Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    The Archean Fortescue large igneous province: A result of komatiite contamination by a distinct Eo-Paleoarchean crust

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Mole, D.
    Barnes, S.
    Yao, Z.
    White, A.
    Maas, R.
    Kirkland, Chris
    Date
    2018
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Mole, D. and Barnes, S. and Yao, Z. and White, A. and Maas, R. and Kirkland, C. 2018. The Archean Fortescue large igneous province: A result of komatiite contamination by a distinct Eo-Paleoarchean crust. Precambrian Research. 310: pp. 365-390.
    Source Title
    Precambrian Research
    DOI
    10.1016/j.precamres.2018.02.017
    ISSN
    0301-9268
    School
    School of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS)
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/68162
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    The ca. 2770–2690 Ma Fortescue Group of the Pilbara Craton in Western Australia represents one of the oldest known large igneous provinces (LIP) on Earth. Existing and new data show that the Fortescue LIP lavas have relatively evolved Nd isotopic compositions and are enriched in highly-incompatible elements. This is exemplified by mafic lavas of the 2775 Ma Mt Roe, 2740 Ma Kylena, 2715 Ma Bunjinah-Maddina and 2690 Ma Jeerinah Formations, with Th/Ti ca. 25, Th 13–5 ppm and eNd i around -4 (High-Th suite). Basalts and rare Al-depleted komatiites of the 2724–2715 Ma Pyradie Formation show more primitive compositions, with Th/Ti ca. 4, Th ca. 3–0.5 ppm and eNd i of 0 to -1 (Intermediate-Th suite). In this paper, we show that: (1) Parent magmas to all Fortescue LIP lavas were probably komatiitic; (2) Fortescue lavas contain 3.5–3.3 Ga xenocrystic zircons that correlate with the known age of Pilbara crust; and (3) the widespread enriched compositions in the Fortescue lavas require contributions to the ultramafic parent magmas from highly-enriched 3.7–3.5 Ga continental crust of the type available in the underlying Pilbara Craton. These results indicate that enriched chemical/isotopic compositions of the Fortescue mafic lavas result from large-scale crustal assimilation rather than enriched mantle/lithospheric sources. This implies that komatiite magmas were emplaced through Eo- to Paleoarchean enriched crust for ca. 90 Ma, via either (1) a long-lived source of high-temperature mantle melts such as a mantle plume; or (2) multiple mantle plumes, possibly represented by the 2775–2763 Ma Mt Roe and 2724–2715 Ma Tumbiana-Pyradie-Maddina-Bunjinah basalts. This study demonstrates that mafic magmas, with arc-like geochemical character and intermediate to felsic continental crustal compositions, can form via contamination of plume magmas by existing (local) crustal reservoirs, and the employment of modified lithospheric sources or enriched mantle is not required.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Ca. 825 Ma komatiitic basalts in South China: First evidence for >1500 degrees C mantle melts by a Rodinian mantle plume
      Wang, X.; Li, X.; Li, W.; Li, Zheng-Xiang (2007)
      Mantle plume or superplume activities have repeatedly been invoked as a cause for the breakup of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia, with supportive evidence including radiating dike swarms, globally synchronous ...
    • The 825 Ma Yiyang high–MgO basalts of central South China: Insights from Os–Hf–Nd data
      Wu, T.; Wang, Xuan-Ce; Li, W.; Wilde, Simon; Tian, L.; Pang, C.; Li, J. (2018)
      © 2018 Elsevier B.V. High–MgO basaltic lavas, including komatiites and picrites, have long been used as probes of both the chemical and thermal evolution of the mantle through time. The ca. 825 Ma Yiyang high–MgO basalts ...
    • Fluid processes in the early Earth and the growth of continents
      Hartnady, Michael ; Johnson, Tim ; Schorn, S.; Hugh Smithies, R.; Kirkland, Christopher ; Richardson, S.H. (2022)
      Water is an essential ingredient in transforming primitive mantle-derived (mafic) rocks into buoyant (felsic) continental crust, thereby driving the irreversible differentiation of Earth's lithosphere. The occurrence in ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.