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The Xigaze ophiolite (Tibet): a peculiar oceanic lithosphere

Nature volume 294, pages 414–417 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

The Xigaze ophiolite which outcrops along the Yarlung Zangbo river, southern Tibet, locally displays a complete ophiolitic sequence from marine sedimentary cover over basaltic volcanics to the north, to fresh Cr diopside-rich harzburgites to the south. In contrast with other ophiolites, the mafic part of the sequence is particularly thin. It is almost devoid of cumulate gabbros consisting of a diabase sill complex covered by lava-flows or pillow-lavas. The ultramafic unit is poor in residual harzburgites and dunites and consists dominantly of fresh Cr diopside-rich harzburgites. The origin of this peculiar ophiolite (of oceanic crust) is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Tectonophysique, 38 boulevard Michelet, 44072, Nantes Cédex, France

    A. Nicolas

  2. Institut de Physique du Globe, 4 place Jussieu, 75230, Paris, Cédex 05, France

    J. Girardeau & B. Dupre

  3. Laboratoire de Géologie, Faculté des Sciences, Moulin de la House, BP 347, 51062, Reims, France

    J. Marcoux

  4. Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, China

    Wang Xibin, Cao Yougong, Zheng Haixiang & Xiao Xuchang

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  1. A. Nicolas
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  2. J. Girardeau
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  4. B. Dupre
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  5. Wang Xibin
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  6. Cao Yougong
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  7. Zheng Haixiang
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  8. Xiao Xuchang
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Nicolas, A., Girardeau, J., Marcoux, J. et al. The Xigaze ophiolite (Tibet): a peculiar oceanic lithosphere. Nature 294, 414–417 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/294414a0

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