Ion-probe (SIMS) U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the Upper Cretaceous Kızıldağ (Hatay) ophiolite: Implications for supra-subduction zone spreading in the Southern Neotethys

The Kızıldağ (Hatay) ophiolite in southern Turkey represents a complete, although fault-dissected, remnant of oceanic lithosphere that formed within the South Tethyan ocean during late Cretaceous. forms part Upper Cretaceous belt which includes Troodos (Cyprus), Baer-Bassit (Syria), Amanos (S Tukey), S Iran and Semail (Oman) ophiolites. Ion-probe (SIMS) dating seven samples crustal rocks (cumulate gabbro, isotropic gabbro isolated dykes mantle tectonite), plagiogranite intrusion provides important clues concerning temporal development emplaced crust. Single grain 206Pb/238U dates overlap analytical uncertainty for four samples, including (93.83 ± 0.46 Ma), (92.9 0.52 Ma) (92.54 0.44 Ma to 93.6 0.75 are interpreted as magmatic crystallisation ages, suggest 1-2 Ma. Three other with single outside range yielded nearly identical lower intercept ages 94.2 2.5 94.4 0.97 two cumulate gabbros 90.0 6.4 an gabbro. Comparison new published radiometric this is ∼1.5 older than previously believed, similar plagiogranites from (Cyprus) age data emphasise value ophiolitic rocks. Geochemically, boninitic magmas dykes) island arc tholeiitic (isotropic gabbro). whole-rock chemical support subduction-initiation (fore-arc) setting ophiolite, common Troodos, Semail, Baër-Bassit ophiolites South-Tethyan region.