PETROLOGY OF OPHIOLITE

ProgramStudi Teknik Pertambangan

Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Hasanuddin
2013
Sufriadin
INTODUCTION
Study of ophiolites have many significant
means both for scientific and practical
aspects.
The understanding of ophiolite can provide
the explanation about oceanic crust evolution
and its tectonic setting.
In practical aspect, the knowledge of ophiolite
sequences might be used as basic for
searching mineral deposits associated within
the complex such as chromite, Ni, Co, etc.

3
OPHIOLITE DEFINITION/TERMINOLOGY
Ophiolite (from Greek ophis=snake and lithos=rocks) was
first used in 1813 by a French Mineralogist, Alexandre
Brongniert, in reference to serpentinites in melanges.
However, this term was elevated by Gustav Steinman in
1905, to a new concept that is the rock assemblage
consisting of ultramafic, mafic, and deep-marine
sedimentary.
Petrologically, Ophiolite refer to a distinctive assemblage of
mafic to ultramafic rocks. It occurs in rock sequence,
starting from bottom to the top are : ultramafic ; gabroic ;
mafic sheet dikes and mafic volcanic (Dilek, 2003)
4
OPHIOLITE DEFINITION/TERMINOLOGY
In complete sequence ; normally ophiolite
consist of 4 layers:
Layer 1 : Pelagic sediments with thickness around
0,3 km
Layer 2 : Basaltic pillow lava and sheeted dikes (0,3
1,5 km)
Layer 3 : Gabbro and layered gabro (2 5 km).
Layer 4 : Ultramafic Complex (wehrlite, harzburgit,
dunit), up to 7 km

5
6
CLASSSIFICATION OF MAFIC & ULTRAMAFIC ROCK
In general, igneous rock can be classified on the basis
of : silica saturation, color index, texture, grain size,
and mineralogical composition.
Mafic describes a rock with far more mafic minerals,
whereas basic refers to a rock that contain SiO
2

ranging between 45 % to 52 %

8
CLASSSIFICATION OF MAFIC & ULTRAMAFIC ROCK
Term of ultrabasic used if one refers to silica content
less than 45 wt % SiO2, while ultramafic denote to
rocks that have more than 90 wt % mafic minerals
(olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, biotite).
10
TERNARY DIAGRAM FOR CLASSSIFICATION OF MAFIC AND
ULTRAMAFIC ROCK
12
EAST SULAWESI OPHIOLITE COMPLEX
Sulawesi Island is divided into 4 tectonic
provinces :
West Sulawesi Plutono Volcanic Belt
Central Sulawesi Metamorphic Belt
East Sulawesi Ophiolite Belt
Micro-continent of Banggai Sula- Buton Tukang
Besi

13
14
EAST SULAWESI OPHIOLITE (ESO)
ESO is one of the three world largest ophiolites
along with Semail Ophiolite, Oman and Papua
New Guinea Ophiolite.
Total length of ESO extension reach up to 700
km covering an area of 1500 km
2
with the
thickness around 10 km.
15
RECONSTRUCTION OF
ESO STRATIGRAPHIC
SECTION (MONNIER ET
AL, 1995)
16
PETROLOGY
Three main groups of the rocks have been
recognized within the complex (Kadarusman, et
al, 2004):
Ultramafic complexes are mainly situated in
southeast arm of the island
Gabroic rocks are commonly located in the east
northeast arm
Basalt & Dolerite are mostly in northeast arm and
partly in south arm
17
DISTRIBUTION
OF ESO
More mafic

More
ultramafic

INCO Mine Site

Aneka
Tambang Mine
Site

18
ULTRAMAFIC COMPLEX
These rocks are dominated by peridotite
(harzburgite is more than lherzolite) and locally
dunite.
Generally, peridotite has undergone
serpentinisation with various degree, except for
Soroako mine area.
19
MINERALOGIC COMPOSITION, (AFTER
KADARUSMAN ET AL, 2004) :
Lherzolite : olivine (60 70)%, Opx(12 20)%, Cpx (5-
10)%, hornb(0-2)%, spinel(1-2)%.
Harzburgite : olivine (65-75)%, Opx(12-20)%, Cpx(1-
4)%, spinel(1-2)%.
Dunite : olivine (95 98)%, Opx<1%, spinel (2-5)%.
Websterite : olivine (0-5)%, Opx (60-65)%, Cpx(25-
30)%, spinel(1-3)%.
Wehrlite : olivine (70-75)%, Opx(0-5)%, Cpx(5-25)%,
spinel (2-4)%.
20
OLIVINE AND PYROXENE COMPOSITION
Lherzolite : Fo
88-91
Harzburgite : Fo
89-92
Dunite : Fo
86-91
Websterite : Fo
91-93
Wehrlite : Fo
86-89
Orthopyroxene : Mg-rich enstatite
Clinopyroxene : Mg-rich augite
21
PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF PERIDOTITE SAMPLE FROM MATANO
22
PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF SERPENTINIZED PERIDOTITE
SAMPLE FROM BAHUDOPI
23
GABRO
Gabro in ESO is still commonly fresh and coarse grained.
These rocks were characterized by some varieties according to
their dominance mineralogy : (i) olivine-gabro, (ii) hornblende-
gabro, (iii) gabro-norite, (iv) ferro-gabro, and (v) anorthosite
Plagioclase composition is around An
50
- An
90
, while pyroxenes
are dominated by augite and minor pigeonite.
Hornblende are also present in small amount.

24
PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF GABRO FROM PETEA AREA
2 1
25
BASALT & DOLERITE
Basalts in ESO were classified into three types on the basis of phenocryst
and textures :

Clinopyroxene-plagioclase with phenocryst set in glassy groundmass
Clinopyroxene-plagioclase with phenocryst set in crystalline groundmass
Aphyric basalt with plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and Fe-Ti oxides
composition.

Dolerite mainly comprises of plagioclase, pyroxene, and minor glassy
groundmass.


26
IMPLICATION TO MINERALIZATION
Economic mineral deposits that are associated
with ophiolite genetically can be categorized
into three types :
Magmatic deposits (Chromite, PGM)
Hydrothermal-metamorphic deposits (Massive
Sulphide Deposits, talc, asbestos, etc.)
Lateritic Deposits (Ni, Co).
SERPENTINE & SERPENTINISATION
Serpentine is a mineral group that has general
formula : Mg
3
Si
2
O
5
(OH)
4
:
There are three principal forms of serpentine :
Lizardite (green, white, platy, fine grained, tiny
crystal)
Chrysotile (yellowish green, needle shape/ fibrous),
consisting of ortho, para, and clino-chrysotile).
Antigorite (green-blue)
SERPENTINE TEXTURES
Based on microscopic observation, serpentine
textures are distinguished into three types :
Pseudomorphic (mesh texture after olivine and
bastite after pyroxene)
Non pseudomorphic (interpenetrating and
interlocking)
Vein (fractures filling)
VEIN TEXTURE
VEIN TEXTURE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
(PAGE, 1968 ; MOODY, 1976)
Lizardite : High Fe
2
O
3
; High H
2
O ; Mod. MgO ;
Low SiO
2
.

Chrysotile : High MgO ; High H
2
O ; Low Fe
2
O
3
Antigorite : High SiO
2
; Low MgO ; Low H
2
O
SERPENTINISATION PROSESS
Serpentinisation is considered as low temp.
metamorphism (typically at 300 500
o
C).
Basically, serpentinisation is retrograde
hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic rocks.
Chemical reaction that possibly occur in this
process is :
MgSiO
4
+ H
2
O Mg
3
Si
2
O
5
(OH)
4
+ Mg(OH)
2

Olivine Water Serpentine Brucite
SUB-PROCESS OF SERPENTINISATION (OHANLEY, 1991)
Hydration : olivine altered to lizardite or antigorite,
produces retrograde serpentinites, water consuming,
and exothermic reaction (heat evolving).
Serpentine recrystallization : produce chrysotile,
water conservative, solid-solid reaction, endothermic,
Deserpentinisation : prograde metamorphism of
serpentine, formation of olivine from antigorite,
produce water, endothermic reaction.
LATERISATION ON SERPENTINISED
ULTRAMAFIC
Its easy to define boundary zones of laterite profile on
serpentinized peridotite due to distinct in color of
serpentine minerals.
Serpentine is relatively resistant to chemical
weathering and it remain in the profile.
Nickel commonly incorporate in serpentine structures
so that garnierite veins are not well developed within
the profile.