Concentrations Of Compatible Trace Elements Research Articles

Secular evolution of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath Indian cratons: Insights from geochemistry and geochronology of the Precambrian mafic dykes

The Indian Shield is comprised of the Dharwar, Bastar, Singhbhum, Bundelkhand, and Aravalli Cratons, intruded by distinct mafic dyke swarms of different generations (ca. 2.8–0.8 Ga). Most of these dykes are tholeiitic basalt to basaltic-andesite, including boninite. Some other subordinate dyke rocks are of komatiitic, picritic, and andesitic compositions. The vast areal extent of these dykes indicates that they are remnants of Precambrian Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs). The present study reviews the existing geochronological and geochemical data of various Precambrian mafic dyke swarms intruding in all Indian cratons, to track temporal changes in composition of the underlying subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM). Most of these dykes have crust-like abundances of incompatible trace-element. Even the primitive dykes (Mg# = 82–64) exhibit crust-like incompatible element patterns. However, some also have depleted mantle-like abundances of incompatible elements. Most of the dykes also have high concentrations of compatible trace elements (e.g., Cr and Ni). The age-corrected radiogenic Nd isotope compositions (ɛ Nd(i) ) of these dykes vary between the upper continental crust and depleted mantle ɛ Nd growth arrays. The elemental composition and ɛ Nd(i) of these dykes suggest their derivation from a heterogeneous SCLM comprising enriched (metasomatized) and depleted mantle components. The negative as well as positive ɛ Nd(i) values exhibited by the ca. 2.8 Ga (oldest) dykes suggest the presence of enriched mantle materials distributed within a depleted-SCLM already by ca. 2.8 Ga. The enrichment must have occurred before ca. 2.8 Ga due to subduction-released fluids. Later, the SCLM beneath Indian cratons evolved with a composition consisting of an enriched/metasomatized mantle component and a depleted mantle component. • Geochemistry of 2.8–0.8 Ga mafic dyke swarms of Indian cratons have been reviewed. • They originated from heterogeneous SCLM containing enriched & depleted components. • Subduction-driven metasomatism of global SCLM occurred during the Archean.

Peritectic and phenocrystic garnet accumulation and the origin of strongly peraluminous granitic rocks: The Flagstaff Lake Igneous Complex, Maine

The Flagstaff Lake Igneous Complex of Maine contains a metaluminous phase that ranges from diorite to granite, and three phases of strongly peraluminous, garnet-bearing rocks with silica contents that range between 43 and 59 wt%. These peraluminous rocks have increasing amounts of normative corundum with increasing maficity, indicating that they do not represent liquid compositions, rather garnet accumulation accounts for their bulk-rock A/CNK compositions. Garnet in these rocks displays a variety of textures, inclusion patterns, and trace element compositions. The Loon Lake phase is characterized by garnet with abundant, randomly distributed apatite inclusions. Some grains have spiral inclusion patterns that are peritictic grains formed during partial melting of source rocks while they were undergoing differential stress. In contrast, the Quarry Phases A and B contain inclusion-free garnet with euhedral grain boundaries. These grains have trace element profiles indicative of crystal fractionation processes and are interpreted to be phenocrysts. Some of these phenocrysts have inclusion poor, resorbed cores that are mantled by inclusion-free overgrowths. The cores have lower concentrations of compatible trace elements and higher concentrations of incompatible elements than the mantles. These cores are resorbed phenocrysts from an evolved magma that were mingled in a more primitive, garnet crystallizing magma. Also present in Quarry Phase B rocks are a minor population of inclusion-rich garnets with random inclusion distributions. These are also interpreted as peritectic garnet, entrained from the source, or from dehydration melting of country rock biotite. They are mantled by inclusion-free garnet with the same composition as the phenocrysts and are phenocrystic overgrowths. Thus, the original Flagstaff Lake anatectic melts were mildly peraluminous with the current bulk-rock compositions of the garnet tonalites dominated by the accumulation of variable portions of phenocrystic garnet or the entrainment of peritictic garnet, both of which generated the increasing peraluminosity with increasing maficity of the complex. Magmatic, mafic enclaves present in the peraluminous rocks are similar to the metaluminous, main phase rocks of the complex, suggesting that the coeval basaltic magmas provided the heat for anataxis to generate the peraluminous magmas.

Petrology of Mafic Dykes from the Njimom Area (West-Cameroon): A Contribution to the Characterization of Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic Magmatism in the Southern Continental Part of the Cameroon Volcanic Line

In the western Cameroon, crop out several dyke swarms of Paleozoic–Mesozoic age. These dykes intrude the Precambrian basement in the southern continental part of the Cretaceous Cameroon Volcanic Line. In the Njimom area, two groups of mafic dykes that crosscut the Neoproterozoic basement rocks have been observed. A first group intrudes the mylonites whereas the second group intrudes the granites. The dykes are alkaline basalts and hawaiites. The mineralogical assemblage of both groups of dykes consists of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, altered olivine, and opaque oxides. The dykes that cross-cut the Precambrian mylonitic gneisses show moderate TiO2 (1.7–2.0 wt.%), low MgO (4.4–7.1 wt.%), and compatible trace element concentrations (e.g., Cr = 70–180 ppm; Ni = 30–110 ppm). The dykes that intrude the granites have TiO2 contents between 2.3 and 2.5 wt.% and moderate compatible trace element concentrations (e.g., Cr = 260–280 ppm; Ni = 170–230 ppm). MgO varies from 5.9 to 9.2 wt.%. All mafic dykes are enriched in light lanthanide element and show moderate Zr/Nb and high Zr/Y, Nb/Yb, and Ti/V ratios similar to those of average ocean island basalt (OIB)-type magmas. Some dykes that intrude the mylonites show evidence of contamination by continental crust. The composition of the clinopyroxenes of the dykes that intrude the mylonites clearly indicate different and unrelated parental magmas from dykes that intrude the granites. Contents and fractionation of the least and the most incompatible elements suggest low degrees of partial melting (3–5%) of heterogeneous source slightly enriched in incompatible elements in the spinel stability field. The geochemical features of Njimom dykes (in particular the dykes that intrude the granites) are similar to those of Paleozoic and Mesozoic dykes recorded in the southern continental part of the Cameroon Volcanic Line, suggesting multiple reactivations of pre-existing fractures that resulted in the fragmentation of western Gondwana and the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean.

Genesis and tectonic setting of high-Cr podiform chromitites of the Rayat ophiolite in the Zagros Suture Zone, northeastern Iraq

Chromitite pods hosted by serpentinized harzburgites of the Rayat ophiolite in the Zagros suture tectonic zone, northeasten Iraq, were studied petrographically and geochemically. These chromitites comprise high-Cr podiform ophiolitic chromite deposit and consist of magesiochromite in a matrix dominated by serpentine with minor carbonate minerals. The chromitites contain 40.2 wt% Cr2O3, 15.8 wt% MgO, 11.4 wt% Al2O3, and 16.7 wt% Fe2O3t, and lesser amounts of the other major oxides and traces of Ba, Co, Cu, Ga, Mn, Ni, Rb, Sc, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn. Magnesiochromites of chromitites contain Cr2O3 (55.6 wt%), MgO (15.2 wt%), FeOt (13.8 wt%), and Al2O3 (14.3 wt%), and minor amounts of Ni, Ti, Mn and V; their average Cr# and Mg#are 0.72 and 0.71, respectively. Accessory chromite in the serpenitinized harzburgite contains 56.9 wt% Cr2O3, 9.9 wt% MgO, 19.6 wt% FeOt, and 12.7 wt% Al2O3; with Cr# and Mg# of 0.75 and 0.49, respectively. The relatively high concentrations of compatible trace elements which have strong affinity to Cr and Mg such as Ni, V, Co, and the low concentrations of incompatible LILE (K, Rb, Sr, and Ba) elements as well as the high concentrations of mantle rock-forming elements (MRFE: Si, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Cr, Ni, Zn, Co, and Cu) is a characteristic feature of the Rayat chromitite and indicates mantle origin. The chromitites also contain very low Au (3 ppb) and PGE (53 ppb). The IPGEs (Os, Ir, and Ru) are enriched and are ~ 8 times higher than the PPGEs (Rh, Pt, and Pd), with a positive peak of Ru and a negative peak of Pt in the chondrite-normalized diagram. The chondrite-normalized PGE pattern has generally lower concentrations but similar trend to most high-Cr chromitites of the world. The chromitites belong to Group-I “normal ophiolite type” indicated from the Ptn/Pdn vs. Ptn/Irn diagram. Various tectonic discrimination diagrams including the calculated parental melt compositions of Al2O3, TiO2 and FeOt/MgO for the magnesiochromites and chromites suggest that the Rayat chromitites were derived from boninitic magmas within suprasubduction zone in a fore-arc tectonic setting during the formation of the Taurus (Turkey) - Zagros (Iran/Iraq) Ophiolite Belt.

Zircon textures and composition: refractory recorders of magmatic volatile evolution?

Zircon textures and composition have been used to infer magmatic processes including closed-system fractional crystallization, magma mixing or replenishment, and country-rock assimilation. Here, we propose that zircon textures and composition may also be refractory recorders of magmatic volatile evolution. We present field, whole-rock chemical, textural, mineral chemical, and U–Pb age data from evolved, fine-to-coarse-grained granite intrusions on Melville Peninsula, Nunavut, Canada. Zircon forms two main populations in these granites, Type-1 and Type-2 zircon. Type-1 zircon is present in all samples, but predominant in fine-grained granite. Crystals are euhedral and inclusion-rich and show periodic, fine-scale oscillatory zoning, comparatively low concentrations of U (<2,200 ppm) and Hf (<1.6 wt%), high Zr/Hf (~40–62), and pervasive alteration. Type-2 zircon is predominant in coarse-grained granite. Crystals form overgrowths on Type-1 zircon and individual crystals. They are subhedral and inclusion-poor and show weak, irregular, large-scale oscillatory zoning, high U (up to ~7,250 ppm) and Hf (1.5–2.0 wt%), low Zr/Hf (~37–44), and only local alteration. Compatible trace-element concentrations and Zr/Hf change sharply across the boundary of Type-1 to Type-2 zircon; 207Pb/206Pb ages preclude a significant hiatus between crystallization of the two types. We argue against magmatic versus hydrothermal crystallization, country-rock assimilation, or magma mixing as causes for the crystallization of Type-1 and Type-2 zircon. We propose instead that Type-1 zircon formed from volatile-undersaturated magmas and that Type-2 zircon formed from volatile-saturated magmas. Magmas fractionated by volatile-driven filter pressing into crystal-rich mush and crystal-poor magma. Crystal-rich mush with abundant Type-1 zircon crystallized to fine-grained granite. Volatile-rich magma crystallized to Type-2 zircon and coarse-grained granite. While Type-1 zircon was pervasively altered by exsolving magmatic volatiles, Type-2 zircon was only locally affected by subsolidus hydrothermal alteration.

Crustal recycling during subduction at the Eocene Cordilleran margin of North America: a petrogenetic study from the southwestern Yukon

The early Eocene (57.3–55.4 Ma) Bennett Lake and Mount Skukum Volcanic Complexes lie on the Coast Plutonic Complex and Intermontane Belt boundary of the Canadian Cordillera at the British Columbia – Yukon border, some 200 km east of the current and Eocene continental margin. Both complexes contain rock types from basaltic andesite to rhyolite in a series of lava and pyroclastic flows. The location relative to the continental margin, the rock types, and the presence of an enhanced LILE/HFSE (large-ion lithophile / high field strength element) signatures in all samples imply that contemporaneous subduction was the controlling factor in the formation of these complexes. The majority of samples, however, return unusually low compatible element concentrations for given rock types. We interpret this data to show that partial melting of the crust was the major source of erupted magmas. One formation of andesites at Mount Skukum and one late dyke at Bennett Lake do show higher concentrations of compatible trace elements, suggesting the presence of primitive magmas in the crust at the time of eruption, which contaminated and were erupted with the crustal melts. Sr–Nd isotopic data at both complexes are consistently primitive regardless of rock type and compatible element content, requiring a primitive crustal source for these magmas. We propose that the complexes were formed as a result of early Eocene subduction of the Kula Plate beneath the Canadian Cordillera. Intrusion of hot primitive melts caused partial melting of young crust to produce the majority of lavas observed. Contamination of these melts by primitive magmas is observed at both Mount Skukum and Bennett Lake.

Evidence for fractionation of Quaternary basalts on St. Paul Island, Alaska, with implications for the development of shallow magma chambers beneath Bering Sea volcanoes

St. Paul Island is the youngest volcanic center in the Bearing Sea basalt province. We have undertaken a field, petrographic, and geochemical study of select St. Paul volcanic rocks in order to better understand their differentiation; specifically, to test the hypothesis that magmas erupted from individual Bering Sea basaltic volcanoes are not related by shallow-level processes such as crystal fractionation. Petrographically, all of the St. Paul volcanic rocks are olivine-, plagioclase-, and clinopyroxene-phyric. Textural features and modal contents of olivine phenocrysts, however, vary widely throughout the spectrum of basalt compositions. Although differing in size and abundance, olivine phenocrysts in all rock compositions are euhedral and commonly skeletal, suggesting rapid growth during ascent or eruptive quenching. None, however, display reaction textures with surrounding groundmass liquid. Compositionally, the St. Paul volcanic rocks are basalts and tephritic basalts and all have high contents of normative nepheline (8% to 16%). Concentrations of many major and incompatible trace elements display no clear correlations with bulk-rock SiO 2 and MgO contents or modal abundances of phenocrysts, suggesting that much of the compositional diversity of these magmas reflects variable mantle sources and degrees of partial melting. Similarly, chondrite-normalized REE patterns show variable degrees of light REE enrichment (La n=70–90) that do not correlate with bulk-rock mg-numbers. In contrast, concentrations of compatible trace elements (Ni, Cr, and Co) are positively correlated with MgO contents and modal percentages of olivine phenocrysts. Maximum forsterite contents of olivine phenocryst cores in most St. Paul rocks decrease with decreasing bulk-rock mg-number and are similar to the calculated equilibrium range. This is evidence that the high mg-numbers are magmatic and do not result from olivine accumulation. Instead, major and compatible trace element mass balance calculations support derivation of the low mg-number lavas from the high mg-number lavas mainly by olivine fractionation, which, in turn, implies that St. Paul magmas may have temporarily resided in crustal magma chambers prior to eruption.

Changes in magma composition at Arenal volcano, Costa Rica, 1968?1985: Real-time monitoring of open-system differentiation

Arenal volcano in Costa Rica has been erupting nearly continuously, but at a diminishing rate, since 1968, producing approximately 0.35 km3 of lavas and tephras that have shown consistent variations in chemistry and mineralogy. From the beginning of the eruption in July 1968 to early 1970 (stage 1, vol.=0.12 km3) tephras and lavas became richer in Ca, Mg, Ni, Cr, Fe, Ti, V, and Sc and poorer in Al2O3 and SiO2. Concentrations of incompatible trace elements (including Sr) decreased by 5%–20%. Phenocryst contents increased 20–50 vol%. During stage 2 (1970–1973, vol. = 0.13 km3) concentrations of compatible trace elements rose, and concentrations of incompatible trace elements either remained constant or also rose. Al2O3 contents decreased by 1 wt%. Phenocryst content increased slightly, principally due to increased orthopyroxene. During stage 3 (mid-1974 to the present, vol.= 0.10 km3) concentrations of SiO2 increased by 1 wt%, compatible trace elements decreased slightly, and incompatible trace element concentrations increased by 5% to 10%. Although crystals increased in size during stage 3, their overall abundance stayed roughly constant. Our modeling suggests that early stage-1 magmas were produced by boundary layer fractionation under high-p H2O conditions of an unseen basaltic andesitic magma that intruded into the Arenal system after approximately 500 B.P. Changes in composition during stage 2 resulted from mixing of this more mafic original magma with new magma that had a similar SiO2 content, but higher compatible and incompatible element concentrations. The changes during stage 3 resulted from continued influx of the same magma plus crystal removal. We conclude that the eruption proceeded in the following way. Before 1968 zoned stage-1 magma resided in the deep crust below Arenal. A new magma intruded into this chamber in July 1968 causing ejection of the stage-1 magmas. The intruding magma mixed with mafic portions of the original chamber producing the mixed lavas of stage 2. Continued mixing plus crystal fractionation along the chamber and conduit walls produced stage-3 lavas. The time scales of crustal level magmatic processes at Arenal range 100–103 years, which are 3–6 orders of magnitude shorter than those of larger, more silicic systems.