Nature and cause of compositional variation among the alkalic cap lavas of Mauna Kea Volcano, Hawaii

Abstract

Most Hawaiian basaltic shield volcanoes are capped by moderately to strongly evolved alkalic lavas (MgO<4.5 wt.%). On Mauna Kea Volcano the cap is dominantly composed of hawaiite with minor mugearite. Although these lavas contain dunite and gabbroic xenoliths, they are nearly aphyric with rare olivine and plagioclase phenocrysts and xenocrysts. The hawaiites are nearly homogeneous in radiogenic isotope ratios (Sr, Nd, Pb) and they define coherent major and trace element abundance trends. These compositional trends are consistent with segregation of a plagioclase-rich cumulate containing significant clinopyroxene and Fe-Ti oxides plus minor olivine. Elements which are usually highly incompatible, e.g., Rb, Ba, Nb, are only moderately incompatible within the hawaiite suite because these elements are incorporated into feldspar (Rb, Ba) and oxides (Nb). However, in the most evolved lavas abundances of the most incompatible elements (P, La, Ce, Th) exceed (by ∼5–10%) the maximum enrichments expected from models based on major elements. Apparently, the crystal fractionation process was more complex than simple, closed system fractionation. The large amounts of clinopyroxene in the fractionating assemblage and the presence of dense dunite xenoliths with CO2 inclusions formed at minimum pressures of 2 kb are consistent with fractionation occurring at moderate depths. Crystal segregation along conduit or magma chamber walls is a possible mechanism for explaining compositional variations within these alkalic cap lavas.