Mid-ocean ridge and supra-subduction affinities in the Pindos ophiolites (Greece): implications for magma genesis in a forearc setting

The Pindos ophiolitic massif is considered an important key area within the Albanide-Hellenide ophiolitic belt and is represented by two tectonically distinct ophiolitic units: (1) a lower unit, including an intrusive and a volcanic section; and (2) an Upper Ophiolitic Unit, mainly including mantle harzburgites. Both units share similar metamorphic soles and tectono-sedimentary melanges at their bases. The intrusive section of the lower unit is composed by an alternation of troctolites with various ultramafic rock-types, including dunites, lherzolites, olivine-websterites, olivine-gabbros, anorthositic gabbros, gabbros and rare gabbronorites. The volcanic and subvolcanic sequence of the lower unit can geochemically be subdivided into three groups of rocks: (1) basalts and basaltic andesites of the lower pillow section showing a clear high-Ti affinity; (2) basaltic andesites of the upper pillow section with high-Ti affinity, but showing many geochemical differences with respect to the first group; (3) very low-Ti (boninitic) basaltic and basaltic andesitic lava flows separating the lower and upper pillow sections, and dykes widespread throughout the Pindos ophiolites. These different magmatic groups originated from fractional crystallization from different primary magmas, which were generated, in turn, from partial melting of mantle sources progressively depleted by previous melt extractions. Group I volcanics may have derived from partial melting (ca. 20%) of an undepleted lherzolitic source, while group 2 basaltic rocks may have derived from partial melting (ca. 10%) of a mantle that had previously experienced mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) extraction. Finally, the Group 3 boninites may have derived from partial melting (ca. 12-17%) of a mantle peridotite previously depleted by primary melt extraction of Groups 1 and 2 primary melts. In order to explain the coexistence of these geochemically different magma groups, two petrogenetic models formerly proposed for the Albanian ophiolites are discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.