Very high 18o enrichment in Archean cherts from South India: implications for Archean ocean temperature

Stable carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of essentially unmetamorphosed Archean (> 2.6 Gyr old) cherts and carbonates of the Dharwar Sequence of southern India, from the northernmost part of the Dharwar-Shimoga supracrustal belt (Kalche and Nagargali), have been determined. The cherts from the Nagargali area, which preserve oolitic texture and cryptocrystalline silica, show highly enriched δ¹⁸O values ranging from 28 to 31.4%o relative to SMOW. Such values are the highest yet reported from Archean nondetrital sediments, but are similar to those of modern marine cherts. On the assumption of a seawater δ¹⁸O of 0%₀, calculation of temperature based on the maximum δ¹⁸O value of 31.4%₀ yields a value of 40°C. This is significantly less than 70–80°C reported for the Archean oceans based on cherts and chert-phosphate pairs. Diagenetically recrystallized microcrystalline chert-dolomite pairs of Kalche area exhibit a range of oxygen isotopic ratios similar to those reported for Archean cherts and carbonates from other parts of the world. The temperature of diagenesis is estimated to be about 68°C.     

Stable isotope study of carbonate sediments from the Coorong Area, South Australia

ABSTRACT
The mineralogy and isotope geochemistry of carbonate minerals in the Coorong area are determined by the water chemistry of different depositional environments ranging from seawater to evaporitically modified continental water. The different isotopic compositions of coexisting calcite and dolomite suggest that each of the above two minerals was formed from water of composition and origin unique to that specific mineral. In addition, the dolomite was not formed by simple solid state cation exchange.
The occurrence of two types of dolomite was shown by isotope analysis and SEM observations. The dolomite, which is isotopically light (δ¹³C = -1 to -2% 0 ; δ¹⁸O=+3 to +5%₀) and of fine grain size (˜ 0·5 μm) probably precipitated under the influence of evaporitically modified continental water. Coarser grained dolomite (up to 4 μm) is isotopically heavier (δ¹³C=+3 to +4%₀; δ¹⁸O=+5 to + 6%₀) contains Mg in excess of Ca and was formed in or close to equilibrium with atmospheric CO² probably by the dolomitization of aragonite.     

Refinements in BaSO4 to CO2 Preparation and δ18 O Calibration of the Sulfate Reference Materials NBS-127, IAEA SO-5 and IAEA SO-6

Refinements have been made to achieve over 99% yield in the conversion of CO to CO₂ in order to improve the reproducibility and accuracy of δ¹⁸ O measurements in sulfates. BaSO₄ (10-15 mg) was mixed with an identical amount of spectrographic-grade graphite and loaded into a Pt boat. The mixture was gradually heated to 1100 °C to reduce sulfate to CO and CO₂; the former gas was simultaneously converted to CO₂ by a glow discharge between Pt electrodes immersed in a magnetic field (produced by a pair of external neodymium magnets). A small memory effect was noticed during the analysis (less than 0.3‰ per 10‰ difference in δ¹⁸ O between two subsequently analysed samples). The memory effect, however, was suppressed by repetitive preparation of the same specimen. CO₂ produced in this way from sulfate reference samples was analysed on a dual inlet and triple collector mass spectrometer along with CO₂ equilibrated with VSMOW, GISP and SLAP water reference samples. To avoid large departures of measured isotope ratios from ¹⁸O/¹⁶O of the working calibrator we used CO₂ gas prepared from ocean water sulfate for this purpose. The calibrated δ¹⁸ O values (in ‰) obtained in this way for NBS-127, IAEA SO-5 and IAEA SO-6 reference materials were 8.73 ± 0.05, 12.20 ± 0.07 and -10.43 ± 0.12, respectively.     

Hydrogen, Oxygen and Sulfur Isotope Studies of Seafloor Hydrothermal System at the Desmos Caldera, Manus Back-arc Basin, Papua New Guinea: An Analogue of Terrestrial Acid Hot Crater-lake

Abstract. The Onsen site is an active submarine hydrothermal system hosted by the Desmos caldera in the Eastern Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea. The hydrothermal fluid is very acidic (pH=1.5) and abundant native sulfur is deposited around the vent. The δ³⁴S values of native sulfur range from -6.5 to -9.3 %o. δ³⁴S values of H₂S and SO₄ in the hydrothermal fluid are -4.3 to -9.9 %o and +18.6 to +20.0 %o, respectively. These δ³⁴S values are significantly lower than those of the other hydrothermal systems so far reported. These low δ³⁴S values and the acidic nature of the vent fluids suggest that volcanic SO₂ gas plays an important role on the sulfur isotope systematic of the Onsen hydrothermal system. Relationship among the δ³⁴S values of S-bearing species can be successively explained by the model based on the disproportionation reaction starting from the volcanic SO₂ gas. The predicted δ³⁴S values of SO₂ agree with the measured whole rock δ³⁴S values. δD and δ¹⁸O values of clay minerals separated from the altered rock samples also suggest the contribution of the magmatic fluid to the hydrothermal system. Present stable isotopic study strongly suggests that the Onsen hydrothermal site in the Desmos caldera is a magmatic submarine hydrothermal system.     

The isotopic composition of oxygen and carbon in the subfossil mollusc shells of the Baltic Sea as an indicator of palaeosalinity

The carbon (δ¹³ C) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) isotopic composistion in mollusc shells in mainly determined by the isotopic composition of water and dissolved bicarbonate. The δ¹⁸O values of water show a good correlation with the salinity of the Baltic. This correlation served as a basis for reconstructing palaeosalinity and for stratifying the marine sediments according to the δ¹⁸O values of the carbonate skeletons of subfossil shells. The δ¹³C values in shells are mainly determined by the isotopic composition of land-originating bicarbonate, especially in the carbonate skeleton of Lymnaea balthica , which inhabits the immediate coastal zone. According to the δ¹⁸O data, salinity in the investigated area (the coastal area of W and NW Estonia) was highest (about 9–11%) during the Littorina stage. The Limnae a stage had, in general, a salinity similar to the contemporary one, but during some phases possibly exceeding it by 2–3%.     

Foraminiferal changes and geochemical profiles across the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary in central and south-east Poland

Two sections of the Upper Cenomanian and Lower Turonian in central and south-east Poland were investigated for foraminifers, CaCO₃content, carbon content insoluble in HCl (C_org) and in the carbonates (C_carb), carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of bulk-rock carbonates and elemental abundances. The Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval is characterized by the appearance of more marly facies, a δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O stable isotope anomaly, a considerable increase in C_org content and decrease in C_carb content and substantial changes in the foraminiferal assemblages. A major carbon stable isotope excursion with a shift of +2 (PDB) occurs in the lowermost Whiteinella archaeocretacea Zone. The late Cenomanian δ¹³C anomaly is associated with heavy δ¹⁸O values. The peak value of δ¹³C corresponds to the minima in P/B ratio and in diversity of foraminiferal assemblages. A late Cenomanian anoxic event is thought to be responsible for changes in foraminiferal assemblages. However, elemental abundance analyses do not show changes in the concentrations of trace elements. This may be explained by the long distance between studied area and a source of enrichment which was probably located in the western hemisphere.     

High-resolution profile of stable isotopes and iridium across a K/T boundary section from Koshak Hill, Mangyshlak, Kazakhstan

Oxygen and carbon isotopes were measured to a high depth resolution in a nannoplankton carbonate sequence spanning the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary at Koshak Hill, Mangyshlak Peninsula, Kazakhstan. The boundary is characterized by the presence of a ∼ 1 cm thick clay layer having a sharp peak in iridium concentration with a maximum value of 3.7 ng g^-1. The δ¹⁸O data reveal rapid (∼10³ years) excursion of sea-surface temperature at the boundary where an initial cold pulse is followed by a persistent warm period. The δ¹³C data, in contrast, indicate only a gradual change in productivity across the boundary. The observations suggest a biogeochemical scenario for the boundary event pertaining to shallow epicontinental seas.     

Chronology and organic chemistry of the Black Creek Swamp Megafauna site (Late Pleistocene), Kangaroo Island, Australia

The timing of the extinction of the Australian Megafauna and whether it was simultaneous and widespread has been a much researched topic in Quaternary geoscience. The Black Creek Swamp Megafauna site on Kangaroo Island was thought to be a refugium for Megafauna; however, recent and multidiscipline age determinations have established that the fossils are considerably older than the well-quoted extinction age of 45 kyr. Further radiocarbon age determinations, δ¹³C isotope analysis and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy of the fossil containing organic matter demonstrates that it is highly soluble and accumulated as recently as 31–18 cal. kyr BP. These radiocarbon ages are much younger than the 100–50 kyr age bracket ascertained for the fossil material itself, implying separate episodes of death, deposition and burial. The soluble nature of the organic matter and increasing radiocarbon ages with depth suggests lateral accumulation, probably transported by subsurface waters from elevated areas proximal to the low-lying swamp. Such depositional conditions and ¹⁴C age range implies that the site may have experienced an unusually wet Last Glacial Maximum, due maybe to its proximity to the continental shelf and thus to maritime conditions. C3 vegetation dominates the Black Creek Swamp and its organic matter (δ¹³C; −30‰ and −23‰); however, variations in δ¹³C may indicate climatic shifts. ¹³C-enrichment and an abundance of salt-tolerant gastropods within the site's final phase of sediment accumulation (<6 cal. kyr BP) suggest that conditions during this most recent period were not as wet as those of the Last Glacial Maximum.     

Oxygen isotope exchange and closure temperatures in cooling rocks

Retrograde exchange of oxygen isotopes between minerals in igneous and metamorphic rocks by means of diffusion is explored using a finite difference computer model, which predicts both the zonation profile of δ¹⁸O within grains, and the bulk δ¹⁸O value of each mineral in the rock. Apparent oxygen isotope equilibrium temperatures that would be observed in these rocks are calculated from the δ¹⁸O values of each mineral pair within the rock. In systems which cool linearly from a sufficiently high temperature or at a low enough cooling rate, such that the final oxygen isotope values are not dependent upon the initial oxygen isotope values ('slow cooling'), the apparent oxygen isotope temperature derived for a rock composed of a single mineral pair can be shown to be simply related to the Dodson closure temperatures ( T _c) for the two phases and the mode of the rock. Adding a third phase into a system which undergoes 'slow' cooling will cause the apparent temperature derived for the two minerals already present to differ from the simple relationship for a two-phase system. In some systems oxygen isotope reversals can be developed. If cooling is not 'slow', then the mineral δ¹⁸O values resulting from cooling will be partly dependent upon the initial temperature of the system concerned. The model successfully simulates the mineral δ¹⁸O values that are often observed in granitic rocks. Application of the model will help in assessing the validity of oxygen isotope thermometry in different geological settings, and allows quantitative prediction of the oxygen isotope fractionations that are developed in cooling closed systems.     

Geochemical Process of Gas Hydrate Formation in the Nankai Trough Based on Chloride and Isotopic Anomalies in Interstitial Water

Abstract: Interstitial water expelled from gas hydrate-bearing and -free sediments in the Nankai Trough are analyzed in terms of Cl-, SO₄²-, δ¹⁸O and δD. The baselines for the Cl- concentration and δ¹⁸O value are close to seawater values (530 mM and 0%), indicating that the interstitial water is of seawater origin. The δD values decrease with depth, implying isotopic exchange of hydrogen between upwelling biogenic methane depleted in D and interstitial water. The Cl- concentrations in gas hydrate-bearing sediments are anomalously low, while the δ¹⁸O and δD values are both high, suggesting that the water forming these gas hydrates was poor in Cl- and enriched in ¹⁸O and D during gas hydrate formation. Calculation of the gas hydrate saturations using Cl "and δ¹⁸O anomalies gives results of up to 80 % in sand, and shows that the δ¹⁸O baseline is not consistent with the Cl" baseline. The δ¹⁸O baseline increases by +1% in gas hydrate-free clay and silt. This is considered to be caused by clustering of water molecules after gas hydrate dissociation in response to the upward migration of the base of gas hydrate stability, as indicated by the presence of a double bottom-simulating reflector at this site. The water clusters enriched in ¹⁸O are responsible for the increase in the δ¹⁸O baseline with normal Cl". The abrupt shallowing of the base of gas hydrate stability may induce the dissociation of gas hydrates and the accumulation of gases in the new stability zone, representing a geological process that increases gas hydrate saturation.     

The evolution of fluorine-rich felsic magmas: source dichotomy, magmatic convergence and the origins of topaz granite

Topaz granite is alkali-feldspar granite that contains essential albite, quartz, K-feldspar, lithium-mica, and topaz. As a group topaz granites are characterized by their extreme enrichment in F (up to 3 wt%) and a wide variety of lithophile elements. They can be subdivided into a 'low-P₂O₅ subtype' (P₂O₅ < 0.1 wt%, Al₂O₃ < 14.5 wt%, SiO₂ > 73 wt%) and a 'high-P₂O₅ subtype' (P₂O₅ > 0.4 wt%, Al₂O₃ > 14.5 wt%, SiO₂ < 73 wt%), the δ¹⁸O values of which indicate a dichotomy of source rock: the low-P₂O₅ subtype (δ¹⁸O < 10‰) having a meta-igneous protolith and the high-P₂O₅ subtype (δ¹⁸O > 10 ‰) a source with a significant component of pelitic material. The unusually high F contents enhance the efficacy of melt segregation and crystal-melt fractionation and so facilitate extreme differentiation in topaz granite magmas. Very low melt volumes restrict the bulk composition of the partial melts regardless of the nature of the source; and extreme fractionation forces them along a path of magmatic convergence, to produce a group of granitic rocks with near-minimum compositions so enriched in a variety of lithophile elements (Li, Nb, Ta, Sn) that economic mineralization often results.     

Calcium Isotopic Composition of Various Reference Materials and Seawater

A compilation of δ^44/40Ca (δ^44/40Ca) data sets of different calcium reference materials is presented, based on measurements in three different laboratories (Institute of Geological Sciences, Bern; Centre de Géochimie de la Surface, Strasbourg; GEOMAR, Kiel) to support the establishment of a calcium isotope reference standard. Samples include a series of international and internal Ca reference materials, including NIST SRM 915a, seawater, two calcium carbonates and a CaF₂ reference sample. The deviations in δ^44/40Ca for selected pairs of reference samples have been defined and are consistent within statistical uncertainties in all three laboratories. Emphasis has been placed on characterising both NIST SRM 915a as an internationally available high purity Ca reference sample and seawater as representative of an important and widely available geological reservoir. The difference between δ^44/40Ca of NIST SRM 915a and seawater is defined as -1.88 O.O4%o (δ^44/42Ca_{NISTSRM915a/Sw}= -0.94 0.07%o). The conversion of values referenced to NIST SRM 915a to seawater can be described by the simplified equation δ^44/40Ca_Sa/Sw=δ^44/40Ca_{Sa/NIST SRM 915a} - 1.88 (δ^44/42Ca_Sa/Sw=δ^44/42Ca_{Sa/NIST SRM 915a} - 0.94). We propose the use of NIST SRM 915a as general Ca isotope reference standard, with seawater being defined as the major reservoir with respect to oceanographic studies.     

A widespread positive δ13Ccarb anomaly at around 2.33–2.06 Ga on the Fennoscandian Shield: a paradox?

Carbon isotope measurements carried out on 201 carbonate samples from the early Proterozoic of the Kola Peninsula, N. Karelia and Norway yield δ¹³C (PDB) spanning - 20.5% to + 11%. A general δ¹³C secular trend shows that prior to 2.33 Ga values are typically 'normal' marine, averaging around - 3%0. Between 2.33 and 2.06 Ga, in Jatulian time, there follows a rapid excursion to positive δ¹³C of around + 6%. Post-Jatulian time is characterized by δ¹³C of sedimentary carbonates fluctuating between - 5% and +3%; also it is remarkable for the first pronounced development of diagenetic carbonates, which have δ¹³C between - 14 % and - 6% . The c. 6% positive δ¹³C shift with a duration of about 270 Myr coincides with a maximum in the diversity and abundance of stromatolites, and with widespread development of 'red beds', but does not coincide with the maximum of buried C_org mass. The Fennoscandian Shield represents the largest isotoically anomalous carbonate province yet reported, and the positive δ¹³C excursion together with a series of major global palaeoenviromental changes seems to be more intense than the Precambrian/Cambrian transition events. However, it is still not clear what kind of mechanism this phenomenon could be attributed to. An increase of the 'Ronov ratio', and/or 'Broecker ratio' and other possible models are discussed as the target for future investigations.     

Stable isotopic signature of a palaeoaquifer, Mississippian Alamogordo Member limestones, Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico, USA

Nine stratigraphic sections, each ≈5 m thick, were sampled from the Alamogordo Member limestones of the Lake Valley Formation, Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico, USA. Four stratigraphic sections consist entirely of lime mudstone and wackestone, whereas the other five sections have a prominent layer of crinoidal packstone about 1 m thick at their base. Stable isotopic analyses reveal that the lime muds in the sections with basal packstone layers show a downward decrease in δ¹⁸O and constant δ¹³C values, whereas those in the sections solely composed of lime mudstone and wackestone have, in general, relatively uniform δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values. The diagenesis of the Alamogordo Member limestones was previously believed to have been governed by the downward percolation of meteoric water from a regional pre-Pennsylvanian exposure surface ≈100 m above this unit. However, the uniform δ¹³C and downward decrease in δ¹⁸O values in the lime muds in the sections with basal packstones indicate that the meteoric water ascended within the Alamogordo Member, rather than descended from the overlying exposure surface. This indicates that the basal packstones were probably a conduit for meteoric water. This is further supported indirectly by the relatively uniform δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values of the lime mud in the sections without basal packstones. The implications are that the oxygen isotopic gradients may be used to identify palaeoaquifers, flow directions within these aquifers and that meteoric diagenesis below an exposure surface could be governed by flow through a palaeoaquifer.     

Thermochemical sulphate reduction in the Upper Devonian Cairn Formation of the Fairholme carbonate complex (South-West Alberta, Canadian Rockies): evidence from fluid inclusions and isotopic data

The Fairholme carbonate complex is part of the extensively dolomitized Upper Devonian carbonate reefs in west-central Alberta. The studied formations contain moulds (up to 10 cm in diameter), which are filled partially with (saddle) dolomite, quartz and calcite cements. These cements precipitated from a mixture of brines that acquired high salinity by dissolution of halite and brines derived from evaporated sea water. The fluids were warm (homogenization temperature of primary fluid inclusions of 76 to 200 °C) and saline (20 to 25 wt% NaCl equivalent) and testify to thermochemical sulphate reduction processes. The latter is deduced from S in solid inclusions, CO₂ and H₂S in volatile-rich aqueous inclusions and depleted δ¹³C values down to −26‰ Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite. High ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values (0·7094 to 0·7110) of the cements also indicate interaction of the fluids with siliciclastic sequences. The thermochemical sulphate reduction-related cements probably formed during early Laramide burial. Another (younger) calcite phase, characterized by depleted δ¹⁸O values (−23·9‰ to −13·9‰ Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite), low Na (27 to 37 p.p.m.) and Sr (39 to 150 p.p.m.) concentrations and non-saline (∼0 wt% NaCl equivalent) fluid inclusions, is attributed to post-Laramide meteoric water.     

Pressure–temperature conditions and retrograde paths of eclogites, garnet–glaucophane rocks and schists from South Sulawesi, Indonesia

High-pressure metamorphic rocks exposed in the Bantimala area, c . 40  km north-east of Ujung Pandang, were formed as a Cretaceous subduction complex with fault-bounded slices of melange, chert, basalt, turbidite, shallow-marine sedimentary rocks and ultrabasic rocks. Eclogites, garnet–glaucophane rocks and schists of the Bantimala complex have estimated peak temperatures of T  =580–630 °C at 18  kbar and T  =590–640 °C at 24  kbar, using the garnet–clinopyroxene geothermometer. The garnet–omphacite–phengite equilibrium is used to estimate pressures. The distribution coefficient K _D1=[( X _pyr)³( X _grs)⁶/( X _di)⁶]/[(Al/Mg)_M2,wm (Al/Si)_T2,wm]³ among omphacite, garnet and phengite is a good index for metamorphic pressures. The K _D1values of the Bantimala eclogites were compared with those of eclogites with reliable P–T  estimates. This comparison suggests that peak pressures of the Bantimala eclogites were P =18–24  kbar at T  =580–640 °C. These results are consistent with the P–T  range calculated using garnet–rutile–epidote–quartz and lawsonite–omphacite–glaucophane–epidote equilibria.     

Geochemical Characteristics of the Akiyoshi Limestones, Japan and Their Bearing on Exploration for Blind Skarn Deposits

Abstract. Carboniferous-Permian limestones of the Akiyoshi Plateau, in the Inner Zone of southwestern Japan, are composed of essentially pure calcium carbonate containing only small amounts of other elements, and they are accompanied by marble and copper skarn deposits near the contact with late Cretaceous granitoids. The δ¹⁸O values of the Akiyoshi limestones range widely from 7.6 to 28.3% and are mostly lower than those of other areas of the same age (23–29%), whereas the differences among the δ¹³C values are small. The δ¹⁸O values are negatively correlated with Mn and Fe contents. Samples with high δ¹⁸O (>25%) and δ¹³C (>2%) values do not contain Fe, Zn, or Pb, but those with low δ¹⁸O values tend to be rich in these elements, indicating that these elements were introduced by interaction with H₂O dominant fluids, possibly of magmatic origin. Potential scores for evaluating the degree of interaction with hydro thermal fluids were calculated for δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Sr. Higher scores implying much hydrothermal interaction were evident in the Mt. Hananoyama area, where there are many skarn deposits, and along faults oriented mainly NNW-SSE. Therefore, these are promising areas for exploring for blind deposits. It is likely that the hydrothermal fluid traveled through the limestones along fractures at the time of the granitic intrusions. However, the potential scores here are much smaller than those in the Pb-Zn mineralized area of the Kamioka mine, so more detailed petrological and mineralogical investigations are necessary.     

Isotope geochemistry, petrology and depositional environments of the diatomite-dominated Tripoli Formation (Lower Messinian), Sicily

ABSTRACT The Tripoli Formation (Lower Messinian) in Sicily includes diatomites irregularly alternating with marl and carbonate beds and lies, stratigraphically, between the Tortonian pelagic marls and the evaporitic Calcare di base. The relationships between mineralogy, textural features and oxygen-carbon isotopic compositions of carbonate components point to a wide variability of depositional conditions and suggest that Tripoli sedimentation occurred in small basins characterized by periodic and marked restriction from the open sea.
The isotopic values of calcite and dolomite in the diatomites suggest an evolution from normal marine towards more restricted environments. Evaporating conditions are also indicated by the occurrence of anhydrite, length-slow chalcedonic quartz and moulds of gypsum. In a more advanced stage, the precipitation of heavy δ¹⁸0 dolomite in the interstitial pores of fossil-poor diatomites denotes an environment with highly evaporated water. Mixing of meteoric and marine waters, on the other hand, might have favoured the precipitation of a dolomite characterized by relatively low δ¹⁸0 and δ¹³C values.
The deposition of marl and carbonate beds alternating with or overlying the diatomites took place in an environment with highly evaporated marine waters on the basis of δl¹⁸O values of dolomite (up to + 9.10‰) and aragonite (up to + 5.83‰), occurrence of evaporitic minerals and lack of fossils. The presence at these levels of calcite with extremely negative δ¹³C values (down to - 38.40‰), filling gypsum moulds, suggests activity of sulphate-reducing bacteria. Some aragonitic marls, however, bear evidence of deposition in relatively normal marine conditions.     

Petrochemical constraints for dual origin of garnet peridotites from the Dabie-Sulu UHP terrane, eastern-central China

Garnet peridotites occur as lenses, blocks or layers within granulite–amphibolite facies gneiss in the Dabie-Sulu ultra-high-pressure (UHP) terrane and contain coesite-bearing eclogite. Two distinct types of garnet peridotite were identified based on mode of occurrence and petrochemical characteristics. Type A mantle-derived peridotites originated from either: (1) the mantle wedge above a subduction zone, (2) the footwall mantle of the subducted slab, or (3) were ancient mantle fragments emplaced at crustal depths prior to UHP metamorphism, whereas type B crustal peridotite and pyroxenite are a portion of mafic–ultramafic complexes that were intruded into the continental crust as magmas prior to subduction. Most type A peridotites were derived from a depleted mantle and exhibit petrochemical characteristics of mantle rocks; however, Sr and Nd isotope compositions of some peridotites have been modified by crustal contamination during subduction and/or exhumation. Type B peridotite and pyroxenite show cumulate structure, and some have experienced crustal metasomatism and contamination documented by high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.707–0.708), low ε_Nd( t ) values (−6 to −9) and low δ¹⁸O values of minerals (+2.92 to +4.52). Garnet peridotites of both types experienced multi-stage recrystallization; some of them record prograde histories. High- P–T  estimates (760–970 °C and 4.0–6.5±0.2 GPa) of peak metamorphism indicate that both mantle-derived and crustal ultramafic rocks were subducted to profound depths >100 km (the deepest may be ≥180–200 km) and experienced UHP metamorphism in a subduction zone with an extremely low geothermal gradient of <5 °C km⁻¹.