Fractionation of highly siderophile elements in refertilized mantle: implications for the Os isotope composition of basalts

Claudio Marchesi*, Christopher W. Dale, Carlos J. Garrido, D. Graham Pearson, Delphine Bosch, Jean Louis Bodinier, Fernando Gervilla, Karoly Hidas

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Highly fertile lherzolite and spinel websterite in the Ronda peridotite massif are enriched in Pt and Pd compared to Os, Ir, Ru and Re. The fractionation of the highly siderophile elements (HSE) in these rocks was produced by reaction of melt with their peridotite and pyroxenite precursors. Modeling indicates that upon reaction primary HSE hosts were dissolved and magmatic sulphides precipitated, largely erasing the original HSE signature of reacting protoliths. The budget of HSE in the melt was controlled by sulphide-silicate partitioning or entrainment of molten sulphide in silicate melt. Rhenium was likely removed from precursor peridotite and pyroxenite by previous melt extraction. Refertilization of peridotite by melts increased Al2O3, CaO, Pt, Pd contents and Os-187/Os-188 beyond typical values for mantle peridotite and the primitive upper mantle. The interaction of melts with residual peridotite and pyroxenite, as illustrated in the Ronda massif, can generate radiogenic-Os-enriched domains in the mantle with high melt productivity, higher Pt/Os and Pt/Re than common peridotite, and lower Re/Os than typical pyroxenite. As also previously proposed for pyroxenites, these "hybrid" domains can account for the difference in Os isotope compositions between many basalts (e.g., MORB and OIB) and common depleted mantle peridotites. Moreover, the presence of these enriched hybrid components in the mantle, evolved over sufficient timescales and in geologically reasonable proportions, may account for the Os-186-Os-187 enrichment of plume lavas without requiring a chemical contribution from the core. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33-44
Number of pages12
JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume400
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Aug 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • basalt
  • heterogeneous mantle
  • highly siderophile elements
  • mantle refertilization
  • melting
  • Os isotopes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Fractionation of highly siderophile elements in refertilized mantle: implications for the Os isotope composition of basalts'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this