Importance of permeability and deep channel network on the distribution of melt, fractionation of REE in abyssal peridotites, and U-series disequilibria in basalts beneath mid-ocean ridges: A numerical study using a 2D double-porosity model

Abstract

Abstract A plethora of observations have been made at mid-ocean ridges and mantle sections of ophiolites: presence of tabular replacive dunites, highly depleted LREE in residual abyssal peridotites, U-series disequilibria in fresh basalts, crustal thickness, and highly attenuated seismic and magnetotelluric structures beneath spreading centers. These independent observations can become more powerful if they are jointly analyzed in a self-consistent model. The difficulty for such a model is to resolve and evaluate the effect of fine scale petrologic feature such as dunite channels in a tectonic scale geodynamic model. Here we present a two-dimensional double-porosity ridge model that consists of low-porosity residual lherzolite and harzburgite matrix and high-porosity interconnected channel network. The geodynamic simulation features a spatially distributed channel network and anisotropic permeability that gradually develops as the upwelling mantle is deformed. We compute the porosity, melt and solid flow fields for several choices of channel distribution and permeability model. We use the calculated porosity distribution and velocity fields to model the variations of REE in residual mantle and U-series disequilibria in melts. The present study underscores the importance of deep channel networks and permeability model to the interpretation of first order geophysical and geochemical observations at mid-ocean ridge spreading centers. The anisotropic permeability of channels can enhance melt focusing by 60%, resulting in thicker crust. The attenuated seismic and magnetotelluric structures require a channel network starting from 60 km depth beneath the ridge axis. The depleted REE patterns in clinopyroxenes in residual abyssal peridotites are also consistent with melt extraction into channels starting from 60 km depth. Although deep channels are conducive to producing U-series disequilibria in eruptible melts, the present model still cannot explain the full ranges of the observed U series disequilibria data in MORB samples. Additional factors, processes, and models are discussed. And finally, we found that, within the uncertainty of the permeability, the porosity varies by three folds and the excess of 230Th varies by up to two folds.