Hydrothermal discharge zones beneath massive sulfide deposits mapped in the Oman ophiolite

Research Article| June 01, 1989 Hydrothermal discharge zones beneath massive sulfide deposits mapped in the Oman ophiolite Rachel M. Haymon; Rachel M. Haymon 1Marine Science Institute and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Randolph A. Koski; Randolph A. Koski 2U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 92045 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Michael J. Abrams Michael J. Abrams 3Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1989) 17 (6): 531–535. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0531:HDZBMS>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Rachel M. Haymon, Randolph A. Koski, Michael J. Abrams; Hydrothermal discharge zones beneath massive sulfide deposits mapped in the Oman ophiolite. Geology 1989;; 17 (6): 531–535. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0531:HDZBMS>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The area in the Oman ophiolite containing the volcanic-hosted Bayda and Aarja massive sulfide deposits exposes a cross section of ocean crust and reveals to an unprecedented extent the fossil zones of hydrothermal upwelling that fed these sea-floor deposits. The fossil discharge zones are elongate areas of alteration and mineralization characterized by numerous small (metres to tens of metres in length), linear, discontinuous gossans. The gossans result from oxidation of hydrothermal pyrite replacing primary igneous phases and filling voids and fractures in the altered host rocks. The two deposits have separate discharge zones that appear to be sub-sea-floor extensions of their stockworks. The Bayda zone extends through the volcanic section into the upper sheeted dike complex and is interpreted as having formed on the ridge crest above an axial magma chamber; the Aarja zone terminates against a plagiogranite pluton that intrudes the lower volcanic section and is thought to have formed after Bayda in an off-axis environment. Structural, stratigraphic, and compositional characteristics of the Bayda and Aarja massive sulfide bodies are consistent with this interpretation. The geometry of the discharge zones suggests that in both cases upfiow occurred in broad zones (at least 400-600 m wide) that were elongated along strike (i.e., parallel to the spreading axis). This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.