A fast, single column extraction chromatography method for the isolation of Neodymium from iron-rich materials prior to radiogenic isotope ratio measurements

A novel separation method is described for the separation of Nd from Fe-rich, silicate samples in view of isotopic analyses. The procedure is based on the synergistic enhancement of the...

Oxidized Mantle Sources of HIMU and EM-type Ocean Island Basalts

Oxygen fugacity (fO2) is a fundamental variable in igneous petrology with utility as a potential tracer of recycled surficial materials in the sources of mantle-derived lavas. It has been postulated that ocean island basalts (OIB) have elevated fO2 relative to mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) owing to more oxidized source regions. To clarify this issue, trace-element systematics of olivine grains are reported from OIB lavas with HIMU (high-; Mangaia, Canary Islands), enriched mantle (EM; Samoa; São Miguel, Azores Islands) and depleted MORB mantle (DMM; Pico, Azores) Sr-Nd-Pb-Os isotopic signatures, to constrain the fO2 of each magmatic system. Despite sampling distinct mantle reservoirs based on radiogenic isotope systematics, these OIB suites show similar fO2, ranging from +1.5 to +2.9 FMQ, with an average of 2.0 ± 0.7 FMQ, significantly higher than MORB at +0.6 ± 0.2 FMQ using the same oxybarometer. OIBs show no correlation between fO2 and bulk rock isotopic ratios or parental magma compositions. The lack of correlations with isotopic signatures likely results from radiogenic isotope signatures being hosted in volumetrically minor trace element enriched mantle lithologies, while fO2 reflects the volumetrically dominant mantle component. Higher fO2 in OIB relative to MORB implies a uniformly oxidizing plume source mantle that may be the result of either a common oxidized oceanic crust-rich reservoir parental to all modern plume lavas, or preservation of un-degassed and oxidized mantle domains formed early in Earth history.

Holocene variability of the northeastern Laurentide Ice Sheet in the Clyde Inlet area, western Baffin Bay, from radiogenic isotope records in marine sediments

<p>The reconstruction of late glacial ice sheet fluctuations helps understanding and modelling the local glacio-isostatic adjustment as well as global eustatic changes. From this viewpoint, the large-scale spatial and temporal variations of the Fox Basin-Baffin Island ice dome (NE Laurentide Ice Sheet, Canada) have been well documented. However, high frequency Holocene fluctuations and final decay of it are still poorly documented. We have thus investigated the behaviour of one of its eastern outlet glaciers in the Clyde Inlet fjord, northeastern Baffin Island. The reconstruction of ice sheet margin fluctuation is based on the radiogenic isotope composition (Sr-Pb-Nd) and mineral assemblage of detrital sediments in two marine cores raised within and off the Clyde Inlet (GeoB22346-3, Clyde Inlet head; GeoB22357-3, adjacent continental shelf). Radiogenic isotope ratios and bulk mineral assemblages from such sites are imprints of bedrock erosion along the active ice margin, as well as along ice-streams and subglacial drainage patterns. They may thus be used for the reconstruction of spatial and temporal variations in meltwater discharge into Baffin Bay and of the position of the active margin fluctuations inland. The location of the two sediment cores also informs on the traceability of radiogenic isotope signals from proximal to more distal areas of sediment deposition. Changes in mineralogical and radiogenic isotope compositions at the proximal core site suggest ice margin and drainage fluctuations rather than a constant retreat throughout the Holocene. Shelf sediment provenances are dominated by relatively homogenized Baffin Island inputs during the mid to late Holocene, but record a slightly offshore ice margin position from the late Pleistocene to the early Holocene.</p>

Bulk rock geochemistry of a swarm of orangeite dykes intersecting the Western Limb of the Bushveld Complex

<p>The Western Limb of the Bushveld Complex hosts a vast, recently documented swarm of orangeite dykes that are significantly younger (177-132 Ma; Hughes et al., in prep.) than the c. 2.06 Ga Bushveld lithologies they intrude. Orangeite dykes are hybrid igneous rocks that form from very low-degree partial melting deep within the sub-cratonic lithospheric mantle (SCLM) and upon ascent entrain foreign material (primarily mantle xenocrysts). Thus, they can be used to probe the composition of and processes within the ancient lithospheric mantle. Whereas similar orangeite dyke swarms in South Africa typically span < 10 km, the considerable size of this swarm (> 50 km along strike and ~10 km wide) and number of closely-spaced dykes offers a unique opportunity to investigate the Kaapvaal SCLM on an unprecedented spatial scale. In this contribution we present the whole rock major and trace element abundances, and the radiogenic isotope compositions of the dykes.</p><p>The Bushveld orangeites are mafic-ultramafic (whole rock Mg# of 65 to 88) and have overlapping major element abundances to other Kaapvaal orangeites, with significant similarity to the coeval Swartruggens orangeite dyke swarm (Coe et al., 2008). Trace element abundances of the Bushveld dykes are less consistent with Kaapvaal orangeite variability, displaying greater ranges in concentrations of certain elements (e.g. La, Th, Ba) despite being generally relatively depleted in these elements.</p><p>Radiogenic isotope compositions of the orangeites typically confine to the global orangeite variability, with radiogenic Sr (<sup>87</sup>Sr/<sup>86</sup>Sr<sub>i</sub><sup></sup>of 0.70642 to 0.70787) and unradiogenic Hf compositions (ɛHf<sub>i </sub>of -18.3 to -8.3). Initial Nd compositions are generally unradiogenic (ɛNd<sub>i</sub> of -11.6 to -9.0), conforming to values of global orangeites, however three samples display elevated initial Nd (ɛNd<sub>i</sub> of -5.4 to -0.4) and plot in a similar Sr-Nd compositional space to Kaapvaal transitional kimberlites.</p><p>Using the trace element variations and radiogenic isotope compositions we aim to investigate the geochemistry of the mantle source regions tapped by the orangeites and whether we can identify changes in source characteristics on a swarm scale.</p><p>References:</p><p>Coe, N. et al. (2008) Cont. Min. Pet. 156(5). 627-652.</p><p>Hughes, H.S.R. et al. (in prep).</p>

Constraints on Martian Chronology from Meteorites

Martian meteorites provide the only direct constraints on the timing of Martian accretion, core formation, magmatic differentiation, and ongoing volcanism. While many radiogenic isotope chronometers have been applied to a wide variety of Martian samples, few, if any, techniques are immune to secondary effects from alteration and terrestrial weathering. This short review focuses on the most robust geochronometers that have been used to date Martian meteorites and geochemically model the differentiation of the planet, including 147Sm/143Nd, 146Sm/142Nd, 176Lu/176Hf, 182Hf/182W, and U-Th-Pb systematics.