Abstract
The Zhob ophiolite is divided into Ali Khanzai, Omzha, and Naweoba blocks. Present manuscript is focused on the Ali Khanzai block of Zhob Ophiolite. The Ali Khanzai block of Zhob Ophiolite comprises various lithological units including pillow basalt, gabbro, volcanoclastic, Jasperitic chert (ribbon/ bedded chert) & pelagic sediments, serpentinized dunite, chromitite, serpentinite zone & hyaloclastite mudstone unit. The basalt–chert and hyaloclastite mudstone units consist of thick lava and pelagic sediments. All units make thrusted contacts and are highly deformed whereas Mafic dyke intrusions crosscut mantle rocks of block. The mantle rocks are altered, deformed, and deeply weathered, maybe residual melting of enriched mantle peridotite. The contact relationship of dolerite dykes with peridotite indicate that they are late magmatic intrusions. The Crustal gabbros are partially chloritic and sericitic and occur within mantle peridotite. They may have formed from fractional crystallization in a magma chamber. The volcanic-volcaniclastic pelagic sediments surround mantle and crustal rock units. It might be a melang in nature is much like that of the Bagh Complex found beneath the Muslim Bagh Ophiolite and other ophiolites around the world. Geochemical results of 29 samples were carried out to determine the economic significance of the area. Atomic absorption spectrum (AAS) analysis indicates that Lead (Pb) varies 0 to 38.05, Zinc (Zn) ranges 1.91 to 1540.75, Copper (Cu) values 0.6 to 360.96, Cobalt (Co) fluctuates 11.75 to 129.18, Lithium (Li) differs 14.68 to 55.58 and Chromium (Cr) changes 0 to 1750.61.
Keywords:
Ophiolite, Geochemistry, Alikhanzai, Zhob
