Serpentinized Peridotites at the North Part of the Wadi Allaqi District (Egypt): Implications for the Tectono-Magmatic Evolution of Fore-arc Crust

The Neoproterozoic Allaqi-Heiani suture （800-700 Ma） in the south Eastern Desert of Egypt is the northernmost linear ophiolitic belt that defines an arc-arc suture in the Arabian- Nubian shield （ANS）. The Neoproterozoic serpentinized peridotites represent a distinct lithology of dismembered ophiolites along the Allaqi-Heiani suture zone. The alteration of peridotites varies, some contain relicts of primary minerals （Cr-spinel and olivine） and others are extremely altered, especially along thrusts and shear zones, with development of talc, talc-carbonate and quartz-carbonate. The fresh cores of the chromian spinels are rimmed by ferritchromite and Cr- magnetite. The fresh chromian spinels have high Cr# （0.62 to 0.79）, while Mg# shows wider variation （0.35-0.59）. High Cr# in the relict chromian spinels and Fo content in the primary olivines indicate that they are residual peridotites after extensive partial melting. The studied ophiolitic upper mantle peridotites are highly depleted and most probably underwent high degrees of partial melting at a supra-subduction zone setting. They can be produced by up to -20%-22% dynamic melting of a primitive mantle source. The mineralogical and geochemical features of the studied rocks reflect that the mantle peridotites of the north part of the Wadi Allaqi district are similar to the fore-arc peridotites of a supra-subduction zone.     

Secular evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath the eastern North China craton: evidence from peridotitic xenoliths from Late Cretaceous mafic rocks in the Jiaodong region,east-central China

The Mesozoic lithospheric mantle beneath the North China craton remains poorly constrained relative to its Palaeozoic and Cenozoic counterparts due to a lack of mantle xenoliths in volcanic rocks. Available data show that the Mesozoic lithospheric mantle was distinctive in terms of its major, trace element, and isotopic compositions. The recent discovery of mantle peridotitic xenoliths in Late Cretaceous mafic rocks in the Jiaodong region provides an opportunity to further quantify the nature and secular evolution of the Mesozoic lithospheric mantle beneath the region. These peridotitic xenoliths are all spinel-facies nodules and two groups, high-Mg# and low-Mg# types, can be distinguished based on textural and mineralogical features. High-Mg# peridotites have inequigranular textures, high Mg# (up to 92.2) in olivines, and high Cr# (up to 55) in spinels. Clinopyroxenes in the high-Mg# peridotites are generally LREE-enriched ((La/Yb)_N>1) with variable REE concentrations, and have enriched Sr–Nd isotopic compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7046–0.7087; ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.5121–0.5126). We suggest that the high-Mg# peridotites are fragments of the Archaean and/or Proterozoic lithospheric mantle that underwent extensive interaction with both carbonatitic and silicate melts prior to or during Mesozoic time. The low-Mg# peridotites are equigranular, are typified by low Mg# ( < 90) in olivines, and by low Cr# ( < 12) in spinels. Clinopyroxenes from low-Mg# peridotites have low REE abundances (ΣREE = 12 ppm), LREE-depleted REE patterns ((La/Yb)_N < 1), and depleted Sr–Nd isotopic features, in contrast to the high-Mg# peridotites. These geochemical characteristics suggest that the low-Mg# peridotites represent samples from the newly accreted lithospheric mantle. Combined with the data of mantle xenoliths from the Junan and Daxizhuang areas, a highly heterogeneous, secular evolution of the lithosphere is inferred for the region in Late Cretaceous time.     

Archean-Paleoproterozoic Lithospheric Mantle at the Northern Margin of the North China Craton Represented by Tectonically Exhumed Peridotites

Tectonically emplaced peridotites from North Hebei Province, North China Craton, have retained an original harzburgite mineral assemblage of olivine(54%–58%) + orthopyroxene(40%–46%)+minor clinopyroxene(1%)+spinel. Samples with boninite-like chemical compositions also coexist with these peridotites. The spinels within the peridotites have high-Al end-members with Al_2O_3 content of 30 wt % –50 wt %, typical of mantle spinels. When compared with experimentally determined melt extraction trajectories, the harzburgites display a high degree of melting and enrichment of SiO_2, which is typical of cratonic mantle peridotites. The peridotites display variably enriched light rare earth elements(REEs), relatively depleted middle REEs and weakly fractionated heavy REEs, which suggest a melt extraction of over 25% in the spinel stability field. The occurrence of arc-and SSZ-type chromian spinels in the peridotites suggests that melt extraction and metasomatism occurred mostly in a subduction-related setting. This is also supported by the geochemical data of the coexisting boninite-like samples. The peridotites have ~(187)Os/~(188)Os ratios ranging from 0.113–0.122, which is typical of cratonic lithospheric mantle. These ~(187)Os/~(188)Os ratios yield model melt extraction ages(TRD) ranging from 981 Ma to 2054 Ma, which may represent the minimum estimation of the melt extraction age. The Al_2O_3-~(187)Os/~(188)Os-proxy isochron ages of 2.4 Ga–2.7 Ga suggest a mantle melt depletion age between the Late Achaean and Early Paleoproterozoic. Both the peridotites and boninite-like rocks are therefore interpreted as tectonically exhumed continental lithospheric mantle of the North China Craton, which has experienced mantle melt depletion and subduction-related mantle metasomatism during the Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic.     

Geochemical cycling during subduction initiation: Evidence from serpentinized mantle wedge peridotite in the south Andaman ophiolite suite

The ophiolite suite from south Andaman Islands forms part of the Tethyan Ophiolite Belt and preserves the remnants of an ideal ophiolite sequence comprising a basal serpentinized and tectonised mantle peridotite followed by ultramafic and mafic cumulate units, basaltic dykes and spilitic pillow basalts interlayered with arkosic wacke. Here, we present new major, trace, rare earth(REE) and platinum group(PGE) element data for serpentinized and metasomatized peridotites(dunites) exposed in south Andaman representing the tectonized mantle section of the ophiolite suite. Geochemical features of the studied rocks, marked by Al_2 O_3/TiO_2 23, LILE-LREE enrichment, HFSE depletion, and U-shaped chondrite-normalized REE patterns with(La/Sm)N 1 and(Gd/Yb)N 1, suggest contributions from boninitic mantle melts. These observations substantiate a subduction initiation process ensued by rapid slab roll-back with extension and seafloor spreading in an intraoceanic fore-arc regime. The boninitic composition of the serpentinized peridotites corroborate fluid and melt interaction with mantle manifested in terms of(i) hydration, metasomatism and serpentinization of depleted, MORB-type, sub-arc wedge mantle residual after repeated melt extraction; and(ii) refertilization of refractory mantle peridotite by boninitic melts derived at the initial stage of intraoceanic subduction. Serpentinized and metasomatized mantle dunites in this study record both MOR and intraoceanic arc signatures collectively suggesting suprasubduction zone affinity. The elevated abundances of Pd(4.4-12.2 ppb) with highΣPPGE/∑IPGE(2-3) and Pd/Ir(2-5.5) ratios are in accordance with extensive melt-rock interaction through percolation of boninitic melts enriched in fluid-fluxed LILE-LREE into the depleted mantle after multiple episodes of melt extraction. The high Pd contents with relatively lower Ir concentrations of the samples are analogous to characteristic PGE signatures of boninitic magmas and might have resulted by the infiltration of boninitic melts into the depleted and residual mantle wedge peridotite during fore-arc extension at the initial stage of intraoceanic subduction. The PGE patterns with high Os + Ir(2-8.6 ppb)and Ru(2.8-8.4 ppb) also suggest mantle rejuvenation by infiltration of melts derived by high degree of mantle melting. The trace, REE and PGE data presented in our study collectively reflect heterogeneous mantle compositions and provide insights into ocean-crust-mantle interaction and associated geochemical cycling within a suprasubduction zone regime.     

Serpentinites and their tectonic signature along the Northwest Zagros Thrust Zone, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Two types of serpentinized peridotites are distinguished within the Northwest Zagros Thrust Zone (NW-ZTZ) in Kurdistan region of Iraq. One is found as lower members of ophiolite sequences, such as the Mawat and Penjwin ophiolites of the upper Cretaceous age. The other is represented by intraformational isolated serpentinite bodies in Betwat, Qaladeza, and Qalander areas within the Walash–Naopurdan volcano-sedimentary unit of the Paleocene to Eocene paleo-arc tectonic setting. Serpentinites within the NW-ZTZ consist mainly of lizardite and chrysotile, with subordinate amounts of syn-serpentinization magnetite, carbonates, chromium chlorite, tremolite, and talc as secondary minerals, and olivine, clinopyroxene, and chromian spinel as primary minerals. Minor antigorite is also found in the sheared serpentinites often found in ophiolite sequences. Petrological and geochemical studies of serpentinites from the NW-ZTZ show that, of the original protoliths of serpentinites, those associated with ophiolites are residual depleted harzburgite and dunite. The $ {\text{Cr}}\# \left( {{{ = {\text{ Cr}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{ = {\text{ Cr}}} {\left( {{\text{Cr}} + {\text{Al}}} \right){\text{ atomic ratio}}}}} \right. \kern-0em} {\left( {{\text{Cr}} + {\text{Al}}} \right){\text{ atomic ratio}}}}} \right) $ of chromian spinel is more than 0.6, and the forsterite content of olivine is 91–92. On the other hand, the original protolith of isolated serpentinite bodies is less depleted harzburgite or depleted lherzolite, which has spinel with Cr# less than 0.6 and olivine with 90–91 forsterite contents. Whole rock chemistry of major, trace, and rare earth elements shows that the serpentinites of ophiolite sequences are depleted in CaO, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂, Sr, and Zr, and are enriched in MgO, Ni, and Cr, in comparison with the isolated serpentinites. Cr# of the disseminated unaltered chromian spinels indicates that the serpentinites of both types had been originated from the supra-subduction zone tectonic setting; the serpentinites of ophiolite sequences obducted and thrusted over the continental margin during the obduction of the Tethyth oceanic crust onto the Arabian continental margin during the upper Cretaceous period. Isolated serpentinite bodies represent serpentinized forearc mantle wedge peridotites emplaced by diapiric upwelling into non-accretionary forearc tectonic settings during the Paleocene to Eocene age.     

Mineralogy and distribution of Platinum-Group Minerals (PGM) and other solid inclusions in the Faryab ophiolitic chromitites, Southern Iran

High-Cr podiform chromitites hosted by upper mantle depleted harzburgite were investigated for PGM and other solid inclusions from Faryab ophiolitic complex, southern Iran. Chemical composition of the chromian spinels, Cr#[100*Cr/(Cr+Al) = 77–85], Mg# [100*Mg/(Mg+Fe²⁺) = 56–73], TiO₂≤0.25wt%, and the presence of abundant primary hydrosilicates included in the chromian spinels indicate that the deposits were formed from aqueous melt generated by high degree of partial melting in a suprasubduction zone setting. Solid phases hosted by chromian spinel grains from the Faryab ophiolitic chromitites can be divided into three categories: PGM, base-metal minerals and silicates. Most of the studied PGM occurred as very small (generally less than 20 μm in size) primary single or composite inclusions of IPGE-bearing phases with or without silicates and base metal minerals. The PGM were divided into the three subgroups: sulfides, alloys and sulfarsenides. Spinel-olivine geothermometry gives the temperatures 1,131–1,177 °C for the formation of the studied chromitites. At those temperatures, fS₂ values ranged from 10^?3 to 10^?1 and provided a suitable condition for Ru-rich laurite formation in equilibrium with Os-Ir alloys. Progressive crystallization of chromian spinel was accompanied by increase of fS₂ in the melt. The formation of Os-rich laurite, erlichmanite and then sulfarsenides occurred by increase of fS₂ and slight decrease in temperature of the milieu. The compositional and mineralogical determinations of PGM inclusions respect to their spatial distribution in chromian spinels show that the minerals regularly distributed within the chromitites, reflecting cryptic variation consistent with magmatic evolution during host chromian spinel crystallization.     

Platinum-group elements distribution and spinel composition in podiform chromitites and associated rocks from the upper mantle section of the Neoproterozoic Bou Azzer ophiolite, Anti-Atlas, Morocco

The distribution of platinum-group elements (PGEs), together with spinel composition, of podiform chromitites and serpentinized peridotites were examined to elucidate the nature of the upper mantle of the Neoproterozoic Bou Azzer ophiolite, Anti-Atlas, Morocco. The mantle section is dominated by harzburgite with less abundant dunite. Chromitite pods are also found as small lenses not exceeding a few meters in size. Almost all primary silicates have been altered, and chromian spinel is the only primary mineral that survived alteration. Chromian spinel of chromitites is less affected by hydrothermal alteration than that of mantle peridotites. All chromitite samples of the Bou Azzer ophiolite display a steep negative slope of PGE spidergrams, being enriched in Os, Ir and Ru, and extremely depleted in Pt and Pd. Harzburgites and dunites usually have intermediate to low PGE contents showing more or less unfractionated PGE patterns with conspicuous positive anomalies of Ru and Rh. Two types of magnetite veins in serpentinized peridotite, type I (fibrous) and type II (octahedral), have relatively low PGE contents, displaying a generally positive slope from Os to Pd in the former type, and positive slope from Os to Rh then negative from Rh to Pd in the latter type. These magnetite patterns demonstrate their early and late hydrothermal origin, respectively. Chromian spinel composition of chromitites, dunites and harzburgites reflects their highly depleted nature with little variations; the Cr# is, on average, 0.71, 0.68 and 0.71, respectively. The TiO₂ content is extremely low in chromian spinels, <0.10, of all rock types. The strong PGE fractionation of podiform chromitites and the high-Cr, low-Ti character of spinel of all rock types imply that the chromitites of the Bou Azzer ophiolite were formed either from a high-degree partial melting of primitive mantle, or from melting of already depleted mantle peridotites. This kind of melting is most easily accomplished in the supra-subduction zone environment, indicating a genetic link with supra-subduction zone magma, such as high-Mg andesite or arc tholeiite. This is a general feature in the Neoproterozoic upper mantle.     

Petrogenesis and Tectonic Significance of the Cuobuzha Peridotite,Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone,China

The Yarlung Zangbo suture zone (YZSZ) in southern Tibet includes the remnants of Neo‐Tethyan oceanic lithosphere and marks a major suture between the Indian plate to the south and the Lhasa terrane of Tibet to the north. The upper mantle section of the Cuobuzha ophiolite in the northern subbelt of the western YZSZ comprises mainly clinopyroxene (cpx)‐rich and depleted harzburgites. Spinels in the cpx‐harzburgites show lower Cr^# values (12.6–15.1) than the spinels in the harzburgites (26.1–34.5), and the cpx‐harzburgites display higher heavy rare earth element concentrations than the depleted harzburgites. The harzburgites have subchondritic Os isotopic compositions (0.11624–0.11699), yielding Re‐depletion model ages (TRD) ages from 1.8 to 1.7 Ga, indicating that the Cubuzha mantle underwent at least one ancient melt extraction event ca. 1.8‐1.7Ga; whereas the cpx‐harzburgites have suprachondritic ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios (0.12831–0.13125) with higher Re concentrations (0.380–0.575 ppb), indicating subsequent addition of Re following the last partial melting event that occurred during mid‐ocean ridge melt evolution processes. Although these geochemical and isotopic signatures suggest that both peridotite types in the ophiolite represent mid‐oceanic ridge–type upper mantle units, their melt evolution trends reflect different mantle processes. The cpx‐harzburgites formed from low‐degree partial melting of a primitive mantle source, and they were subsequently modified by melt‐rock interactions in a mid‐oceanic ridge environment. The depleted harzburgites, however, were produced by remelting of the cpx‐harzburgites, which later interacted with mid‐oceanic ridge basalt– or island‐arc tholeiite–like melts, possibly in a trench–distal backarc spreading center. Our new isotopic and geochemical data from the Cuobuzha peridotites confirm that the Neo‐Tethyan upper mantle had highly heterogeneous Os isotopic compositions as a result of multiple melt production and melt extraction events during its seafloor spreading evolution.     

云南马关地区岩石圈地幔组成和年龄:地幔橄榄岩包体的Re-Os同位素限制

本文对马关地区新生代碱性玄武岩中的地幔包体进行了系统的岩石学和地球化学研究,并首次进行了包体的Re-Os同位素测试。马关地区的橄榄岩包体主量成分上表现为饱满肥沃的特征;具有不同程度的轻稀土亏损特征,亏损Nb、Ti和Zr等高场强元素(HFSE)以及Ba等大离子亲石元素(LILE);橄榄岩包体的Nd同位素特征表明橄榄岩包体代表的是不均一的亏损地幔。5个橄榄岩全岩样品的Re-Os同位素分析结果表明,样品的Os含量总体较高(3.29×10^-9~3.78×10^-9),接近于造山带橄榄岩体的Os含量,Re含量变化范围较大(0.24×10^-9~0.54×10^-9),与Re的迁移能力较强有关。样品的¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os值在0.12295~0.12530之间变化,与¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁸Os值和Al₂O₃含量之间都不存在较好的相关性,说明Re-Os体系不单纯由熔体抽取过程所控制。橄榄岩包体的Re亏损年龄t_RD为254~604Ma,说明马关地区岩石圈地幔形成的时代应该在新元古代之前。马关地区岩石圈地幔并非是由软流圈上涌新增生的地幔,而是经历了如下演化历史:在新元古代之前,由原始地幔的部分熔融和熔体抽取作用形成了岩石圈地幔,之后经历了熔/流体交代和改造而发生了再富集作用,导致部分地幔橄榄岩逐渐从亏损难熔的特征向饱满肥沃转变,而未遭受熔/流体的改造的橄榄岩仍然保持了难熔亏损的特征。这种熔/流体交代和改造作用很可能与晚二叠纪峨眉山地幔柱的活动有关,而新生代以来印度-亚洲大陆碰撞导致地幔物质向东南方向的侧向流动,诱发软流圈上涌和马关地区的钾质岩浆的活动,也对马关地区岩石圈地幔的改造具有重要的影响,但由于喷发时间较新对Os同位素组成的影响还未显现出来。     

赣东北蛇绿岩地幔橄榄岩岩石成因及其地质意义

赣东北蛇绿岩作为华南少有的前寒武纪蛇绿岩长期都是华南大地构造研究中的热点。该蛇绿岩地幔橄榄岩以方辉橄榄岩为主,稀土总量为0.83×10-6~2.62×10-6,远低于原始地幔的含量,而Mg O含量高于原始地幔。稀土元素表现为LREE相对富集,微量元素表现为大离子亲石元素(LILE)富集,高场强元素Nb明显亏损的特征,这表明赣东北地幔橄榄岩具有亏损地幔源区特征,同时也有不同程度的俯冲带流体的交代特征。HREE模拟的部分熔融程度为10%~30%;同时,赣东北蛇绿岩地幔橄榄岩中同时包含Cr#60和Cr#60两种不同成因的铬尖晶石,说明其经历了MOR(mid-ocean ridge)和SSZ(supra-subduction zone)两种构造环境。结合前人资料,笔者推测赣东北蛇绿岩早先可能形成于洋中脊环境(约1060 Ma),随后在洋内俯冲作用下(约970 Ma),位于俯冲带上部的地幔橄榄岩受到了来自俯冲带的流体/熔体的交代,经历了SSZ环境的改造。     

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.     

Petrological and Os Isotopic Characteristics of Zedong Peridotites in the Eastern Yarlung–Zangbo Suture in Tibet

The Zedong ophiolites in the eastern Yarlung–Zangbo suture zone of Tibet represent a mantle slice of more than 45 km~2. This massif consists mainly of mantle peridotites, with lesser gabbros, diabases and volcanic rocks. The mantle peridotites are mostly harzburgite, lherzolite; a few dike-like bodies of dunite are also present. Mineral structures show that the peridotites experienced plastic deformation and partial melting. Olivine(Fo89.7–91.2), orthopyroxene(En_(88–92)), clinopyroxene(En_(45–49) Wo_(47–51) Fs_(2–4)) and spinel [Mg~#=100×Mg/(Mg+Fe)]=49.1–70.7; Cr~#=(100×Cr/(Cr+Al)=18.8–76.5] are the major minerals. The degree of partial melting of mantle peridotites is 10%–40%, indicating that the Zedong mantle peridotites may experience a multi–stage process. The peridotites are characterized by depleted major element compositions and low REE content(0.08–0.62 ppm). Their "spoon–shaped" primitive–mantle normalized REE patterns with(La/Sm)_N being 0.50–6.00 indicate that the Zedong ultramafic rocks belong to depleted residual mantle rocks. The PGE content of Zedong peridotites(18.19–50.74 ppb) is similar with primary mantle with Pd/Ir being 0.54–0.60 and Pt/Pd being 1.09–1.66. The Zedong peridotites have variable, unradiogenic Os isotopic compositions with ~(187)Os/~(188)Os=0.1228 to 0.1282. A corollary to this interpretation is that the convecting upper mantle is heterogeneous in Os isotopes. All data of the Zedong peridotites suggest that they formed originally at a mid-ocean ridge(MOR) and were later modified in supra–subduction zone(SSZ) environment.     

东秦岭松树沟超镁铁岩侵位机制及其构造演化

 东秦岭松树沟蛇绿岩主要由镁铁质-超镁铁质岩石组成。镁铁质岩类的Sm-Nd全岩等时年龄为1030±46(2δ)Ma,ε_Nd(t)=+5.7±0.2,代表了蛇绿岩的形成时代。超镁铁质岩石由不同成因的橄榄质糜棱岩和中粗粒橄榄岩组成,橄榄质糜棱岩是地幔橄榄岩经历复杂变形并多次部分熔融的残余体,具LREE亏损特征,其中发育橄榄石高温位错构造和高温组构以及低温位错构造和低温组构。中粗粒橄榄岩具LREE略富集的分布特征,是地幔橄榄岩残余体再次部分熔融熔体分离结晶的产物。野外地质、地球化学、构造变形特征均表明超镁铁岩块是因洋壳俯冲而底辟侵位于上覆玄武岩中的地幔橄榄岩残余体。综合分析认为,松树沟蛇绿岩经历了古陆块裂解或洋脊扩张(1271-1440Ma)-洋壳形成(1030-1271Ma)-洋壳俯冲消减-橄榄岩块底辟侵位(983Ma)-蛇绿岩构造侵位及其后构造变形叠加改造的复杂演化过程。     

Supra-subduction zone magmatism of the Neyriz ophiolite,Iran: constraints from geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes

The Neyriz ophiolite along the northeast flank of the Zagros fold-thrust belt in southern Iran is an excellent example of a Late Cretaceous supra-subduction zone (SSZ)-related ophiolite on the north side of the Neotethys. The ophiolite comprises a mantle sequence including lherzolite, harzburgite, diabasic dikes, and cumulate to mylonitic gabbro lenses, and a crustal sequence comprising a sheeted dike complex and pillow lavas associated with pelagic limestone and radiolarite. Mantle harzburgites contain less CaO and Al₂O₃, are depleted in rare earth elements, and contain spinels that are more Cr-rich than lherzolites. Mineral compositions of peridotites are similar to those of both abyssal and SSZ- peridotites. Neyriz gabbroic rocks show boninitic (SSZ-related) affinities, while crustal rocks are similar to early arc tholeiites. Mineral compositions of gabbroic rocks resemble those of SSZ-related cumulates such as high forsterite olivine, anorthite-rich plagioclase, and high-Mg# clinopyroxene. Initial εNd(t) values range from +7.9 to +9.3 for the Neyriz magmatic rocks. Samples with radiogenic Nd overlap with least radiogenic mid-ocean ridge basalts and with Semail and other Late Cretaceous Tethyan ophiolitic rocks. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ranges from 0.7033 to 0.7044, suggesting modification due to seafloor alteration. Most Neyriz magmatic rocks are characterized by less radiogenic ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (near the northern hemisphere reference line), suggesting less involvement of sediments in their mantle source. Our results for Neyriz ophiolite and the similarity to other Iranian Zagros ophiolites support a subduction initiation setting for its generation.     

Chromian spinel as a petrogenetic indicator in abyssal and alpine-type peridotites and spatially associated lavas

The composition of chromian spinel in alpine-type peridotites has a large reciprocal range of Cr and Al, with increasing Cr# (Cr/(Cr+Al)) reflecting increasing degrees of partial melting in the mantle. Using spinel compositions, alpine-type peridotites can be divided into three groups. Type I peridotites and associated volcanic rocks contain spinels with Cr#<0.60; Type III peridotites and associated volcanics contain spinels with Cr#>0.60, and Type II peridotites and volcanics are a transitional group and contain spinels spanning the full range of spinel compositions in Type I and Type II peridotites. Spinels in abyssal peridotites lie entirely within the Type I spinel field, making ophiolites with Type I alpine-type peridotites the most likely candidates for sections of ocean lithosphere formed at a midocean ridge. The only modern analogs for Type III peridotites and associated volcanic rocks are found in arc-related volcanic and intrusive rocks, continental intrusive assemblages, and oceanic plateau basalts. We infer a sub-volcanic arc petrogenesis for most Type III alpine-type peridotites. Type II alpine-type peridotites apparently reflect composite origins, such as the formation of an island-arc on ocean crust, resulting in large variations in the degree and provenance of melting over relatively short distances. The essential difference between Type I and Type III peridotites appears to be the presence or absence of diopside in the residue at the end of melting.Based on an examination of co-existing rock and spinel compositions in lavas, it appears that spinel is a sensitive indicator of melt composition and pressure of crystallization. The close similarity of spinel composition fields in genetically related basalts, dunites and peridotites at localities in the oceans and in ophiolite complexes indicates that its composition reflects the degree of melting in the mantle source region. Accordingly, we infer from the restricted range of spinel compositions in abyssal basalts that the degree of mantle melting beneath mid-ocean ridges is generally limited to that found in Type I alpine-type peridotites. It is apparent, therefore, that the phase boundary OL-EN-DI-SP +meltOL-EN-SP+melt has limited the degree of melting of the mantle beneath mid-ocean ridges. This was clearly not the case for many alpine-type peridotites, implying very different melting conditions in the mantle, probably involving the presence of water.     

Trace element geochemistry of primary mantle minerals in spinel‐peridotites from polygenetic MOR–SSZ suites of SW Turkey: constraints from an LA‐ICP‐MS study and implications for mantle metasomatism

Ophiolites exposed across the western Tauride Belt in SW Turkey represent tectonically emplaced fragments of oceanic lithosphere incorporated into continental margin following the closure of the Neotethys Ocean during the Late Cretaceous. The mantle sections of the ophiolites contain peridotites with diverse suites of geochemical signatures indicative of residual origin by melt depletion in both mid‐ocean ridge (MOR) and supra‐subduction zone (SSZ) settings. This study uses a laser‐ablation inductively‐coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) for in situ measurements of trace elements in primary mantle phases in order to identify the upper mantle petrogenetic processes effective during variable stage of melt extraction in these discrete tectonic settings and to discriminate between the effects of reaction with chemically distinct mantle melts migrating through the solid residues. Trace element signatures in pyroxenes suggest small‐length scales of compositional variations which may be interpreted to be a result of post‐melting petrogenetic processes. Relative distribution of rare earth elements and Li between coexisting orthopyroxene‐clinopyroxene pairs in the peridotites suggests compositional disequilibrium in sub‐solidus conditions, which possibly reflects differential effects of diffusive exchange during melting and melt transport or interaction with subduction melts/fluids. On the basis of Ga abundances and Ga–Ti–Fe⁺³# [Fe⁺³/(Fe⁺³ + Cr + Al)] relationships of chrome‐spinels it is documented that the peridotites have experienced the combined effects of partial melting and variable extent of melt‐solid interaction. The MOR peridotites have spinels with geochemical signatures indicative of melt‐depleted residual origin with subsequent incompatible element enrichment through melt impregnation, while the Ga–Ti–Fe⁺³# relationships of chrome‐spinels in SSZ peridotites indicate that these highly depleted peridotites are not simple melt residues, but have been subject to significant compositional modification by interaction with subduction related melts/fluids. The observed compositional variations, which are related to long‐term tectonic reorganisation of oceanic lithosphere, provide evidence for a time integrated evolution from a mid‐ocean ridge to a supra‐subduction zone setting and may be a possible analogue to explain the coexistence of geochemically diverse MOR–SSZ suites in other Tethyan ophiolites. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geochemical make-up of oceanic peridotites from NW Turkey and the multi-stage melting history of the Tethyan upper mantle

We present the whole-rock and the mineral chemical data for upper mantle peridotites from the Harmanc?k region in NW Turkey and discuss their petrogenetic–tectonic origin. These peridotites are part of a Tethyan ophiolite belt occurring along the ?zmir-Ankara-Ercincan suture zone in northern Turkey, and include depleted lherzolites and refractory harzburgites. The Al₂O₃ contents in orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene from the depleted lherzolite are high, and the Cr-number in the coexisting spinel is low falling within the abyssal field. However, the orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene in the harzburgites have lower Al₂O₃ contents for a given Cr-number of spinel, and plot within the lower end of the abyssal field. The whole-rock geochemical and the mineral chemistry data imply that the Harmanc?k peridotites formed by different degrees of partial melting (~%10–27) of the mantle. The depleted lherzolite samples have higher MREE and HREE abundances than the harzburgitic peridotites, showing convex-downward patterns. These peridotites represent up to ~16 % melting residue that formed during the initial seafloor spreading stage of the Northern Neotethys. On the other hand, the more refractory harzburgites represent residues after ~4–11 % hydrous partial melting of the previously depleted MOR mantle, which was metasomatized by slab-derived fluids during the early stages of subduction. The Harmanc?k peridotites, hence, represent the fragments of upper mantle rocks that formed during different stages of the tectonic evolution of the Tethyan oceanic lithosphere in Northern Neotethys. We infer that the multi-stage melting history of the Harmanc?k peridotites reflect the geochemically heterogeneous character of the Tethyan oceanic lithosphere currently exposed along the ?zmir-Ankara-Erzincan suture zone.     

雅鲁藏布江缝合带西段普兰蛇绿岩中地幔橄榄岩的岩石学研究

西藏雅鲁藏布江缝合带西段普兰蛇绿岩以出现面积约600余平方千米的特大型地幔橄榄岩体而引人注目.该地幔橄榄岩以方辉橄榄岩为主体,含有少量的二辉橄榄岩和纯橄榄岩,岩体中另有一些橄榄单斜辉石岩、辉长岩和辉绿岩等侵入体.地幔橄榄岩的主要造岩矿物橄榄石的Fo 90～93,其中呈包裹体的橄榄石的Fo略高,斜方辉石为顽火辉石(En 88～90),单斜辉石主要为顽透辉石和透辉石,以低铝(0.48％～3.96％)和高Mg#(91～96)为特征,铬尖晶石的Cr#值为18～69,其中方辉橄榄岩和二辉橄榄岩中的铬尖晶石属富铝型尖晶石,而纯橄岩中为富铬型尖晶石.橄榄单斜辉石岩的橄榄石Fo值一致较低,平均为88.4,斜方辉石En平均87,单斜辉石以透辉石为主,铬尖晶石的Cr#值为45～69.普兰地幔橄榄岩及橄榄单斜辉石岩都具有相似的稀土元素和微量元素配分模式,表现为LREE相对富集,Eu亏损不明显,微量元素中大离子亲石元素含量较低,部分样品高场强元素亏损,另一些则相对富集,显示地幔橄榄岩具有亏损地幔源区特征,但也具有俯冲带流体的交代特征,表明普兰岩体可能经历了MOR和SSZ两种构造环境,该特征与雅鲁藏布江缝合带东段的罗布莎地幔橄榄岩的特征可以对比.     

Origin of Neoproterozoic ophiolitic peridotites in south Eastern Desert, Egypt, constrained from primary mantle mineral chemistry

The ophiolitic peridotites in the Wadi Arais area, south Eastern Desert of Egypt, represent a part of Neoproterozoic ophiolites of the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS). We found relics of fresh dunites enveloped by serpentinites that show abundances of bastite after orthopyroxene, reflecting harzburgite protoliths. The bulk-rock chemistry confirmed the harzburgites as the main protoliths. The primary mantle minerals such as orthopyroxene, olivine and chromian spinel in Arais serpentinites are still preserved. The orthopyroxene has high Mg# [=Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺)], ~0.923 on average. It shows intra-grain chemical homogeneity and contains, on average, 2.28 wt.% A1₂O₃, 0.88 wt.% Cr₂O₃ and 0.53 wt.% CaO, similar to primary orthopyroxenes in modern forearc peridotites. The olivine in harzburgites has lower Fo (93?94.5) than that in dunites (Fo_94.3?Fo_95.9). The Arais olivine is similar in NiO (0.47 wt.% on average) and MnO (0.08 wt.% on average) contents to the mantle olivine in primary peridotites. This olivine is high in Fo content, similar to Mg-rich olivines in ANS ophiolitic harzburgites, because of its residual origin. The chromian spinel, found in harzburgites, shows wide ranges of Cr#s [=Cr/(Cr + Al)], 0.46?0.81 and Mg#s, 0.34?0.67. The chromian spinel in dunites shows an intra-grain chemical homogeneity with high Cr#s (0.82?0.86). The chromian spinels in Arais peridotites are low in TiO₂, 0.05 wt.% and Y_Fe [= Fe³⁺/(Cr + Al + Fe³⁺)], ~0.06 on average. They are similar in chemistry to spinels in forearc peridotites. Their compositions associated with olivine’s Fo suggest that the harzburgites are refractory residues after high-degree partial melting (mainly ~25?30 % partial melting) and dunites are more depleted, similar to highly refractory peridotites recovered from forearcs. This is in accordance with the partial melting (>20 % melt) obtained by the whole-rock Al₂O₃ composition. The Arais peridotites have been possibly formed in a sub-arc setting (mantle wedge), where high degrees of partial melting were available during subduction and closing of the Mozambique Ocean, and emplaced in a forearc basin. Their equilibrium temperature based on olivine?spinel thermometry ranges from 650 to 780 °C, and their oxygen fugacity is high (Δlog ?O₂?=?2.3 to 2.8), which is characteristic of mantle-wedge peridotites. The Arais peridotites are affected by secondary processes forming microinclusions inside the dunitic olivine, abundances of carbonates and talc flakes in serpentinites. These microinclusions have been formed by reaction between trapped fluids and host olivine in a closed system. Lizardite and chrysotile, based on Raman analyses, are the main serpentine minerals with lesser antigorite, indicating that serpentines were possibly formed under retrograde metamorphism during exhumation and near the surface at low T (<400 °C).     

Heterogeneously depleted Precambrian lithosphere deduced from mantle peridotites and associated chromitite deposits of Al'Ays ophiolite,Northwestern Arabian Shield,Saudi Arabia

The mantle section of Al'Ays ophiolite consists of heterogeneously depleted harzburgites, dunites and large-sized chromitite pods. Two chromitite-bearing sites (Site1 and Site2), about 10 km apart horizontally from one another, were examined for their upper mantle rocks. Cr-spinels from the two sites have different chemistry; Cr-rich in Site1 and Al-rich in Site2. The average Cr-ratio = (Cr/(Cr + Al) atomic ratio) of Cr-spinels in harzburgites, dunites and chromitites is remarkably high 0.78, 0.77 and 0.87, respectively, in Site1, compared with those of Site2 which have intermediate ratio averages 0.5, 0.56 and 0.6, respectively. The platinum-group elements (PGE) in chromitites also show contrasting patterns from Site1 to Site2; having elevated IPGE (Os, Ir, Ru) and strongly depleted in PPGE (Rh, Pt, Pd) with steep negative slopes in the former, and gentle negative slopes in the latter. The oxygen fugacity (Δlog fO₂) values deduced from harzburgites and dunites of Site1 show a wide variation under reducing conditions, mostly below the FMQ buffer. The Site2 harzburgites and dunites, on the other hand are mostly above the FMQ buffer. Two magmatic stages are suggested for the lithospheric evolution of Al'Ays ophiolite in response to a switch of tectonic setting. The first stage produced a peridotites–chromitites suite with Al-rich Cr-spinels, possibly beneath a mid-ocean ridge setting, or most likely in back-arc rift of a supra-subduction zone setting. The second stage involved higher degrees of partial melting, produced a peridotites–chromitites suite with Cr-rich Cr-spinels, possibly in a fore-arc setting. The coexistence of compositionally different mantle suites with different melting histories in a restricted area of an ophiolite complex may be attributable to a mechanically juxtaposed by mantle convection during recycling. The mantle harzburgites and dunites are apt to be compositionally modified during recycling process; being highly depleted (Site1 case) than their original composition (Site2 case).