An introduction to orogenic andesites and crustal growth

This chapter provides an overview of the current state of research on orogenic andesites. While their importance as proxies to the evolution of the continental crust has long been recognized, andesite genesis has remained highly controversial with a broader consensus yet to be reached. The controversy is fuelled by the question of whether orogenic andesites are primary melts of slab and mantle materials, or instead derivative products of basaltic mantle melts that differentiate in the overlying crust. These hypotheses are addressed in three sections of the book devoted to slab–mantle processes, the complexities of melt differentiation at crustal levels, and models pertaining to arc crustal growth. We believe that cross-fertilization and discussion among seemingly opposite and irreconcilable hypotheses will smooth the pathway towards a holistic communal model of andesite petrogenesis

Volatiles in subduction zone magmatism

The volatile cycle at subduction zones is key to the petrogenesis, transport, storage and eruption of arc magmas. Volatiles control the flux of slab components into the mantle wedge, are responsible for melt generation through lowering the solidi of mantle materials, and influence the crystallizing phase assemblages in the overriding crust. Globally, magma ponding depths may be partially controlled by melt volatile contents. Volatiles also affect the rate and extent of degassing during magma storage and decompression, influence magma rheology and therefore control eruption style. The style of eruptions in turn determines the injection height of environmentally sensitive gases into the atmosphere and the impact of explosive arc volcanism. In this overview we summarize recent advances regarding the role of volatiles during slab dehydration, melt generation in the mantle wedge, magmatic evolution in the overriding crust, eruption triggering, and the release of some magmatic volatiles from volcanic edifices into the Earth's atmosphere

Crustal recycling by subduction erosion in the central Mexican Volcanic Belt

Recycling of upper plate crust in subduction zones, or ‘subduction erosion’, is a major mechanism of crustal destruction at convergent margins. However, assessing the impact of eroded crust on arc magmas is difficult owing to the compositional similarity between the eroded crust, trench sediment and arc crustal basement that may all contribute to arc magma formation. Here we compare Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf and trace element data of crustal input material to Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf–He–O isotope chemistry of a well-characterized series of olivine-phyric, high-Mg# basalts to dacites in the central Mexican Volcanic Belt (MVB). Basaltic to andesitic magmas crystallize high-Ni olivines that have high mantle-like 3He/4He = 7–8 Ra and high crustal δ18Omelt = +6.3–8.5‰ implying their host magmas to be near-primary melts from a mantle infiltrated by slab-derived crustal components. Remarkably, their Hf–Nd isotope and Nd/Hf trace element systematics rule out the trench sediment as the recycled crust end member, and imply that the coastal and offshore granodiorites are the dominant recycled crust component. Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotope modeling shows that the granodiorites control the highly to moderately incompatible elements in the calc-alkaline arc magmas, together with lesser additions of Pb- and Sr-rich fluids from subducted mid-oceanic ridge basalt (MORB)-type altered oceanic crust (AOC). Nd–Hf mass balance suggests that the granodiorite exceeds the flux of the trench sediment by at least 9–10 times, corresponding to a flux of ⩾79–88 km3/km/Myr into the subduction zone. At an estimated thickness of 1500–1700 m, the granodiorite may buoyantly rise as bulk ‘slab diapirs’ into the mantle melt region and impose its trace element signature (e.g., Th/La, Nb/Ta) on the prevalent calc-alkaline arc magmas. Deep slab melting and local recycling of other slab components such as oceanic seamounts further diversify the MVB magmas by producing rare, strongly fractionated high-La magmas and a minor population of high-Nb magmas, respectively. Overall, the central MVB magmas inherit their striking geochemical diversity principally from the slab, thus emphasizing the importance of continental crust recycling in modern solid Earth relative to its new formation in modern subduction zones

High-Mg andesite genesis by upper crustal differentiation

<p>Whereas arc magmas typically undergo early degassing-induced crystallization and viscous stagnation at mid-crustal levels, hotter and less hydrous melts that are associated with elevated surface heat flux may experience delayed crystallization at shallower levels. Using MELTS modelling, we demonstrate here that high-Mg andesites, which have been regarded as particularly hydrous primary melts generated in equilibrium with mantle peridotite, can form by crystal fractionation from low-H₂O primitive arc basalts in the upper crust. This is consistent with many characteristics previously attributed to their primary origin, including forsteritic olivines that contain chromite inclusions and lack significant reaction rims, and Cr-rich pyroxenes. </p

The ion microprobe as a tool for obtaining strontium isotopes in magmatic plagioclase: A case study at Okataina Volcanic Centre, New Zealand

We investigated the potential of multi-collector secondary ion mass spectrometry (MC-SIMS) as a tool for obtaining Sr isotopic compositions in plagioclase, a ubiquitous mineral in igneous rocks that serves as a recorder of crystallization history. MC-SIMS allows for high spatial resolution analysis (similar to 12 mu m in this study) of isotopes, and therefore improves the temporal scale at which fluctuations in crystallization conditions can be recognized, ultimately improving our understanding of rates of magmatic processes. Plagioclase crystals from two young rhyolitic deposits from two major eruptive complexes, Tarawera and Haroharo, of the Okataina Volcanic Centre in New Zealand were analysed. Results were corrected for matrix effects using linear modelling of MC-SIMS data versus An contents, as well as Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios acquired via laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS). Corrected MC-SIMS Sr isotopic ratios had an average 2 sigma uncertainty of +/- 0.0008 per spot, and were homogeneous in Okataina plagioclase at high spatial resolutions. Average LA-MC-ICP-MS Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios of plagioclase from both intra-caldera volcanic complexes (Tarawera Sr-87/Sr-86 = 0.7056 and Haroharo Sr-87/Sr-86 = 0.7054) suggest similar magma sources and similar assimilation and fractional crystallization processes for the two complexes. Overall homogeneity of plagioclase (excluding relict cores) indicates no significant changes in contributions (i.e., crustal assimilation, mafic influx) to the system during the majority of plagioclase crystal growth. Furthermore, lack of Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio fluctuations in plagioclase rims suggest interaction between the resident silicic magma and the intruding mafic magma that triggered the eruptions was largely limited to volatile and heat transfer. Using appropriate standards and analysis, this MC-SIMS method can be used to detect short-lived, open-system events in magma reservoirs where differences in Sr-87/Sr-86 isotopic ratios are significant