Geochemistry and protoliths of the Hatta metamorphic sole marbles, northern Oman Mountains, United Arab Emirates

Ali F. Osman, Zeinab Smillie (nee Taman)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Banded marbles constitute a distinct unit of the Hatta metamorphic sole in the Northern Oman Mountains. The pure and impure marbles were studied petrographic ally and geochemically to determine their geochemical characterstics and decipher the metamorphic history and variations in their protoliths mineralogy. The marbles are made up mainly of calcite beside pelitic and feldspathic phases. Authigenic albite, with the peculiar "Roe Tourne twinning", is recorded in the marble samples. Crystal and twin morphologies of the calcite define a spectrnm that corresponds to increasing temperature from thin twins at very low temperatures to straight thick twins and finally to recrystallization at grain boundaries at high temperatures. All the components necessary for albite authigenesis during metamorphism are supplied by the host rocks. Microstylolites with filling materials are recorded in the marbles; the latter are the product of metamorphic reactions between the detritus and the host rock component (calcite). The metamorphic rocks in the study area show polyphase deformation, mylonitic fabrics, foliation, stretching lineation and folding. The sub-ophiolite metamorphic sole and the upper sedimentary melange (Hawasina Complex) comprise a distinct thrnst slice in the Hatta area. The absence or rarity exposures of amphibolites in the Hatta zone may be attributed to the higher level of detachment of the basement blocks during the initial separation from the oceanic crust. Trace elements and REE contents are lower in the pure marbles as compared to in the impure (siliceous) marbles. This is attributed mostly to the concentration of REE in the clay fractions and the authigenic Fe-Mn coats of sediment grains rather than concentration in heavy minerals such as zircon. The marbles show a relatively flat REE normalized pattern with no to fair negative Ce anomaly and positive Eu anomaly. The presence of a positive Eu anomaly is consistent with the authigenic plagioclase enrichment. The (La/Yb), values of the studied marbles are similar to the average values recorded for the Arabian Sea limestone and the Indian ocean carbonates. Evidently, the banded marbles are metamorphosed "Oman Exotic" limestone which crop out within imbricated thrust sheets of the Hatta metamorphic sole beneath the Semail ophiolite.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)349-373
Number of pages25
JournalEgyptian Journal of Geology
Volume55
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Geochemistry and protoliths of the Hatta metamorphic sole marbles, northern Oman Mountains, United Arab Emirates'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this