Oxygen and carbon isotope composition of carbonatites were summarized in a number of previous works. The largest number of δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С values (about 440) was collected and used to construct histograms in [1] . In the work [2] , 56 values from 8 carbonatite occurrences of Kola Alkaline Province were used, linear trends were identified. In the work [3] , 70 analyzes from 20 carbonatite occurrences of Siberia and Mongolia were used; a diagram was proposed for determining the type of mantle using the ratio of O-C isotopes. In the work [4] , the fields of point values are outlined in the δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С diagram for the Greenland, Europe, and North and South America regions without a division for individual carbonatite occurrences. The fields of primary igneous carbonatites on the δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С diagram are outlined in the works [1] [5] [6] [7] . These fields are used in the analysis of local isotope data in carbonatite studies.

This paper uses 1593 pairs of conjugate values of δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С out of 173 carbonatite occurrences of the world. In addition, a linear regression analysis of the values is performed for most occurrences. This paper exceeds all previously published reports on С-О isotopes in carbonatites by quantity of the used values and carbonatite occurrences. Data on the ratio ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in 92 carbonatite occurrences are taken additionally from the sources used. The limited size of the article does not allow to provide a complete database and a list of used references (about 100 titles).

Carbonatite occurrences are represented by bodies of various shapes and sizes (complexes, massifs, dikes, facies zones). Isotope analysis is applied to carbonatite rocks (sovite, alvikite, beforsite, etc.), monofractions of calcite, dolomite, ankerite, siderite. Authors of literature classify the analyzed material as primary carbonatites (PC). This is mainly done on the basis of petrographic studies, in which secondary endo- and exogenous minerals are not detected. Single anomalous values are excluded from the primary category by the author of the article. Numerous δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С values refer to secondary carbonatites in the used literature: carbonate tuffs and lavas, hydrothermal veins, hydrothermally altered and recrystallized carbonatites, weathered and oxidized carbonatites, secondary calcite. Data on secondary carbonatites is not used in this article.

All isotope diagrams have a horizontal x-axis δ¹⁸О (‰, V-SMOW) and a vertical y-axis δ¹³С (‰, V-PDV). The equal scale of both axes, a multiple of 1‰, allows to visually comparing the shape of the point sets (point fields) and the slope of the trend lines. The names of carbonatite occurrences and their identification number (ID) are coordinated with the database [8] and are given in English transcription.

The diagram in Figure 1 contains 1593 points of the δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С from 173 carbonatite occurrences, including various carbonatite facies in one occurrence. The number of points in the individual occurrences varies from 2 to 54. The points fill a very wide field. Analysis of the field is complex and incorrect due to the variable number and large scatter of points that characterize individual carbonatite occurrences. The contours PC-98% and PC-90% presented in the diagram are proved in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Subsequent statistical analysis of isotope data uses summary indicators characterizing carbonatite occurrences. Trend (linear regression) analysis was performed in 140 occurrences that satisfy two conditions: 1) there are three or more points; 2) the arithmetic difference between the maximum and minimum δ¹⁸О values is more than 0.5‰. Trend lines under opposite conditions (less than three points and difference δ¹⁸О less than 0.5‰) cannot be reliable. The linear regression equation y = kx + b and the trend line are calculated in Microsoft Excel 97-2003. The complete database (it is too large to be here) contains a point diagram for each occurrence, a calculated angular coefficient k, a constant b, a coefficient of determination (approximation) R².

Examples of point diagrams in order of increasing coefficient R² are shown in Figure 4. According to the visual observation of the diagrams, the linear trend is absent or indistinct in the occurrences that have R² from 0.00 to 0.29. The number of such occurrences in the database is 70. The linear form of point fields begins to confidently be fixed from R² ≥ 0.30 (occurrence 413. Chetlassky in Figure 4). The linear trend is found in 70 occurrences, where R² is from 0.30 to 0.99. The trend line is depicted as a vector directed upwards δ¹⁸О. Such a direction is taken in the literature on the geochemistry of carbonatites.

Appendix provides a summary Table with brief data on 173 carbonatite occurrences. The names of occurrences that are not in the database [8] are given without an ID number. Digital data include: 1) n, n* is the number of paired values δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С in occurrences without a linear trend (n) and with a linear trend (n*); 2) middle point arithmetic average δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С from among the values; 3) the starting point of the trend line or nonlinear field of δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С points; 4) minimum initial ratio ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr. The position of carbonatite occurrences in the diagrams (Figure 2 and Figure 3) can be determined using the table values.

Trend line and middle point for 70 occurrences in which a linear trend is revealed are shown in the diagram (Figure 2). Only the middle point is shown for the remaining 103 occurrences. The polygonal contour PC-98% is delineated. It includes about 98% of all middle points. The diagram shows that trend lines vary significantly in length. The horizontal span of the lines (the arithmetic difference δ¹⁸Оmax - δ¹⁸Оmin) ranges from 0.5‰ to 11‰, in 90% of cases it does not exceed 7.5‰, on average it is 3.5‰.

The slope of the trend line varies widely, as seen in Figure 2. The slope is determined by the angular coefficient k. Statistical analysis of the coefficient is shown in Figure 5. Three separate intervals of k are read on the point diagram: −0.73 - 0.09; 0.09 - 0.51; 0.51 - 1.51. On the rose diagram, the intervals are shown as sectors, and the average for the three sectors is shown as vectors. Sector k with a range of 0.09 - 0.51 and a middle vector of 0.30 is sharply dominant. Sector −0.73 - 0.09 with a middle vector of −0.27 and sector 0.51 - 1.51 with a middle vector of 0.96 have a subordinate meaning.

The averaged shape of the field of points for three groups of occurrences with a linear trend and for one group without a trend is modeled in Figure 6. The

arithmetic average differences δ¹⁸Оmax - δ¹⁸Оmin and δ¹³Сmax - δ¹³Сmin are calculated in each group. Rectangles with sides equal to these averages are shown in Figures 6(a)-(d). The modeled fields of points are inscribed in rectangles along the middle trend line. All fields in accordance with their averages are placed in Figure 6(e). Comparison of the fields shows that the lack of a clear linear form in the field 6d is due to the increased variation in the δ¹³С value. This may be due to the cumulative effect of trends 6a, 6b and 6c.

Each carbonatite occurrence with a linear trend can be characterized by the starting point of the trend. The δ¹⁸О of the starting point is equal to the minimum value in the statistical sample. The δ¹³С value is calculated from the empirical regression equation. The values of δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С starting points of the trends are given in the Table. Occurrences without a linear trend also imply the presence of a starting point. This follows from the previously made assumption that the nonlinear point field 6d in Figure 6 is the result of the cumulative influence of trends 6a, 6b and 6c. All trends are directed upwards δ¹⁸О, but in different directions along δ¹³С. Therefore, the starting point of field 6d must have δ¹⁸О equal to the minimum of the statistical sample. The δ¹³С value in some approximation can be taken equal to the average of the sample (Figure 6(d)). The δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С of the starting point in the occurrences without the identified linear trend is also given in the Table.

The diagram shows two groups of points (Figure 3): 1) the starting point of the trend line in the occurrences with a linear trend (n = 70); 2) the starting point of nonlinear fields in other occurrences (n = 103). The second group includes occurrences without a linear trend (n = 70), and also occurrences with only two points δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С (n = 24) and with a difference δ¹⁸Оmax - δ¹⁸Оmin < 0.5 (n = 9) that were excluded from the trend analysis. Visual analysis of the diagram allows to delineate the internal contour PC-90% in addition to the PC-98% contour justified in Figure 2. This contour includes a compact group of 90% starting points. The vertical line δ¹⁸О = 7.9‰ divides the contour PC-90% into two parts, each of which is 45% of the total number of starting points.

The contours of primary carbonatites PC-98%, PC-90% and PC-45% (left and right contours) are shown in the diagram (Figure 7). For comparison, the contours and points of primary igneous (mantle) carbonatites are given according to other authors. The closest is the left contour of PC-45% and the contour of Jones et al. [7] . The three middle vectors of the angular coefficient k are also shown in the diagram. The dominant trend k = 0.30 in the literature is usually associated with two factors that coincide in direction: 1) Rayleigh isotopic fractionation at high-temperature differentiation of carbonatite melts; 2) sedimentation (crustal) contamination of mantle melts. The second factor is illustrated by the directionality of the dominant trend on the contour of normal sedimentary rocks. The subordinate trend k = −0.27 is associated with the degassing of CO₂ from melts. Another subordinate trend k = 0.96 is not discussed in the literature. The beginning of the vectors is at the point (5‰ δ¹⁸О; −6.5‰ δ¹³С). The full sector of the angular coefficient (from −0.73 to 1.51) covers almost all occurrences from this point. Perhaps this point is close to the primary mantle source of carbonatites.

The used literature on O-C isotopy also contains data on the isotope composition of strontium. The minimum initial value of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in 92 carbonatite occurrences is given in the Table. The field of minimum values in the coordinates ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr-δ¹⁸О is presented in the diagram (Figure 8). There is no correlation between the values. The oblique line in the diagram is the line of mixing the mantle source (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.702; δ¹⁸O = 5‰) and the sedimentary contaminant (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.710; δ¹⁸O = 20‰) at equal concentrations of strontium in the sources. The stable enrichment of carbonatites with strontium in comparison with sedimentary carbonates is known. Under this condition, a band of points above the mixing line may reflect crustal contamination of magmas. However, a wide scatter of points below the mixing line leaves room for other hypotheses, including contamination of the source in the mantle. The PC-98%, PC-90% and PC-45% contours, previously substantiated in the coordinates δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С, are delineated in the diagram. The PC-45% contour is divided by the value ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.704 into two fields. The field ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr < 0.704 and δ¹⁸О < 7.75‰ can be considered as the primary mantle field in the O-C-Sr isotope system.

Data on the oxygen and carbon isotope composition of primary carbonatites for 173 carbonatite occurrences of the world were collected (1593 paired values of δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С). Primary carbonatites are rocks without petrographic signs of secondary hydrothermal and exogenous mineral changes. Primary carbonatites demonstrate a wide variation of the δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С values and linear trends, which indicates the isotopic heterogeneity of carbonatite substance.

Linear regression analysis of δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С values reveals linear trends in half of the carbonatite occurrences. The trend with an average angular coefficient of 0.30 (positive correlation δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С) sharply dominates. In the literature, this is explained by the Rayleigh high-temperature fractionation of carbonatite melts or by their sedimentary (crustal) contamination. The trend line span (arithmetic difference δ¹⁸Omax - δ¹⁸Omin) ranges from 0.5‰ to 11‰, on average it is 3.5‰. Increased trends (over 7.5‰) suggest the action not only of endogenous factors, but also the influence of secondary processes not recorded in petrographic observations.

The second trend with an average angular coefficient of −0.27 (negative correlation δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С) is rarer. This trend is usually associated with the CO₂ degassing from melts. A rare third trend is not discussed in the literature. It has an average angular coefficient of 0.96 (positive correlation δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С). The linear trend of δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С values is not detected in half of carbonatite occurrences due to increased variation of δ¹³С. This may be due to the combined action of different factors—contamination, high-temperature fractionation and degassing of melts.

The fields of primary carbonatites (PC) are delineated in the coordinates δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С (‰), including 98%, 90% and 45% of the numbers of occurrences. The PC-90% contour can be considered acceptable for primary carbonatites. In-depth petrographic and other argumentation of the primary nature of carbonates is required for occurrences outside this contour. The PC-45% (δ¹⁸О < 7.75‰) contour with a high probability includes only primary carbonatites with a mantle source of a carbonate substance and with minimal effect of isotope fractionation or contamination of melts. A greater influence of these factors is expected for occurrences in the PC-45% (δ¹⁸О > 7.75‰) contour.

Strontium in carbonatite occurrences has a wide variation of the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio from 0.701 to 0.708. This variation and the absence of correlation between ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and the δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С allow both mantle and crustal contamination of carbonatite magmas.

The stated statistical data on the O, C and Sr isotope composition in primary carbonatites leave room for additional and alternative judgments.

The author declares no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Bolonin, A.V. (2019) Oxygen and Carbon Isotope Composition in Primary Carbonatites of the World: Data Summary and Linear Trends. Open Journal of Geology, 9, 424-439. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2019.98028

Carbonatite occurrences: δ¹⁸О-δ¹³С values of middle and starting points of trends; minimum initial ratio ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (n* – occurrences with a linear trend, n – other occurrences)