Elemental constraints on the amount of recycled crust in the generation of mid-oceanic ridge basalts (MORBs)

Lithosphere architecture characterized by crust-mantle decoupling controls the formation of orogenic gold deposits

This study, via combined analysis of geophysical and geochemical data, reveals a lithospheric architecture characterized by crust-mantle decoupling and vertical heat-flow conduits that control orogenic gold mineralization in the Ailaoshan gold belt on the southeastern margin of Tibet. The mantle seismic tomography indicates that the crust-mantle decoupled deformation, defined from previous seismic anisotropy analysis, was formed by upwelling and lateral flow of the asthenosphere, driven by deep subduction of the Indian continent. Our magnetotelluric and seismic images show both a vertical conductor across the Moho and high Vp/Vs anomalies both in the uppermost mantle and lowest crust, suggesting that crust-mantle decoupling promotes ponding of mantle-derived basic melts at the base of the crust via a heat-flow conduit. Noble gas isotope and halogen ratios of gold-related ore minerals indicate a mantle source of ore fluid. A rapid decrease in Cl/F ratios of lamprophyres under conditions of 1.2 GPa and 1050°C suggests that the ore fluid was derived from degassing of the basic melts. Similar lithospheric architecture is recognized in other orogenic gold provinces, implying analogous formational controls.

Plume-MOR decoupling and the timing of India-Eurasia collision

The debatable timing of India-Eurasia collision is based on geologic, stratigraphic, kinematic, and tectonic evidence. However, the collision event disturbed persistent processes, and the timing of disturbance in such processes could determine the onset of India-Eurasia collision precisely. We use the longevity of Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR)-Kerguelen mantle plume (KMP) interaction cycles along the Ninetyeast ridge (NER) as a proxy to determine the commencement of India-Eurasia collision. The geochemical signature of the KMP tail along the NER is predominantly that of long-term coupling cycles, that was perturbed once by a short-term decoupling cycle. The long-term coupling cycles are mainly of enriched mid-ocean ridge basalts (E-MORBs). The short-term decoupling cycle is mostly derived from two distinct sources, MOR and plume separately, whereas the KMP is still being on-axis. The onset of India-Eurasia collision led to continental materials recycling into the mantle; hence the abrupt enrichment in incompatible elements at ca. 55 Ma, the MOR-plume on-axis decoupling, and the abrupt slowdown in the northward drift of the Indian plate was induced by the onset of India-Eurasia collision, thereafter MOR-plume recoupled.