Ophiolite Genesis And Evolution Of The Oceanic Lithosphere

Proceedings of the Ophiolite Conference, held in Muscat, Oman, January 7-18, 1990

The proceedings from the September 1998 conference in Marshall, California contain 39 papers on the following topics: ophiolites, ocean crust, and global tectonics; oceanic lower crust and upper mantle; structure and physical properties of upper oceanic crust; hydrothermal processes; Pacific Rim ophiolites; and, Ophiolites from Iapetus, Rheic-Pleionic, Neotethyan, and Indian Oceans. Contributors include scientists with backgrounds in structural geology, tectonics, geophysics, petrology, and geochemistry. Numerous black and white illustrations (and one in color) are included. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR

The 32 papers in this volume examine the mode and nature of igneous, metamorphic, tectonic, sedimentological, and biological processes associated with the evolution of oceanic crust in different tectonic settings in Earth history as revealed in various ophiolites and ophiolite belts around the world, and the geodynamic significance of these ophiolites in the evolution of different orogenic systems. Divided into six thematic sections, the book presents a wealth of new data and syntheses from mainly Phanerozoic ophiolites around the world.

Recent developments have shown that many full and partial ophiolites are preserved in Precambrian cratons. This book provides a comprehensive description and discussion of the field aspects, geochemistry, geochronology and structure of the best of these ophiolites. It also presents syntheses of the characteristics of ophiolites of different ages, and an analysis of what the characteristics of these ophiolites mean for the thermal and chemical evolution of the earth. This title emphasizes new studies of Precambrian Geology that have documented ophiolites, ophiolitic fragments, and ophiolitic melanges in many Precambrian terranes. Each chapter focuses on individual Precambrian ophiolites or regions with numerous Precambrian ophiolites, and covers field aspects, petrology, geochemistry, geochronology, and other descriptive aspects of these ophiolites, it also delves into more theoretical and speculative aspects about the interpretation of the significance of these ancient ophiolites.

This volume is an extended Proceedings of the ''Ophiolite Symposium'' which was held during the 29th International Geological Congress, Kyoto, Japan, 24 August--3 September, 1992. If focuses on the multiplicity and diversity of the circum-Pacific Phanerozoic ophiolites and their intra-continental analogues. An introductory paper, summarizing characteristics of the circum-Pacific ophiolites is followed by papers dealing with particular segments of circum-Pacific ophiolite belts arranged in a counter-clockwise direction from New Zealand to Japan. These are followed by comprehensive documentations on multiple ophiolite belts within the Asian continent, as well as by a paper on a Tethyan ophiolite in Iran. Additionally, a report and a general view on the Late Proterozoic ophiolites are included.