Neoproterozoic crustal growth at the margin of the East Gondwana continent – age and isotopic constraints from the easternmost inliers of Oman

Research on the Jebel Ja’alan and Qalhat inliers in Oman reveals the oldest magmatic events linked to the closure of the Mozambique Ocean, dating back approximately 900–880 million years. This discovery sheds light on the Neoproterozoic crustal growth at the margin of East Gondwana, a critical period for the assembly of supercontinents. The study employed U-Pb SIMS zircon dating and Nd isotopic analysis to determine crystallization ages and evaluate the juvenile to slightly evolved nature of the rocks, indicating variable contamination by older continental material. These findings contrast with younger, more uniformly juvenile rocks in southern Oman, suggesting a progressive development of arc rocks onto East Gondwana's western margin. The research highlights the complex geological processes shaping this region's ancient crust.

Whitehouse, M. J., Pease, V., & Al-Khirbash, S. (2016). Neoproterozoic crustal growth at the margin of the East Gondwana continent – age and isotopic constraints from the easternmost inliers of Oman. International Geology Review, 58(16), 2046–2064. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2016.1207207