Compositional evolution basaltic crusts

Grustal reservoirs are also variable in Gl-isotope compositions (Figs. 1-6) due to fractionation of the Gl-isotope compositions inherited from their mantle source through fluid-mineral reactions, incorporation of G1 derived from the oceans and fractionation within fluid reservoirs by diffusion (see below). For example, the oceanic crust is enriched in Gl (and pore fluids depleted in Gl) through reaction of seawater with basaltic crust derived from the depleted mantle (Fig. 1 Magenheim et al. 1995). Undoubtedly, future investigations of Gl-isotopes in whole rocks and mineral separates will address the Gl-isotope compositions of these reservoirs and their evolution. 

If the model outlined above is valid, sihcic magmatism in the LFB involved net crustal growth, as juvenile mantle-derived liquids, or their differentiates were instrumental in the formation and compositional evolution of hornblende granites, and, to a lesser extent, the cordierite granites. The amount of new crust generated is estimated by determining the overall mantle component present within both granitic types, and this is best done isotopically, since the trace-element ratios are poorly constrained for the potential basaltic end-members. 

Richter FM, Davis AM, Ehel DS, Hashimoto A (2002) Elemental and isotopic fractionation of Type B calcium-, aluminum-rich inclusions Experiments, theoretical considerations, and constraints on their thermal evolution. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 66 521-540 Richter FM, Davis AM, DePaolo DJ, Watson EB (2003) Isotope fractionation by chemical diffusion between molten basalt and rhyolite. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 67 3905-3923 Rudnick RL, Fountain DM (1995) Nature and composition of the continental crust—a lower crustal perspective. Rev Geophys 33 267-309... 

In order to trace the migration of basalt-derived REE in the salt, REE distribution patterns (Fig. 7) and Nd isotopic compositions (Fig. 8) have been determined in a salt horizon adjacent to a basalt dyke (Fig. 2). The flat REE distribution patterns and the almost basaltic Nd isotopic composition of the salt samples collected at the basalt-salt contact point to a basaltic origin of the REE for this sample. With increasing distance from the contact, the patterns are more and more depleted in Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu and the Nd isotopic compositions are slightly shifted towards lower eNd values, which, however, still remain above values typical for continental crust or Permian seawater (Stille et al. 1996, and citations therein). This evolution of the REE distribution patterns and the Nd isotopic compositions could basically be due to mixing between a basalt and a salt end member or, alternatively, it could have been fractionation of the REE during migration in the salt that modified the REE patterns. 

Fig. 8. The evolution of the Nd isotopic compositions with distance in the salt profile together with the compositions of average basalt and average continental crust. The error bars represent 2 sigma mean values of the individual measurements.

TWO PRINCIPAL TYPES of Earth s crusts have formed. These are the oceanic and the continental crusts that differ in composition, age, and evolution. The oceanic crust is effectively a conveyor belt that transfers the chemical elements, derived from melting in the mantle beneath the mid-ocean ridges, to the plate margins where they are subducted back down into the mantle. The composition is dominated by basalts with a veneer of sediment derived from biological activity in the oceans and weathering of the continents. Intraplate basaltic volcanoes from a deeper mantle source that involves some of the subducted oceanic crust, make a minor contribution to the oceanic crust. 

Archean crustal compositions that have important implications for crust/mantle evolution. For example, HREE depletion is a common feature in Archean crustal rocks but virtually absent from rocks formed during the Post-Archean. In contrast, other recent estimates of bulk crustal composition exceed the heat-flow constraint. In contrast, models that propose a basaltic crustal composition produce too little heat in the crust to account for the observed values. 

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