Tectono-magmatic evolution of the West Philippine-Mariana region and the origin of boninites

Re-examination of published data on the tectomagmatic evolution of the West Philippine-Mariana region indicate that arc magmatism and back-arc extensional pulses are not synchronous but are largely asynchronous. Arc volcanism ceases within a few million years of the development of a back-arc basin, and recommences oceanward on a new arc during the final stages in the development of the back-arc basin. Following Karig's model, we believe that ascent beneath the arc axial chain of a line of diapirs of MORB-source mantle interferes with processes of arc magma generation and arc magmatism wanes. Partial melting of the diapirs produces voluminous MORB-type tholeiites which split the arc and form the crust of a widening back-arc basin.We show for both the West Philippine-Mariana region, and occurrences of boninite-like lavas in ophiolites, that boninites appear to be erupted after arc magmatism and immediately before eruption of MORB-type lavas.Passage of a diapir of hot MORB-source mantle through refractory sub-arc peridotite which has been enriched in LILE and H₂O, will result in limited partial melting of the hydrous peridotite and the restricted production of boninitic magmas. These are more likely to erupt modified or only slightly modified by crystal fractionation through the thin forearc crust. Continued ascent of the MORB-source mantle diapir will result in it partially melting to yield MORB tholeiites which erupt shortly after, and in considerably more voluminous amounts, than the boninites.Finally we suggest that forearcs regions are likely to be incorporated into foldbelts and that boninite (or low-Ti lava)-bearing ophiolites may characterize such regions.