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An understanding of the origin of depletion in the high field strength elements (HFSE), Nb, Zr and Ti, relative to rare earth elements (REE) in arc lavas is critical to models both for magmagenesis in ares and for the relationship between are magmatism and growth of the continental crust. The presence of HFSE depletion in both are lavas and in the bulk continental crust constitutes some of the strongest evidence that continental crust is/was generated in subduction zones, especially if the HFSE are retained relative to REE in the subducting slab (Saunders et al., 1980; McDonough, 1991). Recently, however, it has been proposed that HFSE depletion develops during the main are magma melting event in the mantle wedge (McKenzie & O'Nions, 1991), during melt ascent to the surface (Kelemen et al., 1990), or even that a world-wide shallow mantle reservoir with HFSE depletion exists (Salters & Shimizu, 1988). If so, it is possible that HFSE depletion may have developed in magmas unrelated to subduction zones during crust-generation processes in the Precambrian. The common presence of high-MgO lavas in the Southern Lesser Antilles provides a rare opportunity to test these models, because their chemistry is essentially unmodified since derivation from the mantle. We show that depletion (relative to REE) in the HFSE Ti, Zr, and Nb exists in the mantle wedge before melting, and is probably produced by an REE-rich slab flux. In contrast to many other arcs (Woodhead et al., 1993), there is no evidence that the Lesser Antilles mantle source is more depleted in HFSE than the source of mid-ocean ridge basalts. Relative to REE, Ti depletion in melts is enhanced during melting, requiring a Ti-rich phase in the residue at low melt fractions. Ti depletion is also enhanced during fractionation of magnetite and amphibole, whereas relative Zr depletion is reduced during fractionation. In most arc magmas (usually <6% MgO), fractionation is probably a major control on the extent of Ti and Zr depletion. In the Lesser Antilles, the extent of Nb depletion relative to La is largely unaffected by melting or crystal fractionation processes.