Compositional Spectrum Research Articles

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.

Petrogenesis of Latest Miocene–Quaternary Continental Intraplate Volcanism along the Northern Dead Sea Fault System (Al Ghab–Homs Volcanic Field), Western Syria: Evidence for Lithosphere–Asthenosphere Interaction

Late Miocene to Quaternary intraplate basaltic volcanism in the Al Ghab and Homs regions, northwestern Syria (the Al Ghab volcanic group and the Homs volcanic group), occurred roughly synchronously with the propagation of the Dead Sea Fault System in these regions. Petrographic evidence as well as major and trace element variations suggest that the basalts have undergone varying amounts of crystal fractionation of olivineclinopyroxenespinel, with feldspar fractionation only in the most evolved samples. The major and trace element chemistry and Nd^Sr^Pb isotopic variations of the basalts reflect both mantle source heterogeneity and relatively minor crustal contamination. Semi-quantitative assimilation^fractional crystal- lization modelling suggests that some samples may reflect assimila- tion of no more than 6% of upper continental crust, probably with Late Proterozoic Arabian Shield characteristics. Amongst the least crustally contaminated and relatively primitive samples, basanites are characterized by marked depletion of K, Rb and Zr relative to other neighbouring incompatible elements on primitive mantle nor- malized trace element diagrams. This, together with their low SiO2 and highTiO2 and Dy/Yb, is consistent with magma genesis invol- ving a large proportion of garnet-bearing hornblendite or similar amphibole-rich metasomatic veins. Associated alkali and tholeiitic basalts with the higher SiO2 ,l ower TiO 2, less negative K, Rb and Zr anomalies, and moderately high Dy/Yb are consistent with melt extraction from a largely peridotitic mantle source. It is suggested that the compositional spectrum from basanite via alkali basalt to tholeiitic basalt can be explained by increasing degrees of metasomat- ic vein^wall-rock interaction, plus asthenospheric melt assimilation. In agreement with this is the identification of three distinct isotopic and chemical characteristics within the spectrum of mafic lavas, each of which can be referred to a unique mantle source (metasomatic vein, lithospheric wall-rock peridotite mantle and asthenospheric peridotite mantle). A decrease in eruption volume and increase in Si-undersaturation of the lavas from south (Homs) to north (Al Ghab) along the northern Dead Sea Fault System from latest Miocene to Quaternary times suggest a diminishing thermal per- turbation and increasing importance of the amphibole-rich veins in magma genesis over time. It is proposed that the genesis of the oldest lavas reflects the arrival of asthenospheric melts beneath the Homs region, which with assimilation of lithospheric metasomatic veins and their wall-rocks produced the parental magmas of the Homs vol- canic group. Subsequently, upwelling asthenospheric material could have been channelled northwards at the base of the lithosphere, pre- sumably related to the northward propagation of the Dead Sea Fault System in the Pliocene. Cooling of this channelled astheno- spheric material, which did not penetrate the lithosphere during this later period of magma genesis, provided the minimal thermal

Stratigraphy and geochemistry of the Early Carboniferous Clyde Plateau Lavas in south Bute, Midland Valley of Scotland

AbstractA succession of Viséan (mid- to late Holkerian) volcanic rocks up to 340 m thick is preserved in three fault-blocks at the south end of the Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. These rocks form part of the Clyde Plateau Volcanic Formation, which, in this area, disconformably overlies sandstones of the lower Millport Member of the Clyde Sandstone Formation. The lower part of the volcanic succession in south Bute,c. 140 m thick, corresponds to the lower Strathgryfe lavas of the Renfrewshire Hills. This part of the succession is composed dominantly of feldspar-macrophyric and feldspar-microphyric basaltic rocks and mugearites. It is present in all three fault-blocks, whereas the succeeding volcanic rocks (middle and upper divisions) are only preserved in the median St Blane's block where they have a combined thickness of about 200 m. The two younger subdivisions are respectively correlative to the Misty Law Trachytic Centre, which forms a lens between the lower and upper Strathgryfe Members, and the upper Strathgryfe Member of the North Ayrshire section. Lavas of the lower division are feldspar-macrophyric and feldspar-microphyric basaltic rocks and mugearites, but those of the middle and upper divisions display a wider compositional spectrum, including feldspar-macro- and microphyric rocks but ranging from olivine-augite-macrophyric and olivine-augite-feldspar-macrophyric basalts to trachytes. The mafic lavas of south Bute have chondrite-normalized multi-element plots similar to those of ocean island basalts, with enrichment in incompatible elements. The trachytic lavas have similar patterns but are strongly depleted in Sr, P and Ti, reflecting fractionation of such minerals as plagioclase, apatite and magnetite/ilmenite during evolution of the parent magmas. Distribution of high field strength elements favours a within-plate origin for the south Bute lavas and supports derivation from a relatively deep (&gt;50 km) mantle source (garnet lherzolite). Chondrite-normalized REE plots for basaltic lavas of the lower division show enrichment in LREEs and lack strong Eu anomalies. Strong positive Eu anomalies in both felsic and mafic lavas of the middle and upper divisions may be attributable to high oxygen fugacities, but hydrothermal activity or feldspar fractionation may also have played a role. Fe-rich weathering profiles attest to intermittent extrusion and intense weathering processes.

On Ferroan (A-type) Granitoids: their Compositional Variability and Modes of Origin

We recognize eight types of ferroan granitoid that can be distinguished on the basis of major element chemistry.These include alkalic granitoids that may be metaluminous or peralkaline, alkali-calcic granitoids that may be metaluminous, peraluminous or peralkaline, calc-alkalic granitoids that may be metaluminous or peraluminous, and rare calcic ferroan granitoids. These granitoids may form by two distinct end-member processes. Extreme differentiation of basaltic melts results in ferroan granitoids that are either peralkaline alkalic and alkali-calcic, or metaluminous alkalic, alkali-calcic, and calc-alkalic, with alkalinity increasing with increasing pressure of differentiation. Partial melting of tonalitic to granodioritic crust produces alkali-calcic to calc-alkalic granitoids that are metaluminous at low pressures and peraluminous at high pressures. It is likely that a combination of these two processes plays some role in the formation of most ferroan granitoids. Most granitoids that are referred to as ‘ ferroan. However, the term ‘ has become more confusing than edifying because it has been applied to a broad spectrum of granitoid compositions with varying petrogenesis. For this reason we recommend that the term ‘ be discontinued and ‘ferroan’ used in its stead.

A high field strength element perspective on early lunar differentiation

Lunar rocks are inferred to tap the different fossil cumulate layers formed during crystallisation of a lunar magma ocean (LMO). A coherent dataset, including Zr isotope data and high precision HFSE (W, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf) and REE (Nd, Sm, Lu) data, all obtained by isotope dilution, can now provide new insights into the processes active during LMO crystallisation and during the petrogenesis of lunar magmas. Measured 92Zr and 91Zr abundances agree with the terrestrial value within 0.2 ε-units. Incompatible-trace-element enriched rocks from the Procellarum KREEP Terrane (PKT) display Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf above the bulk lunar value (ca. 17), and mare basalts display lower ratios, generally confirming the presence of complementary enriched and depleted mantle reservoirs on the Moon. The full compositional spectrum of lunar basalts, however, also requires interaction with ilmenite-rich layers in the lunar mantle. Notably, the high-Ti mare basalts analysed display the lowest Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf of all lunar rocks, and also higher Sm/Nd at similar Lu/Hf than low-Ti basalts. The high-Ti basalts also exhibit higher and strongly correlated Ta/W (up to 25) and Hf/W (up to 140), at similar W contents, which is difficult to reconcile with ortho- and clinopyroxene-controlled melting. Altogether, these patterns can be explained via assimilation of up to ca. 20% of ilmenite- and clinopyroxene-rich LMO cumulates by more depleted melts from the lower lunar mantle. Direct melting of ilmenite-rich cumulates or the possible presence of residual metals in the lunar mantle both cannot easily account for the observed Ta/W and Hf/W patterns. Cumulate assimilation is also a viable mechanism that can partially buffer the Lu/Hf of mare basalts at relatively low values while generating variable Sm/Nd. Thus, the dichotomy between low Lu/Hf of lunar basalts and high time integrated source Lu/Hf as inferred from Hf isotope compositions can potentially be explained. The proposed assimilation model also has important implications for the short-lived nuclide chronology of the Earth-Moon system. The new Hf/W and Ta/W data, together with a compilation of existing W-Th-U data for lunar rocks, indicate that the terrestrial and lunar mantles are indistinguishable in their Hf/W. Virtually identical εW and Hf/W in the terrestrial and lunar mantle suggest a strong link between final core-mantle equilibration on Earth and the Moon forming giant impact. Previously, linear arrays of lunar samples in 182W vs. Hf/W and 142Nd vs. Sm/Nd spaces have been interpreted as isochrons, arguing for LMO crystallisation as late as 250 Myrs after solar system formation. Based on the proposed assimilation model, the 182W and 142Nd in many lunar magmas can be shown to be decoupled from their ambient Hf/W and Sm/Nd source compositions. As a consequence, the 182W vs. Hf/W and 142Nd vs. Sm/Nd arrays would constitute mixing lines rather than isochrons. Hence, the lunar 182Hf– 182W and 146Sm– 142Nd data would be fully consistent with an “early” crystallisation age of the LMO, even as early as 50 Myrs after solar system formation when the Moon was probably formed.

Anatomy, emplacement and evolution of a shallow-level, post-tectonic laccolith: the Mt Disappointment pluton, SE Australia

Abstract: The Late Devonian, high-level, post-orogenic Mt Disappointment pluton was emplaced as a nested laccolith. Field observations and magnetic fabric (anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility) data show that the monzogranitic to granodioritic magmas entered the pluton from a central, linear feeder. The first set of magmas solidified to a non-megacrystic unit and the second to a unit carrying K-feldspar megacrysts. Emplacement was accommodated partly by uplift of the overburden on brittle marginal faults. The magmas were produced through mid- to deep crustal (&lt;600 MPa) partial melting of a source containing both ‘igneous' and ‘sedimentary' rocks, possibly a package of volcaniclastic and aluminous metagreywackes. The spectrum of magma compositions was not formed through any differentiation or magma mixing process. At the source, the melt compositions varied as a result of mixing between liquids derived from the two main source rocks, with variations in the amount of plagioclase component that entered the melt. The degree of entrainment of peritectic orthopyroxene and ilmenite appears to have controlled the Fe, Mg and Ti contents of the magma batches. A variety of evidence suggests that magma withdrawal from the protolith was rapid and episodic. The magma batches so formed were emplaced into the growing pluton essentially without further chemical evolution.

The influence of small-scale mantle heterogeneities on Mid-Ocean Ridge volcanism: Evidence from the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (7°30′S to 11°30′S) and Ascension Island

Volcanism along Mid-Ocean Ridges is known to exhibit significant isotopic and elemental variations, traditionally regarded as reflecting global scale variations in mantle depletion history and refertilization processes. The ∼ 400 km long Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) between the Ascension and Bode Verde Fracture Zones (7°30′S to 11°30′S) has been sampled at high spatial resolution (c. 10 km along-axis scale) and large elemental and isotopic variations have been identified covering almost the entire compositional spectrum of MAR basalts. In this paper we employ a multi-isotope (Sr–Nd–Hf–Pb) and trace element approach in order to explore the geodynamic implications of along-ridge compositional variations and their relationship to off-axis volcanism on nearby Ascension Island, commonly regarded as plume-related. The studied portion of the MAR consists of four major segments. Isotopic data from the deeply incised northern and southern segments A1 and A4 define a trend involving a high-εHf depleted mantle endmember. This isotopic signature is inferred to result from an ancient melting event in the garnet stability field, causing high time-integrated Lu/Hf and elevated 176Hf/ 177Hf. In contrast, a low-εHf depleted mantle endmember is indicated by the compositional trend for samples from the topographically elevated central portion (segments A2 and A3). Both trends converge at a common enriched endmember with least diluted compositions represented by samples from the subaerial eruptive stage of nearby Ascension Island. Because linear co-variations between isotope compositions and the respective parent–daughter ratios cannot be explained as representing “mantle isochrons” we infer that our data reflect arrays related to physical mixing of depleted and enriched mantle domains. This implies that distinctive mantle domains at kilometer scale may survive convection processes over time spans in the order of 1–2 Ga. This finding corroborates the results of recent Os-isotope studies of abyssal peridotite which returned similar conclusions. The systematics of along-axis isotopic variations show that mantle upwelling is highly variable. A systematic decrease of the enriched isotopic signature from the central segment A3 toward the northern termination of the segment A2 suggests a northward flow of enriched mantle material. In marked contrast, the compositional variations along the marginal segments A1 and A4 are random indicating heterogeneous mixing of mantle domains at a spatial resolution of < 50 km to 10 km (along-axis scale). With regard to Ascension Island we show that the submarine volcanic stage, sampled by a 3216 m long drill hole, was fed by a distinctive enriched mantle source currently inaccessible to partial melting. We interpret this observation within the framework of recent local-scale geophysical investigations and infer an on-axis origin of the bulk of the Ascension volcanic edifice at around 5 to 6 Ma, synchronous with the surrounding oceanic crust. Off-axis partial melting of the current common enriched mantle endmember accounts for rejuvenation of volcanism on Ascension generating the volumetrically subordinate subaerial portion of the island.

Zircon-scale insights into the history of a Supervolcano, Bishop Tuff, Long Valley, California, with implications for the Ti-in-zircon geothermometer

Zircon has the outstanding capacity to record chronological, thermal, and chemical information, including the storage history of zoned silicic magma reservoirs like the one responsible for the Bishop Tuff of eastern California, USA. Our novel ion microprobe approach reveals that Bishop zircon rims with diverse chemical characteristics surround intermediate domains with broadly similar compositions. The highest Y, REE, U, and Th concentrations tend to accompany the largest excesses in Y + REE3+:P beyond what can be explained by xenotime substitution in zircon. Apparent Ti-in-zircon temperatures of <720°C for zircon rims are distinctly lower than most of the range in eruption temperatures, as estimated from FeTi-oxide equilibria and zircon solubility at quench. While permissive of crystallization of zircon at near-solidus conditions, the low Ti-in-zircon temperatures are probably better explained by sources of inaccuracy in the temperature estimates. After apparently nucleating from different melts, zircons from across the Bishop Tuff compositional spectrum may have evolved to broadly similar chemical and thermal conditions and therefore it is possible that there was no significant thermal gradient in the magma reservoir at some stage in its evolution. There is also no compelling evidence for punctuated heat ± chemical influxes during the intermediate stages of zircon growth. Judging by the zircon record, the main volume of the erupted magma evolved normally by secular cooling but the latest erupted portion is characterized by a reversal in chemistry that appears to indicate perfusion of the magma reservoir by—or zircon entrainment in—a less evolved melt from the one in which the zircons had previously resided.

Early Cretaceous volcanism in the northern Songliao Basin, NE China, and its geodynamic implication

The Songliao Basin is characterized by episodic rifting and intense volcanism during its early development, and forms a key concealed part of the Late Mesozoic magmatic province of NE China. Few precise geochronological and geochemical data were previously available for the volcanic elements of this basin, restricting understanding of its geodynamic setting and evolution. We present new SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages and geochemical data for the volcanic rocks from the northern Songliao Basin, which limit this volcanism to the Early Cretaceous period (115–109 Ma). Although dominated by rhyolite, the rocks cover a wide compositional spectrum encompassing trachyandesite, basaltic trachyandesite, trachyte and dacite. This suite exhibits a range of geochemical signatures characteristic of subduction-related genesis, falling into a high- K calc-alkaline series, with enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), and weak depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE) and heavy rare earth elements (HREE). The suite also shares a common isotopic composition, consistent with derivation from partial melting of a single depleted mantle source. This Early Cretaceous volcanism occurred in an extensional back-arc setting associated with the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate, large scale upwelling of the asthenosphere, and intensive lithospheric thinning of the eastern continental margin of NE China which may have lasted until ca. 109 Ma.

Late Proterozoic older granitoids from the North Eastern desert of Egypt: petrogenesis and geodynamic implications

Major, trace, and REE data for three localities of calc–alkaline older granitoid rocks exposed in the north Eastern Desert of Egypt are presented. These rocks were selected to cover wide compositional spectrum of the Egyptian older granitoid varieties. They are petrographically represented by granodiorite, tonalite, quartz–diorite, and quartz–monzodiorite. The rocks are comparable with the peraluminous, unfractionated calc–alkaline suites and fall within the volcanic arc and I-type granite fields. So, they can be regarded as belonging to the volcanic arc collision stage (665–614 Ma). The granitoids are geochemically similar to other rocks recorded from continental margin arc-systems being exhibit light-REE enriched patterns with variable but chiefly positive Eu anomaly. The latter has reverse relationship with the ΣREE, which was attributed to the fractionation of hornblende during partial melting. These patterns are comparable with models involving partial melting of amphibolitic source. This source must represent basalts, gabbros, or volcanics of an island arc system that were transformed to the level of the island arc crust during continental growth where the P–T conditions are suitable for partial melting. Thus, it is plausible that the studied rocks were derived by partial melting of LREE-enriched, garnet-free, and amphibole-bearing (i.e., hydrated) mafic source. Wadi Milaha granitoids are consistent with the derivation by a high degree of partial melting (30–40%) of amphibolite protolith in the deep crust. However, the two other localities (Wadi Umm Anab and West Gharib) are matching with 20–30% partial melting. Within each locality, variation in rock types from granodiorite to tonalite is said to be dominated by variable degree of restite separation during magma ascent. The high water and volatile contents in Wadi Milaha granitoids allowed higher degree of partial melting (30–40%). Moreover, the lower volatile contents in the other two localities (Wadi Umm Anab and West Gharib) gave lower degrees of partial melting (20–30%). These processes may resemble important geodynamic features of the Arabo-Nubian Shield evolution in the north Eastern Desert of Egypt.

Elemental and Nd-isotope systematics of the Upper Basalt Unit, 2.7 Ga Kambalda Sequence: Quantitative modeling of progressive crustal contamination of plume asthenosphere

The 2.7 Ga Kambalda Sequence comprises a mafic and ultramafic volcanic rock-dominated sequence of the Kalgoorlie Terrane, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. The Sequence is divided into the Lower Basalt and Upper Basalt Units, separated by the Kambalda komatiite lava units. Upper Basalts have a total range of ε Nd from + 3.0 to + 1.5, defining a trend in ε Nd versus Nb/Th from the uncontaminated Victorious Basalt ( ε Nd + 3, Nb/Th 8.8–9.7), through the Big Dick, Devon Consols, and Coolgardie komatiite basalts, to the most contaminated Bent Tree Basalt ( ε Nd + 1.5, Nb/Th 2.9–3.5). Recent geological and geochronological results show that the Black Flag Group (BFG) tonalite–trondhjemite–dacite has an early eruptive phase coeval with the Upper Basalts, as well as a later phase overlying the Kambalda Sequence. Modeling of assimilation-fractional crystallisation (AFC) of the Kambalda Komatiite by 10–15% addition of average BFG, followed by 30–40% crystallisation, generates the best fit to the compositional spectrum of the LREE-enriched Devon Consols Basalts. Modeling of Archean average lower-, middle-, or upper continental crust generates a poor fit. Collectively, the results are consistent with decompressional melting at ≤ ∼ 100 km, of an asthenosphere plume impinging on the base of thinned, rifted, cratonic lithosphere where the most primitive, hottest liquids were contaminated by the Black Flag Group, or its melts, whereas the more evolved, cooler liquids were not. Contamination was dominantly by crust rather than cratonic mantle lithosphere.

Numerical Modeling of Time-dependent Fluid Dynamics and Differentiation of a Shallow Basaltic Magma Chamber

This contribution presents a numerical model of time-dependent physical processes and differentiation in a cooling magma chamber to obtain the magma and liquid composition and model the distribution of minerals and H2O gas bubbles at any moment and place. The numerical experiments were mainly carried out simulating 10 kyr of differentiation of a 50 km cylindrical stock-like reservoir as one of the end-members of a wide spectrum of magma body geometries. A detailed space^time distribution of compositional varieties and exsolved phases in a chamber of initially superheated basaltic composition (corresponding to a lava of the HudsonVolcano, Chile) was obtained through numerical simulation using the finite-element method.The roof of the chamber is located at 2 km depth in a crust with a geothermal gradient of 308C/km. The model considers two spatial directions (z and r) and assumes the magma to be an incompressible non-Newtonian liquid, following the Navier^Stokes formulation, where the density and viscosity depend on the temperature and exsolved solid and volatile phase content, but viscosity also depends on the shear rate. The temperature transfer equation used includes conduction, convection and latent heat. The setting of the model considers that: (1) an extension of 1km into the country rocks around the chamber imposed on the heat flow across the margins is appropriate; (2) the reaction rates for phase (solid and gas) exsolution correspond to a Gaussian probability function; (3) the involved phases, calibrated from MELTS, are olivine, clinopyroxene, magnetite, plagioclase, orthopyroxene and H2O gas; (4) the velocity of the exsolved phase movements with respect to the hosting liquid is given by the Stokes’ velocity; (5) the sizes of crystals and bubbles in the melt vary in space and time up to a maximum given by the modal crystal size observed in the Hudson Volcano. Our results indicate that the convection dynamics of the reservoir are characterized by three distinct flows of decreasing velocity with time: convective cells, plumes and layer flows along the walls. The along-wall magma flow, which persists during most of the 10 kyr of magma cooling, contributes to the thermal insulation of the chamber interior, giving rise to a nearly permanent coexistence of liquids of contrasting composition. A strong compositional stratification is generated in the upper half of the chamber, with a downward-increasing thickness of layers. Such stratification is mainly the result of continuous upward flow and storage on top of the sidewall residual melts. The lower half of the chamber exhibits an independent convective pattern dominated by ascending plumes. A less pronounced stratification is generated here as a consequence of mixing between the residual liquid in the ascending plumes and the surrounding melt. Crystal accumulations of olivine, clinopyroxene and magnetite at the bottom generate a significant volume of ultrabasic magma at the end of 10 kyr. A plagioclase-rich solidification front along the walls is formed during the last stages of crystallization, when the along-wall magma flow diminishes in velocity. An application of the numerical modeling to a cylindrical sill-like chamber is presented to emphasize the role of the aspect ratio in the magma fluid dynamics, compositional gradients and exsolved phase distribution. The stock-like chamber favors the formation of steep compositional gradients and H2O gas concentration at the roof. Concentration of the exsolved phases along the margins is favored in a sill-like chamber. From the simulation results, it is possible to infer that stock-like chambers would be more eruptible and would exhibit a wider compositional spectrum of eruptive materials than sill-like chambers. Because solid and liquid dispersion follow different patterns in a convective chamber, the record of crystal^liquid equilibrium would be an exception.

Petrogenesis of Davidson Seamount lavas and its implications for fossil spreading center and intraplate magmatism in the eastern Pacific

Seafloor spreading causes abundant magmatism along active ocean spreading centers, but the cause of magmatism along fossil spreading centers is enigmatic. Samples collected from Davidson Seamount, a typical volcanic ridge along an abandoned spreading center in the eastern Pacific, consist of an alkalic basalt to trachyte lava series; transitional basalts were sampled from another part of the abandoned axis, 20 km from the seamount. All samples experienced complex fractional crystallization prior to eruption, but they all share a common, compositionally heterogeneous mantle source. The parental magmas of the transitional basalts were produced from this source at higher degree of melting than those of the alkalic lava series. The composition of Davidson lavas overlaps with those of ridges along other fossil spreading centers and isolated near‐ and off‐ridge seamounts in the eastern Pacific. Together they define a compositional continuum ranging from tholeiitic, normal mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB)‐like to alkalic, ocean island basalt (OIB)‐like, similar to lavas that form linear island chains and ridges. We propose that this entire compositional spectrum of intraplate lavas that do not form linear volcanic chains in the eastern Pacific results from variations in the degree of partial melting of a common, compositionally heterogeneous mantle source. This source consists of more easily melted, geochemically enriched components of varying sizes and amounts embedded in a depleted lherzolitic matrix. Large degree of partial melting produces normal MORB–like melts represented by some near‐ridge seamount lavas, whereas small degree of melting produces OIB‐like fossil spreading center lavas. The small degree of partial melting beneath recently abandoned spreading centers results from either buoyancy‐driven decompression melting of the hot lithospheric and asthenospheric mantle material beneath active spreading centers or rapid motion, with respect to the underlying asthenosphere, of abandoned spreading axes that are thickening over a fertile mantle. Mid‐Tertiary volcanic rocks in coastal California, which are compositionally akin to intraplate lavas, are interpreted to be small degree partial melts of the same compositionally heterogeneous sub‐Pacific mantle that has upwelled through windows in a subducted slab.

Permian to Triassic I to S-type magmatic switch in the northeast Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and adjacent regions, Colombian Caribbean: Tectonic setting and implications within Pangea paleogeography

Abstract The Late Paleozoic to Triassic tectonics of northwestern South America have major implications for the understanding of Laurentia–Gondwana interactions that formed Pangea, and the origin of several tectonostratigraphic terranes dispersed by the break-up of this supercontinent during the formation of the Caribbean. Two mylonitic and orthogneissic granitoid suites have been recognized in the northeastern segment of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the lower Magdalena basin and the Guajira Serranias, within the Caribbean region of Colombia. For the Santa Marta region U/Pb LAM-ICP-MS analysis yielded zircon crystallization ages of 288.1 ± 4.5 Ma, 276.5 ± 5,1 Ma and 264.9 ± 4.0 Ma, related to the magmatic intrusion. Geochemical and modal variations show a compositional spectrum between diorite and granite, whereas LREE enrichment, Ti and Nb anomalies and geochemical discrimination suggest that this granitoid suite was formed within a magmatic arc setting. Inherited zircons suggest that this Early Permian plutonism was formed with the participation of Neoproterozoic and Grenvillian basement proximal to the South American continent. Evidence of a superimposed Early Triassic (ca. 250 Ma) deformational event in Santa Marta, together with a well defined S-type magmatism in the basement rocks from the adjacent lower Magdalena Valley and Guajira Peninsula regions are related to a major shift in the regional tectonic evolution. It’s envisioned that this event records either terrane accretion or strong plate coupling during the final stages of Pangea agglutination. Connections with the main Alleghanian-Ouachitan Pangean orogen are precluded due to their timing differences. The plutons temporally and compositionally correlate with an arc found in the northern Andes and Mexican Gondwana terranes, and represent a broader magmatic event formed at the proto-Pacific margin, outside the nucleus of the Laurentia–Gondwana Alleghanian-Oachitan orogens. Evidence of lower temperature recrystallization is probably linked to a younger Late Cretaceous deformational event that reworked the margin during the accretion of the Caribbean arc to the northwest of South America.

Mixed fluid sources involved in diamond growth constrained by Sr–Nd–Pb–C–N isotopes and trace elements

Sub-micrometer inclusions in diamonds carry high-density fluids (HDF) from which the host diamonds have precipitated. The chemistry of these fluids is our best opportunity of characterizing the diamond-forming environment. The trace element patterns of diamond fluids vary within a limited range and are similar to those of carbonatitic/kimberlitic melts that originate from beneath the lithospheric mantle. A convecting mantle origin for the fluid is also implied by C isotopic compositions and by a preliminary Sr isotopic study (Akagi, T., Masuda, A., 1988. Isotopic and elemental evidence for a relationship between kimberlite and Zaire cubic diamonds. Nature 336, 665–667.). Nevertheless, the major element chemistry of HDFs is very different from that of kimberlites and carbonatites, varying widely and being characterized by extreme K enrichment (up to ∼ 39 wt.% on a water and carbonate free basis) and high volatile contents. The broad spectrum of major element compositions in diamond-forming fluids has been related to fluid–rock interaction and to immiscibility processes. Elemental signatures can be easily modified by a variety of mantle processes whereas radiogenic isotopes give a clear fingerprint of the time-integrated evolution of the fluid source region. Here we present the results of the first multi radiogenic-isotope (Sr, Nd, Pb) and trace element study on fluid-rich diamonds, implemented using a newly developed off-line laser sampling technique. The data are combined with N and C isotope analysis of the diamond matrix to better understand the possible sources of fluid involved in the formation of these diamonds. Sr isotope ratios vary significantly within single diamonds. The highly varied but unsupported Sr isotope ratios cannot be explained by immiscibility processes or fluid-mineral elemental fractionations occurring at the time of diamond growth. Our results demonstrate the clear involvement of a mixed fluid, with one component originating from ancient incompatible element-enriched parts of the lithospheric mantle while the trigger for releasing this fluid source was probably carbonatitic/kimberlitic melts derived from greater depths. We suggest that phlogopite mica was an integral part of the enriched lithospheric fluid source and that breakdown of this mica releases K and radiogenic Sr into a fluid phase. The resulting fluids operate as a major metasomatic agent in the sub-continental lithospheric mantle as reflected by the isotopic composition and trace element patterns of G10 garnets.

The isochore patterns of invertebrate genomes

BackgroundPrevious investigations from our laboratory were largely focused on the genome organization of vertebrates. We showed that these genomes are mosaics of isochores, megabase-size DNA sequences that are fairly homogeneous in base composition yet belong to a small number of families that cover a wide compositional spectrum. A question raised by these results concerned how far back in evolution an isochore organization of the eukaryotic genome arose.ResultsThe present investigation deals with the compositional patterns of the invertebrates for which full genome sequences, or at least scaffolds, are available. We found that (i) a mosaic of isochores is the long-range organization of all the genomes that we investigated; (ii) the isochore families from the invertebrate genomes matched the corresponding families of vertebrates in GC levels; (iii) the relative amounts of isochore families were remarkably different for different genomes, except for those from phylogenetically close species, such as the Drosophilids.ConclusionThis work demonstrates not only that an isochore organization is present in all metazoan genomes analyzed that included Nematodes, Arthropods among Protostomia, Echinoderms and Chordates among Deuterostomia, but also that the isochore families of invertebrates share GC levels with the corresponding families of vertebrates.

Mechanical Properties of Ultrafine Grained Steels Processed by Large Strain-High Z Deformation - A Review

Ultrafine-grained steels with a grain size of about one micron offer the prospect of high strength coupled with high toughness among conventional steel compositions and are attracting the attention of researchers worldwide. Application of these ultrafine-grained steels to potential engineering structures demands extensive study of their mechanical properties. While there are many studies on the development of ultrafine-grained microstructures through various deformation processing techniques on a spectrum of compositions, fewer studies were reported on the more important aspect of evaluating their mechanical properties. This is to verify the basic assumption that the microstructural refinement at bulk level indeed improves the mechanical properties offering the prospect of a realistic replacement of the existing conventional steels in the near future. As we move towards the ultimate goal of applying these advanced high strength materials, this review article attempts to present a comprehensive picture on the mechanical properties of ultrafine-grained steels with varying carbon contents fabricated by large strain warm deformation. Finally, it is believed that time is ripe for exploring the possible applications of these materials for structural applications.

A linguistic approach to classification of bacterial genomes

In the present paper, 188 prokaryote genomes are classified by separately calculating the compositional spectra for the coding and the non-coding parts of the genomes. For each subsequence, the compositional spectrum is transformed into the corresponding point in a vector space. This enables the categorization of genomes into meaningful groups by a formal method. Repeated clustering performed for the coding and the non-coding genome parts makes it possible to estimate the true number of the genome clusters. The method we propose is based on a new application of external cluster validation indexes and on the misclassified quantities obtained in the process of repeated clustering. Besides, we have constructed additional data embedding into the appropriate Euclidean space only on the basis of the distances between compositional spectra. Biological evaluation of the results obtained for the 4-letter and the 2-letter alphabets substantiates the appropriateness of the resulting cluster-based classification.

Experimental constraints on evolution of leucite-basanite magma at 1 and 10-4GPa: implications for parental compositions of Roman high-potassium magmas

The separate effects of pressure (10 −4 and 1.0 GPa), water, CO 2 , oxygen fugacity and calcium doping on the liquid line of descent of a primitive leucite-basanite magma (SiO 2 = 47.06 wt%, MgO = 12.76 wt% and Mg# = 75.1) from the Montefiascone Volcanic Complex (Vulsini volcanoes, central Italy) were experimentally investigated in the 1350–1160 °C temperature range. Results indicate that low-pressure liquidus temperatures are ≤1280 °C and that the high-pressure T liquidus is 1350 °C under anhydrous conditions; the latter is lowered to ~ 1275 °C by the addition of 3 wt% water. Cr-spinel is always the liquidus phase. At comparable f O 2 values, high and low pressure runs produced the same phase assemblage (spinel + olivine + clinopyroxene) up to 50 % crystallization, although olivine was partially or totally replaced by phlogopite in hydrous experiments. An increase in oxygen fugacity and the addition of CaO determine an increase in both the degree of melt crystallization and the stability field of clinopyroxene. These determine contrasting effects on the composition of residual liquids: the former increases SiO 2 content, whereas the latter induces the desilication of melts. The replacement of olivine by phlogopite, induced by increasing amounts of water, leads to the production of glass with lower potassium contents. Comparison of the natural and experimental melts shows that many of major and trace element variations exhibited by high-K primitive ( i.e. , high Mg/Mg + Fe) magmas at Montefiascone, are consistent with their derivation from a single parental leucite-basanite melt by fractional crystallization of different proportions of mineral phases, plus carbonate assimilation. The changes in phases stability and melt composition caused by carbonate assimilation may also have fundamental implications for the origin of the calcic high-magnesium leucitites and melilitites. In particular, the complex metasomatic interactions that can develop at the interface between potassic magmas and carbonate wall rocks, may lead to melting of calcite. This low-viscosity melt readily mixes with the surrounding magma inducing the crystallization of Ca-Tschermak-rich pyroxene and hercynitic spinel, affecting significantly the SiO 2 , CaO and alumina composition of the resulting hybrid melt. A key finding of our study is that magmas such as the studied leucite-basanite may be considered parental to the wide spectrum of mafic high-K compositions in the Roman Province, which have been traditionally considered as representing near primary magmas reflecting distinct mantle source compositions and/or processes.

PRESS echo time behavior of triglyceride resonances at 1.5 T: Detecting ω-3 fatty acids in adipose tissue in vivo

Aim This study investigated the impact of fatty acid (FA) composition on the echo time behavior of triglyceride resonances in a clinical setting. The feasibility of 1H NMR spectroscopy to detect these resonances was also evaluated in human adipose tissue in vivo. Method Ten edible oils chosen to cover a wide spectrum of FA compositions were used as phantom material. The detailed FA composition and intrinsic proton spectra of the oils were characterized by gas chromatography and high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy (11.7 T), respectively. The detailed echo time behavior of the oils were subsequently measured by 1H NMR spectroscopy in a clinical scanner (1.5 T) using PRESS. The effect of temperature was investigated in five oils. Results The olefinic (5.3 ppm) and diallylic (2.8 ppm) resonances exhibited distinct J-modulation patterns independent of oil FA composition. The methylene resonance (1.3 ppm) displayed an exponential decay, with the apparent T 2 showing a weak positive correlation with oil unsaturation ( R = 0.628, P = 0.052), probably a result of changes in viscosity. For the methyl resonance (0.9 ppm), oils high in ω-3 FA displayed a markedly different J-modulation pattern compared to non-ω-3 oils. The characteristic J-modulation of the ω-3 methyl group could be attributed to the phase behavior of the ω-3 methyl triplet signal (all triplet lines in-phase at TE of 135 ms), a result of the ω-3 methyl end forming a first order spin system. The ω-3 methyl outer triplet line at 1.08 ppm of the TE = 140 ms spectrum was found to be useful for determining the ω-3 content of the oils ( R = 0.999, standard error of estimate (SE) 0.80). The olefinic and diallylic proton resonance (measured at TE = 50 ms) areas correlated with the olefinic ( R = 0.993, SE 0.33) and diallylic ( R = 0.997, SE 0.19) proton contents calculated from the GC data. Information derived from long echo time spectra (TE = 200) demonstrated good correlations to GC data and showed no change with increasing temperature (and T 2). In 1H NMR spectra (1.5 T) of adipose tissue in five healthy subjects, the analytically important olefinic and diallylic resonances were clearly resolved with a coefficient of variation of 1.6% and 8.4%, respectively, for repeated measurements. The characteristic phase behavior of the ω-3 methyl outer triplet line at 1.08 ppm could also be detected at very long echo times (470 and 540 ms). Conclusion Fatty acid composition has an impact on the echo time behavior of triglyceride resonances. Long TE spectra can resolve ω-3 FA in adipose tissue in vivo. These findings will benefit long TE studies of tissue lipids.