A proton- and electron-microprobe study of gallium, nickel and zinc distribution in chromian spinel

Chromian spinels from a number of localities were analyzed by proton and electron microprobes to examine the variation of trace elements in different geological environments. Chromian spinels studied include those representing ophiolitic complexes, layered intrusions in continental areas, Alaskan-type complexes, komatiitic subvolcanic sills, Ni sulfide ores and metamorphosed mafic and ultramafic rocks.

Nickel concentrations range from 30 to 4690 ppm (proton microprobe), with a mean value of 943 ppm. Nickel, favouring the octahedral sites in the spinel structure, displays an overall increase with a decrease in the Cr/(Cr + Al + Fe³⁺) ratio. Nickel partitioning between chromian spinel and mantle silicates appears to be primarily dependent upon the major element composition of the chromian spinel.

Zinc concentrations range from 230 to 9810 ppm (proton microprobe), with a cluster around 500 ppm. Ophiolitic chromian spinels display the lowest overall Zn values. Zinc levels appear to discriminate between chromian spinels in chromitite samples from those occurring as accessory chromian spinel in dunites or other rock types. Chromian spinels that are enclosed in or adjacent to sulfide grains display higher concentrations of Zn. Zinc, strongly favouring the tetrahedral sites, displays a crude negative correlation with the Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺) ratio and appears to vary as a function of temperature.

All the chromian spinel grains analyzed contain measurable quantities of Ga by proton microprobe, ranging from 10 to 208 ppm. There is a reciprocal relationship between the Ga concentration and the Cr/(Cr +Al + Fe³⁺) ratio and a crude positive correlation between the Ni and Ga concentrations. Measured Ga concentrations in chromian spinel and whole rock samples are supportive of the experimental mineral-melt partition coefficient of Malvin and Drake (1987). Similar to the peridotite xenoliths, mid-ocean ridge basalts and oceanic-island basalts, Ga correlates well with Al₂O₃ in the case of the ophiolitic chromian spinels and most of those representing layered complexes. The ophiolitic chromian spinels seem to have crystallized from melts whose compositions are similar to those of partial melts of the upper mantle.     

Chromian spinel-rich black sands from eastern shoreline of Andaman Island,India: Implication for source characteristics

Black sands rich in chromian spinel commonly occur in pockets along the eastern shoreline of Andaman Island where various types of peridotites and volcanics belonging to the Andaman ophiolite suite are exposed in close vicinity. The chemistry of these detrital chromian spinels has been extensively used here in identifying the source rocks vis-à-vis deciphering the source characteristics. The composition of the chromian spinels (Cr#: 0.20–0.88, Mg#: 0.26–0.77, Al ₂ O ₃: 5.04–48.21 wt.%, TiO ₂: up to 1.39 wt.% and Fe ²⁺/Fe ³⁺: 1.73–9.12) varies widely signifying multiple sources, of which mantle peridotites and volcanic rocks are relevant in an ophiolitic terrain. The volcanic chromian spinels are relatively fresh, commonly euhedral, sometimes with compositional variations, and contain inclusions in contrast to the mantle peridotitic chromian spinels which are rounded, extensively fractured, and altered. We used a number of geochemical bivariate plots in order to know the provenance protoliths. The volcanic chromian spinels show geochemical characters of MORB, related to spreading centers (either MOR or back-arc) and also boninites/arc-tholeiites, related to active subduction. On the other hand, the peridotitic spinels indicate partially depleted lherzolite and depleted harzburgite source of the ophiolite suite.     

Numerical modeling of major element distribution between chromian spinel and basaltic melt, with application to chromian spinel in MORBs

A set of empirical equations is developed which allows calculation of chromian spinel composition in equilibrium with a basaltic melt under a known set of conditions. These equations are calibrated with published experimental data for the temperature range from 1,093 to 1,490 °C and a pressure of up to 20 kbar. It is demonstrated that the composition of chromian spinel from the experiments, which crystallizes from basaltic, boninitic, and komatiitic melt and varies from high-Al to high-Cr, and high-Fe³⁺ can be successfully reproduced using the suggested model. The composition of chromian spinel has been calculated using the glass composition for a set of primitive basaltic lavas using the suggested set of empirical equations. Good agreement between the calculated composition and composition of rims of chromian spinel included in glass is achieved for compositionally diverse spinel from a Hawaiian sample and 15 MORB samples. The Fe₂O₃ content in the chromian spinels is, however, often variable and higher than the calculated Fe₂O₃ content. Additional calculations using 76 published MORB glass analyses reproduced most of the MORB chromian spinel range, except for the most Cr- and Mg-rich. The crystallization of these Cr-rich chromian spinels likely occurred from a more primitive Al-poor melt than that of the 76 MORB glasses. An example of a more primitive glass can occasionally be found as glass inclusions in these Cr- and Mg-rich chromian spinel microphenocrysts.     

Chromian spinel mineralogy of the Staré Ransko gabbro-peridotite,Czech Republic,and its implications for sulfide mineralization

Chromian spinels from the Staré Ransko gabbro-peridotite, Czech Republic, display a distinct development trend: from primary Cr-rich spinels towards ferro-ferri (Ti-enriched magnetite) and magnesio-alumina (spinel sensu stricto) spinels. Zoning in the spinels is thought to be the result of a combination of exsolution, postdepositional diffusion and replacement processes. Multiphase, globular silicate inclusions — mainly biotite and amphibole, also orthopyroxene, serpentine and chlorite — are present in euhedral, largely homogeneous chromian spinels which occur in a matrix of poikilitic amphibole. The enclosed minerals have similar compositions to the minerals in the host rock. These silicate inclusions are interpreted as being due to a late magmatic introduction of a hydrous K-Ca-rich melt phase, contaminated by wall-rock interaction, into a semi-solidified olivine (± pyroxenes) cumulate.The composition of the chromian spinel may be used as an indicator for sulfide mineralization conditions (Johan 1979). The data reported in this paper are compatible with Johan's model.     

西藏雅鲁藏布江缝合带普兰地幔橄榄岩铬尖晶石成因研究

普兰蛇绿岩位于雅鲁藏布江缝合带西段,其中地幔橄榄岩由方辉橄榄岩、含单斜辉石方辉橄榄岩以及少量二辉橄榄岩及纯橄岩组成。尖晶石是地幔橄榄岩中常见的副矿物,可以作为重要的岩石学成因指示剂。在野外地质调查基础上,通过岩相观察、电子探针、尖晶石成分面分析、电子背反射衍射分析,可将普兰地幔橄榄岩铬尖晶石分为三类:第一类铬尖晶石呈自形,粒径较小(<100μm),或包裹于斜方辉石中,或杂乱分布于橄榄石和辉石之间,具有高Cr^#(>0.6)、低Mg^#(0.43~0.57)的特征,为部分熔融+玻安质熔体交代成因;第二类铬尖晶石呈半自形-他形,粒径较大(>100μm),常含有橄榄石、辉石包裹体,具有中Cr^#(0.17~0.42)、高Mg^#(0.63~0.77)的特点,主要受部分熔融作用影响;第三类铬尖晶石呈他形蠕虫状与辉石交生在一起构成后成合晶结构,粒径变化较大,具有低Cr#(0.17~0.28)、高Mg^#(0.67~0.77)的特点。EBSD分析结果显示尖晶石、辉石的结晶学优选方位(CPO)较为相似,表明为同一矿物分解而来,单斜辉石与大陆岩石圈地幔捕掳体中石榴子石的稀土元素对比表明构成后成合晶结构的辉石和铬尖晶石为具有大陆岩石圈地幔属性的高压石榴子石退变分解而成。综合分析表明:普兰蛇绿岩的地幔橄榄岩体在从石榴子石相深度上升过程中发生了石榴子石退变、岩石部分熔融及熔体渗透作用,岩体经历了威尔逊旋回初期的大陆裂谷阶段,主体经历了中-低程度的部分熔融,类似大洋中脊环境,局部受到了富硅、富镁玻安质熔体的影响。     

Spinel minerals in transitional and alkali basaltic glasses from Iceland

Crystallization of spinel minerals in transitional and alkali basalts from Iceland can be related to the FeO, MgO, TiO₂ and Cr contents of the coexisting melt. Chromian spinel occurs in glasses in which TiO₂ is less than 2.8 wt.% and the weight ratio FeO/MgO is less than 2.0, whereas titanomagnetite occurs when the same parameters are greater than 4 wt.% and 2.7, respectively. In addition, chromian spinel only occurs in basalts with Cr greater than 200 ppm. It is suggested that chromian spinel crystallizes, together with olivine, from liquids with olivine liquidus temperatures ranging from above 1,200° C to approximately 1,150° C. A discontinuity in spinel crystallization follows until below 1,100° C, where titanomagnetite starts to crystallize. Compositional variations in chromian spinel attached to, or included, in homogeneous olivine phenocrysts, however, cannot be related to equilibrium relations. Textural relations suggest homogeneous nucleation for titanomagnetite, whereas chromian spinel nucleates heterogeneously, dependent on growth of olivine phenocrysts. The composition of chromian spinels cannot in detail be related to physical and compositional parameters of the average melt, but may be related to local compositional relations in the melt adjacent to growing crystals. Such compositional variation around growing olivine crystals may be the prime reason for the non-equilibrium precipitation of included chromian spinels.     

Zn-, Mn- and Co-rich chromian spinels from the Bou-Azzer mining district (Morocco): Constraints on their relationship with the mineralizing process

The Co–Ni arsenides from the Bou-Azzer mining district contain disseminated chromian spinels with the highest Zn, Mn and Co contents ever reported up to date in any geological environment. The rationale behind this study was checking the role of Zn, Mn and Co contents in chromian spinel as possible indicators of mineralized environments. To tackle this issue the chemical compositional variations of chromian spinel disseminated in barren serpentinite, in Co arsenide ores and in Cu sulphide ores from three different deposits (Aghbar, Tamdrost and Aït-Ahmane mines) were studied focusing on the alteration patterns of chromian spinel grains, their fracturing degree and relationship with the precipitation of ore minerals. Results show that chromian spinel crystals are zoned and strongly fractured. They record, at least, two fracturation events: an early one developed before or coeval with the alteration process that gave rise to the zoning, and a second one that disrupted the zoning pattern splitting the altered grains in fragments which became included and partly dissolved in arsenide minerals. The early fracturing and alteration of chromite occurred during the Pan-African orogenesis and became fractured again during the Variscan tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Bou-Azzer ophiolite, just before the formation of arsenide ores. Maximum ZnO contents (up to 19.7 wt.%) occur in cores of chromian spinels associated with Co minerals from Aghbar, MnO reaches its maximum (21.4 wt.%) in rims of crystals included in chalcopyrite and CoO (up to 2.3 wt.%) concentrates in cores of grains hosted by skutterudite (CoAs₃), all them from Aghbar mine. Chromian spinels from Tamdrost and Aït-Ahmane ores have much lower contents in these elements. Zn and Mn concentration in chromian spinel are neither related with the ore type nor with the mineralization degree of the host suggesting that these elements became enriched in chromian spinel during its early, ocean-floor alteration in a metal-rich environment characterized by the nearby presence of hydrothermal vent fields and forming volcano-sedimentary massive sulphide deposits (e.g. the Bleida deposit). In contrast, Co cannot be upgraded up to the levels measured in these chromian spinel grains in this ocean floor environment but its high contents seem to be related with the formation of the arsenide ores.     

Mineralogy and distribution of Platinum-Group Minerals (PGM) and other solid inclusions in the Faryab ophiolitic chromitites, Southern Iran

High-Cr podiform chromitites hosted by upper mantle depleted harzburgite were investigated for PGM and other solid inclusions from Faryab ophiolitic complex, southern Iran. Chemical composition of the chromian spinels, Cr#[100*Cr/(Cr+Al) = 77–85], Mg# [100*Mg/(Mg+Fe²⁺) = 56–73], TiO₂≤0.25wt%, and the presence of abundant primary hydrosilicates included in the chromian spinels indicate that the deposits were formed from aqueous melt generated by high degree of partial melting in a suprasubduction zone setting. Solid phases hosted by chromian spinel grains from the Faryab ophiolitic chromitites can be divided into three categories: PGM, base-metal minerals and silicates. Most of the studied PGM occurred as very small (generally less than 20 μm in size) primary single or composite inclusions of IPGE-bearing phases with or without silicates and base metal minerals. The PGM were divided into the three subgroups: sulfides, alloys and sulfarsenides. Spinel-olivine geothermometry gives the temperatures 1,131–1,177 °C for the formation of the studied chromitites. At those temperatures, fS₂ values ranged from 10^?3 to 10^?1 and provided a suitable condition for Ru-rich laurite formation in equilibrium with Os-Ir alloys. Progressive crystallization of chromian spinel was accompanied by increase of fS₂ in the melt. The formation of Os-rich laurite, erlichmanite and then sulfarsenides occurred by increase of fS₂ and slight decrease in temperature of the milieu. The compositional and mineralogical determinations of PGM inclusions respect to their spatial distribution in chromian spinels show that the minerals regularly distributed within the chromitites, reflecting cryptic variation consistent with magmatic evolution during host chromian spinel crystallization.     

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

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

Chromiferous spinels of the elephant's head dike

Analysis by optical, X-ray diffraction and microprobe methods, of essentially unzoned, disseminated spinels within cumulus picrites and olivine gabbros reveals an unbroken range of compositions from aluminian chromite (34% Cr₂O₃) to chromian magnetite (4% Cr₂O₃). TiO₂ contents vary between 0.5 and 7.7%. Exsolution of ilmenite indicates originally higher TiO₂ contents. Quenched contact-facies rocks with abundant olivine phenocrysts contain strongly zoned spinels in which a titaniferous chromian magnetite rim (16% Cr₂O₃, 10% TiO₂) encloses cores of weakly titanian chromite (40% Cr₂O₃). Platy dendrites of exsolved spinel occur in abundance within cumulus olivines. The evidence suggests that crystallization of the disseminated spinels occurred under the influence of an increase in oxygen fugacity towards the interior of the intrusion, and that the compositional diversity has stemmed from the homogenization of originally zoned grains mantled to varying degrees by high-Ti, low-Cr rims.     

Complex unmixed spinels in layered intrusions within an obducted ophiolite in the Natal-Namaqua mobile belt

Spinellids showing unmixed intergrowths of chromite or chromian spinel (sensu stricto) and magnetite or chromian magnetite are not known in mafic or ultramafic igneous rocks. They do occur within metamorphosed rocks that attained temperatures sufficiently high (upper amphibolite facies) for the formation of homogeneous Al-Cr-Fe³⁺-Ti spinel phases with compositions not matched in slowly cooled igneous rocks. In the Tugela Rand intrusion complex intergrowths of chromian spinel, chromian magnetite, ulvöspinel, ilmenite and a transparent aluminous spinel are observed and interpreted in terms of the thermal history of the rocks. Compositional differences between the separate areas of chromian spinel and chromian magnetite in complex intergrowths exhibited by the metamorphosed Tugela Rand and Mambulu Complexes confirm the extension of the magnetite-hercynite solvus (Turnock and Eugster 1962) towards magnesium- and chromium-rich compositions. The Tugela Rand spinellids are compared with those from the Carr Boyd Complex (Purvis et al. 1972) and the ultramafic rocks of the Giant Nickel Mine (Muir and Naldrett 1973) and the Red Lodge district (Loferski and Lipin 1983). Significant differences between the spinels from the Red Lodge district compared to the other three occurrences may reflect the different metamorphic histories of these areas.     

Chromian spinel exsolution in ilmenite from the Premier Mine,Transvaal, South Africa

Exsolution intergrowths of a chrome rich spinel are reported for the first time in terrestrial ilmenite. The ilmenite in which this phenomenon has been observed occurs in the Premier Diamond Mine kimberlite. The occurrence is also noteworthy for the reasons that exsolution textures of any nature are extremely rare in ilmenite derived from kimberlite, and because the exsolved spinel has no known terrestrial counterpart, but is remarkably similar in chemical composition to certain lunar chromian ulvöspinels.     

Chromian spinels in lherzolite inclusions from Itinome-gata,Japan

Spinel, which constitutes from 0.7% to 3% of lherzolite inclusions, occurs as primary anhedral grains (chrome-rich variety) and as a secondary phase as breakdown products of garnet (alumina-rich variety). Although individual primary spinel grains are chemically homogeneous, spinels are characterized by a wide range of Cr/Al ratios and a relatively narrow range of Mg/Fe″ ratios, even in a single lherzolite sample. The chemical variations of spinels are considered to have the following origin: When garnet lherzolite enters the stability field of the spinel peridotite facies as a consequence of slow upward transport, both orthopyroxenes and clinopyroxenes are recrystallized with loss of jadeite and some Tschermak's component to reach equilibrium. A part of the Tschermak's component reacts with olivine to form pyroxene and spinel. This secondary spinel component is alloted to the primary chromian spinel. However, these reactions did not always reach equilibrium with the major constituent minerals in the lherzolites.     

Mineralogy and Petrology of the Aries Diamondiferous Kimberlite Pipe, Central Kimberley Block, Western Australia

Aries is a deeply weathered micaceous kimberlite pipe (820 Ma)consisting of four lobes: South, Central, North, and North Extension.It is the largest ( 18 ha) and most diamondiferous of the fewkimberlites currently known on the Australian continent, andis rich in country-rock (dolerite and quartzite) xenoliths.Three textural varieties of Aries kimberlites can be recognized,together with autoclastic breccias: (1) macrocrystalmedium-grained;(2) aphanitic (5 vol. % olivine macrocrysts); and (3) macrocrystalsegregated. The kimberlites contain two generations of olivinepseudomorphs (30–40 vol. %), and two of phlogopite (upto 60 vol. %), in a groundmass of apatite, calcite, diopside,sphene, spinels, serpentine, talc, and accessory groundmassminerals including aeschynite [(Ce, Ca) (Ti, Nb)₂O₆], barite,ilmenite, monazite, rutile, siderite, and unidentified Nb-Fe-titanates.Phlogopite zoning is complex and differs from lobe to lobe,but general compositions and trends resemble phlogopites fromkimberlites (TiO₂ 0–5–4 wt. %, A1₂O₃ 9–16%);tetraferriphlogopite substitution is indicated by low Al insome grains. Diopside is low in Cr, Al, Na, and Ti, with highmg-number [molecular Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺) 93]. Apatite contains upto 17–5% SrO, calcite up to 1–7% SrO but littleMgO or FeO, sphene up to 1.5% Nb₂O₅, and ilmenite 2.6% Nb2O5and 16% MnO but no detectable MgO. Extremely complex moqftiological, textural, and compositionalvariations are present in spinels. They can be divided intofive textural-genetic types: cognate Groundmass chromian spinels(Type G); Inclusions of chromian spinels in olivine macrocrysts(Type I), probably representing either early phenocrysts ormantle xenocrysts: Macrocryst chromian spinels (Type M), probablyrepresenting xenocrysts; late-stage groundmass Fenian spinels(Type F), derived from serpentinization of olivine; Alterationferrian spinels (Type A), found as inclusions associated withsiliceous melt inclusions, in Types I and M, and probably representinginteraction of these earlier types with late-stage melts. Someof these, particularly Types M and F, show further texturalsub-types with no obvious genetic significance. The pipe formed from several magma-pulses. All four lobes maycontain at least one pulse in common, but Central and SouthLobes include additional pulse(s) which yielded distinctivephlogopite zoning, whereas North Lobe and North Extension includepulsc(s) which may have originated at higher mantle levels andyielded more evolved phlogopites. Aries most resembles South African Group II kimberlites mineralogically,certain West African micaceous kimberlites geochemically, andGroup I kimberlites isotopically. A distinctive mantle source-regionis implied by high Nb/U, Ce/Sr, Ce/P, Rb/Ba, and especiallyNb/Zr ratios. Similar anomalous geochemical signatures are sharedwith two other contemporaneous (800 Ma) lampro-phyric intrusionsin the east Kimberley (at Maude Creek and Bow Hill), suggestingthat a scattered alkaline province exists in the Kimberley Block,generated from a regionally anomalous mantle source.     

Provenance of the Late Permian Xuanwei Formation in the Upper Yangtze Block: Constraints from the Sedimentary Record and Tectonic Implications

Xuanwei Formation is composed of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone, with local conglomerate. However, its provenance and tectonic setting have been scarcely studied. In this paper, we use sedimentology, electron probe microanalysis(EPMA), and detrital zircon dating to investigate its source area and depositional tectonic setting. The facies assemblages indicate that it formed in alluvial fan and fluvial river sedimentary environments. The strata thicknesses and facies distribution indicate that the sediment supply was from the west. The results of EPMA show that chromian spinels within the sediments are characterized by high Cr# and varying Mg#. Discrimination plots suggest that these spinels were sourced from large igneous province(LIP) magmatic rocks. The laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb chronology of detrital zircons suggests that the sediments were derived from intermediate–acid igneous rocks dating back to 251–260? Ma. We could, therefore, conclude that the provenance of the Xuanwei Formation is from Emeishan basalt and synchronous felsic igneous rocks, which is consistent with the composition of the detrital framework. The detrital zircon dates also suggest that felsic magmatism occurred during the Late Permian, not after the eruption of the Emeishan basalt. Based on the sedimentary successions and provenance analysis, the tectonic setting for Xuanwei Formation deposition was a volcanic rifted margin.     

Morphological and chemical variations of chromian spinel in dunite-harzburgite complexes from the Sangun zone (SW Japan): implications for mantle/melt reaction and chromitite formation processes

Summary ?Many ultramafic complexes, some of which have chromitite bodies, are exposed in the Sangun zone in central Chugoku district, Southwest Japan. Harzburgite is always dominant over dunite, but the dunite/harzburgite ratio varies from complex to complex. Large chromitite bodies are exclusively found in relatively dunite-dominant complexes or portions. The degree of roundness, DR#=[area/(round-length)²] (normalized by a circle’s value: 1/4π), of chromian spinel is variable, depending on lithology of the peridotites. Chromian spinel is mostly anhedral or even vermicular (less than 0.4 in DR#) in harzburgite, and is most frequently euhedral or rounded (within the range of 0.7 to 0.9 in DR#) in dunite. The morphology of spinel is correlated with chemistry: the DR# is positively correlated with Ti content and Fe^3+#(=Fe³⁺/(Cr + Al + Fe³⁺)), but is not related to Cr#. When chromitite is present in dunite, the spinel is relatively anhedral (vermicular) and low in Ti and Fe^3+# in the dunite whereas it is relatively euhedral and high in Ti and Fe^3+# in surrounding harzburgite. We define these spinels as “extraordinary” spinels, which are commonly found in Wakamatsu mine area in the Tari-Misaka complex, which exploits the largest chromite body in Japan. The rocks with the “extraordinary” spinels show transitional lithologies (a gradual boundary, one meter to several tens of meters in width) between dunite and harzburgite with “ordinary” spinels. The formation of dunite and chromitite is interpreted as a result of the reaction of harzburgite with a relatively Ti-rich magma (back-arc basin or MORB-like magma) and related magma mixing, as discussed by Arai and Yurimoto (1994). The dike-like occurrence of the dunite and chromitite indicates that the reaction took place along melt conduits (=fractures) less than 200 m in width. Podiform chromitites were formed only when the reaction zone was relatively wide (several tens of meters in width), that is, only when the degree of interaction was relatively high. The magma modified by the reaction percolated, possibly by porous flow from the reaction zone outward, and changed the texture and chemistry of chromian spinel, on the scale of several tens of meters. This type of melt transport, or melt flow through fractures with a melt percolation aureole, may be prevalent in the uppermost mantle. Received February 8, 2000;/revised version accepted December 22, 2000     

Dunite--Harzburgite--Chromitite Complexes as Refractory Residue in the Sangun--Yamaguchi Zone, Western Japan

Dunite, harzburgite and chromitite of alpine-type ultramaficcomplexes emplaced in the Paleozoic sediments in the Sangun—Yamaguchizone, western Japan, are massive and almost lacking in layeredstructure. Constituent minerals are more or less deformed andequilibrated at a relatively low temperature, about 700 °Cor lower. Chromian spinels in ultramafic rocks from dunite—harzburgite—chromititecomplexes in the Sangun—Yamaguchi zone are characterizedby the uniformity of the Cr/Cr + Al ratio, around 0.5, regardlessof locality and rock type, which is in contrast to the widevariation of the ratio of chromian spinel from the ordinaryalpine-type dunite—harzburgite complex. Mg/Mg + Fe" ratioof chromian spinel, on the other hand, is variable in parallelto the volume per cent of chromian spinel in ultramafic rocks.Olivine in ultramafic rocks is uniform in chemical composition,from Fo₈₈ to Fo₉₂, except for that in chromitite, of which itis Fo₉₅ to Fo₉₇. Primary chemical compositions (especially the Mg/Mg + Fe" ratio)of the constituent minerals have been modified to some extentby element redistribution at low temperature (700 °C orlower), the degree of modification depending on the volume ratioof the minerals. For example, the Mg/Mg + Fe" ratio of chromianspinel in peridotitic rocks has been lowered substantially,and inversely, that of olivine in chromitite has been raised.Primary Mg/Mg + Fe" ratios of olivine and chromian spinel canbe estimated, assuming a certain value of high temperature,e.g. 1200 °C, and the partition coefficient between olivineand chromian spinel at that temperature. As a result, the Mg/Mg+ Fe" ratio of olivine (0.88 to 0.92), and that of chromianspinel (0.78 to 0.80) were uniform, irrespective of rock typeand locality, at the high-temperature stage. Dunite—harzburgite—chromitite complexes in the Sangun—Yamaguchizone were accumulated as refractory residue after the relativelylarge-scaled partial fusion of some primordial peridotites,which resulted in the chemical uniformity of the residual minerals.They may have initially constituted the lowest part of an ophioliticsuite as ultramafic tectonite and been emplaced as dismemberedportions after the disruption of the parent body.     

Origin of Neoproterozoic ophiolitic peridotites in south Eastern Desert, Egypt, constrained from primary mantle mineral chemistry

The ophiolitic peridotites in the Wadi Arais area, south Eastern Desert of Egypt, represent a part of Neoproterozoic ophiolites of the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS). We found relics of fresh dunites enveloped by serpentinites that show abundances of bastite after orthopyroxene, reflecting harzburgite protoliths. The bulk-rock chemistry confirmed the harzburgites as the main protoliths. The primary mantle minerals such as orthopyroxene, olivine and chromian spinel in Arais serpentinites are still preserved. The orthopyroxene has high Mg# [=Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺)], ~0.923 on average. It shows intra-grain chemical homogeneity and contains, on average, 2.28 wt.% A1₂O₃, 0.88 wt.% Cr₂O₃ and 0.53 wt.% CaO, similar to primary orthopyroxenes in modern forearc peridotites. The olivine in harzburgites has lower Fo (93?94.5) than that in dunites (Fo_94.3?Fo_95.9). The Arais olivine is similar in NiO (0.47 wt.% on average) and MnO (0.08 wt.% on average) contents to the mantle olivine in primary peridotites. This olivine is high in Fo content, similar to Mg-rich olivines in ANS ophiolitic harzburgites, because of its residual origin. The chromian spinel, found in harzburgites, shows wide ranges of Cr#s [=Cr/(Cr + Al)], 0.46?0.81 and Mg#s, 0.34?0.67. The chromian spinel in dunites shows an intra-grain chemical homogeneity with high Cr#s (0.82?0.86). The chromian spinels in Arais peridotites are low in TiO₂, 0.05 wt.% and Y_Fe [= Fe³⁺/(Cr + Al + Fe³⁺)], ~0.06 on average. They are similar in chemistry to spinels in forearc peridotites. Their compositions associated with olivine’s Fo suggest that the harzburgites are refractory residues after high-degree partial melting (mainly ~25?30 % partial melting) and dunites are more depleted, similar to highly refractory peridotites recovered from forearcs. This is in accordance with the partial melting (>20 % melt) obtained by the whole-rock Al₂O₃ composition. The Arais peridotites have been possibly formed in a sub-arc setting (mantle wedge), where high degrees of partial melting were available during subduction and closing of the Mozambique Ocean, and emplaced in a forearc basin. Their equilibrium temperature based on olivine?spinel thermometry ranges from 650 to 780 °C, and their oxygen fugacity is high (Δlog ?O₂?=?2.3 to 2.8), which is characteristic of mantle-wedge peridotites. The Arais peridotites are affected by secondary processes forming microinclusions inside the dunitic olivine, abundances of carbonates and talc flakes in serpentinites. These microinclusions have been formed by reaction between trapped fluids and host olivine in a closed system. Lizardite and chrysotile, based on Raman analyses, are the main serpentine minerals with lesser antigorite, indicating that serpentines were possibly formed under retrograde metamorphism during exhumation and near the surface at low T (<400 °C).     

Provenance of Miocene sandstones in northern Iraq: constraints from framework petrography,bulk-rock geochemistry and mineral chemistry

Modal analysis, bulk-rock geochemistry and phase chemistry of sandstones of the Miocene Fat'ha and Injana formations, northern Iraq, show that the clastics were derived from heterogeneous sources that include basic igneous and metamorphic rocks as well as older sedimentary rocks. The sandstones are generally carbonate-rich lithic arenites. Their geochemistry supports the petrographic results and indicates that they are all Fe-rich, lithic or quartz arkosic sandstones. According to geochemical data, garnets are derived from metamorphic sources, hornblende is of igneous origin, and clinopyroxenes, are produced by basic igneous rocks. Epidote is most probably to be a product of disintegration of metamorphic rocks, essentially, metamorphosed igneous rocks. Rutile geochemistry implies low-grade metamorphic and basic to ultrabasic igneous sources. Chemical composition of chromian spinels indicates that they are derived from Alpine-type peridotite. The ophiolitic-radiolarite belts of Taurus-Zagros as well as the uplifted Cretaceous and Paleocene strata of north and northeastern Iraq are likely to be the major source of clastics to the Fat'ha–Injana basin, a foreland basin formed as a result of the continental Arabian and Turkish/Iranian plates collision.     

A new ophiolite occurrence in NW Sudan – constraints on Late Proterozoic tectonism

Mafic–ultramafic sequences in the Jebel Rahib fold-and-thrust belt of NW Sudan comprise the metamorphosed equivalents of obducted oceanic lithosphere. Primary features like pillow-structures, quenchtextures, igneous layering and primary minerals like chromian spinels and pyroxenes are partly preserved. Geochemical investigations confirm the field evidence and reveal the occurrence of harzburgites, ophiolitic chromites, gabbros, gabbroic cumulates and basalts of primitive tholeiitic compositions resembling transitional MORBs. The age of low-grade overprint of the basaltic rocks can be limited to 860–740 Myr (K–Ar). The existence of an ophiolite, as well as its close interfingering with highly deformed basin sediments, provides unambiguous evidence for a cycle of extensional and compressional tectonics in NW Sudan during Pan-African times. Consequently, the concept of an older, stable Proterozoic, or even Archaean, ‘African Craton’onto which the juvenile Pan-African Nubian Shield assemblages were accreted, needs revision.