A secretive mechanical exchange between mantle and crustal volatiles revealed by helium isotopes in 13C-depleted diamonds

Mikhail, S., Crosby, J. C., Stuart, F. M. , DiNicola, L. and Abernethy, F. A.J. (2019) A secretive mechanical exchange between mantle and crustal volatiles revealed by helium isotopes in 13C-depleted diamonds. Geochemical Perspectives Letters, 11, pp. 39-43. (doi: 10.7185/geochemlet.1923)

[img]
Preview
Text
195523.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

1MB

Abstract

Fluid inclusions trapped in fast-growing diamonds provide a unique opportunity to examine the origin of diamonds, and the conditions under which they formed. Eclogitic to websteritic diamondites from southern Africa show 13C-depletion and 15N-enrichment relative to mantle values (δ13C = -4.3 to -22.2 ‰ and δ15N = -4.9 to +23.2 ‰). In contrast the 3He/4He of the trapped fluids have a strong mantle signature, one sample has the highest value so far recorded for African diamonds (8.5 ± 0.4 Ra). We find no evidence for deep mantle He in these diamondites, or indeed in any diamonds from southern Africa. A correlation between 3He/4He ratios and 3He concentration suggests that the low 3He/4He are largely the result of ingrowth of radiogenic 4He in the trapped fluids since diamond formation. The He-C-N isotope systematics can be best described by mixing between fluid released from subducted altered oceanic crust and mantle volatiles. The high 3He/4He of low δ13C diamondites reflects the high 3He concentration in the mantle fluids relative to the slab-derived fluids. The presence of post-crystallisation 4He in the fluids means that all 3He/4He are minima, which in turn implies that the slab-derived carbon has a sedimentary organic origin. In short, although carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data show strong evidence for crustal sources for diamond-formation, helium isotopes reveal an unambiguous mantle component hidden within a strongly 13C-depleted system.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:SM acknowledges support from the National Environmental Research Council (grant no. NE/PO12167/1).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Di Nicola, Dr Luigia and Stuart, Professor Fin
Authors: Mikhail, S., Crosby, J. C., Stuart, F. M., DiNicola, L., and Abernethy, F. A.J.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
Journal Name:Geochemical Perspectives Letters
Publisher:European Association of Geochemistry
ISSN:2410-339X
ISSN (Online):2410-3403
Published Online:10 October 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 The Authors
First Published:First published in Geochemical Perspectives Letters 11: 39-43
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record