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Mineral chemistry of ultramafic and mafic cumulates as an indicator of the arc-related origin of the Mersin ophiolite (southern Turkey)

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Abstract

The Mersin ophiolite, represented by approximately 6-km-thick oceanic lithospheric section on the southern flank of the Taurus calcareous axis, formed in the Mesozoic Neo-Tethyan ocean some time during Late Cretaceous in southern Turkey. The ultramafic and mafic cumulates having over 3 km thickness consist of dunite ± chromite, wehrlite, clinopyroxenite at the bottom and pass into gabbroic cumulates in which leucogabbro, olivine-gabbro and anorthosite are seen. Crystallization order is olivine (Fo91−80) ± chromian spinel (Cr# 60-80), clinopyroxene (Mg#95−77), plagioclase (An95.6−91.6) and orthopyroxene (Mg#68−77). Mineral chemistry of ultramafic and mafic cumulates suggest that highly magnesian olivines, clinopyroxenes and absence of plagioclase in the basal ultramafic cumulates are in good agreement with products of high-pressure crystal fractionation of primary basaltic melts beneath an island-arc environment. Major, trace element geochemistry of the cumulative rocks also indicate that Mersin ophiolite was formed in an arc environment. Coexisting Ca-rich plagioclase and Forich olivine in the gabbroic cumulates show arc cumulate gabbro characteristics. Field relations as well as the geochemical data support that Mersin ophiolite formed in a supra-subduction zone tectonic setting in the southern branch of the Neo-Tethys in southern Turkey.

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  1. Osman Parlak

    Present address: Department of Geology Çukurova University, TR-01330, Adana, Turkey

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mineralogy, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland

    Osman Parlak & Michel Delaloye

  2. Department of Geology, Çukurova University, TR-01330, Adana, Turkey

    Ergüzer Bíngöl

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  1. Osman Parlak
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  2. Michel Delaloye
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  3. Ergüzer Bíngöl
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Parlak, O., Delaloye, M. & Bíngöl, E. Mineral chemistry of ultramafic and mafic cumulates as an indicator of the arc-related origin of the Mersin ophiolite (southern Turkey). Geol Rundsch 85, 647–661 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02440102

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