Andaman ophiolites: an overview

Abstract

The Andaman Ophiolite remained little explored for long but recent studies yielded important first-order findings that hold promise for further research. Here we summarise these first-order constraints on the structure, geochemistry, and evolution of the Andaman Ophiolite and identify key frontiers for future research. The uniqueness of Andaman Ophiolite is their petrological and geochemical diversity in a close spatial association. Among many unresolved issues the age, stratigraphic coherence, and emplacement mechanisms of Andaman Ophiolite remain enigmatic. In particular, although many of the elements of the typical ophiolitic pseudostratigraphy are present, they are not found in structural coherence, and available geochronological constraints suggest a much longer than normal time window for the amalgamation of the ophiolite’s crust. We raise questions on the plate tectonic setting and evolution of the ophiolite, suggesting that a multi-phase history of magmatism and ophiolite evolution is one of the key questions that deserves international geoscientific attention.