Channelized Fluid Flow and Eclogite-facies Metasomatism along the Subduction Shear Zone

International audienc

Refining boron isotopic measurements of silicate samples by multi-collector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS)

This study received support from the National Environmental Research Council grant NE/M000443/1 awarded to LK, Grant NE/N011716/1 to J.W.B.R., and IGG-CNR grant P1600514 awarded to SA.Solution MC-ICP-MS is an established technique for high precision boron isotope measurement results (δ11BSRM 951) in carbonates, yet its application to silicate rocks has been limited. Impediments include volatilisation during silicate dissolution and contamination during chemical purification. To address this, we present a low-blank sample preparation procedure that couples hydrofluoric acid-digestion and low-temperature evaporation (mannitol-free), to an established MC-ICP-MS measurement procedure following chemical purification using B-specific Amberlite IRA 743 resin. We obtain accurate δ11BSRM 951 values (intermediate precision ±0.2‰) for boric acid (BAM ERM-AE121 19.65 ± 0.14‰) and carbonate (NIST RM 8301 (Coral) 24.24±0.11‰) reference materials. For silicate reference materials covering mafic to felsic compositions we obtain δ11BSRM 951 with intermediate precision < ±0.6‰ (2s), namely JB-2 6.9 ± 0.4‰; IAEA-B-5 -6.0 ± 0.6‰; IAEA-B-6 -3.9 ± 0.5‰; 2s. Furthermore, splits of these same reference materials were processed by an alternative fusion and purification procedure. We find agreement excellent agreement between δ11BSRM 951 measurement results by MC-ICP-MS of the reference materials using both sample processing techniques. These measurement results show that our sample processing and MC-ICP-MS methods provide consistent δ11BSRM 951 values for low B-mass fraction samples. We present new data from Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB) glass, documenting a range in δ11BSRM 951 from -5.6±0.3‰ to -8.8±0.5‰ (2s), implying some upper mantle δ11BSRM 951 heterogeneity.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Geochemistry of serpentinized and multiphase altered Atlantis Massif peridotites (IODP Expedition 357): Petrogenesis and discrimination of melt-rock vs. fluid-rock processes

International audienceInternational Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 357 drilled 17 shallow sites distributed ~10 km in the spreading direction (from west to east) across the Atlantis Massif oceanic core complex (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 30°N). Mantle exposed in the footwall of the Atlantis Massif oceanic core complex is predominantly nearly wholly serpentinized harzburgite with subordinate dunite. Altered peridotites are subdivided into three types: (I) serpentinites, (II) melt-impregnated serpentinites, and (III) metasomatic serpentinites. Type I serpentinites show no evidence of melt-impregnation or metasomatism apart from serpentinization and local oxidation. Type II serpentinites have been intruded by gabbroic melts and are distinguishable in some cases on the basis of macroscopic and microscopic observations, e.g., mm-cm scale mafic-melt veinlets, rare plagioclase (˂0.5 modal % in one sample) or by the local presence of secondary (replacive) olivine after orthopyroxene; in other cases, ‘cryptic’ melt-impregnation is inferred on the basis of incompatible element enrichments. Type III serpentinites are characterized by silica metasomatism manifest by alteration of orthopyroxene to talc and amphibole, and by anomalously high anhydrous SiO2 concentrations (59–61 wt%) and low MgO/SiO2 values (0.48–0.52). Although many chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) and primitive mantle-normalized incompatible trace element anomalies, e.g., negative Ce-anomalies, are attributable to serpentinization, other compositional heterogeneities are due to melt-impregnation. On the basis of whole rock incompatible trace elements, a dominant mechanism of melt-impregnation is distinguished in the central and eastern serpentinites from fluid-rock alteration (mostly serpentinization) in the western serpentinites, with increasing melt-impregnation manifest as a west to east increase in enrichment in high-field strength elements and light REE. High degrees of melt extraction are evident in low whole-rock Al2O3/SiO2 values and low concentrations of Al2O3, CaO and incompatible elements. Estimates of the degree of melt extraction based on whole rock REE patterns suggest a maximum of ~20% non-modal fractional melting, with little variation between sites. As some serpentinite samples are ex situ rubble, the magmatic histories observed at each site are consistent with a local source (from the fault zone) rather than rafted rubble that would be expected to show more heterogeneity and no spatial pattern. In this case, the studied sites may provide a record of enhanced melt-rock interactions with time, consistent with proposed geological models. Alternatively, sites may signify heterogeneities in these processes at spatial scales of a few km

Deciphering variable mantle sources and hydrous inputs to arc magmas in Kamchatka

The chemistry of primitive arc rocks provides a window into compositional variability in the mantle wedge, as well as slab-derived inputs to subduction-related magmatism. However, in the long-term cycling of elements between Earth's internal and external reservoirs, a key unknown is the importance of retaining mobile elements within the subduction system, through subduction-related metasomatism of the mantle. To address these questions, we have analysed olivine-hosted melt inclusions and corresponding bulk rocks from the Kamchatka arc. Suites of melt inclusions record evidence for entrapment along melt mixing arrays during assembly of diverse parental magma compositions. Systematic variations in parental magma B/Zr, Nb/Zr, Ce/B, and B are also apparent among the different eruptive centres studied. These element ratios constrain the nature of subduction-related metasomatism and provide evidence for ambient mantle heterogeneity and variable degrees of mantle melting. High Nb/Zr and low B/Zr in back-arc rocks indicate smaller degree melts, lower slab-derived inputs, but relatively enriched mantle compositions. Similarly, small monogenetic eruptive centres located away from the main stratocones also tend to erupt magmas with relatively lower slab contribution and overall smaller melting degrees. Conversely, arc-front compositions reflect greater slab contributions and larger degree melts of a more depleted ambient mantle. Across-arc variations in B (ranging from ca. ‰ in the rear-arc and Sredinny Ridge to ‰ in the Central Kamchatka Depression) are generally consistent with variable addition of an isotopically heavy slab-derived component to a depleted MORB mantle composition. However, individual volcanic centres (e.g. Bakening volcano) show correlations between melt inclusion B and other geochemical indicators (e.g. Cl/K2O, Ce/B) that require mixing between isotopically distinct melt batches that have undergone different extents of crustal evolution and degassing processes. Our results show that while melt inclusion volatile inventories are largely overprinted during shallower melt storage and aggregation, incompatible trace element ratios and B isotope compositions more faithfully trace initial mantle compositions and subduction inputs. Furthermore, we suggest that the signals of compositional heterogeneity generated in the sub-arc mantle by protracted metasomatism during earlier phases of subduction can be preserved during later magma assembly and storage in the crust