The Occurrence of Forsterite and Highly Oxidizing Conditions in Basaltic Lavas from Stromboli Volcano, Italy

We report the occurrence of unusual, high-magnesium (Fo₉₆) olivinephenocrysts in a basaltic lava and an ejected lithic block fromthe Upper Vancori period (13 ka) and the recent activity (2002–2003)of Stromboli volcano, Italy. The samples that contain this distinctivemineral chemistry are a shoshonitic basalt and a basaltic andesitewith anomalous bulk-rock chemical characteristics in which theiron is highly oxidized (6–8 wt % Fe₂O₃ and <1 wt %FeO). In other respects these samples are similar to the majorityof Stromboli basalts, characterized by the coexistence of olivine,clinopyroxene, plagioclase and Fe–Ti oxides as phenocrysts,and clinopyroxene, plagioclase and Fe–Ti oxides in thegroundmass. In the high-magnesium olivine samples, Fe–Tioxides (pseudobrookite) typically occur as symplectitic intergrowthswith the olivine phenocrysts, indicating simultaneous growthof the two phases. We propose, as a paragenetic model, thatthe Fo₉₆ olivine phenocrysts crystallized from a highly oxidizedbasaltic magma in which most of the iron was in the ferric state;hence, only magnesium was available to form olivine. The highlyoxidized state of the magma reflects sudden degassing of volatilephases associated with instantaneous, irreversible, transientdegassing of the magma chamber; this is postulated to occurduring periods of sudden decompression induced by fracturingof the volcanic edifice associated with paroxysmic activityand edifice collapse. KEY WORDS: Stromboli; Mg-rich olivine; oxygen fugacity; redox state of magmas; irreversible processes     

Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Magmatic Evolution of the Basaltic and Trachytic Lavas from Gough Island, South Atlantic

The Gough Island lavas range from picrite basalt through tosodalite-bearing aegirine-augite trachyte. The basaltic lavasare predominantly nepheline normative alkali basalts, althougha group of hypersthene normative tholeiitic basalts does occur.The oldest lavas on the island, represented by the Lower Basaltseries, are approximately 1?0 m.y. old and the youngest arethe Upper Basalts with an age of {small tilde} 0?13 m.y. Relatively coherent variations are described by the basalticand trachytic lavas with respect to both bulk rock major andtrace element geochemistry and mineral chemistry, and quantitativepetrogenetic modelling suggests that most of the variation canbe attributed to crystal fractionation/accumulation processesacting on a number of geochemically distinct parental magmas.The Upper Basalts and Lower Basalts have (within the limitsof sampling) a relatively restricted composition compared tothe Middle Basalt series lavas, with the latter ranging frompicrite basalt through to trachyandesite. The picrite basaltsand coarsely pyroxene-olivine phyric basalts represent partialcumulates with varying proportions (up to 40 wt. per cent) ofaccumulated olivine and clinopyroxene. In contrast, the moderatelyphyric and aphyric/finely porphyritic lavas represent the productsof crystal fractionation with the most evolved lavas havingexperienced at least 40 per cent fractional crystallizationof clinopyroxene, olivine, plagioclase and minor Fe-Ti oxidesand apatite. The detailed abundance variations in these lavasindicate that a number of parental magma compositions have fractionatedto produce the overall variations in basalt geochemistry, andsome of the magmas have interacted through mixing processes. The trachytic lavas show a large range in trace element abundance,but have only a limited major element variation. Most of thisvariation can be attributed to extensive (up to 70 per cent)fractional crystallization of predominantly alkali feldsparwith minor clinopyroxene, olivine, biotite, titano-magnetiteand apatite. A number of genetically distinct trachytes canbe recognized which are probably not related to each other byany simple fractional crystallization process. The compositionof the least evolved trachytes can be adequately accounted forby relatively extensive (up to 60 per cent) fractionation ofthe more evolved Middle Basalt series lavas. The trace element and isotopic characteristics of primitiveGough Island basalts support the concept that the source region(s)giving rise to these lavas is extremely enriched in highly incompatibleelements relative to primordial or ‘undepleted’mantle of bulk earth composition. It is unlikely that the lavashave sampled undepleted mantle as might be suggested by thesimilarity of the Sr and Nd isotopic ratios to ‘bulk earth’values. Rather, a model is favoured whereby the lavas are derivedfrom previously enriched sub-oceanic mantle which was subsequentlyinvaded and further enriched, at some time prior to partialmelting, by melts or fluids highly enriched in incompatibleelements. The enrichment could have occurred as veining by smalldegree partial melts or by infiltration of metasomatic fluids.     

Petrology of the Younger Andesites and Dacites of Iztacc?huatl Volcano, Mexico: II. Chemical Stratigraphy, Magma Mixing, and the Composition of Basaltic Magma Influx

The Younger Andesites and Dacites of Iztacc?huatl volcano, Mexico,constitute a medium-K calcalkaline rock suite (58–66 wt.per cent SiO₂) characterized by high Mg-numbers (100Mg/(Mg+0?85Fe²⁺=55–66) and relatively high abundances of MgO (2?5–6?6wt. per cent), Ni(17–158 p.p.m.), and Cr (42–224p.p.m.). Chemical stratigraphy plots of eruptive sequences indicatethe existence of a plexus of long-lived dacite magma chambersperiodically replenished by influxes of basaltic magma ascendingfrom depth. Short-term geochemical evolution after batch influxwas dictated by magma mixing and eventual dilution of the basalticcomponent by ‘quasi-steady state’ hornblende dacitemagma. The chemical data support textural and mineralogicalevidence for rapid homogenization of originally diverse magmasby convective blending of residual liquids accompanied by dynamicfractional crystallization (Nixon, 1988). Internally-consistent mixing calculations used to derive thecomposition of basaltic magma influx incorporate analyticaluncertainties and the observed range of salic end-member compositions.Mafic end-members are basalts to basaltic andesites (52–54wt. per cent SiO₂) with Mg-numbers (73–76), MgO (9–11wt. per cent), Ni (250 p.p.m.), and Cr (340–510 p.p.m.)concentrations, and liquidus olivine compositions (Fo_90–88),appropriate for unfractionated partial melts of mantle peridotite.The majority of model compositions are Ol-Hy-normative, similarto those of primitive basaltic lavas on the flanks of Iztacc?huatland in the Valley of Mexico. However, calculated magma batchesrange from weakly Qz-normative to strongly Ne-normative. Bothcalculated and analyzed basaltic compositions are distinguishedby highly variable abundances of alkalies and incompatible traceelements, notably Rb, Ba, Sr, P, Zr, and Y. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios for Iztacc?huatl lavas (0?7040–0?7046;n=24) are comparable to those for primitive basaltic rocks (0?7037–0?7045;?=4) and indicate that (1) mantle source regions are isotopicallyheterogeneous; and (2) contamination of iztacc?huatl magma chambersby radiogenic crustal rocks was not a significant factor inthe evolution of calc-alkaline andesites and dacites. The replenishment of Iztacc?huatl dacite reservoirs by Ne-normativemagmas late in the history of cone growth precludes exhaustionof mantle source regions by progressive partial melting. Thewaning stages of volcanic activity at Iztacc?huatl appear toreflect the inability of dense basaltic influxes to successfullypenetrate a large high-level chamber of low density hornblendedacite magma.     

海南岛新生代玄武质熔岩源区中再循环物质及其年龄的限定:来自Hf-Sr-Nd-Pb同位素的制约

再循环洋壳和沉积物在壳.幔循环过程中扮演着重要的角色。前人研究指出板片俯冲与海南地幔柱形成关系密切,然而地幔柱源区中是否存在再循环沉积物仍然不得而知。本文将首次报导海南岛新生代玄武质熔岩的Hf同位素,并将新的Sr-Nd-Pb同位素与前人数据相结合,限定再循环物质的组成及其年龄。与同位素地幔趋势相比,给定εNd时,海南岛玄武质熔岩的εHf值更低;而且Eu/Eu*>1、Sr/Sr*>1,与Al2O3、MgO都不存在相关性,说明Eu和Sr的正异常是继承了源区的特征,指示源区中存在再循环洋壳物质的参与。海南岛玄武质熔岩的Ce/Pb与εNd、εHf呈正相关关系,Nd/Pb与87Sr/86Sr呈负相关关系,它们都指向了沉积物端元。根据εHf-εNd模型和Pb同位素演化模型,推断源区中再循环洋壳和沉积物相对年轻,其年龄应小于1.0Ga。这些再循环洋壳和沉积物将进入深部地幔,并与地幔中的橄榄岩反应形成二阶段辉石岩,随着海南地幔柱不断上升而发生熔融,最终熔体喷发至地表形成海南岛玄武质熔岩。     

Early Cretaceous Basaltic and Rhyolitic Magmatism in Southern Uruguay Associated with the Opening of the South Atlantic

The Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks of southern Uruguay comprisemafic and felsic volcanics. The position of these outcrops atthe southern edge of the Paraná–Etendeka continentalflood basalt province provides an opportunity to investigatepossible lateral variations in both mafic and more evolved rocktypes towards the margins of such an area of plume-related magmatism.The mafic lavas are divided into two compositionally distinctmagma types. The more voluminous Treinte Y Trés magmatype is similar to the low-Ti basalts of the Paraná floodbasalt province. The Santa Lucía magma type is a distinctand rare basalt type with ocean-island basalt type asthenosphericaffinities (high Nb/La, low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i). The felsic volcanicsare divided into two series, the Lavalleja Series and the AigüaSeries. The Lavalleja Series are chemically and isotopicallysimilar to the Paraná–Etendeka low-Ti rhyolites,and are considered to be related to the Treinte Y Tréslavas by extensive fractionation and crustal assimilation. TheAigüa Series have low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_i and low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i andunlike the rhyolites of the Paraná, are interpreted asmelts of pre-existing mafic lower crust that subsequently underwentextreme fractionation. The differences observed in the felsicsuites may be linked to differences in the volumes of the associatedbasalts and the amounts of extension. KEY WORDS: South America; flood basalts; felsic volcanics; crustal melts; plume     

Petrogenetic Aspects of Acid and Basaltic Lavas from the Paran? Plateau (Brazil): Geological, Mineralogical and Petrochemical Relationships

The acid volcanics (Lower Cretaceous) of the Paran? basin coveran area of about 150000 km² and are represented by dominantrhyodacites and subordinate rhyolites. They may be divided intotwo main types, characterized respectively by relatively lowand relatively high contents of Ti, P, and other incompatibleelements (La, Ce, Zr, etc.), i.e. the Palmas acid volcanics(PAY) and Chapec? acid volcanics (CAV), respectively. PAV arewidespread in the southern Paran? basin and are closely associatedwith basaltic and andesitic rock-types similarly characterizedby low Ti, P, and other incompatible elements. In contrast,CAV are dominant in the northern Paran? basin, where they areclosely associated with basalts containing high Ti, P, and otherincompatible elements. The generation of the Palmas and Chapec? acid melts appearsto be in part consistent with crystal fractionation processes,starting from the associated basic rocks and accompanied bycrustal contamination. However the relative absence of intermediaterock-types (‘silica gap’: 54–56 to 63–65wt. per cent), and the confinement of the acid volcanics towardsthe continental margin suggests that a model involving lowercrustal basic material of significantly different compositionin the northern and southern Paran? basin may be a more plausiblealternative. In this preferred model the basic parent materialmay be represented by mafic granulites of different compositions,or by basalts trapped at the crust-mantle discontinuity andcorresponding in composition to the contrasting low- and high-TiO₂basalts that flooded the Paran? basin in Lower Cretaceous times.The melting of these underplated materials may explain the closegeochemical relationships between fissure acid volcanics andthe closely associated basalt types (e.g., Ethiopia, Paran?).The beginning of the major rifting related to continental break-upshould therefore correspond to the stage when the melting processaffected the lower part of the continental crust. ^*Reprint requests to E. M. Piccirillo     

Simulation of Heavy Precipitation Associated with an Intense Western Disturbance over Western Himalayas

Northern India is comprised of complex Himalayan mountain ranges having different altitude and orientations. This highly variable terrain is responsible for complexity of the weather systems passing over the region. During winter season, large amount of precipitation is received in this region due to eastward moving low pressure synoptic weather systems called Western Disturbances (WDs). Such heavy precipitation over the region lead to landslides and trigger avalanches in snow bound regions. This causes heavy damage to properties and human lives and therefore poses a great natural hazard threat. In this study an attempt is made to simulate a heavy precipitation event associated with an intense WD using a state of the art mesoscale model. Some important model simulated fields are compared with verifying analysis. Precipitation and circulation features associated with the intense WD are well simulated by the model. Forecast errors indicate that the high resolution mesoscale model could simulate the weather associated with the WD with reasonable accuracy.     

Rates of Thermal and Chemical Evolution of Magmas in a Cooling Magma Chamber: a Chronological and Theoretical Study on Basaltic and Andesitic Lavas from Rishiri Volcano, Japan

Rates of magmatic processes in a cooling magma chamber wereinvestigated for alkali basalt and trachytic andesite lavaserupted sequentially from Rishiri Volcano, northern Japan, bydating of these lavas using ²³⁸U–²³⁰Th radioactive disequilibriumand ¹⁴C dating methods, in combination with theoretical analyses.We obtained the eruption age of the basaltic lavas to be 29·3± 0·6 ka by ¹⁴C dating of charcoals. The eruptionage of the andesitic lavas was estimated to be 20·2 ±3·1 ka, utilizing a whole-rock isochron formed by U–Thfractionation as a result of degassing after lava emplacement.Because these two lavas represent a series of magmas producedby assimilation and fractional crystallization in the same magmachamber, the difference of the ages (i.e. 9 kyr) is a timescaleof magmatic evolution. The thermal and chemical evolution ofthe Rishiri magma chamber was modeled using mass and energybalance constraints, as well as quantitative information obtainedfrom petrological and geochemical observations on the lavas.Using the timescale of 9 kyr, the thickness of the magma chamberis estimated to have been about 1·7 km. The model calculationsshow that, in the early stage of the evolution, the magma cooledat a relatively high rate (>0·1°C/year), and thecooling rate decreased with time. Convective heat flux fromthe main magma body exceeded 2 W/m² when the magma was basaltic,and the intensity diminished exponentially with magmatic evolution.Volume flux of crustal materials to the magma chamber and rateof convective melt exchange (compositional convection) betweenthe main magma and mush melt also decreased with time, from 0·1 m/year to 10^–3 m/year, and from 1 m/yearto 10^–2 m/year, respectively, as the magmas evolved frombasaltic to andesitic compositions. Although the mechanism ofthe cooling (i.e. thermal convection and/or compositional convection)of the main magma could not be constrained uniquely by the model,it is suggested that compositional convection was not effectivein cooling the main magma, and the magma chamber is consideredto have been cooled by thermal convection, in addition to heatconduction. KEY WORDS: convection; magma chamber; heat and mass transport; timescale; U-series disequilibria     

Petrology of the Younger Andesites and Dacites of Iztacc?huatl Volcano, Mexico: I. Disequilibrium Phenocryst Assemblages as Indicators of Magma Chamber Processes

Disequilibrium phenocryst assemblages in the Younger Andesitesand Dacites of Iztacc?huatl, a major Quaternary volcano in theTrans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, provide an excellent record ofepisodic replenishment, magma mixing, and crystallization processesin calc-alkaline magma chambers. Phenocryst compositions andtextures in ‘mixed’ lavas, produced by binary mixingof primitive olivine-phyric basalt and evolved hornblende dacitemagmas, are used to evaluate the mineralogical and thermal characteristicsof end-members and the physical and chemical interactions thatattend mixing. Basaltic end-members crystallized olivine (FO_90–88) andminor chrome spinel during ascent into crustal magma chambers.Resident dacite magma contained phenocrysts of andesine (An_45–35),hypersthene (En67–61), edenitic-pargasitic hornblende,biotite, quartz, .titanomagnetite, and ilmenite. On reachinghigh-level reservoirs, basaltic magmas were near their liquidiat temperatures of about 1250–1200?C according to theolivine-liquid geothermometer. Application of the Fe-Ti-oxidegeothermometer-oxygen barometer indicates that hornblende dacitemagma, comprising phenocrysts (<30 vol. per cent) and coexistingrhyolitic liquid, had an ambient temperature between 940 and820?C at f_O2s approximately 0?3 log units above the nickel-nickeloxide buffer assemblage. Mixing induced undercooling of hybridliquids and rapid crystallization of skeletal olivine (Fo_88–73),strongly-zoned clinopyroxene (endiopside-augite), calcic plagioclase(An_65–60); and orthopyroxene (bronzite), whereas low-temperaturephenocrysts derived from hornblende dacite were resorbed ordecomposed by hybrid melts. Quartz reacted to form coronas ofacicular augite and hydroxylated silicates were heated to temperaturesabove their thermal stability limit ({small tilde}940?C foramphibole, according to clinopyroxene-orthopyroxene geothermometry,and {small tilde}880?C for biotite). Calculations of phenocrystresidence times in hybrid liquids based on reaction rates suggestthat the time lapse between magma chamber recharge and eruptionwas extremely short (hours to days). It is inferred that mixing of magmas of diverse compositionis driven by convective turbulence generated by large differencesin temperature between end-members. The mixing mechanism involves:(1)rapid homogenization of contrasting residual liquid compositionsby thermal erosion and diffusive transfer (liquid blending);(2) assimilation of phenocrysts derived from the low-temperatureend-member; and (3) dynamic fractional crystallization of rapidlyevolving hybrid liquids in a turbulent boundary layer separatingbasaltic and dacitic magmas. The mixed lavas of lztacc?huatlrepresent samples of this boundary layer quenched by eruption.     

墨西哥下加利福尼亚M_W 7.2地震前后CO遥感地球化学异常

利用AIRS产品数据提取了2010年4月4日墨西哥下加利福尼亚MW7.2地震前后震中及其附近CO总量和CO体积混合比随时间变化的信息,讨论了CO气体地球化学变化与地震活动的关系。数据表明,下加利福尼亚地震前约一个月CO总量升高,高出前两年同期平均值2～4×1017 mole/cm2,在地震发生前后CO总量和近地表CO体积混合比有波动现象,且8日平均数据的标准偏差增大,约为非地震时段的2倍。该现象应该归因于地震孕育发生过程中地应力作用使岩石圈脱气增强、大气电磁和化学反应引起的CO含量的增加。研究结果表明利用卫星高光谱遥感数据提取与地震有关的CO气体地球化学信息,对地震监测预报有重要意义。     

The Petrology and Geochemistry of High-Magnesium Andesites at the Western Tip of the Setouchi Volcanic Belt, SW Japan

K–Ar ages, and petrographical and geochemical characteristicsof high-magnesium andesites and plagioclase-phyric andesitesfrom the NE Kyushu region, Japan, are presented. K–Arages range from 10·7 ± 0·3 to 14·4± 0·4 Ma, overlapping those reported for lavasof the Setouchi Volcanic Belt in other regions (11–16Ma). This, together with major and incompatible trace element,and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic characteristics, confirmsthat the Setouchi Volcanic Belt, which is characterized by theoccurrence of high-magnesium andesites, extends for     

西太平洋海山玄武岩的岩石学特征及与上覆富钴结壳的关系

通过对西太平洋海山玄武岩和玄武质火山角砾岩的岩石学特征及其气孔充填物成分变化的研究,讨论了海山玄武岩与上覆富钴结壳的关系。富钴结壳的基岩火山岩主要为碱性玄武岩和玄武质火山角砾岩。碱性玄武岩中气孔充填物为S型和C型,S型和C型气孔充填物不共存在同一个气孔中。S型气孔充填物的物质成分富Si、Fe、K、Mg、Al,Co含量一般为0.17%~0.46%,其成分与碱性玄武岩的组成类似,其物质来源可能与碱性玄武岩有关。C型气孔充填物为O、Ca、C及少量Si、Al、Mg、Fe、K等元素,C型气孔充填物可能与海水中物质的沉积有关。由Si、Al、Fe、Mg、K等元素变化曲线反映出的S型气孔充填物沉积过程与富钴结壳早期的沉积过程具有相似的趋势,说明富钴结壳早期沉积物的物质来源可能与碱性玄武岩有关,富钴结壳物质来源可能是碱性玄武岩和海水共同作用的结果。     

The Geochemistry of Lavas from the Gomores Archipelago, Western Indian Ocean: Petrogenesis and Mantle Source Region Characteristics

New mineral and bulk-rock analyses, as well as Nd, Sr and Pbisotope compositions are presented for lavas from Grande Comore,Moheli and Mayotte, thru of the four main islands of the ComoresArchipelago in the western Indian Ocean, and these data an usedto evaluate the petrogenesis, evolution and mantle source regioncharacteristics of Comorean lavas. The typically silica-undersaturated,alkaline lavas from all three islands can be grouped into twodistinct types: La Grille-type (LGT) lavas, which display strongrelative depletions in K, and Karthala-type (KT) lavas, whichdo not. With the exception of the lavas erupted by La Grillevolcano on Grande Comore, which exhibit the petrographic andgeochemical characteristics expected of primary mantle-derivedmagmas, all Comorean lavas analysed have experienced compositionalmodifications after they segregated from their source regions.Much of this variation can be explained quantitatively by fractionalcrystallization processes dominated by the fractionation ofolivineand clinopyroxene. Semi-quantitative modelling shows that theconsistent and fundamental difference in composition betweenK-depleted LGT lavas and normal KT lavas can be attributed topartial melting processes, provided amphibole is a residualmantle phase after extraction of LGT magmas at low degrees ofmelting. Low absolute abundances of the heavy rare earth elementsin LGT magmas are interpreted to reflect partial melting withinthe garnet stability field In contrast, KT magmas, which donot show relative K depletions, are considered to be the productsof somewhat larger degrees of partial melting of an amphibolefreesource at comparatively shallower depths. Whereas the Nd andSr isotopic compositions of Comorean lavas (which show a significantrange: ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.70319–0.70393; ¹⁴³Nd/Nd = 0.51263–0.51288)bear evidence for a time-averaged depletion in incompatibleelements, the high incompatible element abundances of the lavasare interpreted to reflect the effects of a recent mantle enrichmentevent. At depths well within the garnet stability field thismantle enrichment is interpreted to have taken the form of modalmetasomatism with the introduction of amphibole (giving riseto the source of LGT magmas), whereas cryptic metasomatism tookplace at shallower levels (giving rise to the source of KT lavas).The Nd, Sr and Pb isotope signature of the majority of Comoreanlavas (both LGT and KT) is proposed to be the result of predominant4contributions from a somewhat heterogeneous source4 4 4 presentativeof the ambient sub-Comorean mantle, comprising a mixture betweena HIMU component and a component on the depleted portion ofthe mantle array (possibly the source of Indian Ocean MORB),with only limited contributions from an EM I plume component.The lavas erupted by Karthala volcano (the youngest Comoreanlavas), however, have significantly different isotopic compositionsfrom all other Comorean lavas (lower ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and higher⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr), suggesting increased contributions from the EM Icomponent. KEY WORDS: basalt petrogenesis; Comores; mantle geochemistry; ocean island basalts ^*Telephone: 27-21-6502921. Fax: 27-21-6503781 e-mail: alr{at}geology.uct.ac.za.     

Crystallization of Chromite and Chromium Solubility in Basaltic Melts

The equilibrium between chromite and melt has been determinedon four basalts at temperatures of 1200–1400?C over arange of oxygen fugacity (f_o2) and pressures of 1 atm and 10kb. The Cr content of chromite-saturated melts at 1300?C and1 atm ranges from 0?05 wt.% Cr₂O₃ at a log f_o2= –3 to1?4 wt.% at a log f_o2=–12?8. The Cr²⁺/Cr³⁺ of melt increaseswith decreasing f_o2 and is estimated by assuming a constantpartitioning of Cr³⁺ between chromite and melt at constant temperature.The estimated values of Cr²⁺/Cr³⁺ in the melt are at f_o2 valuesof 4–5 orders of magnitude lower than the equivalent Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺values. The Cr/(Cr+Al) of chromite coexisting with melt at constanttemperature changes little with variation of f_o2 below log f_o2=–6.Five experiments at 10 kb indicate that Cr₂O₃ dissolved in themelt is slightly higher and the Cr/(Cr + Al) of coexisting chromiteis slightly lower than experiments at 1 atm pressure. Thus variationin total pressure cannot explain the large variations of Cr/(Cr+ Al) that are common to mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) chromite. Experiments on a MORB at 1 atm at f_o2 values close to fayalite-magnetite-quartz(FMQ) buffer showed that the Al₂O₃ content of melt is highlysensitive to the crystallization or melting of plagioclase,and consequently coexisting chromite shows a large change inCr/(Cr + Al). It would appear, therefore, that mixing of a MORBmagma containing plagioclase with a hotter MORB magma undersaturatedin plagioclase may give rise to the large range of Cr/(Cr +Al) observed in some MORB chromite.     

北祁连扎柯山寒武纪高镁安山岩地球化学及构造动力学特征

北祁连扎柯山高镁安山岩铷锶同位素年龄为早—中寒武世[（516±7）Ma（1σ）],高镁安山岩类（SiO2=51.45%~59.62%,平均为56.33%）,具有比典型岛弧安山岩更高的MgO（4.85%~9.64%,平均为6.2%,Mg#=66.68~74.15,平均为71.44）,高Cr（21.6×10-6~476×10-6,平均为196.26×10-6）、高Ni（14×10-6~102×10-6,平均为56.14×10-6）,低Al贫Ca（Al2O3=13.22%~17.37%,均值为15.69%,CaO=2.01%~10.33%,均值为5.64%）,富Na、贫K（Na2O＝1.57%~5.2%,K2O＝1.04%~2.79%,Na2O/K2O=0.59~5.0,均值为2.36）,弱负Eu异常以及富集Rb、Th、K大离子不相容元素（LILE）,亏损Sr、Ti、P、Nb、Ta等高场强元素（HFSE）,富集LREE,强烈亏损HREE,LREE/HREE=7.19~13.58,Yb=1.47×10-6~3.26×10-6,Y=11.6×10-6~22.5×10-6,含有较低的Sr（119×10-6~278×10-6,平均为193×10-6）。综合区域地质背景等资料研究表明,扎柯山寒武纪高镁安山岩可能是蚀变洋壳和俯冲的沉积物熔融进入地幔楔诱发橄榄岩部分熔融的产物,形成于岛弧环境。     

Alkaline Lavas in the Volcanic Front of the Western Mexican Volcanic Belt: Geology and Petrology of the Ayutla and Tapalpa Volcanic Fields

The Plio-Quaternary Ayutla and Tapalpa volcanic fields in thevolcanic front of the western Mexican Volcanic Belt (WMVB) containa wide variety of alkaline volcanic rocks, rather than onlycalc-alkaline rocks as found in many continental arcs. Thereare three principal rock series in this region: an intraplatealkaline series (alkali basalts and hawaiites), a potassic series(lamprophyres and trachylavas), and a calc-alkaline series.Phlogopite-clinopyroxenite and hornblende-gabbro cumulate xenolithsfrom an augite minette lava flow have orthocumulate textures.The phlogopite-clinopyroxenite xenoliths also contain apatiteand titanomagnetite and probably formed by accumulation of mineralsfractionated from an augite minette more primitive than thehost. The intraplate alkaline series is probably generated bydecompression melting of asthenospheric mantle as a result ofcorner flow in the mantle wedge beneath the arc. Alkaline magmasmay be common in the WMVB as a result of prior metasomatism(during Tertiary Sierra Madre Occidental magmatism) of the Mexicansub-arc mantle. Generation of the more evolved andesites anddacites of the calc-alkaline series is due to either combinedassimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) or magma mixing.The preponderance of alkaline and hydrous lavas in this regiondemonstrates that these lava types are the norm, rather thanthe exception in western Mexico, and occur in regions that arenot necessarily associated with active rifting. KEY WORDS: arc basalt; subduction; alkali basalt; minette; hawaiite; metasomatism     

Crystal Chemistry and Site Configuration of the Clinopyroxene from Leucite-bearing Rocks and Related Genetic Significance: the Sabatini Lavas, Roman Region, Italy

A clinopyroxene suite from leucite–bearing lavas locatedin the Sabatini district of the Roman Volcanic Region has beeninvestigated by single–crystal X–ray diffractionmethods combined with electron probe microanalysis. The main aim of the study was to obtain crystallographic datanecessary to evaluate intracrystaUine order–disorder relationshipsin natural clinopyroxenes and related equilibria–disequilibriaphenomena in different host–rock types. Generally, the polyhedral site configurations of the clinopyroxenesinvestigated are interdependent and follow specific variationtrends related to specific host–rock types. The majorvariations are found in the tetrahedron and the octahedron;while the polyhedron M2 is essentially unchanged and occupiedby(Ca+Na). The degree of Mg–Fe²⁺; ordering in M1–M2, respectively,depends on the configuration of these sites, particularly M2,and is generally lower in late–crystallized (rim) clinopyroxenesthan in the corresponding higher–temperature (core) fromthe same crystals. This is' attributed to configuration relationshipsunfavourable to the Mg–Fe²⁺ ordering and largely dependingon the occupancy of M2. Polygenetic, early–crystallized clinopyroxenes, occasionallywith resorbed margins, indicate crystal-liquid disequilibriarelated to crystal and–or magma mixing processes.     

Neoproteroic Magmatism Related to Lithospheric Delamination: Implications from Three Episodes of Mafic Dykes and Associated Granitoids in the Pengguan Complex, Western Sichuan Province, Yangtze Block

正The research on dyke swarms is very important,for it can not only shed light on within-plate geological processes of some regions but also contribute to our understanding on evolution of a specific orogenic belt.The Yangtze Block,