Tectonic Evolution of the Meso‐Tethys in the Western Segment of Bangonghu‐Nujiang Suture Zone: Insights from Geochemistry and Geochronology of the Lagkor Tso Ophiolite

AbstractThe subduction of the Bangonghu‐Nujiang Meso‐Tethys and the collision between the Lhasa and Qiangtang blocks were important events in the growth of the Tibetan crust. However, the timing of collision initiation and closure timing, as well as nature and structure of the Bangonghu ocean basin, are still poorly constrained. The Lagkor Tso ophiolite, located in the south of Gerze County, Tibet, is one of the most completed ophiolites preserved in the southern side of the Bangonghu‐Nujiang suture zone. This study discussed the tectonic evolution of the Bangonghu‐Nujiang suture zone as revealed by the Lagkor Tso ophiolite investigated by field investigations, petrology, geochemistry, geochronology and tectonic analysis methods. We present new LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U‐Pb and 39Ar/40Ar ages for the Lagkor Tso ophiolite, in addition to geochemical and platinum‐group element (PGE) data presented for the Lagkor Tso ophiolite in Tibet. It is suggested that the ancient Lagkor Tso oceanic basin split in Middle Jurassic (161.2 ± 2.7 Ma – 165.4 ± 3.5 Ma), and experienced a second tectonic emplacement during the Early Cretaceous (137.90 ± 6.39 Ma). The Lagkor Tso ophiolite likely developed in an independent suture zone. The Bangonghu‐Nujiang ocean subducted southwards, and the dehydration of the subducting oceanic crust materials caused partial melting of the continental mantle wedge, which formed the second‐order expanding center of the obduction dish. This led to inter‐arc expansion, followed by the formation of inter‐arc and back‐arc basins with island arc features, which are represented by ophiolites around the Shiquanhe‐Lagkor Tso‐Yongzhu region. The tectonic environment presently can be considered to be similar to that of the current Western Pacific, in which a large number of island arc‐ocean basin systems are developed.