Origin and evolution of fluids from mud volcanoes in the Barbados accretionary complex

Abstract

A large collection of fluids (54 interstitial fluids and four expelled fluids) were sampled at the Manon site, at the outer edge of the Barbados accretionary complex. These warm fluids (up to 20°C) are expelled by sub-marine (5000 mbsl) mud volcanoes consisting of diapirs (unchanneled flow) and diatremes (channeled). Chlorine stable isotope ratios of these fluids were measured by IRMS with a reproducibility of ± 0.05‰ (1σ) versus SMOC (Standard Mean Ocean Chloride). A large range of δ 37Cl between −5.3‰ and +0.1‰ is observed. Data from each volcanic structure describe a mixing between seawater and a low-δ 37Cl fluid. The whole set of data is interpreted as the result of a mixing between two deep components and seawater. The two deep fluids are chemically distinct (e.g., in Ca, Mg, K, Li, Sr and Br contents and Br/Cl ratio). They display low and significantly different 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios (0.707790 and 0.707892, respectively) and δ 37Cl values (−4.51 and −5.24‰, respectively). Physicochemical processes such as mineralogical transformation, diffusion, compaction or ion filtration are known to fractionate chlorine stable isotopes and can produce fluids with negative δ 37Cl values. Ion filtration due to sediment compaction appears to be the more likely process to explain the negative δ 37Cl values observed at the Manon site. A model for the generation of these signatures is proposed where a residual negative δ 37Cl fluid reservoir is created at the bottom of the prism or the sediment pile. Further compaction/fracturing and/or dewatering of the slab may flush out these fluids and focus them towards the décollement zone. Mixing between the fluids and ultimately with seawater and water released during gas hydrate destabilizations may explain the data set within the individual cores and between the different structures.