TY - JOUR
T1 - Isotopic constraints on the nature and circulation of deep mantle C-H-O-N fluids
T2 - carbon and nitrogen systematics within ultra-deep diamonds from Kankan (Guinea)
AU - Palot, M.
AU - Pearson, D. G.
AU - Stern, R. A.
AU - Stachel, T.
AU - Harris, J. W.
PY - 2014/8/15
Y1 - 2014/8/15
N2 - Sublithospheric diamonds that sample the transition zone and uppermost lower mantle provide a unique view into the deep Earth. In order to investigate the origin of diamond-forming C-H-O-N fluids within the deep mantle, within the framework of the terrestrial deep volatile cycle, we conducted a δ13C-δ15N-[N] micro-analytical study, by secondary ion mass spectrometry, of five Kankan diamonds from the asthenosphere/transition zone and the lower mantle.Abrupt and large changes in δ13C within KK-99 (up to 10.2‰) and KK-200A (up to 6.9‰) illustrate distinct episodes of diamond growth, involving different fluids, possibly during transport of diamond to deeper mantle depths from the asthenosphere/transition zone into the lower mantle. Despite limited variability of δ13C within individual samples, diamonds KK-200B, KK-203, KK-204 and KK-207 display systematic δ13C-δ15N-[N] co-variations which can be modelled as a single diamond growth episode in a Rayleigh process from fluids/melts. These data constrain the carbon isotopic fractionation factors to be both negative (δC=-0.9‰ for KK-200B and -2.0‰ for both KK-203 and -207) and positive (δC=+1.0‰ for KK-204), consistent with equilibrium between diamond and oxidised (CO2 or carbonate) and reduced (CH4 or carbide) fluids respectively. The modelling of δ15N-[N] systematics suggests that the diamonds are depleted by ~4‰ (KK-200B) and ~0‰ (KK-204) relative to the oxidised and reduced sources respectively. Modelling the co-variation indicates a compatible behaviour of nitrogen in diamond relative to the growth medium (KN=4-16), independent of the redox state. The parental fluids to the ultra-deep diamonds exhibit geochemical characteristics (δ13C-δ15N-[N]-KN-δC-δN) comparable to fluids thought to form lithospheric diamonds, suggesting a common mechanism of diamond genesis.The metaperidotitic parageneses and the slightly negative δ13C signatures for both KK-204 and KK-207 are consistent with their formation in the lower mantle by fluids that originate either from mantle or subducted carbon sources. A carbon flux from subducted oceanic lithospheric mantle may be important in the latter case. The strictly positive δ15N signatures found both in KK-200B (δ13C>0‰) and KK-204 (δ13C slightly negative) illustrate that surficial carbon and nitrogen are potentially recycled as deep as the asthenosphere/transition zone and the lower mantle. Calculations of the diffusive relaxation of carbon isotope heterogeneity indicate that these ultra-deep diamonds may have a relatively young age and/or experienced rapid vertical movement to shallower mantle conditions, possibly by plume-related mantle.
AB - Sublithospheric diamonds that sample the transition zone and uppermost lower mantle provide a unique view into the deep Earth. In order to investigate the origin of diamond-forming C-H-O-N fluids within the deep mantle, within the framework of the terrestrial deep volatile cycle, we conducted a δ13C-δ15N-[N] micro-analytical study, by secondary ion mass spectrometry, of five Kankan diamonds from the asthenosphere/transition zone and the lower mantle.Abrupt and large changes in δ13C within KK-99 (up to 10.2‰) and KK-200A (up to 6.9‰) illustrate distinct episodes of diamond growth, involving different fluids, possibly during transport of diamond to deeper mantle depths from the asthenosphere/transition zone into the lower mantle. Despite limited variability of δ13C within individual samples, diamonds KK-200B, KK-203, KK-204 and KK-207 display systematic δ13C-δ15N-[N] co-variations which can be modelled as a single diamond growth episode in a Rayleigh process from fluids/melts. These data constrain the carbon isotopic fractionation factors to be both negative (δC=-0.9‰ for KK-200B and -2.0‰ for both KK-203 and -207) and positive (δC=+1.0‰ for KK-204), consistent with equilibrium between diamond and oxidised (CO2 or carbonate) and reduced (CH4 or carbide) fluids respectively. The modelling of δ15N-[N] systematics suggests that the diamonds are depleted by ~4‰ (KK-200B) and ~0‰ (KK-204) relative to the oxidised and reduced sources respectively. Modelling the co-variation indicates a compatible behaviour of nitrogen in diamond relative to the growth medium (KN=4-16), independent of the redox state. The parental fluids to the ultra-deep diamonds exhibit geochemical characteristics (δ13C-δ15N-[N]-KN-δC-δN) comparable to fluids thought to form lithospheric diamonds, suggesting a common mechanism of diamond genesis.The metaperidotitic parageneses and the slightly negative δ13C signatures for both KK-204 and KK-207 are consistent with their formation in the lower mantle by fluids that originate either from mantle or subducted carbon sources. A carbon flux from subducted oceanic lithospheric mantle may be important in the latter case. The strictly positive δ15N signatures found both in KK-200B (δ13C>0‰) and KK-204 (δ13C slightly negative) illustrate that surficial carbon and nitrogen are potentially recycled as deep as the asthenosphere/transition zone and the lower mantle. Calculations of the diffusive relaxation of carbon isotope heterogeneity indicate that these ultra-deep diamonds may have a relatively young age and/or experienced rapid vertical movement to shallower mantle conditions, possibly by plume-related mantle.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84901229999&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.gca.2014.04.027
DO - 10.1016/j.gca.2014.04.027
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84901229999
SN - 0016-7037
VL - 139
SP - 26
EP - 46
JO - Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
JF - Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
ER -