Deep mantle processes and the dynamic mechanism of magmatism in the Japan Sea Basin are important processes that have not been studied in detail. In this paper, systematic evaluation of basalt samples from the ocean drilling program Site 794 in the Japan Sea was performed, which included petrography, whole-rock major- and trace-element analysis, Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic composition, and electron microprobe analysis of plagioclase and clinopyroxene. These basalts belong to the tholeiitic series with porphyritic texture and massive Ca-rich plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and minor olivine phenocrysts. The basalts are characterized as flat rare earth elements and high-field-strength elements with remarkably low ratios of （La/Yb）N （0.75-2.51）, significant positive anomalies of Ba, Sr, and Rb and no Eu anomaly （dEn = 0.99-1.36）. The samples showed relatively high 87Sr/86Sr （0.70425- 0.70522）, 207pb/204pb （15.511-15.610）, and 208pb/204pb （38.064-38.557） values and a low 143Nd/144Nd ratio （0.51271-0.51295）. The basalts from Site 794 can be divided into upper, middle, and lower volcanic rocks （UVR, MVR, and LVR） on the basis of their stratigraphic level. The MVR was geochemically derived from the depleted mantle, whereas the UVR and LVR originated from a nondepleted and relatively enriched mantle source with contributions from subducted Pacific plate fluid and sediments. Use of geothermobarometers indicates that the crystallization pressure for the UVR and LVR （6.25-11.19 kbar） was significantly higher than that of the MVR （3.48-5.84 kbar）. The UVR and LVR may have been derived from the low-degree （5%-10%） partial melting of spinel lherzolite, while the MVR originated from a shallower mantle source with a high degree （10%-20%） of partial melting. In addition, the geochemical characteristics of the samples are consistent with a younger age （13-17 Ma） and the depleted composition of the MVR and an older age （17-23 Ma） and slightly enriched composition of the UVR and LVR. Therefo
Systematic analyses were conducted including the petrographic features, major and trace elements, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions, and mineral structure and compositions of whole rocks. Mid-Pacific Mountain volcanic rocks are mainly phonotephrite with a porphyritic texture. Phenocrysts are mainly composed of Ca-rich plagioclase, clinopyroxene and nepheline.These volcanic rocks are significantly rich in large-ion lithophile and light rare earth elements, without obvious Eu anomalies(δEu=0.99–1.03), and with relatively enriched^(87) Sr/^(86) Sr(0.703829–0.704313) and^(143) Nd/^(144) Nd isotopic ratios(0.512857–0.512871), suggesting that they have similar but more enriched features than the OIB magmatic source. These volcanic rocks may originate from relatively deep magma source with the existence of spinel-garnet Iherzolites, and have undergone partial melting at a low degree of 1–3%. In addition, The residual Nb-Ta minerals(such as sphene, rutile, perovskite) may remain in the mantle source, and the magma components have undergone metasomatism by carbonate melt/fluid or alkali-rich fluid, causing high contents of incompatible elements and significant loss of Nb, Ta and Ti in these volcanic rocks. There are many similarities between the phonotephrites in the Mid-Pacific Mountain and the volcanic rocks in the Line Islands based on the tectonic settings and the geochemical characteristics. We thus speculate that Site 313 volcanic rocks in the Mid-Pacific Mountain is most likely to be a continuation of the Line Islands.
Varve counts with AMS 14 C,137 Cs and 210 Pb dating of sediments(0-900 cm) from Erlongwan Maar Lake,NE China were used to establish a high-resolution chronology series for the late Quaternary.Dry density,total organic carbon(TOC) content,total nitrogen(TN) content,TOC/TN ratios and stable organic carbon isotope(13 C org) ratios were continuously analyzed on this sediment profile.On the basis of lithological characters,sporo-pollen assemblages and geochemical analyses,we identified 6 climate stages within the last 14 ka BP.The time before the Holocene(14-11.4 ka BP) represents a higher-order oscillation climatic transitional period(I).The entire Holocene climate development(from 11.4 ka BP to present) exhibited an increasing temperature trend,although there were cold and warm alternations(II-VI).The periods included were:II(11.4-9.05 ka BP) warm-wet stage,III(9.05-7.4 ka BP) cold and warm fluctuation stage,IV(7.4-4.2 ka BP) smoothly warming climate stage,V(4.2-1.67 ka BP) climate optimum stage,and VI(from 1.67 ka BP to present) cool and drier stage.Each climate stage began with a warming event and ended with an abrupt cooling event.This climate change cycle had unequal time spaces that were progressively shorter over time.Several abrupt climate shifts occurred at about 9.4-9.05,8.5-8.2,7.8-7.4,4.6-4.2,3.7-3.25,2-1.67 and 0.3-0.03 ka BP.Thus,it can be seen that the climate has been warming since 1920 AD,which indicates a new climate stage.
Large explosive volcanic eruptions generate extensive regional tephra deposits that provide favorable conditions for identifying the source of volcanoes, comparing the sedimentary strata of a region and determining their ages. The tephra layer, referred to as B- Tm, generated by the Millennium eruption of Chang- baishan volcano, is widely distributed in Northeast China, Japan, D.P.R. Korea, and the nearby coastal area of Russia. It forms part of the widespread northeast Asian strata and is significant for establishing an isochronal stratigraphic framework. However, research on the temporal characterization and stratigraphic correlation of associated strata using this tephra layer is mainly concentrated in and near Japan. In northeastern China, this tephra layer is seldom seen and its application in stratigraphic correlations is even rarer. More importantly, the determination of accurate ages for both distal and proximal tephras has been debated, leading to controversy in discussions of its environmental impacts. Stratigraphic records from both distal and proximal Changbaishan ash show that this eruption generally occurred between 1,012 and 1,004 cal yr BP. Geochemical comparison between Changbaishan ash and the Quaternary widespread ash around Japan illustrates that Changbaishan ash is a continuous composition from rhyolitic to trachytic and its ratio of FeOT to CaO is usually greater than 4, which can be used as a distinguishing identifier among worldwide contemporary eruptions.
The regular variations in magmatic activities along the Northwest Pacific plate have been little studied in spite of their importance. In this contribution, systematic analyses were conducted on tholeiitic basalts from three Ocean Drilling Program sites(Sites 304, 1149, and 801), including the petrographic features, major and trace elements, Nd isotopic compositions, and mineral structure and compositions of whole rocks. Volcanic rocks from Sites 304, 1149, and 801 belong to tholeiites and exhibit depleted light rare earth elements(LREE), large ion lithophile elemental contents(LILE), and relatively depleted Nd isotopic ratios(143Nd/144Nd=0.513139-0.513211), similar to those of normal mid-ocean ridge basalts(NMORB). Comprehensive data on mineral compositions, whole-rock geochemistry, and geochronology demonstrate that a regular variation trend exists in the north-south direction along the Northwest Pacific plate. The 143 Nd/144 Nd values(0.513139-0.513211) and trace-element ratios for whole rocks(Sm/Th=15.35-30.00; Zr/Hf=28.53-35.76; Zr/Y=2.58-3.67; Th/La=0.04-0.06; Th/Y=0.33-0.70), as well as the trace-element ratios(Zr/Hf, La/Yb, Ti/Zr) of clinopyroxenes from Sites 1149 and 801 tholeiites show larger variations compared to those from Site 304 tholeiites(143Nd/144Nd=0.513185-0.513195; Sm/Th=18.19-20.58; Zr/Hf=31.07-33.26; Zr/Y=2.62-3.03; Th/La=0.05-0.06; Th/Y=0.48-0.57). Mineral zoning textures were obvious in tholeiites from Sites 1149 and 801 but were rarely observed in Site 304.These regular features were likely attributed to the differences in the heterogeneity of the magma source,the process of magmatic evolution, the plate-spreading rate, and the effective and ineffective mixing.
