Journal Article

Exhumed Serpentinites and Their Tectonic Significance in Non‐Collisional Orogens

Gazel, Esteban, Marsh, Jeffrey, Donoso‐Tapia, Damián, Flores, Kennet E., Martin, Celine

2024

Overview

Exhumed serpentinites are fragments of ancient oceanic lithosphere or mantle wedge that record deep fluid‐rock interactions and metasomatic processes. While common in suture zones after closure of ocean basins, in non‐collisional orogens their origin and tectonic significance are not fully understood. We study serpentinite samples from five river basins in a segment of the non‐collisional Andean orogen in Ecuador (Cordillera Real). All samples are fully serpentinized with antigorite as the main polymorph, while spinel is the only relic phase. Watershed delineation analysis and in‐situ B isotope data suggest four serpentinite sources, linked to mantle wedge (δ11B = ∼−10.6 to −0.03‰) and obducted ophiolite (δ11B = −2.51 to +5.73‰) bodies, likely associated with Triassic, Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous, and potentially Late Cretaceous‐Paleocene high‐pressure (HP)–low‐temperature metamorphic sequences. Whole‐rock trace element data and in‐situ B isotopes favor serpentinization by a crust‐derived metamorphic fluid. Thermodynamic modeling in two samples suggests serpentinization at ∼550–500°C and pressures from 2.5 to 2.2 GPa and 1.0–0.6 GPa for two localities. Both samples record a subsequent overprint at ∼1.5–0.5 GPa and 680–660°C. In the Andes, regional phases of slab rollback have been reported since the mid‐Paleozoic to Late Cretaceous. This tectonic scenario favors the extrusion of HP rocks into the forearc and the opening of back‐arc basins. Subsequent compressional phases trigger short‐lived subduction in the back‐arc that culminates with ophiolite obduction and associated metamorphic rock exhumation. Thus, we propose that serpentinites in non‐collisional orogens are sourced from extruded slivers of mantle wedge in the forearc or obducted ophiolite sequences associated with regional back‐arc basins. Plain Language Summary Serpentinites are metamorphic rock products of fluid‐mediated alteration of the mantle. They occur in the ocean floor and the core of mountain belts resulting from continental collisions after the closure of ancient oceanic basins. However, their origin in non‐collisional mountain belts, such as the Andes, remains unclear. To address this conundrum, we studied serpentinite boulders from five river basins in the Ecuadorian northern Cordillera Real. We found that rocks are composed of the high‐temperature serpentine mineral, while spinel is the only original mineral preserved. River basin analysis and boron stable isotopes indicate four potential sources for the studied rocks, juxtaposed to rocks ranging in age from ∼240 to 55 million. Bulk‐rock chemistry and boron isotopes suggest that the serpentinization was triggered by crustal fluids at depths between 80 and 30 km in a subduction zone environment. Through time, the Andes have been characterized by extensional and compressional tectonic phases. These tectonic scenarios enhance the extraction of rocks at deep sections of the Earth along major faults. We propose that Andean serpentinites are fragments of the Earth's mantle sourced from ancient subduction zones and back‐arc basins. Key Points Serpentinites associated with HP–LT rocks are common in the Andes, but their origin and tectonic significance are not fully understood Our results in Cordillera Real serpentinites suggest four sources derived from the mantle wedge and obducted ophiolites Serpentinites in non‐collisional orogens are exhumed during slab rollback and back‐arc basin closure phases

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Basins / Boron / Boron isotopes / Boulders / continental margins: convergent / Cretaceous / Earth mantle / Fluids / fluid‐rock interaction / Isotopes / Jurassic / Lithosphere / major and trace element geochemistry / metamorphic petrology / Metamorphic rocks / non‐collisional orogens / Obduction / Ocean basins / Ocean floor / Oceans / Palaeocene / Paleocene / Paleozoic / River basins / Rivers / Serpentinite / serpentinites / Serpentinization / stable isotope geochemistry / Stable isotopes / Subduction / subduction zone processes / Subduction zones / the Andes / Trace elements / Triassic / Watersheds