Bay of Islands ophiolite suite, Newfoundland: Petrologic and geochemical characteristics with emphasis on rare earth element geochemistry

Abstract

Characteristic geochemical features of the ophiolite suite from the Bay of Islands Complex have been determined by major and trace element analyses of 13 rocks. Based on elements, such as rare earth elements (REE), whose abundances are relatively immobile during alteration and metamorphism, we find that (1) the pillow lavas and diabases are relatively depleted in light REE similar to most tholeiites occurring along spreading oceanic ridges, in back-arc basins and comprising the early phases of volcanism in island arcs; (2) the gabbros, composed of cumulate plagioclase and olivine with poikilitic clinopyroxene, have REE contents consistent with formation as cumulates precipitated from magmas represented by the overlying pillow lavas and diabases; (3) as in most harzburgites from ophiolites, the Bay of Islands harzburgite and dunite have relative REE abundances inconsistent with a genetic relationship to the overlying basic rocks - this inconsistency may be primary or it may result from late-stage alteration, contamination and/or metamorphism; (4) some Bay of Islands lherzolites have major and trace element abundances expected in the mantle source of the overlying basic rocks. Overall, the geochemical features of this Bay of Islands ophiolite suite are similar to those from Troodos and Vourinos, but these data are not sufficient to distinguish between different tectonic environments such as deep ocean ridge, small ocean basin or young island arc. © 1979.