Publication: A pre-Rodinian ophiolite involved in the Variscan suture of Galicia (Cabo Ortegal Complex, NW Spain)
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Publication Date
2006
Authors
Jeffries, Teresa E.
García Sánchez, Raquel
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Geological Society of London.
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Abstract
U–Pb dating of zircons from a metagabbro of the Purrido
amphibolitic unit (Cabo Ortegal Complex, NW Iberian
Massif) yielded an age of 1159 ± 39 Ma, interpreted to
approximate the crystallization age of the gabbroic protolith.
Considering the arc affinity of the metagabbroic rocks, the
unit is interpreted as a pre-Rodinian ophiolite developed in a
back-arc setting. It is suggested that the ophiolite was
obducted over the West African terranes during the assembly
of Rodinia. There, this terrane remained tectonically stable
and facing an ocean for a long time, and eventually became
part of the Gondwanan margin. The ophiolite was finally
involved in the Variscan suture of Galicia where it is
sandwiched between Palaeozoic rocks. The Purrido unit is so
far the only example of a Mesoproterozoic ophiolite in the
European Variscan belt, where pre-Neoproterozoic rocks are
very scarce and restricted to small exposures.