Petrological processes of Moho formation

2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20244085
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Petrology/Mineralogy/Science of ore deposit
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: ARAI Shoji 金沢大学, 自然システム学系, 教授 (20107684)
• Project Period (FY): 2008 – 2011
• Keywords: モホ / マントル / 地殻 / 海洋底 / オフィオライト / 島弧 / 捕獲岩

Research Abstract

Petrologic nature of Moho(Mohorovicic discontinuity), the shallowest of global physical discontinuities of the Earth's interior) has been investigated. Results of this study will guide the oceanic mantle drilling(Mohole) in the future. In the Oman ophiolite, a slice of Cretaceous oceanic lithosphere, the Mono transition zone(=MTZ), from 10 m to 1 km in thickness, is found between layered gabbro and the mantle peridotite(mainly harzburgite). The MTZ, mainly composed of dunites and wehrlites, becomes Mg-rich with an increase of its thickness, showing characteristics of a MORB/harzburgite reaction product. Beneath the island arc, the MTZ varies its petrologic characteristics through accretion of cumulates and hydration, and shows intense heterogeneities and varieties.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Behavior of MORB magmas at uppermost mantle beneath a fast-spreading axis : an example from Wadi Fizh of the northern Oman ophiolite (2012)
  • Author(s): Akizawa, N., Arai, S. and Tamura, A.
  • Journal Title: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Volume: (accepted)
• [Journal Article] Spinel-free and spinel-poor dunite veins crosscutting the Wadi Rajmi ophiolite chromitite(northern Oman ophiolite) (2012)
  • Author(s): Abbou-Kebir, K., Arai, S., Ahmed, A. H. and Ceuleneer, G.
  • Journal Title: Bulletin de la Societe Geologique de France Volume: (accepted)
• [Journal Article] Gabbroic xenoliths and megacrysts in Pleisto-Holocene alkali basalts from Jeju Island (2012)
  • Author(s): Yang, K., Arai, S., Yu, J-E., Yun, S-H. and Hwang, J-Y.
  • Journal Title: Lithos Volume: 142/143 Pages: 201-215
• [Journal Article] Characterization of the thermally metamorphosed mantle-crust transition zone of the Neoproterozoic ophiolite at Gebel Mudarjaj (2012)
  • Author(s): Ahmed, A. H., Gharib, M. E. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Lithos Volume: 142/143 Pages: 67-83
• [Journal Article] Origin of wehrlite cumulates in the Moho Transitio Zone of the Neoproterozoic Ras Salatit Ophiolite (2012)
  • Author(s): Gahlan, H. A., Arai, S., Abu El-Ela, F. F. and Tamura, A.
  • Journal Title: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Volume: 163 Pages: 225-241
• [Journal Article] Petrology and geochemistry of prograde deserpentinized peridotites from Happo-O' ne (2012)
  • Author(s): Khedr, M. Z. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Asian Earth Sciences Volume: 43 Pages: 150-163
• [Journal Article] Origin of spinel-free dunite veins from northern Oman ophiolite : Possible involvement of a komatiitic melt (2011)
  • Author(s): Abbou-Kebir, K., Arai, S., Ahmed, A. H. and Ceuleneer, G.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences Volume: 106 Pages: 235-245
• [Journal Article] Abyssal harzburgite veined by silica-oversaturated melt in the Sibuyan Ultramafics (2011)
  • Author(s): Payot, B. D., Arai, S. and Tamayo, R. A., Jr.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences Volume: 106 Pages: 175-180
• [Journal Article] Two Mesozoic oceanic phases recorded in the basic and metabasic rocks of the Nain and Ashin-Zavar ophiolitic melanges (2011)
  • Author(s): Shirdashtzadeh, N., Torabi, G. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Ofioliti Volume: 36 Pages: 191-205
• [Journal Article] Insight into the uppermost mantle section of a maturing arc : The Eastern Mirdita ophiolite (2011)
  • Author(s): Morishita, T., Dilek, Y., Shallo, M., Tamura, A. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Lithos Volume: 124 Pages: 215-226
• [Journal Article] Raman spectroscopy of hydrous inclusions in olivine and orthopyroxene in ophiolitic harzburgite : implications for elementary processes in serpentinization (2011)
  • Author(s): Miura, M., Arai, S. and Mizukami, T.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences Volume: 106 Pages: 91-96
• [Journal Article] Peculiar Ca-Mg-Si metasomatism along a shear zone within the mantle wedge : inference from fine-grained xenoliths from Avacha volcano (2011)
  • Author(s): Ishimaru, S. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Volume: 161 Pages: 703-720
• [Journal Article] Diopsidites and rodingites : serpentinization and Ca-metasomatism in the Oman ophiolite mantle (2011)
  • Author(s): Python, M., Yoshikawa, M., Shibata, T. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Springer-Verlag, Berlin Pages: 401-435
• [Journal Article] Chemical characteristics of chromian spinel in plutonic rocks : implications for deep magma processes and discrimination of tectonic setting (2011)
  • Author(s): Arai, S., Okamura, H., Kadoshima, K., Tanaka, C., Suzuki, K. and Ishimaru, S.
  • Journal Title: Island Arc Volume: 20 Pages: 125-137
• [Journal Article] Possible recycled origin for ultrahigh-pressure chromitites in ophiolites (2010)
  • Author(s): Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences Volume: 105 Pages: 280-285
• [Journal Article] Base Metal(BM) and Platinum-Group Element(PGE) Mineralogy and geochemistry of Elmaslar Chromite Deposit (2010)
  • Author(s): Akbulut, M., Piskin, O., Arai, S., Ozgenc, I and Minareci, F.
  • Journal Title: Ofioliti Volume: 35 Pages: 1-20
• [Journal Article] クロミタイト-不思議なマントル構成岩- (2010)
  • Author(s): 荒井章司
  • Journal Title: 地学雑誌(Journal of Geography) Volume: 119 Pages: 392-410
• [Journal Article] Post-deformational impregnation of depleted MORB in Nain lherzolite(Central Iran) (2010)
  • Author(s): Pirnia, T., Arai, S. and Torabi, G.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences Volume: 105 Pages: 74-79
• [Journal Article] Clinopyroxenes in high-P metaperidotites from Happo-O'ne (2010)
  • Author(s): Khedr, M. Z., Arai, S., Tamura, A. and Morishita, T.
  • Journal Title: Lithos Volume: 119 Pages: 439-456
• [Journal Article] Hydrous peridotites with Ti-rich chromian spinel as a low-temperature forearc mantle facies (2010)
  • Author(s): Khedr, M. Z. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Volume: 159 Pages: 137-157
• [Journal Article] Igneous, alteration and exhumation processes recorded in abyssal peridotites and related fault rocks from an oceanic core complex along the Central Indian Ridge (2009)
  • Author(s): Morishita, T., Hara, K., Nakamura, K., Sawaguchi, T., Tamura, A., Arai, S., Okino, K., Takai, K. and Kuragai, H.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Petrology Volume: 50 Pages: 1299-1325
• [Journal Article] Petrologic profile of peridotite layers under a possible Moho in the northern Oman ophiolite : an example from Wadi Fizh (2009)
  • Author(s): Akizawa, N. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences Volume: 104 Pages: 389-394
• [Journal Article] Unusual ultra-depleted dunite from Sibuyan Island(the Philippines): a residue for ultra-depleted MORB? (2009)
  • Author(s): Payot, B. D., Arai, S., Tamura, A., Ishimaru, S. and Tamayo, R. A., Jr.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences Volume: 104 Pages: 383-388
• [Journal Article] Geochemistry of metasomatized peridotites above subducting slab : a case study of hydrous metaperidotites from Happo-One (2009)
  • Author(s): Khedr, M. Z. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences Volume: 104 Pages: 313-318
• [Journal Article] Metal-saturated peridotite in the mantle wedge inferred from metal-bearing peridotite xenoliths from Avacha volcano (2009)
  • Author(s): Ishimaru, S., Arai, S. and Shukuno, H.
  • Journal Title: Earth and Planetary Science Letters Volume: 284 Pages: 352-360
• [Journal Article] Geochemical characteristics of chloritization of mafic crust from the northern Omanophiolite : Implications for estimating the chemical budget of hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic lithosphere (2009)
  • Author(s): Yoshitake, N., Arai, S., Ishida, Y. and Tamura, A.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Science Volume: 104 Pages: 156-163
• [Journal Article] Rock seismic anisotropy of the low-velocity zone beneath the volcanic front in the mantle wedge (2009)
  • Author(s): Michibayashi, K., Oohara, T., Satsukawa, T., Ishimaru, S., Arai, S. and Okrugin, V. M.
  • Journal Title: Geophysical Research Letters Volume: 36 Pages: L12305
  • DOI: doi:10.1029/2009GL038527
• [Journal Article] Mineralogy and Mineral Paragenesis of the Co-Ni Arsenide Ores of the Bou Azzer (2009)
  • Author(s): Ahmed, A. H., Arai, S. and Ikenne, M.
  • Journal Title: Economic Geology Volume: 104 Pages: 249-266
• [Journal Article] Subarc magmatic and hydration processes inferred from a hornblende peridotite xenolith in spessartite from Kyoto (2009)
  • Author(s): Ishimaru, S., Arai, S., Tamura, A., Takeuchi, M. and Kiji, M.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences Volume: 114 Pages: 97-104
• [Journal Article] What underlies the Philippine Island Arc?: Clues from the Calaton Hill (2009)
  • Author(s): Payot, B. D., Arai, , S., Tamayo, R. A., Jr. and Yumul, G. P., Jr.
  • Journal Title: Jour. Asian Earth Sci Volume: 36 Pages: 371-389
• [Journal Article] Constraints on the evolutionary history of aluminous mafic rocks in the Ronda peridotite massif(Spain) from trace-element compositions of clinopyroxene and garnet (2009)
  • Author(s): Morishita, T., Arai, S., Ishida, Y., Tamura, A. and Gervilla, F.
  • Journal Title: Geochemical Journal Volume: 43 Pages: 191-206
• [Journal Article] Intergranular trace elements in mantle xenoliths from Russian Far East : An example for mantle metasomatism by hydrous melt (2009)
  • Author(s): Yamamoto, J., Nakai, S., Nishimura, K., Kaneoke, I., Kagi, H., Sato, K., Okumura, T., Prikhod' ko and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Island Arc Volume: 18 Pages: 225-241
• [Journal Article] Carbonate-orthopyroxenite lenses from the Late Proterozoic Gerf ophiolite (2009)
  • Author(s): Gahlan, H. M. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Jour. African Earth Sci Volume: 53 Pages: 70-82
• [Journal Article] Highly silicic glasses in peridotite xenoliths from Avacha volcano, Kamchatca arc ; implications for melting and metasomatism within the sub-arcmantle (2009)
  • Author(s): Ishimaru, S. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Lithos Volume: 107 Pages: 93-106
• [Journal Article] Chromitite and peridotite from Rayat, northeastern Iraq, as fragments of a Tethyan ophiolite (2009)
  • Author(s): Ismail, S. A., Arai, S., Ahmed, A. H. and Shimizu, Y.
  • Journal Title: Island Arc Volume: 18 Pages: 175-183
• [Journal Article] Chromian spinels in mafic-ultramafic mantle dykes : evidence for two-stage melt production during the evolution of the Oman ophiolite (2008)
  • Author(s): Python, M., Ceuleneer, G. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Lithos Volume: 106 Pages: 137-154
• [Journal Article] Petrology of the Yugu peridotites in the Gyeonggi massif, South Korea : implications for their origin and hydration process (2008)
  • Author(s): Arai, S., Tamura, A., Ishimaru, S., Kadoshima, K., Lee, Y.-I. and Hisada, K.
  • Journal Title: Island Arc Volume: 17 Pages: 485-501
• [Journal Article] Chromian spinels in mafic-ultramafic mantle dykes : evidencefor two-stage melt production during the evolution of the Oman ophiolite (2008)
  • Author(s): Python, M., Ceuleneer, G. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Lithos Volume: 106 Pages: 137-154
• [Journal Article] Magmatic unmixing in spinel from Late Precambrian concentrically-zoned mafic-ultramafic intrusions (2008)
  • Author(s): Ahmed, H. A., Helmy, H. M., Arai, S. and Yoshikawa, M.
  • Journal Title: Lithos Volume: 104 Pages: 85-98
• [Journal Article] Arsenide in a metasomatized peridotite xenolith as a constraint on arsenic behavior in the mantle wedge (2008)
  • Author(s): Ishimaru, S. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Am. Mineral Volume: 93 Pages: 1061-1065
• [Journal Article] Origin and significance of spinel-pyroxene symplectite in lherzolite xenoliths from Tallante (2008)
  • Author(s): Shimizu, Y., Arai, S., Morishita, T. and Ishida, Y.
  • Journal Title: Mineralogy and Petrology Volume: 94 Pages: 27-43
• [Journal Article] Fertile abyssal peridotites within the Franciscan subduction complex, central California : possible origin as detached remnants of oceanic fracture zones located close to a slow-spreading ridge (2008)
  • Author(s): Hirauchi, K., Tamura, A., Arai, S., Yamaguchi, H. and Hisada, K.
  • Journal Title: Lithos Volume: 105 Pages: 319-328
• [Journal Article] 海洋リソスフェアーの熱水変質に伴う元素移動 (2008)
  • Author(s): 森下知晃・中村謙太郎・澤口隆・原香織・荒井章司・熊谷英憲
  • Journal Title: 地学雑誌 Volume: 117 Pages: 220-252
• [Journal Article] モホの岩石学実体を探る-21世紀モホールを目指して- (2008)
  • Author(s): 荒井章司・阿部なつ江
  • Journal Title: 地学雑誌 Volume: 117 Pages: 110-123
• [Journal Article] Nickel enrichment in mantle olivine beneath a volcanic front (2008)
  • Author(s): Ishimaru, S. and Arai, S.
  • Journal Title: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Volume: 156 Pages: 119-131
• [Journal Article] Insights into petrological characteristics of the lithosphere of mantle wedge beneath arcs through peridotite xenoliths (2008)
  • Author(s): Arai, S. and Ishimaru, S.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Petrology Volume: 49 Pages: 665-695
• [Journal Article] Petrology and geochemistry of peridotites from IODP Site U1309 at Atlantis Massif (2008)
  • Author(s): Tamura, A., Arai, S., Ishimaru, S. and Andal, E. S.
  • Journal Title: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Volume: 155 Pages: 491-509
  • DOI: doi:10.1007/s00410-007-0254-0
• [Presentation] What do podiform chromitites tell us? (2011)
  • Author(s): Arai, S.
  • Organizer: GeoCon 2011
  • Place of Presentation: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Quezon City(Philippines)
  • Year and Date: 2011-12-08
• [Presentation] Ophiolitic chromitites : Origins and implications for mantle dynamics (2011)
  • Author(s): Arai, S.
  • Organizer: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting 2011
  • Place of Presentation: Minneapolis Convention Center(USA)
  • Year and Date: 2011-10-11
• [Presentation] Podiform chromitites as a possible mantle dynamics tracer(Keynote) (2011)
  • Author(s): Arai, S. and Ahmed, A. H.
  • Organizer: 11^<th> Biennial Meeting SGA 2011
  • Place of Presentation: Enjoy Resort and Casino, Antofagasta(Chile)
  • Year and Date: 2011-09-29
• [Presentation] モホの岩石学的イメージング:海洋底そして日本列島 (2011)
  • Author(s): 荒井章司
  • Organizer: 日本地質学会第118学術大会・日本鉱物科学会2011年年会合同学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 茨城大学(水戸市)
  • Year and Date: 2011-09-09
• [Presentation] Ultrahigh-pressure podiform chromitites as a possible deep recycled material (2011)
  • Author(s): Arai, S., Ahmed, A. H. and Miura, M.
  • Organizer: Goldschmidt 2011
  • Place of Presentation: Prague Congress Center, Prague(Czech)
  • Year and Date: 2011-08-19
• [Presentation] Possible high-PGE-Au silicate melt/aqueous fluid in mantle wedge : inferred from Ni metasomatism in Avacha peridotite xenolith (2011)
  • Author(s): Ishimaru, S., Arai, S., Borisova, A. Y. and Tamura, A.
  • Organizer: Goldschmidt 2011
  • Place of Presentation: Prague Congress Center, Prague(Czech)
  • Year and Date: 2011-08-18
• [Presentation] Growth-zoned chromian spinel in rodingite : evidence for Cr mobility in hydrothermal solution (2011)
  • Author(s): Akizawa, N., Arai, S., Tamura, A. and Uesugi, J.
  • Organizer: Goldschmidt 2011
  • Place of Presentation: Prague Congress Center, Prague(Czech)
  • Year and Date: 2011-08-17
• [Presentation] Origins of ophiolitic chromitites : Magmatic accumulate and deep recycling (2011)
  • Author(s): Arai, S. and Ahmed, A. H.
  • Organizer: Asia Oceania Geosciences Society 2011 General Assembly
  • Place of Presentation: Taipei International Convention Center(Taiwan)
  • Year and Date: 2011-08-11
• [Presentation] Sulfide-rich dunite from Wadi Thuqbah, the northern Oman ophiolite (2011)
  • Author(s): Negishi, H., Arai, S., Ishimaru, S. and Tamura, A.
  • Organizer: Asia Oceania Geosciences Society 2011 General Assembly
  • Place of Presentation: Taipei International Convention Center(Taiwan)
  • Year and Date: 2011-08-11
• [Presentation] Concordant and discordant podiform chromitites : their origins revisited (2011)
  • Author(s): Arai, S. and Ahmed, A. H.
  • Organizer: 地球惑星科学連合大会
  • Place of Presentation: 幕張メッセ(千葉県)
  • Year and Date: 2011-05-27
• [Presentation] Sulfide-rich dunite from Wadi Thuqbah, the northern Oman Ophiolite (2011)
  • Author(s): Negishi, H., Arai, S., Ishimaru, S. and Tamura, A.
  • Organizer: 地球惑星科学連合大会
  • Place of Presentation: 幕張メッセ(千葉県)
  • Year and Date: 2011-05-27
• [Presentation] Chromitite as a possible tracer of mantle dynamics (2011)
  • Author(s): Arai, S.
  • Organizer: 地球惑星科学連合大会
  • Place of Presentation: 幕張メッセ(千葉県)
  • Year and Date: 2011-05-23
• [Presentation] Deep carbon cycle unraveled by deep ocean drilling (2011)
  • Author(s): Arai, S.
  • Organizer: 地球惑星科学連合大会
  • Place of Presentation: 幕張メッセ(千葉県)
  • Year and Date: 2011-05-23
• [Presentation] Similarity and difference between abyssal and back-arc basin peridotites : inference from xenoliths suites from the Sea of Japan (2010)
  • Author(s): Arai, S. and Tanaka, C.
  • Organizer: 20^<th> International Mineralogical Association
  • Place of Presentation: Etovos University(Hungary)
  • Year and Date: 2010-08-23
• [Presentation] Group II ultramafic xenoliths from Jeju Island, South Korea : evidence for melt migration and secondary orthopyroxene formation (2010)
  • Author(s): Yang, K., Szabo, Cs. and Arai, S.
  • Organizer: 20^<th> International Mineralogical Association
  • Place of Presentation: Etovos University(Hungary)
  • Year and Date: 2010-08-22
• [Presentation] 北部オマーン・オフィオライトにおけるモホの岩石学的実体 (2010)
  • Author(s): 荒井章司
  • Organizer: 地球惑星科学連合大会
  • Place of Presentation: 幕張メッセ(千葉県)
  • Year and Date: 2010-05-26
• [Presentation] Origin of Moho in the Northern Oman Ophiolite (2009)
  • Author(s): Arai, S.
  • Organizer: Asia Oceania Geosciences Society 2009 General Assembly
  • Place of Presentation: SUNTEC(Singapore)
  • Year and Date: 2009-08-12
• [Presentation] Petrologic profile through the uppermost mantle under the Moho from the northern Oman ophiolite : an example from Wadi Fizh (2009)
  • Author(s): Akizawa, N., Arai, S. and Tamura, A.
  • Organizer: A011, Asia Oceania Geosciences Society 2009 General Assembly
  • Place of Presentation: SUNTEC(Singapore)
  • Year and Date: 2009-08-12
• [Presentation] Diversity and origin of Moho in the northern Oman ophiolite (2009)
  • Author(s): Arai, S.
  • Organizer: European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2009
  • Place of Presentation: Vienna Convention Centre(Austria)
  • Year and Date: 2009-04-22
• [Presentation] Origin of Moho from the Oman ophiolite : Foreseeing of the Mohole result? (2008)
  • Author(s): Arai, S.
  • Organizer: International Symposia on Geoscience Resources and Environments of Asian Terranes(GREAT 2008)(4^<th> Conference of IGCP516)
  • Place of Presentation: Chaophya Hotel, Bangkok(Thailand)
  • Year and Date: 2008-11-25
• [Presentation] かんらん岩とレアメタル濃集:マグマと熱水の役割 (2008)
  • Author(s): 荒井章司
  • Organizer: 日本鉱物科学会2008年会
  • Place of Presentation: 秋田大学(秋田県)
  • Year and Date: 2008-09-11
• [Presentation] The Avacha peridotite xenolith suite from Kamchatka arc as a window to sub-volcanic front mantle processes (2008)
  • Author(s): Arai, S. and Ishimaru, S.
  • Organizer: EID05429P
  • Place of Presentation: Convention Centre, Oslo(Norway)
  • Year and Date: 2008-08-09
• [Presentation] Dunites and wehrlites from the northern Oman Ophiolite : One suite or more? (2008)
  • Author(s): Arai, S.
  • Organizer: Asia Oceania Geosciences Society 2008 General Assembly
  • Place of Presentation: BEXCO, Busan(Korea)
  • Year and Date: 2008-06-18
• [Presentation] Decoupled modal and mineral chemical variations of uppermost mantle peridotites beneath a spreading center : an example from Wadi Rajmi of the northern Oman ophiolite (2008)
  • Author(s): Arai, S., Suzuki, K. and Okamura, H.
  • Organizer: European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2008
  • Place of Presentation: Vienna Convention Centre(Austria)
  • Year and Date: 2008-04-14