Petrologic evolution of the Gysian ophiolitic serpentinites,NW Iran

The Gysian ophiolite of NW Iran is located at the intersection of the ophiolite belts of SE Turkey,NE Iraq,and Iran,and provides the opportunity to investigate the preserved subduction and obduction history of an important tectonic site that has not previously been studied.The serpentinized peridotites of the Gysian ophiolite contain the assemblagelizardite+chrysotile+spinel/Mg-spinelwith relict clinopyroxene(diopside)and very rare relict orthopyroxene and olivine.The compositions of clinopyroxenes and spinels are more consistent with the formation of the inferred protolithharzburgitesinafore-arcorsupra-subduction zone instead of an abyssal environment.The Gysian ophiolite is a remnant of the Neo-Tethyan arc-ophiolitic system and records shallow subduction(<50 km,indicated by the absence of antigorite)in the Late Cretaceous to Paleocene beforeobductionalongthrustfaultsoverthecontinental margin.We review the spatial trends of the metamorphic grade of the Neo-Tethyan ophiolites in this region and provide detailed information about the petrology and mineral chemistry of the Gysian ophiolite.

Predicting uniaxial compressive strength of serpentinites through physical,dynamic and mechanical properties using neural networks

The uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)of intact rock is one of the most important parameters required and determined for rock mechanics studies in engineering projects.The limitations and difficulty of conducting tests on rocks,specifically on thinly bedded,highly fractured,highly porous and weak rocks,as well as the fact that these tests are destructive,expensive and time-consuming,lead to development of soft computing-based techniques.Application of artificial neural networks(ANNs)for predicting UCS has become an attractive alternative for geotechnical engineering scientists.In this study,an ANN was designed with the aim of indirectly predicting UCS through the serpentinization percentage,and physical,dynamic and mechanical characteristics of serpentinites.For this purpose,data obtained in earlier experimental work from central Greece were used.The ANN-based results were compared with the experimental ones and those obtained from previous analysis.The proposed ANN-based formula was found to be very efficient in predicting UCS values and the samples could be classified with simple physical,dynamic and mechanical tests,thus the expensive,difficult,time-consuming and destructive mechanical tests could be avoided.

SERPENTINIZATION OF THE MANTLE WEDGE BY FLUIDS DERIVED FROM CONTINENTAL CRUSTAL MATERIAL: EVIDENCE FROM Nd ISOTOPIC SIGNATURES OF SERPENTINITES (TSO MORARI DOME,ELADAKH)

The well preserved eclogitic rocks of the Tso Morari dome in eastern Ladakh, northwest Himalaya, provide information relevant to the exhumation of high pressure/low temperature rocks, and the early stage of the Himalayan orogeny. The Tso Morari unit outcrops south of the Indus suture zone (Fig.1). The eclogitic dome is underlined on its eastern part by the Zildat normal fault where serpentinite lenses and partially hydrated peridotites are abundant. The close association of the high pressure rocks and serpentinites suggests a possible role of serpentinites in the exhumation of ultrahigh\|pressure rocks. To evaluate this possibility, geochemical analyses were carried out on the serpentinites closely associated with the Tso Morari eclogites.

Relic Oceanic Crust at Sub-Arc Depth: An Example from UHP Eclogites Enclosed in Serpentinites from the Southwestern Tianshan, China

Ultra-high pressure（UHP）eclogites that derive from subducted oceanic crust are rarely found at the Earth’s surface because they need to be enclosed in a buoyant host rock such as serpentinites that facilitate exhumation（Hermann et al.,2000;Guillot et al.,2001）.Under normal subduction geotherms,serpentinites break down just before UHP conditions are reached and therefore most of the exhumed eclogites representing subducted oceanic crust formed under fore-arc conditions.We investigated eclogite blocks enclosed into serpentinites that occur in the southwestern Tianshan oceanic subduction,China.A previous study proved that the serpentinites derive from altered oceanic crust and experienced UHP metamorphism at low temperatures of 510-530°C（Shen et al.,2015）.Three relatively fresh eclogite samples were studied in detail.Sample 129-7 shows the retrograde mineral assemblage of amphibole+biotite+albite+chlorite+minor titanite and peak metamorphic relics of omphacite+garnet±chlorite.Sample C107-23 is mainly composed of amphibole+albite+chlorite+zoisite+muscovite+minor titanite as a retrograde assemblage and garnet+phengite as the peak metamorphic relics with omphacite only found as inclusions in garnet.Similar to sample C107-23,sample C11066 preserves large-grained euhedral to subhedral garnet relics with omphacite inclusions,and epidote,diopside,amphibole,muscovite,chlorite,albite and biotite are in the matrix belong to the retrograde assemblage.These three retrograde eclogite samples were modelled using thermodynamic calculations in the Mn NCKFMSHO（Mn O-Na;O-Ca O-K;O-FeO-Mg O-Al;O;-SiO;-H;O-Fe;O;）system.Based on the peak assemblage of omphacite+garnet and the crossing of the grossular and pyrope isopleths in garnet,peak P-T conditions of;60-470oC,28-29 kbar（129-7）,450-500oC,28-35 kbar（C107-23）,;75-505oC,26-29 kbar（C11066）were calculated.The retrograde assemblages indicate near isothermal decompression resulting in a clockwise P-T evolution of these eclogites.The peak metamorphic pressures at 500°C are well within UHP conditions（coesite stability field）and are within error the same as peak conditions of the host serpentinites（Shen et al.,2015）.This provides evidence that eclogites and serpentinites shared the same evolution.We infer that the subducted low-density serpentinites were assembled with the high-density eclogites during subdution and helped the latter to exhume back to the surface.The studied eclogites thus represent rare examples of relics of oceanic crust that was subducted to sub-arc depth.

Relic Oceanic Crust at Sub-arc Depth: an Example from UHP Eclogites Enclosed in Serpentinites from the Southwestern Tianshan Mountains, China

Ultra-high pressure(UHP)eclogites that derive from subducted oceanic crust are rarely found at the Earth’s surface because they need to be enclosed in a buoyant host rock such as serpentinites that facilitate exhumation

Petrostructural and Geochemical Characteristics of the Metamagmatites in the External Zone of the Dahomeyides Belt: Case of the KantèSerpentinites (Northern Togo)

Thanks to detailed field investigations, microstructural and geochemical analysis and relationship with enclosing rocks, microfabrics, magmatic typology and metamorphic evolution of the Kantè sepentinites have been specified for the first time. The Kantè serpentinites in northern Togo constitute a mega-lens of ultrabasic rocks tectonically intercalated in the sericite chlorite schists of the Atacora structural unit. The brecciated, schitotose or massive rock facies are strongly marked by an S1 schistocity plane superimposed by a flat C shear plane linked to a west vergence thrusting movement. The parageneses that compose the metamagmatites are essentially serpentinous, containing plagioclase, opaque minerals (magnetite, chromite, spinel) and pyroxene porphyroblasts. These microfabrics represent relics of a probable gabbroic protolith. In fact, the geochemical characteristics of the Kantè serpentinites suggest that their magmatic typology is that of komatiites or tholeiitic basalts with oceanic arc affinities. They would have been emplaced in an active margin environment. The retromorphic evolution of the protolith corresponds to the phase of involvement in a major tangential contact during the panafrican tectogenesis.

Origin of the serpentinites in the Lichi melange,eastem Taiwan,China:implication from petrology and geochronology

Lichi melange,located in the southern coastal range,eastern Taiwan,China,is a typical tectonic melange of the plate's boundary zone between the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate.It formed during the collision of the Luzon arc with the Eurasian Continent (arc-continent collision).It is composed of sandstone and/or mudstone matrix and many kinds and sizes of rock fragments,including some sedimentary rocks,volcanic rocks and a few metamorphic rocks.The serpentinite is one of the common fragments in the Lichi melange.By the petrographic characteristics and the zircon U-Pb chronology analyses,protolith of the serpentinite is peridotite,the age is 17.7 ±0.5 Ma.Taking the tectonic background into account,it is inferred that the serpentinite (serpentinised peridotite)come from the forearc basin (the North Luzon Trough)and was taken into the melange by a second thrust westwards.The origin of the serpentimte in Lichi melange is helpful to understand the formation of the Lichi melange and can provide reliable detailed information for the study of the arc-continent collision orogenic activity in and offshore Taiwan.

Shear strength of extremely altered serpentinites based on degree of saturation(Ankara, Turkey)

The term "mélange" has several definitions due to the origin, tectonic and petrographical features. The geotechnical engineering behaviors of mélanges are either dominated by different kinds of intact rock blocks or matrix material. Landslides were encountered within the serpentinite matrix of Ankara Mélange, which is a typical bimrock mass. The residual sections of the extremely altered serpentinites are sandy soils. Such soils undergo rapid change of saturation, leading to shear strength reduction. Undisturbed and disturbed samples were obtained from the outcrops for shear box tests. Geochemical and petrographical composition of the serpentinites were determined by XRF(X Ray Fluorescence), XRD(X-ray diffraction) and thin section inspections, in order to outline the alteration process. Based on field observations, physically decomposed core stones exist beneath 40-120 cm thick residual green and grey-dark grey residual sandy soil. Physical and mechanical properties of the soils were tested with particular emphasis on residual shear strength parameters. Disturbed samples were remolded by standard compaction. The field work was completed during both rainy and summer seasons. Disturbed samples were prepared using phase diagrams in order to attain varying saturation degree. Two distinct sandy soil groups were determined through classification tests. The volumetric compression and/or expansion of the loose and dense samples were also considered based on the angle of dilatancy. A series of consolidated and drained shear box tests were conducted with ascending degree of saturation. The reduction of effective apparent cohesion, internal friction angle and dilatancy angle were determined to obtain a threshold of the degree of saturation. All the sand samples had zero residual internal friction angle and/or apparent cohesion after reaching 70% degree of saturation.

A New Report of Serpentinites from Northern Central Indian Ridge(at 6°S)—An Implication for Hydrothermal Activity

Serpentinites from the inside corner high （6°38.5′S/68°19.34′E） from the Northern Central Indian Ridge （NCIR） are comprised mainly of high Mg-rich lizardite and chrysotile pseudomorphs with varying morphologies. ＇Mesh rim＇, ＇window＇, ＇hourglass＇ and ＇bastite＇ are the most common textures displayed by both chrysotile and lizardite. Numerous chrysotile veins in association with cross cutting magnetite veins indicate an advanced stage of serpentinisation. The relatively high abundance of chrysotile and lizardite suggest their close association and formation at a temperature below 250℃. Abundant ＇mesh rim＇ and ＇bastite＇ texture and variegated matrix reveal that the present serpentinites might have formed due to the interaction of harzburgite and seawater. Positive Eu anomaly （Eu/Eu^＊ up to ＋3.38）, higher La/Sm （up to 4.40） and Nb/La （up to 6.34） ratios suggest substantial hydrothermal influence during the formation of the serpentinites.

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.

Serpentinized Peridotites at the North Part of the Wadi Allaqi District(Egypt): Implications for the Tectono-Magmatic Evolution of Fore-arc Crust

The Neoproterozoic Allaqi-Heiani suture （800-700 Ma） in the south Eastern Desert of Egypt is the northernmost linear ophiolitic belt that defines an arc-arc suture in the Arabian- Nubian shield （ANS）. The Neoproterozoic serpentinized peridotites represent a distinct lithology of dismembered ophiolites along the Allaqi-Heiani suture zone. The alteration of peridotites varies, some contain relicts of primary minerals （Cr-spinel and olivine） and others are extremely altered, especially along thrusts and shear zones, with development of talc, talc-carbonate and quartz-carbonate. The fresh cores of the chromian spinels are rimmed by ferritchromite and Cr- magnetite. The fresh chromian spinels have high Cr# （0.62 to 0.79）, while Mg# shows wider variation （0.35-0.59）. High Cr# in the relict chromian spinels and Fo content in the primary olivines indicate that they are residual peridotites after extensive partial melting. The studied ophiolitic upper mantle peridotites are highly depleted and most probably underwent high degrees of partial melting at a supra-subduction zone setting. They can be produced by up to -20%-22% dynamic melting of a primitive mantle source. The mineralogical and geochemical features of the studied rocks reflect that the mantle peridotites of the north part of the Wadi Allaqi district are similar to the fore-arc peridotites of a supra-subduction zone.

The Formation and Evolution of Uvarovite in UHP Serpentinite and Rodingite and its Constraints on Chromium Mobility in the Oceanic Subduction Zone

The uvarovite-andradite and uvarovite-andradite-grossular solid-solution series are rare in nature.The discovery of uvarovite-andradite in serpentinite and rodingite from the ultra-high pressure(UHP)metamorphic belt in southwestern Tianshan provided an opportunity to investigate its behavior in the subduction zone.Uvarovite(defined as chromiumgarnet)from serpentinite is homogeneous in a single grain,covering compositions in the uvarovite-andradite solid solution series of Adr_(58-66)Uv_(33-41),with few grossular components.Uvarovite from rodingites contain various Cr_(2)O_(3) contents(1.7-17.9 wt%)and mineral compositions being in the range of Adr_(21-31)Uv_(41-50)Grs_(22-37),Adr_(52-90)Uv_(5-25)Grs_(0-21) and Adr_(19-67)Uv_(3-63)Grs_(13-42).Discontinuous chemical variation of uvarovite from core to rim indicates that uvarovite formed by consuming andradite and chromite,which could provide Ca,Cr,Al and Fe.Raman signals of water were identified for uvarovite from both serpentinite and rodingite,with high water content in uvarovite from serpentinite.The high pressure mineral assemblage,as well as the association with perovskite,indicated that the studied uvarovite from serpentinite and rodingite was formed through high pressure metamorphism,during the subduction zone serpentinization and rodingitization.High alkaline and highly reduced fluids released from serpentinization or rodingitization in the oceanic subduction zone promote the mobility of chromium and enable its long-distance migration.

Preparation of crystalline Mg(OH)2 nanopowder from serpentinite mineral

In this paper we describe a route to produce crystalline Mg（OH）2 nanopowders from serpentinite ore distributed in the Halilovskiy array （Russia, Orenburg region）. An efficient extraction route consisting of treatment on serpentinite in 40% HNO3 at 80 ℃followed by NH4OH titration for Mg（OH）2 precipitation was demonstrated. In this study, crystalline Mg（OH）2 nanopowders have been synthesized by solvothermal reaction method using （Mg（NO3）2·6H2O） which were obtained from serpentinite, NH4OH as a precipitator, and hydroxyethylated nonylphenol as surface-active substance. Microstructure and phase composition of samples were investigated employing scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, X-ray phase analysis （XRD）, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy （ICP-OES）. XRD reveals that Mg（OH）2 nanopowder with high purity has the brucite structure. It was found that crystalline Mg（OH）2 nanopowders exclusively consist of lamellar-like structures and the sizes of Mg（OH）2 are 30-265 nm length or width.

In situ characterization of forearc serpentinized peridotite from the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure terrane: Behavior of fluid-mobile elements in continental subduction zone

Serpentinized peridotites in the Yangkou(YK),Suoluoshu(SLS) and Hujialin(HJL) areas in the Sulu ultrahighpressure terrane represent the relic of ancient subcontinental lithospheric mantle below the North China Craton.Their protoliths,harzburgite and dunite,were variably hydrated by aqueous fluids released from subducting Yangtze continent.The rocks are enriched in fluid-mobile elements(FME) including Sb(42–333 times the depleted mantle value) and Pb(30–476 times).The degrees of the FME enrichment are comparable to that of the Himalayan forearc serpentinites,and greater than forearc mantle serpentinites from Marianas,suggesting that the degrees of FME enrichment in the forearc serpentinites are greater in continental subduction zones than those in the oceanic subduction zones.Lizardite after olivine in the SLS serpentinite shows higher degrees of enrichment in Sb and As than those for antigorite after both olivine and orthopyroxene in the YK area.The antigorite has highly enriched in Pb,U,Cs,and LREE,but not for the lizardite.The abundance of FME in two different species of serpentine reflects the different temperature of hydration.At temperature lower than 300 ℃,formed lizardite at shallow depths of the mantle wedge incorporates elements that are fluid mobile at low temperatures,such as Sb and As.When the temperature greater than 300 ℃,formed antigorite at a relatively deep mantle wedge incorporate more FME from the subducting continental slab(or fragments),including Pb,U,Cs,LREE as well as Sb and As.The eventual breakdown of antigorite(600–700 ℃) in prograde metamorphism would discharge water as well as FME into the subducting channel and/or the overlying mantle.

Serpentine Jade(Bowenite) in Korea

A bowenite deposit, recently discovered in Booyo County, Republic of Korea, is the first of its kind in the country. This deposit is located along the contacts of garnet veins intruding the serpentinite. The bowenite is translucent, dark green in color, greasy in luster, 5 in Mohs ’ scale of hardness, ～2.57 in SG , 2.58 in RI , and 1.56 in N D . The X ray powder diffraction analysis identified the bowenite as antigorite of the serpentine group minerals, whose major chemical compositions are composed of SiO 2 (42.49 %), MgO (39.08 %), Fe 2O 3 (3.85 %), and H 2O (11.87 %) and whose important trace elements include Cr (2 188×10 -6 ), Ni (1 110×10 -6 ), and Co (58×10 -6 ). The IR spectrum shows the absorptions at 3 670 (OH stretching), 1 190, 1 070, 980 (SiO stretching) and 610 cm -1 (OH bending). The DTA/TGA thermogram shows the peaks at 343, 755 and 830.1 ℃. The endothermic reaction at 755 ℃ denotes expulsion of structural water, and the strong exothermal reaction at 830.1 ℃ is related to the formation of olivine. Black inclusions finely dispersed in the mineral are identified, with X ray Gandolfi camera method, as magnetite.

Natural Mg silicates with different structures and morphologies: Reaction with K to produce K2MgSiO4 catalyst for biodiesel production

In this work, different magnesium silicate mineral samples based on antigorite, lizardite, chrysotile(which have the same general formula Mg3Si2O5(OH)4), and talc(Mg3Si4O10(OH)2) were reacted with KOH to prepare catalysts for biodiesel production. Simple impregnation with 20 wt% K and treatment at 700–900°C led to a solid-state reaction to mainly form the K2MgSiO4 phase in all samples. These results indicate that the K ion can diffuse into the different Mg silicate structures and textures, likely through intercalation in the interlayer space of the different mineral samples followed by dehydroxylation and K2MgSiO4 formation. All the materials showed catalytic activity for the transesterification of soybean oil(1:6 of oil : methanol molar ratio, 5 wt% of catalyst, 60°C). However, the best results were obtained for the antigorite and chrysotile precursors, which are discussed in terms of mineral structure and the more efficient formation of the active phase K2MgSiO4.

Serpentinite Slurries against Forest Fires

Forest fires are one of the commonest natural hazards. Forest fires make the largest contribution to CO2 emissions after the burning of fossil fuels. Here a new technology is proposed to extinguish forest fires not with water, but with a slurry of serpentine. Serpentinites are abundantly available in many countries on every continent. If serpentine is calcined, it weathers very fast and captures CO2. Calcination, however, requires a lot of heat, which makes it counterproductive to produce calcined serpentine for CO2 capture. In cases, however, where heat is the problem, like in forest fires, one can extinguish them to greater advantage by using serpentinite slurries instead of plain water. The calcined residue that is left as a thin cake on the burning material prevents oxygen to reach the burning material. It also prevents the escape of inflammable gases, and the calcination itself withdraws large quantities of heat from the fire. After the fire is extinguished, the calcined material in contact with the atmosphere will rapidly weather and capture CO2. This compensates part of the CO2 that is produced by the fire. In tests, where the efficacy of quenching fires with serpentine slurries was compared to the effect of water, it turned out that serpentinite slurries performed far better.

Electrokinetic and Flotation Investigations of Surface Properties Modification of Magnesite and Serpentinite Using Biosurfactants and Surfactants

This paper presents some results of zeta potential measurements performed into biosurfactant adsorption onto magnesite and serpentinite surface. Zeta potential and isoelectric point measurement of magnesite and serpentinite particles before and after interaction with biosurfactant broth solution and activator （nickel（II） ion solution） were carried out. The zeta potential results show that presence of biosurfactants changes both magnesite and serpentinite surface potential by physical adsorption which increases the hydrophobicity of mineral particles. Measurements of particles zeta potential in the presence of biosurfactant broth are relevant to the minerals flotation. Hallimod flotation response of magnesite and serpentinite as a function of collector concentration was investigated. Bioflotation test results show that at the presence of broth, the flotation separation of magnesite from serpentinite is possible.

Effect of Alternative Raw Materials on Resistance of Concrete to Chemical Actions

The results of experimental works aimed on finding the optimal composition of concretes containing alternative materials as mineral additives for assurance their high resistance to chemical aggressive attack are presented in the paper. 4 kinds of additives （blast furnace slag, fly ash, non-treated and treated serpentinite waste） and 4 kinds of aggressive environments （distilled water, HCI, MgSO4 and NaOH） representing the concrete corrosive processes was checked within experimental process. The open laboratory curing was used as a reference environment. Moreover, the amounts of additives were varied, so 16 various recipes were checked on the whole. The resistance of samples was tested in the terms of flexural strength, compressive strength and evaluation of decrease/increase of strengths after long time （28 months） exposition in monitored aggressive media. Based on obtained results, it is possible for each of aggressive environments recommend the most promising recipe from various points of view, in accordance with user＇s priorities. From the percentage increase of 28-day compressive strengths point of view, there are： for HCI action - recipe with 20% of non treated serpentinite waste with plasticizer application, for MgSO4 action - recipe with 20% of blast furnace slag without plasticizer application and for NaOH action - recipe with 10% of non treated serpentinite waste without plasticizer application. Application of alternative materials as partial substitution of cement appears to be beneficial for achievement the resistance to aggressive chemical actions. With the keeping or enhancement of technical parameters it extra represents both the environmental and economic benefit.