Imaging of boron in altered mantle rocks illuminates progressive serpentinisation episodes

Abstract

Serpentinised mantle rocks reflect the cumulative sum of multiple alteration events, but to date, identifying distinct serpentinisation episodes has remained challenging due to limited knowledge of the spatial distribution of tracers of fluid-rock exchange. Here we present novel high spatial resolution (∼10 μm) boron, nickel, calcium, and lithium concentration maps combined with in situ boron isotope analyses of strongly serpentinised mantle peridotites from the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus. Our maps indicate strongly heterogenous boron concentrations with high boron concentrations in early formed serpentine replacing olivine but much lower boron contents in mesh-textured serpentine and bastitic pyroxene. Late stage crosscutting serpentine veins have very low boron concentrations. In contrast, boron isotope measurements, made at coarser scales, are remarkably uniform (mean value +11.9 ± 3.2 %, 1σ, n = 49). We interpret the high boron serpentine as reflecting the partial preservation of an early pervasive serpentinisation episode by fluids with high boron concentrations sourced from the dehydration of the subducting Cyprus slab. Subsequent serpentine phases with moderate to low boron reflect progressive recrystallisation and leaching by low boron concentration meteoric waters.

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