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Variable water input controls evolution of the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc

Author

Listed:
  • George F. Cooper

    (University of Bristol
    Cardiff University)

  • Colin G. Macpherson

    (Durham University)

  • Jon D. Blundy

    (University of Bristol)

  • Benjamin Maunder

    (Imperial College London)

  • Robert W. Allen

    (Imperial College London)

  • Saskia Goes

    (Imperial College London)

  • Jenny S Collier

    (Imperial College London)

  • Lidong Bie

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Nicholas Harmon

    (University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre)

  • Stephen P. Hicks

    (Imperial College London)

  • Alexander A. Iveson

    (Durham University)

  • Julie Prytulak

    (Durham University)

  • Andreas Rietbrock

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Catherine A. Rychert

    (University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre)

  • Jon P. Davidson

    (Durham University)

Abstract

Oceanic lithosphere carries volatiles, notably water, into the mantle through subduction at convergent plate boundaries. This subducted water exercises control on the production of magma, earthquakes, formation of continental crust and mineral resources. Identifying different potential fluid sources (sediments, crust and mantle lithosphere) and tracing fluids from their release to the surface has proved challenging1. Atlantic subduction zones are a valuable endmember when studying this deep water cycle because hydration in Atlantic lithosphere, produced by slow spreading, is expected to be highly non-uniform2. Here, as part of a multi-disciplinary project in the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc3, we studied boron trace element and isotopic fingerprints of melt inclusions. These reveal that serpentine—that is, hydrated mantle rather than crust or sediments—is a dominant supplier of subducted water to the central arc. This serpentine is most likely to reside in a set of major fracture zones subducted beneath the central arc over approximately the past ten million years. The current dehydration of these fracture zones coincides with the current locations of the highest rates of earthquakes and prominent low shear velocities, whereas the preceding history of dehydration is consistent with the locations of higher volcanic productivity and thicker arc crust. These combined geochemical and geophysical data indicate that the structure and hydration of the subducted plate are directly connected to the evolution of the arc and its associated seismic and volcanic hazards.

Suggested Citation

  • George F. Cooper & Colin G. Macpherson & Jon D. Blundy & Benjamin Maunder & Robert W. Allen & Saskia Goes & Jenny S Collier & Lidong Bie & Nicholas Harmon & Stephen P. Hicks & Alexander A. Iveson & Ju, 2020. "Variable water input controls evolution of the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc," Nature, Nature, vol. 582(7813), pages 525-529, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:582:y:2020:i:7813:d:10.1038_s41586-020-2407-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2407-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Yu-Hsiang Chien & Enrico Marzotto & Yi-Chi Tsao & Wen-Pin Hsieh, 2024. "Anisotropic thermal conductivity of antigorite along slab subduction impacts seismicity of intermediate-depth earthquakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Hong-Yan Li & Xiang Li & Jeffrey G. Ryan & Chao Zhang & Yi-Gang Xu, 2022. "Boron isotopes in boninites document rapid changes in slab inputs during subduction initiation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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