Metabasalt
A rock classification type
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About Metabasalt
A metamorphically-altered basalt.
It can form when ocean-floor basalts (including pillow lavas) are subducted. Due to dehydration and at higher temperatures and pressures, blueschists and eclogites may form.
It can form when ocean-floor basalts (including pillow lavas) are subducted. Due to dehydration and at higher temperatures and pressures, blueschists and eclogites may form.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
48733
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:48733:9
Classification of Metabasalt
- Rock
- Metamorphic rock
- Metamafic-rock
- Metabasalt
- Meta-igneous rock
- Metavolcanic rock
- Metabasalt
- Metavolcanic rock
- Metamafic-rock
- Metamorphic rock
Sub-divisions of Metabasalt
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Metabasalt associated with Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| 2 photos of Metabasalt associated with Zeolite Group | |
| 1 photo of Metabasalt associated with Native Gold | Au |
Internet Links for Metabasalt
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-48733.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
References for Metabasalt
Reference List:
Fairbairn, H. W. (1933) Chemical Changes in Metabasalt from Southern Quebec. The Journal of Geology, 41 (5) 553-558 doi:10.1086/624068
Smewing, John D., Simonian, Kapo O., Gass, Ian G. (1975) Metabasalts from the Troodos Massif, Cyprus: Genetic implication deduced from petrography and trace element geochemistry. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 51 (1) 49-64 doi:10.1007/bf00403512
K.-Seguin, Maurice (1976) The petrology, geochemistry, and remanent magnetization of metabasalts and metagabbros in the Lac Patu – Fort McKenzie region, New Quebec Territory. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 13 (6) 838-846 doi:10.1139/e76-087
Ann Morrison, M. (1978) The use of “immobile” trace elements to distinguish the palaeotectonic affinities of metabasalts: Applications to the Paleocene basalts of Mull and Skye, Northwest Scotland. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 39 (3) 407-416 doi:10.1016/0012-821x(78)90029-8
MOTTL, MICHAEL J. (1983) Metabasalts, axial hot springs, and the structure of hydrothermal systems at mid-ocean ridges. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 94 (2) 161 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1983)94<161:mahsat>2.0.co;2
Dungan, M. A., Vance, J. A., Blanchard, D. P. (1983) Geochemistry of the Shuksan greenschists and blueschists, North Cascades, Washington: Variably fractionated and altered metabasalts of oceanic affinity. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 82 (2) 131-146 doi:10.1007/bf01166608
Davies, J. F., Whitehead, R. E., Huang, J., Nawaratne, S. (1990) A comparison of progressive hydrothermal carbonate alteration in Archean metabasalts and metaperidotites. Mineralium Deposita, 25 (1) 65-72 doi:10.1007/bf03326385
Gillis, Kathryn M., Thompson, Geoffrey (1993) Metabasalts from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: new insights into hydrothermal systems in slow-spreading crust. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 113 (4) 502-523 doi:10.1007/bf00698319
RAPP, R. P., WATSON, E. B. (1995) Dehydration Melting of Metabasalt at 8-32 kbar: Implications for Continental Growth and Crust-Mantle Recycling. Journal of Petrology, 36 (4) 891-931 doi:10.1093/petrology/36.4.891
Heinrich, C. A., Bain, J. H. C., Mernagh, T. P., Wyborn, L. A. I., Andrew, A. S., Waring, C. L. (1995) Fluid and mass transfer during metabasalt alteration and copper mineralization at Mount Isa, Australia. Economic Geology, 90 (4) 705-730 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.90.4.705
Toóth, T. M., Grandjean, V., Engi, M. (2000) Polyphase evolution and reaction sequence of compositional domains in metabasalt: a model based on local chemical equilibrium and metamorphic differentiation. Geological Journal, 35 (3) 163-183 doi:10.1002/gj.857
Kerrick, D.M., Connolly, J.A.D. (2001) Metamorphic devolatilization of subducted oceanic metabasalts: implications for seismicity, arc magmatism and volatile recycling. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 189 (1) 19-29 doi:10.1016/s0012-821x(01)00347-8
Puga, E.; Ruiz Cruz, M. D.; De Federico, A. D. (2002) Polymetamorphic amphibole veins in metabasalts from the Betic Ophiolitic Association at Cobdar, southeastern Spain: Relics of ocean-floor metamorphism preserved through the Alpine orogeny. The Canadian Mineralogist, 40 (1). p.67-83. doi:10.2113/gscanmin.40.1.67
Hebert, Ronan, Guézou, Jean-Claude, Souque, Christine, Ballevre, Michel (2003) Microstructural evolution of metabasalts within a contact metamorphic aureole : a preliminary quantitative bi-dimensional approach. Bulletin de la Société géologique de France, 174 (2) 107-114 doi:10.2113/174.2.107
Van Kranendonk, Martin J., Pirajno, Franco (2004) Geochemistry of metabasalts and hydrothermal alteration zones associated with c. 3.45 Ga chert and barite deposits: implications for the geological setting of the Warrawoona Group, Pilbara Craton, Australia. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, 4 (3). 253-278 doi:10.1144/1467-7873/04-205
Tsujimori, T., Liou, J. G. (2007) Significance of the Ca-Na Pyroxene-Lawsonite-Chlorite Assemblage in Blueschist-Facies Metabasalts: An Example from the Renge Metamorphic Rocks, Southwest Japan. International Geology Review, 49 (5) 416-430 doi:10.2747/0020-6814.49.5.416
Ruiz Cruz, Maria Dolores, Puga, Encarnacion, Díaz De Federico, Antonio (2007) Exsolution microstructures in amphiboles from metabasalts of the Betic ophiolitic association (SE Spain) European Journal of Mineralogy, 19 (4) 547-556 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2007/0019-1735
Fagereng, Åke, Cooper, Alan F. (2010) Petrology of metabasalts from the Chrystalls Beach accretionary mélange - implications for tectonic setting and terrane origin. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 53 (1) 57-70 doi:10.1080/00288301003631806
Kusano, Yuki, Miyashita, Sumio, Ikeda, Kazuya (2010) Petrology of metabasalts from the Ashio belt in the Gosen area, Niigata Prefecture, Central Japan. The Journal of the Geological Society of Japan, 116 (5) 270-282 doi:10.5575/geosoc.116.270
BROVARONE, A. VITALE, GROPPO, C., HETÉNYI, G., COMPAGNONI, R., MALAVIEILLE, J. (2011) Coexistence of lawsonite-bearing eclogite and blueschist: phase equilibria modelling of Alpine Corsica metabasalts and petrological evolution of subducting slabs. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 29 (5) 583-600 doi:10.1111/j.1525-1314.2011.00931.x
Guo, Shun, Ye, Kai, Chen, Yi, Liu, Jingbo, Mao, Qian, Ma, Yuguang (2012) Fluid–rock interaction and element mobilization in UHP metabasalt: Constraints from an omphacite–epidote vein and host eclogites in the Dabie orogen. Lithos, 136. 145-167 doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2011.11.008
Ao, A., Bhowmik, S. K. (2014) Cold subduction of the Neotethys: the metamorphic record from finely banded lawsonite and epidote blueschists and associated metabasalts of the Nagaland Ophiolite Complex, India. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 32 (8) 829-860 doi:10.1111/jmg.12096
Pitcairn, Iain K., Craw, Dave, Teagle, Damon A. H. (2015) Metabasalts as sources of metals in orogenic gold deposits. Mineralium Deposita, 50 (3) 373-390 doi:10.1007/s00126-014-0547-y
Vitale Brovarone, Alberto, Chu, Xu, Martin, Laure, Ague, Jay J., Monié, Patrick, Groppo, Chiara, Martinez, Isabelle, Chaduteau, Carine (2018) Intra-slab COH fluid fluxes evidenced by fluid-mediated decarbonation of lawsonite eclogite-facies altered oceanic metabasalts. Lithos, 304. 211-229 doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2018.01.028
Fedele, L.; Tramparulo, F. D'A.; Vitale, S.; Cappelletti, P.; Prinzi, E. P.; Mazzoli, S. (2018) Petrogenesis and deformation history of the lawsonite-bearing blueschist facies metabasalts of the Diamante-Terranova oceanic unit (southern Italy). Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 36 (6). p.691-714. doi:10.1111/jmg.12303
Hung, Caroline, Gilbert, Lisa A., Teagle, Damon A. H., Craw, Dave, Wobus, Reinhard A. (2021) Features of seafloor hydrothermal alteration in metabasalts of mid-ocean ridge origin from the Chrystalls Beach Complex. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 64 (1). 133-146 doi:10.1080/00288306.2020.1803925
Murphy, David T., Wiemer, Daniel, Bennett, Vickie C., Spring, Thomas, Trofimovs, Jessica, Cathey, Henrietta E. (2021) Paleoarchean variole-bearing metabasalts from the East Pilbara Terrane formed by hydrous fluid phase exsolution and implications for Archean greenstone belt magmatic processes. Precambrian Research, 357. 106114pp. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2021.106114
Serpentinite quarry, Hinterbichl, Prägraten am Großvenediger, Lienz District, Tyrol, Austria