TY - JOUR
T1 - Tracking subsurface active weathering processes in serpentinite
AU - Tominaga, Masako
AU - Ortiz, Estefania
AU - Einsle, Joshua Franz
AU - Ryoichi Vento, Noah Francis
AU - Schrenk, Matthew O.
AU - Buisman, Iris
AU - Ezad, Isra S.
AU - Cardace, Dawn
PY - 2021/3/28
Y1 - 2021/3/28
N2 - We conducted a novel study to capture the on-going advancement of mineral weathering within a serpentinite formation by using an integrated approach of multi-scale quantitative rock magnetic analyses and nano-resolution geochemical imaging analyses. We studied a suite of rock samples from the Coast Range Ophiolite Microbial Observatory (CROMO) in California to conduct rock magnetic analyses enabling us to determine character of Fe-bearing minerals and to predict locations of reaction boundaries among various stages of weathering. QEMSCAN® and other electron micro-imagery analyses highlighted microstructural changes in amorphous minerals, and possible changes in porosity and coincides with the iron-enrichment region. This iron enrichment indicates initiation of iron (-oxides) nucleation, resulting in extremely fine gain magnetite formation. This is a newly documented mode of magnetite production in serpentinites and enhances the application of magnetite abundance as a proxy for the degree and extent of water-rock interaction in mantle peridotite and serpentinite.
AB - We conducted a novel study to capture the on-going advancement of mineral weathering within a serpentinite formation by using an integrated approach of multi-scale quantitative rock magnetic analyses and nano-resolution geochemical imaging analyses. We studied a suite of rock samples from the Coast Range Ophiolite Microbial Observatory (CROMO) in California to conduct rock magnetic analyses enabling us to determine character of Fe-bearing minerals and to predict locations of reaction boundaries among various stages of weathering. QEMSCAN® and other electron micro-imagery analyses highlighted microstructural changes in amorphous minerals, and possible changes in porosity and coincides with the iron-enrichment region. This iron enrichment indicates initiation of iron (-oxides) nucleation, resulting in extremely fine gain magnetite formation. This is a newly documented mode of magnetite production in serpentinites and enhances the application of magnetite abundance as a proxy for the degree and extent of water-rock interaction in mantle peridotite and serpentinite.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103198832&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2020GL088472
DO - 10.1029/2020GL088472
M3 - Letter
SN - 1944-8007
VL - 48
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
IS - 6
M1 - e2020GL088472
ER -