The melt viscosity (η) of anhydrous and hydrous peridotite was investigated using a multipronged approach combining micropenetration viscometry, conventional DSC, flash DSC Brillouin spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy measurements were used to verify the absence crystallization and/or degassing during high-temperature these extremely reactive glasses melts, ensuring that data corresponded crystal...

This article presents an experimental analysis of the organic content of two serpentinized peridotite rocks of the terrestrial upper mantle. The samples have been dredged on the floor of the Ashadze and Logatchev hydrothermal sites on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In this preliminary analysis, amino acids and long chain n-alkanes are identified. They are most probably of biological/microbial origin. ...

Mantle convection stirs and homogenizes the subducted oceanic lithosphere with the convecting mantle. Convective mixing stretches and thins the subducted oceanic crust from an original thickness of 6 km to a thickness of 2 cm or less. The thinned, subducted oceanic crust can be observed as pyroxenite bands in high-temperature peridotite massifs. On the scale of centimeters, the bands are destro...

A new diapiric model for kimberlite genesis takes into account recent interpretations of peridotiteCO2-H20 melting relationships. A minor thermal perturbation at depth might trigger release of reduced vapors with major components C-H-O. Where these volatile components cross the estimated solidus boundary near 260 km, partial melting occurs, the density inversion causes diapiric uprise along adi...

To help determine the chemical composition of the Earth’s mantle, we characterised the high-pressure mineral assemblage of an undepleted natural peridotite—thought to be representative of the Earth’s upper-mantle—to 107 GPa using high-resolution X-ray diffraction. At lower-mantle conditions, the peridotite transforms to the assemblage 76 (F 2)% (Mg0.88Fe0.05 2 + Fe0.01 3 + Al0.12Si0.94)O3 ortho...

Chromitites associated with strongly altered peridotite from six distinct localities in the Santa Elena ultramafic nappe (Costa Rica) have been investigated for the first time. Santa Elena chromitites commonly display a compositional variation from extremely chromiferous (Cr/(Cr+Al)=0.81) to intermediate and aluminous (Cr/(Cr+Al)=0.54). This composition varies along a continuous trend, correspo...

Data determined using a multianvil press are given for liquidus phase relations in the system diopside – forsterite – enstatite (CaMgSi2O6 – Mg2SiO4 – MgSiO3) and extend for a limited distance into the larger ternary system diopside – forsterite – quartz at 5.1 GPa. In the system diopside–enstatite, which cuts across the system diopside – forsterite – quartz and divides it into two smaller tern...