Basinal seamounts and seamount chains of the Central Indian Ocean: Probable near-axis origin from a fast-spreading Ridge

Hydrosweep mapping of crust in the Central Indian Ocean Basin reveals abundant volcanoes ocurring both as isolated seamounts and linear seamount chains parallel to flow lines. Their shapes, sizes and overall style of occurrence are indistinguishable from near-axis seamounts in the Pacific. Evidence from seamount morphology, distributions and petrography of dredged samples suggests that they were generated near the fast-spreading Southeast Indian Ridge at 50–60 Ma. If so, this style of near-axis seamount generation may be a result of fast-spreading rate rather than a peculiarity of the present Pacific spreading ridges. In fact, the results of several recent studies, taken together, suggest that the style of axis/near-axis seamount volcanism varies systematically as a function of spreading rate.     

Responses of mud snails from low and high imposex sites to sex pheromones

Imposex, male secondary sexual characteristics in female snails, is a morphological indicator of sub-lethal exposure to organotin compounds. The relation between imposex and behavioral responses to sex pheromones was studied. Responses of snails to sex specific pheromones were determined in laboratory assays. Females and males from a low imposex site and females, imposex females and males from a high imposex site were tested. The snails from the low imposex site showed the expected strong behavioral dimorphism with females responding to male pheromone and males responding to female pheromone. In assays using snails from the high imposex site, female and imposex females showed no dimorphism in response to pheromones and males showed a relatively weak dimorphism. As there was no breeding or egg capsule deposition at the high imposex site, we conclude that even the morphologically normal snails were behaviorally and reproductively compromised.     

Detailed Study of Three Contiguous Segments of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge,South of the Azores (37° N to 38°30′ N), Using Acoustic Imaging Coupled with Submersible Observations

Using a new tool of seafloor characterisation (sonar images from FARA-SIGMA cruise; Needham et al., 1992), coupled with submersible observations (DIVA1 cruise) we compare, at different scales of observation, three contiguous segments of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, South of the Azores Triple Junction, between 37° N and 38°30 N.The two northernmost segments (38°20 N and Menez-Gwen) show unusual morphological features for the MAR; the rift valley is absent and the present-day magmatism is focused on shallow axial volcanoes. On the third segment (Lucky Strike), the morphology is the one usually found on the MAR. On the Menez-Gwen and 38°20 N segments, volcanic constructional activity can obliterate, during periods of high magmatic supply, the morphology inherited from tectonic activity. The dive results constrain the recent evolution of each segment and show that a temporal variability in volcanic dynamics exists. On the three segments, outcrops of eruptive lavas alternate with large areas of explosive volcanic ejecta. This cycle in volcanic activity is influenced by changes in water depth, both spatially (i.e. between segments) and temporally (i.e. for the same segment through time).Each segment has known a specific history in its accretionary processes with a succession of tectonic and volcanic predominance and changes in its volcanic phases between volcanic ejecta and effusive dynamics.The hydrothermal activity is focused at the central part of each segment and is controlled by the presence of fresh lava and major tectonic features.     

Food utilization of shell-attached algae contributes to the growth of host mud snail,Bellamya chinensis: Evidence from fatty acid biomarkers and carbon stable isotope analysis

Dense algal growth on shells of the freshwater mud snail species, Bellamya chinensis, is commonly found. In rice paddy fields of Northeastern Japan, fatty acid biomarkers and carbon stable isotope composition were analyzed to test whether B. chinensis grazes on shell-attached algae. The carbon stable isotope ratio of B. chinensis was positively related to that of shell-attached algae. B. chinensis also assimilated substantial amounts of omega-6 fatty acids, which were abundant in shell-attached algae. Furthermore, the effect of assimilating shell-attached algae on B. chinensis growth was examined in a field experiment. Individuals feeding on shell-attached algae exhibited faster shell growth than those with no access to shell-attached algae of other individuals. Our results demonstrate that B. chinensis growth is enhanced by algal fouling on their own shells, which provides them with a nutritious food source, although very few studies have documented benefits conferred to an organism that hosts an epibiotic species.     

长白山天池火山造锥阶段玄武质火山活动期次划分及成因探讨

在天池火山造锥阶段,长白山火山区玄武质火山活动频繁。文章在野外调查的基础上,通过年代学及地球化学研究,对其活动期次进行划分,并探讨其岩浆来源与演化。天池火山造锥阶段的玄武质火山岩主要呈火山渣锥或小型河谷玄武岩形式分布,其形成可划分为两期:一期为老房子小山期,形成时限为0.87~0.54 Ma,属碱性岩石系列;另一期为老虎洞期,形成时限为0.34~0.1 Ma,属碱性岩石系列和拉斑岩石系列。地球化学特征显示,碱性系列玄武岩具高Al、Ti、K、P和低Mg特征,拉斑系列玄武岩具高Mg、富Fe、Ca和低Na特征;二者稀土和微量特征较为一致,稀土元素配分曲线呈右倾型,略显正铕异常,并富集Ba、K、Pb、P、Ti,亏损Th、U、Sr,但拉斑系列玄武岩的稀土元素和微量元素含量及轻重稀土分馏强度均低于碱性系列。天池火山造锥阶段形成的玄武质火山岩均来源于进化岩浆,具有同源特征,经历了一致或相似的演化过程,岩浆房赋存位置相当于上地幔—下地壳的过渡部位,结晶分异岩浆作用显著、地壳混染作用微弱,其成分变化受控于多期次结晶分异作用和早期结晶再循环的岩浆作用过程。     

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

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

Contractional tectonics and magma paths in volcanoes

This study aims to contribute a possible explanation for magma migration within volcanoes located in contractional tectonic settings, based on field data and physically-scaled experiments. The data demonstrate the occurrence of large stratovolcanoes in areas of coeval reverse faulting, in spite of the widely accepted idea that volcanism can develop only in extensional/transcurrent tectonic settings. The experiments simulate the propagation of deformation from substrate reverse faults with different attitudes and locations into volcanoes. The substrate fault splits into two main shear zones within the volcano: A shallow-dipping one, with reverse motion, propagates towards the lower volcano flank, and a steeper-dipping one, with normal motion, propagates upwards. In plan view, the reverse fault zone is arcuate and convex outwards, whereas the normal fault zone is rectilinear. Structural field surveys at volcanoes located in contractional settings show similar features: The Plio–Quaternary Trohunco and Los Cardos–Centinela volcanic complexes (Argentina) lie above Plio–Quaternary reverse faults. The Late Pleistocene–Holocene El Reventador volcano (Ecuador) is also located in a coeval contractional tectonic belt. These volcanoes show curvilinear reverse faults along one flank and rectilinear extensional fracture zones across the crater area, consistent with the experiments. These data consistently suggest that magma migrates along the substrate reverse fault and is channelled along the normal fault zone across the volcano.     

The role of lower continental crust and lithospheric mantle in the genesis of Plio–Pleistocene volcanic rocks from Sardinia (Italy)

The first comprehensive chemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic data set of Plio–Pleistocene tholeiitic and alkaline volcanic rocks cropping out in Sardinia (Italy) is presented here. These rocks are alkali basalts, hawaiites, basanites, tholeiitic basalts and basaltic andesites, and were divided into two groups with distinct isotopic compositions. The vast majority of lavas have relatively high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7043–0.7051), low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.5124–0.5126), and are characterised by the least radiogenic Pb isotopic composition so far recorded in Italian (and European) Neogene-to-Recent mafic volcanic rocks (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=17.55–18.01) (unradiogenic Pb volcanic rocks, UPV); these rocks crop out in central and northern Sardinia. Lavas of more limited areal extent have chemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic ratios indicative of a markedly different source (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7031–0.7040; ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd=0.5127–0.5129; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.8–19.4) (radiogenic Pb volcanic rocks, RPV), and crop out only in the southern part of the island. The isotopic ratios of these latter rocks match the values found in the roughly coeval anorogenic (i.e. not related to recent subduction events in space and time) mafic volcanic rocks of Italy (i.e. Mt. Etna, Hyblean Mts., Pantelleria, Linosa), and Cenozoic European volcanic rocks. The mafic rocks of the two Sardinian rock groups also show distinct trace element contents and ratios (e.g. Ba/Nb>14, Ce/Pb=8–25 and Nb/U=29–38 for the UPV; Ba/Nb<9, Ce/Pb=24–28 and Nb/U=46–54 for the RPV). The sources of the UPV could have been stabilised in the Precambrian after low amounts of lower crustal input (about 3%), or later, during the Hercynian Orogeny, after input of Precambrian lower crust in the source region, whereas the sources of the RPV could be related to processes that occurred in the late Palaeozoic–early Mesozoic, possibly via recycling of proto-Tethys oceanic lithosphere by subduction.     

Aptian giant explosive volcanic eruptions in the Songliao Basin and northeast Asia: A possible cause for global climate change and OAE-1a

Volcanism is a natural climate force that causes variations in temperatures. The Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE-1a) was preceded by a prominent negative C-isotope excursion attributed to major volcanism of the Ontong Java plateau (OJP), which presumably resulted in a pCO₂ increase and a climatic change. However, the OJP alone may not adequately explain some important isotopic signatures such as the negative strontium-isotope excursion from 125 Ma to 113 Ma that is recorded in the corresponding marine deposits. We present an independent and hitherto undocumented case, the giant Aptian volcanism in the Songliao Basin and northeast Asia (SB-V) on the Cretaceous active continental margin between the Eurasian and the Pacific plates, which covered an area of ca. 2.3 × 10⁶ km², nearly matching the simultaneous case of the OJP. Intensive strong, explosive volcanic eruptions of the SB-V occurred at 121–109 Ma and introduced a large volume of fine-grained volcanic ash and degassing volatiles into the atmosphere. The Aptian isotopic ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb) of marine carbonates from the Mid-Pacific shift in values between their Barremian pre-excursion high values and the negative magmatic values of the SB-V. The transient global cooling at the onset of the OAE-1a coincided with the beginning of the violent acidic eruption of the SB-V (119.9–120.2 Ma). We therefore infer that the SB-V must have played a role in the Aptian global climatic changes and OAE-1a through the heavy fall of volcanic dust and the outgassing of aerosol and greenhouse gases.     

Geochemistry of Santo Antônio da Barra Kamafugites, Goiás, Brazil

This work focuses on the kamafugites from Santo Antônio da Barra, Minas–Goiás Alkaline Province. These rocks contain olivine, clinopyroxene, titanomagnetite, perovskite, leucite (pseudomorphs), kalsilite, nepheline, and phlogopite.The rocks investigated are ultrabasic, with high contents of CaO, FeO, and TiO₂, high to moderate contents of Al₂O₃, alkalis, and P₂O₅, and low contents of MgO. The alkaline characteristic of the rocks is reflected in TiO₂, K₂O, and Na₂O contents and in the frequent presence of normative nepheline and leucite. K₂O contents are not primary since most of the leucite was replaced by analcime.The negative K anomaly verified in the extended incompatible element distribution diagram for kamafugites seems to be mainly related to alteration. Kamafugites are characterized by a marked enrichment in incompatible and large ion lithophile elements together with other typical compatible elements.The Santo Antônio da Barra kamafugites are less enriched in titanium, niobium, zirconium, and REE than the Mata da Corda and most of the Toro-Ankole ones. San Venanzo–Cupaello rocks have much lower titanium contents.