Subsolidus Emplacement of Mantle Peridotites during Incipient Oceanic Rifting and Opening of the Mesozoic Tethys (Voltri Massif, NW Italy)

The Erro–Tobbio (ET) peridotite (Voltri Massif, NW Italy)represents a fragment of subcontinental mantle, emplaced athigh crustal levels during rifting and opening of the Piemonte–Ligurianocean, the Alps–Apennine part of the Mesozoic Tethys.The ET peridotite is dominated by spinel-bearing lherzolites,with minor dunites, spinel websterites and plagioclase-bearinglherzolites. Granular spinel lherzolites in the ET peridotiteare transected by five generations of shear zone structures:porphyroclastic spinel-bearing tectonites, plagioclase-, hornblende-and chlorite-bearing peridotite mylonites, and serpentinitemylonites. There is a systematic correlation between the microstructuresand the composition of the constituent mineral phases. Thesecompositional trends are related to changing conditions of Pand T during the pertinent stages of syntectonic recrystallizationin the shear zones. Geothermobarometry shows that the shearzone structures developed at progressively lower P and T conditions.The P–T path obtained for the ET peridotite indicatessubsolidus uplift, from deep levels in the subcontinental mantletowards the ocean floor. Uplift is associated with limited ‘wet’partial melting. This subsolidus trajectory is particularlyconsistent with the thermal history expected for the footwallof a lithosphere-scale, dipping extensional shear zone, anddiffers from those of more oceanic peridotites showing an adiabaticuplift history at much higher temperatures presumably relatedto convective upwelling. The shear zone structures in the ETperidotites are therefore interpreted as fragments of an extensionaldetachment system. This interpretation is consistent with theoverall asymmetric architecture of the coeval passive marginsbordering the Piemonte–Ligurian ocean. It is suggestedthat the uplift of the ET peridotites occurred by tectonic denudation,in a slightly to strongly asymmetric oceanic rift. ^* Present address: Shell Int. Petroleum Maatschappij, P.O. Box 162, 2501 AN The Hague, Netherlands     

Alpine olivine- and titanian clinohumite-bearing assemblages in the Erro-Tobbio peridotite (Voltri Massif, NW Italy)

The microstructures in the Erro-Tobbio peridotite indicate several stages of recrystallization of olivine + titanian clinohumite-bearing assemblages. The development of these assemblages is closely associated with serpentinite mylonites, in which they occur in shear bands and foliations and are inferred to have grown synkinematically, in veins, and as post-kinematic radial aggregates. In the peridotite wall-rock adjacent to these mylonites, the same assemblages have recrystallized statically at the expense of original olivine and pyroxenes, mesh-textured chrysolite and antigorite veins. In addition, the olivine-bearing assemblage occurs in widespread vein systems. The brittle deformation of the peridotite resulting in the development of these vein systems is closely related to ductile deformation of metagabbroic dykes in the peridotite. Although early metasomatism resulted in extensive rodingitization of the gabbros, some dykes show an eclogitic assemblage of Na-clinopyroxene + garnet + chloritoid + chlorite ± talc. These observations, the microstructures and the mineral chemistry all suggest that the assemblages in the ultramafic rocks and metagabbros developed during a prograde evolution towards high pressures (>13–16 kbar, 450–550° C), and during subsequent decompression. This metamorphic evolution is considered to be related to Late Cretaceous intraoceanic subduction in the Alps-Apennine system and closure of the Piedmont-Ligurian basin.     

Chronology, Petrology and Isotope Geochemistry of the Erro-Tobbio Peridotites (Ligurian Alps, Italy): Records of Late Palaeozoic Lithospheric Extension

Mantle peridotites from the Erro–Tobbio (ET) ophioliticunit (Voltri Massif, Ligurian Alps) record a tectono-metamorphicdecompressional evolution, indicated by re-equilibration fromspinel- to plagioclase- to amphibole-facies conditions, andprogressive deformation from granular to tectonite to mylonitefabrics. The peridotites are considered to represent subcontinentallithospheric mantle that was tectonically denuded during riftingand opening of the Jurassic Ligurian Tethys ocean, similar tothe Northern Apennine (External Ligurides) ophiolitic peridotites.We performed chemical and isotopic investigations on selectedgranular and tectonite spinel peridotites and plagioclase tectonitesand mylonites, with the aim of defining the nature of the mantleprotoliths, and to date the onset of exhumation of the ET peridotites.Spinel- and plagioclase-bearing tectonites and mylonites exhibitheterogeneous bulk-rock major and trace element composition,despite rather homogeneous mineral chemistry, thus indicatingthat the ET mantle protoliths record a composite history ofpartial melting and melt migration by reactive porous flow.The lack of correlation between the observed geochemical heterogeneityand the structural type (granular, tectonite, mylonite) indicatesthat the inferred reactive porous flow event preceded the exhumation-relatedlithospheric history of the Erro–Tobbio mantle. The tectono-metamorphicevolution caused systematic chemical changes in minerals: (1)Al decrease in orthopyroxene; (2) Al decrease, and Cr and Tiincrease in spinels; (3) Al and Sr decrease, Cr, Ti, Zr, Sc,V and middle to heavy rare earth element increase and developmentof a negative Eu anomaly in clinopyroxene. The studied sampleshave Nd isotope compositions consistent with a mid-ocean ridgebasalt mantle reservoir. Sm/Nd isotope data on plagioclase andclinopyroxene separates (and corresponding whole rocks) fromtwo plagioclase peridotites, representative of the plagioclase-bearingmylonitic extensional shear zone, have yielded ages of 273 ±16 Ma and 313 ± 16 Ma, for the plagioclase-facies recrystallizationstage, significantly older than the expected Jurassic age. Thisindicates that the Erro–Tobbio peridotites represent subcontinentallithospheric mantle that was tectonically exhumed from spinel-faciesdepths to shallower lithospheric levels during Late Carboniferous–Permiantimes. Our results are consistent with the previously documentedevidence for an extensional regime in the Europe–Adrialithosphere during Late Palaeozoic time, and they representthe first record that extensional mechanisms were also activeat lithospheric mantle levels. KEY WORDS: plagioclase-bearing peridotites; subcontinental lithospheric mantle; mantle exhumation; Sm/Nd dating     

Fluid and Element Cycling in Subducted Serpentinite: a Trace-Element Study of the Erro-Tobbio High-Pressure Ultramafites (Western Alps, NW Italy)

The oceanic serpentinization of peridotites and the influenceof such an alteration on element cycling during their subductiondewatering are here investigated in a mantle slice (Erro–Tobbioperidotite), first exposed to oceanic serpentinization and laterinvolved in alpine subduction, partial dewatering and formationof a high-pressure olivine + titanian-clinohumite + diopside+ antigorite assemblage in the peridotites and in veins. Previouswork indicates that high-pressure veins include primary brines,representing a residue after crystallization of the vein assemblageand containing recycled oceanic Cl and alkalis. To reconstructthe main changes during oceanic peridotite serpentinizationand subsequent subduction, we analysed samples in profiles fromserpentinized oceanic peridotites to high-pressure serpentinites,and from high-pressure ultramafites to veins. Here we presentresults indicating that the main features of the oceanic serpentinizationare immobility of rare earth elements (REE), considerable waterincrease, local CaO decrease and uptake of trace amounts ofSr, probably as a function of the intensity of alteration. Srentered fine-grained Ca phases associated with serpentine andchlorite. Trace-element analyses of mantle clinopyroxenes andhigh-pressure diopsides (in country ultramafites and veins),highlight the close similarity in the REE compositions of thevarious clinopyroxenes, thereby indicating rock control on thevein fluids and lack of exotic components carried by externallyderived fluids. Presence of appreciable Sr contents in vein-formingdiopside indicates cycling of oceanic Sr in the high-pressurefluid. This, together with the recognition of pre-subductionCl and alkalis in the vein fluid, indicates closed-system behaviourduring eclogitization and internal cycling of exogenic components.Diopside and Ti-clinohumite are the high-pressure minerals actingas repositories for REE and Sr, and for high field strengthelements (HFSE), respectively. The aqueous fluid equilibratedwith such an assemblage is enriched in Cl and alkaline elementsbut strongly depleted in REE and HFSE (less than chondrite abundances).Sr is low [(0·2–1·6) x chondrites], althoughselectively enriched relative to light REE. KEY WORDS: eclogite facies; fluid; trace elements; serpentinite; subduction     

Records of Crustal Metasomatism in the Garnet Peridotites of the Ulten Zone (Upper Austroalpine, Eastern Alps)

Peridotites in the Ulten Zone (Upper Austroalpine, Eastern Alps),occur as small bodies within lower-crustal rocks (gneisses andmigmatites) subducted at eclogite-facies conditions during theVariscan orogeny. They record a complex metamorphic and deformationevolution as indicated by the transition from coarse-grainedspinel-bearing peridotites to fine-grained garnet + amphibole-bearingperidotites, and are interpreted as portions of mantle wedgethat were incorporated in a downgoing slab of cold continentalcrust. The transition from spinel- to garnet-bearing assemblagewas accompanied by significant input of metasomatic agents,as shown by the crystallization of abundant amphibole. Herewe present trace-element mineral chemistry data for selectedUlten peridotites, with the aim of unravelling the nature ofthe metasomatic processes. Amphiboles display significant lightrare earth element (LREE) enrichment [Ce_N/Yb_N = 3·90–11·50;LREE up to (20–50) x C1], high Sr (150–250 ppm),K (1910–7280 ppm) and Ba (280–800 ppm) contents,and low concentrations of high field strength elements (HFSE)(Zr = 14–25 ppm, Y = 6·7–16 ppm, Ti = 1150–2500ppm, Nb = 2–7 ppm). On the basis of (1) the evidence formodal orthopyroxene decrease as a result of the garnet-formingreaction rather than abundant orthopyroxene crystallization,(2) the high modal amounts of amphibole (up to 23%) in the mostmetasomatized peridotites and (3) the strong large ion lithophileelement (LILE)/HFSE fractionation in amphiboles, we infer thatthe metasomatic agent was an H₂O–CO₂ fluid with a lowCO₂/H₂O ratio. Petrological investigations and geochronologicaldata indicate that the host metapelites experienced in situpartial melting and migmatization concomitantly with the garnet+ amphibole-facies recrystallization in the enclosed peridotites.We infer that the metasomatizing hydrous fluids could representthe residual fluids left after the crystallization of leucosomes,starting from water-undersaturated melts produced during migmatizationof the host gneisses. KEY WORDS: garnet peridotite; crustal metasomatism; amphibole; hydrous fluids     

Petrology, Mineral and Isotope Geochemistry of the External Liguride Peridotites (Northern Apennines, Italy)

Mantle peridotites of the External Liguride (EL) units (NorthernApennines) represent slices of subcontinental lithospheric mantleemplaced at the surface during early stages of rifting of theJurassic Ligurian Piemontese basin. Petrological, ion probeand isotopic investigations have been used to unravel the natureof their mantle protolith and to constrain the timing and mechanismsof their evolution. EL peridotites are dominantly fertile spinelIherzolites partly recrystallizfd in the plagiodase Iherzplitestability field Clinopyroxenes stable in thespinel-facies assemblagehave nearly fiat REE patterns (Ce_N/Sm_N=06–08) at (10–16)C1and high Na, Sr, Ti and Zr contents. Kaersutitic-Ti-pargasiticamphiboles also occur in the spinel-facies assemblage. TheirLREE-depleted REE spectra and very low Sr, Zr and Ba contentsindicate that they crystallized from hydrous fluids with lowconcentrations of incompatible elements. Thermometric estimateson the spinelfacies parageneses yield lithospheric equilibriumtemperatures in the range 1000–1100C, in agreement withthe stability of amphibole, which implies T<1100C. Sr andNd isotopic compositions, determined on carefully handpickedclinopyroxene separates, plot within the depleted end of theMORB field (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=070222–070263; ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd=0513047–0513205)similar to many subcontinental orogenic spinel Iherzolites fromthe western Mediterranean area (e.g. Ivrea Zpne and Lanzfl N).The interpretation of the EL Iherzolites as subcontinental lithosphericmantle is reinforced by the occurrence of one extremely depletedisotopic composition (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0701736; ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd=0513543).Sr and Nd model ages, calculated assuming both CHUR and DM mantlesources, range between 24 Ga and 780 Ma. In particular, the12-Ga Sr age and the 780-Ma Nd age can be regarded as minimumages of differentiation. The transition from spinel-to plagioclase-faciesassemblage, accompanied by progressive deformation (from granularto tectonite-mylonite textures), indicate that the EL Iherzolitesexperienced a later, subsolidus decompressional evolution, startingfrom subcontinental lithospheric levels. Sm/Nd isochrons onplagioclase-clinopyroxene pairs furnish ages of 165 Ma. Thisearly Jurassic subsolidus decompressional history is consistentwith uplift by means of denudation in response to passive andasymmetric lithospheric extension. This is considered to bethe most suitable geodynamic mechanism to account for the exposureof huge bodies of subcontinental lithospheric mantle duringearly stages of opening of an oceanic basin. ^*Corresponding author. Present address: Dipartimento di Stienze della Terra, Univenit di Geneva, Corso Europa 26,16132 Genova, Italy