GEOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF NODULAR CHROMITES IN THE FORUMAD OPHIOLITE, NE OF IRAN

Abstract

The Forumad ophiolite in the northwestern part of the Sabzevar region has embraced the largedepleted harzburgites and dunitic bodies associated with podiform chromitites. In some deposits, chromitegrains have segregated as nodules. The stretched shape along with high Cr2O3 and TiO2 contents are thecharacteristics of the nodules. Compared to the other Tethyan nodular chromites, the Forumad nodularchromites show high Cr content. The nodules formation seems to be the result of turbulent picritic magmaflows accompanied by the water rich fluids.