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It is a general tendency that epidote, which is a typical greenschist facies mineral, is scarce in the lower oceanic crust, in spite of the widespread occurrence of the other minerals indicative of similar temperature conditions such as chlorite, actinolite, prehnite and serpentine. To find the cause of this, we carried out petrological analyses of lower crustal rocks of the Oman ophiolite sampled by the Oman Drilling Project of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). Petrographic observations revealed the tendency, as expected, that the amount of epidote formed by static alteration of plagioclase decreases with depth. Because mineral assemblages indicative of a wide range of temperature conditions from amphibolite to subgreenschist facies occur throughout the cores without systematic variations of abundance, the decrease of epidote amount cannot be explained by the difference of temperature condition of alteration. Petrographic observations also revealed that epidote is absent or rare in rocks containing serpentinized olivine in contrast to prehnite showing a close association with serpentinization of olivine. In an exceptional sample containing both epidote and serpentinized olivine, epidote occurs with chlorite that cuts or replaces plagioclase, mantles adjacent olivine and is connected with chlorite + lizardite veins cutting mesh‐forming serpentine veins. The distribution and mode of occurrence of epidote suggest decoupling of its formation with the main stage of serpentinization. Serpentine veins cutting olivine to form mesh texture are typically lizardite with magnetite ribbons at vein centres and have compositions of lizardite–cronstedtite solid solution at vein margins or in magnetite‐free veins, suggesting a chemical condition with low silica and low oxygen potentials at an early stage of serpentinization. Thermodynamic modelling for olivine and plagioclase alteration at greenschist facies conditions indicates that silica potential for plagioclase alteration to form prehnite + chlorite and epidote + chlorite could be higher than for olivine serpentinization. On the other hand, oxygen potential for the prehnite + chlorite formation is lower than for the epidote + chlorite formation and is comparable with that for olivine serpentinization. From the observations and analyses, it is concluded that epidote formation is inhibited by olivine serpentinization, which maintains a reducing condition for alteration in the lower oceanic crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the similarity and diversity of serpentinization processes in different rock systems, gabbroic rocks recovered from IODP Site U1415 at the Hess Deep Rift were examined and compared with peridotites from the adjacent ODP Site 895. Textural observations, micro-Raman spectroscopic analyses and electron microprobe analyses indicated that most of the olivine-replacing serpentine in the gabbroic rocks lack the mixing with brucite, which is common in peridotites. At least three stages of serpentinization are observable in the gabbroic rocks; each generation is characterized by different submicroscopic mixtures or solid solutions of sheet silicates: 1) Mg-Fe 2 + lizardite + ferri-lizardite + chlorite, 2) Mg-Fe 2 + lizardite + ferri-lizardite, and 3) Mg-Fe 2 + lizardite + ferri-lizardite + saponite. The first and third generations of serpentine and mixed minerals are relatively Fe-rich, whereas the second generation is Fe-poor and associated with abundant magnetite and pyrrhotite. The major difference between the alteration of gabbroic and peridotitic systems is probably best explained by the iron content and modal abundance of primary olivine and by rock-dominated fluid compositions with a high silica activity due to the alteration of plagioclase in gabbroic rocks. The mineralogical variations between the reported three generations of mixed sheet silicates in gabbroic rocks can be ascribed to variations of silica and/or oxygen activities in the associated fluids under decreasing temperature conditions. The abrupt increase of magnetite crystallization during serpentinization in gabbroic rocks could be caused by oxidation at a relatively high SiO 2 activity without the olivine-serpentine-brucite buffering assemblage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In contrast to the widely recognized aspects of serpentinization, initial stages of hydration and tectonic processes of unserpentinized peridotites are still unclear, but have important implications for understanding the lithospheric architecture of supra-subduction zones. This study provides petrological evidence from the Oeyama ophiolite, SW Japan, of the effects of high-temperature metasomatic hydration immediately before the cooling and ductile deformation of forearc peridotites. Key findings in this study are: 1) complex association of high-temperature metasomatic minerals: tremolitic amphibole, cummingtonite, phlogopite, chlorite, olivine and orthopyroxene in veins and in mylonites; 2) the systematic variation in Si and Na+K contents of the tremolitic amphibole, corresponding to its mode of occurrence and mineral association; and 3) the presence of thin (<0.7mm) veins of fine-grained olivine accompanied by a narrow diffusion zone of the host primary olivine. On the basis of petrography and mineral chemistry, the temporal sequence of hydration and deformation of the Oeyama ophiolite is considered as follows: 1) infiltration of slab-derived fluids, causing decomposition of primary pyroxene and chemical modification of primary olivine, 2) metasomatic formation of variable modal amounts of amphibole, phlogopite, chlorite, vein-forming olivine and secondary orthopyroxene at 650–750°C; 3) early-stage mylonitization of the hydrous peridotites in localized shear zones; and 4) syntectonic serpentinization at 400–600°C to form serpentinite mylonites. Paragenesis and amphibole compositions suggest comparable temperature conditions for metasomatism and early-stage mylonitization. Mylonitization occurred exclusively in hydrous peridotites, and the peridotite mylonites were preferentially overprinted by syntectonic serpentinization. Diffusion profiles of olivine cut by a vein suggest rapid cooling immediately after the metasomatic fluid infiltration. From these observations and calculations, it is concluded that the exhumation of the forearc peridotites was closely related to the infiltration of high-temperature metasomatic fluids and hydration occurred under a wide range of temperature conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Incipient-stage alteration products in relatively fresh oceanic gabbros from deep boreholes provide critical information on hydration processes in the oceanic lower crust and their effect on lithosphere dynamics. We present the results of a petrographic study on the alteration of olivine-bearing gabbroic rocks recovered from the deeper parts of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Hole U1309D in the Atlantis Massif near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 30°N. In these rocks, alteration is localized in proximity to fluid-infiltration veins or igneous contacts. It is most conspicuous in halos surrounding amphibole + chlorite veins or leucocratic veins in olivine-bearing gabbros, where coronitic fringes of tremolite, chlorite and talc occur around discrete olivine grains. Many of the halos exhibit a zonal pattern with systematic changes in mineral assemblage, generally consisting of three zones: tremolite + chlorite around relict olivine–plagioclase contacts; talc pseudomorphs after olivine; and tremolite pseudomorphs after olivine. The tremolite + chlorite assemblage appears in increasing amounts and talc grows unevenly with increasing thickness toward the veins. The alteration minerals have highly magnesian compositions, reflecting the compositions of the precursor igneous phases. Within the zone closest to the veins, green hornblende with a relatively high Al content occurs, showing textures suggestive of its later formation than the coronitic tremolite and chlorite. Considering the mode of occurrence and chemical composition of the minerals combined with thermodynamic calculations of silica and water activities in a simplified system, we conclude that the zoned halos were caused by metasomatism owing to protracted or sequential infiltration of hydrothermal fluids at amphibolite-facies conditions (450–750°C, 1·5–2 kbar). Textural relationships clearly indicate that zoned halos formed earlier than serpentinization and clay mineral formation, and suggest that the high-temperature, amphibolite-facies alteration took place in a near-axis region before the exhumation of the lower crustal rocks. Recent results of seafloor drilling have provided supporting evidence for the predominance of gabbroic rocks in oceanic core complexes. The similarity in mineral association between zoned halos and schistose fault rocks suggests that preferential formation of talc and/or chlorite, rather than serpentine, at contacts between gabbroic rocks and peridotite plays an essential role in detachment faulting and tectonic exhumation of oceanic core complexes from lower crustal levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study which examined the heterogenous crystals of olivine in thermally metamorphosed serpentinites from Southwest Japan. Outline of geology and definition of metamorphic zones; Mode of occurrence and chemistry of olivine; Variation of manganic oxide and nitric oxide contents.

Petrographic observations, and mineralogical and geochemical analyses, have revealed that the Hegenshan ophiolite is of mid-ocean ridge origin and has been subjected to dynamothermal metamorphism at medium P/T conditions. The metamorphism is characterized by a prograde change in paragenesis from the greenschist to epidote–amphibolite facies, with peak temperature conditions of 570–640°C at pressures of 4–10 kbar. The amphiboles formed by this metamorphism show K–Ar ages of 110–130 Ma. The metamorphic conditions and K–Ar ages suggest that the Hegenshan ophiolite is located at the suture between the Siberian and North China continental blocks, where the continental collision in this area took place in middle Mesozoic time. Given the temporal and spatial distribution of the igneous activity around the Da Hinggan Ling Mountains, it is suggested that the extensive Yanshanian magmatism in this region resulted predominantly from a southward subduction of an oceanic plate prior to collision. Alternatively, it may possibly have resulted from the collision itself, at the final stage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Blueschist tectonic blocks occur in serpentinites at Mochimaru, Hiroshima Prefecture, Southwest Japan. They contain alkali amphibole coexisting with pumpellyite and chlorite, with or without calcic amphibole. Textural and chemical analyses reveal that the blueschists, together with other mafic schists, have similar metamorphic history. After their capture by serpentinites and before the emplacement of the serpentinites into the present geological position, the tectonic blocks were subjected to high P/T metamorphism around the boundary between the blueschist and pumpellyite–actinolite facies. The amphiboles formed by this metamorphism change from tremolite through glaucophane to ferroglaucophane with increasing FeO/MgO of whole rock compositions. The P–T conditions are estimated to be within 200–350°C and 5–7 kbar. These are higher P/T conditions than those of the regional metamorphism of Southwest Japan. The difference in the P–T conditions implies differences in tectonic situation and timing of metamorphism between the blocks and regional metamorphic rocks. In addition, the high P/T metamorphism of the tectonic blocks probably occurred in more reducing environments than the regional metamorphism. Because the ferric/ferrous iron ratios of the tectonic blocks are within a narrow range, it is stressed that oxygen fugacity was externally buffered during the high P/T metamorphism by the serpentinization process of the host ultramafic rocks. The reducing effect of serpentinization is common throughout the high P/T metamorphic terranes of Southwest Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new discovery of Fe-monticellite in serpentinized peridotites of the Happo ultramafic complex, central Japan, shows it replacing olivine and coexisting with antigorite. The monticellite occurs in several forms: as discrete grains; partially disconnected rings or circular ribbons; fringing mantles or in veins cutting olivine; or as aggregates of small equant grains. It shows a textural contrast to the intensely sheared matrix of antigorite. The coexistence with antigorite and diopside, and the Fe-rich compositions of monticellite indicates that it formed at 300–350 °C. This extremely low-temperature for monticellite formation is consistent with the observed textures indicative of its static formation at a stage of serpentinization that followed mylonitization during high-temperature (400–600 °C) serpentinization in the Happo complex. The monticellite contains minute inclusions of awaruite, which indicates formation under reducing conditions, as is characteristic of serpentinization of olivine. The monticellite is richer in Fe and Mn than relict olivine, being commensurate with deficiencies of these elements in coexisting antigorite. There is no evidence of Ca addition from an external source. However, where tremolite is replaced by serpentine, diopside grows at the opposite side of relict olivine that is partly replaced by monticellite. Thus, tremolite is the likely source of Ca for monticellite formation. These textural relationships and the thermodynamic calculations for paragenesis indicate that monticellite formed by reactions between olivine and aqueous fluids, carrying Ca released from tremolite, that were driven by a local gradient of SiO 2 chemical potential during serpentinization. • Fe-monticellite occurs replacing olivine and coexisting with antigorite and diopside in serpentinized peridotites. • Textures indicate the static formation of monticellite following mylonitization of the serpentinite. • The paragenesis and Fe-rich compositions of monticellite indicate its formation at 300–350 °C. • The Fe-monticellite formed by reactions between olivine and aqueous fluids that carried Ca released from tremolite during serpentinization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gabbroic rocks recovered from deep holes drilled in the ocean floor provide us with valuable information about in-situ alteration processes of the lower oceanic crust. We found that the occurrence of biotite is widespread in gabbroic rocks recently drilled from IODP Hole U1473A at Atlantis Bank, near the Southwest Indian Ridge. Biotite is rare in oceanic gabbros, thus we analyzed textural and compositional details of biotite and associated minerals to better understand the conditions governing their formation. In olivine gabbros from Hole U1473A and from nearby ODP Hole 735B, biotite occurs mainly in coronitic aggregates mantling olivine. It also forms monomineralic veins or occurs in biotite-chlorite-amphibole veins within plagioclase grains that contact the coronitic aggregates. The coronitic aggregates typically have an outer biotite-dominated zone and an inner zone mostly made up of Al-poor calcic amphibole. The biotite and the calcic amphibole zones frequently include Al-rich calcic amphibole (± cummingtonite) and talc, respectively. Plagioclase in direct contact with Al-rich calcic amphibole has 65–90 mol% anorthite. The coronitic aggregates also frequently have an outermost zone composed of submicron-scale biotite-chlorite mixtures, which show intermediate optical and chemical characteristics between biotite and chlorite, and a composite pattern of Raman-shift spectra. Most biotite-rich coronitic aggregates occur in proximity to felsic veins or to biotite or alkali feldspar microveins branched from felsic veins, whereas most biotite-chlorite coronas are connected to biotite-, chlorite- or amphibole-bearing microveins. Chlorite coronas around olivine, though rare in Atlantis Bank gabbros, occur in contact with chlorite-bearing microveins and show no relationship with felsic veins. Based on the plagioclase-amphibole equilibrium, we evaluated temperature of 750–850 °C for the formation of the biotite-rich coronitic aggregates. From the modes of occurrence, compositions of minerals, and thermodynamic modeling, we conclude that the biotite coronas formed at higher temperatures and higher SiO 2 and/or K+/H+ activities than chlorite coronas typically found in olivine gabbros from other mid-ocean ridge localities. The coronitic biotite-chlorite mixtures formed in response to lower SiO 2 and/or K+/H+ activities, and possibly lower temperature, than the biotite coronas. Such a difference in physical and chemical conditions for corona formation probably reflects the distance from felsic vein/microvein or is related to the relative timing of reactions. The high-temperature metasomatic alteration of lower oceanic crustal gabbros shown in this study is most likely characteristic of oceanic core complexes from ultraslow-spreading ridges. • Biotite is widely distributed in Atlantis Bank olivine gabbros. • The most common mode of biotite occurrence is corona mantling olivine. • Submicron-scale biotite-chlorite mixtures also occur in coronas. • The coronas are products of amphibolite-facies metasomatic alteration. • The biotite needs higher SiO 2 and/or K+/H+ activities than biotite-chlorite mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a new sampling strategy for collecting representative samples of drill core. By splitting the core with a diamond saw into working and archive halves, the saw cuttings constitute a "channel" sample, the best subsample from which to obtain an average mineralogical and geochemical composition of a core. We apply this procedure to sampling core of the lower oceanic crust in the Hess Deep obtained during Expedition 345 of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (now International Ocean Discovery Program). Our results show that particles produced by sawing range from sand to clay sizes. Sand- and silt-sized cuttings can be sampled with a spatula, whereas clay-sized particles remained in suspension after 12 h and could be collected only by settling, aided by centrifuge. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and Rietveld refinement show that phyllosilicates were fractionated into the clay-sized fraction. Thus, collection of both the sedimented fraction and the clay-sized suspended fraction (commonly > 15 wt % of the total) is necessary to capture the whole sample. The strong positive correlation between the recovered sample mass (in grams) and length of core cut demonstrates that this sampling protocol was uniform and systematic, with almost 1.4 g sediment produced per centimeter of core cut. We show that major-element concentrations of our channel samples compare favorably with the compositions of billet-sized samples analyzed aboard the JOIDES Resolution, but the results show that individual billet analyses are rarely representative of the whole core recovered. A final test of the validity of our methods comes from the strong positive correlation between the loss on ignition (LOI) values of our channel samples and the H 2 O contents calculated from the modal mineralogy obtained by X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. This sampling procedure shows that grain-sized fractionation modifies both mineralogical and chemical compositions; nevertheless, this channel sampling method is a reliable method of obtaining representative samples of bulk cores. With the ever-increasing precision offered by modern analytical instrumentation, this sampling protocol allows the accuracy of the analytical results to keep pace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Analysis of an in situ fault zone within the Atlantis Massif oceanic core complex (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) provides clues to the relevant deformation mechanisms and their temporal evolution within oceanic crust. IODP EXP304/305 drilled a succession of gabbroic lithologies to a final depth of 1415 m below the sea floor (mbsf), with very high recovery rates of up to 100% (generally ∼80%). We identified an intra-crustal fault zone between 720 and 780 mbsf in a section of massive gabbro, olivine gabbro, oxide gabbro units, and minor diabase intrusions. Of particular interest is the section between 744 and 750 mbsf, which unfortunately was marked by low recovery rates (17%). Electrical borehole-wall images show a 1-m-thick zone of east-dipping fractures within this interval, which is otherwise dominated by N–S dipping structures. Despite the high fracture density in this section, the hole walls are smooth, with rare breakouts, suggesting that the low recovery rate was due to a change in lithology rather than well conditions. The recovered rocks include ultracataclasite and possibly incohesive fault gouge that formed in the upper amphibolite regime, with mostly amphibole infill. Logging data suggest that the gabbroic rocks in this interval are rich in hydrous phases, consistent with increased amounts of amphibole found in the core. Equilibration temperature conditions of about 640 °C were obtained for plagioclase clasts and aluminous actinolite, assuming a pressure of 200 MPa. The permeability of the fault zone is in the range of 10−19 to 10−17 m2. Although the permeability appears to be high within the fault zone relative to other parts of the section, it is no higher than that in typical lower crustal material. As a consequence, because brittle failure occurred at high temperatures, the fault zone was subsequently completely sealed by hydrous minerals, thereby preventing further fluid circulation and preserving water in the crust. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]