Monviso
44.666˚N 7.110˚E
The Monviso Ophiolite is made up of two intact sections of Tethyan oceanic crust that both reached eclogite facies conditions during subduction and collision of the European margin beneath the African plate. Peak metamorphic conditions of of 2.2-2.6 GPa and 480-550 °C were reached at ~50Ma. Both ophiolite sections are comprised of metasedimentary cover, metabasalt, metagabbro and serpentinized peridotite with varying amounts of deformation and retrogression (particularly in the metabasalts). The lower section is cut by several shear zones which contain blocks of the various lithologies in a serpentinite matrix and show evidence of pervasive fluid rock interaction.
E-FIRE research on this field location aims to understand the duration and distribution of fluid-rock interaction and the sources of these fluids, the age of important metamorphic events, and the preservation of ocean-floor isotopic stratigraphy to eclogite facies. Samples collected include undeformed and unaltered examples of the entire lithologic stratigraphy of the lower ophiolite section, various examples of fluid-rock interaction (veins and detailed transects of metasomatic rinds), rodingites, calcite-bearing metasediments, and examples of exceptional mineral textures (mylonitized to extremely coarse-grained eclogite, static to mylonitized serpentinite).
Sample Photos
Field Photos
