The role of water and compression in the genesis of alkaline basalts: Inferences from the Carpathian-Pannonian region

We present a new model for the formation of Plio-Pleistocene alkaline basalts in the central part of the Carpathian-Pannonian region (CPR). Based on the structural hydroxyl content of clinopyroxene megacrysts, the ‘water’ content of their host basalts is 2.0–2.5 wt.%, typical for island arc basalts. Likewise, the source region of the host basalts is ‘water’ rich (290–660 ppm), akin to the source of ocean island basalts. This high ‘water’ content could be the result of several subduction events from the Mesozoic onwards (e.g. Penninic, Vardar and Magura oceans), which have transported significant amounts of water back to the upper mantle, or hydrous plumes originating from the subduction graveyard beneath the Pannonian Basin. The asthenosphere with such a relatively high ‘water’ content beneath the CPR may have been above the ‘pargasite dehydration’ (90 km) solidi. This means that neither decompressional melting nor the presence of voluminous pyroxenite and eclogite lithologies are required to explain partial melting. While basaltic partial melts have been present in the asthenosphere for a long time, they were not extracted during the syn-rift phase, but were only emplaced at the onset of the subsequent tectonic inversion stage at ~8–5 Ma. We propose that the extraction has been facilitated by evolving vertical foliation in the asthenosphere as a response to the compression between the Adriatic indenter and the stable European platform. The vertical foliation and the prevailing compression effectively squeezed the partial basaltic melts from the asthenosphere. The overlying lithosphere may have been affected by buckling in response to compression, which was probably accompanied by formation of deep faults and deformation zones. These zones formed conduits towards the surface for melts squeezed out of the asthenosphere. This implies that basaltic partial melts could be present in the asthenosphere in cases where the bulk ‘water’ content is relatively high (>~200 ppm) at temperatures exceeding ~1000–1100 °C. These melts could be extracted even under a compressional tectonic regime, where the combination of vertical foliation in the asthenosphere and deep fractures and deformation zones in the folded lithosphere provides pathways towards the surface. This model is also valid for deep seated transpressional or transtensional fault zones in the lithosphere

The ‘pargasosphere’ hypothesis: Looking at global plate tectonics from a new perspective

Apart from the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB), mid-lithospheric discontinuities (MLDs) in thick and old continental lithospheres appear to play an important role in global plate tectonics. Initiation of intra-continental subduction, delamination of the lower continental lithospheric mantle and removal of cratonic roots are likely to occur along MLDs. Here we introduce the ‘pargasosphere’ hypothesis which could account for the origin of both boundaries. The observation that pargasitic amphibole is stable even at very low bulk ‘water’ concentration (~a few hundreds ppm wt.) implies that the solidus of the shallow upper mantle (<3 GPa) is usually the pargasite dehydration solidus at ~1100 °C. In young continental and oceanic lithosphere (<70 Ma) this solidus defines the LAB. The LAB separates the deeper, partial melt bearing asthenosphere from the shallower melt barren lithosphere, explaining their contrasting rheology. In old continents pargasite breaks down at the sub-solidus pargasite dehydration boundary at ~3 GPa and liberates ‘water’-rich fluids. This latter process may be responsible for the formation of MLDs. The occurrence of partial melts or fluids beyond the pargasite stability field can explain commonly observed geophysical anomalies associated with the LAB and MLDs. We present forward modelled variations of shear wave velocity and resistivity at the LAB and MLDs for idealised lithospheric columns. These columns are constructed based on the ‘pargasosphere’ hypothesis and geotherms corresponding to continental lithospheres with various tectono-thermal ages. The ‘pargasosphere’ hypothesis offers a number of other empirically testable implications. For instance, cooling asthenosphere beneath young extensional continental and oceanic lithosphere settings can be the source of surface CO2 emanations even at locations distant from areas with active volcanoes. The Vrancea zone (Eastern Europe) appears to be a suitable site for testing the ‘pargasosphere’ hypothesis for elucidating the origin of intermediate-depth earthquakes (70–300 km) and to explain the delamination of the lower continental lithospheric mantle

Fluvial magnetic susceptibility as a proxy for long-term variations of mountain permafrost development in the Alp-Carpathian region

Low field magnetic susceptibility (MS) records of 13 reference boreholes representing the whole Quaternary fluvial succession of the Great Hungarian Plain were correlated to develop regional stratigraphy. Data from 12 of the boreholes were published between 2016 and 2020, the Tiszainoka borehole is newly reported in this paper. Eleven magnetic susceptibility cycles, capped by the most emergent master MS peaks (MP) and bordered by susceptibility termination surfaces, have been correlated. Supported by the already evaluated palaeomagnetic reversals and instability events, MPs have been correlated to the cold stages of the marine isotope stage (MIS) records. MPs represent MIS 104, 100, 98, 82, 60, 52, 34(-36) and 26 of increased heavy oxygen isotope value, constituting the significant Early Pleistocene glaciations, and MIS 18, 16, 12, 8, 6 and 2 mostly representing the substantial Middle and Upper Pleistocene European glaciation events. The interpretation of early postglacial fluvial MS maxima, that emphasise the escape of weathering-sensitive magnetic minerals from the catchment area triggered by the thawing of mountain permafrost, is confirmed by the correlation of MPs to the changes of the global ice volume. As a result, fluvial MS records can be considered as a proxy for mountain permafrost development in the catchment areas. Regional correlations confirmed that the Körös and Jászság Basins and the Makó Trough are sites of almost continuous fluvial records of the past 2600 ka. Thus, the Pannonian Quaternary fluvial succession is sufficiently complete to provide satisfactory record of mountain permafrost development of the Alp-Carpathian region the latter being a globally relevant European representative of mid-latitude mountain regions. The similarity of the Pannonian fluvial MS succession as a permafrost proxy to the marine ice-rafted detritus (IRD) and Chinese loess/palaeosol MS records promises the possibility of comparative investigations of globally relevant proxy records and mid-latitude mountain permafrost development

The ‘pargasosphere’ hypothesis: Looking at global plate tectonics from a new perspective

Apart from the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB), mid-lithospheric discontinuities (MLDs) in thick and old continental lithospheres appear to play an important role in global plate tectonics. Initiation of intra-continental subduction, delamination of the lower continental lithospheric mantle and removal of cratonic roots are likely to occur along MLDs. Here we introduce the ‘pargasosphere’ hypothesis which could account for the origin of both boundaries. The observation that pargasitic amphibole is stable even at very low bulk ‘water’ concentration (~a few hundreds ppm wt.) implies that the solidus of the shallow upper mantle (<3 GPa) is usually the pargasite dehydration solidus at ~1100 °C. In young continental and oceanic lithosphere (<70 Ma) this solidus defines the LAB. The LAB separates the deeper, partial melt bearing asthenosphere from the shallower melt barren lithosphere, explaining their contrasting rheology. In old continents pargasite breaks down at the sub-solidus pargasite dehydration boundary at ~3 GPa and liberates ‘water’-rich fluids. This latter process may be responsible for the formation of MLDs. The occurrence of partial melts or fluids beyond the pargasite stability field can explain commonly observed geophysical anomalies associated with the LAB and MLDs. We present forward modelled variations of shear wave velocity and resistivity at the LAB and MLDs for idealised lithospheric columns. These columns are constructed based on the ‘pargasosphere’ hypothesis and geotherms corresponding to continental lithospheres with various tectono-thermal ages. The ‘pargasosphere’ hypothesis offers a number of other empirically testable implications. For instance, cooling asthenosphere beneath young extensional continental and oceanic lithosphere settings can be the source of surface CO2 emanations even at locations distant from areas with active volcanoes. The Vrancea zone (Eastern Europe) appears to be a suitable site for testing the ‘pargasosphere’ hypothesis for elucidating the origin of intermediate-depth earthquakes (70–300 km) and to explain the delamination of the lower continental lithospheric mantle

The role of water and compression in the genesis of alkaline basalts: Inferences from the Carpathian-Pannonian region

We present a new model for the formation of Plio-Pleistocene alkaline basalts in the central part of the Carpathian-Pannonian region (CPR). Based on the structural hydroxyl content of clinopyroxene megacrysts, the ‘water’ content of their host basalts is 2.0–2.5 wt.%, typical for island arc basalts. Likewise, the source region of the host basalts is ‘water’ rich (290–660 ppm), akin to the source of ocean island basalts. This high ‘water’ content could be the result of several subduction events from the Mesozoic onwards (e.g. Penninic, Vardar and Magura oceans), which have transported significant amounts of water back to the upper mantle, or hydrous plumes originating from the subduction graveyard beneath the Pannonian Basin. The asthenosphere with such a relatively high ‘water’ content beneath the CPR may have been above the ‘pargasite dehydration’ (90 km) solidi. This means that neither decompressional melting nor the presence of voluminous pyroxenite and eclogite lithologies are required to explain partial melting. While basaltic partial melts have been present in the asthenosphere for a long time, they were not extracted during the syn-rift phase, but were only emplaced at the onset of the subsequent tectonic inversion stage at ~8–5 Ma. We propose that the extraction has been facilitated by evolving vertical foliation in the asthenosphere as a response to the compression between the Adriatic indenter and the stable European platform. The vertical foliation and the prevailing compression effectively squeezed the partial basaltic melts from the asthenosphere. The overlying lithosphere may have been affected by buckling in response to compression, which was probably accompanied by formation of deep faults and deformation zones. These zones formed conduits towards the surface for melts squeezed out of the asthenosphere. This implies that basaltic partial melts could be present in the asthenosphere in cases where the bulk ‘water’ content is relatively high (>~200 ppm) at temperatures exceeding ~1000–1100 °C. These melts could be extracted even under a compressional tectonic regime, where the combination of vertical foliation in the asthenosphere and deep fractures and deformation zones in the folded lithosphere provides pathways towards the surface. This model is also valid for deep seated transpressional or transtensional fault zones in the lithosphere