Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Serpentinization and infiltration metasomatism in the Trinity peridotite, Klamath province, northern California: implications for subduction zones

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Trinity peridotite was emplaced over metabasalts and metasedimentary rocks of the central metamorphic belt along the Devonian Trinity thrust zone. Three metamorphic events can be recognized in the Trinity peridotite: (1) antigorite (δD= −63 to −65%.) formation related to regional underthrusting of the central metamorphic belt; (2) contact metamorphism associated with Mesozoic dioritic plutons; and (3) late-stage formation of lizardite ± brucite and chrysotile (δD= −127 to −175%.) due to infiltration of meteoric waters. Abundant relict phases indicate incomplete reactions and strongly suggest that the availability of H2O was a controlling factor during serpentinization.

Antigorite (event 1) formed as a result of infiltration into the Trinity peridotite of mixed H2O-CO2 fluids derived from the underlying central metamorphic belt. Foliation defined by magnetite veins and shear zones within antigorite serpentinites are subparallel to the Trinity thrust. The assemblage Fo + Atg + Chl + Mag ± Tr ± Carb reflects partial hydration of peridotite at 425–570° C. Talc-rich serpentinite formed along the thrust as a result of the infiltration of silica-bearing fluids. Metasomatic mass-balance calculations based on silica solubilities and the extent of antigorite serpentinization suggest that 80–175 volumes of fluid have passed through a given volume of original peridotite at the Trinity thrust.

The Trinity thrust probably represents a Devonian subduction zone. Thermodynamic calculations suggest that hydration reactions account for ∼30–35% of the total heat released by the cooling Trinity peridotite. By analogy, similar hydration reactions are to be expected in the overlying mantle wedge of a subduction zone which act to retard cooling of the hanging wall, just as dehydration reactions delay heating of the downgoing slab. Metasomatic zones formed in peridotite at the Trinity thrust may reflect similar metasomatic processes to those proposed to occur in the mantle wedge above a subducting slab.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albee AL, Ray L (1970) Correction factors for electron probe microanalysis of silicates, oxides, carbonates, phosphates, and sulfates. Anal Chem 42:1408–1414

    Google Scholar 

  • Albers JP, Kistler RW, Kwak L (1981) The Mule Mountain Stock, an early Middle Devonian pluton in northern California. Isochron West 31:17

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen RN, DeLong S, Schwarz WM (1978) Thermal model for subduction with dehydration in the downgoing slab. J Geol 86:731–739

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong RL, Dick HJB (1974) A model for the development of thin overthrust sheets of crystalline rock. Geology 2:35–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Burchfield BC, Davis GA (1975) Nature and controls of Cordilleran orogenesis, western United States: extensions of an earlier synthesis. Am J Sci 275-A:363–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnham CW, Holloway JR, Davis NF (1969) Thermodynamic properties of water to 1,000° C and 10,000 bars. Geol Soc Am Spec Pap 132, p 96

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannat A, Boudier F (1985) Structural study of intra-oceanic thrusting in the Klamath Mountains, northern California: Implications on accretion geometry. Tectonics 4:435–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Caruso LJ, Chernosky JV Jr (1979) The stability of lizardite. Can Mineral 17:757–769

    Google Scholar 

  • Cashman SM (1980) Devonian metamorphic event in the northeastern Klamath Mountains, California. Geol Soc Amer Bull 91:453–459

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis GA (1966) Metamorphic and granitic history of the Klamath Mountains. In: Bailey EH (ed) Geology of Northern California. Calif Div Mines Geol Bull 190:39–50

  • Davis GA, Ando CJ, Cashman PH, Goulland L (1979) Cross section of the central Klamath Mountains, California. Geol Soc Amer Map and Chart Series MC-281

  • Davis GA, Holdaway MJ, Lipman PW, Romey WD (1965) Structure, metamorphism, and plutonism in the south-central Klamath Mountains, California. Geol Soc Am Bull 76:933–966

    Google Scholar 

  • Delaney JM, Helgeson HC (1978) Calculation of the thermodynamic consequences of dehydration in subducting oceanic crust to 10 kb and >800° C. Am J Sci 278:638–686

    Google Scholar 

  • Dungan MA (1979) Bastite pseudomorphs after orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and tremolite. Can Mineral 17:729–740

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans BW (1977) Metamorphism of alpine peridotite and serpentinite. Ann Rev Earth and Planet Sci 5:397–447

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans BW, Johannes W, Oterdam H, Trommsdorff V (1976) Stability of chrysotile and antigorite in the serpentinite multisystem. Schweiz Mineral Petrogr Mitt 56:79–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Goulland L (1977) Structure and petrology in the Trinity maficultramafic complex, Klamath Mountains, northern California. In: Lindsley-Griffin N, Kramer JC (eds) Geology of the Klamath Mountains, Northern California: prepared for the 73rd annual meeting of the Cordilleran Section. Geol Soc Am, pp 112–133

  • Graham CM, England PC (1976) Thermal regimes and regional metamorphism in the vicinity of overthrust faults: An example of shear heating and inverted metamorphic zonation from southern California. Earth Planet Sci Lett 31:142–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Griscom A (1977) Aeromagnetic and gravity interpretation of the Trinity ophiolite complex, northern California. Geol Soc Am Abstr with Prog 9:426–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Griscom A (1980) Klamath Mountains Province. In: Oliver HW (ed) Interpretation of the Gravity Map of California. Calif Div Mines Geol Bull 205:34–36

  • Helgeson HC, Delany JM, Nesbitt HW, Bird DK (1978) Summary and critique of the thermodynamic properties of rock-forming minerals. Am J Sci 278A: pp 229

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemley JJ, Montoya JW, Shaw DR, Luce RW (1977a) Mineral equilibria in the MgO-SiO2-H2O system: I. Talc-antigorite-forsterite-anthophyllite-enstatite stability relations and some geologic implications in the system. Am J Sci 277:161–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemley JJ, Montoya JW, Christ CL, Hostetler PB (1977b) Mineral equilibria in the MgO-SiO2-H2O system: II. Talc-chrysotile-forsterite-brucite stability relations. Am J Sci 277:322–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinds NEA (1935) Mesozoic and Cenozoic eruptive rocks of the southern Klamath Mountains, California. Calif Univ Div Geol Sci Bull 23:313–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland HD, Malinin SD (1979) The solubility and occurrence of non-ore minerals. In: Barnes HL (ed) Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits. J Wiley Sons, pp 461–508

  • Hotz PE (1977) Geology of the Yreka quadrangle, Siskyou County, California. US Geol Survey Bull 1436, p 72

    Google Scholar 

  • Hotz PE (1978) Geologic map of the Yreka Quadrangle and parts of the Fort Jones, Etna and China Mountains Quadrangles, California. US Geol Survey Open File Report 78-12, 1:62, 500

    Google Scholar 

  • Iishi I, Saito M (1973) Synthesis of antigorite. Am Mineral 58:915–919

    Google Scholar 

  • Irwin WP (1960) Geologic reconnaissance of the northern Coast Ranges and the southern Klamath Mountains, California, with a summary of mineral resources. Calif Div Mines Geol Bull 179, p 88

    Google Scholar 

  • Irwin WP (1966) Geology of the Klamath Mountains province. In: Bailey EH (ed) Geology of northern California. Calif Div Mines Geol Bull 190:19–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Irwin WP (1981) Tectonic accretion of the Klamath Mountains. In: Ernst WG (ed) The Geotectonic development of California (Rubey Volume 1). Prentice-Hall, pp 29–49

  • Irwin WP, Lipman PW (1962) A regional ultramafic sheet in eastern Klamath Mountains, California. Calif Div Mines Geol Bull 190:19–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson CE (1980) Deformation and metamorphism of the Pelona Schist beneath the Vincent Thrust, San Gabriel Mtns., California. Ph.D Thesis, Univ of Calif. LA, p 231

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson SB, Quick JE, Wasserburg GJ (1984) A Nd and Sr isotopic study of the Trinity peridotite; implications for mantle evolution. Earth Planet Sci Lett 68:361–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins DM (1983) Stability and composition relations of calcic amphiboles in ultramafic rocks. Contrib Mineral Petrol 83:375–384

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunze G (1958) Die gewellte Struktur des Antigorits. I Z Kristallogr 108:82–107

    Google Scholar 

  • LaFehr TR (1966) Gravity in the Klamath Mountains, California. Geol Soc Am Bull 77:1177–1190

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanphere MA, Irwin WP, Hotz PE (1968) Isotopic age of the Nevadan orogeny and older plutonic and metamorphic events in the Klamath Mountains, California. Geol Soc Am Bull 79:1027–1052

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapierre H, Albarade F, Albers J, Cabanis B, Coulon C (1985) Early Devonian volcanism in the eastern Klamath Mountains, California: evidence for an immature island arc. Can J Earth Sci 22:214–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsley-Griffin N (1977) The Trinity ophiolite, Klamath Mountains, California. Bull Oreg Dep Geol Mineral Ind 95:107–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipman PW (1964) Structure and origin of an ultramafic pluton in the Klamath Mountains, California. Am J Sci 262:199–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattison JM, Hopson CA (1972) Paleozoic ages of rocks from ophiolite complexes in Washington and northern California. EOS Trans AGU 53:543

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray M, Condie KC (1973) Post-Ordovician to Early Mesozoic history of the Eastern Klamath province, northern California. J Sedim Petrol 43:505–515

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Neil JR (1979) Stable isotope geochemistry of rocks and minerals. In: Jäger E, Hunziker JC (eds) Lectures in Isotopic Geology. Springer, Berlin, pp 235–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Oxburgh ER, Turcotte DL (1974) Thermal gradients and regional metamorphism in overthrust terrains with special reference to the eastern Alps. Schweiz Mineral Petrogr Mitt 54:641–662

    Google Scholar 

  • Papike JJ, Cameron KL, Baldwin K (1974) Amphiboles and pyroxenes: characterization of other than quadrilateral components and estimates of ferric iron from microprobe data. Geol Soc Am Abstr with Prog 6:1053–1054

    Google Scholar 

  • Peacock SM (1985) Thermal and fluid evolution of the Trinity thrust system, Klamath province, northern California: Implications for the effects of fluids in subduction zones. UCLA PhD dissertation, p 328

  • Peacock SM (in press) Inverted metamorphic gradients in the westernmost Cordillera. In: Ernst WG (ed) Metamorphism and Crustal Evolution of the Western United States (Rubey Volume VII). Prentice-Hall

  • Potter AW, Hotz PE, Rohr DM (1977) Stratigraphy and inferred tectonic framework of lower Paleozoic rocks in the eastern Klamath Mountains, northern California. In: Stewart JH and others (eds) Paleozoic Paleogeography of the Western United States. Soc Econ Paleont Mineral, pp 421–440

  • Robinson GR Jr, Hoas JL Jr, Schafer CM, Haselton HT Jr (1982) Thermodynamic and thermophysical properties of selected phases in the MgO-SiO2-H2O-CO2, CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O-CO2, and Fe-FeO-Fe2O3-SiO2 chemical systems with special emphasis on the properties of basalts and their mineral components. US Geol Survey Open-File Report 83–79, p 429

  • Quick JE (1981) Petrology and Petrogenesis of the Trinity Peridotite, an Upper Mantle Diapir in the Eastern Klamath Mountains, Northern California. J Geophys Res 86:11837–11863

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorenson SS (1984) Petrology of Basement Rocks of the California Continental Borderland and the Los Angeles Basin. Ph.D Thesis, Univ of Calif LA, p 423

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiger RH, Jäger E (1977) Subcommission on geochronology: Convention on the use of decay constants in geo- and cosmochronology. Earth Planet Sci Lett 36:359–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Strand RG (1962) Redding sheet: Geologic Map of California. Calif Div Mines 1:250,000

    Google Scholar 

  • Strand RG (1963) Weed sheet: Geologic Map of California. Calif Div Mines 1:250,000

    Google Scholar 

  • Trommsdorff V, Evans BW (1977) Antigorite-Ophicarbonates: Phase Relations in a Portion of the System CaO-MgO-SiO2-H2O-CO2. Contrib Mineral Petrol 60:39–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Wegner WW, Ernst WG (1983) Experimentally determined hydration and dehydration reaction rates in the system MgO-SiO2-H2O. Am J Sci (Orville volume), 283–A, pp 151–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenner DB (1970) Hydrogen and oxygen isotopic studies of serpentinization of ultramafic rocks. Ph.D Thesis, Cal Tech, p 388

  • Whittaker EJW, Wicks FJ (1970) Chemical differences among the serpentine “polymorphs”: a discussion. Am Mineral 55: 1025–1047

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker EJW, Zussman J (1956) The characterization of serpentine minerals by X-ray diffraction. Mineral Mag 31:107–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Wicks FJ (1984) Deformation histories as recorded by serpentinites. I. Deformation prior to serpentinization. Can Mineral 22:185–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Wicks FJ, Plant AG (1979) Electron-microprobe and X-ray microbeam studies of serpentine textures. Can Mineral 17:785–830

    Google Scholar 

  • Wicks FJ, Whittaker EJW (1977) Serpentine textures and serpentinization. Can Mineral 15:459–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Zucca JJ, Fuis GS, Milkereit B, Mooney WD, Catchings RD (1986) Crustal structure of northeastern California. J Geophys Res 91:7359–7382

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Simon M. Peacock

    Present address: Department of Geology, Arizona State University, 85287, Tempe, Arizona, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, 90024, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Simon M. Peacock

Authors
  1. Simon M. Peacock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Peacock, S.M. Serpentinization and infiltration metasomatism in the Trinity peridotite, Klamath province, northern California: implications for subduction zones. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 95, 55–70 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00518030

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00518030

Keywords

Search

Navigation