Abstract
Peridotites in ophiolites exposed along Himalayan suture zone open window to study deep Earth processes. We report c.2 km thick well exposed mantle section of Shergol ophiolite in the Indus Suture Zone (ISZ). The mantle section comprises lherzolite, serpentinised peridotite with cumulate chromitites. The in situ evidences from micron-sized mineral exsolutions are studied using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. From the ISZ lherzolite, ilmenite mineral exsolution is noted in the olivine grain. The exsolved ilmenites are oriented topotactically following former {111} planes of magnetite, providing evidence of spinel precursor. In another observation, the disoriented 1–3 µm wide and 10–80 µm long ilmenite needles are hosted in the olivine, is characterised by Raman peaks at 685, 370 cm−1 with low peaks at 308 cm−1,523 cm−1, 683 cm−1, 693 cm−1 and 731 cm−1 point to mixed mineral phases of magnetite with Cr–Fe–Al. Based on morphologies, crystal-chemical structure and modal calculation of exsolutions, we infer, exsolved Fe–Ti phases in Shergol peridotite is sourced from deeper part of the upper mantle. With the Fe–Ti phases, tiny silicate inclusions in chrome spinel and accompanying opaque base metal sulphides are also observed in the same peridotite, attributes successive stages of partial melting and subsequent cooling of metal enriched mantle. These observations, challenge shallow intra-oceanic arc setting for Shergol ophiolite and proposes, part of exsolved mineral phases in ophiolite has deep Earth origin. These mineral phases would ascent at the shallow mantle level beneath Neotethyan spreading ridge aided by dunite channel.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akaogi M, Ito E, Navrotsky A (1989) Olivine-modified spinel-spinel transitions in the system Mg2SiO4–Fe2SiO4: calorimetric measurements, thermochemical calculation, and geophysical application. J Geophys Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/jb094ib11p15671
Arif M, Jan MQ (1993) Chemistry of chromite and associated phases from the Shangla ultramafic body in the Indus suture zone of Pakistan. Geol Soc Spec Publ 74:101–112. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1993.074.01.08
Bhat IM, Ahmad T, Subba Rao DV (2017a) Geochemical characterization of serpentinized peridotites from the shergol ophiolitic slice along the Indus Suture Zone (ISZ), Ladakh Himalaya, India. J Geol. https://doi.org/10.1086/692653
Bhat IM, Ahmad T, Subba Rao DV (2017b) Compositional variability of spinel-group minerals from the shergol serpentinized peridotites along indus suture zone, Ladakh Himalaya (India): constraints on tectonomagmatic history. Chem Erde. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2017.10.003
Bozhilov KN, Green HW, Dobrzhinetskaya LF (2003) Quantitative 3D measurement of ilmenite abundance in Alpe Arami olivine by confocal microscopy: confirmation of high-pressure origin. Am Mineral 88:596–603. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2003-0413
Buddington AF, Lindsley DH (1964) Iron-titanium oxide minerals and synthetic equivalents. J Petrol 5:310–357. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/5.2.310
Cherniak DJ, Liang Y (2014) Titanium diffusion in olivine. Geochim Cosmochim Acta. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2014.10.016
Colchen M, Mascle G, Van Haver T (1986) Some aspects of collision tectonics in the Indus Suture Zone, Ladakh. Geol Soc Spec Publ. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1986.019.01.09
Colchen M, Mascle G, Delaygue G (1994) Lithostratigraphy and ageof the formations in the Tso Morari dome. 9th Himalayan–Karak-oram–Tibet workshop, Kathmandu. J Geol Soc Nepal Abs 10:1–23
Coleman RG (1977) Ophiolites: ancient oceanic lithosphere. Springer Verlag
Das S, Mukherjee BK, Basu AR, Sen K (2015) Peridotitic minerals of the Nidar Ophiolite in the NW Himalaya: sourced from the depth of the mantle transition zone and above. In: Mukherjee S, Carosi R, Van der Beek P, Mukherjee BK, Robinson DM (eds) Tectonics of the Himalaya, Geological Society, Special Publications. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP412.12
Das S, Basu AR, Mukherjee BK (2017) In situ peridotitic diamond in Indus ophiolite sourced from hydrocarbon fluids in the mantle transition zone. Geology. https://doi.org/10.1130/G39100.1
de Sigoyer J, Guillot S, Dick P (2004) Exhumation of the ultrahigh-pressure Tso Morari unit in eastern Ladakh (NW Himalaya): a case study. Tectonics. https://doi.org/10.1029/2002TC001492
Dick HJB, Bullen T (1984) Chromian spinel as a petrogenetic indicator in abyssal and alpine-type peridotites and spatially associated lavas. Contrib Mineral Petrol. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373711
Dilek Y, Furnes H (2011) Ophiolite genesis and global tectonics: geochemical and tectonic fingerprinting of ancient oceanic lithosphere. Bull Geol Soc Am. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30446.1
Dobrzhinetskaya L, Green HW, Wang S (1996) Alpe Arami: a peridotite massif from depths of more than 300 kilometers. Science (80). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.271.5257.1841
Dobrzhinetskaya L, Bozhilov KN, Green HW (2000) The solubility of TiO2 in olivine: implications for the mantle wedge environment. Chem Geol 163:325–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(99)00181-3
Dobrzhinetskaya LF, Wirth R, Yang J, Hutcheon ID, Weber PK, Green HW (2009) High-pressure highly reduced nitrides and oxides from chromitite of a Tibetan ophiolite. Proc Nat Acad Sci 106(46):19233–19238. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0905514106
Epard JL, Steck A (2008) Structural development of the Tso Morari ultra-high pressure nappe of the Ladakh Himalaya. Tectonophysics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2007.11.050
Frank W, Gansser A, Trommsdorff V (1977) Geological observations in the Ladakh area (Himalayas)—a preliminary report. Schweiz Miner Petrogr Mitt 57:89–113
Gibson SA, Thompson RN, Dickin AP (2000) Ferropicrites: geochemical evidence for Fe-rich streaks in upwelling mantle plumes. Earth Planet Sci Lett 174:355–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0012-821X(99)00274-5
Green HW, Dobrzhinetskaya L, Riggs EM, Jin ZM (1997) Alpe Arami: a peridotite massif from the mantle transition zone? Tectonophysics. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-1951(97)00127-3
Green HW, Dobrzhinetskaya LF, Bozhilov KN (2010) The Alpe Arami story: triumph of data over prejudice. J Earth Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-010-0130-0
Groppo C, Rolfo F, Sachan HK, Rai SK (2016) Petrology of blueschist from the Western Himalaya (Ladakh, NW India): Exploring the complex behavior of a lawsonite-bearing system in a paleo-accretionary setting. Lithos 252–253:41–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2016.02.014
Gudfinnsson GH, Wood BJ (1998) The effect of trace elements on the olivine-wadsleyite transformation. Am Mineral. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-1998-9-1012
Hacker BR, Sharp T, Zhang RY et al (1997) Determining the origin of ultrahigh-pressure lherzolites. Science (80). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.278.5338.702
Hermann J, O’Neill HS, Berry AJ (2005) Titanium solubility in olivine in the system TiO2–MgO–SiO2: no evidence for an ultra-deep origin of Ti-bearing olivine. Contrib Mineral Petrol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-004-0637-4
Honegger K, Le Fort P, Mascle G, Zimmermann J-L (1989) The blueschists along the Indus Suture Zone in Ladakh, NW Himalaya. J Metamorph Geol. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1314.1989.tb00575.x
Howell D, Fiorentini M, McDonald I et al (2019) A metasomatized lithospheric mantle control on the metallogenic signature of post-subduction magmatism. Nat Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11065-4
Hwang SL, Yui TF, Chu HT et al (2008) Hematite and magnetite precipitates in olivine from the Sulu peridotite: a result of dehydrogenation-oxidation reaction of mantle olivine? Am Mineral. https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2008.2784
Kelemen PB, Braun M, Hirth G (2000) Spatial distribution of melt conduits in the mantle beneath oceanic spreading ridges: observations from the Ingalls and Oman ophiolites. Geochem Geophys Geosyst. https://doi.org/10.1029/1999GC000012
Kennedy CS, Kennedy GC (1976) The equilibrium boundary between graphite and diamond. J Geophys Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/jb081i014p02467
Kullerud G, Yund RA, Moh GH (1969) Phase relations in the Cu–Fe–S, Cu–Ni–S, and Fe–Ni–S systems. Econ Geol Monogr 4:323–343
Lafuente B, Downs RT, Yang H, Stone N (2015) RRUFFTM Project. power databases RRUFF Project Highlights Mineral Crystallogr. In: Armbruster T, Danisi RM (eds) Highlights in mineralogical crystallography, De Gruyter, pp 1–30
Lattard D (1995) Experimental evidence for the exsolution of ilmenite from titaniferous spinel. Am Mineral. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-1995-9-1013
Leissner L, Schlüter J, Horn I, Mihailova B (2015) Exploring the potential of Raman spectroscopy for crystallochemical analyses of complex hydrous silicates: I. Amphiboles. Am Mineral. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2015-5323
Lenaz D, Lughi V (2017) Raman spectroscopy and the inversion degree of natural Cr-bearing spinels. Am Mineral. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2017-5814
Lian D, Yang G, Dilek Y et al (2017) Deep mantle origin and ultra-reducing conditions in podiform chromitite: diamond, moissanite, and other unusual minerals in podiform chromitites from the Pozanti–Karsanti ophiolite, southern Turkey. Am Mineral. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2017-5850
Liang Y, Schiemenz A, Hesse MA et al (2010) High-porosity channels for melt migration in the mantle: top is the dunite and bottom is the harzburgite and lherzolite. Geophys Res Lett. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL044162
Lindsley DH (1962) Investigations in the system FeO–Fe2O3–TiO2. In: Carnegie Institution of Washington Yearbook, vol 61, pp 100–106
Liu X, Jin Z, Qu J, Wang L (2005) Exsolution of ilmenite and Cr–Ti magnetite from olivine of garnet-wehrlite. Sci China Ser D Earth Sci. https://doi.org/10.1360/03yd0590
Liu XW, Jin ZM, Green HW (2007) Clinoenstatite exsolution in diopsidic augite of Dabieshan: garnet peridotite from depth of 300 km. Am Mineral. https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2007.2232
Lorand J-P, Luguet A (2016) Chalcophile and siderophile elements in mantle rocks: Trace elements controlled by trace minerals. Rev Miner Geochem 81(1):441–488. https://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2016.81.08
Mahéo G, Fayoux X, Guillot S et al (2006) Relicts of an intra-oceanic arc in the Sapi-Shergol mélange zone (Ladakh, NW Himalaya, India): implications for the closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. J Asian Earth Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2005.01.004
Malézieux JM, Barbillat J, Cervelle B, Coutures JP, Couzi M, Piriou B (1983) Study of synthetic spinels of the Mg (CrxAl2-x)O4 series and of natural chromites by Raman-laser microprobe. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 32:171−85
Massonne H-J, Neuser RD (2005) Ilmenite exsolution in olivine from the serpentinite body at Zöblitz, Saxonian Erzgebirge—microstructural evidence using EBSD. Mineral Mag. https://doi.org/10.1180/0026461056920239
Matrosova EA, Bobrov AV, Bindi L et al (2020) Titanium-rich phases in the Earth’s transition zone and lower mantle: evidence from experiments in the system MgO–SiO2–TiO2 (± Al2O3) at 10–24 GPa and 1600 °C. Lithos. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2020.105539
Mehta A, Leinenweber K, Navrotsky A, Akaogi M (1994) Calorimetric study of high pressure polymorphism in FeTiO3: stability of the perovskite phase. Phys Chem Miner. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00202133
Mirwald PW, Massonne HJ (1980) The low-high quartz and quartz - coesite transition to 40 kbar between 600° and 1600 °C and some reconnaissance data on the effect of NaAlO2 component on the low quartz-coesite transition. J Geophys Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/JB085iB12p06983
Mukherjee BK, Sachan HK, Ogasawara Y et al (2003) Carbonate-bearing UHPM rocks from the tso-morari region, Ladakh, India: petrological implications. Int Geol Rev. https://doi.org/10.2747/0020-6814.45.1.49
Nasdala L, Smith DC, Kaindl R, Ziemann MA (2004) Raman spectroscopy: analytical perspectives in mineralogical research. In: Beran A, Libowitzky E (eds) Spectroscopic methods in mineralogy, EMU notes in mineralogy, vol 6. Eotvos University Press, Budapest, pp 281–343. https://doi.org/10.1180/EMU-notes.6.7
Pang KN, Zhou MF, Lindsley D et al (2008) Origin of Fe–Ti oxide ores in mafic intrusions: evidence from the Panzhihua intrusion, SW China. J Petrol. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egm082
Risold AC, Trommsdorff V, Grobéty B (2001) Genesis of ilmenite rods and palisades along humite-type defects in olivine from Alpe Arami. Contrib Mineral Petrol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004100000204
Robertson AHF (2000) Formation of melanges in the Indus Suture Zone, Ladakh Himalaya by successive subduction-related, collisional and post-collisional processes during Late Mesozoic-Late Tertiary time. Geol Soc Spec Publ. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2000.170.01.19
Robertson AHF, Sharp I (1998) Mesozoic deep-water slope/rise sedimentation and volcanism along the North Indian passive margin: evidence from the Karamba Complex, Indus suture zone (Western Ladakh Himalaya). J Asian Earth Sci 16:195–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0743-9547(98)00010-5
Robinson PT, Bai WJ, Malpas J et al (2004) Ultra-high pressure minerals in the Luobusa Ophiolite, Tibet, and their tectonic implications. Geol Soc Spec Publ. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2004.226.01.14
Ross NL, McMillan P (1984) The Raman spectrum of magnesium silicate (MgSiO3) ilmenite. Am Mineral 69:719–729
Satsukawa T, Griffin WL, Piazolo S, O’Reilly SY (2015) Messengers from the deep: fossil wadsleyite-chromite microstructures from the Mantle Transition Zone. Sci Rep. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep16484
Sinha AK, Misra M (1994) The existence of oceanic islands in the Neotethys: evidences from Ladakh Himalayas India. Curr Sci 7:721–727
Sinha AK, Upadhyay R (1993) Mesozoic neo-tethyan pre-orogenic deep marine sediments along the Indus-Yarlung Suture, Himalaya. Terra Nova. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3121.1993.tb00258.x
Sinha AK, Upadhyay R (1997) Tectonics and sedimentation in the passive margin, trench, fore-arc and backarc areas of the indus suture zone in ladakh and karakorum: a review. Geodin Acta. https://doi.org/10.1080/09853111.1997.11105289
Song S, Zhang L, Niu Y (2004) Ultra-deep origin of garnet peridotite from the North Qaidam ultrahigh-pressure belt, northern Tibetan Plateau, NW China. Am Mineral. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2004-8-922
Tan W, Liu P, He H et al (2016) Mineralogy and origin of exsolution in Ti-rich magnetite from different magmatic Fe–Ti oxide-bearing intrusions. Can Mineral. https://doi.org/10.3749/canmin.1400069
Thakur VC (1981) Regional framework and geodynamic evolution of the Indus-Tsangpo suture zone in the Ladakh Himalayas. Trans R Soc Edinb Earth Sci. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263593300009925
Tinker D, Lesher CE (2001) Solubility of TiO2 in olivine from 1 to 8 GPa. EOS Trans AGU, Abs #V51B–1001
Tuff J, Takahashi E, Gibson SA (2005) Experimental constraints on the role of garnet pyroxenite in the genesis of high-Fe mantle plume derived melts. J Petrol. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egi046
Van Roermund HL, Drury MR (1998) Ultra-high pressure (P > 6 GPa) garnet peridotites in Western Norway: exhumation of mantle rocks from > 185 km depth. Terra Nova 10(6):295–301
Virdi NS, Thakur VC, Kumar S (1977) Blueschist facies metamorphism from the Indus Suture Zone and its significance. Himal Geol 7:479–482
Waeselmann N, Schlüter J, Malcherek T et al (2020) Nondestructive determination of the amphibole crystal-chemical formulae by Raman spectroscopy: one step closer. J Raman Spectrosc. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.5626
Wang A, Kuebler KE, Jolliff BL, Haskin LA (2004) Raman spectroscopy of Fe–Ti–Cr-oxides, case study: martian meteorite EETA79001. Am Mineral. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2004-5-601
Wu W, Yang J, Changqian MA et al (2017) Discovery and significance of diamonds and moissanites in chromitite within the Skenderbeu Massif of the Mirdita Zone Ophiolite, West Albania. Acta Geol Sin. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-6724.13316
Wu W, Yang J, Wirth R et al (2019) Carbon and nitrogen isotopes and mineral inclusions in diamonds from chromitites of the Mirdita ophiolite (Albania) demonstrate recycling of oceanic crust into the mantle. Am Mineral. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2019-6751
Xu XZ, Yang JS, Robinson PT et al (2015) Origin of ultrahigh pressure and highly reduced minerals in podiform chromitites and associated mantle peridotites of the Luobusa ophiolite, Tibet. Gondwana Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2014.05.010
Yamamoto S, Komiya T, Hirose K, Maruyama S (2009) Coesite and clinopyroxene exsolution lamellae in chromites: In-situ ultrahigh-pressure evidence from podiform chromitites in the Luobusa ophiolite, southern Tibet. Lithos. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2008.05.003
Yang JS, Dobrzhinetskaya L, Bai WJ et al (2007) Diamond- and coesite-bearing chromitites from the Luobusa ophiolite, Tibet. Geology. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23766A.1
Zhang RY, Liou JG (1998) Dual origin of garnet peridotites of Dabie-Sulu UHP terrane, eastern-central China. Episodes. https://doi.org/10.18814/epiiugs/1998/v21i4/003
Acknowledgements
Director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology is thanked for providing necessary facilitates. The authors are grateful to Chief Editor, Prof. Wolf-Christian Dullo, the Editor Prof., Wenjiao Xiao the Managing Editor Monika Dullo and anonymous reviewers for support and critical review that greatly improved our manuscript. We are grateful to Dr. C.P. Dorje for logistic support at Ladakh and N.K. Juyal for assistance with SEM EDX. Thanks to Prof Soumyajit Mukherjee for thorough editing of MS. This work is a part of first author’s Ph.D. thesis. This is a WIHG contribution WIHG/2020/01/04.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Manas, M., Mukherjee, B.K. & Dubey, R.K. Non-silicate needles and metals in peridotites from Himalayan ophiolite, Western Ladakh, India: evidence of deep Earth origin. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 110, 2849–2862 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-021-02086-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-021-02086-w