Evolution of the Northern Part of the Lesser Antilles Arc—Geochemical Constraints From St. Barthélemy Island Lavas

• Published in: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
• Main Authors: Bosch, Delphine, Zami, Fabienne, Philippon, Mélody, Lebrun, Jean‐frédéric, Münch, Philippe, Cornée, Jean‐jacques, Legendre, Lucie, Lemoyne, Alexandre
• Other Authors: Géosciences Montpellier, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université des Antilles (UA)-Université de Montpellier (UM), Université des Antilles (UA)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2022
• Subjects: [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Martin Island
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03857700; https://hal.science/hal-03857700/document; https://hal.science/hal-03857700/file/Geochem%20Geophys%20Geosyst%20-%202022%20-%20Bosch%20-%20Evolution%20of%20the%20Northern%20Part%20of%20the%20Lesser%20Antilles%20Arc%20Geochemical%20Constraints.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GC010482

International audience This study presents an extensive geochemical data set of 23 samples from St. Barthélemy Island, which belongs to the extinct branch of the Lesser Antilles arc and is currently exposed in the northern part of the subduction forearc. Samples were selected to represent all lithologies and main periods of magmatism, that is, Middle-Late Eocene, Early Oligocene and Late Oligocene. They show enrichment in light rare earth element/medium rare earth element, large ion lithophile elements (Rb and Ba) and isotopic characteristics, suggesting mixing between the mantle and a subduction component (oceanic crust + sediments). Trace element ratios suggest that primary magmas were generated in a normal mid-oceanic ridge basalt-type mantle-wedge that underwent 8%–18% partial melting in the spinel-stability field. The sediment contribution was low (0.1%–1%) irrespective of the age of the samples. This is similar to what is observed for the northern Lesser Antilles active branch. St. Barthélemy Island shares strong similarities with St. Martin Island, located on the same extinct arc branch, which suggests a similar geodynamic evolution. Oligocene samples displayed an increase in incompatible elements in the magma source, suggesting an increase in sediment melts, which could be correlated with a drastic change in the tectonic regime at that time, characterized by stretching perpendicular to the trench and subsequent basin opening. On Δ7/4Pb versus 206Pb/204Pb, the samples showed a similar trend for both active and extinct islands of the northern Lesser Antilles, suggesting negligible changes in the nature of the magma sources.