Serpentinization: a review

The common alteration assemblage produced by serpentinization of ultramafic rocks is: lizardite, chrysotile, magnetite±brucite±antigorite. Lizardite-chrysotile serpentinites are more common than antigorite; the presence of antigorite indicates that the serpentinite has undergone prograde metamorphism or that the periootite was serpentinized in a higher P,T regime than lizardite and chrysotile. The iron subsitution into serpentine minerals and brucite is a function of temperature at low f_O2, with increased temperature enhancing magnetite formation. The presence of awaruite and native Fe are strong evidence for a locally very reducing environment. Isotopic studies have shown a wide variety of origins for the fluids involved in serpentinization. The increased boron content of serpentinized rocks when compared to boron contents of the parent ultramafic body indicates a possible sea water origin for the fluids. Serpentinization takes place under both constant volume and constant chemical composition conditions. The factors in evaluating the importance of the two processes for an individual serpentinite are: (1) determination of the mineral assemblage and its paragenesis, (2) the structural and tectonic relationship of the ultramafic body to its country rock, (3) fluid access to the rock in duration and amount, and (4) timing of serpentinization - before, during or after emplacement into the crust.     

Structure of the 30-sectored polygonal serpentine. A model based on TEM and SAED studies

 Polygonal serpentine (PS) from selected serpentinite were studied using transmission electron microscopy. Fiber axis selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns and electron micrographs reveal orthogonal and monoclinic lizardite polytypes. The PS models by Chisholm (1992) and Baronnet et al. (1994) do not fit SAED measurements. Experimental results are matched with calculated diffraction geometry and intensities, as well as with simulated images, indicating inversion of the tetrahedral layer at sector boundaries. The structural relationships between chrysotile and PS are discussed. Two types of 30-sectored PS are distinguished. In “regular PS” the fiber axis is [100], in “helical PS” the fiber axis points into a [uν0] direction with large u value (u≫ν). Helical PS can be regarded as a lizardite analogue of helical chrysotile. Received December 6, 1995/Revised, accepted May 8, 1996     

Serpentinization of phlogopite phenocrysts from a micaceous kimberlite

Phenocrysts of phlogopite from a micaceous kimberlite contain finely interlayered serpentine. These phenocrysts occur in the kimberlite groundmass and are altered along the mica layers and are slightly deformed. Lizardite is the predominant serpentine mineral, but chrysotile and mixed structures also occur. The lizardite occurs as lamellae within phlogopite, oriented such that (001) layers of the two minerals are parallel and the [100] direction of lizardite is parallel to the [100] or 110 directions of phlogopite. The serpentinized regions of phlogopite are localized and extensive along the (001) layers. Chrysotile fibers and chrysotile-like curled serpentine occur within regions of disrupted material, and polygonal structures occur in folded lizardite lamellae. Textural relations suggest three events: 1) replacement of phlogopite by lizardite, 2) deformation of the phenocrysts, and 3) partial transformation of the lizardite to chrysotile-like structures. Deformation features include openings along (001), folds, and regions of disrupted or broken material. The folded and broken material consists of lamellar lizardite and phlogopite, indicating that lamellar replacement preceded deformation. Intergrowths of lizardite and curled serpentine are associated with cleavage openings and voids in disrupted material, suggesting that a partial transformation of lizardite to chrysotile occurred within openings created by deformation. Clay minerals also occur within phlogopite as either a minor product of serpentinization or of late-stage alteration.     

Petrological and geochemical study of serpentinised peridotites from the southern part of Manipur Ophiolitic Complex, Northeast India

The southern Manipur Ophiolitic Complex in the Indo-Myanmar Orogenic Belt, Northeast India comprises a set of serpentinised peridotites, pelagic sediments, podiform chromitites with minor mafic and felsic intrusives. Peridotites in the study area suffered various degrees of serpentinisation and also have been highly deformed and metamorphosed. Striations and slickenside surfaces are common features seen in these rocks indicating the effect of faulting or shearing due to tectonic movement. On the basis of mineralogy and modal composition these peridotites have been identified as serpentinised harzburgite, lherzolite, serpentinite with minor wehrlite. The serpentine minerals are mainly lizardite and chrysotile with sub-ordinate antigorite, whereas, pyroxenes are enstatite and diopside. The primary composition of Cr-spinels in these serpentinised peridotites are characterized by low SiO₂ (<0.11 wt.%), Fe₂O₃ (0.02 to 2.32 wt.%), TiO₂ (<0.15 wt.%), Cr# (0.13 to 0.23) and high Al# (0.74 to 0.86), Mg# (0.68 to 0.73). Olivine is relatively uniform in composition, ranges from Fo_89.64 to Fo_90.1. The mineralogical compositions and primary Cr-spinel chemistry of these peridotites are similar to Abyssal peridotites that formed in a mid-ocean ridge setting after low degree of partial melting. Thus, it supports that the mantle peridotites of the Manipur Ophiolitic Complex initially formed in a spreading regime.     

四川石棉矿蛇纹石矿物学研究

四川石棉矿产出四种蛇纹石矿物:纤蛇纹石,Povlen型纤蛇纹石、利蛇纹石和叶蛇纹石。它们的形态、结构、化学成分和红外光谱各具特征,本文对此进行了描述和讨论。纤蛇纹石以纵纤维脉和横纤维脉形式产出,以斜纤蛇纹石为主,含少量正纤和副纤蛇纹石。纵纤维蛇纹石可能由地壳浅层中的大气热水形成。Povlen型纤蛇纹石是蛇纹石族矿物的一个新变种,其形态、结构和化学成分都不同于其他蛇纹石矿物。     

P–V Equations of State and the relative stabilities of serpentine varieties

Serpentines are hydrous phyllosilicates which form by hydration of Mg–Fe minerals. The reasons for the occurrence of the structural varieties lizardite and chrysotile, with respect to the variety antigorite, stable at high pressure, are not yet fully elucidated, and their relative stability fields are not quantitatively defined. In order to increase the database of thermodynamic properties of serpentines, the P–V Equations of State (EoS) of lizardite and chrysotile were determined at ambient temperature up to 10 GPa, by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction in a diamond-anvil cell. Neither amorphization nor hysteresis was observed during compression and decompression, and no phase transition was resolved in lizardite. In chrysotile, a reversible change in compression mechanism, possibly due to an unresolved phase transition, occurs above 5 GPa. Both varieties exhibit strong anisotropic compression, with the c axis three times more compressible than the others. Fits to ambient temperature Birch–Murnaghan EoS gave for lizardite V ₀=180.92(3) Å³, K ₀ = 71.0(19) GPa and K′ ₀=3.2(6), and for chrysotile up to 5 GPa, V ₀ = 730.57(31) Å³ and K ₀ = 62.8(24) GPa (K′ ₀ fixed to 4). Compared to the structural variety antigorite is stable at high pressure (HP) (Hilairet et al. 2006), the c axis is more compressible in these varieties, whereas the a and b axes are less compressible. These differences are attributed to the less anisotropic distribution of stiff covalent bonds in the corrugated structure of antigorite. The three varieties have almost identical bulk compressibility curves. Thus the compressibility has negligible influence on the relative stability fields of the serpentine varieties. They are dominated by first-order thermodynamic properties, which stabilizes antigorite at high temperature with respect to lizardite, and by out-of-equilibrium phenomena for metastable chrysotile (Evans 2004).     

Rapid XRD determination of the chrysotile/lizardite ratios in asbestos-bearing serpentinites

Summary The quantitative XRD determination of the most common serpentinite minerals, e.g. lizardite and chrysotile, is hampered by strongly overlapping reflections. Reconnaissance investigations indicated that the reflections 204 of lizardite and 008 of chrysotile are best suited for quantitative XRD. These lines are not interferred by other minerals such as brucite, magnesite, chlorite or talc, which are common in serpentinites. A calibration curve for the determination of the chrysotile/lizardite ratios in natural serpentinites has been constructed by means of synthetically prepared chrysotile/lizardite standards. Using this method serpentinites of the Msauli Chrysotile Asbestos Mine, South Africa, were investigated for their relative chrysotile contents. It was found, that the total amount of chrysotile in the ore zone is considerably higher than the amount of extractable chrysotile asbestos fibre.

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Die röntgenographische Bestimmung der Chrysotil/Lizardit-Verhältnisse in asbesthaltigen Serpentiniten

Zusammenfassung Die quantitative röntgenographische Bestimmung der beiden häufigsten Serpentinminerale, Lizardit und Chrysotil, ist wegen der Überlagerung ihrer stärksten Reflexe erschwert. Aufgrund von Voruntersuchungen konnte jedoch festgestellt werden, daß die Reflexe 204 von Lizardit und 008 von Chrysotil für die quantitative Bestimmung geeignet sind. Diese Reflexe werden nicht überlagert von denen anderer häufig in Serpentiniten vorkommender Minerale, wie z.B. Brucit, Magnesit, Chlorit oder Talk. Eine Eichkurve zur Bestimmung der Chrysotil/Lizardit-Verhältnisse in natürlichen Serpentiniten wurde mit Hilfe synthetisch hergestellter Standardmischungen aufgestellt. Serpentinite der Msauli Chrysotilasbest Mine, Südafrika, wurden aufgrund der hier vorgestellten Methoden auf ihren relativen Chrysotilanteil untersucht. Es ergab sich, daß der totale Gehalt an Chrysotil in der erzführenden Zone deutlich größer ist als der Gehalt an ausbringbaren Chrysotilasbestfasern.

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With 4 Figures     

大洋橄榄岩的蛇纹岩石化研究进展评述

橄榄岩的蛇纹石化是大洋中不可忽略的重要地质过程,近年来引起广泛关注。大洋橄榄岩的蛇纹石化主要发生在洋中脊和汇聚板块边缘等环境中,大洋蛇纹岩典型的矿物组合包括:蛇纹石±磁铁矿±滑石±水镁石±角闪石。其中蛇纹石根据其矿物的晶体结构特征可分为利蛇纹石、纤蛇纹石和叶蛇纹石3种类型;偏光显微镜下可将蛇纹石结构划分为3类:假晶结构、非假晶结构和过渡结构。橄榄岩的蛇纹石化不仅会改变岩石的物理性质,如导致岩石密度的减小和地震波速的降低、影响橄榄岩的磁性等,而且也会对橄榄岩的流变性产生重要影响。大洋超基性岩系热液系统的发现,进一步激发了研究者们对大洋橄榄岩蛇纹石化研究的兴趣。与橄榄岩蛇纹石化相关的喷口流体含有较高的H2和CH4含量,此外,蛇纹石化是一个放热反应,可以驱动热液循环,导致Lost City等中低温型热液系统的出现。     

蛇纹石化和俯冲带蛇纹岩变质脱水过程中流体活动性元素的行为

蛇纹石是大洋岩石圈和俯冲带内水和流体活动性元素最重要的载体之一。研究蛇纹石化和蛇纹岩变质脱水过程中流体活动性元素的行为是认识俯冲带元素地球化学循环的关键。蛇纹岩是指主要由蛇纹石类矿物构成的岩石,包括利蛇纹石、纤蛇纹石和叶蛇纹石。蛇纹石化过程中会造成流体活动性元素(B、Li、As、Sb、Pb、Cs、U、Sr和Ba等)的显著富集,并且由于原岩性质、流体成分和氧逸度等条件的不同,大洋岩石圈蛇纹岩和弧前蛇纹岩的特征也略有不同。例如,弧前蛇纹岩具有相对高的As、Sb、B和相对低的U,这反映了俯冲沉积物来源流体的贡献。在俯冲带蛇纹岩的变质脱水过程中,利蛇纹石向叶蛇纹石的转变伴随着矿物内超过50%F和Cl的释放,以及一些流体活动性元素(如B和Li)的迁出;此外,蛇纹石分解形成的变质橄榄石中的流体包裹体指示,蛇纹石脱水分解所产生的流体具有高于原始地幔几个数量级的Cl、Cs、Pb、As、Sb、Ba、Rb、B、Sr、Li和U含量。由于利蛇纹石中的Fe~(3+)含量较叶蛇纹石高,这种矿物相转变过程中也伴随着俯冲通道内的一系列氧化还原过程,从而影响流体性质和新形成的叶蛇纹石的成分。蛇纹岩与岛弧岩浆在流体活动性元素富集规律上的相似性说明蛇纹岩在俯冲带元素循环中扮演着重要的角色。此外,蛇纹石矿物相转变过程中F、Cl、B等元素的释放,可能对于斑岩型金矿、蛇绿岩中的金矿和某些蛇纹岩作为赋矿围岩的硼矿的形成起到重要的作用。     

Polysomatism,polytypism, defect microstructures,and reaction mechanisms in regularly and randomly interstratified serpentine and chlorite

High-resolution (HRTEM) and analytical electron (AEM) microscopic evidence for a polysomatic series based on regular interstratifications of serpentine (amesite) and chlorite (clinochlore) are reported from an altered skarn in Irian Jaya. The assemblage includes regular interstratifications of one clinochlore and two (2:1; three structural variants), three (3:1), and four (4:1) amesite composition 1:1 layers as well as randomly interstratified serpentine and chlorite. The order of abundance of regularly interstratified minerals is 1:1>2:1>4:1>3:1. Atomic-resolution images, image simulations, and comparison between calculated and observed diffracted intensities verify the proposed 1:1 and 2:1 structures and reveal details of their defect microstructures. AEM data show that compositions are linear combinations of the associated amesite and clinochlore. The 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 minerals occur both as discrete sub-micron crystals and as domains within serpentine or chlorite. Some crystals of the 2:1 phase were sufficiently large for study by X-ray precession and powder methods. Crystals of the regularly interstratified 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 phases are usually bent. High-resolution images reveal that, within polygonal segments, the layers commonly exhibit a few degrees of curvature with segments separated by antigorite-type offsets. Deformed chlorite crystals are probably replaced by interstratified minerals during an aluminum metasomatic event. Al may have been deposited from sulfuric acid-rich solutions when they interacted with calcite and dolomite to form the anhydrite-rich corona around the phyllosilicate-rich region of the core. The interstratified chlorite (clinochlore composition) suggests aluminum addition by selective conversion of a sub-set of the chlorite layers to amesite. Defect microstructures suggest that crystals of regularly interstratified material grew by direct structural modification of preexisting chlorite. Regular interstratifications may form in response to thermally controlled limits on Al solubility in chlorite and heterogeneities in the distribution of Al-rich solutions during metasomatism. Regularly interstratified minerals coexist with randomly interstratified serpentine/chlorite, chrysotile, antigorite, lizardite, and several amesite and chlorite polytypes. Tentative chlorite and amesite identifications include one-layer (b=97°, probably IIbb), one-layer (b=90, possibly Ibb), two-, and three-layer chlorites, and 2H₁ (but possibly 1M or 1T), rhombohedral (3R or 6R), and twelve-layer (Tc; non standard) serpentine polytypes. The complex phyllosilicates attest to rampant chemical and structural disequilibrium.     

High-pressure behaviour of serpentine minerals: a Raman spectroscopic study

Four main serpentine varieties can be distinguished on the basis of their microstructures, i.e. lizardite, antigorite, chrysotile and polygonal serpentine. Among these, antigorite is the variety stable under high pressure. In order to understand the structural response of these varieties to pressure, we studied well-characterized serpentine samples by in situ Raman spectroscopy up to 10 GPa, in a diamond-anvil cell. All serpentine varieties can be metastably compressed up to 10 GPa at room temperature without the occurrence of phase transition or amorphization. All spectroscopic pressure-induced changes are fully reversible upon decompression. The vibrational frequencies of antigorite have a slightly larger pressure dependence than those of the other varieties. The O–H-stretching modes of the four varieties have a positive pressure dependence, which indicates that there is no enhancement of hydrogen bonding in serpentine minerals at high pressure. Serpentine minerals display two types of hydroxyl groups in the structure: inner OH groups lie at the centre of each six-fold ring while outer OH groups are considered to link the octahedral sheet of a given 1:1 layer to the tetrahedral sheet of the adjacent 1:1 layer. On the basis of the contrasting behaviour of the Raman bands as a function of pressure, we propose a new assignment of the OH-stretching bands. The strongly pressure-dependent modes are assigned to the vibrations of the outer hydroxyl groups, the less pressure-sensitive peaks to the inner ones.     

Petrological and mineralogical studies of Pan-African serpentinites at Bir Al-Edeid area, central Eastern Desert, Egypt

The studied serpentinites occur as isolated masses, imbricate slices of variable thicknesses and as small blocks or lenses incorporated in the sedimentary matrix of the mélange. They are thrusted over the associated island arc calc-alkaline metavolcanics and replaced by talc-carbonates along shear zones. Lack of thermal effect of the serpentinites upon the enveloping country rocks, as well as their association with thrust faults indicates their tectonic emplacement as solid bodies. Petrographically, they are composed essentially of antigorite, chrysotile and lizardite with subordinate amounts of carbonates, chromite, magnetite, magnesite, talc, tremolite and chlorite. Chrysotile occurs as cross-fiber veinlets traversing the antigorite matrix, which indicate a late crystallization under static conditions. The predominance of antigorite over other serpentine minerals indicates that the serpentinites have undergone prograde metamorphism or the parent ultramafic rocks were serpentinized under higher pressure. The parent rocks of the studied serpentinites are mainly harzburgite and less commonly dunite and wehrlite due to the prevalence of mesh and bastite textures. The serpentinites have suffered regional metamorphism up to the greenschist facies, which occurred during the collisional stage or back-arc basin closure, followed by thrusting over a continental margin. The microprobe analyses of the serpentine minerals show wide variation in SiO₂, MgO, Al₂O₃, FeO and Cr₂O₃ due to different generations of serpentinization. The clinopyroxene relicts, from the partly serpentinized peridotite, are augite and similar to clinopyroxene in mantle-derived peridotites. The chromitite lenses associated with the serpentinites show common textures and structures typical of magmatic crystallization and podiform chromitites. The present data suggest that the serpentinites and associated chromitite lenses represent an ophiolitic mantle sequence from a supra-subduction zone, which were thrust over the continental margins during the collisional stage of back-arc basin.     

Post-emplacement serpentinization and related hydrothermal metamorphism in a kimberlite from Venetia, South Africa

The common serpentine–diopside matrix assemblage in volcaniclastic kimberlite (VK) at the Venetia Mine, South Africa is ascribed to a secondary origin, because of post‐emplacement serpentinization and associated hydrothermal metamorphism. Volcaniclastic deposits with 20–30% porosity infill kimberlite pipes in the waning stages of kimberlite eruptions. Olivine macrocrysts are typically rimmed by talc and are pseudomorphed by lizardite, with minor magnetite. The fine matrix consists of mixtures of lizardite, chlorite, smectite, brucite, calcite, titanite and andradite, an assemblage which either pseudomorphed microcrysts or in‐filled voids. Locally we recognize microcryst pseudomorphs rich in sub‐microscopic mixtures of lizardite with smectite, and other microcryst pseudomorphs and void‐filling matrix rich in chlorite and lizardite. Interstitial lizardite and associated phyllosilicates (brucite, smectite and chlorite) crystallized progressively from meteoric or hydrothermally derived pore waters, and Si⁴⁺ and Mg²⁺ released into the fluid phase during serpentinization of olivine macrocrysts. Radial‐fibrous fringes of diopside microlites around crystals display void‐filling textures because of unrestricted growth into pore spaces. Secondary diopside is attributed to Si⁴⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ cations released into the fluid phase by interaction with olivine, calcite and plagioclase in siliceous xenoliths. The paucity of primary, fine‐grained groundmass phases resistant to alteration, for example, perovskite and spinel, precludes an origin for the intergrain matrix as altered interstitial ash, glass or a late‐stage kimberlite melt. Isovolumetric replacement of olivine results in a volume increase of 60% so that pore spaces in the original deposit can be easily filled up with serpentine. The source of Al³⁺ to form chlorite and smectite is attributed to alteration of plagioclase in xenoliths which comprise 20–30 vol.% of the deposit. Titanite, hydro‐andradite and second‐generation diopside precipitate as hydrothermal minerals from calcium‐bearing serpentinizing fluids in replacement reactions and as void‐filling minerals. Consideration of mineral equilibria in the CaO‐MgO‐SiO₂‐H₂O‐CO₂ system constrains the common matrix assemblage of lizardite and diopside in X_CO2)–T space. At 300 bar, the assemblage is stable only at temperatures below 370 °C and X_CO2 < 0.01. This upper limit on temperature is well below the plausible solidus of ultrabasic magmas. Furthermore, the requirement of trace CO₂ in the fluid phase implies a post‐emplacement external source rather than ‘autometamorphism’ from kimberlite‐derived fluids, because of high P_CO2 commonly inferred for kimberlite magmas.     

The effect of chrysotile nanotubes on the serpentine-fluid Li-isotopic fractionation

We determined the lithium isotope fractionation between synthetic Li-bearing serpentine phases lizardite, chrysotile, antigorite, and aqueous fluid in the P,T range 0.2–4.0 GPa, 200–500°C. For experiments in the systems lizardite-fluid and antigorite-fluid, ⁷Li preferentially partitioned into the fluid and Δ⁷Li values followed the T-dependent fractionation of Li-bearing mica-fluid (Wunder et al. 2007). By contrast, for chrysotile-fluid experiments, ⁷Li weakly partitioned into chrysotile. This contrasting behavior might be due to different Li environments in the three serpentine varieties: in lizardite and antigorite lithium is sixfold coordinated, whereas in chrysotile lithium is incorporated in two ways, octahedrally and as Li-bearing water cluster filling the nanotube cores. Low-temperature IR spectroscopic measurements of chrysotile showed significant amounts of water, whose freezing point was suppressed due to the Li contents and the confined geometry of the fluid within the tubes. The small inverse Li-isotopic fractionation for chrysotile-fluid results from intra-crystalline Li isotope fractionation of octahedral Li^[6] with preference to ⁶Li and lithium within the channels (Li^[Ch]) of chrysotile, favoring ⁷Li. The nanotubes of chrysotile possibly serve as important carrier of Li and perhaps also of other fluid-mobile elements in serpentinized oceanic crust. This might explain higher Li abundances for low-T chrysotile-bearing serpentinites relative to high-T serpentinites. Isotopically heavy Li-bearing fluids of chrysotile nanotubes could be released at relatively shallow depths during subduction, prior to complete chrysotile reactions to form antigorite. During further subduction, fluids produced during breakdown of serpentine phases will be depleted in ⁷Li. This behavior might explain some of the Li-isotopic heterogeneities observed for serpentinized peridotites.     

Serpentinization at Burro Mountain,California

The Burro Mountain ultramafic complex, Monterey County, California, consists of dunites and peridotites which are partially or wholly serpentinized. Primary minerals in both rock types are olivine, enstatite, diopside, and picotite which upon alteration yield chrysotile, lizardite, brucite, magnetite, talc, tremolite, and carbonate. Electron microprobe analyses show that enstatite, En_85.8 to En_90.8, alters to “bastite” composed only of lizardite (5.0–12.0 weight percent FeO), whereas olivine, Fo_90.8 to Fo_91.6, forms lizardite+chrysotile+brucite with or without magnetite. The chrysotile ranges from 3.0 to 5.0 weight percent FeO, the brucite from 16.0 to 43.0 weight percent FeO. As Serpentinization proceeds, the alteration products are enriched in FeO relative to MgO. Serpentinization probably originates in a changing \(P_{O_2 }\)-T environment by two different reactions:

1. (a)
   Olivine+enstatite+H₂O+O₂?Mg, Fe⁺² chrysotile+Mg, Fe⁺³, Fe⁺² lizardite with or without magnetite.     
   
   

甘肃省武山县鸳鸯玉的地球化学和宝石学特征

对甘肃武山县鸳鸯镇鸳鸯玉的地球化学特征和宝石学特征进行的鉴定、分析和研究表明,鸳鸯玉是富镁铁的辉橄岩经岩浆期后多期热液的叠加蚀变(主要为蛇纹石化)形成的蛇纹岩;鸳鸯玉的主要矿物成分为蛇纹石,且多为叶蛇纹石,含有少量的透闪石、滑石、白云石,还有一定量的金属矿物,如磁铁矿、褐铁矿和水镍矿等。该玉石呈较深的灰绿色和墨绿色,质地细腻,可用于制作"夜光杯"和玉碗等工艺品。鸳鸯玉矿区交通方便,矿石开采成本低,是具有良好开发前景的玉石资源。     

Unique deformation processes involving the recrystallization of chrysotile within serpentinite: implications for aseismic slip events within subduction zones

Serpentinite bodies within the Franciscan Complex, a Mesozoic accretionary prism located in California, USA, display a unique form of deformation that involves the recrystallization of chrysotile and the formation of a block‐in‐matrix structure. The phacoidal‐shaped blocks have a preferred orientation, and result from the local replacement of serpentine minerals by chrysotile grains that are aligned parallel to ductile shear planes such as S–C foliation; ultimately, some of the rocks evolved into chrysotile schist. The relic blocks are also fragmented into multiple parts, with the spaces between fragments being infilled by recrystallized chrysotile. The low coefficient of friction of chrysotile means that this deformation process acts to suppress the frictional properties of the entire serpentinite body within the forearc mantle. This phenomenon can be attributed to the slip style that occurs in aseismic regions of subduction zones in areas shallower than the stability field of antigorite.     

Biogeochemical weathering of serpentinites: An examination of incipient dissolution affecting serpentine soil formation

Serpentinite rocks, high in Mg and trace elements including Ni, Cr, Cd, Co, Cu, and Mn and low in nutrients such as Ca, K, and P, form serpentine soils with similar chemical properties resulting in chemically extreme environments for the biota that grow upon them. The impact of parent material on soil characteristics is most important in young soils, and therefore the incipient weathering of serpentinite rock likely has a strong effect on the development of serpentine soils and ecosystems. Additionally, porosity generation is a crucial process in converting rock into a soil that can support vegetation. Here, the important factors affecting the incipient weathering of serpentinite rock are examined at two sites in the Klamath Mountains, California. Serpentinite-derived soils and serpentinite rock cores were collected in depth profiles from each sampling location. Mineral dissolution in weathered serpentinite samples, determined by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, electron microprobe analyses, and synchrotron microXRD, is consistent with the order, from most weathered to least weathered: Fe-rich pyroxene > antigorite > Mg-rich lizardite > Al-rich lizardite. These results suggest that the initial porosity formation within serpentinite rock, impacting the formation of serpentine soil on which vegetation can exist, is strongly affected both by the presence of non-serpentine primary minerals as well as the composition of the serpentine minerals. In particular, the presence of ferrous Fe appears to contribute to greater dissolution, whereas the presence of Al within the parent rock appears to contribute to greater stability. Iron-oxidizing bacteria present at the soil–rock interface have been shown in previous studies to contribute to the transition from rock to soil, and soils and rock cores in this study were therefore tested for iron-oxidizing bacteria. The detection of biological iron oxidation in this study indicates that the early alteration of these Fe-rich minerals may be mediated by iron-oxidizing bacteria. These findings help provide insight into the incipient processes affecting serpentinite rock weathering, important to the development of extreme serpentine soils and the biota that grow on them.     

F,Cl and S input via serpentinite in subduction zones: implications for the nature of the fluid released at depth

The abundances of F, Cl and S in arc magmas are systematically higher than in other mantle‐derived magmas, suggesting that these elements are added from the slab along with H₂O. We present ion probe microanalyses of F, Cl and S in serpentine minerals that represent the P–T evolution of the oceanic lithosphere, from its serpentinization at the ridge, to its dehydration at around 100 km depth during subduction. F, Cl and S are incorporated early into serpentine during its formation at mid‐ocean ridges, and serpentinized lithosphere then carries these elements to subduction zones. More than 50% of the F, Cl and S are removed from serpentine during the prograde metamorphic lizardite/antigorite transition. Due to the low solubility of F in water, and to the low amount of water released during this phase transition, the fluids mobilizing these elements must be dominated by SO_X rather than H₂O.     

Petrological and mineralogical studies of Pan-African serpentinites at Bir Al-Edeid area,central Eastern Desert,Egypt

The studied serpentinites occur as isolated masses, imbricate slices of variable thicknesses and as small blocks or lenses incorporated in the sedimentary matrix of the mélange. They are thrusted over the associated island arc calc-alkaline metavolcanics and replaced by talc-carbonates along shear zones. Lack of thermal effect of the serpentinites upon the enveloping country rocks, as well as their association with thrust faults indicates their tectonic emplacement as solid bodies. Petrographically, they are composed essentially of antigorite, chrysotile and lizardite with subordinate amounts of carbonates, chromite, magnetite, magnesite, talc, tremolite and chlorite. Chrysotile occurs as cross-fiber veinlets traversing the antigorite matrix, which indicate a late crystallization under static conditions. The predominance of antigorite over other serpentine minerals indicates that the serpentinites have undergone prograde metamorphism or the parent ultramafic rocks were serpentinized under higher pressure. The parent rocks of the studied serpentinites are mainly harzburgite and less commonly dunite and wehrlite due to the prevalence of mesh and bastite textures. The serpentinites have suffered regional metamorphism up to the greenschist facies, which occurred during the collisional stage or back-arc basin closure, followed by thrusting over a continental margin. The microprobe analyses of the serpentine minerals show wide variation in SiO₂, MgO, Al₂O₃, FeO and Cr₂O₃ due to different generations of serpentinization. The clinopyroxene relicts, from the partly serpentinized peridotite, are augite and similar to clinopyroxene in mantle-derived peridotites. The chromitite lenses associated with the serpentinites show common textures and structures typical of magmatic crystallization and podiform chromitites. The present data suggest that the serpentinites and associated chromitite lenses represent an ophiolitic mantle sequence from a supra-subduction zone, which were thrust over the continental margins during the collisional stage of back-arc basin.