Petrology of a Neoproterozoic mantle peridotite–chromitite association from Abu Dahr area, Eastern Desert, Egypt: Infiltration of a boninitic melt in highly depleted harzburgite

• Published in: Journal of African earth sciences (1994) Vol. 165; p. 103816
• Main Authors: Abdel Halim, Ali H., Helmy, Hassan M., Elhaddad, Mervet A., El–Mahallawi, Mahmoud M., Mogessie, Aberra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Abu Dahr ophiolite; Boninitic melt; Chromitite; Forearc mantle wedge; Orthopyroxenite; SSZ peridotites; Chromitite; Boninitic melt; Abu Dahr ophiolite; SSZ peridotites; Forearc mantle wedge; Orthopyroxenite
• ISSN: 1464-343X; 1879-1956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2020.103816

Peridotites of Abu Dahr represent the main litho–unit of a Neoproterozoic dismembered ophiolite sequence and are among the best–preserved and well–exposed mantle rocks in South Eastern Desert of Egypt. Here, we present new geochemical and mineral chemical data for peridotites and associated pyroxenites and for chromitites and their platinum–group minerals to constrain their petrogenesis and geotectonic setting. The Abu Dahr ophiolite mantle section consists mainly of harzburgites, cut by pyroxenite dykes and containing dunite–chromitite lenses. The harzburgites are composed of olivine, orthopyroxene, spinel and minor clinopyroxene (˂1.0 vol %) and amphibole. Olivine from harzburgites is highly magnesian (Fo 91–93) and Cr–spinel shows a wide–range of Cr2O3 and Al2O3 contents. The enstatite component of orthopyroxene decreases from harzburgite (En = 90–91) to orthopyroxenite (En = 84–87). Amphiboles are represented by magnesiohornblende and tschermakite. The chromitites are massive to disseminated and composed of magnesiochromite with high Cr# (83–93) and Mg# (66–79), and low TiO2 (<0.1 wt%) content. Solid inclusions in chromite include olivine, orthopyroxene and hornblende. Laurite (RuS2) is the most common PGM detected in the investigated chromitite samples and forms micrometer–size inclusions in fresh chromite. Various Ni–sulfides are found both in fresh chromite and along serpentine veinlets. Harzburgites have a refractory composition with a very low Al2O3 (0.4–0.8 wt%) and CaO (0.2–1.6 wt%) contents and high bulk–rock Mg# (89–92). Geochemical data suggest that the Abu Dahr peridotites are highly depleted SSZ peridotites formed in a forearc mantle wedge setting by high degrees of hydrous partial melting and emplaced as a result of the collision of the intra–oceanic arc with the Beitan gneisses. The podiform chromitites and orthopyroxenites were formed due to impregnation of mantle wedge harzburgites by boninitic melt. The highly depleted nature of the harzburgite is responsible for the small reserves of chromite ore at Abu Dahr and in the South Eastern Desert in general. •Petrology of a highly depleted Neoproterozoic mantle section of Abu Dahr area.•Infiltration of boninitic melt in a highly depleted melt produced pyroxenite dykes.•Small podiform chromitites in Abu Dahr produced by melt-rock interaction.•A fore-arc setting of the highly depleted harzburgites of Abu Dahr is suggested.