Geochemistry Of The GuaxupÉ Granulites, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Geochemical data for granulite terrain are presented in the northernmost portion of the Guaxupé Massif, at Mantiqueira Province, SE Brazil. Several types of granulites are recognized in the area: basic, intermediate and acid granulite. Major and trace elements (including REE) point to only one magma source for these granulites generated at different times. Geochemical data point to plagioclase and apatite fractionation as the responsable by the REE behaviour in intermediate and more basic rocks. Overall composition of the Guaxupé Granulites is similar to average described worldwide in the literature to the lower crust.     

Coexisting pyroxenes from the basic granulites of Visakhapatnam area in the Eastern Ghats terrain

Fifteen pairs of coexisting pyroxenes from basic granulites associated with leptynites in the khondalite suite of rocks are analysed and the distribution of Mg and Fe²⁺ ratios is presented. Temperature estimates for the coexisting pyroxenes from the basic granulites of Visakhapatnam may be expressed as 750±100†C corresponding to intermediate pressure granulites.     

Orthopyroxene-Bearing Rocks of Charnockitic Affinities in the South Savanna--Kanuku Complex of British Guiana

Orthopyroxene-bearing rocks of the South Savanna—Kanukucomplex of British Guiana vary in composition from basic toacid types. They include basic granulites; acid, orthopyroxene-bearingbiotite gneisses; orthopyroxene-bearing acid granulites; orthopyroxene-bearinggranites, and orthopyroxene-bearing xenoliths contained in theSouth Savanna Granite. The field, petrographic, and chemicalcharacters of the rocks bear strong resemblances to charnockitesdescribed from other parts of the world, but the origins formany charnockites are inconsistent with evidence advanced forthe evolution of the South Savanna—Kanuku rocks. Fieldand petrographic criteria indicate that the basic granuliteswere originally intrusive basic rocks and have suffered regionalmetamorphism of Granulite Facies grade, which induced the conversionof clinopyroxene to orthopyroxene. The orthopyroxene-bearing,acid biotite gneisses and acid granulites have resulted fromcontamination by enclosed basic granulites which occur as boudins,bands, and lenses. The orthopyroxene-bearing granites and xenolithsare related to the assimilation of intruded orthopyroxene-bearingcountry rocks by the South Savanna Granite and its apophyses. The chemistry of the rocks appears to support the conclusionsreached from field and petrographic studies by indicating consistentenrichment of Ca, Mg, Fe, and Na in the orthopyroxene-bearingrocks compared with their non-orthopyroxene-bearing equivalents.Variation diagrams also indicate slightly anomalous plots forthe orthopyroxene-bearing rocks of the complex.     

Tectono-metamorphic and geochronologic studies from Sandmata complex,northwest Indian shield: Implications on exhumation of late-palaeoproterozoic granulites in an archaean-early palaeoproterozoic granite-gneiss terrane

Several bodies of granulites comprising charnockite, charno-enderbite, pelitic and calc-silicate rocks occur within an assemblage of granite gneiss/granitoid, amphibolite and metasediments (henceforth described as banded gneisses) in the central part of the Aravalli Mountains, northwestern India. The combined rock assemblage was thought to constitute an Archaean basement (BGC-II) onto which the successive Proterozoic cover rocks were deposited. Recent field studies reveal the occurrence of several bodies of late-Palaeoproterozoic (1725 and 1621 Ma) granulites within the banded gneisses, which locally show evidence of migmatization at c. 1900 Ma coeval with the Aravalli Orogeny. We report single zircon ‘evaporation’ ages together with information from LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon datings to confirm an Archaean (2905 — ca. 2500 Ma) age for the banded gneisses hosting the granulites. The new geochronological data, therefore, suggest a polycyclic evolution for the BGC-II terrane for which the new term Sandmata Complex is proposed. The zircon ages suggest that the different rock formations in the Sandmata Complex are neither entirely Palaeoproterozoic in age, as claimed in some studies nor are they exclusively Archaean as was initially thought. Apart from distinct differences in the age of rocks, tectono-metamorphic breaks are observed in the field between the Archaean banded gneisses and the Palaeoproterozoic granulites. Collating the data on granulite ages with the known tectono-stratigraphic framework of the Aravalli Mountains, we conclude that the evolution and exhumation of granulites in the Sandmata Complex occurred during a tectono-magmatic/metamorphic event, which cannot be linked to known orogenic cycles that shaped this ancient mountain belt. We present some field and geochronologic evidence to elucidate the exhumation history and tectonic emplacement of the late Palaeoproterozoic, high P-T granulites into the Archaean banded gneisses. The granulite-facies metamorphism has been correlated with the thermal perturbation during the asymmetric opening of Delhi basins at around 1700 Ma.     

Archean granulite gneisses from eastern Hebei Province,China: rare earth geochemistry and tectonic implications

The granulite gneisses and their retrograded products of the Qianxi Group from eastern Hebei Province, China, have been investigated for their isotope and trace element geochemistry. A consistent age of about 2.5 AE has been obtained by the Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd whole-rock isochron methods, in agreement with the zircon U-Pb data (Pidgeon 1980; D.Y. Liu, unpubl.). Geochemical arguments from initial isotopic ratios (I_Sr and I_Nd) and elemental distribution patterns have led us to conclude that this age of about 2.5 AE represents the time of granulite facies metamorphism, which must have followed closely the primary emplacement of their protoliths. Previous claims for early Archean ages (>3.5 AE) of these granulites are not substantiated. The mineral isotope systematics register an important thermal event at about 1.7 AE, roughly corresponding to the time of the widespread Luliang Orogeny (Ma and Wu 1981) or Chungtiao Movement (Huang 1978).The granulites of the Qianxi Group have diverse compositions ranging from ultrabasic through basic-intermediate to acid. Discriminant function calculations suggest that most analyzed samples have igneous parentage. Only a few show characteristics of metasedimentary rocks. The igneous protoliths apparently belong to two series — tholeiitic and calc-alkaline, with the latter dominating in abundance. The majority of the acid granulites have compositions corresponding to tonalite-granodiorite.Except for ultrabasic and metasedimentary rocks, all REE patterns are significantly fractionated with LREE enrichment. The degree of fractionation, as measured by the (La/Yb)_N ratios, is most important in the acid granulites. These rocks often show positive Eu anomalies and HREE depletions that are typical of Archean TTG rocks (tonalitetrondhjemite-granodiorite).The existence of komatiites has been previously reported in this region. Although a few rocks have a major element chemistry similar to that for peridotitic komatiites, the lack of associated members in a komatiitic series and the scarcity of REE data have not confirmed the true komatiite occurrence in this region.Many Qianxi granulites are highly depleted in Rb relative to K and Sr. This preferential Rb depletion during granulite facies metamorphism has led to very high K/Rb and very low Rb/Sr ratios. The most comparable case is found in Lewisian granulites.Although the fractionated REE patterns of the basic granulites somewhat resemble those of continental flood basalts, the highly different abundances in other incompatible elements (Ti, Zr, and Ba) readily distinguish them from each other. Nevertheless, the LREE enriched patterns of the basic granulites may suggest an origin of their protoliths by partial melting of LREE-enriched mantle sources. On the other hand, the REE patterns of acid granulites suggest that their protoliths could be derived by partial melting of quartz eclogite, amphibolite or basic granulite.The close time relationship for a series of geologic events, namely, from initial melting of mantle peridotites, through fractional crystallisation of basaltic magmas, to granulite facies metamorphism, seems to occur in many granulite terrains. This relationship, together with the juxtaposition of lithologies of different origins and the exceptionally high pressure conditions (>10 Kb) can be best explained by crustal underplating combined with intracrustal thin-skinned thrusting and stacking of crustal slices. The andesitic or island arc model for the formation of the lower continental crust is not in good agreement with the present geochemical data.     

Granulite—facies Middle—Lower Crustal Xenoliths from Nueshan Alkali Basalt in Northeastern Anhui Province, China

Metamorphic xenoliths within the Nushan alkali basalt of northeastern Anhui (NEA),China ,are from the middle-lower crust.They could be divided into two end-members:basic and acid.Interme-diate xenoliths are scarcely found.Basic two-pyroxene granulites(pyriclasites) were formed at 720-810℃ and 7-8kb.Petrological and geochemical studies indicate that the primary magma of the protoliths of basic granulites was derived from the metasomatized upper mantle, while the pa-rental magma of the acid end-member was probably produced by partial melting of the basic rocks. The protoliths of charnockites and grey gneisses represent respectively the early and late crystallization products of the granitic magma.The Nushan granulites are much different in many aspects from the granulites exposed in the northern part of North China ,which implies the inhomogeneity regarding to the early evolution of the North China terranc.     

The origin of laminated and massive anorthosite,Sept Iles layered intrusion,Québec,Canada

Well-laminated plagioclase-rich rocks (‘anorthosite’) occur as layers in mineralogically similar but massive rocks in the Sept Iles intrusion. Several phases of crystallization of poikilitic clinopyroxene have preserved the intermediate stages in the production of these rocks. Plagioclase nucleated and initially grew in random orientations in the stationary part of the boundary layer. There, in the absence of other events, crystallization produced the massive anorthosite. The laminated anorthosite may have been produced by episodic increases in the velocity of the magma adjacent to the boundarylayer induced by magmatic density-currents. Such currents would have caused the zone of simple shear of the boundary-layer to migrate outwards into the previously stationary part. This simple shear would then have rotated the existing plagioclase crystals, as well as crystals that nucleated at that time, towards the shear-plane. Some rocks show evidence of several periods of enhanced flow-velocities. The production of the lamination may have weakened the crystal-mush and enabled slumping to occur, producing folds and contorted layers. Finally, compaction liberated large quantities of intercumulus magma of which some was trapped as granophyric segregations and some escaped by overturing and churning the crystal-pile. Earlier-formed granophyric segregations and laminated layers were disrupted during this process to produce a range of more-complex rocks including igneous breccias.     

High-grade metamorphic rocks and peridotites along the Leiza Fault (Western Pyrenees,Spain)

Acid and basic granulites, migmatites, and lherzolites outcrop along the Leiza Fault (Navarra, Spain) in the western extremity of the Pyrenean Belt. The protoliths of the acid granulites have granodioritic composition. Textural and mineralogical data suggest that the acid granulites evolved from a first, syn kinematic medium-pressure granulite-facies stage [garnet-biotite I-Kfsp] to a post-kinematic granulite-facies stage of lower pressure and higher temperature [garnet-biotite II-cordierite-Kfsp-(spinel?), kinzigites]. Basic granulites were formed from protoliths with composition of tholeiitic to alkaline basalts. Basic granulites exhibit millimeter size subidiomorphic garnets dispersed through the matrix and smaller coronitic garnets between opaques or orthopyroxenes and plagioclase. Thermo-barometric estimates for the peak of the granulite-facies metamorphism are c. 800°C and 8 kbar. The migmatites presumably represent a shallower level of metamorphism (andalusite/sillimanite-Kfsp). Scapolite in the basic granulites was formed during a post-granulitic metamorphic episode. The lherzolites have been intensely brecciated and serpentinized, which makes difficult the comparison of their evolution with that observed in the other rocks associated with the Leiza Fault. Acid and basic granulites, migmatites, and lherzolites along the Leiza Fault may be correlated with similar rocks outcropping elsewhere in the North-Pyrenean Zone and along the North-Pyrenean Fault as tectonic slices and massifs. By analogy with those rocks, the granulitefacies metamorphism observed in the rocks studied must be Hercynian in age. The Leiza Fault constitutes, therefore, the western continuation of the North-Pyrenean Fault, and the rocks studied (except perhaps the lherzolites) may be considered as remnants of an Hercynian metamorphic massif, dismembered as a consequence of the activity of the fault at the end of the Hercynian cycle and during the Alpine tectonometamorphic events.     

Nd-Sr systematics of metamagmatic rocks of the Anginskaya and Talanchanskaya Formations,middle part of Lake Baikal

The paper presents data on the Nd-Sr systematics of magmatic rocks of the Khaidaiskii Series of the Anginskaya Formation in the Ol’khon region, western Baikal area, and rocks of the Talanchanskaya Formation on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal. Geochemical characteristics of these rocks are identical and testify to their arc provenance. At the same time, the ɛ_Nd^tof rocks of the Khaidaiskii Series in the Ol’khon area has positive values, and the data points of these rocks plot near the mantle succession line in the ɛ_Nd^t-⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr diagram, whereas the ɛ_Nd^t values of rocks of the Talanchanskaya Formation are negative, and the data points of these rocks fall into the fourth quadrant in the ɛ_Nd^t-⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr diagram. This testifies to a mantle genesis of the parental magmas of the Khaidaiskii Series and to the significant involvement of older crustal material in the generation of the melts that produced the orthorocks on the eastern shore of the lake. These conclusions are corroborated by model ages of magmatic rocks in the Ol’khon area (close to 1 Ga) and of rocks of the Talanchanskaya Formation (approximately 2 Ga). The comparison of our data with those obtained by other researchers on the Nd-Sr isotopic age of granulites of the Ol’khon Group and metavolcanics in various structural zones in the northern Baikal area suggests, with regard for the geochemistry of these rocks, the accretion of tectonic nappes that had different isotopic histories: some of them were derived from the mantle wedge and localized in the island arc itself (magmatic rocks of the Anginskaya Formation) or backarc spreading zone (mafic metamagmatic rocks of the Ol’khon Group), while others were partial melts derived, with the participation of crustal material, from sources of various age (metagraywackes in the backarc basin in the Ol’khon Group and the ensialic basement of the island arc in the Talanchanskaya Formation).     

Large ion lithophile elements in rocks from high-pressure granulite facies terrains

A comparison of K, Rb, Th and U concentrations in granulite facies rocks with those of unmetamorphosed common rock types shows that depletion of these elements in granulites is variable. K/Rb ratios for granulites are generally higher than unmetamorphosed rocks, but K/Rb ratios only reach extreme values when K < 1%. The covariation of K/Rb ratio with K concentration suggests that protolith composition, hence mineralogy, is very important in controlling the degree of Rb depletion in granulites. Felsic granulites exhibiting extreme K/Rb ratios are mainly Archean, reflecting the high abundance of low K felsic rocks in Archean terrains. The Scourian granulites of Scotland all have very high K/Rb ratios and cannot be considered to be representative of granulite facies terrains. It is impossible from this data set to state conclusively whether K is depleted in granulites; K/La ratios of granulites show complete overlap with igneous rocks. Th/U ratios in many granulites are greater than 4, indicating U loss relative to Th. Felsic granulites with low Th/U ratios also have high La/Th ratios, indicating that these granulites have been depleted in Th. The low Th/U ratios of these rocks may reflect retention of Th and U in resistant accessory phases.     

P-T Evolution of a Variscan Lower-Crustal Segment: a Study of Granulites from the Schwarzwald, Germany

Pressure–temperature–time (P–T–t) pathsof orogenic granulites provide important information on thethermal and chemical structure of the lower continental crustthrough time, and constraints on tectonic processes. We presentthe first detailed petrological investigation of granulitesfrom the Variscan Schwarzwald. Pelitic granulites from the CentralSchwarzwald Gneiss Complex (CSGC) are characterized by the peakassemblage garnet + rutile + kyanite + antiperthite ±quartz. Felsic to intermediate granulites from the SouthernSchwarzwald Gneiss Complex (SSGC) exhibit different peak assemblageswith clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, ternary feldspar, garnet,quartz and sillimanite, and manifold retrograde reaction textures.Peak P–T conditions were calculated by two-feldspar thermometry,garnet–orthopyroxene thermometry and various geobarometers.Minimum estimates for peak conditions are 950–1010°Cand 1·4–1·8 GPa for the granulites of theCSGC, which followed a clockwiseP–T path. The retrogradepath is characterized by initial isothermal decompression, associatedwith partial melting, followed by isobaric cooling. Peak conditionsfor the SSGC are 1015°C and 1·5 GPa (minimum temperature,maximum pressure). No prograde relics are preserved, and isothermaldecompression was less pronounced than in the CSGC. Other VariscanHP–HT granulites from Central Europe show similar lithologies,equilibration temperatures and ages (340–335 Ma). Theheat for widespread high-temperature metamorphism in the Variscanlower crust could have been supplied by repeated intrusion ofsubduction-related basic magmas. Rapid, near-isothermal decompressionof the granulites may have been facilitated by considerablevolumes of partial melt and by orogenic extension. KEY WORDS: granulites; near-isothermal decompression; two-feldspar thermometry; HT metamorphism; Variscan Schwarzwald     

Gabbro-derived granulites from External liguride units (northern Apennine,Italy): implications for the rifting processes in the western Tethys

In Santonian-Early Campanian sedimentary melanges of the External Liguride units (northern Apennine), slide blocks of subcontinental mantle and MOR basalts are associated with lithologies derived from the continental crust. One of these sedimentary melanges, the Mt. Ragola complex, is characterized by the close association of mantle ultramafic, mafic and quartzo-feldspathic granulites. Mafic granulites show a wide compositional range. They generally display a marked metamorphic layering, but undeformed rocks which preserve a gabbroic fabric are found locally. The most frequent lithologies are Al-spinel gabbronorites, generally containing minor olivine, and Fe-Ti oxidebearing gabbronorites. Troctolites, olivine gabbronorites and anorthosites were also recovered. Relics of primary textures as well as mineral and bulk-rock compositional variations indicate a comagmatic intrusive origin for the protoliths of the mafic granulites. This intrusive mafic complex underwent a subsolidus reequilibration under granulite facies conditions, at 0.6–0.9 GPa and 810–920°C, and was derived from crystallization at intermediate levels of tholeiite-derived liquids, possibly affected by crustal contamination. Its primary features are similar to those of the upper zone of the Ivrea layered complex. The gabbroic protolith for the granulites of External Liguride units were probably crystallized into the extending Adria lithosphere in relation to the initial stages of the opening of the western Tethys.     

High-pressure/temperature metamorphism in the St. Leonhard Granulite Massif, Austria: evidence from intermediate pyroxene-bearing granulites

The St. Leonhard Granulite Massif, Lower Austria, is one of the small occurrences of high-pressure granulite found in the Gföhl unit at the highest tectono-stratigraphic level of the Moldanubian zone. Although predominantly composed of extremely deformed acidic, garnet+kyanite-bearing rocks, thin conformable layers of intermediate garnet+clinopyroxene-bearing granulites are seen. Pressure-temperature estimates for the peak metamorphic assemblage of garnet+clinopyroxene+ternary feldspar+quartz in these rocks are 15-19 kbar, 950-1050°C. A close coherence between results obtained from a combination of independent geothermobarometers and those derived from an internally consistent thermobarometric method indicate the retention of high-pressure/temperature equilibrium mineral compositions, even though there is a wealth of petrographic evidence for significant post-peak metamorphic decompression. Pressure-temperature estimates for the orthopyroxene-bearing, intermediate-pressure decompression stage, obtained from discrete reaction textures, are 8-12 kbar and 800-900°C. Post-decompressive cooling from 800 to 500°C, at ca. 5-8 kbar, is recorded by the final amphibolite-facies, biotite-bearing assemblage, together with petrological constraints from the enclosing acid granulites.     

Field,petrophysical and carbon isotope studies on the Lapland Granulite Belt: implications for deep continental crust

The Palaeoproterozoic Lapland Granulite Belt is a seismically reflective and electrically conductive sequence of deep crustal (6–9 kbar) rocks in the northern Fennoscandian Shield. It is composed of garnet-sillimanite gneisses (khondalites) and pyroxene granulites (enderbites) which in certain thrust sheets form about 500 m thick interlayers. The structure was formed by the intrusion of intermediate to basic magmas into turbiditic sedimentary rocks under granulite facies metamorphism accompanied by shearing of the deep crust about 1.93–1.90 Gyr ago (Gal. Granulites were upthrust 1.90–1.87 Ga and the belt was divided by crustal scale duplexing into four structural units whose layered structure was preserved. The thrust structures are recognized by the repetition of lithological ensembles and by discordant structural patterns well distinguishable in airborne magnetic and electromagnetic data. Thrusting gave rise to clockwise pressure-temperature evolution of the belt. However, some basic rocks possibly record an isobaric cooling path. The low bulk resistivity of the belt (200–1000 Ωm) is caused by interconnected graphite and subordinate sulphides in shear zones. On the basis of carbon isotope ratios this graphite is derived mostly from sedimentary organic carbon. The seismic reflectivity of the belt may be caused by velocity and density differences between pyroxene granulites and khondalites, as well as by shear zones.     

Zircon ages for high pressure granulites from South Bohemia, Czech Republic, and their connection to Carboniferous high temperature processes

Petrological and isotopic investigations were undertaken on high pressure granulites of granitic to mafic composition from the Prachatice and Blansky les granulite complexes of southern Bohemia, Czech Republic. The predominant felsic granulites are quartz + ternary feldspar (now mesoperthite)-rich rocks containing minor garnet, kyanite and rutile, and most show a characteristic mylonitic fabric formed during retrogression along the exhumation path. Three high temperature reaction stages at distinctly different pressures are recognized. Rare layers of intermediate to mafic composition, containing clinopyroxene, best record a primary high pressure–high temperature stage (>15 kbar, >900 °C), and a well-defined overprint at medium pressure granulite facies conditions (6–8 kbar, 700–800 °C) during which orthopyroxene (+plagioclase) formed from garnet and clinopyroxene. A further high temperature overprint at lower pressure (ca. 4 kbar) is reflected in the development of cordierite- and/or andalusite-bearing partial-melt patches in some felsic granulites. Conventionally separated zircons from the granulites were measured on a SHRIMP II ion microprobe. Near-spherical, multifaceted grains interpreted to be metamorphic, and short prismatic grains from the cordierite-bearing melt patch, are all concordant and yielded indistinguishable results producing an average age, for 83 individual grain spots, of 339.8 ± 2.6 Ma (2σ). Metamorphic grains from a meta-granodiorite associated with the granulites gave the same age (339.6 ± 3.1 Ma, mean of 9), whereas inherited magmatic grains of the same sample yielded 367.8 ± 1.4 Ma. A mean age of 469.3 ± 3.8 Ma was obtained for two short prismatic concordant grains in one of the granulites, whereas several of the rounded grains with ca. 340 Ma metamorphic zircon overgrowths had much older (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb minimum ages up to 1771 Ma) discordant cores. In addition to analysis of conventionally separated grains, ion-microprobe measurements were also made on zircons extracted from thin sections (drilled-out, mounted and repolished) such that a direct relationship between the dated zircons and petrographic position could be made. Identical results were obtained from both preparation methods, thus showing that the considerable advantage in petrological control is not offset by any appreciable lack of precision when compared to conventionally prepared ion-microprobe samples. All these isotopic results are identical to those previously obtained by conventional multigrain and single-grain evaporation techniques, but rather than allowing a greater resolution of the age of the petrographically obvious different metamorphic stages the results document, for the first time, the apparent short time scale for high, medium and low pressure metamorphism in the granulites. The short time period between the 340 Ma age for the high pressure granulites, as derived here and from studies of similar rocks elsewhere in the European Variscides, and the 320–330 Ma ages for regional low pressure–high temperature metamorphism, migmatization and granite magmatism, strongly suggests an important link between these two high temperature processes. Received: 25 February 1999 / Accepted: 27 September 1999     

Low-pressure Granulites of the Lisov Massif, Southern Bohemia: Visean Metamorphism of Late Devonian Plutonic Arc Rocks

The Liov Granulite Massif differs from neighbouring granulitebodies in the Moldanubian Zone of southern Bohemia (Czech Republic)in including a higher proportion of intermediate–maficand orthopyroxene-bearing rocks, associated with spinel peridotitesbut lacking eclogites. In addition to dominantly felsic garnetgranulites, other major rock types include quartz dioritic two-pyroxenegranulites, tonalitic granulites and charnockites. Minor bodiesof high-pressure layered gabbroic garnet granulites and spinelperidotites represent tectonically incorporated foreign elements.The protoliths of the mafic–intermediate granulites (quartz-dioriticand tonalitic) crystallized 360–370 Ma ago, as indicatedby laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometryU–Pb ages of abundant zircons with well-preserved magmaticzoning. Strongly metamorphically recrystallized zircons giveages of 330–340 Ma, similar to those of other Moldanubiangranulites. For the overwhelming majority of the Liov granulitespeak metamorphic conditions probably did not exceed 800–900°Cat 4–5 kbar; the equilibration temperature of the pyroxenegranulites was 670–770°C. This is in sharp contrastto conditions of adjacent contemporaneous Moldanubian granulites,which are characterized by a distinct HP–HT signature.The mafic–intermediate Liov granulites are thought tohave originated during Viséan metamorphic overprintingof metaluminous, medium-K calc-alkaline plutonic rocks thatformed the mid-crustal root of a Late Devonian magmatic arc.The protolith resembled contemporaneous calc-alkaline intrusionsin the European Variscan Belt. KEY WORDS: low-pressure granulites; geothermobarometry; laser-ablation ICP-MS zircon dating; whole-rock geochemistry; Sr–Nd isotopes; Moldanubian Zone     

Geochemical evolution of high-pressure mafic granulites from the Bacariza formation (Cabo Ortegal complex, NW Spain): an example of a heterogeneous lower crust

 The Cabo Ortegal complex (northwestern Iberian massif) is a klippen formed of several structural units stacked during the Hercynian collision. All these units include ultramafic rocks, metabasites and quartz-feldspathic gneisses affected by different metamorphic conditions. The Bacariza formation is heterogeneous showing a conspicuous layering mainly defined by alternate high-pressure ultrabasic-to-basic granulites, retrogressed garnet amphibolites of intermediate composition and rare acid rocks forming garnet trondhjemitic gneisses. This layering is inherited from a gabbroic protolith showing a composition rich in Fe and Ti. Major and trace elements of these rocks can be correlated to continental tholeiitic series of extensional settings. These high-pressure granulites are situated in normal contact between±serpentinised ultramafic rocks and other high-grade metabasites with lessevolved and more-depleted composition comparable to T-type and N-type MORB. It is suggested that the layered gabbro-type protolith was part of a continuous mafic crust. This crust was initially formed during Early Ordovician in a continental extensional setting and progressively evolved to oceanic spreading. Received: 9 February 1996/Accepted: 10 February 1997     

High radiogenic heat production in the Kerala Khondalite Block,Southern Granulite Province,India

In situ radioelemental (K, U and Th) analysis and heat production estimates have been made at 59 sites in the Kerala Khondalite Block (KKB) of the Southern Granulite Province (SGP) of India. Together with the in situ analyses on granulites and gneisses previously reported from 28 sites, and heat production estimated from the published geochemical analyses on granites and syenites of the KKB, the new data set allows good characterization of heat production for the major granulite facies rocks and granitoids of the KKB. Garnet biotite gneisses are characterized by high levels of Th and U, with mean values of 60 and 3 ppm, respectively. Khondalites, leptynites and charnockites have slightly lower levels of Th (23, 20 and 22 ppm, respectively) and U (2.9, 2.4 and 0.9 ppm, respectively). The mean K, U, Th abundances for the granites, leucogranites and granitic gneisses ranges from 3.9 to 4.3%, 2.6 to 4.3 ppm, 22 to 50 ppm respectively, and for the syenites 4.8%, 2 ppm and 5.7 ppm. Mean radiogenic heat production values for garnet–biotite gneiss, khondalite, leptynite and charnockite are 5.5, 2.7, 2.4 and 2.2 μW m⁻³, respectively. For the granites, leucogranites, granitic gneisses and syenites it is 2.6, 3.4, 4.6 and 1.4 μW m⁻³, respectively. Heat production of granulite facies rocks, which are the most abundant rocks in KKB, correlate well with Th, but less with U, suggesting that variation is caused by Th and U bearing accessory minerals such as monazite and zircon. The high heat production of the KKB granulites are in contrast to the low heat production of the Late Archaean granulites of the Northern Block (NB) of the SGP which are highly depleted in radioelements and also the granulites of Madurai Block (MB) that have higher radioelemental abundances than in the granulites of the NB. The high heat production of the KKB granulites could be due to the nature of protoliths and/or metasomatism associated with Neoproteroic- to- Pan African alkaline magmatic activity represented by alkali granite and syenite–carbonatite emplacements and emplacement of pegmatites.     

Partial Melting of Aluminous Metagreywackes in the Northern Sierra de Comechingones, Central Argentina

We describe a suite of metamorphic and migmatitic rocks fromthe Sierra de Comechingones (Sierras Pampeanas of Central Argentina)that include unmelted gneisses, migmatites and refractory granulites.The gneisses are aluminous greywackes metamorphosed in the amphibolitegrade and are likely to have been the protoliths for the higher-grademigmatites and granulites. Mineralogical characteristics andmajor and trace element compositions show that metatexite migmatites,diatexite migmatites and granulites are all melt-depleted rocks.The migmatites (both metatexites and diatexites) have undergoneH₂O-fluxed melting and lost     

The lithospheric mantle beneath the Kerguelen Islands (Indian Ocean): petrological and petrophysical characteristics of mantle mafic rock types and correlation with seismic profiles

Deep-seated meta-igneous xenoliths brought to the surface by alkali basaltic magmas from the Kerguelen Islands reveal that basaltic magmas have intruded the upper mantle throughout their geological evolution. These xenoliths record volcanic activity associated with their early South East Indian Ridge location and subsequent translation to an intraplate setting over the Kerguelen Plume. The meta-igneous xenoliths sample two distinctive geochemical episodes: one is tholeiitic transitional and one is alkali basaltic. Geothermobarometry calculations provide a spatial context for the rock type sequence sampled and for interpreting petrophysical data. The garnet granulites equilibrated over a pressure range of 1.15 to 1.35 GPa and the garnet pyroxenite at 1.8 GPa. Ultrasonic measurements of compressional wave speed V_P have been carried out at pressures up to 1 GPa, and densities measured for representative samples of meta-igneous xenoliths and for a harzburgite that represents the peridotitic mantle. V_P and density have also been calculated using modal proportions of minerals and appropriate elastic properties for the constituent minerals. Calculated and measured V_P agree well for rock types with microstructures not complicated by kelyphitic breakdown of garnet and/or pervasive grain-boundary cracking. Pyroxene granulites have measured and calculated V_P within the range 7.37-7.52 km/s; calculated velocities for the garnet granulites and pyroxenites range from 7.69 to 7.99 km/s, whereas measured and calculated V_P for a mantle harzburgite are 8.45 and 8.29 km/s respectively. The seismic structure observed beneath the Kerguelen Islands can be explained by (1) a mixture of underplated pyroxene granulites and ultramafic rocks responsible for the 2-3 km low velocity transitional zone below the oceanic layer 3, (2) varying proportions of granulites and pyroxenites in different regions within the upper mantle producing the lateral heterogeneities, and (3) intercalation of the granulites and pyroxenites throughout the entire upper mantle column, along with elevated temperatures, accounting for the relatively low mantle velocities (7.70-7.95 km/s).