Geochemical characteristics and tectonic setting of the Middle Permian Tiaohu Formation mafic-ultramafic rocks of Santanghu area,Xinjiang, Northwest China

Santanghu area in northeastern Xinjiang region of Northwest China is an important component of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB), in which the dynamic mechanism of Permian magmatism is controversial. In Santanghu area is exposed a thick succession of the Middle Permian basalts, including a small amount of picritic basalts and andesites, known as the Tiaohu Formation. The picritic basalts contain cumulate olivine, and have whole-rock Mg# up to 0.68–0.77; the basalts exhibit porphyritic or doleritic textures, and have relatively low Mg# of 0.41–0.54, typical of evolved magmas. The mafic-ultramafic rocks of the Tiaohu Formation are slightly enriched in Light Rare Earth Elements(LREEs), and exhibit negative Nb and Ti anomalies. They also have high Ti O2 content, and Nb/Y and Zr/Yb ratios greater than those of island arc volcanic rocks. Relatively low initial Sr isotopic ratios and high positive εNd(t) and εHf(t) values argue against contamination by ancient continental crust, and suggest formation of the Tiaohu Formation by partial melting of relatively refractory depleted lithospheric mantle that underwent metasomatism and extraction by fluid from the subducted slab. In addition, up to 38% olivine in picritic basalts indicates high-degree partial melting of lithospheric mantle, and the underlying Lucaogou Formation contains fragments of ultra-alkaline magmatic rocks that originated in the deep mantle. These observations imply wide-spread underplating in Santanghu area, which may have been associated with a mantle plume.     

Ar-Ar geochronology of Late Mesozoic volcanic rocks from the Yanji area, NE China and tectonic implications

Ar-Ar dating results of late Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanic rocks from the Yanji area, NE China provide a new volcano-sedimentary stratigraphic framework. The previously defined “Triassic-Jurassic” volcanic rocks (including those from Sanxianling, Tuntianying, Tianqiaoling and Jingouling Fms.) were erupted during 118―106 Ma, corresponding to Early Cretaceous. The new eruption age span is slightly younger than the main stage (130―120 Ma) of the extensive magmatism in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt and its adjacent regions. Subduction-related adakites occurring in the previously defined Quanshuicun Fm. were extruded at ca. 55 Ma. Based on these new Ar-Ar ages, the late Mesozoic to Palaeocene volcano-sedimentary sequences is rebuilt as: Tuopangou Fm., Sanxianling/Tuntianying Fm. (118―115 Ma), Malugou/Tianqiaoling Fm. (K1), Huoshanyan/Jingouling Fm. (108―106 Ma), Changcai Fm. (K2), Quanshuicun Fm. (~55 Ma) and Dalazi Fm. Our results suggest that subduction of the Pa- laeo-Pacific Ocean beneath the East Asian continental margin occurred during 106 to 55 Ma, consistent with the paleomagnetic observations and magmatic records which indicated that the Izanagi-Farallon ridge subduction beneath the southwestern Japan took place during 95―65 Ma.     

Geochemical characteristics of Carboniferous volcanic rocks from the Wulungu-Luliang area,Junggar basin: constraints on magma source and tectonic setting

The Carboniferous volcanic rocks in the Wulungu-Luliang area are mainly andesites of medium- to high-K calc-alkalic series. Volcanic rock samples have relatively high alkali(Na2O + K2 O = 4.7 % to 6.8 %) and low Ti O2contents(0.7 % to 0.9 %), relatively high Mg O(2.5 % to 3.4 %) and Mg#(49.9 % to 67.1 %), high rare earth element(REE) contents, and relatively high K2 O contents(1.7 % to 3.1 %). Chondrite-normalized REE patterns show light REE enrichment((La/Yb)N= 4.15 to 5.19)with weak Eu anomalies(d Eu = 0.75 to 0.92). These samples are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements but relatively depleted in high field strength elements. The trace elements and REE patterns are similar to those of Setouchi and central Ryukyu high-Mg andesites, indicating a highMg andesite source. Relatively high Y contents(16.7 to24.4 ppm), and relatively low Sr/Y ratios(17.2 to 38.8) and Ti O2contents(0.7 % to 0.9 %) exclude the possibility of slab melting. Low Sr/Nd(16.6 to 42.8), Ba/Th(66.4 to266.8), and U/Th(0.2 to 0.3) indicate that the influence of slab-derived fluids is low. The ratios of Ce/Th(4.9–7.3), Ce/Pb(1.8–4.2), Ba/Rb(7.99–22.03), Ba/Th(66.4–266.8), and La/Sm(3.6–4.3) are similar to ratios found in subducting sediment melts. Relatively high ratios of K/Nb(1357–3258),Th/La(0.28–0.42), Zr/Nb(8.8–27.1), and especially Th/Nb(0.48–1.25) suggest that the magma was assimilated and contaminated by upper continental crust. These characteristics, along with the ratios of La/Yb, Sc/Ni, Th/Yb, Ta/Yb,Ce/P2O5, and Zr/Ti O2, demonstrate that the earlier Carboniferous volcanic rocks in the Wulungu-Luliang area were generated in a continental island-arc setting.     

西昆仑山东段石炭纪火山岩岩石地球化学特征及其形成的构造背景

火山岩岩石化学研究表明,西昆仑山东段北缘石炭纪火山岩的SiO2含量在42.98%~50.78%之间,Na2O+K2O在1.52%~5.85%之间,Na2O/K2O为1.53~5.86,显示出明显的富钠特征.稀土元素特征为:ΣREE为(146.91~472.14)×10-6,LREE/HREE为1.78~2.58,δEu为1.04~1.15,(La/Yb)N为3.45~5.32,球粒陨石标准化曲线为右倾的弱铕正异常的轻稀土富集型的平滑曲线.微量元素研究结果:Nb/Ta比值在15.96~17.99之间,Zr/Hf比值在37.22~41.42之间,相对富集大离子亲石元素(LIL)和高场强元素(HFS),在微量元素N-MORB配分模式图上,呈明显的左侧单“隆起”型,即大离子亲石元素(LIL)呈现峰值.Rb-Sr同位素组成研究结果表明:样品Rb/Sr比值在0.0049~0.1314之间,表明岩浆在上升过程中受到了地壳物质的混染. 综合分析认为,该区火山岩具有板内玄武岩的特征,应属产于大陆边缘弧后盆地的钠质碱性玄武岩.     

拉萨地块中部晚白垩世火山岩Ar-Ar年代学和古地磁研究结果及其构造意义

为进一步确定拉萨地块白垩纪-古近纪的古地理位置,我们对青藏高原拉萨地块措勤地区林子宗火山岩18个采点进行了古地磁研究.结果表明高温(高场)特征剩磁分量主要为亚铁磁性的磁铁矿所携带,特征剩磁分量在95%置信水平下通过了褶皱检验. 倾斜校正后采点平均的特征剩磁方向为D/I=16.2°/17.7°, α95=5.6°,对应古地磁极位置为63.1°N,224.6°E,A95=5.1°. 另一方面,Ar-Ar年代学结果表明采样剖面的林子宗火山岩形成年龄为~99-93 Ma, 与拉萨地块林周盆地的林子宗群火山岩的形成年龄存在较大差异.由此我们得到晚白垩世拉萨地块中部措勤地区的古纬度为8.5°±6.9°N,与林周盆地古近纪林子宗群典中组和年波组所揭示出的古纬度相当,进一步表明亚洲大陆最南缘的拉萨地块在晚白垩世-古近世期间位于北半球~10°N的低纬度地区.结合最新的特提斯海相地层古地磁结果,晚白垩世-古近世拉萨地块的古地理位置限定了印度与欧亚大陆的初始碰撞时间不晚于60.5 Ma;~93 Ma以来,拉萨地块和单一刚性欧亚大陆之间存在~1900 km的构造缩短.     

petrological and geochemical characteristics of quarternary volcanic rocks in haixing area,eastern north china

Field investigation and lab analysis on samples were carried out for Quaternary volcanoes, including Xiaoshan volcano, Dashan volcano and Bianzhuang hidden volcano, in Haixing area, east of North China. Results show that Xiaoshan volcano with the eruptive material of volcanic scoria, crystal fragments and volcanic ash is a maar volcano, the eruptive pattern is pheatomagmatic eruption, and the influence scope is near the crater. Dashan volcano exploded in the early stage, and then the magma intruded, forming the volcanic neck. The eruption strength and scale are limited, and the eruptive materials are scoria, volcanic agglomerate and dense lava neck. The volcanic rocks in Bianzhuang are porosity and dense volcanic rocks and volcanic breccia, reflecting the pattern of weak explosive eruption and lava flow, and the K-Ar age dating on volcanic rocks indicates that the eruption happened in early Pleistocene. Xiaoshan volcanic scoria and Bianzhuang hidden volcanic rocks are mainly basaltic, Dashan volcanic rocks with lower SiO₂ content are nephelinite in composition. Their oxide contents have no linear relationship, indicating that there is no magma evolution relationship between these magmas from the three places. Three volcanic rocks all have enrichment of light rare earth. The Bianzhuang volcanic rocks are rich in large ion lithophile elements, and have no high field strength elements Zr and Hf, Ti losses. The volcanic materials from Xiaoshan and Dashan are intensively rich in Th, U, Nb and Ta, and significantly poor in K and Ti. Although the magmas from these three places in Haixing area may all come from asthenosphere, the volcanic materials have different petrological and geochemical features, and relatively independent volcanic structures, therefore, they experienced different magma processes.     

吉林省龙岗火山岩区早更新世粗面玄武岩地球化学特征及构造意义

中国是全球晚新生代火山发育国家之一,也是西环太平洋活动大陆边缘火山活动带重要组成部分.在我国东北地区发育着数座晚新生代喷发过的活火山(如五大连池老黑山、火烧山火山、金龙顶子火山等)或具备喷发能力的休眠火山(如云南腾冲火山、长白山天池火山等)( Hickey,1982;Davies et al,1992;刘若新,1992...     

Early volcanic rocks of réunion and their tectonic significance

A great sequence of hydrothermally altered and tectonically disturbed lavas and breccias is exposed in the erosional cirques of Piton des Neiges volcano, Réunion. These rocks are cut by intense swarms of minor intrusives and are overlain by a carapace of younger lavas which date back at least 2 m.y. The older lavas and breccias are believed to have been formed by submarine eruption of basalt magma during the pre-emergent growth stages of the volcano. It is suggested that their subsequent elevation to 2000 m. above sealevel is due to the thrusting of oceanic crust from the north-east, associated with movements along NE-SW fractures in the western Indian Ocean floor.     

The tectonic and geomagnetic significance of paleomagnetic observations from volcanic rocks from central Afar, Africa

Deformation throughout Afar over the past 2 myr has been characterized by widespread and intense crustal fragmentation that results from inhomogeneous extension across the region. In eastern Afar, this situation has evolved to localized extension associated with the westward propagation of the Gulf of Aden/Gulf of Tadjurah seafloor spreading system into the Asal–Ghoubbet Rift. During the gradual process of rift propagation and localization, crustal blocks in eastern Afar sustained clockwise rotations of 11°. To better understand the processes of rift propagation and localization and how they affect the rest of Afar, we have collected and analyzed over 400 oriented paleomagnetic samples from 67 lava flows from central and southern Afar. Unlike eastern Afar, the mean paleomagnetic direction from central Afar indicates that vertical-axis rotations are statistically insignificant (3.6°±4.4°), though small clockwise rotations (<8°) are permitted. Thus, propagation and localization in central Afar have not had the same influence in causing crustal block rotations or, perhaps more likely, have not reached the same stage of evolution as seen in eastern Afar. In addition, several of the lava flows record intriguing geomagnetic field behavior associated with polarity transitions, excursions, or large secular variation events. Interestingly, the transitional or anomalous virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) tend to cluster in two nearly antipodal regions, one in the northern Pacific Ocean and the other in the southwest Indian Ocean. One lava flow has recorded both of the antipodal transitional components, with the two components residing in magnetic minerals with unblocking temperatures above and below 500°C, respectively. Reheating and partial remagnetization by the overlying flow cannot explain either of the transitional directions because both differ significantly from that of the reversely magnetized overlying flow. The high-temperature component gives a VGP in the northern Pacific, whereas the lower-temperature component gives a nearly antipodal VGP south of Cape Town, South Africa. Hence, the configuration of the geomagnetic field appears to have jumped nearly instantaneously from a northern-hemisphere transitional state to a southern-hemisphere one during this normal-to-reverse polarity transition.     

山西地区地震震源深度特征及构造意义

选取山西数字地震台网地震震源深度资料,采用网格滑动平均法,对2001—2011年2 535个定位精度为Ⅰ类(t≤0.5 s)、Ⅱ类(0.5 st≤1.5 s)且ML≥2.0地震的震源深度分布特征进行统计,结果显示,山西地区地震的平均震源深度为0—40 km,中小地震震源深度以6—20 km为主,个别区域有深度20 km以上的地震分布。从剖面图可见,山西地区震源深度分布集中,基本可见大同、忻定、太原和临汾盆地震源深度下界。分析可知,很多深源地震发生在盆地内部,此区域地震活动性高,震源深度范围大,与山西地堑的拉张构造吻合;山西地区地震震源深度由北向南逐渐变深,意味着山西省地堑的形成是从南向北逐渐发展的。     

Formation of the Permian basalts and implications of geochemical tracing for paleo-tectonic setting and regional tectonic background in the Turpan-Hami and Santanghu basins,Xinjiang

The Turpan-Hami basin (as the Tu-Ha basin here-after) and the Santanghu basin, as the late Paleozoic– Mesozoic-Cenozoic reworked and superimposed sedi-mentary basins with the similar evolution history 1, 2), are located in between the Tianshan and the Altay moun-tains in northeastern Xinjiang. As the major oil-and gas-bearing basins in Xinjiang, study of both the ba-sins through their complicated tectonic evolution his-tory is scientifically significant for exploring conti-nental geology …     

准噶尔盆地陆东—五彩湾地区石炭系火山岩电性与地震响应特征

勘探实践证实,准噶尔盆地石炭系已成为一套现实勘探层系;陆东－五彩湾地区石炭系火山岩体规模大、分布广,是重要的天然气储集体;火山岩储层有效性主要受不整合、岩性、岩相控制,识别火山结构、火山岩岩性、岩相成为判别储层有效性的关键.由于主要目的层巴塔玛依内山组特殊的三段式火山岩组合层序结构,为通过测井、地震物探手段识别火山岩岩性、岩相创造了条件.基性熔岩具高密度、高电阻率、高自然伽玛电性特征,中基性熔岩具高电阻率、高密度、低自然伽玛电性特征,中酸性熔岩具中电阻率、中等密度、较高自然伽玛电性特征,火山角砾岩相具低电阻率、中低密度、高自然伽玛电性特征,凝灰岩具低电阻率、低密度、高自然伽玛电性特征.上、下火山岩段表现为不连续的丘状反射或杂乱反射;中部沉积岩段表现为较强振幅、较连续的平行与亚平行结构反射;依据波组反射结构特征,能够识别出层状火山、锥状火山、浅成侵入体三类火山岩结构.火山岩储层均属风化壳型储层;储层有效性受岩性与岩相控制.近口亚相带主要发育于滴南凸起带、滴北凸起带、石西—石南凸起带、五彩湾凹陷南北缘、白家海北缘;远火山口亚相多发育于火山后亚相的东西两侧;溢流相带主要沿主断裂由南向北展布.近源的构造、岩性、岩相匹配的风化壳储层发育区,最有利于成藏;形成构造背景下的地层-岩性型原生火山岩天然气藏.     

青海省扎日根结扎群火山岩形成时代及构造背景分析

青海扎日根结扎群火山岩中基性岩以贫硅、钾,高钛、钙,中性岩类以低硅、中钾、钛、钙,酸性岩类以高硅、钾,中钛,低钙为特征。根据Fe＊/MgO-TiO2图解上显示出本区火山岩绝大多数火山岩落在岛弧区。微量元素中Th/Nb=0.9〉0.11,Nb/Zr〉0.04显示出其构造背景为陆-陆碰撞形成的岛弧区。扎日根结扎群火山岩时代Rb-Sr同位素等时线给出的年龄为231±28Ma和225±8 Ma,属晚三叠世。另外Sr同位素的初始比值ISr=0.70522±0.00023,小于0.719,表明岩浆（原始）来源于上地幔,并且在上升的过程中受到地壳的混染。     

Petrochemistry and tectonic setting of mafic volcanic rocks in the Chon Daen–Wang Pong area,Phetchabun, Thailand

The mafic volcanic rocks and hypabyssal rocks in the Chon Dean‐Wang Pong area are possibly the southern extension of the western Loei Volcanic Sub‐belt, Northeast Thailand. They are least‐altered, and might have been formed in Permian–Triassic times. The rocks are commonly porphyritic, with different amounts of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, amphibole, Fe–Ti oxide, unknown mafic mineral, and apatite phenocrysts or microphenocrysts, and are uncommonly seriate textured. The groundmass mainly shows an intergranular texture, with occasionally hyalophitic, intersertal and ophitic–subophitic textures. The groundmass constituents have the same minerals as the phenocrysts or microphenocrysts and may contain altered glass. The groundmass plagioclase laths may show a preferred orientation. Chemically, the studied rock samples can be separated into three magmatic groups: Group I, Group II, and Group III. These magmatic groups are different in values for Ti/Zr ratios. The averaged Ti/Zr values for Group I, Group II, and Group III rocks are 83 ± 6, 46 ± 12, and 29 ± 5, respectively. In addition, the Group I rocks have higher P/Zr, but lower Zr/Nb relative to Group II and Group III rocks. The Group I and Group II rocks comprise tholeiitic andesite–basalt and microdiorite–microgabbro, while the Group III rocks are calc‐alkalic andesite and microdiorite. According to the magmatic affinities and the negative Nb anomalies on normal mid‐oceanic ridge basalt (N‐MORB) normalized multi‐element plot, arc‐related lavas are persuasive. The similarity between the studied lavas and the Quaternary lavas from the northern Kyukyu Arc, in terms of chondrite‐normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns and N‐MORB normalized multi‐element patterns, leads to a conclusion that the mafic volcanic rocks and hypabyssal rocks in the Chon Daen–Wang Pong area have been formed in a volcanic arc environment.     

Carboniferous tectono-magmatic evolution of the northern Luliang arc: evidence from geochemistry and petrography of Carboniferous volcanic rocks in the northern Luliang Uplift,NW China

The Northern Junggar Basin experienced extensive subduction and a complex tectono-magmatic evolution during the Late Paleozoic,resulting in a heterogeneous distribution of volcanic rocks in the Junggar Basin.In this study,the Carboniferous tectono-magmatic evolution of the northern Luliang arc was described by exploring the petrography and geochemistry of Carboniferous volcanic rocks collected from well Y-2 and outcrop WW' in the northern Luliang Uplift.The distribution,types,and formation ages of these volcanic rocks were characterized and the volcanic sequence in well Y-1 was divided into upper and lower parts according to vertical variations in selected geochemical data.Then the petrogenesis and tectonic settings of different volcanic rocks were evaluated and this was used to infer the tectonomagmatic evolution of the northern Luliang arc during the Carboniferous.The results indicate that:(1) Carboniferous high-K calc-alkali andesite-dacite associations are distributed in the west of the northern Luliang Uplift,and Lower Carboniferous calc-alkali basalt-dacite-rhyolite assemblages are preserved in its east.(2) The intermediateacid volcanic rocks in wells Y-1 and Y-2 were derived from calc-alkali basaltic magma through melting of the juvenile lower crust,and geochemical variations indicate increasing addition of slab melting in a subduction-related arc environment.The bimodal volcanic rocks from outcrop WW' were derived from lithospheric underplating of basaltic magma in an intra-arc extensional setting.(3) The closure of the eastern Keramaili Oceanic basin occurred before the Early Carboniferous,and the tectono-magmatic difference between the east and the west of the northern Luliang Uplift appeared before the Carboniferous period.     

The geochemical characteristics and conditions of petrogenesis of the volcanic rocks of the northern lesser antilles — A review

This paper is concerned with the islands of Montserrat Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Eustatius and Saba, which lie on the inner volcanic are at the northern of the Lesser Antilles. Andesites greatly predominate over basalts and dacites in this part of the arc. Generally the lavas from the northern Lesser Antilles contain low abundances of Ni, Cr and residual trace elements but lavas from Saba are enriched in these elements compared with the other islands in the group. The most important petrogenetic process in this part of the Lesser Antilles is probably partial melting of subducted oceanie tholeiite and this process accounts satisfactorily for the chemistry (especially the low Ni, Cr) and large volumes of the erupted andesites. Some andesites have, however, been produced by fractional crystallisation of basaltic magma and magma mixing probably accounts for some of the peculiar chemical and petrographic properties of the Saba andesites. The rocks from the Northern Lesser Antilles are different from those in the central part of the arc (more acid rocks, higher residual trace elements) and the southern islands have much higher proportions of basalt, some of it undersaturated and alkaline. It is thought that partial melting of mantle peridotite may be the predominant petrogenetic process at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles whereas partial melting of subducted oceanic crust is more important in the north.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of Late Triassic volcanic rocks in the Chiang Khong region, northern Thailand

The Chiang Khong segment of the Chiang Khong–Lampang–Tak Volcanic Belt is composed of three broadly meridional sub‐belts of mafic to felsic volcanic, volcaniclastic, and associated intrusive rocks. Associated sedimentary rocks are largely non‐marine red beds and conglomerates. Three representative Chiang Khong lavas have Late Triassic (223–220 Ma) laser ablation inductively coupled mass‐spectroscopy U–Pb zircon ages. Felsic‐dominated sequences in the Chiang Khong Western and Central Sub‐belts are high‐K calc–alkaline rocks that range from basaltic to dominant felsic lavas with rare mafic dykes. The Western Sub‐belt lavas have slightly lower high field strength element contents at all fractionation levels than equivalent rocks from the Central Sub‐belt. In contrast, the Eastern Sub‐belt is dominated by mafic lavas and dykes with compositions transitional between E‐mid‐oceanic ridge basalt and back‐arc basin basalts. The Eastern Sub‐belt rocks have higher FeO* and TiO₂ and less light rare earth element enrichment than basalts in the high‐K sequences. Basaltic and doleritic dykes in the Western and Central sub‐belts match the composition of the Eastern Sub‐belt lavas and dykes. A recent geochemical study of the Chiang Khong rocks concluded that they were erupted in a continental margin volcanic arc setting. However, based on the dominance of felsic lavas and the mainly non‐marine associated sediments, we propose an alternative origin, in a post‐collisional extensional setting. A major late Middle to early Late Triassic collisional orogenic event is well documented in northern Thailand and Yunnan. We believe that the paucity of radiometric dates for arc‐like lavas in the Chiang Khong–Lampang–Tak Volcanic Belt that precede this orogenic event, coupled with the geochemistry of the Chiang Khong rocks, and strong compositional analogies with other post‐collisional magmatic suites, are features that are more typical of volcanic belts formed in a rapidly evolving post‐collisional, basin‐and range‐type extensional setting.     

K-Ar geochronology of the late cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Cordillera Occidental, southernmost Peru

Twenty-four K-Ar radiometric ages are presented for late Cenozoic continental volcanic rocks of the Cordillera Occidental of southernmost Perú (lat. 16° 57′–17° 36′S). Rhyodacitic ignimbrite eruptions began in this transect during the Late Oligocene and continued episodically through the Miocene. The development of andesitic-dacitic strato volcanoes was initiated in the Pliocene and continues to the present.The earliest ignimbrite flows (25.3–22.7 Ma) are intercalated in the upper, coarsely-elastic member of the Moquegua Formation and demonstrate that this sedimentary unit accumulated in a trough, parallel to Andean tectonic trends, largely in the Oligocene. More voluminous ash-flow eruptions prevailed in the Early Miocene (22.8–17.6 Ma) and formed the extensively preserved Huaylillas Formation. This episode was coeval with a major phase of Andean uplift, and the pyroclastics overlie an erosional surface of regional extent incised into a Paleogene volcano-plutonic arc terrain. An age span of 14.2–8.9 Ma (mid-Late Miocene) is indicated for the younger Chuntacala Formation, which again comprises felsic ignimbrite flows, largely restricted to valleys incised into the pre-Huaylillas Formation lithologies, and, at lower altitudes, an extensive aggradational elastic facies. The youngest areally extensive ignimbrites, constituting the Sencca Formation, were extruded during the Late Miocene.In the earliest Pliocene, the ignimbrites were succeeded by more voluminous calcalkaline, intermediate flows which generated numerous large and small stratovolcanoes; these range in age from 5.3 to 1.6 Ma. Present-day, or Holocene, volcanism is restricted to several large stratovolcanoes which had begun their development during the Pleistocene (by 0.7 Ma).The late Oligocene/Early Miocene (ca. 22–23 Ma) reactivation of the volcanic arc coincided with a comparable increase in magmatic activity throughout much of the Cordilleras Occidental and Oriental of the Central Andes.     

An expert system for the tectonic characterization of ancient volcanic rocks

The expert system approach enables geochemical evidence to be integrated with geological, petrological and mineralogical evidence in identifying the eruptive setting of ancient volcanic rocks. This paper explains the development of ESCORT, an Expert System for Characterization of Rock Types. ESCORT uses as its knowledge base a set of dispersion matrices derived from a geochemical data bank of some 8000 immobile element analyses, together with tables of magma-type membership probabilities based on a-priori knowledge, the dominant flow type, the facies of intercalated sediment, the basement to the volcanic sequence, the presence or absence of an iron-enrichment trend and the phenocryst phase assemblage. Inferencing is based on the Bayes Decision Rule, adapted to take into account possible uncertainties in the geological evidence. Upper and lower probability thresholds are used to decide whether an interpretation is likely or unlikely. Evaluation of the system shows that it is able to overcome many of the well-publicized ambiquities attached to geochemical discrimination diagrams, as well as providing a unified method of decision making and a measure of the correctness of the interpretation.