Evidence from HP/UHP metasediments for recycling of isotopically heterogeneous potassium into the mantle
Résumé
Abstract Potassium isotopes may provide a novel approach for fingerprinting recycled sediments in the mantle due to the significant differences in K abundance and isotopic ratio between subducting sediment and the mantle. However, the behavior of K isotopes in sediments during subduction zone metamorphism is still unknown. Here we investigate K isotopic composition of a set of well-characterized high-to ultrahigh-pressure metasediments from the Schistes Lustrés nappe (western Alps), which represents marine sediments subducted down to ~90 km depth in a cold subduction zone, and their protoliths from the Lavagna nappe (Apennines, Italy). The metasediments display δ41KSRM 3141a values from –0.76‰ to –0.48‰, which are on average lower than the mantle value (–0.43‰) but similar to those of nonmetamorphic equivalents (–0.79‰ to –0.49‰). No systemic variation of δ41K with metamorphic grade is observed, suggesting negligible K isotope fractionation in these sediments during prograde metamorphism. This is in accord with the limited loss of K during the entire metamorphic history as evidenced by the constancy of K/Rb and K/Cs ratios between metamorphic and non-metamorphic sediments and the absence of correlations of δ41K with K/Rb and K/Cs. The heterogeneous δ41K values of metasediments are most likely inherited from their protoliths, which experienced different degrees of chemical weathering depending on their provenances. Our results demonstrate that the variable and light K isotopic signatures in subducting sediments could be preserved to depths of at least 90 km along a cold geotherm gradient, indicating that the introduction of sediments into the mantle could produce K isotope heterogeneity in the source regions of mantle-derived lavas.