Advanced Search

Indexed by SCI、CA、РЖ、PA、CSA、ZR、etc .

Volume 22 Issue 1
Feb 2011
Turn off MathJax
Article Contents
Journal of Earth Science  > 2011  >  22(1): 52-66.
Hui HUANG, Yaoling NIU, Zhidan ZHAO, Huixin HEI, Dicheng ZHU. On the enigma of Nb-Ta and Zr-Hf fractionation—A critical review. Journal of Earth Science, 2011, 22(1): 52-66. doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0157-x
Citation: Hui HUANG, Yaoling NIU, Zhidan ZHAO, Huixin HEI, Dicheng ZHU. On the enigma of Nb-Ta and Zr-Hf fractionation—A critical review. Journal of Earth Science, 2011, 22(1): 52-66. doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0157-x
shu

On the enigma of Nb-Ta and Zr-Hf fractionation—A critical review

doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0157-x
  • 1.

    School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

  • 2.

    Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental System (Ministry of Education), School of Earth Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

  • 3.

    Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK

Funds:

the Chinese 111 Project B07011

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 91014003

More Information
  • Corresponding author: Yaoling NIU, yaoling.niu@durham.ac.uk
  • Received Date: 03 Dec 2009
  • Accepted Date: 22 Mar 2010
  • Publish Date: 01 Feb 2011
    Abstract
  • Elemental ratios Zr/Hf and Nb/Ta are expected to be constant and of chondritic value (~36.30 and ~17.57, respectively) in mantle and mantle-derived rocks. Studies in recent years have shown, however, that these two ratios do vary in some of these rocks. For example, MORB-like seamount lavas from flanks of the East Pacific Rise (EPR) show a correlated Zr/Hf (~25–50) and Nb/Ta (~9–18) variation. These two ratios are also correlated with ratios of more incompatible over less incompatible elements (e.g., La/Sm, Rb/Cs, Th/U, Nb/U, Sm/Yb) and with radiogenic isotope ratios (e.g., 87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd). Furthermore, abyssal peridotites, which are melting residues for MORB, also show a huge correlated variation between Zr/Hf (~2.5–335) and Nb/Ta (~1–170). All these observations plus a correlated variation between Zr/Hf (~22–48) and Nb/Ta (~10–23) in lunar rocks are consistent with the Zr-Hf and Nb-Ta fractionation being of magmatic origin. This contrasts with the common view that geochemical processes cannot readily fractionate them. As charges and ionic radii are the principal factors in the general theory of elemental fractionation, this theory cannot explain the fractionation of these two element pairs with the same charges (i.e., 5+ for Nb and Ta, and 4+ for Zr and Hf) and essentially the same ionic size (i.e., RNb/RTa=1.000, RZr/RHf=1.006 to ~1.026 for coordination numbers of 6, 7, 8 and 12). We explore the possibilities of other factors and processes (e.g., mass-dependent fractionation during magmatism) that may cause the observed Nb-Ta and Zr-Hf fractionation. We emphasize that understanding the correlated Nb-Ta and Zr-Hf fractionation "known" to take place during magmatism is fundamental for improved understanding of elemental fractionations through other earth processes in various tectonic environments, including the origin and evolution of continental crust, which has a characteristic subchondritic Nb/Ta value of ~11-12.

     

    • FullText(HTML)
  • loading
    • References(62)
  • Aulbach, S., O'Reilly, S. Y., Griffin, W. L., et al., 2008. Sub continental Lithospheric Mantle Origin of High Niobium/Tantalum Ratios in Eclogites. Nature Geoscience, 1(7): 468–472 doi: 10.1038/ngeo226
    Blundy, J., Wood, B., 1994. Prediction of Crystal-Melt Partition Coefficients from Elastic Moduli. Nature, 372(6505): 452–454 doi: 10.1038/372452a0
    Blundy, J., Wood, B., 2003. Partitioning of Trace Elements between Crystals and Melts. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 210(3–4): 383–397
    Bougault, H., Joron, J. L., Treuil, M., 1979. Alteration, Fractional Crystallization, Partial Melting, Mantle Properties from Trace Elements in Basalts Recovered in the North Atlantic. In: Talwani, M., Harrison, C. G., Hayes, D. E., eds., Deep Drilling Results in the North Atlantic Ocean Crust. Maurice Ewing Series, 2: 352–368
    Brenan, J. M., Shaw, H. F., Ryerson, F. J., et al., 1995. Mineral-Aqueous Fluid Partitioning of Trace Elements at 900 °c and 2.0 GPa: Constraints on the Trace Element Chemistry of Mantle and Deep Crustal Fluids. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 59(16): 3331–3350 doi: 10.1016/0016-7037(95)00215-L
    Brice, J. C., 1975. Some Thermodynamic Aspects of the Growth of Strained Crystals. Journal of Crystal Growth, 28(2): 249–253 doi: 10.1016/0022-0248(75)90241-9
    Dautria, J. M., Dupuy, C., Takherist, D., et al., 1992. Carbonate Metasomatism in the Lithospheric Mantle: Peridotitic Xenoliths from a Melilititic District of the Sahara Basin. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 111(1): 37–52 doi: 10.1007/BF00296576
    Dupuy, C., Liotard, J. M., Dostal, J., 1992. Zr-Hf Fractionation in Intraplate Basaltic Rocks: Carbonate Metasomatism in the Mantle Source. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 56(6): 2417–2423 doi: 10.1016/0016-7037(92)90198-R
    Elliott, T., Plank, T., Zindler, A., et al., 1997. Element Transport from Slab to Volcanic Front at the Mariana Arc. Journal of Geophysical Research, 102(B7): 14991–15019 doi: 10.1029/97JB00788
    Fábio, R. D. de A., Möller, P., Dulski, P., 2002. Zr-Hf in Carbonatites and Alkaline Rocks: New Data and a Re-evaluation. Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, 32(3): 361–370 doi: 10.25249/0375-7536.2002323361370
    Foley, S. F., Barth, M. G., Jenner, G. A., 2000. Rutile/Melt Partition Coefficients for Trace Elements and an Assessment of the Influence of Rutile on the Trace Element Characteristics of Subduction Zone Magmas. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 64(5): 933–938 doi: 10.1016/S0016-7037(99)00355-5
    Foley, S., Tiepolo, M., Vannucci, R., 2002. Growth of Early Continental Crust Controlled by Melting of Amphibolite in Subduction Zones. Nature, 417(6891): 837–840 doi: 10.1038/nature00799
    Gao, J., John, T., Klemd, R., et al., 2007. Mobilization of Ti-Nb-Ta during Subduction: Evidence from Rutile-Bearing Dehydration Segregations and Veins Hosted in Eclogite, Tianshan, NW China. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 71(20): 4974–4996 doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2007.07.027
    Goldschmidt, V. M., 1937. The Principles of Distribution of Chemical Elements in Minerals and Rocks. J. Chem. Soc. , 140: 655–673
    Green, T. H., 1995. Significance of Nb/Ta as an Indicator of Geochemical Processes in the Crust-Mantle System. Chemical Geology, 120: 347–359 doi: 10.1016/0009-2541(94)00145-X
    Green, T. H., Blundy, J. D., Adam, J., et al., 2000. SIMS Determination of Trace Element Partition Coefficients between Garnet, Clinopyroxene and Hydrous Basaltic Liquids at 2–7.5 GPa and 1 080–1 200 ℃. Lithos, 53(3–4): 165–187
    Hofmann, A. W., 1988. Chemical Differentiation of the Earth: The Relationship between Mantle, Continental Crust, and Oceanic Crust. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 90(3): 297–314 doi: 10.1016/0012-821X(88)90132-X
    Hofmann, A. W., 1997. Mantle Geochemistry: The Message from Oceanic Volcanism. Nature, 385(6613): 219–229 doi: 10.1038/385219a0
    Hofmann, A. W., Jochum, K. P., Seufert, M., et al., 1986. Nb and Pb in Oceanic Basalts: New Constraints on Mantle Evolution. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 79(1–2): 33–45
    Huang, X. L., Wang, R. C., Chen, X. M., et al., 2002. Vertical Variations in the Mineralogy of the Yichun Topaz-Lepidolite Granite, Jiangxi Province, Southern China. The Canadian Mineralogist, 40: 1047–1068 doi: 10.2113/gscanmin.40.4.1047
    Jochum, K. P., Seufert, H. M., Spettel, B., et al., 1986. The Solar-System Abundances of Nb, Ta, Y and the Relative Abundances of Refractory Lithophile Elements in Differentiated Planetary Bodies. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 50(6): 1173–1183 doi: 10.1016/0016-7037(86)90400-X
    Klein, C., Hurlbut, C. S., 1999. Manual of Mineralogy (after James D. Dana). John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, United States. 596
    Klemme, S., Blundy, J. D., Wood, B. J., 2002. Experimental Constraints on Major and Trace Element Partitioning during Partial Melting of Eclogite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 66(17): 3109–3123 doi: 10.1016/S0016-7037(02)00859-1
    Kogiso, T., Tatsumi, Y., Nakano, S., 1997. Trace Element Transport during Dehydration Processes in the Subducted Oceanic Crust: 1, Experiments and Implications for the Origin of Ocean Island Basalts. Earth and Planetary Sci ence Letters, 148(1–2): 193–205
    Linnen, R. L., Keppler, H., 2002. Melt Composition Control of Zr/Hf Fractionation in Magmatic Processes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 66(18): 3293–3301 doi: 10.1016/S0016-7037(02)00924-9
    McDonough, W. F., Sun, S. S., 1995. The Composition of the Earth. Chemical Geology, 120(3–4): 223–253.
    Mo, X. X., Niu, Y. L., Dong, G. C., et al., 2008. Contribution of Syncollisional Felsic Magmatism to Continental Crust Growth: A Case Study of the Paleogene Linzizong Volcanic Succession in Southern Tibet. Chemical Geology, 250(1–4): 49–67
    Muenker, C., Pfaender, J. A., Weyer, S., et al., 2003. Evolution of Planetary Cores and the Earth-Moon System from Nb/Ta Systematics. Science, 301(5629): 84–87 doi: 10.1126/science.1084662
    Nagasawa, H., 1966. Trace Element Partition Coefficient in Ionic Crystals. Science, 152(3723): 767–769 doi: 10.1126/science.152.3723.767
    Niu, Y. L., 2004. Bulk-Rock Major and Trace Element Compositions of Abyssal Peridotites: Implications for Mantle Melting, Melt Extraction and Post-Melting Processes beneath Mid-Ocean Ridges. Journal of Petrology, 45(12): 2423–2458 doi: 10.1093/petrology/egh068
    Niu, Y. L., 2005. Generation and Evolution of Basaltic Magmas: Some Basic Concepts and a New View on the Origin of Mesozoic-Cenozoic Basaltic Volcanism in Eastern China. Geological Journal of China Universities, 11(1): 9–46 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Niu, Y. L., Batiza, R., 1997. Trace Element Evidence from Seamounts for Recycled Oceanic Crust in the Eastern Pacific Mantle. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 148(3–4): 471–483
    Niu, Y. L., Hekinian, R., 1997. Basaltic Liquids and Harzburgitic Rresidues in the Garrett Transform: A Case Study at Fast-Spreading Ridges. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 146(1–2): 243–258
    Niu, Y. L., O'Hara, M. J., 2003. The Origin of Ocean Island Basalts (OIB): A New Perspective from Petrology, Geochemistry and Mineral Physics Considerations. Journal of Geophysical Research, 108(B4): 1–19
    Niu, Y. L., O'Hara, M. J., 2009. MORB Mantle Hosts the Missing Eu (Sr, Nb, Ta and Ti) in the Continental Crust: New Perspectives on Crust-Mantle Differentiation and Chemical Structure of Oceanic Upper Mantle. Lithos, 112(1–2): 1–17
    Niu, Y. L., Regelous, M., Wendt, I. J., et al., 2002. Geochemistry of Near-EPR Seamounts: Importance of Source vs. Process and the Origin of Enriched Mantle Component. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 199(3–4): 327–345
    Norton, D. L., Dutrow, B. L., 2001. Complex Behavior of Magma-Hydrothermal Processes: Role of Supercritical Fluid. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 65(21): 4009–4017 doi: 10.1016/S0016-7037(01)00728-1
    Onuma, N., Higuchi, H., Wakita, H., et al., 1968. Trace Element Partition between Two Pyroxenes and the Host Lava. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 5(1): 47–51
    Palme, H., O'Neill, H. St. C., 2003. Cosmochemical Estimates of Mantle Composition. Treatise on Geochemistry, 2: 1–38
    Pfaender, J. A., Muenker, C., Stracke, A., et al., 2007. Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf in Ocean Island Basalts-Implications for Crust-Mantle Differentiation and the Fate of Niobium. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 254(1–2): 158–172
    Ringwood, A. E., 1955. The Principles Governing Trace Element Distribution during Magmatic Crystallization-Part I: The Influence of Electronegativity. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 7(3–4): 189–202
    Rollinson, H., 1993. Using Geochemical Data: Evaluation, Presentation, Interpretation. Longman Scientific & Technical. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 352
    Rudnick, R. L., Barth, M., Horn, I., et al., 2000. Rutile-Bearing Refractory Eclogites: Missing Link between Continents and Depleted Mantle. Science, 287(5451): 278–281 doi: 10.1126/science.287.5451.278
    Rudnick, R. L., Fountain, D. M., 1995. Nature and Composition of the Continental Crust: A Lower Crustal Perspective. Review of Geophysics, 33(3): 267–309 doi: 10.1029/95RG01302
    Rudnick, R. L., Gao, S., 2003. Composition of the Continental Crust. Treatise on Geochemistry, 3: 1–64
    Shannon, R. D., 1976. Revised Effective Ionic Radii and Systematic Studies of Interatomic Distances in Halides and Chalcogenides. Acta Cryst., A 32: 751–767
    Speer, J. A., Cooper, B. J., 1982. Crystal Structure of Synthetic Hafnon, HfSiO4, Comparison with Zircon and the Actinide Orthosilicates. American Mineralogist, 67: 804–808
    Sun, S. S., McDonough, W. F., 1989. Chemical and Isotopic Systematics in Ocean Basalts: Implications for Mantle Composition and Processes. Geological Society Special Publications, 42: 313–345 doi: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1989.042.01.19
    Tatsumi, Y., Hamilton, D. L., Nesbitt, R. W., 1986. Chemical Characteristics of Fluid Phase Released from a Subducted Lithosphere and Origin of Arc Magmas: Evidence from High-Pressure Experiments and Natural Rocks. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 29(1–4): 293–309
    Taylor, S. R., 1967. The Origin and Growth of Continents. Tec tonophysics, 4(1): 17–34
    Taylor, S. R., 1977. Island Arc Models and the Composition of the Continental Crust. In: Talwani, M., Pitman III, W. C., eds., Island Arcs, Deep Sea Trenches, and Back-Arc Basins. Maurice Ewing Series, American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C. , 1: 325–335
    Taylor, S. R., McLennan, S. M., 1985. The Continental Crust: Its Composition and Evolution. Blackwell, Oxford. 312
    Tiepolo, M., Vannucci, R., Oberti, R., et al., 2000. Nb and Ta Incorporation and Fractionation in Titanian Pargasite and Kaersutite: Crystal-Chemical Constraints and Implications for Natural Systems. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 176(2): 185–201 doi: 10.1016/S0012-821X(00)00004-2
    Wade, J., Wood, B. J., 2001. The Earth's 'Missing' Niobium may be in the Core. Nature, 409(6816): 75–78 doi: 10.1038/35051064
    Wang, R. C., Fontan, F., Xu, S. J., et al., 1996. Hafnian Zircon from the Apical Part of the Suzhou Granite, China. The Canadian Mineralogist, 34: 1001–1010
    Wang, R. C., Zhao, G. T., Lu, J. J., et al., 2000. Chemistry of Hf-Rich Zircons from the Laoshan I- and A-Type Granites, Eastern China. Mineralogical Magazine, 64: 867–877 doi: 10.1180/002646100549850
    Wanke, H., Palme, H., Baddenhausen, H., et al., 1975. New Data on the Chemistry of Lunar Samples: Primary Matter in the Lunar Highlands and the Bulk Composition of the Moon. Pro. Lunar Sci. , 6: 1313–1340
    Weyer, S., Munker, C., Mezger, K., 2003. Nb/Ta, Zr/Hf and REE in the Depleted Mantle: Implications for the Differentiation History of the Crust-Mantle System. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 205(3–4): 309–324
    Wood, B. J., Blundy, J. D., 1997. A Predictive Model for Rare Earth Element Partitioning between Clinopyroxene and Anhydrous Silicate Melt. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 129(2–3): 166–181
    Workman, R. K., Hart, S. R., 2005. Major and Trace Element Composition of the Depleted MORB Mantle (DMM). Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 231(1–2): 53–72
    Xiao, Y. L., Sun, W. D., Hoefs, J., et al., 2006. Making Continental Crust through Slab Melting: Constriants from Niobium-Tantalum Fractionation in UHP Metamorphic Rutile. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 70(18): 4770–4782 doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2006.07.010
    Zhang, A. C., Wang, R. C., Hu, H., et al., 2004. Chemical Evolution of Nb-Ta Oxides and Zircon from the Koktokay No. 3 Granitic Pegmatite, Altai, Northwestern China. Mineralogical Magazine, 68: 739–756 doi: 10.1180/0026461046850216
    • Relative Articles
    • Supplements(0)
    • Cited By
  • 加载中

Catalog

    通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
    • 1. 

      沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

    1. 本站搜索
    2. 百度学术搜索
    3. 万方数据库搜索
    4. CNKI搜索

    Figures(7)  / Tables(2)

    Get Citation
    PDF
    XML

    Article Metrics

    Article views(1072) PDF downloads(44) Cited by()
    Proportional views
    Related

    Copyright © 2013-2020 Journal of Earth Science 鄂ICP备15021562号-2

    Tel: +86-27-67885075 Fax: +86-27-67885075 E-mail: xbb@cug.edu.cn

    Address: Editorial Office of Journal, China University of Geosciences, Yujiashan, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, P. R. China

    Supported by: Beijing Renhe Information Technology Co. Ltd  E-mail: info@rhhz.net  

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return
    Return