Petrology,geochemistry and tectonic setting of the Khoy ophiolite,northwest Iran: implications for Tethyan tectonics

The Khoy ophiolite in northwestern Iran represents a remnant of oceanic lithosphere formed in the Mesozoic Neo-Tethys. This northwest–southeast trending ophiolite complex consists from bottom to top (east to west) of a well-defined basal metamorphic zone, peridotites (dunite, harzburgite) and serpentinized peridotite, gabbros, sheeted dikes, pillow and massive lava flows, and pelagic sedimentary rocks, including radiolarian chert. The rocks of the metamorphic zone have an inverse thermal gradient from amphibolite facies to greenschist facies. The high-grade metamorphic rocks are immediately adjacent to the peridotite and the gabbros and the low-grade rocks are in contact with the Precambrian Kahar Formation. Based on mantle-normalized incompatible trace element diagrams there are two distinct types of basalt flows present at the Khoy ophiolite: (1) massive basalts that have patterns virtually identical to E-MORB, and (2) pillow basalts that have more primitive chemical composition whose trace element patterns plot between E-MORB and N-MORB. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns for the pillow basalts are LREE-depleted [(La_N/Sm_N)_ave=0.70], similar to patterns for the mean diabase composition for the Oman ophiolite and LREE-depleted basalts of the Band-e-Zeyarat ophiolite of southern Iran. The REE patterns for the massive basalts are similar in general REE abundances to the pillow basalt patterns, but they are slightly LREE-enriched [(La_N/Sm_N)_ave=1.09] and their patterns cross those of the pillow basalts. The REE patterns for the gabbros and diorites indicates that the crustal-suite rocks were most likely derived by a process of fractional crystallization from a common basaltic melt. This basaltic melt was most likely generated by approx. 20–25% partial melting of a simple lherzolite source and had REE concentrations of roughly 10× chondrite. A comparison between the results from the Khoy ophiolite and the data from other Iranian ophiolites reveals geochemical evidence to suggest a tectonic link between the Khoy ophiolite and the rest of the Iranian ophiolites. Our results suggest that Khoy ophiolite is equivalent to the inner group of Iranian ophiolites (e.g. Nain, Shahr-Babak, Sabzevar, Tchehel Kureh and Band-e-Zeyarat) and was formed as a result of closure of the northwestern branch of a narrow Mesozoic seaway which once surrounded the Central Iranian microcontinent.     

Geochemistry of arc volcanic rocks of the Zagros Crush Zone,Neyriz, Iran

The northeastern margin of the Tethyan Neyriz ophiolite complex in southwestern Iran is tectonically juxtaposed under cataclastically-deformed island arc volcanic–volcaniclastic rocks. We document this arc component of the Zagros Crush Zone in the Neyriz area, and describe its petrographic and geochemical characteristics. The arc unit which we call the Hassanabad Unit, is tectonically intercalated with Cretaceous limestone in the cataclastic shear zone around the Hassanabad pass north of Neyriz.Analyses of the distributions of the major, rare earth and other trace elements in the volcanic rocks of the Hassanabad Unit reveal a dominantly calc-alkaline island arc composition. Volcanogenic sandstone and sedimentary breccia, with clasts of basalt, andesite and diorite, are cataclastically intercalated with pillowed calc-alkaline island arc volcanic rocks, pelagic limestone and radiolarian chert. Trace element geochemistry corroborates the petrographic evidence that the poorly-sorted and angular volcanogenic sediments were derived locally from the island arc volcanic and intrusive rocks. The emplacement of the volcanic arc rocks adjacent to the thrust sheets of the crustal and mantle sequences of the Neyriz ophiolite was probably a result of subduction-related processes during closure of the Tethys ocean during the Late Cretaceous.     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of the Late Cretaceous Haji‐Abad ophiolite (Outer Zagros Ophiolite Belt,Iran): implications for geodynamics of the Bitlis–Zagros suture zone

The Haji‐Abad ophiolite in SW Iran (Outer Zagros Ophiolite Belt) is a remnant of the Late Cretaceous supra‐subduction zone ophiolites along the Bitlis–Zagros suture zone of southern Tethys. These ophiolites are coeval in age with the Late Cretaceous peri‐Arabian ophiolite belt including the Troodos (Cyprus), Kizildag (Turkey), Baer‐Bassit (Syria) and Semail (Oman) in the eastern Mediterranean region, as well as other Late Cretaceous Zagros ophiolites. Mantle tectonites constitute the main lithology of the Haji‐Abad ophiolite and are mostly lherzolites, depleted harzburgite with widespread residual and foliated/discordant dunite lenses. Podiform chromitites are common and are typically enveloped by thin dunitic haloes. Harzburgitic spinels are geochemically characterized by low and/or high Cr number, showing tendency to plot both in depleted abyssal and fore‐arc peridotites fields. Lherzolites are less refractory with slightly higher bulk REE contents and characterized by 7–12% partial melting of a spinel lherzolitic source whereas depleted harzburgites have very low abundances of REE and represented by more than 17% partial melting. The Haji‐Abad ophiolite crustal sequences are characterized by ultramafic cumulates and volcanic rocks. The volcanic rocks comprise pillow lavas and massive lava flows with basaltic to more‐evolved dacitic composition. The geochemistry and petrology of the Haji‐Abad volcanic rocks show a magmatic progression from early‐erupted E‐MORB‐type pillow lavas to late‐stages boninitic lavas. The E‐MORB‐type lavas have LREE‐enriched patterns without (or with slight) depletion in Nb–Ta. Boninitic lavas are highly depleted in bulk REEs and are represented by strong LREE‐depleted patterns and Nb–Ta negative anomalies. Tonalitic and plagiogranitic intrusions of small size, with calc‐alkaline signature, are common in the ophiolite complex. The Late Cretaceous Tethyan ophiolites like those at the Troodos, eastern Mediterranean, Oman and Zagros show similar ages and geochemical signatures, suggesting widespread supra‐subduction zone magmatism in all Neotethyan ophiolites during the Late Cretaceous. The geochemical patterns of the Haji‐Abad ophiolites as well as those of other Late Cretaceous Tethyan ophiolites, reflect a fore‐arc tectonic setting for the generation of the magmatic rocks in the southern branch of Neotethys during the Late Cretaceous. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Petrology and Geochemistry of the Dangqiong Ophiolite,Western Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone,Tibet,China

The Dangqiong ophiolite, the largest in the western segment of the Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone(YZSZ)ophiolite belt in southern Tibet, consists of discontinuous mantle peridotite and intrusive mafic rocks. The former is composed dominantly of harzburgite, with minor dunite, locally lherzolite and some dunite containing lenses and veins of chromitite. The latter, mafic dykes(gabbro and diabase dykes), occur mainly in the southern part. This study carried out geochemical analysis on both rocks. The results show that the mantle peridotite has Fo values in olivine from 89.92 to 91.63 and is characterized by low aluminum contents(1.5–4.66 wt%) and high Mg# values(91.06–94.53) of clinopyroxene. Most spinels in the Dangqiong peridotites have typical Mg# values ranging from 61.07 to 72.52, with corresponding Cr# values ranging from 17.67 to 31.66, and have TiO2 contents from 0 to 0.09%, indicating only a low degree of partial melting(10–15%). The olivine-spinel equilibrium and spinel chemistry of the Dangqiong peridotites suggest that they originated deeper mantle(20 kbar). The gabbro dykes show N-MORB-type patterns of REE and trace elements. The presence of amphibole in the Dangqiong gabbro suggests the late-stage alteration of subduction-derived fluids. All the lherzolites and harzburgites in Dangqiong have similar distribution patterns of REE and trace elements, the mineral chemistry in the harzburgites and lherzolites indicates compositions similar to those of abyssal and forearc peridotites, suggesting that the ophiolite in Dangqiong formed in a MOR environment and then was modified by late-stage melts and fluids in a suprasubduction zone(SSZ) setting. This formation process is consistent with that of the Luobusa ophiolite in the eastern Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone and Purang ophiolite in the western Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone.     

Geochemistry of arc-related mantle peridotites and gabbros from the Chaldoran ophiolite,NW Iran

ABSTRACT

The Neo-Tethys-related Chaldoran ophiolite peridotites in NW Iran are remnants of mantle lithosphere, exhumed tectonically during the Late Cretaceous. Harzburgite is the predominant peridotite type, associated with oceanic lower crust cumulate gabbros occasionally. The ophiolite rocks are unconformably overlain by Late Cretaceous-Paleocene sediments. New whole-rock geochemistry of the variably serpentinized harzburgites shows a depleted nature, exemplified by low Al₂O₃, CaO, TiO₂, V and Y and high Ni, Cr and Mg and also low rare earth element (REE) contents. The harzburgites present LREE enrichment. Positive correlations between some LREEs and high field strength elements (HFSE) suggest enrichment of LREEs by melt re-fertilization processes. Cr-spinels have Cr number of [Cr# = Cr/(Cr + Al) = 0.53–0.67], showing medium to high degree of partial melting (F = ~17-20%). Both whole-rock and mineral chemistry data show a supra-subduction zone setting and progressive depletion along with increase in spinel Cr# (MOR to fore arc). The cumulate gabbros have high MgO and SiO₂, low TiO₂ and Ti/V < 10 and also low chondrite normalized Dy (<8.5). The gabbro samples show enriched LREEs and LILEs and depleted HREEs and HFSEs with respect to MORBs.

Subduction initiation (SI) model in a fore-arc/proto-fore-arc environment is suggested for the upper mantle evolution of the Chaldoran ophiolite. The rocks have experienced depletion in a second melting process at the later stages of SI and compositions were probably modified by extraction of island arc tholeiitic (IAT) and possibly boninitic (BON) melts. The chemostratigraphic progression for ‘subduction initiation rule (SIR)’ is likely traceable in Chaldoran mafic-ultramafic sequence, which corresponds to the most Neo-Tethyan ophiolites and is similar to MOR to supra-subduction zone (SSZ) evolution of most Iranian ‘Inner’ and ‘Outer Zagros’ ophiolitic peridotites.     

Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry of Peridotites from the Northern Ophiolititc Sub-belt, Western Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone, Tibet

<正>1 Introduction Ophiolites,mostly found in orogenic belts,represent fragments of palaeo–oceanic lithosphere emplaced on the continent through tectonic processes(Bizimis et al.,2000;Dilek and Furnes,2011,2014;Pearce,2014).These remnants of ancient oceanic lithosphere have recorded important information for the magmatic,tectonic and     

青藏高原北羌塘盆地多彩地区蛇绿岩地球化学特征及构造环境

多彩蛇绿岩是通天河蛇绿混杂岩的组成部分,区域上隶属西金乌兰—金沙江缝合带北延部分。多彩蛇绿岩各岩石组分呈构造岩块、岩片产出,出露零星,面积小,但岩石组分较齐全,主要由异剥橄榄岩、单斜辉石岩、辉长岩、玄武岩、辉绿岩及硅质岩等组成,缺乏地幔橄榄岩,蛇绿岩组分均与围岩呈构造接触关系。异剥橄榄岩以富MgO、贫TiO2、贫P2O5为特征,Eu不显异常或显弱负异常,是具有SSZ型蛇绿岩的重要岩石组分;辉长岩具高TiO2、Al2O3;玄武岩与辉绿岩具相似的特性,玄武岩Th/Ta平均为1.78,Ta/Hf0.15,而Ta/Hf=0.15～0.2,与大洋板内玄武岩相似;硅质岩Al2O3/(Al2O3+Fe2O3)比值为0.9,(La/Ce)N值为1.81,可能具有陆源海特性。由上述特征并结合蛇绿岩形成时代及构造环境判别图解,推测多彩蛇绿岩形成于俯冲带构造环境。     

Geochemistry and geochronology of meta-igneous rocks from the Tokat Massif, north-central Turkey: implications for Tethyan reconstructions

Located in the eastern Pontides of the Sakarya Zone in north-central Turkey, the Tokat Massif records the closure of both the Paleo-Tethyan (Karakaya Complex) and Neo-Tethyan ocean basins. Meta-igneous samples collected from the region were studied to determine their sources and ages. We find significant geochemical differences between metagabbros of the Karakaya and Neo-Tethyan units in terms of their trace elements: Neo-Tethyan rocks are consistent with generation in an island arc setting, whereas Karakaya assemblages were likely generated in an oceanic spreading-center environment. Karakaya metagabbros also contain glaucophane, consistent with subduction subsequent to formation. Small (2–50 μm) zircon and baddeleyite grains from four Karakaya metagabbros were dated in thin section using an ion microprobe. The results demonstrate the reliability of the method to directly constrain the tectonomagmatic history of these types of assemblages. The rocks yield Late Permian/Early Triassic ²³⁸U/²⁰⁶Pb crystallization ages of 258 ± 14 Ma (±1σ, zircon) and 254 ± 8 Ma (±1σ, baddeleyite) and an Early Cretaceous minimum metamorphic age of 137 ± 8 Ma (±1σ, zircon). Some zircon grains and baddeleyite grains with zircon overgrowths yield Early to Middle Jurassic ages. Here we present a model in which metamorphism and deformation in this region occurred during northward subduction and closure of a Paleo-Tethyan ocean basin and accretion of the Karakaya units to the Laurasian continental margin. This was followed by the onset of closure of the Neo-Tethys during the Campanian-Paleocene and accretion of island arc units to the Tokat region.     

西秦岭关子镇蛇绿岩地球化学及其大地构造意义

关子镇蛇绿岩是东秦岭商丹缝合带西延的标志,主要由蛇纹岩、变质辉长岩、斜长角闪片岩（变玄武岩）组成。变玄武岩总体均以高SiO2、MgO,低TiO2、Al2O3,Na2O>>K2O,LREE和LILE亏损,以及HFSE不分异为特征。在此基础上,变玄武岩又可以划分为A类（主要分布南部区段）和B类（主要分布北部区段）,B类相对于A类而言,具有更低的TiO2、Al2O3、MgO含量和高Σ Fe2O3含量特征。同时,B类岩石LREE亏损程度较A类岩石更为明显。综合主、微量元素地球化学特征分析,认为两类岩石均源于亏损地幔源区,形成于古大洋中脊构造环境,但成生于不同的岩浆演化阶段,是古洋盆扩张演化不同阶段的产物。西秦岭关子镇蛇绿岩性质的确定,为商丹古洋盆西延与演化,以及中国大陆古生代构造格局及其演化过程提供了重要的制约。     

Geochemistry and geodynamics of the Mawat mafic complex in the Zagros Suture zone, northeast Iraq

The Iraqi Zagros Orogenic Belt includes two separate ophiolite belts, which extend along a northwest-southeast trend near the Iranian border. The outer belt shows ophiolite sequences and originated in the oceanic ridge or supra-subduction zone. The inner belt includes the Mawat complex, which is parallel to the outer belt and is separated by the Biston Avoraman block. The Mawat complex with zoning structures includes sedimentary rocks with mafic interbedded lava and tuff, and thick mafic and ultramafic rocks. This complex does not show a typical ophiolite sequences such as those in Penjween and Bulfat. The Mawat complex shows evidence of dynamic deformation during the Late Cretaceous. Geochemical data suggest that basic rocks have high MgO and are significantly depleted in LREE relative to HREE. In addition they show positive ? _Nd values (+5 to+8) and low 87Sr/86Sr ratios. The occurrence of some OIB type rocks, high Mg basaltic rocks and some intermediate compositions between these two indicate the evolution of the Mawat complex from primary and depleted source mantle. The absence of a typical ophiolite sequence and the presence of good compatibility of the source magma with magma extracted from the mantle plume suggests that a mantle plume from the D″ layer is more consistent as the source of this complex than the oceanic ridge or supra-subduction zone settings. Based on our proposed model the Mawat basin represents an extensional basin formed during the Late Paleozoic to younger along the Arabian passive margin oriented parallel to the Neo-Tethys oceanic ridge or spreading center. The Mawat extensional basin formed without creation of new oceanic basement. During the extension, huge volumes of mafic lava were intruded into this basin. This basin was squeezed between the Arabian Plate and Biston Avoraman block during the Late Cretaceous.     

Geochemistry of garnet in pegmatites from the Boroujerd Intrusive Complex,Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone,western Iran: implications for the origin of pegmatite melts

Mineralogy and Petrology - Pegmatite-hosted garnets from four localities in the Boroujerd region, Lorestan (Western Iran), have been analysed for major and selected trace element compositions. The...     

PGE and isotopic characteristics of Shergol and Suru Valley Ophiolites,Western Ladakh: Implications for supra-subduction tectonics along Indus Suture Zone

Present study reports the PGE-geochemistry of mantle peridotites and Nd-isotope geochemistry of arc related mafic rocks from the Indus Suture Zone (ISZ), western Ladakh. The total PGE concentration of the Shergol and Suru Valley peridotites (∑PGE = 96–180 ppb) is much higher than that of the primitive mantle and global ophiolitic mantle peridotites. The studied peridotites show concave upward PGE-distribution patterns with higher palladium-group PGE/Iridium-group PGE ratios (i.e., 0.8–2.9) suggesting that the partial melting is not the sole factor responsible for the evolution of these peridotites. The observed PGE-distribution patterns are distinct from residual/refractory mantle peridotites, which have concave downward or flat PGE-distribution patterns. Relative enrichment of palladium-group PGE as well as other whole-rock incompatible elements (e.g., LILE and LREE) and higher Pd/Ir ratio (1.1–5.9) reflects that these peridotites have experienced fluid/melt interaction in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) tectonic setting. Also, the Shergol mafic intrusives and Dras mafic volcanics, associated with the studied peridotites, have high ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios (i.e., 0.512908–0.513078 and 0.512901–0.512977, respectively) and positive ε_Nd(t) (calculated for t = 140 Ma) values (i.e., +5.3 to +8.6 and + 5.1 to +6.6, respectively), indicating derivation from depleted mantle sources within an intra-oceanic arc setting, similar to Spongtang and Nidar ophiolites from other parts of Ladakh Himalaya. The transition from SSZ-type Shergol and Suru Valley peridotites to Early Cretaceous tholeiitic Shergol mafic intrusives followed by tholeiitic to calc-alkaline Dras mafic volcanics within the Neo-Tethys Ocean exhibit characteristics of subduction initiation mechanism analogous to the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc system within western Pacific.     

藏北班公湖-怒江缝合带西段沙木罗组火山岩年代学、Hf同位素及地球化学特征

班公湖-怒江缝合带在中生代的构造岩浆演化一直以来都是青藏高原基础地质研究中的热点之一.在该缝合带南部的冈底斯北部地区发育大量的中生代火山岩及相关岩浆岩,其岩石成因与成岩地球动力学背景长期以来存在较大的争议.以班公湖-怒江缝合带西段阿翁错地区沙木罗组新发现的火山岩夹层为研究对象,对沙木罗组的形成时代、火山岩的成因、构造环境以及动力学背景进行了探讨.沙木罗组火山岩由下部扎果安山岩和中部昂母过安山质晶屑凝灰岩组成.锆石U-Pb定年结果表明下部扎果安山岩锆石结晶年龄为141.3±1.7 Ma,中部昂母过安山质晶屑凝灰岩的锆石结晶年龄为134.0±0.4 Ma,与区域上沙木罗组产出的化石及碎屑锆石约束时代较为一致.研究区沙木罗组下部安山岩以低硅(SiO₂=52.58%～55.35%)、低铝(Al₂O₃=14.43%～15.44%,A/CNK=0.58～0.75)、富镁(MgO=6.12%～8.51%)、富钠(Na₂O=1.55%～5.03%,Na₂O/K₂O=1.8...     

Multistage tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the Canavese Intracontinental Suture Zone: New constraints on the tectonics of the Inner Western Alps

The Canavese Intracontinental Suture Zone (CISZ) within the Inner Western Alps represents the remnant of a long-lived minor subduction zone involving a narrow, thinned continental crust/oceanic lithosphere seaway between two continental domains of the Adria microplate (i.e., the Sesia Zone and the Ivrea-Verbano Zone). As opposed to many suture zones, the CISZ mostly escaped pervasive tectonic deformation and metamorphism, thus preserving the original stratigraphy and allowing the relationships between tectonics and sedimentation to be defined. Through detailed geological mapping (1:5000 scale), structural analysis, stratigraphic and petrographic observations, we document evidences for the late Paleozoic to late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the CISZ, showing that it played a significant role in the context of the tectonic evolution of the Inner Western Alps region from the early to late Permian Pangea segmentation, to the Jurassic Tethyan rifting, and up to the subduction and collisional stages, forming the Western Alps. The site of localization/formation of the CISZ was not accidental but associated with the re-use of structures inherited from regional-scale wrench tectonics related to the segmentation of Pangea, and from the subsequent extensional tectonics related to the Mesozoic rifting, as documented by crosscutting relationships between stratigraphic unconformities and tectonic features. Our findings document that evidences derived from stratigraphy, facies indicators, and relationships between tectonics and sedimentation in the shallow crustal portions of suture zones, such in the CISZ, are important to better constrain the tectonic history of those metamorphic orogenic belts around the world in which evolutionary details are commonly complicated by high-strain deformation and metamorphic transformations.     

西藏雅鲁藏布江缝合带西段达巴蛇绿岩年代学、地球化学特征及其构造意义

达巴蛇绿岩位于雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩带西段南亚带,主要由地幔橄榄岩、基性岩脉和硅质岩组成,其形成时代和构造背景尚不清楚.首次报道了达巴蛇绿岩中基性岩脉的岩石学、锆石U-Pb年代学、全岩地球化学数据.达巴辉长岩和辉绿岩具有高的Al和Mg、低Ti、K和P,为低钾钙碱性玄武质岩石.岩石具有与N-MORB一致的稀土配分模式,但是N-MORB标准化蛛网图中显示Nb负异常,显示了受到俯冲板片流体的影响.辉绿岩的锆石U-Pb年龄为120.0±1.7 Ma,为早白垩世晚期,地球化学特征显示源自于低程度的尖晶石相地幔源区的部分熔融.结合前人研究成果,认为达巴蛇绿岩形成于与初始俯冲有关的弧前扩张中心,是受到俯冲板片流体交代的上覆地幔楔部分熔融的产物.      

Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Magmatic Rocks from Zedong Ophiolite, Eastern Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone, Tibet

The Yarlung Zangbo suture zone extends more than2000 km along southern Tibet and marks the boundary between the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia.The Zedong terrane has been not suggested to represent the vestige of such an intra-oceanic arc developed within the Neo-Tethys Ocean,as a result of the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the Late Jurassic.In this study,we present detailed geochemical and geochronological data of various types of magmatic rocks widely exposed in the Zedong terrane to constrain the formation age and tectonic setting of the Zedong terrane.We found that the Zedong volcanic rocks belong to high K2O calc-alkaline series,whereas the diabase and gabbro plotted in the low-K calcalkline.The basalt rocks are highly enriched in LREE and LILE,but strongly depleted in HFSE,indicating they were derived from a metasomatized mantle.Both gabbros and diabase have similar N-MORB geochemistry indicates that the cumulates were produced from MOR setting.Zircons from four samples,including the basalt rocks(158-161Ma)are older than the gabbro(131 Ma),certificate the gabbro are as the vein intrude into the basalt rocks.This suggests that the volcanic eruption and plutonic emplacement were coevally developed in the Zedonghave similar positiveεHf(t)values(+2.0 to+15.6)and(+8.6 to+18.4),indicating they were stemmed from similarly depleted mantle sources,same with the gabbro and granitic rocks from the Gangdese arc.Therefore,we proposed that the basalt rocks in the Zedong terrane were formed through partial melting of the mantle wedge metasomatized by slab-released fluids/melts.A part of hydrous basalts were underplated in the thickened lower crust beneath the Zedong terrane,which gave rise to the cumulate and granitic rocks.This suggests that the Zedong terrane represents a slice of the active continental margin developed on the southern margin of the Lhasa terrane as a result of the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the Late Jurassic,although a possible intra-oceanic arc setting cannot be excluded.     

Mega sheath fold of the Mahadevi hills, Cauvery Suture Zone, southern India: Implication for accretionary tectonics

The Mahadevi hills, located in the axial zone of Cauvery Suture Zone, comprise a sequence of granulite facies rocks represented by garnet-bearing pyroxene granulites and quartzo-feldspathic gneisess interfolded with banded iron formations. Structural mapping with hand held GPS reveals that the Mahadevi hills constitute a mega sheath fold structure exposing well developed easterly plunging extension lineations. Depressional and culmination surfaces are well demarcated in association with elliptical map patterns. The development of the mega sheath fold structure is genetically related to the regional thrust-nappe tectonics, supporting the model of subduction-accretion-collisional history for the evolution of the Cauvery Suture Zone.     

Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the High‐Cr Podiform Chromitite from the Cuobuzha Ophiolite,Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone,Western Tibet,China: Implication for its Origin

The Cuobuzha high-Cr chromitites in the western segment of Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone of Tibet are mainly hosted in the harzburgites as massive type, which are characterized by high concentrations of platinum group elements(PGE) ranging from 380 to 577 ppb, and low Pd/Ir ratios(<0.1). In mid-ocean ridge basalts(MORB)-normalized spidergrams, chromites of the Cuobuzha chromitites are depleted in Al, Ga, V, Mg and Zn, and enriched in Mn and Cr, sharing similar patterns with those of ophiolitic b...