Publication Date:
2013-02-13
Description:
We experimentally investigated phlogopite- and C–O–H-bearing lherzolite to model the mantle wedge fluxed by volatiles released from a subducting crustal slab. Experiments have been carried out at 900–1050°C and 1·6–3·2 GPa, at fluid- and carbon-saturated conditions. We used an end-loaded piston cylinder apparatus and a conventional double-capsule technique to constrain the redox state of the experiments, using the nickel–nickel oxide oxygen buffer (NNO). Following thermodynamic calculations, we expect inner f O 2 values to be systematically below NNO, with fluids that are mixtures of CO 2 and H 2 O. Estimated f O 2 in the runs are between FMQ –0·7 at 3 GPa and FMQ –1·1 at 1·8 GPa, values that have been reported for natural mantle-wedge xenoliths. At the conditions investigated, the hydrous phases are phlogopite and pargasitic amphibole. Whereas phlogopite is ubiquitous, amphibole disappears at 3·1 GPa at 900°C and 2·7 GPa at 1050°C, where the solidus is encountered. The amphibole-out reaction also consumes orthopyroxene and liberates water. From low to high P , we observed first carbonate-free, amphibole-bearing assemblages, then carbonate + amphibole-bearing assemblages, and finally amphibole-free, carbonate-bearing assemblages. Carbonate-free assemblages melt to produce trachyandesite at T 〉 1050°C, whereas dolomitic carbonatites have been found beyond the solidus of carbonate-bearing assemblages. Carbonates occur as dolomite at 〈1·9 GPa, 900°C and at 〈2·1 GPa, 1050°C; magnesite at 〉2·4 GPa, 900°C and 〉2·7, 1050°C; between these limits, a magnesite + dolomite-bearing assemblage constitutes a two-carbonate field. P–T pseudosections fail to reproduce the experimental results concerning amphibole breakdown and reaction positions involving carbonates. The amount of COH fluid is thought to have a major role, even in fluid-saturated peridotites. Clinopyroxene and olivine are not expected at fluid-oversaturated conditions, for which dolomite or magnesite are stable respectively. The presented results are useful for unravelling the exhumation history of orogenic lherzolites bearing COH phases and to suggest a way to transfer carbon species to the mantle wedge. We suggest that once carbon-bearing fluids react with mantle-wedge peridotites, a sort of buoyant ‘cold plume’ will form containing low-density phases such as amphibole, carbonates and carbonatitic melt. This plume could represent an important source of CO 2 and H 2 O, and it is one of a series of processes that ultimately lead to arc magmatism.
Print ISSN:
0022-3530
Electronic ISSN:
1460-2415
Topics:
Geosciences
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