Summary Trace-element data for mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs) and ocean island basalts (OIB) are used to formulate chemical systematics for oceanic basalts. The data suggest that the order of trace-element incompatibility in oceanic basalts is Cs ≈ Rb ≈ (≈ Tl) ≈ Ba(≈ W) > Th > U ≈ Nb = Ta ≈ K > La > Ce ≈ Pb > Pr (≈ Mo) ≈ Sr > P ≈ Nd (> F) > Zr = Hf ≈ Sm > Eu ≈ Sn (≈ Sb) ≈ Ti > Dy ≈ (Li) > Ho = Y > Yb. This rule works in general and suggests that the overall fractionation processes operating during magma generation and evolution are relatively simple, involving no significant change in the environment of formation for MORBs and OIBs. In detail, minor differences in element ratios correlate with the isotopic characteristics of different types of OIB components (HIMU, EM, MORB). These systematics are interpreted in terms of partial-melting conditions, variations in residual mineralogy, involvement of subducted sediment, recycling of oceanic lithosphere and processes within the low velocity zone. Niobium data indicate that the mantle sources of MORB and OIB are not exact complementary reservoirs to the continental crust. Subduction of oceanic crust or separation of refractory eclogite material from the former oceanic crust into the lower mantle appears to be required. The negative europium anomalies observed in some EM-type OIBs and the systematics of their key element ratios suggest the addition of a small amount (⩽1% or less) of subducted sediment to their mantle sources. However, a general lack of a crustal signature in OIBs indicates that sediment recycling has not been an important process in the convecting mantle, at least not in more recent times (⩽2 Ga). Upward migration of silica-undersaturated melts from the low velocity zone can generate an enriched reservoir in the continental and oceanic lithospheric mantle. We propose that the HIMU type (eg St Helena) OIB component can be generated in this way. This enriched mantle can be re-introduced into the convective mantle by thermal erosion of the continental lithosphere and by the recycling of the enriched oceanic lithosphere back into the mantle.

Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalt : implications for mantle composition and processes

Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalts. Implications for Mantle Composition and Processes

The chemical composition of subducting sediment and its consequences for the crust and mantle

Basaltic volcanism 'samples' the Earth's mantle to great depths, because solid-state convection transports deep material into the (shallow) melting region. The isotopic and trace-element chemistry of these basalts shows that the mantle contains several isotopically and chemically distinct components, which reflect its global evolution. This evolution is characterized by upper-mantle depletion of many trace elements, possible replenishment from the deeper, less depleted mantle, and the recycling of oceanic crust and lithosphere, but of only small amounts of continental material.

Mantle geochemistry: the message from oceanic volcanism

Magmatic fluids, both vapour and hypersaline liquid, are a primary source of many components in hydrothermal ore deposits formed in volcanic arcs. These components, including metals and their ligands, become concentrated in magmas in various ways from various sources, including subducted oceanic crust. Leaching of rocks also contributes components to the hydrothermal fluid—a process enhanced where acid magmatic vapours are absorbed by deeply circulating meteoric waters. Advances in understanding the hydrothermal systems that formed these ore deposits have come from the study of their active equivalents, represented at the surface by hot springs and volcanic fumaroles.

The role of magmas in the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits

Rare earth element systematics in hydrothermal fluids

The mobility of rare-earth elements (REE) and U during hydrothermal alteration of the basalts at spreading centres has long been a matter of concern because of its bearing on the evolution and recycling of the oceanic crust1–6. Previous approaches to this problem have been indirect, through studies on altered dredged basalts or ophiolites. We report here sampling of hydrothermal vent waters from the East Pacific Rise (EPR) at 13° N7,8, which provides the first direct evidence of REE-enriched solutions which, however, leave the budget of these elements in the crust and the ocean rather unmodified. In contrast, uranium, like magnesium, is quantitatively taken up from the seawater during the hydrothermal process.

Rare-earth elements and uranium in high-temperature solutions from East Pacific Rise hydrothermal vent field (13 °N)

Birimian terranes from West Africa (Mauritania, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Niger) comprise two major units: a dominantly mafic bimodal volcanic unit and a volcano-detrital unit with mostly felsic to intermediate protolith. Stratigraphic relationships of these units are still a matter of debate but current work suggest that they both formed in a short time interval around 2.1 Ga. Widespread basaltic magmas from the bimodal unit have been analyzed for REE distributions and Sr-Nd isotopes. Three Sm-Nd isochrons on tholeiitic lavas were obtained at 2.229±0.042 Ga and initial eNd = 3.6±1.0 for Mauritania, 2.126±0.024 Ga and initial eNd = 2.9±0.7 for Burkina Faso, 2.063±0.041 Ga and initial eNd = 3.1± .0 for Eastern Senegal, data which compare with the age of 2.11±0.09 Ga and initial eNd = 2.1±1.8 obtained in Guyana by Gruau et al. (1985). Samples from other localities (Ivory Coast, Niger) give generally similar results. Although the variations of Sm/Nd ratios and the scatter of eNd(T) values from +1.2 to +4.3 preclude a single origin for these magmas, initial isotopic heterogeneities are unlikely to bias significantly the ages given by the isochrons which are in good agreement with U-Pb zircon ages (Boher et al., 1989; unpublished data, 1990). Presence of lavas with frequent pillow structures and sediments virtually free of older recycled components suggests that Birimian terranes formed in ocean basins far from continental influence. The isotopic heterogeneities are not consistent with a MORB-like mantle source. Most lavas are slightly depleted in LREE and inversion of the data through a melting model suggests 5–15 percent melting of a slightly depleted Iherzolite. Strong depletion (Burkina Faso) and slight enrichment (Senegal) are occasionally observed. With a noticeable trend of Ti enrichment with differentiation intermediate between that of MORB and IAT, the geochemical signature of Birimian basalts does not fit the best known geodynamic environments. Back-arc or low-Ti continental flood basalts provide a marginally good agreement but still face some difficulties. Oceanic flood basalts similar to those which form oceanic plateaus (e.g. in the Nauru basin) and later accreted to continents as allochtonous terranes represent the most acceptable modern analogue of many Proterozoic basalts. It is suggested that deep plumes piercing young lithosphere can generate huge amounts of tholeiites in a short time. Birimian basalts, like many Early Proterozoic basalts, may also be viewed as recent equivalents of the Archean greenstone belts. The modern komatiite of Gorgona Island is suggested to fit this model of intraplate volcanism. Although the 2.1 Ga magmatic event in West Africa has gone virtually unnoticed in the literature, it extends over several thousand kilometers and compares with the distribution of mantle-derived magmatic activity in other major orogenic provinces (e.g. Superior). It shows that the growth rate of continents cannot be extrapolated from the data obtained solely from the best studied continents (North America, Europe, Australia). If such large crustal segments were overlooked, a spurious pattern of episodic activity of the mantle could arise.

A major 2.1 Ga event of mafic magmatism in west Africa: An Early stage of crustal accretion

Birimian (∼2.1 Ga) terranes in the West African craton are a mixture of highly metamorphosed volcanic, sedimentary and plutonic rocks and low grade metavolcanics and metasediments. The volcanic units contain thick, commonly pillowed, tholeiitic basalts overlain by pelagic sediments cherts and black shales; The sedimentary units are characterized by an abundance of clastic turbiditic sediments. Andesites and calc-alkaline felsic volcanics occur at uppermost stratigraphic levels and as dykes. Field relationships between the volcanic and sedimentary units remain a matter of debate. Calc-alkaline and local alkaline granites, which intruded in distinct pulses and occasionally are related to transcurrent tectonics, represent almost half of the Birimian terranes. New isotopic work on the highly metamorphosed units greatly improved the chronology for the Birimian crust. The age of the early Dabakalian event is precisely defined by a U-Pb zircon age at 2186 ± 19 Ma, while Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd methods give ages of 2162 ± 19 Ma and 2141 ± 24 Ma, respectively. A Sm-Nd garnet-whole rock age of 2153 ± 13 Ma suggests that metamorphism culminated at about the same time. In contrast, the most precise zircon U-Pb and Sm-Nd data for the more widespread Birimian terranes (sensu stricto), from this study and from the literature, cluster between 2.12 and 2.07 Ga. The major evolution of the Birimian crust apparently lasted less than 50 Ma. Isotopic evidence indicates that Birimian granitoids contain a negligible component of Archean crust: eNd(2.1-Ga) values are positive and similar to those of Birimian basalts, crustal residence times are shorter than 200 Ma, U-Pb ages for detrital zircons from clastic sediments range from 2098 ±11 Ma to 2125 ± 17 Ma, while granite chemistry and Nd isotopic characteristics are unrelated. Only very locally in Guinea is there isotopic evidence of interaction between Birimian felsic magmas and the Archean rocks from the Man craton. In accord with Abouchami et al.'s (1990) suggestion that Birimian basalts represent oceanic plateaus, the present data argue that the protolith of much of the West African continent was created around 2.1 Ga in an environment remote from Archean crust. Intrusion of calc-alkaline magmas into the tholeiitic units suggests that island arcs formed on top of the assumed oceanic plateaus which then collided with the Man Archean craton. Taking the Birimian formations from the Guyana shield into account, the minimum crustal growth rate at 2.1 Ga is about 1.6 km3/a, some ∼60% higher than the present growth rate. Birimian crust growth at 2.1 Ga is reminiscent of Archean processes but contrasts with 1.7 – 1.9 Ga crust formation in the North Atlantic continent which generally involved significantly more interaction with older continental crust. A comparison of the Birimian crustal growth rate with the average crustal growth rate over the Earth history implies that a large part of the Birimian crust has been recycled into the mantle or incorporated into younger orogenic segments. This apparent deficit in the crustal budget is even more dramatic for the Archean crust.

Annie Michard

Papers

Rare earth element systematics in hydrothermal fluids

Rare-earth elements and uranium in high-temperature solutions from East Pacific Rise hydrothermal vent field (13 °N)

A major 2.1 Ga event of mafic magmatism in west Africa: An Early stage of crustal accretion

Crustal growth in West Africa at 2.1 Ga

The REE content of some hydrothermal fluids