1. Fluid-mobile elements in serpentinites: Constraints on serpentinisation environments and element cycling in subduction zones
- Author
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Thomas Pettke, Annette Bretscher, Timm John, Marco Scambelluri, and Daniel Peters
- Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Chalcophile elements, Element loss, Fluid-rock interactions, Mantle metasomatism, Mantle wedge serpentinisation, Ocean floor serpentinisation, Slab mantle dehydration ,Geochemistry ,Element loss ,010502 geochemistry & geophysics ,01 natural sciences ,Mantle (geology) ,Slab mantle dehydration ,Geochemistry and Petrology ,Mantle wedge serpentinisation ,Fluid inclusions ,14. Life underwater ,Chalcophile elements ,Forearc ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Mantle metasomatism ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Subduction ,Geology ,Mid-ocean ridge ,Fluid-rock interactions ,13. Climate action ,Ocean floor serpentinisation ,Cycling - Abstract
Fluid-mobile element (FME) systematics in serpentinites are key to unravel the environments of mantle rock hydration, dehydration, and element recycling in subduction zones. Here we compile serpentinite geochemical data and, for the first time, report discriminative FME enrichment trends for mid ocean ridge vs. forearc serpentinisation by applying alkali element-U ratios. Characteristic element fractionations are thereby governed by redox-dependent differential U mobility at mid ocean ridges and in forearcs, and by high Cs input in forearcs due to fluids equilibrated with sediments. Simple modelling reproduces the observed enrichment trends in serpentinites that range over several orders of magnitude. From these systematics, first constraints on potentially discriminative fractionation trends for unconventional fluid tracers such as B, As, and Sb can be deduced. Prominent W enrichments that correlate with FMEs suggest significant W mobility in low-temperature serpentinising environments. Application of the alkali element-U systematics to the subducted metaperidotites of Erro Tobbio (recording initial brucite + antigorite breakdown during subduction) and Almirez (recording final antigorite breakdown) reveal that pre-subduction FME enrichment signatures are retained in progressively subducted hydrous mantle rocks to beyond subarc levels. Associated dehydration veins and fluid inclusions reveal subordinate alkali element-U fractionation trends during dehydration. Subducted hydrous mantle rocks therefore may introduce characteristic element signatures and thus contribute towards mantle geochemical heterogeneities.
- Published
- 2017
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