Ancient depletion signals in lherzolites from forearc region:Constraints from Lu-Hf isotope compositions

The sub-arc mantle that experienced hydrous melting is commonly characterized by refractory geochemical compositions. Nevertheless, minor lherzolites with fertile compositions have also been reported for mantle peridotites from subduction zone. The petrogenesis and mantle source of the lherzolites are still controversial. The New Caledonia ophiolite(Peridotite Nappe) has been regarded as an allochthonous body of forearc lithosphere. This is supported by refractory compositions of its dominant mantle rocks.A few isolated lherzolitic massifs have also been observed in the northern part of New Caledonia.Those lherzolites are compositionally similar to abyssal peridotites, with negligible subduction-related modification. Here, we present new comprehensive geochemical compositions, in particular highprecision Sr-Nd-Hf isotope data, for the lherzolites. The initial^(176) Hf/^(177) Hf ratios display moderate correlations with sensitive indicators for the extent of melting(i.e., olivine Fo, whole-rock Mg# and Yb contents in clinopyroxene) and whole-rock initial^(187) Os/^(188) Os ratios. Some samples have ancient radiogenic Hf isotopes and unradiogenic Os isotope compositions, implying the preservation of ancient depletion signals in the lherzolites. The Nd isotope compositions, together with trace elements and mineral micro-textures, suggest that the lherzolites have been overprinted by a recent melt-rock interaction event. The high equilibrium temperatures of the studied samples have been estimated by the twopyroxene REE thermometer, yielding temperatures of 1066–1315 ℃. The lherzolites have more depleted Nd-Hf isotope compositions and higher equilibrium temperatures than the New Caledonia harzburgites.This indicates that the lherzolites may represent the residues of asthenosphere mantle trapped within the forearc region. Our studies on the New Caledonia lherzolites with ancient depletion signals suggest that ancient mantle domains in the convective mantle can be emplaced in forearc region by the upwelling of asthenosphere during the early stage of subduction initiation.

An origin of ultraslow spreading ridges for the Yarlung-Tsangpo ophiolites

As relics of ancient ocean lithosphere,ophiolites are the most important petrological evidence for marking the sutures and also play a key role in reconstructing plate configuration.They also provide valuable windows for studying crustal accretion and mantle processes occurring at modem ocean ridges.Abundant ophiolites are distributed along the Yarlung-Tsangpo suture and represent the relics of ocean lithosphere of the Neo-Tethys.They are characterized by an incomplete litho-stratigraphy,of which the mantle section is much thicker than the crustal section.Ocean crustal rocks outcropped in the Yarlung-Tsangpo ophiolites are much thinner than normal ocean crusts(~7 km)or even absent.Tectonic settings from which the Yarlung-Tsangpo ophiolites originated remain highly controversial,although an origin of the supra-subduction zone is prevailing.Moreover,their incomplete litho-stratigraphy has been commonly attributed to tectonic dismemberment during the late-stage emplacement after their formation.Nevertheless,such an incompleteness resembles the ocean lithosphere generated at modem ultraslow spreading ridges,such as the Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR).In this paper,we present several lines of evidence that support the formation of the Yarlung-Tsangpo ophiolites at ultraslow spreading ridges,during which detachment faults were developed.This suggests that the Yarlung-Tsangpo ophiolites might represent the ocean core complexes(OCC)in the Neo-Tethys Ocean.The OCC with high topography in the seafloor were clogged in the trench and preserved as ophiolites through Indo-Eurasia collision.The clogging resulted in the demise of an old subduction and a new subduction was re-initiated beneath the clogged OCC.