Abstract The mobilization of volatile elements during the subduction of marine crust and sediments is an important question for the understanding of the marine element budget. Geochemical behavior and halflife (15.7 Ma) of 129 I make this isotopic system a useful tracer for processes associated with the subduction and recycling of marine sediments. The North Island of New Zealand is particularly suited for testing this system because samples of volcanic and geothermal waters are accessible from a variety of settings across the volcanic arc. We report here on waters recently collected from locations sampled earlier by Giggenbach et al. (1993) , specifically from the East Coast, the Taupo Volcanic Zone, and the Northland, representing the fore arc, main arc, and the zone behind the volcanic arc, respectively. Although a significant number of the samples showed the presence of anthropogenic 129 I, preanthropogenic ratios could be determined for waters from the East Coast and the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Waters from the Taupo Volcanic Zone had the lowest iodine concentrations and 129 I/I ratios close to 300 × 10 −15 . In contrast, waters sampled in the East Coast had the highest iodine concentrations coupled with 129 I/I ratios as low as 55 × 10 −15 . Whereas samples from the Northland had intermediate values in iodine concentrations, the initial 129 I/I ratios for this set of samples could not be determined due to the presence of anthropogenic 129 I. The ratios for the Taupo Volcanic Zone are compatible with iodine derived from marine sediments, mobilized from the entire sediment column undergoing subduction in this area. The ratios in the East Coast suggest the presence of a substantially older component in these fluids, also of marine origin, but mobilized from formations in the accretionary wedge. The ages derived for these samples (~70 Ma) are in good agreement with ages estimated for hydrocarbons found in this area, suggesting a common source; the positive correlation observed between iodine and methane concentrations supports this interpretation. Results from this study demonstrate that processes leading to release of geothermal fluids are substantially different in fore- and main-arc settings. A comparison of the data from New Zealand to results from volcanic areas in Japan, Central America, and South America shows that the 129 I system gives site-specific results and can be used successfully to determine origin and history of fluids in subduction zones.

Abstract The isotopic composition of lead was investigated in and around Kuroko deposits of the Hokuroku district, Japan. Although the ore leads of these deposits were found to occupy a narrow isotopic range, each ore deposit has a characteristic isotopic composition. Within a given ore deposit, black ore has a uniform isotopic composition but is significantly higher in radiogenic lead than yellow ore. The differences between ore types are, however, smaller than those between ore deposits. The volcanic host rocks are in general lower in radiogenic lead than the ores, whereas the deeper, older formations, in particular the Sasahata Formation and the Paleozoic basement, have more radiogenic lead than the ores. On the basis of the isotopic distribution we conclude that a major part of the lead in the Kuroko deposits was derived from igneous, probably volcanic rocks with an uncertain but significant contribution coming from the underlying pre-Nishikurozawa formations. The ore fluids reached the Sasahata Formation and most likely also the Paleozoic basement. Each ore deposit within the district was formed by a local hydrothermal system. The difference in isotopic composition between the yellow and black ores reflects a shift in the proportions coming from the two major sources due to the temperature evolution of the hydrothermal system. The yellow ore seems to have a greater igneous rock lead component than does the black ore.