Aphebian mafic–ultramafic magmatism in the Labrador Trough (New Quebec): its age and the nature of its mantle source

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1582-1593 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. -L. Rohon ◽  
Y. Vialette ◽  
T. Clark ◽  
G. Roger ◽  
D. Ohnenstetter ◽  
...  

The magmatic events occurring within the two main cycles in the south-central part of the Labrador Trough (New Quebec) have been dated. In cycle 1, a granophyre dike related to the Cramolet Lake gabbro sill, which intrudes the Seward subgroup, has a U–Pb zircon age of 2169 ± 2 Ma. In cycle 2, the tholeiitic basalts of the Willbob (Hellancourt) Formation and the related mafic–ultramafic sills are dated at ca. 1900 Ma by the Pb–Pb method. These data confirm the existence of at least two main magmatic cycles separated by about 270 Ma. The magma source was depleted upper mantle, and the magma did not experience any significant crustal contamination, as indicated by the μ1 ratio (7.9) and [Formula: see text] (+4) for the tholeiitic basalts. The μ1 value for the intrusive rocks (8.03) and the average [Formula: see text] value for the gabbroic rocks of cycle 2 (+2.8) and for the granophyre of cycle 1 (+1.05) could be the result of slight crustal contamination or of mantle heterogeneity. Whatever the cause of these values, the data indicate the prolonged presence of a depleted mantle source.

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Wang ◽  
Fengyou Chu ◽  
Xichang Wu ◽  
Zhenggang Li ◽  
Ling Chen ◽  
...  

The nature of upper mantle is important to understand the evolution of the South China Sea (SCS); thus, we need better constrains on its mantle heterogeneity. Magma water concentration is a good indicator, but few data have been reported. However, the rarity of glass and melt inclusions and the special genesis for phenocrysts in SCS basalts present challenges to analyzing magmatic water content. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the water variations through the characteristics of partial melting and magma crystallization. We evaluated variations in Fe depletion, degree of melt fractions, and mantle source composition along the fossil spreading ridge (FSR) using SCS basalt data from published papers. We found that lava from the FSR 116.2° E, FSR 117.7° E, and non-FSR regions can be considered normal lava with normal water content; in contrast, lava from the FSR 117° E-carbonatite and 114.9–115.0° E basalts have higher water content and show evidence of strong Fe depletion during the fractional crystallization after elimination of the effects of plagioclase oversaturation. The enriched water in the 117° E-carbonatite basalts is contained in carbonated silicate melts, and that in the 114.9–115.0° E basalts results from mantle contamination with the lower continental crust. The lava from the 117° E-normal basalt has much lower water content because of the lesser influence of the Hainan plume. Therefore, there must be a mantle source compositional transition area between the southwestern and eastern sub-basins of the SCS, which have different mantle evolution histories. The mantle in the west is more affected by contamination with continental materials, while that in the east is more affected by the Hainan mantle plume.


2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (12) ◽  
pp. 1778-1801
Author(s):  
Takafumi Kimura ◽  
Kazuhito Ozawa ◽  
Takeshi Kuritani ◽  
Tsuyoshi Iizuka ◽  
Mitsuhiro Nakagawa

Abstract Ophiolite pulses, which are periods of enhanced ophiolite generation and emplacement, are thought to have a relevance to highly active superplumes (superplume model). However, the Cambrian-Ordovician pulse has two critical geological features that cannot be explained by such a superplume model: predominance of subduction-related ophiolites and scarcity of plume-related magma activities. We addressed this issue by estimating the mechanism and condition of magma generation, including mantle potential temperature (MPT), from a ~500 Ma subduction-related ophiolite, the Hayachine-Miyamori ophiolite. We developed a novel method to overcome difficulties in global MPT estimation from an arc environment by using porphyritic ultramafic dikes showing flow differentiation, which have records of the chemical composition of the primitive magma, including its water content, because of their high pressure (~0.6 GPa) intrusion and rapid solidification. The solidus conditions for the primary magmas are estimated to be ~1450 °C, ~5.3 GPa. Geochemical data of the dikes show passive upwelling of a depleted mantle source in the garnet stability field without a strong influence of slab-derived fluids. These results, combined with the extensive fluxed melting of the mantle wedge prior to the dike formation, indicate sudden changes of the melting environment, its mechanism, and the mantle source from extensive fluxed melting of the mantle wedge to decompressional melting of the sub-slab mantle, which has been most plausibly triggered by a slab breakoff. The estimated MPT of the sub-slab mantle is ~1350 °C, which is very close to that of the current upper mantle and may reflect the global value of the upper mantle at ~500 Ma if small-scale convection maintained the shallow sub-slab mantle at a steady thermal state. We, therefore, conclude that the Cambrian-Ordovician ophiolite pulse is not attributable to the high temperature of the upper mantle. Frequent occurrence of slab breakoff, which is suggested by our geochemical compilation of Cambrian-Ordovician ophiolites, and subduction termination, which is probably related to the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent, may be responsible for the ophiolite pulse.


1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.B. Moyes ◽  
J.R. Krynauw ◽  
J.M. Barton

The Ahlmannryggen-Borgmassivet area of western Dronning Maud Land comprises a relatively undeformed, unmetamorphosed sequence of sedimentary-volcanogenic rocks, the Ritscherflya Supergroup, intruded by a suite of continental tholeiites, the Borgmassivet Intrusions. New Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd whole rock data from the Högfonna Formation at Grunehogna indicate a depositional age of ≈1080 Ma, the first reported direct dating of any member of the Ritscherflya Supergroup. These rocks are interpreted as a molasse-type deposit following the Kibaran orogeny at 1200–1100 Ma, and correlation is made with the Umkondo and Koras groups of southern Africa. The Ritscherflya Supergroup is intruded by the Grunehogna and Kullen sills; the ≈1000 Ma Grunehogna sill intruded unconsolidated sediments, causing partial melting of the sediments. Rb-Sr data from the Kullen sill yield an age of 1429 Ma, clearly inconsistent with these data. Combined Sr and Nd data are compatible with crustal contamination of this sill, producing a Rb-Sr pseudo-isochron with no geological age significance. By comparison with other outcrops of the Borgmassivet Intrusions at Robertskollen and Annandagstoppane, it is concluded that contamination and pseudo-isochrons may be responsible for the wide range in reported ages older than 1000 Ma. Thus the intrusive age of the Borgmassivet Intrusions is concluded to be ≈1000 Ma old. Nd model age data indicate that all rock types were ultimately derived from material separated from a depleted mantle source at ≈2200 Ma.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzaneh Shakerardakani ◽  
Franz Neubauer ◽  
Manfred Bernroider ◽  
Albrecht Von Quadt ◽  
Irena Peytcheva ◽  
...  

Abstract In this paper, we present detailed field observations, chronological, geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic data and discuss the petrogenetic aspects of two types of mafic dykes, of alkaline to subalkaline nature. The alkaline mafic dykes exhibit a cumulate to foliated texture and strike NW–SE, parallel to the main trend of the region. The 40Ar/39Ar amphibole age of 321.32 ± 0.55 Ma from an alkaline mafic dyke is interpreted as an indication of Carboniferous cooling through ca. 550 °C after intrusion of the dyke into the granitic Galeh-Doz orthogneiss and Amphibolite-Metagabbro units, the latter with Early Carboniferous amphibolite facies grade metamorphism and containing the Dare-Hedavand metagabbro with a similar Carboniferous age. The alkaline and subalkaline mafic dykes can be geochemically categorized into those with light REE-enriched patterns [(La/Yb)N = 8.32–9.28] and others with a rather flat REE pattern [(La/Yb)N = 1.16] and with a negative Nb anomaly. Together, the mafic dykes show oceanic island basalt to MORB geochemical signature, respectively. This is consistent, as well, with the (Tb/Yb)PM ratios. The alkaline mafic dykes were formed within an enriched mantle source at depths of ˃ 90 km, generating a suite of alkaline basalts. In comparison, the subalkaline mafic dykes were formed within more depleted mantle source at depths of ˂ 90 km. The subalkaline mafic dyke is characterized by 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.706 and positive ɛNd(t) value of + 0.77, whereas 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.708 and ɛNd(t) value of + 1.65 of the alkaline mafic dyke, consistent with the derivation from an enriched mantle source. There is no evidence that the mafic dykes were affected by significant crustal contamination during emplacement. Because of the similar age, the generation of magmas of alkaline mafic dykes and of the Dare-Hedavand metagabbro are assumed to reflect the same process of lithospheric or asthenospheric melting. Carboniferous back-arc rifting is the likely geodynamic setting of mafic dyke generation and emplacement. In contrast, the subalkaline mafic sill is likely related to the emplacement of the Jurassic Darijune gabbro.


Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 378
Author(s):  
Hao Zheng ◽  
Li-Feng Zhong ◽  
Argyrios Kapsiotis ◽  
Guan-Qiang Cai ◽  
Zhi-Feng Wan ◽  
...  

Fresh samples of basalts were collected by dredging from the Nanyue intraplate seamount in the Southwest sub-basin of the South China Sea (SCS). These are alkali basalts displaying right-sloping, chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) profiles. The investigated basalts are characterized by low Os content (60.37–85.13 ppt) and radiogenic 187Os/188Os ratios (~0.19 to 0.21). Furthermore, 40Ar/39Ar dating of the Nanyue basalts showed they formed during the Tortonian (~8.3 Ma) and, thus, are products of (Late Cenozoic) post-spreading volcanism. The Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic compositions of the Nanyue basalts indicate that their parental melts were derived from an upper mantle reservoir possessing the so-called Dupal isotopic anomaly. Semiquantitative isotopic modeling demonstrates that the isotopic compositions of the Nanyue basalts can be reproduced by mixing three components: the average Pacific midocean ridge basalt (MORB), the lower continental crust (LCC), and the average Hainan ocean island basalt (OIB). Our preferred hypothesis for the genesis of the Nanyue basalts is that their parental magmas were produced from an originally depleted mantle (DM) source that was much affected by the activity of the Hainan plume. Initially, the Hainan diapir caused a thermal perturbation in the upper mantle under the present-day Southwest sub-basin of the SCS that led to erosion of the overlying LCC. Eventually, the resultant suboceanic lithospheric mantle (SOLM) interacted with OIB-type components derived from the nearby Hainan plume. Collectively, these processes contributed crustal- and plume-type components to the upper mantle underlying the Southwest sub-basin of the SCS. This implies that the Dupal isotopic signature in the upper mantle beneath the SCS was an artifact of in situ geological processes rather than a feature inherited from a Southern Hemispheric, upper mantle source.


2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 416
Author(s):  
K. Pipera ◽  
A. Koroneos ◽  
T. Soldatos ◽  
G. Poli ◽  
G. Christofides

Tertiary plutonic and volcanic rocks cropping out in the Rhodope Massif (N. Greece) are studied using existing and new geochemical and isotopic data. Most of these rocks belong to the post-collisional magmatism formed as part of the prolonged extensional tectonics of the Rhodope region in Late Cretaceous– Paleogene time. This magmatism is considered to be of mantle origin; however, the character of the mantle source is controversial. Rock bulk chemistry and compositional variations show magmas with calc-alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline and shoshonitic features associated with magmatism at convergent margins. Initial 87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd ratios, Pb isotopes and REE composition of the mafic rocks indicate mainly an enriched mantle source, even if some rocks indicate a depleted mantle source. Low- and High-K mafic members of these rocks coexist indicating a strongly heterogeneous mantle source. The High-K character of some of the mafic rocks is primarily strongly related to mantle enrichment by subduction-related components, rather than crustal contamination. The geochemical characteristics of the studied rocks (e.g Ba/Th,Th/Yb,Ba/La, U/Th, Ce/Pb) indicate that primarily sediments and/or sediment melts, rather than fluid released by the subducted oceanic crust controlled the source enrichment under the Rhodope Massif.


1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1744-1752 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Andrew ◽  
R. L. Armstrong ◽  
D. Runkle

Combined neodymium, strontium, and lead isotope measurements show that Vancouver Island is made up of Phanerozoic crustal material accreted to North America in the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic, but that there are differences in the relative proportions of depleted mantle and aged, enriched crustal components in the Phanerozoic magmatic episodes that contribute to this new crust.The Devonian Sicker Group volcanic arc has an isotopic signature that can be explained by mixing mantle material with subducted continentally derived sediments. The Early to Middle Jurassic Bonanza Volcanics and Island Intrusions magmatic arc isotopic signature indicates mixing of magma from a depleted mantle source with crustal material of Sicker arc-type, rather than of continental origin. This is consistent with large-scale assimilation of Sicker Group and Karmutsen rocks by Jurassic mantle-derived magmas, or introduction of arc-derived sediments into the Jurassic mantle by subduction. Eocene calc-alkaline Flores Volcanics – Catface Intrusions may be derived from reworked Vancouver Island crust with little addition of mantle material.Late Triassic Karmutsen Formation flood basalts are similar to the lower parts of the Columbia River Basalt in all three isotope systems and in petrochemistry. Radiogenic isotopic data are consistent with the interpretation that the Karmutsen basalts were extruded in a post-arc or back-arc setting, with mantle lithosphere and depleted mantle components, and perhaps some plume source input and crustal contamination, but the latter are not provable from the radiogenic isotopic data alone.Early Eocene Metchosin basalts show a depleted mantle source, consistent with their origin as ocean islands, before Middle to Late Eocene accretion to the rest of Vancouver Island.


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