Age and radiogenic isotopic composition of a late- to post-tectonic anorthosite in the Grenville Province: the Labrieville massif, Quebec

The Labrieville anorthosite massif (LBV) is found in the Central Granulite Terrain of the Grenville Structural Province, but it displays no evidence of post-emplacement deformation or metamorphism, implying intrusion following peak Grenvillian metamorphic conditions. We report U---Pb zircon dates of 1008±3.4 Ma for border leucogabbro and 1010±5.6 Ma for a cogenetic jotunite dike intruding anorthosite. We interpret these dates as igneous crystallization ages, and regard 1010 Ma as a reasonable estimate of the emplacement age for LBV. LBV is thus the youngest massif anorthosite yet recognized in North America, and its age is consistent with late-tectonic emplacement relative to the 1.1-1.0 Ga Grenville Orogeny. We also report a U---Pb date of 1015±1.8 Ma for metamorphic zircon in a country rock amphibolite. This could reflect the age of Grenvillian regional metamorphism, or perhaps a later heating episode resulting from the intrusion of numerous “late” felsic plutons in this area.

Rb---Sr, Sm---Nd and U---Th---Pb isotopic compositions for four rock types (anorthosite, jotunite, leucogabbro and a plagioclase megacryst) span narrow ranges in each case, consistent with comagmatism among these units. I_Sr (T=1010 Ma) range from 0.7032–0.7034 and are among the lowest yet reported for anorthosite in the Grenville Province. Initial ε_Nd-values are positive (+0.8 to +2.5), like other Grenville anorthosites. Pb-isotopic compositions lie near the model mantle evolution curve of Zartman and Doe (1981), implying no involvement of significantly older crust in the petrogenesis of these rocks. Collectively, these data suggest a source for LBV in the mantle or mafic lower crust. LBV is a compositionally extreme anorthosite characterized by alkalic plagioclase (An₃₂Or₁₂) and high levels of Sr (2000 ppm) and Ba (1000 ppm). These properties cannot be attributed to simple crustal contamination of mantle-derived basalt. We suggest, alternatively, that LBV's compositional features may be linked with its late-tectonic character, perhaps reflecting partial melting of mafic lower crust brought about by crustal thickening during the Grenville Orogeny.     

U---Pb and Rb---Sr geochronology and geological evolution of the Harts Range ruby mine area of the Arunta Inlier, central Australia

Supracrustal and meta-igneous rock units from the ruby mine area of the Harts Range, eastern Arunta Inlier, central Australia, have been dated by the zircon U---Pb and Rb---Sr total-rock (TR) and mica methods. A well-defined zircon discordia for a weakly deformed specimen of the Bruna granite gneiss yields an age of emplacement of 1748₋₄⁺⁵ Ma, thereby constraining the minimum age of the Irindina supracrustal assemblage. Metapelitic gneiss within the supracrustals and a meta-igneous ultramafic boudin from the associated Harts Range meta-igneous complex yield highly discordant zircon data, revealing a strong early Palaeozoic overprint. Rb---Sr TR data from anorthositic gneisses associated with the ultramafic boudin are highly disturbed, also apparently during the lower Palaeozoic. However, Rb---Sr model age calculations and the zircon U---Pb data suggest a maximum age of about 2000 Ma for the supracrustal and meta-igneous rocks, and argue for new Proterozoic crust formation.

Zircon U---Pb data from a deformed pegmatite, emplaced in the meta-igneous complex, yield an emplacement age of 520₋₄⁺⁵ Ma, further pointing to Lower Palaeozoic magmatism and deformation. Correlations of U content and calculated ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age for the ultramafic boudin zircons suggest that new growth of low-U zircons occurred during retrogression associated with this event. The Sr-isotope systematics of the anorthositic gneisses can also be interpreted in terms of introduction of Palaeozoic Sr. Our data suggest lower Palaeozoic (possibly Delamerian) tectonothermal activity to be more important in the evolution of the Harts Range area than previously recognised.

On the other hand, Rb---Sr mica ages for deformed and undeformed pegmatites, and TR isochrons for the latter, show that pervasive tectonothernal activity had ceased by about 315 Ma and that regional cooling occurred between about 345 and 325 Ma. Local shear-zone biotite resetting may have persisted to about 300 Ma, consistent with the previously recognised Alice Springs Orogeny. Possible dilational Pb loss in the Bruna zircons occurred at about 103 Ma.     

U---Pb and Rb---Sr systematics in a polyorogenic segment of the Precambrian shield, central southern Norway

U---Pb analyses of zircon, monazite and sphene as well as Rb---Sr analyses of whole rocks and minerals have been carried out in an attempt to elucidate the evolution of the Precambrian shield underlying the Caledonian Jotun-nappe in central southern Norway. The earliest event recognized in the area is a high grade metamorphism at 1518 ± 17 m.y. which followed intense magma formation, igneous activity, erosion and sedimentation over a period of maximum 300 m.y. The Sveconorwegian cycle is characterized by the intrusion of two anatectic magma generations at 1014 ± 35 m.y. and 930±10 m.y. that disturbed and partly reset the isotopic systems of the country rocks. A post-magmatic fracturing stage at 875 m.y. concludes this cycle. Rb---Sr mineral systems were not completely equilibrated in the undeformed shield during the Caledonian event in contrast to new grown minerals in strongly deformed overlying Lower Paleozoic sediments which record the main deformation at 384±18 m.y. Zircon lower intercept ages ranging between 330–370 m.y. show that lead loss of zircon in rocks subjected to low grade metamorphic conditions may be the result of such processes as annealing, alteration, dilation or a combination of them.     

Temporal and tectonic evolution of the granulite-eclogite association from the Bergen Arcs, western Norway

The U-Pb and Sm-Nd dating of deep crustal rocks from the Bergen Arcs system helps resolve enigmatic aspects of the tectonic evolution of the Caledonian Orogen in western Norway and yields insights into the arrested stages of eclogite development within the granulites of the area. The U-Pb dating of zircon from one of the eclogite facies shear zones yields an upper intercept age of 945 ± 5 Ma [all errors two standard deviations (2σ)], which is similar to other zircon ages from the granulite facies protolith. The age is interpreted to represent the time of late Proterozoic (Sveconorwegian) granulite metamorphism. The U-Pb ages of sphene and epidote show that the eclogites formed early in the evolution of the Caledonian Orogen (pre-Scandian phase) at about 460 Ma. An eclogite facies quartz vein yields a Sm-Nd whole rock-garnet isochron of 440 ± 12 Ma that may reflect the onset of cooling immediately after peak eclogite facies conditions, although the Sm-Nd systematics reveal some isotopic disequilibrium within the sample. In tandem with previous ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations from, an adjacent eclogite of 450 Ma for hornblende and 430 Ma for muscovite, these data indicate that < 30 Ma elapsed between formation of the eclogites and the initial stages of cooling and exhumation to at least mid-crustal levels. This corresponds to minimum cooling rates of 14 °C/m.y. The timing relations suggest that the formation and exhumation of these eclogites from the overlying Caledonian Nappe wedge in western Norway are related to an early phase of crustal subduction during or somewhat before the major phase of continent-continent collision.

The short period of time between the formation of the eclogites and the initial stages of exhumation and rapid cooling is consistent with the only partial and localized transformation of the granulite to eclogite. Isolated occurrences of eclogite within the granulite, the formation of eclogite along metasomatic fronts and the formation of hydrous eclogite facies minerals within the “dry” granulite all point to the importance of fluids in the transformation and re-equilibration of the granulite to eclogite. Together, field and isotopic data demonstrate that both the localized and limited access of fluids and the rapid cycling of continental crust through the deepest portions of the orogen to upper crustal levels resulted in the preservation of the arrested stages of eclogite formation and survival of the granulites metastably through eclogite facies conditions.     

Excess Ar-free phengite in ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks from the Lago di Cignana area, Western Alps

Ar/Ar analyses of phengites and paragonites from the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks (zoisite–clinozoisite schist, garnet–phengite schist and piemontite schist) in the Lago di Cignana area, Western Alps were carried out with a laser probe step-heating method using single crystals and a spot dating method on thin sections. Eight phengite and two paragonite crystals give the plateau ages of 37–42 Ma with 96–100% of ³⁹Ar released. Each rock type also contains mica crystals showing discordant age spectra with age fractions (20–35 Ma) significantly younger than the plateau ages. Phengite inclusions in garnet give ages of 43.2 ± 1.1 Ma and 44.4 ± 1.5 Ma, which are significantly older than the spot age (36.4 ± 1.4 Ma) from the matrix phengites, and the plateau ages from the step-heating analyses. Inclusion ages (43 and 44 Ma) are consistent with a zircon SHRIMP age (44 ± 1 Ma) in this area. These results suggest that the oceanic materials that underwent a simple subduction related UHPM, form excess ⁴⁰Ar-free phengite and that the peak metamorphism is ca. 44 Ma or little older. We suggest that matrix phengites experienced a retrogression reaction changing their chemistry contemporaneously with deformation related to the exhumation of rocks releasing significant radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar from the crystals. This has lead to the apparent ages of the matrix phengites that are significantly younger than the inclusion age.     

Zircon U–Pb geochronology of gneissic rocks in the Yunkai massif and its implications on the Caledonian event in the South China Block

This paper presents new zircon U–Pb data and interpretations for the gneissic rocks in the Yunkai massif in order to constrain the timing and evolution of the Caledonian tectonothermal event in the South China Block (SCB). Magmatic and inherited zircons from the orthogneiss in the region, previously thought to be of Precambrian origin, yielded ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U apparent ages of 421–441 Ma and 513–1343 Ma, respectively. Also a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 236.0 ± 3.1 Ma was obtained, interpreted as the metamorphic resetting age during the Indosinian tectonic event. Our analyses show that the paragneiss in the region, previously regarded as Proterozoic sedimentary rocks, contains detrital zircons of the Archaean to Paleozoic origin, of which the youngest zircons yielded the U–Pb age of  423 Ma. These data indicate that (1) the Proterozoic and Archaean components may exist beneath the Yunkai massif; (2) most of the metaigneous rocks are actually the Caledonian anatectic granites possibly overprinted by Indosinian ( 236 Ma) reactivation; (3) some paragneiss might have originally deposited during the Devonian time; and (4) a subsequently rapid uplifting took place after the emplacement of the Caledonian granites, revealed by the observation that the Devonian clastic strata uncomfortably overlie the Caledonian granites. In combination with other geochronological data and geological observations throughout the SCB, we propose that the Caledonian tectonothermal event around Silurian ( 450–400 Ma) might be a result from an intracontinental collision between the Yangtze and Cathaysian blocks in response to the subduction/collision between the North China block and SCB.     

Age differences between Rb---Sr whole rock and U---Pb zircon ages of syn- and postorogenic Svecokarelian granitoids in Sottunga, SW Finland

The U---Pb age on pooled data of zircnos from the postorogenic Svecokarelian Mosshaga granite is 1788 ± 11 Ma (2 σ). The corresponding Rb---Sr whole rock age is 1742 ± 34 Ma (2 σ). The Mosshaga granite intrudes a synorogenic granodiorite, which has a U---Pb zircon age of 1889 ± 10 Ma and a Rb---Sr whole rock age of 1850 ± 28 Ma. The age differences between the U---Pb zircon ages and Rb---Sr whole rock ages are concluded to be geologically significant. It is shown that the Mosshaga pluton cooled rapidly and as a consequence the Rb---Sr isotopic system closed at a time very close to the crystallization of the zircons. A commonly observed feldspar and biotite alteration in Svecokarelian granitoids indicates migration of Rb and Sr isotopes in the whole rock system which may lead to apparently younger Rb---Sr ages.     

In-situ hafnium and lead isotope analyses of detrital zircons from the Devonian sedimentary basin of NE Greenland: a record of repeated crustal reworking

An intramontane collapse basin developed within the hanging wall above the large-scale extensional Fjord Regional Detachment of NE Greenland in middle to late Devonian times. The continental clastic sediments within the basin are derived locally from Laurentian source rocks, which makes them well suited for a study of the crustal evolution of the source terrain. This is the first integrated in-situ Pb and Hf isotope study to be presented, and zircon data on a selected sandstone from the basin are combined with Sm-Nd whole-rock data on sand/siltstones. Nd whole-rock ages of two samples of sandstones and a siltstone are 2.0-2.1 Ga. Peak frequencies of zircon ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages at 1,764-1,912 Ma, and ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf values at 0.28142-0.28163 (t_DM=2.47 to 2.06) for the sandstone suggest the generation of a considerable volume of juvenile continental crust in the ultimate zircon provenance at 1.9-2.0 Ga. The Hf isotopic compositions of Archaean zircons in the sandstone are distinct from those of the source materials of Proterozoic protocrust at 1.9-2.0 Ga, but zircons with elevated Hf-t_DM ages of up to 2.47 Ga can be related to a component of Archaean crust or reworked Archaean material in the ultimate zircon source area. Zircon ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages are also recorded at 1,480-1,572, 1,318 and 1,014 Ma (Grenvillian). The Hf isotope compositions of these zircons are consistent with reworking of the Proterozoic protocrust at these times, with little or no juvenile input. The Proterozoic zircons form two distinct groups defined by ¹⁷⁶Yb/¹⁷⁷Hf>0.05055 and ¹⁷⁶Yb/¹⁷⁷Hf<0.03301, and the latter group overlaps with Yb-Hf isotope data on the Archaean zircons. The two groups may represent zircons derived from evolved granites and intermediate to mildly felsic rocks, respectively. The repeated reworking of the continental crust also comprised erosion and deposition of sediments in the Proterozoic (the Krummedal sequence and the Eleonore Bay Supergroup, EBS) and intrusion of Caledonian anatectic granites in the EBS, which both represent provenance components to the Devonian sediments. No discrete Caledonian Pb-Pb zircon ages are recorded, but Caledonian magmatism may be represented by strongly discordant zircons which form arrays with a lower intercept age at ca. 400 Ma and an upper intercept at 1,600-2,000 Ma. One undated zircon records a ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratio of 0.282218, higher than that of the Proterozoic protocrust in Caledonian/late-Caledonian times (380-450 Ma) which may represent a Caledonian mantle contribution.     

Disturbed radiometric ages and their bearing on interregional correlations in the SW Baltic Shield

Rb---Sr whole-rock and zircon U---Pb isotopic work is reported from the northern part of the region between the Mylonite and Protogine Zones in the southern Baltic Shield. Three age determinations on polymetamorphic gneissic granites were carried out. Two of these yielded U---Pb upper-intercept ages of 1650 and 1675 Ma, respectively, which is approximately one hundred Ma less than expected from the combined field evidence and earlier isotopic age determinations. Although the new discordias appear well defined, various criteria suggest that the U---Pb isotope system was disturbed. Thus, the Rb---Sr system had been opened, but nevertheless the Rb---Sr errorchrones are consistent with the U---Pb upper-intercept ages, and an abraded zircon fraction suggests an older age than the unabraded fractions. The third U---Pb age determination resulted in a poorly constrained discordia. Its upper intercept ranges between 1575 and 1605 Ma, depending on the number of fractions considered.

This paper tests a three-stage model, where the intrusion age is set identical to the 1780 Ma intrusion age of the undeformed assumed protolith. The first two analysed rocks are consistent with a model suggesting intrusion at 1780 Ma followed by partial opening of the isotopic systems early (1200 Ma) and late (950 Ma) during the Sveconorwegian orogeny. An abraded fraction together with the time of the suggested last opening of the system 950 Ma ago defines a two-point discordia with an upper-intercept age of 1745 Ma. This age is in close agreement with the assumed intrusion age. The isotope data from the third gneissic granite cannot be fitted to this simple model.

It is concluded that the analysed rocks could belong to the granitoids of the Transscandinavian Igneous Belt, but if they do, they were reworked during the Sveconorwegian orogeny. As a corollary, it follows that the regions separated by the northern part of the Protogine Zone largely had a common pre-Sveconorwegain geological history. Another important implication is that the intrusion ages in the area between the Mylonite and Protogine Zones are older than those of the Trans-Labrador Batholith in Canada.     

Age Constraints on the Tectonic Evolution and Provenance of the Pie de Palo Complex, Cuyania Composite Terrane, and the Famatinian Orogeny in the Sierra de Pie de Palo, San Juan, Argentina

New U-Pb age determinations confirm earlier interpretations that the strongly deformed and metamorphosed mafic and intermediate igneous rocks of the Pie de Palo Complex represent a Mesoproterozoic fragment of suprasubduction zone oceanic crust.

A gabbroic pegmatite, interpreted to have formed during arc rifting or subsequent back-arc spreading, yielded a U-Pb age of 1204 ^+5.3/_–4.7 Ma. Highly tectonized ultramafic-mafic cumulates, occurring at the structural base of the Pie de Palo Complex and previously interpreted to represent remnants of a primitive arc phase, prior to rifting and back-arc spreading, could not be dated, but should be older than 1204 Ma if these inferences are correct. Tabular, sill-like bodies of leucogabbro/diorite and calc-alkaline tonalite/granodiorite sills yielded ages of 1174±43 and 1169 ⁺⁸/_–7 Ma respectively. They may represent a younger, more evolved arc phase established after arc rifting or a younger, tectonically unrelated Mesoproterozoic arc. SHRIMP-analysis of metamorphic zircon rims with low Th/U ratios in VVL 110 gave a ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 455±10 Ma, similar to lower intercept dates determined by discordia lines. Combined, these data indicate that the bulk of the amphibolite facies metamorphism present in the Pie de Palo Complex was generated during the Famatinian Orogeny.

Analysis of six single detrital zircon grains in a metasedimentary, quartzofeldspathic garnet-mica schist, tectonically interleaved with the igneous rocks of the Pie de Palo Complex, and tentatively correlated with the Difunta Correa metasedimentary sequence of other workers, yielded three age populations: 1150–1160 Ma; 1050–1080 Ma and 665 Ma, indicating that these sedimentary rocks were deposited during the late Neoproterozoic or Early Paleozoic. In addition, they confirm structural evidence that intercalation of rocks of the Pie de Palo Complex with isolated slivers of these sedimentary rocks is due to tectonic imbrications. These ages are also consistent with a Laurentian provenance, and earlier interpretations that these rocks once represented a sedimentary cover to the Pie de Palo Complex. The zircon population of 1050–1080 Ma could be derived from Grenville-age felsic plutons identified elsewhere in the Pie de Palo Complex by other workers. However, no evidence has been found in our samples for a Grenville-age orogenic event, invoked previously to explain accretion of the oceanic Pie de Palo Complex to Laurentia prior to the late Neoproterozoic/Early Cambrian rifting and drift of Cuyania.     

大别山北部榴辉岩和英云闪长质片麻岩锆石U-Pb年龄及多期变质增生

大别山北部榴辉岩及英云闪长质片麻岩的锆石U-Pb年龄分析表明：北部榴辉岩相峰期变质时代为226～230Ma左右;北部塔儿河一带英云闪长质片麻岩经历过印支期变质事件;大别山北部与南部超高压岩石中一致的（226～230Ma）高压或超高压变质年龄表明,北部镁铁-超镁铁质岩带中部分岩石也曾作为扬子俯冲陆壳的一部分,在印支期发生过高压或超高压变质作用;本区锆石发生过两期变质增生事件,一是印支期高压或超高压变质,另一期是燕山期热变质事件;榴辉岩及英云闪长质片麻岩的原岩形成时代为晚元古代;锆石U-Pb年龄可用多期变质增生模型来解释。     

北秦岭灵官庙盆地砂岩碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MSU-Pb年龄

秦岭造山带在印支造山作用主造山期之后,发育一系列晚三叠世—早侏罗世伸展断陷盆地。选择陕西丹凤北秦岭灵官庙盆地中低绿片岩相的灰绿色中细粒砂岩,进行碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb同位素分析。结果表明,85个以岩浆成因为主的碎屑锆石给出5个年龄组:426~605Ma、661~1174Ma、1494~1789Ma、2113~2261Ma和2826~3298Ma。其中,最年轻的锆石年龄为426Ma±5Ma,最老的锆石年龄为3298Ma±70Ma。主要的年龄峰期为426~605Ma年龄组,其次为661~1174Ma年龄组。这一年龄结构反映出物源区加里东造山期和Grenvillian期岩浆活动的重要影响。年龄谱中缺少中志留世—晚三叠世的锆石,说明普遍发育的印支期岩浆岩体并不构成物源区。通过与现今周缘地体年龄结构对比并结合其他地质证据认为,灵官庙盆地的物源可能主要来自加里东期侵位于二郎坪群、秦岭群中的花岗岩和新元古代宽坪群,少量来自二郎坪群和秦岭群。灵官庙盆地形成之后,盆地内沉积岩遭受了变质变形作用,记录了秦岭造山带在板块构造驱动的造山作用结束后进入了新的陆内造山作用阶段。     

Extraction of Pb with artificially too-old ages during stepwise dissolution experiments on Archean zircon

Stepwise HF-dissolution experiments on five Archean zircon populations reveal very systematic patterns of Pb discrimination, releasing at one point Pb with artificially too-old ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages. The experiments involved a first HF dissolution step for 1 h at room temperature and evaporation on a hot-plate that produces Pb with young ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages, followed by a 4 1/2 h HF dissolution step in an oven at 190°C that liberates the excessively old Pb. The final residue yields in most cases U–Pb data that are consistent with the results obtained by the normal selection, abrasion, and total dissolution procedure. In these examples, the too-old ages cannot be easily explained by the presence of an inherited core component but are more likely to indicate segregation of Pb in zircon sub-domains during thermal annealing episodes early in its history, as has been proposed by other workers. Aside from shedding light on these particular aspects of zircon U–Pb systematics, the combined results also provide geologically relevant information concerning the regional evolution of the western Superior Province in Ontario. An age of 2718±3 Ma for a gabbroic unit from the Quetico Subprovince shows that this was coeval to 2722–2718 Ma ultramafic to felsic igneous rocks in the adjacent Shebandowan greenstone belt, including a gabbro body dated in this study at 2725+17/−11 Ma. These age relationships suggest that volcanic units of the Shebandowan greenstone belt were tectonically imbricated in younger sedimentary rocks of the Quetico basin during late Archean convergence. The other three samples represent felsic intrusive units from Geraldton in the Wabigoon subprovince. An age of 2699±1 Ma for an Au-mineralized feldspar porphyry dyke and identical ages of 2690±1 Ma for two phases of the syn-tectonic Croll Lake stock put constraints on the timing of major deformation and hydrothermal activity in the belt.     

Ages of Lueliang Group and Its Metamorphism in Mt.Lueliang Region,Shanxi Province：Evidence form Single Grain Zircon U—Pb Dating

Presented in this paper are the newly obtained grain zircon U-Pb ages of volcanic rocks of the Lueliang Goup and associated Kuanping granitic migmatitic gneiss in Shanxi Province.The zircon U-Pb ages of bimodal volcanic rocks(basalt and rhyolite)of the Upper Lueliang Group indicate that the rocks erupted at about 2100 Ma.So the Lueliang Group was formed during the Early Proterozoic.In the area studied the second-stage metamorphism experienced by the Lueliang Group is the dominant one which took place at about 1806 Ma.i.e.,during the late Early Proterozoic.     

Very fast exhumation of high-pressure metamorphic rocks with excess Ar and inherited Sr, Betic Cordilleras, southern Spain

In order to attempt to further constrain the age of the early Alpine tectonic evolution of the Mulhacén Complex and to explore the influence of inherited isotopes, micas from a small number of well-characterised rocks from the Sierra de los Filábres, with a penetrative tectonic fabric related to the exhumation of eclogite-facies metamorphic rocks, were selected for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and Rb–Sr dating.

A single phengite grain from an amphibolite yielded an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar laser step heating plateau age of 86.9±1.2 Ma (2σ; 70% ³⁹Ar released) and an inverse isochron age of 86.2±2.4 Ma with an ³⁶Ar/⁴⁰Ar intercept within error of the atmospheric value. Induction furnace step heating of a biotite separate from a gabbro relic in an eclogite yielded a weighted mean age of 173.2±6.3 Ma (2σ; 95% ³⁹Ar released). These ages are diagnostic of excess argon (⁴⁰Ar_XS) incorporation, as they are older than independent age estimates for the timing of eclogite-facies metamorphism and intrusion of the gabbros. ⁴⁰Ar_XS incorporation probably resulted from restricted fluid mobility in the magmatic rocks during their metamorphic recrystallisation.

Rb–Sr whole-rock–phengite ages of graphite-bearing mica schists from Paleozoic rocks (Secano unit) show a dramatic variation (66.1±3.2, 40.6±2.6 and 14.1±2.2 Ma). An albite chlorite mica schist from the Mesozoic series of the Nevado–Lubrín unit has a whole-rock–mica–albite age of 17.2±1.9 Ma, which is within error of an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age published previously and of the youngest Rb–Sr age of the Paleozoic series obtained in this study. The significant spread in Rb–Sr ages implies that progressive partial resetting of an older isotopic system has occurred. The microstructure of the samples with pre-Miocene Rb–Sr ages reveals incomplete recrystallisation of white mica and inhibited grain growth due to the presence of graphite particles. This interpretation agrees with previously published, disturbed and slightly dome-shaped ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectra that may point similarly to the presence of an older isotope component. The progressively reset Rb–Sr system is a relic of Variscan metamorphism of the Paleozoic series of the Mulhacén Complex. In contrast, the origin of the ca. 17.2 Ma old sample from the Mesozoic series precludes any isotopic inheritance, in agreement with its pervasive tectono-metamorphic recrystallisation during the Miocene.

Exhumation of the eclogite-facies Mulhacén Complex occurred in two stages with contrasting rates of about 22.5 mm/year during the early phase and 9–10 mm/year during the late phase; the latter with a cooling rate in the order of 330 °C/Ma.     

Temperature–time paths from phosphate accessory phase paragenesis in the Honey Brook Upland and associated cover sequence, SE Pennsylvania, USA

Analysis of monazite-bearing lithologies from the Precambrian Honey Brook Upland (HBU) and overlying metasedimentary Paleozoic Chester Valley Sequence (CVS) (SE PA, USA) reveals overprinting of primary major and accessory phase parageneses by texturally and compositionally disparate secondary accessory phase parageneses. Two-pyroxene temperatures of 915–945 °C for reconstituted pyroxene reflect emplacement temperatures of felsic plutonic rocks (opdalite, charnockite) prior to Mesoproterozoic metamorphism. Monazite in metavolcanic felsic gneiss yields three age domains at 1009 ± 4 Ma (2 s.e.), 965 ± 6, and 876 ± 10 Ma. The first two domains record metamorphism of the HBU after anorthosite intrusion; peak monazite–xenotime temperatures for the monazite core domain are 700 °C, and high Th/U values in the second (overgrowth) age domain likely reflect a second high-T monazite growth episode. Formation of cummingtonite coronas on orthopyroxene in opdalite constrains maximum 1010 Ma metamorphic temperatures in the “granulite-facies” terrane to 730–740 °C. Evidence of increased Cl fluid activity in the 965 Ma metamorphism includes higher Cl content of matrix apatite relative to garnet-included apatite (metavolcanics), and Cl-bearing K-hornblende succeeding cummingtonite in coronal overgrowths (opdalite). Extreme monazite Th/U values (75–250) in the rim domain suggest growth during low-T hydrothermal alteration. In the opdalite, secondary singe-grain monazite and monazite + xenotime metasomites in apatite yield ages of 714 ± 24 and 586 ± 88 Ma, temperatures of 325–425 °C, and are interpreted to reflect thermal disturbances associated with late Proterozoic plutonic and volcanic activity in the Upland. This thermal disturbance may be recorded by Rb–Sr age of 567 Ma for biotite from a HBU gneiss. Monazite age domains in metaquartzite (378 ± 28, 272 ± 44 Ma) suggest that low-grade metamorphism (260–320 °C, Mnz–Xno thermometry) of the CVS is not a result of Taconian orogenesis.     

A zircon study from the Rhodope metamorphic complex, N-Greece: Time record of a multistage evolution

Zircons from an eclogite and a diamond-bearing metapelite near the Kimi village (north-eastern Rhodope Metamorphic Complex, Greece) have been investigated by Micro Raman Spectroscopy, SEM, SHRIMP and LA-ICPMS to define their inclusion mineralogy, ages and trace element contents. In addition, the host rocks metamorphic evolution was reconstructed and linked to the zircon growth domains.

The eclogite contains relicts of a high pressure stage (ca. 700 °C and > 17.5 kbar) characterised by matrix omphacite with Jd_40–35. This assemblage was overprinted by a lower pressure, higher temperature metamorphic event (ca. 820 °C and 15.5–17.5 kbar), as indicated by the presence of clinopyroxene (Jd_35–20) and plagioclase. Biotite and pargasitic amphibole represent a later stage, probably related to an influx of fluids. Zircons separated from the eclogite contain magmatic relicts indicating Permian crystallization of a quartz-bearing gabbroic protolith. Inclusions diagnostic of the high temperature, post-eclogitic overprint are found in metamorphic zircon domain Z2 which ages spread over a long period (160 – 95 Ma). Based on zircon textures, zoning and chemistry, we suggest that the high-temperature peak occurred at or before ca. 160 Ma and the zircons were disturbed by a later event possibly at around 115 Ma. Small metamorphic zircon overgrowths with a different composition yield an age of 79 ± 3 Ma, which is related to a distinct amphibolite-facies metamorphic event.

The metapelitic host rock consists of a mesosome with garnet, mica and kyanite, and a quartz- and plagioclase-bearing leucosome, which formed at granulite-facies conditions. Based on previously reported micro-diamond inclusions in garnet, the mesosome is assumed to have experienced UHP conditions. Nevertheless, (U)HP mineral inclusions were not found in the zircons separated from the diamond-bearing metapelite. Inclusions of melt, kyanite and high-Ti biotite in a first metamorphic zircon domain suggest that zircon formation occurred during pervasive granulite-facies metamorphism. An age of 171 ± 1 Ma measured on this zircon domain constrains the high-temperature metamorphic event. A second, inclusion-free metamorphic domain yielded an age of 160 ± 1 Ma that is related to decompression and melt crystallization.

The similar age data obtained from the samples indicate that both rock types recorded a high-T metamorphic overprint at granulite-facies conditions at ca. 170 – 160 Ma. This age implies that any high pressure or even ultra-high pressure metamorphism in the Kimi Complex occurred before that time. Our findings define new constraints for the geodynamic evolution for the Alpine orogenic cycle within the northernmost Greek part of the Rhodope Metamorphic Complex. It is proposed that the rocks of the Kimi Complex belong to a suture zone squeezed between two continental blocks and result from a Paleo-ocean basin, which should be located further north of the Jurassic Vardar Ocean.     

Age and evolution of the Grenville Province in eastern Labrador from U-Pb systematics in accessory minerals

U-Pb isotope analysis of zircon, titanite, monazite and rutile extracted from 15 different Grenville Province rocks in eastern Labrador reveals: 1) major crust formation through magmatism between 1,710 and 1,630 Ma ago; no evidence of older crustal material was found. 2) Pegmatite and gabbro intrusions between 1,500 and 1,400 Ma ago, probably related to incomplete rifting of the earlier formed crust. 3) Granite and syenite plutonism, presumably anorogenic, circa 1,300 Ma ago. 4) High grade metamorphism and anatexis during the Grenvillian Orogeny, causing Pb-loss in primary zircon and new growth of zircon, titanite and monazite at circa 1,030 Ma ago in the south (Lake Melville and Mealy Mountains terranes) and circa 970 Ma ago in the north (Groswater Bay Terrane and Trans-Labrador Batholith); geochronological distinction of these large-scale crustal segments substantiates their juxtaposition along deeply rooted, intracontinental ductile thrust zones during Grenvillian Orogeny. 5) Late Grenvillian growth of rutile in gabbros circa 925 Ma ago.     

Ages of Detrital Zircon from Siliciclastic Successions South of the São Francisco Craton, Brazil: Implications for the Evolution of Proterozoic Basins

In this work we report ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb LA-ICPMS ages of 152 detrital zircons from lower greenschist facies quartzites from Proterozoic basin successions of the southern border of the São Francisco Craton, southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. These are the intracratonic São João del Rei basin, the intraplate continental margin Andrelândia basin, and the Serra do Ouro Grosso sequence, developed on a crystalline basement older than 1.8 Ga, and deformed and metamorphosed during the Brasiliano Orogeny, ca. 0.59–0.50 Ga. The data constrain both the ages of the sources and the interval of sedimentation. The detrital zircons of the Serra do Ouro Grosso sequence were derived predominantly from the erosion of a Neoarchean crust, 2.5–2.8 Ga old, with only one grain showing a Paleoproterozoic age (2, 245±83 Ma) older than the Transamazonian event. Zircons extracted from a shelf quartzite of the lowermost sequence of the São João del Rei basin indicate derivation from the 1.8–2.2 Ga Transamazonian crust, with subordinate contribution from the 2.5–2.9 Ga Archean crust. The 1, 809±41 Ma age is interpreted as the maximum limit for sedimentation in this basin. The results confirm the regional correlation with the Espinhaço Rift successions. The zircons extracted from an autochthonous quartzite of the Andrelândia sequence yielded ages in the 1.0–2.2 Ga range, with a modal class at 1.2–1.3 Ga. Only two of the forty analyzed zircons yield Archean ages. The youngest zircon yields 1, 086±85 Ma. The zircons from the allochthonous quartzite yield ages between 1.0–2.7 Ga, with a modal class at 2.1–2.2 Ga. Only five of 45 analyzed grains yield Archean ages. The youngest zircon has an age of 1, 047±77 Ma. The results indicate that the detrital sediments deposited during the second marine flooding event of the Andrelândia sedimentation were mainly derived from the erosion of Mesoproterozoic and Paleoproterozic rocks. The 1, 047±77 Ma age is interpreted as the maximum depositional age for the described association.     

Tectonothermal chronology within a blueschist-eclogite complex, west-central Spitsbergen, Svalbard: Evidence from Ar/Ar and Rb---Sr mineral ages

A high-pressure, relatively low-temperature metamorphic complex is exposed at Motalafjella, Spitsbergen. White mica concentrates from the complex record variably discordant ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectra in which apparent ages systematically increase throughout low-temperature portions of the analyses and define intermediate- and high-temperature plateaux. Phengitic concentrates record plateau ages of c. 470 Ma whereas paragonitic concentrates yield c. 460 Ma plateaux. These ages are interpreted to date diachronous cooling through different argon closure temperatures following the high-pressure metamorphism. The slight discordance displayed in low-temperature portions of the experiments is interpreted to reflect a partial rejuvenation of intracrystalline argon systems during an c. 400–425 Ma thermal overprint associated with late Caledonian tectonothermal activity. White mica concentrates and associated whole-rocks yield Rb---Sr mineral + whole-rock ages from 457 ± 11 Ma to 474 ± 11 Ma. These are interpreted to date post-metamorphic cooling through Sr blocking temperatures. Because similar ages are recorded by both K---Ar and Rb---Sr isotopic systems, relatively rapid post-metamorphic cooling is implied. This and relatively rapid depressurization during uplift indicate that the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and Rb---Sr mineral ages likely closely date the peak metamorphism.

The high pressure complex is unconformably overlain by variably cleaved, Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian flysch which was deformed into regional recumbent folds prior to deposition of unconformably overlying Early Devonian molasse. Two penetratively cleaved slate samples display internally discordant ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar whole-rock age spectra with ages increasing from c. 100 Ma to c. 470 Ma. The spectral discordance is interpreted to reflect the combined effects of: (1) a polymineralic character: (2) a detrital source similar in age to the Motalafjella complex; and (3) a partial, post-Paleozoic thermal rejuvenation of the detrital mica argon systems. No thermal overprint associated with Late Silurian cleavage formation appears to be recorded. This agrees with textural characteristics which suggest that the cleavage largely developed through pressure-solution assisted, grain-boundary sliding.