Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Major element compositions and rare-earth element abundances of Cenozoic basalts in eastern China: Implications for a pressure control over LREE/HREE fractionation in continental basalt

  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Geochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Major element compositions and rare-earth element (REE) and transition element (Ni, Cr and V) abundances have been determined on 44 basalt samples from eastern China. These basalts have SiO2 contents ranging from 38.63 to 55.24 (wt. %), and Na2O+K2O from 3.1 to 9.4 (wt. %). Ni and Cr abundances are largely variable, respectively falling in ranges 60–605 and 78–1150 ppm. REE abundances, especially light rare-earth elements (LREE), are highly variable. La/Sm and La/Yb ratios vary from 2.8 to 7.6 and 1.8 to 8.1.

Although the segregation mainly of olivine and clinopyroxene is requested to account for the variable and low MgO, CaO/Al2O3, Cr and Ni characteristic of these basalts studied here, the differences in REE composition of the basalts are still related mainly to the partial melting process. Obvious variations in REE abundances could be principally attributed to the partial melting processes that took place at different depths, in spite of some variations caused by the fractional crystallization processes. REE abundances and La/Sm and La/Yb ratios systematically decrease with increasing SiO2, which probably indicates that the basaltic magma derived from a deeper level has higher LREE and LREE/HREE ratios than that from a shallower level. As viewed from the fact that the DYb/DLa ratios of clinopyroxenes in the basaltic system increase with increasing pressure, the increase of LREE/HREE ratios with increasing melting depth can be interpreted as the pressure dependence of bulk DHREE/DLREE ratios of silicate minerals, in addition to the pressure control over the melting degree.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Basu A. R., Wang J., Huang W., Xie G. and M. Tatsumoto, 1991, Major element, REE, and Pb and Sr isotopic geochemistry of Cenozoic volcanic rocks of eastern China: implications for their origin from suboceanic-type mantle reservoirs: Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 105, p. 149–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clague, D. A. and F. A. Frey, 1982, Petrology and trace element geochemistry of the Honolulu volcanics, Oahu: Implications for the oceanic mantle below Hawaii: J. Petrol., v. 23, p. 447–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colson, R. O. and D. Gust, 1989, effects of pressure on partitioning of trace element between low-Ca pyroxene and melt: Am. Mineral., v. 74, p. 31–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, K. G., J. D. Bell and R. J. Pankhurst, 1979, The Interpretation of Igneous Rocks: London, George Allen and Uniwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • DePaolo, D. J., 1981, Trace element and isotopic effects of combined wallrock assimilation and fractional crystallization: Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 53, p. 189–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dostal, J., C. Dupuy, J. P. Carron, Le Guen de Kernezion M. and R. C. Maury, 1983, Partition coefficients of trace elements: application to volcanic rocks of St. Vincent, West Indies: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v. 47, p. 525–533.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eggler, D. H., 1976, Does CO2 cause partial melting in the low-velocity layer of the mantle? Geology, v. 4, p. 69–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, T. H. and N. J. Pearson, 1983, Effect of pressure on rare earth element partition coefficients in common magmas: Nature, v. 305, p. 414–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirata, T., H. Shimizu, T. Akagi, H. Sawatari, and A. Masuda, 1988, Precise determination of rare earth elements in geological standard rocks by inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometry: Anal. Sci., v. 4, p. 637–643.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irving, A. J., 1978, A review of experimental studies of crystal/liquid trace element partitioning: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v. 42, p. 743–770.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irving, A. J. and F. A. Frey, 1978, Distribution of trace elements between garnet megacrysts and host volcanic liquids of kimberlitic to rhyolitic composition: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v. 42, p. 771–787.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irving, A. J. and F. A. Frey, 1984, Trace element abundances in megacrysts and their host basalts: constraints on partition coefficients and megacrysts genesis: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v. 42, p. 771–787.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kushiro, I., 1972, Effect of water on the composition of magmas formed at high pressures: J. Petrol., v. 13, p. 311–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latin, D. and F. G. Waters, 1991, Melt generation during rifting in the North Sea: Nature, v. 351, p. 559–562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liotard, J. M., D. Briot, and P. Boivin, 1988, Petrological and geochemical relationships between pyroxene megacrysts and associated alkali baalts from Massif Central (France): Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v. 98, p. 81–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C.-Q., A. Masuda, H. Shimizu, T. Takahashi, and Xie G.-H., 1992a, Evidence for pressure dependence of the peak position in the REE mineral/melt partition patterns of clinopyroxene: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta (in press).

  • Liu C.-Q., A. Masuda, and Xie G. -H., 1992b, Isotope and trace element geochemistry of alkali basalts and associated megacrysts from the Huangyishan volcano, Kuandian, Liaoning, China: Chem. Geol. (in press).

  • Minster, J. F. and C. J. Allegre, 1978, Systematic use of trace elements in igneous processes: Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v. 68, p. 37–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, D. and M. J. Bickle, 1988, The volume and composition of melt generated by extension of the lithosphere: J. Petrol., v. 29, p. 625–679.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mysen, B. O. and I. Kushiro, 1977, Compositional variations of coexisting phases with degree of partial melting of peridotite in the upper mantle: Am. Mineral., v. 62, p. 843–865.

    Google Scholar 

  • Onuma, N., S. Ninomiya, and H. Nagasawa, 1981, Mineral/groundmass partition coefficients for nepheline, mililite, clinopyroxene and pervoskite in melilite-nepheline basalt, Nyiragongo, Zaire: Geochem. J., v. 15, p. 221–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng Z. C., R. E. Zartman, K. Futa, and Chen D. C., 1986, Pb-, Sr- and Nd isotopic systematics and chemical characteristics of Cenozoic basalts, eastern China: Chem. Geol., v. 58, p. 3–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schnetzler, C. C. and J. A. Philpotts, 1970, Partition coefficients of rare-earth elements between igneous matrix material and rock-forming mineral phenocrysts——II: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v. 34, p. 331–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shannon, R. D., 1976, Revised effective ionic radii and systematic studies of interatomic distances in halides and chalcogenides: Acta Cryst, v. A32, p. 751–767.

    Google Scholar 

  • Song Y. and F. A. Frey, 1990, Geochemistry of peridotite xenoliths in basalt from Hannuoba, Eastern China: Implications for subcontinental mantle heterogeneity: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v. 53, p. 97–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song Y., F. A. Frey and Zhi X., 1990, Isotopic characteristics of Hannuoba basalts, Eastern China: Implications for their petrogenesis and the composition of subcontinental mantle: Chem. J., v. 85, p. 35–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, E., 1986, Melting of a dry peridotite KLB-1 up to 14 GPa: Implications on the origin of peridotitic upper mantle: J. Geophys. Res., v. 91, p. 9367–9382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, E. and I. Kushiro, 1983, Melting of a dry peridotite at high pressures and basalt magma genesis: Am. Miner., v. 68, p. 859–879.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. N., 1987, Phase-equilibria constraints on the genesis and magmatic evolution of oceanic basalts: Earth Sci. Rev., v. 24, p. 161–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uyeda, S. and A. Miyashiro, 1974, Plate tectonics and the Japanese islands: A synthesis: Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., v. 85, p. 1159–1170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei K., 1985, Studies on geochemistry and petrology of basalts and mantle xenoliths of Huangyishan volcano, Kudian, Liaoning, Northeast China (in Chinese): MS thesis of the Institute of Geochemistry, Academia Sinica.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu L., Zhai M. and Zheng X., 1985, Cenozoic volcanic rocks in eastern China: Acta Petrologica Sinica, v. 1, 23p.

  • Wright, T. L. and R. S. Fiske, 1971, Origin of the differentiated and hybrid lavas of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii: J. Petrol., v. 12, p. 1–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyllie, P. J. and W. L. Huang, 1975, Peridotite, kimberlite, and carbonatite explained in the system CaO-MgO-SiO2-CO2: Geology, v. 3, p. 621–624.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyllie, P. J. and W. L. Huang, 1976, Carbonation and melting reactions in the system CaO-MgO-SiO2-CO2 at mantle pressures with geophysical and petrological applications: Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v. 54, p. 79–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W. Y., Li Y. H. and Ma H. C., 1986, Evolution of ocean-continent tectonics of China and the adjacent areas. in: Zhang WY (ed) Tectonics of China: Scientific Press, Beijing, China, p. 22–45 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhi X., Song Y., F. A. Frey, Feng J. and Zhai M., 1990, Geochemistry of Hannuoba basalts, eastern China: Constraints in the origin of continental alkalic and tholeiitic basalt: Chem. Geol., v. 88, p. 1–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou X. H. and R. L. Armstrong, 1982, Cenozoic volcanic rocks of eastern China —— secular and geographic trends in chemistry and strontium isotopic composition.: Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 58, p. 301–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Hirosawa 2-1, Wako-shi, 351-01, Saitama, Japan

    Liu Congqiang

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 113, Tokyo, Japan

    Akimasa Masuda

  3. Institute of Geochemistry, Academia Sinica, 510640, Guangzhou

    Xie Guanghong

Authors
  1. Liu Congqiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Akimasa Masuda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xie Guanghong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Visiting scholar from the Institute of Geochemistry, Academia Sinica.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liu, C., Masuda, A. & Xie, G. Major element compositions and rare-earth element abundances of Cenozoic basalts in eastern China: Implications for a pressure control over LREE/HREE fractionation in continental basalt. Chin. J. of Geochem. 11, 289–313 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02869062

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02869062

Keywords

Search

Navigation