Abstract
The Rainbow Range is a Late Miocene shield volcano (30 km diameter, 370 km 3) whose stratiform flanks surround a complex central zone. Over a 2-m.y. interval, extrusion of low viscosity, silicic peralkaline lavas and minor basaltic lavas built up the gently sloping (5–8°) flanks, forming a shield volcano rather than a composite cone. Comenditic trachytes are the lowest flows exposed on the north flank of the volcano. Thin mugearite flows rest unconformably on the comenditic trachytes. Comendites unconformably overlie the mugearites and account for at least 75% of the volume of flows within the flank zone. These lavas are distinguished from the comenditic trachytes by lower Al 2O 3 (13%), higher total iron as Fe 2O 3, (7%), and extremely depleted Sr (1–10 ppm) and Ba (10–100 ppm). Strontium isotopic studies combined with petrologic data suggest that Rainbow Range lavas originated from alkali basalt magma trapped in an intracrustal magma chamber and tapped at several intervals after it underwent crystal fractionation. A best-fit mathematical model for the origin of the suite involves step-wise derivation of the lavas in the order hawaiite → mugeartite → comenditic trachyte → comendite, with the major phases precipitating in the order: olivine, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, iron-titanium oxides, and alkali feldspar.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
