Source and distribution of lead in the surface sediments from the South China Sea as derived from Pb isotopes

Rapid economic development in East Asian countries has inevitably resulted in environmental degradation in the surrounding seas, and concern for the environment and its protection against pollutants is increasing. Identification of sources of contaminants and evaluation of current environmental status are essential to environmental pollution management, but relatively little has been done in the South China Sea (SCS). In order to investigate the abundance, distribution, and sources of Pb within the SCS, stable Pb isotopes and their ratios were employed to assess the contamination status and to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic origins of Pb in the surface sediments. The total Pb concentrations in sediments varied from 4.18 to 58.7 mg kg⁻¹, with an average concentration of 23.6 ± 8.9 mg kg⁻¹. The observed Pb isotope ratios varied from 18.039 to 19.211 for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 15.228 to 16.080 for ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 37.786 to 39.951 for ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 1.176 to 1.235 for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb, and 2.468 to 2.521 for ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb. The majority of these ratios are similar to those reported for natural detrital materials. Combined with Pb enrichment factor values, our results show that Pb found within most of the SCS sediments was mainly derived from natural sources, and that there was not significant Pb pollution from anthropogenic sources before 1998. Further studies are needed to reconstruct deposition history and for trend analysis.     

Historical record of metal accumulation and lead source in the southeastern coastal region of Korea

Concentrations of heavy metals and Pb isotopes were measured in the 1-M HCl leaching fraction of core sediments spanning the last 400 years. This sedimentary record of pollution history in metal concentrations shows a good correlation with the increases in industrialization, urbanization, and energy consumption since 1901s. Notably, the Pb concentration and the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios were constant before the 1910s (16.7 μg/g, 0.844, and 2.098, respectively), whereas they increased steadily up to 21.9 μg/g, 0.848, and 2.101 after the 1910s. The correlations between Pb isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb) showed different linear regression trends for core sediments before and after the 1910s, indicating differences in Pb sources. Our interpretation suggests that the source of anthropogenic Pb in Korean coastal region and the Yellow Sea shelf was presumed to be Chinese coals or ores, which have also played a major role as sources of atmospheric particulate Pb.     

Lead in blood and eggs of the sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, from the Eastern Pacific: Concentration, isotopic composition and maternal transfer

Concentrations of lead were assessed in the sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, from a nesting colony of the Eastern Pacific. Twenty-five female turtles were sampled and a total of 250 eggs were collected during the “arribada” event of the 2005-2006 season. Considering the nesting season, the maternal transfer of lead (Pb) via egg-laying, in terms of metal burden in whole body, was 0.5%. Pb concentrations (in dry weight) in blood (0.95 ± 0.18 μg g⁻¹) and egg samples (yolk, 0.80 ± 0.10 μg g⁻¹; albumen, 1.08 ± 0.20 μg g⁻¹; eggshell, 1.05 ± 0.20 μg g⁻¹) were comparable or even lower than those found in other sea turtles. The isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁸Pb) in blood (1.183 ± 0.0006 and 2.452 ± 0.0006, respectively) were comparable to that of natural Pb-bearing bedrock in Mexico (1.188 ± 0.005 and 2.455 ± 0.008, respectively). According to international norms of Pb, the health of this population and its habitats is acceptable for Pb and corresponds to basic levels of a nearly pristine environment.     

Stable Pb isotope ratios in aerosols, precipitation, and size-fractionated particulate matter in the Gulf of Maine, Scotian Shelf, and Labrador Sea

Measurements of Pb isotopes in aerosols, precipitation, and size-fractionated particulate matter from the Gulf of Maine, Scotian Shelf and Labrador Sea are used to investigate the source of Pb. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio in aerosols and precipitation collected at New Castle, NH suggests that anthropogenic Pb is a mixture of US and Canadian sources. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios in >53 μm particulate matter from the Gulf of Maine and Scotian Shelf slope waters are consistent with contaminant Pb inputs predominantly from US and Canadian sources, while in shelf waters ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios in >0.4 μm and >53 μm particles are consistent with a mixture of US and Canadian sources, as well as Pb associated with resuspended surface sediment. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios in particulate matter (>0.4 μm, 10-53 μm, and >53 μm) from Labrador Sea surface waters range from 1.165 to 1.211 and are a mixture of Pb derived from ore compositions consistent with Broken Hill, Australia and southeast Missouri, US sources.     

Pb‐isotope compositions of the Tasik Chini volcanic‐hosted massive sulfide deposit,Central Belt of Peninsular Malaysia: Implication for source region and tectonic setting

Lead isotope data of sulfides and host volcanic rocks from the Bukit Botol and Bukit Ketaya deposits, the two representative deposits of the Tasik Chini volcanic‐hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposit, Central Belt of Peninsular Malaysia, are reported. Lead isotope compositions of the associated sulfide minerals and volcanic rocks from the Bukit Botol deposit exhibit homogeneous and less radiogenic values (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb showing a range of composition from 18.14 to 18.20, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb between 15.52 and 15.59 and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb from 37.96 to 38.35). Similarly, the Pb isotopic compositions of the host volcanic rocks from the Bukit Ketaya deposit yielded a narrow range to those of the sulfide samples (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb from 18.04 to 18.20, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb between 15.43 and 15.57 and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 37.96 to 38.30). The uniform Pb‐isotope compositions of the sulfides in the ore horizon and the host volcanic rocks from both deposits suggest a derivation from a similar source reservoir and mineralization processes. In the framework of the tectonic model for the Central Belt of Peninsular Malaysia, both deposits display a range of lead isotopic compositions originated from mixing of bulk crust/juvenile arc and minor mantle sources, which are typical for VHMS deposits in an island arc–back arc setting.     

Mantle source compositions of the Paraná Magmatic Province (southern Brazil): evidence from trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope geochemistry

An integrated study based on incompatible trace elements and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopes is presented in order to assess the mantle sources involved in the genesis of the Paraná Magmatic Province (PMP) tholeiites. Particular emphasis is given to 33 new Pb isotope and concentration data obtained in representative samples of low-TiO₂ (LTiB) and high-TiO₂ (HTiB) flood basalts that occur in the province. Results show important differences with respect to type and location of these rocks. The LTiB and HTiB from northern PMP exhibit very similar initial Pb isotope ratios (average LTiB vs HTiB: ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i=17.78±0.03 vs 17.65±0.02; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i=15.53±0.01 vs 15.52±0.01; ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i=38.12±0.03 vs 38.05±0.04). The LTiB from southern PMP, with initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i≤0.7060, show small variation in initial Pb isotope compositions (average ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i=18.20±0.07; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i=15.61±0.01; ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i=38.32±0.10), which are highly enriched in radiogenic Pb in comparison to the northern PMP analogues. The HTiB from southern PMP have initial Pb isotope ratios (average ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i=17.45±0.09; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i=15.50±0.01; ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i=37.89±0.03) slightly less radiogenic compared with the HTiB from northern PMP. The data cover a large range of isotope compositions, which are accompanied by systematic changes in incompatible trace element ratios and Sr–Nd isotopes, indicating contributions from different mantle sources. The remarkable chemical and isotope differences between PMP basalts, N-MORB and Tristan da Cunha least evolved volcanics indicate that these asthenospheric sources did not play a significant role in the basalt genesis, suggesting generation from the melting of heterogeneous lithospheric mantle sources. The close similarity between the radiogenic isotopes of the Cretaceous carbonatites that surround the PMP and those of the HTiB rock-types and the LTiB from the northern Paraná suggests the involvement of the same mantle components in their genesis: a dominant EMI end member and a radiogenic isotope enriched component of EMII-type, as some phlogopite-peridotite mantle xenoliths (Japecanga) from the Alto Paranaíba Igneous Province. The latter component seems also to have an important role in the origin of the LTiB from the southern Paraná, where the other end member is highly depleted in radiogenic lead similar to DMM.     

Geochemistry of a new enriched mantle type locality in the northern hemisphere: Implications for the origin of the EM-I source

Late Cretaceous (66.2 ± 0.5 Ma amphibole and 66.7 ± 0.2 Ma phlogopite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages) nephelinitic volcanic rocks from Godzilla Seamount in the eastern North Atlantic (34°N latitude) have trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf-isotope compositions similar to the Enriched Mantle I (EM-I) endmember, except for their low ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb relative to ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_in = 17.7, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_in = 15.34) plotting below the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line on the uranogenic Pb isotope diagram. O isotope data on amphibole separates are mantle-like (δ¹⁸O = 5.6–5.8‰). Age and location of the isolated Godzilla Seamount, however, preclude it from being derived from the Madeira or Canary hotspots, making a lower-mantle origin unlikely. Therefore we propose derivation from a shallow (lithospheric/asthenospheric) melting anomaly. As observed in mid-ocean-ridge and ocean-island basalts, there is a systematic decrease of ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios (and Δ7/4) in the individual EM-I endmember type localities towards northern latitudes with Godzilla lying on the extension of this trend. This trend is mirrored in ultra-potassic volcanic rocks such as lamproites and kimberlites, which reflect the composition of enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Therefore, a global pattern in ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios and Δ7/4 is suggested. The geochemical composition of EM-I endmember type localities, including Godzilla lavas, and the enriched (DUPAL) anomaly in the southern hemisphere could reflect derivation from ancient, metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle. We propose a two-stage model to explain the trace element and isotopic composition of the EM-I mantle endmember localities worldwide: 1) during the early history of the Earth, subcontinental lithosphere was metasomatized by melts from subducted slabs along convergent margins generating high μ (²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb) sources, and 2) as the Earth cooled, hydrous fluids replaced hydrous melts as the main slab component metasomatizing the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (generating EM-I sources with lower μ). In accordance with this model, the global variations in ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios and Δ7/4 could reflect geographic differences in μ and/or the age at which the transition from stages 1 to 2 took place in the Archaean lithosphere. The model would require a re-definition of the EM-I endmember to low ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, high ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (positive Δ8/4) but variable ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (positive and negative Δ7/4).     

Lead concentrations and isotopes in aerosols from Xiamen, China

To investigate the magnitude and origin of lead (Pb) pollution in the atmosphere of Xiamen, China, 40 aerosol samples were collected from the coast of Xiamen from January to December 2003. All these samples were measured for Pb isotopic compositions (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb = 2.10897 ± 0.00297, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb = 0.85767 ± 0.00159, n = 40) using a Multi-collector-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). Thirty-five out of forty samples were also measured for Pb concentrations (79.1 ± 38.3 ng/m³, n = 35) by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results indicate that the Pb concentrations display significant seasonal variations while Pb isotopic ratios remain relatively constant. The Pb concentrations were high in January and February, abruptly decreased in March, remained relatively constant (but low) from April to August, and then gradually increased from September to December. This corresponds to the rainless climate in winter and rain scavenging in summer. The higher Pb concentration of Xiamen aerosols in winter and spring may be also caused by long-range transferred anthropogenic Pb during the northeastern monsoon seasons. Although the use of leaded gasoline in Xiamen was banned in 2000, our new data indicate that the Pb annual concentrations of aerosols in Xiamen increased about 12% when compared to the data measured between 1991 and 1993. Thus, Pb pollution in the atmosphere of Xiamen has not receded even after the phase-out of leaded gasoline. Our results further confirm the previous studies’ conclusion that the primary source of atmospheric Pb in China, especially in South China, is the vast combustion of lead-containing coal, not leaded gasoline.     

Temporal evolution of lead isotope ratios in sediments of the Central Portuguese Margin: A fingerprint of human activities

Stable Pb isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb), ²¹⁰Pb, Pb, Al, Ca, Fe, Mn and Si concentrations were measured in 7 sediment cores from the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula to assess the Pb contamination throughout the last 200 years. Independently of their locations, all cores are characterized by increasing Pb/Al rends not related to grain-size changes. Conversely, decreasing trends of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb were found towards the present. This tendency suggest a change in Pb sources reflecting an increased proportion derived from anthropogenic activities. The highest anthropogenic Pb inventories for sediments younger than 1950s were found in the two shallowest cores of Cascais and Lisboa submarine canyons, reflecting the proximity of the Tagus estuary. Lead isotope signatures also help demonstrate that sediments contaminated with Pb are not constrained to estuarine–coastal areas and upper parts of submarine canyons, but are also to transferred to a lesser extent to deeper parts of the Portuguese Margin.     

Anthropogenic lead concentrations and sources in Baltic Sea sediments based on lead isotopic composition

The Gulf of Gdańsk is influenced by heavy metals of anthropogenic origin. In this study, temporal concentration changes of Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cu were studied in six, 50 cm long sediment cores. The main aim of the study was to concentrate on the history of Pb fluxes and Pb isotopic composition (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb) to trace Pb sources. The lowest Pb concentrations (19 μg g⁻¹) were measured in sediments deposited circa 1860, while the highest Pb concentrations (63–147 μg g⁻¹) were measured in sediments deposited between 1960s and 70s. Pre-industrial Pb fluxes were 7 Pb m² year⁻¹, while after WWII they reached 199 Pb m² year⁻¹. Highest ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios (∼1.22) were measured in the oldest sediment layers, and the lowest ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios (∼1.165) were measured in the sediments deposited in 1970s–90s. During the period of highest Pb contamination, the anthropogenic Pb fraction reached up to 93%. A general discussion of the Pb sources, emissions, and loads for Poland is included.     

The age of SNC meteorites and the antiquity of the Martian surface

We report new Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf, and Pb-Pb mineral and whole-rock isotope data for the basaltic shergottite Zagami, as well as Pb-Pb whole-rock isotope data for the basaltic shergottite Los Angeles, the lherzolitic shergottite Dar-al-Gani 476 (DaG 476), and the clinopyroxenite Nakhla. In agreement with previous findings, our new Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf mineral ages on the Martian meteorite Zagami are young (155 and 185 Ma, respectively). The ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb-²⁰⁴Pb/²⁰⁶Pb compositions of the insoluble fractions of shergottites (Zagami, Los Angeles, and literature data for Shergotty and EETA79001) form an excellent alignment indicative of a 4.0 Ga crystallization age. The range of Pb isotope compositions observed in the leachates of these samples attests to negligible contamination of the shergottites by terrestrial Pb and argues against mixing relationships. The age of 4.048 ± 0.017 Ga (MSWD = 1.5) provided by the Pb isotope compositions of the Zagami whole-rock and residues is therefore taken to date the crystallization of this rock, which, so far, was believed to be only ∼ 180 Ma old. Based on this result, we argue that the lithosphere of Mars is extremely old and that most mineral ages were reset recently by acidic aqueous solutions percolating through the Martian surface. This interpretation is consistent with photographic interpretations of erosional features on Mars. It also relieves the constraint imposed by the presence of anomalies of ¹⁴²Nd and ¹⁸²W (both products of extinct radioactive nuclides) that the Martian mantle should have preserved primordial isotopic heterogeneities, thus allowing for the planet interior to be actively convecting.     

Lead and strontium isotopes in Cretaceous kimberlites and mantle-derived xenoliths from Southern Africa

Concentrations of lead, uranium and thorium and isotopic compositions of lead are reported for twelve Cretaceous kimberlites and five Cretaceous nucleated autoliths. The samples are from Lesotho and from the area around Kimberley (Cape Province, South Africa). In the case of the autoliths potassium, rubidium and strontium concentrations and⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios were also measured.Work reported on clinopyroxenes from mantle-derived xenoliths in kimberlites includes lead isotopes for twelve samples and strontium isotopes for nine of these.The autoliths have initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios between 0.7035 and 0.7095. A large spread in initial lead isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 17.6–20;²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 37.7–39.5) was found in the matrix kimberlites and autoliths. In the²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb vs.²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb plot, the initial lead isotope ratios of the kimberlite and autolith samples roughly define a slope of 0.10, corresponding to an age of 1575 m.y. With respect to the spread of initial ratios as well as with respect to this slope, the kimberlite and autolith lead isotopic pattern is comparable to patterns obtained from carbonatites and ocean island volcanics.The xenoliths studied include coarse-granular and porphyroclastic material from the Kimberley area and coarse-granular samples from Lesotho. Their⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are generally between 0.704 and 0.706 but a value of 0.713 was found in one sample. They show a surprisingly large spread in lead isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 17.5–20;²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 37.3–39.4).The isotopic patterns of the xenolithic material and of the kimberlites and autoliths are considered to provide a strong indication that the upper mantle beneath Southern Africa is isotopically heterogeneous on a regional scale.     

Pb isotope geochemistry of lead,zinc, gold and silver deposit clustered region,Liaodong rift zone,northeastern China

As one of the important deposit-clustered regionsof China, the Liaodong (eastern Liaoning Province)rift zone contains many large lead, zinc, gold, boron,magnesite and talc ore deposits with a long mininghistory. Recently, large-scale Xiaotongjiapuzi gold andGaojiapuzi silver deposits were discovered in the re-gion. Much work on the origin of these deposits hasbeen carried out, however, the discrepancy on the ageand the metal source of the deposits still rem- discu…     

Mantle plume heterogeneity versus shallow-level interactions: A case study,the São Nicolau Island,Cape Verde archipelago

We present new Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic data, as well as major- and trace-element concentrations, for 19 basaltic samples from São Nicolau Island, Cape Verde archipelago. Fine-scale study of the island argues in favor of mixing between four endmembers to explain isotopic variations of collected samples: 1) a radiogenic endmember (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ~ 0.7034; ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ~ 0.51285; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ~ 20.0; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ~ 15.65; ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ~ 39.8) representative of the Cape Verde plume deep source; 2) an unradiogenic endmember having isotopic compositions resembling those of Atlantic MORB dredged at the same latitude; 3) a low Sr–high Nd and Pb endmember identified as the Jurassic MORB basement of the archipelago; and 4) São Vicente-like Cape Verde carbonatites. Compositional and isotopic results show that most of the measured variations can be related to mixing of plume-derived melts with shallow-level reservoirs. Therefore the source heterogeneity of the Cape Verde plume is much smaller than the one sampled in basaltic samples. This observation illustrates how caution is required when interpreting global OIB data in terms of mantle topology without filtering from the contribution of shallow-level reservoirs.     

Pb-isotopic compositions of volcanic rocks in the West and East Philippine island arcs: presence of the Dupal isotopic anomaly

The Philippine islands are situated between two oppositely dipping zones of seismicity. With the exception of a few areas, such as in the west central Philippines where the North Palawan continental terrane (NPCT) has collided with the archipelago, these seismic zones are well defined to depths of 200 km. Active volcanic chains overlay segments in each of these zones, suggesting that subduction is presently taking place both east and west of the islands. Lavas we have studied are thus divided between what has been termed the West Philippine arc and the East Philippine arc.West Philippine arc volcanic rocks which were extruded before the Philippine archipelago collided with the NPCT, or which are younger than the collision but crop out hundreds of kilometers from the collision zone, and all but one of the rocks from the East Philippine arc fall in the MORB field on²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb versus²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb covariation diagrams. This is surprising considering the frequency with which arc materials have²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios higher than those of MORB, the highBa/REE and Sr/REE ratios in the lavas and the possibility of sediment subduction given the small accretionary prisms. All of these rocks have high²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios with respect to Pacific and Atlantic Ocean MORB, but are similar to Indian Ocean MORB and IOB. Thus the Philippines consist of island arcs with the peculiar Dupal isotopic anomaly documented between 0° and 60°S in the southern hemisphere and particularly in the Indian Ocean region. This demonstrates that the Dupal isotopic anomaly is not restricted to the southern hemisphere, or to MORB and OIB.Post-collision rocks cropping out near the NPCT, in the West Philippine arc, have elevated²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios that could be attributed to assimilation of the newly introduced continental crust (NPCT) by mantle-derived magmas or to the addition of a sedimentary component to mantle-derived magmas.     

Lead isotopic evidence for evolutionary changes in magma-crust interaction,Central Andes,southern Peru

Lead isotopic measurements were made on Andean igneous rocks of Jurassic to Recent age in Moquegua and Tacna Departments, southernmost Peru, to clarify the petrogenesis of the rocks and, in particular, to investigate the effect of crustal thickness on rock composition. This location in the Cordillera Occidental is ideal for such a study because the ca. 2 Ga Precambrian basement rocks (Arequipa massif) have a distinct Pb isotopic signature which is an excellent tracer of crustal interaction, and because geomorphological research has shown that the continental crust was here thickened drastically in the later Tertiary.Seven samples of quartz diorites and granodiorites from the Ilo and Toquepala intrusive complexes, and seven samples of Toquepala Group subaerial volcanics were analyzed for Pb isotopic compositions. The plutonic rocks range in age from Jurassic to Eocene; the volcanic rocks are all Late Cretaceous to Eocene. With one exception, the Pb isotopic ratios are in the ranges ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 18.52–18.75, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 15.58–15.65, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 38.53–38.74. The data reflect very little or no interaction with old continental material of the Arequipa massif type.Lead from four Miocene Huaylillas Formation ash-flow tuffs, two Pliocene Capillune Formation andesites and five Quaternary Barroso Group andesites has lower ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb than that in the pre-Miocene rocks, but relatively high ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 18.16–18.30, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 15.55–15.63, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 38.45–38.90). Tilton and Barreiro [9] have shown that contamination by Arequipa massif granulites can explain the isotopic composition of the Barosso Group lavas, and the new data demonstrate that this effect is evident, to varying degrees, in all the analysed Neogene volcanic rocks. The initial incorporation of such basement material into the magma coincided with the Early Miocene uplift of this segment of the Cordillera Occidental [32], and thus with the creation of a thick crustal root. The data strongly imply a relationship between crustal thickness and degree of crustal contamination of magmas in this area, but a rigorous relationship is not yet established.     

Pb,Hf and Nd isotope compositions of the two Réunion volcanoes (Indian Ocean): A tale of two small-scale mantle “blobs”?

Pb, Hf, Nd and Sr isotopes of basaltic lavas from the two Réunion Island volcanoes are reported in order to examine the origin of the sources feeding these volcanoes and to detect possible changes through time. Samples, chosen to cover the whole lifetime of the two volcanoes (from 2 Ma to present), yield a chemically restricted (compared to OIB lavas) but complex distribution. Réunion plume isotopic characteristics have been defined on the basis of the composition of uncontaminated shield-building lavas from the Piton de la Fournaise volcano. The average ?_Nd, ?_Hf, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb isotope ratios calculated for this component are + 4.4, + 9.1, 0.70411, 18.97, 15.59 and 39.03, respectively. In Pb–Pb isotope space, each volcano defines a distinct linear trend but slight variations are also detected within the various volcanic sequences. The Piton des Neiges volcano yields a distinct and significantly more scattered isotopic distribution than Piton de la Fournaise for both Pb, Hf and Nd isotope tracers. A principal component analysis of the Pb isotope data from Piton de la Fournaise reveals a major contribution of the C and EM-1 components (with a clear Dupal flavor) as main components for the modern Réunion plume. The same components have been identified for Piton des Neiges but with a stronger participation of a depleted mantle component and a weaker EM-1 contribution. The compositional change of the lavas erupted by the Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise volcanoes is attributed to the impingement of two small-scale blobs of plume material at the base of the Réunion lithosphere. Compared to other hot-spots worldwide, in particular Hawaii and Kerguelen, magmas beneath Réunion are generated from a considerably more homogeneous, compositionally more primitive plume higher in ²⁰⁶Pb. Although shallow-level contamination processes have been locally detected they did not alter significantly the composition of the plume magmas. This is tentatively attributed to mantle dynamics producing small, high-velocity blobs that ascend rapidly through the lithosphere, and to the lack of a well-developed magma chamber at depth in the lithosphere.     

The origin of Samoa: new evidence from Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes

We report Sr, Nd and Pb isotope ratios and parent and daughter element concentrations in 34 volcanic rocks from Samoa. The highly undersaturated post-erosional volcanics, which have erupted in Recent to Historic time along a 250-km-long fissure, have isotopic compositions that define fields distinct from those of the tholeiitic to alkalic lavas of the older Samoan shield volcanoes. Most shield lavas have²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 18.9–19.4,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7045–0.7055 and⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (to 0.7075). In general, isotopic compositions of the shield lavas are similar to those of the Marquesas and Society Islands. Post-erosional samples have lower²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and higher⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr than most shield lavas. The most striking feature of the post-erosional data is a negative correlation between²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb. This suggests that post-erosional lavas are derived from mixtures of the shield source and a high-²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, low-²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd post-erosional source which may contain recycled ancient sediment. This enriched mantle domain may also underlie the Ontong-Java and Manihiki Plateaus to the north and west. Although both the Samoan shield and post-erosional lavas show chemical characteristics often associated with mantle plumes, only the shield volcanism can plausibly be related to a plume. The post-erosional eruptions appear to be the result of flexure and rifting due to plate bending at the northern termination of the Tonga Trench.     

Deep structure and lithospheric shear faults in the East Kunlun-Qiangtang region,northern Tibetan Plateau

The Cenozoic magmatic rocks of shoshonitic series in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau include potassic alkaline plutonic rocks, volcanic rocks, lamprophyres and acidic porphyries. Analytical results show that these different lithological rocks are extremely similar in Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions with the range of 0.705 187– 0.707 254 for⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, 0.512 305–0.512 630 for¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, 18.53–18.97 for²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 15.51–15.72 for²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and 38.38–39.24 for²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb. They are isotopically similar to the EMII end-member. This indicates that mantle metasomatism must have taken place in their source region. The formation of these particular rocks is related to crustal thinning and mantle upwelling in a large-scale strike-slip and pull-apart fault zone at about 40 Ma in northern and eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau