Ophiolite genesis and global tectonics: Geochemical and tectonic fingerprinting of ancient oceanic lithosphere

Research Article| March 01, 2011 Ophiolite genesis and global tectonics: Geochemical and tectonic fingerprinting of ancient oceanic lithosphere Yildirim Dilek; Yildirim Dilek † 1Department of Geology, Shideler Hall, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA, and Faculty of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences at Wuhan, Wuhan 430074, Hubei Province, China †E-mail: dileky@muohio.edu. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Harald Furnes Harald Furnes 2Department of Earth Science & Centre for Geobiology, University of Bergen, Bergen 5007, Norway Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Yildirim Dilek † 1Department of Geology, Shideler Hall, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA, and Faculty of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences at Wuhan, Wuhan 430074, Hubei Province, China Harald Furnes 2Department of Earth Science & Centre for Geobiology, University of Bergen, Bergen 5007, Norway †E-mail: dileky@muohio.edu. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 15 Nov 2010 Revision Received: 14 Dec 2010 Accepted: 15 Dec 2010 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2011 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2011) 123 (3-4): 387–411. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30446.1 Article history Received: 15 Nov 2010 Revision Received: 14 Dec 2010 Accepted: 15 Dec 2010 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Yildirim Dilek, Harald Furnes; Ophiolite genesis and global tectonics: Geochemical and tectonic fingerprinting of ancient oceanic lithosphere. GSA Bulletin 2011;; 123 (3-4): 387–411. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30446.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Ophiolites, and discussions on their origin and significance in Earth's history, have been instrumental in the formulation, testing, and establishment of hypotheses and theories in earth sciences. The definition, tectonic origin, and emplacement mechanisms of ophiolites have been the subject of a dynamic and continually evolving concept since the nineteenth century. Here, we present a review of these ideas as well as a new classification of ophiolites, incorporating the diversity in their structural architecture and geochemical signatures that results from variations in petrological, geochemical, and tectonic processes during formation in different geodynamic settings. We define ophiolites as suites of temporally and spatially associated ultramafic to felsic rocks related to separate melting episodes and processes of magmatic differentiation in particular tectonic environments. Their geochemical characteristics, internal structure, and thickness vary with spreading rate, proximity to plumes or trenches, mantle temperature, mantle fertility, and the availability of fluids. Subduction-related ophiolites include suprasubduction-zone and volcanic-arc types, the evolution of which is governed by slab dehydration and accompanying metasomatism of the mantle, melting of the subducting sediments, and repeated episodes of partial melting of metasomatized peridotites. Subduction-unrelated ophiolites include continental-margin, mid-ocean-ridge (plume-proximal, plume-distal, and trench-distal), and plume-type (plume-proximal ridge and oceanic plateau) ophiolites that generally have mid-ocean-ridge basalt (MORB) compositions. Subduction-related lithosphere and ophiolites develop during the closure of ocean basins, whereas subduction-unrelated types evolve during rift drift and seafloor spreading. The peak times of ophiolite genesis and emplacement in Earth history coincided with collisional events leading to the construction of supercontinents, continental breakup, and plume-related supermagmatic events. Geochemical and tectonic fingerprinting of Phanerozoic ophiolites within the framework of this new ophiolite classification is an effective tool for identification of the geodynamic settings of oceanic crust formation in Earth history, and it can be extended into Precambrian greenstone belts in order to investigate the ways in which oceanic crust formed in the Archean. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.