Recycling of water, carbon, and sulfur during subduction of serpentinites: A stable isotope study of Cerro del Almirez, Spain

Abstract

We use the concentrations and isotope compositions of water, carbon, and sulfur in serpentinites and their dehydration products to trace the cycling of volatiles during subduction. Antigorite serpentinites from the Cerro del Almirez complex, Spain, contain 9–12wt.% H2O and 910±730ppm sulfur, and have bulk δ18O values of 8.6±0.4‰, δD=−54±5‰, and δ34S=5.0‰, consistent with serpentinization at temperatures of ~200°C by seawater hydrothermal fluids in a seafloor setting. The serpentinites were dehydrated to chlorite–harzburgite (olivine+orthopyroxene+chlorite) at 700°C and 1.6–1.9GPa during subduction metamorphism, resulting in loss of water, and sulfur. The chlorite–harzburgites contain 5.7±1.9wt.% H2O, and have bulk δ18O=8.0±0.9‰, and δD=−77±11‰. The rocks contain 650±620ppm sulfur having δ34S=1.2‰. Dehydration of serpentinite resulted in loss of 5wt.% H2O having δ18O=8–10‰ and δD=−27 to −65‰, and loss of 260ppm sulfur as sulfate, having δ34S=14.5‰. The contents and δ13C of total carbon in the two rock types overlap, with a broad trend of decreasing carbon contents and δ13C from ~1300 to 200ppm and −9.6 to −20.2‰. This reflects mixing between reduced carbon in the rocks (210ppm, δ13C≈−26‰) and seawater-derived carbonate (δ13C≈−1‰). Our results indicate: 1) Serpentinized oceanic peridotites carry significant amounts of isotopically fractionated water, carbon and sulfur into subduction zones; 2) Subduction of serpentinites to high P and T results in loss of water, and sulfur, which can induce melting and contribute to 18O, D, and 34S enrichments and oxidation of the sub-arc mantle wedge; and 3) Isotopically fractionated water, carbon, and sulfur in serpentinite dehydration products are recycled deeper into the mantle where they can contribute to isotope heterogeneities and may be significant for volatile budgets of the deep Earth.