The Indian Ocean, its supra-subduction history, and implications for ophiolites

Moores, Eldridge M.; Simmons, Nathan; Basu, Asish R.; Gregory, Robert T.

doi:10.1130/2021.2552(01)

The Indian Ocean, its supra-subduction history, and implications for ophiolites

Book · 09 September 2021 · Plate Tectonics, Ophiolites, and Societal Significance of Geology: A Celebration of the Career of Eldridge Moores

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/2021.2552(01)· OSTI ID:1964011

Moores, Eldridge M. ^[1]; Simmons, Nathan ^[2]; Basu, Asish R. ^[3]; Gregory, Robert T. ^[4]

Universiity of California, Davis, CA (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
University of Texas, Arlington, TX (United States)
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX (United States)

We report Ophiolite complexes represent fragments of ocean crust and mantle formed at spreading centers and emplaced on land. The setting of their origin, whether at mid-ocean ridges, back-arc basins, or forearc basins has been debated. Geochemical classification of many ophiolite extrusive rocks reflect an approach interpreting their tectonic environment as the same as rocks with similar compositions formed in various modern oceanic settings. This approach has pointed to the formation of many ophiolitic extrusive rocks in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) environment. Paradoxically, structural and stratigraphic evidence suggests that many apparent SSZ-produced ophiolite complexes are more consistent with mid-ocean ridge settings. Compositions of lavas in the southeastern Indian Ocean resemble those of modern SSZ environments and SSZ ophiolites, although Indian Ocean lavas clearly formed in a mid-ocean ridge setting. These facts suggest that an interpretation of the tectonic environment of ophiolite formation based solely on their geochemistry may be unwarranted. New seismic images revealing extensive Mesozoic subduction zones beneath the southern Indian Ocean provide one mechanism to explain this apparent paradox. Cenozoic mid-ocean-ridge–derived ocean floor throughout the southern Indian Ocean apparently formed above former sites of subduction. Compositional remnants of previously subducted mantle in the upper mantle were involved in generation of mid-ocean ridge lavas. The concept of historical contingency may help resolve the ambiguity on understanding the environment of origin of ophiolites. Many ophiolites with “SSZ” compositions may have formed in a mid-ocean ridge setting such as the southeastern Indian Ocean.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

DOE Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1964011

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-740301; 894328

Journal Information:: Plate Tectonics, Ophiolites, and Societal Significance of Geology: A Celebration of the Career of Eldridge Moores, Vol. 552

Publisher:: Geological Society of America

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
basalts
chemical composition
chemical ratios
geophysical methods
igneous rocks
Indian Ocean
Leg 187
major elements
metals
Mid-Indian Ridge
mid-ocean ridge basalts
mid-ocean ridges
Ocean Drilling Program
ocean floors
ophiolite complexes
plate tectonics
rare earths
sea-floor spreading
seismic methods
Southeast Indian Ridge
spreading centers
subduction zones
trace elements
volcanic rocks

The Indian Ocean, its supra-subduction history, and implications for ophiolites

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References (66)

Figures / Tables (10)

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