scholarly journals The role of the antigorite + brucite to olivine reaction in subducted serpentinites (Zermatt, Switzerland)

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias D. Kempf ◽  
Jörg Hermann ◽  
Eric Reusser ◽  
Lukas P. Baumgartner ◽  
Pierre Lanari
Keyword(s):  
Minor Element ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Oceanic Lithosphere ◽  
Primitive Mantle ◽  
Bulk Rock ◽  
Heterogeneous Distribution ◽  
Magnetite Content ◽  
Trace Element Contents ◽  
Fluid Release

AbstractMetamorphic olivine formed by the reaction of antigorite + brucite is widespread in serpentinites that crop out in glacier-polished outcrops at the Unterer Theodulglacier, Zermatt. Olivine overgrows a relic magnetite mesh texture formed during ocean floor serpentinization. Serpentinization is associated with rodingitisation of mafic dykes. Metamorphic olivine coexists with magnetite, shows high Mg# of 94–97 and low trace element contents. A notable exception is 4 µg/g Boron (> 10 times primitive mantle), introduced during seafloor alteration and retained in metamorphic olivine. Olivine incorporated 100–140 µg/g H2O in Si-vacancies, providing evidence for low SiO2-activity imposed by brucite during olivine growth. No signs for hydrogen loss or major and minor element diffusional equilibration are observed. The occurrence of olivine in patches within the serpentinite mimics the former heterogeneous distribution of brucite, whereas the network of olivine-bearing veins and shear zones document the pathways of the escaping fluid produced by the olivine forming reaction. Relic Cr-spinels have a high Cr# of 0.5 and the serpentinites display little or no clinopyroxene, indicating that they derive from hydrated harzburgitic mantle that underwent significant melt depletion. The enrichment of Mg and depletion of Si results in the formation of brucite during seafloor alteration, a pre-requisite for later subduction-related olivine formation and fluid liberation. The comparison of calculated bulk rock brucite contents in the Zermatt-Saas with average IODP serpentinites suggests a large variation in fluid release during olivine formation. Between 3.4 and 7.2 wt% H2O is released depending on the magnetite content in fully serpentinized harzburgites (average oceanic serpentinites). Thermodynamic modelling indicates that the fluid release in Zermatt occurred between 480 °C and 550 °C at 2–2.5 GPa with the Mg# of olivine varying from 68 to 95. However, the majority of the fluid released from this reaction was produced within a narrow temperature field of < 30 °C, at higher pressures 2.5 GPa and temperatures 550–600 °C than commonly thought. Fluids derived from the antigorite + brucite reaction might thus trigger eclogite facies equilibration in associated metabasalts, meta-gabbros, meta-rodingites and meta-sediments in the area. This focused fluid release has the potential to trigger intermediate depths earthquakes at 60–80 km in subducted oceanic lithosphere.

THE ROLE OF SHEAR ZONES IN CARIBBEAN PLATE MOTION

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simin Gao ◽  
◽  
Margarete Jadamec
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zones ◽  
Plate Motion ◽  
Caribbean Plate

ROLE OF PHYLLOSILICATES ON RHEOLOGICAL WEAKENING OF DETACHMENT SHEAR ZONES (RAFT RIVER MOUNTAINS, UT)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Morris ◽  
◽  
Raphaël Gottardi ◽  
Gabriele Casale
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zones

scholarly journals The role of sulphur on the melting of Ca-poor sediment and on trace element transfer in subduction zones: an experimental investigation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Aziliz Pelleter ◽  
Gaëlle Prouteau ◽  
Bruno Scaillet
Keyword(s):  
Trace Element ◽  
Partial Melting ◽  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Sediment Flux ◽  
Arc Magmas ◽  
Trace Element Contents ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Element Transfer ◽  
High Sediment

Abstract We performed phase equilibrium experiments on a natural Ca-poor pelite at 3 GPa, 750-1000 °C, under moderately oxidizing conditions, simulating the partial melting of such lithologies in subduction zones. Experiments investigated the effect of sulphur addition on phase equilibria and compositions, with S contents of up to ∼ 2.2 wt. %. Run products were characterized for their major and trace element contents, in order to shed light on the role of sulphur on the trace element patterns of melts produced by partial melting of oceanic Ca-poor sediments. Results show that sulphur addition leads to the replacement of phengite by biotite along with the progressive consumption of garnet, which is replaced by an orthopyroxene-kyanite assemblage at the highest sulphur content investigated. All Fe-Mg silicate phases produced with sulphur, including melt, have higher MgO/(MgO+FeO) ratios (relative to S-free/poor conditions), owing to Fe being primarily locked up by sulphide in the investigated redox range. Secular infiltration of the mantle wedge by such MgO and K2O-rich melts may have contributed to the Mg and K-rich character of the modern continental crust. Addition of sulphur does not affect significantly the stability of the main accessory phases controlling the behaviour of trace elements (monazite, rutile and zircon), although our results suggest that monazite solubility is sensitive to S content at the conditions investigated. The low temperature (∼ 800 °C) S-bearing and Ca-poor sediment sourced slab melts show Th and La abundances, Th/La systematics and HFSE signatures in agreement with the characteristics of sediment-rich arc magmas. Because high S contents diminish phengite and garnet stabilities, S-rich and Ca-poor sediment sourced slab melts have higher contents of Rb, B, Li (to a lesser extent), and HREE. The highest ratios of La/Yb are observed in sulphur-poor runs (with a high proportion of garnet, which retains HREE) and beyond the monazite out curve (which retains LREE). Sulphides appear to be relatively Pb-poor and impart high Pb/Ce ratio to coexisting melts, even at high S content. Overall, our results show that Phanerozoic arc magmas from high sediment flux margins owe their geochemical signature to the subduction of terrigenous, sometimes S-rich, sediments. In contrast, subduction of such lithologies during Archean appears unlikely or unrecorded.

scholarly journals The role of Edge-Driven Convection in the generation of volcanism I: a 2D systematic study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Manjón-Cabeza Córdoba ◽  
Maxim Ballmer
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Models ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Oceanic Lithosphere ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Continental Lithosphere ◽  
Transient Phenomenon ◽  
Mantle Viscosity ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. The origin of intraplate volcanism is not explained by the plate tectonic theory, and several models have been put forward for explanation. One of these models involves Edge-Driven Convection (EDC), in which cold and thick continental lithosphere is juxtaposed to warm and thin oceanic lithosphere to trigger convective instability. To test whether EDC can produce long-lived high-volume magmatism, we run numerical models of EDC for a wide range of mantle properties and edge (i.e., the oceanic-continental transition) geometries. We find that the most important parameters that govern EDC are the rheological paramaters mantle viscosity η0 and activation energy Ea. However, even the maximum melting volumes found in our models are insufficient to account for island-building volcanism on old seafloor, such as at the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. Also, beneath old seafloor, localized EDC-related melting commonly transitions into widespread melting due to small-scale sublithospheric convection, inconsistent with the distribution of volcanism at these volcanic chains. In turn, EDC is a good candidate to sustain the formation of small seamounts on young seafloor, as it is a highly transient phenomenon that occurs in all our models soon after initiation. In a companion paper, we investigate the implications of interaction of EDC with mantle-plume activity.

scholarly journals The role of edge-driven convection in the generation of volcanism – Part 1: A 2D systematic study

Solid Earth ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 613-632
Author(s):  
Antonio Manjón-Cabeza Córdoba ◽  
Maxim D. Ballmer
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Models ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Oceanic Lithosphere ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Rheological Parameters ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Transient Phenomenon ◽  
Mantle Viscosity ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. The origin of intraplate volcanism is not explained by plate tectonic theory, and several models have been put forward for explanation. One of these models involves edge-driven convection (EDC), in which cold and thick continental lithosphere is juxtaposed with warm and thin oceanic lithosphere to trigger convective instability. To test whether EDC can produce long-lived high-volume magmatism, we run numerical models of EDC for a wide range of mantle properties and edge (i.e., the oceanic–continental transition) geometries. We find that the most important parameters that govern EDC are the rheological parameters mantle viscosity η0 and activation energy Ea. However, even the maximum melting volumes predicted by our most extreme cases are insufficient to account for island-building volcanism on old seafloor, such as at the Canary Islands and Cabo Verde. Also, beneath old seafloor, localized EDC-related melting commonly transitions into widespread melting due to small-scale sublithospheric convection, inconsistent with the distribution of volcanism at these volcano chains. In turn, EDC is a good candidate to sustain the formation of small seamounts on young seafloor, as it is a highly transient phenomenon that occurs in all our models soon after initiation. In a companion paper, we investigate the implications of interaction of EDC with mantle plume activity (Manjón-Cabeza Córdoba and Ballmer, 2021).

Composition, structure and tectonic analysis of the Shangrimuce arc-continent collision zone on the northern margin of the Central Qilian, NW China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyuan Zhang ◽  
Zhibin Lei ◽  
Bo Yang ◽  
Qing Liu ◽  
Haijun Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zones ◽  
Oceanic Lithosphere ◽  
Late Ordovician ◽  
Island Arc ◽  
Qilian Mountain ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
Early Ordovician ◽  
Collision Zone ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Back Arc

&lt;p&gt;A 1:50000 regional survey, covering an area of about 2000 km&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;, was carried out in the Shangrimuce area of Qilian Mountain in Northwest China. The results show that during Caledonian, the northern margin of the Central Qilian block experienced collision with mature island arcs and subsequently northward expansion. In the Shangrimuce study area, five geological units have been identified; they are, form south to north, back-arc basin, early Ordovician island arc, inter arc basin, middle Late Ordovician island arc, and fore-arc and oceanic lithosphere amalgamation zone.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(1) back-arc basin. In the Yangyuchi- Shule River- Cuorigang- Wawusi area, there may be a back-arc spreading basin, and there should be spreading basins in this area. It is speculated that there was a northward reverse subduction in the late Ordovician, accompanied by a syenite body, a broad spectrum dyke swarms and an accretionary wedge zone in the whole area.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(2) early Ordovician island arc. In the Shangrimuce-Dander area, the Proterozoic basement granitic gneiss, the early Ordovician island arc block and the high-pressure geological body all occur in the form of thrust horses, forming a double metamorphic belt, which reveals the existence of ocean subduction to south in the early Ordovician.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(3) inter arc basin. On both banks of Tuolai River to the east of Yanglong Township, there are early Middle Ordovician inter-arc basins with oceanic crust.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(4) middle Late Ordovician island arc. To the north of Tuolai River, there is a middle Late Ordovician island arc belt. Both sides of the island arc zone experienced strong ductile shear deformation, which recorded a complex arc-continent collision.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(5) fore-arc and oceanic lithosphere amalgamation zone (Fig.1). The Yushigou area has developed a fore-arc and oceanic lithospheric amalgamation zone, with weakly deformed fore-arc flysch basin, strongly deformed siliceous rocks, pillow Basalt, diabase, gabbro, peridotite and other rock assemblages.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Combined with the characteristics of arc-continent collision zone in the Western Pacific, there are two stages of shear zone series (Fig.2). One is ductile shear zones formed by the South dipping gneissic belt, revealing the existence of oceanic subduction accretion wedge and emplacement of high-pressure rocks. Another superimposed one is north dipping. This indicates that the arc-continent collision caused by back-arc reverse subduction, which ultimately controls the overall geometric and kinematic characteristics of the shear zones in the region.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://contentmanager.copernicus.org/fileStorageProxy.php?f=gepj.8219836ca50067454890161/sdaolpUECMynit/12UGE&amp;app=m&amp;a=0&amp;c=40b3389c641f2d0ca723e1527c32927e&amp;ct=x&amp;pn=gepj.elif&amp;d=1&quot; alt=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Figure 1 United sections showing a Caledonian trench-arc system in the Qilian Mountain, NW China.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://contentmanager.copernicus.org/fileStorageProxy.php?f=gepj.8def566da50066084890161/sdaolpUECMynit/12UGE&amp;app=m&amp;a=0&amp;c=e82258ecc235c4e618abd6c035b58232&amp;ct=x&amp;pn=gepj.elif&amp;d=1&quot; alt=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Figure 2 Structural analysis at Hongyahuo, indicating two stages of deformation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The research has been supported by projects from the Ministry of Land and Resources (No.201211024-04; 1212011121188) and the 2020 undergraduate class construction project from China University of Geosciences (Beijing) (No. HHSKE202003).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;

Role of rheological heterogeneities in vein-ore localization

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Castaing ◽  
D. Cassard ◽  
Y. Gros ◽  
M. Moisy ◽  
J. C. Chabod
Keyword(s):  
Lower Order ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Massif Central ◽  
First Order ◽  
Ore Localization ◽  
Ore Minerals ◽  
Partial Destruction

Structural studies of the Saint-Salvy zinc deposit and other Hercynian, veinhosted ore deposits in the French Massif Central and Pyrénées reveal a fourstage evolution of mineralized structures under rheological control: (i) localization of potential mineralized areas, guided by the presence of first-order lithological or structural heterogeneities that caused stress and strain perturbations; (ii) creation of second-order heterogeneities, corresponding to indurated shear zones that acted as rheological discontinuities; (iii) tectonic activation of these second-order heterogeneities, opening voids that allowed circulation of hydrothermal fluids and periodic trapping of ore minerals; (iv) reworking and partial destruction of the mineralized structures, caused by the reactivation of anisotropic surfaces acting as zones of weakness. The interaction between preexisting, first-order heterogeneities and regional shear strain caused instability, which in turn produced second-order and then lower-order heterogeneities. Such progressively smaller heterogeneities induced an increasingly focused, centripetal localization of structural disturbances that enabled hydrothermal fluid channelling. This is the reason that lower-order and late structures preferentially bear economic mineralization.

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