Solubility of magnetite-hematite assemblages in slab-derived saline fluids

Author(s):  
Carla Tiraboschi ◽  
Carmen Sanchez-Valle

<p>In subduction zones, aqueous fluids derived from devolatilization processes of the oceanic lithosphere and its sedimentary cover, are major vectors of mass transfer from the slab to the mantle wedge and contribute to the recycling of elements and to their geochemical cycles. In this setting, assessing the mobility of redox sensitive elements, such as iron, can provide useful insights on the oxygen fugacity conditions of slab-derived fluid. However, the amount of iron mobilized by deep aqueous fluids and melts, is still poorly constrained.</p><p>We experimentally investigate the solubility of magnetite-hematite assemblages in water-saturated haplogranitic liquids, which represent the felsic melt produced by subducted eclogites. Experiments were conducted at 1 GPa and temperature ranging from 700 to 900 °C employing a piston cylinder apparatus. Single gold capsules were loaded with natural hematite, magnetite and synthetic haplogranite (Na<sub>0.56</sub>K<sub>0.38</sub>Al<sub>0.95</sub>Si<sub>5.19</sub>O<sub>12.2</sub>). Two sets of experiments were conducted: one with H<sub>2</sub>O-only fluids and the second one adding a 1.5 m H<sub>2</sub>O–NaCl solution. The capsule was kept frozen during welding to ensure no water loss. After quench, the presence of H<sub>2</sub>O in the quenched haplogranite glass was checked by Raman spectroscopy, while major elements were determined by microprobe analysis.</p><p>Preliminary results indicate that a significant amount of Fe is released from magnetite and hematite in hydrous melts, even at relatively low-pressure conditions. At 1 GPa the FeO<sub>tot</sub> quenched in the haplogranite glass ranges from 0.60 wt% at 700 °C, to 1.87 wt% at 900 °C. In the presence of NaCl, we observed an increase in the amount of iron quenched in the glass (e.g., at 800 °C from 1.04 wt% to 1.56 wt% of FeO<sub>tot</sub>). Our results suggest that hydrous melts can effectively mobilize iron even at low-pressure conditions and represent a valid agent for the cycling of iron from the subducting slab to the mantle wedge.</p>

The location and sequence of metamorphic devolatilization and partial melting reactions in subduction zones may be constrained by integrating fluid and rock pressure-temperature-time ( P-T-t ) paths predicted by numerical heat-transfer models with phase diagrams constructed for metasedimentary, metabasaltic, and ultramafic bulk compositions. Numerical experiments conducted using a two-dimensional heat transfer model demonstrate that the primary controls on subduction zone P-T-t paths are: (1) the initial thermal structure; (2) the amount of previously subducted lithosphere; (3) the location of the rock in the subduction zone; and (4) the vigour of mantle wedge convection induced by the subducting slab. Typical vertical fluid fluxes out of the subducting slab range from less than 0.1 to 1 (kg fluid) m -2 a -1 for a convergence rate of 3 cm a -1 . Partial melting of the subducting, amphibole-bearing oceanic crust is predicted to only occur during the early stages of subduction initiated in young (less than 50 Ma) oceanic lithosphere. In contrast, partial melting of the overlying mantle wedge occurs in many subduction zone experiments as a result of the infiltration of fluids derived from slab devolatilization reactions. Partial melting in the mantle wedge may occur by a twostage process in which amphibole is first formed by H 2 O infiltration and subsequently destroyed as the rock is dragged downward across the fluid-absent ‘hornblende-out’ partial melting reaction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (8) ◽  
pp. 1191-1203
Author(s):  
Yanfei Zhang ◽  
Xuran Liang ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
Zhenmin Jin ◽  
Lüyun Zhu ◽  
...  

Abstract Sedimentary diapirs can be relaminated to the base of the lithosphere during slab subduction, where they can interact with the ambient lithospheric mantle to form variably metasomatized zones. Here, high-pressure experiments in sediment-harzburgite systems were conducted at 1.5–2.5 GPa and 800–1300 °C to investigate the interaction between relaminated sediment diapirs and lithospheric mantle. Two end-member processes of mixed experiments and layered (reaction) experiments were explored. In the first end-member, sediment and harzburgite powders were mixed to a homogeneous proportion (1:3), whereas in the second, the two powders were juxtaposed as separate layers. In the first series of experiments, the run products were mainly composed of olivine + orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + phlogopite in subsolidus experiments, while the phase assemblages were then replaced by olivine + orthopyroxene + melt (or trace phlogopite) in supersolidus experiments. Basaltic and foiditic melts were observed in all supersolidus mixed experiments (~44–52 wt% SiO2 at 1.5 GPa, ~35–43 wt% SiO2 at 2.5 GPa). In the phlogopite-rich experiment (PC431, 1.5 GPa and 1100 °C), the formed melts had low alkali contents (~<2 wt%) and K2O/Na2O ratios (~0.4–1.1). In contrast, the quenched melt in phlogopite-free/poor experiments showed relatively higher alkali contents (~4–8 wt%) and K2O/Na2O ratios (~2–5). Therefore, the stability of phlogopite could control the bulk K2O and K2O/Na2O ratios of magmas derived from the sediment-metasomatized lithospheric mantle. In layered experiments, a reaction zone dominated by clinopyroxene + amphibole (or orthopyroxene) was formed because of the reaction between harzburgite and bottom sediment-derived melts (~62.5–67 wt% SiO2). The total alkali contents and K2O/Na2O ratios of the formed melts were about 6–8 wt% and 1.5–3, respectively. Experimentally formed melts from both mixed and reaction experiments were rich in large ion lithosphile elements and displayed similar patterns with natural potassium-rich arc lavas from oceanic subduction zones (i.e., Mexican, Sunda, Central American, and Aleutian). The experimental results demonstrated that bulk sediment diapirs, in addition to sediment melt, may be another possible mechanism to transfer material from a subducting slab to an upper mantle wedge or lithospheric mantle. On the other hand, the breakdown of phlogopite may play an important role in the mantle source that produces potassium-rich arc lavas in subduction zones.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Fei Zheng ◽  
Yi-Xiang Chen

Abstract Subduction zones are tectonic expressions of convergent plate margins, where crustal rocks descend into and interact with the overlying mantle wedge. They are the geodynamic system that produces mafic arc volcanics above oceanic subduction zones but high- to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in continental subduction zones. While the metamorphic rocks provide petrological records of orogenic processes when descending crustal rocks undergo dehydration and anataxis at forearc to subarc depths beneath the mantle wedge, the arc volcanics provide geochemical records of the mass transfer from the subducting slab to the mantle wedge in this period though the mantle wedge becomes partially melted at a later time. Whereas the mantle wedge overlying the subducting oceanic slab is of asthenospheric origin, that overlying the descending continental slab is of lithospheric origin, being ancient beneath cratons but juvenile beneath marginal arcs. In either case, the mantle wedge base is cooled down during the slab–wedge coupled subduction. Metamorphic dehydration is prominent during subduction of crustal rocks, giving rise to aqueous solutions that are enriched in fluid-mobile incompatible elements. Once the subducting slab is decoupled from the mantle wedge, the slab–mantle interface is heated by lateral incursion of the asthenospheric mantle to allow dehydration melting of rocks in the descending slab surface and the metasomatized mantle wedge base, respectively. Therefore, the tectonic regime of subduction zones changes in both time and space with respect to their structures, inputs, processes and products. Ophiolites record the tectonic conversion from seafloor spreading to oceanic subduction beneath continental margin, whereas ultrahigh-temperature metamorphic events mark the tectonic conversion from compression to extension in orogens.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Jagoutz ◽  
Benjamin Klein ◽  
Max W Schmidt ◽  
Nico Küter

<p>When subduction initiated and contributed to formation of Continental crust is uncertain. A crucial difference between subduction zones magma and e.g. plume related magmatism is the role of H2O in the magma formed. Subduction zones magma are frequently wet and follow a liquid line of descent (LLD) that differs from dry plume related magmas. We developed a qualitative hygrometer based on major elements that allow to distinguish between LLD formed at water saturated condition from those that formed at dry conditions. While arc magmas can by dry at times, plume related magmas are generally dry. So wet LLD are a hall mark of subduction. In this talk we will compare the modern arc record with the Archean rock record to investigate if Archean rocks formed due to a wet or dry LLD. </p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Banafsheh Vahdati ◽  
Seyed Ahmad Mazaheri

<p>Mashhad granitoid complex is part of the northern slope of the Binalood Structural Zone (BSZ), Northeast of Iran, which is composed of granitoids and metamorphic rocks. This research presents new petrological and geochemical whole-rock major and trace elements analyses in order to determine the origin of granitoid rocks from Mashhad area. Field and petrographic observations indicate that these granitoid rocks have a wide range of lithological compositions and they are categorized into intermediate to felsic intrusive rocks (SiO<sub>2</sub>: 57.62-74.39 Wt.%). Qartzdiorite, tonalite, granodiorite and monzogranite are common granitoids with intrusive pegmatite and aplitic dikes and veins intruding them. Based on geochemical analyses, the granitoid rocks are calc-alkaline in nature and they are mostly peraluminous. On geochemical variation diagrams (major and minor oxides versus silica) Na<sub>2</sub>O and K<sub>2</sub>O show a positive correlation with silica while Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, TiO<sub>2</sub>, CaO, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, and MgO show a negative trend. Therefore fractional crystallization played a considerable role in the evolution of Mashhad granitoids. Based on the spider diagrams, there are enrichments in LILE and depletion in HFSE. Low degrees of melting or crustal contamination may be responsible for LILE enrichment. Elements such as Pb, Sm, Dy and Rb are enriched, while Ba, Sr, Nd, Zr, P, Ti and Yb (in monzogranites) are all depleted. LREE enrichment and HREE depletion are observed in all samples on the Chondrite-normalized REE diagram. Similar trends may be evidence for the granitoids to have the same origin. Besides, LREE enrichment relative to HREE in some samples can indicate the presence of garnet in their source rock. Negative anomalies of Eu and Yb are observed in monzogranites. Our results show that Mashhad granitoid rocks are orogenic related and tectonic discrimination diagrams mostly indicate its syn-to-post collisional tectonic setting. No negative Nb anomaly compared with MORB seems to be an indication of non-subduction zone related magma formation. According to the theory of thrust tectonics of the Binalood region, the oceanic lithosphere of the Palo-Tethys has subducted under the Turan microplate. Since the Mashhad granitoid outcrops are settled on the Iranian plate, this is far from common belief that these granitoid rocks are related to the subduction zones and the continental arcs. The western Mashhad granitoids show more mafic characteristics and are possibly crystallized from a magma with sedimentary and igneous origin. Thus, Western granitoid outcrops in Mashhad are probably hybrid type and other granitoid rocks, S and SE Mashhad are S-type. Evidences suggest that these continental collision granitoid rocks are associated with the late stages of the collision between the Iranian and the Turan microplates during the Paleo-Tethys Ocean closure which occurred in the Late Triassic.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna Corre ◽  
Martine Lanson ◽  
Arnaud Agranier ◽  
Stephane Schwartz ◽  
Fabrice Brunet ◽  
...  

<p>Magnetite (U-Th-Sm)/He dating method has a strong geodynamic significance, since it provides geochronological constraints on serpentinization episodes, which are associated to important geological processes such as ophiolite obductions, subduction zones, transform faults and fluid circulations. Although helium content that range from 0.1 pmol/g to 20 pmol/g can routinely be measured, the application of this dating technique however is still limited due to major analytical obstacles. The dissolution of a single magnetite crystal and the measurement of the U, Th and Sm present at the ppb level in the corresponding solution, remains highly challenging, especially because of the absence of magnetite standard. In order to overcome these analytical issues, two strategies have been followed, and tested on magnetite from high-pressure rocks from the Western Alps (Schwartz et al., 2020). Firstly, we purified U, Th and Sm (removing Fe and other major elements) using ion exchange columns in order to analyze samples, using smaller dilution. Secondly, we performed in-situ analyzes by laser-ablation-ICPMS. Since no solid magnetite certified standard is yet available, we synthetized our own by precipitating magnetite nanocrystals. The first quantitative results obtained by LA-ICP-MS using this synthetic material along with international glass standards, are promising. The laser-ablation technique overcomes the analytical difficulties related to sample dissolution and purification. It thus opens the path to the dating of magnetite (and also spinels) in various ultramafic rocks such as mantle xenoliths or serpentinized peridotites in ophiolites.</p><p>Schwartz S., Gautheron C., Ketcham R.A., Brunet F., Corre M., Agranier A., Pinna-Jamme R., Haurine F., Monvoin G., Riel N., 2020, Unraveling the exhumation history of high-press ure ophiolites using magnetite (U-Th-Sm)/He thermochronometry. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 543 (2020) 116359.</p>


Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Le Roux ◽  
Yan Liang

The peridotite section of supra-subduction zone ophiolites is often crosscut by pyroxenite veins, reflecting the variety of melts that percolate through the mantle wedge, react, and eventually crystallize in the shallow lithospheric mantle. Understanding the nature of parental melts and the timing of formation of these pyroxenites provides unique constraints on melt infiltration processes that may occur in active subduction zones. This study deciphers the processes of orthopyroxenite and clinopyroxenite formation in the Josephine ophiolite (USA), using new trace and major element analyses of pyroxenite minerals, closure temperatures, elemental profiles, diffusion modeling, and equilibrium melt calculations. We show that multiple melt percolation events are required to explain the variable chemistry of peridotite-hosted pyroxenite veins, consistent with previous observations in the xenolith record. We argue that the Josephine ophiolite evolved in conditions intermediate between back-arc and sub-arc. Clinopyroxenites formed at an early stage of ophiolite formation from percolation of high-Ca boninites. Several million years later, and shortly before exhumation, orthopyroxenites formed through remelting of the Josephine harzburgites through percolation of ultra-depleted low-Ca boninites. Thus, we support the hypothesis that multiple types of boninites can be created at different stages of arc formation and that ophiolitic pyroxenites uniquely record the timing of boninite percolation in subduction zone mantle.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Belgrano ◽  
Larryn W. Diamond ◽  
Yves Vogt ◽  
Andrea R. Biedermann ◽  
Samuel A. Gilgen ◽  
...  

Abstract. Recent studies have revealed genetic similarities between Tethyan ophiolites and oceanic proto-arc sequences formed above nascent subduction zones. The Semail ophiolite (Oman–U.A.E.) in particular can be viewed as an analogue for this proto-arc crust. Though proto-arc magmatism and the mechanisms of subduction-initiation are of great interest, insight is difficult to gain from drilling and limited surface outcrops in submarine fore-arcs. In contrast, the Semail ophiolite, in which the 3–5 km thick upper-crustal succession is exposed in an oblique cross-section, presents an opportunity to assess the architecture and volumes of different volcanic rocks that form during the protoarc stage. To determine the distribution of the volcanic rocks and to aid exploration for the volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits that they host, we have re-mapped the volcanic units of the Semail ophiolite by integrating new field observations, geochemical analyses and geophysical interpretations with pre-existing geological maps. By linking the major element compositions of the volcanic units to rock magnetic properties, we were able to use aeromagnetic data to infer the extension of each outcropping unit below sedimentary cover, resulting in in a new map showing 2100 km2 of upper-crustal bedrock. Whereas earlier maps distinguished two main volcanostratigraphic units, we have distinguished four, recording the progression from early spreading-axis basalts (Geotimes) through to axial to off-axial depleted basalts (Lasail), to post-axial tholeiites (Tholeiitic Alley) and finally boninites (Boninitic Alley). Geotimes (Phase 1) axial dykes and lavas make up ~55 vol% of the Semail upper crust, whereas post-axial (Phase 2) lavas constitute the remaining ~ 45 vol % and ubiquitously cover the underlying axial crust. The Semail boninites occur as discontinuous accumulations up to 2 km thick at the top of the sequence and constitute ~ 15 vol % of the upper crust. The new map provides a basis for targeted exploration of the gold-bearing VMS deposits hosted by these boninites. The thickest boninite accumulations occur in the Fizh block, where magma ascent occurred along crustal-scale faults that are connected to shear zones in the underlying mantle rocks, which in turn are associated with economic chromitite deposits. Locating major boninite feeder zones may thus be an indirect means to explore for chromitites in the underlying mantle.


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