On the Application of 238U, 235U, and 232Th Decay Series Disequilibria to Understanding the Processes and Timescales of Oceanic Basalt Petrogenesis

Kenneth Sims; Gregory Stark; Lynne Elkins; Mark Reagan; Peter Kelemen; Janne Blichert-Toft

doi:10.3390/geosciences16010034

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On the Application of 238U, 235U, and 232Th Decay Series Disequilibria to Understanding the Processes and Timescales of Oceanic Basalt Petrogenesis

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On the Application of 238U, 235U, and 232Th Decay Series Disequilibria to Understanding the Processes and Timescales of Oceanic Basalt Petrogenesis

Kenneth Sims, Gregory Stark, Lynne Elkins, Mark Reagan, Peter Kelemen and Janne Blichert-Toft

Geosciences (Basel), Vol.16(1), 34

01/08/2026

DOI: 10.3390/geosciences16010034

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Abstract

Understanding how processes of magma genesis and magma differentiation control and modify the chemical composition of erupted lavas from the geochemical measurements of the latter is an under-constrained inverse problem, as there is only one known parameter—the measured composition of the erupted lava—but two unknown parameters—the chemical composition and lithology of the source before melting and how melting, crystallization, and melt–rock interactions act to alter the lava en route to the surface. In this invited contribution, we review nearly seven decades of scientific research that demonstrate the potential of U and Th decay series measurements for unraveling the complexities of oceanic magmatism. We review the underlying nuclear theory, geochemical principles, and application of the 238U, 235U, and 232Th decay series for (i) defining the timescales of magma genesis during decompression mantle melting, (ii) establishing the timescales of magma recharge and magma degassing, and (iii) determining the eruption ages of oceanic Quaternary volcanism.

Geochemistry

Volcanology

Earth Sciences

Sciences of the Universe

Details

Title: Subtitle: On the Application of 238U, 235U, and 232Th Decay Series Disequilibria to Understanding the Processes and Timescales of Oceanic Basalt Petrogenesis
Creators: Kenneth Sims - University of Wyoming
Gregory Stark - University of Wyoming
Lynne Elkins - West Chester University
Mark Reagan - Department of Geoscience
Peter Kelemen - Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Janne Blichert-Toft - Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon - Terre, Planètes, Environnement
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geosciences (Basel), Vol.16(1), 34
DOI: 10.3390/geosciences16010034
ISSN: 2076-3263
eISSN: 2076-3263
Publisher: MDPI
Grant note: National Science Foundation (NSF): EAR-0960270, OCE-0603838, OCE-0627053, EAR-0307123, OCE-0137325, EAR-0001924, OCE-9730967
This research was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), grant numbers EAR-0960270, OCE-0603838, OCE-0627053, EAR-0307123, OCE-0137325, EAR-0001924, and OCE-9730967.
Language: English
Date published: 01/08/2026
Academic Unit: School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
Record Identifier: 9985121482502771

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