Nitrogen isotopes of the mantle: Insights from mineral separates

Abstract

We present the first nitrogen (N) isotope measurements determined by in-vacuo crushing of mineral separates from arc lavas, OIBs (Ocean Island Basalts), and mantle xenoliths. Measured OIB δ 15N values range from ∼-8‰ for the northern rift zone in Iceland to +3.1‰ for a dunite nodule from Hawaii. Most arc-related olivines show distinctly positive values - up to +6.2‰ (Cerro Negro, Nicaragua). The measured N isotope values in olivine separates are similar to gas samples collected at the same localities, suggesting that both media (olivines and gases) sample volatiles primarily derived from the magma. This observation also implies that N isotope fractionation does not occur during magma degassing, a notion supported by 4He/40Ar* data. Our results indicate a heterogeneous mantle source region, in terms of N isotopic composition, that may have resulted from surface recycling of N at some localities. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.