What is it about?
Nitrogen is the 5th most abundant element in the solar system. However, little is known about the distribution of nitrogen in the solid Earth and the cycling of nitrogen via geological processes. This study demonstrates that white mica, a common mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks, is an important host mineral of nitrogen and controls the distribution of nitrogen during subduction.
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Why is it important?
Our study demonstrates that phengitic white mica is the major host of nitrogen in metamorphosed mafic rocks and controls the distribution of nitrogen during subduction. Moreover, we show that the nitrogen isotopic composition is a sensitive tracer of sedimentary lithologies during fluid-rock interaction processes. These findings are fundamental in our understanding of the distribution and cycling of nitrogen in the solid Earth.
Perspectives
The nitrogen system is becoming increasingly important as a geochemical tracer for crustal and volatile recycling processes due to large isotopic differences in the various terrestrial reservoirs. However, studies about nitrogen isotopes in crustal rocks are still quite rare, and our study bridges a gap by investigating the behaviour of nitrogen and its isotopes during fluid-rock interaction processes in subduction-related metamorphic rocks.
Dr Ralf Halama
Keele University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Fluid-induced breakdown of white mica controls nitrogen transfer during fluid–rock interaction in subduction zones, International Geology Review, October 2016, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/00206814.2016.1233834.
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