ORCID
- Michelle Harris: 0000-0001-9618-2862
Abstract
Processes for formation, cooling, and altering Earth's ocean crust are not yet completely understood due to challenges in access and sampling. Here, we use contiguous micro-imaging infrared spectroscopy to develop complete-core maps of mineral occurrence and investigate spatial patterns in the hydrothermal alteration of 1.2 km of oceanic crust recovered from Oman Drilling Project Holes GT1A, GT2A, and GT3A drilled in the Samail Ophiolite, Oman. The imaging spectrometer shortwave infrared sensor measured reflectance of light at wavelengths 1.0–2.6 μm at 250–260 μm/pixel, resulting in >1 billion independent measurements. We map distributions of nine key primary and secondary minerals/mineral groups—clinopyroxene, amphibole, calcite, chlorite, epidote, gypsum, kaolinite/montmorillonite, prehnite, and zeolite—and find differences in their spatial occurrences and pervasiveness. Accuracy of spectral mapping of occurrence is 68%–100%, established using X-ray diffraction measurements from the core description. The sheeted dikes and gabbros of upper oceanic crust Hole GT3A show more pervasive alteration and alteration dominated by chlorite, amphibole, and epidote. The foliated/layered gabbros of GT2A from intermediate crustal depths have similarly widespread chlorite but more zeolite and little amphibole and epidote. The layered gabbros of the lower oceanic crust (GT1A) have remnant pyroxene and 2X less chlorite, but alteration is extensive within and surrounding major fault zones with widespread occurrences of amphibole. The results indicate greater distribution of higher temperature alteration minerals in the upper oceanic crust relative to deeper gabbros and highlight the importance of fault zones in hydrothermal convection in the lower ocean crust.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2021-08-01
Publication Title
Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
Volume
126
Issue
8
ISSN
2169-9313
Acceptance Date
2021-07-11
Deposit Date
2021-05-08
Embargo Period
2021-08-12
Funding
ICDP Rose Hills Foundation (RHF) Sloan Foundation—Deep Carbon Observatory. Grant Number: 2014-3-01 National Science Foundation. Grant Number: NSF-EAR-1516300 German Research Foundation. Grant Number: DFG: KO 1723/21-1 Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science. Grant Numbers: 16H06347, 16H02742 NASA—Astrobiology Institute. Grant Number: NNA15BB02A European Research Council. Grant Number: Adv: no.669972 Swiss National Science Foundation. Grant Number: SNF:20FI21_163073 JAMSTEC TAMU-JR Science Operator Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources Oman Public Authority of Mining Sultan Qaboos University CRNS-University Montpellier II Columbia University of New York University of Southampton Rose Hills Foundation
Keywords
imaging spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, Oman drilling project, oceanic crust, infrared spectroscopy
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Greenberger, R., Harris, M., Ehlmann, B., Crotteau, M., Kelemen, P., Manning, C., & Teagle, D. (2021) 'Hydrothermal Alteration of the Ocean Crust and Patterns in Mineralization with Depth as Measured by Micro‐Imaging Infrared Spectroscopy', Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126(8). Available at: 10.1029/2021jb021976
