New constrains on the thickness of the Semail ophiolite in the Northern Emirates

Naville, Charles; Ancel, Martine; Andriessen, Paul; Ricarte, Patrice; Roure, François

doi:10.1007/s12517-010-0237-8

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Subduction slab collapsed during this phase mostly led to the large-scale extension of overriding oceanic plate and thereby to the generation of suprasubduction ophiolites. Similar origins have been inferred for other ophiolite complexes along Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt, such as Troodos in Cyprus (Miyashiro 1973), Vourinos in Greece (Noiret et al 1981), Pindos and Orthis in Greece with Bulquiza in Albania (Bizimis et al 2000), Mersin in the south of Turkey (Parlak and Delaloye 1999), and Semail in Oman (Naville et al 2010;Goodenough et al 2010). However, studies proved that not only does Kermanshah ophiolite have a polygenetic history, but there also is no remnant of a classical obducted ophiolite.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Geochemistry and petrology of Harsin–Sahneh ophiolitic complex (NE of Kermanshah—west of Iran) an evidence of Southern Neo-Tethys Ocean tectonic

Sahamieh

Moradpour

2015

Arab J Geosci

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Ophiolites of the Zagros orogenic belt of Iran are part of the Tethys ophiolites, linking the Middle East ophiolites and other Asian ophiolites (e.g., Pakistani and Tibetan) to the Mediterranean ophiolites (e.g., Troodos, Greek, and East European) due to their geographical position. Th e na t ure o f H arsin -Sahneh ophiolite (Kermanshah), studied in this paper, is traditionally considered as one of the Mesozoic southern branch of the Neo-Tethys Ocean, and remnants of the Peri-Arabic ophiolite system obducted onto Arabian shield (Gondwana). Petrographic evidence indicates that this ophiolitic sequence consists of both mantle and crustal suites. In this complex, generally lithologies include harzburgitic and lherzolitic peridotites, isotropic and mylonitic gabbros, dyke complex, basaltic pillow lavas, and small out crop of plagiogranite. The mineral chemistry of Harsin mafic rocks is island arc setting for this part of complex and geochemistry of mafic and ultramafic rocks of Sahneh region displaying P-type mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) nature. The presence of basalts with different compositions in this region can be interpreted as an interaction between MORB-type and OIA-type asthenosphere. Field relationships and geochemical evidence reveal that the studied ophiolites were a part of a rifted basin at the ocean-continent transition zone formed in the south of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean. Based on the evidence, in Late Cretaceous, the subduction of Southern Neo-Tethyan Ocean beneath itself leads to not only the cessation of Southern Neo-Tethyan subduction to the branch of Sanandaj-Sirjan block but also the formation of arc and back-arc basin and related rocks in Kermanshah ophiolite. MORB magmatism occurred in the response to slowing down of the convergence rate of Neo-Tethyan and slab retreat in the Eurasian continental margin. This would also explain both the contemporaneous occurrence of MORB-type and OIB-type magmatism, as well as the lack of a magmatic evolution from depleted to enriched rocks.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Geochemistry and petrology of Harsin–Sahneh ophiolitic complex (NE of Kermanshah—west of Iran) an evidence of Southern Neo-Tethys Ocean tectonic

Sahamieh

Moradpour

2015

Arab J Geosci

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“…(2013), Naville et al. (2013), and Tarapoanca et al. (2013) defined the western limit of the Hawasina allochthon on the deep seismic profiles (D1–D4) to the north of the study area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The region has a complex geological history and hence a great tectonic significance. Several studies investigated stratigraphy and structures of the FTB and foreland basin of the UAE (e.g., Callot et al., 2010; Dunne et al., 1990; Jardin et al., 2013; Naville et al., 2013; Robertson, 1987a; Searle, 1988b, 2007; Searle & Ali, 2009; Styles et al., 2006; Tarapoanca et al., 2013). Several structural studies have outlined the geometry and evolution of the Late Cretaceous ophiolite obduction episode (e.g., Cooper et al., 2014; Dunne et al., 1990; Searle, 1988b, 2007; Searle et al., 1983, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tectono‐Stratigraphic Evolution of the Foreland Fold‐and‐Thrust Belt of the United Arab Emirates

2022

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The subsurface and surface structural geometries of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) fold‐and‐thrust belt (FTB) and foreland basins are interpreted from seismic, well data, and surface geology. Twelve horizons ranging in age from Miocene to Lower Jurassic were interpreted and mapped. Additionally, we outlined subsurface extent of Sumeini and Hawasina allochthonous nappes. The tectonic subsidence curves suggest that the final major passive margin rifting event occurred in the early Aalenian and lasted till Oxfordian. Loading of the Semail ophiolite thrust sheet and accompanying allochthonous thrust sheets resulted in uplift at ca. 95 Ma and rapid subsidence at ca. 83 Ma, indicating the transition of the Arabian margin from a rifted passive margin to a foreland basin. The region witnessed an accelerated subsidence during the late Oligocene‐Miocene, attributed to the initial collision of the Central Iran and Arabian plates. The Permian‐Jurassic NW‐SE oriented rift faults were reactivated as thrust faults during the Late Cretaceous ophiolite obduction and late Oligocene‐Miocene continental collision. Two different tectonic regimes are identified in the FTB. The northern regime is characterized by major inversion of the rift faults with up to 3,700 m throw, whereas the southern regime has a major pop‐up structure with possible basement origin. Four major west‐verging and east‐dipping thrusts, which cross the northern area, form fault‐propagation folds and dissect the entire stratigraphy. Moreover, the Hawasina décollement, together with the inverted basement structures formed the Jabal Hafit anticline as a backthrust structure.

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“…A southern profile (D1) crossed the mantle sequence south of Masafi but was only able to resolve the base of the ophiolite west of the Wadi Ham fault. Naville et al () interpreted the results to indicate that the ophiolite is wedge shaped and thickens from near zero at the Wadi Ham fault, to ~2 km to the west where it terminates near the latitude of Jebel Faiyah.…”

Section: Geophysical Constraints and Extent Of The Ophiolitementioning

confidence: 99%

3‐D Structure of the Northern Oman‐UAE Ophiolite: Widespread, Short‐Lived, Suprasubduction Zone Magmatism

Ambrose

Searle

2019

Tectonics

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The Oman-United Arab Emirates (UAE) ophiolite is the most intensely studied ophiolite on Earth, is commonly used as a template for other poorly exposed and structurally complex ophiolites, and is often used as an analog for fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges like the East Pacific Rise. Several recent studies, including the largest ever focused on the UAE, have suggested that the pseudostratigraphy of the ophiolite in the UAE is distinct from Oman. Such interpretations have led researchers to propose that the UAE portion of the ophiolite underwent a separate magmatic and tectonic evolution. We present a profile along a new road section in the UAE that reveals continuous exposure of the entire ophiolite section and places key constraints on the internal architecture. We infer the geometry of the ophiolite thrust sheet and propose a model for the structure, pseudostratigraphy, and evolution of the ophiolite in the UAE that is simplified yet more consistent with geochemical and geochronological data. Our results indicate that (1) the architecture of ophiolite in the UAE is similar to Oman, and there is no reason to infer a different tectonic history, (2) the ophiolite is gently folded but largely intact, (3) extension and magmatism during formation of the ophiolite was broadly distributed, (4) there are no large gabbro bodies in the mantle sequence; they are all above the petrological Moho, and (5) the entire magmatic sequence was generated in a short time (~1 million years), and thus, the ophiolite cannot be compared to the long-lasting (>100 million years) fast-spreading East Pacific Rise.Plain Language Summary Ophiolites-slices of oceanic crust and upper mantle that have been thrust onto the continental margin-provide the opportunity to study the structure and genesis of oceanic lithosphere formed. The Oman-United Arab Emirates (UAE) ophiolite is the largest and most intensely studied on Earth and has been fundamental to our understanding of other ophiolites and oceanic lithosphere in general. Several recent studies have suggested that the northern segment of the Oman-UAE ophiolite exhibits a different internal structure from the rest of the ophiolite. This has led several researchers to propose that the northern~20% of the ophiolite underwent a distinct magmatic and tectonic evolution. To test the hypothesis that the architecture of the northern part of the ophiolite is considerably different, we studied a transect across the ophiolite in the UAE that utilized newly exposed road cuts that provide complete 3-D exposure of the ophiolite. We demonstrate that the apparent differences in internal structure are the result of a nearly horizontal and undulating Moho transition zone and complex magmatic relationships. We conclude that the architecture of northern section of the ophiolite is not considerably different from further south. Thus, there is no evidence to support a distinct tectonic and magmatic evolution.

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New constrains on the thickness of the Semail ophiolite in the Northern Emirates

Cited by 11 publications

References 25 publications

Geochemistry and petrology of Harsin–Sahneh ophiolitic complex (NE of Kermanshah—west of Iran) an evidence of Southern Neo-Tethys Ocean tectonic

Geochemistry and petrology of Harsin–Sahneh ophiolitic complex (NE of Kermanshah—west of Iran) an evidence of Southern Neo-Tethys Ocean tectonic

Tectono‐Stratigraphic Evolution of the Foreland Fold‐and‐Thrust Belt of the United Arab Emirates

3‐D Structure of the Northern Oman‐UAE Ophiolite: Widespread, Short‐Lived, Suprasubduction Zone Magmatism

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