Ophiolite sections of the Dzhalair-Nayman zone, South Kazakhstan: Their structure and age substantiation

Abstract

The ophiolite complexes outcrop extending more than 700 km in the Dzhalair-Nayman zone located between the Chuya-Kendyk Tas (in the southwest) and Aktau-Dzhungar (in the northeast) Precambrian sialic massifs in South Kazakhstan. The most complete ophiolite sections are described in the central (Andassai massif) and southeastern (Dulankara massif) parts of the zone. Plagiogranites occur in a sheeted dyke complex in the upper part of ophiolite sections. A bimodal volcanic series occurs atop the section. The U/Pb zircons ages for the Andassai and Dulankara plagiogranites are 519 ± 4 and 521 ± 2 Ma, respectively. Ophiolites associated with bimodal volcanic series are also found in the north and northeast of Kazakhstan. They may form, together with the Lower Cambrian complexes of the Dzhalair-Nayman zone, a single paleostructure, whose fragments are well-traceable for over 2000 km