Distribution coefficients of Eu and Sr for plagioclase-liquid and clinopyroxene-liquid equilibria in oceanic ridge basalt: an experimental study

The distribution coefficients of Eu and Sr for plagioclase-liquid and clinopyroxene-liquid pairs as a function of temperature and oxygen fugacity were experimentally investigated using an oceanic ridge basalt enriched with Eu and Sr as the starting material. Experiments were conducted between 1190° and 1140°C over a range of oxygen fugacities between 10^?8 and 10^?14 atm.The molar distribution coefficients are given by the equations: log^PL_Sr = 7320/T ? 4.62logK^CPX_Sr = 18020/T ? 13.10. Similarly, the weight fraction distribution coefficients are given by the equations: logD^PL_Sr = 6570/T ? 4.30logD^CPX_Sr = 18434/T ? 13.62.Although the mole fraction distribution coefficients have a smaller dependence on bulk composition than do the weight fraction distribution coefficients, they are not independent of bulk composition, thereby restricting the application of these experimental results to rocks similar to oceanic ridge basalts in bulk composition.Because the Sr distribution coefficients are independent of oxygen fugacity, they may be used as geothermometers. If the temperature can be determined independently — for example, with the Sr distribution coefficients, the Eu distribution coefficients may be used as oxygen geobarometers. Throughout the range of oxygen fugacities ascribed to terrestrial and lunar basalts, plagioclase concentrates Eu but clinopyroxene rejects Eu.