Fluid-flux versus decompression melting – the Tonga arc – Lau back arc system

Subduction zones are key regions of mass exchange between the Earth’s crust and mantle, and magmas in the sub-arc mantle form as a result of the release of volatiles from the subducting slab, i.e. fluid-flux melting. Introducing unique geochemical tracers (e.g., Large Ion Lithophile Elements) into the depleted mantle wedge allows tracing of the flow of material underneath the island arcs. Back arc spreading centres form as a result of slab-rollback, and here melts form due to decompression melting similar to those forming at mid-ocean ridges. Back arc systems situated angular to their adjacent island arc encompass a range of slab depths and provide a unique means to assess the compositional changes as a function of distance to the active arc and above the subducting slab. The Valu Fa Ridge (VFR), Eastern Lau (ELSC) and Central Lau (CLSC) spreading centres are situated at an increasing distance from the active Tonga arc from south to north. Here, we present new major, trace and volatile element data along with radiogenic isotope and U-Th-Ra disequilibria along the VFR and ELSC and across the VFR. A systematic change of, e.g., Ba/Nb, Nb/La, H₂O contents and Pb isotopes with increasing distance between the back arc and the Tonga arc could be interpreted to reflect the slab-related metamorphic dehydration reactions. However, we do not observe a gradual change in geochemical compositions at a distance <100 km between the arc and the backarc, suggesting that the decompression and fluid-fluxed melting regimes overlap. At distances of >100 km between the arc and back arc, the occurrence of (²³⁰Th/²³⁸U) excess suggests that melting is due to decompression and that the systematic decrease in subduction influence observed with increasing distance is likely the result of melting of hydrous, ancient slab remnants during rollback. We conclude that the melting regimes between the ELSC and Tonga island arc separate at ~100 km total distance, as evident from the stepwise change in trace element and isotope geochemistry. The decrease in subduction-related signatures along the VFR and ELSC results from an overlap of the melting regimes and melt mixing between the arc and back arc in which the melting of the depleted mantle underneath the back arc becomes more prominent with increasing distance.