Archean Podiform Chromitites and Mantle Tectonites in Ophiolitic Mélange, North China Craton: A Record of Early Oceanic Mantle Processes

Abstract

We report 2.5 billion-year-old oceanic mantle podiform chromitite and mantle tectonite in ophiolitic mlange in the North China craton. Tectonic blocks of peridotite, wehrlite, pyroxenite, harzburgitic tectonite, dunite, podiform chromitite, layered gabbro, sheeted dikes, and pillow lava are embedded in a strongly deformed metasedimentary and metavolcanic matrix. The blocks are traceable belt, and the 2.5-2.4 Ga Qinglong foreland basin and fold-thrust belt on the Eastern block, and provides an important record of the operation of plate tectonics in the Archean.