Petrology and geochemistry of South Mid-Atlantic Ridge(19°S) lava flows:Implications for magmatic processes and possible plume-ridge interactions

The South Mid-Atlantic Ridge(SMAR)19°S segment,approximately located along the line of Saint Helena volcanic chain(created by Saint Helena mantle plume),is an ideal place to investigate the issue whether the ridgehotpot interaction process affected the whole MAR.In this study,we present major and trace elemental compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic ratios of twenty fresh lava samples concentrated in a relatively small area in the SMAR 19°S segment.Major oxides compositions show that all samples are tholeiite.Low contents of compatible trace elements(e.g.,Ni=239-594 ppm and Cr=456-1010 ppm)and low Fe/Mn(54-67)and Ce/Yb(0.65-1.5)ratios of these lavas show that their parental magmas are partially melted by a spinel lherzolite mantle source.Using software PRIMELT3,this study obtained mantle potential temperatures(Tp)beneath the segment of1321-1348℃,which is lower relative to those ridges influenced by mantle plumes.The asthenospheric mantle beneath the SMAR 19°S segment starts melting at a depth of^63 km and ceases melting at^43 km with a final melting temperature of^1265℃.The extent of partial melting is up to 16%-17.6%with an average adiabatic decompression value of 2.6%/kbar.The correlations of major oxides(CaO/Al2 O3)and trace elements(Cr,Co,V)with MgO and Zr show that the parental magma experienced olivine and plagioclase fractional crystallization during its ascent to the surface.87Sr/86Sr(0.702398-0.702996),143 Nd/144 Nd(0.513017-0.513177)and 206Pb/204Pb(18.444-19.477)ratios of these lavas indicate the mantle source beneath the SMAR 19°S segment is composed of a three-component mixture of depleted MORB mantle,PREMA mantle,and HIMU mantle materials.The simple,binary mixing results among components from plume-free SMAR MORB,Saint Helena plume and Tristan plume show that asthenospheric mantle beneath the SMAR 19°S segment may be polluted by both Saint Helena and Tristan plume enriched materials.The abovementioned mantle potential temperatures,together with the low Saint Helena(<10%)and Tristan(<5%)components remaining in the asthenospheric mantle at present,show that the physically ridge-hotspot interactions at SMAR 19°S segment may have ceased.However,the trace element and SrNd-Pb isotopically binary mixing calculation results imply that these lavas tapped some enriched pockets left when Saint Helena and/or Tristan plume were once on the SMAR during earlier Atlantic rifted history.

Clay mineral distribution characteristics of surface sediments in the South Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Clay minerals are usually considered as important indicators to identify sources in both terrigenous and marine sediments.In particular,clay minerals in metalliferous sediments(MS)have long been studied in global oceans except in South Mid-Atlantic Ridge(SMAR)due to limited explorations.Thus,32 MS and 34 non-MS(NMS)samples were analyzed to clarify the distribution characteristics and mineral compositions of clay minerals.All the sediments were collected along the SMAR between 12°S and 27°S.After removal of organic matter and carbonate,clay fractions(<2μm)were investigated by Xray diffraction(XRD)analysis.Results show that clay mineral assemblages of surface MS consist dominantly of smectite,less abundant illite,chlorite,and kaolinite in average weight percentage of 30%,21%,18%,and 16%,respectively.On the other hand,clay mineral assemblages in the NMS consist mainly of illite,less abundant kaolinite,chlorite,and very scarce smectite in average weight percentage of 47%,29%,24%,and 0.2%,respectively.The clay fractions in MS are mainly composed of amorphous or poorly crystallized Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides,clay mineral,quartz,and plagioclase.However,the counterparts in the NMS are mainly composed of well-crystallized clay minerals,quartz,and plagioclase without the presence of Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides.It is suggested that most of the illite,kaolinite,and chlorite in both MS and NMS are likely aeolian dust in origin from South Africa continent.In addition,the abundance of kaolinite dominates the clay mineral assemblage at low latitudes,where the intensive chemical weathering of continental source rocks facilitating the formation of kaolinite.In terms of smectite,it is indicated of authigenic origin in consideration of only smectite is available in several MS and the absence in NMS.Moreover,the MS samples with only smectite available are always accompanied by goethite.Therefore,it is assumed that most of smectite occurred in studied area is the results of interaction between hydrothermal Fe-oxyhydroxide,silica,and seawater.