Tectonic setting and geochemical characterisation of Neoproterozoic volcanics and granitoids from the Adobha Belt, northern Eritrea

Abstract

The Adobha Belt consists largely of metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary sequences and syntectonic granitoids. Identification of the ancient tectonic setting of the belt has been attempted using trace element (including rare earth element) geochemical data on igneous suites. The Himbol volcanics of the Nakfa Terrane represent a calc-alkaline island-arc setting, while the Uogame basalts and associated gabbros characterise a tholeiitic, transitional MORB setting. The chemistry and petrographic features of the basalts and gabbros clearly suggest that they are parts of a dismembered ophiolite. Other authors' work shows that further to the west, the Hager Terrane belongs to a calc-alkaline island-arc setting. The Uogame ophiolitic suite thus portrays a MORB crust sandwiched between two island-arc terranes. Based on the fact that the MORB-type crust occurs within a high strain zone that extends for several hundreds of kilometres along strike, it is concluded here that it represents a terrane-bounding Neoproterozoic ophiolite belt. It is further suggested that this belt might outline a suture that signifies the collision between the island-arcs.