Abstract
DATA for niobium in mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORBs) and ocean-island basalts (OIBs) have provided new constraints on global geochemical models of continental growth and mantle differentiation. Until now, there were no such data in the concentration range of parts per 109 (p.p.b.) for peridotite samples. Here we report new measurements of Nb and other trace elements in fertile peridotite xenoliths. Our data show that the Nb/Ta ratio is chondritic, whereas Nb/Th (and presumably Nb/U) ratios are higher than chondritic. High Nb/Th ratios are characteristic of sources and/or residues of divergent-margin (for example, MORB) and intraplate (for example, OIB) magmatism. Compared with primitive mantle, these peridotites show a systematic and uniform depletion of the highly inompatible elements. The depleted patterns are apparently inconsistent with these peridotites being sources or residua from convergent-margin (that is, island-arc) magmatism. These data may indicate that the continental lithospheric mantle does not possess a Nb enrichment to complement the depletion found in the continental crust and island-arc basalts.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Jagoutz, E. et al. Proc. 10th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. 2031–2050 (1979).
Wänke, K., Dreibus, G. & Jagoutz, E. in Archaean Geochemistry (eds Kröner, A., Hanson, G. & Goodwin, A.) 1–24 (Springer, Berlin, 1984).
Jochum, K. P., Seufert, H. M., Spettel, B. & Palme, H. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 50, 1173–1183 (1986).
Jochum, K. P. et al. Z. analyt. Chem. 331, 104–110 (1988).
Jochum, K. P., Seufert, H. M. & Thirwall, M. F. Chem. Geol. (submitted).
Kurat, G. et al. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 44, 45–60 (1980).
Zindler, A. & Jagoutz, E. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 52, 319–333 (1988).
Stosch, H.-G. & Seek, H. A. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 44, 457–470 (1980).
Jagoutz, E., Carlson, R. W. & Lugmair, G. W. Nature 286, 708–710 (1980).
Jochum, K. P., Hofmann, A. W. & Arndt, N. T. Terra Cognita 7, 396–397 (1987).
Green, T. H., Sie, S. H., Ryan, C. G. & Cousens, D. R. Chem. Geol. 74, 201–216 (1989).
Frey, F. A. & Prinz, M. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 38, 129–176 (1978).
Frey, F. A. & Green, D. H. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 38, 1023–1059 (1974).
Patchett, P. J. Lithos 16, 47–51 (1983).
Salters, V. J. M. & Hart, S. R. Eos 70, 510 (1989).
Hofmann, A. W., Jochum, K. P., Seufert, M. & White, W. M. Earth planet Sci. Lett. 79, 33–45 (1986).
Taylor, S. R. & McLennan, S. M. The Continental Crust: its Composition and Evolution (Blackwell, Oxford, 1985).
Thompson, R. N., Morrison, M. A., Hendry, G. L. & Parry, S. J. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A310, 549–590 (1984).
Hofmann, A. W. Chem. Geol. 57, 17–30 (1986).
Salters, V. J. M. & Shimizu, N. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 52, 2177–2182 (1988).
Jagoutz, E., Lorenz, V. & Wänke, H. in The Mantle Sample: Inclusions in Kimberlites and Other Volcanics (eds Boyd, F. R. & Meyer, H. O. A.) 382–390 (American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, 1979).
McDonough, W. F. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. (submitted).
Clark, S. P. & Ringwood, A. E. Rev. Geophys. 2, 35–88 (1964).
Oxburgh, E. R. & Parmentier, E. M. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A288, 415–429 (1978).
Ringwood, A. E. J. Geol. 90, 611–643 (1982).
Palme, H. & Nickel, K. G. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 49, 2123–2132 (1985).
Newsom, H. E., White, W. M., Jochum, K. P. & Hofmann, A. W. Earth planet Sci. Lett. 80, 299–313 (1986).
Hofmann, A. W. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 90, 297–314 (1988).
Sun, S.-S. & McDonough, W. F. in Magmatism in the Ocean Basins (eds Saunders, A. D. & Norry, M. J.) 313–345 (Geological Society of London, 1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jochum, K., McDonough, W., Palme, H. et al. Compositional constraints on the continental lithospheric mantle from trace elements in spinel peridotite xenoliths. Nature 340, 548–550 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/340548a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/340548a0
This article is cited by
-
Late Early-Cretaceous Magma Mixing in the Langqi Island, Fujian Province, China: Evidences from Petrology, Geochemistry and Zircon Geochronology
Journal of Earth Science (2020)
-
Two-stage magmatic events of the early Paleozoic in the eastern Hexi Corridor Belt, NW China: petrogenesis and tectonic implications
Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2019)
-
Middle triassic post-orogenic extension on Hainan Island: Chronology and geochemistry constraints of bimodal intrusive rocks
Science China Earth Sciences (2013)
-
Geochemistry of lamprophyre dykes, Wadi Sikait area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt
Chinese Journal of Geochemistry (2011)
-
Geochemistry of Late Mesozoic mafic dykes in western Fujian Province of China: Sr-Nd isotope and trace element constraints
Chinese Journal of Geochemistry (2007)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
