Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T07:00:03.447Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Distribution of boron, lithium and beryllium in ocean island basalts from French Polynesia: implications for the B/Be and Li/Be ratios as tracers of subducted components

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

J. Dostal
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3C3
C. Dupuy
Affiliation:
Centre Geologique et Geophysique, CNRS / Université Montpellier II, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
P. Dudoignon
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Materiaux et Geologie Environnementale, URA 721/CNRS, Université de Poitiers, 40, av. du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France

Abstract

The study focuses on the distribution of B, Be, Li, rare earth elements (REE), high-field-strength elements (HFSE), Th, U and Pb in fresh and hydrothermally altered ocean island basalts (OIB) from French Polynesia, and evaluates B/Be and Li/Be ratios as potential tracers of subducted components in the mantle. Hydrothermal solutions affecting the rocks during cooling were derived from meteoric water, sea water and magmatic fluids. The concentrations of REE, HFSE, Th and Be in the OIB were not affected by secondary processes except during advanced stages of subaerial hydrothermal alteration where saponite was a dominant secondary phase. This alteration modified the contents of these elements, changed REE patterns and produced a positive Ce anomaly. The subaerial and submarine hydrothermal alteration (T ∼ 70–100°C) may change U concentrations in OIB, whereas Pb was only marginally redistributed during alteration.

Boron was enriched during submarine and subaerial hydrothermal alteration but was not noticeably affected in basalts altered by magmatic fluids at T > 200°C. Like B, the mobility of Li during the alteration varies with fluid temperature. Lithium became enriched in the basalts during advanced stages of lower T hydrothermal alteration (<100°C). However, this element was partly removed from the rocks during higher T alteration (>200°C) by magmatic fluids. Boron, Be and Li behave as incompatible trace elements in basaltic magmas. Beryllium content in primitive mantle is estimated to be 0.07 ppm. Fresh Polynesian OIB have low abundances of B and Li and low B/Be (2–5) and Li/Be (2.5–5) ratios compared with volcanic arc rocks, marine sediments and altered oceanic crust. Various OIB including even those which have HIMU- and EM-affinities have similar overlapping B/Be and Li/Be ratios. Both B and Li are probably stripped from a lithospheric slab during subduction-related metamorphism and are, thus, not involved in deep mantle recycling. The mantle-normalized trace element abundances of MORB and OIB usually display patterns characterized by negative B, Pb and Li anomalies. The patterns of continental crust and crustal rocks have distinct positive anomalies for these elements whereas continental basaltic rocks have variable relative abundances of B, Pb and Li. The anomalies of these elements in basalts can be useful in discriminating their tectonic setting and constraining the mantle source regions of basalts.

Type
Petrology
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anders, E. and Ebihara, M. (1982) Solar-system abundances of elements. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 46, 2363–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baar de, H.J.W., Bacon, M.P., Brewer, P.G. and Bruland, K.W. (1985) Rare earth elements in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 49, 1943–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bailey, J.C. and Gwozdz, R. (1978) A low-Li geochemical province in the NE Atlantic. Lithos, 11,73-84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bardintzeff, J.M., Demange, J. and Gachon, A. (1986) Petrology of the volcanic bedrock of Mururoa Atoll (Tuamoto Archipelago, French Polynesia). J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 28, 55 83.Google Scholar
Bebout, G.E., Ryan, J.G. and Leeman, W.P. (1993) B- Be systematics in subduction related metamoqjhic rocks: characterization of the subducted component. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 57, 2227–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bergeron, M. (1989) Distribution et comportement du bore dans la croute oceanique. Can. J, Earth ScL, 26, 782–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bienvenu, P., Bougault, H., Joron, J.L., Treuil, M. and Dmitriev, L. (1990) MORB alteration: Rare-earth element/non-rare-earth hygromagmaphile element fractionation. Chem. Geol.y 82, 114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Binard, N., Hekinian, R. and Staffers, P. (1992) Morphostructural study and type of volcanism of submarine volcanoes over the Pitcairn hot spot in the South Pacific. Tectonophys., 206, 245–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonatti, E., Lawrence, J.R. and Morandi, N. (1984) Serpentinization of oceanic peridotites: Temperature dependence of mineralogy and boron content. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 70, 8894.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bryan, W.B., Thompson, G. and Michael, PJ. (1979) Compositional variation in a steady state zoned magma chamber: Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 36 50 N. Tectonophys., 55, 6385.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buigues, D., Gachon, A. and Guille, G. (1992) L'atoll de Mururoa (Polynesie Francaise): I-Structure et evolu evolution geologique. Bull. Soc. Geol. Fr.y, 163, 645–57.Google Scholar
Chaussidon, M. and Jambon, A. (1994) Boron content and isotopic composition of oceanic basalts: geochemical and cosmochemical implications. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 121, 277–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chauvel, C., Hofmann, A.W. and Vidal, P. (1992) HIMU-EM: The French Polynesian connection. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 110, 99119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dean, W.E. and Parduhn, N.L. (1983) Inorganic geochemistry of sediments and rocks recovered from the southern Angola Basin and adjacent Walvis Ridge, sites 530 and 532. Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 75.In: Init. Reports DSDP 75(eds. Hay, W.W. and Sibuet, J.C.), pp. 923–58.Google Scholar
Destrigneville, C., Schott, J., Caristan, Y. and Agrinier, P. (1991) Evidence of an early alteration process driven by magmatic fluid in Mururoa volcano. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 104, 119–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donnelly, T.W., Thompson, G. and Salisbury, M. H. (1980) The chemistry of altered basalts at site 417, Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 51.In: Init. Reports DSDP 51—53(eds. Powell, R. and Laughter, F.), pp. 1319-30.Google Scholar
Dostal, J., Dupuy, C. and Liotard, J.M. (1983) Geochemistry and origin of basaltic lavas from Society Islands, French Polynesia. Bull. Volcanol”, 45, 5162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dudoignon, P., Meunier, A., Beaufort, D., Gachon, A. and Buigues, D. (1989) Hydrothermal alteration at Mururoa Atoll (French Polynesia). Chem. Geol., 76, 385401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dudoignon, P., Destrigneville, C., Gachon, A., Buigues, D. and Ledesert, B. (1992) Mecanismes des alterations hydrothermales associees aux formations volcaniques de T atoll de Mururoa. C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 314, serie II, 1043 9.Google Scholar
Dupuy, C., Vidal, P., Barsczus, H.G. and Chauvel, C. (1987) Origin of basalts from the Marqueses Archipelago (south central Pacific Ocean): isotope and trace element constraints. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 82, 145–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dupuy, C., Barsczus, H.G., Liotard, J.M. and Dostal, J. (1988) Trace element evidence for the origin of ocean island basalts: an example from the Austral Islands (French Polynesia). Contrib. Mineral. Petrol, 98, 293302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dupuy, C., Barsczus, H.G., Dostal, J., Vidal, P. and Liotard, J.M. (1989) Subducted and recycled lithosphere as the mantle source of ocean island basalts from southern Polynesia, central Pacific. Chem, GeoL, 77, 118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dupuy, C., Vidal, P., Maury, R.C. and Guille, G. (1993) Basalts from Mururoa, Fangataufa and Gambier Islands (French Polynesia): Geochemical dependence on the age of the lithosphere. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 117, 89100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, C.M.H., Morris, J.D. and Thirwall, M.F. (1993) Separating mantle from slab signatures in arc lavas using B/Be and radiogenic isotope systematics. Nature, 362, 530–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gillis, K.M., Ludden, J.N. and Smith, A.D. (1992) Mobilization of REEduring crustal aging in the Troodos Ophiolite, Cyprus. Chem. GeoL, 98, 7186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gillot, P. Y., Cornette, Y. and Guille, G. (1992) Age (K- Ar) et conditions d'edification du soubassement volcanique de T atoll de Mururoa (Pacifique Sud). C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 314, 393–9.Google Scholar
Govindaraju, K. (1994) 1994 Compilation of working values and sample description for 383 geostandards. Geostandards Newsletter^, 18, 1158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guillou, H., Guille, G., Brousse, R. and Bardintzeff, J.M. (1990) Evolution de basaltes tholeiitiques vers des basaltes alcalins dans le substratum volcaniques de Fangataufa (Polynesie francaise). Bull Soc. Geol Fr.y, 161, 8, VI, 537-49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harder, H. (1970) Boron content of sediments as a tool in facies analysis. Sedim. Geol., 4, 153–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hart, S.R. and Staudigel, H. (1986) Ocean crust vein mineral deposition: Rb/Sr ages, U-Th-Pb geochemistry, and duration of circulation at DSDP sites 261, 462 and 516. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 50, 2751–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Higgins, M.D., Truscott, M.G., Shaw, D.M., Bergeron, M., Buffet, G.H., Copley, J.R.D. and Prestwich, W.V. (1984) Prompt gamma neutron activation analysis at McMaster nuclear reactor. In: Use and Development of Low and Medium Flux Research Reactors(eds. O.K. Harling et al).Atomkern-Energie Kerntechnik, vol. 44, Supplement, pp. 690–7.Google Scholar
Hofmann, A. W. (1988) Chemical differentiation of the Earth: the relationship between mantle, continental crust and oceanic crust. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 90, 297314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hofmann, A.W. and White, W.M. (1982) Mantle plumes from ancient oceanic crust. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 57, 421–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holland, H.D. (1980) The Chemical Evolution of the Atmosphere and Oceans. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, N.J.Google Scholar
Ionov, D.A., Savouant L. and Dupuy C. (1992) Application of the ICP-MS technique to trace element analysis of peridotites and their minerals. Geostandards Newsletter, 16, 311–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leeman, W.P., Sisson, B. and Reid, M.R. (1992) Boron geochemistry of the lower crust: evidence from granulite terranes and deep crustal xenoliths. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 56, 775–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liotard, J.M., Barsczus, H.G., Dupuy, C. and Dostal, J. (1986) Geochemistry and origin of basaltic lavas from Marqueses Archipelago, French Polynesia. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 92, 260–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maury, R.C., Caroff, M., Achard, S., Guille, G. Joron, J.L., Gachon, A., Rocaboy, A. and Letterier, J. (1992) L'atoll de Mururoa (Polynesia Francaise): II- La serie magmatique. Bull. Soc. Geol. Fr”, 163, 659-79.Google Scholar
Michard, A., Albarede, F., Michard, G., Minster, J.F. and Charlou J.L. (1983) Rare-earth elements and uranium in high temperature solutions from East Pacific Rise hydrothermal vent field (13°N). Nature, 303, 795–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Michard, G., Albarede, F., Michard, A.( Minster, J.F., Charlou, J.L. and Tan, N. (1984) Chemistry of solutions from the 13 N East Pacific Rise hydrothermal site. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 67, 297307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, A.E., Sisson, V.B. and Leeman, W.P. (1992) Boron depletion during progressive metamorphism: implications for subduction processes. Earth Planet. Sci. Utt. Ill, 331-49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, J., Leeman, W.P. and Tera, F. (1990) The subducted component in island arc lavas: constraints from Be isotopes and B-Be systematics. Nature, 344, 31–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quandt, U. and Herr, W. (1974) Beryllium abundance of meteorites determined by non-destructive photon activation. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 24, 53–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryan, J.G. and Langmuir, C.H. (1987) The systematics of lithium abundances in young volcanic rocks. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 51, 1727–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryan, J.G. and Langmuir, C.H. (1988) Beryllium systematics in young volcanic rocks: Implication for 10Be. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 52, 237–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryan, J.G. and Langmuir, C.H. (1993) The systematics of boron abundances in young volcanic rocks. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 57, 1489–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryan, J.G., Leeman, W.P., Morris, J.D. and Langmuir, C.H. (1989) B/Be and Li/Be systematics and the nature of subducted components in the mantle. EOS, 24 October 1989, p. 1388.Google Scholar
Schiano, P., Dupre, B. and Lewin, E. (1993) Application of element concentration variability to the study of basalt alteration (Fangataufa atoll, French Polynesia). Chem. Geol., 104, 99124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seyfried, W. E., Janecky, D.R., and Mottl, M.J. (1984) Alteration of the oceanic crust: Implication for the geochemical cycles of lithium and boron. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 48, 557–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaw, D.M. and Sturchio, N.C. (1992) Boron-lithium relationships in rhyolites and associated thermal waters of young silicic calderas, with comments on incompatible element behaviour. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 56, 3723–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sighinolfi, G.P. and Gorgoni, C. (1978) Chemical evolution of high-grade metamorphic rocks - anatexis and remotion of material from granulite terrains. Chem. Geol., 22, 157 76.Google Scholar
Spivack, A.J., You, C.F., Gieskes, J.M., Rosenbauer, R. and Bischoff, J. (1992) Experimental study of B geochemistry: Implications for Be-B systematics in subduction zones. EOS 1992, 73(43), p. 638.Google Scholar
Staudigel, H. and Hart, S.R. (1983) Alteration of basaltic glass: Mechanisms and significance for the oceanic crust-seawater budget. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 47, 337–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stoffers, P., Hekinian, R., Ackermand, D., Binard, N., Botz, R., Devey, C.W., Hansen, D., Hodkinson, R., Jeschke, G., Lange, J., Van de Perre, P., Scholten, J., Schmitt, M., Sedwick, P. and Woodhead, J.D. (1990) Active Pitcairn Hotspot found. Mar. Geol., 95, 51–5.Google Scholar
Sun, S.S. (1982) Chemical composition and origin of the Earth's primitive mantle. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 46, 179–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, S.S. and McDonough, W.F. (1989) Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalts: implications for mantle composition and processes. In: Magmatism in Ocean Basins(eds. A.D. Saunders and MJ. Norry). Geol. Soc. Spec. PubL, 42, 313–45.Google Scholar
Taylor, S.R. and McLennan, S.M. (1985) The Continental Crust: its Composition and Evolution. London, Blackwell Scientific, 312 p.Google Scholar
Truscott, M.G., Shaw, D.M. and Cramer, J.J. (1986) Boron abundances and localization in granulites and the lower continental crust. Bull. Geol. Soc. Finland, 58, 169-77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vidal, P., Chauvel, C. and Brousse, R. (1984) Large mantle heterogeneity beneath French Polynesia. Nature, 307, 536–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vidal, P., Dupuy, C., Barsczus, H.G. and Chauvel, C. (1987) Heterogeneities du manteau et origine des basaltes des Marquises (Polynesie). Bull. Soc. Geol. Fr., 158, 8e Ser., 3, 633-42.Google Scholar
Weaver, B.L. (1991) The origin of ocean island basalt end-member compositions: trace element and isotopic constraints. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.., 104, 381–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zindler, A. and Hart, S.R. (1986) Chemical dynamics. Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. ScL, 14, 493571.CrossRefGoogle Scholar