Northern Hemisphere Reference Line Research Articles

Isotopic and geochemical characteristics of mid- to-late-Miocene continental and oceanic arc volcanic and intrusive rocks, central North Island and offshore, New Zealand

Abstract Mid- to late-Miocene continental arc volcanism on the North Island of New Zealand is found in the Coromandel Peninsula, the Kiwitahi volcanic chain and the Taranaki Basin (Kora Volcano) offshore the western margin of the North Island. Coeval oceanic arc volcanism is also found along the offshore Colville Ridge/Kermadec Ridge north of New Zealand. This Pb–Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic study aims to evaluate mantle sources and potential crustal contaminants along these sections of the Miocene arc system. The Colville/Kermadec Ridge and Kora lavas have the lowest Sr (0.7029–0.7045) and highest Nd (0.51305–0.51292) ratios; the Coromandel and Kiwitahi lavas overlap (Sr = 0.704–0.706; Nd = 0.51268–0.51296). The Colville/Kermadec Ridge, Kora, and Coromandel/Kiwitahi rocks form three distinct arrays on Pb–Pb plots, all above the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line, but none trend towards local Mesozoic basement greywackes. Isotopic and trace element ratio variations suggest that subducted sediments are a component in Coromandel/Kiwitahi mafic lava sources. The younger, southern Kiwitahi lavas have a more depleted mantle source than that for the older, northern Kiwitahi chain. Evolved lavas commonly have interacted with Waipapa basement rocks. Kora rocks have compositions similar to those of back-arc lavas and have been emplaced as sills in a rift environment above a distinct subduction-modified mantle.

The isotopic origin of Lord Howe Island reveals secondary mantle plume twinning in the Tasman Sea

Thermochemical convective instabilities in the mantle, often referred to as mantle plumes, cause mantle melting that give rise to ocean island basalts (OIB) in intraplate settings. The array of radiogenic isotope signatures in global intraplate OIB indicate that although plumes are individual entities, they share enriched components that resemble various parts of subducted crust and a hypothetical mantle matrix termed “focal zone” (FOZO). Each plume is expected to rise with an individual buoyancy flux, thereby producing variable volumes of melting with some OIB forming subaerial islands, whereas others produce submarine volcanoes.Here, we report the first radiogenic isotope data (Sr, Nd, Pb and Hf) for lavas of Lord Howe Island (LHI) in the Tasman Sea, the most prominent subaerial expression of the hypothesised Lord Howe mantle plume. Major element data are consistent with a moderate degree of partial melting, and heavy rare earth element depletion indicates melting occurred in the presence of garnet, consistent with other global plume lavas. Radiogenic SrNd isotopic data are similar to those defining the relatively primitive FOZO component with no clear enriched mantle affinity. The nearby Tasmantid Seamounts are also sourced from a mantle plume, and have similar SrNd character. However, combined 208Pb/204Pb and 207Pb/204Pb vs 206Pb/204Pb ratios of LHI lavas are inconsistent with a FOZO-type source. Instead, Pb isotopes overlap with typical enriched mantle 1 (EM1) lavas (e.g., Pitcairn, Tristan da Cunha), trending slightly higher than the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line (NHRL). Hafnium isotopes follow trends observed in lavas of the archetypal EM1 Pitcairn-Gambier islands, and are partially decoupled from 143Nd/144Nd; this decoupling is rare among OIB. The combined element-isotope data indicate that LHI forms the most recent expression of a mantle plume track in the Tasman Sea. Albeit unique in its 208Pb*/206Pb* isotope code among global mantle plumes, the resemblance of LHI lavas with the spatially related and contemporaneous Taupo seamount of the parallel Tasmantid plume track in the Tasman sea supports a genetic relation of both plumes. The proposed common origin of the two parallel plume tracks requires a larger plume underpinning the Tasman sea with individual plume fingers rising towards the surface, possibly in a triple plume network considering the on-shore Cosgrove track in eastern Australia. The subaerial expression of LHI contrasts the submarine Tasmantid Seamounts; this expression is only possible due to the continental ribbon that forms the island's foundation, suggesting secondary plume fingers display similar low buoyancy fluxes. Plain language summaryLord Howe Island is predominantly composed of basaltic rocks, which are created when mantle underneath the crust melts and the subsequent magma rises to the surface and erupts out of a volcano. The chemical composition of these volcanic rocks can provide us with valuable information about geologic processes. Moreover, we can compare the composition of islands like Lord Howe to better investigate and understand volcanic networks that exist deep within the Earth. The composition of Lord Howe Island basalts was investigated for the first time using specialised instruments that can separate individual elements into different isotopes. The ratios of these different isotopes reflects the composition of the mantle source which can be enriched by the presence of subducted crustal rocks, oceanic rocks and sediments. Our data indicate the distinctive reservoir that Lord Howe Island samples were derived from is the same reservoir as that of the nearby Taupo Seamount volcano. We infer from this that a piece of ancient crust is stuck in the mantle, and the two volcanoes are sampling it. This study supports a theory of a large, linked volcanic network under the Tasman Sea, and adds to the growing body of research investigating ‘double-chain’ volcanism in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Geochemical constraints on source nature and recycled oceanic crust in the mantle of the Celebes Sea

Indian-type mantle is extensively distributed in the marginal basins of the western Pacific; however, the origin of this mantle remains unclear. The Celebes Sea is located between the Pacific and Indian oceans, and its igneous crustal rocks provide crucial constraints on if and on how this anomalous mantle developed in the region. However, limited knowledge has been obtained on the origin of mantle source of the Celebes Sea because only normal-type mid-ocean ridge basalts (N-MORBs) at ODP Site U770 in this basin have been examined. In this study, both N-MORBs and enriched (E)-MORBs were identified at Site U770, which were analyzed for whole-rock major and trace elements, Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopes, and in situ olivine geochemistry. Site U770 basalt samples are Indian-type (i.e., plot above the Northern Hemisphere reference line [NHRL] on plots of 208Pb/204Pb and 207Pb/204Pb versus 206Pb/204Pb) MORBs, based on their Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic compositions. An enriched mantle end-member exists in the MORB-type depleted mantle source, as evidenced by correlations between ɛNd and SmN/YbN, Sr/Sr*, and Eu/Eu*. Recycled igneous oceanic crust that experienced plagioclase fractionation can account for the geochemically enriched end-member in the mantle source, based on the positive correlation of ɛNd vs. Sr/Sr* and Eu/Eu*. The recycled igneous oceanic crust plus minor amounts of pelagic sediments can also explain the origins of Indian-type mantle in the Celebes Sea. The E-MORBs have higher Zn/Mn and Zn/Fe ratios, and similar olivine Ni, Ca, and Mn contents as compared to global MORBs, which is also consistent with a recycled oceanic crust-derived, eclogite-rich, mantle source. This suggests recycled components contribute to the lithological and geochemical heterogeneity in the mantle beneath the Celebes Sea.

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of alkaline rear-arc magmatism in NW Iran

High Na- to K- alkaline magmatism is common in the rear-arc region of the Cenozoic Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Belt of Iran, but their geochemical signatures, as well as their formation mechanisms, have been poorly studied thus far. In the Kleybar area of NW Iran, Middle Eocene magmatic activity comprises silica-undersaturated to -saturated gabbros, monzogabbros, monzosyenites to nepheline-monzosyenites, and nepheline syenite as well as tephritic to trachy-basaltic and trachy-andesitic dikes. New 40Ar39Ar results show a restricted age range (39.2–43.6 Ma) for the intrusive rocks (43.16 ± 0.43 and 43.34 ± 0.43 Ma for gabbros, 43.56 ± 0.44 for monzogabbros, 39.22 ± 0.48 and 42.09 ± 0.42 Ma for nepheline syenites, 42.17 ± 0.42 Ma for nepheline-monzosyenites), whereas a cross-cutting trachy-andesitic dike yielded an 40Ar39Ar age of 41.78 ± 0.42 Ma. The Kleybar rocks are enriched in alkalis (K2O and Na2O) with variable K2O/Na2O ratios (0.14 to 2.93), light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements such as Th, Rb, K, U and Pb. High field strength elements such as NbTa are depleted in these rocks.The isotopic compositions of the different rock types are quite variable: gabbros and monzogabbros have 87Sr/86Sr(t) = 0.70419–0.70436, εNd(t) = +3.1 to +3.8 and εHf(t) = + 7.8 to +10.1; nepheline monzosyenites and nepheline syenites have 87Sr/86Sr(t) = 0.70359–0.70566 (except a nepheline syenite with a ratio of 0.74833 and very high Rb/Sr), εNd(t) = +1.5 to +4.2 and εHf(t) = +4.6 to +8.8; and trachy-basaltic to trachy-andesitic to tephritic dikes have 87Sr/86Sr(t) = 0.70437–0.70469, εNd(t) = +2.8 to +4.2 and εHf(t) = +8.3 to +10. In the thorogenic-Pb isotope diagram, the Kleyber igneous rocks define an array above the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line (NHRL), with ∆8/4 (deviation from the NHRL) of ~40–60. These samples also plot above the NHRL in uranogenic Pb space (∆7/4–5-10). The positive ∆8/4 Pb and ∆7/4 Pb may reflect the involvement of subducted terrigenous sediments in their mantle source during the subduction of the Neotethyan oceanic lithosphere. Two nepheline syenite samples have significantly higher thorogenic and uranogenic Pb isotopic compositions, that may reflect assimilation of surrounding clay-rich sedimentary rocks.Modelling of trace elements compositions using less fractionated Kleybar trachybasalt and fine-grained monzogabbro samples indicate that a 96:4 mixture of the depleted mantle and subducting (trench)-sediment melts with 6% aggregated fractional melting closely matches the trace-element abundances of the Kleybar trachybasalt and monzogabbro. Together with previous studies on high-K volcanic rocks from NW Iran, our results indicate that Neotethyan slab retreat and related extension of the Iranian continental lithosphere in the rear-arc region of the Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Belt generated alkali-rich magmatic rocks throughout the NW Iran rear-arc during Middle-Late Eocene.

Evolution of mafic lavas in Central Anatolia: Mantle source domains

Abstract We present new Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic data on mafic lavas from the Sivas, Develidağ, Erciyes, and Erkilet volcanic complexes in central Turkey and Tendürek in eastern Turkey to evaluate the mantle sources for volcanism in the context of the geodynamic evolution of the Anatolian microplate. Early Miocene through Quaternary volcanism in Western Anatolia and latest Miocene through Quaternary activity in Central Anatolia were dominated by contributions from two distinct source regions: heterogeneous metasomatized or subduction-modified lithosphere, and roughly homogeneous sublithospheric ambient upper mantle; we model the source contributions through mixing between three end members. The sublithospheric mantle source plots close to the Northern Hemisphere reference line (NHRL) with radiogenic 206Pb/204Pb of ∼19.15, while the other contributions plot substantially above the NHRL in Pb isotope space. The lithospheric source is heterogeneous, resulting from variable pollution by subduction-related processes likely including direct incorporation of sediment and/or mélange; its range in radiogenic isotopes is defined by regional oceanic sediment and ultrapotassic melts of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. The geochemical impact of this contribution is disproportionately large, given that subduction-modified lithosphere and/or ocean sediment dominates the Pb isotope signatures of mafic Anatolian lavas. Subduction of the Aegean or Tethyan seafloor, associated with marked crustal shortening, took place throughout the region until ca. 16–17 Ma, after which time broad delamination of the thickened lower crust and/or the Tethyan slab beneath Central Anatolia allowed for sediment and/or mélange and slab-derived fluids to be released into the overlying evolving modified mantle. Aggregation of melts derived from both mantle and lithospheric domains was made possible by upwelling of warm asthenospheric material moving around and through the complexly torn younger Aegean-Cyprean slab that dips steeply to the north beneath southern Anatolia.

Petrological evolution of Karlıova-Varto volcanism (Eastern Turkey): Magma genesis in a transtensional triple-junction tectonic setting

A diffuse and voluminous (>1400 km3) Miocene-Quaternary volcanic activity developed around the Karlıova Triple Junction in East Anatolia as a consequence of collisional tectonics among Anatolia, Arabia and Eurasia continental plates. The volcanic rocks of this region are grouped into three phases of activity: 1) Early Phase (Solhan volcanism; ~7.3–4.4 Ma), with emplacement of alkali basalt to trachyte lava flows and pyroclastic successions; 2) Middle Phase (Turnadağ and Varto volcanism; ~3.6–2.6 Ma), mostly with products with the same compositional range plus minor dacites and rhyolites, and 3) Late Phase (Özenç volcanism; ~2.6–0.5 Ma), with emplacement of alkali basaltic, hawaiitic and mugearitic lavas and dykes.Primitive Mantle-normalized patterns of the three rock groups share an enriched LILE and depleted HFSE contents, with overall positive spikes of Pb and mildly fractionated LREE/HREE trends showing more similar affinity to global subducting sediments rather than to magmas emplaced in mid-plate settings (i.e., OIB). Initial Sr isotopic ratios of the least evolved compositions range from values lower than BSE (87Sr/86Sri = 0.7041) to radiogenic compositions (87Sr/86Sri = 0.7050). They reflect either FC-like processes, with 87Sr/86Sri up to 0.7064, or closed system fractional crystallization, with 87Sr/86Sri = 0.7046–0.7049. Initial Nd are higher than ChUR estimate for the most and the least evolved compositions (143Nd/144Ndi = 0.51267–0.51280), indicating provenance from isotopically depleted sources. Lead isotopic ratios are characterized by a remarkable homogeneous 206Pb/204Pb (18.95–19.04), with 207Pb/204Pb (15.65–15.72) and 208Pb/204Pb (38.87–39.21) slightly above the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line, pointing towards the EMII end-member.Geochemical modelling for the least evolved volcanic units indicate the likely generation from an amphibole-bearing spinel-lherzolitic source. P-T calculations for partial melting calculations gave lithospheric pressures for initial magma generation (0.8–1.3 GPa). Possible cause of melting might be related to passive upwelling of asthenosphere as a response to the local extension linked to the development of North Anatolian and East Anatolian Fault Zones. Anyhow, volcanic units from the KTJ display only limited geochemical signatures of garnet-bearing sources, or any HIMU-OIB like characteristics, as instead observed in the other portions of the Eastern Anatolia.The long-lasting complex tectonic evolution of the Eastern Anatolia is responsible for the large geochemical variability of the magmatic products. However, the general characteristics of KTJ volcanic rocks are mainly dominated by subduction-related signatures, with most of the primary magma characteristics having been heavily masked by fractionation and crustal assimilation processes.

Sr–Pb–Nd–Hf isotopes and 40Ar/39Ar ages reveal a Hawaii–Emperor-style bend in the Rurutu hotspot

Current Pacific absolute plate motion (APM) models include two major, long-lived hotspot tracks: the ∼80 Ma Hawaii–Emperor and ∼79 Ma Louisville seamount tracks. Prior to ∼50 Ma, these two tracks show significant inter-hotspot drift, most likely due to a strong southern motion of the Hawaiian plume. With the addition of a third long-lived Pacific hotspot track, featuring a well-constrained hotspot location and a Hawaii–Emperor-style bend, we can achieve a more robust evaluation of the relationship between APM models and inter-hotspot drift. Such a candidate exists in the Rurutu hotspot track. The youngest volcanism (∼10 to 0.2 Ma) associated with the Rurutu hotspot is located in the Cook-Austral Islands and is known as the “Atiu” or “Young Rurutu” trend. Here we show with 40Ar/39Ar ages and Sr–Pb–Nd–Hf “isotopic fingerprints” that islands and seamounts ranging between ∼70 to 40 Ma fit the compositional trend and APM model-predicted locations of the Rurutu hotspot.The Rurutu hotspot has a distinctive HIMU- to FOZO-like composition, characterized by high 206Pb/204Pb (≥20.0) and low 87Sr/86Sr (≤0.704) ratios. HIMU is a rare composition, found in only two other hotspots worldwide. Uniquely, elevated Rurutu 208Pb/204Pb ratios relative to 206Pb/204Pb define a steeper regression that more closely reproduces the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line than the shallower regression defined by traditional HIMU. Rurutu also is the only HIMU-type hotspot known to continue into the West Pacific, allowing its unique composition to effectively be used as a fingerprint. The Rurutu signature can be traced through non-Samoan “interloper seamounts” in the Samoan region, to a hotspot bend in the southern Tuvalu Islands, continuing through the ∼74 to 63 Ma Gilbert Ridge and the ∼120 to 78 Ma Wake seamounts. However, precisely locating the Hawaii–Emperor style bend in Rurutu is complicated by the younger Samoan hotspot partially overlapping the Rurutu hotspot track, and Cretaceous volcanic structures predating regional Rurutu volcanism. Therefore, we present a computational method that tests a range of preexisting APM models, all generating Hawaii–Emperor style bend locations for Rurutu within error of each other. Our results confirm the presence of a third major hotspot track in the Pacific as originally proposed by W.J. Morgan (1972), with a ∼50.5–49.0 Ma bend at 178.48°E and 8.56°S.Paleomagnetic data for Hawaii indicate that changes in southern hotspot motion may explain its bend, while negligible latitudinal motion in Louisville and an unchanging distance to Rurutu (Tarduno et al., 2003; Koppers et al., 2012; Konrad et al., 2018) are consistent with subduction-driven plume motion explaining the Hawaii–Emperor bend. The presence of a defined ∼135° bend in the Rurutu hotspot track, coupled with minimal inferred latitudinal motion at that time (Konrad et al., 2018), leaves room for a small change in Pacific plate motion at ∼50 Ma.

Petrogenesis of Miocene alkaline volcanic suites from western Bohemia: whole rock geochemistry and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic signatures

The Mid to Late Miocene intraplate alkaline volcanic suites of western Bohemia are relict of the intensive voluminous volcanism accompanied by large-scale uplift and doming. The association with the uplift of the NE flank of the Cheb–Domažlice Graben (CDG) is uncertain in view of the mostly transpressional tectonics of the graben. The volcanism is most probably of the Ohře/Eger Rift off-rift settings. Two cogenetic volcanic suites have been recognised: (i) silica-saturated to oversaturated consisting of olivine basalt–trachybasalt-(basaltic) trachyandesite–trachyte–rhyolite (13.5 to 10.2Ma) and (ii) silica-undersaturated (significantly Ne-normative) (melilite-bearing) olivine nephelinite–basanite–tephrite (18.3 to 6.25Ma). A common mantle source is suggested by similar primitive mantle-normalised incompatible element patterns and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions for the assumed near-primary mantle-derived compositions of both suites, i.e., olivine basalt and olivine nephelinite. Apparently, they were generated by different degrees of partial melting of a common mantle source, with garnet, olivine and clinopyroxene in the residuum. Negative Rb and K anomalies indicate a residual K-phase (amphibole/phlogopite) and melting of partly metasomatised mantle lithosphere. The evolution of the basanite–olivine basalt–trachybasalt-(basaltic) trachyandesite–trachyte–rhyolite suite suggests the presence of an assimilation–fractional crystallization process (AFC). Substantial fractionation of olivine, clinopyroxene, Fe–Ti oxide, plagioclase/alkali feldspar and apatite accompanied by a significant assimilation of magma en route by crustal material is most evident in evolved member, namely, trachytes and rhyolites. The magmas were probably sourced by both sub-lithospheric and lithospheric partly metasomatised mantle. The evolution of the (melilite-bearing) olivine nephelinite–basanite–tephrite suite is less clear because of its limited extent. Parental magma of both these rock suites is inferred to have originated by low-degree melting of the mantle source initiated at ca. 18Ma and reflects mixing of asthenosphere-derived melts with isotopically enriched lithospheric melts. The older Oligocene alkaline rocks (29–26Ma) occur within the Cheb–Domažlice Graben (CDG) locally but are significant in the closely adjacent neighbouring western Ohře Rift. The Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic composition of primitive volcanic rocks of both suites is similar to that of the European Asthenospheric Reservoir (EAR). Initial Pb isotopic data plot partly above the northern hemisphere reference line at radiogenic 206Pb/204Pb ratios of ∼19 to 20, and indicate the presence of a Variscan crustal component in the source.

Reinforcing the origin of volcanic rocks from the Massif Central through the isotopic composition of lead and strontium

The Massif Central in France hosts a large volume of Tertiary to Recent continental alkaline volcanism, with evidence of crustal contamination of the differentiated magmas. Detailed investigations on feldspathic basalts and basanite rocks from the Cantal Volcano exposed in the Allanche basin by lead and strontium isotopes i) reveal the role of the mantle components Depleted Mantle (DM) and Low Velocity Component (LVC, corresponding to the European asthenospheric reservoir) end-members based on 208Pb/204Pb and 206Pb/204Pb isotopic ratios, and ii) show contamination by meta-igneous granulites from the lower crust when using 207Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb ratios, as only part of the samples plot along the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line (NHRL) mixing line between DM and HIMU (High U/Pb Mantle) end-members. Cross plotting of Pb–Sr isotopes rules out recycled sediment and/or igneous granulite as potential crustal contaminant for the Cantal basalts, but suggests mixing between the low-velocity component (LVC) and EMI (Enriched Mantle I)-pelagic sediments. Replaced in the regional context of the Massif Central, we confirm the existence of several mantle sources and different crustal contaminations in the magmas of the Cantal Volcano.

Supra-subduction zone magmatism of the Neyriz ophiolite, Iran: constraints from geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes

The Neyriz ophiolite along the northeast flank of the Zagros fold-thrust belt in southern Iran is an excellent example of a Late Cretaceous supra-subduction zone (SSZ)-related ophiolite on the north side of the Neotethys. The ophiolite comprises a mantle sequence including lherzolite, harzburgite, diabasic dikes, and cumulate to mylonitic gabbro lenses, and a crustal sequence comprising a sheeted dike complex and pillow lavas associated with pelagic limestone and radiolarite. Mantle harzburgites contain less CaO and Al2O3, are depleted in rare earth elements, and contain spinels that are more Cr-rich than lherzolites. Mineral compositions of peridotites are similar to those of both abyssal and SSZ- peridotites. Neyriz gabbroic rocks show boninitic (SSZ-related) affinities, while crustal rocks are similar to early arc tholeiites. Mineral compositions of gabbroic rocks resemble those of SSZ-related cumulates such as high forsterite olivine, anorthite-rich plagioclase, and high-Mg# clinopyroxene. Initial εNd(t) values range from +7.9 to +9.3 for the Neyriz magmatic rocks. Samples with radiogenic Nd overlap with least radiogenic mid-ocean ridge basalts and with Semail and other Late Cretaceous Tethyan ophiolitic rocks. Initial 87Sr/86Sr ranges from 0.7033 to 0.7044, suggesting modification due to seafloor alteration. Most Neyriz magmatic rocks are characterized by less radiogenic 207Pb/204Pb (near the northern hemisphere reference line), suggesting less involvement of sediments in their mantle source. Our results for Neyriz ophiolite and the similarity to other Iranian Zagros ophiolites support a subduction initiation setting for its generation.

Depleted Basaltic Lavas from the Proto-Iceland Plume, Central East Greenland

New geochemical and isotopic data are presented for volumetrically minor, depleted low-Ti basalts that occur in the Plateau Basalt succession of central East Greenland (CEG), formed during the initial stages of opening of the North Atlantic at 55 Ma. The basalts have mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like geochemistry (e.g. depleted light rare earth elements) and are distinct from the high-Ti lavas that dominate the sequence. Rare earth element geochemistry implies derivation from a source more depleted than the typical MORB source, and suggests polybaric melting and contributions from both spinel- and garnet-facies mantle. The low-Ti basalts have Sr^Nd^ Pb^Hf isotopic characteristics that are similar to those of depleted magmas from Iceland (e.g. Theistareykir) and adjacent ridges (Kolbeinsey and Reykjanes) and distinct from global MORB (e.g. negative 207 Pb, and Hf and Nd isotope compositions that plot above the mantle reference line). Isotope and trace element data indicate the involvement of two depleted source components. One component has isotopic compositions similar to other depleted components identified in the North Atlantic and has high Rb/Zr and Ba/Nb. The second is isotopically less depleted with lower Rb/Zr and Ba/ Nb. Small degrees of crustal contamination (51%) by both amphibolitic and granulitic crust result in relatively large changes in isotopic composition (c .1 % lower for 206 Pb/ 204 Pb and 0·1% higher for 87 Sr/ 86 Sr depending on the contaminant). Negative Nb suggests a MORB affinity for the low-Ti magmas; however, they are distinguished from global normal (N)-MORB on the basis of vertical deviations from the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line (negative 207 Pb and positive 208 Pb), and relative enrichments in Ba, Sr and Pb. The isotopic compositions of the low-Ti CEG basalts suggest correlation with modern depleted components beneath Iceland and adjacent ridges, considered to be derived from upper mantle sources polluted by the Iceland plume. However, small positive Pb peaks when normalized to MORB, and lower Nb distinguish the CEG low-Ti basalts from depleted Icelandic compositions. The lower Nb (5 0) and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, and suggestion of higher 206 Pb/ 204 Pb in crustally uncontaminated parental melts imply a closer affinity to compositions from the oceanic ridges surrounding Iceland (especially the Reykjanes Ridge), yet they are subtly distinct on the basis of available trace element data. We suggest that this depleted component was an integral part of the plume that melted primarily during the rapid lithospheric uplift and extension associated with continental break-up.

Oceanic crust components in continental basalts from Shuangliao, Northeast China: Derived from the mantle transition zone?

Basaltic rocks from Shuangliao, northeast China include basanite, alkali olivine basalt, transitional basalt and sub-alkaline diabase. Ar–Ar dating shows that the basanites and alkali olivine basalts formed earlier (48.5–51Ma) than the transitional basalts and diabases (43–41.6Ma). These rocks have the highest Fe2O3 contents (13.4–14.6wt.%) and lowest (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios (<0.703) among the Cenozoic basalts from eastern China. On a primitive-mantle normalized variation diagram, they show positive Eu, Sr, Nb and Ta anomalies, and depletion in very incompatible elements (Rb, Ba, Th, U), reminiscent of HIMU-type oceanic island basalts. In particular, the basanites possess noticeable negative K anomalies. Nevertheless, their Pb isotopic compositions (206Pb/204Pb=18.13–18.34) do not show the high time-integrated 238U/204Pb mantle component expected for a HIMU basalt. On a 206Pb/204Pb versus 207Pb/204Pb diagram, most samples straddle the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line (NHRL), in salient contrast to the majority of Chinese Cenozoic basalts, which plot above the NHRL. These data, as well as a comparison with high-pressure experimental melts, are consistent with the presence of young subducted oceanic crust (SOC) in the source of Shuangliao basalts. Varying (87Sr/86Sr)i, La/Nb and Eu/Eu* with rock-type suggests that the upper oceanic crust (with variable amount of lower oceanic crust) was preferentially sampled by earlier (51–48Ma), highly alkaline rocks, whereas the lower oceanic crust was predominantly sampled in later (41–43Ma) transitional basalts and diabases. This temporal trend is attributed to the differential melting of a heterogeneous source in association with lithospheric thinning, during which fusible upper oceanic crust melted earlier than lower oceanic crust and peridotites. We postulate that the SOC components may have been derived from the seismically detected stagnant Pacific slab within the mantle transition zone. This hypothesis is supported by the same Indian MORB-like isotopic composition being found in the Shuangliao basalts and in the extinct Izanaghi–Pacific plate of NW Pacific. The latter has been subducting underneath the eastern Asian continent since the early Cretaceous.

LA-ICP-MS zircon dating, geochemistry, petrogenesis and tectonic implications of the Dapingliang Neoproterozoic granites at Kuluketage block, NW China

The Kuluketage block, located in the northeast Tarim Craton, is one of the largest Precambrian blocks in Xinjiang Province, China. Recently the Dapingliang skarn Cu deposit was discovered at the eastern part of the Kuluketage block. The ore bodies are developed in skarn rocks along the NE fault. This deposit formed at the middle Neoproterozoic (826Ma) and the ore-related plagiogranite also formed at 826Ma. Plagiogranite, biotite monzogranite and K-feldspar granite are the major rock types intruded in sequence in the Dapingliang area. The LA-ICP-MS zircon 206Pb/238U age of the monzogranite is 816±5Ma. The emplacement age of the Dapingliang granites is then constrained between ca. 816 and 826Ma. Geochemical characteristics show that the rocks belong to the low-Ca, high-K calc alkaline and shoshonite series. They are typical I-type granites. These series have a negative slope from La to Lu. The plagiogranite and biotite monzogranite show no (or weak negative) Eu anomaly, low (La/Yb)N (9.87–23.39), (Dy/Yb)N (1.01–1.14), high Sr (531–976ppm) and Sr/Y (30.5–50.7) with no garnet and plagioclase residual. The K-feldspar granite shows weak to high negative Eu anomaly and relative lower LREE/HREE fractionation. The low La/Yb and Sr/Y show that the origin has plagioclase residual and no garnet residual. Trace elements of the plutons show a negative anomaly of Nb, Ta, P, Zr and Ti, and positive anomaly of Ba, K, Sm and Sr with respect to primary mantle. ɛNd(t) varies from −6.1 to −14.6 and initial 87Sr/86Sr ranges from 0.70235 to 0.70912 for all the samples show lower crust origin and are contaminated with Archean rocks. Pb isotope show low radiogenetic 208Pb/204Pb and 207Pb/204Pb. The initial 208Pb/204Pb and 207Pb/204Pb are well above the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line. The Pb isotopes also indicate lower crust origin. These rocks maybe formed by partial melting of K-rich basalt of the lower crust during a period of transition from crustal compression to extension. There are also K-rich granites formed at the same tectonic setting in the Kuluketage block which contributed to the post-collisional granite belt derived from lower crust.

Compositional Characteristics and Spatial Distribution of Enriched Icelandic Mantle Components

We present compositional data on a suite of 18 primitive neovolcanic alkali basalts from three flank-zone regions in Iceland (Vestmannaeyjar in the south, Snaefell in the east, and Snaefellsnes in the west) that are peripheral to the main rift zones that are dominated by tholeiitic basalts. This study integrates He isotope data with radiogenic isotope data (Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf), stable isotope data (δ18O), and trace element data to characterize the compositional features of the trace element enriched components of the Icelandic mantle. We also present high-precision Pb isotope data on an additional 57 lava samples from the flank zones (including Oraefajokull in the SE) and the Northern and Eastern rift zones. Most Icelandic lavas have negative Δ207Pb (–4 to –1), with higher values (–1 to +4) found only in samples from Oraefajokull, Snaefell, and parts of the Reykjanes Peninsula. At Snaefell, this EM1-type component is characterized by a low δ18Oolivine signature (+4·1‰ to +4·6‰), moderate 206Pb/204Pb values (18·4–18·6) and mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like 3He/4He (6·9–7·5 R/RA). Samples from Vestmannaeyjar and Snaefellsnes have mantle-like δ18Oolivine (+4·9‰ to +5·0‰), and radiogenic 206Pb/204Pb values (18·9–19·3) that fall on the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line for 208Pb/204Pb (Δ208Pb –5 to +5). Compared with the Vestmannaeyjar lavas, Snaefellsnes lavas have higher La/YbN (5–11 vs 3–5), lower eNd (5·5–6·5 vs 6·8–7·6) and lower 3He/4He (6·3–8·6 R/RA vs 11·4–13·5 R/RA). Therefore, the most trace element enriched components in the Icelandic mantle are not the carriers of the high 3He/4He values (>15 R/RA) found in some lavas on Iceland and the adjacent ridges, and instead are consistent with degassed, recycled components. Even after excluding the EM1-type high Δ207Pb samples, high-precision Pb isotope data produce a kinked array on a 206Pb/204Pb vs 208Pb/204Pb plot, which is not consistent with simple binary mixing between two end-members. This requires significant lateral heterogeneity within the Icelandic mantle and the presence of more than just two compositionally distinct local mixing end-member components. Samples from each of the main axial rift zones define different trends. Despite the tectonic continuity between the Northern Volcanic Zone and the Eastern Volcanic Zone, lavas from these two rift zones define separate sub-parallel linear arrays. Lavas from the adjacent Western Volcanic Zone and the Eastern Volcanic Zone define oblique linear arrays that converge on a common local end-member that is not involved in the magmatism of the Northern Volcanic Zone. Therefore, there is a distinct NE–SW compositional heterogeneity within the Icelandic mantle.

Geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic characteristics of Paleocene plagioleucitites from the Eastern Pontides (NE Turkey)

In the southern zone of the Eastern Pontides, an isolated small (~ 1.5 km 2) outcrop of plagioleucitites occurs in the Aşutka thrust sheet. Field relations constrain the timing of volcanism between Maastrichtian and late Paleocene. The plagioleucitites consist of clinopyroxene, analcime (former leucite), Ti-magnetite, plagioclase, sanidine, apatite and accessory biotite. The rocks are represented by three geochemical and petrographic varieties: Types I and II are mostly blocks within epiclastic debris and type III are lava flows. All the rocks are considerably altered, whereby leucite is almost totally analcimized, apart from leucite inclusions within clinopyroxene that are remote from cracks. Furthermore, calcite and chlorite/smectite have been formed. Chemical effects of alteration are primarily reflected in an unsystematic variation of whole-rock K 2O/Na 2O ratios (0.12 to 1.71) and of the abundances of large-ion lithophile elements, such as Cs and K, and perhaps also Rb. Both the high modal abundance of (former) leucite and the composition of clinopyroxene indicate an ultrapotassic nature of the primary rocks. In primitive mantle-normalized element concentration diagrams, all samples are characterized by negative anomalies of Nb–Ta, Zr–Hf and Ti and a positive anomaly in Pb, testifying the orogenic nature of the volcanics. The rocks cover restricted ranges in all initial isotope ratios with 87Sr/ 86Sr(i) (60 Ma) ranging from 0.70537 to 0.70568, 143Nd/ 144Nd(i) from 0.512529 to 0.512585, 206Pb/ 204Pb(i) from 18.65 to 18.83, 207Pb/ 204Pb(i) from 15.65 to 15.66 and 208Pb/ 204Pb from 38.64 to 38.88. There is no obvious relationship between the degree of analcimization and the isotopic composition. In Pb–Pb variation diagrams, the rocks plot above the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line (NHRL). Chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns show no significant Eu anomaly, but a strong enrichment of the LREE over the HREE with (La/Yb) cn = 11.6–14.2, whereby normalized concentrations of Er to Lu are nearly similar. The Everek Hanları plagioleucitites represent the youngest products of Cretaceous to Paleocene arc magmatism of the Eastern Pontides, thus documenting the last stages of the Neotethyan subduction.

Elemental and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions of late Cenozoic Abaga basalts, Inner Mongolia: Implications for petrogenesis and mantle process

The Abaga volcanic field is one of the largest and least known areas of late Cenozoic intraplate igneous activities in eastern China. Twenty-seven Abaga basaltic rocks were analyzed for major and trace element contents, Sr‐Nd‐Pb isotopic compositions, and K‐Ar dating. These basalts predominantly consist of alkali basalt with subordinate transitional olivine tholeiite and rare quartz tholeiite. Combining our data of ten K‐Ar dates with previously published data showed that the time of the principal volcanic eruption was from the Miocene to the Quaternary (14.57~0.19 Ma). A large amount of volcanic activity is believed to have begun in the northwestern portion of the AVF and gradually migrated southeastwards with geological time. The Abaga basalts exhibit chondrite-normalized REE patterns, incompatible elements and isotopic ratios ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of 0.703654~0.704286 and 143 Nd/ 144 Nd of 0.512845~0.512891) affiliated with oceanic island basalts (OIBs). In general, they have relatively homogenous Pb isotopic compositions ( 206 Pb/ 204 Pb of 18.409~18.521, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb of 15.514~15.546, and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb of 38.259~38.447), indicating that these lava suites have a similar source. But the alkali basalts are relatively enriched in incompatible elements when compared to the tholeiites. This compositional difference may be attributable to the different degrees of partial melting in the mantle source. The Sr‐Nd‐Pb isotopic data indicated that the mantle sources of the late Cenozoic Abaga basalts display a DMM-EM2 array similar to those of Southeast Asia. The 208 Pb/ 204 Pb vs. 206 Pb/ 204 Pb plot was also significantly displaced above the Northern Hemisphere reference line in a pattern clustering near the less-depleted end of the field for the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridge basalt (MORB) that shows Dupal signatures. Therefore, we suggest that the Abaga basaltic magmas were dominantly derived from an Indian Ocean MORB-like depleted asthenospheric source with fewer contributions of an enriched mantle component (EM2) from the subcontinental lithospheric mantle.

Geochemistry of a sediment push-core from the Lucky Strike hydrothermal field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Hydrothermal sediment mineralogy and geochemistry can provide insights into seafloor mineralization processes and changes through time. We report a geochemical investigation of a short (22 cm) near-vent hydrothermal metalliferous sediment core from the Lucky Strike site (LS), on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). The sediment was collected from the base of an active white smoker vent and comprises pure hydrothermal precipitates, mainly chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrite and barite, with negligible detrital and biogenic inputs. Geochemically, the core is enriched in elements derived from high-temperature hydrothermalism (Fe, Cu, Zn and Ba) and depleted in elements derived from low-temperature hydrothermalism (Mn), and metasomatism (Mg). The U/Fe content ratio is elevated, particularly in the deeper parts of the core, consistent with uptake from seawater associated with sulphide alteration. Rare earth elements (REE) concentrations are low and chondrite-normalized patterns are characteristic of high-temperature vent fluids with an enrichment in light REE and a pronounced positive Eu anomaly. A stronger positive Eu anomaly associated with higher La n /Sm n at the core top is controlled by barite precipitation. The hydrothermal influence on the REE decreases downcore with some evidence for a stronger seawater influence at depth. Nd isotopes also exhibit an increased detrital/seawater influence downcore. Pb isotope ratios are uniform and plot on the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line in a small domain defined by LS basalts and exhibit no detrital or seawater influence. Lucky Strike sediments are derived from high-temperature mineralization and are overprinted by a weak seawater–sediment interaction when compared with other Atlantic hydrothermal sites such as TAG. The larger seawater input and/or a larger detrital contribution in deeper layers can be explained by variable hydrothermal activity during sediment formation, suggesting different pulses in activity of the LS hydrothermal system.

Geochemistry of a new enriched mantle type locality in the northern hemisphere: Implications for the origin of the EM-I source

Late Cretaceous (66.2 ± 0.5 Ma amphibole and 66.7 ± 0.2 Ma phlogopite 40Ar/ 39Ar ages) nephelinitic volcanic rocks from Godzilla Seamount in the eastern North Atlantic (34°N latitude) have trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf-isotope compositions similar to the Enriched Mantle I (EM-I) endmember, except for their low 207Pb/ 204Pb relative to 206Pb/ 204Pb ratios ( 206Pb/ 204Pb in = 17.7, 207Pb/ 204Pb in = 15.34) plotting below the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line on the uranogenic Pb isotope diagram. O isotope data on amphibole separates are mantle-like ( δ 18O = 5.6–5.8‰). Age and location of the isolated Godzilla Seamount, however, preclude it from being derived from the Madeira or Canary hotspots, making a lower-mantle origin unlikely. Therefore we propose derivation from a shallow (lithospheric/asthenospheric) melting anomaly. As observed in mid-ocean-ridge and ocean-island basalts, there is a systematic decrease of 207Pb/ 204Pb ratios (and Δ7/4) in the individual EM-I endmember type localities towards northern latitudes with Godzilla lying on the extension of this trend. This trend is mirrored in ultra-potassic volcanic rocks such as lamproites and kimberlites, which reflect the composition of enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Therefore, a global pattern in 207Pb/ 204Pb ratios and Δ7/4 is suggested. The geochemical composition of EM-I endmember type localities, including Godzilla lavas, and the enriched (DUPAL) anomaly in the southern hemisphere could reflect derivation from ancient, metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle. We propose a two-stage model to explain the trace element and isotopic composition of the EM-I mantle endmember localities worldwide: 1) during the early history of the Earth, subcontinental lithosphere was metasomatized by melts from subducted slabs along convergent margins generating high μ ( 238U/ 204Pb) sources, and 2) as the Earth cooled, hydrous fluids replaced hydrous melts as the main slab component metasomatizing the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (generating EM-I sources with lower μ). In accordance with this model, the global variations in 207Pb/ 204Pb ratios and Δ7/4 could reflect geographic differences in μ and/or the age at which the transition from stages 1 to 2 took place in the Archaean lithosphere. The model would require a re-definition of the EM-I endmember to low 206Pb/ 204Pb, high 208Pb/ 204Pb (positive Δ8/4) but variable 207Pb/ 204Pb (positive and negative Δ7/4).

Processes controlling along‐arc isotopic variation of the southern Izu‐Bonin arc

The southern Izu‐Bonin arc is the volcanic representation of Pacific Ocean lithosphere subduction beneath the oceanic crust of the Philippine Sea plate. We present new geochemical data including high‐precision Pb isotopic measurements from the 700 km length of this intraoceanic arc. An aim of this study is to link the along‐arc characteristics with variations in the subducting Pacific crust. Chemical variations have been previously recognized along the northern section of the arc as a southward decrease in 87Sr/86Sr and increase in 206Pb/204Pb. This trend continues into the southern arc as far as 27.5°N. An overall correlation between 87Sr/86Sr and fluid‐mobile element enrichment between 35 and 27.5°N implies a contribution of a slab‐derived fluid, mainly from altered oceanic crust and pelagic sediment. However, the observation that volcanoes plot systematically closer to the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line (NHRL) with increasing 206Pb/204Pb indicates that a component other than pelagic sediment and ocean crust plays a key role toward the south. South of 27.5°N, the along‐arc isotopic trend changes dramatically, with 87Sr/86Sr increasing southward from 27.5°N and the 206Pb/204Pb becoming highly radiogenic (∼19.6). This isotopic signature requires involvement of a component with high 206Pb/204Pb and low Δ8/4. Volcaniclastic sediments originating from HIMU oceanic islands on the subducting Pacific Plate are possible candidates to introduce such a component into the mantle wedge. This is consistent with the sedimentary section of ODP Site 801, located outboard of the Mariana arc which has &gt;40% mass of HIMU volcaniclastics. An aqueous fluid, not melt, has played a major role in the source magma compositions in the 27.5–25°N segment. South of 25°N the isotopic characteristics again change significantly. 143Nd/144Nd decreases down to 0.51280, but the high 206Pb/204Pb and low Δ8/4 signatures are retained. The remarkable Th enrichment associated with low 143Nd/144Nd, Δ8/4, and Δ7/4 suggests that melting a mixture of HIMU volcaniclastics and pelagic sediment is responsible for the geochemical characteristics of this most southerly section.

Origin of the deep fluids in the paleosubduction zones in western Tianshan: Evidence from Pb- and Sr-isotope compositions of high-pressure veins and host rocks

Fluids in the deep subduction zones play an important role in crust-mantle exchange related to the subduction process. Identification of fluids origin, internal or external, can help us to evaluate the contribution of crust materials to mantle during this process. High-pressure veins, which developed in the western Tianshan HP-metamorphic belt extensively, are the direct products of the fluids in subduction zones. In western Tianshan, high-pressure veins and host rocks have overall Pb- and Sr-isotope compositions. At t = 340 Ma, the high-pressure metamorphic time, the ratios of 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, 208 Pb/ 204 Pb and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of high pressure veins are 17.122―18.431, 15.477―15.611, 37.432―38.689 and 0.70529―0.70705, and are 17.605―17.834, 15.508―15.564, 37.080―38.145 and 0.70522―0.70685 for host rocks. However, high-pressure veins show a much larger variation in Pb-isotope compositions than host rocks. Plots of samples are distributed roughly along a line parallel to and far away from the Northern Hemisphere reference line (NHRL) on the plot of 206 Pb/ 204 Pb vs 207 Pb/ 204 Pb. On the plot of 206 Pb/ 204 Pb vs 208 Pb/ 204 Pb, plots of data are distributed nearby mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORB) area or along a line parallel to and not far away from NHRL, which shows that the data plots are farther away from MORB and ocean island basalts (OIB) areas on the plot of 206 Pb/ 204 Pb vs 207 Pb/ 204 Pb than on the plot of 206 Pb/ 204 Pb vs 208 Pb/ 204 Pb. The compositions of Pb- and Sr-isotopes of these high-pressure metamorphic rocks are between that of enriched mantle 1(EMI) and of sediments or upper crust. A notable characteristic can be seen from plots of Pb-isotope ratio vs Pb-isotope ratio and 206 Pb/ 204 Pb vs 87 Sr/ 86 Sr that array of plots shows an evident tendency of mixture of two end members. Ratios of Rb/Ba, Ce/Pb, Nb/U and Ta/U of high-pressure veins and host rocks are between that of OIB or MORB and that of continental crust, which indicates that continental crust materials probably have been incorporated into the rocks. The fluids in the paleosubduction zones in western Tianshan are mixtures of two sources, one originating from the devolatilzation of the host rocks with protolithes similar to ocean basalts from enriched mantle 1 (EMI), the other from the dehydration of subducted sediments.