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The petrogenesis of Carboniferous–Permian dyke and sill intrusions across northern Europe

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Abstract

The presence or absence of a thermally anomalous mantle plume during the formation of the widespread Carboniferous–Permian magmatism of northern Europe is examined. The geochemistry of representative samples from the extensive Carboniferous–Permian dyke and sill intrusions across northern Europe are reported in order to ascertain whether they have a common ‘plume’ source. Both tholeiitic and alkaline magmas have diverse trace element compositions. Alkaline samples with relatively low Ti and Nb/La < 1 are considered to originate in the lithospheric mantle and those with Nb/La > 1 from the asthenosphere. The tholeiites have a close affinity to E-MORB but have mixed with variable amounts of lithosphere and upper crust. Tectonic reorganisation and decompression melting of a trace element-enriched mantle is considered to have controlled the Carboniferous–Permian magmatism, which contains no coherent geochemical evidence for a single plume-related thermo-chemical anomaly.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge funding during this work by the European Commission TMR Network project “Permo–Carboniferous rifting in Europe” (ERBFMRXCT960093). The input of all the network partners is appreciated in discussing ideas relating to this work. The assistance of Prof. Terry Plank, Boston University and Dr. Pieter Vroon, Vrije Universiteit in the production of data is appreciated. Acknowledgement of this funding source and co-workers does not imply that they concur with the conclusions drawn herein. Reviews by Alison Monaghan and E-R Neumann were appreciated and substantially improved the original manuscript. We are also indebted to Ian Parsons for his editorial contributions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grant Institute of Earth Science, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JW, UK

    L. A. Kirstein

  2. Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, 1085 De Boelelaan, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    G. R. Davies

  3. Department of Geology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway

    M. Heeremans

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  1. L. A. Kirstein
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  2. G. R. Davies
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  3. M. Heeremans
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Correspondence to L. A. Kirstein.

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Communicated by I. Parsons.

Appendices

Appendix 1

Table 4 Additional major and trace element data for tholeiitic and alkalic samples analysed by XRF
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Appendix 2: Analytical methods

Major- and trace-element analyses

Sample crushing was carried out in a steel jaw crusher. 100 g of the crushate was milled in an agate ball mill at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. Glass beads for major element analyses and powder pellets for trace elements were then prepared and analysed using a Philips PW1404/10 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer with a Rh-anode X-ray tube. For further details on XRF analyses at the Vrije Universiteit see Heumann and Davies (1997).

ICP-MS analyses

Samples were analysed on a VG PlasmaQuad ExCell ICP-MS at the Department of Earth Sciences at Boston University. Instrument backgrounds are <0.5 cps. Routine precision is 1–2% RSD for most trace element to <20 ppb in the rock. Sample (0.05 g) was digested using HNO3 and HF acids. Once dissolved the sample was dried and then re-dissolved in HNO3 and distilled H2O. The solution was tranfered to a Nalgene bottle and sonicated for 30 min. Finally the sample was diluted further prior to running in the ICPMS. Standards run with the samples included W-2, BHVO-1 and JB-3.

Appendix 3

Table 5 Locations and co-ordinates of samples in data tables
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Kirstein, L.A., Davies, G.R. & Heeremans, M. The petrogenesis of Carboniferous–Permian dyke and sill intrusions across northern Europe. Contrib Mineral Petrol 152, 721–742 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-006-0129-9

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