Volatiles in basaltic magmas of ocean islands and their mantle sources: II. Estimation of contents in mantle reservoirs

In this paper, we address the average compositions (including the contents of H₂O, Cl, F, and S) and the compositional structure of oceanic mantle plumes on the basis of element contents and ratios in ocean island magmas. The average contents of incompatible volatile and nonvolatile elements were calculated for the material of mantle plumes using a thermal and a more plausible moderately enriched model. The following average contents were estimated for the plume mantle: 510 ppm K₂O, 520 ppm H₂O, 21 ppm Cl, 55 ppm F, and 83 ppm S. These values are significantly higher than those of the depleted mantle (except for S). The primitive mantle normalized average content of water in mantle plumes is similar to those of La and Ce but lower than those of K, Cl, and Sr. This is at odds with the hypothesis of “wet” mantle plumes. Three types of basaltic magmas distinguished in our previous study (Part I) characterize three types of plume sources (MI, MII, and MIII). Using the favored moderately enriched model, the average contents of H₂O, Cl, F, and S were estimated for the three sources (ppm): 130, 33, 11, and 110 for MI; 110, 12, 65, and 45 for MII; and 530, 29, 49, and 110 for MIII, respectively. The plume mantle is heterogeneous and its heterogeneity can be described by the presence of three main types of compositions, one of which (MI) is similar to the composition of the mid-ocean ridge mantle and the other two types (MII and MIII) are moderately enriched in K, Ti, P, F, and incompatible trace elements but depleted in Cl, H₂O, and sometimes S. The compositions of MII and MIII have different H₂O, Cl, and S contents: MII is significantly depleted in these components compared with MIII. The MII component is probably similar to the enriched mantle (EM). In addition to the aforementioned three main components, the plume mantle probably contains high-Cl and low-F materials, which are related to the recycling of the oceanic and continental crust. All the observed characteristics of the mantle plumes are in adequate agreement with the model of a zonal mantle plume including a central part hot and depleted in H₂O, Cl, and S; a periphery enriched in volatile components; and the enclosing mantle interacting with the plume material.