马厂箐铜矿床黄铁矿流体包裹体He-Ar同位素体系

对马厂箐斑岩型铜矿黄铁矿中流体包裹体的氦、氩同位素研究表明,在~3He/~(36)Ar-~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar和~(40)Ar/~4He-Rc/Ra空间,流体包裹体的氦.氩同位素组成呈明显的正相关.由这种相关性确定出,成矿流体为地壳和地幔两个端元流体的混合物.其中,前者为富含地壳氦但具空气氩同位素组成特征、贫硫和碳等挥发份的大气成因低温地下水,后者为由形成马厂箐富碱斑岩体之壳慢混合岩浆分异出的富含硫和碳等挥发份的高温岩浆流体.     

中国大陆含油气盆地的氦同位素组成及大地热流密度

根据天然气中氦同位素组成,讨论了中国大陆主要含油气盆地氦同位素地球化学特征与大地热流密度。不同地区425个~3He/~4He 值表明中国含油气盆地天然气的氦同位素组成变化范围较大,为4.0×10~(-9)-7.21×10~(-6),在统计直方图上呈现三个峰值:1.5×10~(-8),3.0×10~(-7)和1.5×10~(-6)。中国东部大陆裂谷系中、新生代盆地内天然气的~3He/~4He 值分布范围为1.02×10~(-7)-7.21×10~(-6),50%以上大于大气的值(1.4×10~(-6));其他地区含油气盆地天然气的~3He/~4He 值分布范围为4.0×10~(-9)-7.01×10~(-7),全部小于大气的~3He/~4He 值。根据天然气中~3He/~4He 值计算的大地热流密度值分布在30-82mW/m~2 之间。利用~3He/~4He 值计算的大地热流密度值与用其他方法测得的值相一致,在中国大陆水平方向上呈现"东高西低"的变化趋势。     

金顶超大型铅锌矿床氦、氩同位素地球化学

对金顶超大型铅 锌矿床成矿阶段形成的黄铁矿中流体包裹体的氦、氩同位素的研究结果表明 ,成矿流体的40 Ar/ 3 6Ar≈ 30 1 .7～ 385 .7,3 He/ 4 He≈ 0 .0 3～ 0 .0 6Ra,成矿流体属于饱和空气的表生水 .在此基础上 ,对氦、氩、硫、铅同位素耦合关系的研究进一步确定出该矿床成矿流体的形成演化过程为 :饱和空气的大气成因地下水下渗增温→通过水 岩作用从盆地地层中获取硫和氯以及放射成因的氦和氩→浸取盆地底部幔源火成岩中的铅和锌→含矿流体回返上升成矿 .由于这一过程的结果 ,而使成矿流体留下了地壳放射成因氦、(叠加有部分放射成因40 Ar的 )大气氩、地壳成因硫和幔源铅的同位素组成特征 .     

利用地下流体氦同位素比值估算大陆壳幔热流比例

地下流体中的氦同位素 3He来自地幔的排气作用 ,4He则是铀、钍衰变的产物 .由于铀、钍元素在大陆地壳中富集 ,4He通量与地壳热流呈正相关关系 ;同时 3He通量与地幔热流之间呈正相关 .所以地下流体的氦同位素比值 （3He / 4 He）与大陆壳幔热流比值 （qc/qm）呈反相关关系 .根据欧亚大陆和加拿大地盾的地下流体氦同位素比值数据和相应的壳幔热流比值数据 ,统计出 qc/ qm 与 3He / 4 He之间的回归关系 :qc/ qm =0 81 5- 0 30 0ln（3He / 4 He） ;此处 3He/ 4 He的单位是RA（大气的 3He/ 4 He比值 ） .有了地表热流值和壳幔热流比值即可得到地壳热流和地幔热流 .利用该公式以及热流值估算了中国主要盆地的壳幔热流值 ;根据这些数值得出的热岩石圈厚度和地壳平均生热率结果与地震学研究成果一致 .氦同位素比值是区分大陆热流中地壳热流值和地幔热流值的有用参数 .     

大西洋中脊TAG热液区硫化物中流体包裹体的He-Ne-Ar同位素组成

对大西洋中脊TAG (Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse)热液区硫化物中流体包裹体的He, Ne和Ar同位素组成进行了测定, 流体包裹体的3He/4He比值为2.2～13.3 Ra, 均值为7.2 Ra, 与该区喷口热液流体(3He/4He=7.5～8.2 Ra)和MORB(3He/4He=6～11 Ra)相比, 其变化范围明显较大. 20Ne/22Ne比值为10.2～11.4, 明显高于大气值(9.8). 而40Ar/36Ar比值的变化范围从287到359, 接近大气值(295.5). 这些结果表明, 热液硫化物中流体包裹体的稀有气体是地幔和海水端员混合的产物, 热液流体捕获的地幔源稀有气体中有部分可能来自下地幔, 且流体包裹体中的He主要来自上地幔, Ne和Ar主要来自海水.     

山东半岛第三纪基性火成岩He-Ar同位素与岩浆起源

应用高温熔融样品释气和静态同位素比值质谱技术, 测定了山东半岛济阳盆地及其周边山旺和栖霞第三纪基性火成岩的He-Ar同位素组成. 结果表明: 古近纪的盆地火山岩和辉绿岩⁴He丰度变化较大, 为(73.70~804.16)×10^−8 cm³ STP·g^−1, ³He/⁴He比值(0.374~2.959 Ra)低于MORB但明显高于大陆地壳值; 新近纪碱性玄武岩⁴He丰度为(42.34~286.72)×10-8 cm³ STP·g^−1, 具有“陆壳型”的3He/ 4He比值(0.013~0.074 Ra). 样品还有略高于大气的40Ar/36Ar比值(395.4~1428.3), 反映着大气型Ar的混染主要发生在地幔源区. 基性火成岩低的³He/⁴He比值主要与样品中放射性4He富集有关, 但富集的放射性⁴He主要还是继承了地幔源区的特点, 说明样品的He-Ar体系可解释为地幔源区MORB型、大气、富放射性⁴He组分的三端元混合, 由此揭示山东半岛第三纪基性火成岩所反映的地幔源区总体具有低于MORB的He同位素比值. 这样的He-Ar同位素特征表明华北东部新生代以碱性玄武岩为主的火成岩不是地幔柱活动产物, 而是叠加了不同程度富集地幔组分(EMI)的亏损软流圈地幔部分熔融的产物.     

中国不同类型断裂带的地幔脱气与深部地质构造特征

以氦同位素为主, 辅以CO₂/³He和CH₄/³He及⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar等指标, 结合地质构造等资料, 对中国大陆不同类型断裂带的地幔脱气及其深部地质构造特征进行了综合示踪研究. 据此识别并划分出4种具代表性的断裂带: (1) 伸展性构造环境中的岩石圈断裂, 地壳厚度小, 具低CH₄/³He-高R值和低CO₂/³He值-高R值体系, 以幔源流体为主, 地幔脱气作用最强, 以郯庐断裂带为代表; (2) 强烈挤压构造环境中的岩石圈断裂或俯冲带, 如班公湖-怒江断裂带, 地壳巨厚, R/Ra值为0.43~1.13, 幔源氦约占总氦的5%~14%, 地幔脱气作用较弱; (3) 造山带山前(盆缘)深断裂带, R值为10^-7量级, CH₄/3He值为10⁹~10¹⁰, CO₂/3He值为10⁶~10⁸, 具微弱的地幔脱气作用; (4)造山带内壳层断裂带, 如窑街F19等断裂带, 具有高CH₄/3He值-低R值(10^-8)和高CO₂/³He值-低R值体系, 无明显的地幔脱气作用. 研究表明: 大型深断裂带是地幔脱气的主要构造通道; 控制地幔脱气强度的主要因素为断裂深度、构造环境性质和地壳厚度; 地幔脱气作用强度可反映断裂带的深度及其深部构造状态, 而气体地球化学示踪则可成为其研究的新的途径; 地球深部热流体上侵活动可能是深大断裂带形成演化的动力源之一; 山前断裂带是深部构造活动方式和壳幔结构转换的部位, 对于认识造山带和盆地的形成机理有重要科学意义.     

太平洋Fe-Mn结壳He, Ne, Ar同位素特征与来源

对太平洋海山Fe-Mn结壳最表层样品的稀有气体同位素丰度与组成测定发现, Fe-Mn结壳稀有气体存在如下特征: ① He, Ar同位素丰度与组成存在明显的分组现象, 分别命名为低³He/⁴He型和高³He/⁴He型; ②低³He/⁴He型样品⁴He丰度高(平均为191×10^-9 cm³·STP·g^-1), ⁴He, ²⁰Ne和⁴⁰Ar丰度变化范围大(分别为42.8×10^-9~421×10^-9, 5.40×10^-9~141×10^-9和773×10^-9~ 10976×10^-9 cm³·STP·g^-1); 高³He/⁴He型样品⁴He丰度低(平均为11.7×10^-9 cm³·STP·g^-1), ⁴He, ²⁰Ne和⁴⁰Ar丰度变化范围小(分别为7.57×10^-9~17.4×10^-9, 10.4×10^-9~25.5×10^-9和5354×10^-9~9050×10^-9 cm³·STP·g^-1); ③低³He/⁴He型样品³He/⁴He比值(R/R_A=2.04~2.92)远低于MORB值(R/R_A=8±1), ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar比值(447~543)明显较大气值(295.5)高; 高³He/⁴He型样品³He/⁴He比值(R/R_A=10.4~12.0)略高于MORB值(R/R_A=8±1), ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar比值(293~299)接近大气值; ④所有样品的Ne同位素组成(²⁰Ne/²²Ne和²¹Ne/²²Ne比值分别为10.3~10.9和0.02774~0.03039)与³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar比值(0.1886~0.1963)变化都很小, 无明显分组, 且与大气相应值(³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar, ²⁰Ne/²²Ne, ²¹Ne/²²Ne比值分别为0.187, 9.80和0.029)接近. 样品的稀有气体组成与区域不均一性表明, 稀有气体主要来自下地幔, 低³He/⁴He型与高³He/⁴He型样品的稀有气体同位素组成分别类似于HIMU型和EM型富集地幔特征. 具有HIMU型稀有气体同位素组成特征的低³He/⁴He型结壳产出于麦哲伦海山、马尔库斯-威克海岭、马绍尔海山链和中太平洋海山, 具有EM型稀有气体同位素组成特征的高³He/⁴He型结壳产出于莱恩群岛海山链, 可能暗示了麦哲伦海山、马尔库斯-威克海岭、马绍尔海山链和中太平洋海山起源于HIMU型下地幔源区, 莱恩群岛海山链起源于EM型下地幔源区, 这与海山基底玄武岩研究得到的结果相吻合. 源区性质的差异是Fe-Mn结壳稀有气体明显分组的根本原因, 地幔脱气作用使得样品的稀有气体核素丰度同步降低, 而源区放射性成因核素的积累对Fe-Mn结壳稀有气体核素丰度和同位素比值的影响甚微.     

冲绳海槽活动热水成矿系统的氦同位素组成:幔源氦证据

冲绳海槽长英质火山岩的3He 4He比值 (R)为 5 3～ 8 7RA(RA 为大气的3He 4He比值 1 4× 10 - 6 ) ,显著不同于壳源花岗岩和壳源长英质火山岩 ,而接近于MORB和弧安山岩 ,揭示长英质岩浆系玄武质岩浆派生产物 ,后者来自受俯冲带组分混染的楔形地幔 .海底下部热水成矿系统具有极高的3He 4He比值 ,最下部浸染 脉状硫化物R RA 变化于 12 3～ 2 9 3之间 ,块状硫化物该比值介于 10 7～ 17 9之间 .3He极大富集可能与地幔热柱作用有关 ,反映了深部地幔氦的贡献 .上部热水成矿系统及其产物的R RA 变化于 2 6～ 8 0之间 ,黑烟囱流体该比值为 6 5 ,CO2 流体该比值为 5 8～ 6 6,重晶石为该比值 4 3～ 6 0 .硫化物烟囱显示R RA 分带 ,自内而外R RA 值降低 ( 8 0→ 6 0→ 2 6) ,证明上部热水成矿系统仍有地幔氦注入 ,但因热水流体与海水的大量混合而被稀释 .     

西藏日喀则地区蛇绿岩的氦同位素研究

测定了日喀则地区蛇绿岩组合岩石的稀有气体同位素组成。白朗的玄武岩具有比较均一的He同位素组成 ,3He/ 4He平均值为 5 35 9Ra;变橄岩的He同位素比值范围为 1 10 4～ 3 384Ra,平均为 2 383Ra;从东部的仁布和大竹到西部的下鲁和白朗 ,辉绿岩的3He/ 4He由低变高。采于吉定的新鲜辉绿岩平均高达 31 5 7Ra,该值接近于在夏威夷发现的高比值。分步加热法结果显示高R值的He是在低温步释放的 ,根据这种高R值的He可以推测雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩的成因环境有地幔柱的作用 ,该构造带很可能出现过裂谷洋盆或未能发育成熟的深大裂谷带     

He, Ne and Ar isotope compositions of fluid inclusions in hydrothermal sulfides from the TAG hydrothermal field Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Helium, neon and argon isotope compositions of fluid inclusions have been measured in hydrothermal sulfide samples from the TAG hydrothermal field at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Fluid-inclusion³He/⁴He ratios are 2.2—13.3 times the air value (Ra), and with a mean of 7.2 Ra. Comparison with the local vent fluids (³He/⁴He=7.5—8.2 Ra) and mid-ocean ridge basalt values (³He/⁴He=6—11 Ra) shows that the variation range of³He/⁴He ratios from sulfide-hosted fluid inclusions is significantly large. Values for²⁰Ne/²²Ne are from 10.2 to 11.4, which are significantly higher than the atmospheric ratio (9.8). And fluid-inclusion⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios range from 287 to 359, which are close to the atmospheric values (295.5). These results indicate that the noble gases of fluid inclusions in hydrothermal sulfides are a mixture of mantle- and seawater-derived noble gases; the partial mantle-derived components of trapped hydrothermal fluids may be from the lower mantle; the helium of fluid inclusions is mainly from upper mantle; and the Ne and Ar components are mainly from seawater.     

Rare gases,water, and carbon in kaersutites

Kaersutites from Kakanui, New Zealand and from three localities in the southwestern United States have been analyzed for rare gases, water and carbon to investigate the volatile signature of the sub-continental mantle. This study does not confirm the high ³He/⁴He and ²¹Ne/²²Ne ratios reported by Saito et al. [1] for the Kakanui kaersutite. Instead, a ³He/⁴He ratio of 6 R_A and atmospheric ²¹Ne/²²Ne ratios were measured which are consistent with our current knowledge of the earth's mantle. A low ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar of 320 and more than 10^?8 cm³/g of ³⁶Ar confirms the argon results of Saito et al. and indicates that significant quantities of ³⁶Ar reside in this portion of the mantle. Kaersutites from the southwestern United States (Arizona) have a heterogeneous helium isotope signature, ranging from 8.8 R_A at San Carlos to 0.46 at Hoover Dam. All D/H ratios for the water in kaersutites (?56‰ to ?78‰) represent typical mantle values with no apparent correlation with ³He/⁴He. The correlation of increasing carbon content (140–400 ppm) with increasing δ¹³C (?24.5‰ to ?16.7‰) may reflect differences in the proportions of oxidized and reduced carbon in these samples.     

Refining the noble gas record of the Réunion mantle plume source: Implications on mantle geochemistry

We report isotope analyses of helium, neon, argon, and xenon using different extraction techniques such as stepwise dynamic and static crushing, and high-resolution stepwise heating of three mantle xenoliths from Réunion Island. He and Ne isotopic compositions were similar to previously reported Réunion data, yielding a more radiogenic composition when compared to the Hawaiian or Icelandic mantle plume sources. We furthermore observed correlated ¹²⁹Xe/¹³⁰Xe and ¹³⁶Xe/¹³⁰Xe ratios following the mantle trend with maximum values of 6.93 ± 0.14 and 2.36 ± 0.06, respectively. High-resolution argon analyses resulted in maximum ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of 9000–11,000, in agreement with maximum values obtained in previous studies. We observed a well-defined hyperbolic mixing curve between an atmospheric and a mantle component in a diagram of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar vs. ²⁰Ne/²²Ne. Using a mantle ²⁰Ne/²²Ne of 12.5 (Ne–B) a consistent ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar value of 11,053 ± 220 in sample ILR 84-4 was obtained, whereas extrapolations to a higher mantle ²⁰Ne/²²Ne ratio of 13.8 (solar wind) would lead to a much higher ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio of 75,000, far above observed maximum values. This favours a mantle ²⁰Ne/²²Ne of about 12.5 considered to be equivalent to Ne–B. Extrapolated and estimated ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of the Réunion, Iceland, Loihi, and MORB mantle sources, respectively, tend to be linearly correlated with air corrected ²¹Ne/²²Ne and show the same systematic sequence of increasing relative contributions in radiogenic isotopes (Iceland–Loihi–Réunion–MORB) as observed for ⁴He/³He. In general, He–Ne–Ar isotope systematics of the oceanic mantle can be explained by following processes: (i) different degree of mixing between pure radiogenic and pure primordial isotopes generating the MORB and primitive plume (Loihi-type) endmembers; (ii) relatively recent fractionation of He relative to Ne and Ar, in one or both endmembers; (iii) after the primary fractionation event, different degrees of mixing between melts or fluids of MORB and primitive plume affinity generate the variety of observed OIB data, also on a local scale; (iv) very late-stage secondary fractionation during magma ascent and magma degassing leads to further strong variation in He/Ne and He/Ar ratios.     

Characteristics of mantle degassing and deep-seated geological structures in different typical fault zones of China

Large-scale fault zones play an important role in controlling and adjusting all kinds of geological proc-esses,such as deposition,magmatism,metamorphism,metallogenesis,tectonic stress field,tectonic deforma-tion,even the movement of geological massifs,earth-quakes,and they also are the key to solving geological problems concerned,especially regional and even global structures.Due to their special geological tec-tonic significance,they are one of the main research fields of tectonic geology and …     

Planetary-type rare gases in an upper mantle-derived amphibole

All twenty-three stable rare gas isotopes have been measured in a mantle-derived amphibole, kaersutite. The elemental abundance pattern of the rare gases is similar to the “planetary” rare gas pattern as defined by carbonaceous chondrites. The³He/⁴He ratio, (4.9 ± 0.6) × 10^?5, is suggestive of primordial He degassing from the mantle. Excess²¹Ne is present. The measured⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio,400 ± 5, may represent a mantle⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio <240 when corrected for radiogenic⁴⁰Ar. The heavy isotopes of Kr and t0he Xe isotopes are within error of the atmosphere values.     

Helium accumulation in groundwater, III. Limits on helium transfer across the mantle-crust boundary beneath Australia and the magnitude of mantle degassing

The groundwaters of the Great Artesian Basin (Australia) have been previously shown to be accumulating in-situ production helium for groundwaters ages < 50 kyr and an external helium flux equivalent to whole crustal production for groundwater ages > 100 kyr [1,2]. New helium isotope measurements show that the observed in-situ production helium (³He/⁴He 1.6 × 10⁻⁸) is isotopically distinct from the crustal degassing helium flux (³He/⁴He 6.6 × 10⁻⁸). Furthermore, the crustal degassing helium isotope ratio is marginally in excess of the whole crustal production ratio (³He/⁴He= 3.5 × 10⁻⁸) and the production ratio in a variety of continental rock types. This suggests that the upper limit on volatile transport across the mantle-crust boundary beneath the (relatively) stable and “complacent” Australian continent can be characterized by a “conductive-diffusive” helium/heat flux ratio of 2.6 × 10⁶⁴He atoms mW⁻¹ s⁻¹ which is two orders of magnitude less than the “intrusive-volcanic” ratio of 2.9 × 10⁸⁴He atoms mW⁻¹ s⁻¹ measured at the Galapagos [16]. These results constrain the transcrustal mantle degassing fluxes of⁴He and⁴⁰Ar to be much less than the mid-ocean ridge degassing fluxes; which are much less than the degassing of⁴He and⁴⁰Ar from continental crust. Thus, the degassing of the Earth's interior is dominated by magmatic processes but the dominant fluxes of⁴He and⁴⁰Ar to the atmosphere must come from the continental crust.     

Noble gas isotopic composition of deep underground water in Osaka plain, central Japan: Evidence for mantle He and model for new volcanism

Abstract Elemental and isotopic compositions of noble gases extracted from the bore hole water in Osaka plain, central Japan were examined. The water samples were collected from four shallow bore holes (180-450 m) and seven deep bore holes (600-1370 m) which have been used for an urban resort hot spring zone. The water temperatures of the deep bore holes were 22-50°C and that of the shallow bore holes, 13-23°C. The elemental abundance patterns show the progressive enrichment of the heavier noble gases compared with the atmospheric noble gas composition except for He, which is heavily enriched in deep bore hole water samples. ³He/⁴He ratios from the bore holes reaching the Ryoke granitic basement were higher than the atmospheric value (1.4 × 10⁻⁶), indicating a release of mantle He through the basement. The highest value of 8.2 × 10⁻⁶ is in the range of arc volcanism. On the other hand, the bore holes in sedimentary rocks overlying the basement release He enriched in radiogenic ⁴He, resulted in a low ³He/⁴He ratio of 0.5 × 10⁻⁶. ⁴He/²⁰Ne and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios indicate that the air contamination is generally larger in shallow bore holes than in deep ones from each site. The helium enriched in mantle He is compatible with the previous work which suggested up-rising magma in 'Kinki Spot', the area of Osaka and western Wakayama, in spite of no volcanic activity in the area. A model to explain an initiation of magma generation beneath this area is presented.     

The isotopic composition of atmospheric argon and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology: Time for a change?

A redetermination of the isotopic composition of atmospheric argon by Lee, J.-Y., Marti, K., Severinghaus, J.P., Kawamura, K., Yoo, H.-S., Lee, J.B., Kim, J.S. [2006. A redetermination of the isotopic abundances of atmospheric Ar. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 70, 4507–4512] represents the first refinement since the work of Nier [1950. A redetermination of the relative abundances of the isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and potassium. Physical Reviews 77, 789–793]. The new ⁴⁰Ar:³⁸Ar:³⁶Ar proportions imply <1% adjustments to ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages in all but exceptional cases of very young and/or K-poor and/or Ca-rich samples, or cases in which samples are grossly under- or over-irradiated. Analytical protocols employing atmospheric argon to determine mass discrimination corrections are insensitive to the effects of revision on the air correction, but are subject to non-negligible adjustments arising from expanded heavy to light isotope ratios attending the increased mass discrimination correction. The competing effects of increased ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁷Ar ratios render the adjustments a function of sample chemistry and neutron irradiation parameters. The improved precision of atmospheric ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar and ³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar permits increasingly sensitive detection of departures from atmospheric values. Non-atmospheric initial ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar values are increasingly well-documented in volcanic materials, including subatmospheric values correlated with ³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar in a trend consistent with kinetic mass fractionation whereby incomplete equilibration between magma and atmosphere favors light isotope enrichment in the magma. The detailed mechanism(s) of such fractionation are unclear and must be clarified by further study. A detectable increase in atmospheric ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar in the past 800 ka [Bender, M.L., Barnett, B., Dreyfus, G., Jouzel, J., Porcelli, D., 2008. The contemporary degassing rate of ⁴⁰Ar from the Earth. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105, 8232–8237] suggests that ages of late Quaternary (e.g., <100 ka) materials incorporating large amounts of atmospheric argon such as biotite may be underestimated by as much as 100% if a modern atmospheric ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar value is erroneously assumed, unless air argon is used to determine mass discrimination. Further evaluation of the evolution of paleoatmospheric ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, and the fidelity with which argon trapped in igneous materials reflects this, would be very productive. The use of isochrons rather than model (e.g., plateau) ages mitigates the vagaries associated with uncertain trapped argon isotope ratios, and the importance of strategies to derive statistically valid isochrons is underscored.     

Noble gas systematics for coexisting glass and olivine crystals in basalts and dunite xenoliths from Loihi Seamount

Noble gas isotopes including ³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar and Xe isotope ratios were determined for coexisting glass and olivine crystals in tholeiitic and alkalic basalts and dunite xenoliths from Loihi Seamount.Glass and coexisting olivine crystals have similar ³He/⁴He ratios (2.8–3.4) × 10^?5, 20 to 24 times the atmospheric ratio (R_A), but different ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios (400–1000). Based on the results of noble gas isotope ratios and microscopic observation, some olivine crystals are xenocrysts. We conclude that He is equilibrated between glass and olivine xenocrysts, but Ar is not.The apparent high ³He/⁴He ratio (3 × 10^?5; = 21 R_A) coupled with a relatively high ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio (4200) for dunite xenoliths (KK 17-5) may be explained by equilibration of He between MORB-type cumulates and the host magma.Except for the dunite xenoliths, noble gas data for these Loihi samples are compatible with a model in which samples from hot spot areas may be explained by mixing between P (plume)-type and M (MORB)-type components with the addition of A (atmosphere)-type component.Excess ¹²⁹Xe has not been observed due to apparent large mass fractionation among Xe isotopes.