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Blichert-Toft & White 2001
Blichert-Toft, J. and White, W. (2001). Hf isotope geochemistry of the Galapagos Islands. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 2. doi: 10.1029/2000GC000138. issn: 1525-2027.

We report 176 Hf/ 177 Hf ratios determined by multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry on 49 basalts from the Galapagos Islands. The Hf values range from about +8, a value typical of many oceanic island basalts, to about +15, a value typical of mid-ocean ridge basalt. The Hf shows the expected correlation with Nd and inverse correlations with Sr and Pb isotope ratios. The range of values and correlations observed is consistent with Galapagos mantle plume-asthenosphere mixing inferred from previous geochemical studies. While oceanic island basalt isotopic arrays suggest that multicomponent mixing is common in the sources of such basalts, the Galapagos is unusual in that depleted upper mantle appears to be a principal component. Thermal and dynamic interaction between the Galapagos mantle plume and the lithosphere and shallow asthenosphere is the most likely cause of mixing and of the geographic pattern of geochemical variation. The Galapagos Hf-Nd-Sr-Pb isotopic array diverges toward the plume end, indicating the plume is heterogeneous. This heterogeneity is geographic, with distinct northern, central, and southern components. The central component and, to a lesser degree, the northern component are compositionally similar to the common component of plumes (variously called PHEM, FOZO, and C), while the southern component is unique with relatively high Hf and 206 Pb/ 204 Pb compared to 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and Nd .

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Keywords
Geochemistry, Isotopic composition/chemistry, Geochemistry, Composition of the mantle, Tectonophysics, Dynamics, convection currents and mantle plumes, Hafnium isotope ratios, Galapagos Islands, oceanic island basalts, isotope evolution of the mantle, mantle plumes
Journal
Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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