Kilometre-scale isotopic heterogeneity in abyssal peridotites from the Doldrums Fracture Zone (Mid Atlantic Ridge, 7-8ºN).

In Nd-Hf isotopic space the great majority of the global abyssal peridotites plot in the field defined by global MORBs. However, Hf isotope ratios by far exceeding those in ridge basalts, are locally observed in abyssal peridotites showing that the Earth’s mantle is more heterogeneous that inferred from ridge basalts [1]. Mantle peridotites exposed at the Doldrums Fracture Zone at the Mid Atlantic Ridge (7-8° N) reveal that such heterogeneity coexists on a kilometre-scale. Abyssal peridotites from the northern part of the Doldrums FZ domain can be grouped into residual peridotites and melt-modified (refertilized) samples [2]. New Nd-Hf isotopic data show that the refertilized peridotites preserve highly radiogenic Hf values (εHf up to 101) associated with MORB-like Nd isotopes (εNd up to 12), reflecting partial resetting of ancient highly depleted mantle by recent melt-rock interaction. On the other hand, despite a very depleted incompatible element compositions, the residual peridotites have Nd-Hf isotope ratios similar to the local MORB (εNd = 7-12 and εHf =12-19). They most likely reflect highly depleted mantle that has been entirely reset by reaction with extracted or retained melts, and hence developed with only modest incompatible element depletion until recent melting at the Mid Atlantic ridge axis, which led the strong incompatible element depleted of these peridotites. The kilometre-scale association of such isotopically heterogeneous domains suggests that the upper mantle exposed in this portion of Atlantic formed by a combination of ancient melting and melt-rock reaction processes, preceding its emplacement below the present-day Mid Atlantic ridge axis.

 [1] Stracke, A., et al., 2011. Abyssal peridotite Hf isotopes identify extreme mantle depletion. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 308(3-4), pp.359-368. [2] Sani, C., et al., 2020. Ultra-depleted melt refertilization of mantle peridotites in a large intra-transform domain (Doldrums Fracture Zone; 7–8° N, Mid Atlantic Ridge). Lithos, 374, p.105698.