Ophiolite hosted chromitite formed by supra-subduction zone peridotite –plume interaction

Chromitite bodies hosted in peridotites typical of suboceanic mantle (s.l. ophiolitic) are found in the northern and central part of the Loma Caribe peridotite, in the Cordillera Central of the Dominican Republic. These chromitites are massive pods of small size (less than a few meters across) and veins that intrude both dunite and harzburgite. Compositionally, they are high-Cr chromitites [Cr# ​= ​Cr/(Cr ​+ ​Al) atomic ratio ​= ​0.71–0.83] singularly enriched in TiO₂ (up to 1.25 ​wt.%), Fe₂O₃ (2.77–9.16 ​wt.%) as well as some trace elements (Ga, V, Co, Mn, and Zn) and PGE (up to 4548 ​ppb in whole-rock). This geochemical signature is unknown for chromitites hosted in oceanic upper mantle but akin to those chromites crystallized from mantle plume derived melts. Noteworthy, the melt estimated to be in equilibrium with such chromite from the Loma Caribe chromitites is similar to basalts derived from different source regions of a heterogeneous Caribbean mantle plume. This mantle plume is responsible for the formation of the Caribbean Large Igneous Province (CLIP). Dolerite dykes with back-arc basin basalt (BABB) and enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt (E-MORB) affinities commonly intrude the Loma Caribe peridotite, and are interpreted as evidence of the impact that the Caribbean plume had in the off-axis magmatism of the back-arc basin, developed after the Caribbean island-arc extension in the Late Cretaceous. We propose a model in which chromitites were formed in the shallow portion of the back-arc mantle as a result of the metasomatic reaction between the supra-subduction zone (SSZ) peridotites and upwelling plume-related melts.     

Subduction-zone peridotites and their records of crust-mantle interaction

Subduction is the core process of plate tectonics. The mantle wedge in subduction-zone systems represents a key tectonic unit, playing a significant role in material cycling and energy exchange between Earth's layers. This study summarizes research progresses in terms of subduction-related peridotite massifs, including supra-subduction zone(SSZ) ophiolites and mantle-wedge-type(MWT) orogenic peridotites. We also provide the relevant key scientific questions that need be solved in the future. The mantle sections of SSZ ophiolites and MWT orogenic peridotites represent the mantle fragments from oceanic and continental lithosphere in subduction zones, respectively. They are essential targets to study the crust-mantle interaction in subduction zones. The nature of this interaction is the complex chemical exchanges between the subducting slab and the mantle wedge under the major control of physical processes. The SSZ ophiolites can record melt/fluid-rock interaction, metamorphism,deformation, concentration of metallogenic elements and material exchange between crust and mantle, during the stages from the generation of oceanic lithosphere at spreading centers to the initiation, development, maturation and ending of oceanic subduction at continental margins. The MWT orogenic peridotites reveal the history of strong metamorphism and deformation during subduction, the multiple melt/fluid metasomatism(including silicatic melts, carbonatitic melts and silicate-bearing C-HO fluids/supercritical fluids), and the complex cycling of crust-mantle materials, during the subduction/collision and exhumation of continental plates. In order to further reveal the crust-mantle interaction using subduction-zone peridotites, it is necessary to utilize high-spatial-resolution and high-precision techniques to constrain the complex chemical metasomatism, metamorphism,deformation at micro scales, and to reveal their connections with spatial-temporal evolution in macro-scale tectonics.     

PGE mineralization and melt composition of chromitites in Proterozoic ophiolite complexes of Eastern Sayan,Southern Siberia

The Ospino-Kitoi and Kharanur ultrabasic massifs represent the northern and southern ophiolite branches respectively of the Upper Onot ophiolitic nappe and they are located in the southeastern part of the Eastern Sayan(SEPES ophiolites).Podiform chromitites with PGE mineralization occur as lensoid pods within dunites and rarely in harzburgites or serpentinized peridotites.The chromitites are classified into type I and type Ⅱ based on their Cr~#.Type I(Cr~# = 59-85) occurs in both northern and southern branches,whereas type Ⅱ(Cr~# = 76-90) occurs only in the northern branch.PGE contents range from ∑PGE 88-1189 ppb,Pt/Ir0.04-0.42 to ∑PGE 250-1700 ppb,Pt/Ir 0.03-0.25 for type I chromitites of the northern and southern branches respectively.The type Ⅱ chromitites of the northern branch have ∑PGE contents higher than that of type Ⅰ(468-8617 ppb,Pt/Ir 0.1-0.33).Parental melt compositions,in equilibrium with podiform chromitites,are in the range of boninitic melts and vary in Al_2O_3,TiO_2 and FeO/MgO contents from those of type I and type Ⅱ chromitites.Calculated melt compositions for type Ⅰ chromitites are(Al_2O_3)_(melt) = 10.6—13.5 wt.%,(TiO_2)_(melt) = 0.01-0.44 wt.%,(Fe/Mg)_(melt) = 0.42-1.81;those for type Ⅱ chromitites are:(Al_2O_3)_(melt) = 7.8-10.5 wt.%,(TiO_2)_(melt) = 0.01-0.25 wt.%,(Fe/Mg)_(melt) = 0.5-2.4.Chromitites are further divided into Os-Ir-Ru(Ⅰ) and Pt-Pd(Ⅱ) based on their PGE patterns.The type Ⅰ chromitites show only the Os-Ir-Ru pattern whereas type Ⅱ shows both Os-Ir-Ru and Pt-Pd patterns.PGE mineralization in type Ⅰ chromitites is represented by the Os-Ir-Ru system,whereas in type Ⅱ it is represented by the Os-Ir-Ru-Rh-Pt system.These results indicate that chromitites and PGE mineralization in the northern branch formed in a suprasubduction setting from a fluid-rich boninitic melt during active subduction.However,the chromitites and PGE mineralization of the southern branch could have formed in a spreading zone environment.Mantle peridotites have been exposed in the area with remnants of mantle-derived reduced fluids,as indicated by the occurrence of widespread highly carbonaceous graphitized ultrabasic rocks and serpentinites with up to 9.75 wt.%.Fluid inclusions in highly carbonaceous graphitized ultrabasic rocks contain CO,CO_2,CH4,N_2 and the δ~(13)C isotopic composition(-7.4 to-14.5‰) broadly corresponds to mantle carbon.     

Petrogenesis and geochemical characteristics of plagiogranites from Naga Ophiolite Belt,northeast India: Fractional crystallization of MORB-type magma

The Naga Ophiolite Belt is a part of the Naga-Arakan-Yoma flysch trough that occurs along the Indo-Myanmar border. It is represented by peridotites, mafic-ultramafic cumulates, mafic volcanics, mafic dykes, plagiogranites, pelagic sediments and minor felsic to intermediate intrusives. Minor plagiogranites, gabbros and thin serpentinite bands occur juxtaposed near Luthur, with the slate-phyllite-metagreywacke sequence (Phokpur Formation) adjacent to the contact. The development of tonalites, trondhjemites and diorites in the oceanic crust, which is grouped as plagiogranites, offers an opportunity to study the process of formation of silicic melts from mafic crust. Plagiogranites from Naga Ophiolite Belt contains moderate SiO₂ (51.81–56.71 wt.%), low K₂O (0.08–1.65 wt.%) and high Na₂O (4.3–5.03 wt.%). The Naga Ophiolite Belt plagiogranites like ocean-ridge granites contain low K₂O, high Na₂O and CaO. The rocks investigated from Naga Ophiolite Belt contain TiO₂ concentrations above the lower limit for fractionated Mid Oceanic Ridge Basalt which is above 1 wt% of TiO₂ and the ternary plots of A (Na₂O + K₂O) F(FeO^T) M(MgO) and TiO₂-K₂O-SiO₂/50 indicate that the plagiogranite are tholeiitic in character and gabbro samples are calc-alkaline in nature. The plagiogranites are enriched in Rb, Ba, Th, U, Nb and Sm against chondrite with negative anomalies on Sr and Zr whereas Y and Yb are depleted to Mid Oceanic Ridge Basalt. The chondrite normalized REE patterns of the plagiogranite display enrichments in LREE (La_N/Sm_N: 2.37–3.62) and flat HREE (Eu/Eu*: 0.90–1.06). The Mid Oceanic Ridge Basalt normalization of gabbro is characterized by strong enrichment of LILE like Ba and Th. The REE pattern is about 50–100 times chondrite with slight enrichment of LREE (La_N/Sm_N = 2.21–3.13) and flat HREE (Eu/Eu*: 0.94–1.19). The major-element and trace element data of the NOB plagiogranites and their intrusive nature with host gabbroic rock suggest that the plagiogranites were produced by fractional crystallization of basaltic parental magmas at Mid Oceanic Ridge.     

Ophiolite complexes as collision zone markers: making the case for the Antique Ophiolite Complex, Panay Island, central Philippines

The collision between the North Palawan Block (NPB) and Philippine Mobile Belt (PMB) has been the subject of studies considering its significance in help-ing define the tectonic evolution of the Philippine is-land arc system. The geology of the western Panay island reveals the presence of a continent-related block (Buruanga Peninsula) juxtaposed to an oceanic frag-ment (Antique Ophiolite Complex). Our recent work in the Buruanga Peninsula helped us define the terrane boundary between the Peninsula and the Antique Ophiolite Complex. However, considering available published data, the Antique Ophiolite Complex has never been considered to be a part of the NPB and to mark the collision zone between Palawan and the PMB.     

The Eastern Makran Ophiolite (SE Iran): evidence for a Late Cretaceous fore-arc oceanic crust

ABSTRACT

The nature, magmatic evolution, and geodynamic setting of both inner and outer Makran ophiolites, in SE Iran, are enigmatic. Here, we report mineral chemistry, whole-rock geochemistry, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope composition of mantle peridotites and igneous rocks from the Eastern Makran Ophiolite (EMO) to assess the origin and tectono-magmatic evolution of the Makran oceanic realm. The EMO includes mantle peridotites (both harzburgites and impregnated lherzolites), isotropic gabbros, diabase dikes, and basaltic to andesitic pillow and massive lava flows. The Late Cretaceous pelagic limestones are found as covers of lava flows and/or interlayers between them. All ophiolite components are somehow sheared and fragmented, probably in Cenozoic time, during the emplacement of ophiolite. This event has produced a considerable extent of tectonic melange. Tectonic slices of trachy-basaltic lavas with oceanic island basalt (OIB)-like signature seal the tectonic melange. Our new geochemical data indicate a magmatic evolution from fore-arc basalt (FAB) to island-arc tholeiite (IAT)-like signatures for the Late Cretaceous EMO lavas. EMO extrusive rocks have high εNd(t) (+8 to +8.9) and isotopically are similar to the Oman lavas. This isotopic signature indicates a depleted mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) mantle source for the genesis of these rocks, except isotopic gabbros containing lower εNd(t) (+5.1 to +5.7) and thus show higher contribution of subducted slab components in their mantle source. High ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb isotopic ratios for the EMO igneous rocks also suggest considerable involvement of slab-derived components into the mantle source of these rocks. The variable geochemical signatures of the EMO lavas are mostly similar to Zagros and Oman ophiolite magmatic rocks, although the Pb isotopic composition shows similarity to the isotopic characteristic of inner Zagros ophiolite belt. This study postulates that the EMO formed during the early stages of Neo-Tethyan subduction initiation beneath the Lut block in a proto-forearc basin. We suggest subduction initiation caused asthenospheric upwelling and thereafter melting to generate the MORB-like melts. This event left the harzburgitic residues and the MORB-like melts interacted with the surrounding peridotites to generate the impregnated lherzolites, which are quite abundant in the EMO. Therefore, these lherzolites formed due to the refertilization of mantle rocks through porous flows of MORB-like melts. The inception of subduction caused mantle wedge to be enriched slightly by the slab components. Melting of these metasomatized mantle generated isotropic gabbros and basaltic to andesitic lavas with FAB-like signature. At the later stage, higher contribution of the slab-derived components into the overlying mantle wedge causes formation of diabase dikes with supra-subduction zone – or IAT-like signatures. Trachy-basalts were probably the result of late-stage magmatism fed by the melts originated from an OIB source asthenospheric mantle due to slab break-off. This occurred after emplacement of EMO and the formation of tectonic melange.     

阿尔金山北缘冰沟蛇绿混杂岩中辉长岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年及其地质意义

冰沟蛇绿混杂岩是阿尔金山红柳沟蛇绿混杂岩带的东段部分,岩石组合包括蛇纹岩、方辉橄榄岩、辉石岩和辉长岩等。蛇纹岩具高Mg,Mg/Fe值大于9,低Al、Ca、Na、K为特征,从稀土元素和微量元素特征来看,基性辉长岩和洋壳以及洋中脊玄武岩极为相似,而超基性岩与原始地幔较为接近。辉长岩获得锆石SHRIMP年龄为449.5±10.9Ma。蛇绿混杂岩的围岩为一套巨厚的碎屑岩、火山碎屑岩、火山岩,以及部分碳酸盐岩构成,其中含有具有洋中脊特征的枕状构造玄武岩,以及放射虫硅质岩,放射虫时代为奥陶纪中晚期,与辉长岩的SHRIMP年龄一致。这些证据进一步证实了红柳沟一带存在早古生代洋盆的地质事实。     

Late Cretaceous ophiolite obduction and Paleocene India-Asia collision in the westernmost Himalaya

Abstract

Collision of the Kohistan island arc with Asia at ~100 Ma resulted in N-S compression within the Neo-Tethys at a spreading center north of the Indo-Pakistani craton. Subsequent India-Asia convergence converted the Neo-Tethyan spreading center into a short-lived subduction zone. The hanging wall of the subduction zone became the Waziristan, Khost and Jalalabad igneous complexes. During the Santonian- Campanian (late Cretaceous), thrusting of the NW IndoPakistani craton beneath Albian oceanic crust and a Cenomanian volcano-sedimentary complex, generated an ophiolite-radiolarite belt. Ophiolite obduction resulted in tectonic loading and flexural subsidence of the NW Indian margin and sub-CCD deposition of shelf-derived olistostromes and turbidites in the foredeep. Campanian-Maastriehtian calci- clastic and siliciclastic sediment gravity flows derived from both margins filled the foredeep as a huge allochthon of Triassic-Jurassic rise and slope strata was thrust ahead of the ophiolites onto the Indo-Pakistani craton. Shallow to intermediate marine strata covered the foredeep during the late Maastrichtian. As ophiolite obduction neared completion during the Maastrichtian, the majority of India-Asia convergence was accommodated along the southern margin of Asia. During the Paleocene, India was thrust beneath a second allochthon that included open marine middle Maastrichtian colored mélange which represents the Asian Makran-Indus-Tsangpo accretionary prism. Latérites that formed on the eroded ophiolites and structurally higher colored mélange during the Paleocene wei’e unconformably overlapped by upper Paleocene and Middle Eocene shallow marine limestone and shale that delineate distinct episodes of Paleocene collisional and Early Eocene post-collisional deformation.     

科岗蛇绿岩地质特征及构造环境分析

科岗蛇绿岩位于塔里木板块西南缘西昆仑中间地块与北侧西昆仑沟弧带分界线上。通过对科岗蛇绿岩带岩石组成、地质地球化学特征研究,肯定了新疆地质志对科岗蛇绿岩带“三位一体”蛇绿岩建造的认识,分别由下部变质橄榄岩相,中部堆晶岩相、浅色花岗岩相,上部块状辉长岩-辉绿岩相和火山岩及碎屑岩相组成。科岗蛇绿岩为造山带型,与洋中脊型蛇绿岩区别明显。其大地构造环境应为弧后盆地或破坏性大陆边缘小洋盆快速拉张环境产物。     

北祁连蛇绿岩的特征、形成环境及其构造意义

文中总结了北祁连蛇绿岩的特征，指出北祁连蛇绿岩大多具有ＭＯＲＢ的性质，有玻安岩产出，形成在弧后和岛弧环境。北祁连蛇绿岩大多侵位在岛弧增生楔或活动陆缘地体之上，蛇绿岩属于科迪勒拉型，早古生代的北祁连造山带属于科迪勒拉型造山带。部分蛇绿岩之上整合产出一套沉积－火山岩系，称为蛇绿岩的上覆岩系。指出蛇绿岩及其上覆岩系的枕状熔岩分别来自不同的源区，具有不同的构造意义。还讨论了北祁连早古生代板块构造格局，认为北祁连洋盆属于古亚洲洋的一部分，可能曾经是一个较大规模的洋盆。献中通常把它当成增生或俯冲杂岩带的一部分来看待〔１３，１６－１７〕；大岔大坂蛇绿岩带，其向两侧的延伸情况不清楚；九个泉（或塔墩沟）蛇绿岩带，向东可连到景泰县老虎山蛇绿岩，有人认为，向西可与榆树沟蛇绿岩相连〔２０〕。早先认为，北祁连存在新元古代、中寒武和早－中奥陶世三个时代的蛇绿岩〔２，１１〕，经过多年研究，目前大多数同意蛇绿岩主要是晚寒武－奥陶纪的〔１３，１６〕。图１北祁连早古生代蛇绿岩分布图１．前寒武纪基底；２．俯冲杂岩带；３．蛇绿岩。图中数字：１．九个泉；２．大岔大坂；３．边马沟；４．玉石沟；５．小八宝；６．百经寺；７．老虎山；８．榆树沟山２北祁连几