Aqueous fluids derived from a subducting slab: Observed high 3He emanation and conductive anomaly in a non-volcanic region,Kii Peninsula southwest Japan

It has long been recognized that the Kii Peninsula in the southwest Japan arc is peculiar in a non-volcanic region, indicated by the presence of high temperature hot springs, high terrestrial heat flow and high ³He content in hot spring gases. Geophysical and geochemical studies were carried out to understand the geotectonic environment in the southern part of the Kii Peninsula. Most of the measured ³He / ⁴He ratios are similar or higher than air, indicating wide spread incorporation of mantle-derived helium into meteoric water. A region with rather high ³He / ⁴He ratios (> 4 R_A) on the west side of the Omine Mountains coincides with the occurrence of high temperature hot springs. A deep crustal resistivity structure across the Omine Mountains was imaged by wide-band magnetotelluric soundings. A 2-D inversion with N–S strike using both TM and TE modes reveals two conductors, one in the upper (3–7 km depth) and the other in lower crust (25–35 km depth) to the west of the Omine Mountains. The distribution of microearthquakes and low-frequency tremors, and the existence of seismic reflectors indicate that the large conductor in the lower crust is related to aqueous fluids derived from the Philippine Sea plate. The upper-crustal conductive zone may also reflect the aqueous fluids trapped in the upper crust, which are presumably derived from the subducting slab. Considering the occurrence of seismic events in the subducting slab beneath the southern Kii Peninsula, the aqueous fluids generated by dehydration of the slab mantle could plausibly include MORB-type helium derived from the residual lithospheric mantle. Therefore, the high temperature hot springs and high ³He emanations in hot spring gases and other geotectonic events in the southern Kii Peninsula may be due to heat flux and mantle-derived helium discharged from aqueous fluid in the upper crust.     

Mantle-derived carbon in Hercynian granites. Stable isotopes signatures and C/He associations in the thermomineral waters,N-Portugal

Na–HCO₃–CO₂-rich thermomineral waters issue in the N of Portugal, within the Galicia-Trás-os-Montes region, linked to a major NNE-trending fault, the so-called Penacova-Régua-Verin megalineament. Along this tectonic structure different occurrences of CO₂-rich thermomineral waters are found: Chaves hot waters (67 °C) and also several cold (16.1 °C) CO₂-rich waters. The δ²H and δ¹⁸O values of the thermomineral waters are similar to those of the local meteoric waters. The chemical composition of both hot and cold mineral waters suggests that water–rock reactions are mainly controlled by the amount of dissolved CO₂ (g) rather than by the water temperature. Stable carbon isotope data indicate an external CO₂ inorganic origin for the gas. δ¹³C_CO2 values ranging between ? 7.2‰ and ? 5.1‰ are consistent with a two-component mixture between crustal and mantle-derived CO₂. Such an assumption is supported by the ³He/⁴He ratios measured in the gas phase, are between 0.89 and 2.68 times the atmospheric ratio (Ra). These ratios which are higher than that those expected for a pure crustal origin (≈ 0.02 Ra), indicating that 10 to 30% of the He has originated from the upper mantle. Release of deep-seated fluids having a mantle-derived component in a region without recent volcanic activity indicates that extensive neo-tectonic structures originating during the Alpine Orogeny are still active (i.e., the Chaves Depression).     

Primitive neon and helium isotopic compositions of high-MgO basalts from the Kerguelen Archipelago,Indian Ocean

The geochemical characteristics of mildly alkalic basalts (24–25 Ma) erupted in the southeastern Kerguelen Archipelago are considered to represent the best estimate for the composition of the enriched Kerguelen plume end-member. A recent study of picrites and high-MgO basalts from this part of the archipelago highlighted the Pb and Hf isotopic variations and suggested the presence of mantle heterogeneities within the Kerguelen plume itself. We present new helium and neon isotopic compositions for olivines from these picrites and high-MgO basalts (6–17 wt.% MgO) both to constrain the enriched composition of the Kerguelen plume and to determine the origin of isotopic heterogeneities involved in the genesis of Kerguelen plume-related basalts. The olivine phenocrysts have extremely variable ⁴He / ³He compositions between MORB and primitive values observed in OIB (∼90,000 to 40,000; i.e., R / R_a ∼8 to 18) and they show primitive neon isotopic ratios (average ²¹Ne / ²¹Ne_ext ∼0.044). The neon isotopic systematics and the ⁴He / ³He ratios that are lower than MORB values for the Kerguelen basalts clearly suggest that the Kerguelen hotspot belongs to the family of primitive hotspots, such as Iceland and Hawaii. The rare gas signature for the Kerguelen samples, intermediate between MORB and solar, is apparently inconsistent with mixing of a primitive component with a MORB-like source, but may result from sampling a heterogeneous part of the mantle with solar ³He / ²²Ne and with a higher (U, Th) / ³He ratio compared to typically high R / R_a hotspot basalts such as those from Iceland and Hawaii.     

Elasticity of antigorite,seismic detection of serpentinites,and anisotropy in subduction zones

Serpentinization of the mantle wedge is an important process that influences the seismic and mechanical properties in subduction zones. Seismic detection of serpentines relies on the knowledge of elastic properties of serpentinites, which thus far has not been possible in the absence of single-crystal elastic properties of antigorite. The elastic constants of antigorite, the dominant serpentine at high-pressure in subduction zones, were measured using Brillouin spectroscopy under ambient conditions. In addition, antigorite lattice preferred orientations (LPO) were determined using an electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD) technique. Isotropic aggregate velocities are significantly lower than those of peridotites to allow seismic detection of serpentinites from tomography. The isotropic V_P/V_S ratio is 1.76 in the Voigt–Reuss–Hill average, not very different from that of 1.73 in peridotite, but may vary between 1.70 and 1.86 between the Voigt and Reuss bonds. Antigorite and deformed serpentinites have a very high seismic anisotropy and remarkably low velocities along particular directions. V_P varies between 8.9 km s^? 1 and 5.6 km s^? 1 (46% anisotropy), and 8.3 km s^? 1 and 5.8 km s^? 1 (37%), and V_S between 5.1 km s^? 1 and 2.5 km s^? 1 (66%), and 4.7 km s^? 1 and 2.9 km s^? 1 (50%) for the single-crystal and aggregate, respectively. The V_P/V_S ratio and shear wave splitting also vary with orientation between 1.2 and 3.4, and 1.3 and 2.8 for the single-crystal and aggregate, respectively. Thus deformed serpentinites can present seismic velocities similar to peridotites for wave propagation parallel to the foliation or lower than crustal rocks for wave propagation perpendicular to the foliation. These properties can be used to detect serpentinite, quantify the amount of serpentinization, and to discuss relationships between seismic anisotropy and deformation in the mantle wedge. Regions of high V_P/V_S ratios and extremely low velocities in the mantle wedge of subduction zones (down to about 6 and 3 km.s^?1 for V_P and V_S, respectively) are difficult to explain without strong preferred orientation of serpentine. Local variations of anisotropy may result from kilometer-scale folding of serpentinites. Shear wave splittings up to 1–1.5 s can be explained with moderately thick (10–20 km) serpentinite bodies.     

Characterization of the crust of the Coast Mountains Batholith,British Columbia,from P to S converted seismic waves and petrologic modeling

The late Triassic to early Tertiary Coast Mountains Batholith (CMB) of British Columbia provides an ideal locale to study the processes whereby accreted terranes and subduction-related melts interact to form stable continental crust of intermediate to felsic composition and complementary ultramafic residuals. Seismic measurements, combined with calculated elastic properties of various CMB rock compositions, provide a window into the deep-crustal lithologies that are key to understanding the processes of continental growth and evolution. We use a combination of seismic observations and petrologic modeling to construct hypothetical crustal sections at representative locations across the CMB, then test the viability of these sections via forward modeling with synthetic seismic data. The compositions that make up our petrologic forward models are based on calculations using the free energy minimization program Perple_X to predict mineral assemblages at depth for the bulk compositions of exposed plutonic rocks collected in the study area. Seismic data were collected along two transects in west-central British Columbia: a southern line that crossed the CMB near the town of Bella Coola (near 52° N), and a northern line centered on the towns of Terrace and Kitimat (near 54° N). Along both transects, seismic receiver functions reveal high V_p/V_s ratios near the Insular/Intermontane terrane boundary and crustal thickness increasing from 26 ± 3 km to 34 ± 3 km (at the 1 sigma certainty level) from west to east across the Coast Shear Zone (CSZ). On the southern line, we observe an anomalous region of complex receiver functions and diminished Moho signals beneath the central portion of the CMB. Our petrologic and seismic profiles show that observed seismic data from much of the CMB can be well-matched in terms of crustal thickness and structure, average V_p/V_s, and amplitude of the Moho converted phase, without including ultramafic residual material in the lower crust.     

Crustal velocity structure in the southern edge of the Central Alborz (Iran)

Inversion of local earthquake travel times and joint inversion of receiver functions and Rayleigh wave group velocity measurements were used to derive a simple model for the velocity crustal structure beneath the southern edge of the Central Alborz (Iran), including the seismically active area around the megacity of Tehran. The P and S travel times from 115 well-located earthquakes recorded by a dense local seismic network, operated from June to November 2006, were inverted to determine a 1D velocity model of the upper crust. The limited range of earthquake depths (between 2 km and 26 km) prevents us determining any velocity interfaces deeper than 25 km. The velocity of the lower crust and the depth of the Moho were found by joint inversion of receiver functions and Rayleigh wave group velocity data. The resulting P-wave velocity model comprises an upper crust with 3 km and 4 km thick sedimentary layers with P wave velocities (V_p) of ～5.4 and ～5.8 km s^?1, respectively, above 9 km and 8 km thick layers of upper crystalline crust (V_p ～6.1 and ～6.25 km s^?1 respectively). The lower crystalline crust is ～34 km thick (V_p ～ 6.40 km s^?1). The total crustal thickness beneath this part of the Central Alborz is 58 ± 2 km.     

Cosmogenic 3He exposure ages and geochemistry of basalts from Ascension Island,Atlantic Ocean

The chronology and origin of volcanism of Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean, is poorly resolved. Here we use in situ produced cosmogenic ³He in olivine and pyroxene phenocrysts from well-preserved lava flows to date the main sub-aerial basalt volcanism on the island. Etching olivine separates in HF/HNO₃ appears to remove a significant proportion of the implanted radiogenic ⁴He contribution. Average exposure ages of each flow corrected for radiogenic He range from 328 ka to 186 ka and are used to refine the chronology and stratigraphy of the island. Magmatic ³He/⁴He ratios derived from in vacuo crushing are in the range of 6.3–7.3 R_A. This range is lower than the neighbouring Mid-Atlantic Ridge segment (6–8°S) but slightly higher than measured in regional ocean islands of St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Gough. Combining these data with new trace element data and published radiogenic isotope ratios it appears that the Ascension Island magmatism is a mix of HIMU mantle material, typified by basalts from St. Helena, and depleted MORB-source mantle.     

Dynamics of a spherical viscoelastic shell: Implications to a criterion for fragmentation/expansion of bubbly magma

This paper investigates dynamics of a spherical bubble surrounded by a viscoelastic fluid. The purpose of the study is to understand the parameters which control expansion and fragmentation of bubbly magma by decompression. In particular, we focus on which occurs first, fragmentation or expansion. Supposing that rupture of the bubble wall occurs in a critical stress condition, we calculate the change of the bubble radius and tensile stress at the bubble wall for various decompression rates. Conditions in which tensile stress is stored in the shell are represented in terms of dimensionless parameters. The results are interpreted as follows: when magma viscosity is larger than a critical value, and the decompression time is shorter than viscous expansion time, tensile stress is stored before expansion; when magma viscosity is smaller than the critical value, tensile stress is not stored, no matter how rapid the decompression. Although it is a generally accepted theory that fragmentation is effected by stress conditions and decompression time, exactly how decompression time (t₁) effects the fragmentation is not yet fully understood. This study demonstrates that the stress condition is controlled by the length of the decompression time not relative to the viscoelastic relaxation time (t₁ / τ), but relative to the viscous expansion time (t₁ / τ^l_rlx). As suggested by recent experimental studies, the decompression time relative to viscoelastic relaxation time (t₁ / τ) is also significant to the fragmentation process itself. It indicates that the decompression time effects the fragmentation not through the stress condition. However more work must be completed to fully understand the particular relationship between the decompression time and relaxation time in terms of its influence on fragmentation.     

New constraints on the HIMU mantle from neon and helium isotopic compositions of basalts from the Cook–Austral Islands

High ⁴He/³He ratios of 100 000 to 160 000 found at HIMU ocean islands (“high μ,” where μ is the U/Pb ratio) are usually attributed to the presence of recycled oceanic crust in the HIMU mantle source. However, significantly higher ⁴He/³He ratios are expected in recycled crust after residence in the mantle for periods greater than 1 Ga. In order to better understand the helium isotopic signatures in HIMU basalts, we have measured helium and neon isotopic compositions in a suite of geochemically well-characterized basalts from the Cook–Austral Islands. We observe ⁴He/³He ratios ranging from 56 000 to 141 000, suggesting the involvement of mantle reservoirs both more and less radiogenic than the mantle source for mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs). In addition, we find that the neon isotopic compositions of HIMU lavas extend from the MORB range to compositions less nucleogenic than MORBs. The Cook-Austral HIMU He–Ne isotopic compositions, along with Sr, Nd, Pb, and Os isotopic compositions, indicate that in addition to recycled crust, a relatively undegassed mantle end-member (e.g., FOZO) is involved in the genesis of these basalts. The association of relatively undegassed mantle material with recycled crust provides an explanation for the close geographical association between HIMU lavas and EM (enriched mantle)-type lavas from this island chain: EM-type signatures represent a higher mixing proportion of relatively undegassed mantle material. Mixing between recycled material and relatively undegassed mantle material may be a natural result of entrainment processes and convective stirring in deep mantle.     

Magmatic unrest beneath Mammoth Mountain,California

Mammoth Mountain, which stands on the southwest rim of Long Valley caldera in eastern California, last erupted ∼57,000 years BP. Episodic volcanic unrest detected beneath the mountain since late 1979, however, emphasizes that the underlying volcanic system is still active and capable of producing future volcanic eruptions. The unrest symptoms include swarms of small (M ≤ 3) earthquakes, spasmodic bursts (rapid-fire sequences of brittle-failure earthquakes with overlapping coda), long-period (LP) and very-long-period (VLP) volcanic earthquakes, ground deformation, diffuse emission of magmatic CO₂, and fumarole gases with elevated ³He/⁴He ratios. Spatial-temporal relations defined by the multi-parameter monitoring data together with earthquake source mechanisms suggest that this Mammoth Mountain unrest is driven by the episodic release of a volume of CO₂-rich hydrous magmatic fluid derived from the upper reaches of a plexus of basaltic dikes and sills at mid-crustal depths (10–20 km). As the mobilized fluid ascends through the brittle–plastic transition zone and into overlying brittle crust, it triggers earthquake swarm activity and, in the case of the prolonged, 11-month-long earthquake swarm of 1989, crustal deformation and the onset of diffuse CO₂ emissions. Future volcanic activity from this system would most likely involve steam explosions or small-volume, basaltic, strombolian or Hawaiaan style eruptions. The impact of such an event would depend critically on vent location and season.     

Helium isotopes in early Iceland plume picrites: Constraints on the composition of high 3He/4He mantle

A detailed study of the geochemistry of a new suite of early Iceland plume picrites shows that extremely high ³He/⁴He ratios (up to 50 R_a) are found in picrites from Baffin Island and West Greenland. High ³He/⁴He picrites display a wide range in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70288–0.70403), ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51288–0.51308) and incompatible trace element ratios (e.g. La/Sm_n = 0.5–1.6). These overlap the complete range of compositions of mid-ocean ridge basalts and most northern hemisphere ocean island basalts, including Iceland. Crustal contamination modelling in which high-grade Proterozoic crustal basement rocks for the region are mixed with a depleted parent cannot account for the trend displayed by the Baffin Island and West Greenland picrites. This rules out the possibility that the incompatible trace element, Sr and Nd isotope range of the high ³He/⁴He picrites is due to crustal contamination. The compositional range at high ³He/⁴He is also inconsistent with derivation from a primordial-He-rich reservoir that is a residue of ancient mantle depletion. This implies that the composition of the high ³He/⁴He mantle cannot be determined simply by extrapolating ocean island basalt He–Sr–Nd–Pb–Os isotope data.The apparent decoupling of He from trace element and lithophile radiogenic isotope tracers is difficult to attain by simple mixing of a high-[He], high ³He/⁴He reservoir with various depleted and enriched He-poor mantle reservoirs. The possibility that primordial He has diffused into a reservoir with a composition typical of convecting upper mantle cannot be ruled out. If so, the process must have occurred after the development of existing mantle heterogeneity, and requires the existence of a deep, primordial He-rich reservoir.     

Intraplate seismicity in the western Bohemian Massif (central Europe): A possible correlation with a paleoplate junction

Locations of the Eger Rift, Cheb Basin, Quaternary volcanoes, crustal earthquake swarms and exhalation centers of CO₂ and ³He of mantle origin correlate with the tectonic fabric of the mantle lithosphere modelled from seismic anisotropy. We suggest that positions of the seismic and volcanic phenomena, as well as of the Cenozoic sedimentary basins, correlate with a “triple junction” of three mantle lithospheres distinguished by different orientations of their tectonic fabric consistent within each unit. The three mantle domains most probably belong to the originally separated microcontinents – the Saxothuringian, Teplá-Barrandian and Moldanubian – assembled during the Variscan orogeny. Cenozoic extension reactivated the junction and locally thinned the crust and mantle lithosphere. The rigid part of the crust, characterized by the presence of earthquake foci, decoupled near the junction from the mantle probably during the Variscan. The boundaries (transitions) of three mantle domains provided open pathways for Quaternary volcanism and the ascent of ³He- and CO₂-rich fluids released from the asthenosphere. The deepest earthquakes, interpreted as an upper limit of the brittle–ductile transition in the crust, are shallower above the junction of the mantle blocks (at about 12 km) than above the more stable Saxothuringian mantle lithosphere (at about 20 km), probably due to a higher heat flow and presence of fluids.     

Crustal seismic structure and depth distribution of earthquakes in the Archean Kuusamo region,Fennoscandian Shield

Two-dimensional crustal velocity models are derived from passive seismic observations for the Archean Karelian bedrock of north-eastern Finland. In addition, an updated Moho depth map is constructed by integrating the results of this study with previous data sets. The structural models image a typical three-layer Archean crust, with thickness varying between 40 and 52 km. P wave velocities within the 12–20 km thick upper crust range from 6.1 to 6.4 km/s. The relatively high velocities are related to layered mafic intrusive and volcanic rocks. The middle crust is a fairly homogeneous layer associated with velocities of 6.5–6.8 km/s. The boundary between middle and lower crust is located at depths between 28 and 38 km. The thickness of the lower crust increases from 5–15 km in the Archean part to 15–22 km in the Archean–Proterozoic transition zone. In the lower crust and uppermost mantle, P wave velocities vary between 6.9–7.3 km/s and 7.9–8.2 km/s. The average V_p/V_s ratio increases from 1.71 in the upper crust to 1.76 in the lower crust.The crust attains its maximum thickness in the south-east, where the Archean crust is both over- and underthrust by the Proterozoic crust. A crustal depression bulging out from that zone to the N–NE towards Kuusamo is linked to a collision between major Archean blocks. Further north, crustal thickening under the Salla and Kittilä greenstone belts is tentatively associated with a NW–SE-oriented collision zone or major shear zone. Elevated Moho beneath the Pudasjärvi block is primarily explained with rift-related extension and crustal thinning at ∼2.4–2.1 Ga.The new crustal velocity models and synthetic waveform modelling are used to outline the thickness of the seismogenic layer beneath the temporary Kuusamo seismic network. Lack of seismic activity within the mafic high-velocity body in the uppermost 8 km of crust and relative abundance of mid-crustal, i.e., 14–30 km deep earthquakes are characteristic features of the Kuusamo seismicity. The upper limit of seismicity is attributed to the excess of strong mafic material in the uppermost crust. Comparison with the rheological profiles of the lithosphere, calculated at nearby locations, indicates that the base of the seismogenic layer correlates best with the onset of brittle to ductile transition at about 30 km depth.We found no evidence on microearthquake activity in the lower crust beneath the Archean Karelian craton. However, a data set of relatively well-constrained events extracted from the regional earthquake catalogue implies a deeper cut-off depth for earthquakes in the Norrbotten tectonic province of northern Sweden.     

Modification of fault slip models of the Mw 9.0 Tohoku Earthquake by far field GPS observations

GPS data from Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) are used to derive far-field co-seismic displacements induced by the M_w 9.0 Tohoku Earthquake. Significant horizontal displacements about 30 mm, 10 mm, and 20 mm were caused by this large event in northeast China, north China, and on the Korean peninsula respectively. Vectors of relatively large horizontal displacements with dominant east components pointed to the epicenter of this earthquake. The east components show an exponential decay with the longitude, which is characteristic of the decay of the co-seismic horizontal displacements associated with earthquakes of thrust rupture. The exponential fit of the east components shows that the influence of the co-seismic displacements can be detected by GPS at a distance of about 3200 km from the epicenter of the earthquake. By considering the capability of the far field displacements for constraining the inversion of the fault slip model of the earthquake, we use spherically stratified Earth models to simulate the co-seismic displacements induced by this event. Using computations and comparisons, we discuss the effects of parameters of layered Earth models on the results of dislocation modeling. Comparisons of the modeled and observed displacements show that far field GPS observations are effective for constraining the fault slip model. The far field horizontal displacements observed by GPS are used to modify the slips and seismic moments of fault slip models. The result of this work is applicable as a reference for other researchers to study seismic source rupture and crustal deformation.     

Low-degree melting of a metasomatized lithospheric mantle for the origin of Cenozoic Yulong monzogranite-porphyry,east Tibet: Geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic constraints

SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating, mineral chemical, element geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic data have been determined for the Yulong monzogranite-porphyry in the eastern Tibet, China. The Yulong porphyry was emplaced into Triassic strata at about 39 Ma. The rocks are weakly peraluminous and show shoshonitic affinity, i.e., alkalis-rich, high K₂O contents with high K₂O / Na₂O ratios, enrichment in LREE and LILE. They also show some affinities with the adakite, e.g., high SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, and low MgO contents, depleted in Y and Yb, and enrichment in Sr with high Sr / Y and La / Yb ratios, and no Eu anomalies. The Yulong porphyry has radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr / ⁸⁶Sr (0.7063–0.7070) and unradiogenic ¹⁴³Nd / ¹⁴⁴Nd (ε_Nd = − 2.0 to − 3.0) ratios. The Pb isotopic compositions of feldspar phenocrysts separated from the Yulong porphyry show a narrow range of ²⁰⁶Pb / ²⁰⁴Pb ratios (18.71–18.82) and unusually radiogenic ²⁰⁷Pb / ²⁰⁴Pb (15.65–15.67) and ²⁰⁸Pb / ²⁰⁴Pb (38.87–39.00) ratios. In situ Hf isotopic composition of zircons that have been SHRIMP U–Pb dated is characterized by clearly positive initial ε_Hf values, ranging from + 3.1 to + 5.9, most between + 4 and + 5. Phenocryst clinopyroxene geothermometry of the Yulong porphyry indicates that the primary magmas had anomalously high temperature (> 1200 °C). The source depth for the Yulong porphyry is at least 100 km inferred by the metasomatic volatile phase (phlogopite–carbonate) relations. Detailed geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic compositions not only rule out fractional crystallization or assimilation-fractional crystallization processes, but also deny the possibility of partial melting of subducted oceanic crust or basaltic lower crust. Instead, low degree (1–5%) partial melting of a metasomatized lithosphere (phlogopite–garnet clinopyroxenite) is compatible with the data. This example gives a case study that granite can be derived directly by partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle, which is important to understand the source and origin of diverse granites.     

Three-dimensional numerical analysis of magma transport through a pre-existing fracture in the crust

Magmas are transported through pre-existing fractures in many repeatedly erupting volcanoes. The study of this special process of magma transport is fundamentally important to understand the mechanisms and conditions of volcanic eruptions. In this paper, we numerically simulate the magma propagation process through a pre-existing vertical fracture in the crust by using the combined finite difference method (FDM), finite element method (FEM) and discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) approach. FDM is used to analyze magma flow in the pre-existing fracture, FEM is used to calculate the opening of the fracture during magma intrusion, and DDA is used to deal with the contact of the closed fracture surfaces. Both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) examples are presented. Parametric studies are carried out to investigate the influence of various physical and geometric parameters on the magma transport in the pre-existing fracture. We have considered magma chamber depth ranging from 7 km to 10 km under the crust surface, magma viscosity ranging from 2 × 10⁻² to 2 × 10⁻⁷ MPa s, and the density difference between the magma and host rock ranging from 300 to 700 kg/m³. The numerical results indicate that (1) the fluid pressure p varies gradually along the depth, (2) the shape of the magma body during propagation is like a torch bar and its width ranges from 2 m to 4 m approximately in the 3D case and 10 m to 50 m in the 2D case for the same physical parameters used, (3) the crust surface around the pre-existing fracture begins to increase on both sides of the fracture, forms a trough between them, then gradually uplifts during the transport of the magma, and finally takes the shape of a crater when the magma reaches the surface. We have also examined the influence of physical and geometric parameters on the minimum overpressure for magma transport in the 3D case. The numerical results show that our numerical technique presented in this paper is an effective tool for simulating magma transport process through pre-existing fractures in the crust.     

Crustal deformation before the 2008 Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake studied using GPS data

We used GPS velocities from approximately 700 stations in western China to study the crustal deformation before the Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake. The processing methods included analyses of the strain rate field, inversion of fault locking and the GPS velocity profiles. The GPS strain rate in the E-W direction in the Qinghai-Tibet block shows that extensional deformation was dominant in the western region of the block (west of 92.5° E), while compressive deformation predominated in the eastern region of the block (from 92.5° E to 100° E). On a regional scale, the hypocentral region of the Wenchuan earthquake was located at the edge of an intense compression deformation zone of about 1.9 × 10⁻⁸/a in an east-west direction. The characteristic deformation in the seismogenic fault was compressive with a dextral component. The compression deformation rate was greater in the fault's western region than in its eastern region, and the strain accumulation was very slow on the fault scale. The results of a fault locking inversion show that the locking fraction and slip deficit was greater in the middle-northern section of the seismogenic fault than in the southern section. The GPS velocity profile before the Wenchuan earthquake shows that the compression deformation was smaller than the dextral deformation, which is asymmetrical with respect to the distribution of co-seismic displacement. These deformation characteristics should provide some clues to the Wenchuan earthquake which occurred in the later period of the earthquake cycle.     

Cosmogenic 3He and 21Ne dating of biotite and hornblende

Stable cosmogenic isotopes such as ³He and ²¹Ne are useful for dating of diverse lithologies, quantifying erosion rates and ages of ancient surfaces and sediments, and for assessing complex burial histories. Although many minerals are potentially suitable targets for ³He and ²¹Ne dating, complex production systematics require calibration of each mineral–isotope pair. We present new results from a drill core in a high-elevation ignimbrite surface, which demonstrates that cosmogenic ³He and ²¹Ne can be readily measured in biotite and hornblende. ²¹Ne production rates in hornblende and biotite are similar, and are higher than that in quartz due to production from light elements such as Mg and Al. We measure ²¹Ne_hbl/²¹Ne_qtz = 1.35 ± 0.03 and ²¹Ne_bio/²¹Ne_qtz = 1.3 ± 0.02, which yield production rates of 25.6 ± 3.0 and 24.7 ± 2.9 at g^? 1 yr^? 1 relative to a ²¹Ne_qtz production rate of 19.0 ± 1.8 at g^? 1 yr^? 1. We show that nucleogenic ²¹Ne concentrations produced via the reaction ¹⁸O(α,n)²¹Ne are manageably small in this setting, and we present a new approach to deconvolve nucleogenic ²¹Ne by comparison to nucleogenic ²²Ne produced from the reaction ¹⁹F(α,n)²²Ne in F-rich phases such as biotite. Our results show that hornblende is a suitable target phase for cosmogenic ³He dating, but that ³He is lost from biotite at Earth surface temperatures. Comparison of ³He concentrations in hornblende with previously measured mineral phases such as apatite and zircon provides unambiguous evidence for ³He production via the reaction ⁶Li(n,α)³H → ³He. Due to the atypically high Li content in the hornblende (~ 160 ppm) we estimate that Li-produced ³He represents ~ 40% of total ³He production in our samples, and must be considered on a sample-specific basis if ³He dating in hornblende is to be widely implemented.     

Deep pooling of low degree melts and volatile fluxes at the 85°E segment of the Gakkel Ridge: Evidence from olivine-hosted melt inclusions and glasses

We present new analyses of volatile, major, and trace elements for a suite of glasses and melt inclusions from the 85°E segment of the ultra-slow spreading Gakkel Ridge. Samples from this segment include limu o pele and glass shards, proposed to result from CO₂-driven explosive activity. The major element and volatile compositions of the melt inclusions are more variable and consistently more primitive than the glass data. CO₂ contents in the melt inclusions extend to higher values (167–1596 ppm) than in the co-existing glasses (187–227 ppm), indicating that the melt inclusions were trapped at greater depths. These melt inclusions record the highest CO₂ melt concentrations observed for a ridge environment. Based on a vapor saturation model, we estimate that the melt inclusions were trapped between seafloor depths (～ 4 km) and ～ 9 km below the seafloor. However, the glasses are all in equilibrium with their eruption depths, which is inconsistent with the rapid magma ascent rates expected for explosive activity. Melting conditions inferred from thermobarometry suggest relatively deep (25–40 km) and cold (1240°–1325 °C) melting conditions, consistent with a thermal structure calculated for the Gakkel Ridge. The water contents and trace element compositions of the melt inclusions and glasses are remarkably homogeneous; this is an unexpected result for ultra-slow spreading ridges, where magma mixing is generally thought to be less efficient based on the assumption that steady-state crustal magma chambers are absent in these environments. All melts can be described by a single liquid line of descent originating from a pooled melt composition that is consistent with the aggregate melt calculated from a geodynamic model for the Gakkel Ridge. These data suggest a model in which deep, low degree melts are efficiently pooled in the upper mantle (9–20 km depth), after which crystallization commences and continues during ascent and eruption. Based on our melting model and the assumption that CO₂ is perfectly incompatible, we show that the highest CO₂ concentrations of the melt inclusions (～ 1600 ppm) are consistent with the calculated CO₂ concentrations of primary undegassed melts. The highest measured CO₂/Nb ratio (443) of Gakkel Ridge melt inclusions predicts a mantle CO₂ content of 134 ppm and would result in a global ridge flux of 2.0 × 10¹² mol CO₂/yr.     

Tracking the lithium isotopic evolution of the mantle using carbonatites

Carbonatites are mantle-derived, intraplate magmas that provide a means of documenting isotopic variations of the Earth's mantle through time. To investigate the secular Li isotopic evolution of the mantle and to test whether Li isotopes document systematic recycling of material processed at or near the Earth's surface into the mantle, we analyzed the Li isotopic compositions of carbonatites and spatially associated mafic silicate rocks. The Li isotopic compositions of Archean (2.7 Ga) to Recent carbonatites (δ⁷Li = 4.1 ± 1.3 (n = 23, 1σ)) overlap the range typical for modern mantle-derived rocks, and do not change with time, despite ongoing crustal recycling. Thus, the average Li isotopic composition of recycled crustal components has not deviated greatly from the mantle value (~ + 4) and/or Li diffusion is sufficiently fast to attenuate significant heterogeneities over timescales of 10⁸ years. Modeling of Li diffusion at mantle temperatures suggests that limited δ⁷Li variation in the mantle through time reflects the more effective homogenization of Li in the mantle compared to radiogenic isotope systems. The real (but limited) variations in δ⁷Li that exist in modern mantle-derived magmas as well as carbonatites studied here may reflect isotopic fractionation associated with shallow-level processes, such as crustal assimilation and diffusive isotopic fractionation in magmatic systems, with some of the scatter possibly related to low-temperature alteration.