TRANSFORM TECTONICS, METAMORPHIC PLAGIOCLASE AND AMPHIBOLITIZATION INULTRAMAFIC ROCKS OF THE VEMA TRANSFORM-FAULT (ATLANTIC-OCEAN)

Based on microstructures and mineral chemistry, we show that ultramafi c rocks sampled in the south wall of the Vema transform have recorded a suite of deformation events that had approximately the same geometry but occurred successively in spinel, plagioclase and amphibolite faci es conditions. This tectonic and metamorphic evolution is inferred to have taken place at depth near the eastern intersection of the Vema tr ansform with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. We discuss the origin of plagiocl ase-bearing ultramafic mylonites and conclude that they resulted from dynamic recrystallization of moderately depleted spinel peridotites in the lower pressure plagioclase stability field. Low degrees of partia l melting in these samples were likely due to the cold thermal regime of the transform region. Strain softening that accompanied recrystalli zation of plagioclase may be a common effect in the upper mantle below large-offset transforms, favouring strain localization and the initia tion of ductile shear zones. Finally, amphibolite facies recrystalliza tion followed the introduction into the ultramafic rocks of a metasoma tic hydrous fluid enriched in titanium, sodium and calcium. We propose that this fluid was hydrothermal in origin, and had been chemically m odified by interactions with crustal rocks, prior to its circulation i n the ultramafics.