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    Traces Elements

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    Sebastian Del Rio
    Trace element diagrams and ratios can provide important insights into igneous petrology. Spidergrams allow representation of whole trace element compositions on a single diagram and comparison between samples after normalization. Ratios of incompatible trace elements are less affected by differentiation processes. Diagrams using trace element ratios can indicate mineral fractionation or differentiate between sources. Common trace element groups used include LILE, HFSE, REE, and transition elements. Diagrams plotting these groups against each other or using ratios can reveal petrogenetic processes or discriminate between tectonic settings. Care must be taken to avoid spurious correlations when normalizing or using ratios.

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    Traces Elements

    Uploaded by

    Sebastian Del Rio
    66 views62 pages
    Trace element diagrams and ratios can provide important insights into igneous petrology. Spidergrams allow representation of whole trace element compositions on a single diagram and comparison between samples after normalization. Ratios of incompatible trace elements are less affected by differentiation processes. Diagrams using trace element ratios can indicate mineral fractionation or differentiate between sources. Common trace element groups used include LILE, HFSE, REE, and transition elements. Diagrams plotting these groups against each other or using ratios can reveal petrogenetic processes or discriminate between tectonic settings. Care must be taken to avoid spurious correlations when normalizing or using ratios.

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    GEOCHEMISTRY , TRACE ELEMENTS, MORB

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    Trace element diagrams and ratios can provide important insights into igneous petrology. Spidergrams allow representation of whole trace element compositions on a single diagram and comparison between samples after normalization. Ratios of incompatible trace elements are less affected by differentiation processes. Diagrams using trace element ratios can indicate mineral fractionation or differentiate between sources. Common trace element groups used include LILE, HFSE, REE, and transition elements. Diagrams plotting these groups against each other or using ratios can reveal petrogenetic processes or discriminate between tectonic settings. Care must be taken to avoid spurious correlations when normalizing or using ratios.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    66 views62 pages

    Traces Elements

    Uploaded by

    Sebastian Del Rio
    Trace element diagrams and ratios can provide important insights into igneous petrology. Spidergrams allow representation of whole trace element compositions on a single diagram and comparison between samples after normalization. Ratios of incompatible trace elements are less affected by differentiation processes. Diagrams using trace element ratios can indicate mineral fractionation or differentiate between sources. Common trace element groups used include LILE, HFSE, REE, and transition elements. Diagrams plotting these groups against each other or using ratios can reveal petrogenetic processes or discriminate between tectonic settings. Care must be taken to avoid spurious correlations when normalizing or using ratios.

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    Using geochemical data in

    igneous petrology

    Trace elements: spidergrams, ratios and


    magical diagrams
    (or presenting and using trace elements data)

    A slide of a recent presentation by Julian Pearce

    And therefore

    Why is it magical?

    4. Trace elements
    1. Representing trace element compositions:
    the use of spidergrams
    2. Spidergrams and ratios
    3. Main families of trace elements
    4. Some diagrams using trace elements

    4.1 Spidergrams
    Also (better) known as multi-elements diagram
    Allow to represent the whole composition of a
    sample on a single diagram
    Allow to compare the concentration in elements
    in different ranges
    Allow to get rid of the effects of primordial
    abundances

    Elements abundance patterns in


    Earth are a product of
    Nucleosynthesis
    Lights > Heavies
    Even > Odd
    Abundance peak close to Fe (n=56)

    Differenciation
    Lithophile mantle (+ crust)
    Siderophile core

    Solar system abundance

    Chondrites

    Concentration of REE in a sample

    Building a spidergram (Recipe)


    Arrange the elements in given order
    (generally the more incompatible on the
    left)
    Divide each elements concentration in the
    sample by the concentration in a reference
    material (chondrite, primitive mantle,
    MORB)
    Plot using a log scale

    Contrasted REE patterns


    Granites

    Basalts

    Multi-elements diagrams

    Normalized to the PRImitive Mantle (close to chondrites) (Wood version)

    Various normalizations:
    To MORB (Mid-Oceanic Ridge Basalts the most common type of basalt!)
    Meaningful for basalts and co.

    Look how the elements on the left-hand side behave in a different way as those
    on the right-hand side!

    Various normalizations:
    To the average continental crust.
    Meaningful for granites, sediments, etc.

    4.2 Using ratios


    Example: MORBs and OIB
    N-MORBs

    OIBs

    La/Sm
    E-MORB

    OIB

    N-MORB
    Gd/Yb

    Anomalies

    Granites from the Cape Granite Suite


    Darling-Vredenburg area

    Eu anomaly

    Eu anomaly is supposed to reflect the


    implication of plagioclase

    because :
    Kds for REE in basaltic liquids

    Eu anomaly
    Can you invent a magical number
    showing the implication of plagioclase?

    REE ratios
    Eu/Eu* is a measure of the size of the Eu anomaly

    Eu N
    Eu
    =1
    *
    Eu
    2 ( Sm N + Gd N )
    La/Yb (or LaN/YbN, also written (La/Yb)N ) is an
    indication of the slope of the REE pattern

    Why can a Eu/Eu* vs. La/Yb


    diagram be read as a
    plagioclase vs. garnet
    diagram?

    OIB vs. Island-arcs: LIL and HFS


    elements

    Figure 14-3. Winter (2001) An Introduction to Igneous


    and Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall. Data from Sun
    and McDonough (1989) In A. D. Saunders and M. J. Norry
    (eds.), Magmatism in the Ocean Basins. Geol. Soc. London
    Spec. Publ., 42. pp. 313-345.

    Figure 16-11a. MORB-normalized spider diagrams for


    selected island arc basalts. Using the normalization and
    ordering scheme of Pearce (1983) with LIL on the left and
    HFS on the right and compatibility increasing outward
    from Ba-Th. Data from BVTP. Composite OIB from Fig
    14-3 in yellow.

    What will happen if you plot


    HFS vs. LIL?
    (eg Nb & Rb)

    Arcs
    Back-arc
    Mid-ocean ridges
    Within plate

    Why is it not magical?

    Ratios (of incompatible elements)


    Less affected by differentiation
    Differences in Nb/Yb
    reflect (mostly)
    different primitive
    magmas; mostly
    preserved during
    differentiation

    Use a diagram showing ratios:


    HFS/Reference
    LIL/Reference

    Once
    youve
    understood
    the trick,
    you can
    build many
    similar
    diagrams!

    Dark arts Geotectonic diagrams

    Wood diagrams (for basalts)

    Dark arts Geotectonic diagrams

    Another diagram by You-know-Who (Pearce et al. 1984)


    (With all due respect for J. Pearce, who is a nice person and one of the best living geochemists !)

    Why does it work?

    Well, this is going to be (part of) Jacos


    seminar stay tuned.

    4.3 Families of elements

    Commonly used trace elements


    LILE= Large Ion Lithophile Elements
    Cs, Rb, K, Ba, Sr, Pb
    Large atoms with a small charge
    Tend to be incompatible to very incompatible
    Some exceptions (Rb in Biotite, Sr in plag)
    Typically fluid mobile (and therefore can be
    subject to weathering)
    Interesting to use but some caution should be
    exercised

    HFSE= High Field Strength Elements


    Sc, Y, Th, U, Pb, Zr, Hf, Ti, Nb, Ta
    Variable behaviours, generally incompatible
    except in some specific phases (Y in Grt, Nb
    in Hbl)
    Normally fluid immobile, insensible to
    weathering
    Regarded as good petrogenetic indicators

    HFSE: some interesting pairs with very


    similar behaviours
    Nb and Ta (Nb/Ta chondritic 15-20, less for
    crustal rocks)
    Zr and Hf (Zr/Hf chondritic 30-35)
    Values largely departing from this call for
    explanation (phases able to fractionnate Nb
    from Ta or Zr from Hf)

    OIB vs. Island-arcs: LIL and HFS


    elements

    Figure 14-3. Winter (2001) An Introduction to Igneous


    and Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall. Data from Sun
    and McDonough (1989) In A. D. Saunders and M. J. Norry
    (eds.), Magmatism in the Ocean Basins. Geol. Soc. London
    Spec. Publ., 42. pp. 313-345.

    Figure 16-11a. MORB-normalized spider diagrams for


    selected island arc basalts. Using the normalization and
    ordering scheme of Pearce (1983) with LIL on the left and
    HFS on the right and compatibility increasing outward
    from Ba-Th. Data from BVTP. Composite OIB from Fig
    14-3 in yellow.

    REE= Rare Earth Elements


    La Ce Pr Nd (Pm) Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm
    Yb Lu
    Technically they are HFS
    Rather incompatible, except in specific
    phases
    For a given mineral phases, different REE
    have different behaviours
    Nearly insensible to weathering
    Excellent petrogenetic indicators!

    Kds for REE in basaltic liquids

    REE: the case of Eu


    REEs are normally 3+ (La3+,
    etc.)
    Eu can be Eu3+ or Eu2+
    Eu2+ strongly compatible
    Especially in reducing
    environments

    Oxydizing (Eu3+)

    Reducing (Eu2+)

    Transition elements
    Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn
    All compatible, no huge differences
    Low abundances in felsic or intermediate
    rocks, useful for basic or ultrabasic systems,
    or for some mineral deposits (chromite)
    Fluid immobile

    PGE= Platinum Group Elements


    Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Au
    Not that well-known, large uncertainities on
    Kds
    Low abudances, commonly below detection
    limit (bdl) with usual mehods
    Economic importance, especially in
    chromitites and sulphides
    Marginal petrologic use, could become more
    significant in the future

    4.4 Some trace element diagrams


    In general, far greater diversity than for
    majors
    You can plot anything against anything
    else, and then start again with ratios
    Its easy to get confused

    Diagrams showing different types or


    groups of rocks
    Diagrams showing differentiation and
    implication of specific minerals (during
    melting or differentiation)
    Diagrams reflecting different sources
    Geotectonic diagrams ?

    Specific minerals
    Garnet
    implication in
    OIB genesis

    Different sources
    N-, E- and T-MORB

    Describing different groups


    N-MORB E-MORB

    N-MORB E-MORB

    Groups of rocks: Potential spurious


    correlations
    Continental arcs
    Back-arc

    Is this a useful diagram?

    Our nice diagram just tells us that back-arcs are


    basalts and cont. arcs. dacites to rhyolites we
    knew that already!

    Arcs
    Back-arc

    Geotectonic

    Mid-ocean ridges
    Within plate

    WPB
    IAT

    MORB
    IAT

    CAB

    Pearce & Cann 1973

    CAB

    Arcs

    Geotectonic

    Back-arc
    Mid-ocean ridges
    Within plate

    N-MORB
    IAT
    E-MORB
    WPT
    CAB

    WPA

    Wood 1980

    Geotectonic diagrams
    A specific site = combination of sources +
    processes (in terms of PT and therefore of
    minerals)

    Trace elements ratios


    How?
    Element-Element diagrams with linear
    scale

    Trace elements ratios


    How?
    Element-ratio diagrams with linear scale

    Trace elements ratios


    How?
    Element-element diagrams with log scale

    Trace elements ratios


    Be careful!
    Dividing by a common value yields
    spurious correlations

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