Providencia Island: A Miocene Stratovolcano on the Lower Nicaraguan Rise, Western Caribbean—A Geological Enigma Resolved

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan L. Smith ◽  
M. John Roobol ◽  
Glen S. Mattioli ◽  
George E. Daly ◽  
Joan E. Fryxell
Keyword(s):  
Partial Melting ◽  
Alkali Basalt ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Lava Flows ◽  
Alkali Basalts ◽  
Valley Fill ◽  
Island Group ◽  
Western Caribbean ◽  
History Of ◽  
Galapagos Plume

ABSTRACT The Providencia island group comprises an extinct Miocene stratovolcano located on a shallow submarine bank astride the Lower Nicaraguan Rise in the western Caribbean. We report here on the geology, geochemistry, petrology, and isotopic ages of the rocks within the Providencia island group, using newly collected as well as previously published results to unravel the complex history of Providencia. The volcano is made up of eight stratigraphic units, including three major units: (1) the Mafic unit, (2) the Breccia unit, (3) the Felsic unit, and five minor units: (4) the Trachyandesite unit, (5) the Conglomerate unit, (6) the Pumice unit, (7) the Intrusive unit, and (8) the Limestone unit. The Mafic unit is the oldest and forms the foundation of the island, consisting of both subaerial and subaqueous lava flows and pyroclastic deposits of alkali basalt and trachybasalt. Overlying the Mafic unit, there is a thin, minor unit of trachyandesite lava flows (Trachyandesite unit). The Breccia unit unconformably overlies the older rocks and consists of crudely stratified breccias block flows/block-and-ash flows) of vitrophyric dacite, which represent subaerial near-vent facies formed by gravitational and/or explosive dome collapse. The breccias commonly contain clasts of alkali basalt, indicating the nature of the underlying substrate. The Felsic unit comprises the central part of the island, composed of rhyolite lava flows and domes, separated from the rocks of the Breccia unit by a flat-lying unconformity. Following a quiescent period, limited felsic pyroclastic activity produced minor valley-fill ignimbrites (Pumice unit). The rocks of Providencia can be geochemically and stratigraphically subdivided into an older alkaline suite of alkali basalts, trachybasalts, and trachyandesites, and a younger subalkaline suite composed dominantly of dacites and rhyolites. Isotopically, the alkali basalts together with the proposed tholeiitic parent magmas for the dacites and rhyolites indicate an origin by varying degrees of partial melting of a metasomatized ocean-island basalt–type mantle that had been modified by interaction with the Galapagos plume. The dacites are the only phenocryst-rich rocks on the island and have a very small compositional range. We infer that they formed by the mixing of basalt and rhyolite magmas in a lower oceanic crustal “hot zone.” The rhyolites of the Felsic unit, as well as the rhyolitic magmas contributing to dacite formation, are interpreted as being the products of partial melting of the thickened lower oceanic crust beneath Providencia. U-Pb dating of zircons in the Providencia volcanic rocks has yielded Oligocene and Miocene ages, corresponding to the ages of the volcanism. In addition, some zircon crystals in the same rocks have yielded both Proterozoic and Paleozoic ages ranging between 1661 and 454 Ma. The lack of any evidence of continental crust beneath Providencia suggests that these old zircons are xenocrysts from the upper mantle beneath the Lower Nicaraguan Rise. A comparison of the volcanic rocks from Providencia with similar rocks that comprise the Western Caribbean alkaline province indicates that while the Providencia alkaline suite is similar to other alkaline suites previously defined within this province, the Providencia subalkaline suite is unique, having no equivalent rocks within the Western Caribbean alkaline province.

The Mamonia Complex (SW Cyprus) revisited: remnant of Late Triassic intra-oceanic volcanism along the Tethyan southwestern passive margin

2006 ◽  
Vol 144 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. LAPIERRE ◽  
D. BOSCH ◽  
A. NARROS ◽  
G. H. MASCLE ◽  
M. TARDY ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Partial Melting ◽  
Oceanic Crust ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Upper Triassic ◽  
Oceanic Island ◽  
Alkali Basalts ◽  
Enriched Mantle ◽  
Type 3

Upper Triassic volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Mamonia Complex in southwestern Cyprus are exposed in erosional windows through the post-Cretaceous cover, where the Mamonia Complex is tectonically imbricated with the Troodos and Akamas ophiolitic suites. Most of these Upper Triassic volcanic rocks have been considered to represent remnants of Triassic oceanic crust and its associated seamounts. New Nd and Pb isotopic data show that the whole Mamonia volcanic suite exhibits features of oceanic island basalts (OIB). Four rock types have been distinguished on the basis of the petrology and chemistry of the rocks. Volcanism began with the eruption of depleted olivine tholeiites (Type 1) and oceanic island tholeiites (Type 2) associated with deep basin siliceous and/or calcareous sediments. The tholeiites were followed by highly phyric alkali basalts (Type 3) interbedded with pelagic Halobia-bearing limestones or white reefal limestones. Strongly LREE-enriched trachytes (Type 4) were emplaced during the final stage of volcanic activity. Nd and Pb isotopic ratios suggest that tholeiites and mildly alkali basalts derived from partial melting of heterogeneous enriched mantle sources. Fractional crystallization alone cannot account for the derivation of trachytes from alkaline basalts. The trachytes could have been derived from the partial melting at depth of mafic material which shares with the alkali basalts similar trace element and isotopic compositions. This is corroborated by the rather similar isotopic compositions of the alkali basalts and trachytes. The correlations observed between incompatible elements (Nb, Th) and εNd and Pb isotopic initial ratios suggest that the Mamonia suite was derived from the mixing of a depleted mantle (DMM) and an enriched component of High μ (μ = 238U/204Pb, HIMU) type. Models using both Nd and Pb isotopic initial ratios suggest that the depleted tholeiites (Type 1) derived from a DMM source contaminated by an Enriched Mantle Type 2 component (EM2), and that the oceanic tholeiites (Type 2), alkali basalts (Type 3) and trachytes (Type 4) were derived from the mixing of the enriched mantle source of the depleted tholeiites with a HIMU component. None of the Mamonia volcanic rocks show evidence of crustal contamination. The Upper Triassic within-plate volcanism likely erupted in a small southerly Neotethyan basin, located north of the Eratosthenes seamount and likely floored by oceanic crust.

Geochemistry of Cenozoic basaltic and silicic magmas in the central portion of the Loei–Phetchabun volcanic belt, Lop Buri, Thailand

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suporn Intasopa ◽  
Todd Dunn ◽  
Richard StJ. Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Trace Element ◽  
Partial Melting ◽  
Mantle Source ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Volcanic Belt ◽  
Central Portion ◽  
Alkali Basalts ◽  
Crustal Rocks ◽  
Depleted Mantle ◽  
Silicic Magmas

Cenozoic volcanic rocks outcrop in the central portion of the Loei–Phetchabun volcanic belt in central Thailand in the Lop Buri area. The volcanic rocks range in composition from basalt to high-silica rhyolite. In general, the volcanic rocks decrease in age from south to north. The oldest rocks studied are 55–57 Ma rhyolites that are isotopically and geochemically distinct from younger (13–24 Ma) rhyolites that occur farther north. Intermediate rocks (andesite and dacite) are less voluminous than rhyolite. Basalt occurs in the central and northern parts of the area and ranges in composition from olivine tholeiites to nepheline normative alkali basalts. The isotopic, major, and trace element compositions of the andesites, dacites, and younger rhyolites are consistent with an origin for these rocks by variable degrees of partial melting of metabasaltic crustal rocks, themselves derived from a depleted mantle source at approximately 530 ± 100 Ma. The apparent extent of partial melting of metabasalt increases from rhyolite to andesite. The isotopic and trace element systematics of the basalts are consistent with a refertilized depleted mantle source with characteristics of a mixture of normal mid-ocean ridge basalt source mantle and enriched mantle II type mantle.

scholarly journals COMPARATIVE GEOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE TRIASSIC TRACHYANDESITES OF GLYKOMILIA AND ALKALI BASALTS FROM THE KOZIAKAS OPHIOLITE MELANGE (W. THESSALY): IMPLICATIONS FOR THEIR ORIGIN

2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 587 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Pomonis ◽  
V. Tsikouras ◽  
K. Hatzipanagiotou
Keyword(s):  
Partial Melting ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Alkali Basalts ◽  
Rock Fragments ◽  
Geochemical Study ◽  
Ophiolite Mélange ◽  
Discrimination Diagram ◽  
Ophiolite Melange

The Triassic Glykomilia trachyandesites of the Koziakas mountain range (western Thessaly) are parts of the oldest volcanic series in continental central Greece. Rock fragments and blocks of pillowed alkali basalts, which are dispersed into the Koziakas ophiolite mélange, display similar subparallel chondrite-norme'ized trace and rare earth element patterns to the trachyandesites, suggesting cogenetic origin. However, the Glykomilia trachyandesites are more differentiated than the Koziakas alkali basalts, which display a different petrogenetic evolution from the basalts occurring in the Koziakas Ophiolite Unit. REE patterns and discrimination diagram plots reveal significant similarities to Triassic volcanic rocks from the Hellenides, suggesting also a VAB signature for the Glykomilia trachyandesites and a WPB affinity for the alkali basalts. Partial melting of a LILEenriched hydrous mantle under spreading conditions is suggested to give rise to Glykomilia trachyandesites. This partial melting episode was probably induced by the uplift of an OIB-type mantle plume, which subsequently produced the WPB alkali basalts of the Koziakas ophiolite mélange. The close association cf both the Glykomilia trachyandesites and the Koziakas alkali basalts with cherts lead to the hypothesis of eruption in a deep rift basin.

scholarly journals Composição, leis de macla e estado estrutural dos plagioclásios de rochas vulcânicas da Bacia do Paraná

1980 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Pedro Luiz Pretz Sartori
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Lava Flows ◽  
Optical Measurements ◽  
Basaltic Rocks ◽  
First Case ◽  
History Of ◽  
Paraná Basin ◽  
High Or Low Temperature ◽  
Parana Basin ◽  
Selection Of

Plagioclases of distinct lava flows of the Southern Paraná basin were optically determined through the laws of Albite-CarIsbad, Carlsbad and Albite twin, which are the most frequent.In the basaltic rocks of uniform granulation of the composition is in the range between An45-An65, with a concentration of values in the interval An50-An55. In the inequigranular types the phenocrysts, in general, display values above An60. In the first case, the plagioclases are of the volcanic and transition types; in the latter, the phenocrysts, commounly, are of the plutonic or transition types, in this way showing the thermic history of the rocks.The knowledge of the structural state of the plagioclase of volcanic rocks of the Paraná basin favours the precision of the optical measurements for the calculation of anorthite, allowing the selection of the most adequate determining curve (high or low temperature).

Volcanoes geological mapping and structural geology with UAS High Resolution Digital Terrain Model : the Kuei-Shan Tao case example (Eastern Taiwan).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoit Deffontaines ◽  
Kuo-Jen Chang ◽  
Samuel Magalhaes ◽  
Gérardo Fortunato
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Okinawa Trough ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Digital Terrain Model ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Geological Mapping ◽  
Lava Flows ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Structural Scheme

<p>Volcanic areas in the World are often difficult to map especially in a structural point of view as (1) fault planes are generally covered and filled by more recent lava flows and (2) volcanic rocks have very few tectonic striations. Kuei-Shan Tao (11km from Ilan Plain – NE Taiwan) is a volcanic island, located at the soutwestern tip of the South Okinawa trough (SWOT). Two incompatible geological maps had been already published both lacking faults and structural features (Hsu, 1963 and Chiu et al., 2010). We propose herein not only to up-date the Kuei-Shan Tao geological map with our high resolution dataset, but also to create the Kuei-Shan Tao structural scheme in order to better understand its geological and tectonic history.</p><p>Consequently, we first acquired aerial photographs from our UAS survey and get our new UAS high resolution DTM (HR UAS-DTM hereafter) with a ground resolution <10cm processed through classical photogrammetric methods. Taking into account common sense geomorphic and structural interpretation and reasoning deduced form our HR UAS-DTM, and the outcropping lithologies situated all along the shoreline, we have up-dated the Kuei-Shan Tao geological mapping and its major structures. To conclude, the lithologies (andesitic lava flows and pyroclastic falls) and the new structural scheme lead us to propose a scenario for both the construction as well as the dismantling of Kuei-Shan Tao which are keys for both geology and geodynamics of the SWOT.</p>

Platinum-group element geochemistry of intraplate basalts from the Aleppo Plateau, NW Syria

2012 ◽  
Vol 150 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
GEORGE S.-K. MA ◽  
JOHN MALPAS ◽  
JIAN-FENG GAO ◽  
KUO-LUNG WANG ◽  
LIANG QI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Partial Melting ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Primitive Mantle ◽  
Element Geochemistry ◽  
Alkali Basalts ◽  
Melt Extraction ◽  
Mid Ocean Ridge ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Platinum Group ◽  
Ocean Ridge

AbstractEarly–Middle Miocene intraplate basalts from the Aleppo Plateau, NW Syria have been analysed for their platinum-group elements (PGEs). They contain extremely low PGE abundances, comparable with most alkali basalts, such as those from Hawaii, and mid-ocean ridge basalts. The low abundances, together with high Pd/Ir, Pt/Ir, Ni/Ir, Cu/Pd, Y/Pt and Cu/Zr are consistent with sulphide fractionation, which likely occurred during partial melting and melt extraction within the mantle. Some of the basalts are too depleted in PGEs to be explained solely by partial melting of a primitive mantle-like source. Such ultra-low PGE abundances, however, are possible if the source contains some mafic lithologies. Many of the basalts also exhibit suprachondritic Pd/Pt ratios of up to an order of magnitude higher than primitive mantle and chondrite, an increase too high to be attributable to fractionation of spinel and silicate minerals alone. The elevated Pd/Pt, associated with a decrease in Pt but not Ir and Ru, are also inconsistent with removal of Pt-bearing PGE minerals or alloys, which should have concurrently lowered Pt, Ir and Ru. In contrast, melting of a metasomatized source comprising sulphides whose Pt and to a lesser extent Rh were selectively mobilized through interaction with silicate melts, may provide an explanation.

scholarly journals IV.—The Volcanic History of Ireland

1874 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 205-210
Author(s):  
Edward Hull
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Central Valley ◽  
Short Description ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
Volcanic History ◽  
The North ◽  
History Of ◽  
Similar Materials ◽  
Considerable Intensity

Carboniferous Period.—The Lower Carboniferous rocks, both of the North of England, of Scotland, and of Ireland, afford examples of contemporaneous volcanic action of considerable intensity. The so-called “toad-stones” of Derbyshire, and the great sheets of melaphyre, porphyrite, and ashes of the central valley of Scotland, forming the Kilpatrick, Campsie, and Dairy Hills, appear to have been erupted over the bed of the same sea as that in which were poured out similar materials in County Limerick, forming the well-known Carboniferous volcanic rocks of “the Limerick Basin.” These rocks have been already so fully described by several observers, that I shall confine myself to a very short description, such as is essential to the brief history of volcanic action which I am here endeavouring to draw up.

Subduction-related magmatic imprint of most Philippine ophiolites: implications on the early geodynamic evolution of the Philippine archipelago

2004 ◽  
Vol 175 (5) ◽  
pp. 443-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodolfo A. Tamayo* ◽  
René C. Maury* ◽  
Graciano P. Yumul ◽  
Mireille Polvé ◽  
Joseph Cotten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Partial Melting ◽  
Subduction Zone ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Island Arc ◽  
Island Arcs ◽  
Geodynamic Evolution ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Opening And Closing ◽  
Back Arc

Abstract The basement complexes of the Philippine archipelago include at least 20 ophiolites and ophiolitic complexes. These complexes are characterised by volcanic sequences displaying geochemical compositions similar to those observed in MORB, transitional MORB-island arc tholeiites and arc volcanic rocks originating from modern Pacific-type oceans, back-arc basins and island arcs. Ocean island basalt-like rocks are rarely encountered in the volcanic sequences. The gabbros from the ophiolites contain clinopyroxenes and plagioclases showing a wide range of XMg and An values, respectively. Some of these gabbros exhibit mineral chemistries suggesting their derivation from basaltic liquids formed from mantle sources that underwent either high degrees of partial melting or several partial melting episodes. Moreover, some of the gabbros display a crystallization sequence where orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene appeared before plagioclase. The major element compositions of coexisting orthopyroxenes and olivines from the mantle peridotites are consistent with low to high degrees of partial melting. Accessory spinels in these peridotites display a wide range of XCr values as well with some of them above the empirical upper limit of 0.6 often observed in most modern mid-oceanic ridge (MOR) mantle rocks. Co-existing olivines and spinels from the peridotites also exhibit compositions suggesting that they lastly equilibrated under oxidizing mantle conditions. The juxtaposition of volcanic rocks showing affinities with modern MOR and island arc environments suggests that most of the volcanic sequences in Philippine ophiolites formed in subduction-related geodynamic settings. Similarly, their associated gabbros and peridotites display mineralogical characteristics and mineral chemistries consistent with their derivation from modern supra-subduction zone-like environments. Alternatively, these rocks could have, in part, evolved in a supra-subduction zone even though they originated from a MOR-like setting. A simplified scenario regarding the early geodynamic evolution of the Philippines is proposed on the basis of the geochemical signatures of the ophiolites, their ages of formation and the ages and origins of the oceanic basins actually bounding the archipelago, including basins presumed to be now totally consumed. This scenario envisages the early development of the archipelago to be largely dominated by the opening and closing of oceanic basins. Fragments of these basins provided the substratum on top of which the Cretaceous to Recent volcanic arcs of the Philippines were emplaced.

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