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Primary andesitic magmas could be an important component of arc magma genesis and might have played a key role in the advent of continents. Recent studies hypothesized that primary andesitic magmas occur in the oceanic arc, where the crust is thin. The Kermadec arc has the thinnest crust among all the studied oceanic arcs (<15 km in thickness); however, there are no studies that corroborate the formation of primary andesitic magmas in the arc. The aim of this study is to develop a better understanding of primary andesites in oceanic arcs through the petrology of the Kermadec arc. Here, we present the petrology of volcanic rocks dredged from the Kibblewhite Volcano in the Kermadec arc during the R/V SONNE SO-255 expedition in 2017. Magma types range from andesite to rhyolite at the Kibblewhite Volcano, but basalts dominate at the neighboring cones. This study focuses on magnesian andesites from the northeastern flank of this volcano. The magnesian andesites are nearly aphyric and plagioclase free but contain microphenocrysts of olivine (Fo84–86) and clinopyroxene (Mg# = 81–87). Using olivine addition models, the primary magmas were estimated to contain 55–56 wt % SiO2 and 10–12 wt % MgO, similar to the high-Mg andesites observed in other convergent plate margins, indicating the generation of primary andesitic magma beneath the Kibblewhite Volcano. The trace element and isotopic characteristics of the magnesian andesites are typical of volcanic rocks from the Kermadec arc. This indicates that the subduction of a young plate or melting of a pyroxenitic source is not necessary to produce magnesian andesites. Instead, we propose that the magnesian andesites were produced by the direct melting of the uppermost mantle of the Kermadec arc. The thin crust of the Kermadec arc should yield low-pressure conditions in the uppermost mantle, allowing the sub-arc mantle to generate primary andesitic melts. This study supports the hypothesis that primary andesitic magmas generate in the arc where the crust is thin and provides a new insight into the magma genesis of the Kermadec arc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mafic magmatism of the rifting Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) of the North Island, New Zealand, is volumetrically minor, but is thought to tap the material that provides the heat source for voluminous rhyolite production through partial melting of the crust, which ultimately results in very large volume explosive eruptions. We have studied the major and trace element chemistry of 14 mafic samples from across the entire TVZ, and the U isotopic composition of whole-rocks, groundmasses and separates of mafic mineral phases from a selection of nine samples (with the remaining five too sparsely phyric for mineral separation). Some minerals yield significant 234U enrichments despite groundmass and whole-rock close to 238U–234U secular equilibrium, pointing to uptake of variably hydrothermally altered antecrystic minerals prior to the eruption of originally sparsely phyric to aphyric mafic magmas. However, incompatible trace element patterns indicate that there are three chemically distinct groups of samples, and that samples may be used to derive primary melt compositions. We employ the latest version of the Arc Basalt Simulator (ABS5) to forward model these compositions, deriving mantle source parameters including mantle fertility, slab liquid flux, mantle volatile content, degree of melting, and P – T conditions of melt segregation. We show that mafic rocks erupted in areas of old, now inactive calderas constitute low-degree, deep melts, whereas those in areas of active caldera-volcanism are high-degree partial melts segregated from a less depleted source at an intermediate depth. Finally, high-Mg basaltic andesites erupted in the SW and NE of the TVZ point to a fertile, shallow mantle source. Our data are consistent with a petrogenetic model in which mantle melting is dominated by decompression, rather than fluid fluxing, and progresses from shallow to deeper levels with time. Melt volumes initially increase to a tipping point, at which large-scale crustal melting and caldera volcanism become prominent, and then decrease owing to progressive depletion of the mantle wedge by melting, resulting in the dearth of heat provided and eventual cessation of very large volume rhyolitic volcanism. ABS5 modelling therefore supports the notion of a direct link between the chemistry of recently erupted mafic magmas and the long-term activity and evolution of rhyolitic volcanism in the TVZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Igneous activity in the rear-arc of the Paleogene Urumieh–Dokhtar Magmatic Belt of Iran has to date been poorly studied. An example of such activity, Late Eocene potassic mafic to intermediate magmatic rocks in the Lahrud area of NW Iran, is the focus of this work. These lavas include olivine-bearing clinopyroxene-phyric basalts, analcime-bearing leucite–clinopyroxene-phyric basalts, andesites, and trachytes, and Paleocene–Early Eocene pyroclastic rocks. Monzo-syenite plugs (dated here at ∼37 Ma), clinopyroxene-phyric basaltic dikes, and leucite-bearing clinopyroxene-phyric basaltic dikes intrude older lavas and pyroclastic rocks. Olivine-bearing clinopyroxene-phyric basalts and analcime-bearing leucite–clinopyroxene-phyric basalts are characterized by large phenocrysts of olivine, clinopyroxene, leucite, and analcime. Clinopyroxene-rich enclaves and partially resorbed mantle xenoliths also occur. Olivine phenocrysts are zoned from high-Mg# cores (Mg# = 90) to Fe-rich rims (Mg# = 66). Clinopyroxene phenocrysts from the olivine-bearing clinopyroxene-phyric basalts, analcime-bearing leucite–clinopyroxene-phyric basalts and clinopyroxene crystals in the enclaves show complex oscillatory zoning, sieve textures, and resorption textures, but with systematic core–rim compositional trends. Their 87Sr/86Sr isotopic compositions measured in situ range from 0·7037 to 0·7068 (mean = 0·7052 ± 0·0004), suggesting negligible crustal assimilation during fractional crystallization. The Lahrud lavas are potassic and are enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements such as Th, Rb, K and U. High field strength elements (HFSE), such as Nb, are depleted in the olivine-bearing clinopyroxene-phyric basalts and analcime-bearing leucite–clinopyroxene-phyric basalts, but enriched in the trachytes and trachytic ignimbrites. The isotopic compositions vary: 87Sr/86Srt from 0·7045 to 0·7052, εNd(t) from +2·8 to +3·3, and εHf(t) from +7·2 to +7·7. The rocks have radiogenic lead 206Pb/204Pb from 18·66 to 18·76, 207Pb/204Pb from 15·58 to 15·62, and 208Pb/204Pb from 38·73 to 38·81. Modeling of major and trace elements using the MELTS algorithm indicates that the geochemical variations in the basaltic to andesitic rocks are reasonably explained by shallow fractional crystallization with some complications owing to source heterogeneity, crustal assimilation, and magma mixing. The isotopic data imply that partial melting of old sub-continental lithospheric mantle was not responsible for the Lahrud potassic magmas; Hf isotopes and Zr/Nb ratios suggest derivation from an enriched mantle wedge, whereas ratios of incompatible trace elements (e.g. La/Yb, Ba/La, Ce/Pb, Th/Yb) and high 87Sr/86Sr suggest mantle metasomatized by slab-derived fluids or melts dominated by a sediment component. Geochemical modeling using the Arc Basalt Simulator version 5 reveals that the HFSE-depleted, olivine-bearing, clinopyroxene-phyric basalts originated from a high-temperature mantle wedge (2·2 GPa, 1310°C) fluxed intensively (5%) by melts from a deep hot slab (6 GPa, 1000°C). The moderately HFSE-depleted, olivine-bearing, clinopyroxene-phyric basalts reflect melting of a lower-temperature mantle wedge (2·2 GPa, 1300°C) with a lesser amount of slab melt flux (4%) from a lower temperature and shallower slab (3 GPa, 866°C). In contrast, the leucite–clinopyroxene-phyric basalts and andesites are from a similar source to the moderately HFSE-depleted, olivine-bearing, clinopyroxene-phyric basalts (3 GPa, 866°C) but with a contribution from a lower temperature mantle wedge (2·2 GPa, 1270°C). During Late Eocene times, slab retreat and upper-plate extension occurred in the rear-arc region of the Urumieh–Dokhtar Magmatic Belt. The Lahrud potassic magmas were generated from a high-temperature mantle wedge, which resulted in melting of the slab; this slab melt flux further promoted melting of the mantle wedge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pagan is one of the largest volcanoes along the Mariana arc volcanic front. It has a maximum elevation of 570 m (Mt. Pagan), but its submarine flanks descend to 2000–3000 m below sea level, and are unexplored. Bathymetric mapping and ROV Hyper-Dolphin dives (HPD1147 and HPD1148) on the submarine NE and SW flanks of Pagan were carried out during cruise NT10-12 of R.V. Natsushima in July 2010. There are no systematic compositional differences between subaerial lavas reported in the literature and differentiated submarine lavas collected in HPD1148, with <7 wt % MgO, suggesting they are derived from the same magmatic system. However, these differentiated lavas show complexities including magma mixing; thus we concentrate on magnesian submarine lavas (>7 wt % MgO). Twenty least-fractionated basalts (48·5–50 wt % SiO2) collected during HPD1147 extend to higher MgO (10–11 wt %) and Mg# (66–70) than the subaerial lavas. Olivine (up to Fo94) and spinel (Cr# up to 0·8) compositions suggest that these Pagan primitive magmas formed from high degrees of mantle melting. Two basalt types can be distinguished based on their geochemistry at similar (10–11 wt %) MgO; these erupted recently, 500 m apart. Both contain clinopyroxene and olivine phenocrysts and are referred to as COB1 and COB2. Lower TiO2, FeO, Na2O, K2O, incompatible trace element abundances, and Nb/Yb suggest that COB1 formed from higher degrees of mantle melting. In addition, light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment and higher Th/Nb in COB2 contrast with LREE depletion and lower Th/Nb in COB1. Higher Ba/Th and Ba/Nb and lower Th/Nb indicate that the main subduction addition in COB1 was dominated by hydrous fluid, whereas that in COB2 was dominated by sediment melt. Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopes are also consistent with this interpretation. These observations suggest that the subduction component responsible for the greater degree of melting of the COB1 source was mostly hydrous fluid. The origin of such different metasomatic agents resulted in different primary magmas forming in the same volcano. Both hydrous fluid and sediment melt components may have unmixed from an originally homogeneous supercritical fluid in or above the subducting slab below the volcanic front. These may have been added separately to the mantle wedge peridotite (mantle diapir) and resulted in two neighboring but completely different primary magmas from the same diapir. Moreover, these primitive lavas suggest that even for intra-oceanic arcs assimilation–fractional crystallization is inevitable when these magmas evolve in the crust and, in addition, that phlogopite is present in their mantle residue and thus played an important role in their genesis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Initial subduction-related boninitic magmatism occurred between 48 and 44 Ma in the Izu–Bonin–Mariana (IBM) arc. High-Mg adakites and low-Ca boninites have been dredged from the Bonin Ridge fore-arc seamount. Whole-rock 40Ar/ 39Ar ages suggest that the boninite (44·0 ± 1·4 Ma) and adakite (43·1 ± 1·0 and 40·8 ± 0·8 Ma) magmatism overlapped, or that the adakite magmatism occurred slightly later than the boninite magmatism. The low-Ca boninites are high-Mg andesites and exhibit U-shaped rare earth element (REE) patterns with an elevated average Mg# of 0·78 [Mg# = Mg/(Mg + Fe) molar ratio] and Ni content of 667 ppm. The high-Mg adakites are andesitic to dacitic in composition; they exhibit markedly high Sr contents and low Y contents and are highly enriched in light REE but depleted in heavy REE, with an average Mg# of 0·79 and Ni content of 433 ppm. A geochemical mass-balance model (Arc Basalt Simulator Version 3) indicates that both magma types could be generated by partial melting of a depleted mantle source fluxed by water-rich slab-derived melts in a hot subduction environment, comparable with the present-day South Chile (ridge subduction) or Southwest Japan (young slab subduction) arcs. An extremely high slab melt flux of 22% is required for the formation of the high-Mg adakite, whereas a low flux of 3% is sufficient for the low-Ca boninite. The low-Ca boninite requires a high-temperature shallow slab (854°C, 2·7 GPa on average), consisting of altered oceanic crust of the Pacific plate and volcaniclastic sediments from HIMU seamounts, and high-temperature shallow mantle melting (1216°C, 0·8 GPa) of depleted Indian mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-type mantle. These modelled conditions are consistent with the occurrence of hot shallow mantle wedge melting in the initial subduction zone at the boundary between Pacific- and Indian-type mantle domains, as suggested by previous studies. In contrast, high-Mg adakite requires a higher temperature and deeper slab (929°C, 4·1 GPa), with the same slab components and slightly deeper but less hot melting (1130°C, 1·1 GPa) of HIMU-type depleted mantle, to satisfy the low Hf isotope ratios. This may occur because of the subsequent cooling of the mantle wedge by the establishment of the subduction system after the boninite magmatism and involvement of a small volume of an isotopically enriched mantle source embedded in the Indian-type mantle. The petrogenetic conditions provide constraints for reconstructing the tectonic settings of the early IBM arc. The hot subduction model would be consistent with the tectonic models with regard to the initiation of subduction associated with fore-arc spreading; this allowed the upwelling of the asthenospheric mantle to generate slab melts from the old Pacific plate slab and hot shallow mantle melting by slab melt fluxing for both boninite and adakite activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has long been thought that the low-K tholeiitic (TH) and medium-K calc-alkaline (CA) lavas in the NE Japan arc were produced by fractional crystallization from mantle-derived basalt magmas, and that the latter formed from mixing of mafic and felsic magmas, both derived from a common primary TH basalt through fractionation. An alternative view was recently proposed on the basis of Sr isotope microanalysis of plagioclase phenocrysts from the Zao volcano, suggesting that (1) the low-K TH basaltic andesites formed by melting of lower crustal amphibolite and that (2) the medium-K CA basalts to andesites formed by mixing of mantle-derived basalt and crustal TH melts. To investigate further the origin of the ‘primary’ low-K TH and medium-K CA basalts, we investigated basalts and andesites from Azuma volcano. Azuma is a Quaternary eruption center at the volcanic front in the NE Japan arc that has erupted two types of basalt: (1) radiogenic-Sr (€87Sr/€86Sr = 0·7058–0·7062) low-K TH basalt lavas without evidence of magma mixing and assimilation; (2) unradiogenic-Sr (€87Sr/€86Sr = 0·7039–0·7041) medium-K CA basalt lavas with subtle evidence for magma mixing. Associated intermediate lavas are voluminous and are all (3) mildly radiogenic-Sr (€87Sr/€86Sr = 0·7044–0·7055) medium-K andesites, all of which have CA affinities with evidence for rigorous magma mixing but no crustal assimilation. The low-K TH basalt has an isotopic composition similar to that of crustal granitoids beneath Azuma and has a composition indicating that it potentially formed from a high-degree lower crustal amphibolite melt. The medium-K CA basalt has a basaltic groundmass with Mg-rich olivine (Fo89) and calcic plagioclase phenocrysts (An90) and the most unradiogenic Sr (€87Sr/€86Sr = 0·7037–0·7038), suggesting that it originated from a primary mantle melt. Major and trace element microanalysis of the basaltic groundmass indicates that the primary magma composition is close to high-K. We conclude that the mantle-derived basalt at Azuma is the result of a high- to medium-K magma that was later mixed with a low-K TH basalt melt from the amphibolitic lower crust to form medium-K CA basalts and andesites. This supports the view of a lower crustal origin of the low-K TH basalts and simultaneously requires a reappraisal of the origin of the across-arc variation in K contents of the mantle-derived primary arc basalts, as the high- to medium-K CA basalt is geochemically fairly similar to the high-K rear-arc basalt in the NE Japan arc. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A reactive flow geochemical model based on pMELTS thermodynamic calculations explains the observed modal, major, and trace element variations in the Red Hills peridotite, New Zealand. The model also reproduces the major and trace element chemical variations in mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) observed in present-day spreading ridges. The Red Hills peridotite is thought to originate from palaeo-MOR magmatic processes in the mantle–Moho transition zone. The peridotite body consists of a harzburgite matrix and dunite channels. The harzburgite forms the Lower Unit and is intruded by replacive dunite channels in the Upper Unit. This lithology gradually turns into a massive dunite zone in which disseminated to lenticular clinopyroxene aggregates are present. The rare earth element (REE) abundances in the peridotite samples vary greatly depending on their lithologies. In the Lower Unit, REE are extremely depleted, whereas in the Upper Unit they are relatively enriched, in contradiction to the depleted lithologies. Our model consists of two stages. The first stage assumes melting of depleted MORB source mantle in the garnet stability field, and the second assumes reactions between residual solids and the melts from the first stage in the spinel stability field in an open system. The model explains the formation of depleted harzburgite and the formation of dunite channels in the harzburgite matrix well. The major and trace element compositions of the melts calculated by the model vary from ultra-depleted MOR melts in harzburgite to normal MORB in dunite, suggesting that these lithologies are residues of a palaeo-MOR. The model also explains the origins of the local and global geochemical trends observed in MORB and the geochemical variation in abyssal peridotite samples. Our model confirms the important role of reactive flow in the mantle–Moho transition zone beneath MORs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 (206Pb/204Pb >20·5) 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)PM = 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 (206Pb/204Pb of 21·7–79·3 and 208Pb/204Pb of 40·8–89·3), 87Sr/86Sr of 0·7018–0·7028, 143Nd/144Nd of 0·51274–0·51285, and 176Hf/177Hf 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, whereas Th, 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quaternary lavas from the NE Japan arc show geochemical evidence of mixing between mantle-derived basalts and crustal melts at the magmatic front, whereas significant crustal signals are not detected in the rear-arc lavas. The along-arc chemical variations in lavas from the magmatic front are attributable almost entirely to geochemical variations in the crustal melts that were mixed with a common mantle-derived basalt. The mantle-derived basalts have slightly enriched Sr–Pb and depleted Nd isotopic compositions relative to the rear-arc lavas, but the variation is less pronounced if crustal contributions are eliminated. Therefore, the source mantle compositions and slab-derived fluxes are relatively uniform, both across and along the arc. Despite this, incompatible element concentrations are significantly higher in the rear-arc basalts. We examine an open-system, fluid-fluxed melting model, assuming that depleted mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-source mantle melted by the addition of fluids derived from subducted oceanic crust (MORB) and sediment (SED) hybrids at mixing proportions of 7% and 3% SED in the frontal- and rear-arc sources, respectively. The results reproduce the chemical variations found across the NE Japan arc with the conditions: 0·2% fluid flux with degree of melting F = 3% at 2 GPa in the garnet peridotite field for the rear arc, and 0·7% fluid flux with F = 20% at 1 GPa in the spinel peridotite field beneath the magmatic front. The chemical process operating in the mantle wedge requires: (1) various SED–MORB hybrid slab fluid sources; (2) variable amounts of fluid; (3) a common depleted mantle source; (4) different melting parameters to explain across-arc chemical variations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Ueno Basalts of central Japan comprise a monogenetic volcanic cone complex that was active between 2·76 and 1·34 Ma. Basalts were erupted at more than 14 centers scattered over a region 40 km in diameter. Alkali basalt was erupted first, followed by sub-alkaline basalt. Quasi-concentric expansion of eruption centers coinciding with uplift and with decreasing alkalinity of the lavas suggests that Ueno magmatism originated from a mantle diapir as it mushroomed at the base of the lithosphere. Depleted asthenospheric mantle (alkali basalt), enriched lithospheric mantle (sub-alkaline basalt), and crustal components are identified as chemical end-members in the petrogenesis of the Ueno Basalts. Incompatible trace element abundances indicate that the Ueno alkali basalts are typical within-plate basalts, whereas the sub-alkaline basalts show strong affinities with normal arc lavas. Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions indicate that the mantle source of the alkali basalts was more depleted than that of the sub-alkaline basalts. About 7% melting of asthenospheric mantle in the garnet-lherzolite stability field produced the primitive alkali basalts and 12% melting of spinel lherzolite within the subcontinental lithosphere produced the primitive sub-alkaline basalts. Isotopic compositions and fluid mobile/immobile element ratios broadly covary with SiO2 contents in the sub-alkaline suite, and increasing silica content is associated with stronger EMII (Enriched Mantle II) isotope affinities and fluid mobile element abundances. A progressive AFC (assimilation–fractional crystallization) model assuming assimilation of a low-K silicic melt reproduces the chemical variations observed in the sub-alkaline suite. Melting of a flattening mantle diapir at the base of the lithosphere is the dominant cause of Ueno magmatism, accompanied by the assimilation of older arc crust. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Extremely low-K basaltic andesite to andesite lavas at Nekoma volcano, situated in the frontal volcanic zone of the NE Honshu arc, were produced from melts that originated in the lower crust. Multiple incompatible trace element model calculations suggest that extremely low-K basalt found in the same arc is a natural analog for the source composition. However, fractional crystallization, magma mixing, and crustal contamination models of primary low-K basalt cannot reproduce the Nekoma chemical composition. Derivation of melts from an extremely low-K amphibolitic lower-crustal rock with the residual mineral phases hornblende, olivine, pyroxenes, plagioclase, and magnetite is plausible. Major element compositions of Nekoma lavas are very similar to those of experimental melts of amphibolite dehydration melting, which further support the proposal. Light rare earth elements are slightly enriched, but total rare earth element abundances are relatively low, suggesting a high degree of partial melting of the source. Ba/Th ratios are low for frontal arc lavas, reflecting modification of the ratio during partial melting. Zr/Hf and Nb/Ta ratios are significantly greater than is usual for arc lavas, suggesting an anomalous source composition. Markedly low K, Rb, Cs contents in the extremely low-K lavas are attributed to an extremely low-K source. Underplating of an extremely low-K basalt originating from a hydrous depleted mantle wedge could form such an amphibolite. In contrast, Nd and Sr isotope ratios fall close to Bulk Earth values, indicating an isotopically enriched source. Hornblende-bearing rocks may predominate in the lower crust of the NE Honshu arc, based on the observation of crustal xenoliths. The presence of large low-Vp regions at lower-crustal depths beneath the frontal arc is suggested by geophysical observations. These observations further support lower-crustal melting beneath Nekoma as the origin of the intermediate low-K lavas. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]