Portland State University
Winter 2-24-2016
Field Geology and Petrologic Investigation of the Strawberry Volcanics, Northeast Oregon
Arron Richard Steiner
Portland State University
Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds
Part of the Geology Commons, and the Volcanology Commons
Let us know how access to this document benefits you.
Recommended Citation
Steiner, Arron Richard, "Field Geology and Petrologic Investigation of the Strawberry Volcanics, Northeast Oregon" (2016). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 2712.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.2708
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more
accessible: [email protected].
Field Geology and Petrologic Investigation of the Strawberry Volcanics, Northeast
Oregon
by
Arron Richard Steiner
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in
Environmental Sciences and Resources: Geology
Dissertation Committee: Martin J. Streck, Chair Michael L. Cummings
Jonathan Fink John A.Wolff Dirk Iwata-Reuyl
Portland State University
2016
© 2015 Arron Richard Steiner i
ABSTRACT
The Strawberry Volcanics of Northeast Oregon are a group of geochemically related lavas with a diverse chemical range (basalt to rhyolite) that erupted between 16.2 and 12.5 Ma and co-erupted with the large, (~200,000 km3) Middle Miocene tholeiitic lavas of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG), which erupted near and geographically surround the Strawberry Volcanics. The rhyolitic lavas of the Strawberry Volcanics produced the oldest 40Ar/39Ar ages measured in this study with ages ranging from 16.2 Ma to 14.6 Ma, and have an estimated total erupted volume of 100 km3. The mafic and intermediate lavas of the Strawberry Volcanics include both tholeiitic and calc-alkaline compositions; calc-alkaline andesite is the dominant type by volume. 40Ar/39Ar ages of the mafic and intermediate lava flows range from 15.6 Ma to 12.5 Ma, and volume estimates of the intermediate lavas are approximately 1,100 km3. The magmas that gave rise to the Strawberry Volcanics traveled to the surface through numerous dikes, some of which have been exposed at the surface and supplied lava to fissure – style eruptions and/or shield volcanoes. Herein, we show that the Strawberry Volcanics are related to the CRBG in both time and space and share a chemical affinity, specifically to the Steens Basalt. Chemical similarities are observed in normalized trace element patterns, selected trace element ratios, and radiogenic isotopes. Comparison of the Strawberry Volcanic rhyolites to the other Middle Miocene rhyolites of eastern Oregon associated with the initiation of the Yellowstone – Snake River mantle plume reveals similar eruption ages, trace element compositions, including the rare earth elements (REEs), and “A-type” ii rhyolite characteristics. These data suggest that the Strawberry Volcanics are part of the regional volcanism (basalt to rhyolite) of the Columbia River Basalt Province. The petrogenesis of the Strawberry Volcanics can be explained as follows: 1) The tholeiitic, intermediate magmas were produced by fractional crystallization of mafic magmas, which have a commonality with the surrounding Columbia River Basalt Group; 2) The calc-alkaline magmas are a result of mixing between tholeiitic basalt, rhyolite, and crust. The arc-like signature of the calc-alkaline lavas (elevated large ion lithophiles) is a result of both the melting source region and the end-members with which the mafic magmas mixed/contaminated. Other authors have produced similar findings from within the Basin and Range/Oregon-Idaho graben and CRB province. The difference at the Strawberry Volcanics is that there is no need for a primitive calc-alkaline magma or extensive fractional crystallization to generate the calc-alkaline andesite series. Alternatively, the calc-alkaline magmas of the Strawberry Volcanics were generated by a more primitive tholeiitic magma than erupted at the surface, which interacted with crustal melts and assimilated crustal lithologies from the complex zone of assimilated terranes that make up the basement of eastern Oregon. iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author would like to express a sincere appreciation of gratitude to the academic committee members: Martin Streck, Michel Cummings, Jonathan Fink, John Wolff and Dirk Iwata-Reuyl. I would like to further thank Martin Streck for providing opportunities to study at Portland State University and working tirelessly with me on edits for this dissertation. The work for Chapters 1, 2 and 3 were supported by: NSF-EAR grant #1220676; PSU Faculty Enhancement grant to Streck; and 2011 GSA research grant # 9579-11. I would also like to thank Mark Ferns for our discussions of eastern Oregon geology, Richard M. Conrey, Charles M. Knaack and Scott Boroughs at Washington State University for their assistance in whole rock geochemical XRF and ICP-MS analysis; Frank Ramos at New Mexico State University for Isotope analysis, Frank Tepley and Dale Burns at Oregon State University for the EMP analysis, Bob Duncan, Anthony Koppers and Dan Miggins for age analysis at Oregon State University, Dale Burns for his thoughtful insights, excellent field company and stimulating conversation regarding this research and including all geology. And to Ashley Van Hoose/Steiner, thanks for excellent field assistance and superior editing and comments along the way. Thank you for supporting me in every way. I would also like to thank Eric Christiansen and Esteban Gazel for their comments and edits that helped to improve the final published manuscript of Chapter 1, along with Arturo Gomez-Tuena for his editorial handling and additional comments towards the publishment of Chapter 1. Lastly, I would like to thank my family. Without their love and support this could not have happened. Thank You. iv i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................... ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................. iii LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................... viii
- LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................
- x
Chapter
1. THE STRAWBERRY VOLCANICS: GENERATION OF ‘OROGENIC’
ANDESITES FROM THOLEIITE WITHIN AN INTRA-CONTINENTAL VOLCANIC SUITE CENTERED ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER FLOOD
- BASALT PROVINCE, USA. ..............................................................................
- 1
Abstract................................................................................................................. Introduction........................................................................................................... Methods ................................................................................................................ Results...................................................................................................................
Stratigraphy and New Ages of the Strawberry Volcanics .............................
Field Relationships.................................................................................
135777
40Ar/39Ar Ages of Strawberry Volcanics and Stratigraphic Relationships to Mid-Miocene Flood Basalts and Other Regional Rock Units ............... 10
Geochemistry................................................................................................. 11
Tholeiitic Lavas of the Strawberry Volcanics ....................................... 11 The Calc-Alkaline Suite of the Strawberry Volcanics........................... 13 Compositional difference between tholeiitic and calc-alkaline suite .... 14
Discussion............................................................................................................. 15
Field Interpretations....................................................................................... 15 Common Parent for Calc-Alkaline and Tholeiitic Magmas .......................... 18 Compositional Changes and Petrogenesis Associated with Calc-Alkaline and Tholeiitic Evolution....................................................................................... 20 Implications for Other Intra-Continental Settings with Calc-Alkaline Suites 21
Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 24 v
2. THE VOLUMINOUS AND COMPOSITIONALLY DIVERSE, MID-MIOCENE
STRAWBERRY MOUNTAIN VOLCANICS OF NORTHEASTERN OREGON AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO BASALTIC AND RHYOLITIC VOLCANISM OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASALT PROVINCE............... 26
Abstract................................................................................................................. 26 Introduction........................................................................................................... 28 Geologic Setting ................................................................................................... 30
Accreted Terranes (~320-220 Ma)................................................................. 30 Clarno/John Day (~54-22 Ma)....................................................................... 31 The Columbia River Basalt Group (~16.9-6.0 Ma)....................................... 32 Regional Ignimbrites and Younger Units ...................................................... 33
Methods ................................................................................................................ 35
Field Methods and Sample Collection........................................................... 35 Whole Rock Geochemistry............................................................................ 36
Major, and Trace Elements.................................................................... 36 Radiogenic Isotopes............................................................................... 37 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology....................................................................... 37
Radiometric Ages ................................................................................................. 39
Previous Ages of Strawberry Volcanics ........................................................ 39 Summary of New 40Ar/39Ar Results .............................................................. 40
Stratigraphy and Eruptive Units ........................................................................... 41
Rhyolitic Volcanism ...................................................................................... 41 Basaltic to Intermediate Lava Flows ............................................................. 46
Calc-Alkaline Intermediate Volcanism (15.50 to 12.5 Ma) .................. 47 Tholeiitic Basaltic and Intermediate Volcanism (15.5 to 13.5 Ma)....... 49
Discussion............................................................................................................. 51
Synopsis of Emplacement History of the Strawberry Volcanics................... 51 Relationships of Mafic Strawberry Volcanics to Flood Basalt Magmatism of the CRBG....................................................................................................... 52 Context of the Strawberry Mountain Rhyolites to the Mid-Miocene Rhyolite Flare-Up......................................................................................................... 56
Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 61 vi
3. THE MAKING OF INTRA-CONTINENTAL ANDESITES WITH ARC
AFFINITIES: THE STRAWBERRY VOLCANICS OF NORTHEAST OREGON
....................................................................................................................... 63
Abstract................................................................................................................. 63 Introduction........................................................................................................... 65
Tholeiitic and Calc-alkaline Andesites.......................................................... 66
Regional Geologic Setting.................................................................................... 69 Methods ................................................................................................................ 71
Bulk Rock Analyses....................................................................................... 71 Radiogenic Isotopes....................................................................................... 71 Electron Microprobe Analysis....................................................................... 71
Results................................................................................................................... 73
Petrography.................................................................................................... 73
Basalt Lavas........................................................................................... 73 Intermediate, Calc-alkaline and Tholeiitic Lavas .................................. 74
Tholeiitic Lavas ......................................................................... 74 Calc-Alkaline Lavas................................................................... 74
Rhyolite Lavas ....................................................................................... 75
Mineral Chemistry......................................................................................... 76
Basalt Lavas........................................................................................... 76 Intermediate, Calc-alkaline and Tholeiitic Lavas .................................. 77
Tholeiitic Lavas ......................................................................... 77 Calc-Alkaline Lavas................................................................... 78
Summary of EMP Results...................................................................... 79
Whole Rock Geochemistry............................................................................ 80
Whole Rock Major and Trace Element Geochemistry.......................... 80 Sr, Nd, and Pb Radiogenic Isotope Composition .................................. 82
Discussion............................................................................................................. 84
Common Basalt for Calc-Alkaline and Tholeiitic Suites .............................. 84 Enrichment and Fractionation During Tholeiitic Evolution.......................... 86 Generation of Intra-Continental Calc-Alkaline Andesites............................. 88
Evidence for Open System Processes.................................................... 88 Mixing with Silicic Magmas vs Contamination by Crustal Rocks........ 89
Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 96 vii
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 186 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................... 206 ABCDEFGH
XRF....................................................................................................................... 206 ICP-MS................................................................................................................. 207 NORMS ................................................................................................................ 208 ISOTOPES............................................................................................................ 209 EMP-CPX............................................................................................................. 210 EMP-OPX............................................................................................................. 211 EMP-OLV............................................................................................................. 212 40Ar/39Ar AGE ANALYSIS ................................................................................. 213 viii
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1.
Page
40Ar/39Ar geochronology......................................................................... 98
- 1.2.
- Whole rock major and trace element analysis of mafic and intermediate lavas
................................................................................................................ 99
1.3a. 1.3b.
Whole rock major and trace element analysis of rhyolite lavas ............. 100 Whole rock major and trace element analysis of crustal rock surrounding the Strawberry Volcanics.............................................................................. 101
- 2.1.
- 40Ar/39Ar age analysis of the Strawberry Volcanics ............................... 102
- Whole rock XRF data of rhyolite lavas from the Strawberry Volcanics 103
- 2.2a.
- 2.2b.
- Whole rock ICP-MS data of rhyolite lavas from the Strawberry Volcanics
................................................................................................................ 104
2.3a.
2.3b. 2.3c. 2.3d. 2.4a. 2.4b. 3.1a.
Whole rock XRF data of tholeiitic basalts and basaltic andesites from the Strawberry Volcanics.............................................................................. 105
Whole rock ICP-MS data of tholeiitic basalts and basaltic andesites from the Strawberry Volcanics.............................................................................. 106
Whole rock XRF data of calc-alkaline basaltic andesites from the Strawberry Volcanics................................................................................................. 107
Whole rock ICP-MS data of calc-alkaline basaltic andesites from the Strawberry Volcanics.............................................................................. 108
Whole rock radiogenic Sr isotopes for mafic, intermediate rhyolite lavas and crustal rocks ............................................................................................ 109
Whole rock radiogenic Nd and Pb isotopes for mafic, intermediate rhyolite lavas and crustal rocks ............................................................................ 110
EMP data of cpx crystals from tholeiitic (Th) basalt and intermediate lavas
................................................................................................................ 111 ix
3.1b. 3.1c. 3.1d.
EMP data of cpx crystals from calc-alkaline (Ca) intermediate lavas.... 112 EMP data of opx crystals from calc-alkaline (Ca) intermediate lava..... 113 EMP data of olivine crystals from tholeiitic (Th) basalt and intermediate lavas
................................................................................................................ 114
- 3.1e.
- EMP data of olivine crystals from calc-alkaline (Ca) intermediate lavas
................................................................................................................ 115
- 3.2.
- Partition coefficient used in calculations for FC and AFC models ....... 116
- 3.3a.
- Whole rock XRF analysis of crustal rock which crop out within the Strawberry
Volcanics ................................................................................................ 117
- 3.3b.
- Whole rock ICP-MS analysis of crustal rock which crop out within the
Strawberry Volcanics ............................................................................. 118