Major Element Compositions and Rare—earth Element Abundaces of Cenozoic Basalts in Eastern China：Implications for a Pressure Control over LREE／HREE Fractionation in Continental Basalt

Major element compositions and rare-earth element (REE) and transition element(Ni,Cr and V) abundances have been determined on 44 basalt samples from eastern China.These basalts have SiO2 contents ranging from 38.63 to 55.24(wt.%),and Na2O K2O from 3.1 to 9.4(wt.%).Ni and Cr abundances are largely variable,respectively falling in ranges 60-605 and 78-1150 ppm.REE abundances,especially light rare-earth elements(LREE), are highly variable.La/Sm and La/Yb ratios vary 2.8 to 7.6 and 1.8 to 8.1. Although the segregation mainly of olivine and clinopyroxene is requested to account for the vari-able and low MgO,CaO/Al2O3,Cr and Ni characteristic of these basalts studied here,the differ-ences in REE composition of the basalts are still related mainly to the partial melting process.Obvious varations in REE abundances could be principally attributed to the partial melting process.Obvious variations in REE abundances could be principally attributed to the partial melting processes that took place at different depths,in spite of some variations caused by the fractional crystallization processes.REE abundances and La/Sm and La/Yb ratios systematically decrease with increasing SiO2,which probably indicated that the basaltic magma derived from a deeper level has higher LREE and LREE/HREE ratios than that from a shallower level.As viewed from the fact that the D^Yb/D^La ratios of clinopyroxenes in the basaltic system increase with increasing pressure,the increase of LREE/HUEE ratios with increasing melting depth can be interpreted as the pressure dependence of bulk D^HREE/D^LREE ratios of silicate minerals,in addition to the pressure control over the melting degree.     

Origin of Ross Island basanitoids and limitations upon the heterogeneity of mantle sources for alkali basalts and nephelinites

Primary basanitoids from Ross Island, Antarctica have REE patterns and Pb isotope ratios similar to those for primary alkali basalts and nephelinites on ocean islands. The lead data from all volcanics on Ross Island have a spread of 4% in the 206/204 ratio and give a two-stage model lead age of 1500 m.y. The age is interpreted to be the time since the development of the chemical heterogeneity of the mantle source, presumably during an earlier melting process. Comparison of REE, K, Rb, Sr, Ba and P₂O₅ concentrations for alkali basalts and nephelinites shows that the chondrite normalized mantle source is enriched in light REE with average La/Sm=3.4, Ce/Sm=2.6, Nd/Sm=1.6. Assuming a mantle source with heavy REE abundances of three times chondrites, nephelinites require 3 to 7% partial melting of the mantle source and alkali basalts require 7 to 15% partial melting. The patterns of K, Cu, V and Ti abundances suggest that phlogopite is a residual mineral for most nephelinite, but not alkali basalt mantle sources, and that a sulfide phase and a titanium-rich mineral are in the residual mantle source for both alkali basalts and nephelinites. Small positive Eu anomalies (2–5%) in near primary alkali basalts and nephelinites suggest that the xxx of the mantle sources is 10^?6 to 10^?9 atm. The progressive enrichment of light REE and incompatible elements in the mantle sources for nephelinites and alkali basalts is proposed to result by intrusion of veins of basaltic melt due to very low percentages of melting 1 000 to 3 000 m.y. ago when this part of the deeper mantle was previously involved in convection and partial melting.     

中国东部新生代玄武岩稀土配分的分形结构因子与其它化学组成的相关性

本文提出了稀土配分分形结构因子概念和计算方法。利用这个新方法，计算了中国东部新生代玄武岩中稀土配分的分形结构因子。研究了这些因子与玄武岩主元素、稀土元素、分散元素和同位素之间的关系，并求出了其相关性参数。利用这些参数，求出了两个端元玄武岩的主元素和稀土元素含量；提出了五大莲池地区玄武岩可能与富钾交代地幔部分熔融作用有关，其它玄武岩的形成与软流圈地幔或岩石圈地幔部分熔融有关；玄武岩同位素的比值不仅受玄武岩浆地幔源区本身的特征制约，还可能受地幔岩部分熔融程度的制约。     

Petrology and chemistry of recent lavas in the northern Marianas: Implications for the origin of island arc basalts

Petrologic and chemical data are presented for samples from five volcanically active islands in the northern Marianas group, an intra-oceanic island arc. The data include microprobe analyses of phenocryst and xenolith assemblages, whole rock major and trace element chemistry including REE, and Sr isotope determinations (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7034±0.0001). Quartz-normative basalt and basaltic andesite are the most abundant lava types. These are mineralogically and chemically similar to the mafic products of other intra-oceanic islands arcs. It is suggested, however, that they are not typical of the ‘island arc tholeiitic’ series, having Fe enrichment trends and K/Rb, for example, more typical of calc-alkaline suits. Major and trace element characteristics, and the presence of cumulate xenoliths, indicate that extensive near surface (< 3 Kb) fractionation has occurred. Thus, even least fractionated basalts have low abundances of Mg, Ni and Cr, and high abundances of K and other large cation, imcompatible elements, relative to ocean ridge tholeiites. However, abundances of REE and small cation lithophile elements, such as Ti, Zr, Nb, and Hf are lower than typical ocean ridge tholeiites. The REE data and Sr isotope compositions suggest a purely mantle origin for the Marianas island arc basalts, with negligible input from subducted crustal material. Thus, subduction of oceanic lithosphere may not be a sufficient condition for initiation of island arc magmatism. Intersection of the Benioff zone with an asthenosphere under appropriate conditions may be requisite. Element ratios and abundances, combined with isotopic data, suggest that the source for the Marianas island arc basalts is more chondritic in some respects, and less depleted in large cations than the shallow (?) mantle source for ocean ridge tholeiites.     

REE-fractionated trachytes and dacites from Papua New Guinea and their relationship to andesite petrogenesis

Minor trachyte and dacite temporally associated with, but spatially separated from, arc-trench type volcanoes in Papua New Guinea have distinctive REE abundances similar to experimentally produced and theoretically predicted partial melts of eclogite. However, modelling based on small amounts of equilibrium partial melting indicates that only fractionation involving a garnet-dominated residuum can account for the observed REE patterns if the source rock was subducted oceanic basalt. If the source was geochemically evolved, other mineral phases (e.g., amphibole) are possible in the residuum, and there is no necessity to postulate that the downgoing slab was the source for these magmas. The REE fractionated trachytes and dacites appear to be a part of the nearby late Cenozoic volcanic provinces, and possibly represent minor partial melts which only in unusual tectonic situations arrive unmodified at the Earth's surface.     

六合—仪征第三纪大陆碱性玄武岩微量元素地球化学

本文报道了六合-仪征第三纪大陆碱性玄武岩十八个样品的REE、Rb、Ba、Sr、Nb、Zr、Ni、Cr、V、Sc、Y、Ga、Zn、Cu等痕量元素含量,讨论了该岩套的成因及其地幔源区的特征。石榴石橄榄岩型地幔源区经较小程度部分熔融形成了基性原始岩浆;其后经过橄榄石和单斜辉石为主的结晶分异作用,演化后的岩浆喷出地表形成玄武岩套。本区碱性玄武岩的地幔源区曾受近期富集作用影响,具有富集LREE等不相容元素的特征。     

Mesosiderites and howardites: igneous formation and possible genetic relationships

We report neutron activation data for major, minor and trace elements determined in whole rock howardites and silicates from mesosiderites. Compositions of howardites and mesosiderites are similar, and intermediate between those of eucrites and diogenites. Relative to howardites mean mesosiderite abundances are slightly nearer the diogenites. Literature data indicate that mesosiderites have a higher normative silica component than howardites. It appears that this partly results from a higher content of a highly evolved igneous component, and partly from in situ reduction of FeO to Fe followed by magnetic separation of metal prior to analysis. Removal of a portion of the FeO in this manner yields a higher normative SiO₂ component for the nonmagnetic fraction. Petrographic observations demonstrate the formation of SiO₂ which may have resulted from a combination of various factors including accretion of a reducing agent together with the Fe-Ni metal, extensive reaction during the long cooling period, and catalysis by the finely divided metal.In the mesosiderites Mincy, Lowicz and Veramin the light rare earth elements (REE) are enriched. The resulting REE pattern is qualitatively similar to that in terrestrial basalts thought to have been formed by small degrees of partial melting. Of several partial melting models tested, the best match to the REE patterns is provided by one involving ~2–4% partial melting of a source containing low REE abundances. It appears that the light REE enrichment is not associated with the hypothetical silica enriched igneous phase.Since numerous properties separate mesosiderite silicates from howardites, it is clear that they are not composed of precisely the same material. Whether or not they originated on the same parent body is unresolved. If parent body regoliths were mixed vertically and horizontally on a planet-wide basis, then separate bodies would be required.     

REE characteristics of ocean floor basalts from the MAR 37 °N (Leg 37 DSDP)

On a total of 62 basalt samples from five different sites of Leg 37 DSDP the abundances of the REE La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Yb and Lu have been determined by INAA. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns show a surprising variability even within one single hole. Distribution curves, so far regarded as being typical for abyssal tholeiites have only been found in two of the samples. Most basalts are characterised by an enrichment of the lighter RE over the heavier, the La/Sm enrichment factor varying from 2.0 to 1.0. Several samples exhibit chondritic, i.e. unfractionated patterns. These rocks show the lowest overall enrichment, A few basalts have pronounced positive Eu anomalies and in one case a negative Eu anomaly was found. The extrapolated REE in all basalts is low, lying between 19 and 57.5 ppm. A grouping and correlation of basalt sequences according to their REE patterns is not possible even between two adjacent holes which were drilled only 100 m apart.The data obtained do not support the view that the source effect (RE abundances in the starting material, degree of partial melting etc.), is the dominant factor in determining the RE characteristics of the basalts investigated. It is rather concluded, that the observed RE abundances are strongly affected by fractionation processes in small, shallow-seated magma chambers and that these processes overprinted the original mantle inherited RE patterns. Possibly Ti-magnetite, which has not been taken into consideration in previous models, may be of major importance in this respect.     

On the Origin of High-Alumina Arc Basalt and the Mechanics of Melt Extraction

Most models of high-alumina arc basalt petrogenesis rely heavilyon the supposition that the abundances of certain trace elements,in particular the relatively unfractionated Rare Earth Element(REE) patterns and the unusually high concentrations of K, Rb,Sr, and Ba are incompatible with a garnet-bearing subductedoceanic crustal (quartz eclogite) source rock. We have carefullyexamined this apparently unequivocal evidence in light of recentprogress on the physics of melt extraction and the heat transferand mechanics of magma ascent. The weakest element of all traceelement models involving a quartz eclogite source is the assumptionthat the element concentrations are fixed at the source andonly later modified in the near-surface environment. We expandon such models by monitoring the concentrations of REE and majorand trace elements during initial melting, ascent, and extractionof magma. This is done by combining calculated cooling curvesfor ascending magmatic bodies with high pressure phase equilibria.The amount that each phase contributes to the melt is monitoredalong with the composition of the melt and residual solids.With quartz eclogite, initial melting initiates gravitationalinstability of the entire source material (melt plus solids)before melt extraction can occur. During ascent of this mush,melting increases until the solids can be repacked to free themelt. This extraction takes place some 15–20 km abovethe slab, after about 50 per cent melting, at which point themelt has a pattern of REE and other trace element concentrationsalmost identical to those observed in high-alumina arc basalts,assuming an initial composition equivalent to altered oceaniccrust plus 5 per cent pelagic sediment. Sr abundances are theonly ones which are not well-matched by this process. The majorelement concentrations of the extracted melt also closely matchthose of high-alumina arc basalt. A similar, but less detailedevaluation of both fertile and depleted peridotite source rocksyields good agreement for the REE and other trace element concentrationsassuming a LREE-enriched source rock strongly enriched in K,Rb, Sr, and Ba. Ni, Cr, and Co abundances are satisfied onlythrough substantial low pressure fractionation of mafic phases,in particular olivine. Though not rigorously tested, such aprocess may be compatible with the observed major element concentrationsof high-alumina basalt. However, the experimentally verifiedfact that high-alumina basalts could never have been in equilibriumwith either an olivine-bearing magma or source rock eliminatesthis possibility altogether. Thus, the simultaneous considerationof the mechanics of ascent and melt extraction along with phaseequilibria clearly shows that partial melting of quartz eclogitebest satisfies the chemical constraints of major, trace, andREE characteristics of high-alumina arc basalts.     

Rare earth element–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> systematics of island arc crustal amphibolite migmatites from the Asago body of the Yakuno Ophiolite,Japan: a field evaluation of some model predictions

The two most commonly invoked processes for generating silicic magmas in intra-oceanic arc environments are extended fractional crystallization of hydrous island arc basalt magma or dehydration melting of lower crustal amphibolite. Brophy (Contrib Mineral Petrol 156:337–357, 2008) has proposed on theoretical grounds that, for liquids >~65 wt% SiO₂, dehydration melting should yield, among other features, a negative correlation between rare earth element (REE) abundances and increasing SiO₂, while fractional crystallization should yield a positive correlation. If correct, the REE–SiO₂ systematics of natural systems might be used to distinguish between the two processes. The Permian-age Asago body within the Yakuno Ophiolite, Japan, has amphibolite migmatites that contain felsic veins that are believed to have formed from dehydration melting, thus forming an appropriate location for field verification of the proposed REE–SiO₂ systematics for such a process. In addition to a negative correlation between liquid SiO₂ and REE abundance for liquids in excess of ~65 % SiO₂, another important model feature is that, at very high SiO₂ contents (75–76 %), all of the REE should have abundances less than that of the host rock. Assuming an initial source amphibolite that is slightly LREE-enriched relative to the host amphibolites, the observed REE abundances in the felsic veins fully support all theoretical predictions.     

Trace element model studies of Nyanzian greenstone belts,western Kenya

The Archean greenstone belts of the Nyanzian System in western Kenya are composed principally of andesite with minor tholeiitic basalt and siliceous volcanics. The Nyanzian tholeiite is an intermediate-K tholeiite with a flat REE pattern. There are two chemically-distinct andesites: a low-K andesite (Andesite I) and a high-K andesite (Andesite II). The REE pattern of the Andesite II is enriched in light REE and depleted in heavy REE relative to Andesite I.Major and trace element calculations indicate an origin for the Nyanzian tholeiite by 35–40% equilibrium melting of a lherzolite source followed by 10% shallow fractional crystallization. Similar calculations best explain Andesite I and Andesite II by 20 and 5% melting, respectively, of an ecologite or garnet amphibolite source of Nyanzian tholeiite composition. The rhyolite may have formed either by 20–30% partial melting of a siliceous granulite or by 20–30% fractional crystallization of a granodiorite parent magma.With respect to total exposure areas, the Nyanzian volcanics have significantly less tholeiite and more Andesite and siliceous volcanics than other Archean greenstone belts. If these abundances are representative, two models are proposed to explain the anomalous abundances of Andesite and siliceous volcanics. The first model involves an Archaen upper mantle with a relatively low geothermal gradient beneath Kenya, while the second model involves a relatively cool mantle plume. Both models inhibit ascent of a significant amount of primary tholeiite to the surface and prevent formation of secondary tholeiite. Other Archean greenstone terranes with higher mantle geotherms or hotter mantle plumes would receive higher proportions of mafic and ultramafic magmas.     

A study of rare earth element (REE)–SiO2 variations in felsic liquids generated by basalt fractionation and amphibolite melting: a potential test for discriminating between the two different processes

The origin of felsic magmas (>63% SiO₂) in intra-oceanic arc settings is still a matter of debate. Two very different processes are currently invoked to explain their origin. These include fractional crystallization of basaltic magma and partial melting of lower crustal amphibolite. Because both fractionation and melting can lead to similar major element, trace element and isotopic characteristics in felsic magmas, such lines of evidence have been generally unsuccessful in discriminating between the two processes. A commonly under-appreciated aspect of rare earth element (REE) solid–liquid partitioning behavior is that D _REE for most common igneous minerals (especially hornblende) increase significantly with increasing liquid SiO₂ contents. For some minerals (e.g., hornblende and augite), REE partitioning can change from incomptatible (D < 1) at low liquid SiO₂ to compatible (D > 1) at high liquid SiO₂. When this behavior is incorporated into carefully constrained mass-balance models for mafic (basaltic) amphibolite melting, intermediate (andesitic) amphibolite melting, lower or mid to upper crustal hornblende-present basalt fractionation, and mid to upper crustal hornblende-absent basalt fractionation the following general predictions emerge for felsic magmas (e.g., ∼63 to 76% SiO₂). Partial melting of either mafic or intermediate amphibolite should, regardless of the type of melting (equilibrium, fractional, accumulated fractional) yield REE abundances that remain essentially constant and then decrease, or steadily decrease with increasing liquid SiO₂ content. At high liquid SiO₂ contents LREE abundances should be slightly enriched to slightly depleted (i.e., C _l/C _o ∼ 2 to 0.2) while HREE abundances should be slightly depleted (C _l/C _o ∼ 1 to 0.2). Lower crustal hornblende-bearing basalt fractionation should yield roughly constant REE abundances with increasing liquid SiO₂ and exhibit only slight enrichment (C _l/C _o ∼ 1.2). Mid to upper crustal hornblende-bearing basalt fractionation should yield steadily increasing LREE abundances but constant and then decreasing HREE abundances. At high liquid SiO₂ contents LREE abundances may range from non-enriched to highly enriched (C _l/C _o ∼ 1 to 5) while HREE abundances are generally non-enriched to only slightly enriched (C _l/C _o ∼ 1 to 2). Hornblende-absent basalt fractionation should yield steadily increasing REE abundances with increasing liquid SiO₂ contents. At high SiO₂ contents both LREE and HREE are highly enriched (C _l/C _o ∼ 3 to 4). It is proposed that these model predictions constitute a viable test for determining a fractionation or amphibolite melting origin for felsic magmas in intra-oceanic arc environments where continental crust is absent. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Successive Eruption of Alkaline and Tholeiite Magmas in a Japanese Palaeozoic Geosynclinal Basalt Body with Special Reference to Rare Earth Element Features

Rare-earth element (REE) abundances and major chemical compositionsof six late Palaeozoic geosynclinal basalts at Nakaoku, theKii peninsula, southwest Japan are discussed from the generalviewpoint of geosynclinal basalt magma. The REE patterns ofbasalt samples are smoothly and progressively enriched relativeto Leedey chondrite. The lighter REE are considerably fractionated,whereas concentrations of heaviest REE remain approximatelyconstant. Each fractionation pattern probably corresponds toresidual liquid at different stages during the solidificationof magma in depth. The partition coefficients of REE betweenmagma (i.e. liquid) and crystallizing solid can be calculated,assuming that the partition coefficient of Lu is nearly unity,because the Lu contents show little change among samples. Byusing the REE contents and partition coefficients, solidifiedpercentages for various stages of the magmatic process werecalculated; the percentage shows a good correlation with thesolidification index calculated from major chemical compositions.Some major compositions are also correlative with the solidifiedpercentage calculated from REE data. The Nakaoku basalts when plotted on a silica-alkali diagramshow a change of type from tholeiitic to alkali basalt duringthe solidifying process in depth. These petrochemical aspectsof the Nakaoku basaltic body are compatible with the resultsof experimental melting study at moderate pressures of about10 kb carried out by Green & Ringwood (1967). The spatialcoexistence of tholeiitic and alkali basalt in the Japaneselate Palaeozoic geosyncline found by Sugisaki & Tanaka (1971b)and disclosed here in the Nakaoku basalts, is not uncommon phenomenon.     

Petrology and geochemistry of plagiogranite in the Canyon Mountain ophiolite,Oregon

Plagiogranites in the Canyon Mountain ophiolite, Oregon, include a wide range of rock types ranging from diorite to trondhjemite. The plagiogranites are mostly concentrated as an intrusive sill swarm at the top of a section of gabbroic cumulates. The plagiogranites are typically low in K₂O and high in Na₂O, and are enriched 10–20 times chondrites in REE, and overlap with abundances in basic rocks from Canyon Mountain. All samples of plagiogranite are relatively depleted in LREE, with more silicic samples characterized by a slightly lesser degree of LREE depletion. Total REE content is not consistently correlated with contents of major and other trace elements. Fractional crystallization of basaltic magma may give rise to plagiogranites; however this model applied to Canyon Mountain plagiogranites is discounted because of the significant volume of plagiogranites relative to basic rocks, and the complete overlap of REE abundances of the basic rocks and the plagiogranites. The latter is also a major reason for rejecting the hypothesis of silicate liquid immiscibility in the generation of the plagiogranites. Field observations coupled with major-element and trace element chemistry lend support to a model by which the plagiogranites were produced by partial melting of basic rocks under hydrous conditions. REE data for the plagiogranites were used in calculations to delimit source REE contents. Relevant parameters in the calculations were estimated from experimentally determined phase relations of basalt under hydrous conditions. The resulting calculated source patterns are similar to those of basic rocks in ophiolites and oceanic settings, and suggest boundary conditions for the model. Partial melting as suggested for the Canyon Mountain plagiogranites probably occurred at relatively shallow depths (i.e., total pressures less than 5 kb).     

Diamondiferous eclogites from Yakutia,Siberia: evidence for a diversity of protoliths

Major-element and REE compositions of 14 diamondiferous eclogites from the Udachnaya kimberlite in Yakutia, Siberia have been determined by electron microprobe and secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS). Based on previous clinopyroxene classification schemes (e.g., Taylor and Neal 1989), all of these eclogite xenoliths belong to Group B/C, although some of the garnet compositions and mineral REE abundances are inconsistent with the indicated groups. This demonstrates the inadequacy of the classification scheme based on African eclogites for application to Siberian samples. Because of the coarse grain size of the Udachnaya nodules, meaningful modal abundances could not be obtained. However, reconstructed REE compositions using various garnet: clinopyroxene ratios demonstrate relative insensitivity to changes in mode for common eclogitic assemblages. Many of these reconstructed REE compositions show LREE depletions. Some depletions are consistent with an origin (either directly or through partial melting) as normal or Type-I ocean floor basalt. Others, however, require material of eclogitic or pyroxenitic affinities to undergo partial melting; this facilitates the depletion of LREE while leaving the HREE at nearly original levels. Many of the eclogites of South Africa are consistent with a protolith of anomalous or Type II ocean floor basalt. This fundamental difference between the two regions is the likely cause of the inconsistencies with the chemicallybased classification.     

Carboniferous Bimodal Volcanic Rocks and Their Plate Tectonic Setting,Hainan Island

The Carboniferous volcanic rocks in western Hainan Island consist of a series of oceanic tholeite and rhyoporphyrite,showing bimodal nature.Similar geochemical characters,in terms of abun-daces and relative rations of incompatible elements and REE and the REE patterns,between the basalt and continental rift-associated tholeiite indicate the occurrence of Late Paleozoic rifting in the area.The basaltic magma,with a low degree of evolution,was originated from deep mantle,show-ing contamination by low crustal material.The rhyolite is thought to be formed from partial melting of the continental crust by higher thermal flow in a rift environment rather than from fractional crystallization of a basaltic magma.     

Variation in the geochemistry of mantle sources for tholeiitic and calc-alkaline mafic magmas,Western Sunda volcanic arc,Indonesia

Quaternary lavas of the normal island-arc basalt—andesite—dacite association in the islands of Java and Bali range from those belonging to tholeiitic series over Benioff-zone depths of ～ 150 km to high-K calc-alkaline series over Benioff-zone depths of 250 km. More abundant and diverse calc-alkaline lavas are found over intermediate Benioff-zone depths. On average, basaltic lavas become slightly more alkaline (largely due to increased K contents) with increasing depth to the Benioff zone. Levels of incompatible minor and trace elements (K, Rb, Cs, Ba, Nb, U, Th, light REE) show a corresponding increase of almost an order of magnitude.Low average Mg-numbers (～ 0.52) and Ni and Cr abundances (15–25 and 35–60 ppm, respectively) of basaltic lavas suggest that few lavas representing primary mantle-derived magma compositions are present. Calculated primary basaltic magma compositions for most tholeiitic and calc-alkaline volcanic centres are olivine tholeiites with 15–30% ol. The single high-K calc-alkaline centre considered yielded transitional alkali olivine basalt—basanite primary magma compositions. These calculated magma compositions suggest that the percentage of mantle melting decreases with increasing depth to the Benioff zone (from >25 to <10%), while the corresponding depth of magma separation increases from ～ 30 to 60 km.Calculation of REE patterns for basaltic magmas on the basis of peridotitic mantle sources with spinel lherzolite, amphibole lherzolite or garnet lherzolite mineralogy, and model REE levels of twice chondritic abundances, indicates that change in the conditions of magma genesis alone cannot explain the observed change in light-REE abundances of basaltic lavas with increasing depth to the Benioff zone. Complementary calculations of the REE levels of mantle sources required to yield the average tholeiitic, calc-alkaline and high-K calc-alkaline basaltic magma indicate that light-REE abundances must increase from 2–3 to 7–8 times chondrites with increasing depth to the Benioff zone. The percentages of mantle melting favoured on REE evidence are lower than those indicated by major-element considerations.The observed variation in incompatible element geochemistry of mantle magma sources is thought to be related directly or indirectly to dehydration and partial-melting processes affecting subducted oceanic crust. The possible nature of this relationship is discussed.     

Geochemical aspects of permeability controlled partial melting and fractional crystallization

Magma accumulation in the mantle requires that the mantle be permeable. Experimental investigations show that the permeability threshold first will be attained after a certain degree of partial melting. The influence of the permeability threshold on the composition of partial melts is evaluated using the fayalite-forsterite system as an example. In addition the variation in trace element concentrations are calculated for different distribution coefficients. Primary magmas formed by accumulation when a minimal degree of partial melting is required for permeability display a remarkably small variation in composition up to 30% partial melting. It is suggested from REE abundances that primary tholeiitic magmas have been generated by permeability controlled partial melting. The compositions of the primary magmas generated by permeability controlled partial melting will not differ much from the compositions obtained by batch melting, but the degrees of partial melting will differ for similar compositions.     

Trace Element Geochemistry of Tertiary Continental Alkali Basalts from the Liuhe—Yizheng Area,Jiangsu Province,China

Reported in this paper are the chemical compositions and trace element (REE,Ba,Rb,Sr,Nb,Zr,Ni,Cr,V,Ga,Y,Sc,Zn,Cu,etc)abundances of Tertiary continental alkali basalts from the Liube-yizheng area,Jiangsu Province,China.The olivine basalt,alkali olivine basalt and basanite are all derived from evolved melts which were once af-fected by different degrees of fractional crystallization of olivine and clinopyroxene(1:2)under high pres-sures.The initial melts were derived from the garnet lherzolite-type mantle source through low-degree par-tial melting.The mantle source has been affected by recent mantle-enrichment events(e.g.mantle metasomatism),resulting in incompatible trace element enrichment and long-term depletion of radiogenic isotopic compositions of Sr and Nd.     

Chemical evidence for the genesis of the ureilites, the achondrite Chassigny and the nakhlites

Major element and REE, Cr, Sc, V, Ni, Co, Ir, Au, Sr, Ba abundances were determined in three ureilites and the unique achondrite, Chassigny. Chondritic-normalized REE abundance patterns for the ureilites are v-shaped, similar to pallasites, indicating a possible deep-seated origin. The lithophile trace element abundances and v-shaped REE patterns of the ureilites are consistent with a two-stage formation process, the first of which is an extensive partial melting of chondrite-like matter to yield ureilite precursors in the residual solid, which is enriched in Lu relative to La. The second step consists of an admixture of small and variable amounts of material enriched in the light REE. Such contaminating material may be magmas derived from the first formed melt of partial melting of chondrite-like matter.

In contrast to the ureilites, Chassigny has a chondritic-normalized REE pattern which decreases smoothly from La(1.8 × ) to Lu(0.4 × ) and is parallel to and ˜0.25 × the REE pattern in the nakhlitic achondrites. The composition of the magma from which Chassigny crystallized was highly enriched in the light REE; e.g. chondritic normalized La/Lu ˜ 7. The similarity in the fractionated REE patterns (no Eu anomalies) for the olivine-pyroxene Chassigny and for the nakhlites suggests a genetic relationship.

Siderophile trace element relationships in ureilites can be interpreted by three components: (1) ultramafic silicates enriched in Co relative to Ni, (2) an indigenous metal phase remaining after the partial melting event, and (3) a component of the carbon-rich vein material added after the partial melting.