Chemical stratification in the post-magma ocean Earth inferred from coupled 146,147 Sm– 142,143 Nd systematics in ultramafic rocks of the Saglek block (3.25–3.9 Ga; northern Labrador, Canada)

Abstract Two suites of amphibole-rich mafic‒ultramafic rocks associated with the voluminous intermediate to felsic rocks in the Early Cretaceous Laiyuan intrusive-volcanic complex (North China Craton) are studied here by detailed petrography, mineral- and melt inclusion chemistry, and thermobarometry to demonstrate an in-situ reaction-replacement origin of the hornblendites. Moreover, a large set of compiled and newly obtained geochronological and whole-rock elemental and Sr-Nd isotopic data are used to constrain the tectono-magmatic evolution of the Laiyuan complex. Early mafic‒ultramafic rocks occur mainly as amphibole-rich mafic‒ultramafic intrusions situated at the edge of the Laiyuan complex. These intrusions comprise complex lithologies of olivine-, pyroxene- and phlogopite-bearing hornblendites and various types of gabbroic rocks, which largely formed by in-situ crystallization of hydrous mafic magmas that experienced gravitational settling of early-crystallized olivine and clinopyroxene at low pressures of 0.10‒0.20 GPa (∼4‒8 km crustal depth); the hornblendites formed in cumulate zones by cooling-driven crystallization of 55‒75 vol% hornblende, 10‒20 vol% orthopyroxene and 3‒10 vol% phlogopite at the expense of olivine and clinopyroxene. A later suite of mafic rocks occurs as mafic lamprophyre dikes throughout the Laiyuan complex. These dikes occasionally contain some pure hornblendite xenoliths, which formed by reaction-replacement of clinopyroxene at high pressures of up to 0.97‒1.25 GPa (∼37‒47 km crustal depth). Mass balance calculations suggest that the olivine-, pyroxene- and phlogopite-bearing hornblendites in the early mafic‒ultramafic intrusions formed almost without melt extraction, whereas the pure hornblendites brought up by lamprophyre dikes required extraction of ≥ 20‒30 wt% residual andesitic to dacitic melts. The latter suggests that fractionation of amphibole in the middle to lower crust through the formation of reaction-replacement hornblendites is a viable way to produce adakite-like magmas. New age constraints suggest that the early mafic-ultramafic intrusions formed during ∼132‒138 Ma, which overlaps with the timespan of ∼126‒145 Ma recorded by the much more voluminous intermediate to felsic rocks of the Laiyuan complex. By contrast, the late mafic and intermediate lamprophyre dikes were emplaced during ∼110‒125 Ma. Therefore, the voluminous early magmatism in the Laiyuan complex was likely triggered by the retreat of the flat-subducting Paleo-Pacific slab, whereas the minor later, mafic to intermediate magmas may have formed in response to further slab sinking-induced mantle thermal perturbations. Whole-rock geochemical data suggest that the early mafic magmas formed by partial melting of subduction-related metasomatized lithospheric mantle, and that the early intermediate to felsic magmas with adakite-like signatures formed from mafic magmas through strong amphibole fractionation without plagioclase in the lower crust. The late mafic magmas seem to be derived from a slightly different metasomatized lithospheric mantle by lower degrees of partial melting.

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Effect of crustal porosity on lunar magma ocean solidification

Acta Geochimica ◽

10.1007/s11631-020-00449-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mingming Zhang ◽

Yingkui Xu ◽

Xiongyao Li

Keyword(s):

Magma Ocean

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Geochemical, Geological and Groundwater Quality Characterization of a Complex Geological Framework: The Case Study of the Coreca Area (Calabria, South Italy)

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences11030121 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 121

Author(s):

Giovanni Vespasiano ◽

Francesco Muto ◽

Carmine Apollaro

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Quality ◽

Direct Interaction ◽

Anthropogenic Pollution ◽

Major And Trace Elements ◽

World Health ◽

Ultramafic Rocks ◽

General Point ◽

Limit Values ◽

South Italy ◽

Italian Law

Hydrogeochemical characterization and statistical methods were used to investigate the groundwater quality and the origin of constituents (anthropic or natural) in groundwater of the Coreca area (Calabria, South Italy). Coreca is characterized by an articulated geological setting where the three main geological complexes that distinguish the Northern Calabria Peloritan Orogen (CPO) outcrop. This complex asset affects the quality of groundwater mainly exploited for irrigation use. In particular, the presence of ultramafic rocks (e.g., serpentinite and metabasite) promotes the release of harmful elements such as Cr and Ni. In the studied area, two groups of waters were identified: Ca-HCO3 waters strongly controlled by the interaction with Ca-rich phases (e.g., limestone), and Mg-HCO3 waters related to the interaction of meteoric water with the metamorphic units. Statistical elaboration allowed to detect, in the Mg-HCO3 group, a good correlation between Cr and Ni (not observed in Ca waters) and a negative correlation between Cr, Ca and Al, in agreement with direct interaction with ultramafic rocks characterized by low concentrations of CaO and Al2O3. The concentration of major and trace elements has been compared with the Italian law limit values and the drinking water guidelines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Only three samples showed Mn and Ni concentration higher than the Italian law threshold. Furthermore, the assessment of groundwater quality was carried out using salinity and metal indexes. The groundwater quality assessment for irrigation allowed to classify the resource as “excellent to good” and “good to permissible”; nevertheless, a salinity problem and a magnesium hazard were found. Lastly, a metal index (MI) calculation revealed values <1 for almost all samples, pointing to good overall quality. Only a few samples showed a value extremely higher than 1, attributable to prolonged interaction with ultramafic rocks and/or localized anthropogenic pollution. From a general point of view, groundwater showed a generally good quality except for limited areas (and limited to the set of constituents analyzed) and a mild exceedance of the maximum salinity thresholds that must be monitored over time. Through a multidisciplinary approach, it was possible to ascertain the main anomalies attributable to the interaction with the hosting rocks and not (with few exceptions) to anthropic processes.

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Trace elements in olivine: Proxies for petrogenesis, mineralization and discrimination of mafic-ultramafic rocks

Lithos ◽

10.1016/j.lithos.2021.106085 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 106085

Author(s):

Jing Wang ◽

Ben-Xun Su ◽

Paul T. Robinson ◽

Yan Xiao ◽

Yang Bai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Ultramafic Rocks

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Exploring super-Earth surfaces: Albedo of near-airless magma ocean planets and topography

Icarus ◽

10.1016/j.icarus.2020.114175 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 114175

Author(s):

Darius Modirrousta-Galian ◽

Yuichi Ito ◽

Giuseppina Micela

Keyword(s):

Magma Ocean

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Spectral and chemical studies of iron and manganese oxyhydroxides in laterite developed on ultramafic rocks

Resource Geology ◽

10.1111/rge.12272 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Carmela Alen J. Tupaz ◽

Yasushi Watanabe ◽

Kenzo Sanematsu ◽

Takuya Echigo

Keyword(s):

Ultramafic Rocks ◽

Chemical Studies ◽

Iron And Manganese

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Rheological Contrast between Quartz and Coesite Generates Strain Localization in Deeply Subducted Continental Crust

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min11080842 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 842

Author(s):

Kouhei Asano ◽

Katsuyoshi Michibayashi ◽

Tomohiro Takebayashi

Keyword(s):

Rheological Behavior ◽

Strain Localization ◽

Shear Zones ◽

Ultrahigh Pressure ◽

Ultramafic Rocks ◽

Crustal Material ◽

Orientation Data ◽

Crystallographic Preferred Orientation ◽

Dabie Shan ◽

Felsic Rocks

Deformation microstructures of peak metamorphic conditions in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks constrain the rheological behavior of deeply subducted crustal material within a subduction channel. However, studies of such rocks are limited by the overprinting effects of retrograde metamorphism during exhumation. Here, we present the deformation microstructures and crystallographic-preferred orientation data of minerals in UHP rocks from the Dabie–Shan to study the rheological behavior of deeply subducted continental material under UHP conditions. The studied samples preserve deformation microstructures that formed under UHP conditions and can be distinguished into two types: high-strain mafic–ultramafic samples (eclogite and garnet-clinopyroxenite) and low-strain felsic samples (jadeite quartzite). This distinction suggests that felsic rocks are less strained than mafic–ultramafic rocks under UHP conditions. We argue that the phase transition from quartz to coesite in the felsic rocks may explain the microstructural differences between the studied mafic–ultramafic and felsic rock samples. The presence of coesite, which has a higher strength than quartz, may result in an increase in the bulk strength of felsic rocks, leading to strain localization in nearby mafic–ultramafic rocks. The formation of shear zones associated with strain localization under HP/UHP conditions can induce the detachment of subducted crustal material from subducting lithosphere, which is a prerequisite for the exhumation of UHP rocks. These findings suggest that coesite has an important influence on the rheological behavior of crustal material that is subducted to coesite-stable depths.

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