K–Ar ages from seamount chains in the back-arc region of the Izu–Ogasawara arc

The Izu–Ogasawara arc contains, from east to west, a volcanic front, a back-arc extensional zone (back-arc knolls zone), and a series of across-arc seamount chains that cross the extensional zone in an east-northeast and west-southwest direction and extend into the Shikoku Basin. K–Ar ages of dredged volcanic rocks from these across-arc seamount chains and extension-related edifices in the back-arc region of the Izu–Ogasawara arc were measured to constrain the volcanic and tectonic history of the arc since the termination of spreading in the Shikoku Basin. K–Ar ages range between 12.5 and 1 Ma. Andesitic to dacitic rocks of 12.5–2.9 Ma occur mainly on the western part of the chains. The western part of the chains are the locus of volcanism behind the front which erupted mainly calc-alkaline andesitic lavas. The youngest rocks (< 2.8 Ma), characterized by cpx-ol basalt, occur along the western margin of the back-arc knolls zone. Basaltic rocks of 12.5–2.9 Ma have relatively high concentrations of Na₂O (> 2.0 wt%), Zr (> 50 p.p.m.) and Y (> 20 p.p.m.) and low CaO (< 12 wt%). On the other hand, basalts of 2.8–1 Ma have lower Na₂O (< 1.8 wt%), Zr (< 50 p.p.m.) and Y (< 20 p.p.m.), but significantly higher CaO (> 12 wt%). The age inferred for the initiation of back-arc rifting (∼ 2.35–2.9 Ma: Taylor 1992 ) behind the current volcanic arc coincides with the time that basalt chemistry changed drastically (eruption of the low-Na₂O and high-CaO basalt). This implies that post-2.8 Ma volcanism in the back-arc knolls zone is associated with rifting. Similarly, the change in chemical composition might be explained by a different type of source mantle following rift initiation. Volcanism in the western seamounts ceased after the onset of rifting at ∼ 2.8 Ma.     

K/Ar ages and stress pattern in the Azores: Geodynamic implications

We have dated by the K/Ar method the oldest volcanic formations known in the Azores archipelago. The results show a development of this oceanic island system from 5.5 m.y. to the present day.The age pattern is not compatible with a simple migration over a small fixed hot spot, but, plotting tectonic directions which control the volcanism versus age and distance to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a simple relationship seems to appear showing an anisotropic but fixed distribution of stress orientation at least for the last 0.7 m.y.     

Magmatic character and geotectonic setting of some tertiary-quaternary Italian volcanic rocks: Orogenic,anorogenic and «Transitional» association — A review

Discrimination functions based on major element distribution (Pearce, 1976) can be used to define the different basalt types of the Tyrrhenian and Perityrrhenian areas in an attempt to clarify their geodynamic significance.The future Tyrrhenian and Perityrrhenian areas have been affected since Oligocene by either compressional (subduction related) or transitional processes which produced well-defined orogenic and anorogenic magmas. A local development of «transitional» magma types, characteristic of «anomalous» volcanic arcs, also occurred with geochemical features that are intermediate between within-plate and orogenic magmas.The eruption of orogenic rock suites (calcalkaline, shoshonitic and leucite-bearing rocks) took place along the Apennine border on the east and southeast of the Tyrrhenian basin from Upper Miocene to Quaternary (Aeolian and neighbouring seamounts; Campania; Latium; Capraia Island). Absence of spatial zonation and interlayering of products with a various potassic character are the peculiar features of these rocks that appear to be originated from a heterogeneous and variously metasomatized mantle source by the influx of fluids (H₂O andLile enrichment) from the subduction zone affecting the Apennine-Maghrebides collisional front during Tertiary times.In the central Tyrrhenian area oceanic tholeiitic magmatism and creation of a new oceanic crust occurred from Upper Miocene. This activity was probably accomplished by Lower Pliocene when a within-plate volcanism produced the seamounts of the Batial Plain (Magnaghi, Vavilov, base of the Marsili Smts.).Etna and Ustica volcanisms occurring along the Perityrrhenian border on the south and west the Aeolian volcanism respectively, show geochemical characteristics that are transitional between anorogenic and orogenic magmas which could indicate some influence of fluids subduction-related to their mantle sources.The complex magmatic situation of the Tyrrhenian and Perityrrhenian areas may be caused by magma-producing events either from unmodified (anorogenic) or variously modified mantle sources (transitional to orogenic) depending on their proximity to and influenced by the Cainozoic subduction zone which developed along the Apennines-Maghrebides collisional front.     

A Paleogene magmatic overprint on Cretaceous seamounts of the western Pacific

The West Pacific Seamount Province (WPSP) represents a series of short-lived Cretaceous hotspot tracks. However, no intraplate volcanoes in advance of petit-spot volcanism erupted near a trench have been identified after the formation of the WPSP on the western Pacific Plate. This study reports new ages for Paleogene volcanic edifices within the northern WPSP, specifically the Ogasawara Plateau and related ridges, and Minamitorishima Island. These Paleogene ages are the first reported for basaltic rocks on western Pacific seamounts, in an area that has previously only yielded Cretaceous ages. The newly found Paleogene volcanisms overprint the Early–middle Cretaceous volcanic edifices, because the seamount or paleo-island material-covered reefal limestone caps on these edifices are uniformly older than the Paleogene volcanism identified in this study. This study outlines several possible causative factors for the Paleogene volcanism overprinting onto existing Cretaceous seamounts, including volcanism related to lithospheric stress, or a younger hotspot track within the northern part of the WPSP that records magmatism from ~60 Ma.     

Estimates of possible diffusional effects in trace element separations

Igneous material dredged from the Rio Grande rise, South Atlantic Ocean, includes basaltic rocks, some having mafic nodules and megacrysts, and volcanic breccias composed largely of basaltic fragments. These samples represent the only volcanic rocks recovered from this aseismic rise. Bulk compositions show alkalic basalt, trachybasalt, and trachyandesite; the rock types are similar to those of nearby Tristan da Cunha, Gough, and the Walvis ridge. Microprobe analyses show basaltic groundmass to have olivine, Fo₈₅, pyroxene, Fs₁₃Wo₄₆, feldspar, An₇₁, plus interstitial alkali feldspar. Mafic nodules and megacrysts have olivine, Fo_86–90 and pyroxene Fs_6–7.5Wo_45–46; Al₂O₃ 2.5–4 wt.%.The Rio Grande rise rocks have compositional characteristics of an alkalic basaltic suite, and not of mid-ocean ridge tholeiite. Based on mineral compositions, nodules and megacrysts in basalt are interpreted as cognate inclusions. Because oceanic alkalic basaltic rocks are almost invariably associated with islands and seamounts, the Rio Grande rise probably represents a series of alkalic-basalt islands that formed and eventually subsided during rifting of the South Atlantic; the dredged volcanic breccias are probably slump deposits from those volcanoes. This interpretation lends support to the Rio Grande rise having formed at a hot spot, but the possibility of alkalic rocks having formed along fracture zones should not be discounted.     

Migration of volcanism with time in the Marquesas Islands,French Polynesia

Samples from five islands of the Marquesas Island chain (southeast Pacific Ocean) have been dated by the K-Ar method and exhibit a northwest to southeast volcanic migration rate of 9.9 cm/yr. This movement is in the same direction but of intermediate magnitude to results from the Austral Island chain (lower rate) and the Hawaiian Island chain (considerably higher rate). The rate of migration of volcanism in the Marquesas Islands is consistent with the model of rigid Pacific plate movement over a fixed “hot spot” or mantle “plume” provided that the pole of rotation for the Pacific plate for the last 5 my is located near 55°S, 170°E.     

南海海岛海山的重磁响应特征

南海的海岛、海山等地貌单元的地球物理研究对于南海成因、海岛利用、资源问题和我国海防建设均具有重要意义.过去我国的南海海洋实际测量资料覆盖面小,且多数为测线调查,海底地形测量精度和重磁等测量精度较低,因此,一直无法得到精度较高的研究成果.本文利用半个多世纪我国在南海历年的多波束、重力、磁力等船载海洋实际地球物理调查资料,加上少数卫星、航空测量成果,得到能够覆盖南海全部海域的多波束、重力、磁力实际测量的地球物理基础数据.追溯南海周边的地磁台站与当年调查时间匹配的日变数据,重新校正历年磁力测量成果,并利用"十一五"863国家海洋高科技计划的处理、拼合技术,获得了南海海底地形、重力、磁力三方互为印证的可靠地球物理成果,为海岛海山的地球物理研究奠定基础.研究发现,南海海岛海山按其地球物理性质并结合现有的岩石物性资料,可以分为三大类:1)南海大部分海岛海山为空间重力异常值高、正磁力ΔZ_⊥异常值也高的高密度高磁性的双高海山,以基性喷出岩(玄武岩)为主;2)空间重力异常值高、磁力ΔZ_⊥异常值低的海山,以花岗岩、变质岩为主;3)空间重力异常值高、部分磁力ΔZ_⊥异常值高部分低的海山,可能是花岗岩、变质岩海山的部分区域出现火山喷发形成的. 海山的分布有规律,与南海的成因与南海块体的分异状态有关.     

Petrology of the Campbell Island Volcanics, Southwest Pacific Ocean

The disposition and petrology of a fractionated alkali olivine basalt—peralkaline rhyolite suite from subantarctic Campbell Island are discussed. These rocks (Campbell Island Volcanics: new name) are flows and high-level intrusions derived from two centres of igneous activity. Their age is Upper Miocene and they evolved over a period of 5 Ma. A gabbro intrusion pre-dates volcanism by 5 Ma. The ages of the flows and high-level intrusions cannot be separated, although the intrusions are chemically distinct as they contain all the intermediate members of the suite (mugearite and benmoreite). Similar La/Ce and Zr/Nb ratios for flows and high-level intrusions suggest a co-magmatic origin. Chemical variations indicate that the suite resulted from low-pressure mafic then felsic-dominated fractional crystallisation, which is substantiated for intermediate members of the suite by least-squares and Rayleigh fractionation modelling. One flow of alkali olivine basalt clearly pre-dates other volcanic rocks, and is thus regarded as being genetically unrelated.Although chemically similar to alkali olivine basalt and hawaiite, variations in the mineral chemistry and modal mineralogy of gabbro indicates a prolonged period of in-situ fractionation and re-equilibration.     

First samples of acoustic basement recovered from the alpha ridge, Arctic ocean: New constraints for the origin of the ridge

The Alpha Ridge is one of three subparallel trending ridges that cut the Arctic Ocean. It is roughly Late Cretaceous to Eocene in age, and seismic refraction records suggest it comprises a thick sequence of oceanic crust. During the 1983 CESAR expedition 20 similar samples of acoustic basement were dredged from the walls of a major graben of the Alpha Ridge, at one site. These are the only basement samples ever recovered from the ridge and provide the first direct evidence for its nature, composition and possible origin.The basement samples are highly altered pyroclastic rocks composed almost entirely of basaltic volcanic clasts with little matrix. Although the rocks are highly altered, most primary textures and structures are preserved. Most clasts are highly amygdaloidal to scoriaceous, fine grained to glassy, and angular to subround with rare vesicle controlled boundaries. Little reworking is suggested because a single clast type predominates, many of the clasts are subangular, and any amount of reworking would result in destruction of the delicate scoriaceous clasts.Rare clinopyroxene phenocrysts comprise the only unaltered portion of the rocks. They are salitic in composition (Wo_49–53, En_32–41, Fs_11–15), with significant amounts of Ca, Al and Ti. Salitic clinopyroxenes are typical of alkalic basalts.Interpretation of the whole rock geochemistry based on relatively immobile elements, (Nb, Zr, Tio₂, and Y), and chondrite-normalized incompatible trace element and REE patterns indicates that the volcanic rock fragments are of alkalic basalt. Geochemical discriminators suggest a within-plate tectonic setting.Textural evidence suggests that the CESAR basement rocks were sampled from a rapidly emplaced submarine fallout deposit that was erupted at a depth at least less than 800 m and likely less than 200 m. High extrusive rates would have been required to build the ridge up to shallow depth prior to the cessation of volcanism. The alkalic affinity of the rocks strongly suggests that the Alpha ridge was not formed by volcanism at an island arc or a mature spreading centre. It is also unlikely that it formed as a “leaky” fracture zone. Alkalic basalts, however, are commonly associated with various types of oceanic aseismic ridges. It is suggested that the Alpha Ridge is an aseismic ridge that formed due to voluminous hotspot volcanism as spreading began in the Canada Basin. Such hotppot activity may have been responsible for initiating the rifting, breakup, and dispersal that eventually formed the Canada Basin.     

Relationship between subsidence and volcanic load,Hawaii

A computer analysis of tide-gage records in the northeast Pacific indicates that the active volcanic islands of eastern Hawaii are subsiding at a rate considerably faster than the eustatic rise of sea level. The rate of absolute subsidence increases progressively toward the center of current activity on the Island of Hawaii. Honolulu, Oahu, appears to be stable; Kahului, Maui, is subsiding at 1.7 mm per year; and Hilo, Hawaii, is subsiding at 4.8 mm per year. This subsidence is apparently related to downbowing of the crust throughout a zone 400 km in diameter by the weight of volcanic material added to the crust by active volcanoes, principally Mauna Loa and Kilauea on the Island of Hawaii. The Hawaiian Arch encircles the subsiding zone and may be uplifted by material moving down and outward from the zone of subsidence. The annual volume of subsidence is about 270×10⁶ m³, whereas the average annual volume of erupted basalt on the Island of Hawaii (based on historic records back to about 1820) is about 50×10⁶ m³. The great excess of subsidence over volcanic addition cannot be reconciled by isostatic models, and is apparently the result of other processes operating in the volcano and its basement thet are poorly understood. Probably the more important of these processes are intrusions and submarine volcanism, both of which are providing additional unseen load on the volcanoes. Furthermore, the rate of eruption may be uplifted by material moving down and outward from the zone of subsidence may be overestimated due to localized downslope movement of the margins of the islands.     

Is the Iceland hot spot also wet? Evidence from the water contents of undegassed submarine and subglacial pillow basalts

Water contents have been measured in basaltic glasses from submarine and subglacial eruption sites along the Reykjanes Ridge and Iceland, respectively, in order to evaluate the hypothesis of Schilling et al. [Phil. Trans. R. Soc. London A 56 (1980) 147-178] that hot spots are also wet spots. Having erupted under pressure the water contents measured in these samples are potentially unaffected by degassing. After correcting these water contents for the effects of crystallisation (to give H₂O(8) values) they indicate that the concentration of water in the source regions increases from 165 ppm at the southern end of the Reykjanes Ridge to between 620 and 920 ppm beneath Iceland. This suggests that Iceland is a wet spot and the H₂O(8) values indicate that its influence on basalt compositions increases northwards along the Reykjanes Ridge from ∼61°N (650 km from the plume centre) towards Iceland. The existence of wetter Icelandic source regions have important implications for mantle melting, as enrichments of this magnitude depress the mantle solidus, increasing the degree of melting at a given temperature. Therefore the enhanced rates of volcanism on Iceland may be a result of wetter sources in addition to a thermal anomaly beneath Iceland.     

Geochemistry of rare earth elements in basalts from the Walvis Ridge: implications for its origin and evolution

Selected basalts from a suite of dredged and drilled samples (IPOD sites 525, 527, 528 and 530) from the Walvis Ridge have been analysed to determine their rare earth element (REE) contents in order to investigate the origin and evolution of this major structural feature in the South Atlantic Ocean. All of the samples show a high degree of light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment, quite unlike the flat or depleted patterns normally observed for normal mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs). Basalts from Sites 527, 528 and 530 show REE patterns characterised by an arcuate shape and relatively low (Ce/Yb)_N ratios (1.46–5.22), and the ratios show a positive linear relationship to Nb content. A different trend is exhibited by the dredged basalts and the basalts from Site 525, and their REE patterns have a fairly constant slope, and higher (Ce/Yb)_N ratios (4.31–8.50).These differences are further reflected in the ratios of incompatible trace elements, which also indicate considerable variations within the groups. Mixing hyperbolae for these ratios suggest that simple magma mixing between a “hot spot” type of magma, similar to present-day volcanics of Tristan da Cunha, and a depleted source, possibly similar to that for magmas being erupted at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, was an important process in the origin of parts of the Walvis Ridge, as exemplified by Sites 527, 528 and 530. Site 525 and dredged basalts cannot be explained by this mixing process, and their incompatible element ratios suggest either a mantle source of a different composition or some complexity to the mixing process. In addition, the occurrence of different types of basalt at the same location suggests there is vertical zonation within the volcanic pile, with the later erupted basalts becoming more alkaline and more enriched in incompatible elements.The model proposed for the origin and evolution of the Walvis Ridge involves an initial stage of eruption in which the magma was essentially a mixture of enriched and depleted end-member sources, with the N-MORB component being small. The dredged basalts and Site 525, which represent either later-stage eruptives or those close to the hot spot plume, probably result from mixing of the enriched mantle source with variable amounts and variable low degrees of partial melting of the depleted mantle source. As the volcano leaves the hot spot, these late-stage eruptives continue for some time. The change from tholeiitic to alkalic volcanism is probably related either to evolution in the plumbing system and magma chamber of the individual volcano, or to changes in the depth of origin of the enriched mantle source melt, similar to processes in Hawaiian volcanoes.     

Silicic peralkaline volcanic rocks of the afar depression (Ethiopia)

Three main types of recent volcanism may be distinguished in the Afar Depression: 1) oceanic volcanism of the axial ranges; 2) volcanism along the margins where an attenuated sialic crust probably occurs; 3) mainly fissural volcanism of Central-Southern Afar, with associated central volcanoes, similar as a whole to the volcanism of the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Peralkaline silicic volcanic rocks are found in all the three groups but showing some different characteristics which seem related to their geological location and which probably reflect different sources. Moreover emplacement of peralkaline granitic bodies, associated with volcanics of the same composition, marks the first stage of formation of the Afar Depression, in the Early Miocene. Axial Ranges: Erta’Ale and Boina volcanic ranges indicate that peralkaline rocks are the final liquids produced by fractionation of basalt in shallow magma chambers of central volcanoes. The parental magma is a transitional type of basalt with a mildly alkalic affinity, which fractionated under lowpH₂O-pO₂ conditions. Transition to peralkaline liquids is realized without passing a «true» trachytic (low silica) stage. The first peralkaline liquid is a low silica comendite and evidence exists that «plagioclase effect» was active in determining the first peralkalinity. Within the peralkaline field a fractionation mainly controlled by alkali feldspar progressively increases the peralkalinity and silica oversaturation of residual liquids (transition from comendites to pantellerites). The most peralkaline pantellerites of Boina are produced by fractionation of an alkali feldspar of constant composition (Ab_65–68 Or_35–32) suggesting that these liquids lie on a «low temperature zone» of the peralkaline oversaturated system. Marginal Units: On the borders of the depression peralkaline silicics are found in volcanic massifs mainly made of metaluminous silicic products. Petrology and geochemistry suggest a complex origin. Crystal fractionation, contamination with sialic crust and chemical changes related to a volatile rich phase, all these processes probably played a role in the genesis of these peralkaline silicic rocks. Central-Southern Afar Fissural Volcanism: Mildly alkaline basalts are associated with peralkaline and metaluminous silicics; intermediate rocks are very scanty. Fractionation from deep seated magmatic bodies with selective eruptivity and partial melting at depth of associated basalts or of a common source material are possible genetic mechanisms.     

A strontium isotope evolution model for cenozoic magma genesis,Estern Great Basin,U.S.A.

Cenozoic volcanism in the Great Basin is characterized by an outward migration of volcanic centers with time from a centrally located core region, a gradational decrease in the initial Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ ratio with decreasing age and increasing distance from the core, and a progressive change from calc-alkalic core rocks to more alkalic basin margin rocks. Generally each volcanic center erupted copious silicic ignimbrites followed by small amounts of basalt and andesite. The Sr⁸²/Sr⁸⁶ ratio for old core rocks is about 0.709 and the ratio for young basin margin rocks is about 0.705. Spatially and temporally related silicic and mafic suites have essentially the same Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ ratios. The locus of older volcanism of the core region was the intersection of a north-south trending axis of crustal extension and high heat flow with the northeast trending relic thermal ridge of the Mesozoic metamorphic hinterland of the Sevier Orogenic Belt. Derivation of the Great Basin magmas directly from mantle with modification by crustal contamination seems unlikely. Initial melting of lower crustal rocks probably occurred as a response to decrease in confining pressure related to crustal extension. Volcanism was probably also a consequence of the regional increase in the geothermal gradient that is now responsible for the high heat flow of the Basin and Range Province. High Sr isotopic ratios of the older core volcanic rocks suggests that conditions suitable for the production of silicic magmas by partial fusion of the crust reached higher levels within the crust during initial volcanism than during production of later magmas with lower isotopic ratios and more alkaline chemistry. As the Great Basin became increasingly attenuated, progressively lower portions of the crust along basin margins were exposed to conditions suitable for magma genesis. The core region became exhausted in low temperature melting components, and volcanism ceased in the core before nearby areas had completed the silicic-mafic eruption cycle leading to their own exhaustion of crustal magma sources.     

The Newfoundland Basin: ocean-continent boundary and Mesozoic seafloor spreading history

The ocean-continent boundary in the Newfoundland Basin is defined as the seaward limit of a continental margin magnetic smooth zone. East of the Grand Banks this boundary is marked by a prominent NNE-trending magnetic anomaly that is correlated with the J-Anomaly (115 m.y.). South of Flemish Cap the smooth zone boundary strikes approximately 060° and is approximately 15 m.y. younger. Magnetic anomaly trends suggest two directions of motion during separation of Iberia and North America. The first phase of motion, commencing at J-Anomaly time with a spreading center strike of 015°, produced a rifted margin along the Grand Banks south of the Newfoundland Seamounts. No spreading occurred north of the seamounts during this phase, implying a counter-clockwise rotation of Iberia and no Grand Banks-Galicia Bank separation. The second phase began at about 102 m.y. with a shift of the pole of rotation to a location near Paris, producing a ridge orientation of approximately 060°. This spreading center extended north and east into the northern Newfoundland Basin and Bay of Biscay, producing a rifted margin south of Flemish Cap and opening of Biscay. This ridge geometry produced a component of extension across the Newfoundland Fracture Zone and the southeastward migration of the resultant “leaky” transform fault between 102 m.y. and the next pole shift produced the volcanic edifice of the Southeast Newfoundland Ridge. Fracture zone trends during this phase also exerted strong control on volcanism within the Newfoundland Seamount province; this activity ceased at about 97 m.y. The date at which the second phase ended is not well defined by presently available data. A RRR triple-junction existed in the northeastern Newfoundland Basin-western Biscay region for a short time prior to anomaly33/34 (80 m.y.) which marks the inception of a continuous Mid-Atlantic Ridge spreading center between the Newfoundland and Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zones.     

Submarine hydrothermal manganese deposits in the Izu–Bonin – Mariana arc: An overview

Submarine hydrothermal manganese deposits are relatively common along the Izu–Bonin – Mariana (IBM) arc but hydrothermal iron crusts are much less so. The hydrothermal manganese deposits show characteristics typical of submarine hydrothermal manganese deposits found worldwide. Recent hydrothermal manganese deposits associated with active hydrothermal systems occur on seamounts or rifts located ∼ 5–40 km behind the volcanic front on the Shichito-Iwojima Ridge, IBM. Fossil hydrothermal manganese deposits associated with older hydrothermal systems occur on inactive seamounts located on ridges running parallel to the volcanic front in both forearc and back-arc settings. These fossil hydrothermal manganese deposits are generally overlain by younger hydrogenetic manganese crusts. Differences in minor element composition and in the rare earth element pattern of hydrothermal manganese deposits from the forearc and back-arc settings may reflect differences in the nature of substrate rocks or temperature of the hydrothermal fluids at these locations.     

Geologic implications of microfossils in submarine volcanics

Samples of basalt and palagonite tuff-breccia dredged from the East Pacific Rise and Eickelberg Ridge in the northeast Pacific contain Foraminifera, diatoms, and other microorganisms associated with sediments. Microfossils are found in large vesicles in the interior of the rock. Palagonite tuff-breccias include sediments containing microfossils. It is shown that these fossils and sediments were incorporated in the basalts and palagonite tuff-breccias during eruptions. Samples from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and from Iceland substantiate this thesis. A model for submarine eruptions, which is an extension of Nayudu’s hypothesis for the origin of guyots, is presented. This model suggests that considerable reworking of sediments occurs during submarine eruptions. It is further concluded that: (1) Turbidity currents are generated by submarine eruptions; (2) These turbidity currents provide a mechanism for transport of volcanic material on the sea floor, which may produce graded sediments; (3) Low-velocity layers on the margins of the ridges, rises, and sea-mounts are primary pillow-palagonite tuff-breccias with intercalated sediments ranging in density from 2.00 – 2.6 g/cc. (4) Interpretation of the age of truncation of some seamounts based on fossils contained in volcanic breccias are questionable. On the contrary, these fossils may suggest the maximum age of the eruption. Observations presented on the role of submarine volcanism further suggest that some interpretations of age relations in the geologic column may need re-evaluation.     

Geochemical characteristics of Carboniferous greenstones in the Inner Zone of Southwest Japan

Abstract Greenstones, representing remnants of paleo-oceanic crust, occur in Permian and Jurassic accretionary complexes of the Inner Zone in the Southwestern Japan arc. The formation age of most of the greenstones is early Carboniferous, based on fossil ages for overlying limestones and Sm-Nd isotope ages of the greenstones themselves. The geochemistry of such greenstones is similar to those of present-day oceanic islands. Greenstones of the Permian accretionary complex (Akiyoshi belt) are alkalic and tholeiitic in composition. Some alkali basalts show peculiar features from an EM-1 mantle source, such as the Gough Island and Tristan da Chunha basalts in the South Atlantic. Greenstones of the Jurassic accretionary complex (Tamba belt) are also alkali and tholeiitic basalts with both basalt types in the northern part of the Tamba belt coming from strongly depleted characters similar to a mid-ocean ridge basalt source mantle. The variable geochemistry of the oceanic basalts is explained by hypothesis on existence of a Carboniferous mantle plume below the spreading ridge which divides the Farallon and Izanagi plates. The Akiyoshi belt seamounts and/or oceanic islands of the Farallon plate and Tamba belt seamounts and/or oceanic islands of the Izanagi plate formed simultaneously by the upwelling of the thermal plume. Some part of the Akiyoshi belt basalts originated locally from an EM-1 mantle source, while basalts from the northern parts of the Tamba belt have a normal-type mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) source component. Existence of an N-MORB signature is consistent with the presence of a spreading center in a Carboniferous 'Pacific Ocean' that caused separation of the Farallon and Izanagi plates. Disparity in accretion ages of the basaltic rocks in the Permian and Jurassic may have been caused by differences in the relative motion of the two plates.     

Structural control and origin of volcanism in the Taupo volcanic zone,New Zealand

Taupor volcanic zone (TVZ) is the currently active volcanic arc and back-arc basin of the Taupo-Hikurangi arc-trench system, North Island, New Zealand. The volcanic arc is best developed at the southern (Tongariro volcanic centre) end of the TVZ, while on the eastern side of the TVZ it is represented mainly by dacite volcanoes, and in the Bay of Plenty andesite/dacite volcanoes occur on either side of the Whakatane graben. The back-arc basin is best developed in the central part of the TVZ and comprises bimodal rhyolite and high-alumina basalt volcanism. Widespread ignimbrite eruptions have occurred from this area in the past 0.6 Ma. Normal faults occur in both arc and back-arc basin. They are generally steeply dipping (>40°) and strike between 040° and 080°. In the back-arc basin, fault zones are en echelon and have the same trend as alignments of rhyolite domes and basalt vents. Open fissures have formed during historic earthquakes along some of the faults, and geodetic measurements on the north side of Lake Taupo suggest extension of 14±4 mm/year. In the Bay of Plenty and M_L=6.3 earthquake occurred on 2 March 1987. Modelling of known structure in the area together with data derived from this earthquake suggests block faulting with faults dipping 45°±10° NW and a similar dip is suggested by seismic profiling of faults offshore of the Bay of Plenty where extension is estimated to be 5±2 mm/year. To the east of the TVZ, the North Island shear belt (NISB) is a zone of reverse-dextral, strike-slip faults, the surface expression of which terminates at the eastern end of the TVZ. On the opposite side of the TVZ in the offshore western Bay of Plenty and on line with the NISB is the Mayor Island fault belt. If the two fault belts were once continuous, as seems likely, strike-slip faults probably extend through the basement of the TVZ. When extension associated with the arc and back-arc basin is combined with these strike-slip faults, the resulting transtension provides a suitable tectonic environment for caldera formation and voluminous ignimbrite eruptions in the back-arc basin. The types of volcano in the TVZ are considered to be related to the source of magma and overlying crustal structure. Lavas of the arc are probably formed by a multistage process involving (1) subsolidus slab dehydration, (2) anatexis of the mantle wedge, (3) fractionation and minor crustal assimilation and (4) magma mixing. High-alumina basalts of the back-arc basin may be derived by partial melting of peridotite at the top of the mantle wedge, while rhyolitic magmas are thought to come from partial melting of lavas and subvolcanic reservoirs associated with the southern end of the Coromandel volcanic zone. Extreme thinning associated with transtension in the back-arc basin will favour the eruption of large-volume, gas-rich ignimbrites accompanied by caldera formation.     

Long-term changes in distribution and chemistry of middle Miocene to Quaternary volcanism in the Chokai-Kurikoma area across the Northeast Japan Arc

Abstract To understand the characteristics of long‐term spatial and temporal variation in volcanism within a volcanic arc undergoing constant subduction since the cessation of back‐arc opening, a detailed investigation of middle Miocene to Quaternary volcanism was carried out within the Chokai‐Kurikoma area of the Northeast Japan Arc. This study involved a survey of available literature, with new K–Ar and fission track dating, and chemical analyses. Since 14 Ma, volcanism has occurred within the Chokai‐Kurikoma area in specific areas with a ‘branch‐like’ pattern, showing an east–west trend. This is in marked contrast to the widespread distribution of volcanism with a north–south trend in the 20–14 Ma period. The east–west‐ trending ‘branches’ are characterized by regular intervals (50–100 km) of magmatism along the arc. These branches since 14 Ma are remarkably discrepant to the general northwest–southeast or north‐northeast–south‐southwest direction of the crustal structures that have controlled Neogene to Quaternary tectonic movements in northeast Japan. In addition, evidence indicating clustering and focusing of volcanism into smaller regions since 14 Ma was verified. Comparison of the distribution and chemistry of volcanic rocks for three principal volcanic stages (11–8, 6–3 and 2–0 Ma) revealed that widely but sparsely distributed volcanic rocks had almost the same level of alkali and incompatible element concentrations throughout the area (with the exception of Zr) in the 11–8 Ma stage. However, through the 6–3 Ma stage to the 2–0 Ma stage, the concentration level in the back‐arc cluster increased, while that in the volcanic front cluster remained almost constant. Therefore, the degree of partial melting has decreased, most likely with a simultaneous increase in the depth of magma segregation within the back‐arc zone, whereas within the volcanic front zone, the conditions of magma generation have changed little over the three stages. In conclusion, the evolution of the thermal structure within the mantle wedge across the arc since 14 Ma has reduced the extent of ascending mantle diapirs into smaller fields. This has resulted in the tendency for the distribution of volcanism to become localized and concentrated into more specific areas in the form of clusters from the late Miocene to Quaternary.