Alkalic Basalts Research Articles

Co-located monogenetic eruptions ~200 kyr apart driven by tapping vertically separated mantle source regions, Chagwido, Jeju Island, Republic of Korea

New eruptions in monogenetic volcanic fields conceptually occur independently of previous ones. In some instances, however, younger volcanic structures and vents may overlap with older edifices. The genetic links between such co-located eruptions remain unclear. We mapped and analysed the stratigraphic relationships between eruptive units on the 400 × 900-m island of Chagwido off the western coast of Jeju Island, a Pleistocene to Holocene intraplate volcanic field. Chagwido consists of an eastern, older tuff ring with a nested scoria cone and a western tuff, scoria and lava flow sequence. The two stratigraphic packages are separated by a prominent paleosol. The East-Chagwido tuff and scoria deposits were eroded and a period of intense weathering and soil development occurred, before a subsequent West-Chagwido tuff ring and scoria cone and lava complex was erupted. The two eruptions were fed by three chemically distinct magmas. The older eastern eruption consists of magma with composition transitional between high-Al alkalic basalt and low-Al alkalic basalt and has stratigraphic characteristics, composition and syn-eruptive trends akin to the neighbouring Dangsanbong tuff cone. This magma type is typical for the transitional stage from high-Al alkalic (pre 500 ka) to low-Al alkalic (post 250 ka) identified for the greater Jeju volcanic system. The East-Chagwido volcanic complex thus formed as the westernmost in a chain of three volcanoes along a fissure system, with a small volcanic remnant island Wado 1 km to the east and the large Dangsanbong tuff cone another 1 km eastward. A new Ar/Ar age of 446 ± 22 ka for Dangsanbong likely characterizes the age of the whole chain. The second, West-Chagwido eruption started with low-Al alkalic basalt forming a phreatomagmatic phase and ended with subalkalic basalt forming a scoria cone and lava flows. The occurrence of subalkalic lavas is known across Jeju to have started only at ~250 ka, and thus, the well-developed paleosol represents at least 200 kyr between the two co-located eruptions. The distinctive magma compositions show that each eruption tapped an independent region within the same underlying mantle source. These observations show that contrary to most assumptions of monogenetic volcanism, an already “tapped” source region may become fertile again through mantle convection/migration and eruptions can thus be expected from old vent sites in long-lived volcanic fields.

Petrogenesis of Late Cenozoic basalts from North Hainan Island: Constraints from melt inclusions and their host olivines

Melt inclusions and their host olivines in basaltic lavas provide important information about the nature of their mantle source. We present the first analyzed chemical data of olivine-hosted melt inclusions in Cenozoic basalts from the North Hainan Island and report the discovery of both tholeiitic and alkalic melt inclusions in a single rock sample. Cenozoic basalts from the Hainan Island are predominantly tholeiites with only small amounts of alkali basalts. There is a much broader compositional variation in melt inclusions than whole rocks. Compared to partial melts of mantle peridotite, the Hainan basalts have lower CaO, Na2O/TiO2, CaO/Al2O3 and Co/Fe, and higher TiO2, FeO∗, Fe/Mn, Zn/Fe and Zn/Mn. The olivine phenocrysts from the Hainan basalts contain lower Ca and Mn, and higher Ni and Fe/Mn than those of olivines crystallized from partial melts of peridotite. Projections from or towards olivine into the plane CS-MS-A for melt inclusions and whole rocks with MgO >7.5wt% imply that the residual minerals in the source of the tholeiites are mainly clinopyroxene and garnet, possibly with some orthopyroxene, while in the source of the alkali basalts they are dominated by clinopyroxene and garnet. This indicates that a pyroxenite component could serve as the source lithology of the Hainan basalts. The OIB-like trace element compositions, with Ba, Sr, Nb and Ta positive anomalies, and Th and U negative anomalies, of the Hainan basalts suggest that a recycled oceanic crust component was involved in the source of the Hainan basalts. Based on a CMAS projection of primary magma compositions of the whole rocks and melt inclusions, we infer that a stage-2 silica-deficient pyroxenite derived from melt–peridotite reaction or mechanical mixing between recycled oceanic crust and peridotite can serve as the source lithology. Partial melts derived from such a source can match the overall compositions of the Hainan basalts better than those of MORB-eclogite and fertile peridotite. The compositional range from tholeiitic to alkalic basalts is ascribed to decreasing degrees of melting of a similar silica-deficient pyroxenite source, which is consistent with the lower incompatible trace element and REE abundances in the tholeiites compared to the alkali basalts. Both subalkaline and alkaline melt inclusions are present in a single sample, which indicates that magma mixing had occurred in the deep magma chamber prior to eruption below the Hainan Island.

Geochemical constraints on the tectonic setting of basaltic host rocks to the Windy Craggy Cu-Co-Au massive sulphide deposit, northwestern British Columbia

Windy Craggy is an approximately 300 Mt Cu-Co-Au volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. The Windy Craggy deposit is hosted by the Middle Tats Volcanics (MTV), a Late Triassic volcano-sedimentary sequence of intercalated mafic pillowed to massive volcanic flows and sills and calcareous argillite that are part of the Alexander terrane. The host footwall and hangingwall flows and sills are predominantly alkalic basalts (Nb/Y > 0.70). MTV alkali basalts at Windy Craggy are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs) >100X chondrite compared to chondrite, have steep REE patterns [(La/Yb)cn = 7.1–25.4], and generally lack the Ta and Nb depletions relative to primitive mantle (e.g. [Nb/Th]pm = 0.68–1.94) characteristic of arc environments, although most have [Nb/La]pm < 1. By contrast, volcanic rocks away from the deposit (and regionally; Lower Tats Volcanics, LTV) as well as late dikes that cross-cut all lithologies including metamorphic and deformational fabrics are sub-alkalic tholeiitic to calc-alkaline basalts and basaltic andesites that are less enriched in the LREEs (10–100X chondrite), have less steep REE patterns [(La/Yb)cn = 0.41–10.6], and show well-developed Ta and Nb depletions (arc signatures; [Nb/Th]pm = 0.20–0.79), consistent with formation in an oceanic arc environment. The co-occurrence of tholeiitic/calc-alkaline arc rocks with alkalic rocks indicates that the LTV (former) and MTV (latter) formed from melts that were influenced to varying degrees by subducted oceanic crust, and likely formed within a back-arc basin setting formed on a rifted oceanic arc. There is no geochemical or isotopic evidence for major involvement of continental crust. The LTV basalts likely were produced by progressive depletion in the source by partial melting of mantle overlying the subducting oceanic crust. The presence of the MTV alkalic Windy Craggy rocks overlying the LTV is consistent with the presence of a slab-window, perhaps related to subduction of a spreading centre, which allowed more enriched magmas to reach the surface with only minimal interaction with subduction-modified mantle. The presence of this slab-window might have provided the mechanism for the generation of anomalously high heat flow close to the seafloor, which initiated and sustained vigorous, long-lived hydrothermal activity necessary for the precipitation of large accumulations of massive sulphide. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a large VMS deposit associated with a slab-window.

Density modeling of the Escollos Alijos Seamount from inversion of its geoid undulation anomaly

Escollos Alijos is a large seamount located in the NE Pacific Ocean about 300km off the Baja California Peninsula. Geochronology and geochemical analysis of volcanic rocks capping the seamount indicate recent magmatism that resulted from extensive differentiation of a mildly alkalic basalt parent magma.Escollos Alijos is located towards the eastern edge of a long-wavelength geoid undulation minimum, of up to -47m with respect of the WGS84 ellipsoid, which extends over the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Subtracting from the geoid undulation its long-wavelength component and the undulation due to the seamount topography itself, a negative undulation anomaly persists that indicates a mass deficit at depth. Linear inversion of the undulation anomaly yields a region characterized by a negative density contrast, localized under the seamount at a depth between 9 and 13km.The age and chemical composition of Escollos Alijos, and the inferred mass deficit suggest magma trapped between the oceanic crust and the uppermost mantle, which explains the magmatic activity in recent times.

Geodynamic Reconstruction of the Winston Lake Greenstone Belt and VMS Deposits: New Trace Element Geochemistry and U-Pb Geochronology

The ca. 2720 Ma Winston Lake greenstone belt of the Wawa-Abitibi terrane, Superior province, is located on the northern margin of the Wawa subprovince and has important regional tectonostratigraphic implications for the development of the Neoarchean Superior province. The metallogenic importance of the belt is evident from the presence of the Winston Lake, Pick Lake, and Zenith volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits. However, the chemostratigraphic evolution has not been fully examined at the greenstone belt scale, nor have the VMS deposits been examined from the perspective of the belt-scale petrogenesis and volcanic reconstruction. This study (1) reviews the geology and VMS mineralization in the Winston Lake greenstone belt, and (2) reconstructs its geodynamic setting, and its magmatic and metallogenetic history using new geological, trace element, and Nd isotope data constrained by new U-Pb geochronology. The belt is subdivided into two main lithotectonic assemblages: the Winston Lake Assemblage composed of tholeiitic to calc-alkalic bimodal volcanic lithofacies, and the Big Duck Lake Assemblage composed of alkalic to tholeiitic mafic flows and sills. The contact between the Winston Lake and Big Duck Lake Assemblages is intruded by the differentiated Zenith gabbro, which hosts the 0.16 Mt Zenith VMS orebody as a series of xenoliths. The variably altered felsic lithofacies of the Winston Lake Assemblage host the 3.1 Mt Winston Lake Main and 1.3 Mt Pick Lake Zn-rich VMS deposits. The felsic volcanic lithofacies of the Winston Lake Assemblage are FIII-type rhyolites and have a bimodal distribution of Zr/Ti indicating two distinct magmas formed by different temperatures of partial melting. Mafic lithofacies of the Winston Lake Assemblage are typically calc-alkalic to transitional between calc-alkalic and tholeiitic in composition. They have arc to back-arc trace element contents with distinctive negative Nb and Ti anomalies, enrichment in the light rare earth elements (LREE), and higher Th/Nb ratios than the mafic rocks from the Big Duck Lake Assemblage. Mafic strata from the Big Duck Lake Assemblage have trace element characteristics similar to mature back-arc tholeiitic basalts, and OIB-like or oceanic plateau alkalic basalts with high Nb/Th and Ti/V ratios. The chemostratigraphy of the Winston Lake greenstone belt is consistent with a geodynamic model where arc rifting is followed by back-arc development. Nd isotope data indicate that strata from the Winston Lake and Big Duck Lake Assemblages are juvenile and show no evidence of contamination by significantly older crust. Therefore, crustal contamination signatures in the mafic flows from the Winston Lake Assemblage must have formed by contamination from crust that is of similar age and supports a comagmatic relationship between the mafic and felsic strata. The mafic flows of the Big Duck Lake Assemblage represent a mature back-arc setting with evidence for enriched plume-generated basalts in the upper mafic unit. The Winston VMS deposit formed during the early rifting of the arc and the timing is tightly constrained by the hydrothermally altered 2721.2 ± 0.9 Ma VMS-hosting felsic strata and younger, postmineralization, 2719 ± 4 Ma Zenith gabbro. The Zn-dominated VMS mineralization suggests that temperature of the hydrothermal fluid during discharge was relatively cool (<300°C) and did not maintain sufficiently high temperatures to precipitate significant amounts of copper relative to zinc. This is likely due to adiabatic cooling of the fluid because of a low-pressure (<0.5 kb) sea-floor environment and/or permeable volcaniclastic strata. A U-Pb age of emplacement of 2692.1 ± 0.7 Ma from the syndeformation quartz-feldspar porphyry in the Big Duck Lake Assemblage indicate it is comagmatic with syndeformation magmatic events typical of other greenstone belts along the northern margin of the Wawa-Abitibi terrane. This event is interpreted to represent the timing of terrane accretion of the Wawa-Abitibi terrane to the Superior province.

Origin and age of the earliest Martian crust from meteorite NWA 7533

The ancient cratered terrain of the southern highlands of Mars is thought to hold clues to the planet's early differentiation, but until now no meteoritic regolith breccias have been recovered from Mars. Here we show that the meteorite Northwest Africa (NWA) 7533 (paired with meteorite NWA 7034) is a polymict breccia consisting of a fine-grained interclast matrix containing clasts of igneous-textured rocks and fine-grained clast-laden impact melt rocks. High abundances of meteoritic siderophiles (for example nickel and iridium) found throughout the rock reach a level in the fine-grained portions equivalent to 5 per cent CI chondritic input, which is comparable to the highest levels found in lunar breccias. Furthermore, analyses of three leucocratic monzonite clasts show a correlation between nickel, iridium and magnesium consistent with differentiation from impact melts. Compositionally, all the fine-grained material is alkalic basalt, chemically identical (except for sulphur, chlorine and zinc) to soils from Gusev crater. Thus, we propose that NWA 7533 is a Martian regolith breccia. It contains zircons for which we measured an age of 4,428 ± 25 million years, which were later disturbed 1,712 ± 85 million years ago. This evidence for early crustal differentiation implies that the Martian crust, and its volatile inventory, formed in about the first 100 million years of Martian history, coeval with earliest crust formation on the Moon and the Earth. In addition, incompatible element abundances in clast-laden impact melt rocks and interclast matrix provide a geochemical estimate of the average thickness of the Martian crust (50 kilometres) comparable to that estimated geophysically.

Paleointensity results from the Jurassic: New constraints from submarine basaltic glasses of ODP Site 801C

Tholeiite of the oldest oceanic crust was drilled during ODP Legs 129 and 185 at Hole 801C in the western Pacific. Fresh appearing submarine basaltic glass (SBG) was recovered from the tholeiites (∼167 Ma) which has been shown to be nearly ideal for determining absolute paleointensity. Paleointensities of the younger, off‐axis, alkalic basalts (∼160 Ma), overlying the tholeiites, had been studied earlier. Here we report results from the older tholeiitic (on‐axis) sequence. We subjected a total of 73 specimens from 17 cooling units to absolute paleointensity experiments. Of these, 30 specimens and six cooling unit averages met our strictest reliability criteria, yielding an average of 11.9 ± 3.9 μT. The bulk of evidence suggests a paleolatitude of the site of 14°S (with an uncertainty of 10°). This translates the intensity to a value for the virtual axial dipole moment of 28 ZAm2, slightly lower than values determined from the plagioclase crystals in the three cooling units of the younger alkalic basalts overlying the tholeiites (Tarduno &amp; Cottrell, 2005). Our value is low when compared to the long‐term median value of the field of 42 ZAm2. Our results and those of the published literature therefore support the contention of a low magnetic field strength in the Jurassic (average of 28 ± 14 ZAm2;N = 138 individual estimates), as initially suggested by Prévot et al. (1990). Our interpretation of the body of available data argue for low field strengths for the entire Jurassic extending into the early Cretaceous.

Clinopyroxene compositions in the Deccan and Rajmahal Traps and their bearing on magma types and evolution

Electron probe analyses of clinopyroxenes from several areas of the Deccan and Rajmahal Traps consisting mostly of subalkalic and alkalic basalts, picritic basalts and a few dolerite dykes have been obtained. Evaluation of the data indicate the absence of pigeonite from subalkalic basalts that occur in close spatial association with mild or strongly alkalic basalts in areas such as Rajpipla, Navagam and central Kachchh. Co-existence of augite and pigeonite, however, has been noticed in subalkalic basalts/dykes and picritic basalts from a number of Deccan localities such as Sagar, Igatpuri, Kalsubai, Triambak, Pavagarh and Girnar besides the one sample from Rajmahal. Diopside, salite, and wollastonite-rich compositions dominate the basanites and foidites of Kachchh whereas chrome-diopside and salite are the main types in the picrite basalt samples from Anila, Botad and Paliyad in Saurashtra akin to those found in contiguous areas in the east from borehole flows at Dhandhuka and Wadhwan studied in detail previously. Compositional variations in zoned clinopyroxenes indicate differentiation of the parental magma and also mixing of different magma types (subalkalic and alkalic) from areas such as Igatpuri, Rajpipla and Kachchh. Based on host-rock chemistry, total alkalis-silica plot, CIPW norms, estimated temperatures of eruption and augite – pigeonite thermometry, it has been inferred that clinopyroxene compositions, especially the incidence of pigeonite, appear to be very sensitive to bulk chemistry of host rocks, especially their Na2O, K2O, SiO2, total iron and TiO2 contents. Non-quadrilateral cationic components in the clinopyroxenes, such as Al in tetrahedral and octahedral positions together with Si, Na, Ti and Cr abundances have been found to be useful to discriminate clinopyroxenes from alkalic and subalkalic basalt types besides inferences on the ferric iron component in them. Evaluation of host-rock compositions in the ternary olivine–clinopyroxene-quartz plot indicate polybaric conditions of crystallization and evolution especially in samples that are picritic (e.g. Pavagarh, Anila and Kachchh) and which could also breach the olivine–clinopyroxene-plagioclase thermal divide that exists in part between alkalic and subalkalic basalts under atmospheric conditions.

Reactive Infiltration of MORB-Eclogite-Derived Carbonated Silicate Melt into Fertile Peridotite at 3 GPa and Genesis of Alkalic Magmas

We performed experiments between two different carbonated eclogite-derived melts and lherzolite at 1375°C and 3 GPa by varying the reacting melt fraction from 8 to 50 wt %. The two starting melt compositions were (1) alkalic basalt with 11·7 wt % dissolved CO2 (ABC), (2) basaltic andesite with 2·6 wt % dissolved CO2 (BAC). The starting melts were mixed homogeneously with peridotite to simulate porous reactive infiltration of melt in the Earth’s mantle. All the experiments produced an assemblage of melt + orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + garnet ± olivine; olivine was absent for a reacting melt fraction of 50 wt % for ABC and 40 wt % for BAC. Basanitic ABC evolved to melilitites (on a CO2-free basis, SiO2 ∼27–39 wt %, TiO2 ∼2·8–6·3 wt %, Al2O3 ∼4·1–9·1 wt %, FeO* ∼11–16 wt %, MgO ∼17–21 wt %, CaO ∼13–21 wt %, Na2O ∼4–7 wt %, CO2 ∼10–25 wt %) upon melt–rock reaction and the degree of alkalinity of the reacted melts is positively correlated with melt–rock ratio. On the other hand, reacted melts derived from BAC (on a CO2-free basis SiO2 ∼42–53 wt %, TiO2 ∼6·4–8·7 wt %, Al2O3 ∼10·5–12·3 wt %, FeO* ∼6·5–10·5 wt %, MgO ∼7·9–15·4 wt %, CaO ∼7·3–10·3 wt %, Na2O ∼3·4–4 wt %, CO2 ∼6·2–11·7 wt %) increase in alkalinity with decreasing melt–rock ratio. We demonstrate that owing to the presence of only 0·65 wt % of CO2 in the bulk melt–rock mixture (corresponding to 25 wt % BAC + lherzolite mixture), nephelinitic-basanite melts can be generated by partial reactive crystallization of basaltic andesite as opposed to basanites produced in volatile-free conditions. Post 20% olivine fractionation, the reacted melts derived from ABC at low to intermediate melt–rock ratios match with 20–40% of the population of natural nephelinites and melilitites in terms of SiO2 and CaO/Al2O3, 60–80% in terms of TiO2, Al2O3 and FeO, and <20% in terms of CaO and Na2O. The reacted melts from BAC, at intermediate melt–rock ratios, are excellent matches for some of the Mg-rich (MgO >15 wt %) natural nephelinites in terms of SiO2, Al2O3, FeO*, CaO, Na2O and CaO/Al2O3. Not only can these reacted melts erupt by themselves, they can also act as metasomatizing agents in the Earth’s mantle. Our study suggests that a combination of subducted, silica-saturated crust–peridotite interaction and the presence of CO2 in the mantle source region are sufficient to produce a large range of primitive alkalic basalts. Also, mantle potential temperatures of 1330–1350°C appear sufficient to produce high-MgO, primitive basanite–nephelinite if carbonated eclogite melt and peridotite interaction is taken into account.

Sr‐Nd‐Hf‐Pb isotope and trace element evidence for the origin of alkalic basalts in the Garibaldi Belt, northern Cascade arc

In the Garibaldi Belt, the northern segment of the Cascade arc, basalts at Bridge River Cones, Salal Glacier, and Mt. Meager (BSM volcanic centers) are alkalic, atypical for an arc setting. Subduction signatures are negligible or absent from primitive alkalic basalts from Salal Glacier and Bridge River, while altered oceanic crust may have contributed a minimal amount of fluid at Mt. Meager. More evolved BSM basalts display trace element signatures considered typical of arc lavas, but this is a consequence of deep crustal assimilation rather than primary input from the subducted slab. Primary BSM basalts represent 3–8% melts that segregated from enriched garnet lherzolite at significantly higher temperatures and pressures (70–105 km) than calc‐alkaline Cascade arc basalts. The BSM mantle source is significantly more incompatible element‐enriched than the depleted mantle tapped by calc‐alkaline Cascade arc basalts. The BSM basalts are also isotopically distinct from calc‐alkaline Cascade arc basalts, more similar to MORB and intraplate basalts of the NE Pacific and NW North America. The relatively deep, hot, and geochemically distinct mantle source for BSM basalts is consistent with upwelling asthenosphere. The BSM volcanic centers are close to the projected trace of the Nootka fault, which forms the boundary between the subducting Juan de Fuca plate and the near‐stagnant Explorer plate. A gap or attenuated zone between the plates may promote upwelling of enriched asthenosphere that undergoes low‐degree decompression melting to generate alkalic basalts that are essentially free of slab input yet occur in an arc setting.

Exotic rifted passive margin of a back-arc basin off western Pangea: geochemical evidence from the Early Mesozoic Ayú Complex, southern Mexico

Recent detrital zircon studies of metamorphosed and polydeformed rocks of the early Mesozoic Ayú Complex in southern Mexico suggest an allochthonous origin along the western Pangean margin. Bulk-rock geochemistry of the ca. 170–200 Ma ortho-amphibolites suggests a composition ranging from alkalic and transitional basalts to normalized mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) tholeiites. Rare earth element (REE) patterns of alkaline basalts (Group I) are characterized by steep negative slopes, whereas transitional basalts (Group II) show moderate light REE (LREE) enrichment. Subalkalic Group III displays slight LREE enrichment and Group IV has relatively flat REE patterns with slight depletion in LREEs. Multiple trace element plots of Group III–IV amphibolites reveal strongly negative Nb–Ta anomalies caused by subduction zone contamination. Initial ϵNd values (t = 190 Ma) of the amphibolites range from +9.01 to –2.16. Alkalic basalts have negative ϵNd values, suggesting derivation from an older subcontinental mantle source (T DM = 877 and 791 Ma). Group II–IV amphibolites have positive ϵNd values ranging from +2.31 to +9.01, indicating a transition from an older to a relatively juvenile mantle source that is typical of a back-arc setting. The geochemistry of the metasedimentary rocks suggests derivation from an acid-arc source. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns are characterized by enriched LREEs, flat HREE, and negative Eu anomalies. Sm–Nd systematics indicate that most samples were derived from cratonic basement and plot within the Oaxacan Complex envelope with ϵNd values (t = 195 Ma) ranging from –5.53 to –7.65. We interpret two samples with higher ϵNd values (–1.42 and +1.06) to reflect the additional influence of a more juvenile component. The amphibolites and metasedimentary rocks of the Ayú Complex document back-arc activity and are inferred to be correlative with various western Mexican Triassic–Jurassic mafic suites and the Potosí fan that formed along the western rifted margin of Pangea.

The inception and progression of melting in a monogenetic eruption: Motukorea Volcano, the Auckland Volcanic Field, New Zealand

Compositional variation through basaltic monogenetic eruptive sequences provides a unique view into the processes and source heterogeneity of small-scale magmatic systems. A well-exposed, continuous sequence on Motukorea volcano in the Auckland Volcanic Field, New Zealand, consists of an early tuff ring, scoriaceous deposits and late lava flows which allow the evolution of the eruption to be studied at very high resolution. The deposits show a spectrum of basaltic compositions from Mg# 60 nephelinite (early tuff ring) to Mg# 70 alkalic basalt (lava). Within the deposits of each main eruptive phase (i.e. tuff, scoria and lava) very little variation is observed in major element chemistry, suggesting that fractional crystallisation has a limited effect. Systematic changes in trace element chemistry, however, are significant through the sequence. The major and trace element features observed through the sequence are inferred to be primarily due to the mixing of two magma batches, with a two-fold increase in the degree of melting between these. Variation in Pb-isotopic compositions up-sequence indicates subtle changes in mantle source with samples representing the start of the eruption displaying higher 207Pb/204Pb than the latter parts of the eruption. This chemical change coincides with a switch in the mode of eruption, with the arrival at the surface of magmas produced by larger degrees of partial melting resulting in the beginning of a more effusive eruption phase. The silica-undersaturated, high total alkali, low Al2O3 and higher 207Pb/204Pb nature of the samples from the tuff units suggests that these samples were produced by melting of relatively young eclogite domains. The lower 207Pb/204Pb, higher silica, lower total alkali nature of the samples from the scoria and lava reflects the exhaustion of these domains and the resultant melting of the surrounding garnet-peridotite matrix. This detailed study shows that the petrogenesis of small volcanic centres may be far more complex than their physical volcanology suggests.

The Petrology and Geochemistry of Lavas from the Western Azores Islands of Flores and Corvo

The islands of Flores and Corvo in the Azores archipelago are the only two of nine subaerial volcanic edifices lying west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). This makes them important for constraining the evolution of this young (5 40 Ma) oceanic plateau. The alkalic basalt suites from Flores and Corvo lie on a single liquid line of descent. Ankaramitic cumulates, with MgO contents up to � 18 wt %, result from clinopyroxene-dominated polybaric crystallization. The parental magmas (MgO � 11wt %) are inferred to be low-degree partial melts (F ¼ 3^5%) of enriched peridotite generated at depths of � 80^90 km. These primary magmas commenced crystallizing at the lithosphere^asthenosphere boundary and this continued in conduits over a pressure range of � 0·6^1·2 GPa. Only lavas with MgO53 wt % fractionated at shallow crustal levels. Nd and Sr isotope data reveal variations in the source of both magmatic systems, suggesting variable contributions from both enriched (E-) and depleted (D-) mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-source mantle components. This is supported by the greater variability of incompatible trace-element ratios within the Flores lavas (e.g. Ba/Nd, La/Sm, Th/Nd), whereas those from Corvo exhibit a good correlation between key trace-element ratios [e.g. (La/Sm)N,Th/Nd] and Sr isotope ratios. Lavas from Flores display a greater variability in Sr and Nd isotope compositions and define a mixing array between an E-MORB source and a common Azores mantle source.The latter signature is restricted to lava suites from the north and east of Flores. We concur with the generally accepted notion that Flores and Corvo are derived from the same mantle plume as is responsible for the eastern Azores islands. However, there is evidence (different Nb/Zr, Ta/Hf and La/Sm, but homogeneous Sr and Nd isotopic composition) that these two islands are dominated by a source component that is not as evident in the eastern archipelago.

Did Kahoolawe Volcano, Hawaii, Evolve to Alkalic Composition Magmatism?

Uncertainty remains about whether Kahoolawe, the smallest of the main Hawaiian Islands, evolved to alkalic magmatism. To determine the compositional extent to which Kahoolawe volcano evolved, we examined eight new samples as candidates for hawaiite, an unequivocally alkalic rock type. Petrography (e.g., commonly aphyric) and major- and trace-element and mineral compositions (e.g., ∼49.5 wt% SiO2 at ∼6 wt% Na2O+K2O; An∼50–60) document that four are hawaiites and two are mugearites (the other two are basalts). These six samples have compositions that overlap or are similar to those of known Hawaiian hawaiites and mugearites. Some trace-element differences (e.g., the highest Ni and lowest Sr) probably represent particular source characteristics for Kahoolawe hawaiites. Mass balancing and MELTS modeling suggest that these Kahoolawe lavas represent ∼58%–65% residual liquids from alkalic basalt clinopyroxene-dominated crystallization at pressures approaching that of the crust-mantle boundary. These models are similar to those for Mauna Kea and Haleakala hawaiites. Therefore, on the basis of overall composition and compositional models for origins of the new samples, Kahoolawe can be considered with certainty as a Hawaiian volcano that achieved alkalic magmatism. As best determined by field relationships, the alkalic magmatism occurred during the transition from the shield stage to the postshield stage.

Volcanism on the flanks of the East Pacific Rise: Quantitative constraints on mantle heterogeneity and melting processes

We present major and trace element and Sr, Nd and triple-spike Pb isotope data for 17 fresh volcanic glasses from Seamount 6, a 10-km diameter seamount located 140km east of the East Pacific Rise at 12°45′N. Geological and geochronological evidence show that magma compositions evolved from tholeiitic basalts to alkalic basalts and basaltic trachyandesites during the 1–2Ma active lifetime of the seamount. Major and trace element compositions in Seamount 6 lavas vary systematically with isotope ratios; the youngest lavas with the highest incompatible trace element concentrations have the highest La/Yb, Nb/Zr, K2O/TiO2, 87Sr/86Sr, 206Pb/204Pb and the lowest 143Nd/144Nd, MgO and CaO. The range in element concentrations, incompatible element ratios, and isotope compositions in Seamount 6 lavas exceeds that observed in lavas erupted at the adjacent ridge axis, and is comparable to the range in lava compositions reported from all near-ridge seamounts studied to date. The observed range in lava compositions is consistent with mixing between enriched and depleted melts at shallow levels in the crust. The inferred difference in composition between these mixing endmembers cannot be explained by variable degrees of melting of a single source composition, and requires that the upper mantle is extremely heterogeneous on the scale of the melting region beneath a single seamount.We can show that the range in composition of EPR seamount lavas cannot be generated by melting of variably heterogeneous mantle in which enriched and depleted materials contribute equally to melting (source mixing). Instead, the trace element and isotope compositions of seamount lavas can be reproduced by melting models in which more enriched, fertile mantle lithologies are preferentially melted during mantle upwelling. At progressively lower degrees of melting, erupted lavas are thus more enriched in incompatible trace elements, have higher La/Yb, K/Ti, 87Sr/86Sr ratios and lower 143Nd/144Nd. If this is a common process, then mantle-derived magmas are unlikely to inherit the average incompatible trace element and isotope composition of their mantle source, which is likely to be significantly more depleted, nor will they display the full range of compositions present in the mantle melting region. These results have implications for the way in which oceanic basalts can be used to infer the composition of the upper mantle.

Tectono-magmatic response to major convergence changes in the North Patagonian suprasubduction system; the Paleogene subduction–transcurrent plate margin transition

The southern and central Andes reflect significant along-strike differences of tectonic activity, including shortening, alternating flat-to-normal subduction styles and magmatism. In northern Patagonia, the subduction/supra-subduction system, fore arc, arc and back arc basins developed in an extensional setting during the Paleogene. This was accompanied by landward migration of calc-alkalic magmatism which changed to synextensional bimodal volcanism of rhyolitic ignimbrites and interbedded tholeiitic and alkalic basalts. These Paleogene events occurred during a time when the Farallon–Aluk active ridge reached the South American plate, and the Farallon plate subduction was interrupted. They represent a new tectonic regime, characterized by a transcurrent plate margin. The presence in the back arc of a rigid lithospheric block of 100,000 km 2 represented by the North Patagonian Massif focused the rotation of the coastal blocks. This resulted in the development of two Paleogene extensional regions to the north and south, respectively, of the Massif and replaced the former back arc. Plate rearrangement caused by the inauguration of the Nazca plate and its regime of orthogonal subduction at the beginning of the Miocene, re-established typical calc-alkaline arc magmatism at the former upper Cretaceous arc locus. Present seismic activity in the subducted plate and tomographic modeling of p-wave velocity anomalies in the upper mantle also suggest the presence of a subduction gap that lasted for most of the Paleogene in northern Patagonia.

Seismogenesis of the lower crustal intraplate earthquakes occurring in Kachchh, Gujarat, India

Large intraplate continental earthquakes like the 1811–12 New Madrid (M w ⩾ 8.0) and the 2001 Bhuj (Mw7.7) were highly destructive because they occurred in strong crust, but the mechanisms underlying their seismogenesis are not understood. Here we show, using local earthquake velocity tomography, and joint inversion of receiver functions and surface wave group velocity dispersion that the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the 2001 Bhuj earthquake region of western India is far more complex than hitherto known through previous studies. A new image of the crust and underlying mantle lithosphere indicates the presence of a 18-km thick high velocity (Vp: 7.15–8.11 km/s) differentiated crustal and mantle magmatic layer above a hot and thin lithosphere (only 70 km) in the epicentral region of 2001 Bhuj earthquake. This magmatic layer begins at the depth of 24 km and continues down to 42 km depth. Below this region, brittle-ductile transition reaches as deep as the Moho (∼34 km) due to the possible presence of olivine rich mafic magma. Our 1-D velocity structure envisages an initial phase of plume activity (Deccan plume at 65 m.y. ago) resulting in basaltic magma in the eclogitic layers at sub-lithospheric levels, wherein they were subjected to crystallization under ultra-high pressure conditions. Our study also delineates an updoming of Moho (∼4–7 km) as well as asthenosphere (∼6–10 km) below the Kachchh rift zone relative to surrounding areas, suggesting the presence of a confined body of partial melts below the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary. Restructuring of this warm and thin lithosphere may have been caused due to rifting (at 184 and 88 m.y. ago) and tholeiitic and alkalic volcanism related to the Deccan Traps K/T boundary event (at 65 m.y. ago). Recent study of isotopic ratios proposed that the alkalic basalts found in Kachchh are generated from a CO 2 rich lherzolite partial melts in the asthenosphere that ascended along deep lithospheric rift faults into the lithosphere. It appears that such kind of crust–mantle structure, deepening of brittle-ductile transition and a high input of volatiles containing CO 2 emanating from mantle control the seismogenesis of lower crustal earthquakes in the Kachchh continental rift zone.

Contribution to petrological and stratigraphical understanding of the Cordillera de Guanacaste lava flows, Costa Rica

Geochemical data are presented for lavas from four pair Quaternary stratovolcanoes (Cordillera de Guanacaste), small basic outcrops trenchward of the volcanic front (VF), and paleovolcanic units (Pliocen- Pleistocene age) of northern Costa Rica. The more evolved lavas of the calc-alkaline series are from Rincon de la Vieja and Miravalles andesitic volcanoes, and from Canas Dulces (dacite/rgyolite) and Bijagua (andesite) domes-field. They usually have high Zr, Ba and Rb contents. The Quaternary volcanoes grew over a regional basaltic to dacitic basement (Miocene-Pleistocene), called Pre-Neovolcanic lavas (PNL). The Intra-ignimbrite lava flows (IIL, Pliocene age) have a clearly different trend with respect to the volcanoes, especially in their high TiO2 and P2O5 content. Both old lava units show a tholeiitic tendency, transitional to calc-alkaline series. The less evolved laves correspond to Orosi, Cacao, and Tenorio (Parcelas cone) volcanoes and also to small isolated basic lavas and cinder cones (IBL) located 20-26 krn in front of the VF. These rocks are high-alumina tholeiitic basalts/basaltic andesites or transitional to alkalic basalts. Crystal fractionation is the dominant mechanism involved in generating the range of magmatic compositions. The geochemistry suggests that Guanacaste lavas are cogenetic but some source heterogeneites are required to explain the observed petrological features.

Dynamics of melting beneath a small-scale basaltic system: a U-Th–Ra study from Rangitoto volcano, Auckland volcanic field, New Zealand

The Auckland volcanic field is a Quaternary monogenetic basaltic field of 50 volcanoes. Rangitoto is the most recent of these at ~500 year BP and may mark a change in the behaviour of the field as it is the largest by an order of magnitude and is unusual in that it erupted magmas of alkalic then subalkalic basaltic composition in discrete events separated by ≤50 years. Major and trace element geochemistry together with Sr–Nd and U-Th–Ra isotopes provides the basis for modelling the melting conditions that brought about the eruption of two chemically different lavas with very little spatial or temporal change. Sr–Nd isotopes suggest that the source for both eruptions is similar with a slight degree of heterogeneity. The basalts show high 230Th-excess compared with comparable continental volcanic fields. We show that the alkalic basalts give evidence for lower degrees of partial melting, higher amounts of residual garnet, a longer melting column and lower melting and upwelling rates compared with the subalkalic basalts. The low upwelling rates (0.1–1.5 cm/year) modelled for both magmas do not suggest a plume or major upwelling in the mantle region beneath Auckland; therefore, we suggest localised convection due to relict movement from the active subduction system situated 400 km to the southeast. A higher porosity for the initial alkalic basalt is based on 226Ra-excesses, suggesting movement of melt by two different porosities: the initial melt travelling in fast high porosity channels from greater depths preserving a high 230Th-excess and the subsequent subalkalic magma travelling from a shallower depth through lower porosity diffuse channels preserving a high 226Ra-excess; this creates a negative array in (226Ra/230Th) versus (230Th/238U) space previously only seen in mid ocean ridge Basalt data. This mechanism suggests the Auckland volcanic field may operate by the presence of discrete melt batches that are able to move at different depths and speeds giving the field its erratic spatial and temporal pattern of eruptions, a type of behaviour that may have implications for the evolution of other continental volcanic fields worldwide.

Petrology and Sr-Nd-Pb-He isotope geochemistry of postspreading lavas on fossil spreading axes off Baja California Sur, Mexico

Postspreading volcanism has built large seamounts and volcanic ridges along the short axes of a highly segmented part of the East Pacific Rise crest that ceased spreading at the end of the middle Miocene, offshore Baja California Sur, Mexico. Lava samples from Rosa Seamount, the largest volcano, are predominantly alkalic basalts, mugearites, and benmoreites. This lavas series was generated through fractional crystallization and is compositionally similar to the moderately alkalic lava series in many oceanic islands. Samples from volcanic ridges at three adjacent failed spreading axes include mildly alkalic, transitional, and tholeiitic basalts and differentiated trachyandesites and andesite. The subtle but distinct petrologic and isotopic differences among the four sites may be due to differences in the degree of partial melting of a common, heterogeneous source. Postspreading lavas from these four abandoned axes off Baja California Sur together with those from other fossil spreading axes and from seamount volcanoes that grew on the East Pacific Rise flanks define a compositional continuum ranging from normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (NMORB)-like to ocean island basalt (OIB)-like. We propose that the compositional spectrum of these intraplate volcanic lavas is due to different degrees of partial melting of the compositionally heterogeneous suboceanic mantle in the eastern Pacific. A large degree of partial melting of this heterogeneous mantle during vigorous mantle upwelling at an active spreading center produces NMORB melts, whereas a lesser degree of partial melting during weak mantle upwelling following cessation of spreading produces OIB-like melts. The latter melts have a low (<8 RA) 3He/4He signature indicating their formation is different from that of OIBs from major “hot spot” volcanoes in the Pacific with high 3He/4He ratios, such as Hawaii and Galapagos.