Field work conducted in September 1998 and Summer 1999 aimed to reassess the ophiolitic segment of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone (YZS) and shed new light on the preserved fragments of Neo\|Tethys ocean\|floor. This e...Field work conducted in September 1998 and Summer 1999 aimed to reassess the ophiolitic segment of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone (YZS) and shed new light on the preserved fragments of Neo\|Tethys ocean\|floor. This eastern ophiolitic segment was partly surveyed during the 1980 Sino\|French Cooperative Investigation of Himalayas, but little work has been done since that time. Progress in ophiolite research field and new developments in modern ocean crust guided us in the recent field work investigation. Mantle peridotites and associated minor crustal units are assumed Early Cretaceous in age, while diabase interbedded with phyllites and radiolarian sediments of presumed seamount origin are attributed to Late Jurassic—Early Cretaceous age. Six different massifs were visited that are from west to east: Jiding, Qunrang, Beimarang, Dazhuqu, Luobusa, and Zedang. Each massif presents specific characteristics summarized below. The Jiding massif is made of partly to totally serpentinized granular upper mantle harzburgites with orthopyroxenite banding, a transitional Moho zone, a thick diabase sill\|dike complex intruded into heterogeneous gabbro, and pillow lavas.. High\|temperature plastic foliation, although generally oriented NW—SE, and lineation show folding. Numerous gabbroic and diabasic intrusions are observed in peridotites. The orientations of the mafic rocks foliation and lineation do not fit the structure of the host peridotites. The 350m thick transition zone is a syntectonically intrusive sequence of mantle peridotites cut by abundant different types of gabbro and diabase. In one case intrusion of gabbro postdates serpentinization of peridotites and the outer margin of the xenolith enclosed in fine\|grained gabbro has reacted to form pegmatitic hornblende gabbro. The crustal unit is made of gabbro intruded by multiple fine\|grained dikes. Hydrothermal circulation was locally intense and Cu mineralization and epidosite are observed close to shear zones.The Qunrang massif shows no transition zone overlying upper mantle unit, no significant gabbroic crustal unit and thick diabase and volcanic units. The foliation and lineation in granular lherzolite, harzburgite, and dunite show extremely wide variations and affected by late tectonics. The orientation of the structures is similar to the Jiding massif.展开更多
The A’nyemaqen ophiolite belt lies along the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and is believed to mark the boundary between the East Kunlun terrain and the ayanhar\|Songpan\|Garze terrain (Fig.1). The ophiol...The A’nyemaqen ophiolite belt lies along the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and is believed to mark the boundary between the East Kunlun terrain and the ayanhar\|Songpan\|Garze terrain (Fig.1). The ophiolite in this belt is considered to be Early Permian to Middle Triassic in age (Yang et al., 1996). Our recent study indicates that there is an old ophiolite suite (>421 5Ma), located to the northern margin of this belt (Fig.1). Since the new found ophiolite is near to the Dur’ngoi deposit, so we called it North Dur’ngoi ophiolite. The geological and geochemical characteristics of the two ophiolite suites are different obviously as follows.展开更多
The detailed geochemical research indicates that the tholeiitic basalts from Ganlongtang-Longba ophiolitic m（?）lange exhibit distinctive geochemical characteristics of high TiO<sub>2</sub> and low K<s...The detailed geochemical research indicates that the tholeiitic basalts from Ganlongtang-Longba ophiolitic m（?）lange exhibit distinctive geochemical characteristics of high TiO<sub>2</sub> and low K<sub>2</sub>O,and depletion of light rare earth elements.They should be originated from a depleted asthenosphere mantle, belonging to ancient oceanic crust ophiolitic volcanic rock association.Compared with the Longba tholeiitic basalt,the Ganlongtang tholeiitic basalt shows展开更多
Platinum\|Group Elements (PGE) along with other highly siderophile elements (HSE) are quantitatively fractionated into the core and mantle,leaving the crust strongly depleted during the formation of the earth.However,...Platinum\|Group Elements (PGE) along with other highly siderophile elements (HSE) are quantitatively fractionated into the core and mantle,leaving the crust strongly depleted during the formation of the earth.However,the transfer of PGE and other HSE from the mantle may occur by tectonic emplacement of mantle material into the crust or by crystallization of the mantle derived magma in the crust.The formation and emplacement of ophiolites,is therefore,a suitable transfer mechanism in the enrichment of PGE and other metallic mineral deposits.Because of this,in recent years,a great deal of attention is being paid in studying the ophiolites in order to better understand the core\|mantle interaction,chemical evolution of the upper mantle and to explore their noble metal potential.The ophiolites along the Indus Suture Zone (ISZ) in the Himalayas are tectonically related to India\|Eurasia collision.But their detailed geochemical evolution history and economic potentiality (chromite,PGE,gold and Ni\|sulfides) is not evaluated so far.Nidar ophiolite of the eastern Ladakh is one of the ophiolitic suites along the ISZ.The general geology of the area was presented in several research papers.This paper presents the geology,mineralogy and geochemistry of the chromitites and reports on the first platinum\|group elements mineralization to have been discovered.展开更多
Genetically diverse lithologies, which include blueschist, greenschist, ultramafic, mafic plutonic, e.g. gabbros, and volcanic, e.g. pillowed basalts, and metasedimentary rocks, occur as a wedge\|shaped zone in the ar...Genetically diverse lithologies, which include blueschist, greenschist, ultramafic, mafic plutonic, e.g. gabbros, and volcanic, e.g. pillowed basalts, and metasedimentary rocks, occur as a wedge\|shaped zone in the area to the north of the Mingora town in Swat, NW Pakistan. This zone of fault\|bounded rock bodies and blocks is distinguished into three principal groups, each of which is itself a composite of lithologies, or a melange—the blueschist melange, greenschist melange and ophiolitic melange. All these lie along the Main Mantle Thrust (MMT)—the westward extension of the Indus\|Tsangbo suture zone and the locus of collision between the Indo\|Pakistan plate and the Kohistan island arc—and, are therefore, collectively termed as the Main Mantle Thrust Melange Group (MMTMG).The ultramafic rocks, locally containing chromite pods and constituting a part of the ophiolitic member of the MMTMG, occur as small to large lenticular bodies, distributed along the marginal part of the Indo\|Pakistan plate. They are invariably serpentinized to varying degrees and, therefore, consist of abundant, fine grained serpentine which is mostly accompanied by subordinate amounts of completely bastitised, medium to coarse grained orthopyroxene, trace to accessory amounts of commonly altered (zoned with ferritchromite and/or magnetite) chrome spinel, variable proportions of olivine, and accessory amounts of diopside. In other words, the ultramafic rocks are mostly harzburgitic in mineralogy and, therefore, the ophiolite as a whole can be classified as the harzburgite sub\|type..Detailed field and mineralogical studies show that the present petrographic ch aracteristics and mineral\|chemical composition of these dominantly harburgitic rocks are the result of a number of phenomena involving partial melting, serpentinization, metamorphism and talc\|carbonate alteration.展开更多
Ophiolites, which have been tectonically emplaced along continental margins and island arcs, are significant to the understanding of mountain belt evolution. In the Himalayas, the ophiolitic suite of rocks occur along...Ophiolites, which have been tectonically emplaced along continental margins and island arcs, are significant to the understanding of mountain belt evolution. In the Himalayas, the ophiolitic suite of rocks occur along the Indussuture zone from Hanle in the southeast to Dras\|Kargil sector in the northwest and it represents the remnant of the compressed uplifted wedge of the oceanic crust between the two colliding continental masses, the Indian and the Asian plates.. These ophiolites are temporally and spatially correlated with the culminating phase of the Himalayan orogeny. The Indus River flows to its north separating the ophiolite from the Trans Himalayan litho\|units. Geological mapping in the hostile and inaccessible mountainous terrains of the Himalaya has always posed a great challenge to geologists. Nevertheless, a number of geologists have undertaken such arduous mapping expeditions in the past and prepared fairly good geological maps of these terrains .However there always existed disputes on the accuracy of lithological boundaries and structural details in these maps because many of these boundaries and structural features were completed through extrapolations and/or interpolations as the ruggedness and inaccessibility of a large part of the terrain forbid physical examination of every outcrop. It is in this context the potential of remote sensing, especially of satellite images, is to be appreciated.展开更多
Laji Shan is located in the eastern part of Qinghai Province,sandwiched between Xining and Hualong Basins.It is about 250km long and 10～20km wide from Riyueshan in the west to Minheguanting in the east.Laji Shan belo...Laji Shan is located in the eastern part of Qinghai Province,sandwiched between Xining and Hualong Basins.It is about 250km long and 10～20km wide from Riyueshan in the west to Minheguanting in the east.Laji Shan belongs to the Caledonian orogenic belt.Its basement consists of the rocks of Palaeo\|Protero zoic Hualong Group (Pt 1 hl ) and Neo\|Proterozoic Huangzhong Group (Pt\-3 h ).There are ptygmatic folds,closely linear type folds,strongly structural d ifferentiation and schistosity developed,suggesting that the basement underwent deep seated ductile deformation.The main part of Laji Shan is composed of Early\|Palaeozoic marine facies volcanic rocks and clastic sedimentary rocks,and suffered greenschist facies metamorphism and brittle\|ductile deformation.Others are composed of Ea rly\|Palaeozoic basic and ultrabasic rocks,intermediate\|acidic intruded rocks a nd dike rocks.Devonian molasse formation in Laji Shan is in uncomfortable contac t with underlying strata.Jurassic and Cretaceous systems are intermont basin dep osits,corresponding to a cover.展开更多
Recently,considerable attention is being paid in studying the high\|pressure (rodingites and eclogites etc)crustal segments for understanding the architecture and evolution of collision orogens.This paper presents the...Recently,considerable attention is being paid in studying the high\|pressure (rodingites and eclogites etc)crustal segments for understanding the architecture and evolution of collision orogens.This paper presents the geology,mineralogy and geochemistry of the rodingites,the first reported occurrence in eastern Ladakh,the Himalaya.Nidar ophiolite is one of the well exposed,nearly a complete ophiolite of the Indus Suture Zone present in the eastern Ladakh.Field studies across the Nidar ophiolite in the Nidar—Kyun Tso section unraveled the occurrence of relatively strongly developed rodingites.Rodingites are very hard and dense.They occur as layers and also as boudins within and at the contacts of the serpentinites.The rodingites are fine to medium grained.Grossular is the dominant rodingite mineral and occurs as well developed crystals.At places grossular has coronitic texture.Diopside,clinozosite,rutile and opaques are the other main Ca\|rich minerals present in rodingites.The matrix of the rodingite minerals is highly birefringent.The rodingite mineral assemblage indicates the development of rodingite in the pressure and temperature range of 18～25 kbar and 700 to 800℃,respectively.Rodingites have high abundances (mass fraction) of CaO (10%～12%) and Al\-2O\-3 (12%) contents and generally low in SiO\-2 (46%) and MgO (7%～8%) contents.They have chondrite\|normalized Rare Earth Element (REE) abundances of 25 to 40× on the LREE and 37 to 50× on the MREE and 15 to 24× on the HREE.Overall the REE patterns tend to be concave\|upwards,or relatively light\|REE depleted with almost no Eu\|anomaly.The geologic occurrence,the mineralogy and geochemical (major,trace and REE) data of the rodingites indicate that they were initially gabbros/basalt that have undergone Ca\|metasomatism during serpentinization,followed by high\|pressure recrystallization to rodingites.展开更多
The collision between and Indian and Asian plate has not only give rise to some of the highest mountains of the world but also is responsible for the various global phenomena associated with paleoclimate and paleo\|oc...The collision between and Indian and Asian plate has not only give rise to some of the highest mountains of the world but also is responsible for the various global phenomena associated with paleoclimate and paleo\|oceanography.Various indirect approaches have been employed in order to constrain the age of initiation of this collision (Beck et al 1995,D.B.Rowley 1996,Dewey 1989).Still it is being quoted anywhere between ca.60 to 40Ma in the literature.The main reason for the poor constraints on the age of the initiation of the collision is unavailability of a direct method to date this.In this paper we present the Ar\|Ar ages of the ophiolites from the Indus Suture,Ladakh and discuss the scope of this approach in constraining the age of the collision more narrowly.1\ Samples and methodology\;Several ophiolitic melange occurrences have been reported belonging to the Indus Suture in the Ladakh sector.These are characterized by the typical oceanic floor assemblages like chert,limestone etc mixed with the peridotites,serpentinites,dolerites,basalts,and pillow lavas (K.K.Sharma 1990).We present here the 40 Ar\| 39 Ar age spectra of two volcanics from the Sumdo Nala section of central Ladakh and one pillow lava from Chiktan,which is about 100km west of the Sumdo Nala.These samples were analysed using Ar\|Ar step heating method following the procedures described by Venketesan et al.1993.展开更多
The Animaqen ophiolite belt, controlled by the south Kunlunfault zone, represents the location of the ancient plate suture line. Even though the ophiolite sequence has been disrupted by faulting, the ultramafic rocks,...The Animaqen ophiolite belt, controlled by the south Kunlunfault zone, represents the location of the ancient plate suture line. Even though the ophiolite sequence has been disrupted by faulting, the ultramafic rocks, gabbro, diabase and basalt of the Animaqen ophiolite have been proved to be respectively the metamorphic peridotite and the ultramafic cumulate, the mafic cumulate, the sheeted dike and the mafic exrusive rocks of the typical ophiolite suite. The Animaqen ophiolite is a fragment of the Tethys oceanic crust.展开更多
Ophiolites along the indus Suture Zone (ISZ) are important not only for the information they provide about the India\|Eurasia collision,but may also contain economic mineral deposits (chrome,noble metals,and Ni\|sulfi...Ophiolites along the indus Suture Zone (ISZ) are important not only for the information they provide about the India\|Eurasia collision,but may also contain economic mineral deposits (chrome,noble metals,and Ni\|sulfides).Several ophiolites occur in the ISZ,and the Nidar ophiolite is one that occurs on the eastern Ladakh.This paper presents the geochemistry of ultramafic rocks from the Nidar ophiolite to understand tectonic environment and economic potential.Nidar ophiolite consists of pillow lavas,radiolarian cherts,rodingites,peridotites and chromitites.The lower part of the ophiolite consists of tectonized harzburgite,hosting dunite enveloped podiform chromitites.The transition zone between upper mantle and lower oceanic crust is characterized by serpentinized dunite with disseminations of chromites.Peridotites in Nidar have low whole\|rock values of w (TiO\-2)(0 02%～0 03%), w (Al\-2O\-3)(2%～3%), w (CaO)(0.5%), w (Zr)(40×10 -6 ),and w (Y)(30×10 -6 ),and enriched in refractory elements such as w (Cr)((3000～5000)×10 -6 )and w (Ni)((3000～4000)×10 -6 ).Thus,the Nidar peridotites are more depleted in elements partitioned into the liquid,such as Al and Ca and the moderately refractory element Ti.The peridotites have fractionated chondrite\|normalized PGE patterns.These geochemical characteristics suggests their formation by high degrees of partial melting in a supra\|subduction zone environment,where melting was enhanced by addition of volatiles.The Cr # of 0.82 in the chromite of the chromitites also suggests a depleted mantle source and a supra\|subduction zone environment for the host rocks.Ophiolites formed in supra\|subduction zone setting are very conducive for many metallic and non\|metallic mineral deposits.展开更多
Even though the ophiolite sequence has been disturbed by tectonism and metamorphism, the ultramafic rocks, the gabbro, the diabase and the basalt of the Animaqen ophiolite have been proved to be respectively the metam...Even though the ophiolite sequence has been disturbed by tectonism and metamorphism, the ultramafic rocks, the gabbro, the diabase and the basalt of the Animaqen ophiolite have been proved to be respectively the metamorphic peridotite and the ultramafic cumulate, the mafic cumulate, the sheeted dike and the mafic extrusive rocks of the ophiolite suite based on the petrochemistry. The Animaqen ophiolite zone represents the location of the ancient plate suture line.展开更多
A discontinuous line of ophiolitic bodies occurs along the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (YTSZ), which stretches across southern Tibet and beyond. This zone marks the locus of collision between Eurasia and India in the E...A discontinuous line of ophiolitic bodies occurs along the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (YTSZ), which stretches across southern Tibet and beyond. This zone marks the locus of collision between Eurasia and India in the Early Cenozoic. Should we assume that the entire Tethyan Ocean basin that lay between these two continental blocks was oceanic or might it have been more complex? Fragments of any terranes that developed within this once extensive ocean potentially lie within the YTSZ. Detailed investigations over the past three field seasons reveal the presence of several terranes distributed along this zone. Work is currently underway to analyze the nature of individual terranes and the timing of any inter\|relationships.展开更多
The Yarlung—Tsangpo Suture Zone, the youngest in Tibet, marks a site of collision of the Eurasia continent and Indian subcontinent. It is characterised by a discontinuous line of ophiolitic bodies in southern Tibet a...The Yarlung—Tsangpo Suture Zone, the youngest in Tibet, marks a site of collision of the Eurasia continent and Indian subcontinent. It is characterised by a discontinuous line of ophiolitic bodies in southern Tibet and beyond. Fragments of Tethyan oceanic pelagic and hemipelagic deposits are distributed along the suture. These oceanic deposits occur in two distinctive tectonic settings: (1) above the ophiolite and (2) in fragments of an accretionary wedge that lies to the south of the ophiolite.Supra\|ophiolite sequences, examined at several localities, are mostly made up of chert and siliceous mudstones and display varied lithostratigraphy. Sections are thin, have different degrees of completeness and are truncated at their tops. Most of them are in undisturbed stratigraphic contact with underlying pillow lava or pillow breccia. Previously the cherts above the ophiolite in this area were dated as late Albian\|possibly early Cenomanian (Marcoux et al., 1982) or early Cenomanian (Wu, 1986). Our investigation reveals Aptian radiolarian fossils in the cherts and siliceous mudstones. The oldest radiolarians, late Barremian, occur in chert at the base of the Qunrang section. This allows reassessment of the timing of eruption of Xigaze ophiolite basalts to during, or before, the late Barremian—early Aptian.展开更多
The western margin of Yangtze block and southwestern Sanjiang region absorbed much attention from geologists. It has been proved that there occurred a series of plate subduction, collision, assembly, rifting and break...The western margin of Yangtze block and southwestern Sanjiang region absorbed much attention from geologists. It has been proved that there occurred a series of plate subduction, collision, assembly, rifting and breakup processes between them since Palaeozoic and the tectonic evolutionary relationship between them is clear. But in Proterozoic this kind of links between them became unclear. Did they undergo the assembly and breakup processes of the Rodinia super continent? This paper will take a primary discussion on this question on the basis of basement component, structure characteristics and magmatic activities.1\ Basement features\;(1) In western margin of Yangtze block its basement is composed of crystalline basement and folded basement, a so\|called double\|layer structure. The crystalline basement is made up of Kangding group, Pudeng Formation and Dibadu Formation, among them Kangding group is a representative and composed mainly of migmatite, compositing gneiss, hornblende schist and granulitite. The isotopic age of crystalline basement is older than 1900Ma, so its geological time is late Archaean to early Proterozoic. The folded basement is composed of Dahongshan group, Hekou group, Kunyang group, Huili group and Yanbian group. Their rock associations are made up mainly of spilite\|keratophyre formation, carbonate formation, clastic rock and clastic rock formation with some basic volcanic rocks. The folded basement is assigned to be early and middle Proterozoic (1000～1700M a).展开更多
A number of geological studies have already been conducted on the Zambales Ophiolite Complex(ZOC), a north-south trending complete ophiolite sequence exposed in the western portion of Central Luzon, Philippines.Previo...A number of geological studies have already been conducted on the Zambales Ophiolite Complex(ZOC), a north-south trending complete ophiolite sequence exposed in the western portion of Central Luzon, Philippines.Previous works recognized the ZOC as being made up of two blocks,展开更多
0Introduction The Bayankhongor ophiolite zone,a NW-SE strik ing linear structure 400 km long and up to 25 km wide,i the largest ophiolite association in Central Mongolia and possibly in all of Central Asia.The Bayankh...0Introduction The Bayankhongor ophiolite zone,a NW-SE strik ing linear structure 400 km long and up to 25 km wide,i the largest ophiolite association in Central Mongolia and possibly in all of Central Asia.The Bayankhongor cop展开更多
Jinshajiang melange belt locates between Jianda\|Weixi island arc and Zhongzha massif. The melange belt and island arc makes up Jinshajiang plate junction. Although subsequent tectonic movements had complexed the stru...Jinshajiang melange belt locates between Jianda\|Weixi island arc and Zhongzha massif. The melange belt and island arc makes up Jinshajiang plate junction. Although subsequent tectonic movements had complexed the structural form of Jinshajiang melange belt, there are still a lots of structural block remained which carried amount of information about the tectonic evolution of the belt. Recent researches have identified several kinds of rock association in the structural blocks.(1) Ophiolite:The ophiolite consists of serpentinization ultramafite, ultramafic cumulus crystal rock (pyroxenite, dunite), gabbro, diabase cluster, ocean\|ridge type basalt, plagiogranite and radiolarian silicalite. The isotopic age shows that the ultramafite and basalt formed during Upper Carboniferous and Lower Permian. The silicalite is high in radiolaria of Lower Permian.(2) Rock association of oceanic island\|arc:The liptocoenosis of oceanic island\|arc scatter in melange belt, it mainly consists of sandy slate, pyroclastic rock, silicalite, basalt and andesite. A part of volcanic rock belongs to calc\|alkaline volcanic suite and the other is tholeiite. The petrochemistry, REE and microelement of volcanic rock have the feature of the rock in ocean\|island arc. The isotopic age of basalt shows that the ocean\|island arc formed in Lower Permian.展开更多
The isotopic signature of mid\|ocean ridge basalts (MORB) from the Indian Ocean is different from that of MORB from the Pacific and North\|Atlantic oceans.. The Indian MORB is characterized by lower 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, hi...The isotopic signature of mid\|ocean ridge basalts (MORB) from the Indian Ocean is different from that of MORB from the Pacific and North\|Atlantic oceans.. The Indian MORB is characterized by lower 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, hi gher 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, and lower 206 Pb/ 204 Pb for given 143 Nd/ 144 Nd than the latter (Hart, 1984; Castillo, 1988; Mahoney et al., 1998). Why the Indian Ocean mantle domain is different from the Pacific and North\|Atlantic ocean mantle domain is still unclear. Two general classes of hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of Indian mantle (Mahoney et al., 1998). The first one is that the components of the Indian Ocean mantle domain are a fairly young mantle end\|member created during the processes of breakup of the Gondwana continent to form the Indian Ocean. The second hypothesis posits that the Indian MORB\|type isotopic signature is a long\|lived mantle domain that existed prior to the formation of the present Indian Ocean. Thus it appears that one of the keys to a better understanding of origin of the Indian Ocean\|type isotopic signature depends on its age. Although some studies (Mahoney et al., 1998; Weis and Frey, 1997) showed that the isotopic signature was as old as the Indian ocean crust (140Ma), basalts investigated in the Indian Ocean region do not prove or disprove the existence of the Indian MORB\|type isotopic signature prior to the Indian Ocean because they were taken from the Indian ocean basin itself.展开更多
文摘Field work conducted in September 1998 and Summer 1999 aimed to reassess the ophiolitic segment of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone (YZS) and shed new light on the preserved fragments of Neo\|Tethys ocean\|floor. This eastern ophiolitic segment was partly surveyed during the 1980 Sino\|French Cooperative Investigation of Himalayas, but little work has been done since that time. Progress in ophiolite research field and new developments in modern ocean crust guided us in the recent field work investigation. Mantle peridotites and associated minor crustal units are assumed Early Cretaceous in age, while diabase interbedded with phyllites and radiolarian sediments of presumed seamount origin are attributed to Late Jurassic—Early Cretaceous age. Six different massifs were visited that are from west to east: Jiding, Qunrang, Beimarang, Dazhuqu, Luobusa, and Zedang. Each massif presents specific characteristics summarized below. The Jiding massif is made of partly to totally serpentinized granular upper mantle harzburgites with orthopyroxenite banding, a transitional Moho zone, a thick diabase sill\|dike complex intruded into heterogeneous gabbro, and pillow lavas.. High\|temperature plastic foliation, although generally oriented NW—SE, and lineation show folding. Numerous gabbroic and diabasic intrusions are observed in peridotites. The orientations of the mafic rocks foliation and lineation do not fit the structure of the host peridotites. The 350m thick transition zone is a syntectonically intrusive sequence of mantle peridotites cut by abundant different types of gabbro and diabase. In one case intrusion of gabbro postdates serpentinization of peridotites and the outer margin of the xenolith enclosed in fine\|grained gabbro has reacted to form pegmatitic hornblende gabbro. The crustal unit is made of gabbro intruded by multiple fine\|grained dikes. Hydrothermal circulation was locally intense and Cu mineralization and epidosite are observed close to shear zones.The Qunrang massif shows no transition zone overlying upper mantle unit, no significant gabbroic crustal unit and thick diabase and volcanic units. The foliation and lineation in granular lherzolite, harzburgite, and dunite show extremely wide variations and affected by late tectonics. The orientation of the structures is similar to the Jiding massif.
文摘The A’nyemaqen ophiolite belt lies along the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and is believed to mark the boundary between the East Kunlun terrain and the ayanhar\|Songpan\|Garze terrain (Fig.1). The ophiolite in this belt is considered to be Early Permian to Middle Triassic in age (Yang et al., 1996). Our recent study indicates that there is an old ophiolite suite (>421 5Ma), located to the northern margin of this belt (Fig.1). Since the new found ophiolite is near to the Dur’ngoi deposit, so we called it North Dur’ngoi ophiolite. The geological and geochemical characteristics of the two ophiolite suites are different obviously as follows.
文摘The detailed geochemical research indicates that the tholeiitic basalts from Ganlongtang-Longba ophiolitic m（?）lange exhibit distinctive geochemical characteristics of high TiO<sub>2</sub> and low K<sub>2</sub>O,and depletion of light rare earth elements.They should be originated from a depleted asthenosphere mantle, belonging to ancient oceanic crust ophiolitic volcanic rock association.Compared with the Longba tholeiitic basalt,the Ganlongtang tholeiitic basalt shows
文摘Platinum\|Group Elements (PGE) along with other highly siderophile elements (HSE) are quantitatively fractionated into the core and mantle,leaving the crust strongly depleted during the formation of the earth.However,the transfer of PGE and other HSE from the mantle may occur by tectonic emplacement of mantle material into the crust or by crystallization of the mantle derived magma in the crust.The formation and emplacement of ophiolites,is therefore,a suitable transfer mechanism in the enrichment of PGE and other metallic mineral deposits.Because of this,in recent years,a great deal of attention is being paid in studying the ophiolites in order to better understand the core\|mantle interaction,chemical evolution of the upper mantle and to explore their noble metal potential.The ophiolites along the Indus Suture Zone (ISZ) in the Himalayas are tectonically related to India\|Eurasia collision.But their detailed geochemical evolution history and economic potentiality (chromite,PGE,gold and Ni\|sulfides) is not evaluated so far.Nidar ophiolite of the eastern Ladakh is one of the ophiolitic suites along the ISZ.The general geology of the area was presented in several research papers.This paper presents the geology,mineralogy and geochemistry of the chromitites and reports on the first platinum\|group elements mineralization to have been discovered.
文摘Genetically diverse lithologies, which include blueschist, greenschist, ultramafic, mafic plutonic, e.g. gabbros, and volcanic, e.g. pillowed basalts, and metasedimentary rocks, occur as a wedge\|shaped zone in the area to the north of the Mingora town in Swat, NW Pakistan. This zone of fault\|bounded rock bodies and blocks is distinguished into three principal groups, each of which is itself a composite of lithologies, or a melange—the blueschist melange, greenschist melange and ophiolitic melange. All these lie along the Main Mantle Thrust (MMT)—the westward extension of the Indus\|Tsangbo suture zone and the locus of collision between the Indo\|Pakistan plate and the Kohistan island arc—and, are therefore, collectively termed as the Main Mantle Thrust Melange Group (MMTMG).The ultramafic rocks, locally containing chromite pods and constituting a part of the ophiolitic member of the MMTMG, occur as small to large lenticular bodies, distributed along the marginal part of the Indo\|Pakistan plate. They are invariably serpentinized to varying degrees and, therefore, consist of abundant, fine grained serpentine which is mostly accompanied by subordinate amounts of completely bastitised, medium to coarse grained orthopyroxene, trace to accessory amounts of commonly altered (zoned with ferritchromite and/or magnetite) chrome spinel, variable proportions of olivine, and accessory amounts of diopside. In other words, the ultramafic rocks are mostly harzburgitic in mineralogy and, therefore, the ophiolite as a whole can be classified as the harzburgite sub\|type..Detailed field and mineralogical studies show that the present petrographic ch aracteristics and mineral\|chemical composition of these dominantly harburgitic rocks are the result of a number of phenomena involving partial melting, serpentinization, metamorphism and talc\|carbonate alteration.
文摘Ophiolites, which have been tectonically emplaced along continental margins and island arcs, are significant to the understanding of mountain belt evolution. In the Himalayas, the ophiolitic suite of rocks occur along the Indussuture zone from Hanle in the southeast to Dras\|Kargil sector in the northwest and it represents the remnant of the compressed uplifted wedge of the oceanic crust between the two colliding continental masses, the Indian and the Asian plates.. These ophiolites are temporally and spatially correlated with the culminating phase of the Himalayan orogeny. The Indus River flows to its north separating the ophiolite from the Trans Himalayan litho\|units. Geological mapping in the hostile and inaccessible mountainous terrains of the Himalaya has always posed a great challenge to geologists. Nevertheless, a number of geologists have undertaken such arduous mapping expeditions in the past and prepared fairly good geological maps of these terrains .However there always existed disputes on the accuracy of lithological boundaries and structural details in these maps because many of these boundaries and structural features were completed through extrapolations and/or interpolations as the ruggedness and inaccessibility of a large part of the terrain forbid physical examination of every outcrop. It is in this context the potential of remote sensing, especially of satellite images, is to be appreciated.
文摘Laji Shan is located in the eastern part of Qinghai Province,sandwiched between Xining and Hualong Basins.It is about 250km long and 10～20km wide from Riyueshan in the west to Minheguanting in the east.Laji Shan belongs to the Caledonian orogenic belt.Its basement consists of the rocks of Palaeo\|Protero zoic Hualong Group (Pt 1 hl ) and Neo\|Proterozoic Huangzhong Group (Pt\-3 h ).There are ptygmatic folds,closely linear type folds,strongly structural d ifferentiation and schistosity developed,suggesting that the basement underwent deep seated ductile deformation.The main part of Laji Shan is composed of Early\|Palaeozoic marine facies volcanic rocks and clastic sedimentary rocks,and suffered greenschist facies metamorphism and brittle\|ductile deformation.Others are composed of Ea rly\|Palaeozoic basic and ultrabasic rocks,intermediate\|acidic intruded rocks a nd dike rocks.Devonian molasse formation in Laji Shan is in uncomfortable contac t with underlying strata.Jurassic and Cretaceous systems are intermont basin dep osits,corresponding to a cover.
文摘Recently,considerable attention is being paid in studying the high\|pressure (rodingites and eclogites etc)crustal segments for understanding the architecture and evolution of collision orogens.This paper presents the geology,mineralogy and geochemistry of the rodingites,the first reported occurrence in eastern Ladakh,the Himalaya.Nidar ophiolite is one of the well exposed,nearly a complete ophiolite of the Indus Suture Zone present in the eastern Ladakh.Field studies across the Nidar ophiolite in the Nidar—Kyun Tso section unraveled the occurrence of relatively strongly developed rodingites.Rodingites are very hard and dense.They occur as layers and also as boudins within and at the contacts of the serpentinites.The rodingites are fine to medium grained.Grossular is the dominant rodingite mineral and occurs as well developed crystals.At places grossular has coronitic texture.Diopside,clinozosite,rutile and opaques are the other main Ca\|rich minerals present in rodingites.The matrix of the rodingite minerals is highly birefringent.The rodingite mineral assemblage indicates the development of rodingite in the pressure and temperature range of 18～25 kbar and 700 to 800℃,respectively.Rodingites have high abundances (mass fraction) of CaO (10%～12%) and Al\-2O\-3 (12%) contents and generally low in SiO\-2 (46%) and MgO (7%～8%) contents.They have chondrite\|normalized Rare Earth Element (REE) abundances of 25 to 40× on the LREE and 37 to 50× on the MREE and 15 to 24× on the HREE.Overall the REE patterns tend to be concave\|upwards,or relatively light\|REE depleted with almost no Eu\|anomaly.The geologic occurrence,the mineralogy and geochemical (major,trace and REE) data of the rodingites indicate that they were initially gabbros/basalt that have undergone Ca\|metasomatism during serpentinization,followed by high\|pressure recrystallization to rodingites.
文摘The collision between and Indian and Asian plate has not only give rise to some of the highest mountains of the world but also is responsible for the various global phenomena associated with paleoclimate and paleo\|oceanography.Various indirect approaches have been employed in order to constrain the age of initiation of this collision (Beck et al 1995,D.B.Rowley 1996,Dewey 1989).Still it is being quoted anywhere between ca.60 to 40Ma in the literature.The main reason for the poor constraints on the age of the initiation of the collision is unavailability of a direct method to date this.In this paper we present the Ar\|Ar ages of the ophiolites from the Indus Suture,Ladakh and discuss the scope of this approach in constraining the age of the collision more narrowly.1\ Samples and methodology\;Several ophiolitic melange occurrences have been reported belonging to the Indus Suture in the Ladakh sector.These are characterized by the typical oceanic floor assemblages like chert,limestone etc mixed with the peridotites,serpentinites,dolerites,basalts,and pillow lavas (K.K.Sharma 1990).We present here the 40 Ar\| 39 Ar age spectra of two volcanics from the Sumdo Nala section of central Ladakh and one pillow lava from Chiktan,which is about 100km west of the Sumdo Nala.These samples were analysed using Ar\|Ar step heating method following the procedures described by Venketesan et al.1993.
文摘The Animaqen ophiolite belt, controlled by the south Kunlunfault zone, represents the location of the ancient plate suture line. Even though the ophiolite sequence has been disrupted by faulting, the ultramafic rocks, gabbro, diabase and basalt of the Animaqen ophiolite have been proved to be respectively the metamorphic peridotite and the ultramafic cumulate, the mafic cumulate, the sheeted dike and the mafic exrusive rocks of the typical ophiolite suite. The Animaqen ophiolite is a fragment of the Tethys oceanic crust.
文摘Ophiolites along the indus Suture Zone (ISZ) are important not only for the information they provide about the India\|Eurasia collision,but may also contain economic mineral deposits (chrome,noble metals,and Ni\|sulfides).Several ophiolites occur in the ISZ,and the Nidar ophiolite is one that occurs on the eastern Ladakh.This paper presents the geochemistry of ultramafic rocks from the Nidar ophiolite to understand tectonic environment and economic potential.Nidar ophiolite consists of pillow lavas,radiolarian cherts,rodingites,peridotites and chromitites.The lower part of the ophiolite consists of tectonized harzburgite,hosting dunite enveloped podiform chromitites.The transition zone between upper mantle and lower oceanic crust is characterized by serpentinized dunite with disseminations of chromites.Peridotites in Nidar have low whole\|rock values of w (TiO\-2)(0 02%～0 03%), w (Al\-2O\-3)(2%～3%), w (CaO)(0.5%), w (Zr)(40×10 -6 ),and w (Y)(30×10 -6 ),and enriched in refractory elements such as w (Cr)((3000～5000)×10 -6 )and w (Ni)((3000～4000)×10 -6 ).Thus,the Nidar peridotites are more depleted in elements partitioned into the liquid,such as Al and Ca and the moderately refractory element Ti.The peridotites have fractionated chondrite\|normalized PGE patterns.These geochemical characteristics suggests their formation by high degrees of partial melting in a supra\|subduction zone environment,where melting was enhanced by addition of volatiles.The Cr # of 0.82 in the chromite of the chromitites also suggests a depleted mantle source and a supra\|subduction zone environment for the host rocks.Ophiolites formed in supra\|subduction zone setting are very conducive for many metallic and non\|metallic mineral deposits.
文摘Even though the ophiolite sequence has been disturbed by tectonism and metamorphism, the ultramafic rocks, the gabbro, the diabase and the basalt of the Animaqen ophiolite have been proved to be respectively the metamorphic peridotite and the ultramafic cumulate, the mafic cumulate, the sheeted dike and the mafic extrusive rocks of the ophiolite suite based on the petrochemistry. The Animaqen ophiolite zone represents the location of the ancient plate suture line.
文摘A discontinuous line of ophiolitic bodies occurs along the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (YTSZ), which stretches across southern Tibet and beyond. This zone marks the locus of collision between Eurasia and India in the Early Cenozoic. Should we assume that the entire Tethyan Ocean basin that lay between these two continental blocks was oceanic or might it have been more complex? Fragments of any terranes that developed within this once extensive ocean potentially lie within the YTSZ. Detailed investigations over the past three field seasons reveal the presence of several terranes distributed along this zone. Work is currently underway to analyze the nature of individual terranes and the timing of any inter\|relationships.
文摘The Yarlung—Tsangpo Suture Zone, the youngest in Tibet, marks a site of collision of the Eurasia continent and Indian subcontinent. It is characterised by a discontinuous line of ophiolitic bodies in southern Tibet and beyond. Fragments of Tethyan oceanic pelagic and hemipelagic deposits are distributed along the suture. These oceanic deposits occur in two distinctive tectonic settings: (1) above the ophiolite and (2) in fragments of an accretionary wedge that lies to the south of the ophiolite.Supra\|ophiolite sequences, examined at several localities, are mostly made up of chert and siliceous mudstones and display varied lithostratigraphy. Sections are thin, have different degrees of completeness and are truncated at their tops. Most of them are in undisturbed stratigraphic contact with underlying pillow lava or pillow breccia. Previously the cherts above the ophiolite in this area were dated as late Albian\|possibly early Cenomanian (Marcoux et al., 1982) or early Cenomanian (Wu, 1986). Our investigation reveals Aptian radiolarian fossils in the cherts and siliceous mudstones. The oldest radiolarians, late Barremian, occur in chert at the base of the Qunrang section. This allows reassessment of the timing of eruption of Xigaze ophiolite basalts to during, or before, the late Barremian—early Aptian.
文摘The western margin of Yangtze block and southwestern Sanjiang region absorbed much attention from geologists. It has been proved that there occurred a series of plate subduction, collision, assembly, rifting and breakup processes between them since Palaeozoic and the tectonic evolutionary relationship between them is clear. But in Proterozoic this kind of links between them became unclear. Did they undergo the assembly and breakup processes of the Rodinia super continent? This paper will take a primary discussion on this question on the basis of basement component, structure characteristics and magmatic activities.1\ Basement features\;(1) In western margin of Yangtze block its basement is composed of crystalline basement and folded basement, a so\|called double\|layer structure. The crystalline basement is made up of Kangding group, Pudeng Formation and Dibadu Formation, among them Kangding group is a representative and composed mainly of migmatite, compositing gneiss, hornblende schist and granulitite. The isotopic age of crystalline basement is older than 1900Ma, so its geological time is late Archaean to early Proterozoic. The folded basement is composed of Dahongshan group, Hekou group, Kunyang group, Huili group and Yanbian group. Their rock associations are made up mainly of spilite\|keratophyre formation, carbonate formation, clastic rock and clastic rock formation with some basic volcanic rocks. The folded basement is assigned to be early and middle Proterozoic (1000～1700M a).
文摘A number of geological studies have already been conducted on the Zambales Ophiolite Complex(ZOC), a north-south trending complete ophiolite sequence exposed in the western portion of Central Luzon, Philippines.Previous works recognized the ZOC as being made up of two blocks,
文摘0Introduction The Bayankhongor ophiolite zone,a NW-SE strik ing linear structure 400 km long and up to 25 km wide,i the largest ophiolite association in Central Mongolia and possibly in all of Central Asia.The Bayankhongor cop
文摘Jinshajiang melange belt locates between Jianda\|Weixi island arc and Zhongzha massif. The melange belt and island arc makes up Jinshajiang plate junction. Although subsequent tectonic movements had complexed the structural form of Jinshajiang melange belt, there are still a lots of structural block remained which carried amount of information about the tectonic evolution of the belt. Recent researches have identified several kinds of rock association in the structural blocks.(1) Ophiolite:The ophiolite consists of serpentinization ultramafite, ultramafic cumulus crystal rock (pyroxenite, dunite), gabbro, diabase cluster, ocean\|ridge type basalt, plagiogranite and radiolarian silicalite. The isotopic age shows that the ultramafite and basalt formed during Upper Carboniferous and Lower Permian. The silicalite is high in radiolaria of Lower Permian.(2) Rock association of oceanic island\|arc:The liptocoenosis of oceanic island\|arc scatter in melange belt, it mainly consists of sandy slate, pyroclastic rock, silicalite, basalt and andesite. A part of volcanic rock belongs to calc\|alkaline volcanic suite and the other is tholeiite. The petrochemistry, REE and microelement of volcanic rock have the feature of the rock in ocean\|island arc. The isotopic age of basalt shows that the ocean\|island arc formed in Lower Permian.
文摘The isotopic signature of mid\|ocean ridge basalts (MORB) from the Indian Ocean is different from that of MORB from the Pacific and North\|Atlantic oceans.. The Indian MORB is characterized by lower 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, hi gher 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, and lower 206 Pb/ 204 Pb for given 143 Nd/ 144 Nd than the latter (Hart, 1984; Castillo, 1988; Mahoney et al., 1998). Why the Indian Ocean mantle domain is different from the Pacific and North\|Atlantic ocean mantle domain is still unclear. Two general classes of hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of Indian mantle (Mahoney et al., 1998). The first one is that the components of the Indian Ocean mantle domain are a fairly young mantle end\|member created during the processes of breakup of the Gondwana continent to form the Indian Ocean. The second hypothesis posits that the Indian MORB\|type isotopic signature is a long\|lived mantle domain that existed prior to the formation of the present Indian Ocean. Thus it appears that one of the keys to a better understanding of origin of the Indian Ocean\|type isotopic signature depends on its age. Although some studies (Mahoney et al., 1998; Weis and Frey, 1997) showed that the isotopic signature was as old as the Indian ocean crust (140Ma), basalts investigated in the Indian Ocean region do not prove or disprove the existence of the Indian MORB\|type isotopic signature prior to the Indian Ocean because they were taken from the Indian ocean basin itself.
