Sulfur-enriched sub-arc fluids drive deep sulfur cycling in subduction zones
O, calcite, and chalcopyrite in omphacite from ultrahigh-pressure eclogites in the Sumdo orogenic belt. Three-dimensional Raman spectroscopy reveals high sulfur concentrations averaging ~6 wt.%. Mass-balance calculations indicate that such fluids can efficiently enrich the mantle wedge and supply up to ~70% of the sulfur emitted by arc volcanism. We further suggest that chalcopyrite formed through post-entrapment reduction of oxidized sulfur species by host omphacite, followed by precipitation with co-entrapped copper and iron. Our findings identify sub-arc depths as a critical window for slab sulfur release and provide key constraints on deep sulfur cycling and copper mobilization in arc systems.
Authors
- Dong‐Bo Tan
- Haihao Guo
- Deshi Jin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5928-383X)
- Carlos J. Garrido (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4357-3637)
- Yilin Xiao
- Xiaoguang Li
- Yang-Yang Wang
- Zeng-Li Guo
- Haiyang Liu
- Timothy Kusky
- Yibing Li
Institutions
- University of Science and Technology of China (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (CN)
- China University of Geosciences (CN)
- Zhejiang Ocean University (CN)
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (ES)
- Institute of Oceanology (CN)
- Institute of Geology and Geophysics (CN)
- Space Engineering University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-04-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71439-3
- Primary Topic
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China