Neoarchean seafloor hydrothermal metamorphism of basalts in the Zanhuang ophiolitic mélange, North China Craton

Epidosites are suggested to form in up-flow zones located at the base of ore-forming oceanic hydrothermal systems, and are commonly preserved in ophiolitic sequences. However, occurrences of epidosites in Archean tectonic mélanges are rarely documented. In this study, we report the presence of late Neoarchean epidosites in the Zanhuang ophiolitic mélange in the North China Craton using meter-scale litho-structural and petrologic analysis, zircon U-Pb dating, major and trace element, and oxygen and strontium isotopic geochemistry. Field studies show that the epidosites are mainly preserved as the cores of meta-pillow lavas, and are distributed as blocks in different matrices within the tectonic mélange. The pillow rims are used as protolith to estimate the element mobility during the alteration process. The epidosites display strong depletion in Na2O (0.01–0.27 wt%), MgO (0.43–3.01 wt%), depletion in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) (e.g. Rb, Ba, Cs, U) and transition metals (e.g., Co, Sc, Cu, Ni, Zn), and show enrichment of CaO (13.35–21.0 wt%), Sr and Pb. The high field strength elements (HFSE) (e.g. Zr, Hf, Ta, Th) of epidosites are varied but rare earth elements (REE) are unchanged. The amphibolitic pillow rims are characterized by enrichment of LILE, flat heavy rare earth elements (HREE) patterns, and depletion in HFSE with negative Ti anomalies and positive Pb and Ba anomalies. Oxygen and strontium isotopic ratios of epidosites are 5.0–8.6‰ and 0.70284–0.70551, respectively, both of which are greater than those of fresh basalts. The major and trace elements, oxygen and strontium isotopic values and extensive element migration indicate that the protolith was altered by a submarine hydrothermal system in the absence of continental influence. Magmatic zircons from two samples of epidosites yield 207Pb/206Pb ages of 2512 ± 13 Ma (MSWD = 0.51) and 2542 ± 13 Ma (MSWD = 1.4), confirming that the epidosites were generated at ca. 2.51–2.54 Ga. Based on geochemical data and field observations, we suggest that the protolith of the epidosites formed in an arc-related tectonic setting during the late Neoarchean. This study shows that hydrothermal activity operating in the late Neoarchean was similar to that of the modern ocean floor.