Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Sm-Nd isotopic study of 500 Ma old oceanic crust in the Variscan belt of Western Europe: the Chamrousse ophiolite complex, Western Alps (France)

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report the results of a Sm-Nd isotopic study of whole-rock samples from the Chamrousse ophiolite complex, in the Variscan basement of the Western Alps, France. Our data point to a 497±24 (2σ) Ma age, in excellent agreement with U-Pb results (Ménot et al. 1984) on subordinate plagiogranites. Strong isotopic heterogeneity and time evolution of magmas from relatively less depleted (ɛ Nd= +5) to very depleted (ɛ Nd= +9) sources are also implied. Available data favour a mixing model between N-MORB and E-MORB type end-members, but a third component with distinct “supra-subduction zone” affinity is also required. These results preclude any tectonic setting such as intracontinental rift, ensialic marginal basin, or major ocean ridge, but substantiate an oceanic back-arc environment. They also demonstrate that the well-documented Upper Cambrian-Lower Ordovician extensional phase here reached a true oceanic stage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bard JP, Burg JP, Matte P, Ribeiro A (1980) La chaine hercynienne d'Europe occidentale en termes de tectonique des plaques. 26th Int Geol Congr Mém B.R.G.M. 108:233–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Behr HJ, Engel W, Franke W, Giese P, Weber K (1984) The Variscan belt in Central Europe: main structures, geodynamic implications, open questions. Tectonophysics 109:15–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard-Griffiths J, Peucat JJ, Cornichet J, Iglesias M, Gil-Ibargu-chi I (1985) U-Pb, Nd isotope and REE geochemistry in eclogites from the Cabo Ortegal complex, Galicia, Spain: an example of REE immobility conserving morb-like patterns during high-grade metamorphism. Chem Geol 52:217–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodinier JL, Dupuy C, Dostal J, Carme F (1981) Geochemistry of ophiolites from the Chamrousse complex, (Belledonne Massif, Alps). Contrib Mineral Petrol 78:379–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodinier JL, Giraud A, Dupuy C, Leyreloup A, Dostal J (1986) Charactérisation géochimique des métabasites associées à la suture méridionale hercynienne: Massif Central français et Chamrousse (Alpes). Bull Soc Géol Fr 8:115–123

    Google Scholar 

  • van Calsteren PWC, Boelrijk NAIM, Hebeda EH, Priem HNA, den Tex E, Verdurmen EAT, Verschure RH (1979) Isotopic dating of older elements (including the Cabo Ortegal maficultramafic complex) in the Hercynian orogen of NW Spain: manifestation of a presumed early Paleozoic mantle plume. Chem Geol 24:35–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Carme F (1973) Précisions nouvelles sur l'ampleur et le style de la tectonique tangentielle hercynienne dans la chaine de Belledonne. C R Acad Sci Paris 277:2309–2312

    Google Scholar 

  • Carme F (1975a) Le massif basique de Chamrousse et du Tabor (Chaine de Belledonne, Alpes occidentales): une variante originale de complexe alpino-type et un jalon majeur d'une ceinture basique Briovérienne. C R Acad Sci Paris 281:223–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Carme F (1975b) Essai d'interprétation unitaire des corps de roches basiques et ultra-basiques et de leur contexte gneissique dans la partie moyenne du Massif Central et dans les massifs cristallins externes alpins. C R Acad Sci Paris 281:351–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Church WR, Riccio M (1977) Fractionation trends in the Bay of Islands ophiolite of Newfoundland: polycyclic cumulate sequence in ophiolites and their classification. Can J Earth Sci 14:1156–1165

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies GR (1984) Isotopic evolution of the Lizard complex. J Geol Soc 141:3–14

    Google Scholar 

  • DePaolo DJ (1981) Neodymium isotopes in the Colorado Front Range, and crust-mantle evolution in the Proterozoic. Nature 291:193–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Ducrot J, Lancelot J, Marchand J (1983) Datation U-Pb sur zircons de l'éclogite de la Borie (Haut-Allier, France) et conséquences sur l'évolution anté-hercynienne de l'Europe occidentale. Earth Planet Sci Lett 62:385–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Dupuy C, Dostal J (1984) Trace element geochemistry of some continental tholeiites. Earth Planet Sci Lett 67:61–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Duthou JL, Piboule M, Gay M, Dufour E (1981) Datations radiométriques Rb-Sr sur les orthogranulites des Monts du Lyonnais (Massif Central français). C R Acad Sci Paris 292:749–752

    Google Scholar 

  • Faris JP, Warton JW (1962) Anion exchange resin separation of the rare-earths, Yttrium and Scandium in nitric acid-methanol mixtures. Anal Chem 34:1077–1080

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher IR, Rosman KJR (1982) Precise determination of initial Nd from Sm-Nd isochron data. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 46:1983–1987

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer D, Grünenfelder M (1979) U-Pb zircon and Rb-Sr mineral dating of eclogites and their country rocks. Example: Munchberg gneiss massif, northeast Bavaria. Earth Planet Sci Lett 42:35–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer D, Bernard-Griffiths J, Grünenfelder M (1981) U-Pb zircon and monazite dating of a mafic-ultramafic complex and its country rocks. Contrib Mineral Petrol 76:292–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Giraud A, Marchand J, Dupuy C, Dostal J (1985) Geochemistry of leptyno-amphibolite complex from Haut-Allier (french Massif Central). Lithos 17:203–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkesworth CJ, van Calsteren PWC (1984) Radiogenic isotopes Some geological applications. In: Henderson P (ed) Rare Earth Element Geochemistry. Elsevier, pp 375–421

  • Holm PE (1985) The geochemical fingerprints of different tectonomagmatic environments using hygromagmatophile element abundances of tholeiitic basalts and basaltic andesites. Chem Geol 51:303–323

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen SB, Wasserburg GJ (1979) Nd and Sr isotopic study of the Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex and the evolution of the source of mid-ocean ridge basalts. J Geophys Res 84:7429–7445

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen SB, Wasserburg GJ (1980) Sm-Nd isotopic evolution of chondrites. Earth Planet Sci Lett 50:139–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby GA (1979) The Lizard complex as an ophiolite. Nature 282:58–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs W, Wachendorf H (1973) Proterozoic-Paleozoic geosynclinal and orogenic evolution of Central Europe. Geol Soc Am Bull 84:2611–2630

    Google Scholar 

  • Langmuir CH, Bender JF, Bence AE, Hanson GN, Taylor SR (1977) Petrogenesis of basalts from the Famous area: Mid-Atlantic ridge. Earth Planet Sci Lett 36:133–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Langmuir CH, Vocke RD, Hanson GN, Hart SR (1978) A general mixing equaton with applications to icelandic basalts. Earth Planet Sci Lett 37:380–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Liégeois JP, Duchesne JC (1981) The Lac Cornu retrograded eclogites (Aiguilles Rouges massif, western Alps, France): evidence of crustal origin and metasomatic alteration. Lithos 14:35–48

    Google Scholar 

  • McCulloch MT, Cameron WE (1983) Nd-Sr isotopic study of primitive lavas from the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus: evidence for a subduction-related setting. Geology 11:727–731

    Google Scholar 

  • Matte P (1986) La chaine varisque parmi les chaines paléozoiques péri-atlantiques, modèle d'évolution et position des grands blocs continentaux au Permo-Carbonifère. Bull Soc Géol Fr 8:9–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Ménot RP (1979) Lithostratigraphie et pétrographie du groupe amphibolitique de Séchilienne et du massif ultrabasique et basique de Chamrousse (Massif de Belledonne, Alpes occidentales). Géol Alp 55:93–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Ménot RP, Peucat JJ, Piboule M, Scarenzi D (1984) Cambro-Ordovician age for the ophiolitic complex of Chamrousse-Tabor (Belledonne Massif, french external alpine domain). Meeting “Ophiolites through time”, Nancy, France, p 43

  • Ohnenstetter M (1982) Importance de la nature et du rôle des discontinuités au sein des ophiolites lors du développement d'un orogène. Thèse, Université Nancy I

  • O'Nions RK, Hamilton PJ, Evensen NM (1977) Variations in 143 Nd/144 Nd and 87 Sr/86 Sr ratios in oceanic basalts. Earth Planet Sci Lett 34:13–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Paquette JL, Peucat JJ, Bernard-Griffiths J, Marchand J (1985) Evidence for old precambrian relics shown by U-Pb zircon dating of eclogites and associated rocks in the hercynian belt of south Brittany, France. Chem Geol 52:203–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearce JA (1983) Role of the sub-continental lithosphere in magma genesis at active continental margins. In: Hawkesworth CJ, Norry MJ (eds) Continental basalts and mantle xenoliths. Shiva Publ, pp 230–272

  • Pearce JA, Lippard SJ, Roberts S (1984) Characteristics and tectonic significance of supra-subduction zone ophiolites. In: Kokelaar BP, Howells MF (eds) Marginal Basin Geology. Blackwell Publ, pp 77–94

  • Peucat JJ, Cogné J (1977) Geochronology of some blueschists from Ile de Groix, France. Nature 268:131–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Piboule M, Briand B (1985) Geochemistry of eclogites and associated rocks of the southeastern area of the french Massif Central: origin of the protholiths. Chem Geol 50:189–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Pin C, Lancelot J (1982) U-Pb dating of an early paleozoic bimodal magmatism in the french Massif Central and of its further metamorphic evolution. Contrib Mineral Petrol 79:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Pin C, Vielzeuf D (1983) Granulites and related rocks in Variscan median Europe: a dualistic interpretation. Tectonophysics 93:47–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Shervais JW (1982) Ti-V plots and the petrogenesis of modern and ophiolitic lavas. Earth Planet Sci Lett 59:101–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun SS (1980) Lead isotopic study of young volcanic rocks from mid-ocean ridges, ocean islands and island arcs. Philos Trans R Soc London Ser A 297:409–444

    Google Scholar 

  • den Tex E (1950) Les roches basiques et ultra-basiques du lac Robert et le Trias de Chamrousse. Leidse Geol Meded 15:1–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson RN (1982) Magmatism of the British Tertiary Volcanic Province. Scott J Geol 18:49–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson RN, Morrison MA, Dickin AP, Hendry GL (1983) Continental flood basalts ... Arachnids rule OK? In: Hawkesworth CJ, Norry MJ (eds) Continental basalts and mantle xenoliths. Shiva Publ, pp 158–185

  • Wasserburg GJ, Jacobsen SB, DePaolo DJ, McCulloch MT, Wen T (1981) Precise determination of Sm and Nd isotopic abundances in standard solutions. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 45:2311–2323

    Google Scholar 

  • Zindler A (1982) Nd and Sr isotopic studies of komatiites and related rocks. In: Arndt NT, Nisbet EG (eds) Komatiites. George Allen & Unwin, pp 399–420

  • Zindler A, Hart SR, Frey FA, Jakobsson SP (1979) Sr and Nd isotope ratios and rare earth element abundances in Reykjanes Peninsula basalts: evidence for mantle heterogeneity beneath Iceland. Earth Planet Sci Lett 45:249–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Zindler A, Staudigel H, Batiza R (1984) Isotope and trace element geochemistry of young Pacific seamounts: implications for the scale of upper mantle heterogeneity. Earth Planet Sci Lett 70:175–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwart HJ (1967) The duality of orogenic belts. Geol Mijnbouw 46:283–309

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de Géologie, L.A. 10 C.N.R.S., 5 rue Kessler, F-63038, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    C. Pin

  2. Département de Géologie, Université de Picardie, 33 rue St. Leu, F-80039, Amiens, France

    F. Carme

Authors
  1. C. Pin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Carme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pin, C., Carme, F. A Sm-Nd isotopic study of 500 Ma old oceanic crust in the Variscan belt of Western Europe: the Chamrousse ophiolite complex, Western Alps (France). Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 96, 406–413 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371258

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371258

Keywords

Search

Navigation