Mineralogy, geochemistry and geotectonic of plagiogranites from Shahre-Babak ophiolite, Zagros zone, Iran

Abstract

Shahre-Babak ophiolite is a part of the inner Zagros ophiolite belt in Iran. Major parts of intrusive masses of Share-Babak ophiolite are gabbro and plagiogranite. The SiO2 versus Na2O+K2O diagram shows that the palgiogranites are related to calk-alkaline series. Rare earth elements exhibit relatively similar pattern that indicates these rocks are syngenetic. Also, REE patterns display an enrichment of LREE compared to HREE, and are characterized by flat to slightly concaveup patterns from Gd to Yb. Such patterns contrast sharply with those of plagiogranites in more complete ophiolite sequences, such as the Semail ophiolite, Oman, or the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus, and Neyriz, where patterns are much flatter and slightly LREE-depleted. The slightly LREE-enriched patterns of the Shahre-Babak plagiogranites support a partial melting origin for them. The low TiO2, Nb, Ta content and high LREE concentrations of the Shahre-Babak plagiogranites indicate that the rocks were likely derived from the anatexis of amphibolites, which were related to hydrothermal alteration of gabbros in intra-oceanic back-arc basin.