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Sr isotope records from marginal marine basins track the mixing between seawater and local continental runoff, potentially recording the effects of sea level, tectonic, and climate forcing in marine fossils and sediments. Our 110 new Sr-87/Sr-86 analyses on oyster and foraminifera samples from six late Miocene stratigraphic sections in southern Turkey, Crete, and Sicily show that Sr-87/Sr-86 fell below global seawater values in the basins several million years before the Messinian Salinity Crisis, coinciding with tectonic uplift and basin shallowing. 87Sr/86Sr from more centrally located basins (away from the Mediterranean coast) drop below global seawater values only during the Messinian Salinity Crisis. In addition to this general trend, 55 new Sr-87/Sr-86 analyses from the astronomically tuned Lower Evaporites in the central Apennines (Italy) allow us to explore the effect of glacio-eustatic sea level and precipitation changes on Sr-87/Sr-86. Most variation in our data can be explained by changes in sea level, with greatest negative excursions from global seawater values occurring during relative sea level lowstands, which generally coincided with arid conditions in the Mediterranean realm. We suggest that this greater sensitivity to lowered sea level compared with higher runoff could relate to the inverse relationship between Sr concentration and river discharge. Variations in the residence time of groundwater within the karst terrain of the circum-Mediterranean region during arid and wet phases may help to explain the single (robust) occurrence of a negative excursion during a sea level highstand, but this explanation remains speculative without more detailed paleoclimatic data for the region.

Mesozoic to Cenozoic alkaline-carbonatitic complexes from southern Brazil, Angola and Namibia occur along main tectonic lineaments. In general, the alkaline-carbonatite complexes show intrusive/subintrusive, subcircular or oval shaped structures and are indicative of high upwelling energy. Processes of liquid immiscibility from trachytic-phonolitic liquids, starting from parental alkaline mafic magmas are believed to have generated carbonatitic liquids, as suggested by field relationships and geochemical characteristics. Ca-, Mg- and Fe-carbonatites are widespread even in the same complex. The occurrences comprise three main chronogroups, i.e. 1) Early Cretaceous (Eastern Paraguay; Brazil, Ponta Grossa Arch and Anitapolis; Angola and Namibia); 2) Late Cretaceous (Brazil , Ponta Grossa Arch, Lages and Alto Paranaiba. Namibia); 3) Paleogene, Brazil and Namibia Two principal types of associated alkaline rocks are represented, i.e. plagioleucitites l.s. (Eastern Paraguay; Brazil: Ponta Grossa Arch- Angola and Namibia) and kamafugites l.s. (Brazil: alto Paranaiba and Lages; Namibia). Significant variations in O-C isotope compositions are found in primary carbonates , the variations being mainly due to isotope exchange between carbonates and H2O-CO2-rich hydrothermal fluids, whereas magmatic processes, i.e. fractional crystallization or liquid immiscibility, probably affect the delta O-18 and delta C-13 values by not more than 2 delta%.. The isotope exchange model implies that the most significant isotopic variations took place in a hydrothermal environment, e.g. in the range 400-80 degrees C, involving fluids with CO2/H2O ratio ranging from 0.8 to 1. Sr-Nd-Pb isotope systematics highlight heterogeneous mixtures between HIMU and EMI mantle components, similar to the associated alkaline rocks and the flood tholeiites of the Parana-Angola-Etendeka (Namibia) system. This is also consistent with Re-Os systematics on selected mafic samples from the Alto Paranaiba alkaline-carbonatite province. The data relative to the noble gases suggest that the source(s) are similar to other mantle derived magmas (e.g. HIMU and MORB) and that the carbon of carbonatites is unlikely to be subduction-related carbon, and support a C-O fractionation model starting from mantle-derived sources. In spite of the strong variation shown by C-O isotopes, Sr-Nd-Pb-Os isotopic systematics could be related to an isotopically enriched source where the chemical heterogeneities reflect a depleted mantle "metasomatized" by small-volume melts and fluids rich in incompatible elements. These fluids are expected to have promoted crystallization in the mantle of K-rich phases that gave rise to a veined network variously enriched in LILE and LREE (cf. Foley, 1992b). The newly formed veins (enriched component) and peridotite matrix (depleted component) underwent a different isotopic evolution with time as reflected by the carbonatitic rocks. These conclusions may be extended to the whole Parana-Angola-Etendeka system, where isotopically distinct parent magmas were generated following two main enrichment events of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle at 2.0-1.4 and 1.0-0.5 Ga, respectively, as also supported by Re-Os systematics. The mantle sources preserved the isotopic heterogeneities over a long time, suggesting a non-convective lithospheric mantle beneath different cratons or intercratonic regions. Overall the data indicate that the alkaline-carbonatitic magmatism originated from a significant, but small scale heterogeneous subcontinental mantle. In this scenario, the Tristan da Cunha, Walvis Ridge-Rio Grande Rise and Vitoria-Trindade hotspot tracks might reflect the accomodation of stresses in the lithosphere during rifting, rather than continuous magmatic activity induced by mantle plumes beneath the moving lithosphere.

The Early Cretaceous Barra do Itapirapuā carbonatite, in southern Brazil, belongs to the initial stages of the alkaline carbonatitic magmatism in the Ponta Grossa Arch Province, as related to the opening of the south Atlantic Ocean. The magmatic evolution of the complex comprises four phases of intrusive carbonatite that are composed of medium- to coarse-grained Mg and Fe carbonatites with small volumes of late fine- to very fine-grained Mg carbonatites and show evidence of pervasive hydrothermal events. Drill core samples reveal the existence of silicate rocks of syenitic composition of two different origins. Among the silicate rocks, there are syenites of a likely magmatic origin, as well as fenites derived from the granitic protolith, which constitutes the wall rock of the complex. Fenitization around the Barra do Itapirapuā complex is mainly potassic, and fenites are Ca- and LOI-enriched in comparison with the magmatic syenites. Furthermore, the two types of silicate rocks differ in terms of REE and other trace elements. Associated syenites and carbonatites have similar Sr-Nd isotopic compositions, close to the Bulk Earth at 120 Ma. Mixing curves indicate that the carbonatite-syenite association may be accounted for by assimilation of up to 20% crustal material, whereas the late carbonatite composition is consistent with less than 10% assimilation of crustal rocks. An origin by liquid immiscibility for the carbonatite-syenite association can be considered, followed by magmatic differentiation through fractional crystallization of calcite and dolomite in the carbonatite magma. C-O stable isotopic data indicate further reequilibration under hydrothermal conditions at temperatures between 375 and 80 °C. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Early and Late Cretaceous alkaline and alkaline–carbonatitic complexes from southern Brazil are located along the main tectonic lineaments of the South America Platform. Calcium-, magnesium-, and ferrocarbonatites are well represented and frequently associated even in the same complex. Primary carbonates present significant variations in C–O isotopic compositions, which are mainly due to isotope exchange with H2O–CO2-rich hydrothermal fluids, whereas fractional crystallization or liquid immiscibility probably affects the δ18O and δ13C values by no more than 2δ‰. Our isotope exchange model implies that the most significant isotopic variations took place in a hydrothermal environment, e.g., in the range 400–80°C, involving fluids with the CO2/H2O ratio ranging from 0.8 to 1. Sr–Nd–Pb isotope systematics highlight heterogeneous mixtures between HIMU and EMI mantle components, similar to the associated alkaline rocks and the flood tholeiites from southern Brazil. In spite of the strong variation shown by C–O isotopes, Sr–Nd–Pb–Os isotopic systematics could be related to an isotopically enriched source where the chemical heterogeneities reflect a depleted mantle “metasomatized” by small-volume melts and fluids rich in incompatible elements. These fluids are expected to have promoted crystallization of K-rich phases in the mantle, which produced a veined network variously enriched in LILE and LREE. The newly formed veins (enriched component) and peridotite matrix (depleted component) underwent a different isotopic evolution with time as reflected by the carbonatites. These conclusions may be extended to the whole Paraná–Etendeka system, where isotopically distinct parent magmas were generated following two main enrichment events of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle at 2.0–1.4 and 1.0–0.5 Ga, respectively, as also supported by Re–Os systematics. The mantle sources preserved the isotopic heterogeneities over a long time, suggesting a nonconvective lithospheric mantle beneath different cratons or intercratonic regions. Overall, the data indicate that the alkaline–carbonatitic magmatism originated from a locally heterogeneous subcontinental mantle.

The extensional Val Roveto Fault, which is the longest exhumed potentially-seismogenic structure of central Apennines, Italy, is examined to constrain earthquake-related fluid circulation and fluid sources within shallow carbonate-hosted faults. The study focuses on fault-related comb and slip-parallel veins that are calcite-filled and cut through the principal surface of the Val Roveto Fault. We observe multiple crack-and-seal events characterized by several veining episodes, probably related to different slip increments along the fault plane. We show that vein calcite precipitated in Late Pleistocene time below the present-day outcrop level at a maximum depth of similar to 350 m and temperatures between 32 and 64 degrees C from meteoric-derived fluids modified by reactions with crustal rocks and with a mantle contribution (up to similar to 39%). The observed warm temperatures are not compatible with a shallow (

The Early Cretaceous (138–130 Ma) carbonatites and associated alkaline rocks of Angola belong to the Parana-Angola-Etendeka Province and occur as ring complexes and other central-type intrusions along northeast trending tectonic lineaments, parallel to the trend of coeval Namibian alkaline complexes. Most of the Angolan carbonatite-alkaline bodies are located along the apical part of the Mocamedes Arch, a structure representing the African counterpart of the Ponta Grossa Arch in southern Brazil, where several alkaline-carbonatite complexes were also emplaced in the Early Cretaceous. Geochemical and isotopic (C, 0, Sr and Nd) characteristics determined for five carbonatitic occurrences indicate that: (1) the overall geochemical composition, including the OC isotopes, is within the range of the Early and Late Cretaceous Brazilian occurrences from the Parana Basin; (2) the La versus La Yb relationships are consistent with the exsolution of COi2-rich melts from trachyphonolitic magmas; and (3) the 143 Nd 144 Nd and 87 Sr 86 Sr initial ratios are similar to the initial isotopic ratios (129 Ma) of alkaline complexes in northwest Namibia. In contrast, the Lupongola carbonatites have a distinctly different 143 Nd 144 Nd initial ratio, suggesting a different source. The Angolan carbonatites have SrNd isotopic compositions ranging from bulk earth to time-integrated depleted sources. Since those from eastern Paraguay (at the western fringe of the Parana-Angola-Etendeka Province) and Brazil appear to be related to mantle-derived melts with time-integrated enriched or B.E. isotopic characteristics, it is concluded that the carbonatites of the Parana-Angola-Etendeka Province have compositionally distinct mantle sources. Such mantle heterogeneity is attributed to ‘metasomatic processes’, which would have occurred at ca 0.6–0.7 Ga (Angola, northwest Namibia and Brazil) and ca 1.8 Ga (eastern Paraguay), as suggested by Nd-model ages.

Late Miocene brackish ostracods and molluscs collected in three Italian basins show noticeable differences in their taxonomic composition, despite their capability of dispersing across wide geographic areas. In the Venetian-Friulian Basin (northern Italy), the upper Tortonian sediments contain oligotypic ostracod assemblages including Hemicyprideis dacica dacica, Hemicytheria pejinovicensis, and Loxoconcha cf. L. josephi and few gastropods referable to Planorbidae and Stenothyroides, which are typical of the central Paratethys. In central Italy, the brackish ostracods and molluscs recovered from upper Tortonian-lower Messinian deposits from four Tuscan basins (Volterra-Radicondoli, Velona, Baccinello-Cinigiano, and Valdelsa) display high affinity at a generic level but strong endemicity at a specific level. At Cessaniti (southern Italy), the upper Tortonian unit contains oligotypic brackish ostracods and molluscs: Mediocytherideis (Sylvestra) posterobursa, Cyprideis ruggierii, Loxoconcha cf. L. biformata, and Zonocypris membranae quadricella characterise the ostracod fauna, while Granulolabium bicinctum and Hydrobia frauenfeldi are the dominant molluscs. The recovered ostracods have a strong affinity with brackish species from central and eastern Palaeo-Mediterranean areas, whereas the molluscs present a Paratethyan origin. Despite the fact that the basins are all brackish and partly coeval, the systematics of these assemblages highlights the absence of common species among the three studied areas. Geochemical analyses (stable isotopes and trace elements) are performed on ostracods, and 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios are established in molluscs and echinoids. The results suggest brackish environments with different compositions and origins of solutes in the three different areas. The Tuscan basins are characterised by brackish waters, with NaCl-enriched waters coming from aquifers of Triassic evaporite bedrock. The brackish deposits of the Venetian-Friulian Basin and Cessaniti are true marginal marine environments, although the northern basin may have been influenced by both the Paratethyan Sava Basin and the northern portion of the Palaeo-Mediterranean water bodies. © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS., This research has been supported by the Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria (IGAG), CNR of Roma (Italy), Commessa TA.P05.009, by the research grants to Elsa Gliozzi provided by the Department of Earth Sciences of University Roma Tre, and the research grants to D. Esu provided by ‘‘Sapienza’’ University of Roma. P. Anado´ n’s work was supported by research grant CGL 2008-00594, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacio´ n, Spain.

Submarine magmatism in the Sicily Channel Rift began in the early Pliocene and lasted until almost 200 yr ago. We present here petrological and geochemical data on volcanic rocks dredged from Graham and Nameless banks and Pantelleria seamounts in the Pelagian sector of the Sicily Channel Rift. Petrological evidence suggests that the ascent of magmas to the surface was relatively rapid, probably through channels superimposed over the major tectonic discontinuities of the Rift. Major and trace element data indicate an ocean island basalt affinity for Graham and Nameless bank alkaline lavas and a depleted tholeiitic signature for one Pantelleria seamount, which had a shallower mantle source. Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions suggest a heterogeneous mantle source involving both focus zone (FOZO) and high-m (HIMU) components. Lead isotopic compositions are slightly less radiogenic in the tholeiitic basalt and more radiogenic (closer to HIMU) in the alkaline lavas.We hypothesize that a decompressional meltingmechanism affected the mantle beneath the Sicily Channel at different levels. Our data fit in a regional scenario characterized by the presence of HIMU or FOZO components in alkaline and calc-alkaline volcanics all around Sicily. The explanation for the common isotopic composition could lie in a (fossil) plume head that variably contributed to magmatogenesis in response to variable lithospheric stretching.

3 DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE DELLA TERRA, UNIVERSITY OF TRIESTE, VIA E. WEISS 8, I-34127 TRIESTE, ITALY 4 INSTITUTO DE GEOCIENCIAS, UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO, C.P. 30627, 01051 SAO PAULO, SP, BRAZIL 5 DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE DELLA TERRA, ‘LA SAPIENZA’ UNIVERSITY, PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 5, I-00185, ROME, ITALY 6 ISTITUTO DI MINERALOGIA, PETROGRAFIA E GEOCHIMICA, UNIVERSITY OF PALERMO, VIA ARCHIRAFI 36, I-90100

An iterative procedure, based on the implemented Gauss method, has been applied to the radioactive decay law as used in geochronology, in order to refine the age and initial isotopic composition parameters. The method furnishes some statistical information about the fitting, obtained during the iterative path, such as the correlation coefficient between parameters and the residual/standard deviation ratio for each of the regressed points. In particular, the ratio between residuals and standard deviation is a tool to evaluate how each point influences the linear regression in relation to its actual scatter from the best-fit line. It is believed that this approach may be useful if coupled with standard isochron calculations. As an example, the method has been applied to date some Hercynic leucogranites outcropping in the Budduso intrusive complex (NE Sardinia, Italy). The iterative least-squares procedure allows to remove from the fitting some samples which were perturbed with respect to the Rb-Sr systematic. The isochron calculated on the selected rocks yields an age of 274±9 Ma, which dates the last isotopic homogeneization event, and could represent the emplacement age of the leucogranites. Furthermore, biotite minerals separated from the leucogranites yield an isochron age of 272±7 Ma, thus indicating a possible high cooling rate of the granitic intrusion.