Chemical composition, characteristics and age of glauconites at DSDP Leg 66 Holes

During the analysis of "glaucony" recovered during Leg 66, off Mexico, we reviewed the data on previously studied glaucony layers in active margin areas. We found the depth of Leg 66 glaucony sediments to be significantly greater than conventionally assumed appropriate to their genesis (100-500 m). Accordingly, we hypothesize their occurrence at unusual depth to be due to (1) transport of shallow sediments and redeposition at greater depths, (2) margin subsidence, or (3) genesis at greater depth than is generally assumed. For the area off Mexico, we reject (1). (2) has already been verified in Japan and is possible as an explanation for the present phenomenon without excluding (3), which we investigate in this chapter.

Geochemistry of basalts fropm DSDP Leg 65 basalts

Samples of basalt collected on Leg 65 near 22°N on the East Pacific Rise all display the depleted light rare-earth pattern of "normal" oceanic crust. Consequently the La/Ta ratio is close to 18, as opposed to the value of 9 associated with the flat or enriched patterns found along parts of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Emperor Seamount chain. The Leg 65 samples are chemically similar to those from the CYAMEX area at 21 °N and to the Leg 54 samples from 9°N, suggesting homogeneity of the upper mantle under the northern part of the East Pacific Rise over a minimum distance of about 1500 km. The geochemistry of the rocks and their field relationships with respect to depth and distance from the axis of the Rise show no pattern of distribution linked to the degree of fractional crystallization and thus cast doubt on any possible model involving large, long-lived magma chambers at the axis of the Rise.

Chemical and Sr isotopic compositions of 3 step leachates and residues of bulk samples, zeolites, and smectites from Lower Miocene sediments at ODP Site 166-1007

Massive clinoptilolite authigenesis was observed at about 1105 meters below sea floor (mbsf) in lower Miocene wellcompacted carbonate periplatform sediments from the Great Bahama Bank [Ocean Drilling Program, ODP Leg 166, Site 1007]. The diagenetic assemblage comprises abundant zeolite crystallized within foraminifer tests and sedimentary matrix, as well as Mg smectites. In carbonate-rich deposits, the formation of the zeolite requires a supply of silica. Thus, the objective of the study is to determine the origin of the silica supply, its diagenetic evolution, and consequently the related implications on interpretation of the sedimentary record, in terms of local or global paleoceanographic change. For lack of evidence for any volcaniclastic input or traces of Si-enriched deep fluids circulation, an in situ biogenic source of silica is validated by isotopic data and chemical modeling for the formation of such secondary minerals in shallow-water carbonate sequences. Geochemical and strontium isotopic data clearly establish the marine signature of the diagenetic zeolite, as well as its contemporaneous formation with the carbonate deposition (Sr model ages of 19.6-23.2 Ma). The test of saturation for the pore fluids specifies the equilibrium state of the present mineralogical assemblage. Seawater-rock modeling specifies that clinoptilolite precipitates from the dissolution of biogenic silica, which reacts with clay minerals. The amount of silica (opal-A) involved in the reaction has to be significant enough, at least 10 wt.%, to account for the observed content of clinoptilolite occurring at the most zeolite-rich level. Modeling also shows that the observed amount of clinoptilolite (~19%) reflects an in situ and short-term reaction due to the high reactivity of primary biogenic silica (opal-A) until its complete depletion. The episodic occurrence of these well-lithified zeolite-rich levels is consistent with the occurrence of seismic reflectors, particularly the P2 seismic sequence boundary located at 1115 mbsf depth and dated as 23.2 Ma. The age range of most zeolitic sedimentary levels (biostratigraphic ages of 21.5-22 Ma) correlates well with that of the early Miocene glaciation Mi-1 and Mi-1a global events. Thus, the clinoptilolite occurrence in the shallow carbonate platform environment far from volcanogenic supply, or in other sensitive marine areas, is potentially a significant new proxy for paleoproductivity and oceanic global events, such as the Miocene events, which are usually recognized in deep-sea pelagic sediments and high latitude deposits.

Elements and isotopic measurements of magmatic rock samples from ODP Hole 104-642E

Trace element and isotopic signatures of magmatic rock samples from ODP Hole 642E at the Vøring Plateau provide insight into the interaction processes of mantle melt with crust during the initial magma extrusion phases at the onset of the continental breakup. The intermediate (basaltic-andesitic) to felsic (dacitic and rhyolitic) Lower Series magmas at ODP Hole 642E appear to be produced by large amounts of melting of upper crustal material. This study not only makes use of the traditional geochemical tools to investigate crust-mantle interaction, but also explores the value of Cs geochemistry as an additional tool. The element Cs forms the largest lithophile cation, and shows the largest contrast in concentration between (depleted) mantle and continental crust. As such it is a very sensitive indicator of involvement of crustal material. The Cs data reinforce the conclusion drawn from isotopic signatures that the felsic magmas are largely anatectic crustal melts. The down-hole geochemical variation within ODP Hole 642E defines a decreasing continental crustal influence from the Lower Series into the Upper Series. This is essential information to distinguish intrinsic geochemical properties of the mantle melts from signatures imposed by crustal contamination. A comparison with data from the SE Greenland margin highlights the compositional asymmetry of the crust-mantle interactions at both sides of the paleo-Iapetus suture. While Lower Series and Middle Series rocks from the SE Greenland margin have isotopic signatures reflecting interactions with lower and middle crust, such signatures have not been observed at the mid-Norwegian margin. The geochemical data either point to a dissimilar Caledonian crustal composition and/or to different geodynamic pre-breakup rifting history at the two NE Atlantic margin segments.

Middle Miocene to recent sedimentological record of ODP sites 177-1088 and 177-1092

During Leg 177 of the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP), well-preserved Middle Miocene to Pleistocene carbonate-rich sediment records were recovered on a north-south transect through the south-eastern Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean at Site 1088 on the Agulhas Ridge and Site 1092 on Meteor Rise. Both sites were dominated by the deposition of calcareous nannofossil oozes through the Miocene, indicating low biological productivity in warm to temperate surface waters. A continuous increase in the proportions of foraminifera since the latest Miocene (6.5 Ma) points to enhanced nutrient supply, possibly related to the global 'biogenic bloom' event across the Miocene-Pliocene boundary. Since the Late Pliocene, different styles of biological productivity developed between the sites. Enhanced deposition of biosiliceous constituents at the southern Site 1092, particularly in the Early Pleistocene, is consistent with the formation of the Circum-Antarctic Opal Belt since 2.5 Ma in a setting near the Polar Front, whereas carbonate deposition still prevailed at the northern Site 1088 situated near the Subtropical Front. Clay-mineral tracers of water-mass advection together with the pattern of sedimentation rates and hiatuses reflect distinct pulses in the development of regional ocean circulation between 14 and 12 Ma, around 8 Ma and since 2.8 Ma. These pulses can be related to Antarctic ice-sheet extension that mediates the production and flow of southern source water, and stepwise increases in North Atlantic Deep Water production that drives global conveyor circulation. At Site 1088, illite chemistry and silt/clay ratios of the terrigenous sediment fraction reflect the history of terrestrial climate in southern Africa, with humid conditions prior to the Early Late Miocene (9.7 Ma), followed by a dry episode until 7.7 Ma. The latest Miocene and Early Pliocene were characterized by a humid episode until modern aridity was established in the Late Pliocene between 4.0 and 2.8 Ma. These climate changes were related to the latitudinal migration of climate belts in response to tectonically caused reorganizations in atmospheric and ocean circulation.

Composition and age of rocks from the King's Trough and Palmer Ridge

This paper presents results of studies of rocks sampled during Cruise 19 of R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh with the Mir submersibles in the Atlantic Ocean (slopes of the King's Trough and Palmer Ridge). Based on these materials and published data two stages of magmatism and evolution in the region are distinguished: 1) formation of a mid-ocean ridge in the rift zone (68-32 Ma); 2) development of intraplate volcanism during movement of the plate over a "hot spot" (32-0 Ma).

Petrology and geochemistry of volcanic rocks from ODP Sites 134-827, 134-829 and 134-830

Igneous rocks recovered from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 134 Sites 827, 829, and 830 at the toe of the forearc slope of New Hebrides Island Arc were investigated, using petrography, mineral chemistry, major and trace element, and Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic analyses. Basaltic and andesitic clasts, together with detrital crystals of plagioclase, pyroxenes, and amphiboles embedded in sed-lithic conglomerate or volcanic siltstone and sandstone of Pleistocene age, were recovered from Sites 827 and 830. Petrological features of these lava clasts suggest a provenance from the Western Belt of New Hebrides Island Arc; igneous constituents were incorporated into breccias and sandstones, which were in turn reworked into a second generation breccia. Drilling at Site 829 recovered a variety of igneous rocks including basalts and probably comagmatic dolerites and gabbros, plus rare ultramafic rocks. Geochemical features, including Pb isotopic ratios, of the mafic rocks are intermediate between midocean ridge basalts and island arc tholeiites, and these rocks are interpreted to be backarc basin basalts. No correlates of these mafic rocks are known from Espiritu Santo and Malakula islands, nor do they occur in the Pleistocene volcanic breccias at Sites 827 and 830. However, basalts with very similar trace element and isotopic compositions have been recovered from the northern flank of North d'Entrecasteaux Ridge at Site 828. It is proposed that igneous rocks drilled at Site 829 represent material from the North d'Entrecasteaux Ridge accreted onto the over-riding Pacific Plate during collision. An original depleted mantle harzburgitic composition is inferred for a serpentinite clast recovered at 407 meters below seafloor (mbsf) in Hole 829A. Its provenance is a matter of speculation. It could have been brought up along a deep thrust fault affecting the Pacific Plate at the colliding margin, or analogous to the Site 829 basaltic lavas, it may represent material accreted from the North d'Entrecasteaux Ridge.

Profiles of diatoms, pollen, XRD, XRF and organic composition of two sediment cores (PG2022 and PG2023) from Lake Kyutyunda in Yakutia, NE Siberia, Russia

Although the climate development over the Holocene in the Northern Hemisphere is well known, palaeolimnological climate reconstructions reveal spatiotemporal variability in northern Eurasia. Here we present a multi-proxy study from north-eastern Siberia combining sediment geochemistry, and diatom and pollen data from lake-sediment cores covering the last 38,000 cal. years. Our results show major changes in pyrite content and fragilarioid diatom species distributions, indicating prolonged seasonal lake-ice cover between ~13,500 and ~8,900 cal. years BP and possibly during the 8,200 cal. years BP cold event. A pollen-based climate reconstruction generated a mean July temperature of 17.8°C during the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM) between ~8,900 and ~4,500 cal. years BP. Naviculoid diatoms appear in the late Holocene indicating a shortening of the seasonal ice cover that continues today. Our results reveal a strong correlation between the applied terrestrial and aquatic indicators and natural seasonal climate dynamics in the Holocene. Planktonic diatoms show a strong response to changes in the lake ecosystem due to recent climate warming in the Anthropocene. We assess other palaeolimnological studies to infer the spatiotemporal pattern of the HTM and affirm that the timing of its onset, a difference of up to 3,000 years from north to south, can be well explained by climatic teleconnections. The westerlies brought cold air to this part of Siberia until the Laurentide ice-sheet vanished 7,000 years ago. The apparent delayed ending of the HTM in the central Siberian record can be ascribed to the exceedance of ecological thresholds trailing behind increases in winter temperatures and decreases in contrast in insolation between seasons during the mid to late Holocene as well as lacking differentiation between summer and winter trends in paleolimnological reconstructions.

Chemical and isotope compositions of bottom sediments from ODP Leg 168, Eastern Flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge

Ten sites were drilled in the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge (North East Pacific) along a 100 km-long east-west transect during Leg ODP 168. This study focuses on the mineralogical and chemical study of sediments that overly basaltic basement through which seawater circulates. Silicate authigenesis was observed in the sediment layer just above basement at sites located more than 30 km from the ridge axis. This sediment alteration is particularly abundant at ODP Sites 1031 and 1029 where authigenic formation of Fe-Mg rich smectite and zeolite and the dissolution of biogenic calcite are observed. Comparison of the distribution of the alteration in the basal sediment collected along this transect suggests that diffusional transport of aqueous solutes from the basement into the overlying sediment cannot produce the mineralogical and chemical changes in the basal sediments at Sites 1031 located on a basement topographic high, and at Site 1029 located at about 50 km from the ridge axis on a buried basement area. Vertical advection of basement fluid though the sediment section is required to produce this alteration. These processes are still active at Site 1031, based on systematic variations in pore-water profiles and temperatures obtained from stable isotopic data on calcium carbonates and the nature of authigenic minerals. At Site 1029, there is no present-day advection of basement fluids though the sediment section, suggesting that this is a relic site for fluid flow.

Paleoceanography of sediment cores SO202-27-6 during MIS 3

The modern subarctic Pacific is characterized by a steep salinity-driven surface water stratification, which hampers the supply of saline and nutrient-rich deeper waters into the euphotic zone, limiting productivity. However, the strength of the halocline might have varied in the past. Here, we present diatom oxygen (d18Odiat) and silicon (d30Sidiat) stable isotope data from the open subarctic North-East (NE) Pacific (SO202-27-6; Gulf of Alaska), in combination with other proxy data (Neogloboquadrina pachydermasin d18O, biogenic opal, Ca and Fe intensities, IRD), to evaluate changes in surface water hydrography and productivity during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3, characterized by millennial-scale temperature changes (Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) cycles) documented in Greenland ice cores.

Major and rare earth element composition of ODP Site 191-1179 sediments, northwest Pacific

Depth profiles of major element and rare earth element (REE) abundances in sediment samples (mainly siliceous ooze and clay) recovered from Holes 1179B and 1179C at Site 1179, Ocean Drilling Program Leg 191 (41.4°N, 159.6°E) were determined. The oxidation states of Mn and Ce were determined by X-ray absorption near-edge structure. Some geochemical indicators were tested, including the MnO/TiO2 ratios, a bivariate diagram of La/Ce vs. Al2O3/(Al2O3+Fe2O3), and other discrimination diagrams. The oxidation state of Mn is reduced Mn(II) in the depth profile below 0.60 meters below seafloor (mbsf), which is consistent with relatively low and high abundances of Mn in the sediments and pore waters, respectively. It is possible that the diagenetic effect on the oxidation state and abundance of Mn makes it difficult for the MnO/TiO2 ratio to reflect the depositional environment. The normalized ratio of La and Ce does not change very much with depth, suggesting that the diagenetic effect does not affect the REE signature in the sediments. On the diagram of La/Ce vs. Al2O3/(Al2O3+Fe2O3), the sediments studied here plot at the boundary of the pelagic and continental margin fields. This suggests that continental material has contributed to the sediment to some degree, even though Site 1179 is in a pelagic region of the northwestern Pacific Ocean, >1600 km from Japan.

Mineral composition and major element oxides of gabbros from ODP Hole 179-1105A, southwest Indian Ridge

Hole 1105A penetrated 158 m of gabbros at a site offset 1.3 km east-northeast from Hole 735B on the Atlantis Bank near the Atlantis II Fracture Zone. A total of 118 m of dominantly medium- to coarse-grained intercalated Fe-Ti oxide gabbro and olivine gabbro was recovered from Hole 1105A that shows many petrographic features similar to those recovered from the upper part of Hole 735B. The main rock types are distinguished based on the constituent cumulus phases, with the most primitive gabbros consisting of olivine, plagioclase, and clinopyroxene. The inferred crystallization order is subsequently Fe-Ti oxides (ilmenite and titanomagnetite), followed by orthopyroxene, then apatite, and finally biotite. Orthopyroxene appears to replace olivine in a narrow middle interval. The magmatic evolution is likewise reflected in the mineral compositions. Plagioclase varies from An66 to An28. Olivine varies from Fo78 to Fo35. The gap in olivine crystallization occurs between Fo46 and Fo40 and coincides approximately with the appearance of orthopyroxene (~En50). The clinopyroxenes show large compositional variation in Mg/(Mg + Fe total) from 0.84 to 0.51. The nonquadrilateral cations of clinopyroxene similarly show large variations with Ti increasing for the olivine gabbros and decreasing for the Fe-Ti oxide gabbros with the decrease in Mg/(Mg + Fe total). The apatites are mainly flourapatites. The compositional variation in the gabbros is interpreted as a comagmatic suite resulting from fractional crystallization. Pyroxene geothermometry suggests equilibration temperatures from 1100°C and below. The coexisting Fe-Ti oxide minerals indicate subsolidus equilibration temperatures from 900°C for olivine gabbros to 700°C for the most evolved apatite-bearing gabbros. The cryptic variation in the olivine gabbros defines two or three lenses, 40 to 60 m thick, each characterized by a distinct convex zoning with a lower segment indicating upward reverse fractionation, a central maximum, and an upper segment showing normal fractionation. The Fe-Ti oxide gabbros show cryptic variations independent of the host olivine gabbros and reveal a systematic upward normal fractionation trend transgressing host olivine gabbro boundaries. Forward fractional crystallization modeling, using a likely parental magma composition from the Atlantis II Fracture Zone (MgO = 7.2 wt%; Mg/[Mg + Fe2+] = 0.62), closely matches the compositions of coexisting olivine, plagioclase, and clinopyroxene. This modeling suggests cosaturation of olivine, plagioclase, and clinopyroxene from 1155°C and the addition of Fe-Ti oxides from 1100°C. The liquid line of descent initially shows increasing FeO with moderately increasing SiO2. After saturation of Fe-Ti oxides, the liquid strongly decreases in FeO and TiO2 and increases in SiO2, reaching dacitic compositions at ~10% liquid remaining. The calculations indicate that formation of olivine gabbros can be accounted for by <65% fractionation and that only the residual 35% liquid was saturated in Fe-Ti oxides. The modeling of the solid fractionation products shows that both the olivine gabbro and the Fe-Ti oxide gabbros contain very small amounts of trapped liquid (<5%). The implications are that the gabbros represent crystal mush that originated in a recharging and tapping subaxial chamber. Compaction and upward melt migration in the crystal mush appear to have been terminated with relatively large amounts of interstitial liquid remaining in the upper parts of the cumulate mush. This termination may have been caused by tectonic disturbances, uplift, and associated withdrawal of magma into the subaxial dike and sill system. Prolonged compaction and cooling of the trapped melt in the mush formed small differentiated bodies and lenses by pressure release migration and crystallization along syntectonic channels. This resulted in differentiation products along lateral and vertical channelways in the host gabbro that vary from olivine gabbro, to Fe-Ti oxide gabbro, gabbronorite, and apatite gabbros and show large compositional variations independent of the host olivine gabbros.

Geochemistry, physical properties, diatom abundance and datums of ODP Site 186-1150 and Hole 186-1151A

Detection of climate response to orbital forcing during Cenozoic long-term global cooling is a key to understanding the behavior of Earth's icehouse climate. Sedimentary rhythm, which is a rhythmic or cyclic variation in the sequence of sediments and sedimentary rocks, is useful for quantitative reconstruction of Earth's evolution during geological time. In this study, we attempt to (1) identify sources of natural gamma ray (NGR) emissions of core recovered during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 186 by analyses of physical properties, major element concentrations, diatom abundances, and total organic carbon contents, (2) integrate whole-core NGR intensity of recovered core with wireline logging NGR measurements in order to construct a continuous sedimentary sequence, and (3) discuss changes in the NGR signal in the time domain. This attempt gives us preliminary information to discuss climate stability in relation to orbital forcing thorough geologic time. NGR values are obtained mainly by indirectly measuring the amount of terrigenous minerals including potassium and related elements in the sediments. NGR intensity is also affected by high porosity, which in these sediments was related to the amount of diatom valves. NGR signals might be a proxy of the intensity of the East Asian monsoon off Sanriku. A continuous sedimentary record was constructed by integration of the whole-core NGR intensity measured in sediments obtained from the drilled holes with that measured directly in the borehole by wireline logging, then using a stratigraphic age model to convert to a time series covering 1.3-9.7 Ma with a short break at ~5 Ma. High sedimentation rate (H) stages were identified in the sequence, related to intervals of low-amplitude precession and eccentricity variations. The transition of the dominant periodicities through the four H stages may correlate to major shifts in the climate system, including the onset of major Northern Hemisphere glaciation, the initial stage of the East Asian monsoon intensification, and the onset of the East Asian monsoon with uplift of the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau.

Mineralogy and chemical composition of ODP Sites 129-800 and 129-801

Sites 800 and 801 in the Pigafetta Basin allow the sedimentary history over the oldest remaining Pacific oceanic crust to be established. Six major deposition stages and events are defined by the main lithologic units from both sites. Mineralogical and chemical investigations were run on a large set of samples from these units. The data enable the evolution of the sediments and their depositional environments to be characterized in relation to the paleolatitudinal motion of the sites. The upper part of the basaltic crust at Site 801 displays a complex hydrothermal and alteration evolution expressed particularly by an ochre siliceous deposit comparable to that found in the Cyprus ophiolite. The oldest sedimentary cover at Site 801 was formed during the Callovian-Bathonian (stage 1) with red basal siliceous and metalliferous sediments similar to those found in supraophiolite sequences, and formed near an active ridge axis in an open ocean. Biosiliceous sedimentation prevailed throughout the Oxfordian to Campanian, with rare incursions of calcareous input during the middle Cretaceous (stages 2, 4, and 5). The biosiliceous sedimentation was drastically interrupted during the Aptian-Albian by thick volcaniclastic turbidite deposits (stage 3). The volcanogenic phases are pervasively altered and the successive secondary mineral parageneses (with smectites, celadonite, clinoptilolite, phillipsite, analcime, calcite, and quartz) define a "mineral stratigraphy" within these deposits. From this mineral stratigraphy, a similar lithologic layer is defined at the top of the Site 800 turbidite unit and the bottom of the Site 801 turbidite unit. Then, the two sites appear to have been located at the same distal distance from a volcanic source (hotspot). They crossed this locality, at about 10°S, at different times (latest Aptian for Site 800, middle Albian for Site 801). The Cretaceous siliceous sedimentation stopped during the late Campanian and was followed by deposition of Cenozoic pelagic red clay (stage 6). This deep-sea facies, which formed below the carbonate compensation depth, contains variable zeolite authigenesis in relation to the age of deposition, and records the global middle Cenozoic hiatus events. At the surface, the red clay from this part of the Pacific shows a greater detrital component than its equivalents from the central Pacific deep basins.

Chemical and isotopic compositions of sediments from DSDP Hole 21-204

The highly depleted intra-oceanic Tonga-Kermadec island arc forms an endmember of arc systems and a unique location in which to isolate the effects of the slab flux. High precision TIMS uranium, thorium, strontium, neodymium, and lead isotopes, along with complete major and trace element data, have been obtained on an extensive sample set comprising fifty-eight lavas along the arc as well as nineteen samples of the subducting sediments at DSDP site 204 just to the east of the Tonga-Kermadec trench. Ca/Ti and Al/Ti ratios extend from values appropriate to an N-MORB source in the southern Kermadecs to very high ratios in Tonga interpreted to reflect increasing degrees of depletion of the mantle wedge due to backarc basalt extraction. The isotope data emphasize the need for four components in the petrogenesis of the lavas: (1) the mantle wedge; (2) a component with elevated 207Pb/204Pb towards which the Kermadec and southern Tongan lavas extend; (3) a component characterised by high 206Pb/204Pb, Ta/Nd, and low 143Nd/144Nd observed only in the northernmost Tongan islands of Tafahi and Niuatoputapu; (4) a fluid component characterised by strong enrichments of Rb, Ba, U, K, Ph, and Sr, relative to Th, Zr, and the REE and producing large 238U excesses ((230Th/238U) = 0.8-0.5) in the more depleted lavas. The mantle wedge (Component 1) is isotopically similar to the source of the Lau BABB. Component 2 is average pelagic sediment on the downgoing Pacific plate as observed at DSDP sites 595/596 and in the upper sections of the sediment pile at DSDP site 204. Mass balance calculations indicate that less than 0.5% is recycled into the arc lavas; essentially all the subducted sediment is returned to the upper mantle (~0.03 km**3/yr). Exceptionally low concentrations of Ta and Nb relative to Th and the LREE requires that this sediment component is added as a partial melt which was in equilibrium with residual rutile or ilmenite. Component 3 is identified as volcaniclastics from the Louisville Ridge which comprise the lower 44 m of the sediment section intersected at DSDP site 204. These volcaniclastics are spatially restricted to the vicinity of the Louisville Ridge and provide a unique sediment tracer which can be used to show that it takes 4 Myr from the time of subduction to its first appearance in the arc lava signature. Component 4, the fluid contribution to the lava source is inferred to contribute ~1 ppm Rb, 10 ppm Ba, 0.02 ppm U, 600 ppm K, 0.2 ppm Ph, and 30 ppm Sr. It has 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7035 and 206Pb/204Pb = 18.5 and thus it is inferred to have been derived from dehydration of the subducting altered oceanic crust. U-Th isotope disequilibria reflect the time since fluid release from the subducting slab and a reference line through the lowest (230Th/232Th) lavas constrains this to be 30000-50000 yr. The U-Th and Th-Ra isotope systematics are decoupled, and it is suggested that Th-Ra isotope disequilibria record the time since partial melting and thus indicate rapid channelled magma ascent. Olivine gabbro xenoliths from Raoul are interpreted as cumulates to their host lavas with which they form zero age U-Th isochrons indicating that minimal time was spent in magma chambers. The subduction signature is not observed in lavas from the backarc island of Niuafo'ou. These were derived from partial melting of fertile peridotite at 130-160 km depth with melt rates around 0.0002 kg/m**3/yr.