Sr and O Isotope Geochemistry of Volcán Uturuncu, Andean Central Volcanic Zone, Bolivia: Resolving Crustal and Mantle Contributions to Continental Arc Magmatism

Abstract:

This study reports oxygen isotope ratios determined by laser fluorination of mineral separates and in situ Sr isotope ratios (mainly plagioclase) from andesitic to dacitic composition lava flows erupted from Volcán Uturuncu in the Andean Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ). Variation in δ¹⁸O values (6.6-11.8‰ relative to SMOW) for the lava suite is large and the data as a whole exhibit no simple correlation with any parameter of compositional evolution. Plagioclase separates from nearly all rocks have δ¹⁸O values (6.6-11.8‰) higher than expected for production of the magmas by partial melting of little evolved basaltic lavas erupted in the back arc regions of the CVZ. Most Uturuncu magmas must therefore contain high ¹⁸O crustal material. This hypothesis is further supported by textures and isotopic variation (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr= 0.7098-0.7165) within single plagioclase phenocrysts suggesting repeated mixing followed by crustal contamination events occurring in the shallow crustal reservoir. The dacite composition rocks show more variable and extend to higher δ¹⁸O ratios than andesite composition rocks. These features are interpreted to reflect assimilation of heterogeneous upper continental crust by low ¹⁸O andesitic magmas followed by mixing or mingling with similar composition hybrid magmas with high ¹⁸O. Conversely, the δ¹⁸O values of the andesites suggest contamination of the magmas by continental crust modified by intrusion of mantle derived basaltic magmas. These results demonstrate on a relatively small scale the strong influence that intrusion of mantle-derived mafic magmas can have on modifying the composition of pre-existing continental crust in regions of melt production. Given this result, similar, but larger-scale, regional trends in magma compositions may reflect an analogous but more extensive process wherein the continental crust becomes progressively hybridized beneath frontal arc localities as a result of protracted intrusion of subduction-related basaltic magmas.