Contemporaneous Convergent Margin and Intraplate Magmatism, North Island, New Zealand

A convergent margin magma series with characteristic low Nband Ta abundances and enrichments in alkalis and alkaline earthsis intercalated with typical intraplate alkalic basalts in aback-arc setting, 200–250 km above the Wadati-Benioffzone on the North Island, New Zealand. These two contrastingmagma types, together with late-stage K-rich maflc lavas, wereerupted over a short time period (1{dot}60–2{dot}74 Ma)and constitute the Alexandra Volcanics. Field relationshipsindicate that these diverse magma types were contemporaneous,and thus their mantle source regions coexisted, in a singletectonic environment. The convergent margin magma series forms a linear chain of stratovolcanoesaligned at right angles to the present subduction zone. Closed-systempolybaric fractional crystallization models can explain theevolution from ankaramites to transitional olivine basalts toolivine tholeiites to high-Al basalts to medium- and high-Kandesites. The most primitive lavas have geochemical (high LIL/LREEand LIL/HFS element ratios) and Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic compositionstypical of convergent margin magmas. Calculated source compositionssuggest that three components are involved: a MORB component,a component derived from subducted oceanic crust, and a contributionfrom subducted sediments. The alkalic basalts occur as dispersed monogenetic volcanoesand are intercalated with the larger convergent margin stratovolcanocs.These basalts are enriched in LILE, LREE, Nb, and Ta, and havelow Ba/Nb and Ba/La ratios, all of which are characteristicof ocean island (intraplate) basalts (OIBs). Their relativelyhigh _Nd (+5{dot}5 and low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(0{dot}703l–0{dot}7036)are also typical of OIBs. These alkalic magmas were derivedfrom the underlying continental lithospheric mantle that hasbeen enriched by upward-migrating silica-undersaturated melts,probably including volatiles, from the low- velocity zone. Asubducted slab component is not required to account for theirincompatible element enriched character. The K-rich mafic lavas, basanites, and absarokites are volumetricallyminor and cap the largest of the stratovolcanoes, Pirongia.The basanites have geochemical and isotopic compositions whichsuggest they are mixtures of multiple source components, includingthe alkalic and convergent margin region.