Multi-Stage Magma Evolution in Intra-Plate Volcanoes: Insights From Combined in situ Li and Mg–Fe Chemical and Isotopic Diffusion Profiles in Olivine

Understanding the timescales of magma evolution and ascent is essential for interpreting geophysical monitoring signals from active volcanoes. In this study, we explore the potential of diffusion-driven Li concentration and isotope zoning profiles recorded by magmatic olivine crystals to unravel time scales of magma evolution processes. Lithium is a fast-diffusing element and may provide the opportunity to investigate changes in magma composition during magma ascent, shortly before eruption. Lithium chemical and isotopic profiles were determined in olivines from two localities in the Massif Central volcanic region (France) that have previously been investigated for their Fe–Mg isotope systematics. The combined investigation of isotopic and chemical profiles makes it possible to distinguish between crystal growth and diffusion events. Extremely low δ7Li-values down to −30.7‰ (relative to the commonly used Li isotope standard IRMM-16) in the crystal core regions and elevated values at crystal rims (δ7Li ∼8 to 10‰), along with increasing concentrations from cores (∼3 to 1 μg/g) toward rims (12 to 6 μg/g) were found. The shape and orientation of both the chemical and isotopic profiles indicate that they were dominantly generated by Li diffusion into and within the olivine grains during magmatic differentiation. While Mg–Fe isotope and major element profiles have been modeled by a single diffusion event (Oeser et al., 2015), concentration and isotope profiles of Li indicate that a second diffusion event took place, that was not recorded by the Mg–Fe exchange diffusion couple. The first diffusion event was interpreted as reflecting the residence of the olivine crystals in a magma chamber. As diffusion coefficients for Fe–Mg exchange diffusion are very well determined, the time scales of this event are likely best quantified by Mg–Fe isotopic exchange diffusion modeling (Oeser et al., 2015). This event probably also generated the low δ7Li observed in olivine cores. Comparing the length of the Mg–Fe and Li profiles could thus be used to determine the less well-known diffusion coefficients of Li in the studied olivine crystals. The findings of this study indicate that Li diffusion at low Li concentration levels, as typically observed in natural olivine, may be not as fast as previously thought. The second diffusion event might represent a short-lived event, such as degassing, related to the ascent of the magma and/or magma cooling after emplacement of the lava. Such a process would only affect Li, which, in contrast to the refractory elements Fe and Mg, is volatile during degassing. The findings of this study show that, according to their different diffusion rates and physiochemical properties, the combined use of spatially resolved Li and Mg–Fe chemical and isotopic diffusion profiles, is a powerful tool to model even multi-stage evolution processes in magmatic systems. © Copyright © 2020 Steinmann, Oeser, Horn and Weyer

Tidal Flushing Rather Than Non-Point Source Nitrogen Pollution Drives Nutrient Dynamics in A Putatively Eutrophic Estuary

The effects of nonpoint source nutrients on estuaries can be difficult to pinpoint, with researchers often using indicator species, monitoring, and models to detect influence and change. Here, we made stable isotope measurements of nitrogen and carbon in sediment, water column particulates, primary producers, and consumers at 35 stations in the reportedly eutrophic Barnegat Bay (New Jersey) to assess N sources and processing pathways. Combined with water quality and hydrological data, our C and N isoscapes revealed four distinct geographic zones with diverging isotopic baselines, indicating variable nutrient sources and processing pathways. Overall, the carbon stable isotopes (δ13C) reflected the terrestrial-marine gradient with the most depleted values in the urban and poorly flushed north of the estuary to the most enriched values in the salt marsh-dominated south. In contrast, the nitrogen stable isotope values (δ15N) were most enriched near the oceanic inlets and were consistent with offshore δ15N values in particulate organic matter. Several biogeochemical processes likely alter δ15N, but the relatively lower δ15N values associated with the most urbanized area indicate that anthropogenic runoff is not a dominant N source to this area. Our findings stand in contrast to previous studies of similar estuaries, as δ15N signatures of biota in this system are inversely correlated to population density and nutrient concentrations. Further, our analyses of archival plant (Spartina sp., Phragmites australis) and shell (Geukensia demissa, Ilyanassa obsoleta) samples collected between 1880 and 2020 indicated that δ15N values have decreased over time, particularly in the consumers. Overall, we find that water quality issues appear to be most acute in the poorly flushed parts of Barnegat Bay and emphasize the important role that oceanic exchange plays in water quality and associated estuarine food webs in the lagoon

Erratum : Sorafenib promotes graft-versus-leukemia activity in mice and humans through IL-15 production in FLT3-ITD-mutant leukemia cells

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/nm.4484