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Journal of Petrology Advance Access published online on June 22, 2007
Journal of Petrology, doi:10.1093/petrology/egm028
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Magma Genesis and Mantle Dynamics at the Harrat Ash Shamah Volcanic Field (Southern Syria)

M.-S. Krienitz1,*, K. M. Haase1,{dagger}, K. Mezger2 and M. A. Shaikh-Mashail3

1Institut Für Geowissenschaften Der Universität Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, 24118 Kiel, Germany
2Institut Für Mineralogie Der Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 24, 48149 Münster, Germany
3Faculty of Civil Engineering, University Of Aleppo, PO Box 5427, Aleppo, Syria

Received August 5, 2005; Revised typescript accepted May 9, 2007


  Abstract

A geochemical and petrological study of Miocene to recent alkali basalts, basanites, hawaiites, mugearites, trachytes, and phonolites erupted within the Harrat Ash Shamah volcanic field was performed to reconstruct the magmatic evolution of southern Syria. The major element composition of the investigated lavas is mainly controlled by fractional crystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene, ± Fe–Ti oxides and ± apatite; feldspar fractionation is restricted to the most evolved lavas. Na2O and SiO2 variations within uncontaminated, primitive lavas as well as variably fractionated heavy rare earth element ratios suggest a formation by variable degrees of partial melting of different garnet peridotite sources triggered, probably, by changes in mantle temperature. The isotopic range as well as the variable trace element enrichment observed in the lavas imply derivation from both a volatile- and incompatible element-enriched asthenosphere and from a plume component. In addition, some lavas have been affected by crustal contamination. This effect is most prominent in evolved lavas older than 3·5 Ma, which assimilated 30–40% of crustal material. In general, the periodicity of volcanism in conjunction with temporal changes in lava composition and melting regime suggest that the Syrian volcanism was triggered by a pulsing mantle plume located underneath northwestern Arabia.

KEY WORDS: 40Ar/39Ar ages; intraplate volcanism; mantle plume; partial melting; Syria

*Corresponding author. Present address: GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany. Telephone: +49 (0)331 288 1468. Fax: +49 (0)331 288 1474. E-mail: krieni{at}gfz-potsdam.de

{dagger}Present address: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.


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