Unraveling protolith ages of meta-gabbros from Samos and the Attic–Cycladic Crystalline Belt, Greece: Results of a U–Pb zircon and Sr–Nd whole rock study

The focus of this study is on meta-ophiolitic rocks from Samos and the Attic–Cycladic Crystalline Belt, Greece. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geochronology, Sr–Nd isotope and bulk-rock geochemistry have been applied to meta-gabbros that occur as blocks and lenses in blueschist-facies mélanges on Samos and Evia, and in the greenschist-facies Upper Unit on Tinos. The geodynamic significance of these meta-ophiolite fragments within the overall pattern of the Eastern Mediterranean region is unclear. Regional correlations within the Cyclades archipelago and with the Jurassic meta-ophiolites of the Balkan region or the Cretaceous occurrences in Turkey are uncertain. Although field, petrological and geochemical similarities among some mélange occurrences suggest a common genetic relationship, such interpretations remain speculative if not supported by robust geochronological data. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating of three meta-gabbro blocks from Samos yielded Cretaceous ages with weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages of 78.3±1.3Ma, 76.8±1.4Ma and 77.8±1.4Ma and almost identical intercept ages, interpreted to indicate the time of magmatic crystallization. These results further substantiate models suggesting a correlative relationship with mélanges on the islands of Syros and Tinos, central Aegean Sea, where similar rocks yielded almost identical U–Pb zircon ages. Published and new Sr–Nd isotope data of meta-gabbros from Andros, Samos, Tinos (Lower Unit) and from mainland Greece (Pindos, Othris) reveal distinctive differences among ion probe-dated samples with Jurassic and Cretaceous protolith ages. Three groups can clearly be distinguished in a 87Sr/86Sr vs. 143Nd/144Nd diagram. However, these geochemical parameters do not allow assigning tentative age estimates for yet undated meta-gabbros from southern Evia and the Upper Unit of Tinos. The situation is further complicated by the observation that the Jurassic and Cretaceous meta-gabbros do not show other discriminating geochemical characteristics that could provide plausible arguments for an approximate age assignment to undated rocks. •New isotopic ages provide key information for an improved geodynamic interpretation.•We report the first U–Pb zircon ages for meta-gabbros from Samos, Greece.•Late Cretaceous protolith ages are documented for meta-ophiolitic rocks.•Sr–Nd isotope and REE data of meta-gabbros cannot be used as proxy for tentative age assignments.•A genetic link with the major Greek or Turkish ophiolites remains uncertain.