Sources and Fluids in the Mantle Wedge below Kamchatka, Evidence from Across-arc Geochemical Variation

Major and trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic variationsin mafic volcanic rocks hve been studied in a 220 km transectacross the Kamchatka arc from the Eastern Volcanic Front, overthe Central Kamchatka Depression to the Sredinny Ridge in theback-arc. Thirteen volcanoes and lava fields, from 110 to 400km above the subducted slab, were sampled. This allows us tocharacterize spatial variations and the relative amount andcomposition of the slab fluid involved in magma genesis. TypicalKamchatka arc basalts, normalized for fractionation to 6% MgO,display a strong increase in large ion lithophile, light rareearth and high field strength elements from the arc front tothe back-arc. Ba/Zr and Ce/Pb ratios, however, are nearly constantacross the arc, which suggests a similar fluid input for Baand Pb. La/Yb and Nb/Zr increase from the arc front to the back-arc.Rocks from the Central Kamchatka Depression range in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Srfrom 0·70334 to 0·70366, but have almost constantNd isotopic compositions (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd 0·51307–0·51312).This correlates with the highest U/Th ratios in these rocks.Pb-isotopic ratios are mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like butdecrease slightly from the volcanic front to the back-arc. Theinitial mantle source ranged from N-MORB-like in the volcanicfront and Central Kamchatka Depression to more enriched in theback-arc. This enriched component is similar to an ocean-islandbasalt (OIB) source. Variations in (CaO)_6·0–(Na₂O)_6·0show that degree of melting decreases from the arc front tothe Central Kamchatka Depression and remains constant from thereto the Sredinny Ridge. Calculated fluid compositions have asimilar trace element pattern across the arc, although minordifferences are implied. A model is presented that quantifiesthe various mantle components (variably depleted N-MORB-mantleand enriched OIB-mantle) and the fluid compositions added tothis mantle wedge. The amount of fluid added ranges from 0·7to 2·1%. The degree of melting changes from