A subduction influence on ocean ridge basalts outside the Pacific subduction shield

A. Y. Yang (), C. H. Langmuir (), Y. Cai (), P. Michael, S. L. Goldstein and Z. Chen
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A. Y. Yang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
C. H. Langmuir: Harvard University
Y. Cai: Columbia University
P. Michael: University of Tulsa
S. L. Goldstein: Columbia University
Z. Chen: Harvard University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The plate tectonic cycle produces chemically distinct mid-ocean ridge basalts and arc volcanics, with the latter enriched in elements such as Ba, Rb, Th, Sr and Pb and depleted in Nb owing to the water-rich flux from the subducted slab. Basalts from back-arc basins, with intermediate compositions, show that such a slab flux can be transported behind the volcanic front of the arc and incorporated into mantle flow. Hence it is puzzling why melts of subduction-modified mantle have rarely been recognized in mid-ocean ridge basalts. Here we report the first mid-ocean ridge basalt samples with distinct arc signatures, akin to back-arc basin basalts, from the Arctic Gakkel Ridge. A new high precision dataset for 576 Gakkel samples suggests a pervasive subduction influence in this region. This influence can also be identified in Atlantic and Indian mid-ocean ridge basalts but is nearly absent in Pacific mid-ocean ridge basalts. Such a hemispheric-scale upper mantle heterogeneity reflects subduction modification of the asthenospheric mantle which is incorporated into mantle flow, and whose geographical distribution is controlled dominantly by a “subduction shield” that has surrounded the Pacific Ocean for 180 Myr. Simple modeling suggests that a slab flux equivalent to ~13% of the output at arcs is incorporated into the convecting upper mantle.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25027-2

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