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Geochemical Profiles Across the Listvenite-Metamorphic Transition in the Basal Megathrust of the Semail Ophiolite: Results from Drilling at Oman DP Hole BT1B
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  • Marguerite Godard,
  • Elliot J Carter,
  • Thierry Decrausaz,
  • Romain Lafay,
  • Emma Bennett,
  • Fatma Kourim,
  • Juan Carlos de Obeso,
  • Katsuyoshi Michibayashi,
  • Michelle Harris,
  • Jude A. Coggon,
  • Damon Teagle,
  • Peter B Kelemen
Marguerite Godard
Universite de Montpellier

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Elliot J Carter
Trinity College Dublin
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Thierry Decrausaz
University of Montpellier
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Romain Lafay
University of Montpellier
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Emma Bennett
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
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Fatma Kourim
Academia Sinica
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Juan Carlos de Obeso
University of Calgary
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Katsuyoshi Michibayashi
Nagoya University
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Michelle Harris
University of Plymouth
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Jude A. Coggon
National Oceanography Centre
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Damon Teagle
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
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Peter B Kelemen
Columbia University
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Abstract

The 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 to peridotite carbonation along the ophiolite basal thrust. The listvenite series comprise variously carbonated serpentinites and (fuchsite-bearing) listvenites. They have high CO2 (up to 43.2 wt.%) and variable H2O (0-12.1 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 ppm; As up to 170 ppm). 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.
Dec 2021Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth volume 126 issue 12. 10.1029/2021JB022733