Supra-subduction affinity in the Neoproterozoic serpentinites in the Eastern Desert, Egypt: Evidence from mineral composition

Serpentinites in the Eastern Desert (ED) of Egypt represent integral components of the ophiolites. Metamorphic textures of the serpentinites preserve the complex mineralogical evolution from primary peridotite through metamorphism, and late-stage hydrothermal alteration. Two textural types are distinguished in the olivines of the present serpentinized peridotites, namely (a) highly-strained olivine grains with kink bands, as in the deformed mantle tectonites from ophiolites, and (b) non-strained grains. The latter may represent recrystallized crystals during later thermal metamorphic events due to the intrusion of granite. On the basis of X-ray diffraction analysis, antigorite is the main serpentine minerals with lesser chrysotile and lizardite which indicates that serpentinites were formed under prograde metamorphism. Relict primary minerals of the serpentinites are Cr-spinel, olivine and pyroxene. Chrome spinel relicts have high Cr# (0.60–0.80), whereas primary olivines are Mg-rich nature (Fo = 89–96). Geochemical compositions of serpentinites indicate that they formed not at mid-ocean ridges but at spreading centers associated with subduction zones and this could have happened in a supra-subduction zone either in the fore-arc or back-arc environments. Mineral compositions of primary chrome spinels and olivines are similar to those of modern fore-arcs. High Cr# in the relict chrome spinels and Fo in the primary olivines of serpentinites indicate that they are residual after extensive partial melting and originated by sea-floor spreading during subduction initiation.     

Multiple generations of forearc mafic–ultramafic rocks in the Timor–Tanimbar ophiolite, eastern Indonesia

We investigated mafic–ultramafic rocks distributed in the Timor–Tanimbar region as a possible modern analogue for the Mediterranean-type ophiolites in the Tethyan system. The geological occurrence suggests that the buoyant subduction of Australian continent uplifted the fragments of newly formed mantle–crust section, which extends to the neighboring preemplaced forearc marginal basins. However, we recognized a large variety of igneous features, which is consistent with the lack of complete succession and the presence of abundant crosscutting structures. All peridotite masses in Timor (Mutis, Atapupu and Dili) are mostly fertile (lherzolitic) in compositions. In addition, we found depleted harzburgite, highly refractory dunite and olivine websterite to occur as minor constituents, which display compositional contrast to those of the lherzolites. Structurally overlying Ocussi volcanics resemble island–arc tholeiite in terms of trace element characteristics, apparently inconsistent with genetic relationship with Timor lherzolite masses. In eastern small islands (Moa and Dai), all types of ophiolitic rocks display varying degrees of island–arc affinities. Cumulate origin of wehrlite and gabbroic rocks in Dai is marked by early crystallization of clinopyroxene and common occurrence of high-calcic plagioclase. Dikes cutting the gabbro sequence have weak island–arc signatures relative to those of Ocussi volcanics. Mildly depleted lherzolite–harzburgite in Moa was intruded by high-Mg andesitic magma, which crystallized hornblende gabbro containing high-Mg orthopyroxene. These petrological and geochemical variations can be best explained by the combination of (1) a temporal change of igneous activity possibly associated with development of forearc basin and (2) the emplacement of spatially different forearc regions in each locality. Unusual occurrence of fertile lherzolite in the forearc setting, generation of high-Mg andesite magmatism, inverted metamorphic grade recorded from associated metamorphic rocks, and formation of marginal basins may be linked to the injection of high-temperature asthenospheric materials into the mantle wedge.     

新疆甘肃交界红柳河蛇绿岩中伸展构造与古洋盆演化过程

红柳河蛇绿岩中保存了大量伸展特征构造，如堆晶辉长岩层中发育丰富的辉长质糜棱面理、伸展褶劈理、小型韧性低角度正断层、韧-脆性共轭正断层和脆性正断层等伸展变形构造。蛇绿岩中伸展变形构造经历了完整的变形序列：从韧性变形、经韧脆性变形到脆性变形。构造几何学关系表明这些构造形成于红柳河古洋盆闭合之前洋壳扩张过程中。^40Ar／^39Ar年代学的研究确定了红柳河古洋盆演化的过程：洋盆扩张发育在462Ma之前，并在412Ma前闭合。     

Obduction-type granites within the NE Jiangxi Ophiolite: Implications for the final amalgamation between the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks

Leucogranitic lenses are found within the Xiwan ophiolitic mélange in northeastern Jiangxi Province, South China. The leucogranites occur exclusively within the serpentinized peridotite unit of the ophiolite suite. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating results indicate that these granites were formed at 880 ± 19 Ma, and were overprinted by an Indosinian tectono-thermal event at ~ 230 Ma. The leucogranites are peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.0–1.24), characterized by high Al₂O₃ (14–18.33%) and Na₂O (6.5–10%) and clearly low εNd(T) values of 0.8 to − 3.9 compared with the other rock units of the ophiolite suite. On the basis of their REE characters, the leucogranites can be divided into three groups. Group I leucogranites show the most fractionated LREE-enrichment patterns (with La_N/Yb_N and La_N/Sm_N ratios of 30.1–75.0 and 2.3–3.9, respectively). Group II leucogranites have moderately fractionated LREE-enrichment patterns (with La_N/Yb_N and La_N/Sm_N ratios of 13.1–26.5 and 0.8–1.9, respectively). Group III leucogranites are characterized by obviously low total REE contents and flat REE patterns with significant positive Eu anomalies, probably due to small degrees of partial melting. All these leucogranites were likely formed by partial melting of sedimentary rocks from a marginal basin at the Yangtze side of the orogen, beneath a major thrust fault during the obduction of the ophiolite onto the continental crust. They are broadly similar to obduction-related granites within ophiolites identified in many places worldwide. Identification of the ca. 880 Ma obduction-type granites in the NE Jiangxi ophiolite provides a petrological constraint on the timing of the ophiolite obduction onto the continental crust. In combination with the termination of the Shuangxiwu arc magmatism at ca. 890 Ma, we interpret that the close of the Neoproterozoic back-arc basin and the termination of the continental amalgamation between the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks occurred at ca. 880 Ma.     

Metamorphic history and geodynamic significance of high-grade metabasites from the ophiolitic mélange beneath the Yarlung Zangbo ophiolites, Xigaze area, Tibet

Blocks of highly foliated amphibolite are locally embedded within a serpentinite mélange underlying the Yarlung Zangbo ophiolites in the Xigaze area of southern Tibet. The ophiolites are remnants of an Early Cretaceous back-arc basin within the Permo-Cretaceous Tethys Ocean, which are exposed along in the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (YZSZ). These amphibolites are interpreted as fragments of a dismembered dynamothermal sole. Three types of amphibolite are present: (1) common amphibolite with assemblages of Hbl + Pl ± Ep ± Ap ± Ttn, (2) clinopyroxene-bearing amphibolite with Hbl ± Pl ± Cpx ± Ep ± Ttn ± Qtz ± Ap and (3) garnet–clinopyroxene-bearing amphibolite characterized by the assemblages Hbl + Cpx + Grt + Pl ± Rt and Grt + Hbl + Pl (corona assemblage). In all three types, plagioclase is pseudomorphed by late albite–prehnite. Retrograde cataclastic veins containing assemblages of Prh + Ab + Ep ± Chl are also present. P–T estimates indicate that the amphibolites reached peak metamorphic conditions of 13–15 kbar and 750–875 °C. Partial replacement of pyrope-rich (up to 35 mole%) garnet by Al-tschermakite (Al₂O₃ up to 21 wt%) reflects a high pressure (≈18 kbar, 600 °C) metamorphic event followed by rapid exhumation. Soon after exhumation, the amphibolites were intruded by very fine-grained diabase dykes that were then hydrothermally altered. The field relationships and metamorphic history of the amphibolites indicate formation during inception of subduction within a back-arc basin prior to obduction of the ophiolites onto the Indian passive margin.     

Platinum-group elemental geochemistry of mafic and ultramafic rocks from the Xigaze ophiolite, southern Tibet

The Xigaze ophiolite in the central part of the Yarlung–Zangbo suture zone, southern Tibet, has a well-preserved sequence of sheeted dykes, basalts, cumulates and mantle peridotites at Jiding and Luqu. Both the basalts and diabases at Jiding have similar compositions with SiO₂ ranging from 45.9 to 53.5 wt%, MgO from 3.1 to 6.8 wt% and TiO₂ from 0.87 to 1.21 wt%. Their Mg^#s [100Mg/(Mg + Fe)] range from 40 to 60, indicating crystallization from relatively evolved magmas. They have LREE-depleted, chondrite-normalized REE diagrams, suggesting a depleted mantle source. These basaltic rocks have slightly negative Nb- and Ti-anomalies, suggesting that the Xigaze ophiolite represents a fragment of mature MORB lithosphere modified in a suprasubduction zone environment. The mantle peridotites at Luqu are high depleted with low CaO (0.3–1.2 wt%) and Al₂O₃ (0.04–0.42 wt%). They display V-shaped, chondrite-normalized REE patterns with (La/Gd)_N ratios ranging from 3.17 to 64.6 and (Gd/Yb)_N from 0.02 to 0.20, features reflecting secondary metasomatism by melts derived from the underlying subducted slab. Thus, the geochemistry of both the basaltic rocks and mantle peridotites suggests that the Xigaze ophiolite formed in a suprasubduction zone.Both the diabases and basalts have Pd/Ir ratios ranging from 7 to 77, similar to MORB. However, they have very low PGE abundances, closely approximating the predicted concentration in a silicate melt that has fully equilibrated with a fractionated immiscible sulfide melt, indicating that the rocks originated from magmas that were S-saturated before eruption. Moderate degrees of partial melting and early precipitation of PGE alloys explain their high Pd/Ir ratios and negative Pt-anomalies. The mantle peridotites contain variable amounts of Pd (5.99–13.5 ppb) and Pt (7.92–20.5 ppb), and have a relatively narrow range of Ir (3.47–5.01 ppb). In the mantle-normalized Ni, PGE, Au and Cu diagram, they are relatively rich in Pd and depleted in Cu. There is a positive correlation between CaO and Pd. The Pd enrichment is possibly due to secondary enrichment by metasomatism. Al₂O₃ and Hf do not correlate with Ir, but show positive variations with Pt, Pd and Au, indicating that some noble metals can be enriched by metasomatic fluids or melts carrying a little Al and Hf. We propose a model in which the low PGE contents and high Pd/Ir ratios of the basaltic rocks reflect precipitation of sulfides and moderate degrees of partial melting. The high Pd mantle peridotites of Xigaze ophiolites were formed by secondary metasomatism by a boninitic melt above a subduction zone.     

青藏高原新特提斯蛇绿岩的地质特征及其构造演化

西藏雅鲁藏布江缝合带（YZSZ）和班公湖-怒江缝合带（BNSZ）蛇绿岩代表了新特提斯洋壳和岩石圈地幔残余，是我国铬铁矿和蛇绿岩型金刚石的重要原产地，目前这两条蛇绿岩带的成因和相互关系还存在着争论。本文总结了YZSZ、BNSZ、狮泉河-纳木错蛇绿混杂岩带（SNMZ）和松多缝合带蛇绿岩的时空分布、组成和构造背景，归纳了拉萨地块晚古生以来的岩浆岩分布，获得以下主要认识：（1）Panjal地幔柱活动可能促使怒江洋和雅江西洋在早二叠世空谷期（283~272Ma）打开；（2）雅江东洋由于松多洋的南向俯冲在晚三叠世打开，与雅江西洋以萨嘎-措勤为界，并形成冈底斯东部245~200Ma岩浆热事件；（3）~140Ma班怒洋闭合以及南羌塘与北拉萨地块碰撞，导致雅江洋扩张速率加快而引发了北向拉萨地块的平板俯冲，进而导致班怒洋的再次裂解形成133~104Ma"红海型"小洋盆；（4）YZSZ缝合带西段南带蛇绿岩为北带的逆冲推覆体；（5）BNSZ和SNMZ蛇绿岩隶属于一个洋盆，后者代表了班怒洋成熟洋盆扩张脊的残余。     

Magnetic studies of magma-supply and sea-floor metamorphism: Troodos ophiolite dikes

Dikes of the eastern Troodos ophiolite of Cyprus intruded at slow ocean-spreading axes with dips ranging up to 15° from vertical and with bimodal strikes (now NE–SW and N–S due to post-88 Ma sinistral microplate rotation). Varied dike orientations may represent local stress fields during dike-crack propagation but do not influence the spatial-distributions or orientation-distributions of dikes' magnetic fabrics, nor of their palaeomagnetic signals. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) integrates mineral orientation-distributions from each of 1289 specimens sampled from dikes at 356 sites over 400 km² in the eastern Troodos ophiolite of Cyprus. In 90% of dikes, AMS fabrics define a foliation (k_MAX–k_INT) parallel to dike walls and a lineation (k_MAX) that varies regionally and systematically. Magma-flow alignment of accessory magnetite controls the AMS with a subordinate contribution from the mafic silicate matrix that is reduced in anisotropy by sea-floor metamorphism. Titanomagnetite has less influence on anisotropy. Occasionally, intermediate and minimum susceptibility axes are switched so as to be incompatible with the kinematically reasonable flow plane but maximum susceptibility (k_MAX) still defines the magmatic flow axis. Such blended subfabrics of kinematically compatible mafic-silicate and misaligned multidomain magnetite subfabrics; are rare. Areas of steep magma flow (k_MAX plunge ≥ 70°) and of shallow magma-flow alternate in a systematic and gradual spatial pattern. Foci of steep flow were spaced 4 km parallel to the spreading axes and 6 km perpendicular to the spreading axes. Ridge-parallel separation of steep flow suggest the spacing of magma-feeders to the dikes whereas ridge-perpendicular spacing of 6 km at a spreading rate of 50 mm/a implies the magma sources may have been active for 240 Ka. The magma feeders feeding dikes may have been ≤ 2 km in diameter. Stable paleomagnetic vectors, in some cases verified by reversal tests, are retained by magnetite and titanomagnetite. In all specimens, the stable components were isolated by three cycles of low-temperature demagnetization (LTD) followed by ≥ 10 steps of incremental thermal demagnetization (TD). 47% of primary A-components [338.2 /+ 57.2 n = 207, α₉₅ = 3.9; mean T_UB = 397 ± 8 °C] are overprinted by a B-component [341.4 /+ 63.5, n = 96, α₉₅ = 8.7; mean T_UB = 182 ± 11 °C]. A- and B-components are ubiquitous and shared equally by the N–S and NE–SW striking dikes. A-component unblocking temperatures (T_UB) are zoned subparallel to the fossil spreading axis. Their spatial pattern is consistent with chemical remagnetization at some certain off-axis distance determined by sea-floor spreading. A-components indicate less microplate rotation and more northerly palaeolatitudes that are consistent with metamorphic remagnetization after some spreading from the ridge-axis. Thus, their magnetizations are younger than those of the overlying volcanic sequence for which ChRMs are commonly reported as 274 /+ 33 (88 Ma).     

东准噶尔地区扎河坝——阿尔曼太蛇绿岩多期次岩浆演化特征：来自锆石U-Pb年代学的证据

新疆东准噶尔地区阿尔曼太蛇绿岩被认为是早古生代大洋岩石圈残片,其主要由地幔橄榄岩、辉长岩、玄武岩以及硅质岩组成。通过野外地质观测,发现在扎河坝-阿尔曼太蛇绿岩内侵入了大量的岩体,主要为闪长岩以及闪长玢岩。本文通过LA-ICP-MS 锆石U-Pb 定年,获得蛇绿岩中辉长岩年龄为497.3 ± 4.5 Ma,而后期侵入的闪长玢岩的年龄为424.5 ± 3.1 Ma。前人研究认为这些闪长玢岩具有岛弧岩浆岩特征。结合区域地质背景,本文认为这些后期侵入的闪长玢岩是岛弧岩浆作用的结果, 推测阿尔曼太蛇绿岩为一个岛弧多期次演化的产物。