Rapid magma ascent recorded by water diffusion profiles in mantle olivine

Mechanisms and rates of magma ascent play a critical role in eruption dynamics but remain poorly constrained phenomena. Water, dissolved in mantle minerals as hydrogen and partitioned into the magma during ascent, may provide clues to quantifying magma ascent rates prior to eruption. We determined the dehydration profiles in olivine crystals from peridotite mantle xenoliths within the Pali-Aike alkali basalt from Patagonia, Chile. The results demonstrate that the amount of water stored in the uppermost mantle has likely been underestimated due to water loss during transport. Using experimental diffusion data for hydrogen, we estimate that the xenoliths reached the surface from 60–70 km depth in several hours, a surprisingly rapid rise comparable to ascent rates for kimberlite magmas

Hydrogen diffusion in spinel grain boundaries and consequences for chemical homogenization in hydrous peridotite

International audienceHydrogen can be stored in the structure of nominally anhydrous minerals as point defects, and these impurities substantially modify many physical properties of Earth's mantle minerals. However, mantle rocks are composed of mineral grains separated by grain boundaries and interphase grains boundaries. Therefore, as a potential hydrogen reservoir, grain boundaries should be given proper attention. Here, I report an experimental investigation into hydrogen diffusion through grain boundaries in polycrystalline aggregates Sintering and diffusion experiments were performed using a gas-medium high-pressure vessel at under pressure of 300 MPa and over a temperature range of 900-1,250 degrees C. The diffusion assembly consisted of a polycrystalline cylinder of aluminous spinel + olivine crystals with a talc cylinder as the main hydrogen source. A Ni capsule was used to buffer the oxygen fugacity at Ni-NiO Experimental durations varied from 5 min to 5 h. The presence of hydrogen in the crystals was measured by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The calculation of the diffusion coefficients was based on the estimation of the characteristic distance. The absence or presence of hydrogen recorded by the 'hydrogen sensor' olivines embedded in the aggregate allows the estimation of bounds on this characteristic distance. Results presented here suggest that hydrogen effective diffusion coefficients are only one order of magnitude faster (similar to 10(-9) m(2)s(-1) at 1,000 degrees C) than in an olivine single crystal along the [100] axis. Resulting diffusion coefficients for hydrogen in grain boundary are four orders of magnitude faster than in a single crystal, but this diffusivity is not fast enough to affect hydrogen mobility in mantle rocks with grain sizes greater than similar to 1 mm. Thus, very limited chemical homogenization would occur using grain boundaries diffusion in mantle hydrous peridotite for incompatible and volatile element, such as hydrogen

Diffusion of hydrogen in olivine grain boundaries and implications for the survival of water-rich zones in the Earth's mantle

Nominally anhydrous minerals (NAMs) of Earth's mantle can contain hydrogen as atomic impurity in their crystal structures. This hydrogen substantially modifies many physical properties of Earth's mantle rocks. Also, the Earth's deep interior is made of rocks where minerals are separated by nanometer-scale interfaces call grain boundaries and interphase boundaries. These grain boundaries should carefully be considered as a potential hydrogen reservoir as well. I report here an experimental investigation of hydrogen diffusion through grain boundaries in olivine polycrystalline aggregates. Hot-press and diffusion experiments were performed using a gas-medium high-pressure vessel at a confining pressure of 300 MPa, over a temperature range of 1000-1200 degrees C. The diffusion assembly consisted of a dense polycrystalline cylinder of natural olivine from San Carlos (Arizona) mixed with olivine singles crystals of millimeter size. This mixture was couple with a talc cylinder. Ni capsule were used to buffer the oxygen fugacity at Ni-NiO level. Experiment durations varied from 3 min to 4 h. The presence of hydrogen in the sample was quantified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The calculation of the diffusion coefficients was based on the estimation of the length of polycrystalline solid affected by the diffusion of hydrogen. The absence or presence of hydrogen was recorded by the large olivines behaving here as "hydrogen sensor", which are implanted in the aggregate. The results indicate that effective hydrogen diffusivity which includes grain boundaries effect in olivine aggregate is barely one order of magnitude faster than hydrogen diffusion in an olivine single crystal with a diffusivity similar to 8.5x 10(-10) m(2) s(-1) 1000 degrees C and only twice faster similar to 2.1 x10(-9) m(2) s(-1) 1200 degrees C. Calculations of the diffusion data in relation to the Arrhenius Law, yield an activation energy of similar to 70 +/- 10 kJ mol(-l) . From these effective diffusivities and combined with published diffusion data for olivine single crystals, hydrogen diffusion in grain boundaries is extracted and yield diffusivities almost three order of magnitude faster (similar to 5 x 10(-6) m(2) s(-1) at 1200 degrees C) than in an olivine single crystal at the equivalent high temperature. On geological scales and for coarse-grain rocks, hydrogen diffusivity in grain boundaries is not fast enough to compete with lattice diffusion. The relative large grain size of mantle rocks will ensure a very limited hydrogen transport by effective diffusion, and a good conservation of water-rich zones in the Earth's mantle

From dry to damp and stiff mantle lithosphere by reactive melt percolation atop the Hawaiian plume

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Hydrogen, trace, and ultra-trace element distribution in natural olivines

International audienceWe investigate the coupling between H, minor, trace, and ultra-trace element incorporations in 17 olivines from ten different locations covering various petrological origins: magmatic, hydrothermal and mantle-derived context. Concentrations in major element are determined by micro X-ray fluorescence. Minor, trace, and ultra-trace element are determined by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Hydrogen concentrations are quantified using unpolarized and polarized Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Forsterite contents (83.2 to 94.1 %) reflect the petrogenetic diversity. Hydrogen concentrations range from 0 to 54 ppm H2O wt. Minor element concentrations (Ni + Mn) range from 3072 to 4333 ppm, and impurities are dominated by Ni, Mn, Ca or B. Total trace element concentrations range from 8.2 to 1473 ppm. Total rare Earth and extended ultra-trace elements concentrations are very low (< 0.5 ppm). Magmatic and hydrothermal olivines show the most and least amount of impurities, respectively, and mantle-derived olivines have concentrations between these two extremes. Combined with minor, trace, and ultra-trace element concentrations, the hydrogen concentrations and FTIR OH bands reflect the point defect diversity imposed by different geological settings. Hydrogen concentrations are inversely correlated with divalent impurities, indicating their competition for vacancies. However, a broad positive correlation is also found between OH bands at 3575 and 3525 cm-1 and Ti, confirming the existence of Ti-clinohumitelike point defect in mantle olivines. Nonetheless, Ti does not exclusively control hydrogen incorporation in olivine due to the coexistence with other mechanisms, and its effect appears diluted. Our results confirm that hydrogen behaves as a peculiar incompatible element, and furthermore as an opportunistic impurity in olivine

Numerical models of ionic diffusion in one and three dimensions: application to dehydration of mantle olivine

International audienceThe hydrogen content of nominally anhydrous minerals is of great interest, because it can influence many physical and mechanical properties of mantle rocks. Moreover, the hydrogen diffusion profiles can be used to constrain timescales related to magma eruptions. Here, we report models of ionic diffusion for trace elements in anisotropic crystals and apply them to hydrogen diffusing out of mantle-derived olivine. We first compare and discuss the characteristics of 1D and 3D models and show that only 3D anisotropic diffusion models can lead to diffusion profiles exhibiting non-equilibrium plateau at the center of the solid along the slowest axis, as measured in natural samples. In a second part, we discuss the differences between hydration and dehydration of olivine for diffusion that is linked to two different atomic sites involved in hydrogen mobility. Finally, we apply our 3D anisotropic model to previous results on mantle-derived olivine from Pali-aike to better characterize diffusion coefficients and their anisotropy that could be relevant for dehydration of olivine. Our results show that dehydration has to be strongly anisotropic, with a fast [100] axis and a significantly slower [001] axis

Distribution and transport of hydrogen in the lithospheric mantle: A review

International audienceThe minerals constituting the Earth's upper mantle are nominally anhydrous silicates (NAMs). However they do contain hydrogen as a trace element, decorating point defects in their crystalline structure. Experimental petrology and mineralogy have quantified the maximum concentration under several compositional and thermodynamic conditions, but systematic studies on the hydrogen concentration in minerals from mantle-derived rocks have only recently been carried out. Here, we have compiled the distribution of hydrogen in upper mantle peridotite xenoliths, from which several conclusions can be drawn. NAMs from peridotite xenoliths contain a few ppm wt. H2O in their structure. From the current database, the hydrogen concentrations in olivine regularly increase with increasing depth. The amount of hydrogen in NAMs from peridotite xenoliths from subduction contexts is not higher than in other geological context for similar temperature and pressure conditions. The highest hydrogen concentrations is found in peridotitic olivines from cratonic mantle, and are likely due to the depth of origin. The increasing hydrogen concentration in olivine with increasing depth is likely controlled by the increase of H partitioning into olivine at the expense of orthopyroxene as imposed by a decrease in Al content in opx with depth. However, the sparse data could also indicate that the bulk hydrogen concentration slightly increases with depth > 150 km. In this case, it would suggest, locally (Udachnaya for example), a possible increase in water fugacity due to fluid saturation. Even if the most abundant mineral in mantle rocks is olivine, the bulk hydrogen concentration in peridotites is controlled by the amount of hydrogen stored in pyroxenes. However, hydrogen concentration in olivine remains crucial for consequences on physical properties such as rheology and electrical conductivity. Kinetics of hydrogen transport is reviewed and hydrous melt/fluid percolation appears necessary to homogenize the hydrogen distribution at km-scale. Sampling of natural rock specimens is currently biased (e.g., in favor of optically attractive samples) and needs improvement, which will be achieved by increasing sample diversity (all type of grain sizes, lithologies, geological settings) and size of rock samples, as well as advances in analytical techniques. Acquisition of high quality data will be achieved by studying the co-existing minerals in mantle specimens, exploring each sample by linear and mapping measurements, and using appropriate FTIR calibrations for polarized and unpolarized radiation

Deformation and hydration of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Kaapvaal craton, South Africa

International audienceTo constrain the relations between deformation and metasomatism in the subcratonic lithospheric mantle, we have analyzed the microstructures and crystal preferred orientations in 50 mantle xenoliths from the Kaapvaal craton. Water contents in olivine and pyroxenes were measured in 14 samples equilibrated at different depths. Coarse-granular microstructures recording deformation by dislocation creep followed by annealing predominate. Mylonitic (sheared) peridotites with partially or totally recrystallized microstructures are however common below 140 km. Refractory compositions predominate, but multiple metasomatic events resulted in orthopyroxene enrichment or secondary crystallization of clinopyroxene and phlogopite. Coherent orthopyroxene and olivine CPO in most coarse-grained peridotites implies in pre- to syn-kinematic orthopyroxene enrichment or epitaxial growth on primary orthopyroxene. Undeformed, interstitial orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and phlogopite with random orientations in coarse-grained peridotites record post-kinematic modal metasomatic events. Deformation of these phases in the sheared peridotites implies that mylonitization results from a later event, which affected locally the deep cratonic lithosphere. Olivine CPO recording dominant [100] glide predominate at all depths. Only two samples, equilibrated at ~ 3.3 GPa show olivine [001] and orthopyroxene [001] axes subparallel, suggesting dominant [001] glide. Water contents in olivine are maximum (150 wt. ppm H2O) in peridotites equilibrated at ~ 160 km depth. Peridotites equilibrated below 180 km depth are, in contrast, almost dry. Lack of correlation between olivine mg# and water content indicates that the high water contents in olivine record re-hydration after the extensive partial melting, which produced the cratonic root. The vertical variation in water contents in olivine observed in the Kaapvaal peridotites may result from hydrogen addition or loss during extraction by the kimberlites. Comparison with magnetotelluric electrical conductivity data suggests, however, that the observed vertical variation of water contents in olivine may be representative of the present-day state of the Kaapvaal mantle, implying that extensive metasomatism resulted in hydration of the cratonic mantle at intermediate depths. The annealed microstructures of Kaapvaal peridotites indicate however that this metasomatism was not followed by remobilization of the cratonic root

Deforming the Upper Mantle—Olivine Mechanical Properties and Anisotropy

International audienceThe interior of the Earth remains our last terra incognita, inaccessible to direct observations. Our understanding of the deformation of the mantle, which shapes our planet through convection and plate tectonics, is based on analysis of: (1) rare mantle rocks carried to the Earth’s surface by volcanic or tectonic processes, (2) the consequences of this deformation on the planet’s surface, and (3) geophysical data. These observables combined with laboratory experiments and numerical modeling imply that olivine deforms via the motion of defects within its crystalline structure and along grain boundaries. Ductile deformation by these crystal-scale processes results in anisotropic propagation of seismic waves, which allows us to probe upper-mantle deformation at scales of tens to hundreds of kilometers