Geochemical distinction between altered oceanic basalt- and seafloor sediment-derived fluids in the mantle source of mafic igneous rocks in southwestern Tianshan, western China

The role of subducting oceanic crust-derived fluids in generating mafic arc magmatism has been widely documented. However, the subducting oceanic crust is generally composed of basaltic igneous crust and seafloor sediment, which may give rise to different compositions of liquid phases causing metasomatism of the mantle wedge. Because of the similarity in enrichment of fluid-mobile incompatible elements in the two sources of subduction zone fluids, it has been a challenge to distinguish between them when studying the products of mafic arc magmatism. This difficulty is overcome by a combined study of whole-rock Li isotopes and zircon O isotopes in addition to whole-rock major-trace elements and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes in Late Paleozoic mafic igneous rocks from southwestern Tianshan in western China. Zircon U-Pb dating yields consistent ages of 313±3 Ma to 305±1 Ma for magma crystallization. The mafic igneous rocks exhibit arc-like trace element distribution patterns and depleted whole-rock Nd-Hf isotopes but slightly high (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios of 0.7039 to 0.7056. They also show positive zircon εHf(t) values and slightly higher zircon δ18O values of 5.2-7.6‰. There are covariations of whole-rock Sr isotopes with Th/La and Rb/Nb ratios, indicating a contribution from terrigenous sediment-derived fluids to their mantle source in addition to basaltic igneous crust-derived fluids. Based on the slightly higher zircon δ18O values but variably lower whole-rock δ7Li values of -0.8 to 3.5‰ for the target rocks than those of mantle respectively, both altered oceanic basalt- and terrigenous sediment-derived fluids are identified in the mantle source of these mafic igneous rocks. Model calculations for trace elements and Sr-Nd-Li isotopes further confirm that the geochemical compositions of these mafic igneous rocks can be explained by chemical reaction of depleted MORB mantle peridotite with the mixed fluids to generate ultramafic metasomatites at subarc depths. Therefore, chemical metasomatism of the mantle wedge is a key mechanism for the incorporation of crustal components into the source of arc-like mafic igneous rocks above oceanic subduction zones.

Episodic Fluid Action in Chinese Southwestern Tianshan HP/UHP Metamorphic Belt: Evidence from U–Pb Dating of Zircon in Vein and Host Eclogite

Fluid plays a key role in metamorphism and magmatism in subduction zones. Veins in high-pressure (HP) to ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) rocks are the products of fluid–rock interactions and can thus provide important constraints on fluid processes in subduction zones. In this study, we present an integrated study of zircon in situ U–Pb dating, trace element and mineral inclusion analysis for a complex vein and its host eclogite in the southwestern Tianshan UHP terrane, aiming to decipher the episodic fluid action during slab subduction and exhumation. Both zircon in eclogite and vein have euhedral, prismatic morphology similar to those crystallized from metamorphic fluid. Zircon in eclogite shows core–rim structures with distinct bounds and mineral inclusions. Zircon in the vein shows sector zoning or weak zoning, with bright rims around most zircon grains, which suggests recrystallization of the zircon crystals after their formation and multiple evolution of the vein. Eclogite zircon rims yield a weighted mean of 311 ± 3 Ma and cores yield a range from 413 ± 4 to 2326 ± 18 Ma, respectively. Vein zircon yields four groups of age (~355 Ma, ~337 Ma, ~315 Ma, and ~283 Ma), which date four episodes of fluid flow involving zircon growth. The first two groups of age may represent prograde epidote–amphibolite facies and amphibolite/blueschist facies metamorphism stage, respectively. The third group is similar to that of eclogite zircon rims, which is thought to date the eclogitic facie metamorphism (320–305 Ma), and the fourth group dates a later retrograde metamorphism after greenschist facies. The vein-forming fluid system was supposed to be an open system indicated by trace element of vein zircon and mineral assemblage of the vein. The coexistence of rutile, zircon, and garnet in prograde vein and the heavy rare earth elements (HREE) enrichment characteristic of vein zircon suggest that the vein-forming fluid are enriched in high field strength elements (HFSE) and HREE, and such fluid could be formed under low P–T conditions.