Multi-Element Analysis of Spanish Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Based Techniques. Discrimination Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis

The elemental analysis of Spanish palm dates by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is reported for the first time. To complete the information about the mineral composition of the samples, C, H, and N are determined by elemental analysis. Dates from Israel, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Iran have also been analyzed. The elemental composition have been used in multivariate statistical analysis to discriminate the dates according to its geographical origin. A total of 23 elements (As, Ba, C, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, H, In, K, Li, Mg, Mn, N, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, V, and Zn) at concentrations from major to ultra-trace levels have been determined in 13 date samples (flesh and seeds). A careful inspection of the results indicate that Spanish samples show higher concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni than the remaining ones. Multivariate statistical analysis of the obtained results, both in flesh and seed, indicate that the proposed approach can be successfully applied to discriminate the Spanish date samples from the rest of the samples tested.

Major and trace element composition of clinopyroxenes from an olivine gabbro of ODP Hole 176-735B (Table 1)

Major and trace element profiles of clinopyroxene grains in oceanic gabbros from ODP Hole 735B have been investigated by a combined in situ analytical study with ion probe, and electron microprobe. In contrast to the homogeneous major element compositions, trace elements (REE, Y, Cr, Sr, and Zr) show continuous core to rim zoning profiles. The observed trace element systematics in clinopyroxene cannot be explained by a simple diffusive exchange between melts and gabbros along grain boundaries. A simultaneous modification of the melt composition is required to generate the zoning, although Rayleigh fractional crystallization modelling could mimic the general shape of the profiles. Simultaneous metasomatism between the cumulate crystal and the porous melt during crystal accumulation is the most likely process to explain the zoning. Deformation during solidification of the crystal mush could have caused squeezing out of the incompatible element enriched residual melts (interstitial liquid). Migration of the melt along grain boundaries might carry these melt out of the system. This process named as synkinematic differentiation or differentiation by deformation (Natland and Dick, 2001, doi:10.1016/S0377-0273(01)00211-6) may act as an important magma evolution mechanism in the oceanic crust, at least at slow-spreading ridges.

Trace element geochemistry at DSDP Leg 82 Holes

Forty-three samples from DSDP Holes 556-559 and 561-564 were analyzed for rare earth elements (REE), Sc, Cr, Co, Hf, Ta, and Th by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The recovered basalts range from those depleted in light REE (LREE) to those enriched in LREE. The two types of basalts occur together in Holes 558 and 561. The depleted basalts have remarkably constant La/Yb, La/Sm, and La/Ti ratios and apparently derive from a large, homogeneous, mantle source underneath a segment (1200 km long) of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The almost twofold variation in the concentrations of incompatible trace elements in the depleted basalts is primarily due to different degrees of batch partial melting. The variation of highly to moderately incompatible elements in the Leg 82 enriched basalts can be successfully explained in terms of source mixing between depleted mantle sources and alkaline or nephelinitic magmas similar to Azores Islands magmas. However, the correlation of LREE enrichment with distance from the Azores Triple Junction is tenuous at best, and the enriched alkaline component is probably not directly related to the Azores volcanism.

Major and trace element concentration of melt inclusions from Zhupanovsky volcano, Kamchatka

The paper presents data on naturally quenched melt inclusions in olivine (Fo 69-84) from Late Pleistocene pyroclastic rocks of Zhupanovsky volcano in the frontal zone of the Eastern Volcanic Belt of Kamchatka. The composition of the melt inclusions provides insight into the latest crystallization stages (~70% crystallization) of the parental melt (~46.4 wt % SiO2, ~2.5 wt % H2O, ~0.3 wt % S), which proceeded at decompression and started at a depth of approximately 10 km from the surface. The crystallization temperature was estimated at 1100 ± 20°C at an oxygen fugacity of deltaFMQ = 0.9-1.7. The melts evolved due to the simultaneous crystallization of olivine, plagioclase, pyroxene, chromite, and magnetite (Ol: Pl: Cpx : (Crt-Mt) ~ 13 : 54 : 24 : 4) along the tholeiite evolutionary trend and became progressively enriched in FeO, SiO2, Na2O, and K2O and depleted in MgO, CaO, and Al2O3. Melt crystallization was associated with the segregation of fluid rich in S-bearing compounds and, to a lesser extent, in H2O and Cl. The primary melt of Zhupanovsky volcano (whose composition was estimated from data on the most primitive melt inclusions) had a composition of low-Si (~45 wt % SiO2) picrobasalt (~14 wt % MgO), as is typical of parental melts in Kamchatka and other island arcs, and was different from MORB. This primary melt could be derived by ~8% melting of mantle peridotite of composition close to the MORB source, under pressures of 1.5 ± 0.2 GPa and temperatures 20-30°C lower than the solidus temperature of 'dry' peridotite (1230-1240°C). Melting was induced by the interaction of the hot peridotite with a hydrous component that was brought to the mantle from the subducted slab and was also responsible for the enrichment of the Zhupanovsky magmas in LREE, LILE, B, Cl, Th, U, and Pb. The hydrous component in the magma source of Zhupanovsky volcano was produced by the partial slab melting under water-saturated conditions at temperatures of 760-810°C and pressures of ~3.5 GPa. As the depth of the subducted slab beneath Kamchatkan volcanoes varies from 100 to 125 km, the composition of the hydrous component drastically changes from relatively low-temperature H2O-rich fluid to higher temperature H2O-bearing melt. The geothermal gradient at the surface of the slab within the depth range of 100-125 km beneath Kamchatka was estimated at 4°C/km.

Trace element contents in bottom sediments from the North Indian Ocean

Contents and distributions of Cu, Ni, Co, V, Cr, Zn, Pb, Mo, W, and Zr in near-coast and pelagic sediments of the Northern Indian Ocean are under consideration in the paper. Chemical analyses showed enrichment of pelagic clayey radiolarian oozes by Mn, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, W, and Mo. According to enrichment factors these elements have the following order: Mo> Mn> Cu> Ni> Co> Pb> W. Enrichment of pelagic sediments from the Indian Ocean is mainly determined by the mechanism of the sedimentation process. Enrichment factors of Cu, Ni, Co, W, Mo, and Mn in pelagic sediments of the North Indian Ocean are intermediate between ones in pelagic sediments of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

(Tables 1-3) Silicon dioxide, Corg and trace element concentrations in sediments of the outer Eckernfoerder Bay, Western Baltic Sea

The main question, posed in the work scheme before laboratory analysis was started, was expressed as follows: Do marked seasonal fluctuations occur in trace element content of the sediment surface, and what are the probable influences of factors such as changing hydrographical parameters, plankton sequence etc. ? Special attention was paid to elements known as pollutants, for example mercury. Within this framework samples have been analysed for their contents of manganese, iron, zinc, lead, and mercury. The amounts of silica and organically-bound carbon serve in most cases as reference values for the trace element content. On sand temporary conditions of increased C org content raise the concentrations of all determined elements. Especially the values reached for mercury in July are worth nothing. It is concluded that Zn, Pb, and Hg tend to enrich with respect to C org as the decomposition of organic matter progresses. On mud-sand flocculation and precipitation of Mn/Fe-hydroxides probably represent an additional concentrating factor for the other elements as the relationship of the results for zinc and manganese shows. Manganese may indicate a seasonally related concentrating cycle at the sediment surface.

(Table S1) Trace element and isotopic compositions of anhydrites sampled in the Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea

Microchemical analyses of rare earth element (REE) concentrations and Sr and S isotope ratios of anhydrite are used to identify sub-seafloor processes governing the formation of hydrothermal fluids in the convergent margin Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea. Samples comprise drill-core vein anhydrite and seafloor massive anhydrite from the PACMANUS (Roman Ruins, Snowcap and Fenway) and SuSu Knolls (North Su) active hydrothermal fields. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns in anhydrite show remarkable heterogeneity on the scale of individual grains, different from the near uniform REEN patterns measured in anhydrite from mid-ocean ridge deposits. The REEN patterns in anhydrite are correlated with REE distributions measured in hydrothermal fluids venting at the seafloor at these vent fields and are interpreted to record episodes of hydrothermal fluid formation affected by magmatic volatile degassing. 87Sr/86Sr ratios vary dramatically within individual grains between that of contemporary seawater and that of endmember hydrothermal fluid. Anhydrite was precipitated from a highly variable mixture of the two. The intra-grain heterogeneity implies that anhydrite preserves periods of contrasting hydrothermal versus seawater dominant near-seafloor fluid circulation. Most sulfate d34S values of anhydrite cluster around that of contemporary seawater, consistent with anhydrite precipitating from hydrothermal fluid mixed with locally entrained seawater. Sulfate d34S isotope ratios in some anhydrites are, however, lighter than that of seawater, which are interpreted as recording a source of sulfate derived from magmatic SO2 degassed from underlying felsic magmas in the Manus Basin. The range of elemental and isotopic signatures observed in anhydrite records a range of sub-seafloor processes including high-temperature hydrothermal fluid circulation, varying extents of magmatic volatile degassing, seawater entrainment and fluid mixing. The chemical and isotopic heterogeneity recorded in anhydrite at the inter- and intra-grain scale captures the dynamics of hydrothermal fluid formation and sub-seafloor circulation that is highly variable both spatially and temporally on timescales over which hydrothermal deposits are formed. Microchemical analysis of hydrothermal minerals can provide information about the temporal history of submarine hydrothermal systems that are variable over time and cannot necessarily be inferred only from the study of vent fluids.