The Ablah peridotites are partly or fully serpentinized due to contact metamorphism.
Three distinct modification patterns of Cr-spinel are identified.
Simple zoning with sharp contacts between cores and rims results from solid-state alteration.
Weakly zoned and atoll-textured patterns result from high fluid/rock ratio alteration.
Petrogenesis and metamorphic evolution of Ablah peridotites are predicted.