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Mantle Hg isotopic heterogeneity and evidence of oceanic Hg recycling into the mantle

Author

Listed:
  • Runsheng Yin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Di Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xin Pan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Changzhou Deng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Liemeng Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xieyan Song

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Songyue Yu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Chuanwei Zhu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Ministry of Natural Resources)

  • Xun Wei

    (First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources)

  • Yue Xu

    (Laboratory for Marine Geology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology)

  • Xinbin Feng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Joel D. Blum

    (University of Michigan)

  • Bernd Lehmann

    (Mineral Resources, Technical University of Clausthal)

Abstract

The geochemical cycle of mercury in Earth’s surface environment (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere) has been extensively studied; however, the deep geological cycling of this element is less well known. Here we document distinct mass-independent mercury isotope fractionation (expressed as Δ199Hg) in island arc basalts and mid-ocean ridge basalts. Both rock groups show positive Δ199Hg values up to 0.34‰ and 0.22‰, respectively, which deviate from recent estimates of the primitive mantle (Δ199Hg: 0.00 ± 0.10‰, 2 SD)1. The positive Δ199Hg values indicate recycling of marine Hg into the asthenospheric mantle. Such a crustal Hg isotope signature was not observed in our samples of ocean island basalts and continental flood basalts, but has recently been identified in canonical end-member samples of the deep mantle1, therefore demonstrating that recycling of mercury can affect both the upper and lower mantle. Our study reveals large-scale translithospheric Hg recycling via plate tectonics.

Suggested Citation

  • Runsheng Yin & Di Chen & Xin Pan & Changzhou Deng & Liemeng Chen & Xieyan Song & Songyue Yu & Chuanwei Zhu & Xun Wei & Yue Xu & Xinbin Feng & Joel D. Blum & Bernd Lehmann, 2022. "Mantle Hg isotopic heterogeneity and evidence of oceanic Hg recycling into the mantle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-28577-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28577-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. A. W. Hofmann, 1997. "Mantle geochemistry: the message from oceanic volcanism," Nature, Nature, vol. 385(6613), pages 219-229, January.
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