ABSTRACT Despite the economic importance of chalcophile (sulfide-loving) and siderophile (metal-loving) elements (CSEs), it is unclear how they become enriched or depleted in the continental

crust, compared with the oceanic crust. This is due in part to our limited understanding of the partitioning behaviour of the CSEs. Here I compile compositional data for mid-ocean ridge

basalts and subduction-related volcanic rocks. I show that the mantle-derived melts that contribute to oceanic and continental crust formation rarely avoid sulfide saturation during cooling

in the crust and, on average, subduction-zone magmas fractionate sulfide at the base of the continental crust prior to ascent. Differentiation of mantle-derived melts enriches lower crustal

continental crust. By contrast, differentiation causes the upper oceanic and continental crust to become enriched in incompatible CSEs (such as W) compared with the lower oceanic and

continental crust. Consequently, incompatible CSEs are predisposed to become enriched in subduction-zone magmas that contribute to continental crust formation and are less susceptible to

removal from the continental crust via delamination compared with the compatible CSEs. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via

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subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS FORMATION OF OXIDIZED SULFUR-RICH MAGMAS IN NEOARCHAEAN SUBDUCTION ZONES Article 28 November

2022 OXIDIZED SULFUR-RICH ARC MAGMAS FORMED PORPHYRY CU DEPOSITS BY 1.88 GA Article Open access 13 April 2021 RECYCLED OCEANIC GABBRO PRODUCED THE DEPLETED COMPONENT IN HOTSPOT MAGMA FROM

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309–317 (2009). Article  Google Scholar  Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS H. O’Neill, J. Prytulak, R. Rudnick, H. Williams, S. Kelley, E. Hauri, J. Bryce, T. Elliott, J. Blundy, N.

Rogers, N. Harris, R. Carlson and C. Hawkesworth are thanked for motivational comments that helped improve my ability to deliver an accessible manuscript. I would like to thank the NERC

(grant reference NE/M000427/1 and NE/M010848/1) for funding. B. Wood, Y. Li, A. Hoffmann and F. Albaréde are thanked for constructive reviews and comments. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND

AFFILIATIONS * School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK7 6AA, UK Frances Elaine Jenner * Department of

Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington DC, 20015-1305, USA Frances Elaine Jenner Authors * Frances Elaine Jenner View author publications You can also search

for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Frances Elaine Jenner. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The author declares no competing financial

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Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Jenner, F. Cumulate causes for the low contents of sulfide-loving elements in the continental crust. _Nature Geosci_ 10,

524–529 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2965 Download citation * Received: 24 January 2017 * Accepted: 08 May 2017 * Published: 05 June 2017 * Issue Date: 01 July 2017 * DOI:

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