Description: Although previous findings support an origin of the Shatsky Rise igneous plateau (Northwest Pacific) through interaction of a mantle plume with a mid‐ocean ridge triple junction, the evidence for the involvement of a mantle plume is equivocal. The identification of an intraplate hotspot track emanating from the plateau could solve this controversy. Here we present major and trace element geochemical data from two different bathymetric features that emanate from the youngest end of Shatsky Rise: Papanin Ridge and the Ojin Rise Seamount province. Combining our results with plate tectonic reconstructions, we conclude that Papanin Ridge represents a hotspot track formed by plume‐ridge interaction. Whereas the southwestern part was formed along the path of the retreating Pacific‐Farallon‐Izanagi triple junction, the northeastern part was built by preferential drainage into its Pacific‐Farallon branch. In contrast, the Ojin Rise Seamounts formed as a true intraplate hotspot track of the Shatsky plume tail. Our wide‐ranging study reveals systematic spatial geochemical variations, consistent with a lithospheric thickness control on magma composition derived from melting a heterogeneous plume source. The recognition of two hotspot tracks and in particular of the Ojin Rise Seamounts as an intraplate hotspot track that is directly linked to Shatsky plateau volcanism both in terms of geochemistry and plate tectonic reconstructions confirms the long‐disputed involvement of a mantle plume for the formation of Shatsky Rise.

Description: Plain Language Summary: The origin of Shatsky Rise, a large igneous plateau in the NW Pacific, has long been debated. It could have either formed by shallow mantle melting due to its confirmed creation along a mid‐ocean ridge or with additional contribution of deeper mantle material that upwelled as so‐called mantle plume beneath the spreading ridge (“plume‐ridge interaction”). The identification of an intraplate hotspot track emanating from Shatsky Rise and related to the plateau could answer this question. Here we present major and trace element geochemical data from lava samples dredged from two different structures that arise from the youngest end of the Shatsky Rise plateau: Papanin Ridge and the Ojin Rise Seamount province. By combining our results with plate tectonic reconstructions, we conclude that Papanin Ridge formed, like the main Shatsky Rise, by continued plume‐ridge interaction. In contrast, the Ojin Rise Seamounts formed as a true intraplate hotspot track by the drift of the Pacific Plate over the stationary Shatsky hotspot (plume tail). The recognition of an intraplate hotspot track that is directly linked to the Shatsky plateau volcanism both in terms of geochemistry and plate tectonic reconstructions also confirms the involvement of a mantle plume for the formation of Shatsky Rise.

Description: Key Points: The Ojin Rise Seamounts are identified as intraplate hotspot track of the same mantle plume that formed the Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau. Papanin Ridge formed by plume‐ridge interaction and represents the northeastern continuation of the Shatsky plateau. Linking an intraplate hotspot track to the Shatsky plateau confirms the involvement of a mantle plume for its formation.

Description: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002347

Description: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Description: https://doi.org/10.26022/IEDA/111976

Description: © The Author(s), 2021. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Bekaert, D. V., Gazel, E., Turner, S., Behn, M. D., de Moor, J. M., Zahirovic, S., Manea, V. C., Hoernle, K., Fischer, T. P., Hammerstrom, A., Seltzer, A. M., Kulongoski, J. T., Patel, B. S., Schrenk, M. O., Halldórsson, S. A., Nakagawa, M., Ramírez, C. J., Krantz, J. A., Yücel, M., Ballentine, C. J., Giovannelli, D., Lloyd, K. G., Barry, P. H. High (3)He/(4)He in central Panama reveals a distal connection to the Galápagos plume. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(47), (2021): e2110997118, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2110997118.

Description: It is well established that mantle plumes are the main conduits for upwelling geochemically enriched material from Earth's deep interior. The fashion and extent to which lateral flow processes at shallow depths may disperse enriched mantle material far (〉1,000 km) from vertical plume conduits, however, remain poorly constrained. Here, we report He and C isotope data from 65 hydrothermal fluids from the southern Central America Margin (CAM) which reveal strikingly high 3He/4He (up to 8.9RA) in low-temperature (≤50 °C) geothermal springs of central Panama that are not associated with active volcanism. Following radiogenic correction, these data imply a mantle source 3He/4He 〉10.3RA (and potentially up to 26RA, similar to Galápagos hotspot lavas) markedly greater than the upper mantle range (8 ± 1RA). Lava geochemistry (Pb isotopes, Nb/U, and Ce/Pb) and geophysical constraints show that high 3He/4He values in central Panama are likely derived from the infiltration of a Galápagos plume–like mantle through a slab window that opened ∼8 Mya. Two potential transport mechanisms can explain the connection between the Galápagos plume and the slab window: 1) sublithospheric transport of Galápagos plume material channeled by lithosphere thinning along the Panama Fracture Zone or 2) active upwelling of Galápagos plume material blown by a “mantle wind” toward the CAM. We present a model of global mantle flow that supports the second mechanism, whereby most of the eastward transport of Galápagos plume material occurs in the shallow asthenosphere. These findings underscore the potential for lateral mantle flow to transport mantle geochemical heterogeneities thousands of kilometers away from plume conduits.

Description: This work was principally supported by Grant G-2016-7206 from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Deep Carbon Observatory to P.H.B. We also acknowledge the NSF awards (1144559, 1923915, and 2015789) to P.H.B., which partially supported this work. S.Z. was supported by the Australian Research Council Grant DE210100084 and a University of Sydney Robinson Fellowship. D.G. was partially supported by funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program Grant Agreement No. 948972—COEVOLVE—ERC-2020-STG. This study was also supported in part by NSF award No. EAR 1826673 to E.G. Folkmar Hauff is acknowledged for contributing to the analysis of the La Providencia samples at GEOMAR.

Description: The opening of the Southern Ocean gateways has been debated as a key element in the emergence of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), crucial for the onset of global Cenozoic cooling (e.g., Sijp et al., 2014, Glob. Planet. Change 119; Voigt et al., 2013, EPSL 369/370). South of Africa, the opening was associated with the formation of several large igneous provinces (LIPs) including the Mozambique Ridge, Agulhas Plateau and the smaller Northeast Georgia Rise and Maud Rise. Plate tectonic reconstructions imply that the latter two were once part of the much greater Agulhas Plateau and were separated by subsequent rifting (Parsaglia et al., 2008, Geophys. J. Int. 174). It is debated whether and to what extent the emplacement of these large volcanic features obstructed the exchange of water masses between the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean thereby delaying the onset of the ACC. The Agulhas Plateau was drilled during recent IODP Expedition 392 (Uenzelmann-Neben, Bohaty, Childress, et al., IODP Exp. 392 Preliminary Report, 2022, in press). Igneous rocks were recovered at two sites on the southern part of the plateau (Sites U1579, U1580) and at one site near its northern edge (U1582). Preliminary (shipboard) data indicate that all sites returned tholeiitic basalts, formed by low pressure (shallow magma chamber) fractionation of mainly olivine and plagioclase (as typical for mid-ocean ridge basalts and many LIP lavas). 40Ar/39Ar dating will help to answer fundamental questions regarding the emplacement age of the plateau and its temporal-spatial evolution. Geochemical investigations of the recovered rocks will reveal the nature and source of the magmatism. The proposed project will focus on the determination of radiogenic (Sr, Nd, Hf, Pb) isotope compositions to further constrain the magma source composition for comparison with other regional and global LIP magmatism. In particular, we want to address the open question whether the Agulhas Plateau, Northeast Georgia Rise and Maud Rise magmatism can all be attributed to the same magma source and setting (“Greater Agulhas”) to test the previous plate tectonic reconstruction models. Additional questions are whether a (deep-sourced?) mantle plume initiated the magmatism and its causal relationship to the regional continental breakup and opening of ocean basins. The isotope data (in combination with the results from age dating and major/trace element geochemistry) will help to constrain the origin and impact of this regional LIP magmatism on tectonic configuration, ocean circulation, and global climate in the mid to late Cretaceous.

Description: © The Author(s), 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Falloon, T., Hoernle, K., Schaefer, B., Bindeman, I., Hart, S., Garbe-Schonberg, D., & Duncan, R. Petrogenesis of lava from Christmas Island, Northeast Indian Ocean: implications for the nature of recycled components in non-plume intraplate settings. Geosciences, 12(3), (2022): 118, https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12030118.

Description: Lava samples from the Christmas Island Seamount Province (CHRISP) record an extreme range in enriched mantle (EM) type Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope signatures. Here we report osmium isotope data obtained on four samples from the youngest, Pliocene petit-spot phase (Upper Volcanic Series, UVS; ~4.4 Ma), and four samples from the earlier, Eocene (Lower Volcanic Series, LVS; ~40 Ma) shield building phase of Christmas Island. Osmium concentrations are low (5–82 ppt) with initial Os isotopic values (187Os/188Osi) ranging from (0.1230–0.1679). Along with additional new geochemical data (major and trace elements, Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes, olivine δ18O values), we demonstrate the following: (1) The UVS is consistent with melting of shallow Indian mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) mantle enriched with both lower continental crust (LCC) and subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) components; and (2) The LVS is consistent with recycling of SCLM components related to Gondwana break-up. The SCLM component has FOZO or HIMU like characteristics. One of the LVS samples has less radiogenic Os (γOs –3.4) and provides evidence for the presence of ancient SCLM in the source. The geochemistry of the Christmas Island lava series supports the idea that continental breakup causes shallow recycling of lithospheric and lower crustal components into the ambient MORB mantle.

Description: This research received no external funding.

Description: Hotspot tracks (quasilinear chains of seamounts, ridges, and other volcanic structures) provide important records of plate motions, as well as mantle geodynamics, magma flux, and mantle source compositions. The Tristan-Gough-Walvis Ridge (TGW) hotspot track, extending from the active volcanic islands of Tristan da Cunha and Gough through a province of guyots and then along Walvis Ridge to the Etendeka flood basalt province, forms one of the most prominent and complex global hotspot tracks. The TGW hotspot track displays a tight linear age progression in which ages increase from the islands to the flood basalts (covering ~135 My). Unlike Pacific tracks, which are simple chains of seamounts that are often compared to chains of pearls, the TGW track is alternately a steep-sided narrow ridge, an oceanic plateau, subparallel linear ridges and chains of seamounts, and areas of what appear to be randomly dispersed seamounts. The track displays isotopic zonation over the last ~70 My. The zonation appears near the middle of the track just before it splits into two to three chains of ridge- and guyot-type seamounts. The older ridge is also overprinted with age-progressive late-stage volcanism, which was emplaced ~30–40 My after the initial eruptions and has a distinct isotopic composition. The plan for Expedition 391 was to drill at six sites, three along Walvis Ridge and three in the seamount (guyot) province, to gather igneous rocks to better understand the formation of track edifices, the temporal and geochemical evolution of the hotspot, and the variation in paleolatitudes at which the volcanic edifices formed. After a delay of 18 days to address a shipboard outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus, Expedition 391 proceeded to drill at four of the proposed sites: three sites on the eastern Walvis Ridge around Valdivia Bank, an ocean plateau within the ridge, and one site on the lower flank of a guyot in the Center track, a ridge located between the Tristan subtrack (which extends from the end of Walvis Ridge to the island of Tristan da Cunha) and the Gough subtrack (which extends from Walvis Ridge to the island of Gough). One hole was drilled at Site U1575, located on a low portion of the northeastern Walvis Ridge north of Valdivia Bank. At this location, 209.9 m of sediments and 122.4 m of igneous basement were cored. The latter comprised 10 submarine lava units consisting of pillow, lobate, sheet, and massive lava flows, the thickest of which was ~21 m. Most lavas are tholeiitic, but some alkalic basalts were recovered. A portion of the igneous succession consists of low-Ti basalts, which are unusual because they appear in the Etendeka flood basalts but have not been previously found on Walvis Ridge. Two holes were drilled at Site U1576 on the west flank of Valdivia Bank. The first hole was terminated because a bit jammed shortly after penetrating igneous basement. Hole U1576A recovered a remarkable ~380 m thick sedimentary section consisting mostly of chalk covering a nearly complete sequence from Paleocene to Late Cretaceous (Campanian). These sediments display short and long cyclic color changes that imply astronomically forced and longer term paleoenvironmental changes. The igneous basement yielded 11 submarine lava units ranging from pillows to massive flows, which have compositions varying from tholeiitic basalt to basaltic andesite, the first occurrence of this composition recovered from the TGW track. These units are separated by seven sedimentary chalk units that range in thickness from 0.1 to 11.6 m, implying a long-term interplay of sedimentation and lava eruptions. Coring at Site U1577, on the extreme eastern flank of Valdivia Bank, penetrated a 154 m thick sedimentary section, the bottom ~108 m of which is Maastrichtian–Campanian (possibly Santonian) chalk with vitric tephra layers. Igneous basement coring progressed only 39.1 m below the sediment-basalt contact, recovering three massive submarine tholeiite basalt lava flows that are 4.1, 15.5, and 〉19.1 m thick, respectively. Paleomagnetic data from Sites U1577 and U1576 indicate that their volcanic basements formed just before the end of the Cretaceous Normal Superchron and during Chron 33r, shortly afterward, respectively. Biostratigraphic and paleomagnetic data suggest an east–west age progression across Valdivia Bank, becoming younger westward. Site U1578, located on a Center track guyot, provided a long and varied igneous section. After coring through 184.3 m of pelagic carbonate sediments mainly consisting of Eocene and Paleocene chalk, Hole U1578A cored 302.1 m of igneous basement. Basement lavas are largely pillows but are interspersed with sheet and massive flows. Lava compositions are mostly alkalic basalts with some hawaiite. Several intervals contain abundant olivine, and some of the pillow stacks consist of basalt with remarkably high Ti content. The igneous sequence is interrupted by 10 sedimentary interbeds consisting of chalk and volcaniclastics and ranging in thickness from 0.46 to 10.19 m. Paleomagnetic data display a change in basement magnetic polarity ~100 m above the base of the hole. Combining magnetic stratigraphy with biostratigraphic data, the igneous section is inferred to span 〉1 My. Abundant glass from pillow lava margins was recovered at Sites U1575, U1576, and U1578. Although the igneous penetration was only two-thirds of the planned amount, drilling during Expedition 391 obtained samples that clearly will lead to a deeper understanding of the evolution of the Tristan-Gough hotspot and its track. Relatively fresh basalts with good recovery will provide ample samples for geochemical, geochronologic, and paleomagnetic studies. Good recovery of Late Cretaceous and early Cenozoic chalk successions provides samples for paleoenvironmental study.