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A refractory HIMU component in the sources of island-arc magma

Nature volume 360, pages 57–59 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

THE strontium, neodymium and lead isotopic compositions of most island-arc magmas seem to require a component in the source region with the characteristics of ocean-island basalts (OIB)1–5. In contrast, however, the trace-element compositions of arc magmas and OIB do not match: OIB sources are highly enriched in incompatible elements, whereas island-arc basalts are depleted in high-field-strength and light rare-earth elements. Peridotite that has undergone an episode of melting, and hence depletion of incompatible elements, is an appropriate source for island-arc basalts6,7. I have previously proposed that an OIB component with the characteristics of the mantle endmember HIMU8 (notably, high U/Pb ratio) is present in arc magmas of the Mariana Island region (Philippine Sea). Here I show, using isotopic comparisons of Philippine Sea arc and basin magmas, including the highly magnesian lavas known as boninites, that this HIMU component is refractory and is selectively incorporated into the depleted mantle lithosphere during extraction of mid-ocean-ridge basalt and back-arc-basin basalt. This process creates the mixture of depleted and OIB-source mantle required for island-arc basalt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33156, USA

    Rosemary Hickey-Vargas

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Hickey-Vargas, R. A refractory HIMU component in the sources of island-arc magma. Nature 360, 57–59 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/360057a0

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