Subduction of fracture zones controls mantle melting and geochemical signature above slabs

Vlad C. Manea (), William P. Leeman, Taras Gerya, Marina Manea and Guizhi Zhu
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Vlad C. Manea: Computational Geodynamics Laboratory, Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla
William P. Leeman: Rice University
Taras Gerya: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zurich)
Marina Manea: Computational Geodynamics Laboratory, Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla
Guizhi Zhu: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zurich)

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract For some volcanic arcs, the geochemistry of volcanic rocks erupting above subducted oceanic fracture zones is consistent with higher than normal fluid inputs to arc magma sources. Here we use enrichment of boron (B/Zr) in volcanic arc lavas as a proxy to evaluate relative along-strike inputs of slab-derived fluids in the Aleutian, Andean, Cascades and Trans-Mexican arcs. Significant B/Zr spikes coincide with subduction of prominent fracture zones in the relatively cool Aleutian and Andean subduction zones where fracture zone subduction locally enhances fluid introduction beneath volcanic arcs. Geodynamic models of subduction have not previously considered how fracture zones may influence the melt and fluid distribution above slabs. Using high-resolution three-dimensional coupled petrological-thermomechanical numerical simulations of subduction, we show that enhanced production of slab-derived fluids and mantle wedge melts concentrate in areas where fracture zones are subducted, resulting in significant along-arc variability in magma source compositions and processes.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6095

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