Phase equilibrium and trace-element modeling of the partial melting of basaltic rocks under low pressure: Implications for plagiogranite generation

Phase equilibria and trace-element modeling using two previously reported basaltic bulk-rock compositions (samples D11 and 104-16), were carried out in this study, in order to better understand mechanism of low-pressure (LP) partial melting of mafic rocks and associated melt compositions. The T–MH2O pseudosections for both samples at three pressures (i.e. 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 kbar) display that the H2O-stability field gradually increased with decreasing pressure within the T–MH2O range of 600–1100 °C and 0–12 mol.%. The H2O contents of 10, 5.0, and 0.5 mol.% were selected on the basis of the T–MH2O pseudosections to calculate P–T pseudosections over a P–T window of 0.1–3 kbar and 600–1100 °C, so that the reactions of both the H2O-fluxed and -absent meltings at LP conditions can be investigated. The solidus displays a negative or near-vertical P–T slope, and occurs between 710 and 900 °C at pressure between 0.1 and 3.0 kbar. LP melting of metabasites is attributed to the reactions of the hydrous mineral (hornblende and/or biotite) melting and anhydrous mineral (plagioclase, orthopyroxene, and augite) melting. The hydrous mineral melting is gradually replaced by anhydrous mineral melting as pressure decreasing, as the stability of hornblende decreases with falling pressure. With increasing temperature at a given pressure, the modeled melt compositions are expressed as progressions of the granite-granodiorite-gabbroic diorite fields for sample D11and granite-quartz monzonite-monzonite-gabbroic diorite fields for sample 104-16 on the total alkali–silica diagram. The modeled melts produced through the H2O-fluxed melting display higher Al2O3, CaO, MgO, and lower SiO2 and K2O than those formed by H2O-absent melting at the same P–T conditions. Furthermore, the modeled melts formed by H2O-absent melting, become richer in Al2O3, CaO, MgO, FeO, Na2O, but poorer in SiO2 and K2O as increasing water content. The results of trace-element modeling suggests that the nearly flat REE patterns of modeled bulk-rock composition are inherited by all the modeled melts, and the negative Eu anomalies and Sr depletion of the modeled melts gradually decrease as melting degree increases. Combined with the geochemical characteristics of natural oceanic plagiogranites, which have low K2O contents and flat or slightly LREE-depleted REE patterns, our results imply that a bulk-rock composition with low K2O (<0.17 wt.%) and slightly LREEs depletion is the most likely protolith composition (e.g. basalt D11) for plagiogranites, and the compositions of modeled melts formed by LP H2O-absent partial melting of the basalt D11 at relatively high temperatures (1000–1025 °C) are coincident with those of 1256D tonalites.

The stability of subducted glaucophane with the Earth’s secular cooling

The blueschist to eclogite transition is one of the major geochemical–metamorphic processes typifying the subduction zone, which releases fluids triggering earthquakes and arc volcanism. Although glaucophane is an index hydrous mineral for the blueschist facies, its stability at mantle depths in diverse subduction regimes of contemporary and early Earth has not been experimentally determined. Here, we show that the maximum depth of glaucophane stability increases with decreasing thermal gradients of the subduction system. Along cold subduction geotherm, glaucophane remains stable down ca. 240 km depth, whereas it dehydrates and breaks down at as shallow as ca. 40 km depth under warm subduction geotherm or the Proterozoic tectonic setting. Our results imply that secular cooling of the Earth has extended the stability of glaucophane and consequently enabled the transportation of water into deeper interior of the Earth, suppressing arc magmatism, volcanism, and seismic activities along subduction zones.

Microstructures and Late-Stage Magmatic Processes in Layered Mafic Intrusions: Symplectites from the Sept Iles Intrusion, Quebec, Canada

Replacive symplectites (vermicular intergrowths of two or more minerals) are an important feature of layered igneous intrusions, recording evidence of late-stage reactions between interstitial liquid and crystals. They are common throughout the Layered Series of the 564 Ma Sept Iles layered intrusion in Quebec, Canada, and fall into three types: oxy-symplectites, ‘Type I’ symplectites, and ‘Type II’ symplectites. Oxy-symplectites are comprised of magnetite and orthopyroxene, nucleate on olivine primocrysts, and form via the reaction Olivine + O2 → Orthopyroxene + Magnetite; Type I symplectites (of which there are 3 distinct categories) are comprised of anorthitic plagioclase with pyroxene, amphibole, or olivine vermicules, grow from primocryst oxide grains, and replace primocryst plagioclase; and Type II symplectites (of which there are 2 distinct categories) are comprised of anorthitic plagioclase with orthopyroxene ± amphibole vermicules, grow from primocryst olivine grains, and replace primocryst plagioclase. Rare symplectites composed of biotite and plagioclase are also present. Symplectite growth occurred at 700–1030°C with pressure constraints of 1–2 kbar. We propose that Type I symplectites, and some Type II symplectites, formed from the interaction of primocrysts with residual Fe-rich liquid as a consequence of differential loss of an immiscible Si-rich liquid conjugate from the crystal mush. However, redistribution and concentration of hydrous fluids in incompletely solidified rock, or an increase in water activity of the interstitial melt, may be more plausible processes responsible for the formation of replacive symplectites comprising abundant hydrous mineral assemblages.

The effect of iron content on dehydration kinetics of talc

<p>    Subduction zone is a distinct activity structure of hypocenter distribution of earthquakes. Hydrous minerals are involved in the chemical and physical activities in subduction zones. As a widely distributed hydrous mineral in shallow depths, talc has potential significance in various fault activities, and its dehydration reaction may be an important cause of the earthquake. Iron is a main element of the earth's crust, and the iron contents of hydrous minerals have a large impact on melting point, the rheological strength physical and chemical properties of the rocks. As a common hydrous mineral, the iron content of talc is not uniform; therefore, it is very important to study the dehydration kinetics of talc with different iron content.</p><p>    The dehydration reaction of three different iron contents talc was studied by means of synchronous thermal analysis, high temperature and high pressure differential thermal experiment and in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiment. Data of synchronous thermal analysis was calculated by Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO). The activation energies of different iron content talc were calculated as 359.8 kJ/mol（FeO：0.4wt%），368.2.0 kJ/mol（FeO：2.0wt％），belonging to the second-order reaction. Data of in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiment was fitted by Avrami equation, E=350 kJ/mol（FeO：2.0wt％），n=1.67. The dehydration of talc followed random nucleation and growth mechanism. High content of iron obviously resulted in lower dehydration temperature.</p><p>  The release rate of talc dehydration fluid was 2.3E-05 to 6.1E-06 obtained by in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiment，it could lead to local overpressure induced rock brittle fracture. The supercritical fluid produced by the dehydration of talc in the subduction zone further attenuates the rock, resulting in local overpressure, which eventually leads to rock failure. The results suggested that the dehydration of different iron contents of talc may occur at the different depth around hundreds of kilometers, so the study was significant to our understanding of the genetic mechanism of earthquakes in the subduction zone.</p>

Synchrotron FTIR imaging of OH in quartz mylonites

Methods of measuring OH absorption bands of fluid inclusions and hydrogen defects in deformed quartz rocks at high spatial resolution are described, using synchrotron infrared IR radiation coupled with a Fourier transform infrared FTIR microscope, and applied to imaging OH in mylonites of the Moine Thrust (from the Stack of Glencoul, NW Scotland Caledonides) and the Main Central Thrust (from the Himalayan front, Sutlej Valley, NW India). Previous measurements of water in deformed quartzites using conventional FTIR instruments, through apertures of 50–100 μm for specimens ~ 100 μm in thickness have shown that water contents of larger grains vary from one grain to another. However, the non-equilibrium variations in water content between neighboring grains and within quartz grains cannot be interrogated further without greater measurement resolution, nor can water contents be measured in finely recrystallized grains without including absorption bands due to fluid inclusions, films, and secondary minerals at grain boundaries. Synchrotron IR radiation is brighter and more collimated than offered by conventional FTIR globar light sources, and we have been able to distinguish and measure OH bands due to fluid inclusions, hydrogen point defects, and secondary hydrous mineral inclusions through an aperture of 10 μm for specimens > 40 μm thick. Doubly polished IR plates can be prepared with thicknesses down to 4–8 μm, but measurement of small OH bands is currently limited by strong interference fringes for samples

Mineralogical characterization of Juventae Chasma, Mars: evidences from MRO-CRISM

Juventae Chasma is a long depression associated with Valles Marineris and this study discusses the spectral observation made after analysing the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) Full Resolution targeted (FRT) Images in the wavelength region of 1000–2600 nm. Observations reveal the presence of hydrous sulphates, pyroxenes (mafic minerals) and silica rich minerals, more likely opaline silica or glass. Hydrous mineral identified shows the absorption bands, which are more consistent with gypsum. Absorption bands at 2300–2350 nm, and 2500–2550 nm, which are characteristics of carbonates, have been also identified in the region. Presence of this mineral assemblage, confirmed by the observed spectral signatures ranging from volcanic to sedimentary origin, implies a relatively geologically active area, and a significant region in terms of aqueous activity.