Carbon abundances in mantle minerals determined by nuclear reaction analysis

Abstract

Profiles of C concentration versus depth were determined in a spinel megacryst and two olivine crystals of a mantle xenolith from Kilbourne Hole, New Mexico, using the 12 C(d,p) 13 C nuclear reaction technique. The 0‐1400 Å layers of all crystals are characterized by C concentrations of ∼1000 wt. ppm. This C is interpreted to be a contaminant acquired during sample preparation or ion bombardment. Below the surface, measurable C concentrations were not found in the spinel and one of the olivine crystals, but a bulk C content of 425 ppm was measured for a second crystal. The latter is interpreted to be due to the presence of discrete C‐rich phase(s) in submicroscopic inclusions or microcracks rather than C dissolved in the crystal lattice. The detection limit potentially obtainable by the (d,p) reaction technique for bulk C in minerals is several 10's of ppm.