Volatile-rich Metasomatism in Montferrier Xenoliths (Southern France): Implications for the Abundances of Chalcophile and Highly Siderophile Elements in the Subcontinental Mantle

Abstract

Despite a relatively 'uniform' fertile composition (Al2O3 = 2 center dot 19-4 center dot 47 wt %; Fo% = 89 center dot 2 +/- 0 center dot 3%; Cr#(Spl) = 8 center dot 9 +/- 1 center dot 5%), the Montferrier peridotite xenoliths show a wide range of S contents (22-590 ppm). Most sulphides are interstitial and show peculiar pyrrhotite-pentlandite intergrowths and low abundances of Cu-rich phases. Sulphide-rich samples are characterized by strong enrichment in the light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements without concomitant enrichment of the high field strength elements. Such trace-element fractionation is commonly ascribed to metasomatism by volatile-rich melts and/or carbonatitic melts. S and Se (11-67 ppb), as well as S/Se (up to approximate to 12 000), are correlated with La/Sm. Cu, however, remains broadly constant (30 +/- 5 ppm). These features strongly suggest that the percolation-reaction of such volatile-rich fluids has led to sulphide enrichment with an atypical signature marked by strong fractionation of the chalcophile elements (i.e. S vs Se and Cu). S-rich xenoliths are also characterized by high (Pd/Ir)(N) (1 center dot 2-1 center dot 9; where subscript N indicates normalized to chondrite), (Pd/Pt)(N) between 1 center dot 5 and 2 center dot 2, and (Os/Ir)(N) up to 1 center dot 85. Despite the relative uniform fertile composition of the xenoliths, Re/Os ranges between 0 center dot 02 and 0 center dot 18. Os-187/Os-188 is extremely variable even within a single sample and can be as high as 0 center dot 1756 for the most S-rich samples. Sulphides show highly fractionated and variable abundances of the highly siderophile elements (HSE) [0 center dot 03 (Pd/Ir)(N) < 1283] and Re-Os isotopic composition (0 center dot 115 < Os-187/Os-188 < 0 center dot 172). Such variation can be observed at the thin-section scale. Whole-rock and in situ sulphide data demonstrate that chalcophile and HSE systematics and the Os isotopic composition of the upper mantle could be significantly modified through metasomatism, even with volatile-rich fluids. These features highlight the complex behaviour of the HSE in fluid-rock percolation-reaction models and suggest a complex interplay between sulphide addition (crystallization or sulphidation) and partial equilibration of pre-existing sulphide. The specific fractionations observed in chemical proxies such as S and Se, Os and Ir, and Pd and Pt, as well as the low abundance of Cu-rich sulphides, suggest that sulphide addition may not have occurred via sulphide melts. Rather, we infer that S was present as a dissolved species in a (supercritical) oxidizing, volatile-rich fluid (C-O-H-S +/- Cl) along with other chalcophile and siderophile elements such as Os, Pd, Re and Au. The highly radiogenic Os composition of this fluid ( Os-187/ Os-188 > 0 center dot 17) would imply that such fluids are derived from an uncommon type of mantle source possibly related to carbonatite melts. Show more