Volcanogenic Complexes of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea
of Japan (Comparative Analysis)

E. P. Lelikov and T. A. Emel’yanova

Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia

Received November 14, 2005; in final form, June 15, 2006

Abstract—Several coeval volcanogenic complexes indicating synchronous volcanic events in the Sea of Japan
and the Sea of Okhotsk are defined. Volcanics from different-age complexes of the Sea of Okhotsk show many
features in common and are attributed to the Pacific type of calc-alkaline series. They were formed in geody-
namic settings of the active continental margin and point to its origination on the continental crust of the frag-
mented Asian continent margin. The volcanic rocks developed in the Sea of Japan reflect different rifting stages.
The initial stage was marked by an eruption of calc-alkaline lavas (Paleocene–Eocene complex). At the stage
of the marginal-sea spreading, erupted volcanics of the middle Miocene–Pliocene complex were melted from
the depleted mantle and magmatism terminated by an eruption of postspreading Pliocene–Holocene volcanics
melted from the enriched mantle EM I. Along with the differences, the magmatism in the Sea of Japan and Sea
of Okhotsk has some features in common. In both cases, the sialic component of the lithosphere substantially
influenced the magma generation.

DOI: 10.1134/S0001437007020130

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