New helium and neon data from subglacial Icelandic basalts confirm that the
Icelandic mantle source is relatively undegassed. The He-3/He-4 ratios var
y between 14.3 and 25.6 times atmospheric (R/Ra) (He-4/He-3 between 50 500
and 28 000); helium contents vary between 0.3 and 10 mu cc STP/g. These val
ues are consistent with the previously published data. The Ne-20 contents a
re highly variable due to atmospheric contamination, and the Ne-20/Ne-22 ra
tios vary between atmospheric (9.8) and 12.73 +/- 0.04. The most important
result comes from the observed Ne-21/Ne-22 ratios, which are much lower (at
a given Ne-20/Ne-22) than any other hotspot, despite the relatively low he
lium isotope ratios. The unique Icelandic helium-neon systematics, as compa
red to Hawaii, probably reflects different mixing processes related to the
location of Iceland on the Mid Atlantic Ridge rather than in a mid-plate se
tting. If the isotopic variations are caused by mixing, the Icelandic plume
end member has a He-4/He-3 lower than 19 000 (R/Ra > 38) and a Ne-21/Ne-22
ratio lower than 0.035. The Ne-21/Ne-22 ratio is very close to the solar n
eon isotope composition and indicates that the plume source has a very low
(U+Th)Ne-22 ratio that is best explained by a relatively undegassed mantle
component. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.