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Peridotites and basaltic rocks within an ophiolitic mélange from the SW igneous province of Puerto Rico: relation to the evolution of the Caribbean Plate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2016

NADJA OMARA CINTRON FRANQUI ,
SUNG HI CHOI  and
DER-CHUEN LEE
NADJA OMARA CINTRON FRANQUI
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Earth Environmental Sciences, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehangno, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
SUNG HI CHOI*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Earth Environmental Sciences, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehangno, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
DER-CHUEN LEE
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 11529, Taiwan, ROC
*
†Author for correspondence: chois@cnu.ac.kr
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Abstract

The geology of Puerto Rico is divided into three regions: the north, central and SW igneous provinces. Characterized by its Jurassic ophiolitic mélange basement, lithology of the SW Igneous Province (SIP) is not related to either of the other two provinces. The ophiolitic mélange is exposed in three peridotite belts: Monte del Estado, Rio Guanajibo and Sierra Bermeja. We present geochemical data to identify the tectonic setting of the SIP peridotite formation and its relation to the evolution of the Caribbean Plate. Comparisons of spinel Cr no. (13–21), Mg no. (63.3–69.6) and TiO2 suggest an abyssal peridotite origin; however, only Sierra Bermeja presents high TiO2 characteristics of a mid-ocean-ridge-basalt- (MORB-) like melt reaction. Temperatures determined with two-pyroxene geothermometers indicated a cold thermal regime of c. 800–1050°C, with characteristics of large-offset transform fault abyssal peridotites. The geochemistry and Sr–Nd–Hf–Pb isotopic compositions of basalts within the mélange were also analysed. Las Palmas amphibolites exhibited normal-MORB-like rare earth element (REE) and trace-element patterns, whereas metabasalts and Lower Cajul basalts exhibited island-arc tholeiitic-like patterns. Highly radiogenic Sr isotopes (0.70339–0.70562) of the basalts suggest seawater alteration; however, Pb–Pb and Nd–Hf isotope correlations represent the primary compositions of a Pacific/Atlantic MORB source for the amphibolites, metabasalts and Lower Cajul basalts. We propose that the SIP ophiolitic mélange was formed along a large-offset transform fault, which initiated subduction and preserved both proto-Pacific and proto-Caribbean lithospheric mantle. Younger Upper Cajul basalts exhibited enriched-MORB-like geochemical and isotopic signatures, which can be attributed to a tectonized Caribbean ocean plateau.

Keywords

Puerto Ricoophiolitic mélangeperidotitebasaltSr–Nd–Hf–Pb isotopes
Type
Original Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 154 , Issue 1 , January 2017 , pp. 96 - 118
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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