The origin of a primitive trondhjemite from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and its implications for the construction of a modern continental arc

Abstract

Research Article| June 01, 2008 The origin of a primitive trondhjemite from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and its implications for the construction of a modern continental arc Arturo Gómez-Tuena; Arturo Gómez-Tuena 1Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, México Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Laura Mori; Laura Mori 1Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, México Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nelly E. Rincón-Herrera; Nelly E. Rincón-Herrera 1Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, México Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Fernando Ortega-Gutiérrez; Fernando Ortega-Gutiérrez 2Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F. 04510, México Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jesús Solé; Jesús Solé 2Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F. 04510, México Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alexander Iriondo Alexander Iriondo 3Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, México, and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80903, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2008) 36 (6): 471–474. https://doi.org/10.1130/G24687A.1 Article history received: 17 Dec 2007 rev-recd: 12 Feb 2008 accepted: 15 Feb 2008 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Arturo Gómez-Tuena, Laura Mori, Nelly E. Rincón-Herrera, Fernando Ortega-Gutiérrez, Jesús Solé, Alexander Iriondo; The origin of a primitive trondhjemite from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and its implications for the construction of a modern continental arc. Geology 2008;; 36 (6): 471–474. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G24687A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract A remarkable suite of Miocene high-silica trondhjemites discovered in the central Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt indicates that slab melts can ascend through the mantle and crust while suffering only minor compositional modifications. Despite carrying an assortment of deep crustal xenoliths, the trondhjemites preserve the most depleted isotopic compositions ever measured in the Mexican arc, with values that are nearly identical to those of the Pacific mid-oceanic-ridge basalts. These rocks also have high Sr/Y ratios, and extremely fractionated heavy rare earth element patterns at relatively high Mg number (Mg#), features that are all consistent with melts from the subducted oceanic crust that had only limited interaction with mantle peridotite during ascent. Nonetheless, modeling results indicate that these unusual geochemical features can be modified by more extensive mantle assimilation, resulting in compositions that could match those of more typical intermediate rocks from Mexico. The data thus indicate that the slab melt component uniquely recorded by the Miocene trondhjemites represents a likely constituent for most volcanic sequences of the Mexican arc, and suggest that a modern andesitic continental crust can be constructed directly from mantle-modified slab melts without a basaltic precursor. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.