Geophysical evidence of large-scale silica-rich fluid flow above the continental subduction interface

<p>Continental subduction zones are crucial tectonic settings where subducted slabs exchange crustal materials with the mantle, and geochemical changes occur with the participation of fluids at increasing temperatures and pressures.&#160;The occurrence of pervasive networks of quartz veins in exhumed sections of the Alpine subduction wedge provides evidence for major silica-rich fluid circulation in the shallowest levels of the subduction zone. However, the occurrence of silica-rich fluids at greater depths above the subduction interface remains speculative.</p> <p>Rocks involved in the subduction zone experience variable temperature and pressure conditions and show a wide range of densities and seismic velocities that are not necessarily correlated. An integrated analysis of seismic velocities, Vp/Vs ratios and rock densities may provide a viable tool to detect compositional variations in the Earth&#8217;s interiors and infer the impact of large-scale fluid flows on the intrinsic physical properties of subducted rocks.&#160;We tackle this issue from a geophysical perspective, by applying H-&#954;&#160;stacking, receiver function analysis, and waveform and gravity modelling.&#160;We found a belt of high Vp/Vs ratios >1.9 in the rear part of the Alpine subduction wedge, consistent with a partly serpentinized upper-plate mantle, and a belt of unusually low Vp/Vs ratios <1.7 in the frontal part of the subduction wedge that we interpret as the effect of a pervasive network of silica-rich veins above the subduction interface. Laboratory experiment shows that Vp/Vs ratios are generally higher for serpentinite (2.0-2.2), and much lower for quartz (1.46-1.48).</p> <p>Our results suggest a dominant role of silica-rich fluids in the subduction wedge. These silica-rich fluids rose within the subduction wedge until the change in ambient conditions precipitated the formation of a widespread network of quartz veins, as observed in the field. And this pervasive quartz-vein network changes the physical properties of the subduction-wedge rocks, implying a major impact on rheology favoring crustal deformation during continental subduction.</p>