Re-visiting barium isotope compositions of mid-ocean ridge basalts and the implications

Xiaoyun Nan; Huimin Yu; Jinting Kang; Fang Huang

doi:10.52396/JUSTC-2021-0276

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Open Access JUSTC Earth and Space Sciences 11 May 2022

Re-visiting barium isotope compositions of mid-ocean ridge basalts and the implications

Xiaoyun Nan^{1, 2

,},
Huimin Yu^{1, 2},
Jinting Kang^{1, 2},
Fang Huang^{1, 2}

1.
CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
2.
CAS Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology, Hefei 230026, China

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https://doi.org/10.52396/JUSTC-2021-0276

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Corresponding author: E-mail: nanxiaoy@ustc.edu.cn
Received Date: 24 December 2021
Accepted Date: 30 January 2022

Available Online: 11 May 2022

Abstract Full text PDF

Abstract

Abstract

Barium (Ba) isotopes can be used as potential tracers for crustal material recycling in the mantle. Determination of the Ba isotope composition of the depleted mantle is essential for such applications. However, Ba isotope data for mantle-derived basalts are still rare. In this study, we reported high-precision Ba isotope data of 30 oceanic basalts including 25 mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs) from geochemically and geologically diverse mid-ocean ridge segments and five back-arc basin basalts. The δ^138/134Ba values of these samples varied from −0.06‰ to +0.11‰, with no systematic cross-region variation. Together with published data, we constrained the average δ^138/134Ba of global MORBs to +0.05‰±0.09‰ (2 standard deviation, n = 51). Based on depleted MORBs that have (La/Sm)_N < 0.8, low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (< 0.70263), and low Ba/Th < 71.3, we estimated the average δ^138/134Ba of the depleted MORB mantle (DMM) as + 0.05‰ ± 0.05‰ (2SD, n = 16) that is significantly lower than the DMM (≈ 0.14‰) reported previously. If a new estimation of the DMM is applied, it is unreasonable to infer that the Ba isotope signatures of the “enriched-type” MORBs (E-MORBs) could be attributed to pervasive sediment recycling in the upper mantle. We, therefore, conclude that the Ba isotope compositions of the E-MORBs could be sourced from the incorporation of subducted altered oceanic crust and/or sediments depending on the Ba isotope composition and other geochemical information of the local mantle.

Graphical abstract

We estimate the average δ^138/134Ba of the depleted MORB mantle (DMM) as +0.05‰±0.05‰ (2SD, n=16) based on D-MORBs.

Abstract

Barium (Ba) isotopes can be used as potential tracers for crustal material recycling in the mantle. Determination of the Ba isotope composition of the depleted mantle is essential for such applications. However, Ba isotope data for mantle-derived basalts are still rare. In this study, we reported high-precision Ba isotope data of 30 oceanic basalts including 25 mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs) from geochemically and geologically diverse mid-ocean ridge segments and five back-arc basin basalts. The δ^138/134Ba values of these samples varied from −0.06‰ to +0.11‰, with no systematic cross-region variation. Together with published data, we constrained the average δ^138/134Ba of global MORBs to +0.05‰±0.09‰ (2 standard deviation, n = 51). Based on depleted MORBs that have (La/Sm)_N < 0.8, low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (< 0.70263), and low Ba/Th < 71.3, we estimated the average δ^138/134Ba of the depleted MORB mantle (DMM) as + 0.05‰ ± 0.05‰ (2SD, n = 16) that is significantly lower than the DMM (≈ 0.14‰) reported previously. If a new estimation of the DMM is applied, it is unreasonable to infer that the Ba isotope signatures of the “enriched-type” MORBs (E-MORBs) could be attributed to pervasive sediment recycling in the upper mantle. We, therefore, conclude that the Ba isotope compositions of the E-MORBs could be sourced from the incorporation of subducted altered oceanic crust and/or sediments depending on the Ba isotope composition and other geochemical information of the local mantle.

Public Summary

The δ^138/134Ba of the global MORBs range from −0.06‰ to +0.15‰.
This study obtains the average δ^138/134Ba of the DMM as +0.05‰±0.05‰ (2SD, n=16), which is much lower than the previous estimation.
Ba isotope compositions of the E-MORBs could be sourced by the incorporation of subducted AOC and/or sediments.

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References(34)

References

[1]	Rudnick R L, Gao S. Composition of the continental crust. In: Holland H D, Turekian K K, editors. Treatise on Geochemistry. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2003, 3: 659.
[2]	Plank T, Langmuir C H. The chemical composition of subducting sediment and its consequences for the crust and mantle. Chemical Geology, 1998, 145: 325–394. doi: 10.1016/S0009-2541(97)00150-2
[3]	Sun S S, McDonough W F. Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalts: implications for mantle composition and processes. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 1989, 42: 313–345. doi: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1989.042.01.19
[4]	Kessel R, Schmidt M W, Ulmer P, et al. Trace element signature of subduction-zone fluids, melts and supercritical liquids at 120–180 km depth. Nature, 2005, 437: 724–727. doi: 10.1038/nature03971
[5]	Eugster O, Tera F, Wasserburg G J. Isotopic analyses of barium in meteorites and in terrestrial samples. Journal of Geophysical Research, 1969, 74 (15): 3897–3908. doi: 10.1029/JB074i015p03897
[6]	Nan X Y, Yu H M, Rudnick R L, et al. Barium isotopic composition of the upper continental crust. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2018, 233: 33–49. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2018.05.004
[7]	Nielsen S G, Horner T J, Pryer H V, et al. Barium isotope evidence for pervasive sediment recycling in the upper mantle. Science Advances, 2018, 4 (7): eaas8675. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aas8675
[8]	Nielsen S G, Shu Y, Auro M, et al. Barium isotope systematics of subduction zones. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2020, 275: 1–18. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2020.02.006
[9]	Bridgestock L, Hsieh Y-T, Porcelli D, et al. Controls on the barium isotope compositions of marine sediments. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2018, 481: 101–110. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2017.10.019
[10]	Li W-Y, Yu H-M, Xu J, et al. Barium isotopic composition of the mantle: Constraints from carbonatites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2020, 278: 235–243. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2019.06.041
[11]	Wu F, Turner S, Schaefer B F. Mélange versus fluid and melt enrichment of subarc mantle: A novel test using barium isotopes in the Tonga-Kermadec arc. Geology, 2020, 48: 1053–1057. doi: 10.1130/G47549.1
[12]	White W M, Klein E M, Holland H D, et al. Composition of the oceanic crust. In: Holland H D, Turekian K K, editors. Treatise on Geochemistry. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2014, 4: 457-496.
[13]	Hofmann A W. Sampling mantle heterogeneity through oceanic basalts: Isotopes and trace elements. In: Holland H D, Turekian K K, editors. Treatise on Geochemistry. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2014, 3: 67-101.
[14]	Hofmann A W. Mantle geochemistry: the message from oceanic volcanism. Nature, 1997, 385: 219–229. doi: 10.1038/385219a0
[15]	Eiler J M, Schiano P, Kitchen N, et al. Oxygen-isotope evidence for recycled crust in the sources of mid-ocean-ridge basalts. Nature, 2000, 403: 530–534. doi: 10.1038/35000553
[16]	Gale A, Dalton C A, Langmuir C H, et al. The mean composition of ocean ridge basalts. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2013, 14: 489–518. doi: 10.1029/2012GC004334
[17]	Wanless V D, Perfit M R, Ridley W I, et al. Dacite petrogenesis on mid-ocean ridges: Evidence for oceanic crustal melting and assimilation. Journal of Petrology, 2010, 51: 2377–2410. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egq056
[18]	Wanless V D, Perfit M R, Ridley W I, et al. Volatile abundances and oxygen isotopes in basaltic to dacitic lavas on mid-ocean ridges: The role of assimilation at spreading centers. Chemical Geology, 2011, 287: 54–65. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.05.017
[19]	Arevalo Jr R, McDonough W F. Chemical variations and regional diversity observed in MORB. Chemical Geology, 2010, 271: 70–85. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2009.12.013
[20]	Perfit M R, Wanless V D, Ridley W I, et al. Lava geochemistry as a probe into crustal formation at the East Pacific Rise. Oceanography, 2012, 25 (1): 89–93. doi: 10.5670/oceanog.2012.06
[21]	Wanless V D, Perfit M R, Klein E M, et al. Reconciling geochemical and geophysical observations of magma supply and melt distribution at the 9°N overlapping spreading center, East Pacific Rise. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2012, 13 (11): Q11005. doi: 10.1029/2012GC004168
[22]	Bézos A, Escrig S, Langmuir C H, et al. Origins of chemical diversity of back-arc basin basalts: A segment-scale study of the Eastern Lau Spreading Center. Journal of Geophysical Research:Solid Earth, 2009, 114 (B6): B06212. doi: 10.1029/2008JB005924
[23]	Chen F, Li X H, Wang X L, et al. Zircon age and Nd–Hf isotopic composition of the Yunnan Tethyan belt, southwestern China. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 2007, 96: 1179–1194. doi: 10.1007/s00531-006-0146-y
[24]	Nan X Y, Wu F, Zhang Z F, et al. High-precision barium isotope measurements by MC-ICP-MS. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 2015, 30: 2307–2315. doi: 10.1039/C5JA00166H
[25]	Weis D, Kieffer B, Maerschalk C, et al. High‐precision isotopic characterization of USGS reference materials by TIMS and MC-ICP-MS. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2006, 7: Q08006. doi: 10.1029/2006GC001283
[26]	Deng G X, Kang J T, Nan X Y, et al. Barium isotope evidence for crystal-melt separation in granitic magma reservoirs. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2021, 292: 115–129. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2020.09.027
[27]	Klein E M, Langmuir C H. Global correlations of ocean ridge basalt chemistry with axial depth and crustal thickness. Journal of Geophysical Research:Solid Earth, 1987, 92 (B8): 8089–8115. doi: 10.1029/JB092iB08p08089
[28]	Workman R K, Hart S R. Major and trace element composition of the depleted MORB mantle (DMM). Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2005, 231: 53–72. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2004.12.005
[29]	Hofmann A W. Chemical differentiation of the Earth: the relationship between mantle, continental crust, and oceanic crust. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1988, 90: 297–314. doi: 10.1016/0012-821X(88)90132-X
[30]	Schilling J G, Zajac M, Evans R, et al. Petrologic and geochemical variations along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from 29°N to 73°N. American Journal of Science, 1983, 283 (6): 510–586. doi: 10.2475/ajs.283.6.510
[31]	Taylor R N, Thirlwall M F, Murton B J, et al. Isotopic constraints on the influence of the Icelandic plume. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1997, 148: E1–E8. doi: 10.1016/S0012-821X(97)00038-1
[32]	Elliott T, Thomas A, Jeffcoate A, et al. Lithium isotope evidence for subduction-enriched mantle in the source of mid-ocean-ridge basalts. Nature, 2006, 443: 565–568. doi: 10.1038/nature05144
[33]	Hao L L, Nan X Y, Kerr A C, et al. Mg-Ba-Sr-Nd isotopic evidence for a mélange origin of early Paleozoic arc magmatism. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2022, 577: 117263. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2021.117263
[34]	Gu X-F, Guo S, Yu H-M, et al. Behavior of barium isotopes during high-pressure metamorphism and fluid evolution. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2021, 575: 117176. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2021.117176

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Figure 1. Correlations between δ^138/134Ba and (a) (La/Sm)_N, (b) ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, and (c) Ba/Th for the mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) and back-arc basin basalt (BABB) samples in our study and MORB samples analyzed by Nielsen et al.^[7]. Data are from Table 1. Error bars represent 2SD uncertainties. The vertical dotted lines present the defined average (La/Sm)_N^[16], ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr^[28], and Ba/Th^[28] of the depleted MORB mantle. Samples in the orange shade are marked as depleted MORB, and those in the blue shade are marked as normal-type MORB or enriched-type MORB.

Figure 2. The histogram of Ba isotope compositions of MORBs and BABBs investigated in this study. Literature data of MORBs are from Nielsen et al.^[7]. Data are from Table 1.

Figure 3. δ^138/134Ba versus (a) MgO, (b) SiO₂ and (c) Na₈ for MORBs and BABBs. Na₈ = Na₂O + 0.373 × MgO − 2.98 (from Ref. [27]). Data are from Table 1. The error bars represent the 2SD uncertainties.

[1]	Rudnick R L, Gao S. Composition of the continental crust. In: Holland H D, Turekian K K, editors. Treatise on Geochemistry. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2003, 3: 659.
[2]	Plank T, Langmuir C H. The chemical composition of subducting sediment and its consequences for the crust and mantle. Chemical Geology, 1998, 145: 325–394. doi: 10.1016/S0009-2541(97)00150-2
[3]	Sun S S, McDonough W F. Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalts: implications for mantle composition and processes. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 1989, 42: 313–345. doi: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1989.042.01.19
[4]	Kessel R, Schmidt M W, Ulmer P, et al. Trace element signature of subduction-zone fluids, melts and supercritical liquids at 120–180 km depth. Nature, 2005, 437: 724–727. doi: 10.1038/nature03971
[5]	Eugster O, Tera F, Wasserburg G J. Isotopic analyses of barium in meteorites and in terrestrial samples. Journal of Geophysical Research, 1969, 74 (15): 3897–3908. doi: 10.1029/JB074i015p03897
[6]	Nan X Y, Yu H M, Rudnick R L, et al. Barium isotopic composition of the upper continental crust. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2018, 233: 33–49. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2018.05.004
[7]	Nielsen S G, Horner T J, Pryer H V, et al. Barium isotope evidence for pervasive sediment recycling in the upper mantle. Science Advances, 2018, 4 (7): eaas8675. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aas8675
[8]	Nielsen S G, Shu Y, Auro M, et al. Barium isotope systematics of subduction zones. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2020, 275: 1–18. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2020.02.006
[9]	Bridgestock L, Hsieh Y-T, Porcelli D, et al. Controls on the barium isotope compositions of marine sediments. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2018, 481: 101–110. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2017.10.019
[10]	Li W-Y, Yu H-M, Xu J, et al. Barium isotopic composition of the mantle: Constraints from carbonatites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2020, 278: 235–243. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2019.06.041
[11]	Wu F, Turner S, Schaefer B F. Mélange versus fluid and melt enrichment of subarc mantle: A novel test using barium isotopes in the Tonga-Kermadec arc. Geology, 2020, 48: 1053–1057. doi: 10.1130/G47549.1
[12]	White W M, Klein E M, Holland H D, et al. Composition of the oceanic crust. In: Holland H D, Turekian K K, editors. Treatise on Geochemistry. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2014, 4: 457-496.
[13]	Hofmann A W. Sampling mantle heterogeneity through oceanic basalts: Isotopes and trace elements. In: Holland H D, Turekian K K, editors. Treatise on Geochemistry. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2014, 3: 67-101.
[14]	Hofmann A W. Mantle geochemistry: the message from oceanic volcanism. Nature, 1997, 385: 219–229. doi: 10.1038/385219a0
[15]	Eiler J M, Schiano P, Kitchen N, et al. Oxygen-isotope evidence for recycled crust in the sources of mid-ocean-ridge basalts. Nature, 2000, 403: 530–534. doi: 10.1038/35000553
[16]	Gale A, Dalton C A, Langmuir C H, et al. The mean composition of ocean ridge basalts. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2013, 14: 489–518. doi: 10.1029/2012GC004334
[17]	Wanless V D, Perfit M R, Ridley W I, et al. Dacite petrogenesis on mid-ocean ridges: Evidence for oceanic crustal melting and assimilation. Journal of Petrology, 2010, 51: 2377–2410. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egq056
[18]	Wanless V D, Perfit M R, Ridley W I, et al. Volatile abundances and oxygen isotopes in basaltic to dacitic lavas on mid-ocean ridges: The role of assimilation at spreading centers. Chemical Geology, 2011, 287: 54–65. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.05.017
[19]	Arevalo Jr R, McDonough W F. Chemical variations and regional diversity observed in MORB. Chemical Geology, 2010, 271: 70–85. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2009.12.013
[20]	Perfit M R, Wanless V D, Ridley W I, et al. Lava geochemistry as a probe into crustal formation at the East Pacific Rise. Oceanography, 2012, 25 (1): 89–93. doi: 10.5670/oceanog.2012.06
[21]	Wanless V D, Perfit M R, Klein E M, et al. Reconciling geochemical and geophysical observations of magma supply and melt distribution at the 9°N overlapping spreading center, East Pacific Rise. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2012, 13 (11): Q11005. doi: 10.1029/2012GC004168
[22]	Bézos A, Escrig S, Langmuir C H, et al. Origins of chemical diversity of back-arc basin basalts: A segment-scale study of the Eastern Lau Spreading Center. Journal of Geophysical Research:Solid Earth, 2009, 114 (B6): B06212. doi: 10.1029/2008JB005924
[23]	Chen F, Li X H, Wang X L, et al. Zircon age and Nd–Hf isotopic composition of the Yunnan Tethyan belt, southwestern China. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 2007, 96: 1179–1194. doi: 10.1007/s00531-006-0146-y
[24]	Nan X Y, Wu F, Zhang Z F, et al. High-precision barium isotope measurements by MC-ICP-MS. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 2015, 30: 2307–2315. doi: 10.1039/C5JA00166H
[25]	Weis D, Kieffer B, Maerschalk C, et al. High‐precision isotopic characterization of USGS reference materials by TIMS and MC-ICP-MS. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2006, 7: Q08006. doi: 10.1029/2006GC001283
[26]	Deng G X, Kang J T, Nan X Y, et al. Barium isotope evidence for crystal-melt separation in granitic magma reservoirs. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2021, 292: 115–129. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2020.09.027
[27]	Klein E M, Langmuir C H. Global correlations of ocean ridge basalt chemistry with axial depth and crustal thickness. Journal of Geophysical Research:Solid Earth, 1987, 92 (B8): 8089–8115. doi: 10.1029/JB092iB08p08089
[28]	Workman R K, Hart S R. Major and trace element composition of the depleted MORB mantle (DMM). Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2005, 231: 53–72. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2004.12.005
[29]	Hofmann A W. Chemical differentiation of the Earth: the relationship between mantle, continental crust, and oceanic crust. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1988, 90: 297–314. doi: 10.1016/0012-821X(88)90132-X
[30]	Schilling J G, Zajac M, Evans R, et al. Petrologic and geochemical variations along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from 29°N to 73°N. American Journal of Science, 1983, 283 (6): 510–586. doi: 10.2475/ajs.283.6.510
[31]	Taylor R N, Thirlwall M F, Murton B J, et al. Isotopic constraints on the influence of the Icelandic plume. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1997, 148: E1–E8. doi: 10.1016/S0012-821X(97)00038-1
[32]	Elliott T, Thomas A, Jeffcoate A, et al. Lithium isotope evidence for subduction-enriched mantle in the source of mid-ocean-ridge basalts. Nature, 2006, 443: 565–568. doi: 10.1038/nature05144
[33]	Hao L L, Nan X Y, Kerr A C, et al. Mg-Ba-Sr-Nd isotopic evidence for a mélange origin of early Paleozoic arc magmatism. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2022, 577: 117263. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2021.117263
[34]	Gu X-F, Guo S, Yu H-M, et al. Behavior of barium isotopes during high-pressure metamorphism and fluid evolution. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2021, 575: 117176. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2021.117176

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