La–SiO2 and Yb–SiO2 systematics in mid-ocean ridge magmas: implications for the origin of oceanic plagiogranite

Abstract

Analytical expressions for the variation in D La and D Yb with increasing liquid SiO2 for olivine, plagioclase, augite, hornblende, orthopyroxene, magnetite and ilmenite (Brophy in Contrib Mineral Petrol 2008, online first) have been combined with numerical models of hydrous partial melting, of mid-ocean ridge (MOR) cumulate gabbro melting, and fractional crystallization of slightly hydrous mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) magma to assess a melting versus fractionation origin for oceanic plagiogranite. For felsic magmas (>63 wt.% SiO2) the modeling predicts the following. MOR cumulate gabbro melting should yield constant or decreasing La and constant Yb abundances with increasing liquid SiO2. The overall abundances should be similar to those in associated mafic magmas. MORB fractional crystallization should yield steadily increasing La and Yb abundances with increasing SiO2 with overall abundances significantly higher than those in associated mafic magmas. Application to natural occurrences of oceanic plagiogranite indicate that both MOR cumulate gabbro melting and MORB fractionation are responsible. Application of the model results to Icelandic rhyolites strongly support a fractional crystallization rather than a crustal melting origin.