Enigmatic Intraplate Volcanism : a geochronological and geochemical approach for the Marie ByrdSeamounts (Antarctica) and the Christmas Island SeamountProvince (Indian Ocean)

The dissertation at hand comprises three independent chapters The first chapter contains for the first time a comprehensive data set from the enigmatic Marie Byrd Seamount province including morphological, geochronological, and geochemical data, combined with additional data for the De Gerlache and Peter I Island volcanic complexes. The centerpiece of this study is the 40Ar/39Ar dating of 9 samples including the Marie Byrd Seamounts and the submarine base of Peter I Island. The second chapter is focused on a geochronological and geochemical study presenting new 40Ar/39Ar age and XRF, ICPMS element concentration data, from recovered plutonic and dyke rocks of the Pine Island Bay region, Marie Byrd Land. The third chapter encompasses a major and trace element study on diffuse intraplate volcanism of the Christmas Island Seamount Province (CHRISP), situated in the northeastern Indian Ocean.