High-titania alkali-olivine basalts of north-central Oregon,U.S.A.

In north-central Oregon numerous small flows of alkali-olivine basalt occur in the Oligocene to early Miocene John Day Formation. Chemically, these basalts are characterized by relatively low SiO₂ and K₂O and very high TiO₂ and iron. Fifteen analysed specimens (44 to 48 percent SiO₂) have an average of 3.6 percent TiO₂ and 15 percent total iron. The average composition of the Oregon basalts compares closely with the average hawaiite of the Hawaiian Islands, differing only in having slightly higher iron and slightly lower SiO₂ and total alkalis. Closely associated flows of trachyandesite and quartz latite are chemically related to the basalts and probably formed by differentiation of an alkali-olivine basalt magma.Typical basalt specimens have 10 to 15 percent of modal olivine, interstitial alkali feldspar, and abundant clay minerals and chlorophaeite. Textures are subophitic or intersertal and phenocrysts are rare. Plagioclase laths are slightly zoned and range in composition from An₆₈ to An₄₄. Purplish-brown titaniferous augite is the only pyroxene, and ilmenite is the dominant opaque mineral.Distinct differences in composition and age, and the lack of transitional varieties indicate that these basalts are unrelated to the younger Columbia River basalts. They presumably represent a separate parent magma of alkalic affinity that was generated independently within the mantle.     

Role of melting process and melt–rock reaction in the formation of Jurassic MORB-type basalts (Alpine ophiolites)

This study reports a geochemical investigation of two thick basalt sequences, exposed in the Bracco–Levanto ophiolite (northern Apennine, Italy) and in the Balagne ophiolite (central-northern Corsica, France). These ophiolites are considered to represent an oceanward and a continent-near paleogeographic domain of the Jurassic Liguria–Piedmont basin. Trace elements and Nd isotopic compositions were examined to obtain information about: (1) mantle source and melting process and (2) melt–rock reactions during basalt ascent. Whole-rock analyses revealed that the Balagne basalts are slightly enriched in LREE, Nb, and Ta with respect to the Bracco–Levanto counterparts. These variations are paralleled by clinopyroxene chemistry. In particular, clinopyroxene from the Balagne basalts has higher Ce_N/Sm_N (0.4–0.3 vs. 0.2) and Zr_N/Y_N (0.9–0.6 vs. 0.4–0.3) than that from the Bracco–Levanto basalts. The basalts from the two ophiolites have homogeneous initial Nd isotopic compositions (initial ε_Nd from +?8.8 to +?8.6), within typical depleted mantle values, thereby excluding an origin from a lithospheric mantle source. These data also reject the involvement of contaminant crustal material, as associated continent-derived clastic sediments and radiolarian cherts have a highly radiogenic Nd isotopic fingerprint (ε_Nd at the time of basalt formation?=???5.5 and ??5.2, respectively). We propose that the Bracco–Levanto and the Balagne basalts formed by partial melts of a depleted mantle source, most likely containing a garnet-bearing enriched component. The decoupling between incompatible elements and Nd isotopic signature can be explained either by different degrees of partial melting of a similar asthenospheric source or by reaction of the ascending melts with a lower crustal crystal mush. Both hypotheses are reconcilable with the formation of these two basalt sequences in different domains of a nascent oceanic basin.     

Der petrogenetische Werdegang der Klinopyroxene in den tertiären Vulkaniten der Hocheifel II. Die Klinopyroxene der Basanitoide

The course of crystallization of basalt forming clinopyroxenes in the olivine basalt-hawaiite-mugearite-trachyte series from the Hocheifel area (Western Germany) has been presented by the author in, an earlier paper (Huckenholz 1964, part I). The present paper deals with the evolution of clinopyroxenes from the basanitoid rocks in the same area. The basanitoids are richer in clinopyroxenes than the normal olivine basalts and may be a product of accumulation of clinopyroxenes in an olivine basalt magma.Mineral separation is very troublesome in fine-grained volcanic rocks but special procedures (as outlined in part I) allow chemical, optical and X-ray analyses of three generations of clinopyroxenes and of other basalt forming minerals. The first clinopyroxenes formed in the basanitoids is a greenish chromian salite Ca₄₅Mg₄₃Fe₁₂ which is preserved in the cores of the phenocrysts. Strongly zoned brown titansalite Ca₄₅Mg₄₁Fe₁₄ surrounds the chromian salite or appears in independent microphenocrysts. The groundmass clinopyroxene is a sodian titansalite Ca₄₆Mg₃₇Fe₁₇ with a small optic axial angle. In contrast to the olivine basalt-trachyte series the clinopyroxenes of the basanitoids are richer in titanium and aluminum.Phenocrysts of nickel-rich olivine Fe_14–16, relics of orthopyroxene Fs₁₄ and chrome spinell were formed together with the chromian clinopyroxene. The same minerals have been observed in the olivine basalts and hawaiites. This paragenesis indicates high pressure and high temperature in the alkali basalts of the Hocheifel during an initial stage of magmatic evolution. With the decrease of pressure mineral reactions occurred with the alkali basalt melt. The high pressure clinopyroxenes of the basanitoids were changed to a larger extent than the clinopyroxenes of the olivine basalts and hawaiites because they are in contact with the magma for a longer period of time. This favours the reaction between the solids and the melt, and the high pressure garnet and/or enstatite components in the elinopyroxenes are substituted by Ca-Tschermak's and titanaugite molecule.     

云南墨江县早石炭世五素火山岩的地球化学特征及其地质意义

五素火山岩位于哀牢山蛇绿岩带西侧,大地构造位置属于思茅地块。火山岩整合产于早石炭世地层中,厚约800m,具双峰式特征。野外见4层流纹岩和英安岩,且均与玄武岩呈互层产出。与N-MORB比较,五素玄武岩的Ti含量偏高,Ti/V、Zr/Y比值和LREE丰度较高,具有E-MORB的特征,说明五素玄武岩的原始岩浆可能类似OIB的特征,指示其产于板块拉张环境而非岛弧环境。五素玄武岩的Th>Ta,暗示玄武岩经历了陆壳混染作用。综合野外地质和地球化学证据说明,五素双峰式火山岩应当属于大陆溢流玄武岩(CFB),产于板块被动陆缘拉张减薄环境。      

High-Ti type N-MORB parentage of basalts from the south Andaman ophiolite suite,India

A complete dismembered sequence of ophiolite is well exposed in the south Andaman region that mainly comprises ultramafic cumulates, serpentinite mafic plutonic and dyke rocks, pillow lava, radiolarian chert, and plagiogranite. Pillow lavas of basaltic composition occupy a major part of the Andaman ophiolite suite (AOS). These basalts are well exposed all along the east coast of southern part of the south AOS. Although these basalts are altered due to low-grade metamorphism and late hydrothermal processes, their igneous textures are still preserved. These basalts are mostly either aphyric or phyric in nature. Aphyric type exhibits intersertal or variolitic textures, whereas phyric variety shows porphyritic or sub-ophitic textures. The content of alkalies and silica classify these basalts as sub-alkaline basalts and alkaline basalts. A few samples show basaltic andesite, trachy-basalt, or basanitic chemical composition. High-field strength element (HFSE) geochemistry suggests that studied basalt samples are probably derived from similar parental magmas. Al₂O₃/TiO₂ and CaO/TiO₂ ratios classify these basalts as high-Ti type basalt. On the basis of these ratios and many discriminant functions and diagrams, it is suggested that the studied basalts, associated with Andaman ophiolite suite, were derived from magma similar to N-MORB and emplaced in the mid-oceanic ridge tectonic setting.     

Petrogenesis of picrite and associated basalts from the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Basalts dredged from the south wall of a fracture zone transecting the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (SMAR) at 54° S are unusual in that they include a suite of highly olivine phyric basalts, sampled along with more normal sparsely plagioclase phyric basalts, and a highly plagioclase phyric basalt. Four basalt types (olivine phyric, sparsely plagioclase phyric, evolved sparsely plagioclase phyric and highly plagioclase phyric) are readily distinguished on the basis of petrography, mineralogy and bulk composition. They range from primitive to evolved, with the olivine phyric basalts having elevated MgO (up to 15.5%) and the plagioclase phyric basalt having elevated Al₂O₃ (19.3%) and CaO (13.1%) contents. Compositional variations are extremely consistant, with the olivine phyric basalts and the sparsely plagioclase phyric basalts defining coherent linear trends. On the basis of the ratios and covariation of the incompatible trace elements Zr, Nb, Y and Ba, distinct parental magmas for each basalt type are required. An investigation of Fe-Mg and Mg-Ni distribution coefficients between olivine and magma indicates that olivines from the olivine phyric basalts are on average too forsteritic and too Ni poor to have crystallized in a magma corresponding to the host bulk rock composition. This implies that these basalts are enriched in xenocrystic olivine. Olivines from the other basalt types are mostly of equilibrium composition, although there are some exceptions. Petrogenetic models for the formation of the different basalt types are quantitatively evaluated in terms of fractional crystallization/crystal accumulation processes. These indicate that (1) the olivine phyric basalts are the products of olivine and minor Cr-spinel accumulation and do not represent analogues of primary magma, or a liquid fractionation trend; (2) that the sparsely plagioclase phyric basalts were formed by polybaric fractional crystallization of olivine, plagioclase and clinopyroxene; and (3) that the evolved sparsely plagioclase phyric basalts are not readily related to one another. The single highly plagioclase phyric basalt is unrelated to the other basalt types and is cumulus enriched in plagioclase.The different basalt types are unrelated to one another and document the presence of at least four distinct magma types erupted in close proximity at this ridge/transform intersection on the southern end of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.     

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal alteration of basalt in the Kuroko mine area, Japan: implications for the evolution of a Back Arc Basin hydrothermal system

Basalt in the Furutobe District of the Kuroko mine area in Japan is characterized by abundant chlorite and epidote. Fluid inclusion studies indicate that chlorite is formed at lower temperatures (230–250°C) than epidote (250–280°C). The seawater/basalt mass ratio for the early chlorite-rich alteration was high (max. 40), but that for the later alteration was low (0.1–1.8). The CaO, Na₂O and SiO₂ of the bulk rock correlate negatively with MgO, while FeO and Σ Fe correlate positively with MgO. These changes in the characteristic features of hydrothermal alteration from early to late are generally similar to those for a mid-ocean ridge geothermal system accompanying basalt alteration.The MgO/FeO ratios of chlorite and actinolite and the Fe₂O₃ concentration of epidote from the basalt are greater than those of mid-ocean ridge basalt probably owing to the differences in the Fe₂O₃/FeO and MgO/FeO ratios of the parent rocks. The lower CaO concentration and the higher Na₂O concentration of the bulk rock compared with altered mid-ocean ridge basalt can be interpreted in terms of the difference in original bulk rock compositions.The Furutobe basalt, as well as other submarine back arc basalts, contains more vesicles filled with hydrothermal minerals (epidote, calcite, quartz, chlorite, pyrite) than do the mid-ocean ridge basalts. The abundance of vesicles plays an important role in controlling the secondary mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermally altered submarine back arc basin basalts.     

新疆喀喇昆仑阿然保泰二叠纪OIB型玄武岩地球化学特征及其地质意义

位于喀喇昆仑山喀喇昆仑断裂(塔什库尔干断裂)西侧的阿然保泰一带发育一套中二叠统灰岩-凝灰岩-枕状玄武岩地层。枕状玄武岩分布在北西向长约12km,宽约4.5km范围内。该套玄武岩枕状构造十分典型,岩石具气孔、杏仁状构造。玄武岩SiO2含量为44.14%～48.81%、TiO2为1.11%～1.83%,在Si2O-(Na2O+K2O)图中落入苦橄玄武岩、玄武岩和碱玄岩交界区,属于碱性岩石。稀土元素含量较高(54.40×10-6～139.9×10-6),Eu、Ce无异常,(La/Yb)N比值为2.87～6.29,配分模式为右倾型。大离子亲石元素富集(K、Rb、Ba等),但含量变化较大,高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf和P)相对亏损,Ti出现弱的负异常。玄武岩的地球化学特征显示阿然保泰玄武岩具洋岛玄武岩特征,源区为尖晶石二辉橄榄岩,其形成构造环境为板内拉张环境。阿然保泰OIB型玄武岩的发现证实了喀喇昆仑阿然保泰地区属于古特提斯主洋盆一部分。     

Petrology,geochemistry, and geological significance of the Nadong ocean island,Banggongco–Nujiang suture,Tibetan plateau

We studied oceanic mafic igneous rocks of the Mesozoic Banggongco–Nujang suture zone in western Tibet to constrain the tectonic evolution of these rocks and the region as a whole. Two transects were accomplished. Seven basalt samples from the base of the Nadongshan transect (N1 basalts) have flat chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) and primitive-mantle-normalized trace element variation diagrams that are similar to MORB. Two basalt samples from the base of the Nadongshan transect (N1 basalts), ten gabbro samples from the middle of Nadongshan transect (N2 gabbros), four basalt samples from the bottom of Tanjiuxiama transect (T1 basalts), and four basalt samples from the top of the Tanjiuxiama transect (T2 basalts) are alkali basalts and have light rare earth element (LREE)-enriched chondrite-normalized REE patterns, and have primitive-mantle-normalized trace element variation diagrams that are enriched in highly incompatible elements, similar to OIB. LREE concentrations increase from N1 basalts to the T1 and T2 basalts, which have (La/Yb)_N up to 16 and have even higher (Ce/Sm)_N. These data indicate that the Nadong ocean island is an Azores-type ocean island that formed during the mature stage of development of the Banggongco–Nujiang Ocean. The conformable nature of the Nadong ocean island with the Mugagangri Group flysch indicates that the Banggongco–Nujiang Ocean was never a large ocean.     

Compressional and shear wave velocities at high temperature and confining pressure in basalts from the Faeroe Islands

Compressional (V_P) and shear (V_S) wave velocities and the dependent elastic constants have been determined by the pulse transmission technique to 6 kb confining pressure at room temperature and to 700° C at 6 kb confining pressure for eleven basalts from the Faeroe Islands. The Faeroe basalts investigated are tholeiitic, they clearly lie within the tholeiitic area, and display a pronounced trend of iron enrichment from rocks with an M/M + F ratio of 0.5 to rocks with an M/M + F ratio of about 0.25. The mean V_P and V_S for eleven specimens are 5.57 km/sec and 3.18 km/sec, respectively. Velocity—density relations for the basalts might be more appropriately described by non-linear solutions than by linear relations commonly used for basalts. In general, V_P and V_S remain unaffected by temperature up to 300° C. At higher temperature the changes in wave velocities are influenced by metamorphic processes and are, therefore, somewhat erratic. In zeolite-bearing specimens an abrupt velocity decrease around 350°C is observed, which correlates well with a drastic compaction of bulk volume. Additional experiments on cold-pressed zeolite powder clearly indicate that the sharp velocity decrease in the basalts is related to dehydration of zeolite minerals. Partial-melting processes, which occur within vesicules and pore-spaces at distinctly higher temperatures have no additional effect on wave velocity. Comparison with field data reveals that, without exception, the velocities at 0.5 kb confining pressure display the same range that has been commonly noted in refraction data for Layer 2. There are no significant differences in wave velocities and the pressure—temperature dependence in samples recovered from the upper, middle, and lower basalt series in the Faeroe Islands.     

Comparative petrology, geochemistry, and petrogenesis of evolved, low-Ti lunar mare basalt meteorites from the LaPaz Icefield, Antarctica

New data is presented for five evolved, low-Ti lunar mare basalt meteorites from the LaPaz Icefield, Antarctica, LAP 02205, LAP 02224, LAP 02226, LAP 02436, and LAP 03632. These basalts have nearly identical mineralogies, textures, and geochemical compositions, and are therefore considered to be paired. The LaPaz basalts contain olivine (Fo_64-2) and pyroxene (Fs₃₂Wo₈En₆₀ to Fs_84-86Wo₁₅En_2-0) crystals that record extreme chemical fractionation to Fe-enrichment at the rims, and evidence for silicate liquid immiscibility and incompatible element enrichment in the mesostasis. The basalts also contain FeNi metals with unusually high Co and Ni contents, similar to some Apollo 12 basalts, and a single-phase network of melt veins and fusion crusts. The fusion crust has similar chemical characteristics to the whole rock for the LaPaz basalts, whereas the melt veins represent localized melting of the basalt and have an endogenous origin. The crystallization conditions and evolved nature of the LaPaz basalts are consistent with fractionation of olivine and chromite from a parental liquid similar in composition to some olivine-phyric Apollo 12 and Apollo 15 basalts or lunar low-Ti pyroclastic glasses. However, the young reported ages for the LaPaz mare basalts (∼2.9 Ga) and their relative incompatible element enrichment compared to Apollo mare basalts and pyroclastic glasses indicate they cannot be directly related. Instead, the LaPaz mare basalts may represent fractionated melts from a magmatic system fed by similar degrees of partial melting of a mantle source similar to that of the low-Ti Apollo mare basalts or pyroclastic glasses, but which possessed greater incompatible element enrichment. Despite textural differences, the LaPaz basalts and mare basalt meteorite NWA 032 have similar ages and compositions and may originate from the same magmatic system on the Moon.     

Petrology of the Nandewar Volcano,N.S.W., Australia

The Nandewar Mountains, N.S.W., Australia, are the remains of a Miocene continental alkaline volcano whose products range from olivine basalts to comendites and alkali rhyolites. Intermediate hawaiites, mugearites and benmoreites predominate in the shield, in which olivine basalts are rare, and the trachytic rocks form many intrusions into the shield. The Nandewar alkaline series shows extreme fractionation of a relatively differentiated alkali olivine basalt magma, saturated with silica, to yield extremely oversaturated peralkaline comendites and peraluminous alkali rhyolites. The nature of the ferromagnesian phases forming was controlled by low oxygen fugacities. Throughout the series clinopyroxenes range from diopsidic augite, through sodic ferrohedenbergites to hedenbergite-acmite solid solutions. Riebeckite-arfvedsonite solid solutions appear in the trachytes and comendites, and aenigmatite appears in some of the peralkaline rocks. The feldspars in the series fractionate from calcic labradorite through potash oligoclase and calcic anothoclase towards the minimum melting alkali feldspar composition, Ab₆₅Or₃₅. The compositions of the alkali rhyolites approach the minimum in the system SiO₂-KAlSi₃O₈-NaAlSi₃O₈. All the mineralogical and chemical evidence points to the development of the Nandewar series by the processes of extreme crystallization differentiation of an alkali olivine basalt parent magma. No significant contamination occurred, xenoliths and xenocrysts are absent, and volatile transfer and metasomatism played a minor role.     

Phase relations of a high-Mg basalt from the Aleutian Island Arc: Implications for primary island arc basalts and high-Al basalts

Many volcanic centers in the Aleutian Islands have erupted lavas that range in composition from high-Mg basalt (MgO>9 wt%) to more fractionated and voluminous high-Al basalts and basaltic andesites. The petrogenetic relationships between these rock types and the composition of primary magmas has been vigorously debated. The phase relations of a typical high-Mg basalt from the Makushin volcanic field on Unalaska Island provide important constraints on petrogenetic models. Results of one-atmosphere and moderate-to high-pressure (5–20 kb) anhydrous experiments are similar to results obtained from primitive MORB. At low pressures olivine is the liquidus phase joined by plagioclase and clinopyroxene at progressively lower temperatures. Clinopyroxene is the second phase to crystallize at pressures greater than 5 kb and replaces olivine on the liquidus at approximately 10 kb. Above 10 kb the liquidus pyroxene is aluminous augite and orthopyroxene is the second phase to crystallize. Glasses in equilibrium with olivine and clinopyroxene at intermediate-pressure (5 to 10 kb) are similar in composition to high-Al basalt. Plagioclase is not involved and most likely does not become a liquidus phase until the liquid has evolved significantly. Although our studies do not confirm the primary nature of high-Mg basalts they do support a model in which high-Al basalts are generated by moderate amounts of crystal fractionation from more primitive (high Mg/Mg+Fe, lower Al₂O₃) basaltic magmas near the arc crust-mantle boundary.Abbreviations Ol olivine - Cpx Clinopyroxene - Pl plagioclase - L liquid - Sp spinel - Pig pigeonite - Opx Orthopyroxene     

云南会泽地区玄武粗安岩年代学、地球化学及构造演化

滇东北会泽地区发现峨眉山玄武岩中沿NNE向发育的玄武粗安岩,通过详细的野外地质调查、镜下岩相学分析、锆石U-Pb定年以及岩石地球化学测试等方法,研究了该玄武粗安岩形成年龄,地球化学特征及其指示的构造演化过程。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学确定玄武粗安岩形成的加权年龄为(251.6±4.2)Ma(MSWD=0.20),蚀变年龄分别为(143.5±1.9)Ma和(150.5±2.4)Ma。岩石地球化学主量、稀土和微量元素测试表明,玄武粗安岩的SiO_2含量在52.09%～54.10%,属于中基性火山岩;Mg~#介于19.88～40.86,在TAS图解上整体显示为碱性玄武岩粗安岩系列;稀土元素和微量元素特征显示出会泽玄武粗安岩来自交代的富集地幔源区,岩浆演化过程中发生了一定的单斜辉石、斜长石和磁铁矿的分离结晶作用。会泽玄武粗安岩是峨眉山玄武岩的一部分,推断其为峨眉山地幔柱活动消亡期的产物。     

Chemistry and isotope ratios of sulfur in basalts and volcanic gases at Kilauea volcano,Hawaii

Eighteen basalts and some volcanic gases from the submarine and subaerial parts of Kilauea volcano were analyzed for the concentration and isotope ratios of sulfur. By means of a newly developed technique, sulfide and sulfate sulfur in the basalts were separately but simultaneously determined. The submarine basalt has 700 ± 100 ppm total sulfur with δ³⁴S_Σs of $\text{0.7 ± 0.1 ‰}$. The sulfate/sulfide molar ratio ranges from 0.15 to 0.56 and the fractionation factor between sulfate and sulfide is $\text{+7.5 ± 1.5‰}$. On the other hand, the concentration and δ³⁴S_Σs values of the total sulfur in the subaerial basalt are reduced to 150 ± 50 ppm and $\text{?0.8 ± 0.2‰}$, respectively. The sulfate to sulfide ratio and the fractionation factor between them are also smaller, 0.01 to 0.25 and +3.0‰, respectively. Chemical and isotopic evidence strongly suggests that sulfate and sulfide in the submarine basalt are in chemical and isotopic equilibria with each other at magmatic conditions. Their relative abundance and the isotope fractionation factors may be used to estimate the $\text{?o}{}_2$ and temperature of these basalts at the time of their extrusion onto the sea floor. The observed change in sulfur chemistry and isotopic ratios from the submarine to subaerial basalts can be interpreted as degassing of the SO₂ from basalt thereby depleting sulfate and ³⁴S in basalt.The volcanic sulfur gases, predominantly SO₂, from the 1971 and 1974 fissures in Kilauea Crater have δ³⁴S values of 0.8 to 0.9%., slightly heavier than the total sulfur in the submarine basalts and definitely heavier than the subaerial basalts, in accord with the above model. However, the δ³⁴S value of sulfur gases (largely SO₂) from Sulfur Bank is 8.0%., implying a secondary origin of the sulfur. The δ³⁴S values of native sulfur deposits at various sites of Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanos, sulfate ions of four deep wells and hydrogen sulfide from a geothermal well along the east rift zone are also reported. The high δ³⁴S values (+5 to +6%._o) found for the hydrogen sulfide might be an indication of hot basaltseawater reaction beneath the east rift zone.     

REE compositional characteristics of Hannuoba basalts

The Hannuoba basalts are a suite of associated rocks consisting of alkali basalts and tholeiites. The alkali basalts can be divided into the K-rich type and the Na-rich type, while the tholeiites are almost solely of the Na-rich type. These two types of basalt are characterized as being obviously rich in light rare earth elements, as is shown in the chondrite-normalized REE patterns exhibiting positive Eu anomalies. However, significant differences in (La / Yb)_N and Eu / Eu* ratios are noticed between these two types of basalt. They seem to have been derived from varying-degree partial melting of mantle rocks.     

Palaeoweathering characteristics of an intrabasaltic red bole of the Deccan Flood Basalts near Shrivardhan of western coast of India

An intrabasaltic red bole horizon is studied for its weathering characteristics with respect to the underlying and overlying basalts. The study indicates that all the three units have been considerably weathered; the red bole unit, however shows some distinctive characteristics. The red boles show a higher cation exchange capacity (CEC) and lower sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and organic carbon (OC) as compared to the weathered basalts. The lower values of Al₂O₃, TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃(T) in red boles indicate their lesser weathering than the underlying and overlying basalts, which is further corroborated by the weathering intensity measured by the indices like chemical index of alteration (CIA) and statistical empirical index of chemical weathering (W). It is also evident that the red bole samples show more retention of original mafic and felsic components. While K₂O exhibits an erratic behaviour, the MgO and CaO do not show much leaching in red boles. Lesser leaching and salinity in the red boles is indicated by the higher values of calcification and lower values of salinization. The SiO₂–Al₂O₃–Fe₂O₃ plot indicates that red bole samples are close to the basalt field, while the weathered upper basalt is more kaolinized than the weathered lower basalt. These observations reveal that the post-formational weathering processes have least affected the original palaeoweathering characters of the red bole horizon and hence the intrabasaltic palaeosols (weathering horizons) can effectively be used to constrain the palaeoweathering and palaeoclimates during the continental flood basalt episodes in the geologic past.     

Nature of alkalic volcanic rock series

The alkalic rocks are here regarded as a category in a classification of igneous rock series (rock associations) and not as a class in petrographic systematics. The alkalic series as a whole are characterized by higher Na₂O+K₂O content than the subalkalic series in the alkali vs. SiO₂ diagram.At least three different trends (types) of differentiation appear to exist in large-scale alkalic volcanic associations. One (here designated as the Kennedy trend) starts from weakly nepheline-normative basalt and shows increasing normative nepheline with advancing fractionation to reach a phonolitic composition. Another (here called the Coombs trend) starts from hypersthene-normative basalt and shows increasing normative hypersthene and then normative quartz with advancing fractionation to reach a comenditic composition. Besides these two trends, it seems that many alkalic associations exist which show a differentiation trend starting from nepheline-normative basaltic composition and leading to hypersthenenormative, and then to quartz-normative compositions (here designated as the straddle-B type).Alkalic rocks of these three trends are higher not only in Na₂O+K₂O but also in Rb, Ba, Sr and Zr than subalkalic rocks. The alkalic basalts as a whole are characterized by higher contents of such elements and not by any degree of silica undersaturation. It is widely believed that alkalic rocks are characterized by the presence of normative nepheline as well as by the absence of orthopyroxene and pigeonite. Indeed such a relationship holds for the Kennedy trend, but it is not always valid for other types of alkalic associations. Some alkalic rocks of the Coombs trend and straddle-B type have quartz (or other silica minerals) and orthopyroxene and pigeonite.     

Water Content of Basalt Erupted on the ocean floor

Deep sea pillow basalts dredged from the ocean floor show that vesicularity changes with composition as well as with depth. Alkalic basalts are more vesicular than tholeiitic basalts erupted at the same depth. The vesicularity data, when related to experimentally determined solubility of water in basalt, indicate that K-poor oceanic tholeiites originally contained about 0.25 percent water, Hawaiian tholeiites of intermediate K-content, about 0.5 percent water, and alkali-rich basalts, about 0.9 percent water. Analyses of fresh basalt pillows show a systematic increase of H₂O⁺ as the rocks become more alkalic. K-poor oceanic tholeiites contain 0.06–0.42 percent H₂O⁺, Hawaiian tholeiites, 0.31–0.60 percent H₂O⁺, and alkali rich basalts 0.49–0.98 percent H₂O⁺. The contents of K₂O, P₂O₅, F, and Cl increase directly with an increase in H₂O⁺ content such that at 1.0 weight percent H₂O⁺, K₂O is 1.58 percent, P₂O₅ is 0.55 percent, F is 0.07 percent, and Cl is 0.1 percent. The measured weight percent of deuterium on the rim of one Hawaiian pillow is –6.0 (relative to SMOW); this value, which is similar to other indications of magmatic water, suggests that no appreciable sea water was absorbed by the pillow during or subsequent to eruption on the ocean floor.Concentrations of volatile constituents in the alkali basalt melts relative to tholeiitic melts can be explained by varying degrees of partial melting of mantle material or by fractional crystallization of a magma batch.Publication authorized by the Director, U.S. Geological Survey.     

基于结构体的峨眉山玄武岩风化程度评价（Ⅳ）：风化指数FF

提要：岩石化学风化程度评价指标应该同时满足以下三个基本条件,即与风化程度之间的关系简单明确、对风化程度变化具有足够的敏感性和易于确定和不易受到人为因素影响。作为铁镁质岩石的主要代表,（峨眉山）玄武岩风化程度评价除考虑可引起组分淋失与富集的水解反应外,还应充分考虑二价铁的氧化反应。新鲜峨眉山玄武岩中并存的二价铁和三价铁的含量总体稳定,910个样品的FeO、Fe₂O₃平均含量分别为8.45%和5.15%,以均匀、随机的方式赋存于辉石、橄榄石、杏仁体中的绿泥石、磁铁矿及火山玻璃中。风化玄武岩、玄武岩斜坡地下水及新鲜玄武岩浸泡液的地球化学研究结果表明,FeO及Fe₂O₃含量对峨眉山玄武岩风化程度的敏感性明显高于其他组分,同时铁又是玄武岩风化过程中活动性最差的元素之一。三价铁和二价铁的摩尔数比值（FF）适合于峨眉山玄武岩整个风化过程的风化程度判别,比既有风化指数具有更高的分辨率,尤其是对风化初期玄武岩。