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Publication Date

2016

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Walker, James Allen, 1952-

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences

LCSH

Basalt--Nicaragua; Magmatism--Nicaragua; Igneous rocks--Inclusions--Nicaragua

Abstract

The Nejapa-Miraflores and Granada lineaments which cut across the Central American volcanic front (CAVF) host numerous monogenetic vents which have erupted diverse basaltic magmas. As previously shown by whole-rock analysis, the basaltic magmas loosely fall into two groups: high and low titanium (Ti). This study used laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) to analyze trace elements in olivine-hosted melt inclusions from the Nejapa-Miraflores and Granada volcanic lineaments. Low-Ti inclusions tend to have higher values of U/La and Th/Nb ratios when compared to high-Ti inclusions. Varying degrees of crustal contamination, fractional crystallization, melting of carbonates, or melting of modified oceanic lithosphere do not seem to be viable explanations of producing the high- and low-Ti chemical distinctions. The high values of U/La and Th/Nb ratios in the low-Ti melt inclusions suggest that the mantle wedge source that produces these melts contain a greater slab-derived hemipelagic sediment melt component. Geothermometry using trace elements determine an average slab surface temperature to be about 876°C, temperatures permitting the melting of subducted hemipelagic sediments. What is particularly significant is that the contrasting mafic magma compositions in Nicaragua suggest that contributions from subducting lithosphere and subsequent magma generation in subduction zones can be quite variable and complex on a very localized scale.

Comments

Advisors: James A. Walker.||Committee members: Mark R. Frank; Nicole D. LaDue; James A. Walker.||Includes bibliographical references.||Includes illustrations and maps.

Extent

iv, 61 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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