The formation of high temperature clay minerals from basalt alteration during hydrothermal discharge on the East Pacific Rise axis at 21°N

Abstract

Aluminous, high-temperature clay minerals form from alteration of tholeiitic basaltic glass and calcic plagioclase during hydrothermal venting on the crest of the East Pacific Rise at 21°N. The clay alteration assemblages are layered crusts (up to 1 mm thick) completely replacing glass and calcic plagioclase adjacent to surfaces exposed to hydrothermal fluids. The interiors of the affected basalt samples have unaltered appearances and oxygen isotopic compositions just slightly heavier than that of MORB. The surficial alteration crusts are mixtures of beidellitic smectite (aluminous, dioctahedral), randomly interstratified mixed-layer Al-rich chlorite/smectite, minor chlorite, an x-ray amorphous aluminosilicate material, and possible minor serpentine (amesite). A δ 18O value of +4.1 ± 0.2%. (SMOW) is determined for the beidellitic smectite. Assuming that this smectite equilibrated with hydrothermal fluid having an oxygen isotope value between that of seawater (0%.) and 350°C hydrothermal fluid from EPR, 21°N vents (+1.6%.), an equilibration temperature between 290°C and 360°C is calculated for the beidellitic smectite. This is substantially higher than any previously reported temperature for an oceanic smectite. The mixed-layer Al-rich chlorite/smectite has a δ 18O value of +3.5%., which corresponds to equilibration at 295°–360°C. The aluminous composition of the alteration assemblage is uncommon for clay minerals produced by submarine hydrothermal basalt alteration. We suggest that this assemblage is largely the product of high-temperature interaction between basalt glass + plagioclase and Mg-poor, acidic hydrothermal fluids, with possibly some contribution of Mg from bottom seawater, and that the aluminous clays either incorporate Al 3+ remobilized from basalt by lowpH hydrothermal fluids, or are residual phases remaining after intense alteration of basaltic glass + plagioclase.