Geochronological constraints on the metamorphic sole of the Semail ophiolite in the United Arab Emirates

Roberts, Nick M.W.; Thomas, Robert J.; Jacobs, Joachim. 2016 Geochronological constraints on the metamorphic sole of the Semail ophiolite in the United Arab Emirates. Geoscience Frontiers, 7 (4). 609-619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2015.12.003

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text (Open Access Paper)
Roberts et al 2016 GSF.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives 4.0.
Download (3MB) | Preview

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2015.12.003

Abstract/Summary

The Semail ophiolite of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provides the best preserved large slice of oceanic lithosphere exposed on the continental crust, and offers unique opportunities to study processes of ocean crust formation, subduction initiation and obduction. Metamorphic rocks exposed in the eastern UAE have traditionally been interpreted as a metamorphic sole to the Semail ophiolite. However, there has been some debate over the possibility that the exposures contain components of older Arabian continental crust. To help answer this question, presented here are new zircon and rutile U-Pb geochronological data from various units of the metamorphic rocks. Zircon was absent in most samples. Those that yielded zircon and rutile provide dominant single age populations that are 95–93 Ma, partially overlapping with the known age of oceanic crust formation (96.5–94.5 Ma), and partially overlapping with cooling ages of the metamorphic rocks (95–90 Ma). The data are interpreted as dating high-grade metamorphism during subduction burial of the sediments into hot mantle lithosphere, and rapid cooling during their subsequent exhumation. A few discordant zircon ages, interpreted as late Neoproterozoic and younger, represent minor detrital input from the continent. No evidence is found in favour of the existence of older Arabian continental crust within the metamorphic rocks of the UAE.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2015.12.003
ISSN:	16749871
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	10 Jun 2016 08:56 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513788

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2015.12.003

ISSN:

16749871

NORA Subject Terms:

Earth Sciences

Date made live:

10 Jun 2016 08:56 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513788