Experimental constraints on the serpentinization rate of fore‐arc peridotites: Implications for the upwelling condition of the slab‐derived fluid. (20th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nakatani, T.; Nakamura, M.
• Is Part Of: Geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems. Volume 17:Number 8(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 3393
• Page End: 3419
• Publication Date: 2016-08-20
• Subjects: serpentine -- hydration reaction -- fore‐arc -- slab fluid -- Arima‐type fluid; Geochemistry -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; 550.5
• DOI: 10.1002/2016GC006295
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1525-2027

Abstract

Abstract: To constrain the water circulation in subduction zones, the hydration rates of peridotites were investigated experimentally in fore‐arc mantle conditions. Experiments were conducted at 400–580°C and 1.3 and 1.8 GPa, where antigorite is expected to form as a stable serpentine phase. Crushed powders of olivine ± orthopyroxene and orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene were reacted with 15 wt % distilled water for 4–19 days. The synthesized serpentine varieties were lizardite and aluminous lizardite (Al‐lizardite) in all experimental conditions except those of 1.8 GPa and 580°C in the olivine + orthopyroxene system, in which antigorite was formed. In the olivine + orthopyroxene system, the reactions were interface‐controlled except for the reaction at 400°C, which was transport‐controlled. The corresponding reaction rates were 7.0 × 10 −12 to 1.5 × 10 −11 m s −1 at 500–580°C and 7.5 × 10 −16 m 2 s −1 at 400°C for the interface and transport‐controlled reactions, respectively. Based on a simple reaction‐transport model including these hydration rates, we infer that penetration of the slab‐derived fluid all the way through a water‐unsaturated fore‐arc mantle is allowed only when focused flow occurs with a spacing larger than 77–229 km in hot subduction zones such as Nankai and Cascadia. However, the necessary spacing is only 2.3–4.6 m in intermediate‐temperature subduction zones such as Kyushu and Costa Rica. These calculations imply that fluid leakage in hot subduction zones may occur after the fore‐arc mantle is totally hydrated, whereas in intermediate‐temperature subduction zones, leakage through a water‐unsaturated fore‐arc mantle may be facilitated. Key Points: Antigorite formed from olivine + opx at 580°C and 1.8 GPa A fast interface‐controlled reaction leads to total hydration of fore‐arc mantle Slab fluid may leak through a highly hydrated mantle in hot subduction zones