The following article presents constraints of the stability of Mg-rich (Mg/(Mg + Fe2+) > 0.5) calcic amphibole in both calc-alkaline and alkaline magmas, testing of previous thermobarometers, and formulation of new empirical equations that take into consideration a large amount of literature data (e.g. more than one thousand amphibole compositions among experimental and natural crystals). Particular care has been taken in choosing a large number of natural amphiboles and selecting quality experimental data from literature. The final database of experimental data, composed of 61 amphiboles synthesized in the ranges of 800–1,130°C and 130–2,200 MPa, indicates that amphibole crystallization occurs in a horn-like P–T stability field limited by two increasing curves (i.e. the thermal stability and an upper limit), which should start to bend back to higher pressures. Among calcic amphiboles, magnesiohornblendes and tschermakitic pargasites are only found in equilibrium with calc-alkaline melts and crystallize at relatively shallow conditions (P up to ~1 GPa). Kaersutite and pargasite are species almost exclusively found in alkaline igneous products, while magnesiohastingsite is equally distributed in calc-alkaline and alkaline rocks. The reliability of previous amphibole applications was checked using the selected experimental database. The results of this testing indicate that none of the previous thermobarometers can be successfully used to estimate the P, T and fO2 in a wide range of amphibole crystallization conditions. Multivariate least-square analyses of experimental amphibole compositions and physico-chemical parameters allowed us to achieve a new thermobarometric model that gives reasonably low uncertainties (T ± 23.5°C, P ± 11.5%, H2Omelt ± 0.78wt%) for calc-alkaline and alkaline magmas in a wide range of P–T conditions (up to 1,130°C and 2,200 MPa) and ∆NNO values (±0.37 log units) up to 500 MPa. The AK-[4]Al relation in amphibole can be readily used to distinguish crystals of calc-alkaline liquids from those of alkaline magmas. In addition, several chemometric equations allowing to estimate the anhydrous composition of the melts in equilibrium with amphiboles of calc-alkaline magmas were derived.

Calcic amphiboles in calc-alkaline and alkaline magmas: thermobarometric and chemometric empirical equations valid up to 1,130°C and 2.2 GPa

The chemistry of hydrothermal magnetite: A review

Trace element partitioning between apatite and silicate melts

We present major element, trace element, and petrographic data on alkali basalts from St. Helena, and examine the geochemical characteristics of a recycled component involved in the source of HIMU (Pb/ Pb420·5) ocean island basalts. Petrographic and compositional variations in the St. Helena basalts are best explained by the combined effect of fractional crystallization and accumulation of phenocrysts. Primary melt compositions are estimated by correcting for the effects of crystal^liquid differentiation by reconstructing the order of crystallization and the relative amount of fractionated phases.This calculation indicates that the St. Helena alkali basalts are derived from a common primary magma with 14^20 wt % MgO. Simple partial melting of fertile mantle peridotite, depleted mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-source mantle, or garnet pyroxenite fails to produce the St. Helena primary melt. Instead, this primary melt can be reproduced if there are contributions from ancient recycled oceanic crust and depleted peridotite [(Rb/ Nb)PM1⁄4 0·38^0·80]. Subducted sediment can be excluded to explain the low (Rb, Ba, U)/Nb and Ce/Pb of St. Helena basalts. Geochemical modeling using major and trace element abundances, together with Sr, Nd, Pb, and Hf isotope ratios, indicates that the St. Helena primary melt can be formed by 1^2% melting of a peridotitic source that was refertilized by a small amount (8^18%) of melt derived from recycled oceanic crust. This source has a similar trace element pattern to modern normal (N)-MORB, but element abundances are 0·1^0·2 times N-MORB values. The calculated recycled crust has a wide range of present-day Pb isotopic ratios (Pb/ Pb of 21·7^79·3 and Pb/ Pb of 40·8^89·3), Sr/ Sr of 0·7018^0·7028, Nd/Nd of 0·51274^0·51285, and Hf/Hf of 0·28262^0·28293 after a residence time of 1·2^2·8 Gyr. Rb, Ba, Pb, Sr, and light rare earth element abundances in the recycled crust are depleted compared with modern N-MORB, whereasTh, U, Sm, and Nd abundances fall within the range of compositional variations in modern N-MORB. The trace element compositions of the recycled oceanic crust can be explained by element behavior during seafloor alteration and subduction zone dehydration of oceanic crust. Therefore, recycling of ancient subducted oceanic crust is a potential process for producing the St. Helena HIMU basalts.

The Petrology and Geochemistry of St. Helena Alkali Basalts: Evaluation of the Oceanic Crust-recycling Model for HIMU OIB

Crystals formed prior to a volcanic event can provide evidence of processes leading to and timing of eruptions. Clinopyroxene is common in basaltic to intermediate volcanoes, however, its ability as a recorder of pre-eruptive histories has remained comparatively underexplored. Here we show that novel high-resolution trace element images of clinopyroxene track eruption triggers and timescales at Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy). Chromium (Cr) distribution in clinopyroxene from 1974 to 2014 eruptions reveals punctuated episodes of intrusion of primitive magma at depth. Magma mixing efficiently triggered volcanism (success rate up to 90%), within only 2 weeks of arrival of mafic intrusions. Clinopyroxene zonations distinguish between injections of mafic magma and regular recharges with more evolved magma, which often fail to tip the system to erupt. High Cr zonations can therefore be used to reconstruct past eruptions and inform responses to geophysical signals of volcano unrest, potentially offering an additional approach to volcano hazard monitoring.

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Volcanic crystals as time capsules of eruption history.

A set of phenocryst/matrix partition coefficients was obtained for up to 29 trace elements (ICP-MS analyses) in hawaiite to trachyte lavas from the Ellittico volcanic sequence (Mt. Etna system, Sicily). Partition coefficients were determined for plagioclase, clinopyroxene, olivine, kaersutite and Ti-magnetite. These phases, along with apatite (not analysed in this work), constitute the common fractionating solid assemblage of alkaline magmas feeding Mt. Etna volcanic system. The obtained data set forms the first attempt to characterise the solid/melt trace-element partitioning for Etnean magmas, and can be usefully applied in other sites of alkaline volcanism. The partition coefficients are here used to define the scale of incompatibility of 29 trace elements and to asses the extent of differentiation processes and the prevailing oxygen fugacity of Ellittico magmas.

S. Cerretini

Papers

Phenocryst/matrix trace-element partition coefficients for hawaiite-trachyte lavas from the Ellittico volcanic sequence (Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy)