The Jurassic ophiolitic mélanges in Serbia - a review and new insights

In Serbia ophiolitic mélanges occur widespread below ophiolites. These ophiolites are interpreted to derive from different oceanic domains and are therefore attributed to different tectonic units. We revisited all existing data from matrix ages and blocks in the mélanges, studied the relictic sedimentological features and dated new sections and blocks from various ophiolitic mélanges. On base of these results we can distinguish three different ophiolitic mélanges: 1. Intra-oceanic ophiolitic mélanges (OM1); 2. Ophiolitic mélanges formed during ophiolite obduction with continental blocks (OM2), and 3. Ophiolitic mélanges with fluviatile transported sedimentary rocks or tectonically incorporated much younger blocks at the base (OM3). These three types of ophiolitic mélanges resemble the polyphase history of shortening and ophiolite emplacement on the wider Adria plate of Serbia. All ophiolitic mélanges contain the same Triassic component spectrum of oceanic sedimentary cover rocks and have similar matrix ages. It can be concluded that all different ophiolites/ophiolitic mélanges derive from the same Triassic-Jurassic oceanic domain, the Neotethys Ocean which western part obducted during Middle-Late Jurassic times on wider Adria. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Ophiolites, melanges and blueschists collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/ophiolites-melanges-and-blueschists