Kiyoto Futa

Trace-element and Sr, Nd, Pb, and O isotopic composition of Pliocene and Quaternary alkali basalts of the Patagonian Plateau lavas of southernmost South America

The Pliocene and Quaternary Patagonian alkali basalts of southernmost South America can be divided into two groups. The “cratonic” basalts erupted in areas of Cenozoic plateau volcanism and continental sedimentation and show considerable variation in 87Sr/86Sr (0.70316 to 0.70512), 143Nd/144Nd (ɛNd) and 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb ratios (18.26 to 19.38, 15.53 to 15.68, and 38.30 to 39.23, respectively). These isotopic values are within the range of oceanic island basalts, as are the Ba/La, Ba/Nb, La/Nb, K/Rb, and Cs/Rb ratios of the “cratonic” basalts. In contrast, the “transitional” basalts, erupted along the western edge of the outcrop belt of the Pliocene and Quaternary plateau lavas in areas that were the locus of earlier Cenozoic Andean orogenic arc colcanism, have a much more restricted range of isotopic composition which can be approximated by 87Sr/86Sr=0.7039±0.0004, ɛNd, 206Pb/204Pb=18.60±0.08, 207Pb/204Pb=15.60±0.01, and 208Pb/204Pb=38.50±0.10. These isotopic values are similar to those of Andean orogenic are basalts and, compared to the “cratonic” basalts, are displaced to higher 87Sr/86Sr at a given 143Nd/144Nd and to higher 207Pb/204Pb at a given 208Pb/204Pb. The “transitional” basalts also have Ba/La, Ba/Nb, La/Nb, and Cs/Rb ratios higher than the “cratonic” and oceanic island basalts, although not as high as Andean orogenic are basalts. In contrast to the radiogenic isotopes, δ18O values for both groups of the Patagonian alkali basalts are indistinguishable and are more restricted than the range reported for Andean orogenic are basalts. Whole rock δ18O values calculated from mineral separates for both groups range from 5.3 to 6.5, while measured whole rock δ18O values range from 5.1 to 7.8. The trace element and isotopic data suggest that decreasing degrees of partial melting in association with lessened significance of subducted slabderived components are fundamental factors in the west to east transition from arc to back-arc volcanism in southern South America. The “cratonic” basalts do not contain the slab-derived components that impart the higher Ba/La, Ba/Nb, La/Nb, Cs/Rb, 87Sr/86Sr at a given 143Nd/144Nd, 207Pb/204Pb at a given 208Pb/204Pb, and δ18O to Andean orogenic arc basalts. Instead, these basalts are formed by relatively low degrees of partial melting of heterogeneous lower continental lithosphere and/or asthenosphere, probably due to thermal and mechanical pertubation of the mantle in response to subduction of oceanic lithosphere below the western margin of the continent. The “transitional” basalts do contain components added to their source region by either (1) active input of slab-derived components in amounts smaller than the contribution to the mantle below the arc and/or with lower Ba/La, Ba/Nb, La/Nb, and Cs/Rb ratios than below the arc due to progressive downdip dehydration of the subducted slab; or (2) subarc source region contamination processes which affected the mantle source of the “transitional” basalts earlier in the Cenozoic.

Pb-, Sr- and Nd-isotopic systematics and chemical characteristics of Cenozoic basalts, eastern China

Abstract Forty-eight Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary basaltic rocks from northeastern and east-central China have been analyzed for major-element composition, selected trace-element contents, and Pb, Sr and Nd isotopic systematics. The study area lies entirely within the marginal Pacific tectonic domain. Proceeding east to west from the continental margin to the interior, the basalts reveal an isotopic transition in mantle source material and/or degree of crustal interaction. In the east, many of the rocks are found to merge both chemically and isotopically with those previously reported from the Japanese and Taiwan island-arc terrains. In the west, clear evidence exists for component(s) of Late Archean continental lithosphere to be present in some samples. A major crustal structure, the Tan-Lu fault, marks the approximate boundary between continental margin and interior isotopic behaviors. Although the isotopic signature of the western basalts has characteristics of lower-crustal contamination, a subcrustal lithosphere, i.e. an attached mantle keel, is probably more likely to be the major contributor of their continental “flavor”. The transition from continental margin to interior is very pronounced for Pb isotopes, although Sr and Nd isotopes also combine to yield correlated patterns that deviate strikingly from the mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) and oceanic-island trends. The most distinctive chemical attribute of this continental lithosphere component is its diminished U/Pb as reflected in the Pb isotopic composition when compared to sources of MORB, oceanic-island and island-arc volcanic rocks. Somewhat diminished Sm/Nd and elevated Rb/Sr, especially in comparison to the depleted asthenospheric mantle, are also apparent from the Nd- and Sr-isotopic ratios.

Sr and Nd isotopic and trace element compositions of Quaternary volcanic centers of the Southern Andes

Isotopic compositions of samples from six Quaternary volcanoes located in the northern and southern extremities of the Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ, 33–46°S) of the Andes and from four centers in the Austral Volcanic Zone (AVZ, 49–54°S) range for 87Sr/86Sr from 0.70280 to 0.70591 and for 143Nd/144Nd from 0.51314 to 0.51255. The ranges are significantly greater than previously reported from the southern Andes but are different from the isotopic compositions of volcanoes in the central and northern Andes. Basalts and basaltic andesites from three centers just north of the Chile Rise-Trench triple junction have 87Sr/86Sr,143Nd/144Nd,La/Yb,Ba/La, and Hf/Lu that lie within the relatively restricted ranges of the basic magmas erupted from the volcanic centers as far north as 35°S in the SVZ of the Andes. The trace element and Sr and Nd isotopic characteristics of these magmas may be explained by source region contamination of subarc asthenosphere, with contaminants derived from subducted pelagic sediments and seawater-altered basalts by dehydration of subducted oceanic lithosphere. In the northern extremity of the SVZ between 33° and 34°S, basaltic andesites and andesites have higher 87Sr/86Sr,Rb/Cs, and Hf/Lu, and lower 143Nd/144Nd than basalts and basaltic andesites erupted farther south in the SVZ, which suggests involvement of components derived from the continental crust. In the AVZ, the most primitive sample, high-Mg andesite from the southernmost volcanic center in the Andes (54°S) has Sr and Nd isotopic compositions and KR/b and Ba/La similar to MORB. The high La/Yb of this sample suggests formation by small degrees of partial melting of subducted MORB with garnet as a residue. Samples from centers farther north in the AVZ show a regionally regular northward increase in SiO2, K2O, Rb, Ba,Ba/La, and 87Sr/86Sr/ and decrease in MgO, Sr,KR/b,Rb/Cs, and 143Nd/144Nd, suggesting increasingly greater degrees of fractional crystallization and associated intra-crustal contamination.

Nd and Sr isotopic studies on cenozoic mafic lavas from West Antarctica: Another source for continental alkali basalts

The Nd and Sr isotopic ratios on a suite of continental alkali basalts from Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica, define a change in the source over the range of K/Ar dates between 1 and 28 m.y. ago. The 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratios (0.7026 to 0.7031) are unusually low for continental alkali basalts, although the corresponding 143Nd/144Nd ratios (0.51283 to 0.51299) are similar to previously reported values. On a 87Sr/86Sr vs. 143Nd/144Nd diagram, they define a trend on the low 87Sr/86Sr side of the “mantle array”, which has a slope steeper than the mantle array.An explanation for the light rare earth elements (LREE) enrichment of the alkali basalts, with high 143Nd/144Nd ratios and low 87Sr/86Sr ratios, is suggested by a model which modifies the source region with a mantle-derived, CO2-enriched metasomatic fluid.

Proterozoic zircon from augen gneiss, Yukon-Tanana Upland, east-central Alaska

U-Th-Pb analyses of zircons from an ortho-augen gneiss body in the Yukon-Tanana Upland of east-central Alaska yield strong evidence for the presence of early Proterozoic material in this area. U-Pb data define a chord that intersects concordia at about 2,300 and 345 m.y. We consider two interpretations: (1) the protolith was intruded during the Proterozoic and was subsequently metamorphosed in the Paleozoic or, more likely, (2) the protolith was intruded in the Paleozoic and incorporated material of Proterozoic age. An Sm-Nd model age of about 1,900 m.y. on a whole-rock sample of augen gneiss is additional evidence for the presence of Proterozoic material in the gneiss. K-Ar and U-Th-Pb dating of mica and sphene, respectively, reveal that younger thermal events occurred at least as recently as 110 m.y. ago.

Sr and Nd isotopic variations in ferromanganese crusts from the Central Pacific: Implications for age and source provenance

Abstract Isotopic analyses of two hydrogenetic ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) crusts from volcanic edifices in the central Pacific Ocean reveal systematic variations in 87 Sr 86 Sr and 143 Nd 144 Nd , with both ratios decreasing as a function of depth into the Fe-Mn crusts. Leaching experiments suggest that Sr in the crusts is contained in at least two discrete sites. A loosely bound Sr, dominated by modern marine Sr, is removed by leaching with a 10 percent acetic acid solution. The 87 Sr 86 Sr ratio of the residue is significantly less than the 87 Sr 86 Sr ratio of the unleached material. The Sr-isotope ratios of leached samples are compared with the temporal variation in seawater to provide ages for layers within the Fe-Mn crusts. These data suggest that the oldest crust layers began to accrete in the early to middle Miocene. Correlated to the 87 Sr 86 Sr variations, 143 Nd 144 Nd ratios suggest that the Nd-isotope composition of central Pacific Ocean seawater also changed systematically over this time interval, or that the Fe-Mn crusts simply incorporated Nd from various parts of an isotopieally heterogeneous ocean as the crusts were carried along with the oceanic plate. In contrast to the layered ferromanganese crust, the phosphatized volcaniclastic substrates have Sr and Nd isotope compositions that are consistent with their volcanic origin.

Sm-Nd systematics of a tonalitic augen gneiss and its constituent minerals from northern Michigan

Abstract The Sm-Nd isotopic system of a tonalitic augen gneiss and its constituent minerals from northern Michigan was disturbed during metamorphism. Sm-Nd zircon ages are lower than the wholerock Sm-Nd model age. However, closely associated pairs of minerals (for example, sphene and biotite or apatite and plagioclase) retain their apparent metamorphic ages. The Sm-Nd model age for the tonalitic augen gneiss of 3919 ± 30 myr , appears to reflect open system behavior during metamorphism. A mineralogically different gneiss from the same location has a Sm-Nd model age of 3520 ± 70 myr . The two whole rocks differ in their Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr systematics and in their chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns. The whole-rock-normalized mineral REE patterns show the contribution of the major and trace minerals to the REE content of the whole rock. The trace minerals contain a significant amount of the total REE.

Rare earth abundances and Rb-Sr systematics of basalts, gabbro, anorthosite and minor granitic rocks from the Indian Ocean Ridge System, Western Indian Ocean

Basalts dredged from the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge System have rare earth, Rb, and Sr concentrations like those from other mid-ocean ridges, but have slightly higher Sr87/Sr86 ratios. Underlying gabbroic complexes are similar to the basalts in Sr87/Sr86, but are poorer K, Rb, and in rare earths. The chemical and isotopic data, as well as the geologic relations suggest a cumulate origin for the bulk of the gabbroic complexes.

Trace element and strontium isotope characteristics of volcanic rocks from Isla Tortuga: a young seamount in the Gulf of California

Abstract Isla Tortuga is a small isolated central volcano which is located near an actively spreading trough in the Gulf of California. The basalt lavas from Tortuga which have the highest Mg/Fe and Ni contents have trace element abundances and ratios and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr which are similar to those of mid-ocean ridge tholeiite. The major element, rare earth element and Sr abundances of fractionated tholeiite (low Mg/Fe) and tholeiitic andesite of Tortuga are consistent with an origin by closed-system fractional crystallization. This hypothesis is not supported by K, Na, Rb and Ba abundances in the lavas nor by their variable 87 Sr/ 86 Sr (0.7024–0.7035). It is proposed that the apparent decoupling of light rare earth elements, other incompatible trace elements and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr is due to contamination of some Tortuga magmas while they are fractionated in a high-level crustal magma chamber. The mantle source of least-contaminated, high Mg/Fe basalt lavas of Tortuga is similar, although not identical to the source of normal mid-ocean ridge tholeiite; significant differences exist. The reasons for these differences are not yet known.

Chemical and isotopic diversity in basalts dredged from the East Pacific Rise at 10°S, the fossil Galapagos Rise and the Nazca plate

Abstract We present petrographic, chemical and isotopic data for fresh lava samples dredged from three regions: (1) the fossil Galapagos Rise; (2) an elongate volcano near this extinct spreading center; and (3) the East Pacific Rise at 10°S. The samples from the Galapagos Rise are among the first samples from any fossil spreading center to be analyzed. Alkalic picrites from the elongate seamount and transitional basalts from the East Pacific Rise are both somewhat unusual rock types considering their respective tectonic environments. The dredges from the East Pacific Rise at about 10°S recovered unusual transitional, light rare-earth element (LREE) enriched basalts which show a range of fractionation. On the basis of their chemical and isotopic abundances, it is unlikely that the lavas are related by a single simple process of magmatic differentiation. We suggest that the mantle source region of these basalts was chemically and isotopically heterogeneous. The chemistry of LREE-depleted tholeiitic basalt dredged from near the axis of the extinct Galapagos Rise indicates complex petrogenesis and differentiation. The presence of tholeiitic basalts here indicates that unlike the Guadalupe and Mathematician fossil ridges, the Galapagos Rise has not been the site of voluminous post-abandonment alkalic volcanism. Alkalic basalts of picritic bulk composition dredged from an elongate seamount near the Galapagos Rise do not represent liquid compositions. Instead, we suggest that these alkalic liquids contain added olivine and plagioclase xenocrysts. Although most of the samples analyzed are very fresh, a few have been altered. The latter exhibit characteristic chemical and isotopic effects of seawater alteration.