Abstract:
The genetic mechanism of serpentinized peridotite in Lüliangshan area of the North Qaidam UHPM belt is controversial. It was proposed as product of subducted slabs, refertilised lithospheric mantle or mantle wedge. In this paper, two types of peridotite (garnet lherzolite and dunite) were collected from Lüliangshan area, and the major and trace elements, and in-situ boron isotope of serpentine were analyzed. The two types of peridotite have experienced different types of serpentinization respectively. The dunite is dominated by the serpentinization of olivine, while the garnet lherzolite is dominated by the serpentinization of pyroxene. The serpentine produced by the serpentinization of olivine has higher content of MgO and As but lower content of Al
2O
3, Cr
2O
3, FeO, Li, Yb, Y, Ti, Sc and Zn; while the serpentine produced by the serpentinization of pyroxene is opposite. Serpentine in two types of peridotite showed significant differences in boron isotope. The boron content of serpentine in dunite is from 13.3×10
–6 to 38.5×10
–6, and its δ
11B value is from −9.5‰ to +5.0‰, which is close to or slight higher than the δ
11B value of the mantle. The boron content of serpentine in garnet lherzolite is from 10.5×10
–6 to 49.9×10
–6, and its δ
11B value is from 6.3‰ to 23.0‰, indicating that they are significantly enriched in heavy boron isotope. The difference of boron isotope composition of serpentines indicates that the Lüliangshan peridotite was formed in two different tectonic settings. The garnet lherzolite is formed in lithospheric mantle and has been altered by seawater, thus with enrichment of heavy boron isotope. While the dunite is of mantle-wedge origin and had undergone serpentinization interacted with subduction fluids, thus with enrichment of light boron isotope.