First terrestrial occurrence of tistarite (Ti2O3): Ultra-low oxygen fugacity in the upper mantle beneath Mount Carmel, Israel

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 2016 First terrestrial occurrence of tistarite (Ti2O3): Ultra-low oxygen fugacity in the upper mantle beneath Mount Carmel, Israel W.L. Griffin; W.L. Griffin 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S.E.M. Gain; S.E.M. Gain 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D.T. Adams; D.T. Adams 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J-X. Huang; J-X. Huang 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. Saunders; M. Saunders 2Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, WA 6009, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar V. Toledo; V. Toledo 3Shefa Yamim (A.T.M.) Ltd., Netanya 4210602, Israel Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar N.J. Pearson; N.J. Pearson 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S.Y. O’Reilly S.Y. O’Reilly 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information W.L. Griffin 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia S.E.M. Gain 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia D.T. Adams 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia J-X. Huang 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia M. Saunders 2Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, WA 6009, Australia V. Toledo 3Shefa Yamim (A.T.M.) Ltd., Netanya 4210602, Israel N.J. Pearson 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia S.Y. O’Reilly 1ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and GEMOC, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 21 Mar 2016 Revision Received: 19 Jul 2016 Accepted: 23 Jul 2016 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online Issn: 1943-2682 Print Issn: 0091-7613 © 2016 Geological Society of America Geology (2016) 44 (10): 815–818. https://doi.org/10.1130/G37910.1 Article history Received: 21 Mar 2016 Revision Received: 19 Jul 2016 Accepted: 23 Jul 2016 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation W.L. Griffin, S.E.M. Gain, D.T. Adams, J-X. Huang, M. Saunders, V. Toledo, N.J. Pearson, S.Y. O’Reilly; First terrestrial occurrence of tistarite (Ti2O3): Ultra-low oxygen fugacity in the upper mantle beneath Mount Carmel, Israel. Geology 2016;; 44 (10): 815–818. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G37910.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The minimum oxygen fugacity (fO2) of Earth’s upper mantle probably is controlled by metal saturation, as defined by the iron-wüstite (IW) buffer reaction (FeO → Fe + O). However, the widespread occurrence of moissanite (SiC) in kimberlites, and a suite of super-reduced minerals (SiC, alloys, native elements) in peridotites in Tibet and the Polar Urals (Russia), suggest that more reducing conditions (fO2 = 6–8 log units below IW) must occur locally in the mantle. We describe pockets of melt trapped in aggregates of corundum crystals ejected from Cretaceous volcanoes in northern Israel which contain high-temperature mineral assemblages requiring extremely low fO2 (IW < −10). One abundant phase is tistarite (Ti2O3), previously known as a single grain in the Allende carbonaceous chondrite (Mexico) and believed to have formed during the early evolution of the solar nebula. It is associated with other reduced phases usually found in meteorites. The development of super-reducing conditions in Earth’s upper mantle may reflect the introduction of CH4 + H2 fluids from the deep mantle, specifically related to deep-seated volcanic plumbing systems at plate boundaries. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.