawe tholeiites display wide ranges in incompatible trace element ratios (e.g., Nb/Th=9–24, Th/Ta=0.6–1.3), ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70379–0.70440), ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51273–0.51298), and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (17.92–18.37). The isotopic variation exceeds that at any other Hawaiian shield volcano, and spans about half the range for all Hawaiian tholeiites. Quasi-cyclic temporal evolution of Kahoolawe tholeiites is consistent with combined fractional crystallization and periodic recharge by primitive magmas. Ratios of highly incompatible trace elements and Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic ratios from coherent sub-trends that reflect recurrent interactions between variably evolved magmas and two other mantle components whose compositions are constrained by intersections between these trends. The most MgO-rich Kahoolawe tholeiites are partial melts of a high Nb/Th (23.5) ascending plume, possibly comprising ancient subducted oceanic lithosphere. Slightly evolved tholeiites experienced combined crystal fractionation and assimilation (AFC) of material derived from a distinct reservoir (Nb/Th 9) of asthenospheric derivation. The most evolved tholeiites display compositional shifts toward a third component, having mid ocean ridge basalt-like isotopic ratios but enriched OIB-like trace element ratios, representing part of the lithospheric mantle (or melts thereof). Periodic recurrence of all three magma variants suggests that eruptions may have tapped coeval reservoirs distributed over a large depth range. Kahoolawe provides new evidence concerning the nature of the Hawaiian plume, the distribution of compositional heterogeneities in the suboeanic mantle, and the processes by which Hawaiian tholeiites form and evolve.     

Origin of granitic magma by crustal remobilisation: Rb-Sr and Pb/Pb geochronology and isotope geochemistry of the late Archaean Qôrqut Granite Complex of southern West Greenland

Rb-Sr and Pb/Pb whole rock isochrons on the Qôrqut Granite Complex yield ages of $\text{2530 ± 30}\text{Myr}\text{(}\text{initial}{}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}\text{= 0.7081 ± 0.0008)}$ and 2580 ± 80 Myr respectively. A model relating initial Sr and Pb isotopic compositions of the Qôrqut granites to the Sr and Pb isotopic compositions of the Amîtsoq gneisses (ca. 3700 Myr) and Nûk gneisses (ca. 2900 Myr) at 2550 Myr ago, as well as Sr and Pb contents of the gneiss units, suggests that between 40 and 50% of the Qôrqut granite magma was generated by partial melting of Amîtsoq gneisses, and the remainder by partial melting of Nûk gneisses.     

雷琼地区晚新生代玄武岩地球化学：EM2成分来源及大陆岩石圈地幔的贡献

对雷琼地区21个晚新生代玄武岩样品的主量、微量元素和Sr、Nd、Pb同位素分别用湿化学法、ICP-MS和MC-ICPMS进行了测定.这些玄武岩主要为石英拉斑玄武岩,其次为橄榄拉斑玄武岩和碱性玄武岩.大多数样品的微量元素和同位素成分与洋岛玄武岩(OIBs)相似,而且随着SiO_2不饱和度增加,不相容元素含量也增加.除R4-1可能受到地壳混染外,其他样品相对均一的Nd同位素(ε_(Nd)=2.5-6.0)以及变化明显但范围有限的Sr同位素(0.703106～0.704481),可能继承了地幔源区的特征.~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr与~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb的正相关和~(143)Nd/~(144)Nd与~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb的负相关特征暗示DM(软流圈地幔)与EM2(岩石圈地幔)的混合.地幔捕虏体的同位素特征暗示EM2成分不可能存在于尖晶石橄榄岩地幔,而La/Yb和Sm/Yb系统表明岩浆由石榴石橄榄岩部分熔融产生,这意味着EM2成分可能存在于石榴石橄榄岩地幔.雷琼地区玄武岩的地球化学变化可以用软流圈地幔为主的熔体加入不同比例石榴石橄榄岩地幔不同程度熔融产生的熔体来解释:碱性玄武岩和橄榄拉斑玄武岩是软流圈熔体与石榴石橄榄岩地幔较低程度(7%～9%)熔融体混合,而石英拉斑玄武岩是软流圈熔体与石榴石橄榄岩地幔较高程度(10%～20%)熔融体的混合.     

Lead ages,reset rubidium-strontium ages and implications for the Archaean crustal evolution of the Diemals area,Central Yilgarn Block,Western Australia

The Pb-Pb whole-rock geochronology of Archaean granitic and gneissic rocks from the Diemals area in the Central Yilgarn granite-greenstone terrain provides important constraints on crustal evolution. The regionally extensive banded gneisses, previously considered as candidates for basement to the greenstones give a Pb-Pb whole-rock age of 2700 ± 97 Ma (2σ errors). This is within error of previously published Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd gneiss ages and also within error of the Sm-Nd ages on the greenstones in the Eastern Goldfields Province. Two synkinematic plutons give Pb-Pb whole-rock ages (2737 ± 62 Ma and 2700 ± 100 Ma) and Pb isotopic compositions consistent with the hypothesis, based on field and geochemical relations, that these plutons were derived by partial melting of the precursors to the banded gneisses. Assuming this, the combined data date the melting event at 2723 ± 25 Ma with a model source μ value of 8.18 ± 0.02. This source μ value is close to the range postulated for mantle values and restricts the crustal history of the precursors to less than ~200 Ma. A post-kinematic pluton with a whole-rock Pb-Pb age of 2685 ± 26 Ma and μ value of 8.26 ± 0.02 puts a younger limit on this relatively short lived crustal accretion-differentiation event.Comparison of Pb-Pb and Rb-Sr whole-rock dates for the plutons suggests that the latter became closed systems up to 200 Ma after the Pb-Pb ages, and that the plutons gained or lost Rb or Sr at this time.     

Geochronology of archean gneisses in the Lake Helen area,Southwestern Big Horn Mountains,Wyoming

The RbSr and UPb methods were used to study gneisses in the $\text{7}\text{1}\text{2}\text{-}\text{minute}$ Lake Helen quadrangle of the Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming. Two episodes of magmatism, deformation and metamorphism occurred during the Archean. Trondhjemitic to tonalitic orthogneisses and amphibolite of the first episode (E-1) are cut by a trondhjemite pluton and a calc-alkaline intrusive series of the second episode (E-2). The E-2 series includes hornblende-biotite quartz diorite, biotite tonalite, biotite granodiorite and biotite granite.A RbSr whole-rock isochron for E-1 gneisses indicates an age of 3007 ± 34 Ma (1 sigma) and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7001 ± 0.0001. UPb determination on zircon from E-1 gneisses yield a concordia intercept age of 2947 ± 50 Ma. The low initial ratio suggests that the gneisses had no significant crustal history prior to metamorphism, and that the magmas from which they formed had originated from a mafic source.A RbSr whole-rock isochron for E-2 gneisses gives an age of 2801 ± 31 Ma. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ration is 0.7015 ± 0.0002 and precludes the existence of the rocks for more than 150 Ma prior to metamorphism. The E-2 magmas may have originated from melting of E-1 gneisses or from a more mafic source.     

On the age of KREEP

Many lunar highland rocks have been extensively metamorphosed during the late heavy bombardment of the Moon 3.9–4.0 AE ago. Rubidium and other, more volatile elements were preferentially mobilized during this event, which resulted in a considerable scatter of RbSr model ages. This scatter can be considerably reduced by estimating the original Rb content on the basis of Sm or other, less mobile, incompatible elements. The principal uncertainty on the corrected model ages of 4.25–4.45 AE comes from the original Sm/Rb ratio.Highland rocks enriched in incompatible elements in most cases are mixtures between KREEP-basalt and other highland rock types. After corrections for Rb mobilization 3.9–4.0 AE ago, slight isotopic differences among KREEP-enriched rocks from different landing sites becomes noticeable. These differences correspond to different meteoritic groups as defined by Morgan et al. (1974). Apparently there existed slightly different KREEP basalt reservoirs, with formation ages ranging from 4.25 to 4.45 AE. These reservoirs were partly exposed through impacts of basin-forming planetesimals 3.9–4.0 AE ago. The resulting impact melts were contaminated with meteoritic material from the bombarding planetesimals.The $\text{4.63 ± 0.1}$ AE RbSr isochron of trace element poor highland rocks (Schonfeld, 1976) is determined by a K,Rb- and Ba-rich component, which formed earlier and independently of KREEP basalts.     

Pb and Sr systematics of ultrapotassic and basaltic rocks from the central Sierra Nevada,California

This study presents Sr and Pb isotopic ratios and Rb, Sr, U, Th, and Pb concentrations of an ultrapotassic basaltic suite and related rocks from the central Sierra Nevada, California. The ultrapotassic suite yields a narrow range of Sr and Pb isotopic compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.70597–0.70653; ²⁰⁶Pb/ ²⁰⁴Pb=18.862–19.018; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.640–15.686; ²⁰⁸Pb/ ²⁰⁴Pb=38.833–38.950). Associated basalts containing ultramafic nodules have less radiogenic Sr (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶=0.70430–0.70521) and generally higher Rb/Sr ratios than the ultrapotassic suite. Leucitites from Deep Springs Valley, California, contain high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (71141–0.71240) and low ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (17.169–17.234) ratios, reflecting contamination by crustal granulite.The isotopic relationships support an origin of the ultrapotassic basaltic suite by partial melting of an enriched upper mantle source. Dehydration of a gently inclined oceanic slab beneath the Sierra Nevada may have provided Ba, K, Rb, Sr, and H₂O, which migrated into the overlying upper mantle lithosphere. The end of subduction 10 m.y. ago allowed increased asthenospheric heat flow into the upper mantle lithosphere. The increased heat flow enhanced fluid movement in the upper mantle and contributed towards isotopic homogenization of the upper mantle source areas. Continued heating of the enriched upper mantle caused partial melting and subsequent eruption of the ultrapotassic lavas.     

Early Carboniferous intra-oceanic arc and back-arc basin system in the West Junggar,NW China

A series of Lower Carboniferous volcanic rocks occur in the Hatu, Darbut, and Baogutu areas of Xinjiang Province. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) zircon U–Pb isotopic data indicate that two samples of these rocks coevally erupted at 324.0 ± 2.8 Ma and 324.9 ± 3.4 Ma. Three detailed profile measurements show that the volcanics include the Hatu basalt, the Baogutu andesite and dacite, and the Darbut andesite. Whole-rock compositions suggest that the Hatu volcanics are tholeiites and have a mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like signature with a small negative Nb anomaly, suggesting formation in a back-arc basin. Their isotopic compositions (?Nd(t) = +2.2 to +4.0, (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)i = 0.70414 to 0.70517) suggest a mixing origin from depleted to enriched mantle sources. In contrast, the Baogutu and Darbut rocks are andesite and dacite possessing a transitional tholeiite to calc–alkaline character and have E-MORB-like and OIB signatures, with a marked negative Nb anomaly and Th/Yb-enrichment, indicating that they were generated in a subduction zone setting. Isotopically, they display consistently depleted Sr–Nd isotopic compositions [(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)i = 0.70377–0.70469, ?Nd(t) = 1.0–5.2], suggesting that they were derived from a depleted mantle, and that fluid and sediments were involved in their petrogenesis. These features suggest that an early Carboniferous intra-oceanic arc and back-arc basin system generated the studied volcanic units in the West Junggar.     

Isotopic evolution of common lead

The isotopic composition of lead from galenas and feldspars of granitic rocks covering a time span of 3600 m.y. is reviewed. Hew data are combined with data from the literature, all ratios being normalized to a fixed value for the isotopic composition of lead in an inter-laboratory reference sample. Comparison of feldspar and galena results show that the isotopic composition of initial lead in granitic rocks may be identical to, or more radiogenic than, that in coeval stratiform (or ‘single stage’) ore deposits. The isotopic evolution of terrestrial lead over the past 3600 m.y. deduced from the stratiform ore data does not fit the closed system source. The data are best fitted to evolution models in which the value of μ (U²³⁸/Pb²⁰⁴ normalized to the present day) in the source has increased either over approximately the past 3.6 billion years or since the time of formation of the Earth. A limited number of high precision data for strontium likewise indicate open system isotopic evolution. In this system the Rb/Sr ratio appears to have decreased as a function of time. Physical models that explain the data are presented. Either mantle differentiation or crustal contamination processes could account for the change in μ in the source for the lead. The strontium data and some detailed studies of the isotopic composition of lead in oceanic volcanic rocks support mantle differentiation rather than crustal contamination. The exact nature of the mantle differentiation process cannot be specified, although empirical data favoring the existence of such a process are given. The best estimate of the age of the Earth, calculated with the data from 2750 and 3290 m.y.-old lead ores, is 4660 m.y.     

Rb-Sr and U-Th-Pb systematics of alkaline rocks: the alkaline rocks from Italy

The isotopic composition of Pb and Sr and the abundances of Rb, Sr, U, Th, and Pb were determined for whole rock samples from all major volcanic centres of the Cenozoic alkaline volcanism of Central and South Italy, together with some samples from the contemporaneous anatectic Tuscan volcanism. The Sr and Pb isotopic compositions of the alkaline rocks show a negative correlation combined with a regional trend: the ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratios decrease from 0.711 in the north-west to 0.704 in the south-east, while the ${}^{206}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ ratios increase from 18.7 to 20.0. Variations in both isotopic compositions are generally small throughout erupted rock sequences for any volcanic centre.The Pb and Sr isotopic abundance variations are interpreted on the basis of two alternative models, which correspond to two groups of geological processes: variations can result (i) from a time dependent development in subsystems with different $\text{Rb}\text{Sr}$ or $\text{U(Th)}\text{Pb}$ ratios or, (ii) from mixing of Sr or Pb with different isotopic compositions. Combining both Pb and Sr isotope abundance measurements it is shown that the source of each volcanic centre is formed by various degrees of mixing between two components. One component and the most southern Tuscan anatectic rocks most likely have a common source, whereas the other component of the mixing process is suggested to be a liquid fraction derived from a small degree of partial fusion of a hydrous mantle. Thus at least a two-stage evolution of the Italian alkaline rocks is indicated: first a mixing process leading to the formation of the parental material followed by differentiation processes leading to the formation of the erupted rock sequences.The geodynamic model which explains the data best is that of a lateral inhomogeneous mantle. The lateral inhomogeneities in the mantle would be the result of mixing between originally mantle and crustal derived material. The mixing process itself would not have any primary connection with the Quarternary volcanic activity.     

Alkaline Intrusives at the East Foot of the Taihang-Da Hinggan Mountains: Chronology, Sr, Nd and Pb Isotopic Characteristics and Their Implications

Based on the Rb-Sr isochron dating results, this paper suggests that the alkaline intrusive belt at the east foot of the Taihang-Da Hinggan Mountains were formed between 135 and 122 Ma. And the alkaline intrusives in the north and south sections of this belt have entirely different Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic characteristics, i.e., all the rocks in the south section have positive εSr(t) and negative εNd(t) values and all those in the north have the opposite values. On the εSr(t) versus εNd(t) correlation diagram, the samples from the south are concentrated along the enriched mantle evolution trend lines and nearby, while those from the north fall along the depleted mantle trend lines and nearby. On the Pb isotope composition diagram, most of the samples from the south section fall on the mantle Pb evolution line and nearby, while those from the north lie between the Pb evolution lines of the mantle and the erogenic belt. The above-stated isotopic characteristics not only indicate that the source rocks of     

Evolution of the depleted mantle: Hf isotope evidence from juvenile rocks through time

The covariant behavior of Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopes during most magmatic processes has long been recognized, but the details of this behavior in the depleted mantle reservoir have not been adequately examined. We report new whole-rock Hf and Nd isotope data for 1) juvenile, mantle-derived rocks, mid-Archean to Mesozoic in age, and 2) early Archean gneisses from West Greenland. Hf and Nd isotopic compositions of the juvenile rocks are well correlated, with the best fit corresponding to the equation ε_Hf = 1.40 ε_Nd + 2.1, and is similar to the collective Hf-Nd correlation for terrestrial samples of ε_Hf = 1.36 ε_Nd + 3.0. The early Archean Greenland gneisses, in contrast, have an extreme range in ε_Nd values (⁻4.4 to ⁺4.2; Bennett et al., 1993) that is not mirrored by the Hf isotopic system. The ε_Hf values for these rocks are consistently positive and have much less variation (0 to ⁺3.4) than their ε_Nd counterparts.The information from the Hf isotopic compositions of the West Greenland gneisses portrays an early Archean mantle that is relatively isotopically homogeneous at 3.8 to 3.6 Ga and moderately depleted in incompatible elements. There is no evidence that any of these gneisses have been derived from an enriched reservoir. The Hf isotopic data are in stark contrast to the Nd isotopic record and strongly imply that the picture of extreme initial isotopic heterogeneity indicated by Nd isotopes is not a real feature of the West Greenland gneisses but is rather an artifact produced by disturbances in the Sm-Nd isotope system of these rocks.Although Hf and Nd isotopic data do not uniquely constrain either the nature of the earliest crust or the timing of crustal growth, the most probable candidate for the enriched reservoir complementary to the depleted mantle in the pre-4.0 Ga Earth is a mafic, oceanic-type crust. In order to explain the predominantly positive ε_Hf and ε_Nd values for the early Archean rocks, this crust must have had a short residence time at the surface of the Earth before returning to the mantle where it was isolated from mixing with the depleted mantle for several hundred million years. The following period from 3.5 to 2.7 Ga may mark a transition during which this early formed mafic crust was mixed progressively back into the depleted mantle reservoir. While a present-day volume of continental crust at 4.0 Ga cannot be excluded on isotopic grounds, we find such a scenario unlikely based on the lack of direct isotopic and physical evidence for its existence. An important aspect of crustal growth and evolution, therefore, may be the transformation of the enriched reservoir from being predominantly mafic in the early Earth to becoming progressively more sialic through time.     

Age and Geochemical Characteristics of a Mafic Dyke Swarm in the Archaean Vestfold Block, Antarctica: Inferences about Proterozoic Dyke Emplacement in Gondwana

Archaean gneisses in the Vestfold Block, Antarctica are cutby abundant tholeiite and rare alkaline dykes. At least fivegenerations of dykes have been recognized on the basis of intrusiverelationships, petrography and geochemistry. Rb-Sr isotopicdata indicate that intrusion of the tholeiites occurred overa period of c. 1000 Ma, during three clearly defined events(viz. c. 2400, 1800, and 1400 Ma). Dykes in the southwesternpart of the Vestfold Block were recrystallized during a lateProterozoic (c. 1000-1100 Ma) high-grade event. Mineral-wholerock Rb-Sr isotopic data show that the terrain was also variablyaffected by an even younger thermal event c. 500 Ma ago whichis correlated with the Pan-African Orogeny. Isotopic, major element and trace element data suggest thatthe tholeiite dyke suites were derived by varying degrees ofpartial melting of compositionally distinct, in some cases ratherheterogeneous subcontinental mantle source regions, combinedwith variations in the extent and nature of crystal fractionation.Extensive crustal contamination does not appear to have playeda significant role in determining compositional trends withinthe different suites, although minor contamination cannot bediscounted. The oldest dykes, a diverse group of high-Mg tholeiites,and the youngest, c. 1400 Ma tholeiites, appear to have beenderived from isotopically similar source regions, which werenevertheless characterized by quite different abundances ofhighly incompatible elements (Pb, Rb, Ba, Th, K, La, and Ce).1800 Ma tholeiites were derived from a more radiogenic mantlesource region, characterized by long-term enrichment in incompatibleelements. Such enrichment is interpreted to be a consequenceof metasomatism of their mantle source region. 2400 Ma high-Mg dykes in Enderby Land have virtually identicalchemical and isotopic compositions to those in the VestfoldBlock, indicating generation from a similar source region; however,1200 Ma tholeiites were apparently derived from a more radiogenicsource region like that of the c. 1800 Ma Vestfold Block dykes.Hence, both Sr isotopic and geochemical data indicate that theancient subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath Gondwanawas extremely heterogeneous.     

Origin of anorogenic ‘lamproite-like’ potassic lavas from the Denizli region in Western Anatolia Extensional Province, Turkey

The Denizli region of the Western Anatolia Extensional Province (WAEP) includes a typical example of intra-plate potassic magmatism. Lamproite-like K-rich to shoshonitic alkaline rocks erupted in the Upper Miocene-Pliocene in a tensional tectonic setting. The absence of Nb and Ta depletion, low Th/Zr and high Nb/Zr ratios and distinct isotopic values (i.e. low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, 0.703523–0.703757; high ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, 0.512708–0.512784; high ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 19.079–19.227, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 15.635–15.682, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 39.144–39.302) mark an anorogenic geochemical signature of the Denizli volcanics. All of the lavas are strongly enriched in large-ion-lithophile elements (e.g. Ba 1,100–2,200 ppm; Sr 1,900–3,100 ppm; Rb 91–295 ppm) and light rare-earth elements (e.g. La_N?=?319–464), with a geochemical affinity to ocean-island basalts and lack of a recognizable subduction signature or any evidence for crustal contamination. The restricted range of isotopic (Sr, Nd, Pb) ratios in both near-primitive (Mg# 66.7–77.2) and more evolved (Mg# 64.6–68.7) members of the Denizli volcanics signify their evolution from an isotopically equilibrated parental mantle source. Their high Dy/Yb and Rb/Sr values also suggest that garnet and phlogopite were present in the mantle source. Their strong EM-II signature, very low Nd model ages (0.44–049 Ga) and isotopic (Sr-Nd-Pb) values analogous to those of the Nyiragongo potassic basanites and kimberlites from the African stable continental settings, suggest that the parental melts that produced the Denizli volcanics are associated with very young and enriched mantle sources, which include both sublithospheric and enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle melts. Mantle-lithosphere delamination probably played a significant role in the generation of these melts, and could be related to roll-back of the Aegean arc, lithospheric extension and asthenospheric mantle upwelling.