Various characteristics of podiform chromitites, an enigmatic mantle rock member, are reviewed in this article. Chromitites are composed of chromian spinel, with the general formula (Mg, Fe 2+ ) (Cr, Al, Fe 3+ ) 2O4, and silicates (mainly olivine). The Fe 3+ content is generally very low, being less than 0.1 to all trivalent cations, in mantle chromian spinels. The Mg / (Mg+Fe 2+ ) ratio (=Mg#) changes inversely with the Cr / (Cr+Al) ratio (=Cr#) , which increases with an increase of degree of partial melting of mantle peridotites. The Cr# of chromian spinel is generally higher than 0.4 (generally 0.6 to 0.8) in podiform chromitites, varying widely from 0.1 to 0.9 in the mantle peridotite. The podiform chromitite forms pod-like bodies (dimensions of up to 1.5 km×150 m for an individual pod) with a dunite envelope, totally set within mantle harzburgite. In well-preserved ophiolites, they occur in the uppermost mantle, especially in and beneath the Moho transition zone, which is dominated by dunite. The Cr# of chromian spinel is relatively low (0.4 to 0.6) around the Moho transition zone, and high (> 0.6) at deeper levels in the mantle section. Chromitites are denser and less anisotropic in V p than peridotites, and the V p is 8.5 to 9 km / sec depending on the proportion of chromian spinel, and higher in the former than in the latter. The podiform chromitite has been interpreted to be one of melt / rock interaction products within the uppermost mantle harzburgite; hybridization of relatively Si-rich melt formed by the breakdown of orthopyroxenes of the wall harzburgite and subsequently supplied primitive melt cause oversaturation in chromian spinel, giving rise to formation of chromitite with a dunite envelope. The fractionated melt leaving high-Cr# podiform chromitite is possibly of arc-magma affinity. Chromitites with low-Cr# (0.4 to 0.6) chromian spinel can be in equilibrium with MORB. Recently found ultra-high pressure minerals, such as diamond, moissanite, Fe-silicides and Ni-Fe-Cr-C alloys, within chromian spinel of podiform chromitites make the genetical history of chromitites highly enigmatic. A new story, which incorporates the genesis and involvement of these highly reducing, ultra-high pressure minerals, is required. Key words: chromitite, podiform chromitite, upper mantle, Moho transition zone, melt-perido-tite interaction, physical properties, island arc : クロミタイトポディフォーム・クロミタイト上部マントルモホ遷移帯メルト / かんらん岩相互反応物性島弧 * 金沢大学理工研究域自然システム学系地球学教室
CITATION STYLE
ARAI, S. (2010). Chromitites: An Enigmatic Mantle Rock Type. Chigaku Zasshi (Jounal of Geography), 119(2), 392–410. https://doi.org/10.5026/jgeography.119.392
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