ALBERT

Notes: Abstract Systematic, differences in absolute abundancies and distribution patterns of rare earth elements are shown to exist for the main rock types of the third and final phase of the Tertiary igneous complex of Ardnamurchan. Published partition coefficients of the rare earth elements between crystals and host magmas of extrusive rocks have been used, together with modes of the Ardnamurchan rocks, to estimate the rare earth element patterns of the parent magmas. The results confirm that the basic rocks formed by crystal fractionation but that continued crystal fractionation from a single parent magma could not have formed the intermediate rocks.

Notes: Abstract Major and trace element analyses and strontium isotope ratios are presented for twenty-four samples of lavas and plugs from the early Tertiary lava pile in Mull. The samples were selected on the basis of petrographic freshness from a large collection from outside the hydrothermally altered “zone of pneumatolysis” which occupies the central region of the volcanic complex. Most of the analyses yield normative hypersthene and we argue that these are essentially unaltered magmatic compositions. The analytical data indicate that the samples may be divided into three groups on the basis of major element chemistry, initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios and correlations between lithophile element contents. Group I comprises an alkaline series (basalt-hawaiite-mugearite) with extremely low initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (≦0.7030) and generally low lithophile element contents. Apart from their alkalinity and high Sr and Zr contents these samples have affinities with abyssal tholeiites. Group II contains hypersthene normative basalts with more tholeiitic characteristics but (as in the case of the Skye Main Lava Series) the more evolved rocks are trachytes. This group is characterized by more normal levels of lithophile element concentrations and relatively high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of about 0.7055. Group III is less clearly defined and contains basalts that are generally sparsely olivine-phyric and in most chemical respects fall between Group I and Group II-including initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7033 to 0.7043). They may represent mixtures of Group I and Group II type sources or magmas. Groups I and II appear to be similar, respectively, to the relatively sodic iron-rich and the relatively potassic ironpoor silica enrichment trends distinguished in the Skye Main Lava Series. In the Group I magma series the behaviour of Y and Sr relative to other incompatible elements can only be explained by differential partial melting of a deep garnet-lherzolite mantle source. Fractional crystallization has undoubtedly occurred at some stage during the ascent of these magmas from the mantle, as indicated by the behaviour of Ni and Cr, but has not been a major factor in the production of evolved magma compositions. The Group II magmas appear to have originated from a source more enriched in lithophile elements, and a relatively shallow (〈 50 km) plagioclase-lherzolite mantle source is suggested for these magmas because they have Sr/Ba ratios between one and two orders of magnitude lower than those characteristic of Group I. Rb-Sr systematics suggest that the vertical heterogeneity of the mantle which was largely responsible for the chemical differences between these three groups may have existed for a very long time prior to Tertiary magmatism.

Notes: Abstract A suite of granites from the Hercynian batholith of Sardinia (Italy) was analysed for cesium and 37 other major and trace elements.Factor analysis was used to identify inter-element associations in this set of data. Cesium is shown to be closely associated with tin, lithium and rubidium, and less closely with beryllium and thallium, but it shows no correlation with any of the major elements. The role of crystal fractionation, magma mixing, and the process of partial melting in the magmatic source region are examined as possible controls of Cs distribution. The pattern of element associations revealed by factor analysis eliminates crystal fractionation and magma mixing as the main cause of magmatic variation. The variation in Cs is considered to be primary in origin, i.e. it originated in the magmatic source region. The relationship between Cs and other elements was mainly determined by the relative proportions of mica and feldspar entering the melt during anatexis.

Notes: Abstract The anorogenic igneous rocks of Mull consist essentially of a lava pile of predominantly basaltic composition, cut by an intrusive complex. The basement consists of Precambrian metamorphic rocks of the Moine Series underlain by Lewisian gneiss. The intrusive complex contains a significant proportion of granitic intrusions which can be ascribed to three successive centres of activity, Centres 1–3. We report new major and trace element, including rare earth element analyses, 87Sr/86Sr ratios and δ18O values for a comprehensive collection of granitic rocks from the 3 centres. The δ18O values range from +4 to −6 indicating variable extent of interaction between the rocks and heated meteoric groundwater. However, correlations of δ18O with other major and trace element data and 87Sr/86Sr ratios are uniformly low, apart from Fe2O3. It is thus unlikely that the interaction of the rocks with meteoric water has systematically altered the chemical (including Sr isotope) characteristics. The chemical and Sr isotope data reflect magmatic values and can therefore be used to comment on the petrogenesis of the granitic rocks. These data indicate that there are important differences between granitic rocks of the centres with Centre 1 forming one distinct group and Centres 2 and 3 a different group. For a given SiO2 value, the Centre 1 granites have higher Na2O, MgO, P2O5, TiO2, Sr, and V and lower Al2O3, MnO, Zn, Zr, and Y than those of Centres 2 and 3. In addition, the Centre 1 granites have lower REE contents and higher CeN/YbN ratios than those of Centres 2 and 3. Granites from all three centres have Eu anomalies, those of Centre 3 being generally greater (Eu/Eu* = 0.66–0.10). Finally, there are important Sr isotope distinctions between the three Centres; calculated initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios for the Centre 1 granites (using 58.2Ma) range between 0.71366–0.71646 (average 0.71530) and have a general correlation of 87Sr/86Sr with 87Rb/86Sr. The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the Centre 2 granites range from 0.70663 to 0.70868, but the 87Sr/86Sr data do not define an isochron. Finally, data for the Centre 3 granites define a Rb-Sr wholerock isochron with an age of 58.2±2.5 Ma and an initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.71003 ±36. Both the chemical trends and isotopic data for the Mull granites can be interpreted in terms of contrasted origins for the granitic rocks of the two groups. The relatively ‘primitive’ chemical composition and high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the Centre 1 granites indicate a substantial crustal contribution and we consider that these granites formed by a combination of partial melting of Lewisian basement together with some magma derived by fractional crystallization of basaltic magma. In contrast, the chemical and isotope data for the Centre 2 and 3 granites are consistent with formation dominantly by fractional crystallization of basaltic magma, together with a relatively small proportion of crustal contamination. A model is proposed which emphasises that acid magmatism in Mull is a consequence of the rise and crystallization of basic magma into continental crust. Granite magma has formed both by partial melting and by fractional crystallization and both of these events probably occurred under ‘open system’ conditions.

Notes: Abstract Late Precambrian granitoid rocks occurring within a 44,000 km2 area of the western Arabian Shield are subdivided on the basis of geology and petrology into older (820 to 715 Ma) and younger (686 to 517 Ma) assemblages. The older assemblage contains major complexes which can be assigned to either one of a granodioritic or trondhjemitic petrologic association. The earliest granitoid rocks are trondhjemitic tonalites (trondhjemite association), depleted in Ba, Ce, F, La, Li, Nb, Rb, Y and Zr compared to granitoids of the slightly younger granodiorite association, which are related to a calcic, calc-alkaline suite of rocks ranging in composition from gabbro through monzogranite. The plutonic rocks of the older assemblage were probably emplaced in the cores of contemporary island arcs. The younger plutonic assemblage is dominated by three, geochemically distinct, coeval granitic associations: the alkali granite, alkali-feldspar granite and monzogranite associations. The alkali granite association is composed of perthite granites (alkali granites and genetically related alkali-feldspar granites). Rocks of this association are marginally peralkaline or metaluminous and are characterized by low contents of Ba, Co, Li, Rb, Sc and Sr, and high contents of Be, Cu, F, REE, Nb, Sn, Y, Zn and Zr. The alkali-feldspar granite association is mainly composed of alkali-feldspar granites and syenogranites. Rocks of this association are marginally peraluminous or metaluminous and contain low Ba, Sr, and high F, Rb, Sn, Th and U. The monzogranite association consists mainly of monzogranites and granodiorites. Rocks of this association are peraluminous or marginally metaluminous and have the highest contents of Ba, Cu, Co, Li, Sc, Sr, Ta, and V, and the lowest contents of REE, Nb, Rb, Sn, Th, U, Y, Zn and Zr of the three granitic associations. These voluminous granitic magmas, together with the felsic component of a coeval sequence of bimodal volcanic rocks, are partial melts of the earlier island arc terrain produce during a prolonged fusion event. Subsolvus, ‘highca’ granites of the monzogranite association have I-type features and represent partial melts of previously unfused crust, while ‘low-Ca’ perthite granites of the alkali granite and alkali-feldspar granite associations have A-type features and represent partial melts of previously fused crust. This type of petrogenetic model can account for much of the petrologic diversity of the Pan-African granitic terrain of the Arabian Shield.

Notes: Abstract In the Western Ghats between latitudes 18° 20′ N and 19° 15′ N, 7000 km2 of Deccan Basalt have been mapped with the primary objective of establishing a flow stratigraphy as a guide to the volcanic history of the flood basalts. Using over 70 measured vertical sections, major and trace element analyses of nearly 1200 samples, and rare-earth and87Sr/86Sr determinations for over 60 samples, we divide the basalt into three subgroups and ten formations. In this paper we describe the seven principal formations in the area and the most prominent individual flows. The Kalsubai Subgroup is formed by the lower five formations, the Jawhar, Igatpuri, Neral, Thakurvadi, and Bhimashankar formations, from botton to top. In these formations amygdaloidal compound flows predominate and have a typically high MgO content, including picrite basalt (〉 10% MgO) and picrite (〉 18% MgO) with phenocrysts of olivine and clinopyroxene. These flows are separated by others which contain giant plagioclase phenocrysts and have more evolved chamical compositions. The Lonavala Subgroup overlies the Kalsubai and is composed of two formations, the Khandala and the Bushe. Both are readily recognized in the field and by their chemical compositions. The Wai Subgroup includes the upper three formations, the Poladpur, the Ambenali, and the Mahabaleshwar. The whole subgroup is composed of simple flows with well-developed flow tops, small phenocrysts of plagioclase, pyroxene and olivine, and relatively evolved bulk compositions. Distribution and variation in thickness of the straitigraphic units within the Western Ghats provide a first comprehensive view of the development of the Deccan volcanic edifice. The persistent southerly dip and gentle southerly plunging anticlinal form of the flows, the lensoid shape of many of the formations, and nearly randomly oriented feeder-dike system are together interpreted as evidence of a central volcanic edifice formed as the Indian plate drifted northward over a mantle plume or hot spot.