Lower crustal zircons reveal Neogene metamorphism beneath the Pannonian Basin (Hungary)

Neogene alkaline intraplate volcanic deposits in the Pannonian Basin (Hungary) contain many lower crustal granulite-facies xenoliths. U-Pb ages have been determined for zircons separated from a metasedimentary xenolith, using LA-ICPMS and SHRIMP techniques. The zircons show typical metamorphic characteristics and are not related to the hostmagmatism. The oldest age recorded is late Devonian, probably related to Variscan basement lithologies. Several grains yield Mesozoic dates for their cores, which may correspond to periods of orogenic activity. Most of the zircons show young ages, with some being Palaeocene-Eocene, but the majority being younger than 30Ma. The youngest zircons are Pliocene (5.1-4.2 Ma) and coincide with the age of eruptions of the host alkali basalts. Such young zircons, so close to the eruption age, are unusual in lower crustal xenoliths, and imply that the heat flow in the base of the Pannonian Basin was sufficiently high to keep many of them close to their blocking temperature. This suggests that metamorphism is continuing in the lower crust of the region at the present day

Origin and ascent history of unusually crystal-rich alkaline basaltic magmas from the western Pannonian Basin

The last eruptions of the monogenetic Bakony-Balaton Highland Volcanic Field (western Pannonian Basin, Hungary) produced unusually crystal- and xenolith-rich alkaline basalts which are unique among the alkaline basalts of the Carpathian- Pannonian Region. Similar alkaline basalts are only rarely known in other volcanic fields of the world. These special basaltic magmas fed the eruptions of two closely located volcanic centres: the Bondoró-hegy and the Füzes-tó scoria cone. Their uncommon enrichment in diverse crystals produced unique rock textures and modified original magma compositions (13.1-14.2 wt.% MgO, 459-657 ppm Cr, 455-564 ppm Ni contents). Detailed mineral-scale textural and chemical analyses revealed that the Bondoró-hegy and Füzes-tó alkaline basaltic magmas have a complex ascent history, and that most of their minerals (~30 vol.% of the rocks) represent foreign crystals derived from different levels of the underlying lithosphere. The most abundant xenocrysts, olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and spinel, were incorporated from different regions and rock types of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Megacrysts of clinopyroxene and spinel could have originated from pegmatitic veins / sills which probably represent magmas crystallized near the crust-mantle boundary. Green clinopyroxene xenocrysts could have been derived from lower crustal mafic granulites. Minerals that crystallized in situ from the alkaline basaltic melts (olivine with Cr-spinel inclusions, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, Fe-Ti oxides) are only represented by microphenocrysts and overgrowths on the foreign crystals. The vast amount of peridotitic (most common) and mafic granulitic materials indicates a highly effective interaction between the ascending magmas and wall rocks at lithospheric mantle and lower crustal levels. However, fragments from the middle and upper crust are absent from the studied basalts, suggesting a change in the style (and possibly rate) of magma ascent in the crust. These xenocryst- and xenolith-rich basalts yield divers tools for estimating magma ascent rate that is important for hazard forecasting in monogenetic volcanic fields. According to the estimated ascent rates, the Bondoró-hegy and Füzes-tó alkaline basaltic magmas could have reached the surface within hours to few days, similarly to the estimates for other eruptive centres in the Pannonian Basin which were fed by "normal" (crystal- and xenolith-poor) alkaline basalts

Genetic risk and a primary role for cell-mediated immune mechanisms in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a common disease of the central nervous system in which the interplay between inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes typically results in intermittent neurological disturbance followed by progressive accumulation of disability. Epidemiological studies have shown that genetic factors are primarily responsible for the substantially increased frequency of the disease seen in the relatives of affected individuals, and systematic attempts to identify linkage in multiplex families have confirmed that variation within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) exerts the greatest individual effect on risk. Modestly powered genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have enabled more than 20 additional risk loci to be identified and have shown that multiple variants exerting modest individual effects have a key role in disease susceptibility. Most of the genetic architecture underlying susceptibility to the disease remains to be defined and is anticipated to require the analysis of sample sizes that are beyond the numbers currently available to individual research groups. In a collaborative GWAS involving 9,772 cases of European descent collected by 23 research groups working in 15 different countries, we have replicated almost all of the previously suggested associations and identified at least a further 29 novel susceptibility loci. Within the MHC we have refined the identity of the HLA-DRB1 risk alleles and confirmed that variation in the HLA-A gene underlies the independent protective effect attributable to the class I region. Immunologically relevant genes are significantly overrepresented among those mapping close to the identified loci and particularly implicate T-helper-cell differentiation in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

The chemically zoned 1949 eruption on La Palma (Canary Islands): Petrologic evolution and magma supply dynamics of a rift zone eruption

The 1949 rift zone eruption along the Cumbre Vieja ridge on La Palma involved three eruptive centers, 3 km spaced apart, and was chemically and mineralogically zoned. Duraznero crater erupted tephrite for 14 days and shut down upon the opening of Llano del Banco, a fissure that issued first tephrite and, after 3 days, basanite. Hoyo Negro crater opened 4 days later and erupted basanite, tephrite, and phonotephrite, while Llano del Banco continued to issue basanite. The eruption ended with Duraznero erupting basanite with abundant crustal and mantle xenoliths. The tephrites and basanites from Duraznero and Llano del Banco show narrow compositional ranges and define a bimodal suite. Each batch ascended and evolved separately without significant intermixing, as did the Hoyo Negro basanite, which formed at lower degrees of melting. The magmas fractionated clinopyroxene +olivine±kaersutite±Ti-magnetite at 600–800 MPa and possibly 800–1100 MPa. Abundant reversely zoned phenocrysts reflect mixing with evolved melts at mantle depths. Probably as early as 1936, Hoyo Negro basanite entered the deep rift system at 200–350 MPa. Some shallower pockets of this basanite evolved to phonotephrite through differentiation and assimilation of wall rock. A few months prior to eruption, a mixing event in the mantle may have triggered the final ascent of the magmas. Most of the erupted tephrite and basanite ascended from mantle depths within hours to days without prolonged storage in crustal reservoirs. The Cumbre Vieja rift zone differs from the rift zones of Kilauea volcano (Hawaii) in lacking a summit caldera or a summit reservoir feeding the rift system and in being smaller and less active with most of the rift magma solidifying between eruptions

A "Candidate-Interactome" Aggregate Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Data in Multiple Sclerosis

Though difficult, the study of gene-environment interactions in multifactorial diseases is crucial for interpreting the relevance of non-heritable factors and prevents from overlooking genetic associations with small but measurable effects. We propose a “candidate interactome” (i.e. a group of genes whose products are known to physically interact with environmental factors that may be relevant for disease pathogenesis) analysis of genome-wide association data in multiple sclerosis. We looked for statistical enrichment of associations among interactomes that, at the current state of knowledge, may be representative of gene-environment interactions of potential, uncertain or unlikely relevance for multiple sclerosis pathogenesis: Epstein-Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, cytomegalovirus, HHV8-Kaposi sarcoma, H1N1-influenza, JC virus, human innate immunity interactome for type I interferon, autoimmune regulator, vitamin D receptor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor and a panel of proteins targeted by 70 innate immune-modulating viral open reading frames from 30 viral species. Interactomes were either obtained from the literature or were manually curated. The P values of all single nucleotide polymorphism mapping to a given interactome were obtained from the last genome-wide association study of the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium & the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium, 2. The interaction between genotype and Epstein Barr virus emerges as relevant for multiple sclerosis etiology. However, in line with recent data on the coexistence of common and unique strategies used by viruses to perturb the human molecular system, also other viruses have a similar potential, though probably less relevant in epidemiological terms

A “Candidate-Interactome” Aggregate Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Data in Multiple Sclerosis

Though difficult, the study of gene-environment interactions in multifactorial diseases is crucial for interpreting the relevance of non-heritable factors and prevents from overlooking genetic associations with small but measurable effects. We propose a "candidate interactome" (i.e. a group of genes whose products are known to physically interact with environmental factors that may be relevant for disease pathogenesis) analysis of genome-wide association data in multiple sclerosis. We looked for statistical enrichment of associations among interactomes that, at the current state of knowledge, may be representative of gene-environment interactions of potential, uncertain or unlikely relevance for multiple sclerosis pathogenesis: Epstein-Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, cytomegalovirus, HHV8-Kaposi sarcoma, H1N1-influenza, JC virus, human innate immunity interactome for type I interferon, autoimmune regulator, vitamin D receptor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor and a panel of proteins targeted by 70 innate immune-modulating viral open reading frames from 30 viral species. Interactomes were either obtained from the literature or were manually curated. The P values of all single nucleotide polymorphism mapping to a given interactome were obtained from the last genome-wide association study of the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium & the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium, 2. The interaction between genotype and Epstein Barr virus emerges as relevant for multiple sclerosis etiology. However, in line with recent data on the coexistence of common and unique strategies used by viruses to perturb the human molecular system, also other viruses have a similar potential, though probably less relevant in epidemiological terms

Peridotitic and websteritic diamondites provide new information regarding mantle melting and metasomatism induced through the subduction of crustal volatiles

Diamondites are mantle xenoliths comprised of polycrystalline diamond intergrown with garnet and minor clinopyroxene. Diamondites have some geochemical characteristics distinct from monocrystalline diamonds. Examples include 13C-depletion with modal δ13C value at −18‰ containing a high abundance of websteritic garnets (73%). This is in contrast to monocrystalline diamonds that show a strong mean δ13C value at −5‰ and low abundance of websteritic inclusions (2%). At present, geochemical studies focusing on diamondites are lacking, relative to coated and monocrystalline diamond. As a consequence, there exists a substantial volume of abundant mantle material that has been largely overlooked. We have determined the coupled δ13C–δ15N values and N-concentrations for 20 samples of mantle diamondite. Although their provenance is uncertain, these diamondites are thought to originate from Southern Africa because the major and rare Earth element (REE) compositions for the garnets are consistent with other Southern African diamondites. The coupled δ13C–δ15N values, N-concentrations in the diamond and REE patterns for the garnets we conclude that the source of the 13C-depleted carbon and 15N-enriched nitrogen is crustal in origin. This is by way of recycling subducted oceanic lithosphere beneath a stable craton, possibly the Kaapvaal craton in southern Africa. The peridotitic and websteritic garnet intergrowths have REE patterns similar to eclogitic garnets and we propose their petrogenesis due to mixing between a volatile saturated eclogitic melt and mantle peridotite. We propose that diamondites represent distinct diamond-forming event(s) related to mantle melting in the sub-cratonic mantle. Diamondite-formation events are proposed to be unrelated to most monocrystalline and coated diamonds formed by metasomatic processes involving little to no mantle melting

Crystal chemistry of clinopyroxenes from upper-mantle xenolith series in the Balaton\u2013Bakony volcanic area (Carpathian\u2013Pannonian region, Hungary)

A detailed crystal chemical study of clinopyroxenes (cpx) from a suite of mantle xenoliths of the Balaton\u2013Bakony volcanic highland (Carpathian\u2013Pannonian region (CPR), Hungary) has been undertaken by means of X-ray single-crystal diffraction and electron microprobe. The study aims to evaluate the response of cpx crystal chemistry to textural changes and increasing deformation, and to estimate equilibrium pressure conditions of texturally heterogeneous spinel-peridotite xenolith series. Moreover, our interest also focussed on cpx crystal chemistry of mosaic and poikilitic textured xenoliths. Results demonstrate that cpx from protogranular, porphyroclastic and some equigranular xenoliths define the \u2018\u2018primary\u2019\u2019 compositional trend that reflects structural and textural changes. This cpx-trend also suggests that deformation increase correlates with pressure (and temperature) decrease. Protogranular xenoliths record pressure near to the garnet stability field whereas equigranular xenoliths record lower pressure approaching the plagioclase stability field. Some cpx from equigranular samples show a crystal chemistry similar to that of cpx from poikilitic and mosaic xenoliths which depart from the \u2018\u2018primary\u2019\u2019 trend. This suggests that the latter cpx are likely formed at low pressure near to or within the plagioclase stability field. The inverse relationship between pressure and deformation in the main series can be explained geodynamically by the presence of a mantle diapir beneath the region, which could have caused significant deformation and lithosphere thinning in the centre of the CPR

Cryptic metasomatism in clino- and orthopyroxene in the upper mantle beneath the Pannonian region

Clino- and orthopyroxenes in anhydrous spinel peridotite xenoliths from Pliocene alkali basalts of the western Pannonian Basin have been analysed for trace elements by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Clinopyroxenes show highly variable mantle normalized REE (rare earth elements) patterns but basically can be classified into three major groups: LREE-depleted, LREE-enriched and U-shaped patterns. As the REE patterns of clinopyroxenes usually reflect the REE patterns of the host peridotite, the three major REE patterns define three geochemically different groups of xenoliths. LREE-depleted xenoliths generally have undeformed protogranular textures, while the more deformed xenoliths with porphyroclastic and equigranular textures have LREE-enriched trace element patterns. The U-shaped pattern is very distinctive and is generally associated with poikilitic textures. The HREE content of the clinopyroxenes suggest that most of the xenoliths experienced less than15% partial melting, with the lowest degree occurring in the LREE-depleted xenoliths, and the highest degree in LREE-enriched xenoliths. Cryptic metasomatism frequently accompanies deformation. Metasomatic enrichment of incompatible trace elements can be observed not only in clinopyroxenes but also in coexisting orthopyroxenes. The metasomatic agents were probably alkaline mafic melts of asthenospheric origin and some may relate to upper Cretaceous alkali lamprophyre magmatism. Geochemical signatures of subduction-related melts or fluids have not been found in the anhydrous LREE-enriched xenoliths, although poikilitic xenoliths with U-shaped normalized REE patterns may indicate the influence of subduction-related melts