Alteration Reaction and Mass Transfer via Fluids with Progress of Fracturing along the Median Tectonic Line, Mie Prefecture, Southwest Japan

Abstract

We have analyzed mass transfer in the cataclasite samples collected from the Median Tectonic Line, southwest Japan, in which the degree of fracturing is well correlated with the bulk rock chemical compositions determined by the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The results of “isocon” analysis indicate not only a large volume increase up to 110% but also the two-stage mass transfer during cataclasis. At the first stage from the very weakly to weakly fractured rocks, the weight percents of SiO2, Na2O, and K2O increase, while those of TiO2, FeO, MnO, MgO, and CaO decrease. At the second stage from the weakly to moderately and strongly fractured rocks, the trend of mass transfer is reversed. The principal component analysis reveals that the variation of chemical compositions in the cataclasite samples can be mostly interpreted by the mass transfer via fluids and by the difference in chemical composition in the protolith rocks to lesser degree. Finally, the changes in the modal composition of minerals with increasing cataclasis analyzed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) with the aid of “RockJock” software clearly elucidate that the mass transfer of chemical elements was caused by dissolution and precipitation of minerals via fluids in the cataclasite samples.