Spatial Distribution of Hydrogen Production Zone and Organic Carbon; Case Study from Jurassic Ocean Plateau, the Mikabu Greenstone Belt, Central Shikoku, Japan.

Abstract:

Hydrothermal activity in the Archean-Ridge system has been considered to play a major role to maintain the oldest biosphere in early Earth. In the present ridge-system, hydrogen production in the serpentinized peridotite layer, is considered as major energy source. However, low temperature hydrothermal zone in the lower crust layer in the ridge has been recognized as hydrogen producing zone. Then what is the hydrogen source in the oceanic lower crust? Accreted oceanic plateau is one of the best sample to describe hydration process due to deep-sea-hydrothermal alteration because it is easy to observe huge outcrops and collect samples systematically in whole section. We have collected rock samples from Mikabu high P/T rocks in Toba area and from Ootoyo area, Japan because there are large scale trench cliffs in the mine. Here, we report mineral composition surrounding organic carbon that was found in metabasaltic rocks from Otoyo area. The metabasalt underlies metachert, and exhibit extensive plagioclase veins. Carbonaceous material and FeS are concentrated near the veins. Serpentinization of olivine gabbro was recognized there. In the Toba area, wehrlite and hornblende gabbro are dominant as the oceanic lower crustal material, subsequently suffered high P/T metamorphism. Abundant serpentine with magnetite are along olivine grain boundaries. Cr-spinel and epidote are occasionally recognized. That is, hydrogen was produced due to hydration reaction in the intruded wherlite from the lower crust of the large plateau. In summary, the lower crust might be significant zone producing hydrogen, and provide bacteria cluster above.