Geochronology and geochemistry of the Hegenshan ophiolitic complex: Implications for late-stage tectonic evolution of the Inner Mongolia-Daxinganling Orogenic Belt, China

The Hegenshan ophiolite in the Inner Mongolian-Daxinganling Orogenic Belt (IMDOB), northern China, consists of several discontinuous blocks composed dominantly of serpentinized ultramafic rocks with subordinate cumulate gabbros, mafic lavas and dikes, intruded by younger granodiorite dikes. The ultramafic rocks are highly depleted, serpentinized harzburgites with minor dunite, characterized by relative enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE, e.g., Ba and Rb) and light rare earth elements (LREE). They are interpreted to be oceanic mantle that has undergone extensive melt extraction and variable degrees of metasomatism. The cumulate rocks consist mainly of gabbro and troctolite with LREE-depleted chondrite-normalized REE patterns showing significant positive Eu anomalies. They are enriched in LILE, depleted in Nb, and have high positive ε_Nd(t) (+8 to +11), suggesting derivation from a subduction-modified N-MORB-like source. The gabbros and mafic dikes have essentially the same age (295 ± 15 and 298 ± 9 Ma, respectively). The mafic dikes have flat to LREE-depleted, chondrite-normalized REE patterns, are depleted in Nb, enriched in LILE and have N-MORB-type Nd isotopic signatures (ε_Nd(t) = +8.1 to +10). The mafic lavas, erupted at 293 ± 1 Ma, can be divided into two groups; one composed of strongly deformed metabasalts similar in chemical and Nd–Sr isotopic compositions to the mafic dikes, and the other composed of undeformed and unmetamorphosed basalts with oceanic island basalt (OIB)-like trace element signatures and Nd isotopic compositions. The granodiorite dikes, which were intruded at 244 ± 4 Ma, have LREE-enriched, chondrite-normalized REE patterns with no Eu anomalies. Their abnormally high ε_Nd(t) values (+6.3 to +6.8) and low I_Sr (0.70412 to 0.70450) suggest formation from melts derived from thickened oceanic crust during or shortly after closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The structure, lithology and geochemistry of the Hegenshan ophiolite suggest that it is a Cordilleran-type body formed in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) environment and amalgamated by collision of several fragments of Paleo-Asian lithosphere. Final emplacement and amalgamation occurred in the latest Permian or earliest Triassic.     

The Khan-Taishir ophiolitic complex of Western Mongolia,its petrology,origin and comparison with other ophiolitic complexes

The Khan-Taishir ophiolitic complex is situated within Early Caledonian structures of Western Mongolia. It consists (from below upward) of strongly differentiated ultramafics (dunites and harzburgites), pyroxenites and gabbro, sheeted dikes, pillow lavas and sediments, including in their uppermost part archaeocyatic limestones of Lower Cambrian age. Geological, petrochemical and geochemical data indicate that the ultramafics are turn off from the overlying ophiolitic sequence. Igneous rocks of the ophiolitic complex, except the ultramafics, were formed by two-stage differentiation of mantle magma of quartz-tholeiitic composition exhausted in potassium and titanium. Pyroxenites and gabbro with an anorthositic trend of differentiation were generated during the first stage, and sheeted dikes and pillow lavas with a quartz trend of differentiation were formed during the second one. Ophiolites of the Khan-Taishir complex petrochemically and geochemically differ strongly from mafic and ultramafic rocks of midoceanic ridges. Together with ophiolites of the Troodos complex (Cyprus) and Macquarie Island (eastern Indian Ocean) they constitute the special type of ophiolite peculiar rather to slip boundaries of lithosphere plates. The other type of ophiolite, including complexes like the Dzolen complex of south Mongolia, contains poorly differentiated ultramafics and does not contain sheeted dikes; while the igneous rocks are very similar to mafic and ultramafic rocks dredged from midoceanic and formed probably in midoceanic ridge environments as well.     

新疆天山地区榆树沟-铜花山蛇绿岩特征和构造背景

榆树沟-铜花山蛇绿岩出露于南天山北缘,属哈萨克斯坦-伊犁板块和塔里木板块之间的缝合带。蛇绿岩已被构造肢解,主要由超镁铁岩、堆晶岩、熔岩类组成。超镁铁岩以方辉橄榄岩为主,显示典型的亏损地幔岩特征,橄榄石为富镁型,Fo为90;斜方辉石为顽火辉石,En为90,单斜辉石含量少;副矿物铬尖晶石属低铬型,Cr^#值(＝Cr/(Cr+Al)×100)16~28,Mg^#值(=Mg/(Mg+Fe)×100)63~75,反映了深海橄榄岩特征。归一化后榆树沟超镁铁岩MgO含量38.84%~44.53%,Al₂O₃为1.51%~3.63%,CaO为0.42%~5.77%,成分近于大洋二辉橄榄岩;铜花山的超镁铁岩叠加碳酸岩化,LREE强烈富集,可能经历了俯冲洋壳流体改造。熔岩类在榆树沟和铜花山均有较大规模产出,其中榆树沟玄武岩为主,铜花山安山岩和英安岩较多。熔岩多已遭受绿片岩相海底热液蚀变。榆树沟玄武岩的REE含量总体比铜花山的低,稀土配分模式均为轻稀土富集型;玄武岩的微量元素特征表明其源区可能遭受过流体作用影响。铜花山三个高镁火山岩化学成份具有SiO₂(32%~36%)含量很低、MgO(20.12%~28.50%)含量高、K₂O+Na₂O(0.06%~0.46%)含量小于2%的特征,综合分析可归为苦橄岩类。堆晶岩通常以构造小岩块产在超镁铁岩块中或基性熔岩中,以辉长岩为主,有少量橄榄辉石岩等,岩石蚀变、构造变形强烈。堆晶岩的成分接近玄武岩,存在LREE富集和略亏损平坦两种类型。岩石地球化学特征表明榆树沟和铜花山的蛇绿岩形成于MOR构造环境,但具有受俯冲带流体改造特征,并伴生有岛弧火山岩。     

The Mayari-Baracoa Paired Ophiolite Belt,Eastern Cuba: Implications for Tectonic Settings and Platinum-Group Elemental Mineralization

The Jurassic Mayari-Baracoa ophiolite belt and associated Cretaceous volcanic rocks form the Zaza zone of eastern Cuba. This zone has been traditionally considered allochthonous and overrides a passive continental margin, the Cuban foreland. The ophiolites consist of mantle tectonites and cumulates, overlain by a volcanicarc sequence including porphyritic basalts and andesitic lavas. These are, in turn, overlain by a sequence of tuffs and epiclastic sedimentary rocks. There are two ophiolitic massifs in the belt, the Mayari-Cristal Massif (MCM) and the Moa-Baracoa Massif (MBM). The MCM consists of harzburgites and dunites with abundant high-Cr podiform chromitites and dikes of gabbro and pyroxenite. The MBM, on the other hand, is composed of harzburgites with abundant high-Al podiform chromitites, cut by troctolite dikes. The two ophiolitic massifs have different REE and PGE patterns and contents. The mantle sequence in the MCM is more depleted than that in the MBM. We suggest that the MCM formed beneath a volcanic island arc and the MBM beneath a nascent spreading center in a back-arc basin. The two massifs form a paired ophiolite belt.     

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.     

西藏雅鲁藏布江缝合带西段东波蛇绿岩的构造背景特征

西藏东波蛇绿岩位于雅鲁藏布江缝合带西段,由地幔橄榄岩、辉石岩和辉长岩等组成。地幔橄榄岩主要为方辉橄榄岩、纯橄岩和少量二辉橄榄岩。岩体的边界出露玄武岩和硅质岩等。地幔橄榄岩中有少量辉石岩和辉长岩的脉岩,宽约1 m,走向北西,与岩体的构造线方向基本一致。各岩相岩石地球化学研究结果表明,东波蛇绿岩的岩相存在较大的差异,玄武岩具有与洋岛玄武岩(OIB)相似的地球化学特征,而地幔橄榄岩中辉石岩、辉长岩脉与洋中脊玄武岩(MORB)相似,形成于洋中脊环境,并受后期俯冲流体作用的改造。东波岩体中二辉橄榄岩具有与深海地幔橄榄岩较一致的轻稀土亏损特征,而方辉橄榄岩和纯橄岩的地球化学特征显示出岩体形成于MOR环境,后受到SSZ环境的改造。东波蛇绿岩的岩石地球化学特征显示其洋中脊叠加洋岛的构造背景。     

Geochemistry and SHRIMP U‐Pb Zircon Dating of Mafic Rocks North of Zunhua City,Eastern Hebei,North China Craton: Paleoproterozoic Gabbro rather than Neoarchean Ophiolite

Abundant mafic-ultramafic blocks and dikes occur in the area north of Zunhua City, eastern Hebei Province, and were previously suggested to be part of a late Archean ophiolitic assemblage. We employed SHRIMP zircon dating and a geochemical study on these mafic and surrounding rocks to test the ophiolite hypothesis. The SHRIMP data suggest that three metagabbro samples were metamorphosed at ～1.8 Ga. Numerous ～2.5 Ga zircons display strong oscillatory zoning, characteristic of zircons from granitoid rocks but not from gabbro, so we suggest that these are xenocrystic grains. The age of these xenocrystic zircons and their metamorpbic rims suggests that these mafic blocks formed in Paleoproterozoic. The surrounding gneiss of intermediate composition also contains 2.5 Ga zircons with oscillatory zoning and 1.8 Ga metamorphic rims. Fractionated REE patterns and Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf negative anomalies to variable extent were observed in the mafic blocks and surrounding rocks, also supporting a significant difference in the chemistry of ophiolitic rocks. Our data suggest that many mafic blocks in northern Zunhua are not part of a late Archean ophiolite complex but part of a tectonically dismembered Paleoproterozoic intrusive gabbro complex. This study shows that late Paleoproterozoic metamorphism occurred in the western part of eastern Hebei Province.     

班公湖中特提斯洋打开的时限:来自MOR型辉长岩的年代学制约

班公湖?怒江结合带西段班公湖地区蛇绿岩组合较为完整,由超镁铁质岩、镁铁质堆晶岩、辉绿岩脉、铁镁质熔岩、放射虫硅质岩等组成。这套蛇绿岩所代表的洋盆打开时间一直争论不休。该蛇绿岩中MOR型辉长岩的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年显示,18个测点的~(206)Pb/~(238)U加权平均年龄为231.5±2.6 Ma,代表了辉长岩的结晶年龄。地球化学分析表明辉长岩SiO_2含量在46.12%~47.85%之间,TiO_2(1.52%~1.71%),具低的K_2O(0.19%~0.25%)、Al_2O_3(12.97%~13.51%)和Fe_2O_3/FeO比值(0.19~0.24);微量元素蛛网图与洋中脊玄武岩类似,Zr、Nb、Ta、Hf丰度与N-MORB相当或略高,相对富集Ba、Pb、Sr等大离子亲石元素,无Ta-Nb负异常,在基性岩构造环境判别图上显示出洋脊玄武岩的亲合性;REE配分曲线具有平缓型特点,介于E-MORB与N-MORB之间;各种地球化学特征与洋脊玄武岩类似,表明该辉长岩是在班公湖洋盆扩张阶段形成的。结合前人研究成果,本文认为班公湖中特提斯洋盆初始打开时间至少为中三叠世。     

西藏日喀则白马让蛇绿岩:亚洲大陆边缘的小洋盆

藏南雅鲁藏布蛇绿岩被认为是新特提斯大洋岩石圈的残留。该带中段的日喀则白马让蛇绿岩是保存较完整的蛇绿岩岩块之一。该蛇绿岩主要由橄榄岩、蛇纹岩、镁铁质侵入岩和玄武岩组成,缺堆晶岩系。镁铁质侵入岩主要呈辉绿岩脉、岩床和少量的岩墙产出。辉绿岩脉在整个蛇绿岩层序中均有分布,侵入橄榄岩的部分岩脉已经变为变辉绿岩和异剥钙榴岩。辉绿岩床(墙)向上逐渐过渡为玄武岩。局部可见日喀则群整合覆盖在玄武岩之上。地球化学分析显示不同产状的镁铁质岩均属于低钾或中钾的拉斑玄武岩,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti和LREE,具有弧前玄武岩(FAB)或弧后盆地玄武岩(BABB)的特征,它们的Ti/V和Yb/V的比值与BABB或正常大洋中脊玄武岩(N-MORB)相似,Sr-Nd-Pb同位素数据指示了亏损地幔(DM)与富集地幔(EM)过渡的源区。镁铁质岩野外产出关系和地球化学特征表明,白马让蛇绿岩的镁铁质岩组合可能形成于SSZ环境。考虑到超镁铁质岩、镁铁质岩和日喀则群在空间上的连续性,认为白马让蛇绿岩可能是起源于亚洲大陆边缘俯冲带上的洋盆,属于原地系统,而非外来的构造岩片。     

Supra-Subduction Zone Environment and Economic Potential of the Nidar Ophiolite of Indus Suture Zone, Eastern Ladakh, the Himalaya

SUPRA-SUBDUCTION ZONE ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF THE NIDAR OPHIOLITE OF INDUS SUTURE ZONE, EASTERN LADAKH,THE HIMALAYA     

The Late Jurassic Zedong ophiolite: A remnant of subduction initiation within the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (southern Tibet) and its tectonic implications

The Zedong ophiolite is the largest ophiolite massif east of Dazhuqu in the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone in the southern Tibetan Plateau. However, its age, geodynamic setting and relationship to the Xigaze ophiolite remain controversial. New zircon U–Pb ages, whole-rock geochemical and Nd–Pb isotopic data from ophiolitic units provide constraints on the geodynamic and tectonic evolution of the Zedong ophiolite. U–Pb zircon geochronology of dolerite lavas and late gabbro–diabase dikes yield weighted mean ages of 153.9 ± 2.5 Ma and 149.2 ± 5.1 Ma, respectively. Strong positive ε_Nd(t) and positive Δ7/4Pb and Δ8/4Pb values indicate derivation from a highly depleted mantle source with an isotopic composition similar to that of the Indian MORB-type mantle. The geochemistry of ophiolitic lavas and early dikes are analogous to typical island arc tholeiites whereas late dikes are similar to boninites. The geochemistry of these rock types suggests multi-stage partial melting of the mantle and gradually enhanced subduction influences to the mantle source through time. Combined with the MORB-like 162.9 ± 2.8 Ma Luobusha ophiolitic lavas, we suggest that the Luobusha lavas, Zedong lavas and early dikes originated in an infant proto-arc setting whereas late dikes in the Zedong ophiolite originated in a forearc setting. Together, they represent a Neo-Tethyan subduction initiation sequence. The Late Jurassic intra-oceanic proto-arc to forearc setting of the Zedong ophiolite contrasts with the continental margin forearc setting for the Xigaze ophiolite, which suggests a laterally complex geodynamic setting for ophiolites along the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone.     

Origin of the Zedang and Luobusa Ophiolites,Tibet

The Zedang and Luobusa ophiolites are located in the eastern section of the Yalung Zangbo ophiolite belt,and they share similar geological tectonic setting and age.Thus,an understanding of their origins is very important for discussion of the evolution of the Eastern Tethys Ocean.There is no complete ophiolite assemblage in the Zedang ophiolite.The Zedang ophiolite is mainly composed of mantle peridotite and a suite of volcanic rocks as well as siliceous rocks,with some blocks of olivinepyroxenite.The mantle peridotite mainly consists of Cpx-harzburgite,harzburgite,some lherzolite,and some dunite.A suite of volcanic rocks is mainly composed of caic-aikaline pyroclastic rocks and secondly of tholeiitic pillow lavas,basaltic andesites,and some boninitic rocks with a lower TiO2 content （TiO2 ＜ 0.6％）.The pyroclastic rocks have a LREE-enriched REE pattern and a LILE-enriched （compared to HFSE） spider diagram,demonstrating an island-arc origin.The tholeiitic volcanic rock has a LREE-depleted REE pattern and a LILE-depleted （compared to HFSE） spider diagram,indicative of an origin from MORB.The boninitic rock was generated from fore-arc extension.The Luobusa ophiolite consists of mantle peridotite and mafic-ultramaflc cumulate units,without dike swarms and volcanic rocks.The mantle peridotite mainly consists of dunite,harzburgite with low-Opx （Opx ＜ 25％）,and harzburgite （Opx ＞ 25％）,which can be divided into two facies belts.The upper is a dunite-harzburgite （Opx ＜ 25％） belt,containing many dunite lenses and a large-scale chromite deposit with high Cr203; the lower is a harzburgite （Opx ＞25％） belt with small amounts of dunite and lherzolite.The Luobusa mantle peridotite exhibits a distinctive vertical zonation of partial melting with high melting in the upper unit and low melting in the lower.Many mantle peridotites are highly depleted,with a characteristic U-shaped REE pattern peculiar to fore-arc peridotite.The Luobusa cumulates are composed of wehrlite and olivine-pyroxenite,of the P-P-G ophiolite series.This study indicates that the Luobusa ophiolite was formed in a fore-arc basin environment on the basis of the occurrence of highly depleted mantle peridotite,a high-Cr2O3 chromite deposit,and cumulates of the P-P-G ophiolite series.We conclude that the evolution of the Eastern Tethys Ocean involved three stages：the initial ocean stage （formation of MORB volcanic rock and dikes）,the forearc extension stage （formation of high-Cr203 chromite deposits and P-P-G cumulates）,and the islandarc stage （formation of caic-alkaline pyroclastic rocks）.     

Study on the Tectonic Setting for the Ophiolites in Xigaze, Tibet

The Xigaze ophiolite is located in the middle section of the Yarlung Zangbo River ophiolite belt and includes a well-preserved sequence section of seven ophiolite blocks. The relatively complete ophiolitic sequence sections are represented by Jiding, Dejixiang, Baigang, and Dazhuqu ophiolites and consist of three–four units. The complete ophiolite sequence in order from the bottom to top consists of mantle peridotite, cumulates, sheeted sill dike swarms, and basic lavas±radiolarian chert. These cumulates are absent in the remaining blocks of Dejixiang and Luqu. The age of radiolaria in the radiolarian chert is Late Jurassic–Cretaceous. The basalt and ultramafic rock of the ophiolite also are overlaid by Tertiary Liuqu conglomerate, which contains numerous pebble components of ophiolite, indicating that the Tethys Ocean began to close at the end of Cretaceous Period. The isotopic data of gabbro, diabase, and albite granite in the Xigaze ophiolite are approximately 126–139 Ma, which indicates that the ophiolite formed in the Early Cretaceous. The K–Ar age of amphibole in garnet amphibolite in the ophiolite mélange is 81 Ma, indicating that tectonic ophiolite emplacement occurred at the end of Late Cretaceous.     

中朝陆台北侧褶皱带(中段)蛇绿岩的地球化学特征

中朝陆台北侧褶皱带(中段)中,出露有两条蛇绿岩带:一条是温都尔庙加里东期蛇绿岩带(简称南带);一条是索伦山-贺根山华力西期蛇绿岩带(简称北带)。两条岩带具有不同的时空格局和明显的地球化学差异。通过对两条蛇绿岩带地球化学研究,讨论了蛇绿岩形成的古构造环境。南带蛇绿岩可能是在岛弧边缘附近海盆地扩张脊中形成的;北带蛇绿岩可能是在大洋中脊形成的,它标志着中朝板块和西伯利亚板块之间的碰撞带位置。     

内蒙古贺根山蛇绿岩形成时代及构造启示

贺根山蛇绿岩位于兴蒙造山带北缘,发育完整的地幔橄榄岩、堆晶岩和基性熔岩组合,伴生有放射虫硅质岩,但贺根山蛇绿岩的形成时代一直存在争议,给兴蒙造山带北部构造演化阶段划分造成了很大障碍。锆石U-Pb年代学研究表明,贺根山蛇绿岩中辉长闪长岩(341±3Ma)和玄武岩(359±5Ma)结晶年龄为早石炭世早期,同时玄武岩继承锆石峰值年龄为晚泥盆世早期(375±2Ma),这些继承锆石呈短柱状、棱角状,生长环带宽缓,多为补丁状、平坦状,为典型的基性岩浆锆石,表明最迟在晚泥盆世早期洋壳物质已经开始形成。上石炭统格根敖包组火山岩与蛇绿岩局部呈喷发不整合接触,该组的晶屑凝灰岩夹层时代为晚石炭世(323±3Ma),提供了蛇绿岩构造侵位年龄的上限。因此,将贺根山蛇绿岩形成时代定为晚泥盆世-早石炭世,侵位时代为晚石炭世。侵入地幔橄榄岩中的部分基性岩脉时代为早白垩世(132±1Ma、139±3Ma和120±1Ma),它们含有大量继承锆石(144±1Ma~2698±25Ma),继承锆石峰值年龄密切响应了兴蒙造山带北部早白垩世之前复杂的岩浆及构造事件,这些基性岩脉是燕山期伸展环境下的岩浆产物,并非早白垩世蛇绿岩。结合前人的工作成果和区域岩浆岩、地层时空分布特征,建立了兴蒙造山带北部晚古生代构造演化历程:二连贺根山一线早泥盆世处于剥蚀阶段,中泥盆世陆壳拉张出现新生洋盆,晚泥盆世早期洋盆持续扩张形成新生洋壳,早石炭世晚期洋壳开始向北俯冲消减,并持续增生至西伯利亚活动陆缘,晚石炭世洋盆陆续闭合,部分已经构造侵位的蛇绿岩被晚石炭世火山岩不整合覆盖,贺根山蛇绿岩正是该洋盆的残余产物。     

Geochemical Features, Age, and Tectonic Significance of the Kekekete Mafic-ultramafic Rocks, East Kunlun Orogen, China

The Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks are exposed in the Kekesha-Kekekete-Dawate area,which are in the eastern part of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt.It outcrops as tectonic slices intruding tectonically in the Paleoproterozoic Baishahe Group and the Paleozoic Nachitai Group.The Kekekete mafic and ultramafic rocks is located near the central fault in East Kunlun and lithologically mainly consists of serpentinite,augite peridotite,and gabbro.The LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age of the gabbro is 501±7 Ma,indicating that Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks formed in the Middle Cambrian.This rock assemblage is relatively poor in SiO2 and(Na2 O+K2 O) but rich in MgO and SFeO.The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the gabbro dip slightly to the right;the primitive mantle and MORBnormalized spidergrams of trace elements show enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements(Cs,Rb,Ba,etc.) and no differentiation of high field strength elements.The general dominance of E-MORB features and the geochemical characteristics of OIB suggest that the Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks formed in an initial oceanic basin with slightly enriched mantle being featured by varying degrees of mixing of N-MORB depleted mantle and a similar-OIB-type source.From a comprehensive study of the previous data,the author believes that the tectonic history of the East Kunlun region was controlled by a geodynamic system of rifting and extension in the late stages of the Neoproterozoic to early stages of the Early Paleozoic and this formed the paleo-oceanic basin or rift system now represented by the ophiolites along the central fault in East Kunlun,the Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks and Delisitan ophiolite.     

Petrochemical Investigation of the Antique Ophiolite (Philippines): Implications on Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide and Podiform Chromitite Deposits

Abstract: The Antique ophiolite, located in Panay island (west‐central Philippines), corresponds to several tectonic slices within the suture zone between the Philippine Mobile Belt (PMB) and the North Palawan Block (NPB). It includes dismembered fragments of a basaltic sequence, dominantly pillow‐lavas with minor sheet flows, rare exposures of sheeted dikes, isotropic gabbros, subordinate layered mafic and ultramafic rock sequences and serpentinites. Most of the ophiolite units commonly occur as clasts and blocks within the serpentinites, which intrude the whole ophiolitic body, as well as, the basal conglomerate of the overlying Middle Miocene sedimentary formation. The volcanic rock sequence is characterized by chemical compositions ranging from transitional (T)‐MORB, normal (N)‐MORB and to chemistry intermediate between those of MORB and island arc basalt (IAB). The residual upper mantle sequence is harzburgitic and generally more depleted than the upper mantle underlying modern mid‐oceanic ridges. Calculations using whole‐rock and mineral compositions show that they can represent the residue of a fertile mantle source, which have undergone degrees of partial melting ranging from 9‐22.5 %. Some of the mantle samples display chondrite‐nor‐malized REE and extended multi‐element patterns suggesting enrichments in LREE, Rb, Sr and Zr, which are comparable to those found in fore‐arc peridotites from the Izu‐Bonin‐Mariana (IBM) arc system. The Antique ultramafic rocks also record relatively oxidizing mantle conditions (Δlog f_O2 (FMQ)=0.9‐3.5). As a whole, the ophiolite probably represents an agglomeration of oceanic ridge and fore‐arc crust fragments, which were juxtaposed during the Miocene collision of the PMB and the NPB. The intrusion of the serpentinites might be either coeval or subsequent to the accretion of the oceanic crust onto the fore‐arc. Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits occur either in or near the contact between the pillow basalts and the overlying sediments or interbedded with the sediments. The morphology of the deposits, type of metals, ore texture and the nature of the host rocks suggest that the formation of the VMS bodies was similar to the accumulation of metals around and in the subsurface of hydrothermal vents observed in modern mid‐oceanic ridge and back‐arc basin rift settings. The podiform chromitites occur as pods and subordinate layers within totally serpentinized dunite in the residual upper mantle sequence. No large coherent chromitite deposit was found since the host dunitic rocks often occur as blocks within the serpentinites. It is difficult to evaluate the original geodynamic setting of the mineralized bodies since the chemistry of the host rocks were considerably modified by alteration during their tectonic emplacement. A preliminary conclusion for Antique is that the VMS is apparently associated with a primitive tholeiitic intermediate MORB‐IAB volcanic suite, the chemistry of which is close to the calculated composition of the liquid that coexisted with the podiform chromitites.     

The Bangong Lake ophiolite (NW Tibet) and its bearing on the tectonic evolution of the Bangong–Nujiang suture zone

The Jurassic Bangong Lake ophiolite, NW Tibet, is a key element within the western part of the Bangong–Nujiang suture zone, which marks the boundary between the Lhasa and Qiangtang blocks. It is a tectonic mélange consisting of numerous blocks of peridotite, mafic lavas and dikes. The mantle peridotites include both clinopyroxene-bearing and clinopyroxene-free harzburgites. The Cpx-bearing harzburgite contains Al-rich spinel with low Cr#s (20–25), resembling peridotites formed in mid-ocean ridge settings. On the other hand, the Cpx-free harzburgite is highly depleted with Cr-rich spinel (Cr# = 69–73), typical of peridotites formed in subduction zone environments. Mafic rocks include lavas of N-MORB and E-MORB affinity and boninites. The N-MORB rocks consist of pillow lavas and mafic dikes, whereas the E-MORB rocks are brecciated basalts. The boninites have high SiO₂ (53.2–57.9 wt%), MgO (6.5–12.5 wt%), Cr (166–752 ppm) and Ni (63–213 ppm) and low TiO₂ (0.22–0.37 wt%) and Y (5.34–8.10 ppm), and are characterized by having U-shaped, chondrite-normalized REE patterns. The N-MORB and E-MORB lavas probably formed by different degrees of partial melting of primitive mantle, whereas the boninites reflect partial melting of depleted peridotite in a suprasubduction zone environment. The geochemistry of the ophiolite suggests that it is a fragment of oceanic lithosphere formed originally at a mid-ocean ridge (MOR) and then trapped above an intraoceanic subduction zone (SSZ), where the mantle peridotites were modified by boninitic melts. The Bangong–Nujiang suture zone is believed to mark the boundary between two blocks within Gondwanaland rather than to separate Gondwanaland from Eurasia.     

西秦岭同仁隆务峡蛇绿岩矿物成分特征及构造环境

同仁隆务峡蛇绿岩大地构造位置位于西秦岭造山带与中祁连带结合部,其组成为:地幔橄榄岩(纯橄岩、蛇纹石化纯橄岩)、超镁铁质堆晶单元(单辉橄榄岩、橄榄辉石岩)、镁铁质堆晶单元(含橄榄石辉长岩、辉长岩等)及少量辉绿岩,各单元均以断层接触,弱蚀变.镜下研究发现其岩浆结晶序列为橄榄石-单斜辉石-(斜方辉石)-斜长石,与典型的SSZ型(Supra-Subduction Zone type)蛇绿岩结晶序列吻合.对各单元矿物电子探针研究发现:橄榄石成分多为贵橄榄石,单斜辉石则多为普通辉石和透辉石,在利用其成分进行构造环境判别中,本区蛇绿岩形成于与挤压背景密切相关的环境.该蛇绿岩表现出轻稀土元素略富集、重稀土元素平坦的稀土元素配分形式,与MORB有较大差异.微量元素特征为相对富集大离子亲石元素Ba、Rb、K,而强烈亏损Nb、P,这恰与俯冲带组分特点吻合;同时高场强元素构造判别图解佐证了前述构造环境的判定.研究区的蛇绿岩应形成于成熟度较高的岛弧环境中.     

Geochronology and petrogenesis of the mafic dykes from the Purang ophiolite:Implications for evolution of the western Yarlung-Tsangpo suture zone,southwestern Tibet

The>2000 km Indus-Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone(IYSZ)is composed of the Neo-tethys oceanic remnants,flysch units and related continental rocks,which has been regarded as the boundary between the Eurasian and Indian terranes.Among the ophiolitic complexes,the Purang ophiolite is the biggest massif in the IYSZ,and many studies have been conducted on this ophiolite.However,previous studies have mainly focused on harzburgite,clinopyroxenite and dunite.Field observations show that mafic dykes were emplaced within the Purang ophiolite.However,petrogenetic evolutions of those mafic dykes are poorly understood.In this study,we present new LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating results,whole-rock geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Hf isotope analyses for microgabbro,gabbro and dolerite dykes from the Purang ophiolite of the southwestern IYSZ,respectively.Three samples yielded zircon U-Pb ages of144.2±2.1 Ma.127.9±2.3 Ma and 126.5±0.42 Ma,suggesting two different phases of magmatic activities distinctly.Whole-rock geochemical results suggest that the gabbro samples show alkaline features marked by enrichments of light rare earth elements(LREE)and large-ion lithophile elements(LILE),as well as Nb-Ta elements,suggesting an oceanic island basalt-like(OIB-like)geochemical affinity.However,the dolerite and microgabbro samples demonstrate sub-alkaline characteristics with normal mid-oceanic ridge basalt-like(N-MORB-like)geochemical features.Three distinct mafic dykes show significant Rb element depletion.The geochemical data and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic features suggest that the microgabbro and gabbro rocks were derived from a depleted mantle that had been metasomatized by partial melts of sediments and enriched slab-derived fluids.The dolerite was also originated from a depleted mantle marked by significantly depleted Sr-Nd-Hf compositions,which was not influenced by enriched slab-derived fluids and sediments contamination during subsequent evolution.The isotope and geochemical data and tectonic diagrams suggest a tectonic transition from a within-plate to a midoceanic ridge basalt-like(MORB-like)setting during the period from ca.144 Ma to 127 Ma.Combined with regional background and this study,we propose that these mafic dykes were formed in an oceanic back-arc basin setting.Additionally,integrated with previous studies,we suggest that the geodynamic evolution of the southwestern and central parts of the Neo-Tethys oceanic basin is comparable in Early Cretaceous.