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The petrology and geochemistry of the Azores Islands

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Abstract

Forty lavas from the Azores Islands have been analyzed for 87Sr/86Sr ratios, major elements, first transition series metals, and LIL elements. The samples belong to the alkali basalt magma series but range from transitional hy-normative basalts from Terceira to basanitoids from Santa Maria. Differentiated lavas include both typical trachytes and comenditic trachytes and comendites. Major and trace element concentrations define smooth trends on variation diagrams, and these trends can be related to phases crystallizing in the rocks. Systematic interisland differences are also apparent in these variation diagrams. LIL element concentrations in island basalts are roughly twice as high as those in tholeiites from the adjacent Mid-Atlantic Ridge which transects the Azores Plateau. 87Sr/86Sr ratios in lavas from 6 of the 9 islands range from 0.70332 to 0.70354, a range similar to that found in tholeiites from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge transect of the Azores Plateau. This suggests that lavas from these islands and this portion of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge may be derived from a similar source. However, lavas from the islands of Faial and Pico have 87Sr/86Sr ratios up to 0.70394 and ratios in Sao Miguel lavas range up to 0.70525, suggesting basalts from these islands are derived from a chemically distinct source. Differences in the average LIL element concentrations of the least fractionated ridge tholeiites from the Azores Plateau and alkali basalts from the islands result from differences in extent of partial melting and residual mineralogy. The alkali basalts are derived by roughly half as much melting as are the tholeiites. Trace element concentrations in Azores peralkaline lavas preclude their derivation by partial melting of peridotitic mantle or basaltic crust; rather the data suggest they are produced by fractional crystallization of a basaltic parent.

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Author notes

  1. Maria D. M. Tapia

    Present address: , Gaztambide 29, Madrid 15, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Terrestrial Magnetism Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5241 Braod Branch Road, 20015, N.W.,, Washington, D.C., USA

    William M. White

  2. Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 02881, Kingston, R.I.

    William M. White

  3. Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 02881, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA

    Maria D. M. Tapia

  4. Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 02881, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA

    Jean -Guy Schilling

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  3. Jean -Guy Schilling
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White, W.M., Tapia, M.D.M. & Schilling, J.G. The petrology and geochemistry of the Azores Islands. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 69, 201–213 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00372322

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