Zinc, copper, and lead geochemistry of oceanic igneous rocks - ridges, islands, and arcs

International Geology Review
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Abstract

Variations in the abundances of Zn, Cu, and Pb are found to be useful in identifying tectonic regimes and separating oceanisland basalts into enriched- and depleted-source categories. The average Zn, Cu, and Pb contents of normal mid-ocean ridge basalts (N-MORB) are 84, 70, and 0.35 ppm, respectively. Differences in average Zn contents for various ridges reflect more the varying degrees of differentiation than variations of Zn content in the source rocks. At a Mg# of 70, or Mg#70, which is taken to represent primitive MORB, many MORB sequences converge at a Zn content of 58 ± 6 ppm, which is close to the value for primitive mantle (50 ppm) and ordinary chondrites (∼55 ppm). Values of 0.1 to 0.15 ppm Pb in MORB at Mg#70, best defined at the superfast-spreading Southern East Pacific Rise, are similar to estimates of Pb in the primitive mantle (0.12 to 0.18 ppm). They also are near the lower end of the range for ordinary chondrites. The very slow spreading Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge has a sequence with higher Pb contents, in addition to a more normal sequence, which has a visual best value of 0.4 ppm Pb at Mg#70. With the exception of the Walvis Ridge, Zn and Cu appear to be little affected by proximity to hotspots (i.e., E-MORB); however, Pb contents are higher and average about 0.6 ppm.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Zinc, copper, and lead geochemistry of oceanic igneous rocks - ridges, islands, and arcs
Series title International Geology Review
DOI 10.1080/00206819509465410
Volume 37
Issue 5
Year Published 1995
Language English
Publisher Taylor and Francis
Description 42 p.
First page 379
Last page 420
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