Tectonic Evolution of the Fawakhir Ophiolite, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt: Implications for Island Arc Amalgamation and Subduction Polarity during the Neoproterozoic

The Fawakhir area consists of an ophiolite sequence surrounded by an ophiolitic melange. In the melange, serpentinized ultramafic rock, gabbro, gabbroic diorite, diabase, andesite, and basalt occur as tectonic blocks within the metasediments. The gabbro gives a zircon U-Pb age of similar to 816 Ma, and the trace element composition of the zircon suggests its generation under a continental-arc tectonic setting. The geochemistry of gabbro and other tectonic blocks in the ophiolitic melange indicates their formation from a backarc basin in a continental island arc tectonic setting. The ophiolite sequence consists of serpentinized ultramafic rock, gabbro, and basaltic rocks and was intruded by felsic dikes. The gabbro from the ophiolite sequence and felsic dikes give zircon U-Pb ages of 742 Ma and 723 Ma, respectively. Trace elements composition of this zircon refers to their formation in a continental-arc tectonic setting. The geochemistry of rocks in the ophiolitic sequence indicates their formation in a forearc basin. Together with previous studies, this study suggests that the tectonic blocks in the melange formed in a backarc during the early-stage northwards subduction event, which may have started at similar to 816 Ma or earlier. On the other hand, the rocks in the ophiolite sequence can be considered to have formed in a forearc by the later eastwards subduction event at similar to 742-723 Ma.