The Nagaland‐Manipur Ophiolites (NMO) in northeast India is known for its complex geological history. Tough terrain, thick vegetation, and dismembered exposure of ophiolitic suite of rocks in the region made uneasy for geological investigation and put it in a deadlock for a long time. Only in the last decade has seen an appreciable amount of publications but the results boil down to a hot debate between two opposite schools of thoughts of subduction origin versus non‐subduction origin of the NMO. In this article, we revisit the literature data and compare it with our new geochemical data with an attempt to provide fresh insight into the long‐standing debate on the geodynamic evolution of the NMO. Our investigation arrives at the conclusion that the NMO as a whole cannot be considered as 100% subduction or 100% non‐subduction origin. It is indeed a combination of both. The non‐subduction group of mafic rocks shows a high ratio of incompatible elements (Nb/Yb >1), high‐Ti, enriched LILE, and HFSE with primitive mantle normalized values >5. Their bulk‐rock geochemical composition is equivalent to mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB) and ocean island basalt (OIB). The subduction group of rocks, on the other hand, shows a low ratio of incompatible elements (Nb/Yb <1), low‐Ti, depleted LILE, and HFSE with primitive mantle normalized values <1, affinity to the fore‐arc depleted N‐MORB type. Similarly, spinels present in subduction‐influenced mantle rocks show high chromium content (Cr# >50) but it is lower (Cr# <50) in non‐subduction abyssal peridotites of the NMO. Such geochemical variations cannot simply be explained by fractional crystallization or variable degree of partial melting of a single source, but rather signifies derivation from different tectonic settings of subduction and non‐subduction magma factories. We further conclude that the primary compressional force of India‐Myanmar Plate collision and secondary strike‐slip faults running along this ophiolite belt jeopardized the accretionary process which led to distortion and dismembering of the rocks like a scrambled bread.
This paper discusses whole‐rock geochemistry, mineral chemistry, and platinum group element (PGE) systematics of depleted mantle rocks (harzburgite and dunite) from the northern part of Nagaland–Manipur Ophiolite (NMO), north‐east India, to comprehend their source features, fractionation behaviour of PGE during magmatic evolution, and its tectonic origin. The studied ultramafic rocks are characterized by a low concentration of CaO (0.57–0.71 wt%), Al2O3 (0.18–0.92 wt%) with ∑REE of 1.135–2.702 ppm and high concentrations of MgO (38.70–44.21 wt%), Cr (1,843–4,572 ppm), and Ni (894–4,138 ppm). They show U‐shaped REE patterns [LREE and HREE enrichment (La/Sm)N = 1.85–4.11, (Dy/Yb)N = 0.51–0.85]. Olivine ranges Fo 88.18 to Fo92.23, whereas Cpx and Opx range En44.84 to En47.89 and En86.37 to En93.37 respectively. The chrome spinel Cr# [Cr/(Cr + Al)] and Mg# [Mg/(Mg + Fe2+)] are 0.47–0.83 and 0.31–0.60, respectively, which indicates recrystallization from a boninitic magma in a Supra‐Subduction Zone setting. Conventional thermometry indicates the equilibration temperatures of the dunite sample yielded high temperatures of ~850°C, suggesting their formation due to later interaction with high‐temperature percolating melts. The PGE contents in harzburgite are low (125.6–142.8 ppb) as compared to the dunite (248–360 ppb). They have high PPGE/IPGE and negative Pt* (Pt/Pt* = 0.73) anomaly, which is characteristic of re‐entry of PPGE into the system via reaction with percolating basaltic melt in the mantle wedge. Significantly higher concentration of PPGEs than IPGEs in the samples, indicating recrystallization of PPGEs with early sulphide fractionation. The presence of significant Rh and Pd enhancements relative to Pt in all samples suggests that Pt was removed during PGE fractionation. This could be one of the reasons for both harzburgite and dunite's sulphide undersaturation. PGE distribution in NMO ultramafic rocks was therefore validated as being governed by sulphide saturation in parental magma and altered not only by partial melting but also by fractionation during their production in the Supra‐Subduction Zone environment.
Mafic extrusive rocks (basalts) and intrusive rocks (gabbros) from the Nagaland–Manipur Ophiolite (NMO) of the Indo–Myanmar Orogenic Belt (IMOB), north‐east India, are investigated to understand their magmatic evolution in diverse tectonic environments. Basalts are distinguished into two types: basalt‐I and basalt‐II. Basalt‐I type shows the sub‐alkaline character with Nb/Y < 0.50, low Nb/Th (2.36–7.94), and low to moderate La/Sm (1.00–4.12) indicating derivation from a slightly enriched mantle source and also supported by their enriched LREE pattern with flat HREE. They are depleted in HFSEs (Nb and Ti) but enriched in U and Pb, which is indicative of a typical subduction origin derived from an MORB‐type mantle source. Investigated samples of basalt‐II and gabbros have an equal composition with alkaline characteristics. They have Nb/Y > 0.50, high Nb/Th (8.38–13.37), and highly enriched LREE (La/Sm = 4.41–6.35) pattern. They show typical Ocean Island Basalt (OIB) characters of a plume source. The two sets of basalts and gabbros found in this study have no sign of genetic relationship, and therefore, it strongly suggests that they were derived from two different mantle sources of a plume and a subduction zone mantle wedge. Our study supports the theory that the NMO has records of different magmatic episodes produced ranging from plume‐related magmatism, to divergent and convergent plate magmatism that were generated at diverse tectonic settings.
A comprehensive data of whole‐rock and stable isotopic geochemistry along with microfossil assemblages of the carbonate rocks of the ophiolite mélange zone of the Indo–Myanmar orogenic Belt (IMOB), north‐east India are discussed, to determine the influence of terrigenous contamination during the formation of these carbonate rocks and also to understand their depositional environment and ages. These carbonate rocks contain a diverse fauna with the dominance of foraminiferal assemblages of planktonic foraminifera (Globotruncana sp. and Heterohelix sp., etc.) which indicates they were formed during the Santonian to Maastrichtian age. Based on chemical compositions, these carbonate rocks have been identified as limestone (CaO/MgO > 50.1) to slightly dolomitic limestone (9.1 < CaO/MgO < 50.1). Total rare earth element (REE) contents in these carbonates are variable (22.39–146.05 ppm). The Post‐Archean Australian Shale (PAAS)‐normalized REE + Y patterns of these carbonates exhibit seawater‐like REE patterns with LREE depletion and relative HREE enrichment with negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* = 0.32–0.79) and positive Y (4.42–27.81 ppm) and Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 1.11–1.86), suggesting that they were deposited under an oxygenated environment with contamination by hydrothermal activity. They are also depleted in δ13C 0/00 (PDB) (1.02–1.570/00) and δ18O 0/00 (PDB) (−6.37 to −9.00%) values which characterize marine precipitates. Eu anomalies and spread in negative δ18O 0/00 (PDB) values to a lesser extent of δ13C 0/00 (PDB) values of these carbonates suggest their formation was altered by diagenesis in the shallow marine environment. Our new whole‐rock and stable isotope geochemical characteristics, in conjunction with microfacies, suggest that the investigated carbonate rocks might have been formed in low‐energy environments, and deposited in neritic to bathyal palaeoenvironments during the Santonian to Maastrichtian interval.
<p>The Platinum Group Element (PGE) systematics and whole-rock geochemistry of <em>mafic</em> and <em>ultramafic </em>rocks from the ophiolites of Indo-Myanmar Orogenic Belt, northeast India were studied to comprehend their source characteristics and the fractionation behavior of PGE during magmatic evolution. Geochemical studies of mafic rocks reflect Mid-Oceanic Ridge (MOR) Basalt &#160;to Ocean Island Basalt (OIB) affinities while ultramafic rocks have both MOR and Supra Subduction Zone (SSZ) setting signatures. The basaltic rocks show flat REE patterns and slightly depleted LREE [(La/Sm)<sub>N</sub> = 0.97-1.01], showing MOR-type basalt whereas gabbro shows enriched LREE [(La/Sm)<sub>N</sub> = 2.85-4.24; (Sm/Yb)<sub>N</sub> = 2.50-2.88], and characterized by OIB-type mafic rock. Conversely, &#160;pyroxenites exhibit depleted LREE (La<sub>N</sub>/Sm<sub>N</sub> = 0.54-1.16) but flat MREE (Sm<sub>N</sub>/Yb<sub>N</sub> = 2.78&#8211;4.02) reflect spoon-shaped pattern, whereas harzburgite and dunite show U shaped [(LREE and HREE enrichment (La/Sm)<sub>N</sub>= 2.55-3.61, (Tb/Yb)<sub>N </sub>= 0.51-0.86, respectively] REE patterns which indicate formation in a forearc environment. The PGE contents in gabbro (&#931;PGE =8.8-16.0 ppb) and basalt (&#931;PGE =5.6-15.3 ppb) are lower than PGE abundances of harzburgite (&#931;PGE =125.6-142.8ppb), dunite (&#931;PGE =248-360 ppb) and pyroxenites (&#931;PGE = 159.7-1156.8 ppb). The rocks show strongly enriched PPGEs over the IPGEs which indicates co-precipitation with early sulfide fractionation. In all samples (except pyroxenite) pronounced Rh and Pd enhancements relative to Pt suggest its removal during fractional crystallization. Pyroxenites mark the transition from sulfide-undersaturation displayed by harzburgite and dunite to sulfide-saturation displayed by basalt and gabbro. It is, therefore, substantiated that PGE distribution in mafic and ultramafic rocks of Indo-Mayanmar Ophiolites was controlled by sulphide saturation in parental magma and have not only been affected by partial melting processes but also affected by crystal fractionation process during their generation in diverse tectonic environments such as MOR, OIB (plume-type), and SSZ.</p>
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