Accessory zoned chromites from Archean komatiites of the Karelian craton: metamorphic fingerprints

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Abstract

SEM and LA-ICP-MS analyses were used for the study of accessory chromite in Archean (3.0—2.8 Ga) komatiites from the most representative greenstone belts of the Karelian Craton. Zoned chromite, subjected to varying degrees of metamorphic alteration, was identified in the komatiites. Two types of zoned chromite, differing in the composition of their cores, were recognized. Al-rich zoned chromite of type I shows the low extent of metamorphic alteration and has cores with Cr# 0.70—0.86, Mg# 0.03—0.12, and Fe# 0.06—0.23. It is enriched in Zn, Co, and Mn but strongly depleted in Ga, Ni, and V. The study reveals that the primary magmatic distribution of minor and trace elements in the cores was strongly redisturbed during prograde metamorphism of greenschist to low amphibolite facies. Zoned chromite with the low Al2O3 content of type II has cores with higher Fe# (0.42—0.49), Cr# (0.88—1), and lower Mg# (0—0.04) as compared to cores of Al-rich chromite, that corresponds to the more intensive metamorphic alteration. Since the primary composition of studied zoned chromite was significantly obliterated during metamorphism, established patterns can be used as a guide for the reconstruction of metamorphic processes.

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About the authors

Sergey A. Svetov

Karelian Research Center of the RAS

Email: ssvetov@krc.karelia.ru

Dr. Sc., Director of Institute of Geology, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences

Russian Federation, 185910  Russia, Petrozavodsk, Pushkinskaya St., 11

Svetlana Y. Chazhengina

Karelian Research Center of the RAS

Author for correspondence.
Email: chazhengina@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3412-0409

Dr, senior researcher

Russian Federation, 185910  Russia, Petrozavodsk, Pushkinskaya St., 11

Vinod K. Singh

Bundelkhand University

Email: vinodksingh@yahoo.com

Ph.D., Associate Professor

 
India, 284128 India,  Jhansi, Bundelkhand University

Zoya P. Rybnikova

Karelian Research Center of the RAS

Email: zoya_rybnikova@mail.ru

minor researcher

Russian Federation, 185910  Russia, Petrozavodsk, Pushkinskaya St., 11

Sumit Mishra

Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University

Email: smpsgeo@gmail.com

Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Geology

India, 246174, India, Srinagar-Garhwal, Uttarakhand

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2. Fig. 1. Geological sketch map of the Karelian Craton (modified after Kozhevnikov, 2000).

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3. Fig. 2. BSE images of chromite form Archean komatiites: type I zoned chromite from Sovdozero (a), Hautavaara (b), Kostomuksha (c) and Siivikkovaara (d); type II zoned chromite from Sovdozero (e) and Siivikkovaara (f); Cr-rich magnetite from Hautavaara (g) and Kostomuksha (h). Scale bar corresponds to 50 μm.

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4. Fig. 3. Quantitative microprobe profiles across the chromite grains, shown on Fig. 2: type I zoned chromite from Sovdozero (a), Hautavaara (b), Kostomuksha (c), and Siivikkovaara (d); type II zoned chromite from Sovdozero (e) and Siivikkovaara (f); Cr-rich magnetite from Hautavaara (g) and Kostomuksha (h). Dark grey color marks cores of type I zoned chromite, grey — transitional zone of type I zoned chromite or center of type II zoned chromite, light grey — rims.

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5. Fig. 4. Spidergrams of major and trace elements for the core and rims of type I zoned chromite from the Kostomuksha area, compared with unmetamorphosed chromite from ophiolites (after Pagé, Barnes, 2009) and komatiites (after Gonzalez-Jiménez et al., 2014). Concentrations of elements are normalized to the composition of chromite from MORB (Pagé, Barnes, 2009).

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6. Fig. 5. Composition of zoned chromite from Sovdozero (a), Hautavaara (b), Kostomuksha (c), and Siivikkovaara (d) with reference to the solvus determined at 500, 550 and 600 °C by Sack and Ghiorso (1991) for chromite coexisting with olivine containing 90 % of forsterite.

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