Crystal-Melt Separation and the Development of Isotopic Heterogeneities in Hybrid Magmas

If a magma is a hybrid of two (or more) isotopically distinctend-members, at least one of which is partially crystalline,separation of melt and crystals after hybridization will leadto the development of isotopic heterogeneities in the magmaas long as some of the pre-existing crystalline material (antecrysts)retains any of its original isotopic composition. This holdstrue whether the hybridization event is magma mixing as traditionallyconstrued, bulk assimilation, or melt assimilation. Once a magma-scaleisotopic heterogeneity is formed by crystal–melt separation,it is essentially permanent, persisting regardless of subsequentcrystallization, mixing, or equilibration events. The magnitudeof the isotopic variability resulting from crystal–meltseparation can be as large as that resulting from differentialcontamination, multiple isotopically distinct sources, or insitu isotopic evolution. In one model, a redistribution of one-thirdof the antecryst cargo yielded a crystal-enriched sample with⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0·7058, whereas the complementary crystal-poorsample has ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0·7068. In other models, crystal-richsamples are enriched in radiogenic Sr. Isotopic heterogeneitiescan be either continuous (controlled by the modal distributionof crystals and melt) or discontinuous (when there is completeseparation of crystals and liquid). The first case may be exemplifiedby some isotopically zoned large-volume rhyolites, formed bythe eruptive inversion of a modally zoned magma chamber. Inthe latter case, the isotopic composition of any (for example)interstitial liquid will be distinct from the isotopic compositionof the bulk crystal fraction. The separation of such an interstitialliquid may explain the presence of isotopically distinct late-stageaplites in plutons. Crystal–melt separation provides anadditional option for the interpretation of isotopically zonedor heterogeneous magmas. This option is particularly attractivefor systems whose chemical variation is otherwise explicableby fractionation-dominated processes. Non-isotopic chemicalheterogeneities can also develop in this fashion. KEY WORDS: isotopic heterogeneity; zoning; hybrid magma; crystal separation; Sr isotopes; aplite; rhyolite