Abstract
Major elements, trace elements and 87Sr/86Sr data are reported for the Quaternary potassic alkaline rocks from the Mts. Ernici volcanic area (Southern Latium — Italy). These rocks are represented by primitive types which display high Mgv, low D.I., variable degrees of silica undersaturation and different K2O contents which allowed the distinction of a potassium series (KS) and a high potassium series (HKS). All the analyzed samples have high LIL element contents and high 87Sr/86Sr which ranges between 0.707–0.711. They also have fractionated REE patterns. The KS rocks have lower LIL element concentrations and 87Sr/86Sr ratios than the HKS rocks with a large compositional gap between the two series. Minor but still significant isotopic and trace element variations are also observed within both KS and HKS. The genesis cannot be completly explained either by crystal liquid fractionation, mixing or assimilation processes or by different degrees of equilibrium partial melting from a homogeneous source, thus indicating that both the KS and HKS consist of several geochemically and isotopically distinct magma types. The data suggest that the KS and HKS magmas originated by low degrees of melting of a garnet peridotite mantle heterogeneously enriched in LIL elements and radiogenic strontium, possibly accompanied by disquilibrium melting of some accessory phases. The occurrence of a geochemical anomaly within the mantle is believed to be due to fluid metasomatism probably generated by dehydration of a lithospheric slab subducted during the Late Tertiary development of the Apennine Chain.
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Civetta, L., Innocenti, F., Manetti, P. et al. Geochemical characteristics of potassic volcanics from Mts. Ernici (Southern Latium, Italy). Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 78, 37–47 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371142
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371142