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Geochemistry of the Rare Earth elements in spilites from the oceanic and continental crust

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Abstract

Analytical data including major elements, the Rare Earths, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr are presented for twenty-three spilites from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Hercynian part of the Variscan geosyncline in Germany, and several localities in Switzerland. Low grade metamorphism (up to approximately 400° C) and spilitization of basaltic rocks apparently do not alter the original Rare Earth element (REE) distributions. This fact permits comparison of the spilites and unaltered tholeiitic basalts from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The relative REE distributions thus appear suitable for delineating the original basalt types of spilites formed by metamorphism.

The spilites from the Hercynian part of the Variscan geosyncline have a REE distribution pattern which is characteristic of continental tholeiites. It is thus probable that during the formation of this geosyncline the principal magma extruded was of tholeiitic composition and that these rocks were later converted to spilites by metamorphism.

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Author notes

  1. Albert Günter Herrmann

    Present address: The Lunar Science Institute, 3303 NASA Road 1, 77058, Houston, Texas, USA

  2. Mark J. Potts

    Present address: Texas Instruments, Geophoto Services, Dallas, Texas, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geochemisches Institut der Universität Göttingen, Deutschland

    Albert Günter Herrmann, Mark J. Potts & Doris Knake

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  1. Albert Günter Herrmann
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Herrmann, A.G., Potts, M.J. & Knake, D. Geochemistry of the Rare Earth elements in spilites from the oceanic and continental crust. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 44, 1–16 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373128

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