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Highly oxidising fluids generated during serpentinite breakdown in subduction zones.
B Debret1,2, D A Sverjensky3
1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EQ, UK. ba.debret@gmail.com.
Fluids released from dehydrating serpentinite in subduction zones are highly oxidizing, explaining the oxidized lavas and gas emissions from arc volcanism. This process influences Earth
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Mineral Physics
- Volcanology
Background:
- Subduction zones drive chemical exchanges between Earth's interior and surface, influencing habitability.
- Arc lavas are oxidized and release volatiles, but the source of this oxidation has been unclear.
- Hydrous, oxidizing fluids from subducting slabs are suspected to modify the sub-arc mantle's oxidation state.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the source of oxidizing fluids during serpentinite dehydration in subduction zones.
- To predict the redox state of fluids generated from antigorite breakdown using theoretical calculations.
- To understand the implications for arc magma genesis and atmospheric gas release.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical chemical mass transfer calculations were employed.
- The study modeled the dehydration of serpentinite, specifically the breakdown of antigorite.
- The oxygen fugacity and fluid composition were predicted.
Main Results:
- Antigorite breakdown generates fluids with high oxygen fugacities, near the hematite-magnetite buffer.
- These fluids can contain significant amounts of sulfate, indicating an oxidizing capacity.
- Fluid migration from the slab to the mantle wedge can provide an oxidized source for arc magmas.
Conclusions:
- Serpentinite dehydration is a key process generating oxidizing fluids in subduction zones.
- These fluids can explain the oxidized nature of arc lavas and their volatile emissions.
- Subducting slab redox state, influenced by sulfides and metal alloys, can lead to heterogeneities.
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