Cambrian–early Ordovician volcanism across the South Armorican and Occitan domains of the Variscan Belt in France: Continental break-up and rifting of the northern Gondwana margin

The Cambrian–lower Ordovician volcanic units of the South Armorican and Occitan domains are analysed in a tectonostratigraphic survey of the French Variscan Belt. The South Armorican lavas consist of continental tholeiites in middle Cambrian–Furongian sequences related to continental break-up. A significant volcanic activity occurred in the Tremadocian, dominated by crustal melted rhyolitic lavas and initial rifting tholeiites. The Occitan lavas are distributed into five volcanic phases: (1) basal Cambrian rhyolites, (2) upper lower Cambrian Mg-rich tholeiites close to N-MORBs but crustal contaminated, (3) upper lower–middle Cambrian continental tholeiites, (4) Tremadocian rhyolites, and (5) upper lower Ordovician initial rift tholeiites. A rifting event linked to asthenosphere upwelling took place in the late early Cambrian but did not evolve. It renewed in the Tremadocian with abundant crustal melting due to underplating of mixed asthenospheric and lithospheric magmas. This main tectono-magmatic continental rift is termed the “Tremadocian Tectonic Belt” underlined by a chain of rhyolitic volcanoes from Occitan and South Armorican domains to Central Iberia. It evolved with the setting of syn-rift coarse siliciclastic deposits overlain by post-rift deep water shales in a suite of sedimentary basins that forecasted the South Armorican–Medio-European Ocean as a part of the Palaeotethys Ocean.     

Initiation of arc magmatism in an embryonic continental rifting zone of the southernmost part of Okinawa Trough

The Okinawa Trough is a young, intracontinental backarc basin that has formed behind the Ryukyu arc–trench system since late Miocene time. In the Southernmost Part of the Okinawa Trough (SPOT), a cluster of active submarine volcanoes delineates a volcanic belt, which is located only ∼100 km above the Wadati–Benioff zone. We report herein new major and trace element data for the SPOT volcanic rocks. These rocks show a compositional range from medium-K andesite to rhyolite. Their geochemical characteristics are similar to those of pre-backarc rifting volcanic rocks from the central Ryukyu arc, and different from those of backarc basin lavas from the Middle Okinawa Trough and the post-backarc rifting Ryukyu arc volcanics. Therefore, despite being topographically contiguous with the rest of the Trough, the SPOT that developed in the Quaternary is not a simple backarc basin but instead an embryonic rift zone in which early arc volcanism occurs as a result of the Ryukyu subduction.     

Stratigraphy and petrology of the Archaean Nsuze Group,northern Natal and southeastern Transvaal,South Africa

The Nsuze Group is the lower, dominantly volcanic, division of the Pongola Supergroup that accumulated on a sialic basement between 3.1 and 2.9 Ga. The Nsuze Group is subdivided into a lower sedimentary unit (800 m thick), a middle volcanic unit (± 7500 m thick) and an upper volcaniclastic-sedimentary unit (5–600 m thick). The predominant sediments in the lower unit are immature, medium- to very coarse-grained quartz wackes with thin intercalated lenses of quartz and arkosic arenites, and minor conglomeratic wackes. These sediments were deposited in a distal braided stream environment.There followed a major period of volcanism during which lavas showing a continuous spectrum of compositions from basalt to rhyolite were extruded subaerially. Flows of both different and similar compositions are complexly interfingered on both regional and local scales. As volcanism waned, pyroclastic and sedimentary rocks became dominant in the upper unit. The Nsuze Group is gently dipping and is metamorphosed to low greenschist grade.The Nsuze Group is significant in that it provides evidence for the existence of high-standing continental sialic crust in the southeastern part of the Kaapvaal province at ca. 3.0 Ga. Volcanism and sedimentation in the Pongola Supergroup are more typical of Proterozoic basins than of Archaean environments, despite their age. Komatiitic and high-Mg basalts were, however, being extruded in Zimbabwe contemporaneously with the Nsuze lavas.     

宕昌好梯第三纪超镁铁质岩中巨晶及其形成条件

分布于好梯第三纪陆相地层中的超镁铁质岩属碱性超基性岩，为超镁铁煌斑岩。该岩石系中心式超基性火山爆发—喷溢产物。其产出与南北向幔型断裂活动和地幔部分熔融岩浆贯入密切相关。根据岩石组合及产状，好梯陆相超基性火山岩可分为火山颈相、喷发相和次火山岩相。其中火山颈相和喷发相内的碎屑熔岩含有大量的二辉橄榄岩包体，并与单斜辉石和橄榄石巨晶共生。研究结果表明，巨晶系岩浆在上地幔条件下结晶的高压产物     

扬子地台北缘白勉峡组和三湾组火山岩形成构造环境及岩石成因的地球化学约束

依据中基性火山岩主量和微量元素地球化学特征的差异,白勉峡组可分两部分,一部分火山岩TiO_2大于1%,变质程度较高,主要分布在下段;另一部分火山岩TiO_2小于1%,变质程度较浅,主要分布在上段.下段火山岩属拉斑玄武岩系列,上段主体属钙碱系列,稀土总量高(∑REE=83.4～180.8μg/g),轻重稀土分异较低(LREE/HREE=2.17～5.85),有弱的Eu负异常(δEu=0.79～1.01),微量元素原始地幔蛛网图显示有弱的Nb、Ta亏损,具有板内火山岩的地球化学特点,形成于板内裂谷环境.上段火山岩稀土总量低(∑REE=40.3～82.4μg/g),轻重稀土分异较高(LREE/HREE=2.3～7.6),无Eu负异常(δEu=0.90～1.11),微量元素原始地幔蛛网图发育明显的Nb-Ta槽和Zr-Hf槽,Ti、Sr发育较强的低谷,具有典型岛弧玄武岩的地球化学特点,形成于岛弧或大陆边缘弧环境.三湾组玄武岩和安山岩稀土元素分配型式呈LREE亏损的左倾型或呈近平坦型,类似于N-MORB,明显不同于白勉峡组,岩石组合和地球化学特点类似于弧后盆地火山岩.火山岩及相关侵入岩LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb定年及元素及Sr-Nd同位素地球化学研究揭示,白勉峡组下段火山岩形成时代可能为1144Ma,其源区为与洋岛玄武岩类似的软流圈地幔源区,部分熔融发生在石榴子石二辉橄榄岩稳定区,岩浆在演化过程中经历了一定分离结晶作用(分离结晶矿物为斜长石+单斜辉石)和地壳混染作用.白勉峡组上段火山岩形成时代可能为437Ma,有可能跨到晚古生代,其源区为受俯冲作用改造的富集地幔区,部分熔融亦发生于石榴子石二辉橄榄岩稳定区.三湾组中基性火山岩源于N-MORB近似的亏损地幔源区.白勉峡组下段代表中元古代末板内拉张事件的地质记录,白勉峡组上段和三湾组目前的火山岩样品可能代表了古生代同一洋陆转化的地质记录.     

贺兰山汝箕沟玄武岩地球化学特征及其地质意义

贺兰山汝箕沟地区上三叠统延长组顶部发育一套基性火山岩,为我们探讨贺兰山地区晚三叠世的构造属性提供了重要依据。该套火山岩为一套拉斑玄武岩,主量元素以相对富Na₂O （1.29%～3.66%）、贫K₂O （<1%）和低Mg^# （43%～58%）为特征。稀土元素总含量较低（65.13×10^-6～94.52×10^-6）,（La/Yb）_N = 3.46～4.71,为轻稀土富集型。富集Cs、Rb、Ba等大离子亲石元素和高场强元素,结合构造环境判别图解,该套火山岩形成于陆内裂谷环境。岩浆喷溢时间晚于盆地裂陷沉积时间,具被动裂谷性质。综合分析表明,汝箕沟玄武岩岩浆是拉张作用下岩石圈地幔尖晶石二辉橄榄岩与石榴石二辉橄榄岩过渡区域部分熔融的产物,并经历了一定程度的橄榄岩、单斜辉石的结晶分异,表明晚三叠世—早侏罗世阿拉善地块与东部华北板块之间曾经历过一次伸展裂解事件。     

闽中地区马面山群东岩组变质岩形成的古构造环境研究

闽中地区马面山群东岩组地层主要为绿片岩为主的一套古火山沉积建造。其主要岩性类型包括各种成分的绿片岩、大理岩、石英片岩及变粒岩类。绿片岩显示海底火山喷发特征,变粒岩原岩为中酸性岩类。东岩组变质岩岩石化学研究表明,绿片岩的原岩应为玄武岩类。变粒岩类主要属于英安岩及流纹岩。这些特征反映东岩组具双峰式火山岩特征,形成于大陆内部张性环境。绿片岩稀土元素特征也显示和大陆拉张环境中的火山岩类稀土特征非常相似,属大陆拉斑玄武岩;微量元素分布显示出该组变质岩原岩类似于大洋岛和大陆裂谷的板内碱性玄武岩。因此闽中地区中元古代可能处于板内古裂谷环境。     

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。     

Low-pressure evolution of arc magmas in thickened crust: The San Pedro–Linzor volcanic chain,Central Andes,Northern Chile

Magmatism at Andean Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ), or Central Andes, is strongly influenced by differentiation and assimilation at high pressures that occurred at lower levels of the thick continental crust. This is typically shown by high light to heavy rare earth element ratios (LREE/HREE) of the erupted lavas at this volcanic zone. Increase of these ratios with time is interpreted as a change to magma evolution in the presence of garnet during evolution of Central Andes. Such geochemical signals could be introduced into the magmas be high-pressure fractionation with garnet on the liquidus and/or assimilation from crustal rocks with a garnet-bearing residue. However, lavas erupted at San Pedro–Linzor volcanic chain show no evidence of garnet fractionation in their trace element patterns. This volcanic chain is located in the active volcanic arc, between 22°00^′S and 22°30^′S, over a continental crust ∼70 km thick. Sampled lavas show Sr/Y and Sm/Yb ratios <40 and <4.0, respectively, which is significantly lower than for most other lavas of recent volcanoes in the Central Andes. In addition, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios from San Pedro–Linzor lava flows vary between 0.7063 and 0.7094. This is at the upper range, and even higher than those observed at other recent Central Andean volcanic rocks (<0.708). The area in which the San Pedro–Linzor volcanic chain is located is constituted by a felsic, Proterozoic upper crust, and a thin mafic lower crustal section (<25 km). Also, the NW–SE orientation of the volcanic chain is distinctive with respect to the N–S orientation of Central Andean volcanic front in northern Chile. We relate our geochemical observations to shallow crustal evolution of primitive magmas involving a high degree of assimilation of upper continental crust. We emphasize that low pressure AFC- (Assimilation Fractional Crystallization) type evolution of the San Pedro–Linzor volcanic chain reflects storage, fractionation, and contamination of mantle-derived magmas at the upper felsic crust (<40 km depth). The ascent of mantle-derived magmas to mid-crustal levels is related with the extensional regime that has existed in this zone of arc-front offset since Late-Miocene age, and the relatively thin portion of mafic lower crust observed below the volcanic chain.     

Puncoviscana folded belt in northwestern Argentina: testimony of Late Proterozoic Rodinia fragmentation and pre-Gondwana collisional episodes

 Stratigraphic correlations and tectonic analysis suggest that the Puncoviscana fold belt of northwestern Argentina was an intracontinental basin with bimodal igneous suites that formed in connection with the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent (at ∼800 Ma). Several lines of evidences point to an initial lithosphere rupture, possibly induced by a rising mantle plume. The earliest synrift igneous products are represented by ultra-potassic dykes and alkaline lava flows of high LREE/HREE and low Zr/Nb–Y/Nb ratios. The dyke emplacements and the initiation of rifting were probably synchronous. They pass laterally and upwards (middle part of the Puncoviscana succession) into basalts of alkaline transitional character (OIB-like source). The distinctive chemical feature of these lavas are very similar to the source of oceanic island basalts; thus, they are thought to represent a magmatism associated with the rift and rift-drift transition stage. During this stage of rifting probably true oceanic crust was formed. The upper part of the Puncoviscana sequence, Late Precambrian/Lower Cambrian in age, comprises a thick and monotonous sequence of pillow lavas, massive basaltic flows and minor volcanic breccias and hyaloclastites. These lavas exhibit MORB trace element characteristics with high FeO_t and TiO₂, low K₂O and P₂O₅, flat light REE spectra, little or no depletion in Nb and Ta. This volcanism consists of the major and latest effusive episode from the Puncoviscana basin which was slightly modified by subduction processes. The geodynamical model proposed for the generation of these volcanic rocks could have been developed in two stages. In the first stage the volcanic event is compatible with a progressive opening of a continental rift leading to formation of a mature oceanic basin. In contrast, the second stage shows the effects of a completed Wilson cycle including a primitive volcanic arc which continued until the accreted Cuyania-Arequipa-Belen-Antofalla (CABA) terrane against the proto-Gondwana western borderland of the Amazonian shield (∼535 Ma). Received: 23 December 1997 / Accepted: 9 December 1998     

海南岛北部第四纪早中更新世多文组的建立

在1：25万琼海县幅区域地质调查中，对海南岛北部地区出露的一套早、中更新世形成的基性火山岩进行了详细研究，新创建多文组，并进一步划分为上、下段，分别代表早更新世晚期一中更新世早期、中更新世中晚期形成的基性火山熔岩、火山碎屑岩。其层位比道堂组、石山组低，且岩性组合存在差异。对该组的分布范围、岩性、岩相、形成时代、地球化学特征进行了总结，并讨论了其形成的构造环境。     

Petrologic variations in quaternary volcanic rocks,British Columbia,and the nature of the underlying upper mantle

Volcanic activity has produced Late Tertiary and Quaternary cinder cones and flows between the Snake River Plain, U.S.A. and the Yukon Territory, Canada. The rock types include basanites, alkali olivine basalts, high-iron basalts, hawaiites, ankaramites, nephelinites, and olivine tholeiites. The alkali olivine basalts, basanites and hawaiites sampled are chemically similar to rocks from the mid-Atlantic islands. Associated with the volcanic rocks are xenoliths of ultramafic rocks, gabbros, granites and granulites.Seismic data indicate that the Moho throughout the region dips eastward at a very shallow angle. The low velocity zone has been located beneath southern British Columbia and displays a topographic high trending northwest-southeast. The nephelinite was erupted from near the crest of this high with less undersaturated lavas erupted from along its flanks.The suite of ultramafic xenoliths spans a greater variety of rock types than can be generated by maximum amounts of partial melting of a uniform source material to produce the lavas in the region. Calculated residual olivine compositions in equilibrium with the magmas at low velocity zone depths and liquidii temperatures are more iron-rich than the typical lherzolite xenolith olivine. This suggests that the residua from the partial melting episodes which produced the volcanic rocks are different from the upper mantle lid above the low velocity zone as represented by the ultramafic xenoliths.     

A review of new interpretations of the tectonostratigraphy,geochemistry and evolution of the Onverwacht Suite,Barberton Greenstone Belt,South Africa

The Paleoarchean (ca. 3.5–3.3 Ga) Onverwacht Suite (OS) of the Barberton Greenstone Belt consists of a 15‐km thick imbricate tectonic stack of seven complexes consisting predominantly of volcanic rocks and intrusions. Tectonostratigraphically from base to top they are the Sandspruit, Theespruit, Komati, Hooggenoeg, Noisy, Kromberg and Mendon Complexes. The Hooggenoeg and Noisy Complexes in the middle of the OS are separated by a significant unconformity resulting from the uplift of the submarine lavas and deep erosion, demonstrating the onset of tectonic accretion prior to 3455 Ma. The basic lavas of the tectonostratigraphic lower (Theespruit, Sandspruit and Komati) and upper (Mendon) complexes are composed of komatiite, komatiitic basalt and high-MgO basalt, whereas those in the middle part (Hooggenoeg and Kromberg) are predominantly high- to low-MgO tholeiitic basalts. Felsic volcanic rocks and intrusions are important in two of the complexes (Theespruit and Noisy). The ultramafic to basaltic lavas show REE patterns that are almost flat and resemble those of modern MORB, whereas those of the felsic rocks are flat from Lu to Gd and moderately to strongly enriched in LREE, similar to modern arcs. Average ε_{Nd (T)} values are close to depleted mantle growth curves. In MORB-normalised multi-element diagrams, the komatiitic to basaltic rocks exhibit flat patterns from Lu through La and consistent relative enrichment in the elements Pb, U, Th, Ba and Cs. Apart from the Komati Complex, the majority of the lavas show significant negative Nb and Ta anomalies. Enrichment in non-conservative incompatible elements (Cs, Ba, Th, LREE) relative to conservative elements (Ta, Nb, Zr, Hf, Ti, Y, HREE) shows that the komatiitic to basaltic magmas were generated from metasomatised mantle above subducting altered oceanic crust. The geochemistry of the felsic rocks indicates an origin by melting of subducted amphibolite and eclogite. The tectonostratigraphy and the geochemical characteristics of the lavas and intrusions are consistent with successive obduction and accretion of segments of oceanic crust formed in back-arc basins and volcanic arcs.     

Evolution of La Palma,Canary archipelago

La Palma is the northwestern island in the Canary archipelago. The island is volcanically active and in recent years there have been two eruptions (1949 and 1971). The oldest rocks that crop out on the island are altered spilitic lavas and they are intruded by numerous dykes and a number of mafic and ultramafic plutonic rocks. These rocks form part of the floor of the huge Caldera de Taburiente. In the walls of the Caldera one finds a 1000 metres thick unit that is composed of lavas and tephra. The rocks are called the El Time formation; and they together with the rocks of the Cumbre Vieja ridge are mainly composed of accumulative mafic rocks, basanites, hawaiites, benmoreites and phonolitic trachytes. These sodarich alkalic rocks are considered to have evolved by fractional crystallization of a basanitic magma in a near surface environment.It is proposed that La Palma developed on a relatively cold section of a plate of oceanic lithosphere that was over 100 m.y. old. During the Alpine-Atlas orogeny this section of the African plate was disrupted and a basanitic magma was extruded onto the sea floor. The volcanic focus of this eruption became established as a local centre for the degassing of the mantle and as a result this area has experienced a long series of eruptions.During the first phase in the evolution of La Palma the submarine edifice of the island was constructed and the rocks of the Caldera Floor formation were emplaced. After a period of marine erosion the huge old volcano Taburiente developed in the northern half of the island. During the final phase in the evolution of the island the southern section of the volcanic edifice subsided and formed the El Paso tectonic basin and the volcanic rift zone along which the many smaller volcanoes of the Cumbre Vieja ridge have developed.     

Petrogenetic evolution of basaltic lavas from Balhaf–Bir Ali Plio-Quaternary volcanic field, Arabian Sea, Republic of Yemen

The Plio-Quaternary Balhaf–Bir Ali volcanic field (BBAVF) constitutes one of the largest volcanic fields in SE Yemen, covering some 500 km². It comprises cinder cones complexes associated with vesicular lava flows and scoria–spatter cones. In many places, ultramafic xenoliths are encountered within these volcanics. The explosive volcanism is mainly of alkaline character including alkali olivine basalt, hawaiite and mugearite together with subordinate tuffaceous trachytes. Major, trace and REEs data from the basaltic rocks of the BBAVF are interpreted in terms of a mantle-lithospheric origin in which crustal contribution during the initial stage of rift magmatism has occurred. Magma genesis may have resulted from plume-derived melt introducing into the base of the lithosphere. A mantle plume source is proposed for the Balhaf–Bir Ali basaltic lavas that are here interpreted as having been generated by partial melting of garnet lherzolite in the uppermost part of asthenosphere. The magmatic evolution of Balhaf–Bir Ali volcanic field may be accounted for by the recent models developed for plume structure.     

Chemostratigraphy of lava sequences from the Rio Itapicuru Greenstone Belt,Bahia State,Brazil

The Rio Itapicuru greenstone terrain of north-central Bahia State consists of belts of supracrustal rocks surrounding granitic plutons and domes. The basal supracrustal rocks are predominantly massive metabasalts with minor amounts of intercalated chemical sedimentary rocks and mafic tuffs. They are overlain by a middle unit of intermediate to acid pyroclastic rocks, lavas, and volcaniclastic sediments, and an upper unit of greywackes, sandstones and conglomerates.A geochemical study of major and trace elements of the volcanic rocks indicates the existence of a chemical discontinuity between the basaltic and the acid to intermediate members. The basalts are typical tholeiites with Ti, Zr, Sr, Y and Nb contents analogous to those of modern ocean-floor tholeiites or, alternatively, low-K tholeiites of primitive island arcs. In contrast, compositional variations of the hornblende-bearing andesites and dacites fall along indisputably calc-alkaline trends of low FeO and TiO₂ contents which decrease with increasing differentiation. The lithostratigraphic and chemical variations within lavas of the Rio Itapicuru greenstone are comparable to those described from the Western Australian greenstone belts. Only in greenstone belts of the Canadian type do thick calc-alkaline sequences containing abudant basaltic andesites overlie conformably and transitionally the underlying tholeiitic basalts. Elsewhere the calc-alkaline sequences, if present, do not contain basaltic andesites and are chemically unrelated to the underlying basalts.     

冀东迁西-迁安地区早太古代变质岩系原岩恢复及其地质意义

冀东早太古代变质岩系的主体是一套呈层分布的,各种成分麻粒岩及其某些退变质产物——斜长角闪岩类。在其上部发育变质含铁建造,而在其下部常夹有变质的镁铁质和超镁铁质岩(如变闪辉岩、变辉石岩和蛇纹石化橄榄岩等)薄层或透镜体。 麻粒岩的矿物组合是斜方辉石+单斜辉石+斜长石(常常为反条纹长石)+石英+磁铁矿±角闪石±黑云母。在变质含铁建造中局部出现包括铝硅酸盐的矿物组合(蓝晶石-石榴石-黑云母-斜长石-石英)。变质铁硅质岩可以分为两类:辉石磁铁石英岩和英榴易熔岩(张儒瑗,从柏林,1981)。     

新疆春风油田石炭系火山岩岩性特征及测井识别方法

不同岩性的火山岩其储集性能差异甚远,准确识别火山岩岩性对于火山岩储层的研究具有重要意义。研究区春风油田石炭系储层以火山岩为主,过渡类型较多,岩性较为复杂。利用岩心观察、薄片鉴定、地化分析等方法确定研究区发育火山熔岩类和火山碎屑岩类两类火山岩,其中,火山熔岩包括玄武岩、安山玄武岩、玄武安山岩以及安山岩,火山碎屑岩有凝灰岩和火山角砾岩等。通过识别出的岩性标定测井,分析每种岩性的测井响应特征,利用交会图法和星形图法,建立了不同岩性的识别标准。     

New ophiolite occurrences in Sudan and constraint on the western boundary of the Nubian Shield: Petrographical and geochemical evidence

Important mafic–ultramafic masses have been located for the first time in the intersection area between the Keraf Shear Zone and the Nakasib Suture Zone of the Nubian Shield. The masses, comprising most of the members of the ophiolite suite, are Sotrebab and Qurun complexes east of the Nile, and Fadllab complex west of the Nile. The new mafic–ultramafic masses are located on the same trend of the ophiolitic masses decorating the Nakasib Suture. A typical complete ophiolite sequence has not been observed in these complexes, nevertheless, the mafic–ultramafic rocks comprise basal unit of serpentinite and talc chlorite schists overlain by a thick cumulate facies of peridotites, pyroxenites and layered gabbros overlain by basaltic pillow lavas with dolerite dykes and screens of massive gabbros. Associated with pillow lavas are thin layers of carbonates and chert. The best section of cumulate mafic–ultramafic units has been observed in Jebel Qurun and El Fadlab complexes, comprising peridotites, pyroxenites and layered gabbros. Dolerite dykes and screens of massive gabbros have been observed with basaltic pillow lava sections in Wadi Dar Tawaiy. The basal ultramafic units of the complexes have been fully or partly retrograded to chlorite magnetite schist and talc to talc-carbonate rocks (listowenites), especially in the Jebel Qurun and Sotrebab complexes. Petrographically, the gabbros (layered and massive) and the basaltic pillow lavas show mineral assemblages of epidote amphibolite facies. The mafic members from the three complexes show a clear tholeiitic trend and oceanic floor affinity. The pillow lavas plot in the field of oceanic floor basalt, namely in the back arc field. Primitive mantle normalized spider diagram of the pillow lavas reveals a closer correspondence to Enrich-Mid-Oceanic Ridge Basalt (E-MORB) type, which is confirmed by the flat chondrite normalized Rare Earth Elements (REE) pattern. Field, petrographical and geochemical evidence supports ophiolitic origin of the three complexes. The newly discovered ophiolitic complexes mark the western continuation of the Nakasib Suture Zone.