Ocean Drilling Program, United States

New geochemical data on serpentinite muds and metamorphic clasts recovered during Ocean Drilling Program Legs 195 (Holes 1200A-1200E) and 125 (Holes 778A and 779A) provide insights into the proportions of rock types of various sources that compose the serpentinite mudflows and the fluid-rock interactions that predominate in these muds. We interpret the metamorphic rock fragments as derivatives of mostly metamorphosed mafic rocks from the descending Pacific oceanic crust. Based on their mid-ocean-ridge basalt (MORB)-like Al (sub 2) O (sub 3) , TiO (sub 2) , CaO, Si/Mg, and rare earth element (REE) systematics, these metamorphic rocks are classified as metabasalts/metagabbros and, therefore, approximately 30-km depths represent an active subduction zone setting. The serpentinite muds from Holes 1200A and 1200E have slightly lower REE when compared to Hole 1200D, but overall the REE abundance levels range between 0.1-1 X chondrite (CI) levels. The chondrite-normalized patterns have [La/Sm]N approximately 2.3 and [Sm/Yb]N approximately 2. With the exception of one sample, the analyzed metamorphic clasts show flat to slightly depleted light REE patterns with 1.0-15 X CI levels, resembling MORBs. Visually, approximately 6 vol% of the serpentinized muds are composed of "exotic" materials (metamorphic clasts [schists]). Our mixing calculations confirm this result and show that the serpentinite muds are produced by additions of approximately 5% metamafic materials (with flat and up to 10 X CI REE levels) to serpentinized peridotite clast material (with very low REE abundances and U-shaped chondrite-normalized patterns). The preferential incorporation of B, Cs, Rb, Li, As, Sb, and Ba into the structure of H (sub 2) O-bearing sheet silicates (different than serpentine) in the Leg 125 and Leg 195 metamorphic clasts (chlorite, amphibole, and micas) have little effect on the overall fluid-mobile element (FME) enrichments in the serpentinite muds (average B = approximately 13 ppm; average Cs = approximately 0.05 ppm; average As = approximately 1.25 ppm). The extent of FME enrichment in the serpentinized muds is similar to that described for the serpentinized peridotites, both recording interaction with fluids very rich in B, Cs, and As originating from the subducting Pacific slab.