Petrogenetic implications and geochronology of middle Miocene Tannayama igneous rocks,Goto Islands,Japan Sea southern margin,northwestern Kyushu,Japan

The subduction of “hot” Shikoku Basin and the mantle upwelling related to the Japan Sea opening have induced extensive magmatism during the middle Miocene on both the back-arc and island-arc sides of southwest Japan. The Goto Islands are located on the back-arc side of northwestern Kyushu, and middle Miocene granitic rocks and associated volcanic, hypabyssal, and gabbroic rocks are exposed. The igneous rocks at Tannayama on Nakadori-jima in the Goto Islands consist of gabbronorite, granite, granite porphyry, diorite porphyry, andesite, and rhyolite. We performed detailed geological mapping at a 1:10 000 scale, as well as petrographical and geochemical analyses. We also determined the zircon U–Pb age dating of the igneous rocks from Tannayama together with a granitic rock in Yagatamesaki. The zircon U–Pb ages of the Tannayama igneous rocks show the crystallization ages of 14.7 Ma ± 0.3 Ma (gabbronorite), 15.9 Ma ± 0.5 Ma (granite), 15.4 Ma ± 0.9 Ma (granite porphyry), and 15.1 Ma ± 2.1 Ma (rhyolite). Zircons from the Yagatamesaki granitic rock yield 14.5 Ma ± 0.7 Ma. Considering field relationships, new zircon data indicate that the Tannayama granite formed at ~16–15 Ma, and the gabbronorite, granite porphyry, diorite porphyry, andesite, and subsequently rhyolite formed at 15–14 Ma, which overlaps a plutonic activity of the Yagatamesaki. The geochemical characteristics of the Tannayama igneous rocks are similar to those of the tholeiitic basalts and dacites of Hirado, and the granitic rocks of Tsushima in northwestern Kyushu. This suggests that the Tannayama igneous rocks can be correlated petrogenetically with the igneous rocks in those areas, with all of them generated by the upwelling of hot mantle diapirs during crustal thinning in an extensional environment during the middle Miocene.     

Geochemistry of caldera-forming and resurgent magmas in the Pliocene Hiwada caldera,northeast Japan: An example of a monotonous intermediate system

The 2.9-Ma Hotokezawa Ignimbrite, which was ejected from the Aizu caldera cluster in the northeast Japan arc, is a typical monotonous intermediate ignimbrite, with 40–50 vol% crystals and an eruptive volume of >140 km³ dense-rock equivalent. This ignimbrite filled Hiwada caldera and was deformed by post-caldera plutonic intrusions that formed a resurgent dome. The Hotokezawa Ignimbrite is a calc-alkaline, medium-K dacite to rhyolite with SiO₂ contents of 67.9–71.3 wt%, and has homogeneous trace-element abundances and Sr–Nd isotopic ratios. These geochemical features suggest that the Hotokezawa magma was formed by partial melting of amphibolitic crustal rocks. This crystal-rich magma did not appear during the post-caldera stage. Therefore, it is plausible that the chamber of eruptible magma was emptied by the caldera-forming eruption. In contrast, post-caldera plutonic rocks exhibit a variety of compositions and have a clear SiO₂ gap corresponding to the caldera-forming magma: the early pluton (tonalite) and later ones (quartz porphyry, granite porphyries, and granite) contain 62.0–66.6 and 71.2–76.5 wt% SiO₂, respectively. The tonalite and the Hotokezawa Ignimbrite form a continuous trend in their major-element variations. The Sr–Nd isotopic ratios of the ignimbrite and tonalite overlap, but those of the porphyries and granite are more enriched. The early tonalite represents the more basic part of the Hiwada caldera system that was held in small pockets separate from the main magma chamber, because its trace-element abundances are varied and distinct from those of the Hotokezawa Ignimbrite. The distinct compositional change from the Hotokezawa Ignimbrite to the late porphyries and granite indicates that the partial melting crust generating felsic magma was renewed by the subsequent intrusion of the mantle melts. The new felsic magma ascended through subsidence-related faults into the shallow caldera system and emplaced as laccoliths forming the resurgent dome.     

RbSr whole-rock ages of Precambrian metamorphic rocks in the Kamiaso conglomerate from central Japan

Whole-rock samples of metamorphic and granitic cobbles and boulders from the Kamiaso conglomerate in central Japan yield well-defined RbSr isochron ages of 1985 ± 25 my and 1820 ± 40 my. These ages are the oldest yet obtained for rocks in the Japanese Islands, and provide key evidence for the middle Precambrian metamorphic and igneous events in the provenance of these rocks. The age of 1985 my defined by six samples of quartzo-feldspathic gneiss may be the time of emplacement of the original granitic rocks. The 1820 my age indicates the time of extensive regional metamorphism and igneous activity. Precambrian episodes in the provenance of the Kamiaso conglomerate are summarized as follows: (1) 2000 my — formation of granitic rocks, (2) 1800–1600 my — high grade metamorphism accompanied by igneous activity, (3) 1200–1000 my — some significant thermal event.Judging from rock types and geochronological data, it can be said that metamorphic rocks in the Kamiaso conglomerate are remarkably similar to those of the Matenrei and Nangnim systems in North Korea. The Precambrian complex from which the metamorphic and granitic rocks were derived, was exposed to the north not far from the present site of the Kamiaso conglomerate in the late Paleozoic time, and it was probably a part of the large Precambrian continent in East Asia.     

Arc volcanism initiated on the eastern margin of Eurasia during the Early Cretaceous: Geochemistry of the Takanokura volcanic rocks in the Abukuma Mountains,Northeast Japan

The Early Cretaceous Takanokura Formation in the eastern part of the Abukuma Mountains consists of a lower felsic ignimbrite and upper intermediate lavas and volcaniclastic rocks, representing the initial arc-type in northeast Japan. In this study, I analyzed the major and trace element contents and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic ratios of these eruptive products; then, I discussed their magma genesis based on their geochemical properties. Although igneous rocks of the same period in other localities of northeast Japan are characterized by the occurrence of adakites, these volcanism are composed of non-adakitic high- to medium-K andesite to rhyolite that are rich in large-ion lithophile elements and poor in high-field-strength elements and have low Sr/Y values and flat heavy rare earth element patterns. Furthermore, these rocks have high radiogenic Pb isotopic ratios. The rhyolite and dacite have been thought to derive from crustal melting, whereas the andesite formed by the mixing of crustal felsic melts and mafic magmas generated by melting of the lithospheric mantle. Although previous studies attributed the formation of the Early Cretaceous adakites to the hot subduction of a mid-ocean ridge, recent global plate motion reconstructions reject this model. To generate magma from a cold slab and lithospheric mantle that does not spontaneously melt, the mantle wedge under northeast Japan must have experienced heating. During this period, the volcanic province along the eastern margin of Eurasia expanded rapidly toward the trench, forming grabens. Therefore, I concluded that the advance of the hot asthenosphere into the forearc region that led to this expansion, which caused the retreat of the subduction boundary of the paleo-Pacific plate to retreat and ultimately converted northeast Japan from an accretionary complex into a volcanically active region.     

Basaltic pillow mounds in the Vinalhaven intrusion, Maine

The Vinalhaven intrusion is a dominantly granitic pluton of probable Devonian age, located on Vinalhaven Island and adjacent islands, Maine. It consists of four main units: coarse-grained granite, fine-grained granite, a gabbro-diorite unit consisting of interlayered mafic, hybrid and granitic rocks, and a heterogeneous granitic unit. The gabbro-diorite unit occurs along the south and east coast of the island as a sheet-like body, hundreds of meters to more than 1 km thick, that dips beneath the central granitic units and rests on heterogeneous granitic rocks that form the base of the intrusion and are exposed on islands to the southeast. Load-cast and pipe structures at the bases of mafic sheets indicate that the gabbro-diorite unit represents a sequence of basaltic injections that ponded on crystal-rich mush at the base of a silicic magma chamber and variably interacted with overlying crystal-poor granitic magma. The pluton, therefore, represents a fossilized silicic magma chamber that was periodically replenished by basaltic magma. Near the base of the gabbro-diorite unit, some basaltic injections produced large mounds up to more than 10 m high and 100 m wide of tightly packed, meter-scale chilled basaltic pillows, tubes and sheets in a granitic matrix. The mounds appear to represent flow fronts of basaltic injections that entered and ponded on the floor of a silicic magma chamber. Although physical conditions differ significantly, these plutonic pillow mounds appear to share many characteristics with submarine pillow basalts and lava flows.     

Origin of rhyolite by crustal melting and the nature of parental magmas in the Oligocene Conejos Formation,San Juan Mountains,Colorado, USA

Four closely spaced volcanoes (Summer Coon; Twin Mountains; Del Norte; Carnero Creek) form the east-central cluster of Conejos volcanic centers. These Conejos rocks range from high-K basaltic andesite to rhyolite, with andesite volumetrically the most abundant. Summer Coon and Twin Mountains are composite volcanoes. The Del Norte and Carnero Creek volcanoes are deeply eroded dacite shields. Rhyolite (10% of our Conejos analyses but a much smaller percentage by volume) is only known from Summer Coon and Twin Mountains volcanoes, although high-SiO₂ dacite occurs in the Del Norte volcano. The younger Hinsdale Formation contains a related series ranging from transitional basalt to high-K andesite; we use Hinsdale Formation analyses to represent Conejos parental magmas.Conejos and Hinsdale magmas evolved through AFC processes: Basalt, after interacting with lower crust, assimilated low K/Rb crust, similar in some ways to Taylor and McLennan (Taylor, S.R., and McLennan, S.M., 1985, The continental crust: its composition and evolution. Oxford, Blackwell Scientific.) model upper crust; main series basaltic andesite fractionated to high-K andesite; rhyolite was produced by melting of high K/Ba upper crustal rocks similar to granite gneiss known from inclusions and basement outcrops. Some rhyolite may have been back-mixed into fractionating andesite and dacite. Field evidence for assimilation includes sanidinite-facies, partially melted, gneiss blocks up to 1 m in diameter. Temperature estimates (1100–900 ° C) from two-pyroxene equilibria are consistent with this interpretation, as are the sparsely porphyritic nature of the most-evolved rhyolites and the absence of phenocrystic alkali feldspar.Our study supports the conclusions of previous workers on AFC processes in similar, but generally more mafic, Conejos magmas of the southeastern San Juan Mountains. Our results, however, emphasize the importance of crustal melting in the generation of Conejos rhyolite. We further speculate that Conejos magmatism, and the San Juan Volcanic Field (SJVF) in general, may represent an early phase of Rio Grande rift magmatism, the orogenic geochemical signature of the series having been generated through multi-level and extensive assimilation of varied Precambrian orogenic and anorogenic rocks.     

Crystal fractionation of granitic magma during its non-transport processes: A physics-based perspective

Granitic continental crust distinguishes the Earth from other planets in the Solar System. Consequently, for understanding terrestrial continent development, it is of great significance to investigate the formation and evolution of granite.Crystal fractionation is one of principal magma evolution mechanisms. Nevertheless, it is controversial whether crystal fractionation can effectively proceed in felsic magma systems because of the high viscosity and non-Newtonian behavior associated with granitic magmas. In this paper, we focus on the physical processes and evaluate the role of crystal fractionation in the evolution of granitic magmas during non-transport processes, i.e., in magma chambers and after emplacement. Based on physical calculations and analyses, we suggest that general mineral particles can settle only at tiny speed(~10~(-9)–10~(-7) m s~(-1))in a granitic magma body due to high viscosity of the magma; however, the cumulating can be interrupted with convection in magma chambers, and the components of magma chambers will tend to be homogeneous. Magma convection ceases once the magma chamber develops into a mush(crystallinity, F~40–50%). The interstitial melts can be extracted by hindered settling and compaction, accumulating gradually and forming a highly silicic melt layer. The high silica melts can further evolve into high-silica granite or high-silica rhyolite. At various crystallinities, multiple rejuvenation of the mush and the following magma intrusion may generate a granite complex with various components. While one special type of granites, represented by the South China lithium-and fluoride-rich granite, has lower viscosity and solidus relative to general granitic magmas, and may form vertical zonation in mineral-assemblage and composition through crystal fractionation. Similar fabrics in general intrusions that show various components on small lengthscales are not the result of gravitational settling. Rather, the flowage differentiation may play a key role. In general, granitic magma can undergo effective crystal fractionation; high-silica granite and volcanics with highly fractionated characteristics may be the products of crystal fractionation of felsic magmas, and many granitoids may be cumulates.     

New perspectives on the eruption of 1912 in the valley of ten thousand smokes,Katmai National Park,Alaska

New data extend our understanding of the 1912 eruption, its backfilled vent complex at Novarupta, and magma-storage systems beneath adjacent stratovolcanoes. Initial Plinian rhyolite fallout is confined to a narrow downwind sector, and its maximum thickness may occur as far as 13 km from source. In contrast, the partly contemporaneous rhyolite-rich ash flows underwent relatively low-energy emplacement, their generation evidently being decoupled from the high column. Flow veneers 1–13 m thick on near-vent ridge crests exhibit a general rhyolite-to-andesite sequence like that of the much thicker valley-confined ignimbrite into which they merge downslope. Lithics in both the initial Plinian and the ignimbrite are predominantly fragments of the Jurassic Naknek Formation, which extends from the surface to a depth of ca. 1500 m. Absence of lithics from the underlying sedimentary section limits to < 1.5 km the fragmentation level and the structural depth of the vent, which is thought to be funnel-shaped, flaring shallowly to a surface diameter of 2 km. Overlying the ignimbrite are layers of Plinian dacite fallout, > 100 m thick near source and 10 m thick 3 km away, which dip back into an inner vent <0.5 km wide, nested inside the earlier vent funnel of the ignimbrite. The dacite fallout is poor in Naknek lithics but contains abundant fragments of vitrophyre, most of which was vent-filling, densely welded tuff reejected during later phases of the 3-day eruption. Adjacent to the inner vent, a 225-m-high asymmetrical accumulation of coarse near-vent ejecta is stratigraphically continuous with the regional dacite fallout. Distensional faulting of its crest may reflect spreading related to compaction and welding. Nearby andesite-dacite stratovolcanoes, i.e., Martin, Mageik, Trident, and Katmai, display at least 12 vents that define a linear volcanic front trending N65°E. The 1912 vent and adjacent dacite domes are disposed parallel to the front and ca. 4 km behind it. Mount Griggs, 10 km behind the front, is more potassic than other centers, taps isotopically more depleted source materials, and reflects a wholly independent magmatic plumbing system. Geochemical differences among the stratovolcanoes, characteristically small eruptive volumes ( < 0.1 to 0.4 km³), and the dominance of andesite and low-SiO₂ dacite suggest complex crustal reservoirs, not large integrated magma chambers. Linear fractures just outside the 1912 vent strike nearly normal to the volcanic front and may reflect dike transport of magma previously stored beneath Trident 3–5 km away. Caldera collapse at Mount Katmai may have taken place in response to hydraulic transfer of Katmai magma toward Novarupta via reservoir components beneath Trident. The voluminous 1912 eruption (12–15 km³ DRE) was also unusual in producing high-silica rhyolite (6–9 km³ DRE), a composition rare in this arc and on volcanic fronts in general. Isotopic data indicate that rhyolite genesis involved little assimilation of sedimentary rocks, pre-Tertiary plutonic rocks, or hydrothermally altered rocks of any age. Trace-element data suggest nonetheless that the rhyolite contains a nontrivial crustal contribution, most likely partial melts of Late Cenozoic arc-intrusive rocks. Because the three compositions (77%, 66–64.5%, and 61.5–58.5% SiO₂) that intermingled in 1912 vented both concurrently and repeatedly (after eruptive pauses hours in duration), the compositional gaps between them must have been intrinsic to the reservoir, not merely effects of withdrawal dynamics.     

The geology of the igneous complex of the Barda hills,saurashtra, Gujarat state (India)

The Barda group of hills represents a centre of laccolithic intrusion. The rocks encountered here are pierite basalt, rhyolite, obsidian, granophyre, felsite, aplite and diorite. There is evidence for both « Fissure Type » and « Central Volcanic Type » of igneous activity in the region, which seem to have occurred in three different phases. The parent magma has been shown to be tholeiitic in composition. The acid rocks may have been formed by crystal fractionation along with diffusion of alkalis and volatiles. The origin of diorite is attributed to a process of hybridization.     

The Whitsunday Volcanic Province, Central Queensland, Australia: lithological and stratigraphic investigations of a silicic-dominated large igneous province

Contrary to general belief, not all large igneous provinces (LIPs) are characterised by rocks of basaltic composition. Silicic-dominated LIPs, such as the Whitsunday Volcanic Province of NE Australia, are being increasingly recognised in the rock record. These silicic LIPs are consistent in being: (1) volumetrically dominated by ignimbrite; (2) active over prolonged periods (40–50 m.y.), based on available age data; and (3) spatially and temporally associated with plate break-up. This silicic-dominated LIP, related to the break-up of eastern continental Gondwana, is also significant for being the source of >1.4×10⁶ km³ of coeval volcanogenic sediment preserved in adjacent sedimentary basins of eastern Australia.The Whitsunday Volcanic Province is volumetrically dominated by medium- to high-grade, dacitic to rhyolitic lithic ignimbrites. Individual ignimbrite units are commonly between 10 and 100 m thick, and the ignimbrite-dominated sequences exceed 1 km in thickness. Coarse lithic lag breccias containing clasts up to 6 m diameter are associated with the ignimbrites in proximal sections. Pyroclastic surge and fallout deposits, subordinate basaltic to rhyolitic lavas, phreatomagmatic deposits, and locally significant thicknesses of coarse-grained volcanogenic conglomerate and sandstone are interbedded with the ignimbrites. The volcanic sequences are intruded by gabbro/dolerite to rhyolite dykes (up to 50 m in width), sills and comagmatic granite. Dyke orientations are primarily from NW to NNE.The volcanic sequences are characterised by the interstratification of proximal/near-vent lithofacies such as rhyolite domes and lavas, and basaltic agglomerate, with medial to distal facies of ignimbrite. The burial of these near-vent lithofacies by ignimbrites, coupled with the paucity of mass wastage products such as debris-flow deposits indicates a low-relief depositional environment. Furthermore, the volcanic succession records a temporal change in: (1) eruptive styles; (2) the nature of source vents; and (3) erupted compositions. An early explosive dacitic pyroclastic phase was succeeded by a later mixed pyroclastic-effusive phase producing an essentially bimodal suite of lavas and rhyolitic ignimbrite. From the nature and distribution of volcanic lithofacies, the volcanic sequences are interpreted to record the evolution of a multiple vent, low-relief volcanic region, dominated by several large caldera centres.     

Palaeozoic radiometric age provinces in the Andean basement,latitudes 25°–30°S

More than fifty new K-Ar age determinations are reported for mineral separates and whole-rock samples from igneous and metamorphic basement rocks of northwestern Argentina and contiguous Chile between 25° and 30°S. The age data define three thermal events, occurring in the late Ordovician-Silurian (400–450 m.y.), mid-Carboniferous (310–340 m.y.) and Permian (225–270 m.y.), and confirm deductions of previous workers that the crystalline basement rocks of the Pampean Ranges of northwestern Argentina are not of Precambrian age, but rather evolved predominantly during the Palaeozoic. The proposed radiometric age provinces and the inferred orogenic history of the area are compared with those for the rest of South America, and it is confirmed that, by the late Ordovician, the focus of major orogenic activity in South America was located along the present western and southern margins of the craton, and tended to migrate westwards during the Palaeozoic.     

湘北华容地区小墨山花岗岩体SHRIMPU—Pb年龄及地球化学特征

小墨山岩体侵位于中元古代冷家溪群中,由两期侵人体组成,早期为粗中粒-中粒斑状黑云母二长花岗岩;末期为细粒黑（二）云母二长花岗岩。通过锆石SHRIMPU—Pb法测得岩体侵位年龄为122．5±2．1Ma（20）,MSWD=1．9,成岩时代为早白垩世。主元素中,SiO2变化于67．20％～75．16％,K20含量高,且K2O〉Na2O,K2O／Na2O为1．16～1．72;ASI值变化于0．96～1．10之间,平均1．02,属准铝质-微过铝质、高钾钙碱性系列。岩石明显富集大离子亲石元素,亏损高场强元素,Rb／Sr=0．27～15．13;Nb／Ta=15．9～17．1,为锶和铌亏损型。EREE总体较高,重稀土含量相对较高,轻重稀土分馏稍弱,∑Ce／∑Y为0．49～6．18,（La／Yb）。为0．66～15．54。有较高的εNd（t）,为-6．8～-8．7;T2DM相对较小（1．47～1．62Ga）。综合研究表明,小墨山花岗岩石为壳源型富黑云母过铝花岗岩类（CPG）,其成因应为下地壳物质和上地壳物质混合而成,与花岗岩底侵作用或注入地壳中的幔源岩浆有关,形成的构造背景为陆内挤压造山向非造山转换的后造山拉张环境,是在紧随侏罗纪挤压造山运动之后的构造松驰和拉张减薄条件下所形成。     

Phanerozoic magmatic activity in the northwestern part of the Trans-European Suture Zone

Summary Indicators of magmatism in the northwestern part of the Trans-European Suture Zone are outlined. The igneous rocks are predominantly mafic and of mantle origin. The changing character of the magma geochemistry of the Permosilesian volcanic series (rhyolitic-andesitic and MORB-type/continental tholeiites), via Uckermark and Rügen to Skåne, is consistent with the changing crustal thickness along the border of Baltica. Some features of Early Palaeozoic volcaniclastic sediments hint at Early Palaeozoic oceanic development (ophiolite association ?) in a suture zone, whereas the Permo-Carboniferous to Eocene volcanic associations are related to rift structures and deep-seated structural elements within the Tornquist-Teisseyre Zone (TTZ).     

U–Pb zircon ages and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions for Permian–Jurassic plutons in the Ogcheon belt and Ryeongnam massif, Korea: Tectonic implications and correlation with the China Qinling–Dabie belt and the Japan Hida belt

Abstract The Ogcheon fold belt and the Ryeongnam massif in the Korean Peninsula are made up of Precambrian igneous and sedimentary rocks that have been metamorphosed, tectonically deformed and extensively intruded by mafic to felsic plutonic rocks of Permian to Jurassic age. In the present study, we report seven new U–Pb zircon ages and Sr‐Nd‐Pb isotopic data for Permian to Jurassic plutons in the Ogcheon belt and the Ryeongnam massif. In the Ogcheon belt, these are: the Cheongsan porphyritic granite (217 ± 3.1 My), the Baegrog foliated granodiorite (206.4 ± 3.6 My), the Sani granite (178.8 ± 2.9 My) and the Yeonggwang foliated granite (173.0 ± 1.7 My). For the Ryeongnam massif, we report on the Yeongdeog foliated granodiorite (252.2 ± 2.9 My), the Sancheong gabbro (203.8 ± 3.3 My) and the Baegseogri foliated granodiorite (177.8 ± 2.4 My). All of these ages are lower concordia intercepts; the upper concordia intercepts indicate derivation from a Precambrian protolith. Sr, Nd and Pb isotopes also reveal that much of the Permian–Jurassic (252–173 Ma) plutonism in Korea was generated by recycling of Precambrian rocks. These new ages, together with other published zircon ages indicate that the plutonism in the Ogcheon fold belt is coeval with that in the Ryeongnam massif, but based on the Sr‐Nd‐Pb isotopic evidence, they are not cogenetic. In addition, zircon ages provide information on the movement along the Honam shear zone, which cuts across the whole Korean Peninsula and along most of its length provides the boundary between the Ogcheon fold belt and the Ryeongnam massif. It has a prolonged history of movement and deformation and appears to have been active from the Precambrian through to the Mesozoic, from before 1924 Ma to at least 180 Ma. The Permian–Jurassic igneous and tectonic activity in Korea is a manifestation of the more extensive orogenic activities that affected the East Asian continent at that time. In China, ultra high‐pressure rocks of the Qinling–Dabie belt formed between 210 and 230 Ma as result of the collision between the South China block and the North China block. In central Japan, corresponding plutonic activity is dated as 175 to 231 Ma. The absence of ultra high‐pressure rocks in Korea and Japan precludes a simple extension of the Qinling–Dabie belt eastwards; however, the effects of the continental collision eastwards are apparent from the igneous and tectonic activity.     

Geochronological characterization and petrogenesis of granitoids in the Ryoke belt, Southwest Japan Arc: constraints from K–Ar, Rb–Sr and Sm-Nd systematics

Abstract Rb–Sr and K–Ar chronological studies were carried out on granitic and metamorphic rocks in the Ina, Awaji Island and eastern Sanuki districts, Southwest Japan to investigate the timing of intrusion of the granitoids in the Ryoke belt. Intrusions of 'younger' Ryoke granitic magmas took place in the Ina district between 120 Ma and 70 Ma, and cooling began immediately after the emplacement of the youngest granitic bodies. Igneous activity in Awaji Island was initiated at 100 Ma and continued to 75 Ma. Along-arc variations of Rb–Sr whole-rock isochron ages suggest that magmatism began everywhere in the Ryoke and San-yo belts at almost the same time ( ca 120 Ma). The last magmatism took place in the eastern part of both belts. Rb–Sr and K–Ar mineral ages for the granitoids young eastwards. The age data suggest that the Ryoke belt was uplifted just after the termination of igneous activity. Initial Sr and Nd isotopic ratios for the Ryoke granitoids indicate that most were derived from magmas produced in the lower crust and/or upper mantle with uniform Sr and Nd isotopic compositions. Several granitoids, however, exhibit evidence of assimilation of Ryoke metamorphic rocks or older Precambrian crustal rocks beneath the Ryoke belt.     

A zone of columnar joints beneath the roof of a granitic pluton: The Okueyama granite,southwestern Japan

Igneous rocks are fractured during cooling from magma to form cooling joints, which are typically columnar joints in volcanic rocks, while orthogonal joints are considered typical for plutonic rocks. We performed a 3D study of joint systems in a granitic batholith of the Okueyama granite in western Japan, which has its roof and its internal structures from the roof to 1000 m downward exposed. We used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to observe the joints in outcrops from various angles. Based on our study, we propose a schematic model for joint systems in a granitic pluton. A granitic pluton has zones of rock columns below the roof and next to the wall. The rock column zone below the roof is as thick as 300 m, and its higher portions form steep cliffs, probably because of increased resistance to weathering. The axes of the rock columns are nearly vertical below the roof and gently plunge next to the walls, with high intersection angles with the wall. The distribution of columnar joints near only the roof and walls suggests that the granite cooled more rapidly near the roof and walls than in the core of the pluton. When the granite was jointed by parallel joints during cooling, the rock slabs between the parallel joints near the roof and the walls are subdivided into columns with polygonal cross-sections. This suggests that the granite was fractured by parallel joints at a temperature immediately below the solidus, after which the rock slabs were subdivided into rock columns during further cooling.     

Geology of the ignimbrites and the associated volcano–plutonic complex of the Ezine area, northwestern Anatolia

The Ezine region is located in the northwestern part of Anatolia where young granitic and volcanic rocks are widespread and show close spatial and temporal association. In this region magmatism began with the Kestanbol granite, which intruded into metamorphic basement rocks, and formed contact metamorphic aureole. To the east and southeast the pluton is surrounded by hypabyssal rocks, which in turn, are surrounded by volcanic associations. The volcanic rocks may be divided into two main groups on the basis of their lithological properties. Lavas and lahar deposits dominate the northern sector while ignimbrites dominate the southern sector. The ignimbrite eruptions were formed partly coevally with the plutonic and the associated volcanic rocks during the early Miocene. They appear to have been associated in a caldera collapse environment. Geochemical properties of the plutonic and the associated volcanic assemblages indicate that the magmas are hybrid and co-genetic and, were formed from a similar mantle source, under a compressional regime prior to the opening of the present E–W-trending graben of the Aegean western Anatolian region.     

The Palung granite (Himalaya); high-resolution UPb systematics in zircon and monazite

UPb analyses of fractions of zircon and monazite (3–8 grains each) and of single zircon grains resolve a lower Ordovician age of 470 ±4m.y. for the Palung granite which occurs in the High Himalayan nappes south of Kathmandu. Its thrusting during the Alpine orogeny under lower greenschist facies conditions did not affect the UPb systems in zircon and monazite. The granite crystallized from a magma which was mainly generated by anatexis of Precambrian continental crust. The magma was heterogeneous with respect to primary ages and/or metamorphic histories of the magma source rocks. This indicates either a derivation from (meta-) sediments or an intense mixing of different crustally derived magmas. The genesis of the Palung granite is possibly related to an orogeny which affected the Indian shield in lower Palaeozoic times. The detected inherited radiogenic lead in the Palung zircons occurs in perfectly homogeneous, transparent crystals; i.e. this radiogenic (“excess”) lead is not related to the presence of old, microscopically visible, overgrown zircon cores. The minimum ages of the inherited lead components range from about 800 to 1700 m.y.     

Characteristic mineralogy of the Zhutishi granite:Implication for petrogenesis of the late intrusive granite

Many granitic batholiths occur in the form of com-plexes, presented principally by a temporal-spacial association between two stages of intrusion, in the Nanling region. Compared with main intrusive gran-ites, late intrusive granites are characterized by fine- grained texture, Si- and Al-enriched composition, and small occurrence as stock or apophysis. On the basis of its rock chemistry (e.g., increasing aluminium saturation index) and geochemistry (e.g., Eu depletion, decreasing concentratio…     

Roof-rock contamination of magma along the top of the reservoir for the Bishop Tuff

The Bishop Tuff, a well known Quaternary high-silica rhyolite in east-central California, is widely considered the type example of a vertically and monotonically zoned pyroclastic deposit that represents zoning in the source magma reservoir, inverted during the process of pyroclastic emplacement. However, the deposit of plinian pumice, which forms the base of the Bishop Tuff and represents the initial 10% or so of all magma erupted during the event that produced the Bishop Tuff, contains features at odds with monotonie zoning for the reservoir. Relative to overlying ignimbrite, the plinian deposit contains a reversal in trace-element zoning. Moreover, the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr is significantly higher than that in overlying ignimbrite (about 0.7084 vs 0.7064), and melt inclusions trapped in quartz phenocrysts exhibit notable variability of trace-element concentrations, even within a single host crystal (e.g., U: 10.77 to 8.91 ppm).These data have been previously interpreted as due to processes of chemical fractionation and evolution operating within a magma system closed to chemical interactions with its roof rocks. For example, the reversal in trace-element zoning has been explained by the first-erupted magma being erupted from somewhat below the top of a monotonically zoned reservoir. However, we submit that the reversed zoning and other above-noted features can be explained equally well as consequences of minor assimilation of roof rocks into a magma reservoir that was erupted from the top down.The basal part of the Bishop Tuff exhibits extreme concentrations and depletions of trace elements, relative to the average composition of crustal rocks. For example, the upward decrease of Sr in the Bishop magma reservoir (downward decrease in the ignimbrite) results in concentrations as low as 2–4 ppm. Because of the attendant ‘chemical leverage’, assimilation of < 1 wt.% of Sierra Nevada batholith rocks typical of the area could readily reverse an ‘uncontaminated’ Sr (and other trace elements) trend of zoning and could also substantially raise ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr. Small-scale trace-element variability in the uppermost part of the Bishop magma reservoir, as recorded by the above-mentioned melt inclusions, may simply reflect melt heterogeneity produced by the process of assimilation.