Geochemical characteristics of chloritization of mafic crust from the northern Oman ophiolite: Implications for estimating the chemical budget of hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic lithosphere

Abstract

We examined dike-like chlorite rocks that replaced isotropic gabbro and dolerite in northern Oman ophiolite in order to understand the chemical budget of hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic lithosphere. During chloritization, the concentrations of Si, Ca, Na, and K decreased, while those of Fe increased. REE (rare-earth elements), except Eu, which showed a strong depletion in the chlorite rocks, were immobile during chloritization, which was caused by the downward (recharge) flow of circulated seawater. A portion of Fe was supplied from the overlying mafic extrusives, possibly through the alteration of their plagioclases. We found Ti-rich minerals such as rutile and titanite to be the reservoirs of most REE in the chlorite rocks. If the residual fluid, after chloritization, moves upward, it can realize the positive Eu anomaly of the seafloor vent fluids. And, if the fluid is transported to deeper parts of the oceanic lithosphere, rodingites, serpentinites (antigorite rocks), and diposidites with a positive Eu anomaly are formed within gabbros and mantle peridotites.