Hf isotope systematics of seamounts near the East Pacific Rise (EPR) and geodynamic implications

The Hf-Nd isotopic variations on global scale might result from the variations in amounts of residual continental lithospheric mantle that detached into upper mantle during continental rifting. The significant correlations of Rb/Sr vs 87Sr/86Sr, Sm/Nd vs 143Nd/144Nd and Lu/Hf vs 176Hf/177Hf give pseudochron ages of 182 ± 33 Ma, 276 ± 50 Ma and 387 ± 93 Ma, respectively. These different “ages” have no significance, but result from melting-induced mixing with the pseudochron slopes controlled by the compositions of enriched component and depleted end-member.