Age constraints on the formation and emplacement of Neoproterozoic ophiolites along the Allaqi-Heiani Suture, South Eastern Desert of Egypt

K. A. Ali, M. K. Azer, H. A. Gahlan, S. A. Wilde, M. D. Samuel, R. J. Stern

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

147 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ophiolites are key components of the Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS). Understanding when they formed and were emplaced is crucial for understanding the evolution of the ANS because their ages tell when seafloor spreading and terrane accretion occurred. The Yanbu-Onib-Sol Hamed-Gerf-Allaqi-Heiani (YOSHGAH) suture and ophiolite belt can be traced ~600km across the Nubian and Arabian shields. We report five new SHRIMP U-Pb zircon ages from igneous rocks along the Allaqi segment of the YOSHGAH suture in southernmost Egypt and use these data in conjunction with other age constraints to evaluate YOSHGAH suture evolution. Ophiolitic layered gabbro gave a concordia age of 730±6Ma, and a metadacite from overlying arc-type metavolcanic rocks yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 733±7Ma, indicating ophiolite formation at ~730Ma. Ophiolite emplacement is also constrained by intrusive bodies: a gabbro yielded a concordia age of 697±5Ma, and a quartz-diorite yielded a concordia age of 709±4Ma. Cessation of deformation is constrained by syn- to post-tectonic granite with a concordia age of 629±5Ma. These new data, combined with published zircon ages for ophiolites and stitching plutons from the YOSHGAH suture zone, suggest a 2-stage evolution for the YOSHGAH ophiolite belt (~810-780Ma and ~730-750Ma) and indicate that accretion between the Gabgaba-Gebeit-Hijaz terranes to the south and the SE Desert-Midyan terranes to the north occurred as early as 730Ma and no later than 709±4Ma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)583-595
Number of pages13
JournalGondwana Research
Volume18
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Arabian-Nubian Shield
  • Neoproterozoic
  • Ophiolite
  • U-Pb zircon age

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Age constraints on the formation and emplacement of Neoproterozoic ophiolites along the Allaqi-Heiani Suture, South Eastern Desert of Egypt'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this