Gabbro-peridotite Interaction in the Northern Cache Creek Composite Terrane Ophiolite, British Columbia and Yukon

Abstract:

The northern Cache Creek composite terrane comprises a thrust stack of chert, limestone, siltstone, basalt, gabbro and ultramafic complexes ranging in age from Mississippian to Triassic. Fields studies and geochemical investigations indicate that ophiolitic mafic-ultramafic complexes formed in a supra-subduction zone setting. Ophiolitic rocks in the southeast form a structurally disrupted Penrose-type ophiolite; however, northwestern ophiolitic rocks generally lack lower and middle crust in most sections, exhibit a direct contact between supracrustal and mantle sections and locally contain ophicalcites suggesting that supracrustal rocks were structurally emplaced over mantle along extensional detachment(s). Mantle peridotite in the footwall of the detachment is extensively intruded by vari-textured, fine-grained to pegmatitic gabbro sills, dykes and stocks. These gabbro intrusions are locally boudinaged within fresh peridotite suggesting that the host mantle was rapidly exhumed prior to emplacement of the gabbro. Intrusive relationships between gabbro and variably serpentinized mantle peridotite are observed throughout the northern Cache Creek terrane (>300 km) suggesting a presence of a regional-scale Middle Triassic ocean-core complex. Overall, these data indicate that parts of the northern Cache Creek terrane formed in a setting analogous to backarc ocean core complexes such as the Godzilla Megamullion in the Parece Vela backarc basin, western Pacific.