Deep seated magmas and their mantle roots:Introduction

In the last decade there has been a considerable effort to better understand the joint evolution of mafic and ultramafic magmatic systems and their deep mantle roots,through integrated petrological and thermo-barometric studies.Magma generation is regarded as the result of complex processes including melting,creation of channels for melt transfer,and interaction with the wall-rocks.

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Quaternary volcanism from the islets in the eastern Beibu Gulf: evidence for Hainan plume

Some of the islets in the eastern Beibu Gulf are covered by Quaternary volcano strata. The rock samples from these islets mainly consist of quartz tholeiites （at Shenjiandao）, olivine tholeiites （at Linshidao and Xieyang- dao） and alkali basalts （at Yangpubi and Jianshidao）, and basically represent four periods of the Quaternary volcanism of Hainan Island and its adjacent regions. Except for the samples from Shenjiandao, most of the Quaternary volcanics of these islets belong to alkali magma series. The trace element characteristics of all of these samples show they are OIB （oceanic island basalt） -like, which implies that their deep geodynamic setting may be related to a mantle plume. The Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions show that the mantle source beneath the Quaternary strata can be regarded as a result of binary mixing between a depleted, DMM （de- pleted MORB mantle）-like source and an enriched mantle type 2 （EM2）. The EM2 may be originated from the Hainan mantle plume, and has been metasomatized by carbonaceous fluids released from ancient re- cycled oceanic crust at an asthenospheric mantle level. These features, together with typical trace element ratios, reflect that the parent magma was not subjected to crustal contamination during its ascent to the surface. This study provides further petrological and geochemical evidence for the existence of the Hainan mantle plume.

Petrogenesis of Cenozoic Potassic Volcanic Rocks in the Nangqen Basin

The Nangqên basin is one of the Tertiary pull-apart basins situated in the east of the Qiangtang block. Similar to the adjacent Dengqên basin and Baxoi basin, there occurred a series of potassic volcanic and sub-volcanic rocks, ranging from basic, intermediate to intermediate-acid in lithology.

A comparative review of petrogenetic processes beneath the Cameroon Volcanic Line: Geochemical constraints

The origin and petrogenesis of the Cameroon Volcanic Line （CVL）, composed of volcanoes that form on both the ocean floor and the continental crust, are difficult to understand because of the diversity, het- erogeneity, and nature of available data. Major and trace elements, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope data of volcanic rocks of the CVL spanning four decades have been compiled to reinterpret their origin and petrogenesis. Volcanic rocks range from nephelinite, basanite and alkali basalts to phonolite, trachyte and rhyolite with the presence of a compositional gap between Si02 58-64 wt.%. Similarities in geochemical characteristics, modeled results for two component mixing, and the existence of mantle xenoliths in most mafic rocks argue against significant crustal contamination. Major and trace element evidences indicate that the melting of mantle rocks to generate the CVL magma occurred dominantly in the garnet lherzolite stability feld. Melting models suggest small degree （〈3%） partial melting of mantle bearing （6-10%） garnet for Mr. Etinde, the Ngaoundere Plateau and the Biu Plateau, and 〈5% of garnet for the oceanic sector of the CVL, Mr. Cameroon, Mt. Bambouto, Mt. Manengouba and the Oku Volcanic Group. The Sr-Nd-Pb isotope sys- tematics suggest that mixing in various proportions of Depleted MORB Mantle （DMM） with enriched mantle 1 and 2 （EM1 and EM2） could account for the complex isotopic characteristics of the CVL lavas. Low Mg number （Mg# - 100 x MgO/（MgO ＋FeO）） and Ni, Cr and Co contents of the CVL mafic lavas reveal their crystallization from fractionated melts. The absence of systematic variation in NbJTa and Zr/Hf ratios, and Sr-Nd isotope compositions between the mafic and felsic lavas indicates progressive evolution of magmas by fractional crystallization. Trace element ratios and their plots corroborate mantle het- erogeneity and reveal distinct geochemical signatures for individual the CVL volcanoes.

High-Field-Strength Elements in Mafic Volcanics from North China Craton: Implications for Archean-Proterozoic Boundary and Source Composition

Archean to Cenozoic mafic volcanic rocks from the North China craton are studied. They show Archean Proterozoic (Ar Pt) boundary and geochemical anomalies in Cenozoic basalts. Proterozoic mafic volcanics are enriched in most of the high field strength elements (HFSE) compared with Archean ones. Nb, Ta and Th show a distinct sequence of incompatibility in Archean and Proterozoic. The Cenozoic basalts are enriched in HFSE and Ni and their REEs are strongly differentiated with positive Eu anomalies ( δ (Eu)=1.14). The Ar Pt boundary could be related to change in oxygen fugacity and requires an increasing importance of enriched mantle source. The geochemistry of Cenozoic basalts implies a mantle source similar to OIB. Residuum from subducting partial melting of old basaltic oceanic crust and continental crust is likely to contribute to the formation of the enriched mantle.

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Rajahmundry trap basalts of Krishna-Godavari Basin,India

The Rajahmundry Trap Basalts （RTB） are erupted through fault-controlled fissures in the Krishna-Godavari Basin （K-G Basin） of Godavari Triple Junction, occurring as a unique outcrop sandwiched between Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments along the east coast of India. Detailed geochemical studies have revealed that RTB are mid-Ti （1.74-1.92） to high-Ti （2.04-2.81） basalts with a distinct quartz tholeiitic parentage. MgO （6.2-13.12 wt.%）, Mg# （29-50） and Zr （109-202 ppm） suggest that these basalts evolved by fractional crystallization during the ascent of the parent magma along deep-seated fractures. Mod- erate to high fractionation of HREE, as indicated by （Gd/Yb）N ratios （1.71-2.31） of RTB, suggest their generation through 3-5% melting of a Fe-rich mantle corresponding to the stability fields of spinel and garnet peridotite at depths of 60-100 km. Low K2O/P2O5 （0.26-1.26）, high TiO2/P2O5 （6.74-16.79）, La/Nb （0.89-1.45）, Nb/Th 〉 8 （8.35-13）, negative anomalies at Rb reflect minimum contamination by granitic continental crust. （Nb/La）PM ratios （0.66-1.1） of RTB are attributed to endogenic contamination resulted through recycling of subducted oceanic slab into the mantle. Pronounced Ba enrichment with relative depletion in Rb indicates assimilation of Infra- and Inter-trappean sediments of estuarine to shallow marine character. Geochemical compositions such as A1203/TiO2 （3.88-6.83）, medium to high TiO2 （1.74 -2.81 wt.%）, positive Nb anomalies and LREE enrichment of these RTB attest to their mantle plume origin and indicate the generation of parent magma from a plume-related enriched mantle source with EM 1 signature. Ba/Th （46-247）, Ba/La （3.96-28.51） and Th/Nb （0.08-0.13） ratios suggest that the source enrichment process was marked by recycling of subduction-processed oceanic crust and lithospheric components into the mantle. Zr/Hf （37-41） and Zr/Ba （0.51-3.24） indicate involvement of an asthenospheric mantle source. The Rajahmundry basalts show affinity towards FOZO （focal zone mantle） and PSCL （post-Archaean subcontinental lithosphere） which reflect mixing between asthenospheric and lithospheric mantle components in their source. Origin of RTB magma is attributed to plume-lithosphere interaction and the upward movement of melt is facilitated by intrabasinal deep-seated faults in the K-G Basin.