Across‐arc variations of isotope and trace element compositions from Quaternary basaltic volcanic rocks in northeastern Japan: Implications for interaction between subducted oceanic slab and mantle wedge

Abstract

Isotopic compositions of Pb, Sr, and Nd and concentrations of trace elements were determined for Quaternary island arc basaltic rocks from northeastern Japan. Sr and Pb isotopic ratios decrease, and Nd isotopic ratios increase from the volcanic front toward the back arc. The isotopic compositions nearest the back arc side are nearly identical to those of mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB). The high field strength elements and heavy rare earth elements show homogeneous and MORB‐like characteristics. These observations indicate that the mantle wedge beneath northeastern Japan originally had a MORB‐type mantle composition that was homogeneous across the arc. Pb isotope compositions show a mixing relationship between mantle wedge and oceanic sediments reflecting the introduction of subduction component into the mantle wedge, Across‐arc isotopic variations were caused by interaction between MORB‐type mantle wedge and the subducting slab, and the amount of subduction component correlates with the depth to the slab. The isotopic compositions of subduction component are expressed by bulk mixing of 15 wt % of oceanic sediment and 85 wt % of altered MORB. Inversion analyses of isotopic compositions using two‐component mixing relationships show that the Sr/Nd and Pb/Nd ratios in subduction component decrease with increasing depth to the slab, while the Sr/Pb ratio is nearly constant. These changes can be explained only by a preferential discharge of the elements into the wedge mantle associated with continuous dehydration of the subducting slab. The present study further demonstrates that a very wide range of isotopic and elemental compositions in island arc magmas is a consequence of the interaction between subducting slab and mantle wedge without the involvement of an oceanic island basalts component, and the slab can carry water and supply a subduction component as a fluid to the overlying mantle wedge to depths exceeding 150 km.