苏鲁超高压变质带中蛇纹岩的地球化学特征及岩石成因

青岛的仰口和日照的梭罗树是苏鲁超高压变质带中重要的蛇纹岩出露区。系统的岩石地球化学分析表明,仰口和梭罗树地区的蛇纹岩具有高Mg、低Al_2O_3/Si O_2、贫高场强元素(Nb、Th、Zr和Hf)和重稀土元素(HREE)的特征,其原岩是经历了不同程度部分熔融后的地幔残余,符合弧前地幔橄榄岩的特征。经模拟估算,仰口蛇纹岩的原岩熔融程度15%,梭罗树蛇纹岩的原岩熔融程度在20%~25%之间。蛇纹岩富流体迁移元素(U、Pb和LREE),且LREE和HFSE无明显相关性的地球化学特征表明,研究区蛇纹岩原岩在弧前地幔楔环境下,受到俯冲板片释放的含H_2O流体作用发生蛇纹石化,形成了流体迁移元素富集的蛇纹岩。     

Abyssal and hydrated mantle wedge serpentinised peridotites: a comparison of the 15$$^\circ$$20$$'$$′N fracture zone and New Caledonia serpentinites

Subduction of serpentinised mantle transfers oxidised and hydrated mantle lithosphere into the Earth, with consequences for the oxidation state of sub-arc mantle and the genesis of arc-related ore deposits. The role of subducted serpentinised mantle lithosphere in earth system processes is uncertain because subduction fluxes are poorly constrained. Most subducted serpentinised mantle is serpentinised on the ocean floor settings. Yet this material is poorly represented in the literature because it is difficult to access. Large volumes of accessible serpentinite are available in ophiolite complexes, and most interpretations of subduction fluxes associated with ultramafic rocks are based on ophiolite studies. Seafloor and ophiolite serpentinisation can occur under different conditions, so it is necessary to assess if ophiolite serpentinites are a good proxy for seafloor serpentinites. Serpentinites sampled during ODP cruise 209 were compared with serpentinites from New Caledonia. The ODP209 serpentinites were serpentinised by modified seawater in a shallow hydrothermal seafloor setting. The New Caledonia serpentinites were serpentinised in a mantle wedge setting by slab-derived fluids, with possible contributions from oceanic serpentinisation and post-obduction serpentinisation. Petrological, whole rock and mineralogical analyses were combined to compare the two sample sets. Petrologically, the evolution of serpentinisation was close to identical in the two environments. However, more oxidised iron, Cl, S and C is present in serpentine from the ODP209 serpentinites relative to the New Caledonia serpentinites. Given these observations, the use of serpentinites from different geodynamic settings as a proxy for abyssal serpentinites from spreading settings must be undertaken with caution.     

Pan-African (intraplate and subduction-related?) metasomatism in the Fawakhir ophiolitic serpentinites, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt: mineralogical and geochemical evidences

Fawakhir serpentinites are the most western ophiolitic ultramafics relative to the Pan-African collision suture at the Qift-Quseir road in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Their location is the basis for their selection in examining the possible contribution of the westerly dipping subducted oceanic slab-related melt/fluid with the intraplate granitic intrusion-related melt/fluid in the metasomatism of the Neoproterozoic ophiolitic serpentinites in the Eastern Desert. Non-residual mineralogy and geochemistry of serpentinites (SF1) far from the post-collision A2-type Fawakhir granitoids and those of serpentinites (SF2) in the vicinity of the granitoid pluton were investigated. The Fawakhir serpentinites are harzburgitic in composition and the Cr# (0.66–0.80) and Mg# (0.32–0.50) of their unaltered spinel cores are indicators for their forearc setting, where they were formed in the oceanic mantle wedge. Based on the spinel Cr# and the whole rock Yb–V bivariate, the melt extraction from the primitive mantle is in excess of 18% up to 24%. The HREE pattern of the SF1 serpentinites refers to the fractional type of melting. The formation of non-residual mineral phases particularly in SF2 samples (amphibole, biotite, apatite thorite, and monazite) and the enrichment of all serpentinites in trace incompatible elements refer to these two serpentinite groups having underwent modal metasomatism. It is suggested that viscous fluid/melt related to the Fawakhir granitoid emplacement metasomatized the SF2 serpentinites, causing a strong enrichment in LREE (display concave LREE; La_N/Sm_N?=?3.32–6.25 and U-type HREE; Gd_N/Yb_N?=?1.14–2.69) and a slight enrichment in Zr (12–16.62 ppm). All serpentinites are enriched in fluid-mobile elements by aqueous fluids, but the SF2 are more enriched in these elements. The spiked B compared to the other fluid-mobile elements (16.97–24.61 and 42.94–60.66?×?PM in SF1 and SF2 samples, respectively) suggests that these elements were added to the obducted ophiolitic Fawakhir serpentinites by the percolation of subduction-related fluids at shallow depths. The contribution of B from shallow continental crust-related fluids is debated. Hosting the Fawakhir serpentinites for the gold deposit at Fawakhir Mine implies a possible genetic relation between gold mineralizations hosted in the ultramafic rocks of the ANS and the processes of recycling of the subducted oceanic slab and the interaction with the mantle. Detailed stable and radiogenic isotopic analyses of the mineralization zones are required to address this question.     

Compositional Variation and Mineral Chemistry of the Jinshajiang and Lancangjiang Serpentinites,Yunnan Province,SW China

We present the whole rock and the mineral chemical data for upper mantle peridotites from the San-Jiang region in Yunnan, SW China. These peridotites are a part of a Paleo-Tethyan ophiolite belt occurring along the Jinshajiang and Lancangjiang suture zones. All samples of the Jinshajiang and Lancangjiang ultramafic rocks are completely serpentinized. The Jinshajiang serpentinites are characterized by no relict of olivine and pyroxene, and the Cr# content of spinels is 0.32–0.49. The Lancangjiang serpentinites were collected from two different locations; the northern location which has some relict of Opx(Al2O3 is 0.13–2.2 wt%, TiO 2 is 0.004–0.057 wt% and Mg# content is 0.895–0.933) and the Cr# content of spinel is 0.26-0.55; the southern location, which has some relict of Olivine(Fo = 90–92.5 and NiO = 0.12–0.26 wt%), and spinel Cr# ranging from 0.41 to 0.57. The whole rock geochemical and the mineral chemistry data imply that the Jinshajiang and Lancangjiang serpentinites represent abyssal peridotites residues after ~15–20% partial melting for the Jinshajiang and Lancangjiang serpentinites(south location), and ~11–19% partial melting for the Lancangjiang serpentinites(north location). In addition, the compositional trends of the spinel analyses of the Lancangjiang serpentinites imply that the MORB melt-peridotite interaction process played a significant role during their evolution. These processes are evidenced by an increase in Cr# with an increase in TiO 2, whereas the spinel analyses of the Jinshajiang serpentinites display an increase in Cr# with a decrease in Ti O2, indicating that the Jinshajiang serpentinites were subjected to a simple partial melting process.     

An application of lithogeochemistry to the evaluation of the Ni-sulphide ore potential of weathered serpentinites in the Fortaleza de Minas Greenstone Belt,Minas Gerais,Brazil

A practical application of lithogeochemistry to the classification of weathered serpentinites as to whether or not serpentinites are host rocks to Ni-sulphide ore is presented. An effort is made to apply existing concepts used to distinguish between fertile and sterile unweathered ultramafics to explain the observed chemical differences between fertile and sterile weathered serpentinites in southwestern Minas Gerais, Brazil.The data comprise total-attack chemical analyses for Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Si, Ti, V, and partial-attack determinations of Cu and Ni as ascorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide-soluble metal. Student's t-tests are used to identify element concentration differences between the two serpentinite groups. Discriminant analysis is used to classify the weathered fertile and sterile serpentinites. Non-linear mapping and fuzzy c-means clustering help to assess the validity of the discriminant analysis. Finally, chemical element associations provide extra information on geological and mineralogical causes that can be responsible for the identified differences.It is found that a clear separation and classification of weathered serpentinites is possible using the procedures presented. The observed chemical differences between fertile and sterile serpentinites are interpreted in terms of original magmatic differentiation, the degree of sulphur saturation of the original magma and the behavior of the derived ultramafic rocks in a tropical weathering environment.     

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.     

Supra-subduction affinity in the Neoproterozoic serpentinites in the Eastern Desert, Egypt: Evidence from mineral composition

Serpentinites in the Eastern Desert (ED) of Egypt represent integral components of the ophiolites. Metamorphic textures of the serpentinites preserve the complex mineralogical evolution from primary peridotite through metamorphism, and late-stage hydrothermal alteration. Two textural types are distinguished in the olivines of the present serpentinized peridotites, namely (a) highly-strained olivine grains with kink bands, as in the deformed mantle tectonites from ophiolites, and (b) non-strained grains. The latter may represent recrystallized crystals during later thermal metamorphic events due to the intrusion of granite. On the basis of X-ray diffraction analysis, antigorite is the main serpentine minerals with lesser chrysotile and lizardite which indicates that serpentinites were formed under prograde metamorphism. Relict primary minerals of the serpentinites are Cr-spinel, olivine and pyroxene. Chrome spinel relicts have high Cr# (0.60–0.80), whereas primary olivines are Mg-rich nature (Fo = 89–96). Geochemical compositions of serpentinites indicate that they formed not at mid-ocean ridges but at spreading centers associated with subduction zones and this could have happened in a supra-subduction zone either in the fore-arc or back-arc environments. Mineral compositions of primary chrome spinels and olivines are similar to those of modern fore-arcs. High Cr# in the relict chrome spinels and Fo in the primary olivines of serpentinites indicate that they are residual after extensive partial melting and originated by sea-floor spreading during subduction initiation.     

Mineralogical,petrophysical, and acoustic features of serpentinites,indicators of the paleodynamic conditions of their genesis (by the example of the Main Uralian Fault zone)

The composition, structure, and properties of different genetic types of serpentinites developed after ultrabasic rocks are studied. The rocks were sampled from massifs located along the Main Uralian Fault, in a Paleozoic subduction zone. We consider specific features of serpentinites developed after chromite-bearing ultrabasic rocks, in metamorphic zones of carbonate rocks, and within the zone of weathering of ultrabasic rocks. A comparative study of the microstructure and chemical and phase compositions of serpentinites is carried out by IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal, X-ray diffraction, and microprobe analyses. The petrophysical properties and acoustic emission of the rocks are examined. Several genetic and structural groups of serpentinites developed after different protoliths (mantle and crustal) in different geologic conditions are recognized.© 2014, V.S. Sobolev IGM, Siberian Branch of the RAS. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.     

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.     

苏鲁超高压变质带仰口蛇纹岩的成因——矿物化学、地球化学和年代学证据

通过矿物化学、全岩主微量元素和铂族元素研究,结合锆石年代学判断苏鲁造山带仰口蛇纹岩的原岩成因和演化历史。蛇纹岩中尖晶石经历了多阶段变质;全岩主量元素具有超基性堆晶岩的性质,代表玄武质组分含量的Ca O+Al_2O_3变化于2.0%~5.83%之间;部分不相容微量元素富集;铂族元素中Ir的含量低(0.64×10~(-9)~1.43×10~(-9)),Pd/Ir值高(1.05~3.42)。蛇纹岩中的锆石一部分为新形成的变质成因锆石(年龄平均为230±3Ma),与高压-超高压变质的年代吻合;另一部分可能是在三叠纪变质阶段古老锆石重结晶形成的。由此认为,仰口蛇纹岩的原岩可能为超基性堆晶岩,三叠纪时随着俯冲的扬子板块发生变质,在发生蛇纹石化作用之前经历了熔体/流体的改造。     

Characterization of some Egyptian serpentinites used as ornamental stones

Egypt is characterized by wide occurrence of serpentinites, particularly in the central and southern parts of Eastern Desert. There are several cooperate factors that affect the serpentinites used as ornamental stones. These factors involve mineralogical characteristics （including mineral composition and microstructure parameter）, physical properties and mechanical properties. Antigorite is an essential serpentinite mineral, with a minor amount of chrysotile. Talc, carbonates （magnesite and dolomite） and tremolite are the main associated minerals. Quality and quantity of associated minerals such as talc and carbonates （dolomite and magnesite） affect the properties of serpentinites used as ornamental stones. Carbonates are resistant to weathering but suffer from acidic cleaning agents in interior use, whereas serpentinites with a high content of talc used on external faces undergo an increase in volume and a consequent rapid degradation. Studied serpentinites are characterized by relatively small grain size with foliated texture, low water absorption, low porosity, and high abrasion resistance. In the samples studied the uniaxial compressive strength （UCS） varies between 89 and 189 MPa, with an average of 152 MPa. According to the classification of Bell （1992）, sample No. B8 is very high in strength while the rest high in strength.     

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。     

A nephrite deposit in the great serpentine belt of New South Wales

A nephrite jade deposit within the Great Serpentine Belt of N.S.W., near Tamworth, occurs as several tabular bodies up to 3.5 m thick on the serpentinite country‐rock contact. The occurrence is interpreted as a low‐temperature reaction zone, similar to those observed around Alpine serpentinites elsewhere. The nephrite probably formed as a result of dynamothermal metasomatism associated with the emplacement of serpentinites along the Peel Fault.     

On Silica Activity and Serpentinization

Serpentinites have the lowest silica activity of common crustalrocks. At the serpentinization front, where olivine, serpentine,and brucite are present, silica activities (relative to quartz)are of the order of 10^–2·5 to 10^–5, dependingon the temperature. Here we argue that this low silica activityis the critical property that produces the unusual geochemicalenvironments characteristic of serpentinization. The formationof magnetite is driven by the extraction of silica from theFe₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄ component of serpentine, producing extremely reducingconditions as evinced by the rare iron alloys that partiallyserpentinized peridotites contain. The incongruent dissolutionof diopside to form Ca²⁺, serpentine, and silica becomes increasinglyfavored at lower T, producing the alkalic fluids characteristicof serpentinites. The interaction of these fluids with adjacentrocks produces rodingites, and we argue that desilication isalso part of the rodingite-forming process. The low silica activityalso explains the occurrence of low-silica minerals such ashydrogrossular, andradite, jadeite, diaspore, and corundum inserpentinites or rocks adjacent to serpentinites. The tendencyfor silica activity to decrease with decreasing temperaturemeans that the presence of certain minerals in serpentinitescan be used as indicators of the temperature of serpentinization.These include, with decreasing temperature, diopside, andraditeand diaspore. Because the assemblage serpentine + brucite marksthe lowest silica activity reached in most serpentinites, thepresence and distribution of brucite, which commonly is a crypticphase in serpentinites, is critical to interpreting the processesthat lead to the hydration of any given serpentinite. KEY WORDS: serpentinization; serpentinites; silica activity; oxygen fugacity; rodingites; magnetization of serpentinites     

Serpentinites and their tectonic signature along the Northwest Zagros Thrust Zone, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Two types of serpentinized peridotites are distinguished within the Northwest Zagros Thrust Zone (NW-ZTZ) in Kurdistan region of Iraq. One is found as lower members of ophiolite sequences, such as the Mawat and Penjwin ophiolites of the upper Cretaceous age. The other is represented by intraformational isolated serpentinite bodies in Betwat, Qaladeza, and Qalander areas within the Walash–Naopurdan volcano-sedimentary unit of the Paleocene to Eocene paleo-arc tectonic setting. Serpentinites within the NW-ZTZ consist mainly of lizardite and chrysotile, with subordinate amounts of syn-serpentinization magnetite, carbonates, chromium chlorite, tremolite, and talc as secondary minerals, and olivine, clinopyroxene, and chromian spinel as primary minerals. Minor antigorite is also found in the sheared serpentinites often found in ophiolite sequences. Petrological and geochemical studies of serpentinites from the NW-ZTZ show that, of the original protoliths of serpentinites, those associated with ophiolites are residual depleted harzburgite and dunite. The $ {\text{Cr}}\# \left( {{{ = {\text{ Cr}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{ = {\text{ Cr}}} {\left( {{\text{Cr}} + {\text{Al}}} \right){\text{ atomic ratio}}}}} \right. \kern-0em} {\left( {{\text{Cr}} + {\text{Al}}} \right){\text{ atomic ratio}}}}} \right) $ of chromian spinel is more than 0.6, and the forsterite content of olivine is 91–92. On the other hand, the original protolith of isolated serpentinite bodies is less depleted harzburgite or depleted lherzolite, which has spinel with Cr# less than 0.6 and olivine with 90–91 forsterite contents. Whole rock chemistry of major, trace, and rare earth elements shows that the serpentinites of ophiolite sequences are depleted in CaO, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂, Sr, and Zr, and are enriched in MgO, Ni, and Cr, in comparison with the isolated serpentinites. Cr# of the disseminated unaltered chromian spinels indicates that the serpentinites of both types had been originated from the supra-subduction zone tectonic setting; the serpentinites of ophiolite sequences obducted and thrusted over the continental margin during the obduction of the Tethyth oceanic crust onto the Arabian continental margin during the upper Cretaceous period. Isolated serpentinite bodies represent serpentinized forearc mantle wedge peridotites emplaced by diapiric upwelling into non-accretionary forearc tectonic settings during the Paleocene to Eocene age.     

Chemical and mineralogical development of the Sidamo nickeliferous serpentinites (Ethiopia)

The Sidamo serpentinites have developed by metamorphism of alpine-type peridotites and have been metamorphosed to talc schists, tremolite-chlorite schists and actinolite schists. Magnesite replacement, and opal and chalcedony veining result from weathering, though some magnesia and silica may have formed during metamorphism. Nickel concentration was negligible during metamorphism, but occurred to a significant extent during soil formation to form nickeliferous lateritic soils. Unfortunately most of the Sidamo serpentinites are undergoing high erosion (steep sided hills) and/or slow weathering (arid climate), so that soil formation and nickel concentration is poor.     

Relict chromian spinels in Tulu Dimtu serpentinites and listvenite,Western Ethiopia: implications for the timing of listvenite formation

Serpentinites (massive and schistose) and listvenite occur as tectonic sheets and lenses within a calcareous metasedimentary mélange of the Tulu Dimtu, western Ethiopia. The massive serpentinite contains high-magnesian metamorphic olivine (forsterite [fo] ~96 mol%) and rare relict primary mantle olivine (Fo_90–93). Both massive and schistose serpentinites contain zoned chromian spinel; the cores with the ferritchromite rims preserve a pristine Cr/(Cr+Al) atomic ratio (Cr# = 0.79–0.87), suggesting a highly depleted residual mantle peridotite, likely formed in a suprasubduction zone setting. Listvenite associated with serpentinites of smaller ultramafic lenses also contain relict chromian spinel having identical Cr# to those observed in serpentinites. However, the relict chromian spinel in listvenite has significantly higher Mg/(Mg+Fe²⁺) atomic ratios. This suggests that a nearly complete metasomatic replacement of ultramafic rocks by magnesite, talc, and quartz to prevent Mg–Fe²⁺ redistribution between relict chromian spinel and the host, that is, listvenite formation, took place prior to re-equilibration between chromian spinel and the surrounding mafic minerals in serpentinites. Considering together with the regional geological context, low-temperature CO₂-rich hydrothermal fluids would have infiltrated into ultramafic rocks from host calcareous sedimentary rocks at a shallow level of accretionary prism before a continental collision to form the East African Orogen (EAO).     

Distribution of asbestos in the bedrock of the northern New Jersey area

Asbestos has been identified at fifty-five locations in the bedrock of the northern New Jersey area. Most occurrences are confined to (1) The Precambrian rocks of the New Jersey Highlands, particularly the marbles; (2) the Paleozoic serpentinites of Staten Island, New York, and Hoboken, New Jersey; and (3) the Mesozoic basaltic rocks of the Newark Basin. Chrysotile and tremolite asbestos are present in local concentrations in the marbles. In the most extensive exposure of the marble, the Franklin band, traces of tremolite-actinolite asbestos are commonly present. Crocidolite asbestos occurs in localized areas associated with fracture systems in Precambrian pegmatites and associated rocks. The Paleozoic serpentinites contain chrysotile asbestos as a major component in deformed zones. Megascopic chrysotile and anthophyllite asbestos veins occur locally in the serpentinites. Actinolite asbestos occurs in the Mesozoic basaltic rocks of the Newark Basin. Potential environmental problems associated with asbestosbearing bedrock include production and use of rock products containing asbestos, introduction of asbestos into environments surrounding excavations, and asbestos contamination of soils and water supplies.     

Paleozoic serpentinite-enclosed chromitites from Tehuitzingo (Acatlán Complex, southern Mexico): a petrological and mineralogical study

The serpentinites and associated chromitite bodies in Tehuitzingo (Acatlán Complex, southern Mexico) are in close relationship with eclogitic rocks enclosed within a metasedimentary sequence, suggesting that the serpentinites, chromitites and eclogitic rocks underwent a common metamorphic history.Primary chromites from the chromitite bodies at Tehuitzingo are of refractory-grade (Al-rich) and have a chemical composition similar to that expected to be found in an ophiolitic environment. The chromite grains in chromitites and serpentinites are systematically altered to ‘ferritchromite’. The alteration trend is usually characterized by a decrease in the Al, Mg and Cr contents coupled by an increase in Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺.The Tehutizingo chromitites have low Platinum Group Elements (PGE) contents, ranging from 102 to 303 ppb. The chondrite-normalized PGE patterns are characterized by an enrichment in the Ir-subgroup elements (IPGE=Os, Ir, Ru) relative to the Pd-subgroup elements (PPGE=Rh, Pt, Pd). In addition, all chromitite samples display a negative slope from Ru to Pd [(Os+Ir+Ru)/(Pt+Pd)=4.78−14.13]. These patterns, coupled with absolute PGE abundances, are typical of ophiolitic chromitites elsewhere. Moreover, all the analyzed samples exhibit chondrite-normalized PGE patterns similar to those found for non-metamorphosed ophiolitic chromitites. Thus, the PGE distribution patterns found in the Tehuitzingo chromitites have not been significantly affected by any subsequent Paleozoic high-pressure (eclogite facies) metamorphic event.The chondrite-normalized PGE patterns of the enclosing serpentinites also indicate that the PGE distribution in the residual mantle peridotites exposed in Tehuitzingo was unaffected by high-pressure metamorphism, or subsequent hydrothermal alteration since the serpentinites show a similar pattern to that of partially serpentinized peridotites present in mantle sequences of non-metamorphosed ophiolites.Our main conclusion is that the chromitites and serpentinites from Tehuizingo experienced no significant redistribution (or concentration) of PGE during the serpentinization process or the high-pressure metamorphic path, or during subsequent alteration processes. If any PGE mobilization occurred, it was restricted to individual chromitite bodies without changing the bulk-rock PGE composition.Our data suggest that the Tehuitzingo serpentinites and associated chromitites are a fragment of oceanic lithosphere formed in an arc/back-arc environment, and represent an ophiolitic mantle sequence from a supra-subduction zone, the chemical composition of which remained essentially unchanged during the alteration and metamorphic events that affected the Acatlán Complex.     

Chemistry of serpentine “polymorphs” in the Pan-African serpentinites from the Eastern Desert of Egypt,with an emphasis on the effect of superimposed thermal metamorphism

Mineralogy and Petrology - The present work deals with some Pan-African serpentinites of Neoproterozoic age from five localities in the Eastern Desert of Egypt namely, Abu Fannani, Fawakhir,...