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.

Petrological and Os Isotopic Characteristics of Zedong Peridotites in the Eastern Yarlung–Zangbo Suture in Tibet

The Zedong ophiolites in the eastern Yarlung-Zangbo suture zone of Tibet represent a mantle slice of more than 45 km2. This massif consists mainly of mantle peridotites, with lesser gabbros, diabases and volcanic rocks. The mantle peridotites are mostly harzburgite, lherzolite; a few dike-like bodies of dunite are also present. Mineral structures show that the peridotites experienced plastic deformation and partial melting. Olivine （Fos9.7-91.2）, orthopyroxene （Enss-92）, clinopyroxene （En4-49Wo47-slFS2-4） and spinel [Mg^#=lOOxMg/（Mg＋Fe）]=49.1-70.7; Cr^#=（100xCr/（Cr＋Al）=18.8-76.5] are the major minerals. The degree of partial melting of mantle peridotites is 10%-40%, indicating that the Zedong mantle peridotites may experience a multi-stage process. The peridotites are characterized by depleted major element compositions and low REE content （0.08-0.62 ppm）. Their ＂spoon-shaped＂ primitivemantle normalized REE patterns with （La/Sm）N being 0.50-6.00 indicate that the Zedong ultramafic rocks belong to depleted residual mantle rocks. The PGE content of Zedong peridotites （18.19-50.74 ppb） is similar with primary mantle with Pd/Ir being 0.54-0.60 and Pt/Pd being 1.09-1.66. The Zedong peridotites have variable, unradiogenic Os isotopic compositions with 187Os/18Os=0.1228 to 0.1282. A corollary to this interpretation is that the convecting upper mantle is heterogeneous in Os isotopes. All data of the Zedong peridotites suggest that they formed originally at a mid-ocean ridge （MOR） and were later modified in supra-subduction zone （SSZ） environment.

The Characteristics and Significance of Peng Co Peridotites in the Middle Segment of Bangong Co-Nujiang Suture in Tibet

The Peng Co ophiolite is located to the west of Peng lake in the area of lakes in north Tibet, which belongs to the Baila-Yilashan sub-belt of the the middle Bangong Co-Nujiang ophiolitic belt. The Peng Co ophiolite is mainly composed of mantle peridotites, cumulates, diabase dikes. About 70 percent peridotites are harzburgites and 30 percent are lherzolites. Mineral chemistry of the Peng Co lherzolitesare characterized by low Fo contents(88.85–90.33) of olivine and high Al2O3 content(4.26%–7.25%) in pyroxenes. Compared to the primitive mantle, the Peng Co peridotites have relatively higher MgO contents, lower CaO, Al2O3 and TiO2 contents. The total rare-earth element(REE) contents of the lherzolites are 1.11–1.53 ppm, which are lower than those of the primitive mantle. The chondritenormalized REE patterns of the Peng Co peridotites display slight loss in LREE. In the primitive mantle-normalized spider diagram, the Peng Co peridotites exhibit negative Rb and Zr anomalies and intensively positive U, Ta, Sr anomalies. The PGE contents of Peng Co lherzolites are between 22.9–27 ppb. The chondrite-normalized PGE patterns of the Peng Co lherzolites are consistent with that of the primitive mantle. Mineral and whole-rock geochemistry characteristics of the Peng Co lherzolites show an affinity to abyssal peridotites, indicating that it may have formed in the mid-ocean ridge setting. Through quantitative modeling, we conclude that the Peng Co lherzolites formed after 5%–10% degree of partial melting of the spinelphase lherzolite mantle source. The sharp increase of Cr#(56.74–60.84)in Spinel of harzburgites and relatively high Pd/Ir and Rh/Ir ratios suggest that they have experienced melt-rock reaction. The crystallization sequence of Peng Co cumulate is olivine-clinopyroxene-plagioclase. The Mg# value of clinopyroxene in cumulate peridotite ranges from 86.92 to 89.93, and the mean value of Fo is 84.45, which is obviously higher than that of MOR-type ophiolite cumulates. The mineral composition, sequence of magmatic crystallization and mineral components of Peng Co cumulate are similar to those of the cumulate formed by the SSZ-type ophiolite in the subduction zone. Therefore, we can draw a preliminary conclusion that Peng Co lherzolites were formed in an environment of mid oceanic ridge and were remnants of the spinel lherzolite zone which experienced a partial melting of no more than 10%. In the later period, due to the intra-oceanic subduction, it experienced the rock-meltinteraction, and thus formed the SSZ-type cumulate and harzburgite of high Cr value.

Occurrence of the Pholopite-Spinel-Corundum-Sapphirine Assemblages in the Contact Between Granulites and Peridotites Massif at the Beni Bousera(Morocco)

The Beni Bousera peridotite massif(Internal Rif, Morocco),5 km in width and 15 km in length,is formed in a major part of spinel-bearing lherzolite rimed by a layer of garnet-bearing peridotite(100 m thick)which is in direct contact with HP-HT granulite metamorphic rocks(16 kbar,860℃).According to recent detailed study,the shearing contact between these two formations shows the presence of serpentinite and

Petrology and geochemistry of serpentinized peridotites from Hahajima Seamount in Izu-Bonin forearc region

Serpentinites,which contain up to 13 wt%of water,are important reservoirs for chemical recycling in subduction zones.In the past two decades,forearc mantle serpentinites were identified in different locations around the world.Here,we present petrology and whole rock chemistry of ultramafic and mafic rocks dredged from the Hahajima Seamount,which is located 24–40 km west to the junction of the Izu-Bonin Trench and the Mariana Trench.Nearly all the collected samples are extensively hydrated,and olivine grains in ultramafic rocks are replaced by serpentine minerals,with only one sample preserving remaining trace of orthopyroxene.Our new results show that the Hahajima serpentinized peridotite samples are all MgO-rich(~42 wt%),but have low contents in Al2O3,CaO,rare earth and high field strength elements,which is consistent with the overall depleted character of their mantle protoliths.Model calculations indicate that these Hahajima peridotite samples were derived from 10%–25%partial melting of the presumed fertile mantle source,which is generally lower than those of peridotites from Torishima Forearc Seamount,Conical Seamount and South Chamorro Seamount(mostly>25%).All the serpentinites from these four forearc seamounts show strong enrichment in fluid-mobile and lithophile elements(Li,Sr,Pb and U).In details,Hahajima Seamount serpentinites do not have obvious enrichment in Cs and Rb,and display remarkably high abundances of U.These observations indicate that the serpentinization of Hahajima peridotites occurred by addition of seawater or low temperature seawater-derived hydrothermal fluid,without or with little contribution from slab-derived fluids.The geochemical signature of serpentinites from Hahajima Seamount could be interpreted as the result of the combination of extensive partial melting and subsequent percolation of seawater through the mantle wedge.

Origin of Peridotites and Chromitites in the Pozanti-kar Santi Ophiolite, Turkey

The Pozanti-Karsanti ophiolite(PKO)in Turkey’s eastern Tauride belt comprises mantle peridotites,ultramafic to mafic cumulates,isotropic gabbros,sheeted dikes and pillow lavas.The mantle peridotites are dominated by spinel harzburgites with minor dunites.The harzburgites and dunites have quite depleted mineral and whole-rock chemical composition,suggesting high degrees of partial melting.Their PGEs vary from Pd-depleted to distinct Pd-enriched patterns,implying the crystallization of interstitial sulphides from sulphur-saturated melts(e.g.MORB-like forearc basalt).U-shaped or spoon-shaped REE patterns indicate that the PKO peridotites may have also been metasomatized by the LREE-enriched fluids released from a subducting slab in a suprasubduction zone.Based on the mineral and whole-rock chemical compositions,the PKO peridotites show affinities to forearc peridotites.Chromitites occur both in the mantle peridotites and the mantle-crust transition zone horizon(MTZ).Chromitites from the two different horizons have different textures but similar mineral compositions,consistent with typical high-Cr chromitites.Chromitites hosted by mantle harzburgites generally have higher total platinum-group element(PGE)contents than those of the MTZ chromitites.However,both chromitites show similar chondritenormalized PGE patterns characterized by clear IPGEs,Rh-enrichments relative to Pt and Pd.Such PGE patterns indicate no or only minor crystallization of Pt-and Pd enriched sulphides during formation of chromitites from a sulphur-undersaturated melt(e.g.boninitic or island arc tholeiitic melt).Dunite enveloping chromitite lenses in the ho*s ting harzburgite resulted from melt-rock reaction.We have performed mineral separation work on samples of podiform chromitite hosted by harzburgites.So far,more than200 grains of microdiamond and more than 100 grains of moissanite(Si C)have been separated from podiform chromitites.These minerals have been identified by EDX and Laser Raman analyses.The diamonds and moissanite are accompanied by large amounts of rutile.Additionally,zircon,monazite and sulphides are also common phases within the heavy mineral separates.Both diamond and moissanite have been analyzed for carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition using the CARMECA 1280-HR large geometry Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer at the Helmholtz Zentrum Potsdam.In total,61δ13CPDB results for diamond were acquired,exhibiting a range from-28.4‰to-18.8‰.31δ13CPDB results for Moissanite vary between-30.5‰to-27.2‰,with a mean value of-29.0‰.Diamond has relatively large variation in nitrogen isotopic composition with 40δ15NAIR results ranging from-19.1‰to 16.6‰.The discovery of diamond,moissanite and the other unusual minerals from podiform chromitite of the Pozanti-Karsanti ophiolite provides new support for the genesis of ophiolitic peridotites and chromitites under high-pressure and ultra-high reducing conditions.Considering the unusual minerals,the high Mg#silicate inclusions,and the needle-shaped exsolutions in the PKO chromitites,the parental melts of these chromitites may have been mixed with deep asthenospheric basaltic melts that had assimilated materials of the descending slab when passing through the slab in a subduction zone environment.We suggest melt-rock reactions,magma mixing and assimilation may have triggered the oversaturation of chromites and the formation of PKO chromitites.

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

Chemical Variation of Chromian Spinel Compositions in a Serpentinized Peridotites: Implications for Evolution of the Neoproterozoic Ophiolites

Tectonic setting of the Neoproterozoic ophiolites is poorly understood.Because of extensive serpentinization/metamorphism in the mantle section,accessory chromian spinel has been used as an important geotectonic indicator.

Geochemical Signatures of Séguéla Peridotites in the West African Craton

The present study deals with peridotites found in the paleo-proterozoic domain of the Leo Man Shield, Séguéla region, west-central of Côte d’Ivoire. Results show that Séguéla peridotites are composed of lherzolites, dunites and harzburgites. However, iherzolites are the most abundant. The phenocrysts in these rocks are olivine most often serpentinised, and pyroxenes, represented by diopside and enstatite. Amphiboles are divided into two groups: magmatic amphiboles and those from the destabilization of clinopyroxene. Spinels have CrO3 content which varies between 28% and 37%, Al2O3 between 33% - 41% and MgO is equal to 18%;they are poor in TiO2 and do not contain zinc oxide. Séguéla peridotites are characterised by a negative anomaly in Nb-Ta, associated with an enrichment of lithophilic elements and light rare earth elements with a fractionation rate (La/Yb) which varies between 46.22 and 150.72 and heavy rare earth elements, and HFSE depletion, which may suggest that were formed in an art context, that is, a mantle enriched by fluids from a subduction zone. However, another hypothesis could be considered, that of the interaction between the mantle and magmas in a subduction zone context.

Petrology, Geochemistry and Tectonic Significance of the Metamorphic Peridotites from Longmuco-Shuanghu Ophiolitic Melange belt, Tibet

Taoxinghu metamorphic peridotite is a firstly reported mantle sequence of ophiolite since Longmuco-Shuanghu-Lancangjiang suture zone （LSLSZ） was proposed, and it is also an important discovered for ophiolite studying in central Qiangtang. Based on detailed analyses of whole-rock geochemistry of Taoxinghu metamorphic peridotites and contrast to metamorphic peridotites in typical ophiolites worldwide, the paper investigates their petrogenesis and geological implication. The petrologic results show that the protolith of Taoxinghu metamorphic perdotites have the mineral assemblage and texture characteristic of mantle peridotite. Most metamorphic peridotites hav near global abyssal peridotites major elements contents, while the few is similar to SSZ-type peridotites. They exhibit typically U-shaped REE patterns, characterized by slight enrichment of LREE and HREE relative to MREE and a low fractionated LREE to HREE segment. Trace elements contents are low and all samples are strong enrichment in Cs, U, Pb, weak enrichment in Ba and depletion in Th, but negative Nb anomalies are only observed in few samples. That suggests Taoxinghu metamorphic peridotites have depletion mantle and suprasubduction affinities. A two-stage evolution history is considered： Taoxinghu metamorphic peridotites originated as the residue from melting at a ridge with 7%-20% degree of fraction melting and were subsequently modified by interaction with mafic melt and aqueous fluid within mantle wedge on subducted zone. Combined with previous studies, we preliminarily propose Taoxinghu metamorphic peridotites may be the Products of initial rifting of palo-Tethys, forming at middle Ordivician-upper Cambrian, and they may be the direct evidences for spreading of palo-Tethys.

Mantle melting beneath the Southwest Indian Ridge: signals from clinopyroxene in abyssal peridotites

The mineral chemistry and texture of clinopyroxenes in peridotite from the Kingkong tectonic zone of the Southwest Indian Ridge segment in an effort to constrain mantle melting beneath this slow-spreading ridge are reported. There are three types of clinopyroxenes in the abyssal peridotites： coarse-grained, intergranu- lar and exsolved. The compositional variations among these three types suggest that the coarse-grained clinopyroxene is a mantle-derived source. The A1, Na and Ti contents and the Na/Ti ratio of the coarse- grained clinopyroxene may be used to monitor the degree of partial melting, combined with the contradis- tinction with Spinel Cr#, which is calculated to be between 7.9% and 14.9%, and may represent low degrees of melting in the global ocean ridge system. The along-axis compositional variations in the coarse-grained clinopyroxene suggest that the degree of partial melting is primarily controlled by the transform faults on both sides of the ridge. Nonetheless, the northwestern side of the ridge may be affected by a hypothesised detachment fault as documented by the calculated P-T conditions. Simultaneously high Na and low Ti con- tents in the coarse-grained clinoovroxene points to mantle heterogeneities along the ridge axis.

Preliminary Statistics of Temperatures and Pressures for Formation of Eclogites,Granulites and Peridotites in China

The rock forming temperatures and pressures represent the p T points of the local regions in the lithosphere at a certain age, providing some important information on rock formation. Based on the preliminary statistics on the temperatures and pressures for the formation of eclogites, granulites and peridotites in China, the variant ranges are given, in this paper, of temperatures, pressures and linear geothermal gradients of eclogites, granulites and peridotites. In addition, since the eclogite is different from granulite and peridotite in the p T diagram, these three rocks can be classified into two groups: the first group includes eclogites and the second group granulites and peridotites. Then, the p T correlation functions of these two groups of rocks are provided. Finally, the two groups of rocks have different geothermal gradients at the same pressure gradient or have different pressure gradients at the same geothermal gradient. The temperatures and pressures for the formation of the rocks can be calculated from the mineral chemical compositions, but the depths ( H ) for the rock formation can be calculated only under the hypotheses of given p H (or T H ) correlation functions. The explanations for the ultrahigh pressure metamorphism vary obviously with different hypotheses.

Genesis of pyroxenite veins in supra-subduction zone peridotites:Evidence from petrography and mineral composition of Egiingol massif(Northern Mongolia)

Swarms of orthopyroxenite and websterite veins are found within Egiingol residual SSZ peridotite massif of Dzhida terrain(Central Asian Orogenic Belt,Northern Mongolia).The process of Egiingol pyroxenite veins formation is investigated using new major and trace element analyses of pyroxenite minerals,calculations of closure temperatures and composition of equilibrium melt.The pyroxenites show abundant petrographic and geochemical evidence for replacement of the residual peridotite minerals by ortho-and clinopyroxene due to melt-rock interaction.Relics of peridotite olivines are found in pyroxenites,Cr#of spinel increases from peridotites to pyroxenites,and compositions of ortho-and clinopyroxene change from peridotite to pyroxenite.The authors show that calculated equilibrium melts for investigated pyroxenites are very similar to compositions of boninite lavas from the Dzhida terrain.Therefore,formation of pyroxenite veins most likely resulted from percolation of boninite melts through the Egiingol peridotites.Orthopyroxenite veins formed at first,followed by websterite veins.Thus,the authors assume that pyroxenite veins represent the channels for boninitic melts migration in supra-subduction environment.

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.

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.

Platinum-group elements for the mantle peridotites in the Dazhuka ophiolite,Tibet,China

The total PGE amounts of mantle peridotites in the Dazhuka ophiolite, Tibet, are 28.37-50.67 ng/g, slightly higher than those of mantle peridotites in the primitive mantle, and typical ophiolites in the world, and the Alps-type mantle peridotites. The PGE distribution patterns in the Dazhuka mantle peridotites are also different from those of the mantle peridotites of partial melting relict origin. The Dazhuka mantle peridotites have relatively high total PGE amounts and are enriched in Pt, Pd, and Ru. Their PGE distribution patterns belong to the positively inclined-or swallow-type patterns. The PGE distribution patterns in the mantle peridotites of partial melting relict origin belong to the negative-slope patterns or flat patterns. This reflects the unique features of the upper mantle in this region. Relative enrichment in Pt and Pd, as well as in the incompatible elements Cu, Au, Cs, Rb, Ba, Th, U and LREE, indicates that the partial melting-derived relict mantle peridotites in the Dazhuka

Si-and alkali-rich melt inclusions in minerals of mantle peridotites from eastern China:Implication for lithospheric evolution

Minerals of spinel- and garnet-facies mantle xenoliths entrained in Cenozoic basalts from eastern China (North China, Northeastern China and Southeastern China coastal area) contains lots of melt inclusions. Studies on these melt inclusions show that the glass inclusions are rich in SiO2 (60%―68%) and alkalis (K2O+Na2O=5%―11%, especially for K2O) as well as volatiles such as H2O and CO2 (2%―7%), which belong to dacites and andesites of the high-K calcic alkali series rocks with few shoshonites. High Al and Ca diopside in melt inclusion is the product of melt crystallization at high temperature and pressure, rather than the product of devitrification. Results show that these K-rich (in general K2O>3%) intermediate-acidic silicate melt inclusions have characteristics of continent without a genetical link to host basalts and their phenocrystic minerals. Thus, these trapped melt inclusions represent melts of Mesozoic lithospheric mantle-crust interaction and imply that the continental litho-spheric mantle beneath eastern China had undergone fragmentation and recreation processes during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic periods. This result undoubtly provides important implication for the evo-lution of sub-continental lithosphere beneath eastern China. We propose that these Si- and alka-lis-rich melts should be responsible for the mantle chemical heterogeneity underneath eastern China.

Subduction-zone peridotites and their records of crust-mantle interaction

Subduction is the core process of plate tectonics. The mantle wedge in subduction-zone systems represents a key tectonic unit, playing a significant role in material cycling and energy exchange between Earth's layers. This study summarizes research progresses in terms of subduction-related peridotite massifs, including supra-subduction zone(SSZ) ophiolites and mantle-wedge-type(MWT) orogenic peridotites. We also provide the relevant key scientific questions that need be solved in the future. The mantle sections of SSZ ophiolites and MWT orogenic peridotites represent the mantle fragments from oceanic and continental lithosphere in subduction zones, respectively. They are essential targets to study the crust-mantle interaction in subduction zones. The nature of this interaction is the complex chemical exchanges between the subducting slab and the mantle wedge under the major control of physical processes. The SSZ ophiolites can record melt/fluid-rock interaction, metamorphism,deformation, concentration of metallogenic elements and material exchange between crust and mantle, during the stages from the generation of oceanic lithosphere at spreading centers to the initiation, development, maturation and ending of oceanic subduction at continental margins. The MWT orogenic peridotites reveal the history of strong metamorphism and deformation during subduction, the multiple melt/fluid metasomatism(including silicatic melts, carbonatitic melts and silicate-bearing C-HO fluids/supercritical fluids), and the complex cycling of crust-mantle materials, during the subduction/collision and exhumation of continental plates. In order to further reveal the crust-mantle interaction using subduction-zone peridotites, it is necessary to utilize high-spatial-resolution and high-precision techniques to constrain the complex chemical metasomatism, metamorphism,deformation at micro scales, and to reveal their connections with spatial-temporal evolution in macro-scale tectonics.