Isotope Geosciences Unit, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, East Kilbride G75 0QF, UK

A study of the He isotopic ratios of fluid inclusions in olivine and pyroxene from the Roman Comagmatic Province (RCP),Italy, is presented together with 87Sr/86Sr isotope compositions of the whole rock or pyroxene phenocrysts. A clear covariation in He and Sr isotopes is apparent, with a strong northward increase in radiogenic He and Sr being evident. He and Sr isotopes ratios range from 3He/4He = 5.2 Ra and 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7056 in south Campania, to 3He/4He = 0.44 Ra and 87Sr/86Sr = 0.715905 in the northernmost Latium. Helium isotope ratios are significantly lower than MORB values and are among the lowest yet measured in subduction zone volcanism. The 3He/4He of olivine and pyroxene phenocryst-hosted volatiles appear to be little influenced by posteruptive processes and magma–crust interaction. The 3He/4He–87Sr/86Sr covariation is consistent with binary mixing between an asthenospheric mantle similar to HIMU ocean island basalts, and an enriched (radiogenic) mantle end member generated from subduction of the Ionian/Adriatic plate. The contribution of radiogenic He from metasomatic fluids and postmetasomatism radiogenic ingrowth in the wedge is strongly dependent on the initial He concentration of the mantle. Only when asthenosphere He concentrations are substantially lower than the MORB source mantle, and metasomatism occurred at the beginning of the subduction (f30 Ma), can ingrowth in the mantle wedge account for the 3He/4He of the most radiogenic basalts.

Helium isotope ratios of olivine and pyroxene phenocrysts from Plio-Quaternary volcanic rocks from southern Italy (seven Aeolian Islands, Mt. Vulture, Etna, Ustica, and Pantelleria) range from 2.3 to 7.1 Ra. Importantly, the phenocryst 3He/4He correlate well with whole rock Sr isotopic composition (0.70309– 0.70711), reflecting the mixing of two sources. A significant contribution of He from crustal contamination is recorded only occasionally (e.g., pyroxenes from Vulcano). When merged with data from the Roman Comagmatic Province, a remarkably strong near-linear He-Sr isotope correlation is apparent. The general northward decrease in 3He/4He corresponds to an increase in 87Sr/86Sr (and a decrease in 143Nd/144Nd and 206Pb/204Pb) that is due to increasing metasomatic enrichment of the mantle wedge via subduction of the Ionian-Adriatic plate. Calculations based on the ingrowth of 4He in the wedge and on the 4He content of the subducting crust show that mechanisms of enrichment in radiogenic He are effective only if the wedge is strongly depleted in He relative to best estimates of the depleted mantle. This can be accommodated if the process of metasomatism by the subduction fluids depletes the mantle wedge. The 3He/4He of Pantelleria, Etna, Iblei, Ustica, Alicudi, and Filicudi basalts (7.0 ± 0.6 Ra) define the mantle composition least affected by subduction-related metasomatism. Although these volcanoes are from a variety of tectonic regimes (subduction-related, intraplate, rifting), their similarities suggest a common origin of geochemical features. Their characteristics are consistent with a HIMU-type mantle that either is younger than the Cook- Austral island end-member or has a lower 238U/204Pb.

The eastern flank of the Mount Etna stratovolcano is affected by extension and is slowly sliding eastward into the Ionian Sea. The Pernicana fault system forms the border of the northern part of this sliding area. It consists of three E-W–oriented fault sectors that are seismically active and characterized by earthquakes up to 4.7 in magnitude (M) capable of producing ground rupture and damage located mainly along the western and central sectors, and by continuous creep on the eastern sector. A new topographic study of the central sector of the Pernicana fault system shows an overall bell-shaped profile, with maximum scarp height of 35 m in the center of the sector, and two local minima that are probably due to the complex morphological relation between fault scarp and lava flows. We determined the ages of lava flows cut by the Pernicana fault system at 12 sites using cosmogenic 3He and 40Ar/39Ar techniques in order to determine the recent slip history of the fault. From the displacementage relations, we estimate an average throw rate of ~2.5 mm/yr over the last 15 k.y. The slip rate appears to have accelerated during the last 3.5 k.y., with displacement rates of up to ~15 mm/yr, whereas between 3.5 and 15 ka, the throw rate averaged ~1 mm/yr. This increase in slip rate resulted in significant changes in seismicity rates, for instance, decreasing the mean recurrence time of M ≥ 4.7 earthquakes from ~200 to ~20 yr. Based on empirical relationships, we attribute the variation in seismic activity on the Pernicana fault system to factors intrinsic to the system that are likely related to changes in the volcanic system. These internal factors could be fault interdependencies (such as those across the Taupo Rift, New Zealand) or they could represent interactions among magmatic, tectonic, and gravitational processes (e.g., Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii). Given their effect on earthquake recurrence intervals, these interactions need to be fully assessed in seismic hazard evaluations.

Helium isotope ratios of olivine and pyroxene from Plio-Quaternary volcanic rocks from Southern Italy (each of the seven Eolian Islands, Mt. Vulture, Etna, Ustica, Pantelleria), range from 2.3 to 7.1 Ra. A good correlation emerges with the 3He/4He of fumarolic fluids. Importantly the phenocryst 3He/4He correlate with whole rock Sr isotopes (0.70309-0.70711) reflecting the mixing of two sources. Crustal contamination of magmatic He isotopes is recorded only occasionally (e.g., pyroxenes from Vulcano). The He isotope values of Pantelleria, Etna, Iblei, Ustica, Alicudi and Filicudi (7.0 ± 0.6 Ra) define the mantle composition least affected by subduction. That these characterise volcanoes from a variety of tectonic regimes (subduction-related, intraplate, rifting) suggest a common origin of geochemical features and are consistent with a HIMU-type mantle that is either younger than the Cook-Austral island end-member, or one with lower 238U/204Pb. When merged with data from the Roman Comagmatic Province (Latium and Campania), a remarkably strong He-Sr isotope correlation is apparent. The general northward decrease in 3He/4He corresponds to an increase in 87Sr/86Sr and decrease in 143Nd/144Nd and 206Pb/204Pb that is due to increasing metasomatic enrichment of the mantle wedge via subduction of the Ionian Adriatic plate since 30 Ma. Calculations based on the ingrowth of 4He in the wedge and on the 4He content of the subducting crust show that mechanisms of enrichment in radiogenic He are effective only if the wedge is strongly depleted in He relative to best estimates of the depleted mantle.