VoiLA: Volatile Recycling in the Lesser Antilles

Deep water cycle studies have largely focussed on subduction of lithosphere formed at fast spreading ridges. However, oceanic plates are more likely to become hydrated as spreading rate decreases. Our VoiLA project targets the Lesser Antilles subduction zone, one of only two zones that currently subduct lithosphere formed by slow spreading in the Atlantic. Our project comprises two marine scientific cruises, temporary seismic deployments on the islands, geological fieldwork, geochemical and petrological analyses and numerical modelling. I will discuss how by combining active and passive seismic imaging, geochemistry and geodynamic modelling, we are starting to see heterogeneous hydration of the incoming plate which correlates with fluid signatures in the arc magmas and variable hydration of the mantle wedge extending far into the back-arc. The variable subduction of fluids likely affects seismic activity and magmatic productivity along the arc system.