Ages,rare-earth element enrichment,and petrogenesis of tholeiitic and alkalic basalts from Kahoolawe Island,Hawaii

Kahoolawe Island, Hawaii (18×11 km), is a basaltic shield volcano with caldera-filling lavas, seven identified postshield vents, and at least two occurrences of apparent rejuvenated-stage eruptive. We examined 42 samples that represent all stages of Kahoolawe volcano stratigraphy for their petrography, whole-rock major-and trace-element contents, mineral compositions, and K–Ar ages. The two oldest shield samples have an average age of 1.34±0.08 Ma, and four postshield samples (3 are alkalic) average 1.15±0.03 Ma; ages of 1.08 and 0.99 Ma for two additional tholeiitic samples probably are minimum ages. Whole-rock major- and trace-element and mineral compositions of Kahoolawe shield and caldera-fill laves are generally similar to the lavas forming Kilauea and Mauna Loa tholeiitic shields, but in detail, Kahoolawe shield lavas have distinctive compositions. An unusual aspect of many postshield Ka-hoolawe lavas is anomalously high REE and Y abundances (up to 200 ppm La and 175 ppm Y) and negative Ce anomalies. These enrichments reflect surficial processes, where weathering and soil development promoted REE-Y transport at the weathering front. Major element abundances (MgO, 10–6 wt.%) for shield and caldera-fill basalts are consistent with fractionation of ol+px+pl in frequently replenished magma reservoirs. In general, tholeiitic basalts erupted from late vents are higher in SiO₂ than the shield lavas, and temporal differences in parental magma compositions are the likely explanation. Alkalic basalts that erupted from vents are comparable in composition to those at other Hawaiian volcanoes. Trace-element abundance ratios indicate that alkalic basalts represent either relatively lower degrees of melting of the shield source or a distinct source. Apparent rejuvenated-stage basalts (i.e., emplaced after substantial Kahoolawe erosion) are tholeiitic, unlike the rejuvenated-stages at other Hawaiian volcanoes (alkalic). Kahoolawe, like several other Hawaiian volcanoes, has intercalated tholeiitic and alkalic basalts in the postshield stage, but it is the only volcano that appears to have produced tholeiitic rejuvenated-stage lavas.     

Geological development of Heard Island,Central Kerguelen Plateau

We report ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar laser step-heating age determinations on 15 stratigraphically controlled lava flows and intrusive rocks from Heard Island, Central Kerguelen Plateau (Indian Ocean). The island history began with uplift of pelagic limestone intruded by 22 Ma gabbro sills. Subaerial and wave erosion levelled the early island, producing an unconformity onto which pillow lavas, tuffaceous sediments and shallow-water, fossiliferous marine siltstone (Drygalski Formation) were deposited, beginning in late Miocene time. Two volcanic systems then formed in the late Quaternary. Big Ben dominates the larger southeast part of the island, while Mount Dixon occupies the northwest Laurens Peninsula. Feeder dykes and the early lava flows in both systems are 400–200 ka. Lava flows with evolved compositions (trachytes, trachyandesites) erupted 100–20 ka. Well-preserved parasitic cones exposed at low elevations are 15–10 ka and younger. Mawson Peak, near the summit of Big Ben, has erupted lava flows as recently as 2007. Heard Island, and nearby active McDonald Island, are subaerial features of a larger Neogene volcanic region of Central Kerguelen Plateau that includes several large sea knolls and recently identified submarine fields of small cones. This broadly distributed volcanic activity is linked to incubation of plume material at the base of the nearly stationary overlying Central Kerguelen Plateau.     

THE LITHOSPHERIC EVOLUTION IN THE QIANGTANG BLOCK OF NORTHERN TIBET PLATEAU: EVIDENCE FROM CENOZOIC VOLCANISM

THE LITHOSPHERIC EVOLUTION IN THE QIANGTANG BLOCK OF NORTHERN TIBET PLATEAU: EVIDENCE FROM CENOZOIC VOLCANISM     

The growth, collapse and quiescence of Teno volcano, Tenerife: new constraints from paleomagnetic data

Tenerife basically consists of three Miocene shield volcanoes, the Anaga, the Teno and Central shield, as well as the Pliocene Cañadas volcano. The temporal evolution and structural significance of each volcano with respect to the history of Tenerife is still a matter of debate. We present paleomagnetic results in order to enhance the view of the volcanic history of the Teno volcano by means of magnetostratigraphy. It is found that the initial subaerial phase shows reverse magnetizations throughout. After two major sector collapses, dominantly normally magnetized lavas extruded. Comparisons of observed magnetic polarities with the geomagnetic polarity timescale show that these volcanic activities occurred within 0.4 Myr between 6.3 and 5.9 Ma. Significantly younger flows, ～ 5.3 Myr old according to their radiometric age, revealed again normal polarity throughout. The absence of inversely magnetized lavas in-between the two normal periods indicates a volcanic hiatus or erosional phase. The evolutionary sequence and the estimated high production rates for the initial building phase are similar as would be expected for a hotspot volcano. The average geomagnetic field for 6.0 ± 0.2 Ma is close to an axial dipole field showing a slight far-sided/right-handed effect. The field strength, determined by Thellier-type intensity determinations, corresponds to a virtual axial dipole moment of 4.9 × 10²² A m². This value is approximately half of the present day field strength, but similar to values obtained for the mid-Miocene. It also corresponds to the proposed tertiary low-field level of the geomagnetic dipole moment.     

Sr-Nd-Pb isotope ratios, geochemical compositions, and 40Ar/39Ar data of lavas from San Felix Island (Southeast Pacific): Implications for magma genesis and sources

We present the first trace element and age data combined with new Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope ratios on lavas from San Felix Island in the Southeast Pacific. A ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 421 ± 18 ka implies young intraplate volcanic activity in this region relative to the ∼22 Ma old volcanism on the neighbouring Easter seamount chain (ESC). The incompatible element compositions of the San Felix magmas are similar to those of EM1-type basalts from Gough, although the isotopic compositions differ. San Felix formed some 20 Ma after the ESC plume affected the plate in this region but no chemical signature of the ESC material is observed in the young volcanic rocks. The composition of the San Felix basalts indicates a mantle source containing old continental lithospheric material from either metasomatized mantle or recycled sediments, which ascends in a weak mantle plume.     

Temporal evolution of the kerguelen plume: Geochemical evidence from 38 to 82 ma lavas forming the Ninetyeast ridge

Abstract Basaltic basement has been recovered by deep-sea drilling at seven sites on the linear Ninetyeast Ridge in the eastern Indian Ocean. Studies of the recovered lavas show that this ridge formed from ~ 82 to 38 Ma as a series of subaerial volcanoes that were created by the northward migration of the Indian Plate over a fixed magma source in the mantle. The Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic ratios of lavas from the Ninetyeast Ridge range widely, but they largely overlap with those of lavas from the Kerguelen Archipelago, thereby confirming previous inferences that the Kerguelen plume was an important magma source for the Ninetyeast Ridge. Particularly important are the ~ 81 Ma Ninetyeast Ridge lavas from DSDP Site 216 which has an anomalous subsidence history (Coffin 1992). These lavas are FeTi-rich tholeiitic basalts with isotopic ratios that overlap with those of highly alkalic, Upper Miocene lavas in the Kerguelen Archipelago. The isotopic characteristics of the latter which erupted in an intraplate setting have been proposed to be the purest expression of the Kerguelen plume (Weis et al. 1993a,b). Despite the overlap in isotopic ratios, there are important compositional differences between lavas erupted on the Ninetyeast Ridge and in the Kerguelen Archipelago. The Ninetyeast Ridge lavas are dominantly tholeiitic basalts with incompatible element abundance ratios, such as La/Yb and Zr/Nb, which are intermediate between those of Indian Ocean MORB (mid-ocean ridge basalt) and the transitional to alkalic basalts erupted in the Kerguelen Archipelago. These compositional differences reflect a much larger extent of melting for the Ninetyeast Ridge lavas, and the proximity of the plume to a spreading ridge axis. This tectonic setting contrasts with that of the recent alkalic lavas in the Kerguelen Archipelago which formed beneath the thick lithosphere of the Kerguelen Plateau. From ~ 82 to 38 Ma there was no simple, systematic temporal variation of Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic ratios in Ninetyeast Ridge lavas. Therefore all of the isotopic variability cannot be explained by aging of a compositionally uniform plume. Although Class et al. (1993) propose that some of the isotopic variations reflect such aging, we infer that most of the isotopic heterogeneity in lavas from the Ninetyeast Ridge and Kerguelen Archipelago can be explained by mixing of the Kerguelen plume with a depleted MORB-like mantle component. However, with this interpretation some of the youngest, 42–44 Ma, lavas from the southern Ninetyeast Ridge which have²⁰⁶pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios exceeding those in Indian Ocean MORB and Kerguelen Archipelago lavas require a component with higher²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, such as that expressed in lavas from St. Paul Island.     

Geochronology of Pliocene volcanism in the Dzhavakheti Highland (the Lesser Caucasus). Part 2: Eastern part of the Dzhavakheti Highland. Regional geological correlation

The results of isotopic-geochronological study of the Pliocene volcanic rocks in reference sections and volcanic edifices of eastern part of the Dzhavakheti Highland (the northwestern Lesser Caucasus) are considered. The isotopic-geochronological data obtained here are correlated with data on western part of the Dzhavakheti Highland, which have been considered in previous part of this work. Based on correlation, time spans of principal volcanic events of the Pliocene in the study region as a whole are determined, and general trends of the young magmatism evolution within the region are established. In sum, the isotopic-geochronological dates evidence that the Pliocene magmatism of the Dzhavakheti Highland developed practically without essential breaks during the period of about 2 Ma long, from 3.75 to 1.75–1.55 Ma ago. The areal basic volcanism that was most widespread at that time is divisible into five discrete phases according to the isotopic dates obtained. Comparatively short pauses, which separated these phases of magmatic activity, were a few hundreds thousand years long, not more. Chemical composition of moderately acidic to silicic volcanics, which are of a limited distribution in the Dzhavakheti Highland, and their age relations with basic lavas of the region suggest that they are most likely the differentiation products of parental basic mantle-derived magmas. The analyzed distribution of volcanic centers, which erupted basic lavas of the Dzhavakheti Highland, evidence that first two phases of basic magmatism were connected here with volcanic activity in southwestern part of the region (northern termination of the Egnakhag Ridge), whereas activity of volcanoes situated on the east, predominantly in water-shed part and on slopes of the submeridional Dzhavakheti Ridge, controlled development of the third and fourth phases. Consequently, magmatic activity of the Pliocene stage in history of the Neogene-Quaternary magmatism of the Dzhavakheti Highland laterally migrated from the west to the east, being controlled by development of regional submeridional extension zones. Volcanic ridges marking the latter are formed by volcanic edifices, which are amalgamated at their bases and have erupted lavas of close age and composition. The migration of volcanic activity can be described in terms of the “domino effect,” when cessation of volcanism in one zone led to formation of the other submeridional zone of extension and magmatic activity displaced from the west eastward in sublatitudinal direction. In general, evolution of the Pliocene magmatism of the Dzhavakheti Highland, was similar, despite the essential regional peculiarities, to the generalized trend of magmatism evolution in the continental rifts and intraplate zones of the “hot-spot” type.     

Keene Basalt,northwest Officer Basin,Western Australia: tectonostratigraphic setting and implications for possible submarine mineralisation

GSWA Lancer 1, drilled in the northwest Officer Basin, intersected 49 m of tholeiitic basalt lava flows between depths of 527 and 576 m. These lavas have been named the Keene Basalt and were erupted during deposition of the shallow-marine Kanpa Formation, a mixed carbonate – siliciclastic succession in the Neoproterozoic Buldya Group. No direct dating of the Keene Basalt has been undertaken. Maximum depositional age constraints for the enclosing Kanpa Formation are provided by youngest concordant detrital zircon ages of 779±6 Ma for sandstone 19 m below the basalt, and 725±11 Ma for sandstone at the top of the Kanpa Formation in another drillhole. Correlation of the Kanpa Formation with the Burra Group of the Adelaide Rift Complex on palaeontological and chemostratigraphic grounds suggests an age older than 700 Ma. Limited geochemical data indicate that the Keene Basalt is of continental origin and shows a close similarity to mafic dykes near Mingary in South Australia. Petrographic and XRD analyses show that the Keene Basalt has been hydrothermally altered by interaction with seawater, and locally contains disseminated sulfides. Massive and disseminated sulfide mineralisation, similar to that of submarine systems, may exist in this tectonostratigraphic setting in the northwest Officer Basin.     

Holocene vegetation and volcanic activity,Auckland Isthmus,New Zealand

A 12 000 to 4000 yr BP pollen and tephra-bearing profile from Auckland, New Zealand, provides insights into the vegetation history and evidence for early Holocene volcanic activity in this area centred on the Mount Wellington basaltic volcano. Possibly 500 yr separated initial scoriaceous ash deposition (ca. 9500 yr ago) and subsequent major lava flows (ca. 9000 yr ago) from Mount Wellington. The local vegelation, topography, and drainage patterns were substantially modified during this time, and damming by the lava flows resulted in the formation of Lake Waiatarua in a shallow valley head ca. 9000 yr ago. Diatom evidence indicates that this lake was initially deep (> 5 m) but was shallowing around 4000 yr ago. In contrast to the Mount Wellington eruptions, tephra deposition resulting from distant rhyolitic volcanic activity of the central North Island and Mayor Island has had little effect on the Auckland vegetation during this time interval (12 000–4000 yr ago). Between ca. 12 000 and 10 000 yr ago, conifer-angiosperm forest was the predominant vegetation cover on Auckland Isthmus, but during the early Holocene, forest dominated by Metrosideros expanded, probably on to fresh volcanic surfaces resulting from the Mount Wellington eruptions. At this time, swamp forest communities developed in Waiatarua valley basin, and included species indicative of moist, mild, relatively frost-free climates. Some taxa show histories consistent with other records from the northern New Zealand region, including the rise of Ascarina lucida ca. 11 000 to 9000 yr ago, and its subsequent decline, and the expansion of Agathis australis (kauri) forest communities from ca. 6000 yr ago. Taken together the history of local and regional vegetation points to a mild, moist and weakly seasonal early Holocene climate, which subsequently became drier with greater seasonal temperature extremes.     

Age and petrology of alkalic postshield and rejuvenated-stage lava from Kauai,Hawaii

At the top of the Waimea Canyon Basalt on the island of Kauai, rare flows of alkalic postshield-stage hawaiite and mugearite overlie tholeiitic flows of the shield stage. These postshield-stage flows are 3.92 Ma and provide a younger limit for the age of the tholeiitic shield stage. The younger Koloa Volcanics consist of widespread alkalic rejuvenated-stage flows and vents of alkalic basalt, basanite, nephelinite, and nepheline melilitite that erupted between 3.65 and 0.52 Ma. All the flows older than 1.7 Ma occur in the west-northwestern half of the island and all the flows younger than 1.5 Ma occur in the east-southeastern half. The lithologies have no spatial or chronological pattern. The flows of the Koloa Volcanics are near-primary magmas generated by variable small degrees of partial melting of a compositionally heterogeneous garnet-bearing source that has about two-thirds the concentration of P₂O₅, rare-earth elements, and Sr of the source of the Honolulu Volcanics on the island of Oahu. The same lithology in the Koloa and Honolulu Volcanics is generated by similar degrees of partial melting of distinct source compositions. The lavas of the Koloa Volcanics can be generated by as little as 3 percent to as much as 17 percent partial melting for nepheline melilitite through alkalic basalt, respectively. Phases that remain in the residue of the Honolulu Volcanics, such as rutile and phlogopite, are exhausted during formation of the Koloa Volcanics at all but the smallest degrees of partial melting. The mantle source for Kauai lava becomes systematically more depleted in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr as the volcano evolves from the tholeiitic shield stage to the alkalic postshield stage to the alkalic rejuvenated stage: at the same time, the lavas become systematically more enriched in incompatible trace elements. On a shorter timescale, the lavas of the Koloa Volcanics display the same compositional trends, but at a lower rate of change. The source characteristics of the Koloa Volcanics, considered along with those of the Honolulu Volcanics, support a mixing model in which the source of rejuvenated-stage lava represents large-percent melts of a plume source mixed with small amounts of small-percent melts of a heterogeneous mid-ocean-ridge source.     

Isotopic Ages of the Carbonatitic Volcanic Rocks in the Kunyang Rift Zone in Central Yunnan, China

The Mesoproterozoic Kunyang rift, which is located on the western margin of the Yangtze platform and the southern section of the Kangdian axis, is a rare massive Precambrian iron-copper polymetallic mineralization zone in China. The Mesoproterozoic Wulu (Wuding-Lufeng) basin in the middle of the rift is an elliptic basin controlled by a ring fracture system. Moreover, volcanic activities in the basin display zonation of an outer ring, a middle ring and an inner ring with carbonatitic volcanic rocks and sub-volcanic dykes discovered in the outer and middle rings. The Sm-Nd isochron ages have been determined for the outer-ring carbonatitic lavas (1685 Ma) and basaltic porphyrite of the radiating dyke swarm (1645 Ma) and the Rb-Sr isochron ages for the out-ring carbonatitic lavas (893 Ma) and the middle-ring dykes (1048 Ma). In combination of the U-Pb concordant ages of zircon (1743 Ma) in trachy-andesite of the corresponding period and stratum (1569 Ma) of the Etouchang Formation, as well as the Rb-Sr iso     

四海龙湾玛珥湖沉积物中碱流质火山灰的来源及其意义

四海龙湾玛珥湖位于东北新生代龙岗火山区内,在玛珥湖沉积物距湖底69-70cm处分离出新鲜的火山灰。根据火山灰产出的层位、原生沉积特征、形貌和碱流质化学成分特征,属于长白山天池火山公元1199-1200年大喷发的产物。这一结果不仅表明天池火山历史时期大喷发的规模比原来估计的还要大,并且为建立千年以来四海龙湾沉积物及古气候演化的时间标尺提供了依据。     

Petrology of Volcán Tequila,Jalisco, Mexico: disequilibrium phenocryst assemblages and evolution of the subvolcanic magma system

Volcán Tequila is an extinct stratovolcano in the western Mexican Volcanic Belt that has erupted lavas ranging from andesite to rhyolite during the last 0.9 Ma. Following an early period of rhyolitic volcanism, the main edifice of the volcano was constructed by central vent eruptions that produced 25 km³ of pyroxene-andesite. At about 0.2 Ma central activity ceased and numerous flows of hornblende-bearing andesite, dacite, and rhyodacite erupted from vents located around the flanks of the volcano. Bimodal plagioclase phenocryst rim compositions in lavas from both the main edifice and the flanks indicate that magma mixing commonly occurred shortly prior to or during eruption. Compositions of endmember magmas involved in mixing, as constrained by whole-rock major and trace element abundances, phenocryst compositions, and mineral-melt exchange equilibria, are similar to those of some lavas erupted from the central vent and on the flanks of the volcano. Estimated pre-eruptive temperatures for hornblende-bearing lavas (970°–830°C) are systematically lower than for lavas that lack hornblende (1045°–970°C), whereas magmatic H₂O contents are systematically higher for hornblende-bearing lavas. In addition to stabilizing hornblende, high magmatic water contents promoted crystallization of calcic plagioclase (An_70–82). Frequent injections of magma into the base of the subvolcanic plumbing system followed by eruption of mixed magma probably prevented formation of large volumes of silicic magma, which have caused paroxysmal, caldera-forming eruptions at other stratovolcanoes in western Mexico. The later stages of volcanic activity, represented by the flank lavas, indicate a change from a large magma storage reservoir to numerous small ones that developed along a NW-trending zone parallel to regional fault trends. Sr and Nd isotopic data for lavas from the Tequila region and other volcanoes in western Mexico demonstrate that differentiated calc-alkaline magmas are formed primarily through crystal fractionation of mantle-derived calc-alkaline basalt coupled with assimilation of crustal material. Present Address:Department of the Geophysical Sciences The University of Chicago, Chicago IL, 60637, USA     

云南腾冲黑空山、马鞍山和打莺山火山粗安岩显微结构特征及其火山学意义

火山喷发物记录了岩浆的整个活动历史,对火山喷发物的研究可以了解大量的岩浆活动特征信息。本文对腾冲火山区的三座全新世火山——黑空山、马鞍山和打莺山火山熔岩进行了详细的研究,包括熔岩和斑晶的成分、显微结构特征和斑晶的晶体大小分布(CSD)分析。研究发现,黑空山、马鞍山和打莺山火山熔岩以粗安岩为主,三座火山粗安岩中的斑晶成分范围接近,但它们的显微结构特征具有一定的差异,反映了不同的岩浆环境,推测来自不同的岩浆囊。黑空山粗安岩中斜长石斑晶的CSD曲线呈微上凹形,反映了小规模的岩浆混合作用。马鞍山和打莺山粗安岩的微斑晶CSD曲线呈很好的线性关系,说明微斑晶形成时的环境相对稳定,推测这些微斑晶是在岩浆上升过程中,停留在地壳的某处并形成一个小型的岩浆囊后受围岩的冷却作用形成。根据以上的分析,认为腾冲火山区下在横向和纵向上均至少存在两个岩浆囊。     

长白山天池地区全新世以来火山活动及其特征

新生代以来,强烈而频繁的火山活动铸成了长白山火山的主体——白头山火山锥。近几年来,从火山学和火山灾害学角度在该区进行研究和调查所获得的资料发现,长白山天池地区在全新世至少有六期火山活动在地表留下了记录。除白云峰期和八卦庙期喷发出大量碱流岩质浮岩形成的火山碎屑流造成了严重的火山灾害之外,其他四次喷发的规模均较小、影响面不大。老虎洞期活动发生在浮岩喷发之前,主要产物为玄武质火山渣和熔岩;气象站期喷发可能是该火山近期活动的表现,以碱流岩喷溢为主。这些喷发活动证实,该区近代火山活动不仅从未停止过,相反,活动的频度却逐渐加大。     

Amsterdam Island,an isolated volcano in the southern Indian ocean

Twelve lavas have been sampled on Amsterdam Island, which is an extinct shield volcano located on a transform fault crossing the south-eastern branch of the Indian Ocean rise. Chemical analyses show that the lavas have mainly tholeiitic affinities, ranging from olivine tholeiites to plagioclase basalts with accumulation of bytownite. The high alumina lavas are similar to bytownite cumulates dredged from the Indian Ocean rise, and the low alumina lavas resemble tholeiites of Hawaii. The volcano appears to be in an early stage of evolution from oceanic ridge basalt to an alkaline volcano.     

华北克拉通南缘中条山-嵩山地区1.78Ga基性岩墙群的地球化学特征及构造环境

幔源岩浆侵位产生的基性岩墙群是地壳伸展裂解的重要标志。华北克拉通南缘中条山-嵩山地区出露有大量的中元古代基性岩墙群,对其研究将有助于深入了解华北克拉通中元古代构造演化特征。其岩石类型以辉绿岩为主,少量辉长辉绿岩和辉绿玢岩;主要造岩矿物为斜长石和单斜辉石,其它矿物包括角闪石、Fe-Ti氧化物、磷灰石、黑云母、碱性长石和石英。锆石SHRIMPU-Pb年龄为1785±18Ma,代表岩墙的结晶年龄。岩石K2O+Na2O含量为3.63%～6.18%,K2O/Na2O比值为0.73～1.38,FeOT含量较高(10.03%～13.59%),属于拉斑玄武岩系列。岩石的稀土元素含量高(142×10-6～381×10-6),亏损Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf等高场强元素,富集Rb、Ba、La等大离子亲石元素,全岩εNd(t)值为-6.2～-8.1。岩墙的固结指数(SI)和MgO含量呈明显的正相关关系,说明幔源岩浆发生过明显的结晶分异作用。地球化学分析表明,研究区基性岩墙属于板内拉斑玄武岩系列,与熊耳群火山岩有相似的地球化学特征;基于两者紧密的产出关系,我们认为该区岩墙可能是熊耳群火山岩的通道岩墙,共同代表了华北克拉通东、西陆块碰撞后伸展事件。     

Geology,petrography, and petrology of Pinzon Island,galapagos archipelago

Three stratigraphic units based on geologic relationships and paleomagnetic observations may be distinguished on Pinzon Island. The oldest unit is a broad shield which forms the main body of the island and was erupted during a period of reversed magnetic polarity from an area now occupied by a caldera. Subsequent activity was centered about 1.5 km to the north-northwest from vents later engulfed by the collapse of a younger caldera. The lower portion of this sequence was erupted during a period of transitional pole positions and is overlain by flows of normal polarity. Pinzon has the most diverse suite of differentiated tholeiitic rocks found in the Galapagos Archipelago. Products of eruptive cycles are preserved as sequences of tuffs and flows that have decreasing degrees of differentiation and increasing phenocryst abundance upsection. The sequences may be a consequence of tapping successively deeper levels of compositionally zoned magma chambers. Such a model is consistent with computer calculations utilizing major and trace element data for Pinzon rocks, which suggest that lavas of the island may be related by shallow-level crystal fractionation of observed phenocryst minerals.     

Generation of Deccan Trap magmas

Deccan Trap magmas may have erupted through multiple centers, the most prominent of which may have been a shield volcano-like structure in the Western Ghats area. The lavas are predominantly tholeiitic; alkalic mafic lavas and carbonatites are rare. Radioisotope dating, magnetic chronology, and age constraints from paleontology indicate that although the eruption started some 68 Ma, the bulk of lavas erupted at around 65–66 Ma. Paleomagnetic constraints indicate an uncertainty of ± 500,000 years for peak volcanic activity at 65 m.y. in the type section of the Western Ghats. Maximum magma residence times were calculated in this study based on growth rates of “giant plagioclase” crystals in lavas that marked the end phase of volcanic activity of different magma chambers. These calculations suggest that the > 1.7 km thick Western Ghats section might have erupted within a much shorter time interval of ∼ 55,000 years, implying phenomenal eruption rates that are orders of magnitude larger than any present-day eruption rate from any tectonic environment. Other significant observations/conclusions are as follows: (1) Deccan lavas can be grouped into stratigraphic subdivisions based on their geochemistry; (2) While some formations are relatively uncontaminated others are strongly contaminated by the continental crust; (3) Deccan magmas were produced by 15–30% melting of a Fe-rich lherzolitic source at ∼ 3–2 GPa; (4) Parent magmas of the relatively uncontaminated Ambenali formation had a primitive composition with 16%MgO, 47%SiO₂; (5) Deccan magmas were generated much deeper and by significantly more melting than other continental flood basalt provinces; (6) The erupted Deccan tholeiitic lavas underwent fractionation and magma mixing at ∼ 0.2 GPa. The composition and origin of the crust and crust/mantle boundary beneath the Deccan are discussed with respect to the influence of Deccan magmatic episode.     

Isotope Compositions of Submarine Hana Ridge Lavas, Haleakala Volcano, Hawaii: Implications for Source Compositions, Melting Process and the Structure of the Hawaiian Plume

We report Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope compositions for 17 bulk-rocksamples from the submarine Hana Ridge, Haleakala volcano, Hawaii,collected by three dives by ROV Kaiko during a joint Japan–USHawaiian cruise in 2001. The Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope ratios forthe submarine Hana Ridge lavas are similar to those of Kilauealavas. This contrasts with the isotope ratios from the subaerialHonomanu lavas of the Haleakala shield, which are similar toMauna Loa lavas or intermediate between the Kilauea and MaunaLoa fields. The observation that both the Kea and Loa componentscoexist in individual shields is inconsistent with the interpretationthat the location of volcanoes within the Hawaiian chain controlsthe geographical distribution of the Loa and Kea trend geochemicalcharacteristics. Isotopic and trace element ratios in Haleakalashield lavas suggest that a recycled oceanic crustal gabbroiccomponent is present in the mantle source. The geochemical characteristicsof the lavas combined with petrological modeling calculationsusing trace element inversion and pMELTS suggest that the meltingdepth progressively decreases in the mantle source during shieldgrowth, and that the proportion of the recycled oceanic gabbroiccomponent sampled by the melt is higher in the later stagesof Hawaiian shields as the volcanoes migrate away from the centralaxis of the plume. KEY WORDS: submarine Hana Ridge; isotope composition; melting depth; Hawaiian mantle plume