Light Mg isotopes in mantle-derived lavas caused by chromite crystallization, instead of carbonatite metasomatism

Carbonatite metasomatism plays an important role in modifying the composition of Earth's mantle, however, its effect on mantle Mg isotopic composition is poorly constrained. Here, we report high-precision mineral Mg isotope data for three suites of mantle peridotite xenoliths that experienced variable degrees of carbonatite metasomatism. The δ 26 Mg values of minerals in these xenoliths are variable and range from −0.32 to −0.11‰ in olivine, from −0.28 to −0.09‰ in orthopyroxene, from −0.27 to −0.05‰ in clinopyroxene, from 0.06 to 0.44‰ in spinel and from −0.61 to −0.37‰ in garnet. Calculated bulk-rock δ 26 Mg values of the peridotites vary from −0.27 to −0.10‰, falling within and slightly higher than the normal mantle range (−0.25 ± 0.07‰). The coexisting minerals are in isotopic equilibrium, with clinopyroxene δ 26 Mg values correlated with the carbonatite metasomatic indices such as MgO and Na2O in orthopyroxene. These results suggest that carbonatite metasomatism does not produce light Mg isotopic signature in mantle peridotites as previously suggested, instead it might slightly elevate their δ 26 Mg values. Therefore, carbonatite-metasomatized peridotites in the mantle cannot be the primary source rocks of low- δ 26 Mg mantle-derived magmas. Instead, fractional crystallization and accumulation of chromite during ascent of the basaltic magmas may explain the isotopically light basalts, as supported by the covariations of δ 26 Mg with chemical indices of chromite crystallization (e.g., Cr, V, Fe and Ti). Consequently, chromite crystallization may significantly influence the physiochemical processes on the genesis of basalts, which would require comprehensive evaluation in future studies.