Precipitation of Calcite Veins in Serpentinized Harzburgite at Tianxiu Hydrothermal Field on Carlsberg Ridge (3.67°N), Northwest Indian Ocean: Implications for Fluid Circulation

Abstract

Serpentinization and calcite precipitation of mantle peridotites exhumed along detachment faults at the slow- to ultraslow-spreading centers can provide important clues to the hydrothermal alteration processes. The Tianxiu hydrothermal field is a new-found active and ultramafichosted hydrothermal vent site along the Carlsberg Ridge, Northwest Indian Ocean. Two types of calcite veins are recognized in serpentinized harzburgite samples collected from the seafloor at the water depth of 3 500 m (3.67°N/63.83°E) and 400 m north of Tianxiu hydrothermal field. Calcite veins I occur in the fractures that cut through mesh texture in the highly serpentinized harzburgite, while calcite veins II precipitate within the mesh texture in the relatively weaker serpentinized harzburgite. Both veins show similar δ¹³C_PDB (+0.54‰ and +0.58‰) but different δ¹⁸O_PDB(−16.67‰ and +4.46‰) values, suggesting that they were derived from the same carbon source but precipitated at different temperatures. Taking the deep seawater temperature of 2 °C as the precipitation temperature of the calcite veins I, the equilibrium δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW of calcite-precipitating fluid was calculated to be 1.78‰, which is close to the average δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW value (1.74‰) of vent fluid samples from the ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal systems worldwide. The formation temperature of calcite veins II is inferred to be approximately 134 °C, based on the calculated δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW above. The temperature differences of calcite precipitation probably resulted from the fluid cooling conductively and mixing with seawater along the presumed fractures during slow upflow. The low-temperature calcite postdates the mesh texture, while the high-temperature calcite may precipitate under relatively low water/rock ratios, alkaline and reduced conditions among the mesh texture, which is revealed by the geochemical models. Therefore, it is suggested that they both have been influenced by hydrothermal fluids and the sampling site is near the discharge zone of hydrothermal circulation.

Keywords

calcite veins / serpentinized harzburgite / isotopes / geochemical models / Carlsberg Ridge

References

[1] Alexander G, Mercedes Maroto-Valer M, Gafarova-Aksoy P. Evaluation of Reaction Variables in the Dissolution of Serpentine for Mineral Carbonation. Fuel, 2007, 86(1/2): 273-281.

[2] Allen D E, Seyfried W E Jr.. Serpentinization and Heat Generation: Constraints from Lost City and Rainbow Hydrothermal Systems. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2004, 68(6): 1347-1354.

[3] Alt J C, Shanks W C III. Serpentinization of Abyssal Peridotites from the Mark Area, Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Sulfur Geochemistry and Reaction Modeling. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2003, 67(4): 641-653.

[4] Andreani M, Luquot L, Gouze P, . Experimental Study of Carbon Sequestration Reactions Controlled by the Percolation of CO₂-Rich Brine through Peridotites. Environmental Science and Technology, 2009, 43(4): 1226-1231.

[5] Andreani M, Mevel C, Boullier A M, . Dynamic Control on Serpentine Crystallization in Veins: Constraints on Hydration Processes in Oceanic Peridotites. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2007, 8 2 Q02012

[6] Bach W, Rosner M, Jons N, . Carbonate Veins Trace Seawater Circulation during Exhumation and Uplift of Mantle Rock: Results from ODP Leg 209. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2011, 311(3/4): 242-252.

[7] Bankole S A, Buckman J, Stow D, . Automated Image Analysis of Mud and Mudrock Microstructure and Characteristics of Hemipelagic Sediments: IODP Expedition 339. Journal of Earth Science, 2019, 30(2): 407-421.

[8] Barnes I, O'Neill J R, Rapp J B, . Silica-Carbonate Alteration of Serpentine; Wall Rock Alteration in Mercury Deposits of the California Coast Ranges. Economic Geology, 1973, 68(3): 388-398.

[9] Boschi C, Dini A, Dallai L, . Enhanced CO₂-Mineral Sequestration by Cyclic Hydraulic Fracturing and Si-Rich Fluid Infiltration into Serpentinites at Malentrata (Tuscany, Italy). Chemical Geology, 2009, 265(1/2): 209-226.

[10] Coggon R M, Teagle D A H, Cooper M J, . Linking Basement Carbonate Vein Compositions to Porewater Geochemistry Across the Eastern Flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, ODP Leg 168. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2004, 219(1/2): 111-128.

[11] Coleman R G. Serpentinite: Record of Tectonic and Petrologic History. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 1997, 78 13 137

[12] Coplen T B, Kendall C, Hopple J. Comparison of Stable Isotope Reference Samples. Nature, 1983, 302(5905): 236-238.

[13] Demartin B, Hirth G, Evans B. German C R, Lin J, Parson L M. Experimental Constraints on Thermal Cracking of Peridotite at Oceanic Spreading Centers. Mid-Ocean Ridges: Hydrothermal Interactions between the Lithosphere and Oceans, 2004, Washington DC: American Geophysical Union, 167-185.

[14] Eickmann B, Bach W, Peckmann J. Authigenesis of Carbonate Minerals in Modern and Devonian Ocean-Floor Hard Rocks. The Journal of Geology, 2009, 117(3): 307-323.

[15] Fouquet Y, Cambon P, Etoubleau J, . Rona P A, Devey C W, Dyment J, . Geodiversity of Hydrothermal Processes along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Ultramafic-Hosted Mineralization: A New Type of Oceanic Cu-Zn-Co-Au Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposit. Diversity Of Hydrothermal Systems on Slow Spreading Ocean Ridges, 2010, Washington DC: American Geophysical Union, 321-367

[16] Frost B R. On the Stability of Sulfides, Oxides, and Native Metals in Serpentinite. Journal of Petrology, 1985, 26(1): 31-63.

[17] Gamo T, Chiba H, Yamanaka T, . Chemical Characteristics of Newly Discovered Black Smoker Fluids and Associated Hydrothermal Plumes at the Rodriguez Triple Junction, Central Indian Ridge. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2001, 193(3/4): 371-379.

[18] Grozeva N G, Klein F, Seewald J S, . Experimental Study of Carbonate Formation in Oceanic Peridotite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2017, 199: 264-286.

[19] Guo L N, Liu S S, Hou L, . Fluid Inclusion and H-O Isotope Geochemistry of the Phapon Gold Deposit, NW Laos: Implications for Fluid Source and Ore Genesis. Journal of Earth Science, 2019, 30(1): 80-94.

[20] Han X, Wang Y, Li X. Lin J, Li J B. First Ultramafic-Hosted Hydrothermal Sulfide Deposit Discovered on the Carlsberg Ridge, Northwest Indian Ocean. The Third InterRidge Theoretical Insitute, Hangzhou, 2015.

[21] Hansen L D, Dipple G M, Gordon T M, . Carbonated Serpentinite (Listwanite) at Atlin, British Columbia: A Geological Analogue to Carbon Dioxide Sequestration. The Canadian Mineralogist, 2005, 43(1): 225-239.

[22] James R H, Green D R H, Stock M J, . Composition of Hydrothermal Fluids and Mineralogy of Associated Chimney Material on the East Scotia Ridge Back-Arc Spreading Centre. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2014, 139: 47-71.

[23] Jamtveit B, Putnis C V, Malme-Sørenssen A. Reaction Induced Fracturing during Replacement Processes. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 2009, 157(1): 127-133.

[24] Jean-Baptiste P, Charlou J L, Stievenard M. Oxygen Isotope Study of Mid-Ocean Ridge Hydrothermal Fluids: Implication for the Oxygen-18 Budget of the Oceans. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1997, 61(13): 2669-2677.

[25] Jedrysek M O, Halas S. The Origin of Magnesite Deposits from the Polish Foresudetic Block Ophiolites: Preliminary δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O Investigations. Terra Nova, 1990, 2(2): 154-159.

[26] Karson J A, Lawrence R M. Karson J A, Cannat M, Miller D J. Tectonic Setting of Serpentinite Exposures on the Western Median Valley Wall of the Mark Area in the Vicinity of Site 920. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, 1997

[27] Kelemen P B, Hirth G. Reaction-Driven Cracking during Retrograde Metamorphism: Olivine Hydration and Carbonation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2012, 81-89.

[28] Kelemen P B, Matter J. In-situ Carbonation of Peridotite for CO₂ Storage. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008, 105(45): 17295-17300.

[29] Kelemen P B, Matter J, Streit E E, . Rates and Mechanisms of Mineral Carbonation in Peridotite: Natural Processes and Recipes for Enhanced, in-situ CO₂ Capture and Storage. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 2011, 39(1): 545-576.

[30] Kelley D S, Karson J A, Blackman D K, . An Off-Axis Hydrothermal Vent Field near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 30°N. Nature, 2001, 412(6843): 145-149.

[31] Kim S T, O'Neil J R. Equilibrium and Nonequilibrium Oxygen Isotope Effects in Synthetic Carbonates. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1997, 61(16): 3461-3475.

[32] Klein E, Bach W, Jons N, . Iron Partitioning and Hydrogen Generation during Serpentinization of Abyssal Peridotites from 15°N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2009, 73(22): 6868-6893.

[33] Klein E, Humphris S E, Guo W E, . Fluid Mixing and the Deep Biosphere of a Fossil Lost City-Type Hydrothermal System at the Iberia Margin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2015, 112(39): 12036-12041.

[34] Klein E, McCollom T M. From Serpentinization to Carbonation: New Insights from a CO2 Injection Experiment. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2013, 379: 137-145.

[35] Kong X Z, Tutolo B M, Saar M O. DBCreate: A SUPCRT92-Based Program for Producing EA3/6, Toughreact, and Gwb Thermodynamic Databases at User-Defined T and P. Computers & Geosciences, 2013, 51: 415-417.

[36] Kretz R. Symbols for Rock-Forming Minerals. American Mineralogist, 1983, 68: 277-279.

[37] Kump L R. Alternative Modeling Approaches to the Geochemical Cycles of Carbon, Sulfur, and Strontium Isotopes. American Journal of Science, 1989, 289(4): 390-410.

[38] Liu S G, Deng B, Jansa L, . Multi-Stage Basin Development and Hydrocarbon Accumulations: A Review of the Sichuan Basin at Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Earth Science, 2018, 29(2): 307-325.

[39] Ma B J, Wu S G, Mi L J, . Mixed Carbonate-Siliciclastic Deposits in a Channel Complex in the Northern South China Sea. Journal of Earth Science, 2018, 29(3): 707-720.

[40] Macdonald A H, Fyfe W S. Rate of Serpentinization in Seafloor Environments. Tectonophysics, 1985, 116(1/2): 123-135.

[41] Marques A F A, Barriga F J A S, Scott S D. Sulfide Mineralization in an Urtramafic-Rock Hosted Seafloor Hydrothermal System: From Serpentinization to the Formation of Cu-Zn-(Co)-Rich Massive Sulfides. Marine Geology, 2007, 245(1/2/3/4): 20-39.

[42] Martin B, Fyfe W S. Some Experimental and Theoretical Observations on the Kinetics of Hydration Reactions with Particular Reference to Serpentinization. Chemical Geology, 1970, 6: 185-202.

[43] McCollom T M, Bach W. Thermodynamic Constraints on Hydrogen Generation during Serpentinization of Urtramafic Rocks. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2009, 73(3): 856-875.

[44] Mevel C. Serpentinization of Abyssal Peridotites at Mid-Ocean Ridges. Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 2003, 335(10/11): 825-852.

[45] Plumper O, Røyne A, Magraso A, . The Interface-Scale Mechanism of Reaction-Induced Fracturing during Serpentinization. Geology, 2012, 40(12): 1103-1106.

[46] Power I M, Wilson S A, Dipple G M. Serpentinite Carbonation for CO₂ Sequestration. Elements, 2013, 9(2): 115-121.

[47] Proskurowski G, Lilley M D, Kelley D S, . Low Temperature Volatile Production at the Lost City Hydrothermal Field, Evidence from a Hydrogen Stable Isotope Geothermometer. Chemical Geology, 2006, 229(4): 331-343.

[48] Roumejon S, Cannat M. Serpentinization of Mantle-Derived Peridotites at Mid-Ocean Ridges: Mesh Texture Development in the Context of Tectonic Exhumation. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2014, 15(6): 2354-2379.

[49] Schmidt G A, Bigg G R, Rohling E J. Global Seawater Oxygen-18 Database-v1.22, 1999.

[50] Schmidt K, Garbe-Schonberg D, Koschinsky A, . Fluid Elemental and Stable Isotope Composition of the Nibelungen Hydrothermal Field (8° 18′S, Mid-Atlantic Ridge): Constraints on Fluid-Rock Interaction in Heterogeneous Lithosphere. Chemical Geology, 2011, 280(1/2): 1-18.

[51] Schmidt K, Koschinsky A, Garbe-Schonberg D, . Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Fluids from the Ultramafic-Hosted Logatchev Hydrothermal Field, 15°N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Temporal and Spatial Investigation. Chemical Geology, 2007, 242(1/2): 1-21.

[52] Schroeder T, Bach W, Jons N, . Fluid Circulation and Carbonate Vein Precipitation in the Footwall of an Oceanic Core Complex, Ocean Drilling Program Site 175, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2015, 16(10): 3716-3732.

[53] Schroeder T, Cheadle M J, Dick H J B, . Nonvolcanic Seafloor Spreading and Corner-Flow Rotation Accommodated by Extensional Faulting at 15°N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: A Structural Synthesis of ODP Leg 209. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2007, 8(6): 1-16.

[54] Schwarzenbach E M. Research Focus: Serpentinization and the Formation of Fluid Pathways. Geology, 2016, 44(2): 175-176.

[55] Schwarzenbach E M, Früh-Green G L, Bernasconi S M, . Serpentinization and Carbon Sequestration: A Study of Two Ancient Peridotite-Hosted Hydrothermal Systems. Chemical Geology, 2013, 351: 115-133.

[56] Shanks W C III.. Stable Isotopes in Seafloor Hydrothermal Systems: Vent Fluids, Hydrothermal Deposits, Hydrothermal Alteration, and Microbial Processes. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 2001, 43(1): 469-525.

[57] Urey H C. The Thermodynamic Properties of Isotopic Substances. Journal of the Chemical Society (Resumed), 1947, 562-581.

[58] Wang S J, Li X P, Duan W Y, . Record of Early-Stage Rodingitization from the Purang Ophiolite Complex, Western Tibet. Journal of Earth Science, 2019.

[59] Wolery T J. EQ3/6, a Software Package for Geochemical Modeling of Aqueous Systems: Package Overview and Installation Guide (Version 7.0), 1992, 1-74