Structures in the Canyon Mountain Ophiolite indicate an island-arc intrusion

Lithosphere created in an interarc basin is expected to be characterized by features distinguishing it from “normal” oceanic lithosphere. Apart from island-arc geochemical affinities and from the occurrence of hydrous high-T parageneses in the mantle and deep crustal sequences, it is expected that due to a low rate of spreading, vertical transport prevails over lateral drifting.

The Canyon Mountain complex located in an island-arc environment of Permo-Triassic age offers a remarkable illustration of these expected geological characteristics. In particular, mantle diapirism is deduced from the structural study. Smaller diapirs are formed in crustal formations. The intrusions took place at variable temperatures (1300°–800°C) and were accompanied by multistage melting in hydrous conditions.