Nd-Sr systematics of the Setouchi volcanic rocks, southwest Japan: a clue to the origin of orogenic andesite

Abstract

Twenty-three volcanic rocks from the Setouchi volcanic belt, southwest Japan, were analyzed for Nd and Sr isotopic compositions for the purpose of examining the genetic relationships among the basalt, high-magnesium andesite (HMA) and evolved porphyritic andesite. The andesites have higher 87Sr/ 86Sr (0.70487–0.70537) and lower 143Nd/ 144Nd (0.512509–0.512731) than the basalts, i.e., 0.70408–0.70468 and 0.512691–0.512830, respectively. This result confirms earlier conclusions obtained from petrologic study that the andesites cannot be fractionation products of basaltic magma but that the andesitic and basaltic magmas were generated independently. On the basis of melting experiments for HMA and basalt, it is inferred that there is an isotopically stratified mantle beneath southwest Japan. Evolved porphyritic andesites have essentially identical Sr and Nd isotopic ratios to HMA and can be derived by fractionation of primary andesitic magma. A model to produce orogenic andesite is proposed on petrologic, experimental and isotopic bases.