Oceanic lithosphere heterogeneity in the eastern Paleo-Tethys revealed by PGE and Re–Os isotopes of mantle peridotites in the Jinshajiang ophiolite

Platinum group elements (PGE) and Re–Os isotopes of mantle peridotites in the Jinshajiang ophiolite (SW China) were investigated in this study, in order to constrain the evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan Ocean, which was a branch of the eastern Paleo-Tethys. The Jinshajiang peridotites have whole-rock compositions (e.g., MgO = 32.7–38.1 wt.%; Al2O3 = 0.67–1.30 wt.%) and spinels with moderate Cr# values (0.4–0.6) similar to those of abyssal peridotites, which indicate moderate degrees of partial melting (15%–20%). These peridotites exhibit U-shaped chondrite-normalized REE patterns that could be caused by hydrothermal alteration or melt-rock interaction after mantle melting. In addition, Pd concentrations and (Pd/Ir)N ratios of the Jinshajiang peridotites increases with decreasing Al2O3 concentrations. These negative correlations cannot be explained by simple partial melting but record a melt-rock reaction event after mantle melting. This study therefore demonstrates the efficiency of PGE in detecting the melt-rock reaction process relative to whole-rock major and trace elements. The suprachondritic 187Os/188Os ratios (0.1272–0.1374) further indicate that the later percolating melt derived from a mantle domain with distinct 187Os-enriched isotopic compositions. In comparison with peridotites in the Ailaoshan ophiolite belt, which were not significantly affected by melt percolation, this study further highlights that the lithospheric mantle compositions beneath different segments of the same ocean basin are highly variable and might be controlled by distinct mantle processes in response to different rifting mechanisms.