Geochemistry of pillow lavas and their clinopyroxene: ophiolitic mélanges of Nain and Ashin, northeastern Isfahan province

Abstract

The Nain and Ashin ophiolites are located in northeastern Isfahan province, in western Central-East Iranian Microplate. Pillow lavas are one of the most significant Cretaceous rock units. The lower partial melting degree in mantle peridotites of Ashin ophiolite, and the derived melt by melting their clinopyroxene caused a more basic (basalt) and enriched nature for the Ashin pillow lavas, whereas higher partial melting degree and consequently incongruent melting of orthopyroxene and increment of silica in the ascending melt, together with aqueous fluids led to formation of more acidic (andesite – basaltic andesite) and depleted melts (in trace elements) in Nain ophiolite. The REE content of Nain samples have IAT chemical affinity, but the samples from Ashin show MORB characteristics. Based on petrograhic observations, lower Eu/Eu* of clinopyroxene phenocrystals of Ashin, calculated Kd of clinopyroxene together with HREE enrichment in the melt in equilibrium with clinopyroxene (especially in Ashin when compared with Nain), the plagioclase crystallization was primer and higher in comparison with clinopyroxene, especially in Ashin compared with Nain. The melt in equilibrium with clinopyroxene in Ashin was similar to MORB composition, whereas it is similar to IAT in Nain. Thus, despite the proximity of these two ophiolitic series and some field and petrographic similarities, pillow lavas from them are different from each other in both primary melt composition and the processes of differentiation and the tectonic setting.

Keywords

• Geochemistry
• clinopyroxene
• pillow lavas
• Nain ophiolite
• Ashin ophiolite