Nature and origin of the Triassic volcanism in Albania and Othrys: a key to understanding the Neotethys opening?

Abstract

International audienceTriassic volcanic rocks, stratigraphically associated with pelagic or reef limestones, are tectonically juxtaposed with Mesozoic ophiolites in the Tethyan realm. From the central (Dinarides, Hellenides) and eastern Mediterranean (Antalya, Troodos, Baër Bassit) to the Semail nappes (Oman), they occur either associated to the tectonic sole of the ophiolitic nappes or as a distinct tectonic pile intercalated between the ophiolites and other underthrust units. In the Dinaro-Hellenic belt, the Pelagonian units represent the lower plate, which is underthrust beneath the ophiolites. Middle to Late Triassic volcanic sequences are interpreted as the eastern flank of the Pelagonian platform and are therefore considered as a distal, deep-water part of the Pelagonian margin. The Triassic volcanics from Albania and Othrys are made up of basaltic pillowed and massive flows, associated locally with dolerites and trachytes. New elemental, Nd and Pb isotopic data allow to recognize four types of volcanic suites: (1) intra-oceanic alkaline and tholeiitic basalts, (2) intra-oceanic arc-tholeiites, (3) back-arc basin basalts, (4) calc-alkaline mafic to felsic rocks. Nd and Pb isotopic initial ratios suggest that the within-plate volcanic rocks were derived from an enriched oceanic island basalt type mantle source, devoid of any continental crustal component. The lower {varepsilon}Nd value of the trachyte could be due to assimilation of oceanic altered crust or sediments in a shallow magma chamber. Island arc tholeiites and back-arc basin basalts have a similar wide range of {varepsilon}Nd. The absence of Nb negative anomalies in the back-arc basin basalts suggests that the basin floored by these basalts was wide and mature. The high Th contents of the island arc tholeiites suggest that the arc volcanoes were located not far away from the continental margin. Albania and Othrys volcanics contrast with the Late Triassic volcanism from eastern Mediterranean (SW Cyprus, SW Turkey), which displays solely features of oceanic within plate suites. The presence of back-arc basin basalts associated with arc-related volcanics in Central Mediterranean indicates that they were close to a still active subduction during the Upper Triassic, while back-arc basins developed, associated with within-plate volcanism, leading to the NeoTethys opening

Time-progressive mantle-melt evolution and magma production in a Tethyan marginal sea: A case study of the Albanide-Hellenide ophiolites

“…These data include 29 samples of upper mantle peridotites and 41 samples of basaltic rocks from various localities. However, in order to have a full coverage of different ophiolite massifs in the Albanides-Hellenides, we have also used some other existing data in the literature including 22 samples of mantle peridotites from the Othrys massif (Barth et al, 2008) and 6 basaltic samples from the WMO and Othrys (Hoeck et al, 2002;Monjoie et al, 2008). Detailed references for literature-based data are given in Tables DR2 and DR3.…”

“…Near-primitive Jurassic N-MORBs are found in the WMO, in the Othrys massif, and in the Argolis mélange (Bortolotti et al, 2002;Dilek et al, 2008;Monjoie et al, 2008;Photiades et al, 2003;Saccani and Photiades, 2005). These rocks display a clear subalkaline affinity, as exemplified by their low Nb/Y ratios (0.02-0.09).…”

Triassic alkaline magmatism of the Hawasina Nappes: Post-breakup melting of the Oman lithospheric mantle modified by the Permian Neotethyan Plume

“…Conversely, Triassic depleted tholeiites occur in the Mamonia Complex, Cyprus (Lapierre et al, 2007), in Baër Bassit, Syria (Perez, 2006) and in Othrys, Greece (Monjoie et al, 2008).…”

Continental Margin Ophiolites of Neotethys: Remnants of Ancient Ocean–Continent Transition Zone (OCTZ) Lithosphere and Their Geochemistry, Mantle Sources and Melt Evolution Patterns

“…Age, regional distribution, geochemical type, and related references of Jurassic and Triassic rocks in the key areas examined in this paper. (1) : Age constrained on geological bases (see Saccani et al, 2008b Bortolotti et al, 2004;Tashko et al, 2007 Porava Photiades at al., 2003;Bortolotti et al, 2008;Monjoie et al, 2008;Capedri et al, 1997Koziakas mélange M-L-Triassic N, E, P, AB Capedri et al, 1997Saccani et al, 2003a;Chiari et al, 2012 Argolis mélange…”