Jose J Honnorez

Alteration of the upper oceanic crust, DSDP site 417: mineralogy and chemistry

AbstractBasalts from DSDP Site 417 (109 Ma) exhibit the effects of several stages of alteration reflecting the evolution of seawater-derived solution compositions and control by the structure and permeability of the crust. Characteristic secondary mineral assemblages occur in often superimposed alteration zones within individual basalt fragments. By combining bulk rock and single phase chemical analyses with detailed mineralogic and petrographic studies, chemical changes have been determined for most of the alteration stages identified in the basalts.1)Minor amounts of saponite, chlorite, and pyrite formed locally in coarse grained portions of massive units, possibly at high temperatures during initial cooling of the basalts. No chemical changes could be determined for this stage.2)Possible mixing of cooled hydrothermal fluids with seawater resulted in the formation of celadonite-nontronite and Fe-hydroxide-rich black halos around cracks and pillow rims. Gains of K, Rb, H2O, increase of Fe3+/FeT, and possibly some losses of Ca and Mg occurred during this stage.3a)Extensive circulation of oxygenated seawater resulted in the formation of various smectites, K-feldspar, and Fe-hydroxides in brown and light grey alteration zones around formerly exposed surfaces. K, Rb, H2O, and occasionally P were added to the rocks, Fe3+/FeT increased, and Ca, Mg, Si and occasionally Al and Na were lost.3b)Anoxic alteration occurred during reaction of basalt with seawater at low water-rock ratios, or with seawater that had previously reacted with basalt. Saponite-rich dark grey alteration zones formed which exhibit very little chemical change: generally only slight increases in Fe3+/FeT and H2O occurred.4)Zeolites and calcite formed from seawater-derived fluids modified by previous reactions with basalt. Chemical changes involved increases of Ca, Na, H2O, and CO2 in the rocks.5)A late stage of anoxic conditions resulted in the formation of minor amounts of Mn-calcites and secondary sulfides in previously oxidized rocks. No chemical changes were determined for this stage. Recognition of such alteration sequences is important in understanding the evolution of submarine hydrothermal systems and in interpreting chemical exchange due to seawater-basalt reactions.

An oxygen isotopic profile through the upper kilometer of the oceanic crust, DSDP hole 504B

DSDP Hole 504B is the deepest basement hole in the oceanic crust, penetrating through a 571.5 m pillow section, a 209 m lithologic transition zone, and 295 m into a sheeted dike complex. An oxygen isotopic profile through the upper crust at Site 504 is similar to that in many ophiolite complexes, where the extrusive section is enriched in18O relative to unaltered basalts, and the dike section is variably depleted and enriched. Basalts in the pillow section at Site 504 haveδ18O values generally ranging from +6.1 to +8.5‰ SMOW(mean= +7.0‰), although minor zeolite-rich samples range up to 12.7‰. Rocks depleted in18O appear abruptly at 624 m sub-basement in the lithologic transition from 100% pillows to 100% dikes, coinciding with the appearance of greenschist facies minerals in the rocks. Whole-rock values range to as low as +3.6‰, but the mean values for the lithologic transition zone and dike section are +5.8 and +5.4‰, respectively. Oxygen and carbon isotopic data for secondary vein minerals combined with the whole rock data provide evidence for the former presence of two distinct circulation systems separated by a relatively sharp boundary at the top of the lithologic transition zone. The pillow section reacted with seawater at low temperatures (near 0°C up to a maximum of around 150°C) and relatively high water/rock mass ratios (10–100); water/rock ratios were greater and conditions were more oxidizing during submarine weathering of the uppermost 320 m than deeper in the pillow section. The transition zone and dikes were altered at much higher temperatures (up to about 350°C) and generally low water/rock mass ratios (∼ 1), and hydrothermal fluids probably contained mantle-derived CO2. Mixing of axial hydrothermal fluids upwelling through the dike section with cooler seawater circulating in the overlying pillow section resulted in a steep temperature gradient (∼ 2.5°C/m) across a 70 m interval at the top of the lithologic transition zone. Progressive reaction during axial hydrothermal metamorphism and later off-axis alteration led to the formation of albite- and Ca-zeolite-rich alteration halos around fractures. This enhanced the effects of cooling and18O enrichment of fluids, resulting in local increases inδ18O of rocks which had been previously depleted in18O during prior axial metamorphism.

Peridotite-gabbro-basalt complex from the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Rocks were dredged where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is intersected by the Chain, Romanche, St Paul and Vema Fracture Zones, and from unfractured portions of the Ridge between 6 and 8° N. Peridotites are common at the fracture zones, but were found also in unfractured sections of the Ridge; harzburgites prevail, but lherzolites, dunites and plagioclase peridotites are also present. A variety of gabbros was recovered, generally above the peridotites, including norites, troctolites, quartz gabbros and theralites. The chemistry of these gabbros indicates a marked crystal-liquid fractionation, following both a ‘tholeiitic’ and an ‘alkali’ trend. The basalts show also both trends, but less markedly. Metamorphic rocks ranging from ‘greenschist’ to ‘amphibolite’ facies are found throughout the sections. Strontium isotopic data suggest that the peridotites (excluding St Peter-Paul rocks) are not related genetically to the associated gabbro-basalt, in a situation similar to that of alpine complexes on the continents. The peridotites are probably residual and were depleted of lithophile elements at some early stage of their history, before the opening of the Atlantic rift. It is postulated that in the upper mantle below the equatorial Atlantic a zone exists of residual, alpine-type peridotite, while the lower crust consists of a mixture of ultramafics and intrusive gabbros. The data indicate strong similarities between the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and alpine complexes from various parts of the world.

Petrology of rodingites from the equatorial Mid-Atlantic fracture zones and their geotectonic significance

Rodingites were dredged from fracture zones of the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge along with serpentinized ultramafics, and fresh and metamorphosed basalts and gabbroids. These rodingites were generated by a metasomatic process at low temperature involving an enrichment in lime and water, and a loss of silica and alkalis. The parent rocks were gabbronorites which intruded ultramafic material as it ascended from the upper mantle to its present location in the upper oceanic crust. The gabbronorites were probably altered to rodingites while they were still in the lower oceanic crust. Since the rodingitization process appears to be concomitant, complementary and simultaneous with the serpentinization of the host ultramafic rocks, we infer that the serpentinization process also took place in the deeper part of the oceanic crust. These two simultaneous metasomatic processes thus predate the major phase of tectonic events which uplifted these blocks as cold, solid diapiric emplacements of ultramafic material and accompanying rodingites to their present positions along lines of weakness expressed as fracture zones.

Ultramafic-carbonate breccias from the equatorial Mid Atlantic Ridge

Abstract Breccias consisting of fragments of serpentinized peridotite in a carbonate cement were dredged abundantly from the slopes of transverse ridges existing at the offsets of the Mid Atlantic Ridge in the Romanche and Vema fracture zones. The carbonate cement consists of microcrystalline, low-magnesium calcite and occasionally also of aragonite. The results of chemical and of 18 O/ 16 O, 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, and 234 U/ 238 U isotopic analyses of these carbonates suggest that in part they were deposited at high pH from interstitial sea water circulating in the spaces between the serpentinized peridotite fragments. Several possibilities are discussed as to the mechanisms which caused the ultramafic rocks to become brecciated. It is concluded that the breccias are probably tectonic in origin, and were formed in shear zones resulting from one of several possible types of differential motions between crustal blocks in the tectonically active offset zones. The breccias from the Mid Atlantic Ridge are similar to serpentinite-carbonate breccias associated with serpentinite bodies in the Apennine (Italy) ophiolite complex, which represents uplifted fragments of Mesozoic oceanic crust. The origin of these ophiolitic breccias may be similar to that of the Mid Atlantic Ridge breccias.

Equatorial mid-atlantic ridge: petrologic and Sr isotopic evidence for an alpine-type rock assemblage

Abstract A preliminary petrological description is presented of rocks obtained where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is intersected by the Chain, Romanche and St. Paul fracture zones and from unfractured sections of the Ridge between 6° and 8°N. Ultramafic rocks are predominant at the base of the sections; harzburgites prevail, but lherzolites, dunites and plagioclase-peridotites are also present. Gabbros, including norites, olivine gabbros and nepheline gabbros are found at intermediate levels, together with minor quantities of quartz-diorite. Dolerites and basalts, including some with alkali affinities, are recovered at the upper levels of the sections. Members of a metamorphic series ranging from greenschist to amphibolite facies are found throughout the sections. TheSr 87 /Sr 86 ratio of the basalts and gabbros ranges from 0.702 to 0.704, within the values previously obtained from oceanic basalts. The peridotites have values ranging from 0.706 and 0.723 and lowRb/Sr ratios. These values are similar to those found previously in alpine-type peridotites from various parts of the world. It is concluded that the peridotites from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (excluding St. Peter-Paul rocks) are neither the parent material of modern oceanic basalts nor the residual product after basalt extraction. These peridotites are residual and were depleted of lithophile elements at some early stage of their history, before the opening of the Atlantic rift. The abundance of intrusive, alpine-type peridotites suggest that in the upper mantle below the Equatorial Atlantic a zone exists of residual, alpine-type peridotitic material, probably left over since the differentiation of a sialic crust. The data indicate strong similarities between the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and alpine-complexes from various parts of the world.

Hydrothermal mounds and young ocean crust of the Galapagos: Preliminary Deep Sea Drilling results, Leg 70

A total of 32 holes at 5 sites near 1°N, 86°W drilled on Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Leg 70 (November–December 1979) provide unique data on the origin of the hydrothermal mounds on the south flank of the Galapagos spreading center. Hydrothermal sediments, primarily Mn-oxide and nontronite, are restricted to the immediate vicinity of the mounds (⩽100 m) and are probably formed by the interaction of upward-percolating hydrothermal solutions with sea water and pelagic sediments above locally permeable zones of ocean crust. Mounds as much as 25 m in height form in less than a few × 10 5 yrs, and geothermal and geochemical gradients indicate that they are actively forming today. The lack of alteration of upper basement rocks directly below the mounds and throughout the Galapagos region indicates that the source of the hydrothermal solutions is deeper in the crust.

Alteration of basalts from site 396 B, DSDP: Petrographic and mineralogic studies

Samples of crystalline basalt from Site 396 B are all more or less altered, usually in strongly zoned patterns. Evidence has been found for several related or independent alteration stages, including (1) minor localized deuteric (amphibole and mixed clay minerals in miarolitic voids); (2) minor widespread nonoxidizing (pyrite on walls of vugs and cracks); (3) localized diffusion-controlled vug filling (“ glauconite ” in black halos); (4) pervasive low level oxidizing (transformation of titanomagnetite to cation-deficient titanomaghemite); (5) localized diffusion-controlled strongly oxidizing (breakdown of olivine and titanomaghemite in brown zones). Plagioclase and pyroxene are essentially unaltered. Detailed analyses of gray and brown zones in pillow basalts show that low temperature oxidation has proceeded in a step-wise fashion, with the relative stabilities of the igneous minerals controlling the steps. Secondary minerals that crystallized from pore fluids on to the walls of vugs may or may not be related to local alteration of primary phases.During the most intense stage of alteration, brown oxidation zones grew into basalt fragments behind diffusion controlled fronts. The specific reactions and products of this stage differ among the lithologic units at the site. A model is proposed whereby efficient seawater circulation through the pillow units maintains the pH and the concentrations of Mg2+ and SiO2 dissolved at low levels in pore fluids, so that olivine is replaced by hydrous ferric oxides, and Mg and SiO2 are removed from the system. In the massive basalt unit, circulation is somewhat less effective and Mg and SiO2 are retained in smectites.Deposition of authigenic minerals in the sequence saponite/Fe-Mn oxides/phillipsite/calcite in vugs and cracks may reflect the gradual closing of the systems and probably signals the end of localized oxidation in parts of the core. Mineral compositions indicate that most of these deposits formed from seawater at very low temperature.

Nonspreading Crustal Blocks at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Transverse ridges consisting of protrusions into crustal fractures of ultramafic bodies derived from the upper mantle exist at the intersection of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with equatorial fracture zones. Shallow-water limestones containing detrital grains of quartz, microcline, and orthoclase 1 millimeter in diameter were found on the summit of one such transverse ultramafic body at the Vema Fracture Zone; these findings are explained on the assumption that the limestones were deposited within a narrow, shallow proto-Atlantic and were left behind during the further opening of the Atlantic. Transverse ultramafic bodies from the offset zones of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge behave as nonspreading blocks plastered between spreading crustal plates.

Hydrothermal pyrite concretions from the Romanche trench (equatorial Atlantic): metallogenesis in oceanic fracture zones

Abstract Pyrite concretions a few centimeters in diameter were recovered from within the east-west valley of the Romanche fracture zone (equatorial Atlantic). Unconsolidated sediments are scarce or absent in this area of the Romanche Valley. Some of the sulfide concretions were transformed into Fe hydroxides by the action of seawater. The major element, trace metal, rare earth element and sulfur isotopic chemistry of these concretions suggest that they were deposited from Fe- and S-bearing hydrothermal solutions at or beneath the seafloor. These findings support the hypothesis that oceanic fracture zones are the locus of metallogenesis. Heat flow patterns suggest deep sub-seafloor hydrothermal circulation in the highly fractured offset zones. Metals and sulfur can be extracted by the hydrothermal waters from rocks present beneath the fracture zone (basalt, gabbro and serpentinite) and can also be supplied by mantle volatile sources. Important metal deposits appear to be aligned along the predrift land extension of some oceanic fracture zones.