Serpentinite as a tracer for tectonic setting and mantle metasomatism of ophiolites: A case study of the Aoyougou ophiolite in the Qilian Orogenic Belt, NW China

Serpentinites, particularly those transformed from mantle peridotites, are potential tracers for the petrogenesis and tectonic geodynamics of peridotitic protoliths and certain mantle processes (e.g., fluid/melt metasomatism). This study presents new petrographic observations, mineral chemistry, geochemistry, and Re-Os isotopic compositions of the serpentinites from the Aoyougou ophiolite, the most problematic ophiolite in the Qilian Orogenic Belt, NW China. Our data indicates that the protoliths are melting residues of oceanic lithospheric mantle in a forearc setting. The high Mg-# values (90.49-93.06) of serpentinites confirm their refractory nature, which reflects multiple episodes of partial melting and melt extraction (13.86-18.90%). Moreover, the geochemical fingerprints (e.g., U-shaped rare earth element chondrite-normalized patterns, enrichments of fluid-mobile elements, positive Eu anomalies, extremely high Re-187/Os-188 ratios, high Re abundances) and the future model ages (T-MA) of most of the serpentinites show that they had undergone intensive melt/fluid metasomatism. Metasomatism was probably triggered by the input of slab-derived melts/fluids in the forearc setting, which resulted in the introduction of a high abundance of Re. Moreover, the Re-Os isotopic ages record a two-stage evolutionary history of mantle residues that included Precambrian melt extraction and late-Cambrian Re input by mantle metasomatism. Combined with the geological context, an intra-oceanic subduction model was proposed to interpret the origin and evolution of the ophiolite. As a result of the intra-oceanic subduction of the North Qilian Ocean, the oceanic crust of the ophiolite was generated by decompressive melting of the previously depleted forearc mantle. (C) 2021 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates the problematic Aoyougou serpentinites in the Qilian Orogenic Belt, NW China. The results suggest that the protoliths of these serpentinites are melting residues of oceanic lithospheric mantle in a forearc setting. Petrographic observations, mineral chemistry, geochemistry, and Re-Os isotopic compositions indicate multiple episodes of partial melting and melt/fluid metasomatism, potentially triggered by slab-derived melts/fluids. The study also proposes an intra-oceanic subduction model to interpret the origin and evolution of the ophiolite.