Decoupled Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic composition of continental intraplate basalts caused by two-stage melting process

Rong Xu , Yongsheng Liu , Sarah Lambart , Kaj Hoernle , Yangtao Zhu , Zongqi Zou , Junbo Zhang , Zaicong Wang , Ming Li , Frédéric Moynier (1) , Keqing Zong , Haihong Chen , Zhaochu Hu

1 IPGP (UMR_7154) - Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris

Ocean island basalts (OIBs) with Zn isotopic ratios higher than the normal mantle (δ⁶⁶Zn = 0.17 ± 0.08‰) or mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs; δ⁶⁶Zn = 0.27 ± 0.06‰) generally also have an enriched Sr-Nd isotopic signature, suggesting carbonate-bearing eclogites, whose protolith is inferred to be subducting altered oceanic crust, in their mantle source. On the contrary, continental intraplate basalts with high δ⁶⁶Zn usually show depleted Sr-Nd isotopic signatures (i.e., decoupled Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic composition). To elucidate the origin of the decoupled Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic composition in continental intraplate basalts, we report the discovery of both coupled and decoupled Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic data for a suite of Cenozoic continental intraplate basalts from the Zhejiang province, Southeast China. These basalts display clear spatial and temporal geochemical variations, with early-stage inland low-silica samples presenting moderately enriched Sr-Nd isotopic signatures and high δ⁶⁶Zn (coupled Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic composition, similar to OIBs), and later-stage coastal high-silica samples that display a pronounced δ⁶⁶Zn decrease with increasing SiO₂ and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and with decreasing alkali contents and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (decoupled Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic composition). The early-stage basalts with coupled high Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic signatures are also more enriched in incompatible elements than any other basalts from eastern China reported so far. We explain the spatial and temporal geochemical variations of these basalts as the result of two main melting events: 1) the low-silica early-stage magmatism mostly occurs inland and results from high-pressure partial melting of a carbonated eclogite-bearing asthenospheric mantle. Because of the presence of a thick lithosphere limits the melting of the depleted mantle component, the signature of the Zn-Sr-Nd isotopically enriched, and more fusible carbonated eclogite is preserved. 2) At the later stage, magmatism mostly occurs on the coast where the subcontinental lithosphere is thinner. Hence, decompression melting progresses to shallower depth, resulting in an increase of the contribution from the depleted peridotite matrix and a dilution of the signal from the isotopically enriched fusible component. Further upwelling and in-situ melting at the base of the subduction-modified sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) explains both the decoupled Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic signature of the coastal basalts and their major and trace element variability. We further propose that decompression melting is driven by small-scale convection resulting from variations of lithospheric thickness. Our data highlight the importance of dynamic melting of carbonated eclogite-bearing asthenosphere and subsequent lithospheric melting in preservation and destruction of the coupled enriched Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic signature of carbonated eclogite component and generation of the apparent decoupled Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic signal commonly observed in continental intraplate basalts.

Mots clés: Alkali basalt; Zn isotope; Carbonated eclogite-bearing asthenosphere; Subcontinental lithospheric mantle; Small-scale convection

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]; Sciences de la Terre

Rong Xu, Yongsheng Liu, Sarah Lambart, Kaj Hoernle, Yangtao Zhu, et al.. Decoupled Zn-Sr-Nd isotopic composition of continental intraplate basalts caused by two-stage melting process. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2022, 326, pp.234-252. ⟨10.1016/j.gca.2022.03.014⟩. ⟨insu-03748529⟩