青藏高原西南部赛利普超钾质火山岩富集地幔源区和岩石成因:锆石U-Pb年代学和Hf同位素制约

西藏拉萨地块西南部赛利普钾质-超钾质火山岩为一套含地幔包体的粗面安山岩,高K_2O,MgO、Cr、Ni含量,K_2O/ Na_2O比值和Mg~#,为地幔低度部分熔融的原始岩浆,或经橄榄石、单斜辉石或Fe-Ti氧化物分离结晶。岩石强烈富集大离子亲石元素和轻稀土元素、亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、Ti,富集放射性成因Sr、Pb和Nd同位素,指示岩浆源区为富集地幔。采用LA-ICP-MS测定赛利普钾质-超钾质火山岩三件样品的18颗新生岩浆锆石U-Pb年龄为15.8～19.2Ma,其中钾质岩石样品SL0628中11个点的加权平均值为17.7±0.3Ma,与他人获得的~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年龄一致。三件样品中新生岩浆锆石的ε~(Hf)(t)变化范围为-7.6～3.9,平均地壳模式年龄(t_(DMC)=0.86～1.59Ga)变化较大,除两个分析点显示亏损特征外,总体显示富集特征,表明岩石源于富集源区,但有少量亏损地幔物质加入。三件样品共获得49颗继承锆石的U-Pb年龄介于20～1907Ma,其Hf同位素组成(ε_(Hf)(t)=-25.9～5.3)和平均地壳模式年龄(t_(DMC)=0.79～4.08Ga)变化较大;其中的37颗年龄较小的继承锆石(20～110Ma)指示地幔源区可能受到四期明显的岩浆改造事件(62.2～64.0Ma,43.3～55.1Ma,29.5～37.7Ma和20.1～27.4Ma)和两个岩浆活动间歇期(70～90Ma和37.7～43.3Ma)。在拉萨地块首次发现29.5～37.7Ma的岩浆活动,并发现与林子宗火山岩同期的、Hf同位素富集的岩浆活动(62.2～64.0Ma,ε_(Hf)(t)=-21.2～3.0)。三件样品中49颗继承锆石的Hf同位素研究表明源区富集组分可能源自拉萨地块古老地壳基底和俯冲的印度大陆地壳。赛利普钾质-超钾质岩石形成可能是印度大陆地壳前缘撕裂和分段俯冲的结果。     

四川甲基卡锂矿床花岗岩体Li同位素组成及其对稀有金属成矿的制约

四川康定甲基卡超大型锂矿是我国最大的硬岩型锂矿床之一,矿区中南部呈岩株状出露的二云母花岗岩常被认为是成矿伟晶岩的"矿源岩",对其开展Li同位素地球化学研究,对探讨矿区稀有金属的来源与演化具有重要意义.研究工作基于详细的野外地质调查,采用MC-ICP-MS方法对岩体锂同位素组成开展了研究.研究结果显示,岩体Li含量介于192×10-6~470×10-6,均值为309×10-6,δ7Li值介于-1.56‰~+0.90‰,均值为-0.24‰,与平均上地壳值基本一致,具有高Li低δ7Li的特征.δ7Li与Li、Rb、Ga、SiO₂及ε_Nd（t）不存在明显的相关性,岩体锂同位素组成反映了其形成时的源区特征,未受岩浆结晶分异作用和蚀变作用的影响.岩体岩石地球化学、同位素地球化学资料表明,岩浆来源以三叠系西康群砂泥岩的部分熔融为主,可能有部分深源物质的加入.此外,岩体Li同位素的变化规律表明伟晶岩的成矿流体来源于二云母花岗岩.岩体Li含量与Li同位素组合不仅可用来划分锂矿床类型,而且对稀有金属找矿具有一定的指导意义.      

锂同位素在伟晶岩矿床成因研究中的应用

稀有金属矿产对现代工业和科技的发展极其重要,伟晶岩矿床作为稀有金属的主要来源,其成因与成矿作用有待深入研究,普遍争论的成因模式包括:花岗岩结晶分异、地壳部分熔融以及岩浆液态不混溶。研究表明地壳深熔过程中锂同位素不发生有意义的分馏,因此在解决花岗岩和伟晶岩的岩浆源区性质方面提供了强有力的证据。文章主要从花岗伟晶岩的成因、锂同位素分馏机制以及锂同位素在伟晶岩矿床中的应用三个方面系统综述了国内外近年来取得的一些研究进展。国内外学者以锂同位素分馏机制详细论述了花岗伟晶岩的Li同位素组成,认为伟晶岩矿床的成因主要为花岗岩结晶分异或地壳部分熔融。但是锂同位素应用于伟晶岩矿床成因方面的研究还不够成熟,需要开展更多的工作。     

青藏高原西部措勤县中新世布嘎寺组钾质火山岩成因

通常认为青藏高原新生代钾质、超钾质岩浆源于地幔,但最近的一些研究显示一些钾质火山岩也可以起源于下地壳.青藏高原西部措勤县中新世布嘎寺组火山岩是一套钾质到超钾质的岩石,根据化学组成可以将它们分成中酸性和中基性两组火山岩,它们都属于钾玄岩系列.其中中酸性组火山岩具有一些类似于埃达克质熔体的成分特征,它们可能是拉萨地块下地壳相对富钾的镁铁质物质部分熔融的产物;中基性组火山岩可能起源于一个含金云母的地幔源区,或者是来自该地幔的基性岩浆的分异产物.对中酸性组火山岩高精度的氩-氩同位素定年获得其坪年龄为15.5Ma,证实布嘎寺组火山岩喷发在晚中新世.结合布嘎寺组火山岩的年龄、化学组成和区域构造以及岩浆组合,我们初步认为布嘎寺组火山岩可能与15～20Ma左右构造伸展活动产生的南北向地堑系统有关.     

宁芜盆地娘娘山组钾质火山岩的岩相学和矿物学特征及其地质意义

宁芜盆地娘娘山组钾质火山岩为盆地内中生代最晚期火山喷发形成的火山岩,其矿物成分中钾长石主要为透长石;辉石均为透辉石;黑云母为镁质黑云母,黑云母结晶温度为650℃～750℃,氧逸度(logfo2)约为-12～-10。这些矿物的化学特征与庐枞钾质火山岩中矿物的化学特征非常接近,综合其全岩地球化学、同位素年龄数据,表明娘娘山组钾质火山岩形成于造山后的构造环境。对黑云母的成分分析表明其岩浆来源较深,应为幔源岩浆分异演化的产物,并推测与地壳发生了较弱的同化混染作用,同时娘娘山组钾质火山岩的岩相学和矿物化学特征揭示了其岩浆演化的过程。     

拉萨地块中南部新生代超钾质岩中单斜辉石斑晶的环带成分研究

在青藏高原拉萨地块中南部的米巴勒、麦嘎乡、赛利普地区分布有新生代的超钾质火山岩,这些火山岩的斑晶中广泛发育单斜辉石正环带,其记录了超钾质岩浆的早期结晶历史.这些单斜辉石的正环带核部到边部Mg*和镁、铬的氧化物含量降低,而铁、钠、铝、钛的氧化物含量升高,它反映了岩浆正常结晶的顺序.米巴勒地区超钾质岩中的单斜辉石还出现反环带和少量的韵律环带,可能与该地区所发现的共生钠质过碱性火山岩有关,韵律环带揭示了其可能是相同成分的超钾质母岩浆从岩浆源区多次补给形成,而反环带则可能是与钠质过碱性火山岩岩浆存在一定程度的混合造成的.尽管三个地区超钾质火山岩的喷发时间稍不同,但是三地区的单斜辉石正环带核部成分基本相同,它们具有相似的Al-Ti值,指示出超钾质岩形成在相同的构造环境并具有相同的岩浆成因.     

弧地壳深部岩浆结晶分异过程:来自中祁连西段哈马尔达坂杂岩体的年代学、地球化学和热力学模拟研究SCIEI北大核心CSCD

俯冲带弧岩浆分异是大陆地壳形成的主要过程,对研究大陆地壳的演化与生长机制具有重要意义。本文通过对中祁连弧地体西段盐池湾地区的哈马尔达坂杂岩体进行野外地质、地球化学、年代学和热力学模拟研究,来讨论弧岩浆分异过程。哈马尔达坂杂岩体主要存在两类岩石类型:镁铁质-超镁铁质堆晶岩(包括辉石角闪石岩、角闪辉长岩和角闪石岩)和闪长岩类(包括闪长岩、石英闪长岩)。锆石U-Pb定年结果显示辉石角闪石岩的形成时代为473±1Ma,与相邻高钾岛弧玄武岩的形成时代一致。哈马尔达坂杂岩体与高钾岛弧玄武岩具有相似的全岩Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成,(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i)比值在0.7035~0.7053之间,ε_(Nd)(t)=+3.9~+5.1,ε_(Hf)(t)=+10.8~+13.1,表明它们来自同一岩浆源区。结合野外地质关系与岩石地球化学特征,推测该侵入杂岩体的原始熔体为相邻的高钾玄武质弧岩浆。岩石学和地球化学特征表明:闪长岩类是来源于受沉积物熔体交代的俯冲带地幔楔部分熔融形成的原始玄武质岩浆在中下地壳发生(以角闪石为主)结晶分异的产物;镁铁质-超镁铁质岩石具有堆晶结构,地球化学特征呈现富铁贫硅的特征,具有较高的MgO含量(6.19%~14.29%,Mg^(#)=52.3~74.6),代表原始玄武质岩浆分离结晶形成的堆晶体。热力学模拟计算与实验岩石学资料对比,进一步说明该杂岩体中的闪长岩是玄武质岩浆在中压(约0.7GPa)和氧逸度为NNO+1的条件下、发生50%~67%分离结晶的产物。闪长岩类与镁铁质-超镁铁质堆晶岩具有相似的矿物结晶顺序与全岩同位素组成,指示它们具有发生分离结晶作用的互补成分特征,分别代表了玄武质岩浆分离结晶后的衍生熔体和堆晶岩。因此,本文研究表明角闪石分异是弧岩浆分异的主要机制,它导致富SiO_(2)熔体的形成,推动岩浆成分向富硅的方向演变,从而产生新生的安山质地壳。     

铜陵矿集区燕山期中酸性侵入岩地球化学特征及其地质意义

铜陵矿集区燕山期中酸性侵入岩由橄榄玄粗质系列和高钾钙碱性系列岩石组成,两者的岩石化学和地球化学特征存在差异,相互间不存在岩浆分异演化关系.稀土和微量元素以及O、Pb、Sr、Nd同位素研究表明,高钾钙碱性系列侵入岩的原始岩浆以下地壳深变质岩部分熔融岩浆为主,在有幔源玄武质岩浆注入的情况下先于橄榄玄粗质系列岩浆侵位形成;起源于富集地幔的碱性玄武岩与有限的地壳物质发生同化混染并通过结晶分异作用(AFC)形成了橄榄玄粗质系列侵入岩.下地壳或岩石圈地幔拆沉继而环流热幔上涌是本区侵入岩形成的直接起因;同时,侵入岩浆的强烈活动也是本区构造环境由挤压向伸展转换的标志.     

青藏高原北部可可西里地区新生代钾质火山岩地球化学特征及成因

青藏高原北部可可西里地区分布的中新世钾质火山岩(7.77～17.82Ma)主要为粗面安山岩、粗面岩和少量次火山相的流纹斑岩。主量、微量元素及Sr-Nd-Pb同位素地球化学研究表明,该套钾质火山岩强烈富集大离子亲石元素和轻稀土元素,明显亏损Nb-Ta-Ti元素,具有较高的~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr:0.707346～0.714915,较低的ε_(Nd)值:-3.70～-6.97,和较高的放射性成因Pb同位素组成(~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb=15.65～15.76,~(208)Ph/~(204)Pb=38.98～39.35,~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb=18.67～18.78)。上述特征指示岩浆源区可能是与古俯冲消减物质有关的EMⅡ型富集地幔。三大岩类的地球化学成分变异表明:该钾质火山岩系列是富集地幔(金云母-尖晶石二辉橄榄岩和金云母-石榴石二辉橄榄岩)低度部分熔融产生的母岩浆经过较强结晶分异形成的,其中流纹斑岩在岩浆后期可能经历了更为复杂的地壳混染和结晶分异过程。     

黑龙江西北部小古里河过钾质基性、超基性火山岩的发现

本文报道了黑龙江省五大连池裂谷带北端出露的一套超基性、基性的过钾质火山岩,通过详细的野外调查,确认了火山岩的喷发顺序,肯定了火山岩从基性岩向超基性岩的演变以及它们的K_2O、TiO_2含量不断提高的事实.在此基础上作者对超基性-过钾质岩石的岩浆成因提出了初步认识,认为它们不是岩浆结晶分异作用的产物,而是在裂谷演化构造背景下的一次独立的深源岩浆事件.本文将小古里河的过钾质火山岩和乌干达及意大利等世界上著名的钾质火山岩进行了比较.     

Lithium isotopic evidence for subduction of the Indian lower crust beneath southern Tibet

Post-collisional K-rich volcanic rocks (KVRs) can provide an opportunity to constrain the architecture of the lithosphere and the mechanisms of plateau uplift. However, their petrogenesis and geodynamic setting remain in dispute. Lithium concentrations and isotopic compositions of 87 potassic, ultrapotassic and Mg-rich potassic volcanic rocks (PVRs, UPVs, and MPRs, respectively) in SW Tibet, along with new Pb–Sr–Nd isotope data and whole-rock analyses, are used to constrain their mantle source and genesis. These rocks are characterized by very similar δ⁷Li values: PVRs vary from −4.9‰ to +3.2‰, UPVs from −3.9‰ to +1.7‰, and MPRs from −1.2‰ to +3.5‰. They can be classified into two groups: Group I (19 out of 87 samples) with heavier δ⁷Li values (+1.0‰ to +3.5‰) similar to those reported for mid-ocean-ridge and ocean-island basalts (MORBs and OIBs, respectively), and Group II (68 out of 87 samples) with lighter values (−4.9‰ to +1.0‰) similar to those of Indian lower crust. These variable isotopic compositions may record the isotopic signature of the early-middle Miocene subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM). This paper demonstrates the existence of isotopically light mantle domains beneath the Lhasa terrane, which were ascribed to the interaction with fluids/melts derived from the subducted Indian lower crust. The modeling curves of Indian lower crust with a metasomatized mantle composition fully account for compositional variations in the PVRs, UPVs, and MPRs. They were generated by the partial melting of SCLM, which was metasomatized by fluids/melts derived from the subducted Indian lower crust (ca. 4–14%, ca. 4–10%, and ca. 6–10% for the PVRs, UPVs, and MPRs, respectively). The Li isotopic data indicate that the Indian lower crust was subducted beneath the central Lhasa subterrane, and this sheds new light on the formation of the Tibet Plateau.     

Subduction of the Indian lower crust beneath southern Tibet revealed by the post-collisional potassic and ultrapotassic rocks in SW Tibet

New major and trace elemental, Sr–Nd–Pb isotope, and zircon U–Pb geochronological and Hf–O isotope data of post-collisional potassic and ultrapotassic volcanic rocks (PVRs and UPVs, respectively) along with geochemical data of PVRs, UPVs, and Mg-rich potassic rocks (MPRs) in the literature are used to constrain their mantle source and genesis. The PVRs, UPVs, and MPRs share similar geochemical features but with some discrepancies, suggesting that they were derived from subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) with isotopic heterogeneity resulting from the varying contributions of subducted Indian lower crust into the mantle source (ca. 6–20%, ca. 8–30%, and ca. 9–30%, respectively). The zircon Hf–O isotopic compositions of these rocks can be classified into two groups, including Group I rocks with high δ¹⁸O (6.7–11.3‰), low ε_Hf(t) (− 17.0 to − 12.0), and old Hf crustal model ages (1.87–2.19 Ga) that indicate an ancient SCLM source, and Group II rocks with δ¹⁸O values of 6.8–10.7‰, ε_Hf(t) values of − 11.8 to − 6.3, and younger Hf crustal model ages (1.50–1.86 Ga). The negative correlation defined by δ¹⁸O and ε_Hf(t) of Group II samples suggests a two-component mixing between mantle- and crust-derived melts, in which the latter would be the subducted Indian lower crust as indicated by the similar negative ε_Hf(t) values between Group II samples (− 11.8 to − 6.3) and the High Himalayan gneiss (− 14.2 to + 0.3). Thus we propose two enrichment events to account for the Hf–O isotopic compositions of the PVRs and UPVs/MPRs: the first involves the enrichment of the overlying SCLM that was metasomatized by fluids derived from dehydration of the subducted Indian lower crust, and the second invokes the enrichment of the overlying SCLM metasomatized by melts of the already dehydrated different proportions of the Indian lower crust. We argue that break-off of the northwards subducted Indian Plate in the early Miocene caused the asthenospheric upwelling under the Indian plate through slab window, resulting in varying degrees of partial melting of the overlying metasomatized heterogeneous SCLM to produce the primitive magmas of the PVRs, UPVs, and MPRs in an extensional setting. These observations and interpretations imply that the Indian lower crust was subducted beneath the Lhasa terrane in the Early–Middle Miocene.     

西藏及其周围地区地壳、地幔地震层析成像——印度板块大规模俯冲于西藏高原之下的证据

文中介绍有关西藏—喜马拉雅碰撞带的一项地震层析成像研究。根据一个用天然地震数据产生的全球波速模型 ,印度板块有可能以近水平状俯冲于整个西藏高原之下至 16 5～ 2 6 0km深度。西藏岩石圈具有低波速地壳和高波速下岩石圈 (75～ 12 0km深 )。在 12 0～ 16 5km深度范围 ,西藏岩石圈与俯冲的印度板块之间有一层低速软流圈物质。高原中部从地表到 310km深处有一低速体 ,说明地幔物质有可能穿过俯冲板块的脆弱部位上隆。这些结果以及野外实测的地壳缩短值说明高原的抬升得助于印度板块的近水平俯冲。我们推论俯冲印度板块的升温上浮以及上覆软流层的存在是造成西藏高原高海拔抬升以及内部地表仍相对平坦的主要原因。2 0 0 1年 1月 2 6日在印度西部发生的毁灭性大地震有可能是俯冲应力在印度板块后缘薄弱处引发的岩石圈大断裂。     

大陆俯冲隧道板片-地幔楔界面反向流体交代作用:西阿尔卑斯造山带超高压变质白片岩的地球化学证据

前人对深俯冲板片释放熔/流体交代地幔楔形成弧岩浆源区的过程和机制已得到充分认识,然而对地幔楔岩石能否脱水交代深俯冲地壳并不清楚.在对欧洲西阿尔卑斯造山带Dora-Maira地体白片岩的地球化学研究中,首次发现地幔楔交代岩能够脱水反向交代深俯冲地壳岩石,从而极大影响俯冲地壳的地球化学组成.结合白片岩和围岩的全岩地球化学特征以及锆石学结果,查明了白片岩的原岩为S型花岗岩,澄清了关于Dora-Maira白片岩原岩属性的长期争议.在此基础上,发现白片岩中变质锆石相对残留岩浆锆石δ18O值显著降低,指示原岩形成后受到低δ18O变质流体的交代作用.白片岩具有高温岩石中最高的δ26Mg值达0.75‰,显著高于围岩变花岗岩,指示交代流体具有重Mg同位素组成.基于地球主要岩石储库的Mg同位素组成,推测交代流体来自俯冲隧道中富滑石地幔楔蛇纹岩在弧下深度的脱水分解,而这些地幔楔蛇纹岩是新特提斯洋壳在弧前深度变质脱水产生的流体与地幔楔浅部橄榄岩反应形成.这些结果不仅提供了利用Mg-O同位素示踪俯冲隧道中流体来源的新思路,也提供了地幔楔蛇纹岩来源流体反向交代深俯冲地壳岩石的首个典型实例.这种反向交代不仅极大改变了深俯冲地壳的地球化学组成,而且对弧岩浆岩重Mg同位素成因具有重要意义.      

Reply to the comments on “Xenoliths in ultrapotassic volcanic rocks in the Lhasa block: direct evidence for crust–mantle mixing and metamorphism in the deep crust”

Stepanov et al. (Contrib Mineral Petrol, 2017) question our conclusion that the UPVs in southern Tibet were derived by partial melting of an old, metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) of the subducted Indian plate. Instead, they propose that these ultrapotassic volcanic rocks (UPVs) are shoshonitic and were generated in two steps: direct melting of crustal rocks first, and then the melts interacted with mantle peridotite. However, the trace element, isotopic, thermal, structural, and seismic evidence is consistent with the xenolith evidence (Wang et al in Contrib Mineral Petrol 172:62, 2016) for hybridisation of ascending Indian subcontinental lithospheric mantle-derived UPV magmas with the deep, isotopically unevolved, Tibetan crust. This necessitates a model whereby partial melting of subducting Indian SCLM generates the UPV suite of southern Tibet.     

Subduction of Indian continent beneath southern Tibet in the latest Eocene (~ 35 Ma): Insights from the Quguosha gabbros in southern Lhasa block

Geophysical data illustrate that the Indian continental lithosphere has northward subducted beneath the Tibet Plateau, reaching the Bangong–Nujiang suture in central Tibet. However, when the Indian continental lithosphere started to subduct, and whether the Indian continental crust has injected into the mantle beneath southern Lhasa block, are not clear. Here we report new results from the Quguosha gabbros of southern Lhasa block, southern Tibet. LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating of two samples gives a ca. 35 Ma formation age (i.e., the latest Eocene) for the Quguosha gabbros. The Quguosha gabbro samples are geochemically characterized by variable SiO₂ and MgO contents, strongly negative Nb–Ta–Ti and slightly negative Eu anomalies, and uniform initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7056–0.7058) and ε_Nd(t) (− 2.2 to − 3.6). They exhibit Sr–Nd isotopic compositions different from those of the Jurassic–Eocene magmatic rocks with depleted Sr–Nd isotopic characteristics, but somewhat similar to those of Oligocene–Miocene K-rich magmatic rocks with enriched Sr–Nd isotopic characteristics. We therefore propose that an enriched Indian crustal component was added into the lithospheric mantle beneath southern Lhasa by continental subduction at least prior to the latest Eocene (ca. 35 Ma). We interpret the Quguosha mafic magmas to have been generated by partial melting of lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subducted continental sediments, which entered continental subduction channel(s) and then probably accreted or underplated into the overlying mantle during the northward subduction of the Indian continent. Continental subduction likely played a key role in the formation of the Tibetan plateau at an earlier date than previously thought.     

Fluid/rock interaction and mass transfer in continental subduction zones: constraints from trace elements and isotopes (Li,B, O,Sr, Nd,Pb) in UHP rocks from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Program,Sulu, East China

In order to better understand the role of fluids during subduction and subsequent exhumation, we have investigated whole-rock and mineral chemistry (major and trace elements) and Li, B as well as O, Sr, Nd, Pb isotopes on selected continuous drill-core profiles through contrasting lithological boundaries from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Program (CCSD) in Sulu, China. Four carefully selected sample sets have been chosen to investigate geochemical changes as a result of fluid mobilization during dehydration, peak metamorphism, and exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust. Our data reveal that while O and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions remain more or less unchanged, significant Li and/or B isotope fractionations occur between different lithologies that are in close contact during various metamorphic stages. Samples that are supposed to represent prograde dehydration as indicated by veins formed at high pressures (HP) are characterized by element patterns of highly fluid-mobile elements in the veins that are complementary to those of the host eclogite. A second sample set represents a UHP metamorphic crustal eclogite that is separated from a garnet peridotite by a thin transitional interface. Garnet peridotite and eclogite are characterized by a >10% difference in MgO, which, together with the presence of abundant hydroxyl-bearing minerals and compositionally different clinopyroxene grains demonstrate that both rocks have been derived from different sources that have been tectonically juxtaposed during subduction, and that hydrous silicate-rich fluids have been added from the subducting slab to the mantle. Two additional sample sets, comprising retrograde amphibolite and relatively fresh eclogite, demonstrate that besides external fluids, internal fluids can be responsible for the formation of amphibolite. Li and B concentrations and isotopic compositions point to losses and isotopic fractionation during progressive dehydration. On the other hand, fluids with isotopically heavier Li and B are added during retrogression. On a small scale, mantle-derived rocks may be significantly metasomatized by fluids derived from the subducted slab. Our study indicates that during high-grade metamorphism, Li and B may show different patterns of enrichment and of isotopic fractionation.     

The role of mantle-hybridization and crustal contamination in the petrogenesis of lithospheric mantle-derived alkaline rocks: constraints from Os and Hf isotopes

The Rhön area as part of the Central European Volcanic Province (CEVP) hosts an unusual suite of Tertiary 24-Ma old hornblende-bearing alkaline basalts that provide insights into melting and fractionation processes within the lithospheric mantle. These chemically primitive to slightly evolved and isotopically (Sr, Nd, Pb) depleted basalts have slightly lower Hf isotopic compositions than respective other CEVP basalts and Os isotope compositions more radiogenic than commonly observed for continental intraplate alkaline basalts. These highly radiogenic initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios (0.268–0.892) together with their respective Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions are unlikely to result from crustal contamination alone, although a lack of Os data for lower crustal rocks from the area and limited data for CEVP basalts or mantle xenoliths preclude a detailed evaluation. Similarly, melting of the same metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle as inferred for other CEVP basalts alone is also unlikely, based on only moderately radiogenic Os isotope compositions obtained for upper mantle xenoliths from elsewhere in the province. Another explanation for the combined Nd, Sr and Os isotope data is that the lavas gained their highly radiogenic Os isotope composition through a mantle “hybridization”, metasomatism process. This model involves a mafic lithospheric component, such as an intrusion of a sublithospheric primary alkaline melt or a melt derived from subducted oceanic material, sometime in the past into the lithospheric mantle where it metasomatized the ambient mantle. Later at 24 Ma, thermal perturbations during rifting forced the isotopically evolved parts of the mantle together with the peridotitic ambient mantle to melt. This yielded a package of melts with highly correlated Re/Os ratios and radiogenic Os isotope compositions. Subsequent movement through the crust may have further altered the Os isotope composition although this effect is probably minor for the majority of the samples based on radiogenic Nd and unradiogenic Sr isotope composition of the lavas. If the radiogenic Os isotope composition can be explained by a mantle-hybridization and metasomatism model, the isotopic compositions of the hornblende basalts can be satisfied by ca. 5–25% addition of the mafic lithospheric component to an asthenospheric alkaline magma. Although a lack of isotope data for all required endmembers make this model somewhat speculative, the results show that the Re–Os isotope system in continental basalts is able to distinguish between crustal contamination and derivation of continental alkaline lavas from isotopically evolved peridotitic lithosphere that was contaminated by mafic material in the past and later remelted during rifting. The Hf isotopic compositions are slightly less radiogenic than in other alkaline basalts from the province and indicate the derivation of the lavas from low Lu–Hf parts of the lithospheric mantle. The new Os and Hf isotope data constrain a new light of the nature of such metasomatizing agents, at least for these particular rocks, which represent within the particular volcanic complex the first product of the volcanism.     

Lithium isotopic composition of Central American volcanic arc lavas: implications for modification of subarc mantle by slab-derived fluids: correction

Our previously reported lithium isotope data for the least enriched members of the Central American Volcanic Arc were in error due to problems in ion extraction from high MgO rocks. This paper presents reanalyses of the entire suite of the CAVA lavas after a systematic investigation of the elution behavior of Li as a function of the rock composition. The most significant correction pertains to the mantle end members of the Nicaragua and Costa Rica series, which now display MORB-like δ⁶Li values (−4.5‰) and not much lighter (+1‰ to +3‰) as previously reported. Also revised is the composition of a peridotite from Zabargad Island (Red Sea), considered to represent undepleted upper mantle, whose corrected δ⁶Li also resembles MORB. These new data therefore remove the speculation that Earth's primitive mantle has extremely light Li isotopic composition and that the mantle beneath CAVA contains such isotopically light domains. The δ⁶Li range for the arc segment from Costa Rica to Guatemala has now been reset to −4.5‰ to −6.4‰. Despite the narrower range, Li isotopic values remain well correlated with other subduction-related properties, including LILE and fluid-mobile elements. Model calculations show that the isotopic compositions of the lavas are consistent with small additions of slab-derived fluids to the enriched and depleted domains of the subarc mantle.     

A brief review of isotopically light Li – a feature of the enriched mantle?

Lithium isotope geochemistry is increasingly being used to trace deep-earth processes, reflecting the observed large variation of Li isotope ratios in mantle-derived rocks, including peridotite xenoliths associated with ancient continents. We briefly review the Li isotopic compositions of major geochemical reservoirs, the assumed mechanisms of Li isotopic fractionation, and, in particular, the origins of isotopically light Li in mantle-derived rocks based on the latest developments in Li isotope geochemistry. Comparison of Li isotope data with existing Sr-Nd isotope ratios reflects the subduction-recycling of ancient oceanic crust and the reappearance of Li in volcanic rocks. This circulation may play an important role in generating the isotopically light-Li component in the mantle – perhaps the enriched mantle end member defined by the Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of oceanic basalts.