Morphological and Compositional Features of Chromian Spinel from Mantle Ultramafic Rocks of The Nurali Massif (South Urals)

Abstract

Accessory chromian spinels of lherzolites and dunites from a mantle section of the Nurali ophiolite massif are described in the paper. Lherzolites typically host anhedral chromian spinel grains associated with olivine, pyroxenes and plagioclase. The compositions of silicates and chromian spinels are typical of those from ophiolite mantle sections. Olivine and orthopyroxene are characterized by high Mg content (forsterite and enstatite); clinopyroxene is diopside. The compositions of chromian spinel on the Al–Cr–Fe+3 plot occur close to the Al–Cr side. The #Cr and #Mg values of chromian spinels increase from lherzolites to dunites. Both vermicular spinels trapping olivine and orthopyroxene fragments (type I) and symplectite-like intergrowths of chromian spinel and plagioclase (type II) are most genetically interesting. Type I formed during synkinematic growth in deformed silicate matrix. Type II possibly formed as a result of decompression breakdown of a high-P mineral phase enriched in Cr, Al and Ca (a knorringite-type garnet?). In dunites, numerous tiny chromian spinel rods (type IV) in plastic deformed olivine are observed along with typical euhedral chromian spinel (type III) with inclusions of olivine and pargasite. Latter ones locally occur closely to fne pargasite grains. The formation of chromian spinel rods is explained as a result deformation-induced segregation of trace elements on the structural defects of the olivine lattice. Figures 7. Tables 4. References 48.