Ductile deformation during carbonation of serpentinized peridotite.

ABSTRACT: Carbonated serpentinites (listvenites) in the Samail Ophiolite, Oman, record mineralization of 1-2 Gt of CO₂, but the mechanisms providing permeability for continued reactive fluid flow are unclear. Based on samples of the Oman Drilling Project, here we show that listvenites with a penetrative foliation have abundant microstructures indicating that the carbonation reaction occurred during deformation. Folded magnesite veins mark the onset of carbonation, followed by deformation during carbonate growth. Undeformed magnesite and quartz overgrowths indicate that deformation stopped before the reaction was completed. We propose deformation by dilatant granular flow and dissolution-precipitation assisted the reaction, while deformation in turn was localized in the weak reacting mass.

SUBMITTER: Menzel MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9203755 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature