Criticism of generalised models for the magmatic evolution of arc-trench systems (original) (raw)

1978, Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Recent geological and petrological results from the Lesser Antilles island arc and Papua New Guinea, and from other regions of arc-trench-type volcanism, provide notable exceptions to the spatial, volumetric, and temporal relationships claimed for generalised arc models. For example, many alkalic and shoshonitic associations do not appear to be developed over the deepest parts of downgoing slabs, and there are now several well-documented exceptions to the K20/SiO2/depth-to-Benioff-zone relationship. Moreover, the temporal sequence of early tholeiitic ~ middle calcalkalic --, late shoshonitic/alkalic is not well substantiated, although shoshonitic rocks do appear to be developed most commonly in regions with a long history of plate interactions. Exceptions to the generalised arc model are symptomatic of the need to look for the unique features of individual island arcs, rather than just similarities between different ones, so that the major factors controlling arc evolution may be determined.