Constraints on mantle evolution from Ce-Nd-Hf isotope systematics

Mantle evolution is governed by continuous depletion by partial melting and replenishment by recycling oceanic and continental crust. Several important unknowns remain, however, such as the extent of compositional variability of the residual depleted mantle, the timescale, mass flux and composition of recycled oceanic and continental crust. Here, we investigate the Ce-Nd-Hf isotope systematics in a globally representative spectrum of mid ocean ridge and ocean island basalts. Using a Monte Carlo approach for reproducing the observed Ce-Nd-Hf isotope variation shows that the type and age of depleted mantle and recycled crust have the dominant influence on the slope, scatter, and extent of the modeled Ce-Nd-Hf isotope array. The model results suggest a relatively young (