Geochemistry of Late Cenozoic Basalts in Việt Nam and Its Tectonic Significances

12/9/2015
GEOCHEMISTRY OF LATE CENOZOIC BASALTS IN VIT NAM AND ITS TECTONIC SIGNIFICANCES
GEOCHEMISTRY OF LATE CENOZOIC BASALTS

IN VIT NAM AND ITS TECTONIC SIGNIFICANCES
PHM TCH XUN1 , NGUYN HONG1,2 , LEE HYUN KOO3
1 Institute of Geosciences, AS&T VN, Hong Quc Vit, H Ni
2 Institute of Geosciences, Geological Survey of Japan, Tsukuba, Japan
3 Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea
Abstract: The Late Cenozoic basalts consist of two main series related to two eruptive episodes. The early
episode (bN1-N21) comprises voluminous tholeiitic and olivine basalts, erupted from extensional fissures. The
late episode (bN22-Q), formed by central eruptions, comprises mainly alkaline basalts. The lower series
basalts are characterized by high SiO2, low TiO2, FeO*, Na 2O+K2O and P2O5, while the upper series basalts
have low SiO2, high TiO2, FeO*, Na 2O+K2O and P2O5 and usually have higher contents of incompatible
elements. Diversity of compositions of basalts was due to the difference of melt generation conditions (P-T,
fluid), degree of partial melting or heterogeneity of sources. The lower series were generated under intensive
extension of territory (high degree of partial melting), in shallow mantle (low pressure). In contrast, the upper
series were generated under limited extension of territory (low degree of partial melting), in deeper mantle
(high pressure). The differentiation in intensity and appearance of W-E extension is the cause of feature of
distribution of late Cenozoic basalts: most of the eruptive centres are concentrated in the southern part of
Central Vit Nam, while the northern part comprises isolated single centres.
INTRODUCTION
Cenozoic basaltic eruption in Vit Nam is rather widespread and is a part of regional volcanic activities taking place after the
collision between the India and Eurasia plates. The most part of interpretations on the geodynamics in Southeast Asia during the
neotectonic stage have been basing on the tectonic model extrusion suggested by Tapponnier P. [15, 16] and other hypotheses based
on the above model. According to this model the Indochina Peninsula was extruded and glided southeastward along the Red River
strike-slip. Former studies [13, 14] have been recognizing two tectonic phases on the Vietnamese territory from Paleogene to
Present. The early phase is characterized by left-lateral shear along NW-SE trending faults parallelly with the Red River Fault in the
field of subparallel compression strain. On the contrary, the late phase is characterized by right-lateral shear along the above faults and
the east-west extension regime on submeridional faults. Cenozoic basalts in Vit Nam erupted mainly along submeridional extension
faults or NE-SW normal faults, and were considered as closely related to the extensional regime of the late phase. In this paper the
authors present the geochemical features of the studied basalts with the aim to clarify their origin and forming conditions, contributing
in the study on the geodynamic settings during neotectonic stage in Vit Nam.
I. FEATURES OF LATE CENOZOIC BASALTIC ERUPTION IN VIT NAM
Late Cenozoic volcanic activities in Vit Nam have been leaving basaltic covers scatteredly distributed from the North to the South
and many areas in the East Vit Nam Sea, but concentrated mainly in the South Trung B Plateaux. These basaltic covers have very
different areas from some km2, such as in Lng P H, in Bin, to thousand km2 in Phc Long, Pleiku, Bun Ma Thut, etc.
(Fig. 1). The total area of the basaltic covers approximates over 25,000 km2 with the thickness changing from 1-2 to ~500 m. The
earliest occurrence time of Late Cenozoic basalt eruption in Vit Nam, to date, has been recognized at the end of Early Miocene in
Lt area (17.6 Ma). The youngest volcanism has been recognized in Xun Lc, Cn C and c Trng with the age respectively
of 0.44, 0.4 and 0.37 Ma. One can say that the most part of young volcanism in Vit Nam ended in the first half of Middle
Pleistocene, in except of the eruption in the Tro (Ash) Island in 1923 year.
http://www.idm.gov.vn/nguon_luc/Xuat_ban/2004/B24/b65.htm
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Figure 1. Distributive schema of Late Cenozoic basalts in Vit Nam and adjacent areas. Absolute age of basalts is based on
[10].
Some features of the basaltic covers are presented in the Table 1. According to recent studies [5, 10], Late Cenozoic volcanic
activities have been subdivided into two main phases: early phase of Miocene - Early Pliocene age (bN1-N21) and, late phase of Late
Pliocene - Quaternary (bN22-Q). Corresponding to these two effusive phase there are two basalt groups. Basalts of the early phase
are characterized by the type of effusion along fractures forming large basaltic plateaux, basaltic flows and occupying the major part of
Cenozoic effusives. They are composed mainly of quartz tholeiite and olivine tholeiite. Basalts of the late phase are characterized by
the type of central effusion leaving many volcanic structures, such as cones, maars and usually have the eruptive character with
such products as volcanic bombs, ashes, tuffs and pyroclastics. They are characterized by the predominance of high-alkaline basalts.
Especially, in high-alkaline basalts of the late phase there usually are mantle xenoliths, such as spinel lherzolite, harzburgite, wehrlite,
pyroxenite, etc. and large crystals of augite, olivine and plagioclase.
Table 1. Features of Late Cenozoic basaltic covers
Areas
Areas
(km2))
Thickness
(m)
Age
(Ma)
Bun Ma
Thut
3,800
260
8,9 - 1,63
5,8
Pleiku
>4,000
> 440
7,4 - 1,59
5,9
Qung
Ngi
16,8 - 1,68
> 12
7,8 - 0,4
2,400
> 130
11,58 - 0,44
Lt
2,500
300
17,6-0,37
Phc
> 6,000
250
9,1 - 4,6
(km2)
Thickness
(m)
Age (Ma)
Lng P
H
100
in Bin
Ph
Ngha n
Qung Tr
Localities
Localities
Xun Lc
Ph Qu
2,5 - (1923)
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Long
II. METHOD OF ANALYSIS
Samples used in analysis consist of fresh rock samples selected from drill cores and surface exposures taken from almost all basalt
groups described in [4, 8-10]. The components of main elements have been analyzed by XRF method on the Japanese measurer
Rikagu RIX 2100 with the degree of precision of 5%. The components of trace elements have been analyzed by plasma-mass
spectrum (ICP-MS) method on the measurer ELAN 6000 of the Perkin Elmer Company with the degree of precision of 2% for
rare earth elements and 3% for other elements. The analyses have been realized at the Centre of Analysis of the Chungnam
National University, Republic of Korea. The results of composition analysis of Late Cenozoic basalts in Vit Nam are presented in
the Table 2.
III. RESULTS OF ANALYSIS
1. Major element components
The MgO content largely oscillates from 4.98% (Phc Long basalts) to 12.96% (Xun Lc basalts). On the CIPW
classification diagram (Fig. 2) the major part of basalts fall into the field of quartz tholeiite (QT) with components bearing converted
quartz, and olivine tholeiite (OT) with components bearing converted olivine and hypersthene; lesser there is alkaline basalt (AB)
bearing under 5% converted nepheline and, rarer, there is basanite bearing over 5% converted nepheline.
The correlation between rock forming oxides is presented in the diagram of Figure 3. SiO2 and MgO have rather clear negative
correlation, reflecting two groups of main elements: high- and low-SiO2 corresponding to basalts of the early and late phases (Fig.
3a). The TiO2 content of Late Cenozoic
Figure 2. Composition of Cenozoic basalts in Vit Nam on the CIPW diagram

(based on the Table 2 with the combination with data of Nguyn Hong et al [4, 5])
Note: Basalts of the early phase: 1) Lt, 3) Pleiku, 5) Bun Ma Thut, 7) Xun Lc, 9) Phc Long, 13) in Bin, 14)
Kng Plng, 15) Lng P H; Basalts of the late phase: 2) Lt, 4) Pleiku, 6) Bun Ma Thut, 8) Xun Lc; Undifferentiated
basalts: 10) Ph Qu, 11) Qung Ngi, 12) Qung Tr; QT quartz tholeiite, OT olivine tholeiite, AB alkaline basalt.
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Figure 3. Diagram of correlation between rock forming oxides and MgO

in Cenozoic basalts in Vit Nam (Symbols seen in Fig. 2)
Table 2. Composition of major and trace elements in Cenozoic basalts in Vit Nam
Samples
XL-II XL-II BMTI BMTII
PL-I
PL-I
14
15
DL-I
DL-I
DL-I
DL-II
DL-II
Plog
Plog
XL-I
XL-II
10
11
12
13
SiO2
54.16
52.99
49.75
53.37
54.4
52.44
51.37
53.13
45.13
48.83
52.19
46.71
49.43
TiO2
1.61
1.87
2.3
1.75
1.54
1.54
1.82
1.86
2.32
2.64
1.66
1.97
2.15
Al2 O3
15.08
13.93
14.13
16.69
14.69
14.35
14.8
14.39
12.37
14.27
14.67
13.81
15.26
14.91 13.66
FeO*
9.1
10.88
11.36
10.16
9.38
11.2
10.9
10.25
11.6
11.38
10.90
11.19
11.53
8.67
11.41
MnO
0.14
0.19
0.14
0.12
0.14
0.14
0.15
0.15
0.18
0.16
0.13
0.17
0.16
0.09
0.16
MgO
7.51
7.9
7.96
4.47
6.93
7.88
6.54
8.02
12.85
9.41
7.85
11.63
7.57
7.63
9.44
CaO
6.77
7.04
7.11
4.85
6.99
7.03
7.09
8.36
7.62
5.85
8.27
7.38
5.87
6.6
7.62
Na2 O
2.36
2.23
1.68
4.26
2.22
1.99
2.31
3.01
3.18
2.45
3.12
2.67
3.73
1.94
2.17
K2 O
1.59
1.3
1.82
3.23
1.09
1.03
1.01
1.16
2.87
3.27
1.10
2.34
3.76
1.23
1.7
P2 O5
0.31
0.3
0.48
0.75
0.19
0.28
0.26
0.34
1.08
0.97
0.32
0.6
1.03
0.23
0.75
Tng
98.63
98.64
96.73
99.65
97.58
97.88
96.25
100.67
99.19
99.24 100.21 98.47
100.5
97.15 97.29
Mg#
59.77
56.65
55.78
44.19
57.08
55.88
51.92
58.48
66.60
59.81 56.45 65.17 54.17 61.30 59.83
Cr
380
444
338
470
326
373
442
253
805
606
364
578
517
405
475
Ni
275
348
353
310
256
364
350
318
647
498
475
527
416
330
395
136
160
169
81
127
153
164
187
177
135
145
185
124
115
202
Cu
90
89
84
78
109
88
100
82
132
122
108
93
77
96
103
Zn
176
189
239
237
153
167
221
351
251
278
271
21
227
175
321
Rb
37
25
31
79
18
14
15
100
75
71
85
81
67
15
53
54.36 47.47
1.5
2.93
Sr
309
337
408
701
222
301
354
1371
831
842
837
637
949
418
665
Ba
428
335
416
761
193
383
236
635
703
691
697
572
587
263
684
Pb
10.5
10.7
11.0
9.9
13.0
11.8
15.0
12.0
14.2
9.8
15.8
10.1
16.7
13.0
12.0
1.1
1.2
0.9
2.0
0.5
1.1
0.6
2.0
2.8
2.0
2.2
1.5
2.2
0.6
2.0
Zr
110
120
161
275
83
92
126
375
278
296
318
146
251
100
271
Nb
23
27
39
68
14
22
16
105
79
79
82
59
78
15
67
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Ta
1.4
1.7
2.4
5.0
0.9
1.3
1.1
6.6
5.2
5.0
5.4
3.5
4.4
0.9
6.5
La
19.4
21.4
2.8
53.5
11.6
15.8
15.0
76.0
78.4
74.0
74.5
41.5
67.9
15.3
53.2
Ce
37.0
38.3
55.6
98.3
22.1
30.2
31.4
146.4
145.2
141.0
141.0
74.5
125.8
30.5
105.9
Pr
4.6
4.5
6.9
11.6
2.7
3.8
4.2
17.6
16.7
17.0
16.5
8.7
14.6
3.9
13.0
Nd
14.3
12.9
18.9
31.1
7.9
10.9
13.0
48.9
42.8
44.0
44.1
23.8
37.4
11.4
34.5
Sm
3.6
3.8
5.0
7.8
2.7
3.3
3.8
10.8
8.8
10.0
9.7
5.7
8.2
3.4
8.3
Eu
1.4
1.5
1.8
2.9
1.1
1.4
1.5
3.7
2.9
3.0
3.3
2.1
2.8
1.3
2.8
Gd
4.8
5.3
6.2
9.3
3.9
4.3
5.2
13.0
10.8
12.0
11.7
6.8
9.5
4.3
9.5
Tb
0.9
1.1
1.1
1.6
0.8
0.9
1.1
2.1
1.7
2.0
1.9
1.2
1.5
0.8
1.7
Dy
3.5
4.2
4.1
5.0
3.2
3.3
4.1
6.8
5.5
6.0
6.3
4.2
5.0
3.0
5.5
Ho
0.9
1.1
1.0
1.0
0.9
0.9
1.1
1.6
1.3
2.0
1.5
1.1
1.1
0.8
1.3
Er
1.8
2.1
1.9
1.8
1.7
1.7
2.1
2.9
2.6
3.0
3.0
2.0
2.1
1.4
2.4
Yb
1.4
1.7
1.5
1.1
1.4
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.8
2.0
2.1
1.5
1.4
1.1
1.7
Lu
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.1
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.3
21.5
26.5
2.4
25.0
21.2
20.8
26.4
36.0
31.1
36.0
36.8
25.7
27.1
18.3
31.2
Th
5.3
6.4
6.1
12.2
3.2
4.2
3.1
15.2
15.0
13.0
12.8
9.2
12.5
3.8
10.1
Hf
3.7
4.1
5.0
8.1
3.0
3.2
4.2
10.8
7.6
9.0
8.6
4.8
7.0
3.3
7.6
Table 2 (continued)
Samples PL-I PL-II PL-II PL-II PL-II PL-II
16
17
18
19
20
21
PQ
Re
Qtri
22
23
24
Qtri KPLg KPLg LPH LPH LPH

25
26
27
28
29
30
SiO2
52.66 50.94 49.89 51.06 50.58 50.60 50.73 52.33 52.56 49.59 52.97 51.57 50.81 51.84 51.68
TiO2
1.98
1.98 2.64
2.08
2.21
2.21
2.55
2.11
2.13
2.47
1.77
1.89
2.19
2.34
2.24
Al2 O3 13.33 14.69 14.96 15.9 13.96 13.96 13.73 15.83 15.54 14.82 15.04 14.24 13.04 13.34 12.88
FeO* 10.81 10.15 11.16 10.68 11.60 11.60 10.86 10.09 9.45 10.55 9.77 10.00 9.78
9.73
9.49
MnO
0.14
0.16 0.15
0.22
0.13
0.13
0.14
0.13
0.2
0.15
0.14
0.13
0.16
0.14
0.14
MgO
8.07
7.91 8.07
4.94
6.94
6.94
8.12
7.59
5.7
8.83
8.05
7.45
9.21
8.97
9.49
CaO
8.45
6.04 6.73
5.12
8.50
8.50
7.13
7.05
6.33
7.4
7.01
8.82
7.45
6.24
6.99
Na2 O
2.95
3.15 2.24
3.66
3.42
3.42
2.35
2.13
2.69
2.39
2.14
2.94
1.91
1.89
K2 O
1.41
2.56 2.46
3.73
2.08
2.08
2.21
2.15
2.1
1.99
1.84
1.70
2.91
3.15
3.07
P2 O5
0.31
0.6
0.76
0.52
0.82
0.61
0.59
0.51
0.55
0.38
0.37
0.63
0.59
0.56
0.69
Total 100.11 98.18 98.98 98.17 99.94 100.26 98.43 100 97.21 98.73 99.11 99.11 98.16 98.25 98.44
Mg# 57.33 58.38 56.55 45.43 51.85 51.85 57.37 57.52 52.05 60.10 59.73 57.28 62.90 62.40 64.29
Cr
484
742
364
422
593
272
480
554
383
373
471
282
630
462
631
Ni
400
513
370
325
485
379
434
377
316
276
375
318
416
379
466
184
129
178
99
149
181
160
143
166
159
135
153
175
173
183
Cu
91
90
112
89
85
89
82
105
72
89
111
75
127
113
106
Zn
302
242
242
261
331
286
257
223
216
245
209
218
248
241
247
Rb
48
173
165
107
94
54
18
51
49
37
46
44
263
92
85
Sr
675
738
603
1124 1034
570
666
508
501
663
449
392
509
493
515
Ba
512
851
723
820
860
750
538
457
529
509
562
484
868
589
777
Pb
11.1
19.0 13.2
14.2
13.0
9.8
10.2
13.9
16.7
10.4
15.5
13.8
21.0
10.9
18.0
2.0
2.5
1.4
4.0
3.3
1.6
1.5
2.3
0.8
1.3
1.5
1.0
1.4
1.0
0.9
Zr
258
297
214
436
362
205
191
206
157
135
135
142
189
188
187
Nb
61
81
60
119
116
58
44
49
40
38
26
28
53
55
54
Ta
4.1
5.7
3.9
8.0
7.0
3.6
2.9
1.8
2.4
2.7
1.7
2.0
3.7
3.6
3.2
La
50.9
87.0 44.2
95.8
95.1
44.3
41.3
45.3
33.3
29.9
25.1
26.1
41.7
37.8
36.0
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Ce
99.9 130.4 85.3 170.7 175.5 85.1
76.5
85.8
62.7
56.2
49.2
51.1
79.7
70.8
70.1
Pr
12.4
15.5 10.2
18.8
20.3
10.2
9.7
10.2
7.5
6.8
6.1
6.3
9.9
9.3
9.1
Nd
34.2
38.7 28.1
46.1
51.8
27.5
27.0
26.9
21.1
20.2
18.2
17.7
29.5
26.8
26.2
Sm
7.9
8.2
6.7
9.6
11.1
6.5
6.8
6.2
5.5
4.7
4.5
4.5
7.0
6.9
6.8
Eu
2.7
3.0
2.5
3.4
3.8
2.4
2.4
2.1
1.9
1.8
1.6
1.7
2.3
2.3
2.3
Gd
9.4
10.1
8.0
11.4
13.4
8.0
8.3
7.7
6.6
5.6
5.7
5.7
7.9
7.8
7.8
Tb
1.6
1.7
1.4
1.8
2.1
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.0
1.1
1.1
1.3
1.4
1.4
Dy
5.4
5.8
4.7
5.8
6.4
4.7
5.1
4.4
4.1
3.3
3.9
4.0
4.6
4.7
4.7
Ho
1.3
1.4
1.1
1.3
1.4
1.1
1.3
1.1
1.0
0.8
1.0
1.0
1.2
1.1
1.2
Er
2.4
2.6
2.2
2.5
2.7
2.2
2.3
2.0
2.0
1.6
2.0
2.0
2.3
2.2
2.2
Yb
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.5
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.1
1.6
1.7
1.7
1.6
1.7
Lu
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.4
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.4
30.5
39.1 28.2
31.9
34.5
27.6
34.1
25.7
25.0
18.3
23.2
25.2
25.7
27.0
28.0
Th
9.8
15.5
8.8
22.2
17.6
8.9
7.0
11.8
8.8
7.2
7.6
7.4
8.8
7.2
7.1
Hf
7.3
8.0
6.3
226.2
9.9
6.0
5.8
6.2
5.0
4.2
4.4
4.4
5.8
6.4
6.2
Note: DL-I, DL-II: Lt (early and late phase), Plog: Phc Long, XL-I, XL-II: Xun Lc (early and late phase), BMT-I,
BMT-II: Bun Ma Thut (early and late phase), PL-I, PL-II: Pleiku (early and late phase), PQ: Ph Qu, Re: Re Island, Qtri:
Qung Tr, KPLg: Kng Plng, LPH: Lng P H (distribution seen in Fig. 1).
Figure 4. Features of composition of incompatible elements in Cenozoic basalts

in Vit Nam normalized by primary mantle.
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Figure 5. Diagram of the relation between incompatible elements and MgO

in Cenozoic basalts in Vit Nam. PL Pleiku, BMT - Bun Ma Thut,
XL - Xun Lc, Plog - Phc Long (other symbols seen in Fig. 2)
Figure 6. Diagram of ratios between incompatible elements in Cenozoic N-MORB

and E-MORB basalts in Vit Nam (symbols seen in Fig. 2 and 5)
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Note: 1) Lt; 2) Pleiku; 3) Bun Ma Thut; 4) Xun Lc; 5) Phc Long; 6) Qung Ngi; 7) Qung Tr; 8) Ph Qu; 9) in Bin
Ph; 10) Lng P H; 11) Khorat basalts (in Zhou et al, 1997); SCB East Sea basalts; NHRL North hemisphere related line
Figure 7. Composition of isotopes of Cenozoic basalts in Vit Nam (according to [4, 5, 12])
basalts in Vit Nam oscillates in the interval of 1.5-3.2% and has negative correlation with SiO2. The high TiO2 content (over 2.7%)
characterizes the SiO2-low alkaline basalt of the late phase. The similar change in the section from TiO2-low to TiO2-high has been
usually seen in continental basalts, such as in Parana, Decan and Siberian trap [2]. Many authors have been considering that the
feature of TiO2 content change is related just to the magma source than to the easily contaminated fractionated crystallization process.
Similar to the mid-oceanic ridge basalts (MORB), continental basalts (CFB) and oceanic island basalts (OIB), the Late Cenozoic
basalts in Vit Nam have also clear negative correlation between SiO2 and FeO* (Fig. 3f). In general, high-alkaline basalts contain
higher content of TiO2 and FeO* than quartz tholeiite, and the olivine tholeiite has equivalent content of MgO.
MgO has common correlation with P2O5, and basalts of the late phase have quite richer P2O5 content than that of the early phase
(Fig. 3d). It is to note that basalts in Vit Nam have an extraordinary high H2O content, up to 5% [7], that once more shows the great
role of H2O in particular, and liquid in general, in the forming process of basaltic magmas, particularly in the late phase. Furthermore,
the richness of liquid of high-alkaline basalts is still expressed in the eruptive character and porous structure of basalts of the late
phase.
The clearly positive correlation between MgO and CaO proves that the fractionated crystallization is mainly of plagioclase and
clinopyroxene that conforms to the petrographic features of basalts [4, 11].
2. Composition of trace elements
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On the diagram in the Figure 4, the curve demonstrating components of incompatible elements converted after primary mantle has
the upward convex form, and similar to the oceanic island basalt type reflects the enrichment of incompatible elements. The major part
of samples of Vietnamese basalts has Ta and Nb positive anomaly. When the MgO content in the rocks increases (decrease of SiO2)
the content of incompatible elements also increases, furthermore basalts of the late phase usually have higher content of high force field
elements (HFSE) (for example, mean Nb usually over 60 ppm), but basalts of the two phases are both characterized by the low
LILE/HFSE ratio (Fig. 6). The enrichment of light rare earth elements and the high LREE/HREE ratio of basalts of the late phase can
reflect the difference or the inhomogeneity of the source. The Phc Long basalts express the Ba deficit in comparing with Rb and Th
(Fig. 6), in contrast the Xun Lc and Lt basalts are rich in Rb, K and Ba in comparing with other groups. While basalts of the
major part of groups have the overlapping of Rb/Sr (0.02 - 0.11) and Zr/Ba (0.2 - 0.6) ratios, basalts from Phc Long have the
Zr/Ba ratio of up to over 2.8 and those from Xun Lc and Lt have the Rb/Sr ratio over 0.18 (Fig. 6).
IV. DISCUSSION
The stability of MgO content in basalts of the early phase proves that they were a little influenced by the process of fractionated
crystallization. On the contrary, basalts of the late phase have the strongly oscillating MgO content, proving a higher degree of
fractionated crystallization. The positive correlation between MgO and CaO (Fig. 3) shows that the separation phase consists mainly
of plagioclase and clinopyroxene. However, the fractionated crystallization is inconsiderable. According to former studies [4, 5, 12],
the considerable contamination of crustal materials has been observed in samples from isolated effusive areas in the North, such as
Ph Qu, in Bin and Lng P H. However, the effect of crustal contamination in basalts is, in general, not great. One can say
that the enrichment of incompatible elements in basalts reflects the source peculiarity or level of partial melting more than the effect of
fractionated crystallization. On the Figure 6d the major part of basalts falls into the E-MORB field, reflecting the enriched source
peculiarity of basalts.
Experimental studies have been showing that the composition of primary magmas depends on the source composition, pressure,
melting temperature and level of partial melting. During the process of basaltic magma formation from peridotite mantle, the SiO2
content in the fluid depends on inverse proportion to pressure. When the pressure decreases, the SiO2 content increases, and in
contrast; at the same time, together with the increase of decompression process the level of partial melting also increases [3, 6, 7]. It
is clear that the lower level of partial melting in greater depths will lead to the enrichment of alkaline components and incompatible
elements, but to the SiO2 deficit (low in SiO2). On the contrary, the great level of partial melting in smaller depths should give the fluid
having higher SiO2 content, but lower content of alkali and incompatible elements. So, basalts of the early phase (SiO2-high, MgOand FeO-low) were formed in the conditions of relatively low melting pressure (small depth), but of high level of partial melting. On
the contrary, basalts of the late phase (SiO2-low, MgO- and FeO-high) have a higher melting pressure (greater depth) and more
restricted level of partial melting. According to former calculations the basaltic magma of the early phase was formed in the depth of
about 30-40 km, as for the late phase the forming depth can reach up to 60-70 km [5, 9]. One can say that the basaltic magma of the
early phase was formed in the strong extension condition with the uplift of the asthenospere; as for the late phase it was formed in
more limited extension condition. The features of major element and trace element components of the two early and late phases reflect
rather clearly the above presented forming conditions of magmas.
According to [4, 5], after the isotopic components Cenozoic basalts in Vit Nam bear the DUPAL anomaly characterized by the
low 206Pb/204Pb ratio and the high 208Pb/204Pb one (Fig. 7). For explaining this anomaly the authors of this paper set forth the model
of isotopic mixing. According to this model, basaltic magma of the early phase is the mixing between enriched magma of type 2
(EM2) rich in 206Pb/204Pb with the source of normal mid-oceanic ridge basalt (N-MORB) having high K2O/P2O5 ratio and low
Rb/Sr and Ba/Nb ratios corresponding to the lithospheric mantle. On the contrary, the late phase has the low K2O/P2O5 ratio and
higher Rb/Sr and Ba/Nb ratios that is the mixing between enriched magma of type 1 (EM1) poor in 206Pb/204Pb with the N-MORB
corresponding to the anomalous asthenosphere (A-MORB) characteristic for Southeast Asia and West Pacific marginal basins. It
should suppose that the DUPAL anomaly in basalts of Vit Nam and other areas in the region are of endogenous source formed by
the abrasion of the lithosphere of old cratons by protruded asthenosphere caused by the collision between the India and Eurasia
plates [1, 4, 5]. At the same time, the EM2 can be added due to the interaction with the Phanerozoic basement matter and/or with
sediments of small depth. In comparison with basalts of the East Sea, although some samples of basalts of Vit Nam fall into the
composition field of East-Sea basalts, but the difference between them is very clear. The East-Sea basalts are close to the N-MORB
type, while Vietnamese on-land basalts reflect clearly the enriched source.
Although basalts in Vit Nam include two groups having characteristic features, but recent studies [12] have been showing that this
basalt group can be formed from a common source. The polymorphism in composition of basalts is the results of the difference of
physico-chemical conditions in the magma formation, the degree of partial melting or the inhomogeneity of the basement matter. The
authors consider that the both eruptive phases were resulted from a process of lithosphere extension and the uplift of the
asthenosphere, and belong to the late phase (16-0 Ma) of Cenozoic magmatism in the east of the India-Eurasia collision zone set
forth by Wang et al [17]. Basalts of the early phase were formed in the condition of strong extension with the uplift of the lithospere,
causing the decompression melting of large scale in small depth. On the contrary, basalts of the late phase were formed in weaker
extension condition with restricted osmosis of the lithosphere, forming magmatic chambers in greater depths, having the existing time
longer, giving products of higher differentiation.
Cenozoic basaltic eruption in Vit Nam has been considered as closely related to the extension regime in the late phase of the
regional neotectonic activities. However, basalts can give us only the minimum age of the extension regime. The north-south
compression regime can begin earlier (in Paleogene-Miocene) causing the east-west extension along submeridional faults, first of all in
South Vit Nam, and reached its maximum in Pliocene (about 5-6 Ma). The east-west extension regime in the North can occur very
later with lower intensity than in the South. Corresponding to this extension there was basaltic eruption, such as in Ngha n, in
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Bin, Lng P H, etc. but with much smaller scale. The differentiation in occurrence time as well as in intensity of the extension
regime is the cause of distributive characteristics of the Late Cenozoic basaltic eruption in Vit Nam: the eruption was animated in the
South, but northward the eruption level decreased forming mainly isolated effusive areas.
V. CONCLUSIONS
The Late Cenozoic basalts is composed of two main groups corresponding to two eruptive phases: early and late ones. Basalts of
the early phase formed extensive basaltic plateaux, including tholeiite and olivine tholeiite effusing along fractures, while the late phase
consists mainly of the effusion of central type with the predominance of high-alkaline basalt and olivine tholeiite. Basalts of the early
phase are characterized by high SiO2 content and low content of TiO2, FeO* and Na2O + K2O. On the contrary, basalts of the late
phase are characterized by low SiO2 content, but high content of MgO, TiO2, FeO*, P2O5 and specially high content of alkaline
elements. In Cenozoic basalts of Vit Nam there is the enrichment of incompatible trace elements, among them those of the late phase
usually have the content of incompatible elements higher than that of the early phase. Basalts of these two phases are close in source,
in polymorphism of composition mainly due to the difference of physico-chemical conditions (P-T, volatiles), level of partial melting or
the inhomogeneity of the basement matter. The basaltic magma of the early phase was formed in the strong extension condition,
causing the decompression melting in large scale (with the high level of partial melting) at small depth (low pressure). On the contrary,
basalts of the late phase were formed in the more restricted extension condition and, therefore, the lithosphere has lower osmosis,
forming magmatic chambers in greater depths (higher pressure). The process of occurrence and development of Cenozoic basalts in
Vit Nam is close related to the east-west extension regime of the territory. This process, maybe, began earlier in the south part and
became gradually later northward, at the same time the extension scale gradually decreased. The distributive features of volcanic
activities in time and space reflect the features of the above said extension regime.
The authors express their deep thanks to the Institute of Geosciences (Academy of Sciences and Technology of Vit Nam) for
creating good conditions in field investigation and collection of samples. Phm Tch Xun would like to thank the Korean Science and
Engineering Fund (KOSEF) and Prof. Dr Lee Hyun Koo for support in the post-doctorship training course and realizing analyses in
the Korean Chungnam National University.
This work is realized in the framework of the Project 710602 (2002-2004) with the support of the Basic Research Program.
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GEOCHEMISTRY OF LATE CENOZOIC BASALTS

Figure 2. Composition of Cenozoic basalts in Vit Nam on the CIPW diagram

Figure 3. Diagram of correlation between rock forming oxides and MgO

XL-II XL-II BMTI BMTII

99.24 100.21 98.47

59.81 56.45 65.17 54.17 61.30 59.83

Qtri KPLg KPLg LPH LPH LPH

99.9 130.4 85.3 170.7 175.5 85.1

Figure 4. Features of composition of incompatible elements in Cenozoic basalts

Figure 5. Diagram of the relation between incompatible elements and MgO

Figure 6. Diagram of ratios between incompatible elements in Cenozoic N-MORB

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