Sea-floor metamorphism recorded in epidosites from the ca. 1.0 Ga Miaowan ophiolite, Huangling anticline, China

Abstract

The epidosites are interpreted to form in upflow zones at the base of ore-forming oceanic hydrothermal systems that vent as black smokers on the sea floor. This study presents new field, major and trace element, and oxygen isotope data for the recently discovered epidosites in the ca. 1.0 Ga Miaowan (庙湾) ophiolite located near the northern margin of the Yangtze craton. The epidosites occur mainly in the cores of strongly deformed, lensoidal amphibolites. Field observations, major and trace elements and oxygen isotopes suggest that the epidosites were formed by metasomatism of ocean floor basalts, diabase dykes, and gabbros during seafloor hydrothermal alteration.

Keywords

epidosite / hydrothermal alteration / metasomatism / Miaowan ophiolite / Yangtze craton / China

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