Boron isotope geochemistry of metasedimentary rocks and tourmalines in a subduction zone metamorphic suite

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

11

Scientific paper

In order to understand the behavior of boron (B) and its isotope fractionation during subduction zone metamorphism, B contents and isotopic compositions together with major element compositions were determined for metasedimentary rocks and tourmalines from the Sambagawa Metamorphic Belt, central Shikoku, Japan. No systematic changes in whole-rock B content and isotope composition of the metasediments were observed among the different metamorphic grades, indicating the lack of a bulk fluid-rock B isotope fractionation as a result of devolatilization. Both modal abundance and grain size of tourmaline increase with increasing metamorphic grade. In contrast, B contents in muscovite and chlorite decrease with increasing metamorphic grade. These observations combined with mass balance calculations of B suggest the formation of tourmaline during progressive metamorphism from metamorphic fluids containing B mainly derived from muscovite and subordinately from chlorite without allowing significant net removal of B from the metasedimentary rocks. Tourmalines in the higher-grade metasedimentary rocks have zonal structure of B isotope and major element composition with decreasing δ11B and increasing Mg/(/Mg+Fe) from the inner rim (core) to the outer rim. The change of Mg/(/Mg+Fe) in the tourmalines with increasing grade is paralleled by similar variation in chlorite. These observations suggest that the growing tourmalines record the progressive evolution of the B isotopic composition of the metamorphic fluid, in the outermost rims preserving the isotope signature of peak metamorphic P-T-fluid conditions. Based on the above observations, the δ11B of the tourmaline is thought to have been nearly identical to that of the metamorphic fluid resulting in the ``apparent'' B isotopic fractionation factor between metamorphic fluid and whole-rock (α=(11B/10B)fluid/(11B/ 10B)whole-rock) which decreases from /1.007+/-0.003 to /1.001+/-0.003 from chlorite to biotite zone metamorphism. Such results together with the formation of tourmaline from (and sequestering of) B in metamorphic fluids may lead to less B isotopic fractionation as a result of subduction zone devolatilization than noted in suites containing less tourmaline. This, therefore, makes it possible to transport B isotopic signatures, which ultimately reflect Earth's surface materials, to the deep mantle, perhaps resulting in mantle B isotope anomalies near convergent margins.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Boron isotope geochemistry of metasedimentary rocks and tourmalines in a subduction zone metamorphic suite does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Boron isotope geochemistry of metasedimentary rocks and tourmalines in a subduction zone metamorphic suite, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Boron isotope geochemistry of metasedimentary rocks and tourmalines in a subduction zone metamorphic suite will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1373596

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.