Heavy nitrogen in carbonatites of the kola peninsula: A possible signature of the deep mantle

N Dauphas; B Marty

doi:10.1126/science.286.5449.2488

Heavy nitrogen in carbonatites of the kola peninsula: A possible signature of the deep mantle

Science. 1999 Dec 24;286(5449):2488-90. doi: 10.1126/science.286.5449.2488.

Authors

N Dauphas¹, B Marty

Affiliation

¹ Centre de Recherches Petrographiques et Geochimiques, CNRS UPR 9046, 15 rue Notre-Dame des Pauvres, Boite Postale 20, 54501 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy Cedex, France. Ecole Nationale Superieure de Geologie, rue du doyen Marcel Roubault, Boit.

PMID: 10617459
DOI: 10.1126/science.286.5449.2488

Abstract

Nitrogen and argon isotopes were measured in carbonatites and associated rocks from the Kola Peninsula in Russia. The Kola mantle source, which is thought to be located in the deep mantle, is enriched in heavy nitrogen (+3 per mil relative to air) as compared to Earth's surface (atmosphere and crust, +2 per mil) and the shallow mantle (-4 per mil). Recycling of oceanic crust (+6 per mil) or metal-silicate partitioning may account for the nitrogen isotopic composition of the deep mantle.