Iron and zinc stable isotope evidence for open-system high-pressure dehydration of antigorite serpentinite in subduction zones

Debret, Baptiste and Garrido, Carlos and Pons, Marie-Laure and Bouilhol, Pierre and Inglis, Edward and Lopez Sánchez-Vizcaíno, Vicente and Williams, Helen (2020) Iron and zinc stable isotope evidence for open-system high-pressure dehydration of antigorite serpentinite in subduction zones. Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta. ISSN 0016-7037 DOI

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Subducted serpentinites have the potential to control the exchange of volatile and redox sensitive elements (e.g., Fe, S, C, N) between the slab, the mantle wedge and the deep mantle. Here we examine the mobility of iron and zinc in serpentinite-derived fluids by using their stable isotopes (Î´56Fe and Î´66Zn) in high-pressure subducted meta-serpentinites from the Cerro del Almirez massif (Spain). This massif preserves a metamorphic front between antigorite (Atg-serpentinite) and antigorite-olivine-orthopyroxene (transitional lithologies) -bearing serpentinites, and chlorite-bearing harzburgite (Chl-harzburgite), displaying granofels, spinifex and fine-grained recrystallized textures. Those rocks were formed at eclogite facies conditions (1.6â��1.9 GPa and 680â��710 Â°C). The mean Î´56Fe of all the Cerro del Almirez meta- serpentinites (+0.05 Â± 0.01 â�°) is identical within an error to that of primitive mantle (+0.03 Â± 0.03 â�°). A positive correlation between Î´56Fe and indices of peridotite protolith fertility (e.g., Al2O3/SiO2) suggests that the Î´56Fe values of Cerro del Almirez samples predominantly reflect protolith compositional variations, likely produced by prior episodes of melt extraction. In contrast, the Zn concentrations (Zn = 34â��67 ppm) and isotope signatures (Î´66Zn = +0.18 â�� +0.55 â�°) of the Cerro del Almirez samples show a broad range of values, distinct to those of the primitive mantle (Zn = 54 ppm; Î´66Zn = +0.16 Â± 0.06 â�°). The Atg- serpentinites (Zn = 34â��46 ppm; Î´66Zn = +0.23 Â± 0.06 â�°) display similar Zn and Î´66Zn values to those of slab serpentinites from other high-pressure meta-ophiolites. Both Zn and Î´66Zn increase in transitional lithologies (Zn = 45â��67 ppm; Î´66Zn = +0.30 Â± 0.06 â�°) and Chl-harzburgites with granofels (Zn = 38â�� 59 ppm; Î´66Zn = +0.33 Â± 0.04 â�°) or spinifex (Zn = 48â��66 ppm; Î´66Zn = +0.43 Â± 0.09 â�°) textures. Importantly, Cerro del Almirez transitional lithologies and Chl-harzburgites display abnormally high Zn relative to abyssal peridotites and serpentinites (29â��45 ppm) and a positive correlation exists between Zn and Î´66Zn. This correlation is interpreted to reflect the mobilization of Zn by subduction zone fluids at high pressures and temperatures coupled with significant Zn stable isotope fractionation. An increase in Zn and Î´66Zn from Atg-serpentinite to Chl-harzburgite is associated with an increase in U/Yb, Sr/Y, Ba/Ce and Rb/Ce, suggesting that both Zn and Î´66Zn record the interaction of the transitional lithologies and the Chl- harzburgites with fluids that had equilibrated with metasedimentary rocks. Quantitative models show that metasediment derived fluids can have isotopically heavy Zn as a consequence of sediment carbonate dissolution and subsequent Zn complexation with carbonate species in the released fluids (e.g., ZnHCO3(H2O)5+ or ZnCO3(H2O)3). Our models further demonstrate that Zn complexation with reduced carbon species cannot produce fluids with heavy Î´66Zn signature and hence explain the Î´66Zn variations observed in the Chl-harzburgites. The most straightforward explanation for the heavy Î´66Zn of the Cerro del Almirez samples is thus serpentinite dehydration accompanied by the open system infiltration of the massif by oxidized, carbonate-rich sediment-derived fluids released during prograde subduction-related metamorphism.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 2020AREP; IA76
Subjects: 05 - Petrology - Igneous, Metamorphic and Volcanic Studies
Divisions: 05 - Petrology - Igneous, Metamorphic and Volcanic Studies
08 - Green Open Access
Journal or Publication Title: Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta
Identification Number:
Depositing User: Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited: 23 Dec 2020 20:53
Last Modified: 23 Dec 2020 20:53

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