New age and geochemical data from the Walvis Ridge: The temporal and spatial diversity of South Atlantic intraplate volcanism and its possible origin

Abstract

Long-lived spatial geochemical zonation of the Tristan-Gough and Discovery hotspot tracks and temporal variations from EMI-type basement to HIMU-type late-stage volcanism at the Walvis Ridge and Shona hotspot tracks point to a complex evolution and multiple source areas for the South Atlantic hotspots. Here we report 40Ar/39Ar age and geochemical (major and trace element, Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope) data for samples from 16 new sites on the Walvis Ridge. This aseismic ridge is the oldest submarine expression of the Tristan-Gough mantle plume and represents the initial reference locality of the EMI end member in the South Atlantic Ocean. The EMI-type lavas display an excellent age progressive trend of ∼31 mm/a along the entire Tristan-Gough hotspot track, indicating constant plate motion over a relatively stationary melt anomaly over the last ∼115 Ma. The Gough-type EMI composition of the Tristan-Gough hotspot track is the dominant composition of the >70 Ma part of the Walvis Ridge, the Etendeka and Parana flood basalts, and along the Gough sub-track, extending from DSDP Site 525A on the SW Walvis Ridge to Gough Island, whereas Tristan-type EMI dominates on the Tristan sub-track, extending from DSDP Sites 527 and 528 to Tristan da Cunha Island. Gough-type EMI is also the dominant composition of the northern Discovery and Shona hotspot tracks, suggesting that these hotspots tap a common source reservoir. The continuous EMI-type supply over ≥132 Ma, coupled with high 3He/4He (>10 RA), points to a deep-seated reservoir for this mantle material. The Tristan and Southern Discovery EMI-type flavors can be reproduced by mixing of the Gough-type component with (1) FOZO/PREMA to produce Tristan-type lavas, and (2) marine sediments or upper continental crust to generate the Southern Discovery-type composition. South Atlantic hotspots with EMI-type compositions overlie the margin (1% ∂Vs velocity contour) of the African Large Low Shear Velocity Province (LLSVP), which may promote the emergence of geochemical “zonation”. The St. Helena HIMU-type volcanism, however, is located above internal portions of the LLSVP, possibly reflecting a layered LLSVP.