Zircon U-Pb Geochronological Constraints on Rapid Exhumation of the Mantle Peridotite of the Xigaze Ophiolite, Southern Xizang(Tibet)

The Xigaze ophiolite crops out in the central segment of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone,southern Tibet(Fig.1).It is characterized by large amounts of ultramafic units with minor mafic rocks.The mafic rocks consist of gabbros,

In-situ Moissanite in Dunite: Deep Mantle Origin of Mantle Peridotite in Luobusa Ophiolite, Tibet

We report the discovery of an in-situ natural moissanite as an inclusion in the Cr-spinel from the dunite envelope of a chromitite deposit in Luobusa ophiolite,Tibet.The moissanite occurs as a twin crystal interpenetrated by two quadrilateral signal crystals with sizes of 17 pm × 10 μm and 20 μm × 7 μm,respectively.The moissanite is green with parallel extinction.The absorption peaks in its Raman spectra are at 967-971 cm-1,787-788 cm-1,and 766 cm-1.The absorption peaks in the infrared spectra are at 696 cm-1,767 cm-1,1450 cm-1,and 1551 cm-1,which are distinctly different from the peaks for synthetic silicon carbide.Moissanites have been documented to form in ultra-high pressure,high temperature,and extremely low fO2 environments and their 13C-depleted compositions indicate a lower mantle origin.Combined with previous studies about other ultra-high pressure and highly reduced minerals in Luobusa ophiolite,the in-situ natural moissanite we found indicates a deep mantle origin of some materials in the mantle sequence of Luobusa ophiolite.Further,we proposed a transformation model to explain the transfer process of UHP materials from the deep mantle to ophiolite sequence and then to the supra-subduction zone environment.Interactions between the crown of the mantle plume and mid-ocean ridge are suggested to be the dominant mechanism.

Experimental Study of Partial Melting of Mantle Peridotite -A Discussion about the Genesis of Sih'ca-rich Fluids (Melts)

Experiments on partial melting of mantle lherzolite have been realized at 0.6 and 1.0 GPa and the chemical compositional variations of melts during different melting stages have been first discussed. The results show that the trends of variations in SiO2, CaO, Al2O3, Na2O and TiO2 are different at different melting stages. The melts produced at lower pressure are richer in SiO2 than those at higher pressure. The mantle-derived silica-rich fluids (silicate melts) are polygenetic, but the basic and intermediate-acid silicate melts in mantle peridotite xenoliths from the same host rocks, which have equivalent contents of volatile and alkali components and different contents of other components, should result from in-situ (low-degree) partial melting of mantle peridotite under different conditions (e.g. at different depths, with introduction of C-O-H fluids or in the presence of metasomatic minerals). The intermediate-acid melts may be the result of partial melting (at lower pressure) Opx + Sp + K-Na-rich fluid ±(Am-phi) ± (Phlog) = OI + melt. But the intermediate-acid magmas cannot be produced from the partial melting of normal mantle peridotite unless the crustal materials are introduced to some extent.

Oceanic lithosphere heterogeneity in the eastern Paleo-Tethys revealed by PGE and Re-Os isotopes of mantle peridotites in the Jinshajiang ophiolite

Platinum group elements(PGE)and Re-Os isotopes of mantle peridotites in the Jinshajiang ophiolite(SW China)were investigated in this study,in order to constrain the evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan Ocean,which was a branch of the eastern Paleo-Tethys.The Jinshajiang peridotites have whole-rock compositions(e.g.,MgO=32.7-38.1 wt.%;Al_(2)O_(3)=0.67-1.30 wt.%)and spinels with moderate Cr#values(0.4-0.6)similar to those of abyssal peridotites,which indicate moderate degrees of partial melting(15%-20%).These peridotites exhibit U-shaped chondrite-normalized REE patterns that could be caused by hydrothermal alteration or melt-rock interaction after mantle melting.In addition,Pd concentrations and(Pd/Ir)_(N)ratios of the Jinshajiang peridotites increases with decreasing Al_(2)O_(3) concentrations.These negative correlations cannot be explained by simple partial melting but record a melt-rock reaction event after mantle melting.This study therefore demonstrates the efficiency of PGE in detecting the melt-rock reaction process relative to whole-rock major and trace elements.The suprachondritic^(187)Os/^(188)Os ratios(0.1272-0.1374)further indicate that the later percolating melt derived from a mantle domain with distinct^(187)Os-enriched isotopic compositions.In comparison with peridotites in the Ailaoshan ophiolite belt,which were not significantly affected by melt percolation,this study further highlights that the lithospheric mantle compositions beneath different segments of the same ocean basin are highly variable and might be controlled by distinct mantle processes in response to different rifting mechanisms.

Evolution History of Mantle Peridotites in the Xigaze Ophiolite: Constraints from Whole-rock and Mineral Geochemistry

Ophiolites along the E-W trending Yarlung-Tsangpo Suture(YTS),which separates the Indian plate from the Eurasian plate,have been regarded as relics of the NeoTethyan Ocean.The Xigaze ophiolite in the central YTS

Compositions & Melt Evolution of Upper Mantle Peridotites in the Tethyan Ophiolites

The Jurassic–Cretaceous ophiolites in the Alpine–Himalayan orogenic belt represent fragments of oceanic lithosphere,developed in different seaways separated by Gondwana–derived ribbon continents within a broad

Melt migration and melt-rock reaction in the Alpine-Apennine peridotites:Insights on mantle dynamics in extending lithosphere

The compositional variability of the lithospheric mantle at extensional settings is largely caused by the reactive percolation of uprising melts in the thermal boundary layer and in lithospheric environments.The Alpine-Apennine(A-A)ophiolites are predominantly constituted by mantle peridotites and are widely thought to represent analogs of the oceanic lithosphere formed at ocean/continent transition and slow-to ultraslow-spreading settings.Structural and geochemical studies on the A-A mantle peridotites have revealed that they preserve significant compositional and isotopic heterogeneity at variable scale,reflecting a long-lived multi-stage melt migration,intrusion and melt-rock interaction history,occurred at different lithospheric depths during progressive uplift.The A-A mantle peridotites thus constitute a unique window on mantle dynamics and lithosphere-asthenosphere interactions in very slow spreading environments.In this work,we review field,microstructural and chemical-isotopic evidence on the major stages of melt percolation and melt-rock interaction recorded by the A-A peridotites and discuss their consequences in creating chemical-isotopic heterogeneities at variable scales and enhancing weakening and deformation of the extending mantle.Focus will be on three most important stages:(i)old(pre-Jurassic)pyroxenite emplacement,and the significant isotopic modification induced in the host mantle by pyroxenite-derived melts,(ii)melt-peridotite interactions during Jurassic mantle exhumation,i.e.the open-system reactive porous flow at spinel facies depths causing bulk depletion(origin of reactive harzburgites and dunites),and the shallower melt impregnation which originated plagioclase-rich peridotites and an overall mantle refertilization.We infer that migrating melts largely originated as shallow,variably depleted,melt fractions,and acquired Si-rich composition by reactive dissolution of mantle pyroxenes during upward migration.Such melt-rock reaction processes share significant similarities with those documented in modern oceanic peridotites from slow-to ultraslow-spreading environments and track the progressive exhumation of large mantle sectors at shallow depths in oceanic settings where a thicker thermal boundary layer exists,as a consequence of slow-spreading rate.

Phase equilibrium modeling of zircon stability in mantle peridotite:Implication for crust-mantle interaction

Zircon is a common accessory mineral in various rocks,especially in the crustal ones.It is the best mineral for U-Pb dating.Meanwhile,trace elements and isotopes of the mineral can also provide much information concerning the formation and evolution of rocks.There are a growing number of reports of zircon existing in mantle peridotite.However,it is generally considered that zircon is unlikely crystallized in ultrabasic rocks due to SiO_(2)-unsaturation.In this paper,the SiO_(2) activity and zircon/baddeleyite transition curve at different conditions were calculated through thermodynamic phase equilibrium modeling,to reveal the main factors affecting the SiO_(2) activity and the stability of zircon/baddeleyite in ultrabasic and basic rocks,especially in mantle peridotite.These results provide a thermodynamic basis for interpreting the genesis and significance of zircon in mantle rocks.That is,the SiO_(2) activity is mainly controlled by stable mineral assemblages and temperature-pressure conditions.The orthopyroxene+olivine assemblage in peridotite as an effective buffer restricts the SiO_(2) activity in a relatively high range with a small variation.The upper temperature limit of zircon can reach more than 1500℃ with this mineral assemblage.During the low-temperature serpentinization of peridotite,the replacement of olivine and pyroxene by serpentine can result in a significant decrease of SiO_(2) activity,and baddeleyite can be stabilized at<530℃ and<2.7 GPa.When peridotite is strongly metasomatized by the SiO_(2)-bearing fluid,the addition of SiO_(2) can increase its activity and make zircon stable at low temperatures.The SiO_(2) activity in ultrabasic-basic rocks is not only positively correlated with the SiO_(2) content but also negatively correlated with the Ca and Na contents of rocks.This is because Ca and Na preferentially combine with Si and Al to form Si-rich minerals,such as clinopyroxene and feldspar.This process will consume excessive SiO_(2),decreasing the SiO_(2) activity.This may be the reason why zircon can be found in ultrabasic rocks,while baddeleyite can exist in some basic and alkaline rocks.The thermodynamic modeling can also reasonably explain the mutual transformation between zircon and baddeleyite in ultrabasic-basic rocks.Our results indicate that zircon can exist stably in mantle peridotite in a wide range of temperature-pressure conditions and its formation is related to melt/fluid metasomatism.That is,the presence of zircon in mantle peridotite is an important information carrier of crust-mantle interaction for deep material cycling.

Geochemical constraints on the origin and tectonic setting of the serpentinized peridotites from the Paleoproterozoic Nyong series,Eseka area,SW Cameroon

Serpentinized rocks closely associated with Paleoproterozoic eclogitic metabasites were recently discovered at Eseka area in the northwestern edge of the Congo craton in southern Cameroon.Here,we present new field data,petrography,and first comprehensible wholerock geochemistry data and discuss the protolith and tectonic significance of these serpentinites in the region.The studied rock samples are characterized by pseudomorphic textures,including mesh microstructure formed by serpentine intergrowths with cores of olivine,bastites after pyroxene.Antigorite constitutes almost the whole bulk of the rocks and is associated(to the less amount)with tremolite,talc,spinel,and magnetite.Whole-rock chemistry of the Eseka serpentinites led to the distinction of two types.Type 1 has high MgO(>40 wt%)content and high Mg#values(88.80)whereas Type 2 serpentinite samples display relatively low MgO concentration and Mg#values(<40 and 82.88 wt%,respectively).Both types have low Al/Si and high Mg/Si ratios than the primitive mantle,reflecting a refractory abyssal mantle peridotite protolith.Partial melting modeling indicates that these rocks were derived from melting of spinel peridotite before serpentinization.Bulk rock high-Ti content is similar to the values of subducted serpentinites(>50 ppm).This similarity,associated with the high Cr contents,spinel-peridotite protolith compositions and Mg/Si and Al/Si ratios imply that the studied serpentinites were formed in a subductionrelated environment.The U-shaped chondrite normalizedREE patterns of serpentinized peridotites,coupled with similar enrichments in LREE and HFSE,suggest the refertilized nature due to melt/rock interaction prior to serpentinization.Based on the results,we suggest that the Eseka serpentinized peridotites are mantle residues that suffered a high degree of partial melting in a subductionrelated environment,especially in Supra Subduction Zone setting.These new findings suggest that the Nyong series in Cameroon represents an uncontested Paleoproterozoic suture zone between the Congo craton and the Sao Francisco craton in Brazil.

Reconsideration of Neo-Tethys Evolution Constrained from the Nature of the Dazhuqu Ophiolitic Mantle, Southern Tibet

The nature(i.e., sub-oceanic, sub-arc or subcontinental) of ophiolitic mantle peridotites from the eastern Neo-Tethyan domain in southern Tibet has been hotly debated. This uncertainty limits our understanding of the history and evolution of the eastern Neo-Tethys Ocean. Here we present petrological, geochemical and Re-Os isotopic data for the mantle peridotites from the Dazhuqu ophiolite in the central segment of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone, southern Tibet. Samples collected include both spinel lherzolites and spinel harzburgites. The lherzolites have spinel Cr~# [Cr/(Cr + Al), ~ 0.3–0.4] comparable to those of typical abyssal peridotites. In contrast, the harzburgites have spinel Cr~#(~0.3–0.7) overlapping with the ranges of both abyssal and fore-arc peridotites(Day et al., 2017;Parkinson and Pearce, 1998);two samples have spinel Cr~# higher than 0.6, which is probably ascribed to intense melt-rock interactions. Clinopyroxene trace element modeling indicates that the Dazhuqu mantle peridotites have experienced 0–6% garnetfacies melting followed by 10% –18% melting in the spinel stability field. This is similar to the degree of garnet-facies melting inferred for many abyssal peridotites(Hellebrand et al., 2002) and implies deep initial melting(> 85 km), which distinguishes the Dazhuqu mantle peridotites from fore-arc peridotites(commonly <80 km in origin). The Dazhuqu peridotites have unradiogenic 187 Os/188 Os of 0.11836–0.12922, which are commonly lower than the recommended value of primitive upper mantle(PUM)(Meisel et al., 2001). All but one samples yield relatively younger Re depletion ages(TRD = 0.06–0.81 Ga) with respect to the only one sample having an older TRD age of 1.66 Ga. Re-Os isotopes and highly siderophile element(HSE) compositions of the Dazhuqu peridotites are similar to those of abyssal peridotites(Day et al., 2017) and the Oman southern massifs(Hangh?j et al., 2010) but are distinct from noncratonic sub-continental lithospheric mantle(SCLM) xenoliths and sub-arc mantle. We emphasize the similarity between the Dazhuqu and Oman ophiolites, both representing Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere and implying ridge–trench collision.

Hydrogen Isotopic Compositions of Pyroxenes in Nushan Peridotite Xenoliths,SE China

Hydrogen isotopic compositions of pyroxenes in peridotite xenoliths from the Nushan volcano, Anhui Province, SE China have been obtained using an ion probe (Cameca 1270). D/H ratios are constant within a single grain and among the different grains from the same sample. The lack of correlation between the D/H ratios and the hydrogen contents indicates that the hydrogen isotopic compositions are inherited from their mantle source. Combining with the δD values of coexisting amphiboles, it is inferred that the Nushan mantle experienced at least a two-stage metasomatic event. One was responsible for formation of amphiboles with extremely variable δD values, and the other was probably responsible for the high δD values (up to ?20‰) of some clinopyroxenes from peridotites, clinopyroxene and mica megacrysts. High δD values point to a subduction-related fluid being involved in one metasomatic event. The primary δD values (?90‰ to ?140‰) of the Nushan pyroxenes, together with data gleaned from the literature, suggest that the D/H ratios of the nominally anhydrous mineral reservoir might have differed from that of the other mantle hydrogen in being relatively depleted in D.

Sheared peridotite xenolith from the V.Grib kimberlite pipe,Arkhangelsk Diamond Province,Russia:Texture,composition,and origin

The petrography and mineral composition of a mantle-derived garnet peridotite xenolith from the V.Grib kimberlite pipe（Arkhangelsk Diamond Province,Russia） was studied.Based on petrographic characteristics,the peridotite xenolith reflects a sheared peridotite.The sheared peridotite experienced a complex evolution with formation of three main mineral assemblages：（1） a relict harzburgite assemblage consist of olivine and orthopyroxene porphyroclasts and cores of garnet grains（Gar1） with sinusoidal rare earth elements（REE） chondrite C1 normalized patterns;（2） a neoblastic olivine and orthopyroxene assemblage;（3） the last assemblage associated with the formation of clinopyroxene and garnet marginal zones（Gar2）.Major and trace element compositions of olivine,orthopyroxene,clinopyroxene and garnet indicate that both the neoblast and clinopyroxene-Gar2 mineral assemblages were in equilibrium with a high Fe-Ti carbonate-silicate metasomatic agent.The nature of the metasomatic agent was estimated based on high field strength elements（HFSE） composition of olivine neoblasts,the garnet-clinopyroxene equilibrium condition and calculated by REE-composition of Gar2 and clinopyroxene.All these evidences indicate that the agent was a high temperature carbonate-silicate melt that is geochemically linked to the formation of the protokimberlite melt.

PGE and isotopic characteristics of Shergol and Suru Valley Ophiolites,Western Ladakh:Implications for supra-subduction tectonics along Indus Suture Zone

Present study reports the PGE-geochemistry of mantle peridotites and Nd-isotope geochemistry of arc related mafic rocks from the Indus Suture Zone(ISZ),western Ladakh.The total PGE concentration of the Shergol and Suru Valley peridotites(∑PGE=96-180 ppb)is much higher than that of the primitive mantle and global ophiolitic mantle peridotites.The studied peridotites show concave upward PGE-distribution patterns with higher palladium-group PGE/Iridium-group PGE ratios(i.e.,0.8-2.9)suggesting that the partial melting is not the sole factor responsible for the evolution of these peridotites.The observed PGE-distribution patterns are distinct from residual/refractory mantle peridotites,which have concave downward or flat PGE-distribution patterns.Relative enrichment of palladium-group PGE as well as other whole-rock incompatible elements(e.g.,LILE and LREE)and higher Pd/Ir ratio(1.1-5.9)reflects that these peridotites have experienced fluid/melt interaction in a supra-subduction zone(SSZ)tectonic setting.Also,the Shergol mafic intrusives and Dras mafic volcanics,associated with the studied peridotites,have high^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd ratios(i.e.,0.512908-0.513078 and 0.512901-0.512977,respectively)and positiveε_(Nd)(t)(calculated for t=140 Ma)values(i.e.,+5.3 to+8.6 and+5.1 to+6.6,respectively),indicating derivation from depleted mantle sources within an intra-oceanic arc setting,similar to Spongtang and Nidar ophiolites from other parts of Ladakh Himalaya.The transition from SSZ-type Shergol and Suru Valley peridotites to Early Cretaceous tholeiitic Shergol mafic intrusives followed by tholeiitic to calc-alkaline Dras mafic volcanics within the Neo-Tethys Ocean exhibit characteristics of subduction initiation mechanism analogous to the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc system within western Pacific.

Mineral Chemistry and Geochemistry of Peridotites from the Zedang and Luobusa Ophiolites, Tibet: Implications for the Evolution of the Neo-Tethys

We present a new dataset on platinum group elements（PGEs）, whole-rock major and trace elements, and mineral chemistry for the peridotites from the Zedang and Luobusa ophiolite suites, Tibet, in an attempt to better constrain the petrogenesis of the Zedang and Luobusa ophiolites and the tectonic evolution of the Neo-Tethys. Plots of chondrite-normalized PGE, PGE vs. Mg#, and PGE vs. Al_2O_3 suggest that the lherzolite and harzburgite from Zedang and Luobusa have similar PGE characteristics. The Zedang and Luobusa peridotites display U-shaped REE patterns and are enriched in some incompatible elements, indicative of melt-rock interaction. The PGE characteristics may be attributed to partial melting and heterogeneous melt-rock interaction. Mineral chemistry and whole rock major and trace elements data suggest that lherzolite and harzburgite from Zedang and Luobusa have similar geochemical properties. On the spinel Mg# vs. Cr# plot, the composition of the Zedang and Luobusa peridotites is consistent with both abyssal and subduction-zone peridotites. This study indicates that the Zedang and Luobusa peridotites have a similar origin and evolution path： they could have originated from a normal mid-ocean ridge environment and got refertilization in a supra-subduction zone setting.