Petrography and geothermobarometry of lherzolites in Chah-Loqeh (Ashin Ophiolite)

In this study, some mantle lherzolites of Ashin ophiolite are investigated which contain evidence of a geotectonic/metamorphism during exhumation and obduction of oceanic lithosphere on the continental crust, after closure of Neo-Tethys Ocean. Based on petrography, their primary rock-forming minerals are orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, olivine, and chromian spinel. Mineralogy and geothermobarometry indicate that these 4-phase lherzolites were formed in the lithospheric mantle (at pressures ~ 21.6 to 8.6 kbar) by melt/wall rock reactions (at temperatures ~ 1012-1183 °C). Then, they were emplaced and obducted on the continental crust along the fault zone of this region, and consequently deformed. The first ductile deformation event occurred in the depth of lithosphere and resulted in high-temperature mylonitization at temperatures higher than 600 to 800 °C. Mineralogical features confirm pressure decreasing of this stage by subsolidus reaction of pyroxene and spinel and substitution of plagioclase and olivine. Therefore, petrography and thermobarometry data are indicative of the spinel to plagioclase lherzolite facies for these rocks. Finally, they partially underwent brittle and cataclastic deformation at temperatures below 600°C and lower pressures and depth during exhumation. However, most of plagioclases were replaced by with prehnite, pumpellyite, chlorite, hydrogrossular and xonotlite minerals by further alterations.