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Ophiolite remnants at the eastern margin of the Bohemian Massif and their bearing on the tectonic evolution

Ophiolitrelikte am ostrand der Böhmischen Masse und ihre bedeutung für die tektonische entwicklung

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Summary

Amphibolites are widespread in the eastern part of the Bohemian Massif, east of the South Bohemian Pluton. Based on their geological situation, their metamorphic evolution and their geochemistry, they were separated into three genetically different units: the Rehberg ophiolite, the Buschandlwand amphibolite and the Raabs group. The metamorphic Rehberg ophiolite consists of a ultramafic to mafic plutonic sequence overlain by a gabbro/dike complex and a volcanic section with basaltic, andesitic and rhyolitic volcanics associated with pelitic to psammitic sediments. The entire ophiolite underwent amphibolite facies metamorphism. Rock/MORB normalisation plots and other element ratio plots, such as Ti vs. V or Ta/Yb vs. Th/Yb argue for a supra-subduction zone environment as site of the origin of the Rehberg ophiolite. The Letovice ophiolite in Moravia is structured in a similar way. Geochemically it shows a more MORB like composition but also a distinct tholeiitic island arc group. Although there is no age data for the protolith of both ophiolites, it is believed that they have formed in an oceanic basin separating the Brunovistulian-Moravian block to the east and the Moldanubian block to the west. Possible traces of the continuation of the ophiolites towards the north can be found in the Stare Mesto ophiolites and the ophiolites surrounding the Sowie Gory block in the Sudetes.

Zusammenfassung

Amphibolite sind in der Böhmischen Masse, östlich des Südböhmischen Plutons weit verbreitet. Ausgehend von ihrer geologischen Position, ihrer metamorphen Entwick lung und ihrer Geochemie lassen sie sich in drei genetisch unterschiedliche Einheiten teilen: den Rehberg Ophiolith, den Buschandlwand Amphibolit und die Raabser Gruppe. Der metamorphe Rehberg Ophiolith besteht aus einer ultramatischen bis mafischen plutonischen Abfolge, die von einem Gabbro/Gangkomplex überlagert wird und einer vulkanischen Folge mit Basalten, Andesiten and Rhyoliten, die mit tonigen und sandigen Sedimenten verknüpft sind. Der gesamte Ophiolithkörper wurde unter amphibolitfaziellen Bedingungen metamorph überprägt. Rock/MORB Diagramme und andere Elementdarstellungen, wie z.B. das Ti vs. V, oder das Ta/Yb vs. Th/Yb Diagramm sprechen für eine Entstehung des Rehberg Ophioliths in einer Suprasubduction Zone. Der Letovice Ophiolith in Mähren weist eine ähnliche Struktur auf. Geochemisch zeigt er stärkere Ähnlichkeiten mit MORB, enthält aber auch Elemente von tholeiitischen Inselbogenbasalten. Auch wenn es für beide Ophiolithe noch keine Protolith-Altersdaten gibt, scheint es dennoch wahrscheinlich, daß sie in einem Ozeanbecken, das den Brunovistulisch-Moravischen Kontinentalblock im Osten vom Moldanubischen Kontinent im Westen trennt, gebildet wurden. Die mögliche Fortsetzung beider Ophiolithe könnten im Norden der Stare Mesto Ophiolith und die Ophiolithe rund um den Sowie Gory Block in den Sudeten darstellen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Geologie und Paläontologie, Universität Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria

    V. Höck & O. Montag

  2. Institute for Geology, Masaryk University Brno, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic

    J. Leichmann

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  1. V. Höck
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  2. O. Montag
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  3. J. Leichmann
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Höck, V., Montag, O. & Leichmann, J. Ophiolite remnants at the eastern margin of the Bohemian Massif and their bearing on the tectonic evolution. Mineralogy and Petrology 60, 267–287 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173712

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