Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geochemical Fingerprinting and Magmatic Plumbing Systems

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Physical Geology of Shallow Magmatic Systems

Part of the book series: Advances in Volcanology ((VOLCAN))

Abstract

Subvolcanic systems are characterized by complex combinations of intrusive units (dykes, sills , saucer-shaped sills, cone sheets, etc.) for which genetic relationships are unclear. This chapter explains how whole-rock geochemistry may be used to resolve the genetic relationships of such subvolcanic (and volcanic) systems. We start with a short introduction of the geochemical fingerprinting method with particular emphasis on the statistical refinement method called Forward Stepwise-Discriminant Function Analysis (FS-DFA). Combined with field mapping and structural analysis, geochemical fingerprinting based on major and trace elements and isotope ratios, is a very powerful tool to distinguish between igneous units (lavas, sills, dykes) with subtle (or not so subtle) geochemical differences. Different geochemical fingerprinting or signatures indicate derivation from distinct magma batches. The results from FS-DFA analyses may be used to reveal genetic relationships between geological units, or lack of such, which again may be used to throw light on subvolcanic plumbing systems, the feeding system in sill-dyke complexes, as well as other problems. The method is illustrated by studies of the Golden Valley Sill Complex in the Karoo Basin (South Africa).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bradley J (1965) Intrusion of major dolerite sills. Trans R Soc NZ 3:27–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Catuneanu O (2004) Retroarc foreland systems—evolution through time. J Afr Earth Sc 38(3):225–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chevallier L, Woodford A (1999) Morpho-tectonics and mechanism of emplacement of the dolerite rings and sills of the western Karoo, South Africa. S Afr J Geol 102(1):43–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan AR, Erlank AJ, Marsh JS (1984) Regional geochemistry of the Karoo igneous province. In: Erlank AJ (ed) Petrogenesis of the volcanic rocks of the Karoo province. Geol Soc of S Afr Spl Pub, pp 355–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Encarnación J, Fleming TH, Eales HV (1996) Synchronous emplacement of Ferrar and Karoo dolerites and the ealy breakup of Gondwana. Geology 24:535–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis EH (1982) Magma and sediment—I. Emplacement mechanism of late Carboniferous tholeiite sills in northern Britain. J Geol Soc 139(1):1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galerne CY, Neumann ER, Planke S (2008) Emplacement mechanisms of sill complexes: information from the geochemical architecture of the golden valley sill complex South Africa. J Volcanol Geoth Res 177(2):425–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galerne CY, Neumann ER, Aarnes I, Planke S (2010) Magmatic differentiation processes in saucer-shaped sills: Evidence from the golden valley sill in the Karoo Basin, South Africa. Geosphere 6(3):163–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galerne CY, Galland O, Neumann ER, Planke S (2011) 3D relationships between sills and their feeders: evidence from the golden valley sill complex (Karoo Basin) and experimental modelling. J Volcanol Geoth Res 202(3–4):189–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galland O, Holohan E, van Wyk de Vries B, Burchardt S (2014) Laboratory modelling of volcano plumbing system. In: Breitkreuz C, Rocchi S (eds) Laccoliths, sills and dykes—physical geology of shallow level magmatic systems. Advances in volcanology

    Google Scholar 

  • Galland O, Planke S, Neumann ER, Malthe-Sørenssen A (2009) Experimental modelling of shallow magma emplacement: application to saucer-shaped intrusions. Earth Planet Sci Lett 277(3–4):373–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goulty NR (2005) Emplacement mechanism of the Great Whin and Midland Valley dolerite sills. J Geol Soc 162:1047–1056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen DM, Cartwright JA, Thomas D (2004) 3D seismic analysis of the geometry of igneous sills and sill junctions relationships. In: Davies RJ, Cartwright JA, Stewart SA, Lappin M, Underhill JR (eds) 3D Seismic technology: application to the exploration of sedimentary basins. Geological Society, London, Memoirs pp 199–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill T, Lewicki P (2007) STATISTICS: methods and applications. StatSoft, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, van Calsteren P, Hawkesworth C (1995) The evolution of the lithosphere in southern Africa: A perspective on the basic granulite xenoliths from kimberlites in South Africa. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 59(23):4905–4920

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyndman DW, Alt D (1987) Radial dikes, lacolliths, and gelatin models. J Geol 95:763–774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jourdan F, Feraud G, Bertrand H, Kampunzu AB, Tshoso G, Le Gall B, Tiercelin JJ, Capiez P (2004) The Karoo triple junction questioned: evidence from Jurassic and Proterozoic Ar-40/Ar-39 ages and geochemistry of the giant Okavango dyke swarm (Botswana). Earth Planet Sci Lett 222(3–4):989–1006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jourdan F, Feraud G, Bertrand H, Kampunzu AB, Tshoso G, Watkeys MK, Le Gall B (2005) Karoo large igneous province: Brevity, origin, and relation to mass extinction questioned by new Ar-40/Ar-39 age data. Geology 33(9):745–748

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jourdan F, Feraud G, Bertrand H, Watkeys MK (2007) From flood basalts to the inception of oceanization: Example from the Ar-40/Ar-39 high-resolution picture of the Karoo large igneous province. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 8(2):1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Gall B, Tshoso G, Jourdan F, Feraud G, Bertrand H, Tiercelin JJ, Kampunzu AB, Modisi MP, Dyment J, Maia M (2002) Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology and structural data from the giant Okavango and related mafic dyke swarms, Karoo igneous province, northern Botswana. Earth Planet Sci Lett 202(3–4):595–606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malthe-Sørenssen A, Planke S, Svensen H, Jamtveit B (2004) Formation of saucer-shaped sills. In: Breitkreuz C, Petford N (eds) Physical geology of high-level magmatic systems. Geological Society, London, Spl Pub pp 215–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh JS, Hooper PR, Rehacek J, Duncan RA, Duncan AR (1997) Stratigraphy and age of karoo basalts of lesotho and implications for correlations within the Karoo igneous province. In: Mahoney JJ, Coffin MF (eds) Large igneous provinces: continental, oceanic, and planetary flood volcanism. Geophysical Monographs Series. American Geophysical Union. pp 247–272

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • McDonough WF, Sun SS (1995) The composition of the earth. Chem Geol 120(3–4):223–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neumann ER, Svensen H, Galerne CY, Planke S (2011) Multistage evolution of dolerites in the Karoo Large Igneous Province, Central South Africa. J Petrol 52(5):959–984

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce J, Cann J (1971) Ophiolite origin investigated by discriminant analysis using Ti, Zr and Y. Earth Planet Sci Lett 12(3):339–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce J, Cann J (1973) Tectonic setting of basic volcanic-rocks determined using trace-element analyses. Earth Planet Sci Lett 19(2):290–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riley TR, Curtis ML, Leat PT, Watkeys MK, Duncan RA, Millar IL, Owens WH (2006) Overlap of Karoo and Ferrar magma types in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. J Petrol 47(3):541–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheth HC, Mahoney JJ, Chandrasekharam D (2004) Geochemical stratigraphy of Deccan flood basalts of the Bijasan Ghat section, Satpura Range, India. J Asian Earth Sci 23(1):127–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spera F, Bohrson W (2004) Open-system magma chamber evolution: an energy-constrained geochemical model incorporating the effects of concurrent eruption, recharge, variable assimilation and fractional crystallization (EC-E RA chi FC). J Petrol 45(12):2459–2480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • StatSoft Inc (2013) Electronic statistics textbook. Tulsa, OK. http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/

  • Svensen H, Corfu F, Polteau S, Hammer O, Planke S (2012) Rapid magma emplacement in the Karoo Large Igneous Province. Earth Planet Sci Lett 325:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svensen H, Planke S, Chevallier L, Malthe-Sorenssen A, Corfu F, Jamtveit B (2007) Hydrothermal venting of greenhouse gases triggering early jurassic global warming. Earth Planet Sci Lett 256(3–4):554–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svensen H, Polteau S, Cawthorn S, Planke S (2014) Sub-volcanic intrusions in the Karoo Basin, South Africa. In: Breitkreuz C, Rocchi S (eds) Laccoliths, sills and dykes—physical geology of shallow magmatic systems. Advances in Volcanology

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. GeoModellingSolutions GmbH, Hardturmstraße 120, 8005, Zurich, Switzerland

    Christophe Y. Galerne

  2. Physics of Geological Processes, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Else-Ragnhild Neumann

Authors
  1. Christophe Y. Galerne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Else-Ragnhild Neumann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christophe Y. Galerne .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, Freiberg, Germany

    Christoph Breitkreuz

  2. Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Sergio Rocchi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Galerne, C.Y., Neumann, ER. (2014). Geochemical Fingerprinting and Magmatic Plumbing Systems. In: Breitkreuz, C., Rocchi, S. (eds) Physical Geology of Shallow Magmatic Systems. Advances in Volcanology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/11157_2014_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation