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    Garnets within geode-like serpentinite veins: Implications for element transport, hydrogen production and life-supporting environment formation

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Plümper, O.
    Beinlich, Andreas
    Bach, W.
    Janots, E.
    Austrheim, H.
    Date
    2014
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
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    Citation
    Plümper, O. and Beinlich, A. and Bach, W. and Janots, E. and Austrheim, H. 2014. Garnets within geode-like serpentinite veins: Implications for element transport, hydrogen production and life-supporting environment formation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 141: pp. 454-471.
    Source Title
    Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
    DOI
    10.1016/j.gca.2014.07.002
    ISSN
    0016-7037
    School
    The Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR)
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23451
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Geochemical micro-environments within serpentinizing systems can abiotically synthesize hydrocarbons and provide the ingredients required to support life. Observations of organic matter in microgeode-like hydrogarnets found in Mid-Atlantic Ridge serpentinites suggest these garnets possibly represent unique nests for the colonization of microbial ecosystems within the oceanic lithosphere. However, little is known about the mineralogical and geochemical processes that allow such unique environments to form. Here we present work on outcrop-scale vein networks from an ultramafic massif in Norway that contain massive amounts of spherulitic garnets (andradite), which help to constrain such processes. Vein andradite spherulites are associated with polyhedral serpentine, brucite, Ni-Fe alloy (awaruite), and magnetite indicative of low temperature (<200°C) alteration under low fO2 and low aSiO2,aq geochemical conditions. Together with the outcrop- and micro-scale analysis geochemical reaction path modeling shows that there was limited mass transport and fluid flow over a large scale. Once opened the veins remained isolated (closed system), forming non-equilibrium microenvironments that allowed, upon a threshold supersaturation, the rapid crystallization (seconds to weeks) of spherulitic andradite. The presence of polyhedral serpentine spheres indicates that veins were initially filled with a gel-like protoserpentine phase. In addition, massive Fe oxidation associated with andradite formation could have generated as much as 600mmol H2,aq per 100cm3 vein. Although no carboneous matter was detected, the vein networks fulfill the reported geochemical criteria required to generate abiogenic hydrocarbons and support microbial communities. Thus, systems similar to those investigated here are of prime interest when searching for life-supporting environments within the deep subsurface. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

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