Geochemical constraints on the origin of the late Jurassic proto-Caribbean oceanic crust in Hispaniola

The nature of the oceanic crust produced through rifting and oceanic spreading between North and South America during the Late Jurassic is a key element for the Caribbean plate tectonic model reconstruction. Located in the Cordillera Central of Hispaniola, the Loma La Monja volcano-plutonic assemblage (LMA) is composed of gabbros, dolerites, basalts, and oceanic sediments, as well as metamorphic equivalents, which represent a dismembered fragment of this proto-Caribbean oceanic crust. Petrologic and geochemical data show that the LMA have a relatively broad diversity in composition, which represent the crystallization products of a typical low-pressure tholeiitic fractionation of mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB)-type parental magmas, ranging from N- to E-MORB. Three geochemical groups have been distinguished in the volcanic sequence: LREE-flat to slightly LREE-enriched basalts of groups II and III occur interlayered in the lower stratigraphic levels; and LREE-depleted basalts of group I in the upper levels. Mantle melt modeling suggests that group III magmas are consistent by mixing within a mantle melt column of low-degree (<1%) melts of a deep garnet lherzolite source and high-degree (>15%) melts of a shallow spinel source, and groups II and I magmas are explained with moderate to high (14–18%) and very high (>20%) fractional melting degrees of a shallower spinel mantle source, respectively. Thus, upward in the volcanic sequence of the LMA, the magmas represent progressively more extensive melting of shallower sources, in a plume-influenced spreading ridge of the proto-Caribbean oceanic crust. Nb/Y versus Zr/Y systematics combined with recent plate tectonic model reconstructions reveal that Caribbean Colombian oceanic plateau fragments in Hispaniola formed through melting of heterogeneous mantle source regions related with distinct plumes during at least from Aptian–Albian (>96 Ma) to Late Campanian.     

Flood basalts and metallogeny: The lithospheric mantle connection

Continental flood basalts, derived from mantle plumes that rise from the convecting mantle and possibly as deep as the core–mantle boundary, are major hosts for world-class Ni–Cu–PGE ore deposits. Each plume may have a complex history and heterogeneous composition. Therefore, some plumes may be predisposed to be favourable for large-scale Ni–PGE mineralisation (“fertile”).Geochemical data from 10 large igneous provinces (LIPs) have been collected from the literature to search for chemical signatures favourable for Ni–PGE mineralisation. The provinces include Deccan, Kerguelen, Ontong Java, Paraná, Ferrar, Karoo, Emeishan, Siberia, Midcontinent and Bushveld. Among these LIPs, Bushveld, Siberia, Midcontinent, Emei Mt and Karoo are “fertile”, hosting magmatic ore deposits or mineralisation of various type, size and grade. They most commonly intruded through, or on the edges of, Archaean–Paleoproterozoic cratonic blocks. In contrast, the “barren” LIPs have erupted through both continental and oceanic crustal terranes of various ages.Radiogenic isotopic signatures indicate that almost all parental LIP magmas are generated from deep-seated mantle plumes, and not from the more widespread depleted asthenospheric mantle source: this confirms generally accepted plume models. However, several important geochemical signatures of LIPs have been identified in this study that can discriminate between those that are “fertile” or “barren” in terms of their Ni–PGE potential.The fertile LIPs generally contain a relatively high proportion of primitive melts that are high in MgO and Ni, low in Al₂O₃ and Na₂O, and are highly enriched in most of the strongly incompatible elements such as K, P, Ba, Sr, Pb, Th, Nb, and LREE. They have relatively high Os contents (≥ 0.03 to 10 ppb) and low Re/Os (< 10). The fertile LIP basalts display trends of Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic variation intermediate between the depleted plume and an EM1-type mantle composition (and thus could represent a mixing of these two source types), and have elevated Ba/Th, Ba/Nb and K/Ti ratios. These elemental and isotopic signatures suggest that interaction between plume-related magmas and ancient cratonic lithospheric mantle with pre-existing Ni- and PGE-rich sulfide phases may have contributed significantly to the PGE and Ni budget of the fertile flood basalts and eventually to the mineralisation. This observation is consistent with the location of fertile LIPs adjacent to deep old lithospheric roots (as inferred from tectonic environment and also seen in global tomographic images) and has predictive implications for exploration models.Barren LIPs contain fewer high-MgO lavas. The barren LIP lavas in general have low Os contents (mostly ≤ 0.02 ppb) with high Re/Os (10–≥ 200). They show isotopic variations between plume and EM2 geochemical signatures and have high Rb/Ba ratios. These signatures may indicate involvement of deep recycled material in the mantle sources or crustal contamination for barren LIPs, but low degrees of interaction with old lithospheric-type roots.     

Distribution of PGE in Permo-Triassic basalts of the Siberian Large Igneous Province

We have revealed the spatio-temporal regularities of distribution of platinum group elements (PGE) in basaltoids related to the activity of the Siberian mantle plume. As objects of study, we chose rift and flood basalts from the Norilsk district (sampled from the SD-9 borehole), flood basalts from the central part of the Tunguska syneclise (Lower Tunguska), Kuznetsk Basin traps, and subalkalic basalt from the Semeitau volcanoplutonic structure in eastern Kazakhstan. Based on the PGE patterns of basaltoids related to the activity of the Permo-Triassic Siberian plume, we have shown that the rocks that formed in the central part of the Siberian Large Igneous Province (LIP) at the early rift stage have low contents of PGE, whereas picrites and tholeiitic flood basalts have high contents. The rift (Semeitau structure) and flood (Kuznetsk Basin traps) basalts from the peripheral regions are characterized by extremely low PGE contents. The high PGE contents in magmas of the plume head are responsible for the high productivity of ultramafic-mafic trap magmatism. The elevated K contents in magmas and the high PGE contents in the mantle plume head are probably due to the ascent of deep-seated material from the core-lower-mantle boundary, as follows from the thermochemical model of the Siberian plume.     

Fluids and Melts in the Upper Mantle

This paper presents a direct study of the fluids and melts in the upper mantle by examining the fluid inclusions, melt inclusions and glasses trapped in the mantle lherzolite xenoliths entrained by Cenozoic alkali basalts (basanite, olivine-nephelinite and alkali-olivine basalt) from eastern China. The study indicates that the volatile components, which are dissolved in high-pressure solid mineral phases of mantle peridotite at depths, may be exsolved under decompressive conditions of mantle plume upwelling to produce the initial free fluid phases in the upper mantle. The free fluid phases migrating in the upper mantle may result in lowering of the mantle solidus (and liquidus), thereby initiating partial melting of the upper mantle, and in the meantime, producing metasomatic effects on the latter.     

Modelling of thermochemical plumes and implications for the origin of the Siberian traps

Thermochemical plumes form at the base of the lower mantle as a consequence of heat flow from the outer core and the presence of local chemical doping that decreases the melting temperature. Theoretical and experimental modelling of thermochemical plumes show that the diameter of a plume conduit remains practically constant during plume ascent. However, when the top of a plume reaches a refractory layer, whose melting temperature is higher than the melt temperature in the plume conduit, a mushroom-shaped plume head develops. Main parameters (melt viscosity, ascent time, ascent velocity, temperature differences in the plume conduit, and thermal power) are presented for a thermochemical plume ascending from the core–mantle boundary. In addition, the following relationships are developed: the pressure distribution in the plume conduit during the ascent of a plume, conditions for eruption-conduit formation, the effect of the P–T conditions and controls on the shape and size of a plume top, heat transfer between a thermochemical plume and the lithosphere (when the plume reaches the bottom of a refractory layer in the lithosphere), and eruption volume versus the time interval t₁ between plume formation and eruption. These relationships are used to determine thermal power and time t₁ for the Tunguska syneclise and the Siberian traps as a whole.

The Siberian and other trap provinces are characterized by giant volumes of lavas and sills formed a very short time period. Data permit a model for superplumes with three stages of formation: early (variable picrites and alkali basalts), main (tholeiite plateau basalts), and final (ultrabasic and alkaline lavas and intrusions). These stages reflect the evolution of a superplume from the ascent of one or several independent plumes, through the formation of thick lenses of mantle melts underplating the lithosphere and, finally, intrusion and extrusion of differentiated mantle melts. Synchronous syenite–granite intrusions and bimodal volcanism abundant in the margins of the Siberian traps are the result of melting of the lower crust at depths of 65–70 km under the effect of plume melts.     

Formation of continental flood volcanism — The perspective of setting of melting

Models of continental flood basalt (CFB) formation are evaluated by examining their implications for the setting, mainly temperature and depth, of melting which is assumed to result from adiabatic decompression. Most attractive is the model of melting in upwelling bodies (probably plume heads) rising to the base of the continental lithosphere. This constrains the melting to 120–150 km or deeper (continental lithospheric thickness) and thus the plume potential temperatures to ≥ 300 °C higher than ambient mantle. The primary melts should be hot, MgO-rich, modified during ascent, and assimilate components of the lithosphere, which can provide the continental-like geochemical signature of many CFB. Circulation within the upwellings and presence of eclogite patches also influence magma generation and composition. Dehydration melting when plumes heat the lowermost lithosphere can generate CFB only if the source region contains ca. 15% hydrous minerals beneath the entire area covered by flood volcanics, which is difficult to justify. On the other hand, assimilation of “continental” chemical components from large parts of the lithosphere does not require such extreme metasomatism. Decompression melting under strongly thinned rifted lithosphere requires lower potential temperatures of the rising material and lesser modification of the primary magmas than the plume head model of CFB formation. Available observations do not support the contemporaneity of flood volcanism with rifts having the required sizes and histories, but more information is needed to further test this model. On the other hand, magma production can assist rift initiation and lithospheric rupture, so subsequent thinning can explain the common formation of volcanic rifted margins immediately following CFB emplacement. Ancient LIP should record the same processes as seen in young CFB.     

洋底高原：了解地球内部的窗口

洋底高原是洋壳的重要组成部分,它是分布在洋底的一种面积广大、且具有异常洋壳厚度的区域。洋底高原通常规模巨大,绝大多数喷发于大洋环境,岩石组成主要为镁铁质到超镁铁质,岩石类型主要为拉斑玄武岩。大多数洋底高原的岩石组成较为相似,而且均形成于一期或两期时间较短却大规模集中喷发的岩浆活动,目前认为是大规模的热地幔物质从地幔深部上升到岩石圈底部,由于巨大地幔柱头部（地幔羽）引起的熔融作用形成的。正是由于洋底高原与地幔柱之间具有这种十分密切的关系,因此对洋底高原的研究将成为我们了解地球内部的窗口。以ODP对翁通-爪哇和凯尔盖朗（Kerguelen）海台的研究为例,简单介绍了洋底高原的基本特征、地幔柱在其形成过程中的作用以及目前在这一领域还未解决的一些问题。     

Conditioned duality between supercontinental 'assembly' and 'breakup' LIPs

A compilation of 178 more precise ages on 10 potential Large Igneous Provinces(LIPs) across southern Africa,is compared to Earth's supercontinental cycles,where 5 more prominent LIP-events all formed during the assembly of supercontinents,rather than during breakup.This temporal bias is confirmed by a focused review of field relationships,where these syn-assembly LIPs formed behind active continental arcs;whereas,the remaining postassembly-and likely breakup-related-LIPs never share such associations.Exploring the possibility of two radically different LIP-types,only the two younger breakup events(the Karoo LIP and Gannakouriep Suite) produced basalts with more enriched asthenospheric OIB-signatures;whereas,all assembly LIPs produced basalts with stronger lithospheric,as well as more or less primitive asthenospheric,signatures.A counterintuitive observation of Precambrian breakup LIPs outcropping as smaller fragments that are more peripherally located along craton margins,compared to assembly LIPs as well as the Phanerozoic Karoo breakup LIP,is explained by different preservation potentials during subsequent supercontinental cycles.Thus,further accentuating radical differences between(1) breakup LIPs,preferentially intruding along what evolves to become volcanic rifted margins that are more susceptible to deformation within subsequent orogens,and(2) assembly LIPs,typically emplaced along backarc rifts within more protected cratonic interiors.A conditioned duality is proposed,where assembly LIPs are primarily sustained by thermal blanketing(as well as local arc hydration and rifting) below assembling supercontinents and breakup LIPs more typically form above impinging mantle plumes.Such a duality is further related to an overall dynamic Earth model whereby predominantly supercontinent-orientated ocean lithospheric subduction establishes/revitalizes large low shear velocity provinces(LLSVPs) during assembly LIP-activity,and heating of such LLSVPs by the Earth's core subsequently leads to a derivation of mantle plumes during supercontinental breakup.     

Variable involvements of mantle plumes in the genesis of mid-Neoproterozoic basaltic rocks in South China: A review

Ca. 825–720 Ma global continental intraplate magmatism is generally linked to mantle plumes or a mantle superplume that caused rifting and fragmentation of the supercontinent Rodinia. Widespread Neoproterozoic igneous rocks in South China are dated at ca. 825–760 Ma. There is a hot debate on their petrogenesis and tectonic affiliations, i.e., mantle plume/rift settings or collision/arc settings. Such competing interpretations have contrasting implications to the position of South China in the supercontinent Rodinia and in Rodinia reconstruction models.Variations in the bulk-rock compositions of primary basaltic melts can provide first order constraints on the mantle thermal–chemical structure, and thus distinguish between the plume/rift and arc/collision models. Whole-rock geochemical data of 14 mid-Neoproterozoic (825–760 Ma) basaltic successions are reviewed here in order to (1) estimate the primary melts compositions; (2) calculate the melting conditions and mantle potential temperature; and (3) identify the contributions of subcontinental lithosphere mantle (SCLM) and asenthospheric mantles to the generation of these basaltic rocks.In order to quantify the mantle potential temperatures and percentages of decompression melting, the primary MgO, FeO, and SiO₂ contents of basalts are calculated through carefully selecting less-evolved samples using a melting model based on the partitioning of FeO and MgO in olivine. The mid-Neoproterozoic (825–760 Ma) potential temperatures predicted from the primary melts range from 1390 °C to 1630 °C (mostly > 1480 °C), suggesting that most 825–760 Ma basaltic rocks in South China were generated by melting of anomalously hot mantle sources with potential temperatures 80–200 °C higher than the ambient Middle Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB)-source mantle.The mantle source regions of these Neoproterozoic basaltic rocks have complex histories and heterogeneous compositions. Enriched mantle sources (e.g., pyroxenite and eclogite) are recognized as an important source for the Bikou and Suxiong basalts, suggesting that their generations may have involved recycled components. Trace elements variations show that interactions between asthenospheric mantle (OIB-type mantle) and SCLM played a very important role in generation of the 825–760 Ma basalts. Our results indicate that the SCLM metasomatized by subduction-induced melts/fluids during the 1.0–0.9 Ga orogenesis as a distinct geochemical reservoir that contributed significantly to the trace-elements and isotope inventory of these basalts.The continental intraplate geochemical signatures (e.g., OIB-type), high mantle potential temperatures and recycled components suggest the presence of a mantle plume beneath the Neoproterozoic South China block. We use the available data to develop an integrated plume-lithosphere interaction model for the ca. 825–760 Ma basalts. The early phases of basaltic rocks (825–810 Ma) were most likely formed by melting within the metasomatized SCLM heated by the rising mantle plume. The subsequent continental rift allowed adiabatic decompression partial melting of an upwelling mantle plumes at relatively shallow depth to form the widespread syn-rifting basaltic rocks at ca. 810–800 Ma and 790–760 Ma.     

Mantle plumes,triple junctions and transforms:A reinterpretation of Pacific Cretaceous-Tertiary LIPs and the Laramide connection

The Shatsky and Hess Rises,the Mid-Pacific Mountains and the Line Islands large igneous provinces(LIPs) present different challenges to conventional plume models.Resolving the genesis of these LIPs is important not only for a more complete understanding of mantle plumes and plume-generated magmatism,but also for establishing the role of subducted LIP conjugates in the evolution of the Laramide orogeny and other circum-Pacific orogenic events,which are related to the development of large porphyry systems.Given past difficulties in developing consistent geodynamic models for these LIPs,it is useful to consider whether viable alternative geodynamic scenarios may be provided by recent concepts such as melt channel networks and channel-associated lineaments,along with the "two mode"model of melt generation,where a deeply-sourced channel network is superimposed on the plume,evolving and adapting over millions of years.A plume may also interact with transform faults in close proximity to a mid ocean ridge,with the resultant bathymetric character strongly affected by the relative age difference of lithosphere across the fault.Our results suggest that the new two-mode melt models resolve key persistent issues associated with the Shatsky Rise and other LIPs and provide evidence for the existence of a conduit system within plumes that feed deeply-sourced material to the plume head,with flow maintained over considerable distances.The conduit system eventually breaks down during plume-ridge separation and may do so prior to the plume head being freed from the triple junction or spreading ridge.There is evidence for not only plume head capture by a triple junction but also for substantial deformation of the plume stem as the distance between the stem and anchored plume head increases.The evidence suggests that young transforms can serve as pathways for plume material migration,at least in certain plume head-transform configurations.A fortuitous similarity between the path of the Shatsky and Sio plumes,with respect to young spreading ridges and transforms,helps to clarify previously problematic bathymetric features that were not readily ascribed to fixed plumes alone.The Line Island Chain,which has been the subject of a vast number of models,is related mainly to several plumes that passed beneath the same region of oceanic crust,a relatively rare event that has resulted in LIP formation rather than a regular seamount track.Our findings have important implications for the timing and mechanism for the Laramide Orogeny in North America,demonstrating that the Hess Rise conjugate may be much smaller than traditionally thought.The Mid Pacific Mountains conjugate may not exist at all,given large parts of these LIPs were formed at an ‘off-ridge' site.This needs to be taken into account while considering the effects of conjugate collision on mineralization and orogenic events.     

Interaction of a thermochemical plume with free convection mantle flows and its influence on mantle melting and recrystallization

We present a thermophysical model for interaction between the conduit of a thermochemical plume and horizontal free convection flows in the mantle: The mantle flow incident on the plume conduit melts at the conduit boundary (front part) and crystallizes at its back. Geological data on the intensity of plume magmatism over the last 150 Myr are used to estimate the total thermal power of mantle plumes. A possible scenario for plume-related mantle recrystallization is proposed. Over the lifespan of a thermochemical plume, mantle melts and recrystallizes owing to the motion of the plume source and interaction between the plume conduit and horizontal free convection flows. The plume conduits can melt and recrystallize the entire mantle over a certain period of time. The model for the interaction of drifting plume conduits with mantle flows and the estimated total thermal power of mantle plumes are used to estimate the duration of plume-related melting and recrystallization of the entire mantle. The influence of mantle plumes on the convective structure of the mantle through melting is judged from the model for plume interaction with horizontal mantle flows.     

地幔柱的识别和演化研究述评

地幔柱的研究已逐渐成为人类认识地球深部动力学机制的重要手段，其诞生-演化与LIPs形成、超大陆裂解以及生物大灭绝事件密切相关。近几十年来，对地幔柱的研究和探索取得了重要进展，尤其是动态地幔柱模式（t ime-dependent）的提出将这一研究热点推向了新的台阶。综合了近些年在地幔柱识别和演化方面的研究资料对前人工作进行总结，归结为以下几个主要方面：地幔柱的时空尺度及其与热点、溢流玄武岩、地壳抬升间的联系；地幔柱的热和物质起源；地幔柱上升和演化的动力学基础。目前仍存在的问题包括：地幔柱是主动还是被动上涌？地幔柱起源于上-下地幔还是核-幔边界？OIB是否代表原始地幔柱的熔融岩浆？无疑这些问题的深入探索将拓宽人类对核幔耦合、地幔对流及浅部物质-能量响应等动力学机制的认识。     

Alkaline magmatism from Kutch, NW India: implications for plume–lithosphere interaction

Geochemical data are presented for primitive alkaline rocks from the Kutch region, north–northwest of Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP) of west central India, which is generally regarded as related to the Reunion Plume. The trace element systematics of these rocks are similar to those of ocean-island basalts, but there is considerable compositional variation, which is related to a strong overprint from the lithosphere on plume-derived magmas. This subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) component has geochemical characteristics that overlap those observed in spinel lherzolite xenoliths entrained in these rocks. Phlogopite and apatite in the SCLM are of metasomatic origin attributed to the infiltrating fluids and/or melts derived from rising mantle plume material. The composition of the alkaline rocks is consistent with a regional upwelling of deep mantle related to marginal rifting and with OIB-type geochemical characteristics. Thermal inhomogeneities within such plume swath resulted in small diapirs, which may have undergone melt segregation at the base of the lithosphere (100 km) and incorporated varying amounts of SCLM during ascent.     

塔里木和中亚造山带西段二叠纪大火成岩省的两类地幔源区

对塔里木和中亚造山带西段二叠纪玄武质岩石地质、年龄、元素地球化学、同位素组成的系统总结表明,二叠纪火成岩在分布面积、岩石类型(以玄武岩占绝对优势)、活动时间(以275Ma左右为峰期)等方面均与世界典型的大火成岩省一致,将其命名为巴楚大火成岩省(Bachu LIP)。元素和同位素地球化学特征表明,塔里木玄武岩来自长期富集的岩石圈地幔,来源深度为60～80km。塔里木基性岩墙和超镁铁-镁铁杂岩的原始岩浆可能来自软流圈地幔(OIB)部分熔融。中亚造山带西段的玄武岩、基性岩墙和超镁铁-镁铁杂岩主要来自被俯冲带熔体交代的强烈亏损的岩石圈地幔,其中部分地区可能有软流圈物质的加入,如东天山和阿勒泰南缘高Ti系列的玄武质岩石。根据元素和同位素地球化学资料,将巴楚大火成岩省分为2个地幔省(mantledomain),即塔里木省和中亚省。这2个不同地幔省的成矿系列也有显著的差异,塔里木省为钒-钛磁铁矿矿床,而中亚则以铜-镍-(铂族金属)硫化物矿床为主,成矿作用的差异和岩浆地幔源区的差异是完全对应的。综合地质、地球化学和成矿作用,认为巴楚大火成岩省的形成和二叠纪地幔柱密切相关。     

大火成岩省及地幔动力学

大火成岩省由一个体积巨大的、连续的、以富镁铁岩石占优势的喷出岩及其伴生的侵入岩组成，是一个全球现象。它包括大陆溢流玄武岩和伴生的侵入岩，火山被动边缘玄武岩，大洋高原、海岭、海山群和洋盆溢流玄武岩。Ontong Java和Kerguelen-Broken Ridge大洋高原、北大西洋火山被动边缘、德干和哥伦比亚河大陆溢流玄武岩是3个主要大火成岩省的典型代表。各种不同的大火成岩省在时空分布及组成上都具有相似性，它们具有非常大的体积、高的喷发速率，岩石类型以拉斑玄武岩为主。大火成岩省代表了地球上已知的最大的火山岩浆活动，记录了物质和能量从地球内部向外的大量转换。大火成岩省难以用板块构造来解释，可用热柱模式来解释，通常被认为是与来自下地幔的热柱“头”有关。大火成岩省是地球动力学过程在地壳的表现，因此大火成岩省参数可作为边界条件去反演地幔动力学过程。     

Mineral chemical evidence for extremely magnesian subalkaline melts from the Antarctic extension of the Karoo large igneous province

We present a comprehensive mineral chemical dataset (～400 analyses) on subalkaline meimechitic (Mg-number?=?74–80) and ferropicritic (Mg-number?=?67–69) dike samples from the Antarctic extension of the Karoo large igneous province (LIP) in Vestfjella, western Dronning Maud Land. Some of the meimechites, previously considered to be cumulates from ferropicritic magmas, are characterized by forsteritic olivine (with core composition up to Fo₉₂) that is in, or close to Fe-Mg equilibrium with the host rock. The olivines are subhedral to euhedral, contain Ti-rich (volcanic) spinel inclusions, have a high CaO content (≥0.19 wt. %), and are thus unlikely to represent xenocrysts from mantle peridotite. Igneous amphibole is found in olivine-hosted, crystallized melt inclusions, indicating that the parental magmas had a H₂O content of 1–2 wt. %. The olivine data suggests generation of extremely MgO-rich (up to 25 wt. %) melts during the Karoo magmatism. Based on our petrogenetic modeling, such melts are likely to have originated from the partial melting of garnet peridotite at high pressures (5–6 GPa) and mantle potential temperatures (>1,600°C) that are compatible with the involvement of a mantle plume in the generation of the Karoo LIP. A geochemical comparison of the Vestfjella meimechites with meimechites from the Siberian Traps LIP and the assumed komatiitic parental melts of the Horingbai picrites (Paraná-Etendeka LIP) reveals key similarities, suggesting that all these suites were generated from broadly similar sources and/or by similar melting processes in anomalously hot subcontinental mantle.     

塔里木和中亚造山带西段二叠纪大火成岩省的两类地幔源区

对塔里木和中亚造山带西段二叠纪玄武质岩石地质、年龄、元素地球化学、同位素组成的系统总结表明,二叠纪火成岩在分布面积、岩石类型(以玄武岩占绝对优势)、活动时间(以275Ma左右为峰期)等方面均与世界典型的大火成岩省一致,将其命名为巴楚大火成岩省(Bachu LIP)。元素和同位素地球化学特征表明,塔里木玄武岩来自长期富集的岩石圈地幔,来源深度为60~80km。塔里木基性岩墙和超镁铁-镁铁杂岩的原始岩浆可能来自软流圈地幔(OIB)部分熔融。中亚造山带西段的玄武岩、基性岩墙和超镁铁-镁铁杂岩主要来自被俯冲带熔体交代的强烈亏损的岩石圈地幔,其中部分地区可能有软流圈物质的加入,如东天山和阿勒泰南缘高Ti系列的玄武质岩石。根据元素和同位素地球化学资料,将巴楚大火成岩省分为2个地幔省(mantle domain),即塔里木省和中亚省。这2个不同地幔省的成矿系列也有显著的差异,塔里木省为钒-钛磁铁矿矿床,而中亚则以铜-镍-(铂族金属)硫化物矿床为主,成矿作用的差异和岩浆地幔源区的差异是完全对应的。综合地质、地球化学和成矿作用,认为巴楚大火成岩省的形成和二叠纪地幔柱密切相关。     

Origin of the Tertiary basaltic volcanism in the northern Hessian Depression

Volcanic activity started about 20 Ma before present with quartz tholeiites (QTh), had a climax with alkali olivine basalts (AOB) 13 to 14 Ma ago and ended 7 Ma ago with nepheline basanites (NB) and olivine nephelinites (ON). AOB covers 73% of the volcanic area. About 250 basalts and peridotite xenoliths were sampled for investigation. An upper mantle layer ranging from about 90 to 60 km depth has been conditioned for a preferential alkali basalt production by advection of H₂O-CO₂-fluids containing Si, Al, Ca, K, Na, P as major constituents beside numerous incompatible minor elements. At the onset of the geodynamically triggered mantle conditioning locally restricted diapirism into shallow depth has caused formation of olivine tholeiite magmas (OTh) at about 1,300° C by partial melting. All of these OTh primary melts intruded due to a favourable compressibility into granulites of the lower crust. The rare QTh basalts are their derivative magmas which have been slightly contaminated in the crust. Magmas of the subsequent alkali basaltic volcanism (AOB, bAOB, NB, ON, MON) formed by in-situ partial melting at about 75 to 90 km depth after depression of the peridotite solidi by fluids to temperatures 1,200° C. Except many AOB these magmas are primary melts as characterized by olivine/melt distribution coefficients of Mg/Fe²⁺ (K _D=0.29 to 0.34), by Ni concentrations (260 to 330 ppm) and the occurrence of peridotite xenoliths. Rapid rise of gas charged melts due to saturation in CO₂ prevented separation of olivine etc. and of xenoliths. The sequence of magmas from OTh to ON (or MON) is formed from decreasing proportions of orthopyroxene (opx) and increasing contributions of clinopyroxene (cpx) and phlogopite (ph) at almost equal proportions of spinel (sp). Incongruent melting of opx (and cpx) for OTh, AOB, NB and ON is correlated with precipitation of olivine. The average xenolith composition (73% ol, 18% opx, 7% cpx, 1.1% sp and 1.3/0.5% ph) was used to model the sources of the investigated melts by 9 incompatible elements and to calculate degrees of partial melting. The occurrence of garnet cannot be reliably excluded by modelling on the basis of HREE distribution coefficients. The average xenolith composition was used for modelling because of its resemblance with worldwide sampled depleted mantle inclusions. For avoiding to exhaust at least one mineral of the model mantle in the support of the norm composition of OTh, AOB, NB and MON magmas the degrees of partial melting cannot exceed 12.5%, 6%, 6% and 4% respectively. Mantle containing about 500 ppm K (and the correlated incompatible elements), like the average of 36 xenoliths, allows to explain the formation of OTh magmas. AOB, NB and ON melts require peridotite with slightly less than 1,500 ppm K, 670 ppm P and proportions of the correlated elements LREE, Sr, Ba, Zr, Rb, Cs, Ta, Th, Hf, U, which are higher than their abundance in primitive mantle rocks. About 20% of the xenoliths have this composition. Metasomatism of fluids with these elements must have been an immediate precursor of the alkali basaltic volcanism. Otherwise the preservation of a local disequilibrium in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios between cpx cores and total rock at upper mantle temperatures cannot be explained.     

The composition and formation of Miocene tholeiites in the Central European Cenozoic plume volcanism (CECV)

Tholeiites accompanying a majority of alkali basalts are restricted to the highly productive central part of the CECV plume activity in Vogelsberg and Hessian Depression. They mainly occur as quartz tholeiites which according to experiments of partial melting and material balances are products of olivine tholeiitic primary melts. The differentiation from olivine to quartz tholeiitic melts took place in lower crustal magma chambers where olivine tholeiitic melt intruded due to a density comparable with that of the country rocks. The fractionation due to separation of olivine and some clinopyroxene caused contamination of tholeiite magmas by tonalitic partial melts from the wall rocks of the magma chambers. The latter process is indicated by relatively high Rb, K and Pb and low Nb concentrations and by Nd, Sr and Pb isotopes. Contaminating crustal melts, which roughly attained a proportion of 10%, contained very low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios from a Nd/Sm fractionation as old as 2.6 Ga. This is the first evidence from mafic rocks of this high age in the lower crust beneath Central Europe. Modelling with incompatible elements allows to recognize olivine tholeiites as products of about 1% partial melting of plume rocks consisting of 35% primitive and 65% depleted mantle materials. The production of tholeiites other than alkali basalts is restricted to the highest plume activity and the largest fraction of MORB type source rocks. Received: 10 December 1999 / Accepted: 23 June 2000     

Melting of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle by the Emeishan mantle plume; evidence from the basal alkaline basalts in Dongchuan, Yunnan, Southwestern China

The Emeishan continental flood basalt (ECFB) sequence in Dongchuan, SW China comprises a basal tephrite unit overlain by an upper tholeiitic basalt unit. The upper basalts have high TiO₂ contents (3.2–5.2 wt.%), relatively high rare-earth element (REE) concentrations (40 to 60 ppm La, 12.5 to 16.5 ppm Sm, and 3 to 4 ppm Yb), moderate Zr/Nb and Nb/La ratios (9.3–10.2 and 0.6–0.9, respectively) and relatively high _{Nd (t)} values, ranging from − 0.94 to 2.3, and are comparable to the high-Ti ECFB elsewhere. The tephrites have relatively high P₂O₅ (1.3–2.0 wt.%), low REE concentrations (e.g., 17 to 23 ppm La, 4 to 5.3 ppm Sm, and 2 to 3 ppm Yb), high Nb/La (2.0–3.9) ratios, low Zr/Nb ratios (2.3–4.2), and extremely low _{Nd (t)} values (mostly ranging from − 10.6 to − 11.1). The distinct compositional differences between the tephrites and the overlying tholeiitic basalts cannot be explained by either fractional crystallization or crustal contamination of a common parental magma. The tholeiitic basalts formed by partial melting of the Emeishan plume head at a depth where garnet was stable, perhaps > 80 km. We propose that the tephrites were derived from magmas formed when the base of the previously metasomatized, volatile-mineral bearing subcontinental lithospheric mantle was heated by the upwelling mantle plume.