Extreme magnesium isotope fractionation at outcrop scale records the mechanism and rate at which reaction fronts advance

Philip A E Pogge von Strandmann*, Ralf G Dohmen, Horst R Marschall, John C Schumacher, Tim Elliott

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Isotopic fractionation of cationic species during diffusive transport provides a novel means of constraining the style and timing of metamorphic transformations. Here we document a major (~1%) decrease in the Mg isotopic composition of the reaction front of an exhumed contact between rocks of subducted crust and serpentinite in the Syros mé lange zone. This isotopic perturbation extends over a notable length scale (~1 m), implicating diffusion of Mg through an intergranular fluid network over a period of ~100 kyr. These novel observations confirm models of diffusion-controlled growth of reaction zones formed between rocks of contrasting compositions, such as found at the slab-mantle interface in subduction zones. The results also demonstrate that diffusive processes can result in exotic stable isotope compositions of major elements with implications for mantle xenoliths and complex intrusions.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberegu070
Pages (from-to)33-58
JournalJournal of Petrology
Volume56
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015

Keywords

  • Diffusion
  • Isotope
  • Metasomatism
  • Monomineralic

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