,NCL”LvNG

ISOTOPE GEOSCIENCE
ELSEVIER Chemical Geology 123 (1995) 29-51

The Gabal Gerf complex: A Precambrian N-MORB ophiolite

in the Nubian Shield, NE Africa
M. Zimmer a*b,A. KrGner b** , K.P . Jochum a, T. Reischmann b, W. Todt a
aMax-Planck-institutfiir Chemie, Postfach 3060, D-55020 Mainz, Germany
b Institutfiir Geowissenschaften, Universitiit Mainz, D-55099 Mainz, Germany

Received 26 January 1994; accepted after revision 7 February 1995

Abstract

We report geochemical and isotopic data for tectonically dismembered units of the Cabal Gerf mafic-ultramafic complex, the
largest Neoproterozoic (Pan-African) ophiolite in the Arabian-Nubian Shield and located near the Red Sea in the border region
between Egypt and the Sudan. The complex consists of basaltic pillow lavas, sheeted dykes, isotropic and layered gabbros and
an ultramafic melange, all in tectonic contact along thrust sheets. Major- and trace-element data, including REE, for the pillow
lavas and sheeted dykes are indistinguishable from modem high-Ti N-MORB. Chemical variations in the various rock types can
be ascribed to fractionation and accumulation involving olivine, clinopyroxene and plagioclase. A comparison with chemical
data from ophiolites of the Arabian-Nubian Shield and elsewhere in the world shows the Cabal Gerf complex to be the only
Precambrian ophiolite with N-MORB chemistry, and we suggest that its basalts and sheeted dykes originally formed in a major
ocean basin.
Sm and Nd isotope analyses combined with published zircon data suggest an age of -750 Ma for the time of igneous
crystallization of the Gabal Gerf complex. Ed,, initial values vary between + 6.5 and + 8.8, some of the highest yet reported for
Neoproterozoic mantle-derived rocks. Pb isotopic data for the basalts and sheeted dykes are similar to modem N-MORB, while
the gabbros are more akin to island arc and back-arc basin rocks. We ascribe their elevated Z07Pb/2MPb ratios to mixing of a
small amount of pelagic sediment with the magma source of the gabbros during subduction and subsequent melt generation
above a subduction zone. The pillow basal&, sheeted dykes and gabbros were brought together by tectonic stacking during the
abduction process when collision of island arc complexes with the active margin of the African continent occurred during an
accretion event - 600-700 Ma ago.

1. Introduction 1983,1985; Kroneret al., 1987). Ophiolite occurrences

The Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS) consists of the
Precambrian basement in Saudi Arabia, also known as
the Arabian Shield, as well as crystalline rocks and their
cover in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, the Red Sea Hills
of the Sudan as well as northern and western Ethiopia,
collectively known as the Nubian Shield (NS) (Vail,
* Corresponding author.
JNAI
in the ANS have been known for over 15 years (Bakor
et al., 1976; Carson and Shalaby, 1976) and are of
Neoproterozoic age (Pallister et al., 1988). Together
with volcanic and plutonic rocks of island arc affinity
they document processes of lateral crustal growth in
northeast Africa and Arabia, involving island arc and
ocean crust formation, subsequent ocean closure, amal-
gamation of the arc complexes and accretion to the
ancient African continent (Gass, 1981; Camp, 1984;

0009-2541/95/$09.50 0 1995 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

.SSDIOOO9-2541(95)00018-6
 30 M. Zirnrner et al. /Chemical Geology 123 (1995) 29-51

j 380
Qirseir
LEGEND

Phonerozoic cover sediments

late -to post- tectonic granites
and ring complexes
Early to syntectonic plutonic suite
\ldfu (gabbro to granite 1
Gneisses, migmatites

Marble and associated schist

a Volcano-sedimentary sequences with
structural trend lines

Aswo" ] Ophlolitic assemblage

,Fig. 2

22

Fig. 1. Simplified geological map of a part of the Nubian Shield (modified after KrBner et al., 1987)

Krijner et al., 1987). During this process, the oceanic tectonically fragmented and is now preserved in many
crust of marginal and interarc basins was abducted, ophiolite complexes. These are aligned in discrete
 M. Zimmer et al. /Chemical Geology I23 (1995) 29-51
suture zones as in Arabia (Pallister et al., 1988)) Sudan
(Kroner et al., 1987) and Ethiopia (Berhe, 1990) and
may separate individual arc terranes (Camp, 1984;
Krijner et al., 1987)) or they occur in large nappe com-
plexes as in the Eastern Desert of Egypt (Shackleton
et al., 1980; Kroner et al., 1987). Reliable age data
place these ophiolites in the age range N 850-740 Ma
(Claesson et al., 1984; Pallister et al., 1988; Kroner et
al., 1992).
The largest of these tectonically dismembered
ophiolite complexes occurs near the Red Sea around
Gabal Gerf between lat. 22” and 23”N and long. 34”30’
and 35”30’E (Fig. 1) . It consists of a tectonically lower
unit of serpentinized ultramafic melange and an upper
unit of layered and isotropic gabbro, sheeted dykes and
massive, rarely pillowed basalt (Krbner et al., 1987;
Zimmer, 1989).
Several geochemical studies have characterized the
ophiolites of the ANS as enriched in incompatible ele-
ments (e.g., Bakor et al., 1976; Price, 1984; Kroner,
1985; Pallister et al., 1988), and they have therefore
been regarded as supra-subduction zone ophiolites
whose chemistry was strongly influenced by subduc-
tion processes generating the island arc complexes and
probably also responsible for intra-arc rifting and the
formation of marginal basins. This is supported by geo-
chronological data for rocks of the ophiolite association
(zircon ages for gabbro and plagiogranite, Sm-Nd
whole-rock ages for gabbro-basalt association) which
show close similarity with ages for the island arc asso-
ciations (Claesson et al., 1984; Pallister et al., 1988;
Kroner et al., 1992).
Although several geochemical and isotopic studies
of the various ophiolite complexes in the ANS are now
available (e.g., Price, 1984; Pallister et al., 1988;
Abdel-Rahman et al., 1990; Kroner et al., 1992; Abdel-
Rahman, 1993)) the purpose of the present
investigation was to combine several isotopic systems
(Sr, Nd and Pb) in the analysis of both whole-rock
samples and mineral separates from the Gabal Gerf
Ophiolite (GGO) and to interpret the isotopic data in
conjunction with major- and trace-element analyses
and petrogenetic considerations. Our chemical and iso-
topic data on surprisingly fresh rocks of this complex
characterize the different ophiolite lithologies, con-
strain their age of crystallization and provide informa-
tion on the tectonic setting of the complex and mantle
chemistry in the Neoproterozoic.
31
1.1. Geology, petrography and previous
geochronology
Mafic-ultramafic complexes in Egypt and the Sudan
were first mapped as fault-bounded intrusive bodies by
Soviet geologists (e.g., Ivanov and Hussein, 1972),
but were reinterpreted as tectonically fragmented
ophiolites by Garson and Shalaby ( 1976). The GGO
is the largest mafic-ultramafic complex in the entire
ANS. It consists of the Gabal Gerf nappe, named after
Gabal Gerf, a prominent mountain peak (Fig. 2)) and
is composed of serpentinized ultramafic melange with
fragments of gabbro and basalt reaching dimensions of
several tens of metres. At its southwestern margin, a
section consisting of layered and isotropic gabbros with
chromite lenses is in tectonic contact with the melange
(Fig. 2). Gabal Harga Zarga and environs, SSW of
Gabal Gerf, consists of massive and fractured basaltic
rocks which include both lavas and dykes that are dif-
ficult to differentiate in the field. The Heiani Complex,
still farther SW, constitutes the southern margin of the
nappe complex and consists of pillowed lava and
sheeted dykes, locally well preserved and underlain by
layered gabbro and serpentinized or carbonated ultra-
mafic rocks. Contacts between the different parts of the
ophiolite nappe complex are not exposed, but the tec-
tonically lowest ophiolite nappes, mostly serpentinite
melanges, locally have tectonic contacts with volcani-
elastic and turbiditic metasediments of unknown origin.
Tectonic transport of the ophiolite nappes was from NE
to SW (Kroner et al., 1987; Stern et al., 1991).
Thirty samples of pillow lavas and sheeted dykes,
thirty samples of gabbros and four samples of ultra-
mafics or ultramafic cumulates were collected during
visits to Egypt in 1985 and 1987. Primary structures
and textures are still preserved in some rocks of the
GGO, in spite of greenschist-facies metamorphism. In
the ultramafic rocks, primary minerals are typically
replaced by serpentine, calcite, actinolite, epidote and
quartz, but remnants of primary olivine and orthopy-
roxene were found in a few samples. Most of the gabbro
samples investigated come from a layered section and
represent cumulates exhibiting various degrees of alter-
ation. When fresh, they consist of olivine (01)) ortho-
pyroxene (opx), clinopyroxene (cpx), plagioclase
(plag) and opaque minerals. Alteration products are
actinolite, chlorite and epidote. The pillow lavas and
sheeted dykes from Gabal Harga Zarga and Gabal Hei-
32 M. Zirnrner et al. /Chemical Geology 123 (1995) 29-51

El Wadi deposits

It/ Unfoliated young

J granites
lxxx4 Granodiorites
-1I. I. Metagabbro-diorite
I complex

(__- Gneisses
\ Thrust fault
283 Sample number

Fig. 2. Simplified geological map of the region around and west of Gabal Gerf, showing localities of samples analyzed for geochemistry and
isotopes. Based on unpublished 1: 100.000 Geological Mup, Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority. Cairo.

ani are extensively altered and now largely contain a plagioclase being the main constituents. A few samples
greenschist-facies metamorphic mineral assemblage preserve phenocrysts of plag and cpx. The lavas have
with green amphibole/actinolite, chlorite and altered a fine-grained intersertal texture while the dykes exhibit
 M. Zimmer et al. /Chemical
a typical ophitic to subophitic texture and are coarser
grained than the lavas. Further details on the petrogra-
phy are reported by Zimmer ( 1989).
Kriiner et al. (1992) have analyzed single zircons
from a coarse leucogabbro unit within the layered
sequence (sample locality near GG 263, see Fig. 2),
using the evaporation method developed by Kober
(1987). They obtained a mean 207Pb/206Pb age of
74 1 + 42 Ma (2a error) for four grains and interpreted
this as the crystallization age of the gabbro. This age is
identical to a 207Pb/206Pb age of 745 f 23 Ma for zir-
cons from plagiogranite of the Wadi Ghadir ophiolite
farther N in the Eastern Desert of Egypt (Kroner et al.,
1992) and to a Sm-Nd whole-rock age of 743 + 24 Ma
for the Jabal Al Wask ophiolite in Saudi Arabia (Claes-
son et al., 1984).
2. Analytical procedures
Major- and trace-element analyses cover rock types
from all three lithologic units of the GGO, namely
pillow lavas, sheeted dykes and gabbros, and were per-
formed on 64 samples selected on the basis of freshness.
Samples were first cleaned with distilled water and then
crushed and ground with a corundum mill to < 0.063
mm. Major elements were determined by DC plasma
emission spectroscopy ( BeckmaneU SpectraSpan VI)
using the method of Feigenson and Carr ( 1985). The
precision is between - 0.3 and - 6.1%, depending on
concentration. Trace elements were measured by either
X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) or spark-
source mass spectrometry (SSMS). The XRF mea-
surements were performed on duplicate powder pellets
using a Siemen? SRS 200 spectrometer and employ-
ing data reduction as detailed in Laskowski and Krijner
( 1984). Precision and accuracy are better than - 5%.
Twenty-four samples covering each ophiolite rock type
were further analyzed for rare-earth elements (REE),
Hf, Th and U on an AEIm MS702R spark-source mass
spectrometer using a multi-element isotope dilution
technique (Jochum et al., 1988). Precision and accu-
racy for most elements are between -5 and - lo%,
depending on concentration.
Thirty-six samples were selected for isotopic anal-
yses on the basis of variation in major- and trace-ele-
ment composition. Mineral separates were obtained
magnetically and purified by hand-picking. 130 mg of
Geology 123 (1995) 29-51 33
clean plagioclase and 65 mg of clean clinopyroxene
were hand-picked for isotopic analysis.
For Sr and Nd isotopic measurements, 50-100 mg
of basaltic rock powder and 1000 mg of gabbroic pow-
der were spiked and dissolved in HF and HNO, in
Teflona bombs. For Pb isotopes, crushed splits were
cleaned in 6 N HCl and then dissolved in HF. The
separation method is described in Manhes et al. ( 1978)
and White and Patchett ( 1984). Sr, Nd and Pb isotopes
were measured on a Finnigan@ MAT 261 thermal ion-
ization mass spectrometer using a 5-cup multicollector
configuration in static mode (Todt et al., 1983; White
and Patchett, 1984). Typical blanks were 180 pg for
Sr, 70 pg for Nd, 25 pg for Sm and 200 pg for Pb.
Fractionation corrections were made using ‘?+I
88Sr = 0.1194 and ‘46Nd/ ‘@Nd = 0.7219. The initial
‘43Nd/‘44Nd ratios of a rock of age t are expressed in
e-units using the following chondritic values: i4’Sm/
l”Nd = 0.1966 and ‘43Nd/‘44Nd for present
day = 0.5 12638 (DePaolo, 1976). Regression analyses
followed York ( 1969), modified by Titterington and
Halliday ( 1979)) and errors on ages and initial ratios
are 2a.
3. Geochemistry
3.1. Major and trace elements
Thirty samples of lava and dyke material from Gabal
Gerf, Heiani and Harga Zarga display basaltic com-
positions with SiO, around 50 wt% and Mg# [ = Mg/
(Mg + Fe’+) ] from 43 to 66 (Tables l-3). The range
in MgO is from 4.8 to 10.9 wt%, while TiO, varies
between 0.82 and 2.04 wt%. If all rocks represented by
these samples are cogenetic, then fractionation must
have played a significant role in their formation. Vari-
ations in Cr (93-565 ppm) and Ni (42-185 ppm)
contents suggest that pyroxene, olivine and possibly
chromite are the fractionating minerals (see Fig. 13).
Tables l-3 also demonstrate that the lavas and dykes
have a similar chemistry, suggesting a cogenetic origin
for both.
Table 1 also shows the analyses for 30 gabbros and
gabbro cumulates as well as five ultramafic rocks. The
gabbros have Mg# from 47 to 84. SiOz concentrations
range from 37 to 53 wt%, MgO varies from 4.9 to 10
wt%. TiO, contents from 0.07 to 6.82 wt% depend on
34 M. Zimmer et ul. / Chemicul Geology 123 (I 995) 29-51

the cumulus Ti phase. Cr, Ni and Sr concentration vary 3.2. Rare-earth elements (REE)
sympathetically with silica and magnesia. Additional
trace elements for 10 basalts, and 14 gabbros and gab- REE data (Tables 4 and 5) are presented graphically
bro cumulates are shown in Tables 4 and 5. in Figs. 4 and 5. Chondrite normalization is based on
In order to demonstrate the variation in major and Evensen et al. ( 1978). The nearly parallel patterns for
trace elements as a result of fractionation, A&O, and Heiani basalts (Fig. 4, bottom) are characterized by
Sr concentrations are plotted against Zr contents in Fig. light REE (LREE) depletion relative to middle REE
3 (left). A&O, and Sr contents are dependent on the (MREE) and heavy REE (HREE). Some samples
amount of plagioclase in the gabbro cumulates, which exhibit a slight negative Eu anomaly. Harga Zarga
is evident from Fig. 3. The gabbros have low Zr abun- basalts (Fig. 4, top) have almost flat REE patterns with
dances, typical for cumulates, and high A&O3 and Sr less pronounced LREE depletion and absolute abun-
contents, depending on the amount of plagioclase. dances of N 10-30X chondrite. There is no apparent
The variation of TiOz. and Y is independent of pla- difference between pillow lavas and sheeted dykes.
gioclase fractionation, and the TiO,-Zr and Y-Zr dia- REE distribution patterns for the gabbros and one
grams (Fig. 3, right) highlight the chemical correlation ultramafic rock (Fig. 5) clearly separate these rock
between the volcanic and gabbroic rocks of the Gerf types into several groups, independent of geographic
complex. High TiO, contents in a few gabbro samples location. The REE patterns are influenced by varying
can be explained by a cumulate Ti phase such as ilmen- amounts of plag and cpx, while 01 does not change the
ite. REE distribution. Plag-rich gabbros have LREE-
enriched patterns with a distinct positive Eu anomaly
(Fig. 5, top). It is obvious that this distribution is com-

Table I
Major-element (in wt’%) and trace-element (in ppm) compositions for ophiolitic rocks from the Gabal Gerf Complex

GG 12 GG I3 GG251 GG3l GG 35 GG 36 GG 68 GG 74 GG 17 GG 79 GG 80 GG 81 GG 82
3 P a ” ” S ” ” S g S g S

SiO, 45.53 51.09 40. IO 52.00 51.42 46.83 41.09 29.95 48.17 44.45 44.49 46.68 47.92
TiO> I .29 2.03 2.5 I 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.03 0.02 0.51 3.64 0.69 0.30 I .69
Al@? 18.80 17.32 15.02 0.69 1.37 19.81 b.d.1. b.d.1. 16.55 18.83 22.02 24.08 20.59
Fe0 7.41 6.85 11.44 6.90 5.84 2.77 4.82 3.13 6.43 7.68 7.43 4.13 4.96
FqO, 2.64 1.90 2.41 3.09 2.22 1.19 2.21 2.88 I .6X 2.42 I .74 I.16 2.52

MgO 7.48 4.81 10.90 27.31 23.55 9.85 34.78 38.24 9.60 6.48 7.86 5.55 6.25
cao 12.13 7.51 II.20 1.65 9.83 14.06 0.03 0.20 14.60 9.98 8.05 9.97 Il.32
Na,O 2.17 4.38 2.95 0.09 0.13 I .92 0.06 0.05 1.79 2.63 3.39 3.32 2.86
K20 0.12 0.45 0.3 I 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.06 0.06 0.13 0.44 0.26 0.20 0.18
LO1 I .36 2.66 2.08 7.39 4.85 3.15 16.46 25.13 0.89 2.5 3.25 4 15 1.16
-- -- - --
Total 98.93 99.00 98.92 99.25 99.35 99.70 99.54 99.66 100.35 99.05 99.18 99.54 99.45

Mg# 58 50 59 83 84 82 90 92 69 54 61 66 61

Rb b.d.1. II b.d.1. b.d.1. 0.11” 0.16 b.d.1. b.d.1. 0.2 5.4 2.8 2.4” 0.6
Sr 289 87 I71 3.7 4.5 415 1.3 588 576 883 800 602
Nb 1.2 22 7.4 0.7 b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 0.6 2.5” 0.3” 0.96 I.0
zr 74 I50 241 b.d.1. 0.97” b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 7.0 36 4.4” 30 24”
Y 26 33 51 b.d.1. 0.07” b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 4.6 13” 0.8” 4.2 7.0
V 302 275 350 II9 128 92 21 15 I25 402 213 26 209
CO 33 37 80 66 29 I08 86 50 39 50 31 30
CI I81 301 205 3,092 2.473 1,101 2,515 2,540 II8 78 294 13 155
Ni 64 82 154 503 355 I53 2,215 2,273 66 52 88 68 50
CU 39 29 39 b.d.1. b.d.1. I8 b.d.1. b.d.1. 34 45 II 6.2 30
Zn I18 85 b.d.1. b.d.1. 24 b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 62 65 39 48
 M. Zimmer et al. /Chemical Geology 123 (I 995) 29-51 35

parable to REE patterns dominated by plagioclase.
Gabbros with less plag and a higher proportion of cpx
have LREE-depleted patterns with no Eu anomaly
(sample GG 83, Fig. 5, bottom). The pattern of sample
GG 83 is similar to that of clinopyroxene. Sample GG
36 shows an enrichment in La and Ce, which can be
explained by low-temperature alteration. Most gabbros
have REE patterns with a slight LREE enrichment and
a small positive Eu anomaly (Fig. 5, middle). These
patterns result from about equal proportions of cpx and
plag in the samples as also indicated by petrographic
observations.
4. Tectonic setting deduced from chemical
composition
In terms of major- and trace-element compositions,
the Heiani and Harga Zarga basalts are classified as
high-Ti basalts (Serri, 1981), and the trace elements
such as high field strength elements (HFSE) and REE
also suggest similarities with normal-type mid-ocean
ridge basalts (N-MORB) or back-arc basin (BAB)
magmas (see Figs. 6-8) (Sun and Nesbitt, 1982; Saun-
ders, 1984; Saunders and Tarney, 1984).
Variations in the abundances of some trace elements,
in particular elements with small partition coefficients
(D-values < 0.01) , such as Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb and the REE
have been used as indicators of magma genesis and the
tectonic setting in which oceanic lavas are erupted
(e.g., Pearce and Cann, 1973; Pearce and Norry, 1979).
These elements have the advantage of being only little
affected by alteration processes. In general, the transi-
tion from basic to intermediate character is marked by
the appearance of Fe-Ti-oxides as a cumulus phase
which causes a sudden decrease in the Ti/Zr ratios of
the residual magma. In Fig. 6 GGO basalts are plotted
in a TiO, vs. Zr diagram of Pearce and Norry ( 1979).
Only one basalt from the melange plots outside the field
for MORB, while all other samples follow the MORB
trend. In a Cr vs. Y diagram (Fig. 7), useful for dis-
criminating between MORB and island arc basalt
(Pearce, 1980), all Gerf samples are clearly identified
as MORB . Ti /V ratios between 17,000 and 45,000 also

Table 1 (continued)

GG 83 GG84 GG 85 GG 86 GG 87 GG 88 GG 89 GG90 GG 91 GG 92 GG 93 GG 250 GG 25 I

g g S g g g g g g g g g u

SiOx 47.73 46.82 44.99 47.26 45.16 47.00 50.76 51.31 46.12 48.59 36.83 49.05 49.03
TiO, 0.84 0.65 I .72 0.77 0.49 0.53 0.35 0.56 0.43 0.31 2.61 1.22 1.97
AhO, 20.00 19.95 18.63 19.64 20.57 22.77 18.31 18.84 21.17 23.72 17.52 15.76 7.61
Fe0 6.49 5.36 8.02 5.71 6.36 6.23 4.49 4.51 5.14 4.62 15.31 8.45 7.10
Fe@, 0.79 1.68 2.01 I .74 2.13 1.80 1.22 1.33 1.10 0.76 3.03 1.15 I .21
MS0 7.96 8.86 8.28 8.51 8.80 7.48 9.04 7.34 9.25 5.76 8.84 6.85 17.16
cao 10.95 10.64 9.51 8.91 7.84 8.62 10.38 11.81 11.75 9.49 7.80 3.36 9.78
Na,O 2.81 2.81 3.01 2.90 3.34 3.14 2.66 2.73 2.72 3.32 2.11 1.83 1.41
KzG 0.17 0.48 0.47 0.58 0.29 0.19 0.21 0.14 0.17 0.27 0.25 0.12 0.18
LO1 I .30 2.15 2.46 3.35 3.70 1.54 2.09 0.93 2.00 2.65 4.00 0.62 2.93
--- - _--- -- --
Total 99.04 99.40 99.1 99.37 99.28 99.30 99.5 I 99.50 99.85 99.49 99.30 98.41 98.38

%# 66 70 60 68 64 63 74 70 73 66 47 56 79

Rb 0.3” 14 12 14 2.1” 0.32 1.7 0.16” 0.3” 5.5 1.1 b.d.1. 2

Sr 151 465 404 585 623 671 548 576 575 721 386 110 53
Nb 0.6 b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 0.3’ 0.2” b.d.1. 0.9’ 0.25” b.d.1. b.d.1. 2.5 14
zr 12 36 32 15 4.4” 5.7” 10 14” 7.4” 25 7.3 73 131
Y 11” 14 16 4.8 0.8” 0.6” 8.4 8.5” 8.4” 4.9 b.d.1. 29 18
V 372 142 187 94 147 140 98 128 78 36 826 336 267
CO 46 42 51 49 63 53 34 31 42 36 98 _
Cr 326 395 65 236 291 319 487 54 378 26 87 374 653
Ni 89 43 Ill 73 91 71 55 55 74 67 124 103 315
CU 10 36 17 21 6.4 9.2 17 22 26 6.3 13 9.4 13
Ztl b.d.1. 55 88 61 63 54 47 44 b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. _
36 M. Zimrner et ul. /Chemical Geology 123 (I 995) 29-51

Table I (continued)

GG253 GG258 GG263 GG265 GG266 GG 267 GG268 GG270 GG271 GG279 GG280 GG283
g g g g g g g g g g g g

SiO, 52.62 48.32 38.65 40.84 43.33 44.4 1 51.61 48.80 43.15 46.87 48.57 46.92
TiOz 0.22 1.25 6.82 4.37 4.43 3.96 0.3 1 0.22 0.14 0.25 1.01 1.45
Al201 19.37 16.83 16.30 17.83 18.88 15.22 18.41 17.06 27.71 17.77 14.04 16.40
Fe0 5.77 7.00 10.02 10.44 8.97 7.98 4.55 3.36 1.21 2.06 8.86 7.56
Fez07 1.12 2.00 7.75 3.35 2.71 4.16 1.23 1.23 1.21 1.28 1.66 1.60
MgO 5.33 8.99 8.84 8.77 7.54 8.26 9.01 7.01 4.87 9.15 8.22 10.00
cao 10.47 10.73 6.42 7.07 7.92 10.83 10.99 18.62 15.78 17.94 12.12 9.71
Nag0 3.47 3.21 2.78 3.14 3.40 2.49 2.45 2.12 2.93 1.61 2.83 2.50
K20 0.17 0.16 0.16 0.15 0.19 0.17 0.09 0.2 1 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.14
LO1 0.7 0.25 0.71 2.59 1.71 1.06 0.61 1.18 2.88 2.26 1.36 2.29
--
Total 99.24 98.65 98.45 98.55 99.08 98.54 99.26 99.81 99.95 99.26 98.74 98.57

Mg# 58 65 48 54 54 56 74 74 79 84 59 66

Rb b.d.1. 0.5” b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 0.25” 3 b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 25
Sr 577 323 479 497 536 423 520 88 80 57 84 256
Nb b.d.1. 2.4” 4.7 3.8 3.7 3.2 0.4” b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 1.8 b.d.1.
Zr 8 29” 28 21 27 31 9.7a 6.7 3.4 3.4 53 91
Y 9.6 13” b.d.1. b.d.1. 2.3 11 5.9” 5.5 b.d.1. 6.2 26 24
V 196 185 702 493 399 534 100 174 25 187 357 226
co _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 52
Cr 145 263 237 145 122 294 346 429 60 3,110 261 700
Ni 21 102 94 93 74 88 70 164 183 192 85 248
CU II 37 47 81 33 57 16 264 49 58 3.1 58
Zn _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 77

Mg# = 100 X Mg/ (Mg + Fe’+ ). p = pillow lava; sd = sheeted dyke; a = amphibolite; g = gabbro; u = ultramafic rock. b.d.1. = below detection
limit; - = not determined. All major oxides without Pz05.
“Trace elements by SSMS (other trace elements by XRF)

suggest a MORB or BAB origin (Shervais, 1982). 5. Results of isotopic analyses

Although the application of the above diagrams to late
Proterozoic rocks may be questionable, the discrimi- Isotopic data for Sr, Nd, Pb as well as .+,,-values are
nation is in agreement with all other chemical data, in given in Tables 6 and 7. An age of 750 Ma has been
particular the REE (see Fig. 4). assumed for the ophiolite in the calculation of initial
Immobile trace-element abundances for pillow lavas E,,-values, and this is in line with the published zircon
and sheeted dykes, normalized to primitive mantle age (Kroner et al., 1992) and our Sm-Nd ages reported
(Hofmann, 1988), are plotted in Fig. 8 in order of below.
decreasing degree of incompatibility. Harga Zarga
basalts (Fig. 8, top) are compatible with the N-MORB 5.1. Sr isotopes
distribution pattern. Note the absence of a Nb depletion.
Heiani basalts (Fig. 8, bottom) have lower abundances *‘Sr/*%r ratios for the basaltic rocks range from
of trace elements and are distinctly depleted in the very 0.7021 to 0.7032, while those in the gabbros are
incompatible elements. However, both rock types, 0.7024-0.7029 (Table 3). The Rb/Sr ratio is low in
although from different localities, are very similar to all rocks, independent of the grade of alteration. The
N-MORB and very different from supra-subduction majority of basalts have Sr concentrations of - 70 ppm,
zone lavas, in particular there is no Nb depletion. while plagioclase accumulation in the gabbros resulted
in Sr contents of -400-600 ppm (Table 1). In spite
of very low Rb/Sr ratios ( <O.OOlXLO3), there may
 M. Zimmeret al. /Chemical Geology123 (1995) 29-51 31

Table 2
Major- and trace-element compositions for rocks from Jabal Harga Zarga

GG9 GG 10 GG 69 GG 70 GG71 GG 72 GG 73 GG 94 GG181 GG182 GG183 GG184 GG185

P P P P sd sd P P P P P P P

SiOz 48.73 49.86 48.82 49.74 45.74 46.79 45.86 51.48 49.40 50.95 51.19 51.14 48.79
TiO, 1.31 0.82 0.96 0.95 1.55 1.61 1.05 0.92 2.04 1.91 1.17 1.98 2.01
Al& 15.46 14.74 18.21 17.29 18.00 17.95 16.65 14.19 12.81 12.82 14.26 12.83 13.02
Fe0 8.46 7.76 7.74 7.16 7.73 6.69 8.18 6.87 11.00 10.87 8.53 11.31 11.90
Fe,O, 1.50 1.02 0.97 1.33 1.45 2.25 1.97 1.73 3.02 2.24 1.50 1.73 1.57
MgO 8.15 9.27 6.97 6.75 9.59 8.49 8.82 9.29 5.80 5.95 6.44 5.87 5.94
CaO 11.59 11.16 12.14 13.43 9.72 9.95 13.58 10.65 10.26 9.42 10.29 9.45 10.98
NazO 2.60 2.26 1.65 0.81 2.67 2.93 1.21 1.85 2.09 2.29 2.44 2.13 1.99
K?O 0.13 0.12 0.12 0.07 0.16 0.17 0.11 0.06 0.19 0.16 0.13 0.14 0.17
LO1 2.09 1.89 1.36 1.43 2.29 2.13 1.42 I .55 1.93 2.04 2.86 1.91 2.06
--- ---
Total 1oo.o2- 98.20 98.94 98.96 98.90 98.96 98.80 98.59 98.54 98.65 98.81 98.49 98.43

Mg# 60 66 59 44 65 63 61 66 43 45 54 45 44

Rb 0.97” b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 0.7” 3.2” 0.68” b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 1.5” 1.3
Sr 92 85 60 62 245 268 76 75 48 56 48 44 90
Nb 6.5” 3.2 4.2 1.8 1.7” 1.8” 3.0” 3.0 b.d.1. 2.4 b.d.1. 2.3” 2.0
Zr 93 46 60 57 133” 136” 65” 56 123 118 66 124” 120
Y 27” 21 25 26 32” 32” 23 23 58 56 33 63” 57
V 314 250 280 270 209 229 306 273 499 487 356 478 505
co 44 36 38 36 43 40 36 37 40 43 42 39 38
Cr 378 565 437 399 555 427 359 320 192 184 245 192 198
Ni 122 161 104 103 185 152 98 106 76 69 66 63 58
Co 26 22 71 46 43 25 116 94 46 81 83 43 40
Zn 90 80 76 72 78 82 101 72 140 127 92 134 139

Explanations as in Table 1.

have been small changes in 87Sr/86Sr through time due
to radiogenic growth. Furthermore, the relatively small
range encompassed by the gabbros (0.7024-0.7029)
relative to the basalts (0.7025XL7032) suggests that
the basalts were more affected by alteration. The vari-
ability in measured ratios is therefore considered to be
partly due to radiogenic growth and/or alteration but
may partly also represent primary source variations.
In contrast to the relatively small Sr isotopic varia-
tion in the fresh gabbros, the variation in the basalts is
significant. Pillow lavas have the highest 87Sr/86Sr
ratios because of stronger alteration (Table 6). Alto-
gether, the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of Gabal Gerf rocks are low
and are comparable to modern N-MORB ( O’Nions et
al., 1977; Hofmann and Hart, 1978; Ito et al., 1987).
Island arc basalts, on average, have higher values
(Hawkesworth et al., 1977; White and Patchett, 1984)
than N-MORB and Gabal Gerfrocks. Back-arc basalts
have 87Sr/8”Sr ratios intermediate between N-MORB
and island arc basalts (Hawkins, 1976; Hawkesworth
et al., 1977; Volpe et al., 1987, 1988) and are also
comparable to Gabal Gerf rocks.
5.2. Nd isotopes and geochronology
We analyzed whole-rock samples from the best pre-
served gabbros as well as mineral separates from the
freshest sample in our collection (GG 258) in order to
establish the crystallization age of the Gerf ophiolite
(Table 6). Whole-rock data for all 15 gabbro samples
from Gabal Gerf display considerable scatter in the
‘47Sm/144Nd vs. 143Nd/144Nd diagram (MSWD =
11.5) but can be fitted to a regression line with an age
of 720 k 9 Ma (Fig. 9a). Clinopyroxene and plagio-
clase mineral separates, together with the whole-rock
analysis of gabbro sample GG 258, define a linear array
in the isochron diagram (MSWD = 1.8) corresponding
to an age of 770 f 52 Ma (Fig. 9b). Eighteen samples
38 M. Zimmer et al. /Chemical Geology 123 (1995) 29-51

Table 3
Major- and trace-element compositions for rocks from Gabal Heiani

GG 170 GG 171 GG 172 GG 173 GG 174 GG 175 GGl76 GG 177 GG 178 GG 179 GG180 GG95 GG 281 GG 282
sd sd sd sd sd sd sd sd P P P sd sd P

SO, 48.66 49.00 48.89 49.39 48.17 49.33 47.61 48.54 48.12 48.15 50.00 48.41 49.47 49.39
TiO, 0.84 0.88 1.35 I .53 1.83 1.44 1.86 1.75 0.92 1.03 0.87 0.86 1.48 0.90

Al&‘, 15.99 15.72 14.98 13.58 13.33 13.74 13.15 12.96 16.62 15.92 16.11 15.20 13.65 15.12
Fe0 7.43 7.39 9.80 10.20 11.53 9.81 12.44 11.47 7.85 8.97 6.93 7.66 10.38 8.49
FqO, 2.07 I .95 I .41 I .57 2.52 1.76 2.19 2.19 2.03 2.05 2.60 2.51 1.89 2.16

M@ 7.63 7.76 7.24 6.43 6.66 7.53 6.78 6.46 1.47 7.59 6.42 8.19 7.41 8.55
cao II.07 11.10 10.13 10.81 9.28 9.86 9.11 9.80 II.00 9.88 11.72 11.78 10.19 9.90
Nag0 2.55 2.51 2.46 2.44 2.28 2.70 2.28 2.31 2.25 2.30 1.88 2.14 2.75 2.37

K,O 0.10 0.11 0.16 0.10 0.12 0.13 0.15 0.22 0.14 0.09 0.08 0.06 0.10 0.15
LO1 2.60 2.63 2.18 2.58 2.75 2.38 2.81 2.80 2.58 2.78 2.39 2.12 0.98 1.81

Total 98.94 99.05 98.66 98.63 98.47 98.68 98.38 98.50 98.98 98.76 99.00 98.93 98.30 98.84

Mg# 59 60 54 50 46 54 46 46 58 56 55 60 52 59

Rb b.d.1. b.d.1. 0.98” b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. b.d.1. 1.5" 0.52 b.d.1. b.d.1. 0.23 b.d.1. b.d.1.
Sr 92 89 75 70 74 66 59 60 63 69 66 73 73 96
Nb 2 1.6 1.4” I.7 2.1 b.d.1. I.6 1.9" 0.64 1.3 0.6 0.7 2.1 <I
Zr 48 SO 82” 88 109 81 112 118 48 48 47" 45" 92 42
Y 25 23 38” 41 51 40 54 49" 29" 29 27" 21" 38 24
V 277 217 394 412 465 397 487 462 321 357 303 306 436 349
CO 41 41 42 41 44 43 46 43 43 47 40 41 45 47
Cr 289 328 276 183 109 214 93 II8 255 179 234 235 171 364
Ni 96 98 95 71 42 77 49 55 90 68 61 92 76 122
CU 62 14 70 11 40 32 18 41 51 76 65 91 62 75
ZIl 79 75 110 118 130 119 142 121 87 101 84 85

Explanationsasin Table I.

of basalt (pillow lavas, sheeted dykes) from Cabal
Harga Zarga and Heiani and one amphibolite from
Gabal Gerf display even larger scatter than the whole-
rock gabbro samples (MSWD = 36) and define a linear
array corresponding to an age of 834 + 19 Ma (Fig.
SC). Since these samples come from different localities
we consider this linear array as least geologically mean-
ingful. The Heiani basalts alone do not display suffi-
cient spread in the isochron diagram (MSWD = 90) to
permit calculation of a meaningful linear array (see
Fig. SC). However, the Harga Zarga basalts are more
variable in their Sm-Nd isotopic composition and
define a regression line (MSWD = 11.9) correspond-
ing to an age of 758 f 34 Ma (Fig. SC). All these ages,
except that calculated for all basaltic rocks (834 f 19
Ma) are identical within the relatively large errors, and
the fact that the mineral and most whole-rock data
define linear arrays suggests that these approximate the
igneous crystallization age of the complex.
Kriiner et al. (1992) have determined an equally
imprecise mean 207Pb/206Pb age of 741 k42 Ma for
zircons from the same locality as sample GG 258, and
the pooled mean age of all available data is - 750 Ma.
We used this age for the calculation of +,-values listed
in Table 6. ??Nd initial values for an age of 750 Ma in
the basaltic rocks vary between + 6.5 and + 8.8 and
are the same for pillow lavas and sheeted dykes in
contrast to their different Sr isotopic composition. The
+,-values for the gabbros are, on average, lower than
those for the basalts and range from + 6.3 to +7.9
(Table 6). These values clearly demonstrate that the
Gerf rocks are derived from a depleted mantle source.
The relatively high +,-values for the basalts and dykes
are taken to approximate the value for the depleted
mantle at -750 Ma (O’Nions et al., 1977; Ito et al.,
1987). The somewhat lower values for the gabbros may
reflect a subduction component, and this is more fully
discussed in the following section.
 M. Zimmer et al. /Chemical Geology I23 (1995) 29-51 39

Table 4
Trace and rare-earth elements (in ppm), determined by SSMS, for selected samples of gabbro (g ) and ultmmafic rock ( u) from Gabal Gerf
Complex

GG 35 GG36 GG77 GG 79 GG 80 GG 81 GG82 GG 83 GG 87 GG 88 GG90 GG91 GG258 GG268

U ii? g g g g g g g g g g g g

cs b.d.1. b.d.1. 0.04 0.79 0.3 0.83 0.087 0.06 0.13 0.073 0.04 0.16 0.06 0.03
Ba 3.2 13 31 82 95 49 91 23 53 35 76 33 59 21
La 0.024 0.179 1.14 1.67 0.8 2.7 2.42 0.61 0.91 1.01 1.86 1.3 3.04 1.0
Ce 0.089 0.236 2.74 4.13 1.56 6.81 6.28 2.60 1.8 1.95 4.83 3.32 8.55 8.39
Pr 0.012 0.02 0.49 0.64 0.2 0.93 1.03 0.35 0.2 0.24 0.8 0.54 1.44 0.34
Nd 0.075 0.136 2.53 3.2 0.86 3.86 5.29 2.1 0.8 0.97 4.44 2.71 7.22 1.63
Sm 0.042 0.054 0.87 0.98 0.16 0.91 1.09 0.87 0.22 0.19 1.57 0.97 1.69 0.45
ELI 0.032 0.07 1 0.78 0.63 0.39 0.65 0.73 0.43 0.42 0.4 0.82 0.57 0.91 0.38
Gd 0.051 0.072 1.18 1.03 0.21 1.01 1.08 1.08 0.3 0.22 1.6 1.16 1.83 0.55
Tb 0.022 b.d.1. 0.2 0.17 0.6 1 0.14 0.17 0.21 0.06 0.039 0.26 0.19 0.29 0.099
DY 0.093 b.d.1. 1.29 1.13 0.21 0.88 1.21 1.58 0.25 0.24 1.79 1.16 1.81 0.74
Ho 0.025 0.033 0.27 0.23 0.025 0.17 0.24 0.35 0.04 0.03 0.38 0.23 0.39 0.14
Er 0.07 0.115 0.79 0.64 0.072 0.5 1 0.65 1.06 0.12 0.081 1.12 0.73 1.15 0.36
Yb 0.065 0.082 0.5 1 0.39 0.056 0.33 0.8 0.97 0.073 0.073 0.86 0.55 1.25 0.3
Lu 0.014 0.017 0.09 0.08 0.016 0.05 0.12 0.14 0.013 0.015 0.15 0.092 0.19 0.053
Hf 0.063 0.057 0.54 0.65 0.12 0.85 0.8 0.44 0.133 0.16 0.84 0.5 0.9 0.275
Pb 0.3 0.059 0.21 0.075 0.53 0.7 0.31 0.26 0.46 0.14 0.23 0.22 0.5 0.311
Th 0.015 b.d.1. 0.03 1 0.024 b.d.1. 0.196 0.057 0.01 0.022 0.02 0.016 b.d.1. 0.064 0.02
U 0.014 b.d.1. 0.016 0.025 b.d.1. 0.075 0.034 b.d.1 0.012 0.011 0.01 b.d.1. 0.033 b.d.1.

5.3. Pb isotopes lower degree of alteration. This is consistent with the

We analyzed Pb isotopes in selected samples of
lavas, sheeted dykes, gabbros and ultramafic rocks, and
the data are presented in Table 7. Pb, U and Th con-
centrations were determined by SSMS and are listed in
Tables 4 and 5. Pb concentrations vary between 0.1 and
0.8 ppm for the basalts and 0.03-0.7 ppm for the gab-
bros. U contents are < 0.01 to 0.1 in basalts and < 0.01
and 0.07 ppm in gabbros. Th concentrations are higher
in basalts (0.04-0.4 ppm) and vary between <O.Ol
and 0.2 ppm in the gabbros.
Due to the different p-values of the samples, mea-
sured Pb isotopic ratios must be corrected for in situ
decay. The precision of the Pb, U and Th measurements
by SSMS is not sufficient, however, for such a correc-
tion, and a two-stage model (Stacey and Kramers,
1975) was therefore adopted, assuming an age of 750
Ma. p-values were computed to fit the Pb isotopic ratios
to a 750-Ma isochron. Measured Pb isotopic ratios,
corrected ratios and p-values are listed in Table 7.
For samples of pillow lava, ps-values (for explana-
tion, see Table 7) vary between 7 and 12, probably due
to post-crystallization alteration. The lower /_~3-values
for the sheeted dykes, between 3 and 4, reflect their
interpretation of the Sr isotopic data where pillow lavas
have also been interpreted to be more strongly altered
than sheeted dykes [for detailed discussion on altera-
tion, see Zimmer ( 1989) 1. The p3-values for gabbros
( - 1.8) are within the same range as measured for the
Tertiary Xigaze ophiolite in Tibet (Gopel et al., 1984).
The Pb isotopic data are plotted in the 206Pb/2@‘Pb
vs. 207Pb/204Pb evolution diagram of Fig. 10. Measured
values are shown as individual triangular symbols
while age-corrected values cluster together and are
shown as elliptical fields. Gabbros and ultramafic rocks
tend to have higher 207Pb/204Pb ratios than the basalts
for similar 206Pb/204Pb. The Pb data for the basaltic
rocks (lavas and dykes) are comparable to modern N-
MORB (Fig. 10) as also suggested by the Nd isotopic
data, while the gabbros are more akin to island arc and
BAB rocks which generally have higher 207Pb/204Pb
ratios. These higher 207Pb/204Pb ratios and, possibly,
the somewhat lower +,-values, may be explained by
mixing of a small amount of pelagic sediment ( - 1%)
to the magma source of the gabbros (Fig. 10). We
envisage such mixing to have occurred during subduc-
tion of oceanic crust when part of the sedimentary cover
of the oceanic basalts is carried down into the mantle
40 M. Zitnrner et al. /Chemical Geology 123 (1995) 29-51

Table 5
Trace and rare-earth elements (in ppm), determined by SSMS, for selected samples of pillow lava (p) and sheeted dyke (sd) from Harga Zarga
and Heiani, Gabal Gerf Ophiolite Complex

Harga Zarga Heiani

GG9 GG71 GG 72 GG 73 GG 184 GG 95 GG 172 GG 177 GG 178 GG 180

P sd sd P P sd sd sd P P

CS 0.12 0.23 0.46 0.026 0.029 0.029 0.06 0.19 0.028 0.018
Ba 17 31 40 9.9 13 4.36 17 14 18 9.58
La 4.91 4.59 5.02 2.93 2.71 0.87 2.0 2.61 0.95 1.01
Ce Il.7 13.9 15.4 8.51 10.7 3.03 6.72 8.92 3.56 3.86
Pr 2.11 2.s2 2.7 I .33 2.08 0.5.5 1.32 1.65 0.74 0.74
Nd 11.0 13.4 14.2 7.28 11.6 3.42 7.9 10.0 4.35 4.33
Sm 3.67 3.86 4.13 2.42 3.9 1.S 3.3 4.3 2.18 I .93
ELI 1.2 1.35 1.47 0.81 1.04 0.57 1.1 1.3 0.69 0.69
Gd 5.24 4.95 4.42 2.89 4.05 2.36 5.04 5.9 2.72 2.15
Tb 0.74 0.77 0.75 0.51 0.76 0.41 0.84 0.99 0.56 0.43
DY 4.72 5.01 4.75 3.27 5.5 2.81 5.4 6.4 3.81 3.19
Ho 1.17 1.19 1.11 0.82 1.46 0.75 1.47 1.69 0.94 0.74
Er 3.74 3.4 3.2 2.5 4.3 2.2 4.51 5.23 3.13 2.57
Yb 2.69 2.63 2.7 2.43 6.2 2.04 3.5 4.5 2.43 2.3
LU 0.464 0.399 0.4 1 0.369 0.86 0.33 0.62 0.64 0.46 0.39
Hf 2.35 2.97 3.07 I .76 3.48 1.14 2.4 3.3 I .26 1.26
Pb 0.49 0.84 0.72 0.49 0.26 0.3 0.39 0.57 0.097 0.14
Th 0.43 0.133 0.203 0.18 0.095 0.038 0.05 1 0.075 0.04 0.034
U 0.12 0.054 0.078 0.055 0.063 _ _ 0.01 0.02 0.012

Mg# 60 65 63 61 45 60 54 46 58 55

0 50 loo IS0 200 250 100 150

Zr @pm) Zr (ppm)

Fig. 3. Al,O, and Sr (left) and TiO, and Y (right) concentrations of Gabal Gerf ophiolitic rocks in comparison to Zr as fractionation index.
 M. Zimmer et al. /Chemical Geology 123 (I 99.5) 29-51 41

1 ’ ’ 1 1 1 ’ ’ ’ r ’

La CePr Nd SmEuGdTbDyHoErYbLu

Fig. 4. REE concentrations for samples of pillow lavas (solid svm-

MS) and sheeted dykes (open s.vmbofs) from Harga Zarga (top)
and Gabal Heiani (bottom), normalized to C 1 chondrites.
La Ce Pr Nd SmEuGd’Tb Dy HoEr YbLu

and is admixed to magmas generated above the sub- Fig. 5. REE concentrations for samples of Gabal Gerf ophiolite
duction zone. gabbros and one ultmmafic rock (GG 35, solid s.wbol) , normalized
to Cl chondrites. Dominant cumulate minerals are shown in bold.
Simplified PEE distribution patterns for plagioclase (top right) and
clinopyroxene (bottom right) are shown for comparison.
6. Comparison with isotopic data of other
ophiolites

10 L 1
Sr and Nd isotopic compositions for rocks of the
GGO Complex and other ophiolite complexes are
shown in Fig. 11. It is obvious that the Gerf samples
show the lowest R7Sr/86Sr ratios while those of virtually
all other complexes are variably elevated, probably due
to seawater alteration. It is surprising that the Gerf rocks
are so little isotopically altered in spite of their antiqu-
ity.
The initial ??,,-values for rocks of the GGO Complex
are compared with those of other ophiolites in Fig. 12.
1000
The evolution line for the depleted mantle, assuming a
constant rate of depletion over the age of the Earth Zr (pi@
(Goldstein et al., 1984) is also plotted in Fig. 12. There
Fig. 6. Discrimination diagram inferring tectonic setting for mafic
is some scatter in the data which may either be ascribed volcanic rocks on the basis of TiO, and Zr concentrations (Pearce
to primary isotopic inhomogeneities in the mantle and Norry, 1979). MORB = mid-ocean ridge basalt; IA = island arc
sources or to isotopic differences reflecting differences basalt; WPB= within-plate basalt.
42 M. Zimmer et al. /Chemical Geology 123 (1995) 29-51

favour mixing of isotopically different magmas. The

best explanation for the observed major- and trace-
element variations within the individual rock groups,
therefore, are fractionation processes.
Cumulate successions in the gabbro section of the
GGO are up to 50 m in thickness and show that frac-
tionation has played an important role in the formation
of the ophiolite sequence. There is a larger variation
within the gabbroic rocks than in the basalts for some
elements which correspond to cumulate mineral
phases. Thin-section examination reveals cumulate
textures and shows that 01, cpx, plag and Fe-Ti-oxides
Y Wm)
are possible fractionating minerals. The gabbroic rocks
Fig. 7. Tectonic setting for malic volcanic rocks on the basis of Cr show different proportions of these minerals which
and Y concentration diagrams (Pearce, 1980). For abbreviations,
points to varying degrees of fractionation and accu-
see Fig. 6.
mulation of these phases.
Low Mg# of 47-59 as well as low Cr and Ni contents
in MORB-type and marginal basin type source mag-
for some gabbroic rocks (e.g., samples GG 79,93,263,
mas. Low EN,,-values in supra-subduction zone ophio-
265, 266) show that these do not represent primitive
lites may be due to magma contamination with
magmas. Such low values are largely caused by Fe
continent-derived sedimentary material during the sub-
enrichment relative to Mg. This enrichment is due to
duction process. The Gerfrocks have initial +,-values
the cumulation of magnetite-ilmenite which also
comparable to N-MORB -750 Ma ago, and if any
increased the Ti concentration significantly, e.g. up to
sedimentary material has contaminated their magma
source, as postulated from elevated 207Pb/204Pb ratios
for the gabbros, such contamination has not visibly
affected the Nd and Sr isotopic systems nor the major-
and trace-element compositions.
The basaltic rocks of the GGO have higher eNd(,)
than the gabbroic rocks. In accordance with the Pb
isotopes this implies that the gabbros originated from
a less depleted source than the pillow basalts and
sheeted dykes from Heiani and Harga Zarga. Our pre-
ferred interpretation is an admixture of a sedimentary
component into the gabbro source that may have
occurred in a subduction zone environment.

7. Petrogenesis

Possible reasons for linear variations of major and

trace elements within the basaltic and gabbroic groups
in correlation diagrams (Fig. 3) are partial melting,
mixing and crystal fractionation. Different degrees of
partial melting could explain the variation in incom-
patible trace elements, but not variations in compatible
elements. Low “Sr/“%r ratios (0.7021-0.7032) and
relatively constant eNd-values ( + 6 to + 8.5) do not
0.11’ c1I 8I 8I 1t I 818 ’f ”
Th“NbLaCep,Nd SmZrHfTi E:dTRYyHoErYbL”
Fig. 8. Variation of incompatible trace-element concentrations, nor-
malized to primitive mantle (PRIMA) values (Hofmann. 1988).
Pillow lavas are .&id symbols, sheeted dykes are opera symbols.
Shadedjield for N-MORB based on unpublished data of K.P. Jochum
(1993).
 hf. Zimmer et al. /Chemical Geology I23 (1995) 29-51 43

Table 6
Sr and Nd isotopic data for rocks from the Gabal Gerf Ophiolite Complex

Sample Rock s7Sr/s6Sr Sm Nd ??

rWr,
No. type (ppm) (ppm)

Harga Zarga:

GG9 P 0.702676f0.000013 2.97 9.64 0.1863 0.512923f0.000018 +6.6

GG 10 P 0.702763 + 0.00003 1 1.84 5.50 0.2028 0.5 13030 f 0.000023 +7.1
GG 69 P 0.703000 f 0.000035 2.32 7.07 0.1986 0.513043*0.000014 + 7.7
GG 70 P 0.703212f0.000051 2.15 5.83 0.2234 0.513198~0.000014 +8.4
GG71 sd 0.702370 f 0.000023 3.86 12.37 0.1888 0.5 12996 f 0.000026 +7.8
GG 72 sd 0.702595 f 0.000034 4.19 14.22 0.1782 0.512957 f 0.000015 + 8.0
GG 73 P 0.702532 + 0.000025 2.25 6.25 0.2180 0.513118~0.000018 + 7.3
GG 94 P 0.702739 + 0.000020 2.08 5.83 0.2162 0.513114~0.000016 +7.4
GG 183 P 0.702919 f 0.000013 2.31 5.93 0.2359 0.513243~0.000019 +8.1
GG 184 P 0.703165 +0.000015 4.36 10.50 0.2510 0.513277+0.000014 +7.3

Heiani:

GG 95 sd 0.702103 f 0.000029 1.87 4.50 0.25 11 0.513354~0.000016 + 8.8

GG 172 sd 0.702335 If: 0.000015 2.88 7.17 0.2424 0.513386~0.000013 +8.7
GG 177 sd 0.702604 f 0.000042 3.97 10.28 0.2334 0.513194~0.000016 +7.3
GG 178 P 0.703091*0.000015 1.83 4.18 0.2652 0.513378f0.000018 +7.9
GG 180 P 0.702739 f 0.000014 1.63 3.75 0.2635 0.513330*0.000017 +7.1
GG 281 sd 0.702327~0.000013 2.96 7.78 0.2364 0.513138f0.000016 +6.5
GG 282 P 0.703234 f 0.000014 1.85 4.43 0.2528 0.513312~0.000014 +7.8

Gabal Gerf

GG 257 a 0.702516f0.000015 7.16 7.78 0.1632 0.512816f0.000014 +6.7

GG 35 urn 0.702782 f 0.000025 0.042 0.075 0.3367 0.5 13559 + 0.000024 +4.5
GG 36 g 0.702482 + 0.000012 0.054 0.105 0.3082 0.513550f0.000013 +7.1
GG 77 g 0.702645 *0.000012 0.90 2.80 0.1949 0.5 12983 f 0.000008 +6.9
GG 79 g 0.702921* 0.000020 1.17 3.60 0.1941 0.5 12956 f 0.000008 +6.5
GG 80 g 0.702932 * 0.000020 0.20 1.14 0.1061 0.512565 jI 0.000017 + 7.3
GG 81 g 0.702569 * 0.000012 0.85 3.75 0.1375 0.5 1273 1 f 0.000007 +7.5
GG 82 g 0.702505 f 0.000011 1.32 4.13 0.1933 0.512960f0.000011 +6.6
GG 83 g 0.702617~0.000012 0.9 1 2.14 0.2575 0.513294f0.000011 +7.0
GG 87 g 0.702623 f 0.000011 0.19 1.04 0.1102 0.512586~0.000015 + 7.3
GG 88 g 0.702474 f 0.000011 0.18 0.98 0.1130 0.512629+0.000017 + 7.9
GG 90 g 0.702571 f0.000013 1.15 3.44 0.2016 0.512987~0.000015 + 6.4
GG91 g 0.702492 f 0.000013 0.85 2.62 0.1959 0.512959f0.000014 + 6.4
GG 93 g 0.702627 f 0.000046 0.17 0.85 0.1219 0.512675 & 0.000046 + 7.9
GG 263 g 0.702549f0.000012 2.40 11.07 0.1308 0.512646 * 0.000022 + 6.5
GG 268 g 0.702513f0.000016 0.89 2.87 0.1874 0.512965 k 0.000016 + 7.3
GG 283 g 0.702577+0.000015 3.12 8.90 0.2121 0.513063 +0.000019 + 6.8
GG 258 g 0.702408 rt 0.000014 1.82 5.52 0.1989 0.513002 & 0.000011 + 6.9
GG 258 PX 5.18 12.59 0.2488 0.513243It:0.000021 + 6.8
GG 258 Pl 0.17 0.77 0.1303 0.5 12633 + 0.000040 +6.3

Errors reported for isotopic ratios are 2a,. Error in ‘47Sm/‘44Nd is estimated to be f 0.2%. .,,,,-values
?? were calculated for an age of 750 Ma.
Mean value for 24 measurements of NBS 987 standard is 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7 10225 f 0.000024. Mean value for 21 measurements of La Jolla standard
is 14’Nd/ lUNd = 0.5 11843 f 0.000022. p = pillow Java; sd = sheeted dyke; a = amphibolite; urn = ultramafic; g = gabbro; px = pyroxene;
pl= plagioclase.

6.82 wt% TiOz in sample GG 263 with a corresponding and positive Eu anomalies in most of the gabbros exem-
Mg# of 48. Negative Eu anomalies in some basalts plify the importance of plagioclase as a fractionating
44 M. Zimrner et al. /Chemical Geology 123 (1995) 29-51

Table 7 rather than fractionation is the major process control-

Pb isotopic data for rocks of the Gabal Gerf Ophiolite Complex
ling the gabbro composition.
Sample Rock ‘OsPb/““Pb ‘oTPb,‘“Pb -“*Pb The composition of the parental magmas and the
I& /+
‘@‘Pb
type magma sources from which the GGO rocks were
M T M T M derived are less constrained. The Pb and Nd isotopes
suggest different sources for the gabbros and the
GG9 p 18.793 17.312 15.534 15.439 38.053 12.00 9.40
GG73 p 18.279 17.045 15.477 15.398 37.818 10.00 9.10
GG71 sd 17.511 17.110 15.445 15.419 37.083 3.25 9.18
GG 72 sd 17.615 17.123 15.451 15.419 37.194 3.98 9.19
GGlO p 18.092 17.228 15.498 15.443 37.645 7.00 9.32
GG69 p 18.123 17.259 15.469 15.414 37.709 7.00 9.29
GG70 p 18.305 17.071 15.478 15.399 37.395 10.00 9.10
GG94 p 18.368 17.134 15.503 15.424 37.897 10.00 9.20
GG 95 sd 17.640 17.147 15.420 15.388 37.010 4.00 9.16
GG 172 sd 17.569 17.075 15.434 15.403 37.024 4.00 9.13
GG 177 sd 17.698 17.204 15.445 15.414 37.195 4.00 9.25
GG68 g 18.304 17.440 15.566 15.511 37.053 7.00 9.57 Gabal Gerf
gabbros
GG77 g 17.601 17.379 15.551 15.537 37.506 1.80 9.62
GG82 g 17.633 17.411 15.508 15.494 37.407 1.80 9.56
GG88 g 17.444 17.411 15.504 15.494 37.243 1.80 9.56
GG90 g 17.464 17.242 15.493 15.479 37.229 1.80 9.40
GG91 g 17.474 17.252 15.507 15.493 37.273 1.80 9.40

Errors arc f 5 - I 0m4, p = 23*U/‘@‘Pb. M = measured values, cor-

rected for fractionation; T = in situ decay corrected values for an age
of 750 Ma. /*, = first stage of Stacey and Kramers ( 1975); p2 =
calculated value for second stage of Stacey and Kramers ( 1975);
/.+=present-day w-values calculated for an age of 750 Ma after
Minerals from
Stacey and Kramers ( 1975). Measured values for standard NBS 982 gabbro GG 258
are: ‘“‘Pb/‘““Pb= 36.5224 k 0.0018, 2”7Pb/“‘4Pb =
17.0856 k 0.0009, Z”“Pb/‘04Pb= 36.6198 +0.0018. p= pillow lava;
sd = sheeted dyke; g = gabbro.

mineral. Variations in Cr and Ni contents vs. MgO

show that 01 and cpx are also fractionating minerals
(Fig. 13). Fractionation calculations after Wright and
Doherty (1970) suggest that variations in major ele- 0512x

ments can be explained by fractionation of different ? ?Harga Zarga

05124
amounts of these minerals. Fractionation within the 0 Heiani
Heiani basalt sequence can be calculated using the most
primitive sample GG 95 (Mg# 60) and the most dif-
ferentiated sample GG I74 (Mg# 46). The resulting
degree of fractionation is 54% with a mineral assem-
Fig. 9. Sm-Nd evolution diagrams for rocks of the Gabal Gerf
blage of 12% 01, 33% cpx and 54% pl. Fractionation
Ophiolite Complex. Errors are 2a, and are smaller than size of
calculations for the Harga Zarga basalts yielded similar SJVthOlS
results. A differentiated basalt (GG 181, Mg# 43) can a. Linear array of gabbro whole-rock analyses, MSWD = 11.5,
be modelled from a more primitive basalt (GG 9, Mg# Ebb = 6.9 5 0.2.
60) by removal of 44% of a mineral assemblage com- b. Mineral isochron for sample GG 258, MSWD= 1.7,
ENdCI,=6.8 * 1.4.
posed of 19% 01, 22% cpx and 59% pl. Variations in
C. Plot for whole-rock analyses of all basaltic rocks and one
the composition of the gabbroic rocks depend on the amphibolite. Only the Harga Zarga samples display sufficient
role of the cumulus minerals. Because a positive Eu spread for calculation of a meaningful regression line
anomaly is present in almost all samples, cumulation (MSWD=11.9),~~~(~,=7.6~0.9.
 M. Zimmr et al. /Chemical Geology I23 (1995) 29-51
16.0
15.8
2 15.6
w knowledge, this is the only ophiolite complex in the
% ANS, and worldwide in the Precambrian, showing such
5 15.4
15.2
15.0 I / I ponent which may suggest an arc or back-arc environ-
16 17 18 19 20
206Pb / 204Pb
Fig. 10. ‘“7Pb/204P~‘0”Pb/‘~Pb diagram for Gabal Gerf whole-
rock analyses. Measured values for basalts arr shown as circles,
gabbros are shown as triangles. Measured data are corrected for in
situ decay and plot in fields on a 750-Ma isochron. Recent pelagic
sediments are taken as equivalent to Enriched Mantle I1 (.&WI) of
Zindler and Hart ( 1986). The two-stage geochron begins at 3.7 Ga,
following Stacey and Kramers (1975).
basalts. Furthermore, the basal& indicate different
parental magmas by their trace-element characteristics.
The Heiani basalts, in comparison to the Harga Zarga
basalts, have more strongly depleted LREE patterns
and generally lower REE abundances at lower Mg#.
Therefore, they cannot be related to the Harga Zarga
basalts by simple fractionation but must have origi-
nated from a different parental magma.
This is further constrained by the higher concentra-
tion of other incompatible elements such as Zr, Nb, Pb,
Th and U in the Harga Zarga basalts although their
higher Mg#, as well as the higher Cr and Ni concen-
trations, suggest that they are the more primitive mag-
mas. The two groups of basalt, therefore, must have
formed from different parental magmas, probably even
from different magma sources, the source of the Heiani
being the most depleted.
In summary, major-element, trace-element and iso-
topic characteristics suggest three different parental
magmas and probably of three different magma sources
for the gabbros, the Heiani basalts and the Harga Zarga
basalts although all of them suggest a depleted mantle
reservoir. The variation within the two distinct basalt
sequences can be modelled by crystal fractionation,
whereas the composition of the gabbros is largely con-
trolled by crystal accumulation.
45
7.1. Comparison with chemical data of other
ophiolites
The major- and trace-element chemistry of GGO
basalts displays clear N-MORB affinities. To our
N-MORB characteristics. A possible setting for the
origin of these rocks is a major ocean basin. The Pb
and Nd isotopic signatures of the gabbros, however,
appear to indicate the influence of a subducted com-
ment.
.Serri ( 198 1) used the TiO, concentration and the
FeO/ (Fe0 +MgO) ratio to distinguish between Ti-
rich MORB/BAB ophiolites and Ti-poor island arc
(IA) ophiolites. Fig. 14a is a TiOz vs. FeO/
(Fe0 + MgO) plot showing ophiolites from different
regions and of different ages, while Fig. 14b only shows
Pan-African ophiolites of the ANS. Most ophiolites are
classified as Ti-rich. Samples of the Khan Taishir
ophiolite, Mongolia, (Zonenshain and Kuzmin, 1978)
plot in the Ti-poor field of IA-type ophiolites. Some
ophiolites which have an island arc affinity (e.g., Sol
Hamed) scatter into the Ti-poor field (Fig. 14a). Most
ANS ophiolites also plot in the Ti-rich field, while some
samples scatter into the Ti-poor field. The GGO is the
only Pan-African ophiolite whose rocks clearly plot
only in the Ti-rich field. The scatter of data in Fig. 14
is not primarily a result of alteration because most
ophiolites originate in back-arc basins in the vicinity of
island arcs, and their rocks should therefore carry geo-
chemical characteristics of magma types from both
environments (Moores, 1982).
In Fig. 15 ophiolite data are plotted in the TiO,-Zr
diagram of Pearce and Norry ( 1979) and demonstrate
that rocks from only a few ophiolites plot exactly in the
field for N-MORB such as the East Taiwan ophiolite
(Jahn, 1986) and the Dras ophiolite, India (Radhar-
krishna et al., 1984, 1987). Most data points for the
early Proterozoic Jormua ophiolite complex also lie in
the MORB field (Kontinen, 1987). Most ophiolite
basalts display a wide range in TiOz and Zr concentra-
tions which cannot be used to reliably determine the
tectonic setting (Fig. 15a). Rocks from BAB ophiolites
have variable TiOz and Zr, depending on the island arc
component in their source magmas. The same is true
for ANS ophiolites (Fig. 15b) where only the GGO
46 M. Zimrner et al. /Chemical Geology 123 (1995) 29-51

+14 Gabal Gerf

0 Harga Zargn
+I2
_ 0 Heiani
+lO + Gabbro

+8 . 0 Troodos
- H Trinity
; +6 A Samail
1 * Bay of Islands
+4
seawater 1 ?? Ballantrae
+2 0 Urals
@ East Taiwan 0
._ . @ Vourinos
c 0 Wadi Onib
Y I . .
0.702 0.704 0.706 0.708 0.710

87si-/86s1.

Fig. 1I E~~(,,-~’Sr/‘“Sr diagram to compare rocks from Gabal Gerf and other ophiolites of different ages and localities. Gabal Gerf, Egypt: this
work; Troodos, Cyprus: McCulloch and Cameron (1983), Rautenschlein et al. (1985); Trinity, California, U.S.A.: Brouxel and Lapierre
( 1988); Samail, Oman: McCulloch et al. ( 1981); Bay of Islands, Canada: Jacobsen and Wasserburg (1979); Ballentrae, Scotland, U.K.:
Thirlwall and Bluck (1984); Urals, Russia: Edwards and Wasserburg (1985); East Taiwan ophiolite: Jahn (1986); Vourinos, Greece: Noiret
et al. ( 1981); Wadi Onib, Sudan: Th. Reischmann (pers. commun., 1993). Fields after Faure ( 1986). Ellipse in top left-hand comer is field of
MORB with isotopic ratios as measured at present. Ellipse below is field of MORB corrected for an age of 750 Ma. Horizontalarrowindicates
effect of alteration due to seawater.

rocks (Fig. 6) can be classified as N-MORB in view Such a relatively precise, although debated (see
of their tight clustering in the MORB field. The others Nicolas, 1989), reconstruction of oceanic crust for-
have variable trace-element concentrations depending mation for the Samail ophiolite is not possible for the
on their island arc component. GGO because of its tectonically disrupted character
The problem of comparing ophiolites of different (see Fig. 2). The original magmatic stratigraphy was
ages and different geological settings is in the small destroyed during the process of abduction and probably
amount and uncertain quality of the available chemical led to superimposition of previously unrelated rocks.
data. Fig. 15 highlights the uncertainties in geochemi-
cal discrimination of ophiolite rocks. Some well-stud- ,
ied ophiolites apparently had a complex history of
formation. One of these is the 95Ma-old Samail
ophiolite in Oman, which is regarded by many to be a
fragment of an intra-arc basin formed above a short-
lived subduction zone (Pearce et al., 1981) During
formation of the complex, the tectonic environment of
magmatism changed from a spreading axis to sea-
mounts and, finally, to a submarine graben (Alabaster ”
I
et al., 1982). Magmagenesis was dominated in all three 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 ION

environments by a high degree of melting of depleted As (MaI

mantle, and the melt was modified by an input of water
Fig. 12. Comparison of initial E.,-values for different ophiolites
and large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) from sub- (literature see Fig. 1 I ). Depleted mantle line after Goldstein et al.
ducted oceanic crust (Alabaster et al., 1982). (1984).
 M. Zimmer et al. /Chemical Geology I23 (1995) 29-51 41

small amounts of subducted sedimentary material con-

taminated the source of the gabbro complex. Scenarios
where ocean basins with N-MORB and back-arc basin/
island arc complexes occur next to each other can be
found in the present southwest Pacific. We suggest that
collision of an island arc system with the African con-
tinent resulted in abduction of ocean floor and BAB
crust as well as island arc rocks and oceanic and/or
fore-arc sediments which are now found in the Gabal
4 Gerf area where they are overridden by the ophiolite
complex (Kroner et al., 1987).

2 700
Ek 600 -
- soo-
It, 400-
300-

200-

100-
0’ ‘a “8 1” g a a a ”
0 2 4 6 8 IO 12 14 . Bou Arzer
A Therford Mines
MgO (weight %) 2 Ba,len*rae
* Khan Tsishn
Fig. 13. Variation in Ni and Cr contents in relation to MgO concen-
8 Ear Taiwan 0.
tration. Fractionation trends of olivine and clinopyroxene are shown 0 Dras
for comparison. Circles = basalts; open squrtres = sheeted dykes; ‘@ LaTenla
solid triungles = gabbros; solid square = ultramafic rock. Percent- 0 Jann”a

ages are degrees of fractionation.

. Wad, Cbadn
. Wadi Omb
8. Model for the evolution of the Gabal Gerf 9 SolHamed
Ophiolite (GGO) A S&err
0 Ingessena

The mechanism of spreading in fore-arc and back-

arc environments is not clearly under-stood. Moberly
( 1972) suggested that sinking of the downgoing litho-
spheric plate at a greater angle than in a normal Benioff
zone would give rise to a compensatory mantle upflow
which could initiate magma production and back-arc
spreading. In a classic area of back-arc spreading, the
Lau Basin in the southwest Pacific, Gill (1976) pro-
posed that the basalts are transitional between ocean
floor and island arc tholeiites.
Any model for the origin and evolution of the GGO
has to explain the N-MORB chemistry of its basalts
and sheeted dykes and the subduction component in
the gabbros, shown by Pb isotopes and, to some extent,
by the +,-values. A possible environment is an ocean
basin made up of oceanic crust of N-MORB composi-
tion, of which the pillow basalts and sheeted dykes of
Heiani and Harga Zarga are remnants. The gabbros, in
contrast, were probably generated in a BAB where
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
FeO/(FeO+MgO)
Fig. 14. Classification diagram for ophiolitic rocks after Serri
( 198 I ). Data for ophiolites are from following sources: Troodos,
Cyprus: Cameron ( 1985), Rautenschlein et al. (1985); Bay of
Islands, Canada: Suen and Frey ( 1979); Samail, Oman: Smewing
(1981), Alabaster et al. ( 1982); Sarmiento, California, U.S.A.:
Saunders et al. (1979); Josephine, California, U.S.A.: Harper
( 1984); Trinity, California, U.S.A.: Brouxel and Lapierre (1988);
Bou Azzer, Morocco: Bodinier et al. ( 1984); Thetford Mines, Que-
bec, Canada: Oshin and Crocket ( 1986); Ballentrae, Scotland, U.K.:
Thirlwall and Bluck (1984); Khan Taishir, Mongolia: Zonenshain
and Kuzmin (1978); East Taiwan ophiolite: Jahn (1986); Dras,
India: Radharkrishna et al. ( 1984, 1987) ; La Tetila, Colombia: Spa-
dea et al. ( 1987); Jormua, Finland: Kontinen ( 1987); Wadi Ghadir,
Egypt: Zimmer (1985); Wadi Onib, Egypt: Price (1984); Sol
Hamed, Egypt: Price ( 1984); Sekerr, Kenya: Price ( 1984); Inges-
sena, Sudan: Price ( 1984); Jabal Al Wask, Saudi Arabia: Baker et
al. ( 1976); Nuba, Saudi Arabia: Hirdes and Brinkmann ( 1985).
48 M. Zimrner et al. /Chemical Geology 123 (1995) 29-51

(4) We suggest that the Gabal Gerf Ophiolite is a

composite complex in which sheeted dykes and pillow
10
a 0 Troodos lavas are remnants of ocean floor of N-MORB type and
- 0 Bm of Islands
became tectonically interstacked and abducted together
with the BAB-type gabbros in a subduction zone envi-
ronment. Possible contamination of the magma
source(s) is not evident from major- and trace-element
compositions but from elevated 207Pb/204Pb ratios and
less depleted Nd isotopic systematics in the gabbros
that indicate the subduction zone influence.
(5) Gabal Gerf is the only late Precambrian ophiolite
known so far to represent unambiguous N-MORB char-
A Wad, Ghadir acteristics, and its REE and Nd isotopic data clearly
= Wad, Onib
?? Sol Hamed
indicate that mantle depletion in incompatible elements
A Sekerr was already very significant - 750 Ma ago.
0 lllgessena
1 ?? Jabal Al Wask

Acknowledgements

10 100 1000
This investigation was funded by the Deutsche For-
Zr (wn)
schungsgemeinschaft (DFG), the Max-Planck-Institut
Fig. IS. Discrimination diagram as in Fig. 6 showingdatafor selected fur Chemie and the German Ministry of Research and
ophiolites other than Gabal Gerf.
Technology (BMFT) via the International Office, For-
a. Ophiolites outside the ANS.
b. Ophiolites of the ANS.
schungszentrum Jiilich. M.Z. thanks M. Seufert, I. Rac-
For listing of literature see Fig. 14. zek, H. Feldmann, N. Laskowski, K. Lehnert and B.
Schulz-Dobrick for assistance during analytical work.
9. Conclusions Logistic support in the field was provided by the Egyp-
tian Geological Survey and Mining Authority
( 1) There is a significant difference in major- and (EGSMA) , and we are indebted to AA. Rashwan and
trace-element chemistry between Heiani and Harga M. Mansour for providing unpublished maps and for
Zarga basalts. Harga Zarga basalts are relatively participating in our field investigation. Comments of
enriched in incompatible elements relative to Heiani N.T. Arndt, J.S. Pallister and R.J. Stern improved the
basalts. This is exemplified by the REE, where the manuscript.
patterns for Heiani basalts show significant LREE
depletion whereas Harga Zarga basalts tend to have
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