Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Petrology and chemistry of recent lavas in the northern Marianas: Implications for the origin of island arc basalts

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Petrologic and chemical data are presented for samples from five volcanically active islands in the northern Marianas group, an intra-oceanic island arc. The data include microprobe analyses of phenocryst and xenolith assemblages, whole rock major and trace element chemistry including REE, and Sr isotope determinations (87Sr/86Sr=0.7034±0.0001). Quartz-normative basalt and basaltic andesite are the most abundant lava types. These are mineralogically and chemically similar to the mafic products of other intra-oceanic islands arcs. It is suggested, however, that they are not typical of the ‘island arc tholeiitic’ series, having Fe enrichment trends and K/Rb, for example, more typical of calc-alkaline suits.

Major and trace element characteristics, and the presence of cumulate xenoliths, indicate that extensive near surface (< 3 Kb) fractionation has occurred. Thus, even least fractionated basalts have low abundances of Mg, Ni and Cr, and high abundances of K and other large cation, imcompatible elements, relative to ocean ridge tholeiites. However, abundances of REE and small cation lithophile elements, such as Ti, Zr, Nb, and Hf are lower than typical ocean ridge tholeiites. The REE data and Sr isotope compositions suggest a purely mantle origin for the Marianas island arc basalts, with negligible input from subducted crustal material. Thus, subduction of oceanic lithosphere may not be a sufficient condition for initiation of island arc magmatism. Intersection of the Benioff zone with an asthenosphere under appropriate conditions may be requisite.

Element ratios and abundances, combined with isotopic data, suggest that the source for the Marianas island arc basalts is more chondritic in some respects, and less depleted in large cations than the shallow (?) mantle source for ocean ridge tholeiites.

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

  • Armstrong, R.L.: Isotopic and chemical constraints on models of magma genesis in volcanic arcs. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 12, 137–142 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arth, J.G.: Behavior of trace elements during magmatic processes — a summary of theoretical models and their applications. J. Res. U. S. Geol. Surv. 4, 41–47 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, P.E.: Comparative volcanology and petrology of Atlantic island arcs. Bull. Volcanol. 32, 189–206 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boettcher, A.L.: Volcanism and orogenic belts — the origin of andesites. Tectonophysics 17, 223–240 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brothers, R.N., Martin, K.R.: The geology of Macauley Island, Kermadec Group, southwest Pacific. Bull. Volcanol. 34, 330–346 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brothers, R.N., Searle, E.J.: The geology of Raoul Island, Kermadec Group, southwest Pacific. Bull. Volcanol. 34, 7–37 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, W.B., Stice, G.P., Ewart, A.: Geology, petrography and geochemistry of the volcanic islands of Tonga. J. Geophys. Res. 77, 1566–1585 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chayes, F.: A petrographic distinction between Cenozoic volcanics in and around the open oceans. J. Geophys. Res. 69, 1573–1588 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clague, D.A.: Experimental Procedures, App. A. University California San Diego, Scripps Inst. Oceanography: Ph. D. Dissertation 1974

  • Clarke, W.B., Beg, M.A., Craig, H.: Excess 3He in the sea: evidences for terrestrial primordial helium. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 6, 213–220 (1969)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, R.G.: Plate tectonic emplacement of upper mantle peridotites along continental edges. J. Geophys. Res. 76, 1212–1222 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corwin, G.: Volcanic suite of Pagan, Mariana Islands. J.S. Geol. Surv. Res. C pp. 204–206 (1961)

  • Craig, H., Lupton, J.E., Horibe, Y.: A mantle helium component in circum-Pacific volcanic gases: Hakone, the Marianas and Mt. Lassen. Advances. Earth Planet. Sci. 3, 43–56 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Delaney, J.M., Helgeson, H.C.: Calculation of the thermodynamic consequences of dehydration in subducting oceanic crust to 100 Kb and >800 ° C. Am. J. Sci. 278, 638–686 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • DePaolo, D.J., Wasserburg, G.J.: The sources of island arcs as indicated by Nd and Sr isotopic studies. Geophys. Res. Lett. 4, 465–468 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson, W.R.: Potash-depth (k-h) relations in continental margin and intra-oceanic magmatic arcs. Geology 3, 53–36 (1975)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eggler, D.H.: Water-saturated and undersaturated melting relations in a Paricutin andesite and an estimate of water content in the natural magma. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 34, 261–271 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engel, A.E.J., Engel, C.G., Havens, R.G.: Chemical characteristics of oceanic basalts and the upper mantle. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 76, 719–734 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Erlark, A.J., Kable, E.J.D.: The significance of incompatible elements in Mid-Atlantic Ridge basalts from 45 ° N, with reference to Zr/Nb, Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 54, 281–292 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewart, A., Bryan, W.B., Gill, J.B.: Mineralogy and geochemistry of the younger volcanic islands of Tonga, S.W. Pacific. J. Petrol. 14, 429–465 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabbi, B.P.: A refined fusion X-ray fluorescence technique, and determination of major and minor elements in silicate standards. Am. Mineral. 52, 237–245 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitton, J.G.: The generation of magmas in island arcs. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 11, 63–67 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan, F.J.: 1972 values for international geochemical reference samples. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 37, 1189–1200 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frey, F.A., Green, D.H., Roy, S.D.: Integrated models of basalt petrogenesis: a study of quartz tholeiites to olivine melilites from South Eastern Australia utilizing geochemical and experimental petrologic data. J. Petrol. 19, 463–513 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gast, P.W.: Upper mantle chemistry and evolution of the earth's crust. In: The history of the earth's crust (R. Phinney, ed.). Princeton: University Press 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, J.B.: Geochemistry of Viti Levu, Fiji, and its evolution as an island arc. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 27, 179–203 (1970)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill, J.B.: Role of underthrust oceanic crust in the genesis of a Fijian calc-alkaline suite. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 43, 29–45 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gledhill, A., Baker, P.E.: Strontium isotope ratios in volcanic rocks from the South Sandwich Islands. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 19, 369–372 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottfried, A., Moore, R., Campbell, E.: Thorium and uranium in some volcanic rocks for the circum-Pacific province. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 450-E, E-85 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, D.H.: Contrasted melting relations in a pyrolite upper mantle under mid-oceanic ridge, stable crust and island arc environments. Tectonophysics 17, 285–297 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, D.H., Ringwood, A.E.: Genesis of the calc-alkaline rock suite. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 18, 105–162 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, S.R., Glassley, W.E., Karig, D.E.: Basalts and sea floor spreading behind the Mariana island arc. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 15, 12–18 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haskin, L., Haskin, M., Frey, F., Wildeman, T.: Relative and absolute abundances of the rare earths. In: Origin and distribution of the elements (L. Ahrens, ed.) New York: Pergamon 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, J., Batiza, R.: Metamorphic rocks of the Yap arc-trench system. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 37, 216–229 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hedge, C.E.: Variations in radiogenic strontium found in volcanic rocks. J. Geophys. Res. 71, 6119–6126 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Irving, A.J., Green, D.H.: Experimental study of phase relationships in a high pressure mugearitic basalt as a function of water content. Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Progr. (Ann. Mtg.) 4, 550–551 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Isacks, B., Barazangi, M.: Geometry of Benioff zones: lateral segmentation and downwards bending of the subducted lithosphere. In: Island arcs, deep sea trenches, and back arc basins (M. Talwani and W.C. Pitman, eds.) Am. Geophys. Union, pp. 99–114 (1977)

  • Jacobs, J.W., Korotev, R.L., Blanchard, D.P., Haskin, L.A.: A well tested procedure for instrumental neutron activation analyses of silicate rocks and minerals. J. Radio-Anal. Chem. 40, 93–114 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jakeš, P., Gill, J.: Rare earth elements and the island arc tholeiitic series. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 9, 17–28 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jakeš, P., White, A.J.R.: Major and trace element abundances in volcanic rocks of orogenic areas. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 83, 29–40 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, C., Alvis, R., Hetzler, R., Blumestock, D.: Military geology of Yap Islands, Caroline Islands, Intelligence Div. U.S. Army Pacific APO: Office of Engineers 958, 168pp. (1960)

  • Kaiser, E.: Beiträge zur Petrographie und Geologie der Deutschen Südseecluseln, K. Preussischen Geol. Landesanstalt Bergakademie 24, 91–121 (1903)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanamori, H.: Seismic and aseismic slip along subduction zones and their tectonic implications. In: Island arcs, deep sea trenches and back arc basins (M. Talwani and W.C. Pitman, eds. Washington: Am. Geophys. Union pp 62–174 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Karig, D.E.: Structural history of the Mariana Island arc system. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 82, 323–344 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Karig, D.E., Anderson, R.N. and Bibee, L.D.: Characteristics of back arc spreading in the Mariana Trough. J. Geophys. Res. 83, 1213–1226 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Katsumata, M. and Sykes, L.R.: Seismicity and tectonics of the western Pacific: Izu-Mariana-Caroline and Ryukyu-Taiwan regions. J. Geophys. Res. 74, 5923–5948 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, R.W., Hubbard, N.J.: Trace elements in ocean ridge basalts. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 38, 95–116 (1978)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kay, R.W., Hubbard, N.J., Gast, P.W.: Chemical characteristics and origin of oceanic ridge volcanic rocks. J. Geophys. Res. 75, 1585–1613 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelleher, J., McCann, W.: Bathymetric highs and the development of convergent plate boundaries. In: Island arcs, deep sea trenches and back arc basins. M. Talwani and W.C. Pitman, eds. Washington: Am. Geophys. Union pp. 115–122 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuno, H.: Origin of Cenozoic petrographic provinces of Japan and surrounding areas. Bull. Volcanol. 20, 37–76 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuno, H.: Catalogue of the active volcanoes of the world, pt. XI Japan: Taiwan and. Marianas International Volcan. Assoc. 1962

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuno, H.: Lateral variation of basalt magma type across continental margins and island arcs. Bull. Volcanol. 29, 195–222 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Kushiro, I., Yoder, H.S.: Anorthite-forsterite and anorthosite-enstatite reactions and their bearing on the basalt-eclogite transformation. J. Petrol. 7, 337–362 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, I.B., Wyllie, P.J.: Melting of gabbro (quartz eclogite) with excess water to 35 kbars, with geological applications. J. Geol. 80, 693–708 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, E.E., Reynolds, R.L., Merrill, R., Levi, S., Ozima, M., Aoki, Y., Kinoshita, H., Zasshu, S., Kawai, N., Nakayama, T., Hirooka, K.: Major element petrochemistry of some extrusive rocks from the volcanically active Marianas Islands. Bull. Volcanol. 38, 361–377 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowder, G.G., Carmichael, I.S.E.: The volcanoes and caldera of Talasea, New Britain: geology and petrology. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 81, 17–38 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, G.A.: Petrography of Iwo Jima. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 59, 1009–1018 (1948)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, B.D., Carmichael, I.S.E.: Benioff zone magmatism. J. Geophys. Res. 79, 1196–1206 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, B.: Handbook of Elemental Abundances in Meteorites. 555 pp. New York: Gordon and Breach 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Meijer, A.: A study of the geochemistry of the Mariana island arc system and its bearing on the genesis and evolution of volcanic arc magmas. University California, Santa Barbara: Ph.D. Dissertation 1974

  • Meijer, A.: Pb and Sr isotopic data bearing on the origin of volcanic rocks from the Mariana Island arc system. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 87, 1358–1369 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menzies, M., Blanchard, D., Brannon, J., Koroteu, R.: Rare earth and trace element geochemistry of a fragment of Jurassic seafloor, Point Sal, California. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 41, 1419–1430 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyashiro, A.: Volcanic rock series in island arcs and active continental margins. Am. J. Sci. 274, 321–355 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholls, I.A., Ringwood, A.E.: Effect of water on olivine stability in tholeiites and the production of silica saturated magmas in the island arc environment. J. Geol. 81, 285–300 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Hara, M.J.: Primary magmas and the origins of basalt. Scot. J. Geol. 1, 19–40 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paster, T.P., Schauwecker, D.S., Haskin, L.A.: The behaviour of some trace elements during solidification of the Skaergaard layered series. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 38, 1549–1577 (1974)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peck, L.C.: Systematic analyses of silicates. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 1170, (1964)

  • Poldervaart, A.: Chemistry of the earth's crust. In: Crust of the earth (A. Poldervaart, éd.). Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap. 62 p. 1955

  • Rittman, A.: Magmatic character and tectonic position of the Indonesian volcanoes. Bull. Volcanol. 14, 45–58 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, R.G.: Petrology of the volcanic rocks. In: Geology of Saipan, Mariana Islands. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 280-B (1957)

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, L., Brannock, W.: Rapid determination of water in silicate rocks. Anal. Chem. 27, 560–562 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Simkin, T., Smith, J.V.: Minor element distribution in olivine. J. Geol. 78, 304–325 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern, R.J.: Agrigan: an introduction to the geology of an active volcano in the northern Mariana island arc. Bull. Volcanol. 41, 1–13 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern, R.J.: On the origin of andesite in the Northern Mariana Island arc: implications from Agrigan. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 68, 207–219 (1979)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, S.S., Nesbitt, R.W., Sharaskin, Y.: Geochemical characteristics of mid-ocean ridge basalt. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. (in press, 1979)

  • Tanakadate, H.: Volcanoes in the Mariana Islands in the Japanese Mandated South Seas. Bull. Volcanol. 6, 199–223 (1940)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatsumoto, M., Hedge, C.E., Engel, A.E.J.: K, Rb, Sr, Th, and U in oceanic tholeiitic basalt. Sci. 150, 886 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tayama, R.: Geomorphology, geology and coral reefs of the North Marianas group (in Japanese). Inst. Geol. and Paleont. Tohoku Imp. Univ. Contrib. 23; Trans. O. Kondo and V. Jussen. Pacific Geol. Surv. Military Geol. Branch, U.S. Geol. Surv. (1950)

  • Taylor, S.R., Capp, A.C., Graham, A.L., Blake, D.H.: Trace element abundances in andesites. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 23, 1–26 (1969)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuya, H.: On the volcanism of the Huzi volcanic zone with special reference to the geology and petrology of Izu and the southern islands. Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst. 15, 215–257 (1937)

    Google Scholar 

  • Uyeda, S., Kanamori, H.: Back-arc opening and the mode of subduction. J. Geophys. Res. 84, 1049–1061 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wankë, H., Boddenhauser, H., Dreibus, G., Jagoritz, E., Kruse, H., Palme, H., Spettel, B., Teschke, F.: Multielement analyses of Apollo 15, 16, and 17 samples and the bulk composition of the moon. Proc. Fourth Lunar Sci. Conf. 2, 1461–1481 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells, P.R.A.: Pyroxene thermometry in simple and complex systems. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 62, 129–139 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, B.J., Banno, S.: Garnet-orthopyroxene and orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene relationships in simple and complex systems. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 42, 109–124 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, T.L., Doherty, P.C.: A linear programming and least squares computor method for solving petrologic mixing problems. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 81, 1995–2008 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoder, H.S.: Calc-alkaline andesites: experimental data bearing on the origin of their assumed characteristics. In: Proceedings of the andesite conference (McBurney, ed.), Bull. 65 Oregon: Dept. Geol. and Mineral Industries 1969

  • Yoder, H.S.: Generation of Basaltic Magmas. New York: National Academy of Science Press, 265 pp. 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoder, H.S., Tilley, C.E.: Origin of basalt magmas: an experimental study of natural and synthetic rock systems. J. Petrol. 3, 342–532 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 92093, La Jolla, California, USA

    T. H. Dixon

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Washington University, 63130, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

    R. Batiza

Authors
  1. T. H. Dixon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Batiza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dixon, T.H., Batiza, R. Petrology and chemistry of recent lavas in the northern Marianas: Implications for the origin of island arc basalts. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 70, 167–181 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00374446

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00374446

Keywords

Search

Navigation