Non-equilibrium degassing and a primordial source for helium in ocean-island volcanism

Radioactive decay of uranium and thorium produces 4He, whereas 3He in the Earth's mantle is not produced by radioactive decay and was only incorporated during accretion-that is, it is primordial. 3He/4He ratios in many ocean-island basalts (OIBs) that erupt at hotspot volcanoes, such as Hawaii and Iceland, can be up to sixfold higher than in mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs). This is inferred to be the result of outgassing by melt production at mid-ocean ridges in conjunction with radiogenic ingrowth of 4He, which has led to a volatile-depleted upper mantle (MORB source) with low 3He concentrations and low 3He/4He ratios. Consequently, high 3He/4He ratios in OIBs are conventionally viewed as evidence for an undegassed, primitive mantle source, which is sampled by hot, buoyantly upwelling deep-mantle plumes. However, this conventional model provides no viable explanation of why helium concentrations and elemental ratios of He/Ne and He/Ar in OIBs are an order of magnitude lower than in MORBs. This has been described as the 'helium concentration paradox' and has contributed to a long-standing controversy about the structure and dynamics of the Earth's mantle. Here we show that the helium concentration paradox, as well as the full range of noble-gas concentrations observed in MORB and OIB glasses, can self-consistently be explained by disequilibrium open-system degassing of the erupting magma. We show that a higher CO2 content in OIBs than in MORBs leads to more extensive degassing of helium in OIB magmas and that noble gases in OIB lavas can be derived from a largely undegassed primitive mantle source.     

Noble gases in corundum megacrysts from the basalts in Changle, Shandong Province, eastern China

This study presents noble gaseous data of the corundum megacrysts from the Cenozoic basalts in Changle, Shandong Province, eastern China. It is known that no noble gaseous data of corundum megacryst have been documented before. The 3He/4He ratios (1.13-7.37 Ra) of the corundums from Changle vary from atmosphere to MORB values; the 20Ne/22Ne (9.67-10.75) and 21Ne/22Ne (0.0280-0.0372) data define two linear trends on Ne three-isotope diagram, respectively, along the MFL and the correlation line between atmosphere and MORB; the 38Ar/36Ar (0.177-0.194) ratios, the 40Ar/36Ar (280.9 -404.2) ratios and the 128-136Xe/132Xe ration with obvious 129Xe excess are generally higher than at-mospheric component, but the 40Ar/36Ar ratios are much closer to atomospheric ratio. The isotopic compositions of noble gases (particularly for He and Ar) of the corundums are similar to those of py-roxene, anorthoclase megacrysts, and mantle-derived xenoliths from this area, and those of man-tle-derived xenoliths from several areas in eastern China. Therefore, the noble gases trapped in the corundums probably are from mantle source, representing a ‘mixed fluid' produced by the interaction between the lithospheric mantle and fluids releasing from the convective plate. Both the noble gas isotopic compositions and the oxygen isotopic compositions of the solid corundums are not the characteristics of crustal source. These suggest that the corundums crystallized from mantle-derived magmas with minimal crustal contamination.     

滇西富碱斑岩型多金属矿稀有气体同位素组成特征及地质意义*

通过对滇西富碱斑岩型多金属矿区稀有气体同位素组成的研究表明,黄铁矿和石英脉等流体包裹体中3He/4He值主要为0.160 8~3.470 0 Ra,远高于地壳特征值,而整体略低于地幔特征值;20Ne/22Ne和21Ne/22Ne平均值分别为11.271和0.032 2,接近地幔同位素组成;40Ar/36Ar和38Ar/36Ar平均值分别为395.51和0.197 6,均高于大气比值,而低于MORB比值;128~136Xe/130Xe值与大气相比均表现出过剩的特征。综合研究表明,滇西多金属矿区包裹体中稀有气体同位素组成在显示含矿流体的幔源特征的同时,又表现出强烈的地壳特征;成矿流体主要源于深部地幔,在参与交代蚀变过程中,其性质由熔浆向热液过渡,同时引发壳幔物质叠加混染,正是这种流体作用构成了滇西新生代富碱斑岩多金属成矿的内在统一制约因素。     

Oxygen-isotope evidence for recycled crust in the sources of mid-ocean-ridge basalts

Mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORBs) are the most abundant terrestrial magmas and are believed to form by partial melting of a globally extensive reservoir of ultramafic rocks in the upper mantle. MORBs vary in their abundances of incompatible elements (that is, those that partition into silicate liquids during partial melting) and in the isotopic ratios of several radiogenic isotope systems. These variations define a spectrum between 'depleted' and 'enriched' compositions, characterized by respectively low and high abundances of incompatible elements. Compositional variations in the sources of MORBs could reflect recycling of subducted crustal materials into the source reservoir, or any of a number of processes of intramantle differentiations. Variations in (18)O/(16)O (principally sensitive to the interaction of rocks with the Earth's hydrosphere) offer a test of these alternatives. Here we show that (18)O/(16)O ratios of MORBs are correlated with aspects of their incompatible-element chemistry. These correlations are consistent with control of the oxygen-isotope and incompatible-element geochemistry of MORBs by a component of recycled crust that is variably distributed throughout their upper mantle sources.     

Upper-mantle dynamics revealed by helium isotope variations along the southeast Indian ridge

Helium isotope variations in igneous rocks are important for relating isotopic heterogeneity to convective mixing in the Earth's mantle. High 3He/4He ratios at many ocean islands, along with lower and relatively uniform values in mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORBs), are thought to result from a well mixed upper-mantle source for MORB and a distinct deeper-mantle source for ocean island basalts. At finer scales, 3He/4He variations along mid-ocean ridges have been related to underlying mantle heterogeneity, but relationships between the scales of geochemical segmentation and mantle convection remain enigmatic. Here we present helium isotope data for MORB glasses recovered along approximately 5,800 km of the southeast Indian ridge, and develop an approach to quantitatively relate spatial variations in geochemical and geophysical parameters at the Earth's surface. A point-to-point correlation analysis reveals structure in the helium isotope data at length scales of approximately 150 and approximately 400 km that appears to be related to secondary convection in the underlying mantle.     

In situ Os isotopes in abyssal peridotites bridge the isotopic gap between MORBs and their source mantle

Abyssal peridotites are assumed to represent the mantle residue of mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORBs). However, the osmium isotopic compositions of abyssal peridotites and MORB do not appear to be in equilibrium, raising questions about the cogenetic relationship between those two reservoirs. However, the cause of this isotopic mismatch is mainly due to a drastic filtering of the data based on the possibility of osmium contamination by sea water. Here we present a detailed study of magmatic sulphides (the main carrier of osmium) in abyssal peridotites and show that the 187Os/188Os ratio of these sulphides is of primary mantle origin and can reach radiogenic values suggesting equilibrium with MORB. Thus, the effect of sea water on the osmium systematics of abyssal peridotites has been overestimated and consequently there is no true osmium isotopic gap between MORBs and abyssal peridotites.     

A young source for the Hawaiian plume

Recycling of oceanic crust through subduction, mantle upwelling, and remelting in mantle plumes is a widely accepted mechanism to explain ocean island volcanism. The timescale of this recycling is important to our understanding of mantle circulation rates. Correlations of uranogenic lead isotopes in lavas from ocean islands such as Hawaii or Iceland, when interpreted as model isochrons, have yielded source differentiation ages between 1 and 2.5?billion years (Gyr). However, if such correlations are produced by mixing of unrelated mantle components they will have no direct age significance. Re-Os decay model ages take into account the mixing of sources with different histories, but they depend on the assumed initial Re/Os ratio of the subducted crust, which is poorly constrained because of the high mobility of rhenium during subduction. Here we report the first data on (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratios for 138 melt inclusions in olivine phenocrysts from lavas of Mauna Loa shield volcano, Hawaii, indicating enormous mantle source heterogeneity. We show that highly radiogenic strontium in severely rubidium-depleted melt inclusions matches the isotopic composition of 200-650-Myr-old sea water. We infer that such sea water must have contaminated the Mauna Loa source rock, before subduction, imparting a unique 'time stamp' on this source. Small amounts of seawater-derived strontium in plume sources may be common but can be identified clearly only in ultra-depleted melts originating from generally highly (incompatible-element) depleted source components. The presence of 200-650-Myr-old oceanic crust in the source of Hawaiian lavas implies a timescale of general mantle circulation with an average rate of about 2 (±1)?cm?yr(-1), much faster than previously thought.     

Seawater subduction controls the heavy noble gas composition of the mantle

The relationship between solar volatiles and those now in the Earth's atmosphere and mantle reservoirs provides insight into the processes controlling the acquisition of volatiles during planetary accretion and their subsequent evolution. Whereas the light noble gases (helium and neon) in the Earth's mantle preserve a solar-like isotopic composition, heavy noble gases (argon, krypton and xenon) have an isotopic composition very similar to that of the modern atmosphere, with radiogenic and (in the case of xenon) solar contributions. Mantle noble gases in a magmatic CO2 natural gas field have been previously corrected for shallow atmosphere/groundwater and crustal additions. Here we analyse new data from this field and show that the elemental composition of non-radiogenic heavy noble gases in the mantle is remarkably similar to that of sea water. We challenge the popular concept of a noble gas 'subduction barrier'--the convecting mantle noble gas isotopic and elemental composition is explained by subduction of sediment and seawater-dominated pore fluids. This accounts for approximately 100% of the non-radiogenic argon and krypton and 80% of the xenon. Approximately 50% of the convecting mantle water concentration can then be explained by this mechanism. Enhanced recycling of subducted material to the mantle plume source region then accounts for the lower ratio of radiogenic to non-radiogenic heavy noble gas isotopes and higher water content of plume-derived basalts.     

Noble gas abundances and isotopic compositions in mantle-derived xenoliths, NE China

Following the researches of helium isotopic compositions in mantle-derived xenoliths in eastern China,this study reported noble gas abundances and isotopic compositions of mantle-derived xenoliths from Kuandian of Liaoning Province, Huinan of Jilin Province and Hannuoba of Hebei Province. Compared with the middle ocean ridge basalt (MORB) and other continental areas, mantle-derived xenoliths in NE China are characterized by slightly low noble gas abundances, 3He/4He equivalent to or lower than that of MORB, 40Ar/36Ar lower than that of MORB, 38Ar/36Ar and Ne-Kr-Xe isotopic ratios equivalent to those of atmosphere. These results indicate the heterogeneity of subcontinentai lithospheric mantle beneath northeastern China, that is, a MORB reservoir-like mantle beneath Kuandian and an enriched/metasomatized mantle beneath Huinan. Low 40Ar/36Ar ratios in the three studied areas may imply that a subducted atmospheric component has been preserved in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle.``     

Noble gas isotopic compositions of deep carbonate rocks from the Tarim Basin

Abundances and isotopic compositions of noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr) with various existence states in carbonate rocks from the Tacan1 Well have been investigated by means of the stepwise heating technique. The elemental abundance patterns of noble gases in the samples show the enrichment of heavy noble gases and depletion of ²⁰Ne relative to the atmosphere, which are designated as type-Ⅰand are similar to that observed in water, natural gases and sedimentary rocks. The ³He/⁴He ratios of deep carbonate samples at lower and medium temperature (300—700℃) and a majority of samples at higher temperature (1100—1500℃) steps are very similar to those of natural gases in the same strata in this area, this feature of radiogenic crustal helium shows that the Tazhong Uplift is relatively stable. However, significant helium and argon isotopic anomalies are found at the 1100℃ step in the Middle-Upper Ordovician carbonate rock, suggesting the incorporation of mantle-derived volatiles, this may be due to minor igneous minerals contained in sedimentary carbonate rocks. The ⁴⁰Ar/ ³⁶Ar ratios in the Cambrian carbonate rock are slightly higher than those in Ordovician carbonate rocks, which may reflect the influence of the chronologic accumulation effect of crust radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar. Argon isotopes of various existence states in source rocks are much more different, both ³⁸Ar/ ³⁶Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/ ³⁶Ar ratios at the higher temperature steps are higher than those at the lower temperature steps.     

南海玄武岩：扩张洋脊与海山

 南海存在两种火山岩：洋中脊玄武岩（MORB）和洋岛玄武岩（OIB）。国际大洋发现计划（IODP）第349、367、368、368X航次在南海海盆的成功钻取,获得了南海初始扩张（~34 Ma）和停止扩张（~15-16 Ma）前的洋壳样品。南海东部、西南次海盆及北缘洋-陆过渡带代表海盆发展的不同阶段,具有不同的地幔潜能温度、物质组成和洋脊扩张速度,因此产生的洋中脊玄武岩成分差异显著。南海地区在扩张晚期及停止扩张之后存在大规模地幔上涌,与其周缘地区的持续俯冲有关,产出的海山OIB不同于地幔柱活动产生的火山链。南海虽小,但蕴含的信息异常丰富,是窥探地球深部难得的天然窗口。     

Magma mixing in upper mantle: Evidence from high Mg<Superscript>#</Superscript> olivine hosted melt inclusions in MORBs near East Pacific Rise 13°N

Early formed high-Mg^# olivine phenocrysts during evolution of MORB magmas usually host melt inclusions, which record im-portant information about the early-stage evolution of magma. Five MORB samples from near East Pacific Rise (EPR) 13°N vary little in K/Ti (0.07–0.12), Tb/Lu (1.72–1.84) and Sm/Nd (0.310–0.332) and have similar REEs patterns, indicating that depleted upper mantle has similar mineral composition. Sixty-five initial melt inclusions derived by correcting olivine fractionation and “FeO-Loss” show averagely higher MgO contents than their host rocks. Melt inclusions have higher CaO/Al₂O₃ ratios than their host rocks, and these CaO/Al₂O₃ ratios are positively and negatively correlated with MgO and Na₂O respectively, suggesting that these magmas have experienced high pressure crystallization of clinopyroxene. Average crystallization pressure, which is calculated based on the pressure dependence of clinopyroxene crystallization, is 0.83–0.25 GPa, and implys that these melt inclusions are averagely trapped in mantle depth of ~24 km. These melt inclusions show negative correlations of Ca₈/Al₈ and Na₈ with Fe₈, and wider ranges of Ca₈/Al₈, Na₈, Fe₈ and K/Ti than their host rocks, suggesting that these melt inclusions formed by mixing magmas of different melting degrees and depths. According to the average value and ranges of Ca₈/Al₈, Na₈, Fe₈ and K/Ti, these magmas would necessitate other mixing ends in shallow crust except in upper mantle. The compositional diversity of melt inclusions in MORBs phenocrysts cannot always be used to indicate magma mixing and crystallization in shallow crust, and melt inclusions in high Mg^# olivine formed under mantle pressure must be excluded in study of the magma process at crustal level. This study shows that, in EPR, MORBs have experienced mixing of magmas formed by different melting degrees and depths in the mantle.     

Some basic concepts and problems on the petrogenesis of intra-plate ocean island basalts

Basaltic magmatism that builds intra-plate ocean islands is often considered to be genetically associated with ＂hotspots＂ or ＂mantle plumes＂. While there have been many discussions on why ocean island basalts （OIB） are geochemically highly enriched as an integral part of the mantle plume hypothesis, our current understanding on the origin of OIB source material remains unsatisfactory, and some prevailing ideas need revision. One of the most popular views states that OIB source material is recycled oceanic crust （ROC）. Among many problems with the ROC model, the ocean crust is simply too depleted （e.g., [La/Sm]PM 〈1） to be source material for highly enriched （e.g., [La/Sm]pM 〉〉 1） OIB, Another popular view states that the enriched component of OIB comes from recycled continental crust （RCC, i.e.; terrigenous sediments）. While both CC and OIB are enriched in many incompatible elements （e.g., both have [La/Sm]PM 〉〉1）, the CC has characteristic enrichment in Pb and deletion in Nb, Ta, P and Ti. Such signature is too strong to be eliminated such that CC is unsuitable as source material for OIB. Plate tectonics and mantle circulation permit the presence of ROC and RCC materials in mantle source regions of basalts, but they must be volumetrically insignificant in contributing to basalt magmatism. The observation that OIB are not only enriched in incompatible elements, but also enriched in the progressively more incompatible elements indicates that the enriched component of OIB is of magmatic origin and most likely associated with low-degree melt metasomatism. H2O and CO2 rich incipient melt may form in the seismic low velocity zone （LVZ）. This melt will rise because of buoyancy and concentrate into a melt rich layer atop the LVZ to metasomatize the growing lithosphere, forming the metasomatic vein lithologies. Erupted OIB melts may have three components： （1） fertile OIB source material from depth that is dominant, （2） the melt layer, and （3） assimilation of the metasomatic vein lithologies formed earlier in the growing/grown lithosphere. It is probable that the fertile source material from depth may be （or contain） recycled ancient metasomatized deep portions of oceanic lithosphere. In any attempt to explain the origin of mantle isotopic end-members as revealed from global OIB data, we must （1） remember our original assumptions that the primitive mantle （PM） soon after the core separation was compositionally uniform/homogeneous with the core playing a limited or no role in causing mantle isotopic heterogeneity; （2） not use OIB isotopes to conclude about the nature and compositions of ultimate source materials without understanding geochemical consequences of subduction zone metamorphism; and （3） ensure that models and hypotheses are consistent with the basic petrology and major/trace element geochemistry.     

Evolution of helium isotopes in the Earth's mantle

Degassing of the Earth's mantle through magmatism results in the irreversible loss of helium to space, and high (3)He/(4)He ratios observed in oceanic basalts have been considered the main evidence for a 'primordial' undegassed deep mantle reservoir. Here we present a new global data compilation of ocean island basalts, representing upwelling 'plumes' from the deep mantle, and show that island groups with the highest primordial signal (high (3)He/(4)He ratios) have striking chemical and isotopic similarities to mid-ocean-ridge basalts. We interpret this as indicating a common history of mantle trace element depletion through magmatism. The high (3)He/(4)He in plumes may thus reflect incomplete degassing of the deep Earth during continent and ocean crust formation. We infer that differences between plumes and the upper-mantle source of ocean-ridge basalts reflect isolation of plume sources from the convecting mantle for approximately 1-2 Gyr. An undegassed, primordial reservoir in the mantle would therefore not be required, thus reconciling a long-standing contradiction in mantle dynamics.     

Re-visiting barium isotope compositions of mid-ocean ridge basalts and the implications

Barium (Ba) isotopes can be used as potential tracers for crustal material recycling in the mantle. Determination of the Ba isotope composition of the depleted mantle is essential for such applications. However, Ba isotope data for mantle-derived basalts are still rare. In this study, we reported high-precision Ba isotope data of 30 oceanic basalts including 25 mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs) from geochemically and geologically diverse mid-ocean ridge segments and five back-arc basin basalts. The δ138/134Ba values of these samples varied from ?0.06‰ to +0.11‰, with no systematic cross-region variation. Together with published data, we constrained the average δ138/134Ba of global MORBs to +0.05‰±0.09‰ (2 standard deviation, n = 51). Based on depleted MORBs that have (La/Sm)_N < 0.8, low 87Sr/86Sr (< 0.70263), and low Ba/Th < 71.3, we estimated the average δ138/134Ba of the depleted MORB mantle (DMM) as + 0.05‰ ± 0.05‰ (2SD, n = 16) that is significantly lower than the DMM (≈ 0.14‰) reported previously. If a new estimation of the DMM is applied, it is unreasonable to infer that the Ba isotope signatures of the “enriched-type” MORBs (E-MORBs) could be attributed to pervasive sediment recycling in the upper mantle. We, therefore, conclude that the Ba isotope compositions of the E-MORBs could be sourced from the incorporation of subducted altered oceanic crust and/or sediments depending on the Ba isotope composition and other geochemical information of the local mantle.     

惰性气体含量对深层地下水形成温度的示踪意义分析

惰性气体在地下水中的溶解量主要取决于水温和气体分压 ,而且溶解度在常见的水温范围内是水温的单调函数 .因此 ,当深层地下水系统处于封闭状态 ,系统中不存在蜕变成因或变质成因的惰性气体源时 ,可将溶解的惰性气体作为指示地下水形成温度的天然示踪剂 .     

Neon isotopes constrain convection and volatile origin in the Earth's mantle

Identifying the origin of primordial volatiles in the Earth's mantle provides a critical test between models that advocate magma-ocean equilibration with an early massive solar-nebula atmosphere and those that require subduction of volatiles implanted in late accreting material. Here we show that neon isotopes in the convecting mantle, resolved in magmatic CO2 well gases, are consistent with a volatile source related to solar corpuscular irradiation of accreting material. This contrasts with recent results that indicated a solar-nebula origin for neon in mantle plume material, which is thought to be sampling the deep mantle. Neon isotope heterogeneity in different mantle sources suggests that models in which the plume source supplies the convecting mantle with its volatile inventory require revision. Although higher than accepted noble gas concentrations in the convecting mantle may reduce the need for a deep mantle volatile flux, any such flux must be dominated by the neon (and helium) isotopic signature of late accreting material.     

Lead isotopes reveal bilateral asymmetry and vertical continuity in the Hawaiian mantle plume

The two parallel chains of Hawaiian volcanoes ('Loa' and 'Kea') are known to have statistically different but overlapping radiogenic isotope characteristics. This has been explained by a model of a concentrically zoned mantle plume, where the Kea chain preferentially samples a more peripheral portion of the plume. Using high-precision lead isotope data for both centrally and peripherally located volcanoes, we show here that the two trends have very little compositional overlap and instead reveal bilateral, non-concentric plume zones, probably derived from the plume source in the mantle. On a smaller scale, along the Kea chain, there are isotopic differences between the youngest lavas from the Mauna Kea and Kilauea volcanoes, but the 550-thousand-year-old Mauna Kea lavas are isotopically identical to Kilauea lavas, consistent with Mauna Kea's position relative to the plume, which was then similar to that of present-day Kilauea. We therefore conclude that narrow (less than 50 kilometres wide) compositional streaks, as well as the larger-scale bilateral zonation, are vertically continuous over tens to hundreds of kilometres within the plume.     

Osmium isotopic constraints on the nature of the DUPAL anomaly from Indian mid-ocean-ridge basalts

The isotopic compositions of mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORB) from the Indian Ocean have led to the identification of a large-scale isotopic anomaly relative to Pacific and Atlantic ocean MORB. Constraining the origin of this so-called DUPAL anomaly may lead to a better understanding of the genesis of upper-mantle heterogeneity. Previous isotopic studies have proposed recycling of ancient subcontinental lithospheric mantle or sediments with oceanic crust to be responsible for the DUPAL signature. Here we report Os, Pb, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of Indian MORB from the Central Indian ridge, the Rodriguez triple junction and the South West Indian ridge. All measured samples have higher (187)Os/(188)Os ratios than the depleted upper-mantle value and Pb, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions that imply the involvement of at least two distinct enriched components in the Indian upper-mantle. Using isotopic and geodynamical arguments, we reject both subcontinental lithospheric mantle and recycled sediments with oceanic crust as the cause of the DUPAL anomaly. Instead, we argue that delamination of lower continental crust may explain the DUPAL isotopic signature of Indian MORB.     

An approach to noble-gas isotopic compositions in natural gases and gas-source tracing in the Ordos Basin, China

Isotopic compositions of noble gases, i.e. He Ar Kr and Xe, are measured in natural gases from the Zhongbu gasfield in the Ordos Basin. And heavy noble-gas isotopes (Kr, Xe) are here first used in geochemically studying natural gases and gas-source correlation. Isotopic compositions of heavy noble gases in natural gases, especially Xe, show two-source mixing in the Zhongbu gasfield. Gas sources are somewhat different in the northeast and the southwest of the gasfield. Generally, the gas source of the Lower Paleozoic makes a greater contribution in the southwest than in the northeast in the field. Two kinds of gases can be differentiated from isotopic compositions of heavy noble gases and from their relation with the Ar isotopic composition, Therefore, the comprehensive study on isotopic compositions of light and heavy noble gases can supply more useful information on gas-source correlation and tracing.