Boron isotope geochemistry of vent fluids from arc/back-arc seafloor hydrothermal systems in the western Pacific

Abstract

Boron concentrations and isotopic compositions were determined for vent fluids from 11 sites in arc/back-arc seafloor hydrothermal systems. This new dataset allowed a systematic comparison of boron behavior during water–rock interaction in different geological settings. In sediment-starved hydrothermal systems (e.g., Manus Basin, Izu-Bonin Arc, Mariana Trough), end-member fluids showed large variations in boron concentration (0.53–1.52mmol/kg) and δ11B value (13.5–29.7‰), reflecting the interaction of seawater with varied types of rock that occur in arc/back-arc settings. Based on the model calculations, the boron concentration and δ11B value of the fluid are better explained by an equilibration between seawater and rock than a mixing model. The Chlorine-depleted fluids from phase-separated hydrothermal systems (e.g., North Fiji Basin) had low boron concentrations (0.44–0.55mmol/kg) and high δ11B values (34.5–36.1‰). The small fractionations of boron and boron isotopes during phase separation suggest that these characteristics were acquired during water–rock interaction rather than phase separation and segregation processes. The fluids from sediment-hosted hydrothermal systems (e.g., Okinawa Trough) are characterized by high boron concentrations (3.9–4.8mmol/kg) and low δ11B values (2.5–2.9‰). These fluids also showed high Cs/B ratios, indicating interactions with terrigenous sediments. Model calculations demonstrate that the combined evaluation of δ11B values and Cs/B ratios are useful for a quantitative estimate of sedimentary contributions in seafloor hydrothermal systems.