Chromite-induced magnesium isotope fractionation during mafic magma differentiation

To better understand the mechanism of Mg isotopic variation in magma systems, here we report high precision Mg isotopic data of 17 bulk rock samples including dunite, clinopyroxenite, hornblendite and gabbro and 10 pairs of dunite-hosted olivine and chromite separates from the well-characterized Alaskan-type Xiadong intrusion in NW China, which formed by continuous and high degree of lithological differentiation from mafic magmas. Chromite separates have highly variable δ26Mg values from −0.10‰ to 0.40‰, and are consistently heavier than coexisting olivine separates (−0.39‰ to −0.15‰). Both mineral δ26Mg values and the degrees of inter-mineral fractionation are well correlated with geochemical indicators of magma differentiation, indicating that these inter-sample and inter-mineral Mg isotope fractionations are caused by magma evolution. The δ26Mg values range from −0.20‰ to −0.02‰ in the dunite, −0.43‰ in the clinopyroxenite, −0.43‰ to −0.28‰ in the hornblendite, 0.18‰ in the chromite-bearing hornblendite, and −0.56‰ to −0.16‰ in the gabbro. The Mg isotopic variations in different types of rocks are closely related to fractional crystallization and accumulation of different proportions of oxides vs. silicates. Chromite crystallization and accumulation is the most important factor in controlling Mg isotope fractionation during the formation of the Xiadong intrusion. Compared to basaltic and granitic magmas, differentiation of the Alaskan-type intrusions occurs at a relatively high oxygen fugacity, which favors chromite crystallization and consequently significant Mg isotope fractionations at both mineral and whole-rock scales. Therefore, Mg isotope systematics can be used to trace the degree of magma differentiation and related-mineralization.