The architecture of the European-Mediterranean lithosphere: A synthesis of the Re-Os evidence

Abstract

Rhenium-depletion model ages (T RD ) of sulfides in peridotite xenoliths from the subcon tinental mantle beneath central Spain (the Calatrava volcanic field) reveal that episodes of mantle magmatism and/or metasomatism in the Iberia microplate were linked to crustal growth events, mainly during supercontinent assembly and/or breakup at ca. 1.8, 1.1, 0.9, 0.6, and 0.3 Ga. A synthesis of available in situ and whole-rock Os-isotope data on mantle derived peridotites shows that this type of mantle (maximum T RD of ca.

Hyperextension of continental to oceanic-like lithosphere: The record of late gabbros in the shallow subcontinental lithospheric mantle of the westernmost Mediterranean

“…Previous studies have proposed either a Cenozoic-Mesozoic (Michard et al, 2002;van Hinsbergen et al, 2014) or an Alpine (Garrido et al, 2011;González-Jiménez et al, 2013;Platt et al, 2013) age for the late tectono-magmatic evolution and intra-crustal emplacement of Betic-Rif peridotites. A hyperextended margin setting for the intrusion of gabbroic rocks in Betic mantle peridotites is in good agreement with the Jurassic extensional event that pervasively affected ALKAPECA terrains (i.e., the Alborán, Kabylides, Peloritani and Calabria domains) in the western Mediterranean due to the opening of the PiemonteLigurian Ocean (Michard et al, 2002;van Hinsbergen et al, 2014 and references therein).…”

Mantle Sulfides and their Role in Re–Os and Pb Isotope Geochronology

“…In regions where the overlying crustal record is preserved, ages derived for crust generation from the crust itself can be compared to peaks in model ages preserved in SCLM-derived BMS grains derived from peridotite xenoliths (e.g., Pearson et al 2007;González-Jiménez et al 2013. Where the crustal record is imperfect, for example when ancient crust has been eroded or has become obscured through burial or tectonism, the geochronological evidence preserved in relative probability plots of BMS model ages still provides valuable information regarding the history of crust formation and SCLM stabilization.…”

“…18,20) are attributed significance as corresponding to the stabilization of SCLM, which may have been coupled to major crust formation events. Both bulk-rock and BMS Re-Os ages frequently show a correspondence between the crust and the underlying mantle, sampled as xenoliths, from which it is inferred to be derived (Pearson et al 1995a(Pearson et al ,b 2002Handler et al 1997;Carlson et al 1999;Chesley et al 1999;Menzies et al 1999;Hanghøj et al 2001;Irvine et al 2001Irvine et al 2003Lee et al 2001;Griffin et al 2002; Schmidt and Snow 2002;Carlson and Moore 2004;Marchesi et al 2010;González-Jiménez et al 2013. However, there are some examples where underlying mantle is apparently older than the overlying crust ( Parkinson and Pearce 1998;Peslier et al 2000;Handler et al 2003;Smit et al 2010).…”

“…Peaks in T RD at 0.6 Ga and 0.3 Ga were interpreted by González-Jiménez et al (2013) as representing the beginning of continental collisions to form Gondwana and the initiation of the breakup of Pangea respectively (Orejana et al 2009). These interpretations should be treated with some caution given the caveats associated with interpreting Phanerozoic T RD in peridotites.…”

Mantle Sulfides and their Role in Re–Os and Pb Isotope Geochronology

“…18,20) are attributed significance as corresponding to the stabilization of SCLM, which may have been coupled to major crust formation events. Both bulk-rock and BMS Re-Os ages frequently show a correspondence between the crust and the underlying mantle, sampled as xenoliths, from which it is inferred to be derived (Pearson et al 1995a(Pearson et al ,b 2002Handler et al 1997;Carlson et al 1999;Chesley et al 1999;Menzies et al 1999;Hanghøj et al 2001;Irvine et al 2001Irvine et al 2003Lee et al 2001;Griffin et al 2002;Schmidt and Snow 2002;Carlson and Moore 2004;Marchesi et al 2010;González-Jiménez et al 2013. However, there are some examples where underlying mantle is apparently older than the overlying crust (Parkinson and Pearce 1998;Peslier et al 2000;Handler et al 2003;Smit et al 2010).…”