Occurrence of sheeted dolerite dyke complex from the Ballantrae ophiolite, Scotland

A sheeted dolerite dyke swarm has been discovered at Duniewick Fort, Ballantrae. It forms part of the Early Ordovician Ballantrae Complex of Ayrshire, southwest Scotland. Asymmetric chilled margins, parallel to sub-parallel dykes and multiple dykes (dykes within dykes) are found. Although the mineralogy has been altered by metamorphism, the geochemistry is comparable with modern day back-are marginal basin basalt. Cross-cutting sills have the chemistry of within-plate basalt. The regional geological setting suggests that an ophiolite sequence has been dismembered and incorporated into a serpentinite melange. This is the first description of a 100% sheeted dyke complex (senso stricto) from the Ballantrae ophiolite.