Oligocene–Miocene geodynamic evolution of the central part of Urumieh-Dokhtar Arc of Iran

Basic volcanic rocks from Tafresh, west Kashan, and west Nain volcanic successions in the central part of Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Assemblage (UDMA) of Iran yield K–Ar ages ranging from 26.8 to 18.2 Ma. These ages indicate significant Late Oligocene–Early Miocene basic volcanism in the UDMA. These ages, combined with K–Ar ages of 26.0 and 14.1 Ma, respectively, for associated low-silica and high-silica adakites, help constrain reconstructions of the UDMA geodynamic evolution. Late Oligocene–Early Miocene slab roll-back associated with an asthenospheric mantle influx are suggested as the major processes responsible for concurrent volcanism showing Nb–Ta-depleted, Nb–Ta-enriched and low-silica adakite signatures. Slab roll-back, the likely consequence of a decrease in subduction velocity, led to partial melting of the subducted slab and produced Early–Middle Miocene high-silica (dacitic) adakites. Oligocene to Miocene volcanic rocks do not conform to the Oligocene continental collisional model for the UDMA, rather they suggest a decrease in the subduction rate that prompted the asthenospheric mantle influx.     

Gem‐bearing basaltic volcanism,Barrington, New South Wales: Cenozoic evolution,based on basalt K–Ar ages and zircon fission track and U–Pb isotope dating

Barrington shield volcano was active for 55 million years, based on basalt K–Ar and zircon fission track dating. Activity in the northeast, at 59 Ma, preceded more substantial activity between 55 and 51 Ma and more limited activity on western and southern flanks after 45 Ma. Eruptions brought up megacrystic gemstones (ruby, sapphire and zircon) throughout the volcanism, particularly during quieter eruptive periods. Zircon fission track dating (thermal reset ages) indicates gem‐bearing eruptions at 57, 43, 38, 28 and 4–5 Ma, while U–Pb isotope SHRIMP dating suggests two main periods of zircon crystallisation between 60 and 50 Ma and 46–45 Ma. Zircons show growth and sector twinning typical of magmatic crystallisation and include low‐U, moderate‐U and high‐U types. The 46 Ma high‐U zircons exhibit trace and rare‐earth element patterns that approach those of zircon inclusions in sapphires and may mark a sapphire formation time at Barrington. Two Barrington basaltic episodes include primary lavas with trace‐element signatures suggesting amphibole/apatite‐enriched lithospheric mantle sources. Other basalts less‐enriched in Th, Sr, P and light rare‐earth elements have trace‐element ratios that overlap those of HIMU‐related South Tasman basalts. Zircon and sapphire formation is attributed to crystallisation from minor felsic melts derived by incipient melting of amphibole‐enriched mantle during lesser thermal activity. Ruby from Barrington volcano is a metamorphic type, and a metamorphic/metasomatic origin associated with basement ultramafic bodies is favoured. Migratory plate/plume paths constructed through Barrington basaltic episodes intersect approximately 80% of dated Palaeogene basaltic activity (65–30 Ma) along the Tasman margin (27–37°S) supporting a migratory plume‐linked origin. Neogene Barrington activity dwindled to sporadic gem‐bearing eruptions, the last possibly marking a minor plume trace. The present subdued thermal profile in northeastern New South Wales mantle suggests future Barrington activity will be minimal.     

Geochemical fingerprint of the primary magma composition in the marine tephras originated from the Baegdusan and Ulleung volcanoes

The intraplate Baegdusan (Changbai) and Ulleung volcanoes located on the border of China, North Korea, and East/Japan Sea, respectively, have been explained by appeals to both hotspots and asthenospheric mantle upwelling (wet plume) caused by the stagnant Pacific plate. To understand the origin of the Baegdusan and Ulleung volcanism, we performed geochemical analyses on the tephra deposits in the East/Japan Sea basins originating from the Baegdusan and Ulleung volcanoes. The volcanic glass in the tephra from the Baegdusan and Ulleung volcanoes ranged from alkaline trachyte to peralkaline rhyolite and from phonolite to trachyte, respectively. The tephra from the two intraplate volcanoes showed highly enriched incompatible elements, such as Tb, Nb, Hf, and Ta, distinct from those of the ordinary arc volcanoes of the Japanese islands. The straddle distribution of the Th/Yb and Ta/Yb ratios of the tephra deposits from the Baegdusan volcano may originate from the alkali basaltic magma resulting from mixing between the wet plume from the stagnant Pacific plate in the transition zone and the overlying shallow asthenospheric mantle. In contrast, the deposits from the Ulleung volcano show a minor contribution of the stagnant slab to the basaltic magma, implying either partial melting of a more enriched mantle, smaller degrees of partial melting of a garnet-bearing mantle source, or a combination of both processes as the magma genesis. Our study indicated that the Baegdusan and Ulleung volcanoes have different magma sources and evolutionary histories.     

Late thermal events based on zircon fission track ages in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland: Links to Sydney Basin seismicity?

Zircon, concentrated from basaltic terrains in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland, reveals some unexpectedly young fission track peaks. Between 2 to 13 Ma in age, these peaks are younger than known Tertiary basaltic ages from these regions which match older fission track peaks. Analysis of the fission track data suggests that the young dates are probably not reset ages due to recent heating events such as bush fires, but more likely mark thermal resetting by later volcanic eruptions.

The young ages decrease southwards from Queensland through northern New South Wales and trend toward seismic zones within the Sydney Basin in the Newcastle, Blue Mountains and Illawarra regions. A model based on northward motion of the Australian plate over a hot asthenospheric source (0.75° latitude/Ma over 12 Ma)) predicts the positions of most young zircon ages to within ± 70 km in latitude when projected from seismic sites at Newcastle and Bowral‐Robertson.

A minor hot spot source is proposed, some 250 km across, which triggered isolated basaltic and zircon‐bearing eruptions every few million years and now underlies the southern Sydney Basin. This would bring Sydney Basin seismicity into line with other seismic zones known at present hot spot positions across southeastern Australia and the Tasman Sea. It raises questions concerning activation of local seismicity, potential for volcanic risk and distribution of young uplift in the Sydney region. Similar studies are needed to test other puzzling seismic zones (e.g. the Dalton‐Gunning Zone).     

Age and composition of dykes emplaced before and during the opening of the Tasman Sea—source implications

Abstract

Dykes are common in the wave-cut platforms along the coast from Newcastle to Sydney. According to some authors, they may be related to the opening of the Tasman Sea that commenced ca 84?Ma ago. However, there are few detailed radiogenic dating and geochemical studies to evaluate this. We attempt to resolve this by K–Ar dating of plagioclase in and geochemical studies of, basaltic dykes intruding Permo-Triassic sequences on the wave-cut platforms and Carboniferous and Permo-Triassic sequences inland. The plagioclase separated from the dykes give K–Ar ages ranging from 266 to 53?Ma with the majority older than 84?Ma indicating that most dykes were emplaced before the Tasman Seafloor formation. The dykes are generally mildly alkaline, high-Ti basalts; fewer are tholeiitic and calc-alkaline, low-Ti basalts. Strongly light rare earth element (LREE)-enriched patterns typify the former and flat, LREE-depleted or slightly to moderately enriched LREE patterns, the latter. High-Ti basalts have ocean-island-basalt-like and low-Ti basalts, calc-alkaline or mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like patterns. Most high-Ti and some low-Ti basalts show plume-like characteristics, others N-type MORB and arc-like characteristics. Dykes intruding the Carboniferous sequences show a distinct contamination signature that could be crustal or due to subduction-related metasomatism of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. The sources of the basaltic magmas vary substantially and in places changes with time. All alkali basalts are derived from enriched asthenospheric sources at varying depths (90–147?km) and most tholeiitic, low-Ti basalts have been extracted from asthenospheric and depleted asthenospheric–lithospheric sources indicating substantial compositional heterogeneity of the mantle. Further, Nd model ages varying from Neoproterozoic (940–580?Ma) to Paleozoic (460–370?Ma) suggest variation in the age of mantle sources for the basalts.     

Two contrasting magmatic types coexist after the cessation of back-arc spreading

Amongst island arcs, Izu–Bonin is remarkable as it has widespread, voluminous and long-lived volcanism behind the volcanic front. In the central part of the arc this volcanism is represented by a series of seamount chains which extend nearly 300 km into the back-arc from the volcanic front. These back-arc seamount chains were active between 17 and 3 Ma, which is the period between the cessation of spreading in the Shikoku Basin and the initiation of currently active rifting just behind the Quaternary volcanic front. In this paper we present new age, chemical and isotopic data from the hitherto unexplored seamounts which formed furthest from the active volcanic front. Some of the samples come from volcanoes at the western limit of the back-arc seamount chains. Others are collected from seamounts of various sizes which lie on the Shikoku Basin crust (East Shikoku Basin seamounts). The westernmost magmatism we have sampled is manifested as a series of volcanic edifices that trace the extinct spreading centre of the Shikoku Basin known as the Kinan Seamount Chain (KSC).Chemically, enrichment in fluid-mobile elements and depletion in HFSE relative to MORB indicates that the back-arc seamount chains and the East Shikoku Basin seamounts have a significant contribution of slab-derived material. In this context these volcanoes can be regarded as a manifestation of arc magmatism and distinct from the MORB-like lavas of the Shikoku back-arc basin. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages range from 15.7 to 9.6 Ma for the East Shikoku Basin seamounts, indicating this arc magmatism started immediately after the Shikoku Basin stopped spreading.Although the KSC volcanoes are found to be contemporaneous with the seamount chains and East Shikoku Basin seamounts, their chemical characteristics are very different. Unlike the calc-alkaline seamount chains, the KSC lavas range from medium-K to shoshonitic alkaline basalt. Their trace element characteristics indicate the absence of a subduction influence and their radiogenic isotope systematics reflect a mantle source combining a Philippine Sea MORB composition and an enriched mantle component (EM-1). One of the most remarkable features of the KSC is that their geochemistry has a distinct temporal variation. Element ratios such as Nb/Zr and concentrations of incompatible elements such as K₂O increase with decreasing age and reach a maximum at ca. 7 Ma when the KSC ceased activity.Based on the chemical and temporal information from all the data across the back-arc region, we have identified two contrasting yet contemporaneous magmatic provinces. These share a tectonic platform, but have separate magmatic roots; one stemming from subduction flux and the other from post-spreading asthenospheric melting.     

Sublithospheric flows in the mantle

The estimated rates of upper mantle sublithospheric flows in the Hawaii–Emperor Range and Ethiopia–Arabia–Caucasus systems are reported. In the Hawaii–Emperor Range system, calculation is based on motion of the asthenospheric flow and the plate moved by it over the branch of the Central Pacific plume. The travel rate has been determined based on the position of variably aged volcanoes (up to 76 Ma) with respect to the active Kilauea Volcano. As for the Ethiopia–Arabia–Caucasus system, the age of volcanic eruptions (55–2.8 Ma) has been used to estimate the asthenospheric flow from the Ethiopian–Afar superplume in the northern bearing lines. Both systems are characterized by variations in a rate of the upper mantle flows in different epochs from 4 to 12 cm/yr, about 8 cm/yr on average. Analysis of the global seismic tomographic data has made it possible to reveal rock volumes with higher seismic wave velocities under ancient cratons; rocks reach a depth of more than 2000 km and are interpreted as detached fragments of the thickened continental lithosphere. Such volumes on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean were submerged at an average velocity of 0.9–1.0 cm/yr along with its opening. The estimated rates of the mantle flows clarify the deformation properties of the mantle and regulate the numerical models of mantle convection.     

New Discovery of the Early Cretaceous Volcanic Rocks on the Barton Peninsula, King George Island,Antarctica and Its Geological Significance

Ages determined with the 40Ar/39Ar isotopic system affirms the Early Cretaceous volcanic activity in the Barton Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Two specimens of basaltic andesite collected from the lowermost volcanic sequence of the peninsula were irradiated and analyzed in different experiments, yielding an identical age spectrum, and two magmatic thermal events of the Early Cretaceous (120.4± 1.6 Ma, 119± 1 Ma) and Early Tertiary (53.1± 1.5 Ma, 52± 1 Ma) are distinguished. The former is interpreted to represent the primary cooling age of basaltic andesite, whereas the latter is the thermal reset age caused by the intrusion of granitic pluton. These new ages clearly indicate that volcanism was active during the Early Cretaceous on the Barton Peninsula and that intensive hydrothermal alteration and mineralization of Mesozoic volcanic rocks resulted from Tertiary magmatism.     

Middle Miocene near trench volcanism in northern Colombia: A record of slab tearing due to the simultaneous subduction of the Caribbean Plate under South and Central America?

Field, geochemical, geochronological, biostratigraphical and sedimentary provenance results of basaltic and associated sediments northern Colombia reveal the existence of Middle Miocene (13–14 Ma) mafic volcanism within a continental margin setting usually considered as amagmatic. This basaltic volcanism is characterized by relatively high Al₂O₃ and Na₂O values (>15%), a High-K calc-alkaline affinity, large ion lithophile enrichment and associated Nb, Ta and Ti negative anomalies which resemble High Al basalts formed by low degree of asthenospheric melting at shallow depths mixed with some additional slab input. The presence of pre-Cretaceous detrital zircons, tourmaline and rutile as well as biostratigraphic results suggest that the host sedimentary rocks were deposited in a platform setting within the South American margin. New results of P-wave residuals from northern Colombia reinforce the view of a Caribbean slab subducting under the South American margin.The absence of a mantle wedge, the upper plate setting, and proximity of this magmatism to the trench, together with geodynamic constraints suggest that the subducted Caribbean oceanic plate was fractured and a slab tear was formed within the oceanic plate. Oceanic plate fracturing is related to the splitting of the subducting Caribbean Plate due to simultaneous subduction under the Panama-Choco block and northwestern South America, and the fast overthrusting of the later onto the Caribbean oceanic plate.     

Petrogenesis of Cenozoic Basaltic Rocks from Jiangsu Province,China:Evidence from Geochemical Constraints

Cenozoic（Miocene to Pleistocene） basaltic rocks in Jiangsu province of eastern China include olivine tholeiite and alkali basalt.We present major,trace element and Sr-Nd isotopic data as well as Ar-Ar dating of these basalts to discuss the petrogenesis of the basalts and identify the geological processes beneath the study area.On the basis of chemical compisitions and Ar-Ar dating of Cenonoic basaltic rocks from Jiangsu province,we suggest that these basalts may belong to the same magmatic system.The alkali basalts found in Jiangsu province have higherΣFeO,MgO,CaO,Na₂O, TiO₂ and P₂O₅ and incompatible elements,but lower Al₂O₃ and compatible elements contents than olivine tholeiite which may be caused by fractional crystallization of olivine,pyroxene and minor plagioclase.In Jiangsu basaltic rocks the incompatible elements increase with decreasing MgO/ΣFeO ratios.The primitive mantle-normalized incompatible elements and chondrite-normalized REE patterns of basaltic rocks found in Jiangsu province are similar to those of OIB.Partial loss of the mantle lithosphere accompanied by rising of asthenospheric mantle may accelerate the generation of the basaltic magma.The ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd vs.⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr plot indicates a mixing of a depleted asthenospheric mantle source and an EMI component in the study area.According to Shaw’s equation,the basalts from Jiangsu province may be formed by l%-5%partial melting of a depleted asthenospheric mantle source.On the basis of Ar-Ar ages of this study and the fractional crystallization model proposed by Brooks and Nielsen（1982）,we suggest that basalts from Jiangsu province may belong to a magmatic system with JF-2 as the primitive magma which has undergone fractional crystallization and evolved progressively to produce other types of basalts.     

Mesozoic-Cainozoic volcanism of Australia

Mesozoic—Cainozoic volcanism was concentrated on the youngest eastern Australian craton. Basaltic activity (with some felsic fractionation) has predominated over Mesozoic interludes of calcalkaline volcanism (rhyolites, dacites, trachytes andesites) and more isolated shoshonitic activity (now represented by appinitic, syenitic, granitic and lamprophyric complexes).Epeirogenic movements and associated sea-floor spreading and orogenic episodes at the continental margins, initiated and controlled much of the volcanism. Basin edges, faults, lineaments and their intersections were important in locating sites of volcanism; some fundamental structural lines have focussed volcanism over 300–600 km.The eastern Mesozoic basaltic volcanism shows a late Jurassic N-S trend from undersaturated to saturated compositions, with increasing intensity of melting towards a major Tasmanian-Antarctic thermo-tectonic event. A late Jurassic-late Cretaceous E-W trend may extend from possible ‘kimberlites’ through shoshonitic to calcalkaline activity with increasing proximity to orogenic movements along the New Zealand ‘Geosyncline’.Cainozoic basaltic volcanism reflects the NNE drift of Australia under Atlantic-Indian-Southern Ocean sea-floor spreading, with a debatable role for subduction along the Tasman Sea margin. The ultimate mechanisms of volcanism are not clearly understood. Drift of cratonic structural weaknesses over thermal anomalies in the mantle, with generation of magmas from a geochemically zoned Lower Velocity Zone under influence of uplifts, lithospheric thickness and periodic release of thermal energy, seems to partly explain observed patterns of E. Australian volcanism.     

大兴安岭诺敏河第四纪火山岩分期:岩石学、年代学与火山地质特征

大兴安岭北段诺敏河第四纪火山24座,分布于诺敏河及其支流毕拉河和甘河支流奎勒河,火山岩分布面积约600km2。诺敏河火山岩均属于钾质系列火山岩(K2O含量2%～4%,且K2O>Na2O-2%),类似于邻区五大连池-科洛钾质火山岩,具有来自类似的富钾地幔源区。但诺敏河火山岩的K2O含量明显低于五大连池-科洛火山岩的K2O含量(一般4%～6%)。东北地区和内蒙东部处于中亚造山带东段,从古生代到新生代,多重构造-岩浆活动导致火山岩源区地球化学非均一性和火山岩的多样性。根据本文提出的火山岩K-Ar年龄(2.3～0.128Ma)及火山地质特征,可将诺敏河第四纪火山岩分为四期。早期(早更新世)火山活动主要沿诺敏河和奎勒河流域分布,火山产物多被晚期沉积物或火山产物所覆盖。中更新世保留的火山锥体及熔岩流是诺敏河第四纪火山产物的主体,表明是第四纪火山活动的高潮期。晚更新世-全新世火山活动限于毕拉河流域,典型的四方山火山和马鞍山火山是该时期火山活动的代表作,保留了较完好的火山地质地貌特征。从火山产物的时空展布,推测诺敏河第四纪火山活动有从东向西发展的趋势。     

Timing of the Mineralization and Volcanism at Cibaliung Gold Deposit, Western Java, Indonesia

Abstract. The Cibaliung deposit is a low-sulfidation type epithermal gold deposit situated about 70 km west of the Bayah dome complex. The gold-bearing quartz veins are hosted by basaltic andesite of the Honje Formation, which is comparable to the host rock of gold deposits at the Bayah dome complex.
In order to clarify the timing of the mineralization and the volcanism at the Cibaliung area, two radiometric dating methods were applied. First, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating was conducted on six adularia samples to elucidate the age of mineralization. Second, K-Ar method was applied to two samples of the host rock, andesite and the Cibaliung tuff, in order to reveal the timing of volcanism.
The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating determined mineralization ages in the range from 11.18 to 10.65 Ma while the K-Ar dating indicated the age of the andesite and the Cibaliung tuff to be 11.4±0.8 Ma and 4.9±0.6 Ma, respectively. These results imply that the epithermal gold mineralization in the Cibaliung area is related to the volcanic activity that produced the Honje Formation, while the Cibaliung tuff played an important role in the preservation of the Cibaliung deposit. The Cibaliung deposit is the oldest epithermal gold deposit yet discovered in western Java.     

Geochemical response of magmas to Neogene–Quaternary continental collision in the Carpathian–Pannonian region: A review

The Carpathian–Pannonian Region contains Neogene to Quaternary magmatic rocks of highly diverse composition (calc-alkaline, shoshonitic and mafic alkalic) that were generated in response to complex microplate tectonics including subduction followed by roll-back, collision, subducted slab break-off, rotations and extension. Major element, trace element and isotopic geochemical data of representative parental lavas and mantle xenoliths suggests that subduction components were preserved in the mantle following the cessation of subduction, and were reactivated by asthenosphere uprise via subduction roll-back, slab detachment, slab-break-off or slab-tearing. Changes in the composition of the mantle through time are evident in the geochemistry, supporting established geodynamic models.Magmatism occurred in a back-arc setting in the Western Carpathians and Pannonian Basin (Western Segment), producing felsic volcaniclastic rocks between 21 to 18 Ma ago, followed by younger felsic and intermediate calc-alkaline lavas (18–8 Ma) and finished with alkalic-mafic basaltic volcanism (10–0.1 Ma). Volcanic rocks become younger in this segment towards the north. Geochemical data for the felsic and calc-alkaline rocks suggest a decrease in the subduction component through time and a change in source from a crustal one, through a mixed crustal/mantle source to a mantle source. Block rotation, subducted roll-back and continental collision triggered partial melting by either delamination and/or asthenosphere upwelling that also generated the younger alkalic-mafic magmatism.In the westernmost East Carpathians (Central Segment) calc-alkaline volcanism was simultaneously spread across ca. 100 km in several lineaments, parallel or perpendicular to the plane of continental collision, from 15 to 9 Ma. Geochemical studies indicate a heterogeneous mantle toward the back-arc with a larger degree of fluid-induced metasomatism, source enrichment and assimilation on moving north-eastward toward the presumed trench. Subduction-related roll-back may have triggered melting, although there may have been a role for back-arc extension and asthenosphere uprise related to slab break-off.Calc-alkaline and adakite-like magmas were erupted in the Apuseni Mountains volcanic area (Interior Segment) from15–9 Ma, without any apparent relationship with the coeval roll-back processes in the front of the orogen. Magmatic activity ended with OIB-like alkali basaltic (2.5 Ma) and shoshonitic magmatism (1.6 Ma). Lithosphere breakup may have been an important process during extreme block rotations (60°) between 14 and 12 Ma, leading to decompressional melting of the lithospheric and asthenospheric sources. Eruption of alkali basalts suggests decompressional melting of an OIB-source asthenosphere. Mixing of asthenospheric melts with melts from the metasomatized lithosphere along an east–west reactivated fault-system could be responsible for the generation of shoshonitic magmas during transtension and attenuation of the lithosphere.Voluminous calc-alkaline magmatism occurred in the Cãlimani-Gurghiu-Harghita volcanic area (South-eastern Segment) between 10 and 3.5 Ma. Activity continued south-eastwards into the South Harghita area, in which activity started (ca. 3.0–0.03 Ma, with contemporaneous eruption of calc-alkaline (some with adakite-like characteristics), shoshonitic and alkali basaltic magmas from 2 to 0.3 Ma. Along arc magma generation was related to progressive break-off of the subducted slab and asthenosphere uprise. For South Harghita, decompressional melting of an OIB-like asthenospheric mantle (producing alkali basalt magmas) coupled with fluid-dominated melting close to the subducted slab (generating adakite-like magmas) and mixing between slab-derived melts and asthenospheric melts (generating shoshonites) is suggested. Break-off and tearing of the subducted slab at shallow levels required explaining this situation.     

The age and origin of the Balleny and Scott volcanic provinces,Ross Sea,Antarctica

The Balleny and Scott volcanic provinces are two isolated and remote volcanic occurrences located along the rifted margin of Western Antarctica in the Ross Sea. They include oceanic plateaus, seamounts, and volcanic islands. Although volcanic activity has been documented through remote sensing, there is no geochronological data based on radio-isotope methods constraining the duration of the volcanic activity in this region. As a consequence, hypotheses, based on the interpretation of chemical characteristics of the lavas, that suggested the volcanism to be either the result a deep mantle plume or a large-scale shallow melting anomaly have not yet been tested decisively.In order to tackle this issue, we have now dated lavas dredged from seamounts from both Balleny and Scott provinces using the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar technique. Our new age dates suggest that the Balleny and Scott volcanic provinces were active since at least 2.8 Ma and 2.4 Ma respectively. This suggests that these volcanic provinces were active simultaneously to the magmatism of the McMurdo volcanic group in the Western Antarctica Rift System that comprises Mount Erebus and Mount Melbourne stratovolcanoes. Our new dates suggest that there is no obvious age trend across the Balleny and Scott provinces. Combined with plate reconstructions since the end of Mesozoic, these data suggest that the Scott province does not coincide with any potential hot-spot track, thus negating a deep mantle plume origin for this volcanism. The case of the Balleny province is more ambiguous. The hypothesis of this province representing the end of the Tasman seamounts chain formed by a hot-spot track with decreasing-age trend is not confirmed by the new geochronological data, since available dates for the region are rather scarce and unreliable for the Tasman seamounts.Therefore, we suggest that the Balleny and Scott provinces originated from shallow mantle melting processes, a hypothesis that seems to be consistent with our re-interpretation of the SrNdPb isotope data of the lavas from the Balleny and Scott provinces. We argue that these provinces were derived from a heterogeneous subcontinental lithospheric mantle metasomatized during ancient subductions and which is now scattered in the shallow mantle of the southwest Pacific realm. This scattered mantle source component has been melting since the beginning of Cenozoic, and was then progressively depleted in the most fusible components. This new working model can explain the presence of several magmatic provinces in the southwest Pacific-Antarctica realm which show similar chemical signatures.     

Complex geometry of the Cenozoic magma plumbing system in the central Sahara,NW Africa

Topographic uplifts in the central Sahara occur in the Hoggar-Aïr and Tibesti-Gharyan swells that consist of Precambrian rocks overlain by Cenozoic volcanic rocks. The swells and associated Cenozoic volcanism have been related either to mantle plumes or to asthenospheric upwelling and to partial melting due to rift-related delamination along pre-existing Pan-African mega-shears during the collision between Africa and Europe. The Cenozoic volcanic rocks in the Hoggar generally range from Oligocene tholeiitic/transitional plateau basalts, which occur in the centre of the dome, to Neogene alkali basalts characterized by a decrease in their degree of silica undersaturation and an increase in their La/Yb ratios. The alkali basaltic rocks occur mainly along the margins of the dome and typically have less radiogenic Nd and Sr isotopic ratios than the tholeiitic/transitional basalts. The geochemistry of the most primitive basaltic rocks resembles oceanic island basalt (OIB) tholeiitic – in particular high-U/Pb mantle (HIMU)-type – and is also similar to those of the Circum-Mediterranean Anorogenic Cenozoic Igneous (CiMACI) province. These characteristics are consistent with, but do not require, a mantle plume origin. Geophysical data suggest a combination of the two mechanisms resulting in a complex plumbing system consisting of (a) at depths of 250–200 km, an upper mantle plume (presently under the Aïr massif); (b) between 200 and 150 km, approximately 700 km northeastward deflection of plume-derived magma by drag at the base of the African Plate and by mantle convection; (c) at approximately 150 km, the magma continues upwards to the surface in the Tibesti swell; (d) at approximately 100 km depth, part of the magma is diverted into a low S-wave velocity corridor under the Sahara Basin; and (e) at approximately 80 km depth, the corridor is tapped by Cenozoic volcanism in the Hoggar and Aïr massifs that flowed southwards along reactivated Precambrian faults.     

New chronological and geochemical constraints on the genesis and geological evolution of Ponza and Palmarola Volcanic Islands (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

A new geochronological and geochemical study of the volcanic rocks of the Ponza and Palmarola Islands, Pontine Archipelago, has been carried out. This archipelago is located along the boundary between the Italian continental shelf and the opening Tyrrhenian basin. It is a key area to study volcanism related to the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Ponza is the oldest felsic magmatic manifestation in the central Tyrrhenian area. Previous studies suggested that Ponza volcanic activity began before 5 Ma. Twenty-five new K–Ar ages constrain the volcanic activity (rhyolitic hyaloclastites and dykes) to the last 4.2 Ma, with two episodes of quiescence between 3.7 and 3.2 Ma and between 2.9 and 1.0 Ma. A new volcanic episode dated at 3.2–2.9 Ma has been identified on the central and southern Ponza, with emplacement of pyroclastic units. At 1.0 Ma, a trachytic episode ended the volcanic activity. The near island of Palmarola exhibits rhyolitic hyaloclastites and domes dated between 1.6 and 1.5 Ma, indicating that the island was entirely built during the Early Pleistocene in a short span of time of ca. 120 ka. Although only 6–8 km apart, the two islands display significantly different geochemical signatures. Ponza rhyolites show major and trace element compositions representative of orogenic magmas of subduction/collision zones: high-K calc-alkaline and metaluminous rhyolites (Agpaitic Index [AI] and Alumina Saturation Index [ASI] <1), high LILE/HFSE (Th/Ta=16–21) and LREE/HFSE ratios (La/Nb>3), and Nb–Ta negative anomalies. In Palmarola, the orogenic character is also present, but much less marked than in Ponza: rhyolites have a peralkaline character (AI>1), lower LILE/HFSE (Th/Ta=11–15), low LREE/HFSE ratios (La/Nb=1–2) close to those of anorogenic lavas, and the Nb–Ta negative anomalies are almost absent. Y/Nb ratios indicate different magmatic sources, one similar to island-arc or active continental margin basalts for Ponza rhyolites, and the others probably involving an OIB type component for Palmarola rhyolites and Ponza trachytes. Palmarola volcanics represent a transitional magmatism: although a preserved collisional geochemical imprint, they show geochemical features approaching those of anorogenic lavas erupted in a within-plate context. The change of magmatism evidenced in this study can be related to the tectonic evolution of the area. Indeed, Hf, Ta and Rb contents suggest that the oldest Pliocene rhyolites of Ponza would emplace in a syn- to late-collisional setting, while the younger Pleistocene rhyolites of Palmarola would be emplaced in a post-collisional setting in which the orogenic character (Th/Ta) decreases and mantle influence (Nb/Ta) increases. Geochemical modeling strongly suggests that the Palmarola rhyolites represent the waning stages of a subduction-related magmatism. The K–Ar datings allow us to estimate precisely the transition of magmatism to last less than 1.3 Ma. The transitional magmas may be the result of the upwelling of asthenospheric mantle inducing melting of a metasomatized lithospheric mantle and the mixing between these two sources. This upwelling could occur during the extension of the Tyrrhenian basin, caused by the slab retreat and steepening, or during a process of slab break-off starting in the Pliocene.     

Early Cretaceous volcanism in the northern Songliao Basin,NE China,and its geodynamic implication

The Songliao Basin is characterized by episodic rifting and intense volcanism during its early development, and forms a key concealed part of the Late Mesozoic magmatic province of NE China. Few precise geochronological and geochemical data were previously available for the volcanic elements of this basin, restricting understanding of its geodynamic setting and evolution. We present new SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages and geochemical data for the volcanic rocks from the northern Songliao Basin, which limit this volcanism to the Early Cretaceous period (115–109 Ma). Although dominated by rhyolite, the rocks cover a wide compositional spectrum encompassing trachyandesite, basaltic trachyandesite, trachyte and dacite. This suite exhibits a range of geochemical signatures characteristic of subduction-related genesis, falling into a high-K calc-alkaline series, with enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), and weak depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE) and heavy rare earth elements (HREE). The suite also shares a common isotopic composition, consistent with derivation from partial melting of a single depleted mantle source. This Early Cretaceous volcanism occurred in an extensional back-arc setting associated with the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate, large scale upwelling of the asthenosphere, and intensive lithospheric thinning of the eastern continental margin of NE China which may have lasted until ca. 109 Ma.     

Eocene mafic volcanism in northern Anatolia: its causes and mantle sources in the absence of active subduction

Eocene mafic volcanic rocks occurring in an E–W-trending, curvilinear belt along and north of the Izmir–Ankara–Erzincan suture zone (IAESZ) in northern Anatolia, Turkey, represent a discrete episode of magmatism following a series of early Cenozoic collisions between Eurasia and the Gondwana-derived microcontinents. Based on our new geochronological, geochemical, and isotope data from the Kartepe volcanic units in northwest Anatolia and the extant data in the literature, we evaluate the petrogenetic evolution, mantle melt sources, and possible causes of this Eocene volcanism. The Kartepe volcanic rocks and spatially associated dikes range from basalt and basaltic andesite to trachybasalt and basaltic trachyandesite in composition, and display calc-alkaline and transitional calc-alkaline to tholeiitic geochemical affinities. They are slightly to moderately enriched in large ion lithophile (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE) with respect to high-field strength elements (HFSE) and show negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies reminiscent of subduction-influenced magmatic rocks. The analysed rocks have ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i) values between 0.70570 and 0.70399, positive ?_Nd values between 2.7 and 6.6, and Pb isotope ratios of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_(i) = 18.6–18.7, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_(i) = 15.6–15.7, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_(i) = 38.7–39.1. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar cooling ages of 52.7 ± 0.5 and 41.7 ± 0.3 Ma obtained from basaltic andesite and basalt samples indicate middle to late Eocene timing of this volcanic episode in northwest Anatolia. Calculated two-stage Nd depleted mantle model (T_DM) ages of the Eocene mafic lavas range from 0.6 to 0.3 Ga, falling between the T_DM ages of the K-enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle of the Sakarya Continent (1.0–0.9 Ga) to the north, and the young depleted mantle beneath central Western Anatolia (0.4–0.25 Ga) to the south. These geochemical and isotopic features collectively point to the interaction of melts derived from a sublithospheric, MORB-like mantle and a subduction-metasomatized, subcontinental lithospheric mantle during the evolution of the Eocene mafic volcanism. We infer triggering of partial melting by asthenospheric upwelling beneath the suture zone in the absence of active subduction in the Northern Neotethys. The geochemical signature of the volcanic rocks changed from subduction- and collision-related to intra-plate affinities through time, indicating an increased asthenospheric melt input in the later stages of Eocene volcanism, accompanied by extensional deformation and rifting.     

Paleoproterozoic volcanic rocks in the southern margin of the North China Craton,central China:Implications for the Columbia supercontinent

The volcanic rocks of the Xiong'er Group are situated in the southern margin of the North China Craton(NCC).Research on the Xiong er Group is important to understand the tectonic evolution of the NCC and the Columbia supercontinent during the Paleoproterozoic.In this study,to constrain the age of the Xiong'er volcanic rocks and identify its tectonic environment,we report zircon LA-ICP-MS data with Hf isotope,whole-rock major and trace element compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopes of the volcanic rocks of the Xiong'er Group.The Xiong'er volcanic rocks mainly consist of basaltic andesite,andesite.dacite and rhyolite,with minor basalt.Our new sets of data combined with those from previous studies indicate that Xiong'er volcanism should have lasted from 1827 Ma to 1746 Ma as the major phase of the volcanism.These volcanics have extremely low MgO.Cr and Ni contents,are enriched in LREEs and LILEs but depleted in HFSEs(Nb,Ta,and Ti),similar to arc-related volcanic rocks.They are characterized by negative zircon ε_(Hf)_(t) values of-17.4 to 8.8,whole-rock initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr values of 0.7023 to 0.7177 andε_(Nd)(t) values of-10.9 to 6.4.and Pb isotopes(~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb =14.366-16.431,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb =15.106-15.371,~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb= 32.455-37.422).The available elemental and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope data suggest that the Xiong'er volcanic rocks were sourced from a mantle contaminated by continental crust.The volcanic rocks of the Xiong'er Group might have been generated by high-degree partial melting of a lithospheric mantle that was originally modified by oceanic subduction in the Archean.Thus,we suggest that the subduction-modified lithospheric mantle occurred in an extensional setting during the breakup of the Columbia supercontinent in the Late Paleoproterozoic,rather than in an arc setting.