Interaction of mantle-derived magma with island crust? Trace element and oxygen isotope data from the Diego Hernandez Formation, Las Cañadas, Tenerife

Abstract

The Quaternary Diego Hernandez Formation consists of interbedded phonolitic pyroclastics and basanite lavas and scoria beds. Most of the phonolites are mingled-magma units that contain a minor mafic component. The phonolites fall into two stratigraphically bounded groups, based on major and trace element abundances. Nb contents are especially distinctive, due to a varying role for titanite during petrogenesis. Nepheline syenite xenoliths, which are plentiful in some of the phonolitic ignimbrites, fall into the same two compositional groupings but are typically more strongly differentiated. Major and trace element variations during evolution of the phonolites can be modelled by fractional crystallization, by melting of syenite, or by some combination of the two such as AFC. Trace element variations among the basanites require the addition of a highly fractionated felsic component, either phonolitic magma or nepheline syenite. δ18O values of phonolites vary across twice the range of the basanites, inconsistent with an origin by pure fractional crystallization of a basanitic parent. We conclude that recycling of differentiated rocks within the Tenerife island edifice has played a significant role in Quaternary magmatism on Tenerife.