A metasomatized lithospheric mantle control on the metallogenic signature of post-subduction magmatism

Holwell DA, Fiorentini M, McDonald I, Lu Y, Giuliani A, Smith DJ, Keith M, Locmelis M (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Nature Communications Nature Publishing Group: Nature Communications

Book Volume: 10

Article Number: 3511

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11065-4

Abstract

Ore deposits are loci on Earth where energy and mass flux are greatly enhanced and focussed, acting as magnifying lenses into metal transport, fractionation and concentration mechanisms through the lithosphere. Here we show that the metallogenic architecture of the lithosphere is illuminated by the geochemical signatures of metasomatised mantle rocks and post-subduction magmatic-hydrothermal mineral systems. Our data reveal that anomalously gold and tellurium rich magmatic sulfides in mantle-derived magmas emplaced in the lower crust share a common metallogenic signature with upper crustal porphyry-epithermal ore systems. We propose that a trans-lithospheric continuum exists whereby post-subduction magmas transporting metal-rich sulfide cargoes play a fundamental role in fluxing metals into the crust from metasomatised lithospheric mantle. Therefore, ore deposits are not merely associated with isolated zones where serendipitous happenstance has produced mineralisation. Rather, they are depositional points along the mantle-to-upper crust pathway of magmas and hydrothermal fluids, synthesising the concentrated metallogenic budget available.

Authors with CRIS profile

Manuel Keith Lehrstuhl für Endogene Geodynamik (LEG)

Involved external institutions

University of Leicester GB United Kingdom (GB) Missouri University of Science and Technology US United States (USA) (US) Cardiff University GB United Kingdom (GB) University of Western Australia (UWA) AU Australia (AU) The University of Melbourne AU Australia (AU)

How to cite

APA:

Holwell, D.A., Fiorentini, M., McDonald, I., Lu, Y., Giuliani, A., Smith, D.J.,... Locmelis, M. (2019). A metasomatized lithospheric mantle control on the metallogenic signature of post-subduction magmatism. Nature Communications, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11065-4

MLA:

Holwell, David A., et al. "A metasomatized lithospheric mantle control on the metallogenic signature of post-subduction magmatism." Nature Communications 10.1 (2019).

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