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Mineral chemistry and geochemistry of peridotites from the Zedang and Luobusa ophiolites, Tibet: Implications for the evolution of the Neo-Tethys

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Abstract

We present a new dataset on platinum group elements (PGEs), whole-rock major and trace elements, and mineral chemistry for the peridotites from the Zedang and Luobusa ophiolite suites, Tibet, in an attempt to better constrain the petrogenesis of the Zedang and Luobusa ophiolites and the tectonic evolution of the Neo-Tethys. Plots of chondrite-normalized PGE, PGE vs. Mg#, and PGE vs. Al2O3 suggest that the lherzolite and harzburgite from Zedang and Luobusa have similar PGE characteristics. The Zedang and Luobusa peridotites display U-shaped REE patterns and are enriched in some incompatible elements, indicative of melt-rock interaction. The PGE characteristics may be attributed to partial melting and heterogeneous melt-rock interaction. Mineral chemistry and whole rock major and trace elements data suggest that lherzolite and harzburgite from Zedang and Luobusa have similar geochemical properties. On the spinel Mg# vs. Cr# plot, the composition of the Zedang and Luobusa peridotites is consistent with both abyssal and subduction-zone peridotites. This study indicates that the Zedang and Luobusa peridotites have a similar origin and evolution path: they could have originated from a normal mid-ocean ridge environment and got refertilization in a supra-subduction zone setting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Qiang Li, Bin Xia, Qiangtai Huang & Zhongyu Xia

  2. Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Qiang Li

  3. Guang zhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Jianfeng Li

  4. Department of Earth Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China

    Lianze Xia

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  1. Qiang Li
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Li, Q., Xia, B., Li, J. et al. Mineral chemistry and geochemistry of peridotites from the Zedang and Luobusa ophiolites, Tibet: Implications for the evolution of the Neo-Tethys. J. Earth Sci. 26, 893–910 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-015-0544-9

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