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Moving reactive interfaces and fractal carbonate replacement patterns in serpentinites: evidence from the southern Iberia Abyssal Plain

Moving reactive interfaces and fractal carbonate replacement patterns in serpentinites: evidence from the southern Iberia Abyssal Plain
Moving reactive interfaces and fractal carbonate replacement patterns in serpentinites: evidence from the southern Iberia Abyssal Plain
Serpentinized ultramafic rocks recovered from beneath the southern Iberia Abyssal Plain (Ocean Drilling Programme Leg 173) provide the first record of fractal carbonate replacement patterns in a serpentinite. The patterns are expressed as microscopic branching aggregates (clusters) of aragonite disseminated throughout the serpentinites. Aragonite growth was the final mineralization event. The aragonite diminishes rapidly in quantity from an essential to a trace component of the serpentinite over a distance of ~40 m from a normal fault. Decreasing abundance of aragonite away from the normal fault links the growth of the carbonate to the multistage hydrothermal mineralization associated with the fault. Aragonite clusters are concentrated in picrolite, where they are interwoven with colloid-sized chrysotile, and show fractal growth habits. Areas adjacent to the clusters are sites of Mg enrichment of the serpentine medium relative to aragonite-free picrolite. It is interpreted that the aragonite clusters result from incursions of reactive seawater solutions through fine-scale pore structures in and around the fault in response to pressure gradients emanating from active tectonism. Cluster growth is interpreted to be a percolation phenomenon and provides a novel source of information on the nature of fine-scale reactive fluid flow, pore-space connectivity, and carbonate replacement processes in serpentinites.
0026-461X
791-800
Hopkinson, L.J.
4e50d1bc-62c2-47e4-a354-c2185d13908c
Dee, S.
16caa27e-e124-4e6e-b988-69ba11f6901f
Boulter, C.A.
4d1207e1-8254-49d2-87d1-359588f9a493
Hopkinson, L.J.
4e50d1bc-62c2-47e4-a354-c2185d13908c
Dee, S.
16caa27e-e124-4e6e-b988-69ba11f6901f
Boulter, C.A.
4d1207e1-8254-49d2-87d1-359588f9a493

Hopkinson, L.J., Dee, S. and Boulter, C.A. (2000) Moving reactive interfaces and fractal carbonate replacement patterns in serpentinites: evidence from the southern Iberia Abyssal Plain. Mineralogical Magazine, 64 (5), 791-800. (doi:10.1180/002646100549797).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Serpentinized ultramafic rocks recovered from beneath the southern Iberia Abyssal Plain (Ocean Drilling Programme Leg 173) provide the first record of fractal carbonate replacement patterns in a serpentinite. The patterns are expressed as microscopic branching aggregates (clusters) of aragonite disseminated throughout the serpentinites. Aragonite growth was the final mineralization event. The aragonite diminishes rapidly in quantity from an essential to a trace component of the serpentinite over a distance of ~40 m from a normal fault. Decreasing abundance of aragonite away from the normal fault links the growth of the carbonate to the multistage hydrothermal mineralization associated with the fault. Aragonite clusters are concentrated in picrolite, where they are interwoven with colloid-sized chrysotile, and show fractal growth habits. Areas adjacent to the clusters are sites of Mg enrichment of the serpentine medium relative to aragonite-free picrolite. It is interpreted that the aragonite clusters result from incursions of reactive seawater solutions through fine-scale pore structures in and around the fault in response to pressure gradients emanating from active tectonism. Cluster growth is interpreted to be a percolation phenomenon and provides a novel source of information on the nature of fine-scale reactive fluid flow, pore-space connectivity, and carbonate replacement processes in serpentinites.

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Published date: 2000

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Local EPrints ID: 1332
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/1332
ISSN: 0026-461X
PURE UUID: ffffffcd-b473-44e6-9fcf-1c6402b31b33

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Date deposited: 16 Apr 2004
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 04:43

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Contributors

Author: L.J. Hopkinson
Author: S. Dee
Author: C.A. Boulter

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