Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Jean-Baptiste P., Allard P., Fourré E., Bani Philipson, Calabrese S., Aiuppa A., Gauthier P. J., Parello F., Pelletier Bernard, Garaebiti E. (2016). Spatial distribution of helium isotopes in volcanic gases and thermal waters along the Vanuatu (New Hebrides) volcanic arc. In : Vergniolle N. (ed.), Métrich N. (ed.). Understanding volcanoes in the Vanuatu arc. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 322 (No Spécial), p. 20-29. ISSN 0377-0273.

Titre du document
Spatial distribution of helium isotopes in volcanic gases and thermal waters along the Vanuatu (New Hebrides) volcanic arc
Année de publication
2016
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000387196200003
Auteurs
Jean-Baptiste P., Allard P., Fourré E., Bani Philipson, Calabrese S., Aiuppa A., Gauthier P. J., Parello F., Pelletier Bernard, Garaebiti E.
In
Vergniolle N. (ed.), Métrich N. (ed.), Understanding volcanoes in the Vanuatu arc
Source
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2016, 322 (No Spécial), p. 20-29 ISSN 0377-0273
We report the first helium isotope survey of volcanic gases, hot springs and some olivine phenocrysts along the Vanuatu island arc, from Tanna in the south to Vanua Lava in the north. Low CO2 content and low He-3/He-4 ratios in thermal fluids of Epi (4.0 +/- 0.1 R-a), Efate (4.5 +/- 0.1 R-a) and Pentecost (5.3 +/- 0.5 R-a) islands coherently indicate reduced mantle gas leakage and crustal contamination by radiogenic helium on these extinct volcanic systems of the former (Pliocene) arc. Instead, presently active Vanuatu volcanoes display He-3/He-4 and C/He-3 ratios typical of subduction-related volcanic arcs: He-3/He-4 ratios range from 6.4 +/- 0.5 Ra in southernmost Tanna and 7.23 +/- 0.09 R-a in northernmost Vanua Lava to typical MORE values in the central islands of Gaua (7.68 +/- 0.06 R-a), Ambrym (7.6 +/- 0.8 R-a) and Ambae (7 2 R-a in groundwaters, 7.9 +/- 1.4 R-a in olivine phenocrysts, and 8.0 +/- 0.1 Ra in summit fumaroles of Aoba volcano). On Ambrym, however, we discover that hydrothermal manifestations separated by only 10-15 km on both sides of a major E-W transverse fault zone crossing the island are fed by two distinct helium sources, with different 3He/4He signatures: while fluids in southwest Ambrym (Baiap and Sesivi areas) have typical arc ratios (7.6 +/- 0.8 R-a), fluids on the northwest coast (Buama Bay area) display both higher He-3/He-4 ratios (9.8 +/- 02 R-a in waters to 10.21 +/- 0.08 R-a in bubbling gases) and lower C/He-3 ratios that evidence a hotspot influence. We thus infer that the influx of Indian MORB mantle beneath the central Vanuatu arc, from which Ambrym magmas originate, also involves a He-3-rich hotspot component, possibly linked to a westward influx of Samoan hotspot material or another yet unknown local source. This duality in magmatic He source at Ambrym fits with the bimodal composition and geochemistry of the erupted basalts, implying two distinct magma sources and feeding systems. More broadly, the wide He isotopic variations detected along the Vanuatu arc further verify the complex tectonic and magmatic framework of this intra-oceanic island arc.
Plan de classement
Hydrologie [062] ; Géologie et formations superficielles [064] ; Géophysique interne [066]
Description Géographique
VANUATU
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010068347]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010068347
Contact