Trace Element Evidence of Subduction-Modified Mantle Material in South Mid-Atlantic Ridge 18–21°S Upper Mantle

Abstract

Mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs), produced at mid-ocean ridge where the continents and subduction zones are distant, are the product of partial melting of the upper mantle and their chemical composition can provide information about the mantle itself. The geochemical characteristics of MORBs enable us to be more informed about the geological processes of the upper mantle below the mid-ocean ridge, and assist us in understanding mantle heterogeneity and geodynamic processes. In this paper, new data of major elements, trace elements, and Nd-Hf isotopes of south mid-Atlantic ridge (SMAR) 18–21°S MORBs are presented. TAS diagram shows that the samples belong to subalkaline basalt compositional field. Trace elements (e.g., (La/Sm)N = 0.49–0.79) show that the samples are N-MORBs. However, the primitive mantle-normalized trace element patterns showed that the studied samples were clearly enriched in Rb, U, Pb, and other fluid-mobile elements. Meanwhile, the trace element ratios, such as Nb/U and Ce/Pb, are also significantly different from the typical N-MORB. Combined with the Nd-Hf isotopic composition, we propose that these anomalies are not related to continental crust material, delaminated subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM), recycled sediments, direct supply of mantle plume, nor are they the result of subduction directly affecting the mantle source, but are caused by the incorporation of mantle material modified by subduction.

Keywords

• south mid-Atlantic ridge (SMAR)
• mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)
• subduction
• mantle heterogeneity