The South Ladakh ophiolites (NW Himalaya, India): an intra-oceanic tholeiitic arc origin with implication for the closure of the Neo-Tethys

In the Ladakh–Zanskar area, two groups of ophiolites document closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during India–Asia convergence. They are localized north of the Indus Suture Zone and in South Ladakh, respectively. The South Ladakh group includes the Spontang ophiolite, with both crustal and mantle units, the Nidar ophiolite, with mainly crustal units, and the small Karzog ophiolite, with abundant chromitites and gabbros. The mafic rocks of the three South Ladakh ophiolites are tholeiites with similar compositions, displaying slight LREE depletion relative to HREE and enrichment in LILE relative to REE and HFSE. They are also characterized by a low Y content (