Geochemistry of Miocene Alborán Basin volcanism

We present new major and trace element and O-Sr-Nd-isotope data for igneous rocks from the western Mediterranean Alborán Sea, collected during the METEOR 51/1 cruise, and for high-grade schists and gneisses from the continental Alborán basement, drilled during the Ocean Drilling Programme (ODP Leg 161, Site 976). The geochemical data allow a detailed examination of crustal and mantle processes involved in the petrogenesis of the lavas and for the first time reveal a zonation of the Miocene Alborán Sea volcanism: (1) a keel-shaped area of LREE-depleted (mainly tholeiitic series) lavas in the central Alborán Sea, generated by high degrees of partial melting of a depleted mantle source and involving hydrous fluids from subducted marine sediments, that is surrounded by (2) a horseshoe-shaped zone with LREE-enriched (mainly calc-alkaline series) lavas subparallel to the arcuate Betic-Gibraltar-Rif mountain belt. We propose that the geochemical zonation of the Miocene Alborán Basin volcanism results from eastward subduction of Tethys oceanic lithosphere coupled with increasing lithospheric thickness between the central Alborán Sea and the continental margins of Iberia and Africa.

Element and isotope composition of selected volcanics from the Bicol arc, Philippines

Pliocene to recent volcanic rocks from the Bulusan volcanic complex in the southern part of the Bicol arc (Philippines) exhibit a wide compositional range (medium- to high-K basaltic-andesites, andesites and a dacite/rhyolite suite), but are characterised by large ion lithophile element enrichments and HFS element depletions typical of subduction-related rocks. Field, petrographic and geochemical data indicate that the more silicic syn- and post-caldera magmas have been influenced by intracrustal processes such as magma mixing and fractional crystallisation. However, the available data indicate that the Bicol rocks as a group exhibit relatively lower and less variable 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7036-0.7039) compared with many of the other subduction-related volcanics from the Philippine archipelago. The Pb isotope ratios of the Bicol volcanics appear to be unlike those of other Philippine arc segments. They typically plot within and below the data field for the Philippine Sea Basin on 207Pb/204Pb versus 206Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb versus 206Pb/204Pb diagrams, implying a pre-subduction mantle wedge similar to that sampled by the Palau Kyushu Ridge, east of the Philippine Trench. 143Nd/144Nd ratios are moderately variable (0.51285-0.51300). Low silica (<55 wt%) samples that have lower 143Nd/144Nd tend to have high Th/Nd, high Th/Nb, and moderately low Ce/Ce* ratios. Unlike some other arc segments in the Philippines (e.g. the Babuyan-Taiwan segment), there is little evidence for the involvement of subducted terrigenous sediment. Instead, the moderately low 143Nd/144Nd ratios in some of the Bicol volcanics may result from subduction of pelagic sediment (low Ce/Ce*, high Th/Nd, and high Th/Nb) and its incorporation into the mantle wedge via a slabderived partial melt.

Geochemistry and petrology of basalts from Celebes Sea

Major-, trace-, and rare-earth element analyses are presented from a suite of basaltic rocks from the basement of the Celebes Sea. The major elements and trace-elements were determined by X-ray fluorescence techniques, and the rare-earth elements were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Compositionally the Celebes Sea basalts are very similar to typical normal mid-ocean ridge basalts, such as those described from the Indian Ocean triple junction. Petrogenetic modeling shows that all of the basalts analyzed can be formed by 10% to 20% partial melting of a light rare-earth element-depleted spinel lherzolite followed by fractional crystallization of mixtures of olivine, Plagioclase, and iron oxide. The Celebes Sea is interpreted as a fragment of the basement of the Jurassic Argo abyssal plain trapped during the Eocene to the north of Australia.

Geochemistry and petrology of the volcanic rocks from the Sulu Sea

Major-, trace-, and rare-earth element analyses of the basaltic rocks recovered from the basement of the Sulu Sea and of lithic clasts from the pyroclastic unit representing the acoustic basement of the Cagayan Ridge, are presented. The major and trace elements were measured by X-ray fluorescence techniques, and rare-earth elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis. These data show that the Sulu Sea basalts are back-arc tholeiites and the lithic clasts are basalts, basaltic andesites, and andesites typical of volcanic arc suites erupted on continental crust. Petrogenetic modeling is used to show that the Sulu Sea basalts were derived from a heterogeneous mantle, probably representing subcontinental lithosphere, with contributions from a subduction component. The Sulu Sea is interpreted as a back-arc basin formed by rifting of an Oligocene to early Miocene volcanic arc leaving the Cagayan Ridge as a remnant arc. This event occurred during northward subduction of the Celebes Sea basement beneath the Oligocene to early Miocene arc.