Quaternary volcanism near the Valley of Mexico: implications for subduction zone magmatism and the effects of crustal thickness variations on primitive magma compositions

The Valley of Mexico and surrounding regions of Mexico and Morelos states in central Mexico contain more than 250 Quaternary eruptive vents in addition to the large, composite volcanoes of Popocatépetl, Iztaccíhuatl, and Nevado de Toluca. The eruptive vents include cinder and lava cones, shield volcanoes, and isolated andesitic and dacitic lava flows, and are most numerous in the Sierra Chichináutzin that forms the southern terminus of the Valley of Mexico. The Chichináutzin volcanic field (CVF) is part of the E-W-trending Mexican Volcanic Belt (MVB), a subduction-related volcanic arc that extends across Mexico. The crustal thickness beneath the CVF (∼50 km) is the greatest of any region in the MVB and one of the greatest found in any arc worldwide. Lavas and scoriae erupted from vents in the CVF include alkaline basalts and calc-alkaline basaltic andesites, andesites, and dacites. Both alkaline and calc-alkaline groups contain primitive varieties that have whole rock Mg#, MgO, and Ni contents, and liquidus olivine compositions (≤Fo₉₀) that are close to those expected of partial melts from mantle peridotite. Primitive varieties also show a wide range of incompatible trace element abundances (e.g. Ba 210–1080 ppm; Ce 25–100 ppm; Zr 130–280 ppm). Data for primitive calc-alkaline rocks from both the CVF and other regions of the MVB to the west are consistent with magma generation in an underlying mantle wedge that is depleted in Ti, Zr, and Nb and enriched in large ion lithophile (K, Ba, Rb) and light rare earth (La, Ce) elements. Extents of partial melting estimated from Ti and Zr data are lower for primitive calc-alkaline magmas in the CVF than for those from the regions of the MVB to the west where the crust is thinner. The distinctive major element compositions (low CaO and Al₂O₃, high SiO₂) of the primitive calc-alkaline magmas in the CVF indicate a more refractory mantle source beneath this region of thick crust. In contrast, primitive alkaline magmas from the CVF and other regions of the MVB show compositional similarities to intraplate-type alkali basalts erupted behind the arc in the Mexican Basin and Range province. These similarities are consistent with the hypothesis that slab-induced convection in the mantle wedge beneath the MVB causes advection of asthenospheric mantle from behind the arc to the region of magma generation. Trace element systematics of primitive magmas in the MVB reveal substantial variability in both the extent of mantle wedge enrichment by subduction processes and in the composition of mantle heterogeneities that are related to previous extraction of alkaline to sub-alkaline basaltic melts. Received: 23 June 1998 / Accepted: 23 December 1998     

Geochemistry of subducted metabasites exhumed from the Mariana forearc: Implications for Pacific seamount subduction

Seamounts on the drifting oceanic crust are inevitably carried by plate motions and eventually accreted or subducted. However, the geochemical signatures of the subducted seamounts and the significance of seamount subduction are not well constrained. Hundreds of seamounts have subducted beneath the Philippine Sea Plate following the westward subduction of the Pacific Plate since the Eocene (~52 Ma). The subducted oceanic crust and seamount materials can be exhumed from the mantle depth to the seafloor in the Mariana forearc region by serpentinite mud volcanoes, providing exceptional opportunities to directly study the subducted oceanic crust and seamounts. The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) expedition 366 has recovered a few metamorphosed mafic clasts exhumed from the Mariana forearc serpentinite mud volcanoes, e.g., the Fantangisña and Asùt Tesoru seamounts. These mafic clasts have tholeiitic to alkaline affinities with distinct trace elements and Nd-Hf isotopes characteristics, suggesting different provenances and mantle sources. The tholeiites from the Fantangisña Seamount have trace element characteristics typical of mid-ocean ridge basalt. The Pacific-type Hf-Nd isotopic compositions, combined with the greenschist metamorphism of these tholeiites further suggest that they came from the subducted Pacific oceanic crust. The alkali basalts-dolerites from the Fantangisña and Asùt Tesoru seamounts show ocean island basalt (OIB)-like geochemical characteristics. The OIB-like geochemical signatures and the low-grade metamorphism of these alkali basalts-dolerites suggest they came from subducted seamounts that originally formed in an intraplate setting on the Pacific Plate. The Pacific Plate origin of these metabasites suggests they were formed in the Early Cretaceous or earlier.Two types of OIBs have been recognized from alkali metabasites, one of which is geochemically similar to the HIMU-EMI-type OIBs from the West Pacific Seamount Province, and another is similar to the EMII-type OIBs from the Samoa Island in southern Pacific, with negative Nb-Ta-Ti anomalies and enriched Nd-Hf isotopes. Generally, these alkali metabasites are sourced from the heterogeneous mantle sources that are similar to the present South Pacific Isotopic and Thermal Anomaly. This study provides direct evidence for seamount subduction in the Mariana convergent margins. We suggest seamount subduction is significant to element cycling, mantle heterogeneity, and mantle oxidation in subduction zones.     

Evolution of arc crust and relations between contrasting sources: U-Pb (age), Nd and Sr isotope systematics of the ophiolitic terrain of SW Norway

The U/Pb dating of ophiolite and arc complexes in the Caledonides of SW Norway has demonstrated that these spatially associated rocks are also closely related in time. A sequence of tholeiitic island arc volcanics, and an unconformably overlying sequence of calc-alkaline volcanics have been dated as 494 ± 2 Ma (2σ) and 473 ± 2 Ma respectively. Ophiolitic crust formed both prior to, and during the first 10 Ma after the tholeiitic island arc volcanism. Boninitic and island arc tholeiitic dyke swarms intruded the ophiolites soon after they formed and represent a second phase of spreading-related magmatism in the ca 20 Ma period that separated the tholeiitic and the calc-alkaline island arc volcanism. The magmatism ended with the formation of alkaline, ocean island basalt (OIB)-like magmas. Quartz dioritic and S-type granitic plutons, dated to 479 ± 5 Ma and 474 +3/−2 Ma respectively, intruded into the base of the arc crust during and subsequent to the boninitic magmatism, and at the time when calc-alkaline volcanic centres developed. The quartz dioritic and the granitic rocks contain inherited zircons of Precambrian age which prove the involvement of a continental source. This together with the geology of the terrain and the geochemistry of these plutons suggests that the granitic magmas were partly derived from subducted clastic sediments. The Sr and Nd isotope systematics indicate that the same continental source was a component in the boninitic and the calc-alkaline magmas. While the calc-alkaline magmas may have gained this continental component at a crustal level by assimilation, both geology and isotope systematics suggest that the continental component in the boninitic rocks was introduced by source contamination – possibly by a direct interaction between the mantle source and the S-type granitic magmas. A modified mid ocean ridge basalt-like mantle source was the principal source during the earliest and the main crust forming stage. This source became replaced by an OIB-like source during the later stages in the evolution of this ancient arc. Received: 27 June 1994 / Accepted: 16 September 1996     

Constraints on the origin of alkaline and calc-alkaline magmas from the Tuxtla Volcanic Field,Veracruz, Mexico

 Lavas erupted in the Tuxtla Volcanic Field (TVF) over the last 7 Ma include primitive basanites and alkali basalts, mildly alkaline Hy-normative mugearites and benmoreites, and calc-alkaline basalts and basaltic andesites. The primitive lavas are silica-undersaturated, with high concentrations of both incompatible and compatible trace elements, variable La/Yb with constant Yb at 6 to 8 times chondritic, and low Sr and O and variable Pb and Nd isotopic ratios. The primitive magmas originated by increasing degrees of melting with pressure decreasing from greater than 30 kbar to 20 kbar, in the garnet stability field. Another group of alkali basalts and hawaiites has lower Ni and Cr concentrations and higher Fe/Mg ratios, and was derived from the primitive group by crystal fractionation at pressures of several kbar. Incompatible trace elements in these silica undersaturated lavas show depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE) relative to large ion lithophile elements, similar to subduction-related basalts. Ba/Nb ratios are nearly constant and thus the HFSE depletion cannot be the result of a residual HFSE-bearing phase in the source, but could be the result of generation from a source contaminated by fluids or melts from the subducted lithosphere. The silica-saturated mugearites and benmoreites, and the calc-alkaline basalts and basaltic andesites, were erupted only between 3.3 and 1.0 Ma. These have incompatible element concentrations generally lower than in the silica-undersaturated lavas, and thus could not have been derived by crystal fractionation from the silica-undersaturated alkaline magmas. Magmas parental to the silica-saturated magmas originated by higher degrees of melting at lower pressures than the primitive magmas. Melting may have been promoted by an influx of fluid from the subducted lithosphere. Trace element and Sr, Nd, Pb and O isotopic data suggest that three components are involved in the generation of TVF magmas: the mantle, a fluid from the subducted lithosphere, and continental crust. TVF alkaline lavas are similar to those erupted in the back-arc region of the MVB and Japan, and show characteristics similar to alkaline magmas erupted in the southern Andean volcanic arc. These low degree melts reach the surface along with calc-alkaline lavas in the TVF due to an extensional stress field that allows their passage to the surface. Received: 15 September 1994/Accepted: 14 February 1995     

Kankan diamonds (Guinea) I: from the lithosphere down to the transition zone

Peridotitic inclusions in alluvial diamonds from the Kankan region of Guinea in West Africa are mainly of lherzolitic paragenesis. Nevertheless, extreme Cr₂O₃ contents (max. 17 wt%) in some of the exclusively lherzolitic garnets document that the diamond source experienced a previous stage of melt extraction in the spinel stability field. This initial depletion was followed by at least two metasomatic stages: (1) enrichment of LREE and Sr and (2) introduction mainly of MREE–HREE and other HFSE (Ti, Y, Zr, Hf). The Ti- and HFSE-poor character of stage (1) points towards a CHO-rich fluid or carbonatitic melt, the high HFSE in stage (2) favour silicate melts as enriching agent. Eclogitic inclusions are derived from a large depth interval ranging from the lithosphere through the asthenosphere into the transition zone. The occurrence of negative Eu anomalies in garnet and clinopyroxene from both lithosphere and transition zone suggests a possible relationship to subducted oceanic crust. Lithospheric eclogitic inclusions are derived from heterogeneous sources, that may broadly be divided into a low-Ca group with LREE depleted trace element patterns and a high-Ca group representing a source with negative LREE–HREE slope that is moderately enriched in incompatible elements relative to primitive mantle. High-Ca inclusions of majoritic paragenesis are significantly more enriched in incompatible elements, such as in Sr and LREE. Calculated whole rock compositions require metasomatic enrichment even if a derivation from MORB is assumed. Received: 26 January 2000 / Accepted: 18 May 2000     

Geochemical variation within the northern Ryukyu Arc: magma source compositions and geodynamic implications

The major and trace element and Pb–Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of Quaternary mafic lavas from the northern Ryukyu arc provide insights into the nature of the mantle wedge and its tectonic evolution. Beneath the volcanic front in the northern part of the arc, the subducted slab of the Philippine Sea Plate bends sharply and steepens at a depth of ∼80 km. Lavas from the volcanic front have high abundances of large ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements relative to the high field strength elements, consistent with the result of fluid enrichment processes related to dehydration of the subducting slab. New Pb isotopic data identify two distinct asthenospheric domains in the mantle wedge beneath the south Kyushu and northern Ryukyu arc, which, in a parallel with data from the Lau Basin, appear to reflect mantle with affinities to Indian and Pacific-type mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB). Indian Ocean MORB-type mantle, contaminated with subducted Ryukyu sediments can account for the variation of lavas erupted on south Kyushu, and probably in the middle Okinawa Trough. In contrast, magmas of the northern Ryukyu volcanic front appear to be derived from sources of Pacific MORB-type mantle contaminated with a sedimentary component. Along-arc variation in the northern Ryukyus reflects increasing involvement of a sedimentary component to the south. Compositions of alkalic basalts from the south Kyushu back-arc resemble intraplate-type basalts erupted in NW Kyushu since ∼12 Ma. We propose that the bending of the subducted slab was either caused by or resulted in lateral migration of asthenospheric mantle, yielding Indian Ocean-type characteristics from a mantle upwelling zone beneath NW Kyushu and the East China Sea. This model also accounts for (1) extensional counter-clockwise crustal rotation (∼4–2 Ma), (2) voluminous andesite volcanism (∼2 Ma), and (3) the recent distinctive felsic magmatism in the south Kyushu region. Received: 30 November 1999 / Accepted: 20 July 2000     

Evolution of the central Alpine-Himalayan belt in the Late Cenozoic

The Late Cenozoic geodynamics of the Alpine-Himalayan belt comprised the collision between continental-lithosphere plates and blocks and the effect of the Neo-Tethyan active residual asthenosphere, which reached the northern margin of the belt after the ocean had closed. From the late Eocene to the early Pliocene, strong deformation, lateral migrations of flaked plates, metamorphism, and magmatism (they all consolidated the crust) took place in the lithosphere with the participation of mobile asthenospheric components. In the Pliocene–Quaternary, the asthenosphere beneath the consolidated crust partly replaced the dense mantle lithosphere with remaining paleoocean mafic rocks, which subducted into the mantle. Phase transformations and deformations in the subducting metamafic slabs caused mantle earthquakes. The less compact metamafic rocks experienced metamorphic weakening under the effect of the asthenosphere and incorporated into the Earth’s crust. The upper-mantle and lower-crust weakening led to a drastic intensification of uplifting and the formation of mountain ranges. Recent volcanism is also attributed to the activity of the Neo-Tethyan asthenosphere.     

Heterogeneous mantle source and magma differentiation of quaternary arc-like volcanic rocks from Tengchong,SE margin of the Tibetan Plateau

The Tengchong volcanic field north of the Burma arc comprises numerous Quaternary volcanoes in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The volcanic rocks are grouped into four units (1–4) from the oldest to youngest. Units 1, 3 and 4 are composed of olivine trachybasalt, basaltic trachyandesite and trachyandesite, and Unit 2 consists of hornblende dacite. The rocks of Units 1, 3, and 4 form a generally alkaline suite in which the rocks plot along generally linear trends on Harker diagrams with only slight offset from unit to unit. They contain olivine phenocrysts with Fo values ranging from 65 to 85 mol% and have Cr-spinel with Cr# ranging from 23 to 35. All the rocks have chondrite-normalized REE patterns enriched in LREE and primitive mantle-normalized trace element patterns depleted in Ti, Nb and Ta, but they are rich in Th, Ti and P relative to typical arc volcanics. Despite minor crustal contamination, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.706–0.709), εNd values (−3.2 to −8.7), and εHf values (+4.8 to −6.4) indicate a highly heterogeneous mantle source. The Pb isotopic ratios of the lavas (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.02–18.30) clearly show an EMI-type mantle source. The underlying mantle source was previously modified by subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic and Indian continental lithosphere. The present heterogeneous mantle source is interpreted to have formed by variable additions of fluids and sediments derived from the subducted Indian Oceanic lithosphere, probably the Ninety East Ridge. Magma generation and emplacement was facilitated by transtensional NS-trending strike-slip faulting.     

Constancy of Nb/U in the mantle revisited

It has long been proposed that MORB and OIB have constant supra-primitive mantle (PM) Nb/U values identical to each other. This fact together with complementary sub-PM values for the continental crust (CC), are taken as fundamental evidence, linking the mantle sources of MORB and OIB to the formation of the CC. Given that plate subduction at convergent margins is the major known process that dramatically fractionates Nb from U, and consequently that subducted oceanic slabs are the main primary carriers of supra-PM Nb/U, a constant supra-PM Nb/U in MORB mantle implies that the mixing of subducted oceanic crust is essentially finished or the newly recycled oceanic crust has Nb/U close to that of the mantle. The similarity between Nb and U as well as the constancy of Nb/U in MORB are revisited here based on MORB glass data obtained using laser ablation ICP-MS. The result shows that Nb/U is not correlated with Nb/Hf, supporting that Nb and U are similarly incompatible. Further investigation shows that Nb is not perfectly identical to, but is faintly more incompatible than U as indicated by the good correlation between log(U) and log(Nb) with a slope of 0.954, very close to 1. Nonetheless, the similarity between Nb and U is high enough, such that the average Nb/U value of MORB glasses should be very close to that of the MORB mantle. By contrast, the difference between Ce and Pb is more obvious. Ce is more incompatible than Pb with a slope of 1.13 in a log(Pb) versus log(Ce) diagram. Therefore, the Ce/Pb of MORB should be a little bit higher than that of the mantle source. The Nb/U value is not as uniform as expected for the similar incompatibility in studied MORB glasses, but varies by a factor of ∼2, suggesting that MORB mantle source is not yet homogenized in term of Nb/U. This indicates that the mixing back of subducted oceanic crust is still an ongoing process, i.e., subducted oceanic crust is recycling back after staying in the lower mantle for billions of years.     

Isotope geochemistry of Jeongok basalts,northernmost South Korea: Implications for the enriched mantle end-member component

South Korea separates two mantle source domains for Late Cenozoic intraplate volcanism in East Asia: depleted mid-ocean-ridge basalt (MORB) mantle-enriched mantle type 1 (DMM-EM1) in the north and DMM-EM2 in the south. We determined geochemical compositions, including Sr, Nd, Pb, and Hf isotopes for the Jeongok trachybasalts (∼0.51 to 0.15 Ma K–Ar ages) from northernmost South Korea, to better constrain the origin and distribution of the enriched mantle components. The Jeongok basalts exhibit light rare earth element (LREE)-enriched patterns ([La/Yb]_N = 9.2–11.6). The (La/Yb)_N ratios are lower than that of typical oceanic island basalt (OIB). On a primitive mantle-normalized incompatible element plot, the Jeongok samples show OIB-like enrichment in highly incompatible elements. However, they are depleted in moderately incompatible elements (e.g., La, Nd, Zr, Hf, etc.) compared with the OIB and exhibit positive anomalies in K and Pb. These anomalies are also prime characteristics of the Wudalianchi basalts, extreme EM1 end-member volcanics in northeast China. We have compared the geochemistry of the Jeongok basalts with those of available Late Cenozoic intraplate volcanic rocks from East Asia (from north to south, Wudalianchi, Mt. Baekdu and Baengnyeong for DMM-EM1, and Jeju for DMM-EM2). The mantle source for the Jeongok volcanics contains an EM1 component. The contribution of the EM1 component to East Asian volcanism increases toward the north, from Baengnyeong through Jeongok to Mt. Baekdu and finally to Wudalianchi. Modeling of trace element data suggests that the Jeongok basalts may have been generated by mixing of a Wudalianchi-like melt (EM1 end-member) and a melt that originated from a depleted mantle source, with some addition of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Jeongok area. In Nd–Hf isotope space, the most enriched EM1-component-bearing Jeongok sample shows elevation of ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf at a given ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd compared with OIB. Recycled pelagic sediments may explain the EM1-end-member component of northeastern Asian volcanism, possibly from the mantle transition zone.     

Erratum to: Review of post-collisional volcanism in the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province (Turkey), with special reference to the Tepekoy Volcanic Complex

Neogene-Quaternary post-collisional volcanism in Central Anatolian Volcanic Province (CAVP) is mainly characterized by calc-alkaline andesites-dacites, with subordinate tholeiitic-transitional-mildly alkaline basaltic volcanism of the monogenetic cones. Tepekoy Volcanic Complex (TVC) in Nigde area consists of base surge deposits, and medium to high-K andesitic-dacitic lava flows and basaltic andesitic flows associated with monogenetic cones. Tepekoy lava flows petrographically exhibit disequilibrium textures indicative of magma mixing/mingling and a geochemisty characterized by high LILE and low HFSE abundances, negative Nb–Ta, Ba, P and Ti anomalies in mantle-normalized patterns. In this respect, they are similar to the other calc-alkaline volcanics of the CAVP. However, TVC lava flows have higher and variable Ba/Ta, Ba/Nb, Nb/Zr, Ba/TiO₂ ratios, indicating a heterogeneous, variably fluid-rich source. All the geochemical features of the TVC are comparable to orogenic andesites elsewhere and point to a sub-continental lithospheric mantle source enriched in incompatible elements due to previous subduction processes. Basaltic monogenetic volcanoes of CAVP display similar patterns, and HFS anomalies on mantle-normalized diagrams, and have incompatible element ratios intermediate between orogenic andesites and within-plate basalts (e.g. OIB). Accordingly, the calc-alkaline and transitional-mildly alkaline basaltic magmas may have a common source region. Variable degrees of partial melting of a heterogeneous source, enriched in incompatible elements due to previous subduction processes followed by fractionation, crustal contamination, and magma mixing in shallow magma chambers produced the calc-alkaline volcanism in the CAVP. Magma generation in the TVC, and CAVP in general is via decompression melting facilitated by a transtensional tectonic regime. Acceleration of the extensional regime, and transcurrent fault systems extending deep into the lithosphere favoured asthenospheric upwelling at the base of the lithosphere, and as a consequence, an increase in temperature. This created fluid-present melting of a fluid-enriched upper lithospheric mantle or lower crustal source, but also mixing with asthenosphere-derived melts. These magmas with hybrid source characteristics produced the tholeiitic-transitional-mildly alkaline basalts depending on the residence times within the crust. Hybrid magmas transported to the surface rapidly, favored by extensional post-collision regime, and produced mildly alkaline monogenetic volcanoes. Hybrid magmas interacted with the calc-alkaline magma chambers during the ascent to the surface suffered slight fractionation and crustal contamination due to relatively longer residence time compared to rapidly rising magmas. In this way they produced the mildly alkaline, transitional, and tholeiitic basaltic magmas. This model can explain the coexistence of a complete spectrum of q-normative, ol-hy-normative, and ne-normative monogenetic basalts with both subduction and within-plate signatures in the CAVP.     

Geochemistry of Pliocene/Pleistocene basalts along the Central Anatolian Fault Zone (CAFZ), Turkey

Pliocene–Pleistocene volcanism accompanied strike-slip-related transtensional deformation along the Kızılırmak fault segment of the Central Anatolian fault zone (CAFZ) in the west of Şarkışla (Sivas–central Turkey). These volcanic rocks are represented by alkali olivine basalts. They can be divided into four different sub-groups on the basis of their Zr, Nb, TiO₂ contents. A primitive mantle-normalized incompatible trace element diagram for four subgroups shows close similarity to typical OIB pattern. Some of the incompatible trace element ratios (Ce/Y, Zr/Nb, La/Ba, La/Nb) are also akin to OIB values. Highly fractionated REE patterns (La/Yb_N=24.7–9.2) with no Eu anomaly are the main features of the alkali basalts and are comparable to alkaline volcanism in continental rift zones. On the basis of Al₂O₃/TiO₂, Nb/Y, Zr/Y Zr/Nb ratios, the geochemical differences among four sub-groups can be explained by variable degrees of partial melting of compositionally similar mantle source. Th/Nb, Th/Y, Nb/Y ratios and the primitive mantle-normalized trace element diagram suggests significant amount of crustal involvement for most of the alkali olivine basalts erupted along the CAFZ. Rupture of the continental lithosphere by strike-slip-related transtensional deformation might have caused decompressional partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle and generating alkali olivine basalts in this region.     

Some Key Problems on the Petrogenesis of Seafloor Basalts,Abyssal Peridotites and Geodynamics—A Non-traditional Isotope Approach

This paper discusses some major research to be carried out in the next five years in the newly established Laboratory of Ocean Lithosphere and Mantle Geodynamics. By using our existing sample collections of global mid-ocean ridge basalts, gabbros and abyssal peridotites from the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, the research includes: ①Using Ti-Zr-Hf stable isotope methods to test the hypothesis that the observed huge Nb-Ta and Zr-Hf fractionations result from mass-dependent fractionation under mantle magmatic conditions; ②Using a MORB sample suite of uniform ratios of incompatible elements and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes with large major element compositional variation to test the common hypothesis of iron isotope fractionation, i.e, the affinity of heavy Fe with ferric Fe (Fe³⁺), and both heavy Fe and ferric Fe (Fe³⁺) being more incompatible than light Fe and ferrous Fe (Fe²⁺) during magma evolution; while using an incompatible trace element and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope highly variable MORB suite to test the same hypothesis during low-degree mantle melting (i.e, the effect of mantle metasomatism); ③Proposing and testing the hypothesis that the high oxygen fugacity of the Earth’s mantle is a consequence of plate tectonics by subducting partially serpentinized oceanic mantle lithosphere with abundant ferric Fe (e.g. Fe³⁺/SFe>2); ④The recent work by Andersen et al. (Nature, 2015) is a milestone contribution by using U isotope variation in oceanic basalts to hypothesize that the O₂-rich atmosphere since the late Archean (abont 2.4 Ga) mobilized the water soluble U (6+ vs. 4+) from continents, transported to the ocean and subducted with sediments to the upper mantle, which explains the low Th/U in MORB (<2.5) and the high Th/U (>3.5) ocean island basalts (OIB) do not see such U addition effect probably because OIB source materials are all ancient (> abont 2.4 Ga) if there were subducted component. The Cenozoic alkali basalts from eastern China are ideal materials for evaluating the significance of the subducted seafloor materials for the petrogenesis of OIB and enriched MORB by using the U isotope approach, which is expected to revise and improve the Andersen et al hypothesis.     

The origin of the potassic rock suite from Batu Tara volcano (East Sunda Arc, Indonesia)

atu Tara is an active potassic volcano in the eastern Sunda arc. Its leucite-bearing rock suite can be subdivided into two groups, one less evolved with Th<20 ppm, the other more evolved with Th>20 ppm. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, δ¹⁸O and trace-element systematics in the less evolved group suggests that existence of parental magmas with different mantle origins. The mantle below Batu Tara is most likely heterogeneous and several source components are involved in magma genesis. Trace element and isotopic compositions of Batu Tara and adjacent volcanoes are consistent with the involvement of a subducted sedimentary/crustal component as well as MORB and OIB mantle, the latter with geochemical characteristics comparable to the mantle underlying Muriah (Java). Melt extraction from this complex mixture is envisioned as a two-stage process: partial melts of the crust-contaminated MORB mantle mix in the mantle wedge with partial melts of OIB domains. Different mixtures of these two melts provide the parental magmas that enter the volcanic plumbing system, where crystallization, hybridization and refilling processes occur. The calcalkaline volcanoes in the arc segment show stronger signatures for a subducted crustal component than Batu Tara, which displays a greater influence from the OIB mantle source. The potassium enrichment can therefore be attributed to contributions both from the enriched mantle and from subducted crustal material. Mantle-type δ¹⁸O values of the Batu Tara magmas indicate that the mantle wedge below potassic orogenic volcanoes is not necessarily strongly enriched in ¹⁸O.     

Lateral flow of African mantle below the nearby Tyrrhenian plate: geochemical evidence

The Quaternary magmatism of the Southern Tyrrhenian basin represents a rare example of an active volcanic arc system where ocean island basalt (OIB) and island arc basalt (IAB) magmas coexist. Although there is general agreement on the importance of the Ionian oceanic lithosphere subduction in the genesis of the IAB magmatism, the tectono‐magmatic processes producing the coexisting OIB magmas are still poorly understood. Here we show that the geochemistry of the Quaternary Southern Tyrrhenian OIB‐type magmatism (i.e. Ustica island and Prometeo, a previously unknown submarine lava field) is very similar to that of OIB‐type volcanoes situated on the nearby African plate (i.e. Etna and Hyblean Plateau). Among the possible geodynamic scenarios proposed to explain the coexistence of OIB and IAB magmas in arc settings, we consider the development of a tear at the edge of the Ionian plate as the more likely mechanism to favour the flow of African asthenospheric mantle below the Tyrrhenian plate.     

Geochemistry of Pliocene/Pleistocene basalts along the Central Anatolian Fault Zone (CAFZ), Turkey

Abstract

Pliocene-Pleistocene volcanism accompanied strike-slip-related transtensional deformation along the K?z?l?rmak fault segment of the Central Anatolian fault zone (CAFZ) in the west of ?ark??la (Sivas-central Turkey). These volcanic rocks are represented by alkali olivine basalts. They can be divided into four different sub-groups on the basis of their Zr, Nb, TiO₂ contents. A primitive mantle-normalized incompatible trace element diagram for four subgroups shows close similarity to typical OIB pattern. Some of the incompatible trace element ratios (Ce/Y, Zr/Nb, La/Ba, La/Nb) are also akin to OIB values. Highly fractionated REE patterns (La/Yb_N=24.7–9.2) with no Eu anomaly are the main features of the alkali basalts and are comparable to alkaline volcanism in continental rift zones. On the basis of Al₂O₃/TiO₂, Nb/Y, Zr/Y Zr/Nb ratios, the geochemical differences among four sub-groups can be explained by variable degrees of partial melting of compositionally similar mantle source. Th/Nb, Th/Y, Nb/Y ratios and the primitive mantle-normalized trace element diagram suggests significant amount of crustal involvement for most of the alkali olivine basalts erupted along the CAFZ. Rupture of the continental lithosphere by strike-slip-related transtensional deformation might have caused decompressional partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle and generating alkali olivine basalts in this region. © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS.     

Adakite-like volcanism of Ecuador: lower crust magmatic evolution and recycling

In the Northern Andes of Ecuador, a broad Quaternary volcanic arc with significant across-arc geochemical changes sits upon continental crust consisting of accreted oceanic and continental terranes. Quaternary volcanic centers occur, from west to east, along the Western Cordillera (frontal arc), in the Inter-Andean Depression and along the Eastern Cordillera (main arc), and in the Sub-Andean Zone (back-arc). The adakite-like signatures of the frontal and main arc volcanoes have been interpreted either as the result of slab melting plus subsequent slab melt–mantle interactions or of lower crustal melting, fractional crystallization, and assimilation processes. In this paper, we present petrographic, geochemical, and isotopic (Sr, Nd, Pb) data on dominantly andesitic to dacitic volcanic rocks as well as crustal xenolith and cumulate samples from five volcanic centers (Pululagua, Pichincha, Ilalo, Chacana, Sumaco) forming a NW–SE transect at about 0° latitude and encompassing the frontal (Pululagua, Pichincha), main (Ilalo, Chacana), and back-arc (Sumaco) chains. All rocks display typical subduction-related geochemical signatures, such as Nb and Ta negative anomalies and LILE enrichment. They show a relative depletion of fluid-mobile elements and a general increase in incompatible elements from the front to the back-arc suggesting derivation from progressively lower degrees of partial melting of the mantle wedge induced by decreasing amounts of fluids released from the slab. We observe widespread petrographic evidence of interaction of primary melts with mafic xenoliths as well as with clinopyroxene- and/or amphibole-bearing cumulates and of magma mixing at all frontal and main arc volcanic centers. Within each volcanic center, rocks display correlations between evolution indices and radiogenic isotopes, although absolute variations of radiogenic isotopes are small and their values are overall rather primitive (e.g., ε_Nd = +1.5 to +6, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7040–0.70435). Rare earth element patterns are characterized by variably fractionated light to heavy REE (La/Yb_N = 5.7–34) and by the absence of Eu negative anomalies suggesting evolution of these rocks with limited plagioclase fractionation. We interpret the petrographic, geochemical, and isotopic data as indicating open-system evolution at all volcanic centers characterized by fractional crystallization and magma mixing processes at different lower- to mid-crustal levels as well as by assimilation of mafic lower crust and/or its partial melts. Thus, we propose that the adakite-like signatures of Ecuadorian rocks (e.g., high Sr/Y and La/Yb values) are primarily the result of lower- to mid-crustal processing of mantle-derived melts, rather than of slab melts and slab melt–mantle interactions. The isotopic signatures of the least evolved adakite-like rocks of the active and recent volcanoes are the same as those of Tertiary ”normal” calc-alkaline magmatic rocks of Ecuador suggesting that the source of the magma did not change through time. What changed was the depth of magmatic evolution, probably as a consequence of increased compression induced by the stronger coupling between the subducting and overriding plates associated with subduction of the aseismic Carnegie Ridge.     

Review of post-collisional volcanism in the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province (Turkey), with special reference to the Tepekoy Volcanic Complex

Neogene-Quaternary post-collisional volcanism in Central Anatolian Volcanic Province (CAVP) is mainly characterized by calc-alkaline andesites-dacites, with subordinate tholeiitic-transitional-mildly alkaline basaltic volcanism of the monogenetic cones. Tepekoy Volcanic Complex (TVC) in Nigde area consists of base surge deposits, and medium to high-K andesitic-dacitic lava flows and basaltic andesitic flows associated with monogenetic cones. Tepekoy lava flows petrographically exhibit disequilibrium textures indicative of magma mixing/mingling and a geochemisty characterized by high LILE and low HFSE abundances, negative Nb–Ta, Ba, P and Ti anomalies in mantle-normalized patterns. In this respect, they are similar to the other calc-alkaline volcanics of the CAVP. However, TVC lava flows have higher and variable Ba/Ta, Ba/Nb, Nb/Zr, Ba/TiO₂ ratios, indicating a heterogeneous, variably fluid-rich source. All the geochemical features of the TVC are comparable to orogenic andesites elsewhere and point to a sub-continental lithospheric mantle source enriched in incompatible elements due to previous subduction processes. Basaltic monogenetic volcanoes of CAVP display similar patterns, and HFS anomalies on mantle-normalized diagrams, and have incompatible element ratios intermediate between orogenic andesites and within-plate basalts (e.g. OIB). Accordingly, the calc-alkaline and transitional-mildly alkaline basaltic magmas may have a common source region. Variable degrees of partial melting of a heterogeneous source, enriched in incompatible elements due to previous subduction processes followed by fractionation, crustal contamination, and magma mixing in shallow magma chambers produced the calc-alkaline volcanism in the CAVP. Magma generation in the TVC, and CAVP in general is via decompression melting facilitated by a transtensional tectonic regime. Acceleration of the extensional regime, and transcurrent fault systems extending deep into the lithosphere favoured asthenospheric upwelling at the base of the lithosphere, and as a consequence, an increase in temperature. This created fluid-present melting of a fluid-enriched upper lithospheric mantle or lower crustal source, but also mixing with asthenosphere-derived melts. These magmas with hybrid source characteristics produced the tholeiitic-transitional-mildly alkaline basalts depending on the residence times within the crust. Hybrid magmas transported to the surface rapidly, favored by extensional post-collision regime, and produced mildly alkaline monogenetic volcanoes. Hybrid magmas interacted with the calc-alkaline magma chambers during the ascent to the surface suffered slight fractionation and crustal contamination due to relatively longer residence time compared to rapidly rising magmas. In this way they produced the mildly alkaline, transitional, and tholeiitic basaltic magmas. This model can explain the coexistence of a complete spectrum of q-normative, ol-hy-normative, and ne-normative monogenetic basalts with both subduction and within-plate signatures in the CAVP.     

黄岩海山链俯冲与吕宋岛斑岩铜金成矿

菲律宾吕宋岛上约5Ma以来的斑岩铜金矿床主要集中在北部的Baguio和Mankayan地区,它们在时空上与黄岩海山链密切相关。1907~2013年间的地震数据表明,在吕宋岛中部(16°N)附近存在地震稀疏带。吕宋岛上的斑岩铜金矿床分布在该地震稀疏带的两侧。收集到的相应时期埃达克岩的Sr/Y-(La/Yb)N、Sr/Y-Y和La/Yb-Yb图解表明,这些埃达克岩几乎都是洋壳部分熔融形成的。与吕宋岛北部侵入型埃达克岩相比,位于16°N附近的埃达克岩具有更高的Sr含量,这可能与南海古扩张脊俯冲撕裂形成的板片窗有关。斜长石是辉长岩的主要矿物之一,因此,撕裂的洋壳边缘的辉长岩层部分熔融,形成具有更高Sr含量的埃达克质岩浆。而位于吕宋岛南部Bataan弧中的埃达克质火山岩,可能是在南海古扩张脊俯冲之前形成的。根据已发表的斑岩铜金矿床数据,Mankayan地区的成矿年龄在约3.5~1.4Ma,Baguio地区的成矿年龄在约3.1~0.5Ma之间,有从北向南变年轻的趋势,这与黄岩海山链沿马尼拉海沟向南迁移一致。此外,吕宋岛北部Mt.Cagua到Baguio之间存在一个延伸了220km的第四纪火山活动的空隙,该区域大部分火山已经在中新世停止活动。这可能是黄岩海山链的俯冲使得俯冲倾角逐渐变缓、挤压加强而导致的。同时期的斑岩铜矿床正好分布在这一火山空隙中,是俯冲洋壳部分熔融的产物。     

CENOZOIC VOLCANISM AND LITHOSPHERETECTONIC EVOLUTION IN NORTH TIBET

CENOZOIC VOLCANISM AND LITHOSPHERETECTONIC EVOLUTION IN NORTH TIBET