Early Paleozoic subduction initiation in the West Proto-Tethys Ocean: Insights from ophiolitic Speik Complex in the Eastern Alps

Abstract

Subduction initiation is a critical part of the plate tectonic system, but its geodynamic process is still poorly understood due to the lack of well-preserved geological records. Based on new zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopic and whole-rock geochemical data, we report the first discovery of a latest Cambrian–Early Ordovician forearc-arc rock sequence in the Eastern Alps. This sequence includes granitic gneisses, amphibolites, and amphibole plagiogneisses from the ophiolitic Speik Complex and Gleinalpe Complex. These rocks exhibit geochemical affinities with typical oceanic plagiogranites, forearc basalts (FABs), and island arc basalts, respectively. The latest Cambrian plagiogranitic protoliths (491 ± 2 Ma) are shearing-type plagiogranites that were formed in the tectonic setting of forearc spreading. The latest Cambrian FABs (496–489 Ma) have similar geochemical compositions and positive ε_Hf(t) values (+2.5 to + 14.9) to the depleted mid-ocean ridge basalts. However, they show depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs; e.g., Nb, Ta, and Zr) and have relatively low Ti/V ratios. These features suggest that they were derived from a depleted mantle source modified by subducting slab-released components in a forearc environment. The Early Ordovician basaltic protoliths (476–472 Ma) of amphibole plagiogneisses show enrichment in large ion lithophile elements and depletion in HFSEs (e.g. Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf), implying a mature island arc environment. These metaigneous rocks, along with the coeval boninite-like high-Mg amphibolites near the study area, form a typical rock sequence resembling that of the Izu–Bonin–Mariana (IBM) arc system. The Speik and Gleinalpe complexes document a complete magmatic evolution from subduction initiation to mature arc development within the West Proto-Tethys Ocean. Integrating our new data with published work, we reconstruct the late Ediacaran–early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the northern Gondwana. During the late Ediacaran–early Cambrian, the rollback of the West Proto-Tethys oceanic plate triggered the separation of the Wechsel-Silvretta-Gleinalpe continental arc from the northern Gondwana. This process led to the formation of the Speik back-arc oceanic basin, a southwestern branch of the West Proto-Tethys Ocean. In the latest Cambrian–Early Ordovician, subduction initiation occurred in the Speik Ocean, which subsequently developed into an intra-oceanic arc system. During the Early Devonian, the Speik Ocean closed and the Wechsel-Silvretta-Gleinalpe continental arc reattached to the Gondwana, as evidenced by the metamorphic event at ca. 400 Ma.