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Geodynamic Significance of Cr-spinels from Ophiolite Mantle Peridotites of Northwestern Himalaya

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

In this contribution the composition of Cr-spinels from Suru valley ophiolite peridotites is described and compared these with published data from Shergol serpentinized peridotites, both of these sequences occur as dismembered ophiolite blocks along the Indus suture zone (ISZ), Ladakh Himalaya and those from Manipur ophiolite belong to the eastern Himalaya. Back scattered electron images reveal that the Cr-spinel have overgrowth of magnetite, which is the dominant textural feature of the investigated rock types. However, in few peridotite samples, gradual replacement of Cr-spinel by ferrian-chromite along grain boundaries commonly occurs. Based on the spinel geochemistry, the Shergol peridotites are characterized by Cr-poor/Al-rich Cr-spinels whereas, the Suru valley peridotites by Cr-rich/Al-poor Cr-spinels. Shergol and Manipur ophiolite indicate their ocean floor affinity and the Suru valley peridotites depict supra subduction zone characteristics.

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Acknowledgement

The first author is grateful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi (India) for providing financial support under CSIR-fellowship sanction no. 09/251(0057)/2014-EMR-I. The authors like to thank Prof. N. V. Chalapathi Rao, Banaras Hindu University Varanasi, India for EPMA analysis. Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Head, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, is thankfully acknowledged for giving permission to publish this work. All the reviewers are acknowledged for their constructive comments.

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Bhat, I.M., Ahmad, T. & Subba Rao, D.V. Geodynamic Significance of Cr-spinels from Ophiolite Mantle Peridotites of Northwestern Himalaya. J Geol Soc India 93, 657–662 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-019-1244-3

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