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• 1. [Article] Geochronology of Galapagos seamounts

  Lavas from seamounts of the central Galápagos Platform and the Carnegie Ridge increase in age with distance from the western edge of the platform, consistent with a hotspot model for the generation of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Geochronology of Galapagos seamounts Author: Christie, David M., Duncan, Robert A., Sinton, Christopher W. Lavas from seamounts of the central Galápagos Platform and the Carnegie Ridge increase in age with distance from the western edge of the platform, consistent with a hotspot model for the generation of these features. The areal distribution of seamount ages suggests that the pattern of dispersed volcanism seen on the present islands also prevailed between 5 and 6 Ma. Age-distance relationships are consistent with a decrease in the velocity of the Nazca plate relative to the Galápagos hotspot during the past 9 m.y., most likely at ~5 Ma when there was a change in Pacific-hotspot motion. Alternatively, the plate velocity remained constant and volcanism at a single seamount endured up to 7 m.y. lavas from seamounts along the Wolf-Darwin lineament to the northwest of the Galápagos Platform are young (<1 Ma), with the youngest measured ages closest to the platform. Title: Geochronology of Galapagos seamounts Author: Christie, David M., Duncan, Robert A., Sinton, Christopher W. Lavas from seamounts of the central Galápagos Platform and the Carnegie Ridge increase in age with distance from the western edge of the platform, consistent with a hotspot model for the generation of these features. The areal distribution of seamount ages suggests that the pattern of dispersed volcanism seen on the present islands also prevailed between 5 and 6 Ma. Age-distance relationships are consistent with a decrease in the velocity of the Nazca plate relative to the Galápagos hotspot during the past 9 m.y., most likely at ~5 Ma when there was a change in Pacific-hotspot motion. Alternatively, the plate velocity remained constant and volcanism at a single seamount endured up to 7 m.y. lavas from seamounts along the Wolf-Darwin lineament to the northwest of the Galápagos Platform are young (<1 Ma), with the youngest measured ages closest to the platform. Close

• 2. [Article] Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: A single suite of Caribbean oceanic plateau magmas

  The pre-Tertiary oceanic crust exposed on the west coast of Costa Pica has been broadly referred to as the Nicoya Complex. This study was designed to determine the age of the Nicoya Complex in the Nicoya ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: A single suite of Caribbean oceanic plateau magmas Author: Denyer, Percy, Duncan, Robert A., Sinton, Christopher W. The pre-Tertiary oceanic crust exposed on the west coast of Costa Pica has been broadly referred to as the Nicoya Complex. This study was designed to determine the age of the Nicoya Complex in the Nicoya Peninsula, Playa Jaco, and the Quepos Peninsula using Ar-40-Ar-39 radiometric dating and to assess the petrologic relationships between the different localities using major element, trace element, and Sr, Nd, Pb isotopic data. Radiometric ages of basalts and diabases from the Nicoya Peninsula are 88-90 Ma (with a weighted mean of 88.5 Ma), and those of two intrusive rocks (a gabbro and plagiogranite) are both 83-84 Ma. The combined geochemical data indicate that the sampled Nicoya Peninsula rocks belong to a single suite related by fractional crystallization of similar parental magmas. Nd and Pb isotopic ratios indicate a common mantle source distinct from that of mid-ocean ridge basalts. Both the age and composition of the Nicoya rocks are consistent with the idea that they are a part of the Caribbean Cretaceous oceanic plateau [Donnelly, 1994]. The Jacó lavas are geochemically similar to the Nicoya Peninsula suite, and a single age of 84 Ma is identical to the age of the Nicoya Peninsula intrusives. The one analyzed Quepos basalt has a radiometric age of ~64 Ma, and it is enriched in incompatible elements relative to the Nicoya rocks, Similarities in Nd and Pb isotopic ratios indicate that the Quepos and Nicoya/Jacó lavas were derived from a similar mantle source to that which produced the Nicoya rocks, possibly the Galapagos plume. Title: Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: A single suite of Caribbean oceanic plateau magmas Author: Denyer, Percy, Duncan, Robert A., Sinton, Christopher W. The pre-Tertiary oceanic crust exposed on the west coast of Costa Pica has been broadly referred to as the Nicoya Complex. This study was designed to determine the age of the Nicoya Complex in the Nicoya Peninsula, Playa Jaco, and the Quepos Peninsula using Ar-40-Ar-39 radiometric dating and to assess the petrologic relationships between the different localities using major element, trace element, and Sr, Nd, Pb isotopic data. Radiometric ages of basalts and diabases from the Nicoya Peninsula are 88-90 Ma (with a weighted mean of 88.5 Ma), and those of two intrusive rocks (a gabbro and plagiogranite) are both 83-84 Ma. The combined geochemical data indicate that the sampled Nicoya Peninsula rocks belong to a single suite related by fractional crystallization of similar parental magmas. Nd and Pb isotopic ratios indicate a common mantle source distinct from that of mid-ocean ridge basalts. Both the age and composition of the Nicoya rocks are consistent with the idea that they are a part of the Caribbean Cretaceous oceanic plateau [Donnelly, 1994]. The Jacó lavas are geochemically similar to the Nicoya Peninsula suite, and a single age of 84 Ma is identical to the age of the Nicoya Peninsula intrusives. The one analyzed Quepos basalt has a radiometric age of ~64 Ma, and it is enriched in incompatible elements relative to the Nicoya rocks, Similarities in Nd and Pb isotopic ratios indicate that the Quepos and Nicoya/Jacó lavas were derived from a similar mantle source to that which produced the Nicoya rocks, possibly the Galapagos plume. Close

• 3. [Article] ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages of lavas from the Southeast Greenland margin, ODP leg 152, and the Rockall Plateau, DSDP leg 81

  ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar incremental heating experiments were performed on volcanic rocks recovered by drilling during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 152, southeast Greenland Margin (63°N), and Deep Sea Drilling Project ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages of lavas from the Southeast Greenland margin, ODP leg 152, and the Rockall Plateau, DSDP leg 81 Author: Duncan, Robert A., Sinton, Christopher W. ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar incremental heating experiments were performed on volcanic rocks recovered by drilling during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 152, southeast Greenland Margin (63°N), and Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 81, southwest Rockall Plateau (56°N). Both of these legs drilled into thick sections of submerged lava flows, known as seaward-dipping reflector sequences, that are part of the Tertiary North Atlantic Volcanic Province (NAVP). Results show that subaerial volcanism began at the southeast Greenland Margin as early as 6162 Ma with the eruption of continentally contaminated lavas. After an apparent hiatus, volcanism continued with the subaerial eruption of noncontaminated, mid-ocean-ridge basalt (MORB) -like lavas. A sill or flow was emplaced at 52 Ma into the sediments overlying the basement lavas at the most seaward site (918). The MORB-like lavas of the Rockall Plateau gave poor results, although the data suggest that they erupted at 5758 Ma and may be contemporaneous with the compositionally similar oceanic lavas of Leg 152. Compiled ages from the NAVP indicate that most of the lavas were erupted in two distinct magmatic episodes. The first occurred prior to 60 Ma with volcanism at the southeast Greenland Margin, in West Greenland, and the northwest British Isles. This early stage of widespread volcanism most likely records the arrival of the Iceland mantle plume. The second phase of magmatism began about 57 Ma with voluminous basaltic eruptions centralized along the eventual line of continental separation. Magmatism at this stage was associated with continental breakup and asthenospheric upwelling with probable thermal input from the mantle plume. Title: ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages of lavas from the Southeast Greenland margin, ODP leg 152, and the Rockall Plateau, DSDP leg 81 Author: Duncan, Robert A., Sinton, Christopher W. ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar incremental heating experiments were performed on volcanic rocks recovered by drilling during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 152, southeast Greenland Margin (63°N), and Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 81, southwest Rockall Plateau (56°N). Both of these legs drilled into thick sections of submerged lava flows, known as seaward-dipping reflector sequences, that are part of the Tertiary North Atlantic Volcanic Province (NAVP). Results show that subaerial volcanism began at the southeast Greenland Margin as early as 6162 Ma with the eruption of continentally contaminated lavas. After an apparent hiatus, volcanism continued with the subaerial eruption of noncontaminated, mid-ocean-ridge basalt (MORB) -like lavas. A sill or flow was emplaced at 52 Ma into the sediments overlying the basement lavas at the most seaward site (918). The MORB-like lavas of the Rockall Plateau gave poor results, although the data suggest that they erupted at 5758 Ma and may be contemporaneous with the compositionally similar oceanic lavas of Leg 152. Compiled ages from the NAVP indicate that most of the lavas were erupted in two distinct magmatic episodes. The first occurred prior to 60 Ma with volcanism at the southeast Greenland Margin, in West Greenland, and the northwest British Isles. This early stage of widespread volcanism most likely records the arrival of the Iceland mantle plume. The second phase of magmatism began about 57 Ma with voluminous basaltic eruptions centralized along the eventual line of continental separation. Magmatism at this stage was associated with continental breakup and asthenospheric upwelling with probable thermal input from the mantle plume. Close