Sulphur isotopes of alkaline magmas unlock long-term records of crustal recycling on Earth

William Hutchison; Ranier Babiel; Adrian A. Finch; Michael Marks; Gregor Markl; Adrian J. Boyce; Eva Elisabeth Stüeken; Henrik Friis; Anouk M. Borst; Nicola J. Horsburgh

doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12218-1

Sulphur isotopes of alkaline magmas unlock long-term records of crustal recycling on Earth

William Hutchison, Ranier Babiel, Adrian A. Finch, Michael Marks, Gregor Markl, Adrian J. Boyce, Eva Elisabeth Stüeken, Henrik Friis, Anouk M. Borst, Nicola J. Horsburgh

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Earth’s surface and mantle sulphur reservoirs are connected via subduction, crustal recycling and volcanism. Although oceanic hotspot lavas currently provide the best constraints on the deep sulphur cycle, their restricted age range (<200 Ma) means they cannot reveal temporal variations in crustal recycling over Earth history. Sulphur-rich alkaline magmas offer the solution because they are associated with recycled sources (i.e. metasomatized lithospheric mantle and plumes) and, crucially, are found throughout the geological record. Here, we present a detailed study of sulphur isotope fractionation in a Mesoproterozoic alkaline province in Greenland and demonstrate that an enriched subduction-influenced source (δ³⁴S of +1 to +5‰) can be reconstructed. A global δ³⁴S compilation reveals secular variation in alkaline magma sources which support changes in the composition of the lithospheric mantle and/or Ga timescales for deep crustal recycling. Thus, alkaline magmas represent a powerful yet underutilized repository for interrogating crustal recycling through geological time.

Original language	English
Article number	4208
Number of pages	12
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12218-1
Publication status	Published - 16 Sept 2019

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1 Finished

HiTech AlkCarb: New geomodels to explore: HiTech AlkCarb - New geomodels to explore deeper for High-Technology critical raw materials in Alkaline rocks and Carbonatites
Finch, A. A. (PI)
European Commission
1/02/16 → 31/01/20
Project: Standard

Adrian Anthony Finch
- aaf1st-andrews.acuk
Person: Academic

1 Article

How volcanoes recycle the Earth’s crust to uncover rare metals that are vital to green technology
Finch, A., Borst, A. & Hutchison, W., 30 Oct 2019, The Conversation.
Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Open Access

Cite this

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title = "Sulphur isotopes of alkaline magmas unlock long-term records of crustal recycling on Earth",

abstract = "Earth{\textquoteright}s surface and mantle sulphur reservoirs are connected via subduction, crustal recycling and volcanism. Although oceanic hotspot lavas currently provide the best constraints on the deep sulphur cycle, their restricted age range (<200 Ma) means they cannot reveal temporal variations in crustal recycling over Earth history. Sulphur-rich alkaline magmas offer the solution because they are associated with recycled sources (i.e. metasomatized lithospheric mantle and plumes) and, crucially, are found throughout the geological record. Here, we present a detailed study of sulphur isotope fractionation in a Mesoproterozoic alkaline province in Greenland and demonstrate that an enriched subduction-influenced source (δ34S of +1 to +5‰) can be reconstructed. A global δ34S compilation reveals secular variation in alkaline magma sources which support changes in the composition of the lithospheric mantle and/or Ga timescales for deep crustal recycling. Thus, alkaline magmas represent a powerful yet underutilized repository for interrogating crustal recycling through geological time.",

author = "William Hutchison and Ranier Babiel and Finch, {Adrian A.} and Michael Marks and Gregor Markl and Boyce, {Adrian J.} and St{\"u}eken, {Eva Elisabeth} and Henrik Friis and Borst, {Anouk M.} and Horsburgh, {Nicola J.}",

note = "This project was supported by the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 689909. S isotope analysis at SUERC was supported by a NERC Stable Isotope Facility grant (IP-1713–0517). Analysis at T{\"u}bingen was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant MA 2563/9–1).",

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AU - Hutchison, William

AU - Babiel, Ranier

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AU - Marks, Michael

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AU - Boyce, Adrian J.

AU - Stüeken, Eva Elisabeth

AU - Friis, Henrik

AU - Borst, Anouk M.

AU - Horsburgh, Nicola J.

N1 - This project was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 689909. S isotope analysis at SUERC was supported by a NERC Stable Isotope Facility grant (IP-1713–0517). Analysis at Tübingen was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant MA 2563/9–1).

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N2 - Earth’s surface and mantle sulphur reservoirs are connected via subduction, crustal recycling and volcanism. Although oceanic hotspot lavas currently provide the best constraints on the deep sulphur cycle, their restricted age range (<200 Ma) means they cannot reveal temporal variations in crustal recycling over Earth history. Sulphur-rich alkaline magmas offer the solution because they are associated with recycled sources (i.e. metasomatized lithospheric mantle and plumes) and, crucially, are found throughout the geological record. Here, we present a detailed study of sulphur isotope fractionation in a Mesoproterozoic alkaline province in Greenland and demonstrate that an enriched subduction-influenced source (δ34S of +1 to +5‰) can be reconstructed. A global δ34S compilation reveals secular variation in alkaline magma sources which support changes in the composition of the lithospheric mantle and/or Ga timescales for deep crustal recycling. Thus, alkaline magmas represent a powerful yet underutilized repository for interrogating crustal recycling through geological time.

AB - Earth’s surface and mantle sulphur reservoirs are connected via subduction, crustal recycling and volcanism. Although oceanic hotspot lavas currently provide the best constraints on the deep sulphur cycle, their restricted age range (<200 Ma) means they cannot reveal temporal variations in crustal recycling over Earth history. Sulphur-rich alkaline magmas offer the solution because they are associated with recycled sources (i.e. metasomatized lithospheric mantle and plumes) and, crucially, are found throughout the geological record. Here, we present a detailed study of sulphur isotope fractionation in a Mesoproterozoic alkaline province in Greenland and demonstrate that an enriched subduction-influenced source (δ34S of +1 to +5‰) can be reconstructed. A global δ34S compilation reveals secular variation in alkaline magma sources which support changes in the composition of the lithospheric mantle and/or Ga timescales for deep crustal recycling. Thus, alkaline magmas represent a powerful yet underutilized repository for interrogating crustal recycling through geological time.

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JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

M1 - 4208

ER -

Sulphur isotopes of alkaline magmas unlock long-term records of crustal recycling on Earth

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Projects

HiTech AlkCarb: New geomodels to explore: HiTech AlkCarb - New geomodels to explore deeper for High-Technology critical raw materials in Alkaline rocks and Carbonatites

Profiles

Adrian Anthony Finch

Research output

How volcanoes recycle the Earth’s crust to uncover rare metals that are vital to green technology

Cite this