Rare earth element characteristics and K–Ar ages of the Band Ziarat ophiolite complex, southeastern Iran

Abstract

The Band Ziarat complex of southeastern Iran is located on the western boundary of the Jaz Murian depression and is bounded by two major fault systems. The principal rock units of this complex are a gabbro sequence that includes low-and high-level cumulate gabbros, a late intrusive sequence that consists of diorite and plagiogranite, and a volcanic sequence that includes diabase dikes and a lesser amount of basaltic lava. Mantle rocks are virtually absent because of the presence of the two bounding fault systems, but we consider the complex to be an ophiolite in nature. Rare earth element (REE) whole-rock data clearly differentiate the classic ophiolitic lithologies for the crustal rocks in this complex. Based on the REE data, there are two distinct types of basalt present at Band Ziarat: (i) those that formed from an initial basaltic melt with a light rare earth element (LREE) enriched signature (similar to intraplate basalts), and (ii) those that have LREE-depleted patterns (similar to normal mid-ocean-ridge basalts). The data also suggest (i) that the gabbros are accumulates and were derived from a source slightly enriched in LREE, with fractionation controlled by removal of clinopyroxene or hornblende and plagioclase, and (ii) that the late intrusive rocks as well as a majority of the diabase dikes are cogenetic and were derived from the same LREE-enriched source. K–Ar ages ranging from 134 ± 4 to 146 ± 5 Ma for low-level gabbros and from 121 ± 4 to 130 ± 4 Ma for high-level gabbros were measured on five hornblende and two whole-rock samples, which suggests that these rocks may have formed early in the Cretaceous period.