Helium isotopes in early Tertiary basalts, northeast Greenland: Evidence for 58 Ma plume activity in the North Atlantic–Iceland volcanic province

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Research Article| May 01, 1998 Helium isotopes in early Tertiary basalts, northeast Greenland: Evidence for 58 Ma plume activity in the North Atlantic–Iceland volcanic province Bernard Marty; Bernard Marty 1Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Rue Notre-Dame des Pauvres, B.P. 20, 54501 Vandoeuvre Cedex, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Brian G. J. Upton; Brian G. J. Upton 2Grant Institute of Geology, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, United Kingdom Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Rob M. Ellam Rob M. Ellam 3Isotope Geosciences Unit, Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre, East Kilbride G75 0QF, United Kingdom Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1998) 26 (5): 407–410. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0407:HIIETB>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Bernard Marty, Brian G. J. Upton, Rob M. Ellam; Helium isotopes in early Tertiary basalts, northeast Greenland: Evidence for 58 Ma plume activity in the North Atlantic–Iceland volcanic province. Geology 1998;; 26 (5): 407–410. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0407:HIIETB>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract 3He/4He ratios in olivine phenocrysts have been measured in 58 Ma basaltic lavas from the Hold with Hope region of northeast Greenland. These lavas constitute a part of the North Atlantic volcanic province. The samples exhibit a wide range of 3He/4He ratios between 1.7Ra and 21Ra (Ra =the atmospheric 3He/4He ratio =1.386 × 10−6), which is comparable to the previously recorded range for Quaternary Icelandic basalts. These He isotope variations may partly result from crustal assimilation, but 3He/4He ratios higher than those of mid-ocean-ridge basalts support early participation of plume-head material at the onset of volcanic activity in the North Atlantic volcanic province. As with the Deccan-Réunion plume and the Ethiopia-Afar plume, this long-term contribution of 3He-rich material is fully consistent with models that ascribe a deep (i.e., deeper than the convective mantle that drives plate tectonics) origin for plume-source material, but contradicts those that postulate a shallow-mantle origin for continental flood basalts and large igneous provinces. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.