Tectonic setting of the North Gondwana margin during the Early Ordovician: A comparison of the Ollo de Sapo and Famatina magmatic events

• We compare geochronological and geochemical data of the Ollo de Sapo and Famatina magmatic suites located along the north Gondwana margin.
• We find that the Ollo de Sapo and Famatina magmatic suites are indistinguishable.
• We discuss current accepted models for emplacement of the Ollo de Sapo and Famatina magmatic events.
• We discuss alternative models for emplacement of the Ollo de Sapo and Famatina magmatic events.
• We find that contrasting tectonic models for the Ollo de Sapo and Famatina magmatic events are not justifiable.

This paper presents a comparison of compiled geochronological and geochemical data from the Ollo de Sapo and Famatina magmatic events. The Ollo de Sapo magmatic sequence is located in northwest Iberia and was emplaced during the early-Ordovician from 495 to 474 Ma. The Famatina Complex is a magmatic sequence located in Northern Argentina that was emplaced during the early- to mid-Ordovician from 483 to 463 Ma. These magmatic events are currently interpreted to have been emplaced in different tectonic settings despite both having occurred along the North Gondwana margin. Geochronological data indicates that these magmatic events occurred contemporaneously over at least 9 m.y. and therefore can provide a snapshot of the northern Gondwana margin during the mid-Ordovician. Major element data indicates that both magmatic suites are calc-alkaline to alkali-calcic and trace element and REE data show magmatic signatures that are indistinguishable. This study highlights the similarity between the Ollo de Sapo and the Famatina magmatic suites and discusses alternative models for their emplacement based on paleomagnetic and paleobiogeographical data. These data indicate that the Ollo de Sapo was likely emplaced in a subduction zone setting, while the Famatina magmatic suite may be of parautochthonous origin to Gondwana, implying that the Pampeanan margin may not have been active during the early- to mid-Ordovician.