Evolution of serpentinite from seafloor hydration to subduction zone metamorphism: Petrology and geochemistry of serpentinite from the ultrahigh pressure North Qaidam orogen in northern Tibet

Serpentinite from the North Qaidam ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt in northern Tibet is studied to provide insight into petro-geochemical evolution of serpentinite from seafloor hydration to subduction zone metamorphism. The North Qaidam serpentinite can be divided into undeformed lizardite serpentinite that was not severely overprinted during subduction and deformed antigorite serpentinite that was well recrystallized during subduction. Petrological and geochemical analyses demonstrate that the serpentinite was originally melt-percolated refractory abyssal harzburgite. Considering the local geodynamic setting, it is inferred that the serpentinite probably originated from the oceanic lithosphere that subducted before continental subduction. Relatively uniform low δ18O (4.0‰–4.5‰) of the antigorite serpentinite indicates high temperature hydrothermal alteration of protolith harzburgite by seawater. In contrast, much lower δ18O (0.6‰–2.7‰) of the lizardite serpentinite is ascribed to exchange with meteoric water at the Earth’s surface. Relict serpentinization textures are well preserved in the lizardite serpentinite, with reactions of olivine to lizardite and magnetite, pyroxenes to talc, tremolite, and lizardite, and spinel to chromite and chlorite. The replacement of lizardite by antigorite during subduction mostly initiates along grain boundaries and interconnecting veinlets, implying fluid-assisted transformation of lizardite into antigorite. Partial decomposition of antigorite produces magnesian secondary olivine in the antigorite serpentinite, while direct breakdown of metastable lizardite generates ferroan secondary olivine in the lizardite serpentinite. The serpentinite is enriched in fluid-mobile elements, with U primarily accumulated during seafloor alteration and alkalis notably introduced by sedimentary fluids at bending faults or in accretionary wedge. Infiltration by fluids equilibrated with sediments is also supported by highly elevated 87Sr/86Sr of the serpentinite. Moreover, 87Sr/86Sr of the antigorite serpentinite (0.710649–0.713996) is higher than that of the lizardite serpentinite (0.707184–0.708502), which implies more intense interaction of sedimentary fluids with the former than the latter. However, the lizardite serpentinite contains more alkalis and less U than the antigorite serpentinite, which indicates that large proportions of alkalis were lost during partial dehydration of serpentinite, while U was not released.