Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Mafic segregations in ophiolite mantle sequences

Nature volume 299, pages 524–528 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

Mafic segregations of picritic composition and high-temperature–high-pressure mineralogy are described from the mantle sequences of ophiolites and show similarities with parental magma to oceanic tholeiite and have escaped significant fractionation and re-equilibration due to ascent through an unperturbed geothermal gradient. Such conditions are uncharacteristic of mature speading centres and indicate that the host ophiolites were generated during incipient rifting.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Church, W. R. & Stevens, R. K. J. geophys. Res. 76, 1460–1466 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Malpas, J. Can. J. Earth Sci. 16, 2086–2101 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. McCaig, A. M. thesis, Univ. Western Ontario (1980).

  4. Jamieson, R. A. J. Petrol. 22, 397–449 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Nicolas, A. & Jackson, E. D. Schwiez. miner. petrogr. Mitt. 52, 479–495 (1972).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bebien J, et al. Ofioliti Spec. Iss. Tethyan Ophiolites 2, 129–197 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Karamata, S., Majer, V. & Pamic, J. Ofioliti Spec. Iss. Tethyan Ophiolites 1, 105–125 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Menzies, M. A. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 42, 273–285 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Menzies, M. A. & Allen, C. R. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 45, 197–213 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Menzies, M. A. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 40, 645–656 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Pamic, J. & Majer, V. J. Geol. 85, 553–569 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Popevic, A. 8th Yugoslav. Geol. Congr., Lubjljana, 245–260 (1977).

  13. Church, W. R. & Gayer, R. A. Geol. Mag. 110, 497–510 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Spray, J. G. thesis, Univ. Cambridge (1980).

  15. Spray, J. G. & Williams, G. D. J. geol. Soc. Lond. 137, 359–368 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Treloar, P. J. et al. Trans. R. Soc. Edinb. 71, 201–212 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bloxam, T. W. & Allen, J. B. Trans. R. Soc. Edinb. 64, 1–27 (1960).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Green, D. H. J. Petrol. 5, 134–188 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Green, D. H. J. Geol. 72, 543–563 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bromley, A. V. Camborne School of Mines 79, 25–38 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  21. MacKenzie, D. B. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 71, 303–318 (1960).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Challis, G. A. J. Petrol. 6, 396–419 (1965).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Smith, C. H. & MacGregor, I. D. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. 71, 1978 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lindsley-Griffin, N. Ore Dept. Geol. Min. Ind. Bull. 95, 107–120 (1977).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Nicolas, A. et al. Nature 294, 414–417 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Boudier, F. & Coleman, R. G. J. geophys. Res. 86, 2573–2592 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wilson, R. A. M. Cyprus Geol. Surv. Dept. Mem. 1 (1959).

  28. Lacroix, A. 8th int. Geol. Congr, Paris, 806–838 (1901).

  29. Conquere, F. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 32, 32–61 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Obata, M. J. Petrol. 21, 533–572 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Reuber, I. et al. Tectonophysics 82, 231–251 (1982).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gass, I. G. Ophiolite Symp., Cyprus 23–32 (1980).

  33. Juteau, H. & Whitechurch, H. Ophiolite Symp., Cyprus, 377–391 (1980).

  34. Parrot, J. F. Tectonophysics 41, 251–269 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Williams, H. & Smyth, W. R. Am. J. Sci. 273, 594–621 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. Woodcock, N. H. & Robertson, A. H. F. Geology 5, 373–376 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Pamic, J. J., Scavnicar, S. & Medjimorec, S. J. Petrol. 14, 133–157 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Pamic, J. J. Am. Miner. 62, 874–886 (1977).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Parrot, J. F. & Whitechurch, H. Rev. Geog. Phys. Geol. Dyn. 20, 153–170 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Jamieson, R. A. Geology 8, 150–154 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Karamata, S. Ophiolite Symp., Cyprus, 219–227 (1980).

  42. Searle, M. P. & Malpas, J. Trans. R. Soc. Edinb. 71, 247–262 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Spray, J. G. & Roddick, J. C. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 72, 43–55 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Thuizat, R. et al. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 52, 302–310 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Feininger, T. Can. J. Earth Sci. 18, 1878–1892 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Ghent, E. D. & Stout, M. Z. J. geophys. Res. 86, 2557–2571 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Stolper, E. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 74, 13–27 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Irving, A. J. Am. J. Sci. 280A, 389–426 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Cann, J. R. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. 268A, 495–505 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Ringwood, A. E. Composition and Petrology of the Earth's Mantle (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  51. Dmitriev, L. V., Ukhanov, A. V. & Sharakin, A. Geochem. Int. 13, 781–792 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  52. Elthon, D. Nature 278, 514–518 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Donaldson, D. H. & Brown, R. W. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 37, 81–89 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. O'Hara, M. J. Nature 220, 683–686 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. Clarke, D. B. & O'Hara, M. J. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 44, 153–158 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Presnall, D. C. et al. J. Petrol. 20, 3–36 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Sparks, R. S. J., Meyer, P. & Sigurdsson, H. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 46, 419–430 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Stolper, E. & Walker, D. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 74, 7–12 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Maaloe, S. J. J. geol. Soc. Lond. 138, 223–236 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Nicolas, A., Boudier, F. & Bouchez, J-L. Am. J. Sci. 280A, 192–210 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  61. Raitt, R. W. The Sea Vol. 3, 85–102 (Interscience, New York, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  62. Christensen, N. I. & Salisbury, M. H. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 13, 57–86 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EQ, UK

    J. G. Spray

Authors
  1. J. G. Spray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Spray, J. Mafic segregations in ophiolite mantle sequences. Nature 299, 524–528 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/299524a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/299524a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing