Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Rare earth element concentrations in a suite of basanitoids and alkali olivine basalts from Grenada, Lesser Antilles

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

Abstract

A suite of basanitoids and alkali olivine basalts from Grenada, Lesser Antilles were analyzed for rare earth elements. The REE concentrations of these rocks are characterized by a small variation in the heavy REE (7 to 9 times chondrite) and a large variation in the light REE (17 to 93 times chondrite). Among the possible mechanisms to account for the REE variations, fractional crystallization processes at low and high pressures, and partial melting processes (both batch melting and fractional melting) were examined, using the partition relationships of REE among silicate minerals and melts. It is suggested that the observed REE variations are best explained by variable degrees of batch partial melting, in which garnet is present as one of the solid phases through 2 to 17% melting of a garnet lherzolite parent rock.

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

  • Arculus, R. J.: The alkali basalt, andesite association of Grenada, Lesser Antilles. Ph. D. Thesis, University of Durham (1973)

  • Boyd, F. R., Nixon, P. H.: Ultramafic nodules from the Thaba Putsoa kimberlite pipe. Carnegie Inst. Wash. Year Book 71, 362–373 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gast, P. W.: Trace element fractionation and the origin of tholeiitic and alkaline magma types. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 32, 1057–1086 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, D. H., Ringwood, A. E.: The genesis of basaltic magmas. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 15, 103–190 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grutzeck, M. W., Kridelbaugh, S. J., Weill, D. F.: REE partitioning between diopside and silicate liquid (abstract). EOS 54, 1222 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbard, N. J., Gast, P. W.: Chemical composition and origin of nonmare lunar basalts. Proc. Second Lunar Sci. Conf. MIT Press, 999–1020 (1971)

  • Ito, K., Kennedy, G. C.: Melting and phase relations in a natural peridotite to 40 kilobars. Am. J. Sci. 265, 519–538 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mysen, B.: Melting in a hydrous mantle: phase relations of mantle peridotite with controlled water and oxygen fugacities. Carnegie Inst. Wash. Year Book 72, 467–478 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Hara, M. J.: The bearing of phase equilibria studies on the origin and evolution of basic and ultrabasic rocks. Earth Sci. Rev. 4, 69–133 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Hara, M. J., Yoder, H. S. Jr.: Formation and fractionation of basic magmas at high pressure. Scott. J. Geol. 3, 67–117 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Nions, R. K., Clarke, D. B.: Comparative trace element geochemistry of Tertiary basalts from Baffin Bay. Earth Planet. Sci. Letters 15, 436–446 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Philpotts, J. A., Martin, W., Schnetzler, C. C.: Geochemical aspects of some Japanese lavas. Earth Planet. Sci. Letters 12, 89–96 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Philpotts, J. A., Schnetzler, C. C., Thomas, H. H.: Petrogenetic implications of some new geochemical data on eclogitic and ultrabasic inclusions. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 36, 1131–1166 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schilling, J. G., Winchester, J. W.: Rare earth contriburion to the origin of Hawaiian lavas. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 23, 27–37 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, D. M.: Trace element fractionation during anatexis. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 34, 237–243 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimizu, N.: An isotope dilution technique for analysis of the rare earth elements. Carnegie Inst. Wash. Year Book 73, 964–967 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimizu, N., Kushiro, I.: The partitioning of rare earth elements between garnet and liquid at high pressures: preliminary experiments. In preparation (1975)

  • Yoder, H. S. Jr., Tilley, C. E.: Origin of basalt magmas: an experimental study of natural and synthetic rock systems. J. Petrol. 3, 343–532 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zielinski, R. A.: Trace element evaluation of the petrogenesis of a suite of rocks from Reunion Island, Indian Ocean (abstract), EOS 55, 455 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zielinski, R. A., Frey, F. A.: Gough Island: Evaluation of a fractional crystallization model. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 29, 242–254 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. N. Shimizu

    Present address: Institut de Physique du Globe, Université Paris VI, 4 Place Jussieu, F-75230, Paris, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 20015, Washington, D.C.

    N. Shimizu

  2. Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 20008, Washington, D.C.

    R. J. Arculus

Authors
  1. N. Shimizu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. J. Arculus
    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

Shimizu, N., Arculus, R.J. Rare earth element concentrations in a suite of basanitoids and alkali olivine basalts from Grenada, Lesser Antilles. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 50, 231–240 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394850

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394850

Keywords

Search

Navigation