Subduction initiation of the Neotethyan Ocean recorded in chromite deposits: A case study of the Kızıldağ ophiolite, southern Türkiye


UYSAL İ., Akmaz R. M., Su B., DEMİR Y., Şen A. D.

Lithos, cilt.514-515, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 514-515
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.lithos.2025.108184
  • Dergi Adı: Lithos
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Chemical Abstracts Core, Geobase, INSPEC, Pollution Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Boninite, Chromitite, Intermediate melt, Kızıldağ ophiolite, Platinum-group elements, Subduction initiation
  • Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The chromitites of the Kızıldağ ophiolite (KO) are primarily characterized by massive and disseminated textures within refractory mantle peridotites, predominantly harzburgite and dunite, with occasional occurrences of banded and nodular chromitites. Based on chromite composition, these chromitites can be classified into two groups exhibiting a broad compositional range: intermediate (0.55 ≤ Cr# < 0.70, TiO2 = 0.08–0.51 wt%) and high-Cr (0.70 ≤ Cr# ≤ 0.77, TiO2 = 0.05–0.28 wt%). The compositions of minor and trace elements align consistently with variations in Cr#. Total PGE (Os, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pt, Pd) contents in these chromitites are generally less than 500 ppb, with many samples showing enrichment of IPGE (Os, Ir, Ru) relative to PPGE (Rh, Pt, Pd). However, certain samples from both groups display elevated PGE concentrations (ƩPGEintermediate = 718 ppb, ƩPGEHigh-Cr = 866 ppb) compared to other samples. The dominant platinum group mineral inclusions in chromite are Ru-rich laurite [(Ru, Os)S2], with a single osmiridium (Os-Ir alloy) grain also observed suggesting formation under high-temperature and low ƒS2 conditions. Primary base metal mineral inclusions include millerite and pentlandite. Additionally, some chromite crystals contain single or multi-phase silicate inclusions, such as clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, olivine, and amphibole. Parental melt compositions, calculated from Al2O3 and TiO2 contents of chromites, indicate that most high-Cr chromitites originated from boninitic melts, whereas intermediate chromitites and some high-Cr samples derived from melts with intermediate compositions. Trace element compositions of amphibole and clinopyroxene inclusions in the chromite crystals from the intermediate group further support crystallization from hydrous intermediate melts. It is proposed that the intermediate chromitite group formed from partial melts influenced by fluids from the subducted oceanic crust during the early stages of subduction initiation, while high-Cr chromitites originated from hydrous melts derived from a more depleted mantle wedge in later stages.