Multiple ways of producing intermediate and silicic rocks within Thingmúli and other Icelandic volcanoes

Charreteur G, Tegner C, Haase K (2013)


Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2013

Journal

Publisher: Springer Verlag (Germany)

Book Volume: 166

Pages Range: 471-490

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1007/s00410-013-0886-1

Abstract

Major and trace element compositions of rocks and coexisting phenocrysts of the Thingmúli volcano suggest a revision of the existing models for the formation of intermediate and silicic melts in Iceland. The new data define two compositional tholeiitic trends with a significant gap between them. A high-iron trend (HFe) contains 6-14 wt% total FeO in silicic rocks with c. 1 wt% MgO, as well as sodic plagioclase and hedenbergite phenocrysts. A low-iron trend (LFe) contains 3-5 wt% FeO at c. 1 wt% MgO, which is typical of Iceland but higher than MORB compositions. The most evolved phenocrysts of the LFe trend do not reach iron-rich end members. The HFe trend is interpreted as a result of fractional crystallization; numerical modelling using the MELTS algorithm suggests that crystallization took place under redox conditions constrained to one-log unit below the fayalite-magnetite-quartz oxygen buffer (FMQ-1). The LFe trend is explained by a combination of mixing between rhyolite and ferrobasalt, assimilation of hydrated crust and fractional crystallization under higher redox conditions (FMQ). The two trends and the gap are best defined in a plot of Mg# versus SiO that is useful to unravel petrogenetic processes. For example, intermediate and silicic rocks of the Holocene volcanic systems of spreading rifts (e.g. Krafla), propagating rifts (e.g. Hekla) and off-rifts (Öræfajökull) also fall into high- and low-iron fields and outline a gap similar to Thingmúli. The identification of two compositional trends in erupted intermediate and silicic volcanic products shows that processes in the deep roots of single volcanic systems are highly diverse and likely controlled by local variations in the thermal gradients and the extend of hydrothermal alteration. Generalizations about the relationship between the compositions of intermediate and silicic rocks and plate tectonic setting, therefore, should be avoided. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

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APA:

Charreteur, G., Tegner, C., & Haase, K. (2013). Multiple ways of producing intermediate and silicic rocks within Thingmúli and other Icelandic volcanoes. Contributions To Mineralogy and Petrology, 166(2), 471-490. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00410-013-0886-1

MLA:

Charreteur, Gilles, Christian Tegner, and Karsten Haase. "Multiple ways of producing intermediate and silicic rocks within Thingmúli and other Icelandic volcanoes." Contributions To Mineralogy and Petrology 166.2 (2013): 471-490.

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