Seafloor Magnetism Under Hydrothermal Alteration: Insights From Magnetomineralogy and Magnetic Properties of the Southwest Indian Ridge Basalts

Titanomagnetites in mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) experience variable post crystallization alterations associated with seafloor tectonic and environmental processes. Compared to low-temperature oxidation, seafloor hydrothermal alteration is thought to be more destructive but its magnetic aftermaths are insufficiently documented. Here we present comprehensive rock magnetic and electron microscopic analyses of fresh and hydrothermally-altered MORBs dredged from the Longqi and Yuhuang hydrothermal fields, Southwest Indian Ridge. We observe large variations in magnetic properties of fresh MORBs, originated from relative proportions of nano-scale single-domain to vortex state and micron-scale vortex to multi-domain state dendritic titanomagnetites. Progressive hydrothermal alteration produces secondary magnetite through recrystallization of exsolved and dissolved Fe from primary titanomagnetite. Exsolution is evident by a dual Verwey transition signature and coexisting Ti-poor titanomagnetites and sphenes in partially chloritized basalts. A schematic model is proposed to explain the variations in magnetomineralogy and magnetic properties with progressive hydrothermal alteration. Intermediate hydrothermal alteration products retain a secondary chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) which is related to the long-term magnetization variations in oceanic basalts. The established framework allows characterizing MORB hydrothermal alteration and ultimately contributes to resolving the complexity of seafloor magnetism. Plain Language Summary Seafloor magnetism is essential for understanding geodynamics and resource prospecting. Near the seafloor high-temperature hydrothermal fields that host black smokers, the primary titanomagnetites in oceanic basalts experience complicated alterations that profoundly change seafloor magnetic anomalies. This study investigates the alteration of titanomagnetite through fluid-rock interactions in such seafloor settings. We find titanomagnetite is disassembled into Fe-rich and Ti-rich phases when interacting with fluids, causing a series of magnetic property variations. A schematic model is proposed to explain how high-temperature fluid-rock interactions gradually destroy seafloor magnetism. This model improves our understanding of seafloor magnetism from the perspective of hydrothermal alterations, which is important for applying magnetic surveys to prospecting seafloor resources and probing subseafloor structures.

Automated summary

This study investigates the post-crystallization alterations of titanomagnetites in mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) through comprehensive rock magnetic and electron microscopic analyses. The research reveals the variations in magnetomineralogy and magnetic properties with progressive hydrothermal alteration, providing insights into the complexity of seafloor magnetism. The established framework allows for characterizing MORB hydrothermal alteration and contributes to resolving the long-term magnetization variations in oceanic basalts.