Understanding Non-Plume Related Intraplate Volcanism

Intraplate volcanism is a worldwide phenomenon producing volcanoes away from active plate boundaries, a process that cannot yet be sufficiently explained by plate tectonic processes, and thus is still a missing piece in the understanding of the dynamics and evolution of our planet. Models for the formation of intraplate volcanism are dominated by mantle plumes, but alternative explanations, such as adiabatic decompression triggered by lithospheric delamination, and edge driven convection (EDC), could be responsible for magmatism. This dissertation explores intraplate volcanic locations that do not fit the mantle plume model, and presents geochemical evidence for lithospheric delamination and edge driven convection for the cause of volcanism. I studied an Eocene volcanic swarm exposed in the Appalachian Valley and Ridge Province of Virginia and West Virginia, which are the youngest known igneous rocks along the Eastern North American Margin (ENAM). These magmas provide the only window into the most recent deep processes contributing to the post-rift evolution of this margin. This study presents the first high precision 40Ar/39Ar ages along with new geochemical data, and radiogenic isotopes that constrain the melting conditions and the timing of emplacement. Modeling of the melting conditions suggests that melting occurred under conditions slightly higher than average mantle beneath mid-ocean ridges. Asthenosphere upwelling related to localized lithospheric delamination is a possible process that can explain the intraplate signature of these magmas that lack evidence of a thermal anomaly. The Virginia-West Virginia region of the ENAM also preserves a second post-rift magmatic event in the Late Jurassic. By studying both the Late Jurassic and Eocene magmatic events we can better understand the post-rift evolution of passive margins. This study presents a comprehensive set of geochemical data that includes new 40Ar/39Ar ages, major and trace-element compositions, and analysis of radiogenic isotopes to further constrain their magmatic history. Modeling suggests that the felsic volcanics from both the Late Jurassic and Eocene events are consistent with fractional crystallization. Lithospheric delamination is the best hypothesis for magmatism in Virginia/West Virginia, due to tectonic instabilities that are remnant from the long-term evolution of this margin, resulting in a 'passive-aggressive' margin that records multiple magmatic events long after rifting ended. Finally, Bermuda is an intraplate volcano that has been historically classified as mantle plume related but evidence to support the plume model is lacking. Instead, geophysics have argued that EDC is the best model to explain Bermuda volcanism. This study presents the first geochemical analysis of Bermuda volcanism, and found that Bermuda was built by two different magmatic processes: melting of carbonated peridotite to produce silica under-saturated, trace element enriched volcanics and melting of an enriched upper mantle component that produced silica saturated volcanics. We attribute the cyclicity of silica under-saturated and silica saturated volcanics to EDC melting.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geosciences

Department dc:contributor.department

Geosciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Mazza, Sarah Elizabeth

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Gazel, Esteban

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Caddick, Mark J.
• Bodnar, Robert J.
• Bizimis, Michael
• Johnson, Elizabeth Baedke

• mantle geochemistry
• isotope geochemistry
• intraplate volcanism
• lithospheric delamination
• edge-driven convection

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:9354

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/83554