JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY VOLUME 42 NUMBER 2 PAGES 407–432 2001

Platinum-Group Elements (PGE) in Basalts

of the Seaward-Dipping Reflector Sequence,
SE Greenland Coast∗

H. PHILIPP, J.-D. ECKHARDT† AND H. PUCHELT

INSTITUTE FOR PETROLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF KARLSRUHE, KAISERSTRAßE 12,
D-76128 KARLSRUHE, GERMANY

RECEIVED JUNE 22, 1998; REVISED TYPESCRIPT ACCEPTED MAY 31, 2000

The rift-related, seaward-dipping reflector sequence (SDRS) SE of INTRODUCTION

Greenland consists of basaltic lavas that exhibit variable degrees of
magmatic differentiation, derived from a heterogeneous mantle source.
Platinum-group elements (PGE) are used to provide insights into
the petrogenetic evolution of the SDRS, and to characterize the
magma sources. Noble metal concentrations correlate well with
indicators for magmatic differentiation (mg-number, MgO), ex-
hibiting two distinct trends. Concentrations of Ir, Ru and Rh tend
to decrease with progressive differentiation, indicating compatible
behaviour of these elements during fractional crystallization processes.
The variation of Pt and Pd shows segmented trends. In primitive
magmas, Pt and Pd are incompatible and become enriched in the
melt. The primitive magma is S undersaturated, despite derivation
from a depleted mid-ocean ridge basalt source at a moderate degree
of melting, reflecting enhanced S solubility in the melt caused by
high Fe content and elevated temperature. In the more evolved lavas,
Pt and Pd decrease with decreasing MgO and mg-number. This
indicates that S saturation had occurred with Pt and Pd being
incorporated in sulphides, which probably segregated during ascent.
Bulk partition coefficients for the PGE during partial melting are
calculated based on data from a primitive basaltic unit with MgO
>20 wt %, representing a near-primary magma composition. The
determined bulk partition coefficients for an S-undersaturated melt
are about 2 (Ir), 4 (Ru), 1·2 (Rh), 0·5 (Pt) and 0·4 (Pd). This
indicates that Ir, Ru and Rh are compatible during partial melting,
whereas Pt and Pd are incompatible.
KEY WORDS: basalts; Greenland; partial melting; PGE; trace elements
Seaward-dipping reflector sequences (SDRSs) are char-
acteristic features of volcanic rifted margins. The SDRS
SE of Greenland formed during the initial break-up of
the North Atlantic in the late Paleocene–early Eocene
(Duncan et al., 1996) and spans the whole period from
continental break-up to seafloor spreading (Brooks &
Nielsen, 1982; Saunders et al., 1997). Large volumes of
lava erupted in a short period of time under subaerial
or shallow water conditions along the continental margins
of Norway and Greenland. The high magma production
rates, which led to the formation of magmatic sequences
up to 6 km thick, are inferred to require the presence of
a mantle plume (White & McKenzie, 1989).
The aims of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Legs 152
and 163 were to investigate the origin and nature of the
SDRS with regard to the influence of a mantle plume
(Larsen et al., 1994a; Duncan et al., 1996). Nine sites were
drilled in two transects distal to the ancient plume track
at 63°N and 66°N (Fig. 1).
It has been shown that platinum-group element (PGE)
systematics can provide important information about
the petrogenesis of basaltic magmas, such as magmatic
differentiation, sulphide segregation and mantle source
characteristics (e.g. Brügmann et al., 1987; Greenough &
Owen, 1992; Barnes & Picard, 1993; Seitz & Keays,
1997; Vogel & Keays, 1997). Many aspects of the geo-
chemistry of PGE remain, however, poorly understood.
In this study, we present PGE data for the entire
compositional range of the SDRS, accompanied by
major, trace and rare earth element analyses to elucidate

∗Extended dataset can be found at:

http://www.petrology.oupjournals.org
†Corresponding author. Telephone: ++(49) 721-608-3326. Fax:
++(49) 721-608-7247.
E-mail: detlef.eckhardt@bio-geo.uni-karlsruhe.de  Oxford University Press 2001
 JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY
Fig. 1. Map of the North Atlantic, showing the locations of drill sites of ODP Legs 152 and 163 [modified after Larsen et al. (1994a)]. JMFZ,
Jan Mayen Fracture Zone; JMR, Jan Mayen Ridge; JMR, Jan Mayen Ridge; A6, A20, A24: selected seafloor spreading magnetic anomalies.
the petrogenesis and mantle source characteristics of the
magmas. The compositional variation and derivation of
the magmas from a heterogeneous mantle source provides
an opportunity to describe the PGE systematics of mag-
matic differentiation and the PGE characteristics of
mantle-derived basalts.
GEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND AND
SAMPLE INFORMATION
Detailed background information on the tectonic and
geological setting of the SE Greenland SDRS appears in
the Initial Reports of ODP Legs 152 and 163 (Larsen et
al., 1994a; Duncan et al., 1996). In summary, the drilling
transects SE of Greenland are located within an area
that was tectonically undisturbed since the early Prot-
erozoic. The opening of the North Atlantic and the
formation of ocean crust began at >56–53 Ma as in-
dicated by magnetic anomaly Chron 24r (Vogt & Avery,
VOLUME 42 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2001
1974; Talwani & Eldholm, 1977). The initial break-up
of the North Atlantic was accompanied by the extrusion
of huge volumes of lava, resulting in the formation of
the SDRS along the continental margins of East Green-
land and Norway (Fig. 1). Estimates by Larsen &
Jakobsdóttir (1988), based on geophysical data, suggest
that the volcanic productivity along the rift zone during
break-up was almost three times greater than that of
present-day Iceland. Based on plate tectonic re-
constructions, the Iceland plume was most probably
located beneath central Greenland at the time of plate
separation, although there are some uncertainties about
the exact position of the plume (e.g. Forsyth et al., 1986;
White & McKenzie, 1989; Lawver & Müller, 1994).
During ODP Legs 152 and 163, a total of nine sites
were drilled along two transects at 63°N and 66°N distal
to the ancient plume track. A detailed mineralogical and
petrological description of the recovered igneous units
and their stratigraphic setting has been given by Larsen
et al. (1994a), Duncan et al. (1996) and Saunders et al.
408
 PHILIPP et al. BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST
(1998). In the following discussion we briefly summarize
the sites and the petrology of the rocks sampled for this
investigation.
Site 988 is located within the northern transect at 66°N
(EG 66) close to the ancient plume track (Fig. 1). Here,
two igneous units were distinguished in the core recovered
from the depth interval 10–32 m below seafloor (mbsf ).
Unit 1 is a massive and sparsely vesicular plagioclase–
pyroxene–olivine-phyric basalt showing moderate al-
teration. Unit 2 is completely altered and was thus
disregarded in our investigations.
Site 989 is located on the southern transect at 63°N
(EG 63) closest to the Greenland coast. It was planned
to penetrate and sample the oldest parts of the SDRS.
However, recent 40Ar/39Ar determinations of the re-
covered lavas yield unexpected young ages of 57 ±
1·3 Ma (Tegner & Duncan, 1999). Two igneous units
were identified: aphyric basalt (Unit 1) and a plagioclase–
clinopyroxene–olivine-phyric basalt (Unit 2). Unit 1 is at
least 69 m thick and is characterized by constant grain
size, vesicularity and mesostasis content. Both units are
depleted in incompatible elements (e.g. Zr, Nb, Ti),
presumably reflecting derivation of the magmas from a
depleted mantle source.
At Site 917, a 778 m thick volcanic sequence with 92
flow units was drilled. Based on trace element and
stratigraphic observations, the sequence was subdivided
into lower (LS), middle (MS) and upper series (US). The
lower series consists of olivine-phyric basalts and two
picrite flows (Units 61b and 62). Basalts of the middle
series are more evolved and exhibit a significant con-
tamination by continental crust. The base of the middle
series is marked by a dacite flow, which was possibly
generated by melting or assimilation of pelitic sediments.
The middle series is separated from the lavas of the
upper series by a sedimentary horizon, which marks a
transition in the magma composition. The upper series
consists of primitive Mg-rich tholeiites and picrites that
formed thin pahoehoe flows during eruption. Oscillation
of Ni content implies short-term storage of the magma
in small magma chambers. On the basis of 40Ar/39Ar
ages, the lavas of the lower and middle series of Site 917
were erupted between 61 and 62 Ma (Sinton & Duncan,
1998), and thus are significantly older than the time of
initial seafloor spreading.
Site 990 was positioned seawards of Site 917 to obtain
a stratigraphic overlap with the sequence drilled at Site
917. Thirteen igneous units were identified on the basis
of phenocryst assemblages or by the presence of vesicular
and/or weathered flow tops. The flow units range from
moderately evolved aphyric basalts to olivine and
plagioclase–olivine–clinopyroxene-phyric basalts. The
section is characterized by a systematic decrease of in-
compatible element contents and increasing Ni and Cr
concentrations from top to bottom.
409
The volcanic succession drilled at Site 918 comprises
one sill (Unit 1) and 18 lava flows (Units 2–8). The sill
is a plagioclase–pyroxene-phyric basalt and has a trace
element composition similar to that of the basalts re-
covered at Site 988. The other units are defined as
aphyric basalts with low trace element abundances. In
general, the lavas are moderately evolved and geo-
chemically similar to the basalts at Sites 989 and 990.
The restricted chemical composition of the lavas suggests
that the magmas were subjected to a uniform degree of
differentiation.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
A total of 98 whole-rock samples from the SDRS were
analysed for major and trace, rare earth and platinum-
group elements. Major elements were determined by
wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (Sie-
mens SRS 303 AS) on fused pellets. Accuracy of the
measurement is within 2% relative for all major elements,
based on analyses of the geological reference materials
BE-N and BIR (Govindaraju, 1994). For drift-correction,
BE-N was run as a reference after every five meas-
urements. Trace elements (Ni, Zn, Ga, Cr, Rb, Sr, Y,
Zr, Nb, V) were analysed by wavelength-dispersive X-
ray fluorescence analysis (Siemens SRS 303 AS) on
pressed pellets. Analyses are accurate to 5% relative,
except for Nb, which is <10%. Analytical accuracy and
precision were determined in the same way as for major
elements. The elements Cu and Ba were determined by
energy-dispersive XRF (Tracor Spectrace 5000) on the
same pressed pellets used for wavelength-dispersive XRF.
Detection limits are 4·5 ppm (Cu) and 2·9 ppm (Ba) at
measuring times of 1000 s/spectrum (Kramar, 1997).
Accuracy was checked by repeated analysis of the inter-
national standard BE-N and is within 8% for Cu and
2% for Ba. The trace elements Co, Sc, Hf, Ta and
Th were determined by instrumental neutron activation
analysis (INAA) following the method of Kramar &
Puchelt (1982). Sample and standard capsules were ir-
radiated simultaneously in the TRIGA reactor at Heidel-
berg (Germany) at a thermal neutron flux of 8 × 1012
n/cm2 per s for 5 h. Two detector systems were used for
measurement: a coaxial Ge(Li)-detector for the high-
energy range (150–2000 keV) and a planar high-purity
Ge-detector for the energy range of 30–210 keV. Rare
earth elements (REE) were analysed by ICP-MS (Fisons
PQ2) after HClO4–HF digestion. Precision of all ICP-
MS analyses is within 2–6% based on replicate meas-
urements of working standards and an international
reference material (BR). Platinum-group elements were
determined by ICP-MS (Fisons PQ2) after NiS fire assay
preconcentration of the noble metals from 25–35 g of
dry powder. Average method detection limits (3
above
 JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY VOLUME 42 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2001

Table 1: Results of replicate analyses of selected samples from Site 990, international
standard WPR-1 (Govindaraju, 1994) and in-house standard (Puchelt et al., 1996)

Sample n Ir Ru Rh Pt Pd

989B-4R-3/0-5/1A 3 0·19 0·13 0·11 10·1 12·3

SD (%) 14·1 6·5 1·7 9·4 6·5
990A-8R-5/51-57/1E 3 0·24 0·34 0·11 8·29 8·87
SD (%) 9·0 17·6 12·5 7·2 8·4
990A-22R-5/67-73/4 3 0·31 0·43 0·51 7·48 8·48
SD (%) 4·3 7·5 3·7 9·0 7·4
WPR-1
Measured 8 13 21 12 231 212
SD (%) 1·6 1·7 3·4 5·5 3·6
Certified 13·5 22 13·4 285 235
Recovery (%) 94 94 90 81 90
147-898D-10W
Measured 8 1·7 3·4 0·7 3·8 4·1
SD (%) 4·5 10·8 13·7 6·6 6·1
Certified 1·6 4·3 <1 4·0 4·3
Recovery 106 79 — 96 96

background), calculated for 30 g of rock powder are 0·08
ppb Ir, 0·09 ppb Ru, 0·04 ppb Rh, 0·40 ppb Pt and
0·43 ppb Pd. Replicate analyses of the international
reference material WPR-1 (Govindaraju, 1994), in-house
standard ‘147-898D-10W’ (Puchelt et al., 1996) and se-
lected samples are reported in Table 1.
RESULTS
Major elements
Whole-rock chemical compositions, recalculated on vol-
atile-free basis, are listed in the Appendix (Table A1).
The reported values represent the average composition
for each of the investigated igneous units. The complete
dataset can be accessed as an Excel spreadsheet on the
Journal of Petrology Web site at http://www.petrology.
oupjournals.org.
The samples are classified as tholeiitic basalts on the
basis of their SiO2–(Na2O + K2O) variations. The lavas
exhibit different degrees of differentiation as illustrated
by the mg-number [defined as mg-number = 100MgO/
(MgO + FeO); molecular oxide proportions and Fe2O3/
FeO = 0·15]. Samples from Site 917 show a wide range
in mg-number, from 34 in the most evolved lava to >80
in some picritic units. In contrast, samples from Sites
988, 989, 918 and 990 span a narrow range in mg-
number (46–65).
Figure 2 illustrates the variation of selected major
elements with MgO; SiO2, TiO2, Na2O and K2O con-
centrations increase with decreasing MgO. Samples from
Sites 988, 989, 918 and 990 exhibit a narrow range of
compositions and always show lower concentrations than
samples from Site 917 at corresponding MgO values.
Fe2O3(total) contents (not shown) range between 10 and
15 wt % and display no systematic change with MgO.
However, in samples from Site 917, Fe2O3(total) contents
decrease from primitive to evolved lavas. Al2O3 contents
are >15 wt %, decreasing towards higher MgO con-
centrations in samples from the upper series of Site 917.
The content of CaO gradually increases with decreasing
MgO, but decreases below >7 wt % MgO. Below
this MgO content, CaO concentrations decrease with
decreasing MgO. Samples from Sites 988, 989, 918 and
990 lie on the maximum of the MgO–CaO trend, defined
by Site 917 samples.
Trace elements
Trace element concentrations are listed in the Appendix
(Table A2). Compatible element concentrations (Ni, Cr
and Co) show a strong correlation with MgO (Fig. 3a).
Concentrations range from 1030 ppm (Ni) and 1440
ppm (Cr) in a picritic unit of the upper series of Site
917, to 33 ppm for Ni and 23 ppm for Cr in the most
evolved samples. The Site 917 basalts feature highly

410
 PHILIPP et al. BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST

Fig. 2. Selected major elements vs MgO. Data are given in the Appendix (Table A1).

variable compatible trace element abundances, whereas
basalts from Sites 918, 988, 989 and 990 are characterized
by a much narrower range in concentrations. In-
compatible element concentrations show a systematic
increase with decreasing MgO. Different trends for in-
compatible elements are apparent for Site 917 basalts
and the basalts from Sites 918, 989 and 990, as illustrated
in Fig. 3b. For example, Zr shows a much stronger
enrichment in Site 917 samples compared with the other
sites. In contrast, the Nb data display an enrichment
trend that is defined by samples from Sites 918, 989 and
990. Only few samples from the lower series of Site 917,
Site 918 (Unit 1) and Site 988 show a stronger enrichment
of Nb. The scatter of Zr and Nb concentrations at MgO
contents between 12 and 15 wt % probably reflects either
variable degrees of partial melting of a single source or
derivation from a heterogeneous mantle source. The
variation of Sc with MgO displays enrichment of Sc with
decreasing MgO content, whereas below 7–9 wt % MgO,
Sc contents decrease with decreasing MgO. Lavas from
Sites 989 and 918 and some lava flows from Site 990
exhibit particularly high Sc concentrations (>45–50
ppm) similar to some basalts from the Vøring Plateau
(Viereck et al., 1989) and the Rockall Plateau ( Joron et
al., 1984).
Multi-element diagrams, normalized to normal mid-
ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) (Sun & McDonough,
1989) emphasize the distinct chemical compositions of
the basalts from the various sites. Samples from Sites 988
and 918 (Unit 1) show a clear enrichment in incompatible
elements with high Nb contents (17·2–29·0 ppm) and
low Zr/Nb ratios (>6–8), similar to ocean island basalts

411
 JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY
Fig. 3. Variations of (a) Ni and Cr and (b) Zr, Nb, Rb and Sc with MgO. Data are given in the Appendix (Table A2).
(OIB) with average Zr/Nb >5·8 (Sun & McDonough,
1989; Fig. 4a). In contrast, samples of Sites 918 (Units
8b, 11b, 12b, 14), 989 and 990 have a signature similar
to N-MORB with Zr/Nb >12–22. However, the samples
from Sites 989 and 990 show a remarkable enrichment
of Rb, Ba and K (Fig. 4a). Multi-element diagrams
characterize and summarize the average incompatible
element distribution for the three igneous series of Site
917 (Fig. 4b and c). Samples from the upper series of
Site 917 display element abundances close to N-MORB,
except for Rb, Ba and K, which show enrichment up to
>10 × N-MORB (Fig. 4b). In contrast, all lavas from
the middle and lower series of Site 917 are characterized
by a strong enrichment in the large ion lithophile elements
VOLUME 42 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2001
(LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE). Ad-
ditionally, samples from Site 917 (middle series) are
characterized by a pronounced negative Nb–Ta anomaly.
Within the lower series of Site 917, five units (Units 60,
61b, 62, 68, 70) are distinct with regard to their Zr/Nb
ratio, which is <15, although unit 70 (Zr/Nb >15) seems
to be similar to the high Zr/Nb subgroup, i.e. showing
high La and Ce abundances and an Nb–Ta depletion.
Rare earth elements
The REE abundances in the investigated igneous units are
listed in the Appendix (Table A3). Chondrite-normalized
412
 PHILIPP et al. BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST
Fig. 4. N-MORB normalized trace element patterns for samples of
(a) Sites 918, 988, 989 and 990, (b) Site 917 (Middle and Upper Series)
and (c) Site 917 (Lower Series), with normalization values after Sun &
McDonough (1989).
(Boynton, 1984) REE patterns also emphasize the distinct
geochemical composition of basalts from Sites 918, 989
and 990 and those from Sites 988 and 918 (Unit 1;
Fig. 5a). Samples from Sites 988 and 918 (Unit 1) are
characterized by high LREE contents (La 52 × C1 and
68 × C1), LREE enrichment ([La/Yb]C1 >3·2) and
high heavy rare earth element (HREE) abundances (Yb
>17 × C1). REE patterns of samples from Sites 918,
413
989 and 990 are similar to those of N-MORB with low
LREE abundances and relatively unfractionated patterns
between middle REE (MREE) and HREE ([Sm/Yb]C1
>0·8 ± 0·12). Figure 5b shows the REE patterns of
Site 917 samples, grouped into middle and upper series.
The primitive lavas of the upper series of Site 917 cover
a wide range of chondrite-normalized REE contents
(e.g. La 5·7–25·7; Eu 8·9–31·2; Yb 5·0–18·1) but are
characterized by similar La/Yb ratios ([La/Yb]C1 >1·1
± 0·2). In contrast, lava flows from the middle series
from Site 917 exhibit much higher chondrite-normalized
LREE abundances (La >42–110) and a strong LREE
enrichment ([La/Yb]C1 >3·5–14·2).
Figure 5c shows the chondrite-normalized REE pat-
terns for samples from the lower series from Site 917,
distinguished by their Zr/Nb ratio. The REE abundances
for lava flows with Zr/Nb >22 cover a wide range, e.g.
(18–253) × C1 for La, accompanied by strong LREE
enrichment ([La/Yb]C1 >3·2 ± 1·1). By contrast, lava
flows (units 60, 61b, 62 and 68) with Zr/Nb >10·6–13·5
are characterized by lower LREE contents and slight
LREE enrichment ([La/Yb]C1 >2·7 ± 0·8). The lava
sample from unit 70 (Zr/Nb >15) exhibits more sim-
ilarity to the high Zr/Nb sub-group with La >184 ×
C1 and [La/Yb]C1 >9·7. All samples from Site 917 are
characterized by a negative slope between the MREE
and the HREE ([Sm/Yb]C1 >1·81 ± 0·44).
Platinum-group elements
The average PGE concentrations and Pd/Ir, Pt/Ir and
Pt/Pd ratios of the igneous units are listed in Table 2.
In comparison with previously reported values of MORB
(Crocket & Teruta, 1977; Hamlyn et al., 1985; Plessen
& Erzinger, 1997) and OIB (Fryer & Greenough, 1992)
from other locations, the basalts of this SDRS have
higher noble metal abundances (e.g. Ir Ζ2·73 ppb; Pt
Ζ14·3 ppb; Pd Ζ16·5 ppb). These contents are, how-
ever, similar to PGE abundances reported for tholeiites
and picrites from the Skaergaard intrusion (Nielson &
Brooks, 1995). The picritic units of the upper series of
Site 917 have the highest Ir, Ru and Rh concentrations,
whereas the middle and lower series of Site 917 display
significantly lower abundances. The elements Ir, Ru and
Rh show a systematic decrease in concentrations with
progressive magmatic differentiation (Ir 2·73–0·10 ppb;
Ru 1·73–0·10 ppb; Rh 0·89–0·05 ppb) indicating com-
patible behaviour of these elements during magma evolu-
tion (Fig. 6).
Bivariate plots of MgO vs Pt and Pd (Fig. 7) illustrate
the geochemical behaviour of these elements. In the
primitive picritic and olivine-phyric basalts from the
upper series of Site 917, Pt and Pd behave incompatibly
as the magma evolved. Pt and Pd contents increase to
 JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY
Fig. 5. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns for (a) Sites 918, 988, 989
and 990, (b) Site 917 (Middle and Upper Series) and (c) Site 917
(Lower Series) with normalizing values after Boynton (1984).
>15 ppb in the lavas from the upper series of Site 917,
whereas in lower and middle series samples from Site
917, Pt and Pd concentrations generally do not exceed
5 ppb. In samples from Sites 918, 988, 989 and 990, Pt
and Pd contents exhibit a strong decline within a narrow
range of MgO contents. Pd and Pt concentrations de-
crease from >10–15 ppb at >9 wt % MgO to >5 ppb
at >6 wt % MgO. Most samples are characterized by
a uniform Pt/Pd ratio of >0·89. It should be noted
that most samples from Site 917 (middle series) show
VOLUME 42 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2001
significantly lower Pt/Pd values, whereas samples from
Sites 988 and 918 (Unit 1), and some samples from the
lower series of Site 917 display higher values (Fig. 8).
The samples are characterized by distinct primitive
mantle-normalized siderophile element patterns (Barnes
et al., 1988). Samples from Site 988 and Unit 1 from Site
918 have parallel patterns with nearly unfractionated
Ir/Ru (>0·9) and Pt/Pd (>0·8) ratios and a strong
enrichment in copper (Fig. 9a). Samples from Sites 918
(Units 8b, 11b, 12b, 14) and 989 show a remarkable
similarity and plot within the field defined by samples
from Site 990 (Fig. 9b). Samples from these three Sites
(918, 989, 990) are characterized by a slight Ru anomaly
and a marked fractionation between Ir, Ru and Rh on
the one hand and Pt and Pd on the other. Primitive
mantle normalized patterns for samples from Site 917
are illustrated in Fig. 9c. Site 917 (upper series) samples
display flat patterns with a slight fractionation between
Ir, Ru, Rh and Pt, Pd. Additionally, the lavas from the
upper series of Site 917 feature only minor fractionation
between Ni and Ir ([Ni/Ir]PM >0·9), Ni and Ru ([Ni/
Ru]PM >1·1) and between Cu and Pd ([Cu/Pd]PM >1·2).
The patterns for the upper series of Site 917 are similar
to patterns for komatiites from Gorgona Island, Colombia
(Brügmann et al., 1987) and Kambalda, West Australia
(Keays, 1982). In contrast, samples from the middle series
from Site 917 are characterized by lower PGE and Ni
abundances, except for Cu, which is close to primitive
mantle values. Figure 9d illustrates the primitive mantle-
normalized siderophile element patterns for Site 917
(lower series) samples, distinguished by their Zr/Nb ratios.
Platinum-group elements, Ni and Cu show nearly the
same abundances as in samples from the middle and
upper series of Site 917, whereas samples with low Zr/
Nb ratios are characterized by a negative Ru anomaly.
These samples show a wide range in Rh and Pt abund-
ances, whereas Pd abundances are rather similar in these
samples.
DISCUSSION
Major and trace elements
The volcanic succession drilled at the southern transect
EG 63 represents the transition from continental flood
basalt volcanism to oceanic volcanism (Fitton et al., 1998b;
Fram et al.,1998). Figure 10 shows the variation of MgO
content with stratigraphic position. The earliest lavas
(Site 917, Lower and Middle Series) comprise a pre-
break-up continental succession (Fitton et al., 1998b)
ranging from high-Mg basalts (MgO >15 wt %) to
evolved basalts with MgO >5–6 wt %. Fitton et al.
(1998b) have attributed this feature to magma evolution
in crustal magma chambers with decreasing supply of
primitive melts, attended by an increasing influence of
414
 PHILIPP et al. BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST

Table 2: Average PGE concentrations of igneous units of Sites 917, 918, 988, 989 and 990

Sample: Site 988 Site 989 Site 990

Unit 1 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3a Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9
n: 4 10 2 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 4 3

Ir 0·25 0·21 0·29 0·10 0·23 0·14 0·10 0·11 0·17 0·16 0·11 0·41
Ru 0·32 0·11 0·19 0·08 0·37 0·21 0·18 0·19 0·20 0·23 0·29 0·32
Rh 0·30 0·12 0·18 0·07 0·14 0·21 0·15 0·18 0·16 0·22 0·18 0·29
Pt 7·18 9·33 14·0 3·69 8·23 5·38 3·96 4·76 9·87 5·84 5·87 9·09
Pd 4·63 13·1 16·2 5·15 8·24 6·02 5·07 4·69 10·5 6·93 5·93 12·9
Pt/Pd 1·58 0·72 0·87 0·72 1·00 0·89 0·78 1·02 0·95 0·84 1·00 0·71
Pd/Ir 18·6 62·0 55·0 48·5 36·3 41·6 52·7 41·1 63·1 42·8 53·1 32·8
Pt/Ir 29·4 44·3 47·8 35·0 36·4 37·2 41·1 41·8 59·7 35·9 53·0 23·3

Site 990 Site 917 Upper Series

Unit 11 Unit 12 Unit 13 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 10 Unit 16 Unit 21 Unit 24 Unit 25 Unit 27 Unit 29
n: 6 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1

Ir 0·22 0·34 0·39 0·63 2·19 1·10 1·52 1·68 0·52 0·75 0·74 0·76
Ru 0·34 0·27 0·36 1·03 2·52 0·85 1·89 1·83 0·55 0·90 0·75 0·88
Rh 0·28 0·20 0·15 0·36 0·76 0·44 0·83 0·90 0·25 0·40 0·37 0·54
Pt 8·84 4·79 8·11 13·0 10·3 13·0 10·4 9·23 13·3 13·3 14·3 13·0
Pd 9·02 5·20 8·67 14·4 10·5 14·0 11·4 9·87 14·3 15·0 15·8 13·5
Pt/Pd 0·98 0·91 0·93 0·91 0·98 0·93 0·91 0·94 0·93 0·89 0·90 0·97
Pd/Ir 49·0 15·3 22·0 22·9 4·8 12·8 7·5 5·9 27·4 20·3 21·4 17·7
Pt/Ir 48·5 13·9 20·6 20·7 4·7 11·9 6·8 5·5 25·4 17·9 19·3 17·1

Site 917 Upper Series Site 917 Middle Series Site 917 Lower Series

Unit 31a Unit 32b Unit 33 Unit 34b Unit 36 Unit 38 Unit 41 Unit 43 Unit 49 Unit 52 Unit 58 Unit 60
n: 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

Ir 1·46 2·42 0·62 0·10 0·10 0·11 0·14 0·13 0·15 0·12 0·24 0·55
Ru 0·98 1·93 0·36 0·04 0·12 0·11 0·10 0·08 0·14 0·07 0·33 0·42
Rh 0·52 0·82 0·15 0·05 0·05 0·03 0·19 0·06 0·03 0·03 0·10 0·22
Pt 13·3 9·35 7·13 0·39 0·42 0·74 1·99 0·95 0·94 0·66 1·93 5·55
Pd 14·1 8·98 7·67 0·52 0·98 1·38 2·40 1·76 1·33 0·59 1·33 4·53
Pt/Pd 0·95 1·04 0·93 0·75 0·42 0·53 0·83 0·54 0·71 1·11 1·46 1·24
Pd/Ir 9·8 3·8 12·3 5·4 9·6 12·2 16·8 14·0 9·0 4·8 5·4 8·3
Pt/Ir 9·2 4·0 11·4 4·1 4·0 6·5 13·9 7·6 6·4 5·4 7·9 10·3

Site 917 Lower Series

Unit 61b Unit 62 Unit 64 Unit 68 Unit 69 Unit 70 Unit 71 Unit 73b Unit 75a Unit 78 Unit 82 Unit 84
n: 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

Ir 0·34 0·41 0·22 0·18 0·23 0·18 0·47 0·18 0·16 0·60 0·42 0·41
Ru 0·33 0·84 0·25 0·12 0·05 0·13 0·14 0·07 0·11 0·77 0·28 0·45
Rh 0·40 0·57 0·27 0·08 0·02 0·05 0·22 0·14 0·04 0·33 0·17 0·31
Pt 4·15 6·39 1·52 2·91 0·22 0·97 0·85 0·27 0·50 4·04 3·17 4·17
Pd 2·30 4·68 1·77 2·47 1·31 1·50 0·71 0·95 1·99 5·91 3·23 3·32
Pt/Pd 1·81 1·37 0·86 1·18 0·17 0·65 1·20 0·28 0·25 0·68 0·98 1·21
Pd/Ir 6·8 11·4 7·9 13·6 5·8 8·5 1·5 5·1 12·3 9·9 7·6 8·3
Pt/Ir 12·2 15·6 6·8 16·0 1·0 5·5 1·8 1·5 3·1 6·8 7·5 9·9

Site 917 Lower Series Site 918

Unit 87 Unit 89 Unit 91 Unit 92 Unit 1 Unit 8b Unit 11b Unit 12b Unit 14
n: 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 1 1

Ir 0·31 0·53 0·21 0·19 0·15 0·23 0·25 0·18 0·22

Ru 0·44 0·24 0·11 0·23 0·21 0·09 0·11 0·16 0·14
Rh 0·14 0·19 0·36 0·34 0·16 0·11 0·16 0·12 0·14
Pt 2·28 3·49 1·83 1·09 2·98 8·55 6·97 8·44 8·32
Pd 4·21 3·13 1·14 1·05 1·96 11·6 7·14 11·8 10·6
Pt/Pd 0·54 1·12 1·60 0·90 1·52 0·74 1·02 0·72 0·79
Pd/Ir 13·6 6·0 5·3 5·1 13·5 49·9 32·6 63·8 47·2
Pt/Ir 7·4 6·6 8·5 5·1 20·7 36·8 31·7 45·8 37·1

All values in ppb; n, number of analysed samples within each group.

415
 JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY VOLUME 42
Fig. 6. Variations of Ir, Ru and Rh with MgO. Data are given in
Table 2.
crustal contamination. By contrast, the lava units from
the upper series of Site 917 are thought to represent
break-up related magmatism (Larsen et al., 1994b) and
are characterized by high-Mg basalts and the absence of
evolved basalts. The rapid oscillation in Ni content with
stratigraphic height in the upper series implies short-term
storage in smaller reservoirs accompanied by crys-
tallization and accumulation of olivine phenocrysts
416
NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2001
Fig. 7. Variations of Pt and Pd with MgO. Data are given in Table
2.
Fig. 8. Pd vs Pt diagram; the regression line reflects average Pt/Pd
ratio for all samples.
(Larsen et al., 1994a; Fitton et al., 1998b). Lavas cored at
Site 990 are geochemically similar to the igneous units
8b, 11b, 12b and 14 recovered at Site 918, which are
interpreted as an oceanic succession (Larsen et al., 1994b;
Fitton et al., 1998b). These lavas are of restricted geo-
chemical composition (MgO >7–9 wt %), suggesting that
the magmas were derived from re-established permanent
 PHILIPP et al. BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST

Fig. 9. Mantle-normalized (PM) pattern for PGE, Ni, and Cu. (a) Sites 988 and 918 (Unit 1); (b) Sites 989, 990 and 918 (Units 8b, 11b, 12b,
14); (c) Site 917 (Middle and Upper Series); (d) Site 917 (Lower Series). Normalization values after Barnes et al. (1988) are 2000 ppm Ni, 4·4
ppb Ir, 5·6 ppb Ru, 1·6 ppb Rh, 8·3 ppb Pt, 4·4 ppb Pd and 28 ppm Cu.

magma reservoirs associated with a spreading axis, which
prevented the eruption of primary magmas (Larsen et
al., 1994b). The inferred stratigraphic position of the
uppermost units recovered at Site 917 and the depth of
penetration at Site 990 (342 mbsf ) define the transition
from continental to oceanic succession to less than
>100 m thickness (Duncan et al., 1996). According to
seismic data (Duncan et al., 1996), the lavas drilled at
Site 989 should be located stratigraphically below the
lower series from Site 917 and should have been erupted
before the 61–60 Ma old lower and middle series lavas
from Site 917. However, the geochemical composition
of the samples from Site 989 compares more closely with
the oceanic volcanism, represented by the lavas from
Sites 918 and 990. This is in agreement with the 40Ar/
39
Ar age of 57·1 ± 1·3 Ma reported by Tegner & Duncan
(1999) for lavas from Site 989.
The variation of CaO/Al2O3 ratio with MgO for the
lavas from the SDRS (Fig. 11) is particularly useful in
revealing the fractionation assemblage because of the
sensitivity of CaO/Al2O3 to the proportions of olivine,
clinopyroxene and plagioclase (Fram & Lesher, 1997)
and suggests that many compositional variations within
the lavas from the SDRS are due to crystal fractionation
processes. Fractionation of olivine decreases MgO at
constant CaO/Al2O3 ratio, whereas plagioclase frac-
tionation increases both MgO and CaO/Al2O3. By con-
trast, removal of clinopyroxene from the melt results in
decreasing MgO and CaO/Al2O3 ratio. Samples from
the upper series from Site 917 with MgO >10 wt %
display uniform CaO/Al2O3 (0·65 ± 0·06) implying
that fractionation–accumulation of olivine has occurred.
Liquid lines of descent (LLD), defined by the results of
low-pressure melting experiments on two samples from
the lower series (86R7) and upper series (11R4) from
Site 917 show two different trends (Thy et al., 1998).
Plagioclase crystallization is documented by the increase
of the CaO/Al2O3 ratio at MgO >9 wt %. When augite
appears in the fractionation assemblage at >7 wt %
MgO, the slopes change. The LLD for sample 87R7
shows a strong decline, reflecting crystallization of augite
with high CaO/Al2O3 ratio (7·7–9·6; Thy et al., 1998),
whereas the trend for sample 11R4 evolves towards
moderate increase of CaO/Al2O3 and implies

417
 JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY
Fig. 10. Stratigraphic variation of MgO in the basaltic sequences of
the SDRS SE of Greenland. (Note that the vertical axis reflects relative
stratigraphic position and is not a continuous depth profile.)
crystallization of augite with significant lower CaO/
Al2O3 ratio (5·1–5·8; Thy et al., 1998). The crystallization
sequence of olivine, plagioclase and augite for a primitive
aphyric lava (9·1 wt % MgO) from the lower series of
Site 917 (87R7) was defined by the low-pressure melting
experiments of Thy et al. (1998). For sample 11R4 with
10·7 wt % MgO they obtained a crystallization order
with olivine and plagioclase appearing together at 1228
± 5°C, followed by augite at 1182 ± 5°C (Thy et
al., 1998). The same conclusion on the fractionation
assemblage can be drawn by the variation of Sc with
MgO (Fig. 3b). The concentration of Sc during magma
differentiation is sensitive to the fractionation assemblage,
because Sc is moderately incompatible in olivine (D =
0·1–0·3; Beattie et al., 1991), highly incompatible in
plagioclase (D = 0·02; Sun & Nesbitt, 1979) and com-
patible in clinopyroxene (D = 2–5; Gallahan & Nielsen,
1992). The gradual increase of Sc with decreasing MgO
between >25 and 7 wt % can be ascribed to the
VOLUME 42 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2001
Fig. 11. Plot of MgO vs CaO/Al2O3 ratio. (Note that samples with
LOI >6 wt % have been omitted.) Liquid lines of descent (LLD) are
after Thy et al. (1998)
fractionation–accumulation of olivine (± plagioclase),
whereas the decline at MgO >7 wt % is attributed to
the fractionation of clinopyroxene together with olivine
(± plagioclase). Unusually high Sc concentrations in the
samples from Sites 918, 989 and 990 cannot be due to
only the fractionation of olivine and plagioclase. Larsen
et al. (1998) have proposed a two-stage mantle melting
process to explain the petrogenesis of the magma. First,
a high-pressure melt fraction has to be removed, with
Sc remaining in garnet (D = 2·27; Ulmer, 1989) in the
residue. Second, this residue, enriched in Sc, melts at
lower pressure in the spinel stability field, followed by
fractionation of 20–40% of olivine + plagioclase (Fitton
et al., 1998b).
On the basis of the Zr/Y vs Nb/Y variation diagram
(Fig. 12) introduced by Fitton et al. (1997), different
magma sources can be distinguished, which have been
involved in the formation of the SDRS: an N-MORB
source and the heterogeneous Iceland plume, comprising
both a depleted and an enriched component (Hemond
et al., 1993; Thirlwall et al., 1994). Fitton et al. (1997)
have shown that samples from the Iceland neovolcanic
zone plot within the field defined by
log (Nb/Y) = 1·92 log (Zr/Y) − 1·176 (upper boundary)
and
log (Nb/Y) = 1·92 log (Zr/Y) − 1·740 (lower boundary)
whereas N-MORB data (Hofmann, 1988; Sun & McDon-
ough, 1989) plot below the lower boundary. The earliest
lavas of the SDRS (Site 917 lower and middle series)
also plot below the lower boundary and are therefore
assumed be derived from an N-MORB source (Fitton et
al., 1997, 1998b). Samples from the middle series and
some samples from the lower series from Site 917 plot
on a trend towards the composition of Archaean gneiss
(Blichert-Toft et al., 1995; Fitton et al., 1998b) implying
418
 PHILIPP et al. BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST
assimilation of continental crust. Fitton et al. (1998a) have
recognized two distinct crustal contaminants: (1) lower-
crustal basic granulite affected the earliest lavas, rep-
resented by the lower series from Site 917; (2) upper-
crustal amphibolite-facies gneiss contaminated the middle
series lavas from Site 917. They attributed this feature
to storage of magmas at progressively shallower levels in
the crust associated with progressive lithospheric ex-
tension. It is remarkable that some samples from the
lower series of Site 917 (Units 60, 61b, 62 and 68; Zr/
Nb = 10·6–13·5) plot within the enriched array of the
Iceland neovolcanic field. This implies that they were
derived either from an enriched plume source, or from
a depleted plume source by lower degree of partial
melting as suggested by Larsen & Saunders (1998). In
Fig. 12 samples from the break-up related upper series
of Site 917 cluster around the N-MORB field and exhibit
REE patterns typical for N-MORB. Based on unusually
high Zr/Nb ratios (>24–60) in the lavas from Site 917
(upper series), Larsen et al. (1998) concluded that these
melts must have been produced from a mantle that was
more depleted than normal MORB mantle. Samples
from the post-break-up lavas from Sites 918 and 990
and samples from Site 989 plot in the depleted part of
the Iceland array and are thus inferred to be derived
from the depleted Iceland plume source, despite being
LREE depleted and otherwise similar to N-MORB.
Samples from Sites 988 and the sill from Site 918 (Unit
1) plot in the enriched array of the field defined by the
Iceland neovolcanic zone and are characterized by LREE
enrichment.
Platinum-group elements
Element mobility during alteration and hydrothermal
processes can cause problems for petrogenetic studies,
especially when trace element ratios are used to determine
fractionation trends and source characteristics. Crocket
& Teruta (1977), Barnes et al. (1985) and Crocket (1990)
have shown that PGE can be mobilized under meta-
somatic and hydrothermal conditions. The PGE con-
centrations of the SDRS samples, when plotted against
indicators of alteration (e.g. LOI, H2O+), however, show
no changes in PGE concentrations as a result of alteration
processes.
Crystal fractionation
The compatible behaviour of the elements Ir and Ru
during crystal fractionation is well documented (e.g.
Barnes et al., 1985; Brügmann et al., 1987; Barnes &
Picard, 1993; Zhou, 1994; Wyman et al., 1995), whereas
investigations describing the compatible behaviour of Rh
are extremely rare in the literature (Wyman et al., 1995;
Momme et al., 1999). It remains a subject of debate
419
Fig. 12. Nb/Y vs Zr/Y discrimination diagram highlights the different
magma sources of basalts from the SDRS SE of Greenland. References
for N-MORB, Archaean gneiss and Iceland neovolcanic zone are given
in the text.
which phase is responsible for concentrating Ir, Ru and
Rh. Barnes et al. (1985) rejected substitution of Ir and
Ru in olivine and chromite during crystal fractionation
as a mechanism for fractionating the PGE. On the other
hand, on the basis of their investigations of komatiite suites
from Alexo (Ontario) and Gorgona Island (Colombia),
Brügmann et al. (1987) suggested that olivine dominantly
incorporates Ir and Ru with a partition coefficient (oli-
vine/liquid) of 1·8 ± 0·6 for Ir and 1·6 ± 0·6 for Ru.
Alternatively, Keays (1982) suggested that Ir is pre-
cipitated in an early stage of magma evolution as an
Ir–Os alloy, possibly acting as a nucleus for olivine
crystallization. This is in accordance with the ex-
perimental results of Amossé & Alibert (1993) and Amossé
et al. (1997) on the solubility of Ir in silicate melts. In
contrast, O’Neill et al. (1995) have suggested that Ir–Os
alloys cannot precipitate from silicate melts, as a result
of the high solubility of Ir at oxygen fugacities ( f O2)
appropriate for terrestrial basalts. Additionally, they con-
cluded that the presence of Ir as Ir2+ in silicate melts at
geologically relevant temperatures and oxygen fugacity
raises the possibility for substitution of Ir for Mg in
ferromagnesian silicates. In their work on the partitioning
of Ru, Rh and Pd between spinel and silicate melt,
Capobianco & Drake (1990) and Capobianco et al. (1994)
have shown that Ru and Rh are highly compatible in
spinel, with spinel–melt partition coefficients of 20–4000
(Ru) and 90–370 (Rh). In contrast, Pd appears to be
incompatible in spinel, with Dspinel/liquid = 0·02–0·7. This
observation contrasts sharply with the general clas-
sification given by Barnes et al. (1985), who assigned Rh
to the Pd subgroup (PPGE, consisting of Rh, Pd and Pt)
of the PGE. Although the experiments were carried out
at high oxygen fugacity, Capobianco & Drake (1990)
 JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY VOLUME 42
and Capobianco et al. (1994) concluded that spinel has
the ability to fractionate Ru and Rh from Pd. This was
confirmed by Zhou et al. (1998), who have shown that
high-Cr and high-Al chromitites from orogenic peri-
dotites are enriched in Ir, Ru and Rh relative to Pt and
Pd. Amossé et al. (1997) suggested the influence of oxygen
fugacity on the geochemical behaviour of Rh. They have
shown that at f O2 <10−7 bar, Rh is stable as Rh2+ and
behaves like Pd, whereas at f O2 >10−7 bar Rh becomes
trivalent and thus can be incorporated in the spinel
lattice.
Our data show that Ir, Ru and Rh display compatible
behaviour during magma evolution, exhibiting good cor-
relations with MgO, Ni and Cr (Fig. 13). The conclusion
that these three elements are compatible in olivine,
however, is inconsistent with a number of petrological
and geochemical studies showing that olivine did not
contain significant amounts of Ir, Ru and Rh and is
therefore not responsible for the fractionation of these
three elements (e.g. Mitchell & Keays, 1981; Gueddari
et al., 1996; Lorand et al., 1999). Therefore it is suggested
that olivine fractionation is not responsible for the com-
patible behaviour of Ir, Ru and Rh in the lavas from
the SDRS. The good correlation of Ir, Ru and Rh with
Cr further indicates that spinel could also be responsible
for the compatibility of these three elements. However,
Demant (1998) has shown that the chemical composition
of the spinels from Site 917 is in the range of MORB,
crystallizing at temperature of 1200°C and an oxygen
fugacity below the nickel–nickel oxide oxygen buffer.
This indicates that the oxygen fugacity was too low to
form Rh3+, such that the compatible behaviour of Rh
according to Amossé et al. (1997) cannot be attributed to
the fractionation of spinel.
A number of investigations have shown that Ir, Ru
and Rh are not incorporated in the lattice of spinel, but
are concentrated in trace inclusions such as sulphides or
alloys (e.g. Stockmann & Hlava, 1984; Walker et al.,
1996), implying that spinel itself has no bearing on the
fractionation of these three elements. For example, Barnes
et al. (1985) and Peck & Keays (1990a) suggested that Ir
and Ru were partitioned into early formed alloys during
magma fractionation (evolution). The positive correlation
of Ir with Ru and Rh over the entire compositional range
indicates that all three elements are probably hosted by
the same phase. On the basis of these results, it seems
probable that Ir, Ru and Rh in the SDRS lavas were
fractionated through crystallization of Rh-bearing Ir–Ru
alloys.
The geochemical behaviour of Pd and Pt during
magma differentiation is controlled by their abilities to
dissolve in silicate, oxide, metallic and sulphide phases.
Keays (1995) pointed out the importance of the sulphur
(S) content of a melt for the partitioning behaviour of Pt
420
NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2001
and Pd during magma differentiation. In S-under-
saturated melts Pd and Pt behave as incompatible ele-
ments, becoming enriched during magma evolution. In
S-saturated melts, Pd and Pt are preferentially partitioned
into sulphides as a result of their high partition coefficients
(D[Pt,Pd]sulphide-silicate >104; Campbell et al., 1983; Peach
et al., 1990, 1994). Gravity settling of the sulphides thus
results in a depletion of Pt and Pd in the residual silicate
magma. Figure 7 demonstrates that Pd and Pt behave
incompatibly in samples from the upper series of Site
917, indicating that this magma was S undersaturated.
In Site 918, 988, 989 and 990 samples, Pt and Pd
correlate positively with MgO and exhibit considerably
high Pt and Pd contents, whereas samples from the lower
and middle series of Site 917 display no systematic
MgO–Pd and MgO–Pt variation, accompanied by lower
Pt and Pd abundances. Barnes & Picard (1988) and Vogel
& Keays (1997) have shown that the Cu/Pd ratio is an
useful tool to test the S saturation of a magma. In S-
undersaturated melts, the Cu/Pd ratio remains relatively
constant during crystal fractionation, because Cu and Pd
both behave as incompatible elements in S-under-
saturated systems (Barnes & Picard, 1993). In S-saturated
melts, the Cu/Pd ratio tends to greater values because
of the significantly higher sulphide–silicate partition co-
efficient for Pd (D >104; Campbell et al., 1983; Peach et
al., 1990, 1994) relative to Cu (D >245–1383; Rajamani
& Naldrett, 1978; Peach et al., 1990). Samples from the
upper series of Site 917 are characterized by uniform
Cu/Pd ratios (>8·2 × 103) showing minor variation of
Cu/Pd over the entire range of MgO. Only the most
evolved basalt sample (unit 33; MgO >8·3 wt %) shows
a higher Cu/Pd ratio (13 × 103), implying that S
saturation has occurred. Samples from Sites 918, 988,
989 and 990 exhibit a systematic variation of Cu/Pd
ratio with decreasing MgO content (Fig. 14). At an MgO
content of >8 wt %, Cu/Pd ratios increase, indicating
that in these lavas S saturation had occurred, leading to
sulphide liquid unmixing and thus a decrease in the Pd
and Pt concentrations. In contrast, samples from the
lower and middle series of Site 917 are, in general,
characterized by significantly higher Cu/Pd ratios, im-
plying that in these lavas S saturation and thus segregation
of sulphides had occurred.
Our data show that Pt is less enriched than Pd in
samples from the upper series of Site 917, indicating that
Pt is less incompatible during magma evolution. This
suggests that Pt is slightly compatible in silicate or oxide
phases during differentiation of S-undersaturated
magmas. Another aspect might be the fractionation of
Fe–Pt alloys, coprecipitating with Ir–Ru–Os alloys, as
shown by experiments of Fleet et al. (1991) and Borisov
& Palme (1997). These observations agree with data for
chromites separated from cumulates from the Heazle-
wood River ultramafic complex, Tasmania (Australia;
 PHILIPP et al. BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST

Fig. 13. Variation diagram of Ir, Ru and Rh vs Ni and Cr.

Fig. 14. Plot of Cu/Pd vs MgO, showing the variation of Cu and Pd as a result of sulphide precipitation.

421
 JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY VOLUME 42
Peck & Keays, 1990b), in which Pt abundances were
found to be enhanced relative to Pd within the chromite-
bearing cumulates.
Partial melting and magma source characteristics
The incompatible behaviour of Pt and Pd indicates that
the magmas from Site 917 (upper series) saturated at the
time of separation from their source. Two mechanisms
are proposed by which S-undersaturated melts can be
produced. Hamlyn et al. (1985) and Hamlyn & Keays
(1986) proposed that magmas generated by low to mod-
erate degrees of partial melting of undepleted mantle are
S saturated, leaving PGE-rich sulphides behind in the
residue. Further melting of this depleted source leads
to dissolution of PGE-rich sulphide components and
produces melts that are enriched in Pt and Pd, but
impoverished in S, certain incompatible lithophile
elements (e.g. Ti, HREE) and moderately compatible
chalcophile elements (e.g. Cu). Alternatively, S-under-
saturated melts can also be produced by high degrees
(>25%) of partial melting of peridotite as shown for
komatiitic and picritic magmas (Keays, 1995). In contrast,
for the postulated degree of partial melting for the gen-
eration of primary MORB magmas (>8–20%; Klein &
Langmuir, 1987), the S content in the upper mantle
(>200 ppm; Morgan, 1986) and the S solubility in
basaltic melts (>800 ppm at >9 wt % FeO; Haughton
et al., 1974), it is probable that primary MORB melts
are S saturated (Peach et al., 1990).
The S-undersaturated lavas from the upper series of
Site 917 are inferred to be derived from a MORB mantle
at degrees of partial melting between 12 and 15% (Fitton
et al., 1998b; Fram et al., 1998). Haughton et al. (1974)
have shown that the S solubility of a silicate melt is
strongly dependent on its FeO content. The S capacity
of a silicate melt increases from >800 ppm at >9 wt %
FeO to >1100–1200 ppm at FeO >11–12 wt % at
1200°C. Further, there is a strong increase in the S
solubility with rising temperature of the melt (Wendlandt,
1982). Thy et al. (1998) have calculated primary melt
compositions for upper series lavas from Site 917 with
FeOtotal >11 wt % and estimated 1-atm liquidus tem-
peratures of >1380°C. Although these temperatures are
not direct estimates of mantle temperature, they suggest
potential mantle temperatures >100–150°C above those
of the MORB source (Fram et al., 1998). Therefore we
suggest that the S solubility in the magmas from Site 917
(upper series) was significantly enhanced to produce S-
undersaturated magmas even at moderate degrees of
partial melting.
Demant (1998) reported olivine compositions of Fo90–91
in lavas from units 14 and 16 (Site 917, upper series),
suggesting that these lavas represent unfractionated
mantle melts. These samples, therefore, allow us to
422
NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2001
investigate the geochemical behaviour of PGE during
partial melting and the production of S-undersaturated
magmas. Because partition coefficients of PGE for in-
dividual minerals are still missing, we calculate the bulk
distribution coefficients using the measured or most prob-
able values for the parameters as discussed in the following
paragraph. In consequence, our calculated D values are
correct only under these conditions and neglect partition
of PGE into different minerals. Bulk distribution co-
efficients for the PGE are calculated using the modal
batch melting equation
Di = [(Cs,i /Cl,i ) − F]/(1 − F)
where Di is the bulk partition coefficient of element i,
Cs,i is the concentration of element i in the source, Cl,i is
the concentration of element i in the melt and F is the
degree of partial melting. The concentrations of the PGE
in the melt were calculated from our data, assuming that
unit 16 from Site 917 represents a primary magma
composition. In the absence of any direct data for PGE
in the MORB source, we used in a first approach an
initial source concentration for PGE based on the least
depleted Pyrenean orogenic spinel lherzolites (TUR 7,
DES 7; Pattou et al., 1996) and slightly depleted spinel
lherzolites from Kilbourne Hole, New Mexico (Morgan,
1986). The degree of partial melting is assumed to be
>15% (Fitton et al., 1998b).
The calculated partition coefficients (Table 3) are in
accordance with the results of Barnes & Picard (1993) in
that they emphasize the distinct geochemical character
of Ir and Ru on the one hand and Pt and Pd on the
other. Ir and Ru show bulk partition coefficients of
>1·7–2·3 and >3·8–4·3, respectively. Furthermore, Rh
shows compatible behaviour with a calculated partition
coefficient of D >1·2. The partition coefficient calculated
for Pt (>0·47) is slightly higher than the D value for Pd
(0·38). This implies that Pt is more compatible than Pd
during partial melting processes and must therefore, in
the absence of sulphides, be slightly incorporated in
silicate and/or oxide phases.
In contrast, samples from Sites 989, 990 and 918 are
thought to be derived from a depleted plume source,
despite being LREE depleted and otherwise resembling
typical N-MORB. The depletion of trace elements is
explained by the segregation of small amounts of melt,
enriched in incompatible elements and LREE (Elliott et
al., 1991). Thus, partial melting of the remaining residue
results in the generation of an incompatible element
depleted magma. This is supported by the lower TiO2
concentrations (Ζ0·98 wt %) and low abundances of
incompatible trace elements (Zr Ζ61 ppm) relative to
average OIB (Sun & McDonough, 1989). This implies
that the residue became successively enriched in Pd and
Pt if the degree of partial melting was insufficient to
dissolve all sulphides and completely deplete the residue
 PHILIPP et al. BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST
Table 3: Calculated bulk partition coefficients for different PGE concentrations from different spinel
lherzolites at 15% partial melting
Ir Ru
Concentration (ppb)
TUR 7∗ 2·62 5·0
DES 7∗ 2·80 7·3
Kilbourne Hole† 3·4 ± 1·7
Unit 16‡ 1·52 ± 0·07 1·89 ± 0·16
Calculated D at F = 15% for basalts from Unit 16, based on different magma source concentrations
TUR 7 1·73 ± 0·08 3·76 ± 0·35
DES 7 1·77 ± 0·04 4·31 ± 0·52
Kilbourne Hole 2·29 ± 0·96
∗Pattou et al. (1996). †Morgan (1986). ‡Data from Table 2.
in sulphur (Hamlyn et al., 1985; Keays, 1995). This gives
rise to partial melts that are S undersaturated at even
lower degrees of partial melting. The variation of Pt and
Pd with MgO implies that the magma was S saturated
at the time of crystallization. However, we suggest that
the parental magma that formed the lavas at Sites 918,
989 and 990 was initially S undersaturated because of
the moderate to high Pt and Pd contents, accompanied
by low Cu/Pd ratios [(8·4–10·4) × 103] in the most
primitive samples. Thus, the most primitive lavas in this
oceanic succession represent the onset of S saturation.
CONCLUSIONS
Basalts from different units of the SDRS are assumed
to be derived from heterogeneous mantle sources, as
illustrated by distinct incompatible trace element ratios
(e.g. Zr/Nb, Zr/Y, Nb/Y) and REE patterns and the
absence of a parallel differentiation trend. Compositional
variations within individual cogenetic basaltic suites are
best accounted for by crystal fractionation.
The elements Ir, Ru and Rh display overall compatible
behaviour during crystal fractionation, with the highest
concentrations in the primitive basalts. The geochemical
behaviour of Pt and Pd is bimodal. In the lavas from
Site 917 (upper series) they behave as incompatible
elements during crystal fractionation, suggesting that the
magma was S undersaturated. The basalts from Sites
918, 988, 989 and 990 are characterized by low Cu/Pd
in the most primitive lavas, moderate to high Pt and Pd
concentrations and compatible behaviour of Pt and Pd
during magma differentiation. This suggests that the
primary magmas were S undersaturated and reached
423
Rh Pt Pd
0·96 5·6 5·3
0·93 5·8 5·4
5·5 ± 1·5
0·83 ± 0·11 10·4 ± 1 11·4 ± 0·7
1·20 ± 0·15 0·46 ± 0·05 0·37 ± 0·03
1·19 ± 0·17 0·47 ± 0·04 0·38 ± 0·02
0·39 ± 0·12
S saturation during ascent, resulting in sulphide
segregation.
The lava sample from unit 16 (Site 917 upper series) is
thought to represent a near-primary magma composition
and was used to determine the behaviour of the PGE
during partial melting. The incompatible behaviour of
Pt and Pd in this basalt implies that the primary melt was
S undersaturated. Therefore, we calculate bulk partition
coefficients for the PGE for the system ‘silicate solid–
silicate melt’. For Ir, Ru and Rh, we calculate bulk
partition coefficients of >1·2–4·3, whereas our data
suggest D values <1 for Pd and Pt. It is shown that Pt
is less incompatible than Pd during partial melting, and
is probably incorporated in silicate and/or oxide phases.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
H.P. would like to thank all persons involved in the
Ocean Drilling Program, specially the ODP marine
technicians and the crew of the JOIDES Resolution for
providing a successful cruise despite the bad weather
conditions encountered during Leg 163, and for per-
mitting a safe return. H.P. also thanks the Leg 163
scientific shipboard party for helpful discussions. We are
indebted to M. Reichow and G. Preuss for assistance
with REE and PGE analyses, and to Z. Berner, who
carried out the ICP-MS measurements. We also thank
Z. Berner and H.-G. Stosch for helpful comments and
discussions. The manuscript was much improved fol-
lowing the very useful comments and thorough reviews
by P. Clift, R. R. Keays and M. Rehkaemper. The work
was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft,
grants Pu 15/46 and EC 166/1-1.
 JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY VOLUME 42
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 PHILIPP et al. BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST

APPENDIX
Table A1: Average major element oxides content (wt %) of investigated units, recalculated on a
volatile-free basis

Sample n SiO2 TiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3(t) MnO MgO CaO Na2O K2O P2O5 LOI mg-no.∗

Site 988
Site 988 (Unit 1) 4 47·3 2·47 14·2 14·3 0·22 6·60 11·1 2·71 0·31 0·26 0·67 51·2

Site 989
Site 989 (Unit 1) 10 49·7 1·07 13·8 13·8 0·22 7·53 11·5 1·87 0·25 0·10 0·68 55·4
Site 989 (Unit 2) 2 50·1 0·89 14·1 12·2 0·21 8·69 12·5 1·96 0·26 0·08 −0·04 61·8

Site 990
Site 990 (Unit 1) 3 50·4 1·24 13·7 14·3 0·22 6·32 10·6 2·45 0·35 0·11 0·16 50·1
Site 990 (Unit 2) 2 50·6 0·96 15·2 11·6 0·19 6·91 11·8 2·23 0·26 0·09 0·32 57·5
Site 990 (Unit 3a) 1 50·0 0·91 14·8 12·0 0·21 7·21 12·0 2·11 0·23 0·08 0·14 57·8
Site 990 (Unit 4) 1 50·7 0·98 14·7 12·5 0·20 7·09 11·1 2·11 0·25 0·09 1·00 56·3
Site 990 (Unit 5) 1 50·3 0·93 14·6 12·4 0·23 7·23 11·7 2·13 0·20 0·08 0·40 57·1
Site 990 (Unit 6) 2 50·3 0·92 14·1 11·5 0·20 8·28 11·9 2·04 0·20 0·09 0·65 62·2
Site 990 (Unit 7) 2 49·9 0·93 14·2 12·5 0·21 8·21 11·5 1·91 0·24 0·08 0·81 60·0
Site 990 (Unit 8) 4 50·5 0·75 15·7 11·8 0·19 7·98 11·7 2·00 0·22 0·07 1·65 60·5
Site 990 (Unit 9) 3 50·6 0·89 14·4 11·0 0·23 9·12 10·8 2·04 0·18 0·08 2·40 65·2
Site 990 (Unit 11) 6 50·6 0·86 14·5 12·4 0·21 8·30 11·2 1·97 0·24 0·08 1·96 60·3
Site 990 (Unit 12) 3 50·5 0·83 15·3 11·7 0·19 7·00 12·3 2·04 0·15 0·07 1·48 57·8
Site 990 (Unit 13) 1 50·3 0·83 14·2 13·0 0·20 7·85 12·0 1·93 0·30 0·06 1·48 57·9

Site 917 Upper Series

Site 917 (Unit 1) 1 45·6 1·12 16·4 12·1 0·16 11·0 9·65 2·42 0·44 0·08 4·10 67·4
Site 917 (Unit 2) 1 45·5 0·79 11·5 12·6 0·16 20·5 6·20 1·53 0·18 0·04 5·91 78·8
Site 917 (Unit 10) 1 45·8 1·21 15·3 12·1 0·20 13·0 8·35 2·42 0·26 0·08 4·93 71·0
Site 917 (Unit 16) 1 45·5 0·85 12·9 11·5 0·18 19·1 8·23 1·34 0·13 0·06 5·28 79·2
Site 917 (Unit 21) 2 45·4 1·25 11·6 12·9 0·20 21·6 5·83 1·74 0·08 0·11 6·79 79·0
Site 917 (Unit 24) 1 46·5 1·43 15·3 12·3 0·19 9·7 11·4 2·36 0·18 0·09 2·21 64·3
Site 917 (Unit 25) 2 46·8 1·81 13·7 13·4 0·21 13·8 7·98 2·60 0·23 0·14 4·80 70·0
Site 917 (Unit 27) 1 47·4 1·80 13·6 13·1 0·24 11·6 9·21 2·15 0·19 0·15 3·61 66·9
Site 917 (Unit 29) 1 44·8 1·85 13·2 14·4 0·29 14·3 8·87 2·07 0·17 0·11 3·20 69·3
Site 917 (Unit 31a) 2 45·5 1·82 13·3 14·5 0·26 14·2 9·33 2·51 0·22 0·13 5·63 69·1
Site 917 (Unit 32b) 2 45·1 0·80 11·3 12·2 0·24 23·9 4·41 0·94 0·11 0·06 7·89 81·7
Site 917 (Unit 33) 1 49·1 1·57 13·2 13·6 0·23 8·31 9·87 1·99 0·82 0·10 3·71 58·2

Site 917 Middle Series

Site 917 (Unit 34b) 1 48·4 2·67 14·1 14·3 0·24 5·78 8·76 3·59 1·02 0·23 2·08 47·9
Site 917 (Unit 36) 1 52·1 1·23 15·0 11·9 0·18 5·64 8·18 3·33 1·17 0·15 0·94 51·9
Site 917 (Unit 38) 1 51·7 1·30 15·7 11·6 0·14 6·69 7·33 3·62 0·78 0·21 1·41 56·8
Site 917 (Unit 41) 1 52·6 1·24 15·5 11·3 0·09 5·74 7·57 3·32 0·63 0·17 1·38 53·6
Site 917 (Unit 43) 1 51·4 1·30 14·4 13·8 0·12 6·48 7·81 2·71 0·75 0·06 1·80 51·7
Site 917 (Unit 49) 1 53·9 1·36 16·2 10·5 0·18 5·11 6·80 3·79 0·62 0·28 7·23 52·6
Site 917 (Unit 52) 1 50·7 1·42 14·4 13·0 0·24 6·82 9·08 3·07 0·77 0·16 2·33 54·4

Site 917 Lower Series

Site 917 (Unit 58) 1 49·6 1·09 16·0 10·4 0·09 7·42 11·4 2·68 0·18 0·09 0·30 61·9
Site 917 (Unit 60) 2 47·8 1·39 13·9 12·4 0·19 9·10 12·0 2·50 0·15 0·12 1·51 62·5
Site 917 (Unit 61b) 1 45·7 1·36 13·3 11·2 0·19 17·0 9·49 2·18 0·26 0·14 2·22 77·6
Site 917 (Unit 62) 1 45·7 1·10 15·2 11·3 0·14 13·2 10·2 1·66 0·30 0·12 8·02 72·5

427
 JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY VOLUME 42 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2001

Table A1: continued

Sample n SiO2 TiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3(t) MnO MgO CaO Na2O K2O P2O5 LOI mg-no.∗

Site 917 (Unit 64) 1 49·8 1·18 16·4 11·7 0·19 8·87 9·88 2·47 0·10 0·10 6·97 63·3
Site 917 (Unit 68) 1 50·8 1·39 15·5 11·1 0·16 8·62 11·0 2·32 0·70 0·15 2·57 64·0
Site 917 (Unit 69) 1 51·2 1·21 15·3 11·8 0·17 7·17 9·20 2·81 0·83 0·11 2·55 58·0
Site 917 (Unit 70) 1 55·9 1·31 15·4 9·29 0·10 4·57 9·96 3·50 0·53 0·24 2·04 52·8
Site 917 (Unit 71) 1 51·7 1·23 16·3 8·63 0·15 7·45 10·9 2·89 0·51 0·12 2·52 66·3
Site 917 (Unit 73b) 1 48·6 1·39 14·6 10·5 0·18 11·1 12·3 1·99 0·34 0·11 1·36 70·5
Site 917 (Unit 75a) 1 52·4 2·24 14·6 15·5 0·10 3·50 7·03 3·42 0·61 0·39 7·65 34·0
Site 917 (Unit 78) 1 47·2 0·75 15·0 10·9 0·17 12·9 9·17 1·83 0·16 0·11 3·50 72·9
Site 917 (Unit 82) 1 48·7 1·06 15·9 11·1 0·14 8·54 10·2 2·58 0·30 0·13 4·61 63·8
Site 917 (Unit 84) 2 49·3 1·02 16·0 10·4 0·13 9·31 11·2 2·60 0·31 0·13 1·92 67·0
Site 917 (Unit 87) 1 48·3 1·88 13·0 14·6 0·22 6·65 10·8 2·65 0·56 0·36 2·00 50·9
Site 917 (Unit 89) 1 47·9 1·20 15·8 11·7 0·13 7·92 11·5 2·33 0·22 0·16 0·06 60·6
Site 917 (Unit 91) 1 49·2 1·10 16·6 10·7 0·11 7·63 12·1 2·81 0·17 0·14 3·87 62·0
Site 917 (Unit 92) 2 49·1 1·14 14·4 10·4 0·26 7·67 11·1 1·99 0·10 0·14 6·25 62·2

Site 918
Site 918 (Unit 1) 2 47·9 3·12 14·1 14·1 0·16 5·44 10·8 2·84 0·62 0·36 1·69 46·8
Site 918 (Unit 8b) 1 50·2 1·23 13·0 14·6 0·26 7·11 10·3 2·22 0·11 0·09 0·35 52·7
Site 918 (Unit 11b) 3 49·8 1·25 13·9 15·6 0·21 7·38 9·42 2·34 0·11 0·09 4·56 51·8
Site 918 (Unit 12b) 1 50·7 0·98 13·7 13·2 0·24 8·97 11·9 1·89 0·08 0·06 0·40 60·7
Site 918 (Unit 14) 1 49·0 1·18 13·9 14·2 0·17 7·43 11·8 2·02 0·17 0·08 1·63 54·4

n, number of samples within each unit.

∗mg-number = 100MgO/(MgO + FeO) molecular oxide amount, Fe2O3/FeO = 0·15.

428
 Table A2: Average trace element date for each unit

Sample n Ni Cr Zn Cu Ga Rb Sr Y Zr Nb V Sc Co Ba Hf Ta Th Zr/Nb Zr/Y Nb/Y

Site 988
Site 988 (Unit 1) 4 75·6 115 103 237 26·1 3·8 223 34·0 142 17·7 372 40·6 45·6 108 4·83 1·10 1·34 8·0 4·18 0·52

Site 989
Site 989 (Unit 1) 10 77·9 42·4 95·5 166 16·3 3·3 75·0 24·3 58·4 3·3 388 53·2 49·0 43·0 1·78 0·20 0·26 18·0 2·40 0·13
Site 989 (Unit 2) 2 97·7 233 84·9 163 17·6 3·0 83·1 22·6 47·1 2·7 314 54·6 54·9 51·2 1·41 0·16 0·14 17·8 2·09 0·12

Site 990
Site 990 (Unit 1) 3 59·9 29·5 99·7 144 19·8 5·1 107 31·7 70·2 3·9 392 32·9 42·3 144 2·15 0·23 0·49 18·0 2·21 0·12
PHILIPP et al.

Site 990 (Unit 2) 2 77·2 138 83·3 106 18·0 3·3 115 24·5 61·1 3·4 305 41·3 44·4 106 1·69 0·19 0·29 18·2 2·50 0·14
Site 990 (Unit 3a) 1 80·2 144 84·4 118 15·7 3·4 81·5 21·9 53·0 2·9 291 38·6 44·4 118 1·56 0·18 0·34 18·3 2·42 0·13
Site 990 (Unit 4) 1 82·7 170 87·7 92·5 14·3 3·9 84·2 22·7 56·7 2·7 293 39·1 47·7 92·5 1·66 0·15 0·33 21·0 2·50 0·12
Site 990 (Unit 5) 1 84·3 169 85·8 118 14·2 3·7 93·8 23·4 56·1 3·3 302 38·6 45·8 118 1·73 0·18 0·34 17·0 2·40 0·14
Site 990 (Unit 6) 2 95·5 213 81·9 95·2 16·3 2·4 95·9 20·5 49·8 2·6 295 50·8 51·9 95·2 1·29 0·15 0·26 19·5 2·43 0·12
Site 990 (Unit 7) 2 95·4 226 86·6 116 14·6 3·0 81·3 22·2 52·1 2·8 335 41·0 56·6 116 1·20 0·14 0·20 19·1 2·35 0·13

429
Site 990 (Unit 8) 4 109 243 67·9 88·3 16·0 3·3 88·7 17·4 42·8 2·6 240 41·2 52·9 88·3 1·14 0·14 0·30 17·2 2·45 0·15
Site 990 (Unit 9) 3 136 236 79·3 123 16·2 2·3 72·4 20·9 43·7 2·7 285 47·6 57·3 123 1·39 0·09 0·21 16·4 2·11 0·13
Site 990 (Unit 11) 6 101 239 78·9 78·7 17·0 4·1 80·2 20·7 46·4 2·7 269 44·4 55·8 78·7 1·32 0·15 0·23 17·8 2·25 0·13
Site 990 (Unit 12) 3 97·4 227 76·8 63·7 16·7 2·3 90·2 19·4 46·5 2·8 270 45·6 46·8 71·8 1·37 0·17 0·35 16·6 2·40 0·14
Site 990 (Unit 13) 1 95·2 219 87·3 73·1 16·3 3·4 67·4 18·3 41·8 3·0 299 49·1 47·3 50·7 1·15 0·17 0·34 13·9 2·28 0·16

Site 917 Upper Series

Site 917 (Unit 1) 1 361 777 81·5 106 18·3 4·2 174 21·7 49·8 1·2 291 35·5 69·2 34·7 1·60 0·07 0·20 41·5 2·29 0·06
Site 917 (Unit 2) 1 946 1440 71·0 83·6 9·41 1·9 61·8 13·1 31·8 <1 204 28·4 86·7 8·21 1·07 0·05 0·11 — 2·43 —
Site 917 (Unit 10) 1 218 476 72·6 102 14·0 6·5 103 19·4 47·7 <1 266 38·3 55·4 20·5 1·41 <0·05 0·20 — 2·46 —
BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST

Site 917 (Unit 16) 1 690 1160 69·9 83·0 12·6 1·5 86·8 16·2 41·2 2·3 199 35·8 69·9 31·7 0·97 0·05 0·24 17·9 2·54 0·14
Site 917 (Unit 21) 2 824 1200 74·7 110 11·5 0·8 51·7 18·6 58·6 1·8 236 28·5 77·0 4·59 2·01 0·11 0·16 32·8 3·16 0·10
Site 917 (Unit 24) 1 130 274 78·0 108 14·3 2·5 164 20·2 64·7 1·3 340 43·0 50·1 31·5 1·93 0·09 0·11 49·8 3·20 0·06
Site 917 (Unit 25) 2 412 602 88·0 122 17·8 4·0 117 25·3 76·7 3·0 326 35·8 58·8 22·5 2·39 0·20 0·36 25·3 3·03 0·12
Site 917 (Unit 27) 1 359 546 88·1 77·5 16·2 4·9 138 26·3 77·9 2·9 352 36·7 60·4 31·5 2·56 0·15 0·22 26·9 2·96 0·11
Site 917 (Unit 29) 1 251 450 91·4 80·8 18·3 2·4 163 29·8 88·6 4·2 442 42·4 51·8 57·5 3·32 0·23 0·44 21·2 2·97 0·14
Site 917 (Unit 31a) 2 348 656 89·4 152 20·4 4·8 77·4 26·7 81·1 2·6 369 36·5 63·4 39·1 2·51 0·18 0·36 31·3 3·05 0·10
Site 917 (Unit 32b) 2 1030 1365 63·5 73·5 9·60 2·6 32·6 10·9 33·6 1·1 183 25·2 88·6 26·6 1·10 0·06 0·13 32·1 3·08 0·10
Site 917 (Unit 33) 1 123 302 77·1 99·2 15·5 7·5 202 19·9 56·9 1·8 344 43·6 51·3 50·9 2·14 0·10 0·20 31·6 2·86 0·09
 Table A2: continued

Sample n Ni Cr Zn Cu Ga Rb Sr Y Zr Nb V Sc Co Ba Hf Ta Th Zr/Nb Zr/Y Nb/Y

Site 917 Middle Series

Site 917 (Unit 34b) 1 36·3 40·4 122 43·4 23·9 14·7 322 31·6 128 5·5 611 45·8 45·0 355 3·61 0·39 3·08 23·3 4·05 0·17
Site 917 (Unit 36) 1 39·5 32·6 96·5 47·7 19·4 19·5 464 18·7 121 3·7 312 32·1 43·5 442 3·72 0·22 2·54 32·7 6·47 0·20
Site 917 (Unit 38) 1 49·5 45·2 98·8 49·5 21·1 10·9 446 20·9 118 3·2 304 33·3 44·4 530 3·25 0·24 2·42 36·8 5·64 0·15
Site 917 (Unit 41) 1 46·9 49·7 75·3 49·6 18·4 7·9 490 18·5 124 3·6 286 30·4 40·7 509 3·89 0·19 2·29 34·4 6·70 0·19
Site 917 (Unit 43) 1 55·5 38·3 89·3 108 17·5 14·1 329 18·1 110 5·0 222 33·1 46·9 358 3·70 0·32 2·44 22·3 6·10 0·27
Site 917 (Unit 49) 1 25·4 29·9 95·1 42·1 26·0 6·7 602 20·1 185 4·6 303 26·5 35·8 662 3·89 0·27 2·80 40·2 9·20 0·23
Site 917 (Unit 52) 1 52·6 37·9 93·7 87·1 19·7 14·2 362 22·6 104 2·8 337 39·4 49·1 288 3·03 0·17 0·69 37·2 4·61 0·12

Site 917 Lower Series

Site 917 (Unit 58) 1 139 253 74·7 111 14·8 1·4 289 16·1 58·7 1·6 284 38·0 49·1 142 1·91 0·11 0·13 36·7 3·65 0·10
Site 917 (Unit 60) 2 204 345 72·1 102 15·5 1·4 196 22·7 77·0 5·7 331 39·0 51·0 64·2 2·35 0·39 0·61 13·5 3·40 0·25
JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY

Site 917 (Unit 61b) 1 792 1161 71·9 91·5 8·52 3·3 97·7 8·8 28·1 2·5 136 22·4 94·0 54·1 2·78 0·08 0·12 11·2 3·19 0·28
Site 917 (Unit 62) 1 330 427 66·3 110 14·3 4·6 186 14·3 47·6 4·5 184 29·3 59·7 758 1·44 0·30 0·31 10·6 3·32 0·31
Site 917 (Unit 64) 1 148 240 84·2 104 17·7 0·9 247 19·9 62·8 1·9 279 40·6 52·7 83·2 2·22 0·14 0·12 33·1 3·16 0·10
Site 917 (Unit 68) 1 109 284 74·4 85·4 16·8 6·6 215 19·6 90·5 7·8 258 39·8 47·6 257 3·05 0·48 1·31 11·6 4·62 0·40

430
Site 917 (Unit 69) 1 74·9 34·5 77·8 83·6 20·5 12·3 267 21·0 106 2·9 264 35·7 46·0 257 2·83 0·18 0·33 36·6 5·05 0·14
Site 917 (Unit 70) 1 69·2 76·4 90·7 52·0 22·8 2·7 387 29·6 217 14·7 233 26·5 34·3 514 6·95 0·86 1·65 14·8 7·33 0·50
VOLUME 42

Site 917 (Unit 71) 1 110 76·2 72·5 122 19·3 3·7 289 19·9 94·7 2·3 261 38·8 49·6 256 3·04 0·16 0·30 41·2 4·76 0·12
Site 917 (Unit 73b) 1 359 679 68·4 104 22·5 7·3 151 18·6 60·8 1·9 242 37·0 56·4 1100 2·11 0·13 0·11 32·6 3·27 0·10
Site 917 (Unit 75a) 1 33·3 23·5 133 40·6 22·7 2·5 367 37·8 200 9·3 346 30·1 43·6 553 6·93 0·49 0·94 21·5 5·29 0·25
Site 917 (Unit 78) 1 294 598 70·6 96·3 15·7 1·7 352 14·9 48·4 2·2 187 32·5 56·6 125 1·32 0·13 0·18 22·0 3·25 0·15
Site 917 (Unit 82) 1 175 142 76·6 103 17·8 1·2 298 19·4 65·2 2·6 253 35·6 48·7 216 1·95 0·13 0·10 25·1 3·36 0·13
NUMBER 2

Site 917 (Unit 84) 2 199 304 73·7 105 17·7 2·2 344 18·7 62·3 1·2 254 36·7 47·7 219 2·04 0·09 0·22 53·2 3·33 0·06
Site 917 (Unit 87) 1 148 379 78·4 91·0 17·6 4·5 302 20·1 68·1 2·1 237 35·3 52·3 245 1·95 0·15 0·48 32·4 3·39 0·10
Site 917 (Unit 89) 1 132 256 75·6 86·2 12·9 3·0 436 19·6 68·3 2·2 214 37·4 50·5 441 1·97 0·12 0·17 31·0 3·48 0·11
Site 917 (Unit 91) 1 150 284 74·2 128 16·6 3·3 370 19·9 63·7 1·6 250 36·1 47·8 144 1·92 0·09 0·12 39·8 3·20 0·08
Site 917 (Unit 92) 2 222 394 65·5 88·5 12·8 0·7 329 17·8 56·8 1·6 239 35·9 57·1 125 1·52 0·11 0·21 36·9 3·21 0·09

Site 918
FEBRUARY 2001

Site 918 (Unit 1) 2 70·7 86·4 117 262 25·9 11·7 254 41·7 170 27·2 434 44·9 47·4 206 5·17 1·82 1·88 6·2 4·08 0·65
Site 918 (Unit 8b) 1 62·6 86·6 102 196 19·8 0·6 85·9 24·3 47·5 2·9 395 51·2 55·0 21·4 1·63 0·19 0·23 16·4 1·95 0·12
Site 918 (Unit 11b) 3 63·2 101 99·7 157 17·6 0·7 82·2 26·6 44·8 3·4 405 51·8 57·9 17·6 1·74 0·23 0·19 13·2 1·62 0·12
Site 918 (Unit 12b) 1 81·5 87·0 89·9 170 17·4 0·6 79·1 20·7 33·9 2·8 347 53·5 57·0 8·62 1·43 0·20 0·11 12·1 1·64 0·14
Site 918 (Unit 14) 1 76·8 122 92·9 179 14·9 2·0 85·2 25·2 45·4 3·4 370 52·7 49·1 15·1 1·81 0·24 0·25 13·4 1·80 0·13

All data in ppm; n, number of analysed samples within each unit.

 Table A3: Average REE date for each investigated unit

Sample n La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu

Site 988
Site 988 (Unit 1) 4 16·0 38·8 5·22 24·2 6·30 2·11 7·45 1·20 7·32 1·46 4·19 0·54 3·66 0·53

Site 989
Site 989 (Unit 1) 10 2·28 6·57 1·08 6·26 2·37 0·93 3·66 0·66 4·79 1·02 3·19 0·47 3·20 0·49
Site 989 (Unit 2) 2 2·25 6·17 0·99 5·53 2·03 0·83 3·16 0·57 4·02 0·85 2·72 0·38 2·59 0·39

Site 990
Site 990 (Unit 1) 3 4·30 10·9 1·62 8·28 2·82 1·11 4·00 0·75 5·22 1·14 3·44 0·51 3·43 0·54
PHILIPP et al.

Site 990 (Unit 2) 2 3·93 10·0 1·47 7·35 2·39 0·91 3·24 0·58 4·03 0·87 2·64 0·38 2·57 0·41
Site 990 (Unit 3a) 1 2·96 7·61 1·15 5·97 2·14 0·86 3·02 0·57 4·14 0·90 2·72 0·39 2·65 0·40
Site 990 (Unit 4) 1 3·95 9·85 1·46 7·12 2·36 0·89 3·30 0·62 4·19 0·91 2·82 0·41 2·75 0·42
Site 990 (Unit 5) 1 3·99 9·67 1·43 7·05 2·24 0·90 3·23 0·59 4·10 0·89 2·75 0·41 2·67 0·39
Site 990 (Unit 6) 2 3·25 8·20 1·22 6·31 2·07 0·86 2·95 0·56 3·83 0·84 2·55 0·35 2·47 0·38
Site 990 (Unit 7) 2 2·22 6·04 0·97 5·23 1·96 0·81 2·96 0·57 4·05 0·88 2·69 0·39 2·72 0·41

431
Site 990 (Unit 8) 4 2·93 7·39 1·10 5·64 1·95 0·79 2·77 0·53 3·56 0·80 2·39 0·36 2·35 0·37
Site 990 (Unit 9) 3 2·50 6·35 0·96 4·97 1·71 0·70 2·36 0·45 3·06 0·68 2·09 0·30 2·01 0·32
Site 990 (Unit 11) 6 3·02 7·74 1·18 6·09 2·10 0·82 2·81 0·52 3·67 0·77 2·45 0·34 2·40 0·36
Site 990 (Unit 12) 3 2·86 7·25 1·11 5·61 1·95 0·78 2·71 0·50 3·51 0·73 2·32 0·32 2·29 0·33
Site 990 (Unit 13) 1 1·68 4·71 0·78 4·26 1·67 0·69 2·27 0·46 3·31 0·68 2·24 0·32 2·22 0·32

Site 917 Upper Series

Site 917 (Unit 1) 1 3·32 8·09 1·39 7·57 2·59 1·06 3·60 0·62 4·16 0·83 2·49 0·31 2·14 0·30
Site 917 (Unit 2) 1 1·84 5·19 0·89 4·72 1·70 0·68 2·30 0·39 2·55 0·53 1·54 0·20 1·33 0·18
Site 917 (Unit 10) 1 2·41 5·79 1·09 6·33 2·45 1·02 3·29 0·60 3·89 0·78 2·24 0·30 2·06 0·31
BASALTS OF SE GREENLAND COAST

Site 917 (Unit 16) 1 2·28 6·76 1·02 5·53 1·88 0·71 2·67 0·44 2·94 0·60 1·77 0·23 1·59 0·22
Site 917 (Unit 21) 2 2·56 7·23 1·26 6·97 2·23 0·79 2·83 0·46 2·99 0·61 1·76 0·22 1·52 0·21
Site 917 (Unit 24) 1 3·32 9·14 1·62 8·91 3·09 1·17 3·84 0·65 4·18 0·82 2·36 0·31 2·09 0·30
Site 917 (Unit 25) 2 7·98 22·9 3·71 19·9 6·19 2·28 7·56 1·28 8·30 1·70 4·74 0·61 4·21 0·58
Site 917 (Unit 27) 1 5·22 15·9 2·60 13·6 4·39 1·56 5·49 0·92 5·88 1·15 3·19 0·43 2·86 0·40
Site 917 (Unit 29) 1 6·54 19·6 3·24 17·2 5·17 1·95 6·86 1·14 7·02 1·41 3·99 0·50 3·51 0·52
Site 917 (Unit 31a) 2 5·12 13·9 2·28 12·4 3·95 1·41 5·00 0·81 5·22 0·99 2·96 0·38 2·74 0·37
Site 917 (Unit 32b) 2 1·76 5·31 0·94 5·11 1·69 0·65 2·28 0·37 2·31 0·48 1·36 0·18 1·20 0·16
Site 917 (Unit 33) 1 3·58 11·0 1·90 10·5 3·32 1·35 4·32 0·71 4·73 0·94 2·68 0·35 2·34 0·36
 Table A3: continued

Sample n La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu

Site 917 Middle Series

Site 917 (Unit 34b) 1 18·4 41·9 5·36 23·7 5·66 2·07 6·71 1·04 6·63 1·28 3·81 0·49 3·56 0·49
Site 917 (Unit 36) 1 22·6 48·4 5·75 23·1 4·41 1·45 4·78 0·62 3·73 0·70 2·03 0·26 1·93 0·26
Site 917 (Unit 38) 1 26·2 54·4 6·29 24·7 4·75 1·53 5·21 0·66 3·97 0·73 2·20 0·27 1·79 0·24
Site 917 (Unit 41) 1 34·2 72·3 8·39 32·2 5·88 1·89 6·04 0·84 4·86 0·93 2·58 0·35 2·44 0·33
Site 917 (Unit 43) 1 23·3 49·2 5·70 21·9 4·00 1·28 4·09 0·57 3·32 0·63 1·76 0·24 1·65 0·22
Site 917 (Unit 49) 1 40·8 87·6 9·76 37·3 6·30 1·92 6·35 0·76 4·17 0·76 2·20 0·30 1·93 0·30
Site 917 (Unit 52) 1 13·2 30·0 3·92 17·4 4·28 1·42 4·90 0·73 4·69 0·89 2·68 0·34 2·35 0·32

Site 917 Lower Series

Site 917 (Unit 58) 1 8·99 22·7 3·27 15·9 4·34 1·64 5·20 0·83 5·35 1·13 3·12 0·40 2·76 0·42
Site 917 (Unit 60) 2 11·2 27·6 4·09 20·7 6·18 2·32 6·99 1·28 7·91 1·54 4·45 0·57 3·87 0·56
JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY

Site 917 (Unit 61b) 2 8·33 19·0 2·48 10·6 2·45 0·77 2·72 0·43 2·87 0·53 1·58 0·22 1·47 0·19
Site 917 (Unit 62) 1 7·50 19·1 2·83 13·8 3·80 1·42 4·69 0·72 4·80 0·94 2·86 0·35 2·49 0·34
Site 917 (Unit 64) 1 5·60 14·3 2·12 10·3 2·84 1·06 3·50 0·54 3·59 0·70 2·14 0·26 1·86 0·26
Site 917 (Unit 68) 1 8·44 19·9 2·76 12·7 3·36 1·28 3·94 0·61 3·87 0·74 2·17 0·27 1·92 0·26

432
Site 917 (Unit 69) 1 11·8 27·1 3·39 14·8 3·48 1·23 4·18 0·61 3·84 0·74 2·20 0·28 1·98 0·28
Site 917 (Unit 70) 1 57·1 111 12·7 50·6 9·52 2·90 9·67 1·39 8·03 1·62 4·56 0·56 3·97 0·59
VOLUME 42

Site 917 (Unit 71) 1 22·7 52·6 7·09 31·2 7·84 2·84 8·50 1·50 9·09 1·75 4·94 0·65 4·72 0·75
Site 917 (Unit 73b) 1 12·3 28·2 3·53 15·4 3·63 1·28 4·35 0·63 3·99 0·77 2·29 0·29 2·07 0·29
Site 917 (Unit 75a) 1 78·5 172 21·9 89·8 18·0 5·42 18·7 2·73 16·3 3·33 9·24 1·25 8·20 1·14
Site 917 (Unit 78) 1 10·0 21·9 3·07 13·3 3·19 1·17 3·88 0·61 3·91 0·81 2·27 0·27 2·04 0·32
Site 917 (Unit 82) 2 9·44 22·1 3·13 14·5 3·59 1·41 4·32 0·71 4·52 0·94 2·74 0·36 2·39 0·36
NUMBER 2

Site 917 (Unit 84) 1 8·85 20·7 2·91 13·3 3·33 1·31 4·06 0·69 4·21 0·84 2·51 0·33 2·21 0·33
Site 917 (Unit 87) 1 11·0 26·3 3·67 16·7 3·88 1·44 4·28 0·71 4·51 0·92 2·64 0·35 2·29 0·34
Site 917 (Unit 89) 1 10·1 26·1 3·81 18·3 4·48 1·65 4·97 0·88 5·30 1·01 3·05 0·38 2·65 0·40
Site 917 (Unit 91) 1 8·66 22·1 3·28 16·2 3·86 1·49 4·75 0·72 4·54 0·89 2·59 0·35 2·25 0·35
Site 917 (Unit 92) 2 7·50 17·9 2·73 13·2 3·57 1·30 3·85 0·65 4·07 0·80 2·36 0·29 2·06 0·31

Site 918
FEBRUARY 2001

Site 918 (Unit 1) 2 21·2 50·0 6·50 28·7 6·99 2·22 8·00 1·18 7·51 1·48 4·38 0·58 3·97 0·55
Site 918 (Unit 8b) 1 2·97 7·98 1·33 7·56 2·74 1·09 3·94 0·76 5·04 1·09 3·35 0·46 3·45 0·49
Site 918 (Unit 11b) 3 3·17 8·60 1·34 7·72 3·00 1·16 3·97 0·77 4·94 1·12 3·29 0·46 3·34 0·50
Site 918 (Unit 12b) 1 1·76 4·99 0·86 4·83 1·94 0·75 2·78 0·51 3·60 0·77 2·43 0·33 2·36 0·35
Site 918 (Unit 14) 1 2·11 5·75 0·96 5·47 2·08 0·81 3·08 0·59 4·02 0·91 2·59 0·39 2·68 0·38

All data in ppm; n, number of analysed samples within each unit.