Temporal evolution of sulfur content and sulfur isotopes with respect to variation of fluid composition and basalt geochemistry in the lava sequence recovered by the Kahi Puka-2 drilling (Hawaii Scientific Drilling Project)

• Applicant: Dr. Zsolt Berner
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2002 to 2004
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5363687

The objective of this project is to investigate the content and isotope composition of sulfur in ocean island basalts and mantle xenoliths to constrain the influence of magmatic processes on isotope fractionation during melt formation, magma ascent and eruption. Much of the information that has been gathered today, is in terms contradictory as to the S isotopic composition of the mantle, indicating that the mantle is regionally uniform, but heterogeneous as a whole. Within the Hawaii Scientific Drilling Program, an unique opportunity is given to investigate the temporal variation in S content and isotopic ratios of ocean island basalts in relation to fluid composition and basalt geochemistry, by systematic investigation of a 3.1 km core, recovered during drilling through the eastern flank of the Mauna Kea volcano at Hilo Bay, Hawaii. The core represent ~1 Myr of volcanism as the result of mantle plume activity. The potential of this project is to investigate S isotope geochemistry in relation to magmatic mantle processes and to contribute to our understanding of structure and dynamics of the mantle.

• DFG Programme: Infrastructure Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1006: International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP)
• Participating Person: Professorin Dr. Doris Stüben