Serpentinites of Different Tectonic Origin in an Exhumed Subduction
Complex (New Caledonia, SW Pacific)
Abstract
Owing to the importance of serpentinites for planetary geochemical and
geodynamic processes, there has been much work discerning the origins of
their parent rocks, including distinguishing between serpentinites
derived from a subducting plate vs. overlying mantle in exhumed
subduction complexes. The island of New Caledonia (SW Pacific Ocean)
provides a rare window into Cenozoic Pacific subduction processes. The
island is unique in exposing both an exceptionally-preserved
high-pressure, low-temperature subduction complex and one of the largest
supra-subduction zone ophiolites in the world. Previous studies disagree
on the origin of serpentinites in the subduction complex. In this study,
we analyze twenty-three serpentinites from this subduction complex for
whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry and stable isotope (δD,
δ18O) compositions. Our data reveal two distinct
groups of serpentinites: Group I samples in the northern portion of the
complex are pervasively serpentinized, and exhibit enriched heavy rare
earth element (REE) compositions and δ18O between
+6.7‰ and +10.2‰. In contrast, Group II serpentinites in the south
preserve relict orthopyroxene and olivine, and show depleted trace
element compositions and comparatively lower δ18O
values between +5.1‰ and +8.0‰. We interpret Group I serpentinites to
derive from downgoing plate mantle, whereas Group II serpentinites
derive from overlying mantle wedge, exhibiting remarkable similarity to
the REE geochemistry of the structurally-overlying New Caledonia
ophiolite. Our results establish the subduction complex in New Caledonia
as an unusual natural record of the entrainment and exhumation of mantle
from both the overlying mantle wedge and the downgoing plate in an
oceanic subduction zone.