Sulphur isotope composition of orogenic spinel lherzolite massifs from Ariege (North-Eastern Pyrenees, France): An ion microprobe study

doi:10.1016/0016-7037(90)90018-G

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

Volume 54, Issue 10, October 1990, Pages 2835-2846

https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(90)90018-G Get rights and content

Abstract

The orogenic spinel Iherzolite massifs from Ariege (Northeastern Pyrenees, France), which represent tectonically emplaced fragments of the sub-continental upper mantle, are composed mainly of variously depleted peridotites. These rocks are crosscut by two generations of pyroxenites. The first is made up of layered pyroxenites, which are interpreted either as crystal segregates from Triassic continental tholeiites or as subducted parts of the oceanic crust re-injected within the upper mantle. The second consists of amphibole-rich dikes separated from Cretaceous alkali basalts.

Forty sulphide grains, occurring either as inclusions within silicates or as interstitial grains, were investigated by ion microprobe for their sulphur isotopic compositions. The δ³⁴S values range between −5.7 ± 1.5 and +4.5 ± 1.5%. with an average of −0.7%., being very similar to the value of 0 ± 2%. commonly assumed for the upper mantle. However, significant differences in δ³⁴S values are observed between the different rock types. Negative δ³⁴S values (average = −3.2%. for the massive peridotites) are discovered for the first time in mantle peridotites. In contrast, amphibole pyroxenites have positive δ³⁴S values (mean = +3.3%.), while layered pyroxenites show a wide range of variations from −3.1 ± 1.5 to +4.5 ± 1.5%.. Peridotites adjacent to layered pyroxenite display δ³⁴S values ranging from −5.2 ± 1.5%. to +2.8 ± 1.5%., which reflect partial re-equilibration with the tholeiitic melt. Comparison between sulphide inclusions in silicates and interstitial sulphide grains strongly suggests that serpentinization and pyrenean metamorphism had no significant effect on the δ³⁴S values. Likewise, these values are broadly independent of the degree of partial melting. The negative δ³⁴S values of the massive peridotites could represent an ancient depletion event in the upper mantle. By contrast, the positive δ³⁴S values observed in the layered pyroxenites and the amphibole-rich dikes indicate that the two parent magmas had in common a mantle source variously enriched in ³⁴S. Therefore, the present study reveals two extreme reservoirs characterized by different δ³⁴S values in the upper mantle (≈ −3 and ≈ +3%.), respectively. This range of variations can explain most δ³⁴S values found in MORB, continental tholeiites, and alkali basalts.

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Sulphur isotope composition of orogenic spinel lherzolite massifs from Ariege (North-Eastern Pyrenees, France): An ion microprobe study

Abstract

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Chem. Geol.

Earth. Planet. Sci. Lett.

Lithos

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Tedonophysics

Sci. Lett.

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta.

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta.

Zambales ophiolite, Philippines II. Sulfide petrology of the critical zone of the Acoje massif

Contrib. Mineral. Petrol.

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Nature

Ion microprobe analyses of the sulfur isotope composition of sulfides in hydrothermally altered rocks DSDP/ODP hole 504B

Structural and petrographie analysis of an “alpine type” peridotite. The lherzolite of French Pyrénées

Leidse Geol. Mededel.

Petrology and geochemistry of the alkalin magmatism from the Cretaceous North Pyrenean rift zone (France and Spain) and the origin of rift magmas

Contrib. Mineral. Petrol

Bond strength and sulfur isotopic fractionation in coexisting sulfides

Econ. Geol.

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Bull. Mineral.

Instrumental mass fractionation in ion microprobe studies of sulphur isotope ratios

Sulphur isotope heterogeneity in the mantle from ion microprobe measurements of sulphide inclusions in diamonds

Nature

Carte structurale des Pyrenees

Pétrologie des pyroxenites litées dans les complexes ultramafiques de l'Ariège (France) et autres gisements de Iherzolite à spinelle. Compositions minéralogiques et chimiques, évolution des conditions d'équilibre des pyroxenites

Bull. Soc. Fr. Minéral. Cristal.

Pétrologie des complexes ultramafiques de Iherzolites à spinelle de l'Ariège (France)

Thèse Doc. Etat