A Neoproterozoic age for the chromitite and gabbro of the Tapo ultramafic Massif, Eastern Cordillera, Central Peru and its tectonic implications

The ultramafic–mafic rocks of the Tapo Complex are exposed in the Eastern Cordillera of the Central Peruvian Andes. This complex is composed of serpentinised peridotites and metabasites with some podiform chromitite lenses and chromite disseminations and overlies the sandstones, conglomerates, and tuffs of the Carboniferous Ambo Group. The metagabbros and amphibolites show a tholeiitic affiliation and a flat REE spider diagram, with a slight LREE depletion and a positive Eu anomaly suggesting magmatic accumulation of plagioclase, in an ocean ridge or ocean island environment. Sm–Nd isotopic analyses were performed on chromite as well as on whole rock from the gabbro. All samples yielded an Sm–Nd isochrone age of 718 ± 47 Ma with an initial 143Nd/144Nd of 0.51213 ± 0.00005. The ɛNd (718 Ma) values calculated for both chromite and gabbro are in close agreement, around 8.0, implying that they were formed at the same time from the same mantelic magma source. Furthermore a K–Ar age on amphibole of 448 ± 26 Ma was obtained, interpreted as the cooling age of a younger orogenic event. These rocks represent slices of oceanic crust (from a dismembered ophiolitic complex), metamorphosed and later overthrust on upper Palaeozoic continental formations.

► TThe gabbro show geochemical characteristics of an oceanic origin. ► Chromite and whole rock from the gabbro yielded an Sm-Nd isochrone age of 718 ± 47 Ma. ► Chromite and host gabbro, were formed at same time from the same magma source. ► Gabbros are slices of oceanic crust, overthrust on Palaeozoic continental formation.