Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Perspective
  • Published:

The cold and relatively dry nature of mantle forearcs in subduction zones

Nature Geoscience volume 10, pages 333–337 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Some of Earth's coldest mantle is found in subduction zones at the tip of the mantle wedge that lies between the subducting and overriding plates. This forearc mantle is isolated from the flow of hot material beneath the volcanic arc, and so is inferred to reach temperatures no more than 600 to 800 °C — conditions at which hydrous mantle minerals should be stable. The forearc mantle could therefore constitute a significant reservoir for water if sufficient water is released from the subducting slab into the mantle wedge. Such a reservoir could hydrate the plate interface and has been invoked to aid the genesis of megathrust earthquakes and slow slip events. Our synthesis of results from thermal models that simulate the conditions for subduction zones globally, however, indicates that dehydration of subducting plates is too slow over the life span of a typical subduction zone to hydrate the forearc mantle. Hot subduction zones, where slabs dehydrate rapidly, are an exception. The hottest, most buoyant forearcs are most likely to survive plate collisions and be exhumed to the surface, so probably dominate the metamorphic rock record. Analysis of global seismic data confirms the generally dry nature of mantle forearcs. We conclude that many subduction zones probably liberate insufficient water to hydrate the shallower plate boundary where great earthquakes and slow slip events nucleate. Thus, we suggest that it is solid-state processes and not hydration that leads to weakening of the plate interface in cold subduction zones.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Schematic forearc showing water fluxes and potentially hydrated mantle.
Figure 2: Predicted hydration potential and seismic velocities for individual arcs.
Figure 3: Predicted per cent hydration of mantle wedges worldwide produced over last 50 Myrs.
Figure 4: Compilation of Vp observed in the shallowest parts of forearc mantle wedges versus slab thermal parameter.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Grove, T. L., Till, C. B. & Krawczynski, M. J. The role of H2O in subduction zone magmatism. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 40, 413–439 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Abers, G. A., van Keken, P. E., Kneller, E. A., Ferris, A. & Stachnik, J. C. The thermal structure of subduction zones constrained by seismic imaging: implications for slab dehydration and wedge flow. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 241, 387–397 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Wada, I. & Wang, K. Common depth of slab-mantle decoupling: reconciling diversity and uniformity of subduction zones. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 10, Q10009 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Syracuse, E. M., van Keken, P. E. & Abers, G. A. The global range of subduction zone thermal models. Phys. Earth Planet. Int. 183, 73–90 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Reynard, B. Serpentine in active subduction zones. Lithos 178, 171–185 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. van Keken, P. E., Hacker, B. R., Syracuse, E. M. & Abers, G. A. Subduction factory 4: depth-dependent flux of H2O from subducting slabs worldwide. J. Geophys. Res. 116, B01401 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Hacker, B. R. H2O subduction beyond arcs. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 9, Q03001 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Workman, R. K. & Hart, S. R. Major and trace element composition of the depleted MORB mantle (DMM). Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 231, 53–72 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Connolly, J. A. D. Computation of phase equilibria by linear programming: a tool for geodynamic modeling and its application to subduction zone decarbonation. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 236, 524–541 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Saffer, D. M. & Tobin, H. J. Hydrogeology and mechanics of subduction zone forearcs: fluid flow and pore pressure. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 39, 157–186 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Jarrard, R. D. Subduction fluxes of water, carbon dioxide, chlorine and potassium. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 4, GC000392 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Fryer, P., Wheat, C. G. & Mottl, M. J. Mariana blueschist mud volcanism: implications for conditions within the subduction zone. Geology 27, 103–106 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Syracuse, E. M. & Abers, G. A. Global compilation of variations in slab depth beneath arc volcanoes and implications. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 7, Q05017 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Jicha, B. R., Scholl, D. W., Singer, B. S., Yogodzinski, G. M. & Kay, S. M. Revised age of Aleutian island arc formation implies high rate of magma production. Geology 34, 661–664 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Reagan, M. K. et al. Fore-arc basalts and subduction initiation in the Izu–Bonin–Mariana system. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 11, GC002871 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wells, R. et al. Geologic history of Siletzia, a large igneous province in the Oregon and Washington Coast Range: correlation to the geomagnetic polarity time scale and implications for a long-lived Yellowstone hotspot. Geosphere 10, 692–719 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hall, R. Cenozoic geological and plate tectonic evolution of SE Asia and the SW Pacific: computer-based reconstructions, model and animations. J. Asian Earth Sci. 20, 353–431 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Clift, P. & Vannucchi, P. Controls on tectonic accretion versus erosion in subduction zones: implications for the origin and recycling of the continental crust. Rev. Geophys. 42, RG2001 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wilson, C. R., Spiegelman, M., van Keken, P. E. & Hacker, B. R. Fluid flow in subduction zones: the role of solid rheology and compaction pressure. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 401, 261–274 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Cozzens, B. D. & Spinelli, G. A. A wider seismogenic zone at Cascadia due to fluid circulation in subducting oceanic crust. Geology 40, 899–902 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Penniston-Dorland, S. C., Kohn, M. J. & Manning, C. E. The global range of subduction zone thermal structures from exhumed blueschists and eclogites: rocks are hotter than models. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 428, 243–254 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Spandler, C. & Pirard, C. Element recycling from subducting slabs to arc crust: a review. Lithos 170–171, 208–223 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Abers, G. A. & Hacker, B. R. A MATLAB toolbox and Excel workbook for calculating the densities, seismic wave speeds, and major element composition of minerals and rocks at pressure and temperature. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 17, GC006171 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Brownlee, S. J., Hacker, B. R., Harlow, G. E. & Seward, G. Seismic signatures of a hydrated mantle wedge from antigorite crystal-preferred orientation (CPO). Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 375, 395–407 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Yang, X., Fischer, K. M. & Abers, G. A. Seismic anisotropy beneath the Shumagin Islands segment of the Aleutian-Alaska subduction zone. J. Geophys. Res. 100, 18165–118177 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Nakajima, J. & Hasegawa, A. Shear-wave polarization anisotropy and subduction-induced flow in the mantle wedge of northeastern Japan. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 225, 365–377 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Korenaga, J. On the extent of mantle hydration caused by plate bending. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 457, 1–9 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Bostock, M. G., Hyndman, R. D., Rondenay, S. & Peacock, S. M. An inverted continental Moho and serpentinization of the forearc mantle. Nature 417, 536–538 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Brocher, T. M., Parsons, T., Trehu, A. M., Snelson, C. M. & Fisher, M. A. Seismic evidence for widespread serpentinized forearc upper mantle along the Cascadia margin. Geology 31, 267–270 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. DeShon, H. et al. Seismogenic zone structure beneath the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, from three-dimensional local earthquake P- and S-wave tomography. Geophys. J. Int. 164, 109–124 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Kay, R. W. & Kay, S. M. Delamination and delamination magmatism. Tectonophysics 219, 177–189 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Hacker, B. R., Kelemen, P. B. & Behn, M. D. Continental lower crust. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 43, 167–205 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Liu, Y. J. & Rice, J. R. Spontaneous and triggered aseismic deformation transients in a subduction fault model. J. Geophys. Res. 112, JB004930 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Audet, P., Bostock, M. G., Christensen, N. I. & Peacock, S. M. Seismic evidence for overpressured subducted oceanic crust and sealing of the megathrust. Nature 457, 76–78 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Leeman, J., Saffer, D., Scuderi, M. & Marone, C. Laboratory observations of slow earthquakes and the spectrum of tectonic fault slip modes. Nat. Commun. 7, 11104 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Guillot, S., Hattori, K. H. & de Sigoyer, J. Mantle wedge serpentinization and exhumation of eclogites: insights from eastern Ladakh, northwest Himalaya. Geology 28, 199–202 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Schwartz, S., Allemand, P. & Guillot, S. Numerical model of the effect of serpentinites on the exhumation of eclogitic rocks: insights from the Monviso ophiolitic massif (Western Alps). Tectonophysics 342, 193–206 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Hacker, B. R., Kelemen, P. B. & Behn, M. D. Differentiation of the continental crust by relamination. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 307, 501–516 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work is funded by NSF awards OCE-1446970 to GAA, OCE-1249353 and OCE-1356132 to P.E.v.K., and EAR-1249703 to B.R.H.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, 2122 Snee Hall, Ithaca, 14853, New York, USA

    G. A. Abers

  2. Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution for Science, 5241 Broad Branch Road NW, 20015, Washington DC, USA

    P. E. van Keken

  3. Department of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, California, USA

    B. R. Hacker

Authors
  1. G. A. Abers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. E. van Keken
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. R. Hacker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

GA compiled and analysed seismic data, P.E.v.K. oversaw geodynamic modelling, B.R.H. oversaw petrology and thermodynamic modelling. All of the authors contributed to discussion and writing of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. A. Abers.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Discussions, Tables and Figures

Supplementary information Discussions 1–4, Tables 1–4 and Figures 1–2 (PDF 1571 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abers, G., van Keken, P. & Hacker, B. The cold and relatively dry nature of mantle forearcs in subduction zones. Nature Geosci 10, 333–337 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2922

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2922

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing