Development of heterogeneities in the subcontinental Mantle: Evidence from the Ferrar Group,Antarctica

Tholeiitic lava flows (Kirkpatrick Basalts) and dolerite sills and dikes (Ferrar Dolerites) of the Jurassic Ferrar Group from Antarctica and dolerite sills from Tasmania, Australia are characterised by initial strontium isotope ratios ranging from 0.7089 to 0.7153. The mean and standard deviation of 85 analyses is 0.7115±0.0012. Some of the scatter in the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios can be attributed to sample inhomogeneity, analytical uncertainties and sample alteration. The published major element data show well-defined trends that are consistent with an evolution by fractional crystallization. Recognition of a parental magma is difficult due to the fractionated nature of the rocks. Trace element analyses, particularly the rare earth elements (REE) support a differentiation model. Compared to mid-ocean ridge basalts, Ferrar Group rocks are enriched in light REE. Kirkpatrick Basalts from the central Transantarctic Mountains show significant correlations between initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and major elements only for SiO₂ and CaO. The general lack of strong correlation is the basis for rejecting the possibility of wholesale contamination by sialic material as a possible cause of the high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Selective contamination of the basaltic magmas is a possibility and cannot be completely discounted. It would probably involve a fluid phase in order to transport and mix the light REE, Rb, ⁸⁷Sr, and other elements. By analogy with selective contamination of ocean ridge basalts by sea water it is difficult to envisage a similar process acting on magma emplaced in a non-marine environment. Because of the elevated values of the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, their similar average value over 2,500 km and the large volume of magma involved (4× 10⁵ km³) a mantle origin for the high Sr ratios is preferred. Models to account for the enrichment of Rb and light REE in the Antarctic mantle during or prior to the Jurassic include:

1. addition of continental material from a Palezoic Mesozoic subduction zone;
2. metasomatism of volatile elements from the lower mantle; and
3. evolution of a mantle with a high Rb/Sr ratio.

     

A strontium isotopic study of the volcanic rocks of the Myoko volcano group,central Japan

Thirty-one selected volcanic rocks from the Myoko volcano group which comprises a volcanic chain of four independent volcanoes of Quaternary to Recent age are analyzed for ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. The rocks of the lizuna volcano, the oldest among the Myoko volcano group, have higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and show a larger scatter ranging from 0.7043₇ to 0.7055₆ than those of other volcanoes. The Kurohime volcanic rocks have a restricted range of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7040₃∼0.7043₅). ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the Myoko volcanic rocks are almost the same in average to those of the Kurohime volcanic rocks, although somewhat varied ranging from 0.7037₈ to 0.7046₁. A single analysis of the Yakeyama volcanic rock yielded a ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.7042₇. A characteristic pattern in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios is observed through the volcanic activity of the Myoko volcano group; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are high in the early stage of the volcanic activity and then decrease to low values, the late eruptives being characterized by constant ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. The negative correlation between ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Rb/Sr, and positive correlation between ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Sr found in the rocks of the Iizuna volcano are interpreted to show the occurrence of contamination by materials with high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (>0.7056), low Rb/Sr ratios (<0.01) and high Sr contents (>300 ppm). Sialic crustal contamination may have played only a minor role.     

Strontium isotopic composition of some recent basic volcanites of the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea and Sicily Channel

The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios have been determined on the volcanic rocks of Ustica, Linosa and Pantelleria Islands. The petrology of these islands is typical of volcanic products belonging to the alkalic suite. The volcanites of Ustica and Linosa Islands are mainly represented by basic terms (alkalibasalts and hawaiites), with minor mugearitic and trachytic differentiates. In addition to alkali-basalts and hawaiites, also some alkaline and peralkaline rocks of Pantelleria have been isotopically analysed. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are consistent with a subcrustal origin for all the volcanic products of these islands. Some differences in the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios have been found and tentatively related to an inhomogeneous Rb/Sr distribution in the mantle source material. The genetic relationships of these rocks with some products of the recent Tyrrhenian volcanism are also briefly discussed.     

Western Kamchatka-Koryak continental-margin volcanogenic belt: Age,composition, and sources

The isotope-geochemical study of the Eocene-Oligocene magmatic rocks from the Western Kamchatka-Koryak volcanogenic belt revealed a lateral heterogeneity of mantle magma sources in its segments: Western Kamchatka, Central Koryak, and Northern Koryak ones. In the Western Kamchatka segment, magmatic melts were generated from isotopically heterogeneous (depleted and/or insignificantly enriched) mantle sources significantly contaminated by quartz-feldspathic sialic sediments; higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70429–0.70564) and lower ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd(ɛ_Nd(T) = 0.06–2.9) ratios in the volcanic rocks from the Central Koryak segment presumably reflect the contribution of enriched mantle source; the high positive ɛ_Nd(T) and low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in the magmatic rocks from the Northern Koryak segment area indicate their derivation from isotopically depleted mantle source without significant contamination by sialic or mantle material enriched in radiogenic Sr and Nd. Significantly different contamination histories of the Eocene-Oligocene mantle magmas in Kamchatka and Koryakia are related to their different thermal regimes: the higher heat flow beneath Kamchatka led to the crustal melting and contamination of mantle suprasubduction magmas by crustal melts. The cessation of suprasubduction volcanism in the Western Kamchatka segment of the continentalmargin belt was possibly related to the accretion of the Achaivayam-Valagin terrane 40 Ma ago, whereas suprasubduction activity in the Koryak segment stopped due to the closure of the Ukelayat basin in the Oligocene time.     

Association of Late Paleozoic Adakitic Rocks and Shoshonitic Volcanic Rocks in the Western Tianshan, China

The late Paleozoic adakitic rocks are closely associated with the shoshonitic volcanic rocks in the western Tianshan Mountains, China, both spatially and temporally. The magmatic rocks were formed during the period from the middle to the late Permian with isotopic ages of 248-268 Ma. The 87Sr/86Sr initial ratios of the rocks are low in a narrow variation range (-0.7050). The 143Nd/144Nd initial ratios are high (-0.51240) with positive εND(t) values (+1.28-+4.92). In the εNd(t)-(87Sr/86Sr)i diagram they fall in the first quadrant. The association of the shoshonitic and adakitic rocks can be interpreted by a two-stage model: the shoshonitic volcanic rocks were formed through long-term fractional crystallization of underplated basaltic magma, while the following partial melting of the residual phases formed the adakitic rocks.     

Strontium isotopic and chemical variations of the granitic rocks in the Tsukuba district,Japan

Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, major and trace element compositions have been determined for the Paleogene granitic rocks in the Tsukuba district, Japan. Isotopic ages strongly suggest that the granitic rocks (seven units) were continuously emplaced and solidified during a short time interval. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios for seven granitic units vary from 0.7082 to 0.7132, while sedimentary and metasedimentary country rocks have ratios at the time of granitic magma emplacement ranging from 0.7149 to 0.7298. Continuous linear arrays for the granitic rocks in the diagrams of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios versus some chemical parameters can be explained by either of following two processes. One is the assimilation — fractional crystallization (AFC) process between the parental magma (SiO₂ of 68% and initial ratio of 0.7078) and sedimentary country rocks, and the other is magma mixing process between above parental magma and sediment derived acidic magma (melt) (SiO₂ of 75%). The high initial ratios (0.7078–0.7098) for basic rocks such as gabbro or diorite in the Tsukuba district and the similar characteristics observed in the rocks of Ryoke belt (SW Japan) suggest that the parental magma had the same source region as the basic rocks, probably the lower crustal source.     

Strontium and neodymium isotopic study of the western Mogollon-Datil volcanic region,New Mexico,USA

The Sr- and Nd-isotopic compositions of large mid-Cenozoic caldera-forming eruptions, and related rocks, from the western portion of the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field have been determined. The average initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 27 samples from felsic flows range from 0.70629 to 0.72872; however, all but two flows are 0.71337 or less. Ten analyses of intermediate and mafic rocks showed a tendency towards lower initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ranging from 0.70363 to 0.70968. Initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios of II felsic and intermediate rocks range from 0.51216 to 0.51231. Two basalts analyzed for ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd have ratios of 0.51250 and 0.51291. During the course of the volcanic activity from 34 Ma to the present, there was a shift towards lower initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, and lower SiO₂ contents. A number of models of crustal melting, fractionation, mixing, and assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC), using a variety of possible endmembers, were tested, to see if they could explain the isotopic and geochemical characteristics of the Mogollon-Datil volcanic rocks. The best fit was an AFC model using two components, one a mantle-sourced primary magma, with isotopic ratios of the Kilbourne Hole, N. M., basanite, and the other an upper crust with average continental isotopic ratios, and Sr and Nd abundances similar to the Texas Canyon pluton of Arizona.     

Sr and Nd Isotopic Characteristics and Magma Genesis of Mesozoic Volcanic Rocks Along the Coastal Region of Southeastern China

The Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the coastal region of southeastern China were superimposed on some different basement tectonic elements. The volcanic rocks developed in these different basement tectonic elements have great differences in Sr and Nd isotopic compositions. The rocks in western Zhejiang and northeastern Jiangxi Provinces which belong to the Lower Yangtze subplate have lower initial 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios, but are higher in initial Nd isotopic ratios. The initial 143Nd / 144Nd values of the volcanic rocks developed in the Cathaysian subplate increase clearly from early to late in time, and from the core of the Wuyishan uplift coastwards constantly, but the initial 87Sr/86Sr values tend to decrease. The isotopic characteristics and their spatial variations in Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the study region are, to a great extent, manifestations of the isotopic characteristics in basement metamorphic complexes, and the generation of the Mesozoic acid magma in this region is attributed to the recycling o     

Isotopic and chemical constraints on the crustal evolution and source signature of Ferrar magmas,north Victoria Land,Antarctica

Isotopic (Nd and Sr) and chemical compositions of the 177 Ma Kirkpatrick Basalt and Ferrar Dolerite from north Victoria Land, Antarctica, are examined in order to address the role of crustal assimilation and the characteristics of their mantle source. Results for the Scarab Peak chemical type (SPCT) that constitutes the flow unit capping the lava sequence [Mg-number, Mg/(Mg+Fe⁺²)=24, MgO=2.4%, SiO₂=57.1%, initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7087–0.7097, (ε_Nd=−4.3) conform previous reports that attribute variations in the concentrations of the more mobile elements and calculated initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr to mid-Cretaceous alteration and elevated δ¹⁸O to low-temperature interaction with meteoric water. The underlying lavas and the sills that are of the Mt. Fazio chemical type (MFCT) display a much wider range of both chemical and isotopic compositions (Mg-number=40–65, MgO=3.7 7.5%; SiO₂=52.6–58.3%, initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7087–0.7117, ε_Nd=−5.6 to −4.8). The effects of rock alteration on apparent initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr are demonstrated by large differences between the initial ratio of mineral separates or leached fractions and whole rocks. Cretaceous alteration produced Rb and Sr redistribution within the lava sequence that results in erroneous calculated initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. These effects are responsible for the large initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr variations previousl7 proposed which, combined with the large range in whole-rock δ¹⁸O, were purported to show very large degrees of crustal assimilation. The variations in ε_Nd are restricted and indicate much smaller degrees of assimilation. The least altered of the MFCT rocks show good chemical and isotopic correlations that can be integrated into a model involving fractionation of pyroxene and plagioclase coupled with assimilation of material similar to early Paleozoic basement. The lower⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and higher ε_Nd of the SPCT suggest that they were derived by extensive fractionation of a more primitive, less contaminated, precursor of the MFCT. The most isotopically primitive Ferrar rocks from the region still have a high initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and low initial¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd; this may reflect either earlier assimilation or an enriched source. The chemical and isotopic similarities, as well as the close geographic correspondence of the Ferrar Group to granitoids produced during the early Paleozoic Ross Orogeny suggest that in either case Ross-type material may have been involved in the development of the enriched isotopic signature. Editorial responsibility: I. Parsons     

Geochemical characteristics of potassic volcanics from Mts. Ernici (Southern Latium,Italy)

Major elements, trace elements and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data are reported for the Quaternary potassic alkaline rocks from the Mts. Ernici volcanic area (Southern Latium — Italy). These rocks are represented by primitive types which display high Mg_v, low D.I., variable degrees of silica undersaturation and different K₂O contents which allowed the distinction of a potassium series (KS) and a high potassium series (HKS). All the analyzed samples have high LIL element contents and high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr which ranges between 0.707–0.711. They also have fractionated REE patterns. The KS rocks have lower LIL element concentrations and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios than the HKS rocks with a large compositional gap between the two series. Minor but still significant isotopic and trace element variations are also observed within both KS and HKS. The genesis cannot be completly explained either by crystal liquid fractionation, mixing or assimilation processes or by different degrees of equilibrium partial melting from a homogeneous source, thus indicating that both the KS and HKS consist of several geochemically and isotopically distinct magma types. The data suggest that the KS and HKS magmas originated by low degrees of melting of a garnet peridotite mantle heterogeneously enriched in LIL elements and radiogenic strontium, possibly accompanied by disquilibrium melting of some accessory phases. The occurrence of a geochemical anomaly within the mantle is believed to be due to fluid metasomatism probably generated by dehydration of a lithospheric slab subducted during the Late Tertiary development of the Apennine Chain.     

Rb—Sr Geochronology and Magma Source of the Mesozoic Fault—Granite Belt,East Shandong

Developed in the southeast coast of te East Shandong Peninsula,the Mesozoic fault-magma belt consists of five rock series:the syenite series;the monzonite series;the megaporphyritic monzogranite series;the biotite-granite series;and the alkali granite seres.Based on their Rb-Sr isochron ages(122-220Ma),these rock series may be divided into three magma subcycles dated at Triassic,Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous.The initial ^87Sr/^86Sr ration in these rock series range from 0.70436 to 0.7155.The starting points of the Rb-Sr isochrons exhibit four different distribution trends on the(^87Sr/^86Sr)i-^87Rb/^86Sr diagram.These characteristics show that the multiple granitic rock series are different in genesis and derivation.The syenite series might be derived from the combination of mantle-derived magma and crustal material,and the others could be derived from granulite-facies and amphibilite-facies rocks in the deep crust.     

Hydrogeochemistry and strontium isotopes of spring and mineral waters from Monte Vulture volcano,Italy

This paper describes the results of a study that was conducted to determine the relationship between hydrogeochemical composition and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios of the Mt. Vulture spring waters. Forty samples of spring waters were collected from local outcrops of Quaternary volcanites. Physico-chemical parameters were measured in the field and analyses completed for major and minor elements and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic ratios. A range of water types was distinguished varying from alkaline-earth bicarbonate waters, reflecting less intense water–rock interaction processes to alkali bicarbonate waters, probably representing interaction with volcanic rocks of Mt. Vulture and marine evaporites. The average ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios suggest at least 3 different sources. However, some samples have average Sr isotope ratios (0.70704–0.70778) well above those of the volcanites. These ratios imply interaction with other rocks having higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, probably Triassic evaporites, which is substantiated by their higher content of Na, SO₄ and Cl. The Sr isotope ratios for some samples (e.g. Toka and Traficante) are intermediate between the value for the Vulture volcanites and that for the local Mesozoic rocks. The salt content of these samples also lies between the value for waters interacting solely with the volcanites and the value measured in the more saline samples. These waters are thus assumed to result from the mixing of waters circulating in volcanic rocks with waters presumably interacting with the sedimentary bedrock (marine evaporites).     

Petrogenesis of Rabor-Lalehzar magmatic rocks (SE Iran): Constraints from whole rock chemistry and Sr-Nd isotopes

The Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc (UDMA) of Central Iran has been formed during Neotethyan Ocean subduction underneath Eurasia. The Rabor-Lalehzar magmatic complex (RLMC), covers an area ～1000?km² in the Kerman magmatic belt (KMB), SE of UDMA. RLMC magmatic rocks include both granitoids and volcanic rocks with calc-alkaline and adakitic signatures but with different ages.Miocene adakitic rocks are characterd by relatively enrichmented in incompatible elements, high (Sr/Y)_(N) (>40), and (La/Yb)_(N) (>10) ratios with slightly negative Eu anomalies (Eu_N/Eu*≈ 0.9), depletion in HFSEs, and relatively non-radiogenic Sr isotope signatures (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr?=?0.7048–0.7049). In contrast, the Oligocene granitoids exhibit low Sr/Y (<20) and La/Yb (<9) ratios, negative Eu anomalies (Eu_N/Eu*?≈?0.5), and enrichment in HFSEs and radiogenic Sr isotope signatures (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr?=?0.7050–0.7052), showing affinity to the island arc rocks. Eocene volcanic rocks which crusscut the younger granitoid rocks comprise andesites and dacites. Geochemically, lavas show calc-alkaline character without any Eu anomaly (Eu_N/Eu*?≈?1.0). Based on the geochemical and isotopic data we propose that melt source for both calc-alkaline and adakitic rocks from the RLMC can be related to the melting of a sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM). Basaltic melts derived from a metasomatized mantle wedge might be emplaced at the mantle-crust boundary and formed the juvenile mafic lower crust. However, some melts fractionated in the shallow magma chambers and continued to rise forming the volcanic intermediate-mafic rocks at the surface. On the other hand, the assimilation and fractional crystallization in the shallow magma chambers of may have been responsible for the development of Oligocene granitoids with calc-alkaline affinity. In the mid-Late Miocene, following the collision between Afro-Arabia and Iranian block the juvenile mafic crust of UDMA underwent thickening and metamorphosed into garnet-amphibolites. Subsequent upwelling of a hot asthenosphere during Miocene was responsible for partial melting of thickened juvenile crust of the SE UDMA (RLM complex). The adakitic melts ascended to the shallow crust to form the adakitic rocks in the KMB.     

Early Cenozoic volcanism of the Kolyuchin-Mechigmen graben, Chukotka Peninsula

The paper reports new isotope-geochemical data on Late Paleocene-Early Eocene basalts from the central part of the Kolyuchin-Mechigmen graben, eastern Chukotka Peninsula. The distribution of the major and trace elements and trace-element ratios indicates that the basalts were formed in a marginal-continental rift setting. The peculiar feature of the basalts is a combination of depleted within-plate and suprasubduction geochemical signatures, which make the volcanic rocks from Mt. Otdel’naya different from rocks of suprasubduction volcanic belts and from tholeiites and alkaline lavas of continental rifts and oceanic islands. Extremely high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in the studied basalts as compared to those of similar volcanic rocks from extension zones are probably related to the involvement of carbonate material in the magma generation zone.     

Strontium isotopic composition of oil-field and gas-field waters,Japan

The⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 10 formation waters in petroleum and natural gas reservoirs along the western coast of northeastern Honshu, Japan, ranged from 0.7052 to 0.7084, and are distinctly lower than the ratio in seawater. This forms a marked contrast to oil-field brines from the U.S.A. which have higher⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Taking into consideration that petroleum and natural gas in Japan accumulate in volcanic rocks derived from intense submarine volcanism in the Middle Miocene, the⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the water samples are explained in terms of the isotope exchange between waters containing seawater Sr and reservoir rocks with lower ratios.     

H,O, Sr,Nd, and Pb isotope geochemistry of the Latir volcanic field and cogenetic intrusions,New Mexico,and relations between evolution of a continental magmatic center and modifications of the lithosphere

Over 200 H, O, Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope analyses, in addition to geologic and petrologic constraints, document the magmatic evolution of the 28.5–19 Ma Latir volcanic field and associated intrusive rocks, which includes multiple stages of crustal assimilation, magma mixing, protracted crystallization, and open- and closed-system evolution in the upper crust. In contrast to data from younger volcanic centers in northern New Mexico, relatively low and restricted primary ¹⁸O values (+6.4 to +7.4) rule out assimilation of supracrustal rocks enriched in ¹⁸O. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.705 to 0.708), ¹⁸O values (-2 to-7), and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios (17.5 to 18.4) of metaluminous precaldera volcanic rocks and postcaldera plutonic rocks suggest that most Latir rocks were generated by fractional crystallization of substantial volumes of mantle-derived basaltic magma that had near-chondritic Nd isotope ratios, accompanied by assimilation of crustal material in two main stages: 1) assimilation of non-radiogenic lower crust, followed by 2) assimilation of middle and upper crust by inter-mediate-composition magmas that had been contaminated during the first stage. Magmatic evolution in the upper crust peaked with eruption of the peralkaline Amalia Tuff (26 Ma), which evolved from metaluminous parental magmas. A third stage of late, roofward assimilation of Proterozoic rocks in the Amalia Tuff magma is indicated by trends in initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios from 0.7057 to 0.7098 and 19.5 to 18.8, respectively, toward the top of the pre-eruptive magma chamber. Highly evolved postcaldera plutons are generally fine grained and are zoned in initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios, varying from 0.705 to 0.709 and 17.8 to 18.6, respectively. In contrast, the coarser-grained Cabresto Lake (25 Ma) and Rio Hondo (21 Ma) plutons have relatively homogeneous initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of approximately 0.7053 and 17.94 and 17.55, respectively. ¹⁸O values for all the postcaldera plutons overlap those of the precaldera rocks and Amalia Tuff, except for those for two late-stage rhyolite dikes associated with the Rio Hondo pluton that have ¹⁸O values of-8.6 and-9.5; these dikes are the only Latir rocks which may be largely crustal melts.Chemical and isotopic data from the Latir field suggest that large fluxes of mantle-derived basaltic magma are necessary for developing and sustaining large-volume volcanic centers. Development of a detailed model suggests that 6–15 km of new crust may have been added beneath the volcanic center; such an addition may result in significant changes in the chemical and Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of the crust, although Pb isotope ratios will remain relatively unchanged. If accompanied by assimilation, crystallization of pooled basaltic magma near the MOHO may produce substantial cumulates beneath the MOHO that generate large changes in the isotopic composition of the upper mantle. The Latir field may be similar to other large-volume, long-lived intracratonal volcanic fields that fundamentally owe their origins to extensive injection of basaltic magma into the lower parts of their magmatic systems. Such fields may overlie areas of significant crustal growth and hybridization.     

Strontium isotope ratios in volcanic rocks from the south-eastern part of the Hellenic arc

Isotopic ratios of strontium in 9 volcanic rocks from the south-eastern part of the Hellenic arc range from 0.7037 to 0.7075. Within individual series of differentiation, there seems to be a correlation between Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ and K₂O/SiO₂.All strontium isotope data for the Hellenic arc are reviewed. Comparable (but slightly smaller) ranges of Sr isotope ratios are found in other island arcs with continental basement. To explain the high values of Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ ratio for the Hellenic arc, a selective addition of Sr⁸⁷ from the wall rock, and a process of assimilation involving water, perhaps from subducted sediments, are suggested. Since closely-spaced individual volcanic centres of similar ages have very different Sr isotope ratios, and since the range of Sr isotopic composition in individual centres is quite large, the variation is unlikely to be due to primary variation in mantle composition.     

Geochemistry of Early Devonian rocks of the Sakmara zone,South Urals

This paper reports first isotope–geochemical data on the Early Devonian magmatic rocks of the Chanchar potassic mafic volcanoplutonic complex of the Sakmara zone of the South Urals. The incompatible element distribution and ratios indicate that the rocks of the volcanic, subvolcanic, and intrusive facies are comagmatic and were derived from a common source. The low HFSE concentrations relative to MORB and relatively low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and high ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios suggest that primary melts were generated from a moderately depleted mantle. The LILE enrichment of the rocks indicates a flux of mantle fluid in the primary magma during its evolution.     

Strontium isotope composition and petrogenesis of the Kirkpatrick basalt,Queen Alexandra Range,Antarctica

The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of twelve basalt flows of Jurassic age on Storm Peak in the Queen Alexandra Range are anomalously high and range from 0.7094–0.7133. The average value is 0.7112±0.0013 (1). The concentrations of rubidium and strontium have arithmetic means of 60.6±19.4 ppm and 128.8±11.9 ppm, respectively. The corresponding average Rb/Sr ratio is 0.47 which is also anomalously high for rocks of basaltic composition. In addition, these rocks have high concentrations of SiO₂ (56.50%) and K₂O (1.29%) and are depleted in Al₂O₃ (12.92%), MgO (3.44%) and CaO (7.91%) compared to average continental tholeiites. They are nevertheless classified as basalts on the basis of the composition of microphenocrysts.The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and all of the chemical parameters of the flows exhibit systematic stratigraphic variations. These are interpreted as indicating the occurrence of four eruptive cycles. In a typical cycle the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of successive flows and their concentrations of SiO₂, FeO (total iron), Na₂O, K₂O, P₂O₅, Rb and Sr decrease in ascending stratigraphic sequence while the concentrations of TiO₂, Al₂O₃, MgO, CaO and MnO increase upward. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the flows show a strong positive correlation with the strontium concentration. Similar correlations are observed between the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and all of the major oxide components. These relationships are incompatible with the hypothesis that these flows are the products of crystal fractionation of a-34 magma at depth under closed-system conditions. It is suggested that the flows resulted from the hybridization of a normal tholeiite basalt magma by assimilation of varying amounts of granitic rocks in the Precambrian basement which underlies the entire Transantarctic Mountain chain.Mixtures of two components having different ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and differing strontium concentrations are related to each other by hyperbolic mixing equation. Such an equation was fitted by least squares regression of data points to a straight line in coordinates of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and the reciprocals of the concentrations of strontium. This equation and plots of strontium versus other oxides were then used to estimate the chemical composition of the parent basalt magma and of the granitic contaminant by substituting reasonable estimates of their ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. The chemical composition of the parent basalt (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.706) is generally compatible with that of average continental tholeiite, but is distinctive by having a low concentration of strontium (117 ppm). The chemical composition of the contaminant (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.720) is enriched in strontium (173 ppm), SiO₂, FeO (total iron) and the alkalies but is depleted in Al₂O₃, MgO and CaO. The data for strontium indicate that the lava flows on Storm Peak contain between 20 and 40% of this granitic contaminant. The contamination of basalt magma is not a local event but is characteristic of the Jurassic basalt flows and diabase sills throughout the Transantarctic Mountains and in Tasmania.Laboratory for Isotope Geology and Geochemistry, Contribution No. 33.     

U–Pb geochronology,Sr–Nd isotopic compositions,geochemistry and petrogenesis of Shah Soltan Ali granitoids,Birjand, Eastern Iran

The Shah Soltan Ali area (SSA) is located in the eastern part of the Lut Block metallogenic province. In this area different types of sub-volcanic intrusions including diorite porphyry, monzonite porphyry and monzodiorite porphyry have intruded into basaltic and andesitic rocks. Zircon U–Pb dating and field observations indicate that intermediate to mafic volcanic rocks (38.9 Ma) are older than subvolcanic units (38.3 Ma). The subvolcanic intrusions show high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic affinity and are metaluminous. Based on mineralogy, high values of magnetic susceptibility [(634 to 3208) × 10^?5 SI], and low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, they are classified as belonging to the magnetite-series of oxidant I-type granitoids and are characterized by an enrichment in LREEs relative to HREEs, with negative Nb, Ti, Zr and Eu anomalies. These granitoids are related to volcanic arc (VAG) and were generated in an active continental margin. Low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7043 to 0.7052) and positive εNd values (+1.48 to +3.82) indicate that the parental magma was derived from mantle wedge. Parental magma was probably formed by low degree of partial melting and metasomatized by slab derived fluids. Then assimilation and fractional crystallization processes (AFC) produced the SSA rocks. This magma during the ascent was contaminated with the crustal material.All data suggest that Middle-Late Eocene epoch magmatism in the SSA area, occurred during subduction of Neo-Tethys Ocean in east of Iran (between Afghan and Lut Blocks).