Molybdenum isotope systematics of lavas from the East Pacific Rise: Constraints on the source of enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt

Abstract

Mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) reveal large mantle compositional heterogeneity, whose origin remains debated. Here we present a systematic study of molybdenum isotopes on well-characterized MORB glass samples from the East Pacific Rise (EPR) and near-EPR seamounts. Our analyses show significant Mo isotope variations with Mo (relative to NIST SRM3134) ranging from −0.23‰ to −0.06‰. We argue that these Mo isotope variations are not caused by processes of MORB melt generation and evolution but reflect mantle isotopic heterogeneity. Taking together with the literature data, we show that MORB Mo isotope compositions vary systematically with geochemical parameters indicating mantle enrichment. These observations are best explained by two-component mixing between an incompatible element depleted endmember (e.g., low La/Sm, Nb/La, Nb/Zr and Th/Yb, and high Sm/Nd and 143Nd/144Nd) with low Mo (∼−0.21‰) and an incompatible element enriched endmember (e.g., high La/Sm, Nb/La, Nb/Zr and Th/Yb, and low Sm/Nd and 143Nd/144Nd) with high Mo (∼−0.05‰). The association of heavier Mo isotope compositions with the geochemically more enriched MORB is inconsistent with recycled ocean crust with or without sediment being the enriched endmember. Instead, this is consistent with the enriched endmember being of magmatic origin, most likely lithologies of low-degree melt metasomatic origin dispersed in the more depleted peridotite matrix in the MORB mantle. Thus, with MORB Mo isotope systematics, we confirm that recycled oceanic mantle lithosphere metasomatized by low degree melt plays a key role in the formation of E-MORB source lithologies. Our study also highlights Mo isotopes as an effective tool for studying upper mantle processes.