The Jurassic ophiolitic mélanges in Serbia: a review and new insights

Abstract

In Serbia ophiolitic mélanges widely occur below ophiolites. These ophiolites are interpreted to derive from different oceanic domains and are therefore attributed to different tectonic units. We revisited all existing data on matrix ages and blocks in the mélanges, studied the relict sedimentological features and dated new sections and blocks from various ophiolitic mélanges. On the basis of these results we can distinguish three types of ophiolitic mélanges: (1) intra-oceanic ophiolitic mélanges (OM1); (2) ophiolitic mélanges formed during ophiolite obduction with continental blocks (OM2); (3) ophiolitic mélanges with fluviatile transported sedimentary rocks or tectonically incorporated much younger blocks at the base (OM3). These three types of ophiolitic mélanges resemble the polyphase history of shortening and ophiolite emplacement on the wider Adria plate of Serbia. All ophiolitic mélanges contain the same Triassic component spectrum of oceanic sedimentary cover rocks and have similar matrix ages. It can be concluded that all of the ophiolites and ophiolitic mélanges derive from the same Triassic–Jurassic oceanic domain, the Neotethys Ocean, the western part of which obducted during Middle–Late Jurassic time on wider Adria. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Ophiolites, melanges and blueschists collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/ophiolites-melanges-and-blueschists