Geodynamic evolution of the Tethyan lithosphere as recorded in the Spontang Ophiolite,South Ladakh ophiolites(NW Himalaya,India)

The Spontang Ophiolite complex represents the most complete ophiolite sequence amongst the South Ladakh ophiolites and comprises mantle rocks(depleted harzburgites,dunites and minor lherzolites)as well as crustal rocks(basalt,isotropic gabbros,layered gabbros etc.).In the present study,detailed geochemistry(whole rock as well as mineral chemistry)and Sr-Nd isotopic analyses of thirty-six ultramaficmafic samples have been attempted to constraint the evolution and petrogenetic history of the Tethyan oceanic crust.Major,trace-element and REE patterns of the peridotites and their minerals indicate that the lherzolites experienced lower degrees of partial melting resembling abyssal peridotites(at higher temperatures,TREE=$1216℃)than the harzburgites(6%–8%versus 15%–17%).Elevated eNd(t)and variable^(87) Sr/^(86) Sr(t)ratios along with REE patterns suggest that the Spontang mafic rocks display N-MORB affinity with negligible participation of oceanic sediments in their genesis are originated from a depleted upper mantle with little contribution from subduction-related fluids.MORB-type Neotethyan oceanic crust is associated with the earliest phase of subduction(of older Jurassic age)through which a younger intra-oceanic island arc(Spong arc)subsequently developed.Harzburgites REE display typical U-shaped patterns,suggesting that these rocks have been metasomatized by LREE-enriched fluids.On the other side,mafic rocks are characterized by heterogeneous(Nb/La)PMand(Hf/Sm)PMand relatively homogeneous eNd(t),indicating interaction of subduction-related melts with the upper mantle during the initiation of subduction,in Early Cretaceous times.

Petrology and geochemistry of mafic and ultramafic cumulate rocks from the eastern part of the Sabzevar ophiolite(NE Iran): Implications for their petrogenesis and tectonic setting

The Late Cretaceous Sabzevar ophiolite represents one of the largest and most complete fragments of Tethyan oceanic lithosphere in the NE Iran.It is mainly composed of serpentinized mantle peridotites slices;nonetheless,minor tectonic slices of all crustal sequence constituents are observed in this ophiolite.The crustal sequence contains a well-developed ultramafic and mafic cumulates section,comprising plagioclase-bearing wehrlite,olivine clinopyroxenite,olivine gabbronorite,gabbronorite,amphibole gabbronorite and quartz gabbronorite with adcumulate,mesocumulate,heteradcumulate and orthocumulate textures.The crystallization order for these rocks is olivine±chromian spinel→clinopyroxene→plagioclase→orthopyroxene→amphibole.The presence of primary magmatic amphiboles in the cumulate rocks shows that the parent magma evolved under hydrous conditions.Geochemically,the studied rock units are characterized by low TiO2(0.18-0.57 wt.%),P2 O5(<0.05 wt.%),K2 O(0.01-0.51 wt.%)and total alkali contents(0.12-3.04 wt.%).They indicate fractionated trends in the chondrite-normalized rare earth element(REE)plots and multi-element diagrams(spider diagrams).The general trend of the spider diagrams exhibit slight enrichment in large ion lithophile elements(LILEs)relative to high field strength elements(HFSEs)and positive anomalies in Sr,Pb and Eu and negative anomalies in Zr and Nb relative to the adjacent elements.The REE plots of these rocks display increasing trend from La to Sm,positive Eu anomaly(Eu/Eu*=1.06-1.54)and an almost flat pattern from medium REE(MREE)to heavy REE(HREE)region[(Gd/Yb)N=1-1.17].Moreover,clinopyroxenes from the cumulate rocks have low REE contents and show marked depletion in light REE(LREE)compared to MREE and HREE[(La/Sm)N=0.10-0.27 and(La/Yb)N=0.08-0.22].The composition of calculated melts in equilibrium with the clinopyroxenes from less evolved cumulate samples are closely similar to island arc tholeiitic(IAT)magmas.Modal mineralogy,geochemical features and REE modeling indicate that Sabzevar cumulate rocks were formed by crystal accumulation from a hydrous depleted basaltic melt with IAT affinity.This melt has been produced by moderate to high degree(~15%)of partial melting a depleted mantle source,which partially underwent metasomatic enrichment from subducted slab components in an intra-oceanic arc setting.