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Serpentinite plays a crucial role in element mobility during seawater hydrothermal alteration of mid-ocean ridge peridotite on the seafloor and fluid metasomatism of peridotite in the subduction zone. However, element mobility and Mg isotope fractionation during serpentinization of peridotites are still uncertain. In order to address this issue, we present a geochemical study of serpentinites and their associated peridotites in the Xigaze ophiolite from southern Tibet. The serpentinites have lower MgO contents and Mg/Si ratios than the peridotites. The low Mg/Si ratios in serpentinites, along with the Isocon calculation results, indicate the Mg loss during serpentinization. In terms of trace elements, the serpentinites have higher contents of Ba, U, Sr and Pb than the peridotites, though both types of ultramafic rocks exhibit similar REE distribution patterns and HFSE contents. The serpentine-magnetite O isotope thermometry yields a relatively low serpentinization temperatures of 200–300 °C. The trace element composition of the serpentinites is distinct from that of forearc serpentinites but consistent with that of mid-ocean ridge ones. The peridotites show mantle-like δ26Mg values of –0.27 to –0.23‰ with an average of –0.25 ± 0.03‰ (2SD, n = 6). In contrast, the serpentinites have systematically higher δ26Mg values of –0.21 to –0.09‰ with an average of –0.16 ± 0.09‰ (2SD, n = 8). The Mg isotope composition of serpentinites shows no correlations with either the chemical weathering proxy or the talc modal content, indicating that the Mg isotope fractionation between serpentinite and peridotite is not caused by chemical weathering of the serpentinites. Instead, it probably resulted from the serpentinization of peridotite on the seafloor. Thus, there is the loss of not only element Mg but also isotopically light Mg during the serpentinization of peridotites. The isotopically heavy Mg serpentinites can be carried to oceanic subduction zones, giving rise to higher δ26Mg mantle sources for various basalts. The isotopically light Mg can be released into the seawater, regulating the Mg isotope composition of seawater in geological history. Taking into account the sources and sinks of Mg in subduction zone fluids, the formation of isotopically heavy Mg serpentinites during seafloor serpentinization can be probably an important process in changing the Mg isotope composition of mantle sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subduction of low-density continental crust to subarc depths is generally associated with preceding subduction of the oceanic slab. However, the original oceanic signature is often overprinted by subsequent fluid metasomatism from the subducting continental crust. As a result, it is generally difficult to trace the geochemical processes of previous oceanic subduction in collisional orogens. This issue can be potentially resolved by applying B isotopes to metamorphic rocks from continental subduction zones. Here a combined study of whole-rock geochemistry and in situ tourmaline B isotopes was carried out for coesite-bearing whiteschist and phengite schist, as well as country rock metagranitoids from the Dora-Maira Massif in the Western Alps. While all these metamorphic rocks have a similar protolith of Permian granites, whiteschist and phengite schist experienced Mg-rich fluid metasomatism during the continental subduction, evidenced by their much higher MgO contents than the metagranitoids. Tourmaline in the metagranitoid (Tur-G) is schorlitic (X Mg = 15–55) with low δ11B values from −13 to −6‰, and is consistent with a magmatic origin. In contrast, tourmaline in metasomatic rocks (Tur-S) is mainly dravitic with the highest X Mg worldwide (X Mg = 90–98) and high δ11B values of −5 to +1‰. Integrated with whole-rock geochemistry and previous studies, Tur-S is interpreted to grow during the infiltration of external fluids that were highly enriched in MgO and relatively enriched in 11B. According to the B isotope compositions of precursor tourmalines, it is estimated that the external fluids had significantly higher δ11B values than +2.4‰. Based on B isotope compositions of both Tur-S and metasomatic fluids, our quantitative modeling suggests that the metasomatic fluids most likely originated from the mantle wedge serpentinite that was formed during the preceding oceanic subduction stage. Therefore, tourmaline B isotopes in the ultrahigh pressure metamorphic continental crust can be used to trace preceding fluid metasomatism at the interface between oceanic slab and mantle wedge. The mantle wedge serpentinite plays an important role in modifying the geochemical composition of deeply subducted supracrustal rocks and probably also the mantle sources of arc magmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a highly fluid mobile element, barium (Ba) and its isotopes are excellent tracers for fluid associated processes in subduction zones. However, the behavior of Ba isotopes during high-pressure (HP) fluid–rock interaction in subduction zones is poorly constrained. To shed light on this issue, we focus on typical HP fluid−metasomatized rocks from the Sopron area of the Eastern Alps. These fluid−metasomatized rocks comprise Mg-rich leucophyllite and transitional gneiss that occurs between leucophyllite and metagranite protolith. These rocks provide excellent targets for the exploration of Ba isotope variations during fluid−rock interactions. From unaltered metagranite to metasomatized interiors, Ba contents steadily decrease, but δ138/134Ba values increase. In the first stage of fluid−related metasomatism, the transitional gneiss shows significantly higher δ138/134Ba values but lower Ba contents compared to its metagranite protolith, which can be attributed to the dissolution of K-feldspar characterized by high Ba contents but low δ138/134Ba values. In the second stage, leucophyllite was produced, displaying remarkably high δ138/134Ba values ranging from 0.20 to 0.47‰ and extremely low Ba contents down to 29.5 μg/g. These features are interpreted to result from an infiltration of serpentinite-derived fluids with high δ138/134Ba values and relatively low Ba contents, which caused an increase in the δ138/134Ba values of leucophyllite and a removal of Ba during fluid−rock interaction. Additionally, the contribution of fluids from mélange at the slab-mantle interface composed of dragged-down forearc serpentinite, carbonate-rich sediments and altered oceanic crust can result in the heterogeneous Ba isotope compositions of mantle wedges and arc lavas. This study provides new insights into Ba isotope behavior during HP fluid−rock interactions at forearc depths, which has a great bearing on understanding Ba isotope variations in mantle wedges and arc magmas. • Negative correlation occurs between δ138/134Ba and Ba contents of fluid-metasomatized rocks. • Dissolution of K-feldspar causes high δ138/134Ba of the transitional gneiss. • Serpentinite derived fluid-rock interaction explains high δ138/134Ba of leucophyllite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluids are important for mass transfer at the slab–mantle interface in subduction zones. However, it is usually difficult to trace fluids from specific sources in a subducting slab, especially those derived from dehydration of serpentinite. Coesite-bearing whiteschist at Dora-Maira in the Western Alps is characterized by strong Mg enrichment relative to the country rocks, which requires infiltration of Mg-rich fluids into the supracrustal rock. In order to constrain the origin of such Mg-rich fluids, we have performed an integrated study of whole-rock Mg and O isotopes, zircon U–Pb ages and O isotopes for the whiteschist and related rocks. Zircons in the whiteschist show two groups of U–Pb ages at ∼262 Ma and ∼34 Ma, respectively, for relict and newly grown domains. The Permian U–Pb ages of relict magmatic domains are consistent with the protolith age of host metagranite, suggesting that their common protolith is the Permian granite. The Tertiary U–Pb ages occur in coesite-bearing metamorphic domains, consistent with the known age for ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism. The metamorphic domains have δ 18 O values of 5.8 – 6.8 ‰ , whereas the relict magmatic domains have high δ 18 O values of ∼ 10 ‰ . Such high δ 18 O values are also characteristic of the metagranite, indicating that the whiteschist protolith underwent metasomatism by metamorphic fluids with low δ 18 O value of ∼ 2 – 4 ‰ . The whiteschist mostly has whole-rock δ 26 Mg values of −0.07 to 0.72‰, considerably higher than country-rock δ 26 Mg values of −0.54 to − 0.11 ‰ . Thus, the metamorphic fluids are not only rich in Mg but also heavy in Mg isotopes. They were probably derived from the breakdown of Mg-rich hydrous minerals such as talc and antigorite in serpentinite at the slab–mantle interface in the subduction channel. Therefore, the dehydration of mantle wedge serpentinite during the subduction and exhumation of continental crust can provide the Mg-rich fluids responsible for the metasomatism of crustal rocks at subarc depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melt extraction and subduction zone fluid infiltration can produce light Fe isotope compositions of arc lavas relative to the MORBs. However, the Fe isotope signature of subduction zone fluid is poorly constrained, which has hampered our understanding of Fe cycling in the subduction zone. Jadeitite veins in forearc serpentinite provide a unique record for the characteristics of subduction zone fluids. Here we report Fe isotope data for Myanmar jadeitites and associated rocks to constrain the Fe isotope signature of subduction zone fluids. Two types of jadeitites from Myanmar display distinct δ56Fe much lower than typical igneous rocks. White jadeitites, directly precipitated from fluids, have variable δ56Fe from −0.60‰ to −0.04‰, while green jadeitites, formed by fluid-chromite interaction, have δ56Fe (−0.44‰ to −0.19‰) similar to the associated amphibole-rich blackwalls (−0.47‰ to −0.23‰). The light Fe isotope signature of the jadeitites is not induced by weathering, kinetic fractionation, dissolution of Fe-rich carbonate, or mineral dissolution-reprecipitation process. Instead, it most likely reflects the Fe isotope variation of serpentinite-derived fluids. Correlations of δ56Fe with REEs, Sb, and U in white jadeitites suggest that the jadeitite-forming fluid is a mixture of serpentinite-derived and sediment-derived fluids. In contrast, correlations of δ56Fe with Si, Al, and Cr in green jadeitites record the interaction of low-δ56Fe fluids with chromite. Considering the abundance of the serpentinite-derived fluid, it can effectively influence the Fe isotope compositions of the ambient mantle and arc lavas. • Myanmar jadeitites record signature of subduction zone fluids. • Both white and green jadeitites have variably low-δ56Fe. • Low δ56Fe of jadeitites reflect serpentinite-derived fluid signature. • Subduction zone fluid can influence the δ56Fe of ambient mantle and arc lavas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole rock lithium (Li) and Li isotopic compositions of coesite-bearing whiteschists and their country rock metagranites from the Dora-Maira Massif in the Western Alps were investigated to understand their behavior during fluid-rock interaction in mantle depths of continental subduction zones. The whiteschists reveal relatively low δ7Li values (−6.4‰ to +2.4‰, with an average value of −2.1‰) in comparison to the country rock metagranites (δ7Li = −1.2‰ to +3.6‰, with an average value of +1.4‰). The δ7Li values of whiteschists do not show any correlations with major elements (e.g. Mg, Fe), Li, or isotopes (i.e., δ26Mg and δ18O values) and cannot be explained by kinetic fractionation. Hence, the low δ7Li values of whiteschists result from interactions with metasomatic fluids containing isotopically light Li that occurred in deep portions of a continental subduction zone. Fluid-rock interaction modeling suggests that the metasomatic fluids contain low δ7Li values (down to −4‰) and moderate Li concentrations (50 to 150 ppm), which were probably derived from the dehydration of serpentinites in the subduction channel. The presence of such low δ7Li fluids in deep subduction zones could cause Li isotopic heterogeneity in the earth's interior. • The whiteschists have relatively low δ7Li values (−6.4‰ to +2.4‰). • Isotopically light Li compositions resulted from metasomatism with fluids. • The metasomatic fluids were probably derived from the dehydration of serpentinites. • Such low δ7Li fluids could cause Li isotopic heterogeneity in the Earth's mantle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]