Metasomatism and the Chemical Transformation of Rock

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Fluid-aided mass transfer and mineral re-equilibration are essential for metamorphism, significantly influencing the formation and evolution of the Earth’s continental and oceanic crust and lithospheric mantle. Metasomatism interacts with igneous and tectonic processes, contributing to ore mineralization, alteration of oceanic lithosphere, and mass transport in subducted oceanic crust and the overlying mantle wedge. This has implications for fluid flow and volatile storage in the lithospheric mantle, as well as regional and localized crustal metamorphism. The alteration of accessory minerals like zircon and monazite aids in dating metasomatic events and provides insights into the chemistry of the responsible fluids. Current fluid movement in the lithospheric mantle and crust can be studied using geophysical methods such as electrical resistivity and seismic data, enhancing our understanding of metasomatic processes inferred from petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical data. This volume aims to unite a diverse group of geologists, each with expertise in various aspects of metasomatism, to contribute to a series of review chapters that outline our current understanding of how metasomatism influences the evolution and stability of the crust and lithospheric mantle.