Iron isotope heterogeneity in magmas of subduction zones and its origin

Abstract

Iron isotope heterogeneity of subduction-related primitive magmas was traditionally thought to be predominantly attributed to the addition of slab-derived components. However, the specific subducted material responsible for inducing Fe isotope heterogeneity in the subarc-backarc mantle remains poorly constrained. Here we report Fe isotopic compositions of a series of backarc basin basalts (BABBs) from the Woodlark Basin (an intra-arc rift basin), Vate Trough (a nascent rear-rift basin), and Lau Basin (a relatively mature basin) in the southwestern Pacific. Even though these BABBs have various geochemical compositions ranging from mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB)-like to arc-like, which should be affected by various amounts of the slab-derived fluids and/or sediment melts, their δ56Fe values (0.05–0.18‰) are within the range of global MORB (0.05–0.17‰). After correction for crystal fractionation, the primitive δ56Fe values (δ56Fe-prim) displayed no co-variation with indicators of subduction contributions (e.g., Ce/Pb, Nb/U, Ba/La, and Th/Yb) or source redox conditions caused by slab inputs (e.g., V/Yb, V/Ti), suggesting that the δ56Fe-prim values of these BABBs are rarely affected by subduction metasomatism and the change in oxygen fugacity caused by subducted input. Therefore, we proposed that the MORB-like δ56Fe values of the studied BABBs were primarily caused by mantle melting processes. Furthermore, we presented a compilation of available Fe isotopic data for BABBs and island arc basalts (IABs) and used these data to evaluate Fe isotope heterogeneity in subduction settings. In particular, compared with δ56Fe-prim of MORB, the δ56Fe-prim of BABBs from the Central Lau Spreading Centre in the Lau Basin and the IABs have lower values, whereas BABBs from the Rochambeau Ridges in the Lau Basin have higher δ56Fe-prim values. By comprehensively considering the factors affecting the variation in Fe isotopic compositions in magmatic rocks in subduction zones (e.g., crystal fractionation, partial melting of the mantle, redox conditions, and subduction-related metasomatism), we proposed that the varied Fe isotopic compositions in subduction settings could reflect their heterogeneous sources, which may be related to plate subduction. Specifically, during plate subduction, a melt-depleted refractory forearc mantle peridotite (with low δ56Fe values) could be dragged by subducted slab into subarc or backarc depths, resulting in light Fe isotopic enrichment in island arc magmas or BABBs; additionally, serpentinites (both in the slab and mantle wedge) can generate light Fe isotopic enrichment in island arc magmas. High δ56Fe values in the BABB (e.g., from the Rochambeau Ridges in the Lau Basin) may result from the toroidal influx of nearby upwelling plume components or the assimilation of hydrothermally altered oceanic crust.