The geodynamic evolution of the South-Tethyan, margin in Zanskar, NW-Himalaya, as revealed by the Spongtang ophiolitic melanges

Relicts of an intra-oceanic arc in the Sapi-Shergol mélange zone (Ladakh, NW Himalaya, India): implications for the closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean

“…Both were formed in the Cretaceous to Early Eocene time during the successive north-dipping subduction of Neo-Tethys 1 followed by subduction of the Indian continental margin below the Ladakh Asian margin (Bassoullet et al, 1980a;Dietrich et al, 1983;Schärer et al, 1984;Reuber et al, 1987). This subduction was also responsible for the opening of a backarc of Shyok basin (Rolland et al, 2000) during Cretaceous time.…”

“…The Tethyan ophiolites (south Ladakh ophiolites) are either pinched in the suture zone (Nidar ophiolite) or obducted onto Early Eocene rocks of the Indian continental margin (Spontang and Karzog ophiolites, Garzanti et al, 1987;Fuchs and Willems, 1990). All of these ophiolites were formed at around 110 Ma in an intra oceanic arc setting (Reuber et al, 1987;Mahéo et al, 2000Mahéo et al, , 2004Corfield et al, 2001;Pedersen et al, 2001). This intra oceanic arc formed above a north dipping subduction zone located south of the subduction zone responsible for the emplacement of the Dras arc and the Ladakh batholith.…”

“…The south Ladakh ophiolites are associated with an ophiolitic mélange with rare blueschist relicts (Jan, 1987). The main part of this mélange consists of a sedimentary matrix with blocks of Permo-Triassic limestones and alkaline basic rocks related to opening and widening of the Neo-Tethys Ocean, and relicts of Albian intra-oceanic islands (Reuber et al, 1987;Corfield et al, 1999).…”

“…1). Relicts of these paleo-accretionary prisms consist of sedimentary units including blocks of basic lithology that have experienced low grade metamorphism, as well as, rocks metamorphosed under blueschist facies conditions (Frank et al, 1977;Honegger et al, 1982Honegger et al, , 1989Jan, 1987;Reuber et al, 1987;Sutre, 1990;Ahmad et al, 1996;Robertson, 2000). In the Sapi-Shergol mélange, these slices are intercalated with ophiolitic units (Honegger et al, 1982(Honegger et al, , 1989Robertson, 2000) and are generally considered to be relicts of the oceanic basement of the Dras arc (Robertson, 2000).…”

The Indian Promontory: A Bridge between Plate Tectonics and Life Evolution Models

“…[21,48]; but much of the geology was known already in the 1980's: e.g. [49]). The main collision triggering the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau occurred around the early Palaeogene -from ca.…”