Subduction-related oxidation of the sublithospheric mantle evidenced by ferropericlase and magnesiowüstite diamond inclusions

Abstract

Ferropericlase (Mg,Fe)O is the second most abundant mineral in Earth’s lower mantle and a common inclusion found in subcratonic diamonds. Pyrolitic mantle has Mg# (100 × Mg/(Mg+Fe)) ~89. However, ferropericlase inclusions in diamonds show a broad range of Mg# between 12 and 93. Here we use Synchrotron Mössbauer Source (SMS) spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction to determine the iron oxidation state and structure of two magnesiowüstite and three ferropericlase inclusions in diamonds from São Luiz, Brazil. Inclusion Mg#s vary between 16.1 and 84.5. Ferropericlase inclusions contain no ferric iron within the detection limit of SMS, while both magnesiowüstite inclusions show the presence of monocrystalline magnesioferrite ((Mg,Fe)Fe³⁺₂O₄) with an estimated 47–53 wt% Fe₂O₃. We argue that the wide range of Fe concentrations observed in (Mg,Fe)O inclusions in diamonds and the appearance of magnesioferrite result from oxidation of ferropericlase triggered by the introduction of subducted material into sublithospheric mantle.

This article reports finding of a highly oxidised mineral in diamond inclusion derived from mantle transition zone or lower mantle, very reduced areas on our planet. Such oxidised material is likely linked to subduction of carbonates into this region.