Data Report: Trace Element Geochemistry of Leg 142 Basalts by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract

During Leg 142, two units of moderately evolved basalt were recovered from the East Pacific Rise axis at 9°3θ'N. Instrumental neutron activation analysis of seven samples from these units shows them to be light rare-earth-element (REE)-depleted, normal mid-ocean ridge basalt, with (La/Sm) N of 0.52-0.56, flat chondrite-normalized medium-to-heavy rare earth patterns, and slight negative europium anomalies. Unit 2 contains slightly higher amounts of REE and Hf and lower amounts of Cr than Unit 1, with both units similar in composition to the most-evolved samples previously collected from this section of the ridge crest.