BUFFERING OF INCOMPATIBLE ELEMENTS IN THE LITHOSPHERIC MANTLE DURING MELT PERCOLATION: THE ROLE OF HYDROUS PHASES

Abstract

An increasing number of highly precise and accurate whole-rock trace element data is becoming available for orogenic peridotites and mantle xenoliths. Extreme LILE enrichment relative to HFSE is a common feature which is generally attributed to pervasive forms of metasomatism modelled in terms of chromatographic crystallisation effects (Navon and Stolper, 1987), possibly coupled with sink/source effects (Godard et al., 1995). Models describing propagation of melt batches through mantle rocks (Godard et al., 1995; Vernieres et al., 1997) usually provide satisfactory numerical simulations for the observed LILE variations, and particularly for LREE enrichment in interstitial melts and minerals. However, they often do not account for the wide range of variations of HFSE and U, Th. Uranium anomalies may result from selective transport by fluids (Alard et al., 1999), whereas inconsistencies between measured and predicted HFSE abundances are frequently ascribed to buffering exerted by elusive Ti-oxides (Bodinier et al., 1996), particularly rutile, which is claimed to produce intra-HFSE fractionation (i.e., Zr, Hf and Ta, Nb decoupling). However, rutile is not commonly found in mantle assemblages, and experiments have shown that an unusually TiO2-rich bulk rock composition is required to stabilize rutile (Ayers et al., 1997). The hydrous phases phlogopite, pargasite/kaersutite and richterite could play a significant role in buffering LILE in the lithospheric mantle and must be also considered as either a complement or an alternative to Ti-oxides in buffering HFSE. Phlogopite is stable up to 1200°C at pressures higher than 20 kbar (Mengel and Green, 1989), whereas pargasite and kaersutite are stable up to 1150°C in the 25-30 kbar range under water-undersaturated conditions (Niida and Green, 1999). Phlogopite and amphibole are expected to form during migration of alkaline melts through the upper mantle domain, thus resulting in sink/source effects and buffering of incompatible elements. The buffering role of phlogopite can be easily predicted: Schmidt et al. (1999) showed that DRb is significantly higher than 1, whereas DSr is in the range 0.02-0.06, thus causing a strong decrease of Rb/Sr in the interstitial melt. Interestingly, DTi and DBa may approach or even exceed unity (DBa up to 1.6), confirming their dependence on the Ti-oxy-substitution that is expected to increase the phlogopite stability. Therefore, a more effective coupled buffering of Ba and Ti is expected at increasingly lower XH2O conditions. Among the other elements, only Nb, Li and Zr may be retained to some extent (Ds are 0.07, 0.02 and 0.015, respectively). Although very low, DPb (0.02) is at least two orders of magnitude greater than DU,Th, which are in the order 10-4-10-6, like those of the REE. Amphibole shows more complex behaviour. From an integrated experimental, analytical and crystallographic approach we can show that trace-element partitioning behaviour differs significantly between pargasite/kaersutite and richterite. Moreover, it cannot be predicted without taking into account both the presence of dehydrogenation and the complete site distribution of the major elements. In K-richterites, Ds >1, permitting effective buffering by amphibole, are observed only for Sr, F, V, Cr; whereas Ds for the other elements are 1 and a decoupling of HFSE is observed. The Amph/LiqDNb/Ta is highly variable (0.7-1.7), and is ruled by the dimensions of the M1 site, which in turn depends on its Fe, Mg and Ti content. Surprisingly, pargasite/kaersutite has higher partition coefficients and consequently a stronger buffering capacity for Rb, Ba and Cs than K-richterite. This is not the case for Sr, which has a higher compatibility in Krichterite, which provides larger and less constrained M4 sites. New partitioning data reveal that the buffering of incompatible elements by hydrous phases can be modelled with confidence only if appropriate assumptions about phase stability (and hence the geodynamic environment) and composition are made. The prediction of the behaviour of HFSE requires a reasonable estimate of the water and titanium activity in the melt. Ds of elements which are involved in charge compensation of the oxy-component (Ba and Ti in phlogopite and Ti, Nb and Ta in amphiboles) cannot be assumed to be constant during the precipitation of hydrous phases from the interstitial melt. Phlogopite with no oxy- or F- components has about 4 wt% H2O, whereas a similar pargasite/ richterite has about 2.0 wt% H2O. Former crystallisation of hydrous phases implies sink/source effects for both H and Ti, which in turn either affect D in hydrous phases crystallised later or prevent the formation of new hydrous phase beyond the reaction zone.