Ultramafic Rock Carbonation: Constraints From Listvenite Core BT1B, Oman Drilling Project

The occurrence of the quartz-carbonate alteration assemblage (listvenite) in ophiolites indicates that ultramafic rock represents an effective sink for dissolved CO2. However, the majority of earlier studies of ultramafic rock carbonation had to rely on the surface exposure of reaction textures and field relationships. Here we present the first observations on ultramafic rock alteration obtained from the 300 m deep BT1B drill hole, ICDP Oman Drilling Project, allowing for a continuous and high-resolution investigation. Hole BT1B recovered continuous drill core intersecting surface alluvium, 200 m of altered ultramafic rock comprising mainly listvenite and minor serpentinite bands at 90 and 180 m depth, and 100 m of the underlying metamorphic sole. Textural evidence suggests that the carbonation of fully serpentinized harzburgite commenced by non-equilibrium growth of spheroidal carbonate characterized by sectorial zoning resulting from radially oriented low-angle boundaries. In the serpentinite, carbonate spheroids are composed of alternating magnesite cores and dolomite rims, whereas texturally similar carbonate in the listvenite is composed of Fe-rich magnesite cores and Ca-Fe-rich magnesite rims. The distinct compositions and mineral inclusions indicate that the carbonation extent was controlled by fluid accessibility resulting in the simultaneous formation of limited carbonate in the serpentinite bands and complete carbonation in the listvenite parts of BT1B. The presence of euhedral magnesite overgrowing spheroidal carbonate in the listvenite suggests near-equilibrium conditions during the final stage of carbonation. The carbonate clumped isotope thermometry constrains carbonate crystallization between 50 °C and 250 °C, implying repeated infiltration of reactive fluids during ophiolite uplift and cooling

Geochemical Profiles Across the Listvenite‐Metamorphic Transition in the Basal Megathrust of the Semail Ophiolite: Results From Drilling at OmanDP Hole BT1B

International audienceThe transition from the Semail ophiolite mantle to the underlying metamorphic sole was drilled at ICDP OmanDP Hole BT1B. We analyzed the bulk major, volatile and trace element compositions of the mantle-derived listvenite series and metamorphic rocks, with the aim to constrain chemical transfers associated with peridotite carbonation along the ophiolite basal thrust. The listvenite series comprise variously carbonated serpentinites and (fuchsite-bearing) listvenites. They have high CO2 (up to 43 wt.%) and variable H2O (0–12 wt.%). Yet, they have compositions close to that of the basal banded peridotites for most major and lithophile trace elements, with fuchsite-bearing listvenites overlapping in composition with amphibole-bearing basal lherzolites (e.g., Al2O3 = 0.1–2.2 wt.%; Yb = 0.05–1 x CI-chondrite). The protolith of the listvenite series was likely similar in structure and composition to serpentinized banded peridotites which immediately overlie the metamorphic sole elsewhere in Oman. The listvenite series are enriched in fluid mobile elements (FME) compared to Semail peridotites (up to ∼103–104 x Primitive Mantle), with concentrations similar to the underthrusted metabasalts and/or metasediments for Cs, Sr and Ca and sometimes even higher for Pb, Li, As, and Sb (e.g., Li up to 130 μg/g; As up to 170 μg/g). We also observe a decoupling between Sr-Ca enrichments and other FME, indicating interactions with several batches of deep CO2-rich fluids transported along the basal thrust. These results suggest that peridotite carbonation could represent one of the major trap-and-release mechanisms for carbon, water and FME along convergent margins

Geochemical Characterization of the Oman Crust-Mantle Transition Zone, OmanDP Holes CM1A and CM2B

International audienceThe transition from the gabbroic oceanic crust to the residual mantle harzburgites of the Oman ophiolite has been drilled at Holes CM1A and CM2B (Wadi Tayin massif) during Phase 2 of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program Oman Drilling Project (November 2017-January 2018). In order to unravel the formation processes of ultramafic rocks in the Wadi Tayin massif crust-mantle transition zone and deeper in the mantle sections beneath oceanic spreading centers, our study focuses on the whole rock major and trace element compositions (together with CO2 and H2O concentrations) of these ultramafic rocks (56 dunites and 49 harzburgites). Despite extensive serpentinization and some carbonation, most of the trace element contents (REE, HFSE, Ti, Th, U) record high temperature, magmatic process-related signatures. Two major trends are observed, with good correlations between (a) Th and U, Nb and LREE on one hand, and between (b) heavy REE, Ti and Hf on the other hand. We interpret the first trend as the signature of late melt/peridotite interactions as LREE are known to be mobilized by such processes (``lithospheric process'') and the second trend as the signature of the initial mantle partial melting (``asthenospheric process''), with little or no overprint from melt/rock reaction events

Ultramafic Rock Carbonation: Constraints From Listvenite Core BT1B, Oman Drilling Project

The occurrence of the quartz-carbonate alteration assemblage (listvenite) in ophiolites indicates that ultramafic rock represents an effective sink for dissolved CO2. However, the majority of earlier studies of ultramafic rock carbonation had to rely on the surface exposure of reaction textures and field relationships. Here we present the first observations on ultramafic rock alteration obtained from the 300 m deep BT1B drill hole, ICDP Oman Drilling Project, allowing for a continuous and high-resolution investigation. Hole BT1B recovered continuous drill core intersecting surface alluvium, 200 m of altered ultramafic rock comprising mainly listvenite and minor serpentinite bands at 90 and 180 m depth, and 100 m of the underlying metamorphic sole. Textural evidence suggests that the carbonation of fully serpentinized harzburgite commenced by non-equilibrium growth of spheroidal carbonate characterized by sectorial zoning resulting from radially oriented low-angle boundaries. In the serpentinite, carbonate spheroids are composed of alternating magnesite cores and dolomite rims, whereas texturally similar carbonate in the listvenite is composed of Fe-rich magnesite cores and Ca-Fe-rich magnesite rims. The distinct compositions and mineral inclusions indicate that the carbonation extent was controlled by fluid accessibility resulting in the simultaneous formation of limited carbonate in the serpentinite bands and complete carbonation in the listvenite parts of BT1B. The presence of euhedral magnesite overgrowing spheroidal carbonate in the listvenite suggests near-equilibrium conditions during the final stage of carbonation. The carbonate clumped isotope thermometry constrains carbonate crystallization between 50 °C and 250 °C, implying repeated infiltration of reactive fluids during ophiolite uplift and cooling