Geochemical and geophysical characteristics of the Balud Ophiolitic Complex (BOC), Masbate Island, Philippines: Implications for its generation, evolution and emplacement

Issue Date

12-2015

Abstract

This paper presents the first field, geochemical and geophysical information on the recently recognized Early Cretaceous Balud Ophiolitic Complex (BOC) in the island of Masbate in the Central Philippines. Mapping of the western limb of the island revealed that only the upper crustal section of the BOC is exposed in this area. Geochemically, the pillow basalts are characterized by transitional mid-oceanic ridge basalt-island arc tholeiitic compositions. Gravity surveys yielded low Bouguer anomaly values that are consistent with the highly dismembered nature of the BOC. Short wavelength, high amplitude magnetic anomalies registered across the study area are attributed to shallow magnetic sources. This is taken to support the model that the ophiolitic complex occurs as thin crustal slivers that are not deeply-rooted in the mantle. Comparing BOC with other ophiolites in the Central Philippines, such as those in the islands of Sibuyan, Leyte and Bohol, suggests the possibility of a common or contiguous source for similarly-aged and geochemically composed crust-mantle sequences in the region.

Source or Periodical Title

Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

ISSN

1017-0839

Volume

26

Issue

6

Page

687-700

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

maps, illustrations, tables, graphs

Language

English

Subject

Balud Ophiolitic Complex, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Masbate Island, Philippines

Identifier

doi:10.3319/TAO.2015.05.19.01(TC).

Digital Copy

yes

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