Multi-stage formation of the Feragen ophiolite,Norway:Implication from petrology and geochemistry of peridotites and chromitites and its potential for prospecting

The ultramafic massif of Feragen,which belongs to the eastern ophiolitic belt of Norway,has abundant amounts of chromite ores.Recent studies have revealed a complex melt evolution in a supra-subduction zone(SSZ)environment.This study presents new whole-rock major element,trace element,and platinum-group element chemistry to evaluate their petrogenesis and tectonic evolution.Harzburgites have high CaO,Al_(2)O_(3),TiO_(2),MgO,and REE contents corresponding to abyssal peridotites,whereas dunites have low CaO,Al_(2)O_(3),TiO_(2),MgO,and REE contents corresponding to SSZ peridotites.The Cr^(#)and TiO_(2) of chromian spinels in the harzburgites suggest as much as about 15%–20%melting and the dunites are more depleted with>40%melting.The harzburgites and the dunites and high-Cr chromitites represent,respectively,the products of low-degree partial melting in a back-arc setting,and the products of melt-rock interaction in a SSZ environment.The calculated fO_(2) values for dunites and high-Cr chromitites(-0.17–+0.23 and+2.78–+5.65,respectively and generally above the FMQ buffer)are also consistent with the interaction between back-arc ophiolites with oxidized boninitic melts in a SSZ setting.

Formation and Evolution of Chromitites in the Hongshishan Complex,Beishan Orogenic Collage,NW China:Constraints from Mineralogical Compositions,Re-Os Isotopes and Platinum-Group Element Geochemistry

The Hongshishan chromitite deposits are situated to the north of the Beishan orogenic collage,in the southern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.This study describes the mineral chemistry,Re-Os isotopes and platinum-group elements geochemistry of the Hongshishan chromitites for the purpose of constraining the origin,evolution and composition of their parental melts.The restricted ranges of Al_(2)O_(3),Cr_(2)O_(3)and Cr#-Mg#variation of chromite-cores and chromites fall within the field of the mid-ocean ridge and ophiolitic podiform chromite settings.The(^(187)Os/^(188)Os)i ratios of the chromitites are in the range of 0.12449–0.12745(average 0.12637)and theγOs are from-1.92 to-0.06(average-0.83).In the Re-Os isotope diagrams,all the samples fall in the field of chromitites and show a residual peridotitic trend.The range of Os isotopic compositions andγOs values indicate that they overlap the depleted MORB mantle(DMM)as well as being close to global Os isotopic data andγOs of ophiolite chromitites.The characteristics of the PGE contents can be roughly subdivided into two groups:podiform chromitites and Ural-Alaskan type complexes.For the ferritchromite cores,the calculated Al_(2)O_(3)concentrations of the parental melt are higher(average 16.65 wt%)in high-Cr than high-Al chromitite(average 16.17 wt%)and for the chromite,the calculated Al_(2)O_(3)concentrations are even higher(average 16.48 wt%)in the high-Cr than the high-Al examples(average 15.38 wt%).In the(TiO_(2))melt vs.TiO_(2)diagrams,most high-Al melts fall in the MORB,while the high-Cr melts fall in the ARC field.The calculated Fe O/Mg O ratios for the parental melt show the closest resemblance to a MORB magma composition.The inferred parental melt composition for studied chromitites falls in the field of mid-ocean ridge basalt(MORB)magmas and far away from boninite.The calculated degrees of partial melting producing the chromitites are 16%-22%(average 19%),which is around the range of those of the MORB magmas.The chromitites are suggested to have been formed in a MORB setting.The chromites and ferritchromite cores are mostly scattered along the MORB and SSZ harzburgite–dunite fields.Ferritchromite rims and ferritchromites with high YFes formed as a result of alteration during serpentinization..

Diamond Discovered in High-Al Chromitites of the Sartohay Ophiolite,Xinjiang Province,China

In recent years diamonds and other exotic minerals have been recovered from mantle peridotites and high-Cr chromitites of a number of ophiolites of different age and different tectonic environments. Here we report a similar collection of minerals from the Sartohay ophiolite of Xinjiang Province, western China, which is characterized by having high-Al chromitites. Several samples of massive podiform chromitite with an aggregate weight of nearly 900 kg yielded diamonds, moissanite and other highly reduced minerals, as well as common crustal minerals. Thus far, more than 20 grains each of diamond and moissanite have been recovered from heavy mineral separates of the chromitites. The diamonds are all 100-200 μm in size and range in color from pale yellow to reddish-orange to colorless. Most of the grains are anhedral to subhedral octahedra, commonly with elongate forms exhibiting well-developed striations. They all display characteristic Raman spectra with shifts between 1325 cm^-1 and 1333 cm^-1, mostly 1331.51 cm^-1 or 1326.96 cm^-1. The moissanite grains are light blue to dark blue, broken crystals, 50-150 μm across, commonly occurring as small flakes or fragments. Their typical Raman spectra have shifts at 762 cm^-1, 785 cm^-1, and 966 cm^-1. This investigation extends the occurrence of diamonds and moissanite to a Paleozoic ophiolite in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and demonstrates that these minerals can also occur in high-Al chromitites. We conclude that diamonds and moissanite are likely to be ubiquitous in ophiolitic mantle peridotites and chromitites.

Discovery and Significance of Diamonds and Moissanites in Chromitite within the Skenderbeu Massif of the Mirdita Zone Ophiolite,West Albania

In recent years diamonds and other unusual minerals （carbides, nitrides, metal alloys and native elements） have been recovered from mantle peridotites and chromitites （both high-Cr chromitites and high-Al chromitites） from a number of ophiolites of different ages and tectonic settings. Here we report a similar assemblage of minerals from the Skenderbeu massif of the Mirdita zone ophiolite, west Albania. So far, more than 20 grains of microdiamonds and 30 grains of moissanites （SIC） have been separated from the podiform chromitite. The diamonds are mostly light yellow, transparent, euhedral crystals, 200-300μm across, with a range of morphologies; some are octahedral and cuboctahedron and others are elongate and irregular. Secondary electron images show that some grains have well-developed striations. All the diamond grains have been analyzed and yielded typical Raman spectra with a shift at -1325 cm^-1. The moissanite grains recovered from the Skenderben chromitites are mainly light blue to dark blue, but some are yellow to light yellow. All the analyzed grains have typical Raman spectra with shifts at 766 cm^-1, 787 cm^-1, and 967 cm^-1. The energy spectrums of the moissanites confirm that the grains are composed entirely of silicon and carbon. This investigation expands the occurrence of diamonds and moissanites to Mesozoic ophiolites in the Neo-Tethys. Our new findings suggest that diamonds and moissanites are present, and probably ubiquitous in the oceanic mantle and can provide new perspectives and avenues for research on the origin of ophiolites and podiform chromitites.

Diamonds Discovered from High–Cr Podiform Chromitites of Bulqiza,Eastern Mirdita Ophiolite,Albania

Various combinations of diamond, moissanite, zircon, corundum, rutile and titanitehave been recovered from the Bulqiza chromitites. More than 10 grains of diamond have been recovered, most of which are pale yellow to reddish–orange to colorless. The grains are all 100–300 μm in size and mostly anhedral, but with a range of morphologies including elongated, octahedral and subhedral varieties. Their identification was confirmed by a characteristic shift in the Raman spectra between 1325 cm-1 and 1333 cm-1, mostly at 1331.51 cm-1 or 1326.96 cm-1. This investigation extends the occurrence of diamond and moissanite to the Bulqiza chromitites in the Eastern Mirdita Ophiolite. Integration of the mineralogical, petrological and geochemical data of the Bulqiza chromitites suggests their multi–stage formation. Magnesiochromite grains and perhaps small bodies of chromitite formed at various depths in the upper mantle, and encapsulated the ultra–high pressure, highly reduced and crustal minerals. Some oceanic crustal slabs containing the magnesiochromite and their inclusion were later trapped in suprasubduction zones, where they were modified by tholeiitic and boninitic arc magmas, thus changing the magnesiochromite compositions and depositing chromitite ores in melt channels.

The Discovery of Diamonds in Chromitites of the Hegenshan Ophiolite,Inner Mongolia,China

Diamond, moissanite and a variety of other minerals, similar to those reported from ophiolites in Tibet and northern Russia, have recently been discovered in chromitites of the Hegenshan ophiolite of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, north China. The chromitites are small, podiform and vein-like bodies hosted in dunite, clinopyroxene-bearing peridotite, troctolite and gabbro. All of the analysed chromite grains are relatively Al-rich, with Cr^# [100Cr/（Cr＋Al）] of about 47-53. Preliminary studies of mainly disseminated chromitite from ore body No. 3756 have identified more than 30 mineral species in addition to diamond and moissanite. These include oxides （mostly hematite, magnetite, ruffle, anatase, cassiterite, and quartz）, sulfides （pyrite, marcasite and others）, silicates （magnesian olivine, enstatite, augite, diopside, uvarovite, pyrope, orthoclase, zircon, sphene, vesuvianite, chlorite and serpentine） and others （e.g., calcite, monazite, glauberite, iowaite and a range of metallic alloys）. This study demonstrates that diamond, moissanite and other exotic minerals can occur in high-Al, as well as high-Cr chromites, and significantly extends the geographic and age range of known diamond-bearing ophiolites.

Subduction Initiation for the Formation of High-Cr Chromitites in the Kop Ophiolite, NE Turkey

The Kop ophiolite in NE Turkey,representing a forearc fragment of Neo-Tethys ocean,mainly consists of a paleoMoho transition zone(MTZ)and a harzburgitic upper mantle unit.The Kop MTZ locally contains cumulate

Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the High-Cr Podiform Chromitite from the Cuobuzha Ophiolite, Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone, Western Tibet, China: Implication for its Origin

The Cuobuzha high-Cr chromitites in the western segment of Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone of Tibet are mainly hosted in the harzburgites as massive type, which are characterized by high concentrations of platinum group elements(PGE) ranging from 380 to 577 ppb, and low Pd/Ir ratios(<0.1). In mid-ocean ridge basalts(MORB)-normalized spidergrams, chromites of the Cuobuzha chromitites are depleted in Al, Ga, V, Mg and Zn, and enriched in Mn and Cr, sharing similar patterns with those of ophiolitic boninites in the Bonin and Thetford Mines. Approximately 20 platinum group mineral(PGM) grains were discovered from the samples, including laurite, erlichmanite, Os-Fe alloy, cuproiridsite, and irarsite. The PGM assemblages indicate that sulfur fugacity was initially low enough to allow the precipitation of Os-Fe alloy and increased thereafter, with the fall in temperature. Primary Fe-Ni and Fe-Cr alloys, which are stable in a highly reduced environment, occur as inclusions within chromites or clinopyroxenes. Calculated results show that the parental magma has an intimate affinity with boninites. Based on our observations, a model is proposed wherein the Cuobuzha chromitites contain high-pressure and low-pressure chromites. Low-pressure chromites were formed via reaction between boninitic melts and peridotites, during which the high-pressure chromites hosting highly reduced minerals were mobilized by melts and were reallocated to podiform chromitites.

Ophiolite hosted chromitite formed by supra-subduction zone peridotite–plume interaction

Chromitite bodies hosted in peridotites typical of suboceanic mantle(s.l.ophiolitic)are found in the northern and central part of the Loma Caribe peridotite,in the Cordillera Central of the Dominican Republic.These chromitites are massive pods of small size(less than a few meters across)and veins that intrude both dunite and harzburgite.Compositionally,they are high-Cr chromitites[Cr#=Cr/(Cr+Al)atomic ratio=0.71-0.83]singularly enriched in TiO2(up to 1.25 wt.%),Fe2 O3(2.77-9.16 wt.%)as well as some trace elements(Ga,V,Co,Mn,and Zn)and PGE(up to 4548 ppb in whole-rock).This geochemical signature is unknown for chromitites hosted in oceanic upper mantle but akin to those chromites crystallized from mantle plume derived melts.Noteworthy,the melt estimated to be in equilibrium with such chromite from the Loma Caribe chromitites is similar to basalts derived from different source regions of a heterogeneous Caribbean mantle plume.This mantle plume is responsible for the formation of the Caribbean Large Igneous Province(CLIP).Dolerite dykes with back-arc basin basalt(BABB)and enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt(E-MORB)affinities commonly intrude the Loma Caribe peridotite,and are interpreted as evidence of the impact that the Caribbean plume had in the off-axis magmatism of the back-arc basin,developed after the Caribbean island-arc extension in the Late Cretaceous.We propose a model in which chromitites were formed in the shallow portion of the back-arc mantle as a result of the metasomatic reaction between the supra-subduction zone(SSZ)peridotites and upwelling plume-related melts.

Iron Isotopic Fractionation and Origin of Chromitites in the Paleo-Moho Transition Zone of the Kop Ophiolite, NE Turkey

The Kop ophiolite in NE Turkey is a fragment of Neo-Tethyan forearc.It can be mainly divided into a paleo-Moho transition zone(MTZ)in the North and a harzburgitic mantle sequence in the South.Dunites are predominant in the MTZ of the Kop ophiolite,and they are locally interlayered with chromitites and enclose minor bodies of harzburgites near the petrological Moho boundary.Large Fe isotopic variations were observed for magnesiochromite(-0.14‰to 0.06‰)and olivine(-0.12‰to 0.14‰)from the MTZ chromitites,dunites and harzburgites.In individual dunite samples,magnesiochromite usually has lighter Fe isotopic compositions than olivine,which was probably caused by subsolidus Mg-Fe exchange between the two mineral phases.Both magnesiochromite and olivine display an increasing trend ofδ56Fe along a profile from chromitite todunite.This trend reflects continuous fractional crystallization in a magma chamber,which resulted in heavier Fe isotopes concentrated in the evolved magmas.In each cumulative cycle of chromitite and dunite,dunite was formed from relatively evolved melts after massive precipitation of magnesiochromite.Mixing of more primitive and evolved melts in the magma chamber was a potential mechanism for triggering the crystallization of magnesiochromite,generating chromitite layers in the cumulate pile.Before mixing happened,the primitive melts had reacted with mantle harzburgites during their ascendance;whereas the evolved melts may lie on the olivine-chromite cotectic near the liquidus field of pyroxene.Variable degrees of magma mixing and differentiation are expected to generate melts with differentδ56Fe values,accounting for the Fe isotopic variations of the Kop MTZ.

Petrology and PGE Abundances of High-Cr and High-Al Podiform Chromitites and Peridotites from the Bulqiza Ultramafic Massif, Eastern Mirdita Ophiolite, Albania

The Bulqiza ultramafic massif, which is part of the eastern Mirdita ophiolite of northern Albania, is world renowned for its high-Cr chromitite deposits. High-Cr chromitites hosted in the mantle section are the crystallized products of boninitic melts in a supra-subduction zone(SSZ). However,economically important high-Al chromitites are also present in massive dunite of the mantle-crust transition zone(MTZ). Chromian-spinel in the high-Al chromitites and dunites of the MTZ have much lower Cr~# values(100 Cr/(Cr+Al))(47.7-55.1 and 46.5-51.7, respectively) than those in the high-Cr chromitites(78.2-80.4), harzburgites(72.6-77.9) and mantle dunites(79.4-84.3). The chemical differences in these two types of chromitites are reflected in the behaviors of their platinum-group elements(PGE).The high-Cr chromitites are rich in IPGE relative to PPGE with 0.10-0.45 PPGE/IPGE ratios, whereas the high-Al chromitites have relatively higher PPGE/IPGE ratios between 1.20 and 7.80. The calculated melts in equilibrium with the high-Cr chromitites are boninitic-like, and those associated with the high-Al chromitites are MORB-like but with hydrous, oxidized and TiO-poor features. We propose that the coexistence of both types of chromitites in the Bulqiza ultramafic massif may indicates a change in magma composition from MORB-like to boninitic-like in a proto-forearc setting during subduction initiation.

Cold plumes trigger contamination of oceanic mantle wedges with continental crust-derived sediments:Evidence from chromitite zircon grains of eastern Cuban ophiolites

The origin of zircon grains, and other exotic minerals of typical crustal origin, in mantle-hosted ophiolitic chromitites are hotly debated. We report a population of zircon grains with ages ranging from Cretaceous(99 Ma) to Neoarchean(2750 Ma), separated from massive chromitite bodies hosted in the mantle section of the supra-subduction(SSZ)-type Mayari-Baracoa Ophiolitic Belt in eastern Cuba. Most analyzed zircon grains(n = 20, 287 ± 3 Ma to 2750 ± 60 Ma) are older than the early Cretaceous age of the ophiolite body, show negativeε_(Hf)(t)(-26 to-0.6) and occasional inclusions of quartz, K-feldspar,biotite, and apatite that indicate derivation from a granitic continental crust. In contrast, 5 mainly rounded zircon grains(297±5 Ma to 2126±27 Ma) show positive εHf(t)(+0.7 to +13.5) and occasional apatite inclusions, suggesting their possible crystallization from melts derived from juvenile(mantle)sources. Interestingly, younger zircon grains are mainly euhedral to subhedral crystals, whereas older zircon grains are predominantly rounded grains. A comparison of the ages and Hf isotopic compositions of the zircon grains with those of nearby exposed crustal terranes suggest that chromitite zircon grains are similar to those reported from terranes of Mexico and northern South America. Hence, chromitite zircon grains are interpreted as sedimentary-derived xenocrystic grains that were delivered into the mantle wedge beneath the Greater Antilles intra-oceanic volcanic arc by metasomatic fluids/melts during subduction processes. Thus, continental crust recycling by subduction could explain all populations of old xenocrystic zircon in Cretaceous mantle-hosted chromitites from eastern Cuba ophiolite.We integrate the results of this study with petrological-thermomechanical modeling and existing geodynamic models to propose that ancient zircon xenocrysts, with a wide spectrum of ages and Hf isotopic compositions, can be transferred to the mantle wedge above subducting slabs by cold plumes.

SSZ Semail Ophiolite vs MORB Masirah Ophiolite: A Perspective from Podiform Chromitites

One of the major topics of debate in ophiolite geology is the original tectonic setting of ophiolites. New studies show that most ophiolites are formed more frequently in a suprasubduction zone(SSZ) environment and that only a very small number of ophiolites have formed in an oceanic range(MOR). The Masirah ophiolite is one of the few oceanic ridge ophiolites that have been preserved, and the evidence that was formed in a subduction environment is missing(Moseley and Abbotts 1979, Dilek and Furnes, 2011;Rollinson, 2017). Masirah Island, the Batain and Ras Madrah areas of eastern Oman are almost entirely composed of a well-developed ophiolite, known as the Masirah ophiolite(Fig. 1), which is, however, completely unrelated to the nearby Semail Ophiolite in the northern Oman Mountains(Fig. 2). The Masirah ophiolite is Jurassic in age and represents oceanic lithosphere derived from the Indian Ocean, but is about 15–20 Myr later than emplacement of midCretaceous Semail ophiolite in northern Oman. The presence of basaltic to rhyolitic lavas of calc-alkaline affinity and boninites in the lava sequence of the Semail ophiolite led several researchers to propose a back-arc basin model for this ophiolite(e.g. Tamura and Arai, 2006;Godard et al., 2008;Rollinson and Adetunji, 2015). The Masirah Ophiolite shows close affinities with MORB peridotites in general. Most of the olivine from the Masirah harzburgites show Fo contents that are similar to those of olivine from MORB. Both pyroxenes in these harzburgites have similar Mg# values, Al2O3 and Cr2O3 contents to those of pyroxenes from MORB peridotites. The observed primitive mantlenormalized REE patterns showing enrichment in LREEs indicate that the Masirah peridotites have been modified by fluids or melts enriched in LREEs in a MORB environment. Podiform chromitites housed in ophiolites today interpreted as magmatic deposits formed during the reaction of molten rock in environments spike in the middle of the ocean(MOR) or suprasubduccion zone(SSZ)(Arai and Matsukage, 1998;Rollinson and Adetunji, 2015). The Masirah chromitites has a mineral chemistry similar to the mineral chemistry of chromite crystallized from MOR magmas. The Cr# values of chromite in the Masirah chromatite are similar to those of MOR peridotites. These findings suggest that the ultramafic and mafic cumulate rock assemblages overlying the upper mantle peridotites in the Masirah ophiolite represent the products of magma evolution in a MOR initiation stage within the proto Indian Ocean. Coexisting high-and low-Cr# associations of chromitite and dunite have been found in the Semail ophiolite, which illustrates the common situation of ophiolites having both SSZ and MOR geochemical signatures. Cr# varies from 40–60 for shallow chromite bodies, and over the range 70–80 for the deep locations. This diversity of chromitite types suggests two stages of magmatic activity were responsible for the chromitite genesis, in response to a switch of tectonic setting. The first is residual from lower degree, partial melting of peridotite, which produced lowCr# chromitites at the Moho transition zone, possibly in a midocean-ridge setting. The second chromitite-forming event involves higher degree partial melting, which produced high-Cr# discordant chromitite in the upper mantle, possibly in a suprasubduction zone setting. Assemblages of mono-and poly-phase silicate inclusions(including olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, amphibole, phlogopite, serpentine, native Fe, FeO, alloy, sulfide, calcite, laurite, celestine and halite) within chromite have been observed in the low Cr# podiform chromitites from the Semail and Masirah ophiolites. The existence of hydrous silicate inclusions in the chromite calls for a role of hydration during chromite genesis. High-T bright green hornblende–edenite included in the chromites is evidence of the introduction of water in the magma at the end of the chromite crystallization. Such paragenesis points to the presence of hydrous fluids during the activity of the shear bands.

Platinum-Group Elements Geochemistry and Chromian Spinel Composition in Podiform Chromitites and Associated Peridotites from the Cheshmeh-Bid Deposit, Neyriz, Southern Iran: Implications for Geotectonic Setting

Dunite and serpentinized harzburgite in the Cheshmeh-Bid area, northwest of the Neyriz ophiolite in Iran, host podiform chromitite that occur as sehlieren-type, tabular and aligned massive lenses of various sizes. The most important chromitite ore textures in the Cheshmeh-Bid deposit are massive, nodular and disseminated. Massive chromitite, dunite, and harzburgite host rocks were analyzed for trace and platinum-group elements geochemistry. Chromian spinel in chromitite is characterized by high Cr#（0.72-0.78）, high Mg#（0.62-0.68） and low TiO2 （0.12 wt%-0.2 wt%） content. These data are similar to those of chromitites deposited from high degrees of mantle partial melting. The Cr# of chromian spinel ranges from 0.73 to 0.8 in dunite, similar to the high-Cr chromitite, whereas it ranges from 0.56 to 0.65 in harzburgite. The calculated melt composition of the high-Cr chromitites of the Cheshmeh-Bid is 11.53 wt%-12.94 wt% A1203, 0.21 wt%-0.33 wt% TiO2 with FeO/MgO ratios of 0.69-0.97, which are interpreted as more refractory melts akin to boninitic compositions. The total PGE content of the Cheshmeh-Bid chromitite, dunite and harzburgite are very low （average of 220.4, 34.5 and 47.3 ppb, respectively）. The Pd/Ir ratio, which is an indicator of PGE fractionation, is very low （0.05- 0.18） in the Cheshmeh-Bid chromitites and show that these rocks derived from a depleted mantle. The chromitites are characterized by high-Cr#, low Pd ＋ Pt （4-14 ppb） and high IPGE/PPGE ratios （8.2- 22.25）, resulting in a general negatively patterns, suggesting a high-degree of partial melting is responsible for the formation of the Cheshmeh-Bid chromitites. Therefore parent magma probably experiences a very low fractionation and was derived by an increasing partial melting. These geochemical characteristics show that the Cheshmeh-Bid chromitites have been probably derived from a boninitic melts in a supra-subduction setting that reacted with depleted peridotites. The high-Cr chromitite has relatively uniform mantle-normalized PGE patterns, with a steep slope, positive Ru and negative Pt, Pd anomalies, and enrichment of PGE relative to the chondrite. The dunite （total PGE = 47.25 ppb） and harzburgite （total PGE =3 4.5 ppb） are highly depleted in PGE and show slightly positive slopes PGE spidergrams, accompanied by a small positive Ru, Pt and Pd anomalies and their PdJIrn ratio ranges between 1.55-1.7and 1.36-1.94, respectively. Trace element contents of the Cheshmeh-Bid chromitites, such as Ga, V, Zn, Co, Ni, and Mn, are low and vary between 13-26, 466-842, 22-84, 115- 179, 826-1210, and 697-1136 ppm, respectively. These contents are compatible with other boninitic chromitites worldwide. The chromian spinel and bulk PGE geochemistry for the Cheshmeh-Bid chromitites suggest that high-Cr chromitites were generated from Cr-rich and, Ti- and Al-poor honinitic melts, most probably in a fore-arc tectonic setting related with a supra-subduction zone, similarly to other ophiolites in the outer Zagros ophiolitic belt.

PGE mineralization and melt composition of chromitites in Proterozoic ophiolite complexes of Eastern Sayan,Southern Siberia

The Ospino-Kitoi and Kharanur ultrabasic massifs represent the northern and southern ophiolite branches respectively of the Upper Onot ophiolitic nappe and they are located in the southeastern part of the Eastern Sayan（SEPES ophiolites）.Podiform chromitites with PGE mineralization occur as lensoid pods within dunites and rarely in harzburgites or serpentinized peridotites.The chromitites are classified into type I and type Ⅱ based on their Cr~#.Type I（Cr~# = 59-85） occurs in both northern and southern branches,whereas type Ⅱ（Cr~# = 76-90） occurs only in the northern branch.PGE contents range from ∑PGE 88-1189 ppb,Pt/Ir0.04-0.42 to ∑PGE 250-1700 ppb,Pt/Ir 0.03-0.25 for type I chromitites of the northern and southern branches respectively.The type Ⅱ chromitites of the northern branch have ∑PGE contents higher than that of type Ⅰ（468-8617 ppb,Pt/Ir 0.1-0.33）.Parental melt compositions,in equilibrium with podiform chromitites,are in the range of boninitic melts and vary in Al_2O_3,TiO_2 and FeO/MgO contents from those of type I and type Ⅱ chromitites.Calculated melt compositions for type Ⅰ chromitites are（Al_2O_3）_（melt） = 10.6—13.5 wt.%,（TiO_2）_（melt） = 0.01-0.44 wt.%,（Fe/Mg）_（melt） = 0.42-1.81;those for type Ⅱ chromitites are：（Al_2O_3）_（melt） = 7.8-10.5 wt.%,（TiO_2）_（melt） = 0.01-0.25 wt.%,（Fe/Mg）_（melt） = 0.5-2.4.Chromitites are further divided into Os-Ir-Ru（Ⅰ） and Pt-Pd（Ⅱ） based on their PGE patterns.The type Ⅰ chromitites show only the Os-Ir-Ru pattern whereas type Ⅱ shows both Os-Ir-Ru and Pt-Pd patterns.PGE mineralization in type Ⅰ chromitites is represented by the Os-Ir-Ru system,whereas in type Ⅱ it is represented by the Os-Ir-Ru-Rh-Pt system.These results indicate that chromitites and PGE mineralization in the northern branch formed in a suprasubduction setting from a fluid-rich boninitic melt during active subduction.However,the chromitites and PGE mineralization of the southern branch could have formed in a spreading zone environment.Mantle peridotites have been exposed in the area with remnants of mantle-derived reduced fluids,as indicated by the occurrence of widespread highly carbonaceous graphitized ultrabasic rocks and serpentinites with up to 9.75 wt.%.Fluid inclusions in highly carbonaceous graphitized ultrabasic rocks contain CO,CO_2,CH4,N_2 and the δ^（13）C isotopic composition（-7.4 to-14.5‰） broadly corresponds to mantle carbon.

Magma Mixing as a Trigger for Sulphide Saturation in the UG2 Chromitite(Bushveld):Evidence from the Silicate and Sulphide Melt Inclusions in Chromite

It is of great importance to understand the origin of UG2 chromitite reefs and reasons why some chromitite reefs contain relatively high contents of platinum group elements（PGEs： Os, Ir, Ru, Rh,Pt, Pd） or highly siderophile elements（HSEs： Au, Re, PGE）. This paper documents sulphide-silicate assemblages enclosed in chromite grains from the UG2 chromitite. These are formed as a result of crystallisation of sulphide and silicate melts that are trapped during chromite crystallisation. The inclusions display negative crystal shapes ranging from several micrometres to 100 μm in size.Interstitial sulphide assemblages lack pyrrhotite and consist of chalcopyrite, pentlandite and some pyrite. The electron microprobe data of these sulphides show that the pentlandite grains present in some of the sulphide inclusions have a significantly higher iron（Fe） and lower nickel（Ni） content than the pentlandite in the rock matrix. Pyrite and chalcopyrite show no difference. The contrast in composition between inter-cumulus plagioclase（An_（68）） and plagioclase enclosed in chromite（An_（13））, as well as the presence of quartz, is consistent with the existence of a felsic melt at the time of chromite saturation.Detailed studies of HSE distribution in the sulphides and chromite were conducted by LA-ICP-MS（laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry）, which showed the following.（Ⅰ） Chromite contained no detectable HSE in solid solution.（Ⅱ） HSE distribution in sulphide assemblages interstitial to chromite was variable. In general, Pd, Rh, Ru and Ir occurred dominantly in pentlandite, whereas Os,Pt and Au were detected only in matrix sulphide grains and were clearly associated with Bi and Te.（Ⅲ）In the sulphide inclusions,（a） pyrrhotite did not contain any significant amount of HSE,（b） chalcopyrite contained only some Rh compared to the other sulphides,（c） pentlandite was the main host for Pd,（d）pyrite contained most of the Ru, Os, Ir and Re,（e） Pt and Rh were closely associated with Bi forming a continuous rim between pyrite and pentlandite and（f） no Au was detected. These results show that the use of ArF excimer laser to produce high-resolution trace element maps provides information that cannot be obtained by conventional（spot） LA-ICP-MS analysis or trace element maps that use relatively large beam diameters.

Peridotites and Chromitites from the Dingqing Ophiolite in the Eastern Segment of Bangong–Nujiang Suture Zone, Tibet: Occurrence Characteristics and Classifications

The Dingqing ophiolite is located in the eastern segment of the Bangong-Nujiang suture zone. This suture zone is W–E trending parallel with the Yarlung–Zangbo suture zone and is an strategic area for exploring chromite deposits in China. The Dingqign ophiolite is distributed in near SE-NW direction. According to the spatial distribution, the Dingqing ophiolite is sudivided into two massifs, including the East and the West massifs. The Dingqing ophiolite covers an area of nearly 600 km2. This ophiolite is composed of peridotite, pyroxenite, gabbro, diabase, basalt, plagiogranite and chert(Fig. 1). The peridotite is the main lithology of the Dingqing ophiolite. The peridotite covers about 90% of the total area of the Dingqing ophiolite. The Dingqing ophiolite is dominated by harzburgite with a small amounts of dunite. The Dingqing harzburgite displays different textures, such as massive, Taxitic, oriented and spherulitic textures(Fig. 2d–i). These four types of harzburgite occur in both the East and West massifs, especially in the Laraka area of the eastern part of the East massif. Dunites have different occurrences in the field outcrops, such as lenticular or stripshaped, thin-shell and agglomerate varieties(Fig. 2a–c). On the basis of detailed field work, we have discovered 83 chromitite bodies, including 27 in the East massif and 56 in the West massif. According to the occurrence scale and quantity of the chromitite bodies, we have identified four prospecting areas, namely Laraka, Latanguo, Langda and Nazona. Chromitites in the Dingqing ophiolite show different textures, including massive, disseminated, veined and disseminated-banded textures(Fig. 3). On the basis of the Cr#(=Cr/(Cr+Al)×100) of chromite, we have classified the Dingqing chromitite into high-Cr, medium high chromium type, medium chromium type and low chromium type chromitite(Figs. 4, 5). Among them, low chromium type chromitite Cr# is extremely low, ranging from 9.23 to 14.01, with an average of 11.89;TiO2 content is 0.00% to 0.04%, and the average value is 0.01%, which may be a new output type of chromitite. These different types of chromitites have different associations/assemblages of mineral inclusions. The inclusions in high chromium type chromitite are mainly clinopyroxene and a small amount of olivine;medium high chromium chromitite are mainly amphibole, a small amount of clinopyroxene and phlogopite;while low-chromium chromite rarely develops mineral inclusions, and micron-sized clinopyroxene inclusions are common in olivines which are gangue mineral in it. These different types of chromite ore bodies have a certain correspondence with the field output, and may also restrict their genesis. This part will be further developed in the follow-up work.

Textural Insights on Significance of Ophiolitic Chromitites, with Special Reference to Oman

Based on the textural and crystallographic study of four chromitite sites in the Oman ophiolite, we show that chromite crystallized in situ at Moho transition zone, where exposed as podiform chromitite deposits. Crystallization operated either by crystal fractionation in a mini-magma chamber(Tuf dyke), or more commonly by meltrock reaction of a hydrated Cr-rich melt and enclosing dunite. Oxidizing conditions at Moho level triggered the crystallization of chromite at the expense of the corroded olivine network. High-temperature mantle flow(1100-1200 ℃), recorded in the joined reacting olivine aggregates, constrains the timing of chromitite formation. Models of genesis of chromitite deposits must account for a hydrous component initiating partial melting of refractory peridotite, and the revealed occurrence of ultra-high-pressure cratonic phases included in some chromite crystals of some ophiolitic chromitites.

Iron Isotope Compositions of Podiform Chromitites from Dazhuqu and Luobusha Ophiolites, Southern Tibet

Podiform chromitites crop out in ophiolitic harzburgites as pod-like bodies associated with dunite envelopes with various thickness. It is widely accepted that the change of melt compositions caused by melt-rock reaction, especially an increase in silica content, plays a crucial role in the generation of podiform chromitite(e.g., Arai and Yurimoto, 1994;Zhou et al., 1994). Due to the presence of ultrahigh pressure and highly reduced minerals, the genesis of some podiform chromitites was attributed to some deep processes(e.g., Arai, 2013;Yang et al., 2007). Although much progress has been achieved, the formation mechanism of podiform chromitites are still in dispute. Iron isotope may be a potential tool to give further insight to the issue, given that some high temperature processes, such as partial melting, metasomatism, magma differentiation and redox change, can result in measurable iron isotopic fractionation to different extent(e.g. Chen et al., 2014;Weyer and Ionov, 2007;Zhao et al., 2009). This study investigates the Fe isotope compositions of chromitites and chromite dunites from Dazhuqu and Luobusha ophiolites. For Dazhuqu chromite dunites, δ56 Fe(relative to the standard, IRMM-014) values range from-0.02‰ to 0.11‰ in olivines and from 0.03‰ to 0.08‰ in chromites. Chromites in Dazhuqu chromitites show δ56 Fe values varying from-0.03‰ to 0.02‰. In nodular and densely disseminated chromitites from Luobusha, olivines have δ56 Fe values of olivines and chromites are 0.09–0.35‰ and-0.15–0.08 ‰, respectively. Chromites from Luobusha massive chromitites have δ56 Fe values of 0.07–0.12 ‰. Based on theorical calculations, chromites should be heavier than olivines in Fe isotope compositions ?56 FeOl-Chr ≈-0.08‰ at 1300 ℃ according to the ionic model(e.g., Macris et al., 2015;Sossi and O’Neill, 2017). However, most of our samples, except for two samples, have ?56 FeOl-Chr values that are greater than zero, indicating a disequilibrium inter-mineral Fe isotopic fractionation. There is a positive correlation between Fo and δ56 Fe(or ?56 FeOl-Chr) of olivines but no positive correlation between Mg# and δ56 Fe(or ?56 FeOl-Chr) of chromites. This phenomenon suggests that the Fe isotopic dis-equilibration may be caused by migrating melts in dunitic channels rather than by the sub-solidus Fe-Mg exchange(Xiao et al., 2016;Zhang et al., 2019). Additionally, the wide δ56 Fe range of chromites is similar to those of the subduction-related basalts and boninites, inferring that their parental magmas form in the suprasubduction zone.

Geochemistry of platinum-group elements in the podiform chromitites and associated peridotites of the Nain ophiolites,Central Iran:Implications for geotectonic setting

The Nain ophiolite complex with an extent of[600 km2 is a part of the Central Iranian ophiolite,which is related to the opening and subsequent closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean.Dunite and serpentinized harzburgite in the Nain area host podiform chromitites that occur as three(eastern Hajhossein,western Hajhossein,and Soheil Pakuh)schlieren-type tabular and aligned massive lenses with various sizes.The most common chromitite ore textures are massive,nodular,disseminated,and banded,reflecting crystal settling processes.The Cr#[Cr/(Cr+Al)]ranges from 0.43 to 0.81(average 0.63).The Mg#[Mg/(Mg+Fe2+)]varies from 0.25 to 0.78(average0.62).The Nain ophiolite and hosted chromitite are generally characterized by high Cr#,reflecting crystallization from a very hot boninite magma in a MORB setting.The high Cr#in the Nain chromitite also indicates a high degree of melting(15%–35%)of the depleted peridotite.The average total PGE content in the ophiolitic host rock(harzburgite and dunite)and chromite are 107 and 221 ppb,respectively.The Nain ophiolite and chromitite have high IPGE/PPGE and negative Pt*(Pt/Pt*=0.6)anomaly,which is a characteristic of high Cr#chromitite.The U-shaped REE pattern of dunite host rock suggests the interaction of depleted mantle peridotite with boninitic melt.Geochemical data suggest that the Nain chromitites are related to the boninitic magma emplacement in a suprasubduction zone.