Sulfur Isotope Evidence for a Geochemical Zonation of the Samoan Mantle Plume

Abstract

Abstract Basalts from the Samoan volcanoes sample contributions from all of the classical mantle endmembers, including extreme EM II and high 3He/4He components, as well as dilute contributions from the HIMU, EM I, and DM components. Here, we present multiple sulfur isotope data on sulfide extracted from subaerial and submarine whole rocks (N = 16) associated with several Samoan volcanoes—Vailulu‘u, Malumalu, Malutut, Upolu, Savai‘i, and Tutuila—that sample the full range of geochemical heterogeneity at Samoa and upon exhaustive compilation of S‐isotope data for Samoan lavas, allow for an assessment of the S‐isotope compositions associated with the different mantle components sampled by the Samoan hotspot. We observe variable S concentrations (10–1,000 ppm) and δ34S values (−0.29‰ ± 0.30 to +4.84‰ ± 0.30, 2σ). The observed variable S concentrations are likely due to sulfide segregation and degassing processes. The range in δ34S reflects mixing between the mantle origin and recycled components, and isotope fractionations associated with degassing. The majority of samples reveal Δ33S within uncertainty of Δ33S = 0‰ ± 0.008. Important exceptions to this observation include: (a) a negative Δ33S (−0.018‰ ± 0.008, 2σ) from a rejuvenated basalt on Upolu island (associated with a diluted EM I component) and (b) previously documented small (but resolvable) Δ33S values (up to +0.027 ± 0.016) associated with the Vai Trend (associated with a diluted HIMU component). The variability we observed in Δ33S is interpreted to reflect contributions of sulfur of different origins and likely multiple crustal protoliths. Δ36S versus Δ33S relationships suggest all recycled S is of post‐Archean origin.

Keywords

• Ocean island basalt
• stable isotopes
• sulfur isotopes
• recycling