U-shaped Rare Earth Element Patterns Research Articles

Forearc lava stratigraphy of the Beila Ophiolite, north-central Tibetan Plateau: Magmatic response to initiation of subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang Meso-Tethys Ocean

It has been suggested that boninites and associated volcanic rocks found in supra-subduction zone (SSZ) ophiolites form in a forearc setting, meaning that these rocks could provide crucial constraints on understanding the magmatic response to subduction initiation. Here, we report newly documented forearc basalts (FAB) and boninites from the Beila Ophiolite of the Bangong–Nujiang Suture Zone, north-central Tibetan Plateau. The lava stratigraphy, from bottom to up, includes FAB, basaltic boninites, and boninites, similar to lavas from the Izu–Bonin–Mariana (IBM) forearc. The FAB has geochemical characteristics similar to those of IBM forearc basalts, with nearly flat REE patterns, and shows enrichment in Rb, Ba, Pb, and Sr and depletion in Nb, Ta, and Zr, suggesting an origin by decompression melting of a depleted mantle source with minor input of subducting plate materials. The basaltic boninites and boninites show similar petrological features, as well as porphyritic textures with phenocrysts of olivine, clinopyroxene, and minor orthopyroxene. The basaltic boninites and boninites display uniform major- and trace-element characteristics that are similar to those of typical boninites, with high MgO (>10.78 wt%), Cr, and Ni contents, extremely low TiO2 (<0.21 wt%), rare earth element (REE), and high-field-strength element (HFSE) contents, and U-shaped REE patterns. In addition, the basaltic boninites and boninites have lower ɛNd(t) values than those of the FAB and display variable degrees of influence by slab melts and fluids. Geochemical modeling further suggests that the boninites were generated later during residual highly depleted mantle fluxing by the subducting plate. Together with contemporary boninitic and arc-related magmas along the Bangong-Nujiang Suture Zone and adjacent terranes (the North Lhasa and South Qiangtang), it suggests that the whole Meso-Tethys Ocean was subducted since the Middle Jurassic. Moreover, the Beila lava stratigraphy with FAB overlain by boninite is similar to that found in the IBM forearc and in many ophiolites (e.g., Troodos, Oman, and Xigaze), and represents a continuous geochemical transition from MORB-like to boninitic affinities. This similarity suggests that initiation of subduction might be commonly involved in the formation of ophiolites.

Formation of the Neoproterozoic ophiolites in southern China: New constraints from trace element and PGE geochemistry and Os isotopes

The South Anhui ophiolite (SAO) and the Northeast Jiangxi ophiolite (NJO) are the only two known Precambrian ophiolite suites within the eastern segment of the Jiangnan Orogen, South China. These ophiolites may provide significant insights into the convergence history of the South China Block during the Rodinia supercontinent cycle. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the SAO formed at 831 ± 5 Ma whereas the NJO formed at ca. 1000 Ma. Modal mineral assemblages and the preservation of relict primary mineral assemblages indicate that serpentinized peridotites from both ophiolites were mainly harzburgite in protolith. Relict olivine and orthopyroxene fragments within both ophiolite suites yield similarly high Mg# values. The serpentinized peridotite samples yield U-shaped rare earth element patterns and contain high-Cr# spinel, both of which are indicative of supra-subduction zone ophiolites. However, serpentinized peridotites within the SAO contain olivine and clinopyroxene with slightly higher Mg# values, and have lower platinum-group element (PGE) and trace element concentrations than peridotites from the NJO. The SAO peridotites are also depleted in Ir, Pt, and Pd, in contrast to the flat and chondrite-like PGE patterns of the NJO peridotites. These observations indicate that compared with the NJO, SAO peridotites were subjected to a greater degree of melt extraction prior to emplacement.Furthermore, gabbro and basalt from the SAO have N-MORB- or arc-like geochemical characteristics that reflect the incorporation of crustal materials into the mantle source, suggesting that this ophiolite formed in a continental marginal back-arc basin setting. In comparison, the less pronounced depletions in trace elements and PGEs, as well as the restricted 187Os/188Os isotopic compositions of NJO serpentinized peridotites, suggest that they formed in a fore-arc setting. The contrasting geochemical characteristics of the two ophiolite suites indicate that they were generated during distinct stages of convergence along the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Block. Our results show that ophiolite suites produced within a single orogenic cycle could preserve diverse geochemical characteristics, and may provide insights into the initiation and cessation of continental amalgamation.

Tectonic Evolution of the Western Yarlung Zangbo Ophiolitic Belt, Tibet: Implications from the Petrology, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry of the Peridotites

The northern subbelt in the western segment of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone, Tibet, China, includes the Dajiweng, Kazhan, Baer, Cuobuzha, Jianabeng, and Zhalai ophiolitic massifs. These ophiolites are strongly dismembered, typically 1–2 km wide and 10–20 km long, and composed chiefly of peridotites with minor volcanic and siliceous sedimentary rocks. No cumulates have been observed in the northern ophiolitic belt. Harzburgites of the Dajiweng and Zhalai ophiolites have prominent light rare earth element (LREE)–enriched (U-shaped or spoon-shaped) chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns. Such patterns have generally been interpreted as the result of modification by suprasubduction zone (SSZ) melts/fluids. However, the abundance of peridotites sampled from mid-ocean ridge with similar LREE-enriched REE patterns suggest that this feature is not unique to SSZ peridotites. The U-shaped REE patterns of the Dajiweng harzburgites, combined with their low heavy rare earth element (HREE) contents and their mineral chemistry, indicate that these rocks most likely have been modified by SSZ melts (e.g., boninitic melts) in a forearc setting. In contrast, the Zhalai harzburgites, which also have U-shaped REE patterns but are characterized by high HREE contents, high Al2O3/SiO2 ratios, low MgO/SiO2 ratios, and relatively fertile mineral compositions, most likely have been refertilized in a mid-ocean ridge setting. The Zhalai, Kazhan, Baer, and Cuobuzha peridotites are similar to abyssal and back-arc peridotites in mineral chemistry and whole-rock geochemistry. Combining the mafic intrusions from Jianabeng, Baer, and Cuobuzha massifs, we propose that the ophiolites in the northern belt of the western segments have been trapped in an intraoceanic forearc–arc–back-arc system. According to the zircon U-Pb age of mafic intrusions, the geochemical characteristics of both mafic and ultramafic rocks, a detrital zircon study of Zhongba terrane, and the klippen structure of ophiolitic massif in the southern belt, we conclude that the northern and southern ophiolitic belts were developed in the same intraoceanic subduction system.

Platinum-group element (PGE) geochemistry of Mesoarchean ultramafic–mafic cumulate rocks and chromitites from the Nuasahi Massif, Singhbhum Craton (India)

The Mesoarchean Nuasahi Massif in eastern India comprises a lower ultramafic and an upper gabbro unit. The lower unit consists of orthopyroxenite, harzburgite, dunite and three chromitite bands. All these rocks are characterized by adcumulate textures. The upper unit consists of gabbro with magnetite layers. At the contact between the eastern orthopyroxenite and the lower part of the upper gabbro, a sulfide-rich breccia zone with platinum-group-element (PGE) mineralization is present. Detailed studies of major-, trace- and PGE abundances suggest that the ultramafic-mafic cumulate rocks, chromitites and breccias are genetically linked. The chondrite-normalized U-shaped rare earth element (REE) patterns of the harzburgite resemble those of Phanerozoic boninite. The overall U-shaped REE patterns of the ultramafic rocks indicate derivation of the parental magma from a metasomatized depleted mantle source. The upper gabbros have higher relative abundances of trace elements than the lower ultramafic rocks, due to crystallization from a fractionated magma. Whole-rock geochemistry suggests that the lower ultramafic cumulate rocks with chromitites crystallized from a boninitic parental magma, whereas the upper gabbros with magnetite bands may be formed from residual boninitic magma that was contaminated by more tholeiitic-like magmas. The boninitic parental magma that crystallized to form the lower ultramafic unit was most likely generated by second-stage melting of a depleted metasomatized mantle source in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) setting and emplaced into crustal sequences. The PGE abundances in the Nuasahi rocks provide additional constraints on their geochemical evolution during the Mesoarchean. Primitive-mantle-normalized PGE diagrams show (1) Ru enrichment in chromitites (Pd/Ru = 0.17 - 0.64), (2) Pd/Pt fractionation in both chromitites (Pd/Pt = 3.1) and ultramafic rocks (Pd/Pt = 0.62), (3) marked Ir depletion in ultramafic rocks (Pd/Ir = 6.3) and (4) overall PGE enrichment in chromitites (PGEtotal = 142 – 502 ppb). The large Ir depletion in the ultramafic rocks, and the overall Ir-depleted character of other rocks from the Nuasahi Massif, may be related to multiple episodes of melt extraction from the mantle source, giving it a subchondritic character.

Melt– and Fluid–Rock Interaction in Supra-Subduction Lithospheric Mantle: Evidence from Andesite-hosted Veined Peridotite Xenoliths

We report petrographic, major and trace element data for xenoliths from the andesitic Avacha volcano (Kamchatka), which host orthopyroxene (opx)-rich veins of mantle origin formed either by rapid crystallization of intruded melts or by their interaction with the host harzburgite. Studies of such veins may give better insights into sub-arc mantle processes (in particular on a millimetre to centimetre scale) than those of (1) arc xenoliths that do not preserve solidified initial metasomatizing agents, (2) massif peridotites, probably modified during their emplacement, or (3) arc magmatic rocks, which provide indirect information. We seek to trace the evolution of these agents as they react with the host peridotite and to assess their impact on the wall-rocks. The veins cross-cut spinel harzburgite and consist mainly of opx with minor olivine, clinopyroxene (cpx) and/or amphibole. We identify 'rapidly crystallized' veins that cut wall-rock olivine without petrographic evidence of reaction, and 'reactive' veins subdivided into 'thick' (0*5-1 mm) and 'thin' (<€0*5 mm). Minerals in the rapidly crystallized veins are depleted in rare earth elements (REE) and high field strength elements (HFSE) and enriched in fluid-mobile elements relative to REE. Minerals in the reactive veins have higher Ti, Al, Cr and alkalis than minerals in the rapidly crystallized veins, as well as highly variable trace element abundances, especially in reaction zones, thin veins and related metasomatic pockets in the host peridotite. They commonly show U-shaped REE patterns and positive Zr and Hf spikes in normalized trace element patterns. Our data, supported by recent reports, show that the rapidly crystallized veins formed between 1200°C and 900°C from a liquid derived by fluid-fluxed melting of a refractory (harzburgitic) mantle source depleted in heavy REE. The reactive veins formed via 'fractionation-reactive percolation' from fractionated hydrous derivatives of the melts that precipitated the rapidly crystallized veins. These liquids re-equilibrated with the host through diffusion and fluid-assisted dissolution-precipitation reactions, whose end-products are thin reactive veins and metasomatic pockets with distinctive U-shaped REE patterns and Zr-Hf spikes. Some Avacha xenoliths contain veins of Fe-rich amphibole deposited from the host magma that penetrated fractures in the peridotite fragments during their transport to the surface. These products of contamination were mistakenly attributed to mantle metasomatism in previous studies of other suites of Avacha mantle xenoliths. Trace element abundances in such veins are higher than for reactive veins of mantle origin, but both have similar trace element patterns (U-shaped REE patterns and Zr-Hf spikes) suggesting that 'fractionation-reactive percolation' also took place during their formation and is common during interaction of refractory peridotites with percolating melts and fluids. Metasomatic pockets of cpx and amphibole replacing coarse opx and spinel in the host peridotites commonly occur in the vicinity of fractures that lead to reactive opx-rich veins. The cpx and amphiboles in the pockets show progressive depletion in middle REE and HFSE at constant light REE and/or large ion lithophile elements away from the veins towards the host. This indicates that residual hydrous fluids expelled from the source veins enriched the wall-rock peridotites in incompatible elements but were progressively modified by reaction with the host with increasing percolation distance. This process produces disseminated pockets of metasomatic minerals with a broad range of compositions from a single initial liquid and strongly affects the trace element budgets of the harzburgite xenoliths from Avacha. We show that melts and fluids are likely to undergo profound transformation as they travel through and react with the refractory host mantle, even on a millimetre to centimetre scale. The composition of the initial metasomatizing agents can only be inferred from the composition of the metasomatic phases in mantle rocks combined with appropriate partition coefficients if these phases come from well-equilibrated mineral assemblages located close to melt and/or fluid sources.

Geochemistry of metasomatized peridotites above subducting slab: a case study of hydrous metaperidotites from Happo-O'ne complex, central Japan

Hydrous peridotites from the Happo-O’ne area in central Japan, which form a serpentinite melange in the high-P/T Renge metamorphic belt, vary from depleted lherzolites to harzburgites with subordinate dunite that contains primary chromian spinel with Cr# = 0.72 on average. Systematic variations of major and trace elements of bulk-rock compositions possibly resulted from various degrees of partial melting experienced by their protoliths (15% to <30% fractional melting). Some hydrous peridotites from the tremolite zone are representatives of the mantle peridotite facies with Ti-rich chromian spinel (up to 5.7 wt% TiO2), and these peridotites have the same compositions as other peridotites except for enrichment in Na2O, Ba, and Ti. Their bulk rocks show U-shaped PM (primitive mantle)-normalized REE (rare earth elements) patterns (0.05-0.5 times PM) and are enriched with Cs, Pb, Sr, Ba, and Rb (0.2-20 times PM), indicating metasomatism by fluids derived from the subducting slab. The hydrous peridotites contain low amounts of Zr, Hf, Ta, and Nb (HFSEs), which possibly indicate that metasomatizing melts are not involved. These results are confirmed by in -situ analysis of tremolites that show U-shaped REE patterns (0.1-3 times PM) and are highly enriched with fluid -mobile elements (B, Li, Cs, Sr, and Pb; 1-100 times PM) and Sc relative to HFSEs.

Late Paleozoic and Triassic plume-derived magmas in the Canadian Cordillera played a key role in continental crust growth

Two major Late Paleozoic–Triassic oceanic terranes are exposed in the North America Cordillera. Slide Mountain Terrane is made up of dolerites, pillow basalts associated with cumulate gabbros and peridotites ranging in age from Carboniferous to Permian. Cache Creek Terrane consists of tectonic slices of Paleozoic platform carbonates, undated cumulate gabbros intruded by dolerites, foliated ultramafic rocks and mafic volcanic rocks interbedded within Upper Triassic siliceous and volcaniclastic sediments. Among the Permian (Slide Mountain) and Upper Triassic (Cache Creek) volcanic rocks, four types have been distinguished. Type 1 is geochemically similar to N-MORB. Type 2 is mildly to highly enriched in LREE, Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta and Th, and differs from Type 1 by lower εNd and higher Pb isotopic ratios. It displays alkaline affinities. Types 3 and 4 occur only in the Cache Creek Terrane. Type 3 has flat REE patterns similar to oceanic plateau basalts and isotope compositions intermediate between Types 1 and 2. Type 4 is distinguished from Type 3 by convex REE patterns and higher Pb isotopic ratios. Cumulate peridotites and gabbros are LREE-depleted and their high εNd suggest that they derived from the melting of a depleted MORB-type mantle source. The foliated ultramafic rocks are either serpentinized harzburgites (Trembleur ultramafics) or dunites, harburgites and minor lherzolites (Murray Ridge), which are intruded by undeformed pyroxenite veins. The ultramafic rocks have very low contents of rare earth elements (REE) and incompatible elements, and U-shaped REE patterns. The pyroxene-bearing peridotites are distinguished from the Trembleur harzburgites by an absence of Nb negative anomalies and lower ( 87Sr/ 86Sr) i ratios. Slide Mountain and Cache Creek Terranes formed in different tectonic settings. Slide Mountain basin, fringing the North American margin, was probably floored by oceanic crust locally thickened by oceanic island magmas. Indeed, in the Slide Mountain Terrane, N-MORB type basalts predominate and are associated with minor alkaline volcanic rocks within the same thrust sheet. Correlations between incompatible elements and values of the εNd of the Slide Mountain rocks suggest that the N-MORB-type basalts and alkaline rocks are genetically linked. N-MORB type basalts and alkaline volcanic rocks could derive from the mixing of depleted MORB-type and enriched Oceanic island Basalt-type mantle sources. The Cache Creek Terrane may represent remnants of a Late Triassic oceanic plateau because plume-related volcanic rocks predominate while N-MORB type rocks are represented solely by cumulate gabbros and sheeted dykes. The Murray Ridge peridotites could represent the roots of the oceanic plateau. We conclude that the Slide Mountain and Cache Creek Terranes contributed to the growth of the North American continent as when they were accreted to the craton during the Early Triassic and Jurassic times.

Multiple origins for mantle harzburgites: examples from the Lewis Hills, Bay of Islands ophiolite, Newfoundland

Harzburgite is a common rock type in ophiolites and alpine peridotites. It is considered to be typical of a residual mantle mineralogy, i.e., material left behind after periods of extensive mantle melting and melt–rock and fluid–rock interactions that produce a variety of basaltic melts. The processes by which these melts and residua are produced are complicated; therefore, to fully understand them, it is necessary to undertake detailed and integrated field, petrographic, and geochemical studies of large exposures of mantle material as part of the investigative process. Such a study in the Bay of Islands ophiolite exposed in the Lewis Hills of Newfoundland has enabled the identification of four major types of harzburgite, which represent examples of a complete spectrum of this rock type. Depleted, residual harzburgite and associated dunite, with positive-sloping rare earth element patterns, may develop U-shaped rare earth element patterns and a visible orthopyroxene enrichment by the introduction of a component of high-Mg, quartz-normative melt, or a hydrous fluid component with a high Si/Al ratio. Conversely, U-shaped rare earth element patterns and apparent orthopyroxene depletion may occur by the addition of low-Si/Al, hydrous fluid. Such enrichments and depletions of orthopyroxene by solution–precipitation reactions may result not only in the variety of harzburgite types, which on partial melting might produce a range of melt products, but also in fronts of harzburgite migrating through the mantle.

Rare earth element geochemistry of Thetford Mines ophiolite complex, Northern Appalachians, Canada

The Thetford Mines complex is a complete ophiolite which is part of an ultramafic-mafic belt within Quebec Appalachians. These allochtonous bodies were emplaced during the Early Ordovician. The Thetford Mines complex comprises a lower unit of metamorphic harzburgite (in which tabular, dyke-like, dunitic bodies occur) overlain successively by ultramafic cumulates, mafic cumulates, ophitic gabbros, diabase sills and dykes, and basaltic volcanic rocks. Field evidence, petrography and chemical data indicate that the tabular dunitic bodies formed when fractures in the metamorphic harzburgite (which constituted the floor of the magma chamber) filled with early cumulates (i.e., olivine±chromite). Representative rocks from all units were analyzed for major and rare earth elements (REE). Metamorphic harzburgite samples from Thetford Mines complex have U-shaped chondrite-normalized REE patterns. Pyroxenites and wehrlites of the cumulate sequence are all strongly light-REE depleted and have heavy REE ranging from 0.4 to 1.5 times chondrite. REE data from ultramafic and volcanic rocks of Thetford Mines complex and geochemical modelling indicate that the metamorphic harzburgite has the chemical characteristics of depleted upper mantle residues with U-shaped patterns, and that the ultramafic cumulates crystallized from magmas having different La/Yb ratios.

Rare-earth element geochemistry of alnoitic Cretaceous rocks and ultramafic xenoliths from Île Bizard (Québec, Canada)

The Île Bizard intrusion, located ∼ 10 km west of Montréal, is a Cretaceous alnoitic intrusion containing numerous ultramafic xenoliths. Four samples of the alnoite matrix and ten ultramafic xenoliths (lherzolite, spinel-bearing lherzolite, harzburgite, spinel-bearing harzburgite, websterite, garnet-spinel websterite) were analysed for major and rare-earth elements (REE). The alnoite samples are strongly LREE-enriched, with chondrite-normalized [ La Yb ] CN = 135−590 . Their REE abundances are similar to those of a melt produced by a small degree of partial melting of a LREE-enriched garnet lherzolite mantle source. All Île Bizard ultramafic xenoliths have [ La Yb ] CN > 1 , and some harzburgite xenoliths have U-shaped REE patterns. Websterite xenoliths are in equilibrium with their alnoite host with respect to REE. Geochemical data indicate that harzburgite xenoliths are residues of partial melting from the upper mantle.

Temporal variation of isotope and rare earth element abundances in volcanic rocks from Guam: implications for the evolution of the Mariana Arc

Volcanic rocks exposed on Guam were erupted during the Late Middle Eocene (Facpi Fm.), Late Eocene-Oligocene (Alutom Fm.) and Miocene (Umatac Fm.). Four magma series are recognized: the boninite series (44 m.y.b.p.), the tholeiite and calc-alkaline series, which were erupted along with boninite series lavas at 32–36 m.y.b.p. and high-K lavas of the Umatac Fm. (14 m.y.b.p.). Isotope and and rare earth element (REE) characteristics of the four magma series are distinct. Boninite series lavas have U-shaped REE patterns, relatively low 143Nd/144Nd (0.51294–0.51298), and high 206Pb/204Pb (19.0–19.2). Tholeiite series lavas are LREE (light REE) depleted, and have high 143Nd/144Nd (0.51304–0.51306) and low 206Pb/204Pb (18.4–18.5). Calc-alkaline series lavas have Sr, Nd and Pb isotope ratios similar to tholeiite series lavas, but flat to U-shaped REE patterns. Umatac Fm. lavas are strongly LREE-enriched, and have higher 87Sr/ 86Sr (0.70375–0.70380) and 207Pb/204Pb relative to 206Pb/ 204Pb than Facpi and Alutom Fm. lavas.