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Chromite alteration processes within Vourinos ophiolite

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Abstract

The renewed interest in chromite ore deposits is directly related to the increase in Cr price ruled by international market trends. Chromite, an accessory mineral in peridotites, is considered to be a petrogenetic indicator because its composition reflects the degree of partial melting that the mantle experienced while producing the chromium spinel-bearing rock (Burkhard in Geochim Cosmochim Acta 57:1297–1306, 1993). However, the understanding of chromite alteration and metamorphic modification is still controversial (e.g. Evans and Frost in Geochim Cosmochim Acta 39:959–972, 1975; Burkhard in Geochim Cosmochim Acta 57:1297–1306, 1993; Oze et al. in Am J Sci 304:67–101, 2004). Metamorphic alteration leads to major changes in chromite chemistry and to the growth of secondary phases such as ferritchromite and chlorite. In this study, we investigate the Vourinos complex chromitites (from the mines of Rizo, Aetoraches, Xerolivado and Potamia) with respect to textural and chemical analyses in order to highlight the most important trend of alteration related to chromite transformation. The present study has been partially funded by the Aliakmon project in collaboration between the Public Power Corporation of Greece and Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration of Kozani.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Prof. A. Rassios and all the staff of Aliakmon project and all the students that worked in collaboration between the Public Power Corporation of Greece and Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) of Kozani.

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  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Botticelli 23, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Giovanni Grieco & Anna Merlini

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  1. Giovanni Grieco
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  2. Anna Merlini
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Correspondence to Anna Merlini.

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Grieco, G., Merlini, A. Chromite alteration processes within Vourinos ophiolite. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 101, 1523–1533 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-011-0693-8

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