Widmanstaetten Patterns in Josephinite, a Metal-Bearing Terrestrial Rock

Abstract

Widmanstaetten patterns have been found in several specimens of josephinite, a complex, metamorphosed, metal-bearing rock from placers on serpentinized peridotite in southwest Oregon. The patterns, in interior less-altered regions of the specimens, are typical of exsolution textures produced during slow cooling of a homogeneous metal. The bulk composition of the metal phases indicates that the homogeneous metal must have existed at temperatures above 500 degrees C. Josephinite Widmanstaetten patterns are the first known in terrestrial rock. We interpret them as further evidence that josephinite was derived from the mantle.