Serpentinization produces molecular hydrogen (H2) and hydrocarbons that can feed the colonies of microbes in hydrothermal vent fields, and therefore serpentinization may be important for the origins of life. However, the mechanisms that control molecular hydrogen (H2) production during serpentinization remain poorly understood. Here the effect of pyroxene minerals and spinel on molecular hydrogen (H2) generation during serpentinization is experimentally studied at 311–500 °C and 3.0 kbar, where olivine, individually and in combinations with pyroxene and/or spinel, is reacted with saline solutions (0.5 M NaCl). The results show a contrasting influence of spinel and pyroxeneon molecular hydrogen (H2) production. At 311 °C and 3.0 kbar, spinel promotes H2 generation by around two times, and pyroxene minerals decrease molecular hydrogen (H2) production by around one order of magnitude. Spinel leaches aluminum (Al) and chromium (Cr) during hydrothermal alteration, and Al and Cr enhance molecular hydrogen (H2) production. This is confirmed by performing experiments on the serpentinization of olivine with the addition of Al2O3 or Cr2O3 powders, and an increase in molecular hydrogen (H2) production was observed. Pyroxene minerals, however, not only leach Al and Cr, but they also release silica (SiO2) during serpentinization. The sharp decline in molecular hydrogen (H2) production in experiments with a combination of olivine and pyroxene minerals may be attributed to releases of silica from pyroxene minerals. With increasing temperatures (e.g., 400–500 °C), the effect of spinel and pyroxene minerals on molecular hydrogen (H2) production is much less significant, which is possibly related tothe sluggish kinetics of olivine serpentinization under these T-P conditions. In natural geological settings, olivine is commonly associated with spinel and pyroxene, and molecular hydrogen (H2) during serpentinization can be greatly affected.
The rifting of oceanic plateaus is an important mechanism for initiating lithospheric break-up and subsequent seafloor spreading. In this study, we present the latest multichannel seismic data investigating the Caroline Ridge and provide one of the typical cases for initial oceanic plateau evolution. We reveal that a smooth basement reflector (R2), as the top of the lava flows, is subparallel to the sediments with horizontal seismic reflections over the surface of the Caroline Ridge. Thick layer-parallel lava flows beneath the R2 appear within the crust. Large seamounts in the Sorol Trough possess abundant saucer-shaped intracrustal reflectors, and the overlying sediments were destroyed by intrusive bodies. The overlying sedimentary sequences, basement, and thick lava flows on the Caroline Ridge flanks were faulted by opposing normal fault sets, and the eruptions of the seamounts deformed the strata. A widespread bright horizontal reflector (R1), as an unconformity inside the Caroline Ridge sediments, truncates the lower tilted sediment layers and is itself cut by normal faults in the flank strata. Furthermore, we propose that subaerial lava flows extended laterally from the hotspot magmatism localizing in the Sorol Trough and led to Caroline Ridge formation. The initial rifting of the Caroline Ridge occurred during the Early-Middle Miocene. Limited volcanoes concentrate only in the Sorol Trough due to the attenuated thermal effect. It is suggested that dome uplifting and far-field force could have jointly caused initial rifting process of the Caroline Ridge.
Oxygen fugacity is a key factor in controlling the formation of porphyry molybdenum deposits. We present new data on Lengjia monzogranite and compile the Mesozoic magmatism data of the Jiaodong Peninsula to elucidate the correlation between magma oxygen fugacity and porphyry Mo mineralization. Zircon U-Pb geochronology indicates that the formation of the Lengjia monzogranite occurred at 113.7 Ma, while molybdenite Re-Os geochronology shows that the Lengjia Mo deposit was formed at 113.5 ± 3.0 Ma. The Lengjia monzogranite, characterized by low Sr/Y ratios (12.28 ∼ 20.16), low Sr, and high Yb and Y concentrations, can be classified as a non-adakite I-type granite. It had low zircon εHf (t) values (–23.8 ∼ -13.8) and ancient TDM2 (Hf) (2047–2680 Ma) with variable zircon O isotopic compositions (5.82 ‰ ∼ 7.38 ‰). The Lengjia monzogranite was formed by partial melting of the Paleoproterozoic crustal source and mantle components metasomatized by slab-derived melt. The zircon trace element calculation revealed that the Weideshan suite had higher ΔFMQ values (0.32 ∼ 4.47, average is 2.27) compared to the Guojialing suite (-0.91 ∼ 2.88, average is 0.82) and Linglong suite (-1.81 ∼ 2.76, average is 0.37). The oxidized Weideshan suite resulted from the increased involvement of mantle metasomatized by slab-derived melt. The elevated oxygen fugacity promoted the porphyry Mo-metallogenic potential of the Weidshanian suite. We propose that the Linglong suite was related to the northwestward flat-slab (subhorizontal) subduction of the Izanagi plate (Paleo-Pacific plate), the Guojialing suite was formed by low-angle northwestward subduction of the Izanagi plate, and the Weideshan suite was related to the northwestward subduction and major slab rollback of the Pacific plate.
The petrogenesis of adakites holds important clues to the formation of the continental crust and copper ± gold porphyry mineralization. However, it remains highly debated as to whether adakites form by slab melting, by partial melting of the lower continental crust, or by fractional crystallization of normal arc magmas. Here, we show that to form adakitic signature, partial melting of a subducting oceanic slab would require high pressure at depths of >50 km, whereas partial melting of the lower continental crust would require the presence of plagioclase and thus shallower depths and additional water. These two types of adakites can be discriminated using geochemical indexes. Compiled data show that adakites from circum-Pacific regions, which have close affinity to subduction of young hot oceanic plate, can be clearly discriminated from adakites from the Dabie Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau, which have been attributed to partial melting of continental crust, in Sr/Y-versus-La/Yb diagram. Given that oceanic crust has copper concentrations about two times higher than those in the continental crust, whereas the high oxygen fugacity in the subduction environment promotes the release of copper during partial melting, slab melting provides the most efficient mechanism to concentrate copper and gold; slab melts would be more than two times greater in copper (and also gold) concentrations than lower continental crust melts and normal arc magmas. Thus, identification of slab melt adakites is important for predicting exploration targets for copper- and gold-porphyry ore deposits. This explains the close association of ridge subduction with large porphyry copper deposits because ridge subduction is the most favorable place for slab melting.
'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' transform='rotate(23.036 .093 25.536)'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' transform='rotate(45.87 1.273 16.18)'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' transform='rotate(69.945 .996 12.078)'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' transform='rotate(20.66 -19.689 31.932)'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)