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[1] New high-precision single grain U-Pb zircon geochronology and whole rock Nd isotopic data provide insight into the magmatic and tectonic development of the Samail ophiolite. The analyzed rocks can be broadly divided into two groups based on their structural position, dates, and isotopic composition: an older group related to on-axis magmatism and a younger group of post-ridge dikes, sills, and stocks. Isotopic data suggest two distinct sources for the post-ridge magmas: five of the gabbros and tonalites from the crust have e Nd (96 Ma) = 6.90 AE 0.12 to 7.88 AE 0.16, and two trondhjemites from the upper mantle and metamorphic sole have e Nd (96 Ma) = À7.77 AE 0.08 and À7.01 AE 0.16. The negative e Nd (t) and U-Pb dates from the mantle dike require that subduction or thrusting was established below the ophiolite ≤0.25-0.5 Ma after formation of the crust. The bimodal isotopic composition of post-ridge magmas may reflect coeval decompression and/or fluid fluxed melting of the mantle and melting, dehydration, or assimilation of sediment in the down going plate at this time. The new data place temporal constraints on mid-ocean ridge and supra-subduction zone models for ophiolite formation.

[1] New high-precision U/Pb zircon geochronology from the Oman-United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) ophiolite provides insight into the timing and duration of magmatism and the tectonic setting during formation of the lower crust. The new data come from a well-preserved and exposed crustal section in the center of the Wadi Tayin Zircon dates from upper-level gabbros are most consistent with the ophiolite forming at a fast spreading ridge with half-rates of 50-100 km/Ma. Dates from tonalites/trondhjemites and from a gabbroic pegmatite associated with a wehrlite intrusion overlap with dates from adjacent upper-level gabbros, suggesting that any age differences between these three magmatic series are smaller than the analytical uncertainties or intrasample variability in the dates. Three of the dated upper-level gabbros and a single gabbroic pegmatite from the base of the crust have >1 Ma intrasample variability in single grain dates, suggesting assimilation of older crust during the formation or crystallization of the magmas. Whole rock ɛ Nd (t) of seven samples, including the upper-level gabbros with variable zircon dates, have tightly clustered initial values ranging from ɛ Nd (96 Ma) = 7.59 AE 0.23 to 8.28 AE 0.31. The ɛ Nd values are similar to those from other gabbros within the ophiolite, suggesting that any assimilated material had a similar isotopic composition to primitive basaltic magmas. The new dates suggest that the studied section formed at a fast spreading mid-ocean ridge between $96.4-95.5 Ma. The large intrasample variability in zircon dates in some samples is unexpected in this setting, and may be related to propagation of a younger ridge into older oceanic lithosphere.Citation: Rioux, M., S. Bowring, P. Kelemen, S. Gordon, F. Dudás, and R. Miller (2012), Rapid crustal accretion and magma assimilation in the Oman-U.A.E. ophiolite: High precision U-Pb zircon geochronology of the gabbroic crust,

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