Original Article
Genesis and Geodynamic Significance of Chromitites from the Fuchuan Ophiolite, Southern China, as Evidenced by Trace Element Fingerprints of Chromite, Olivine and Pyroxene
Jun WU,
Ting LIU,
Fangyue WANG,
Jun WU
Anhui Technical College of Industry and Economy, Hefei, 230051 China
Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009 China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ting LIU
Anhui Technical College of Industry and Economy, Hefei, 230051 China
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorFangyue WANG
Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009 China
Search for more papers by this authorJun WU,
Ting LIU,
Fangyue WANG,
Jun WU
Anhui Technical College of Industry and Economy, Hefei, 230051 China
Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009 China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ting LIU
Anhui Technical College of Industry and Economy, Hefei, 230051 China
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorFangyue WANG
Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009 China
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 03 June 2022
About the first author:
WU Jun, male, born in 1987 in Huaibei, Anhui Province; master's in mineral resource prospecting and exploration; graduated from East China University of Technology (Nanchang, Jiangxi); lecturer at Anhui Technical College of Industry and Economy. He is now interested in research on mantle peridotites. E-mail: [email protected].
About the corresponding author:
LIU Ting, female, born in 1988 in Lanxi, Zhejiang Province; Ph.D. in mineralogy, petrology, ore deposit geology; graduated from China University of Geosciences (Beijing); lecturer at Anhui Technical College of Industry and Economy. Her interests focus on petrogenesis and mineralization of mafic-ultramafic rocks. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract
The Fuchuan ophiolite is located in the northeasternmost segment of the Neoproterozoic Jiangnan orogen and consists mainly of harzburgites, with minor dunites, pyroxenite and gabbro veins and dykes. In order to investigate the genesis and tectonic setting of the Fuchuan ophiolite and chromitites, in situ analyses of unaltered chromites and silicates were carried out. Trace element analyses of unaltered chromites from the Fuchuan chromitites indicate the parental magma is of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like origin, with the Ti/Fe3+#–Ga/Fe3+# diagram of chromites showing that the chromitites are a result of melt/rock interaction of MORB melts with mantle peridotites, and that the Fuchuan harzburgites present the dual features of MORB and supra-subduction zone peridotites (SSZP). Trace and rare earth element (REE) analyses of olivines and orthopyroxenes from the Fuchuan harzburgites hint at the possibility of mantle metasomatism influenced by SSZ-subducted fluids. Finally, integrating with previous study, the Fuchuan ophiolite and chromitites might have been formed in a back-arc spreading ridge between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks during the Neoproterozoic.
References
- Akmaz, R.M., Uysal, I., and Saka, S., 2014. Compositional variations of chromite and solid inclusions in ophiolitic chromitites from the southeastern Turkey: Implications for chromitite genesis. Ore Geology Reviews, 58: 208–224.
- Anhui Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 1995. Regional Geological Report of Shexian area, Hefei, Scale 1:500,000. Hefei: Anhui Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Geological Report (in Chinese).
- Arai, S., 1994. Characterization of spinel peridotites by olivine-spinel compositional relationships: Review and interpretation. Chemical Geology, 113(3–4): 191–204.
- Arai, S., 1997. Origin of podiform chromitites. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 15: 303–310.
- Bai, W.J., and Li, X., 1993. A study on the chemical composition of mineral inclusions in chromite from the Hegenshan ophiolite massif, Inner Mongolia, China. Acta Mineralogica Sinica, 13(3): 204–212 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Barth, M.G., Mason, P.R.D., Davies, G.R., Dijkstra, A.H., and Drury, M.R., 2003. Geochemistry of the Othris ophiolite, Greece: Evidence for refertilization? Journal of Petrology, 44: 1759–1785.
- Bizimis, M., Salters, V.J.M., and Bonatti, E., 2000. Trace and REE content of clinopyroxenes from supra-subduction zone perodotite. Implication for melting and enrichment processes in island arcs. Chemical Geology, 165: 67–85.
- Colás, V., González-Jiménez, J.M., Griffin, W.L., Fanlo, I., Gervilla, F., O'Reilly, S.Y., Pearson, N.J., Kerestedjian, T., and Proenza, J.A., 2014. Fingerprints of metamorphism in chromite: new insights from minor and trace elements. Chemical Geology, 389: 137–152.
- Dare, S.A.S., Pearce, J.A., McDonald, I, and Styles, M.T., 2009. Tectonic discrimination of peridotites using fO2-Cr# and Ga-Ti-FeIII systematics in chrome-spinel. Chemical Geology, 261: 199–216.
- Ding, B.H., Shi, R.D., Zhi, X.C., Zheng, L., and Chen, L., 2008. Neoproterozoic (–850 Ma) subduction in the Jiangnan orogen: Evidence from the SHRIMP U-Pb dating of the SSZ-type ophiolite in southern Anhui Province. Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica, 27(5): 375–388 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Foley, S.F., Prelevic, D., Rehfeldt, T., and Jacob, D.E., 2013. Minor and trace elements in olivines as probes into early igneous and mantle melting processes. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 363: 181–191.
- Garrido, C.J., and Bodinier, J.L., 1999. Diversity of mafic rocks in the Ronda peridotite: Evidence for pervasive melt–rock reaction during heating of subcontinental lithosphere by upwelling asthenosphere. Journal of Petrology, 40: 729–754.
- González-Jiménez, J.M., Barra, F., Garrido, L.N.F., Reich, M., Satsukawa, T., Romero, R., Salazar, E., Colás, V., Orellana, F., and Rabbia, O., 2016. A secondary precious and base metal mineralization in chromitites linked to the development of a Paleozoic accretionary complex in Central Chile. Ore Geology Reviews, 78: 14–40.
- González-Jiménez, J.M., Griffin, W.L., Proenza, J.A., Gervilla, F., and Arai, S., 2014. Chromitite in ophiolites: How, where, when, why? Part II. The crystallization of chromitite. Lithos, 189: 140–158.
- Guo, G.L., Fan, X.J., Yang, J.S., Liu, X.D., Zhang, Y., and Zhou, W.T., 2015. Petrogenesis significance of chromian spinels from northeastern Jiangxi Province ophiolite (NEJXO), China: Paleogeodynamic implications. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition), 89(supp. 2): 18–19.
10.1111/1755-6724.12308_14 Google Scholar
- Hawkins, J.W., Lonsdale, P.F., Macdougall, J.D., and Volpe, A.M., 1990. Petrology of the axial ridge of the Mariana Trough backarc spreading center. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 100(1): 226–250.
- Huang, Z., Yang, J.S., Zhu, Y.W., Xiong, F.H., Liu, Z., Zhang, Z.M., and Xu, W., 2015. The discovery of diamonds in chromitite of the Hegenshan Ophiolite, Inner Mongolia. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition), 89(S2): 32.
10.1111/1755-6724.12308_22 Google Scholar
- Jing, J.J., Su, B.X., Xiao, Y., Zhang, H.F., and Saka, S., 2019. Reactive origin of mantle harzburgite: Evidence from orthopyroxene-spinel association. Lithos, 342–343: 175–186.
- Johnson, K.T., and Dick, H.J., 1992. Open system melting and temporal and spatial variation of peridotite. Journal of Geophysical Research, 97: 9219–9241.
- Johnson, K.T., Dick, H.J., and Shimizu, N., 1990. Melting in the oceanic upper mantle: An ion microprobe study of diopsides in abyssal peridotites. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 95: 2661–2678.
- Kapsiotis, A.N., 2016. Mineralogy, geochemistry and geotectonic significance of harzburgite from the southern Dramala upper mantle suite, Pindos ophiolite complex, NW Greece. Geological Journal, 51(2): 236–262.
- Kelemen, P.B., 1990. Reaction between ultramafic wall rock and fractionating basaltic magma: Part I, phase relations, the origin of calc-alkaline magma series, and the formation of discordant dunite. Journal of Petrology, 31: 51–98.
- Khedr, M.Z., and Arai, S., 2016. Chemical variations of mineral inclusions in Neoproterozoic high-Cr chromitites from Egypt: Evidence of fluids during chromitite genesis. Lithos, 240–243: 309–326.
- Li, X.H., Zhao, J.X., McCulloch, M.T., Zhou, G.Q., and Xing, F.M., 1997. Geochemical Sm-Nd isotopic of Neoproterozoic ophiolites from southeastern China, petrogenesis and tectonic implications. Precambrian Research, 81: 129–144.
- Liu, C.Z., Wu, F.Y., Wilde, S.A., Yu, L.J., and Li, J.L., 2010. Anorthitic plagioclase and pargasitic amphibole in mantle peridotites from the Yungbwa ophiolite (southwestern Tibetan plateau) formed by hydrous melt metasomatism. Lithos, 114: 413–422.
- Liu, T., Zheng, Y.Y., and Guo, T.J., 2019. Optimal geochemical features of medium and large-sized podiform chromite ores. Geological Science and Technology Information. 38(2): 217–225 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Liu, T., Zheng, Y.Y., and Wu, J., 2021. Genesis of Fuchuan chromitites at South Anhui, implications from the parental melts. Earth Science, 46(5): 1613–1629 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Liu, Y.S., Hu, Z.C., Gao, S., Günther, D., Xu, J., Gao, C.G, and Chen, H.H., 2008. In situ analysis of major and trace elements of anhydrous minerals by LA-ICP-MS without applying an internal standard. Chemical Geology, 257: 34–43.
- Mukherjee, R., Mondal, S.K., González-Jiménez, J.M., Griffin, W.L., Pearson, N.J., and O'Reilly, S.Y., 2015. Trace-element fingerprints of chromite, magnetite and sulfides from the 3.1 Ga ultramafic-mafic rocks of the Nuggihalli greenstone belt, Western Dharwar craton (India). Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 169: 1–23.
- No. 332 Geological Team, 1962. Report on the geochemical ore exploration of ultramafic rocks at East Shexian, Anhui province. Hefei: Anhui Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Geological Report (in Chinese).
- No. 332 Geological Team, 1975. Supplement report of general exploration of the Fuchuan chromitites in Shexian County, Anhui Province. Hefei: Anhui Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Geological Report (in Chinese).
- Pagé, P., and Barnes, S.J., 2009. Using trace elements in chromites to constrain the origin of podiform chromitite in the Thetford Mines ophiolite, Quebec, Canada. Economic Geology, 104: 997–1018.
- Pearce, J.A., Lippard, S.J., and Robert, S., 1984. Characteristics and tectonic significance of supra-subduction zone ophiolites. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 16(1): 77–94.
- Peighambari, S., Ahmadipour, H., Stosch, H.G., and Daliran, F., 2011. Evidence for multi-stage mantle metasomatism at the Dehsheilch peridotite massif and chromite deposits of the Orzuieh coloured mélange belt, southeastern Iran. Ore Geology Reviews, 39: 245–264.
- Piccardo, G.B., and Vissers, R.L.M., 2007. The pre-oceanic evolution of the Erro-Tobbio peridotite (Voltri Massif-Ligurian Alps, Italy). Journal of Geodynamics, 43: 417–449.
- Rollinson, H., 2008. The geochemistry of mantle chromitite from the northern part of the Oman ophiolite: Inferred parental melt compositions. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 156: 273–288.
- Rollison, H.R., 1993. Using Geological Data: Evaluation, Presentation, Interpretation. London: Longman Scientific & Technical.
- Sack, R.O., and Ghiorso, M.S., 1991. Chromian spinels as petrogenetic indicators-Thermodynamics and petrological applications. American Mineralogist, 76(5–6): 827–847.
- Saka, S., Uysal, I., Akmaz, R.M., Kaliwoda, M., and Hochleitner, R., 2014. The effects of partial melting, melt-mantle interaction and fractionation on ophiolite generation: constraints from the late Cretaceous Pozantı-Karsantı ophiolite, southern Turkey. Lithos, 202–203: 300–316.
- Sano, S., and Kimura, J.L., 2007. Clinopyroxene REE geochemistry of the Red Hills peridotite, New Zealand: Interpretation of magmatic processes in the upper mantle and in the Moho transition zone. Journal of Petrology, 48: 113–139.
- Scott, J.M., Liu, J.G., Pearson, D.G., and Waight, T.E., 2016. Mantle depletion and metasomatism recorded in orthopyroxene in highly depleted peridotites. Chemical Geology, 441: 280–291.
- Shu, L.S., Wang, J.Q., and Yao, J.L., 2019. Tectonic evolution of the Eastern Jiangnan Region, South China: New findings and implications on the assembly of the Rodinia supercontinent. Precambrian Research, 322: 42–65.
- Sobolev, A.V., Hofmann, A.W., Kuzmin, D.V., Yaxley, G.M., Arndt, N.T., Chung, S.L., Danyushevsky, L.V., Elliott, T., Frey, F.A., and Garcia, M.O., 2007. The amount of recycled crust in sources of mantle-derived melts. Science, 316: 412–417.
- Su, B.X., Robinson, P.T., Chen, C., Xiao, Y., Melcher, K., Bai, Y., Gu, X.Y., Uysal, I., and Lenaz, D., 2020. The occurrence, origin, and fate of water in chromitites in ophiolites. American Mineralogist, 105: 894–903.
- Su, B.X., Zhou, M.F., Jing, J.J., Robinson, P.T., Chen, C., Xiao, Y., Liu, X., Shi, R.D., Lenaz, D., and Hu, Y., 2019. Distinctive melt activity and chromite mineralization in Luobusa and Purang ophiolites, southern Tibet: Constraints from trace element compositions of chromite and olivine. Science Bulletin, 64(2): 108–121.
- Sun, S.S., and McDonough, W.F., 1989. Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalt: Implications for mantle composition and processes. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 42: 313–345.
- Tian, Y.Z., 2015. Genesis of High-Al Chromitite of the Sartohay ophiolite Xinjiang (Ph.D. thesis). Beijing: Institute of Geology, China, 1–234 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Wang, F.Y., Ge, C., Ning, S.Y., Nie, L.Q., Zhong, G.X., and White, N.C., 2017. A new approach to LA-ICP-MS mapping and application in geology. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 33(11): 3422–3436 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Wang, X.B., and Bao, P.S., 1987. The genesis of podiform chromite deposits—A case study of the Luobusa chromite deposit, Tibet. Acta Geologica Sinica, (2): 166–181 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Wang, X.L., Zhou, J.C., Chen, X., Zhang, F.F., and Sun, Z.M., 2017. Formation and evolution of the Jiangnan Orogen. Bulletin of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, 36(5): 714–735+696 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Wu, W.W., Yang, J.S., Zheng, J.P., Lian, D.Y., Qiu, T., and Rui, H.C., 2020. Origin of the diamonds within chromitite from the Mirdita Ophiolite (Albania) and its geological significance. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition), 94(S1): 64–65.
- Xing, F.M., 1990. Geochemical indication of formation environment of Fuchuan ophiolites in southern Anhui Province. Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica, 9: 1–12 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Xiong, F.H., Yang, J.S., Robinson, P.T., Xu, X.Z., Liu, Z., Li, Y., Li, J.Y., and Chen, S.Y., 2015. Origin of podiform chromitite, a new model based on the Luobusa ophiolite, Tibet. Gondwana Research, 27: 525–542.
- Yamamoto, S., Xu, X.Z., and Yang, J.S., 2012. A new window into the deep mantle: Podiform chromitite in the Luobusa Ophiolite, southern Tibet. Journal of Geography, 121(1): 161–167.
- Yang, J.M., Wang, X.B., and Bao, P.S., 1993. Geochemical characteristics and tectonic setting of ophiolites in Shexian county, Anhui province. Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica, (3): 232–242 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Yang, J.S., Ba, D.Z., Xu, X.Z., and Li, Z.L., 2010. A restudy of podiform chromite deposits and their ore-prospecting vista in China. Geology in China, 37(4): 1141–1150 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Yang, J.S., Bai, W.J., Fang, Q.S., and Rong, H., 2008. Ultrahigh-pressure minerals and new minerals from the Luobusa ophiolitic chromitites in Tibet: A review. Acta Geoscientica Sinica, 29(3): 263–274 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Yang, J.S., Xu, X.Z., Rong, H., and Niu, X.L., 2013. Deep minerals in ophiolitic mantle peridotites: Discovery and progress. Bulletin of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, 32(2): 159–170 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Yu, L.F., Ma, L., Zhu, Q., and Hu, Z.Q., 2017. Geochemical characteristics of spilite–ceratophyre in Shexian and its geological significance. Journal of Hefei University of Technology, 40(4): 539–546 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Zhang, C., Santosh, M., Zou, H., Li, H.K., and Huang, W.C., 2013. The Fuchuan ophiolite in Jiangnan Orogen: Geochemistry, zircon U-Pb geochronology, Hf isotope and implications for the Neoproterozoic assembly of South China. Lithos, 179: 263–274.
- Zhang, P.F., Uysal, I., Zhou, M.F., Su, B.X., and Avcı, E., 2016. Subduction initiation for the formation of high-Cr chromitites in the Kop ophiolite, NE Turkey. Lithos, 260: 345–355.
- Zhang, Q., and Zhou, G.Q., 2001. Ophiolites in China. Beijing: Science Press (in Chinese).
- Zhang, S.B., Wu, R.X., and Zheng, Y.F., 2012. Neoproterozoic continental accretion in South China: Geochemical evidence from the Fuchuan ophiolite in the Jiangnan orogen. Precambrian Research, 220–221: 45–64.
- Zheng, T., Huang, D.Z., Cui, J.J., Xu, Y.L., and Zhou, W.J., 2019. Geochemical characteristics of the SSZ-type ophiolite in the Fuchuan area, southern Anhui, China and their tectonic significances. Acta Mineralogica Sinica, 39(3): 281–294 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Zhou, M.F., and Robinson, P.T., 1994. High-Cr and high-Al chromitites, western China: Relationship to partial melting and melt/rock interaction in the upper mantle. International Geology Review, 36: 678–686.
10.1080/00206819409465481 Google Scholar
- Zhou, M.F., Robinson, P.T., and Bai, W.J., 1994. Formation of podiform chromitite by melt/rock interaction in the upper mantle. Mineralium Deposita, 29: 98–101.
- Zhou, M.F., Robinson, P.T., Malpas, J., Edward, S.J., and Qi, L., 2005. REE and PGE geochemical constraints on the formation of dunites in the Luobusa ophiolite, southern Tibet. Journal of Petrology, 46(3): 615–639.
- Zhou, M.F., Robinson, P.T., Su, B.X., Gao, J.F., Li, J.W., Yang, J.S., and Malpas, J., 2014. Compositions of chromite, associated minerals, and parental magmas of podiform chromite deposits: The role of slab contamination of asthenospheric melts in suprasubduction zone environments. Gondwana Research, 26: 262–283.
- Zhou, W.T., 2016. Characteristic and tectonic significances of zonal spinel in northeastern Jiangxi ophiolite (Master thesis). Jiangxi: East China Institute of Technology, 1–62 (in Chinese with English abstract).
- Zhou, X.M., and Zhu, Y.H., 1992. Magma migmatization of Jiang–Shao fault and its Precambrian geology. Scientia Sinica (B), (3): 296–303 (in Chinese).
- Zhou, X.M., Zou, H.B., Yang, J.D., and Wang, Y.X., 1989. Sm-Nd isochronous age of Fuchuan ophiolite suite in Shexian county, Anhui province and its geological significance. Chinese Science Bulletin, (16): 1243–1245 (in Chinese with English abstract).
