The regional significance of Cretaceous magmatism and metamorphism in Fiordland, New Zealand, from U–Pb zircon geochronology

The western Fiordland Orthogneiss (WFO) is an extensive composite metagabbroic to dioritic arc batholith that was emplaced at c. 20–25 km crustal depth into Palaeozoic and Mesozoic gneiss during collision and accretion of the arc with the Mesozoic Pacific Gondwana margin. Sensitive high‐resolution ion microprobe U–Pb zircon data from central and northern Fiordland indicate that WFO plutons were emplaced throughout the early Cretaceous (123.6 ± 3.0, 121.8 ± 1.7, 120.0 ± 2.6 and 115.6 ± 2.4 Ma). Emplacement of the WFO synchronous with regional deformation and collisional‐style orogenesis is illustrated by (i) coeval ages of a post‐D1 dyke (123.6 ± 3.0 Ma) and its host pluton (121.8 ± 1.7 Ma) at Mt Daniel and (ii) coeval ages of pluton emplacement and metamorphism/deformation of proximal paragneiss in George and Doubtful Sounds. The coincidence emplacement and metamorphic ages indicate that the WFO was regionally significant as a heat source for amphibolite to granulite facies metamorphism. The age spectra of detrital zircon populations were characterized for four paragneiss samples. A paragneiss from Doubtful Sound shows a similar age spectrum to other central Fiordland and Westland paragneiss and SE Australian Ordovician sedimentary rocks, with age peaks at 600–500 and 1100–900 Ma, a smaller peak at c. 1400 Ma, and a minor Archean component. Similarly, one sample of the George Sound paragneiss has a significant Palaeozoic to Archean age spectrum, however zircon populations from the George Sound paragneiss are dominated by Permo‐Triassic components and thus are markedly different from any of those previously studied in Fiordland.     

Cretaceous high-P granulites at Milford Sound, New Zealand: metamorphic history and emplacement in a convergent margin setting

Granulite facies orthogneiss of the Arthur River Complex (ARC) at Milford Sound, western Fiordland records a complex Early Cretaceous magmatic and orogenic history for the Pacific Gondwana margin that culminated in the emplacement and burial of a dioritic batholith, the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss (WFO). Enstatite-bearing mafic to intermediate protoliths of the ARC and WFO intruded the middle to upper crust. The early deformation history of the ARC is preserved in the Pembroke Granulite, where two-pyroxene S1 assemblages that reflect P <8 kbar and T  >750 °C were only patchily recrystallized during later deformation. S1 is cut by garnet-bearing, leucogabbroic to dioritic veins, which are cut by distinctive D2 fractures involving anorthositic veins and garnet–diopside–plagioclase-bearing reaction zones. These zones are widespread in the ARC and WFO and record conditions of P ≈14 kbar and T  >750 °C. Garnet–clinopyroxene-bearing corona reaction textures that mantle enstatite in both the ARC and WFO reflect Early Cretaceous burial by approximately 25 km of continental crust. Most of the ARC is formed from the Milford and Harrison Gneisses, which contain steeply dipping S4 assemblages that envelop the Pembroke Granulite and involve garnet, hornblende, diopside, clinozoisite, rutile and plagioclase, with or without kyanite. The P–T history of rocks in western Fiordland reflects pronounced Early Cretaceous convergence-related tectonism and burial, possibly related to the collision and accretion of island arc material onto the Pacific Gondwana margin.     

Autochthonous inheritance of zircon through Cretaceous partial melting of Carboniferous plutons: the Arthur River Complex,Fiordland, New Zealand

TIMS and SHRIMP U–Pb analyses of zircons from Milford Orthogneiss metadiorite (P = 1–1.4 GPa; T ≥ 750°C) of the Arthur River Complex of northern Fiordland reveal a bimodal age pattern. Zircons are predominantly either Paleozoic (357.0 ± 4.2 Ma) and prismatic with oscillatory zoning, or Cretaceous (133.9 ± 1.8 Ma) and ovoid with sector or patchy zoning. The younger age component is not observed overgrowing older grains. Most grains of both ages are overgrown by younger Cretaceous (~120 Ma) metamorphic zircon with very low U and Th/U (0.01). We interpret the bimodal ages as indicating initial igneous emplacement and crystallisation of a dioritic protolith pluton at ~357 Ma, followed by Early Cretaceous granulite-facies metamorphism at ~134 Ma, during which a significant fraction (~60%) of the zircon grains dissolved, and subsequently reprecipitated, effectively in situ, in partial melt pockets. The remaining ~40% of original Paleozoic grains were apparently not in contact with the partial melt, remained intact, and show only slight degrees of Pb loss. Sector zoning of the Cretaceous grains discounts their origin by solid state recrystallisation of Paleozoic grains. The alternative explanation—that the Paleozoic component represents a 40% inherited component in an Early Cretaceous transgressive dioritic magma—is considered less likely given the relatively high solubility of zircon in magma of this composition, the absence of 134 Ma overgrowths, the single discrete age of the older component, equivalent time-integrated ¹⁷⁷Hf/¹⁷⁶Hf compositions of both age groups, and the absence of the Cambrian-Proterozoic detrital zircon that dominates regional Cambro-Ordovician metasedimentary populations. Similar bimodal Carboniferous-Early Cretaceous age distributions are characteristic of the wider Arthur River Complex; 8 of 12 previously dated dioritic samples have a Paleozoic component averaging 51%. Furthermore, the age and chemical suite affinity of these and several more felsic rocks can be matched with those of the relatively unmetamorphosed Carboniferous plutonic terrane along the strike of the Mesozoic margin in southern Fiordland, also supporting the in situ derivation of the Carboniferous “inherited” component.     

SHRIMP monazite and zircon geochronology of high-grade metamorphism in New Zealand

Ion microprobe dating of zircon and monazite from high-grade gneisses has been used to (1) determine the timing of metamorphism in the Western Province of New Zealand, and (2) constrain the age of the protoliths from which the metamorphic rocks were derived. The Western Province comprises Westland, where mainly upper crustal rocks are exposed, and Fiordland, where middle to lower crustal levels crop out. In Westland, the oldest recognisable metamorphic event occurred at 360–370 Ma, penecontemporaneously with intrusion of the mid-Palaeozoic Karamea Batholith (c. 375 Ma). Metamorphism took place under low-pressure/high-temperature conditions, resulting in upper-amphibolite sillimanite-grade metamorphism of Lower Palaeozoic pelites (Greenland Group). Orthogneisses of younger (Cretaceous) age formed during emplacement of the Rahu Suite granite intrusives (c. 110 Ma) and were derived from protoliths including Cretaceous Separation Point suite and Devonian Karamea suite granites. In Fiordland, high-grade paragneisses with Greenland Group zircon age patterns were metamorphosed (M1) to sillimanite grade at 360 Ma. Concomitant with crustal thickening and further granite emplacement, M1 mineral assemblages were overprinted by higher-pressure kyanite-grade metamorphism (M2) at 330 Ma. It remains unclear whether the M2 event in Fiordland was primarily due to tectonic burial, as suggested by regional recumbent isoclinal folding, or whether it was due to magmatic loading, in keeping with the significant volumes of granite magma intruded at higher structural levels in the formerly contiguous Westland region. Metamorphism in Fiordland accompanied and outlasted emplacement of the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss (WFO) at 110–125 Ma. The WFO equilibrated under granulite facies conditions, whereas cover rocks underwent more limited recrystallization except for high-strain shear zones where conditions of lower to middle amphibolite facies were met. The juxtaposition of Palaeozoic kyanite-grade rocks against Cretaceous WFO granulites resulted from late Mesozoic extensional deformation and development of metamorphic core complexes in the Western Province.     

Diversity of Archean crust in the eastern Tula Mountains,Napier Complex,East Antarctica

The Napier Complex of Enderby and Kemp Lands forms the north-western part of the East Antarctic Shield and consists predominantly of gneisses and granulites metamorphosed during a ca. 2.8 Ga high-grade and a ca. 2.5 Ga ultra-high temperature event. The western segment of the Napier Complex includes coastal outcrops, islands and nunataks around Amundsen and Casey Bays, and the Tula Mountains. This region records some of the highest metamorphic temperatures measured on Earth, affecting a variety of gneisses as old as ca. 3.8 Ga. Five samples of orthogneiss from the less-studied eastern Tula Mountains, including three granitic, one trondhjemitic and one dioritic gneiss, were dated by zircon U-Pb Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS). The three orthogneisses yield protolith ages of 3750 ± 35 Ma (granitic), 3733 ± 21 (trondhjemitic) Ma and 3560 ± 42 Ma (dioritic), whereas the two other granitic orthogneisses record ages of 2903 ± 14 Ma and 2788 ± 24 Ma. Zircon growth during metamorphism occurred at 2826 ± 10 Ma, and also between 2530 Ma and 2480 Ma. Samples from the Tula Mountains can be geochemically subdivided into Y-HREE-Nb-Ta depleted and undepleted groups. Eoarchean granitoids are included in both geochemical groups, as are Meso- and Neoarchean granitoids. The Y-HREE-Nb-Ta depleted granitoids can be generated by medium- to high-pressure melting of mafic crust, whereas undepleted granitoids can be generated by low-pressure melting. However, relatively high potassium contents in most samples, and the presence of xenocrystic/inherited zircon in some, reflect the likely involvement of felsic crustal sources. This diversity in granitoid composition occurs across the Napier Complex. The lack of a simple correlation between protolith age and geochemical type is an indication that magmatism during the Eoarchean (and later) involved diverse sources and processes, including re-melting and recycling of various crustal components, rather than just the formation of juvenile crust.     

The geodynamic evolution of the Southern European Variscides: constraints from the U/Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the lower Palaeozoic magmatic-sedimentary sequences of Sardinia (Italy)

The high-grade metamorphic complex of northern Sardinia consists of a strongly deformed sequence of migmatitic ortho- and paragneisses interlayered with minor amphibolites preserving relic eclogite parageneses. The protolith ages and geochemical characteristics of selected gneiss samples were determined, providing new constraints for reconstructing the Palaeozoic geodynamic evolution of this sector of the Variscan chain. The orthogneisses are metaluminous to peraluminous calcalkaline granitoids with crustal Sr and Nd isotopic signatures. One orthogneiss from the high-grade zone and one metavolcanite from the volcanic belt in southern Sardinia were dated by LAM-ICPMS (and SHRIMP) zircon geochronology. The inferred emplacement ages of the two samples are 469 ± 3.7 and 464 ± 1 Ma, respectively. The analysed paragneisses are mainly metawackes with subordinate metapelites and rare metamarls. Three paragneiss samples were dated: zircon ages scatter between 3 Ga and about 320 Ma, with a first main cluster from 480 to 450 Ma, and a second one from about 650 to 550. Variscan zircon ages are rare and mostly limited to thin rims and overgrowths on older grains. These data indicate that the high-grade complex principally consists of middle Ordovician orthogneisses associated with a thick metasedimentary sequence characterised by a maximum age of deposition between 480 and 450 Ma. The association of nearly coeval felsic-mafic magmatic rocks with immature siliciclastic sedimentary sequences points to a back-arc setting in the north Gondwana margin during the Early Palaeozoic. The Variscan metamorphic evolution recorded by the high-grade gneisses (Ky-bearing felsic gneisses and mafic eclogites) testifies to the transformation of the Late Ordovician–Devonian passive continental margin into an active margin in the Devonian–Early Carboniferous.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Anti-clockwise P–T paths in the lower crust: an example from a kyanite-bearing regional aureole, George Sound, New Zealand

The George Sound Paragneiss (GSP) represents a rare Permo-Triassic unit in Fiordland that occurs as a km-scale pillar to gabbroic and dioritic gneiss of c . 120 Ma Western Fiordland Orthogneiss (WFO). It is distinguished from Palaeozoic paragneiss common in western Fiordland (Deep Cove Gneiss) by SHRIMP and laser-ablation U–Pb ages as young as c . 190 Ma and ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Lu >0.2828 for detrital zircon grains. The Mesozoic age of the GSP circumvents common ambiguity in the interpretation of Cretaceous v. Palaeozoic metamorphic assemblages in the Deep Cove Gneiss. A shallowly dipping S₁ foliation is preserved in the GSP distal to the WFO, cut by 100 m scale migmatite contact zones. All units preserve a steeply dipping S₂ foliation. S₁ staurolite and sillimanite inclusions in the cores of metapelitic garnet grains distal to the WFO preserve evidence for prograde conditions of T  <   650 °C and P <  8 kbar. Contact aureole and S₂ assemblages include Mg-rich, Ca-poor cores to garnet grains in metapelitic schist that reflect WFO emplacement at ≈760 °C and ≈6.5 kbar. S₂ kyanite-bearing matrix assemblages and Ca-enriched garnet rims reflect ≈650 °C and ≈11 kbar. Poorly oriented muscovite–biotite intergrowths and rare paragonite reflect post-S₂ high- P retrogression and cooling. Pseudosection modelling in NCKFMASH defines a high- P anti-clockwise P–T history for the GSP involving: (i) mid- P amphibolite facies conditions; preceding (ii) thermal metamorphism adjacent to the WFO; followed by (iii) burial to high- P and (iv) high- P cooling induced by tectonic juxtaposition of cooler country rock.     

Polymetamorphism, zircon growth and retention of early assemblages through the dynamic evolution of a continental arc in Fiordland, New Zealand

The Marguerite Amphibolite and associated rocks in northern Fiordland, New Zealand, contain evidence for retention of Carboniferous metamorphic assemblages through Cretaceous collision of an arc, emplacement of large volumes of mafic magma, high‐P metamorphism and then extensional exhumation. The amphibolite occurs as five dismembered aluminous meta‐gabbroic xenoliths up to 2 km wide that are enclosed within meta‐leucotonalite of the Lake Hankinson Complex. A first metamorphic event (M1) is manifest in the amphibolite as a pervasively lineated pargasite–anorthite–kyanite or corundum ± rutile assemblage, and as diffusion‐zoned garnet in pelitic schist xenoliths within the amphibolite. Thin zones of metasomatically Al‐enriched leucotonalite directly at the margins of each amphibolite xenolith indicate element redistribution during M1 and equilibration at 6.6 ± 0.8 kbar and 618 ± 25 °C. A second phase of recrystallization (M2) formed patchy and static margarite ± kyanite–staurolite–chlorite–plagioclase–epidote assemblages in the amphibolite, pseudomorphs of coronas in gabbronorite, and thin high‐grossular garnet rims in the pelitic schists. Conditions of M2, 8.8 ± 0.6 kbar and 643 ± 27 °C, are recorded from the rims of garnet in the pelitic schists. Cathodoluminescence imaging and simultaneous acquisition of U‐Th‐Pb isotopes and trace elements by depth‐profiling zircon grains from one pelitic schist reveals four stages of growth, two of which are metamorphic. The first metamorphic stage, dated as 340.2 ± 2.2 Ma, is correlated with M1 on the basis that the unusual zircon trace element compositions indicate growth from a metasomatic fluid derived from the surrounding amphibolite during penetrative deformation. A second phase of zircon overgrowth coupled with crosscutting relationships date M2 to between 119 and 117 Ma. The Early Carboniferous event has not previously been recognized in northern Fiordland, whereas the latter event, which has been identified in Early Cretaceous batholiths, their xenoliths, and rocks directly at batholith margins, is here shown to have also affected the country rock. However, the effects of M2 are fragmentary due to limited element mobility, lack of deformation, distance from a heat source and short residence time in the lower crust during peak P and T. It is possible that many parts of the Fiordland continental arc achieved high‐P conditions in the Early Cretaceous but retain earlier metamorphic or igneous assemblages.     

Late Mesozoic Ore‐forming Events in the Ningwu Ore District,Middle‐Lower Yangtze River Polymetallic Ore Belt,East China: Evidence from Zircon U‐Pb Geochronology and Hf Isotopic Compositions of the Granodioritic Stocks

Late Mesozoic volcanic-subvolcanic rocks and related iron deposits, known as porphyry iron deposits in China, are widespread in the Ningwu ore district (Cretaceous basin) of the middle–lower Yangtze River polymetallic ore belt, East China. Two types of Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks are exposed: one is dioritic rocks closely related to iron mineralization as the hosted rock, and the other one is granodioritic (-granitic) rocks that cut the ore bodies. To understand the age of the iron mineralization and the ore-forming event, detailed zircon U-Pb dating and Hf isotope measurement were performed on granodioritic stocks in the Washan, Gaocun-Nanshan, Dongshan and Heshangqiao iron deposits in the basin. Four emplacement and crystallization (typically for zircons) ages of granodioritic rocks were measured as 126.1±0.5 Ma, 126.8±0.5 Ma, 127.3±0.5 Ma and 126.3±0.4 Ma, respectively in these four deposits, with the LA-MC-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb method. Based on the above results combined with previous dating, it is inferred that the iron deposits in the Ningwu Cretaceous basin occurred in a very short period of 131–127 Ma. In situ zircon Hf compositions of εHf(t) of the granodiorite are mainly from ?3 to ?8 and their corresponding 176Hf/177Hf ratio are from 0.28245 to 0.28265, indicating similar characteristics of dioritic rocks in the basin. We infer that granodioritic rocks occurring in the Ningwu ore district have an original relationship with dioritic rocks. These new results provide significant evidence for further study of this ore district so as to understand the ore-forming event in the study area.     

Kyanite-paragonite-bearing assemblages, northern Fiordland, New Zealand: rapid cooling of the lower crustal root to a Cretaceous magmatic arc

Fiordland, New Zealand exposes the lower crustal root of an Early Cretaceous magmatic arc that now forms one of Earth's most extensive high‐P granulite facies belts. The Arthur River Complex, a dioritic to gabbroic suite in northern Fiordland, is part of the root of the arc, and records an Early Cretaceous history of emplacement, tectonic burial, and high‐P granulite facies metamorphism that accompanied partial melting of the crust. Late random intergrowths of kyanite, quartz and plagioclase partially pseudomorph minerals in the earlier high‐T assemblages of the Arthur River Complex, indicating high‐P cooling of an over thickened crustal root by c. 200 °C. The kyanite intergrowths are themselves partially pseudomorphed by paragonite, commonly in the presence of phengitic white mica. Biotite–plagioclase intergrowths that partially pseudomorph phengitic white mica and diopside–plagioclase intergrowths that partially pseudomorph jadeitic diopside, combined with published thermochronology results, are consistent with later rapid decompression. A short duration anticlockwise P–T path may be explained by the high‐P juxtaposition of comparatively cool upper crustal rocks following their tectonic burial and under thrusting during the waning stages of Early Cretaceous orogenesis. This was then followed by the decompression giving the rapid exhumation within 20 Myr of peak metamorphism, as suggested by the isotopic data.     

The Gondwanan margin in West Antarctica: Insights from Late Triassic magmatism of the Antarctic Peninsula

Triassic orthogneisses of the Antarctic Peninsula provide evidence for the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic geological evolution of southern Gondwana within Pangaea. These rocks are sporadically exposed in southeastern Graham Land and northwestern Palmer Land, although reliable geochronological, geochemical and isotopic data are sparse. We combine new geochronological (LA-ICP-MS zircon UPb), geochemical, and zircon (Hf, O) and whole rock isotopic (Nd, Sr and Pb) data to constrain the age and Triassic – Palaeozoic tectonic setting of these rocks. Zircon cores record Palaeozoic arc magmatism between 253 ± 2 and 528 ± 6 Ma, which was mainly located to the west of the Eastern Palmer Land Shear Zone (Central Domain; Vaughan and Storey, 2000). The arc is considered to be an extension of contemporaneous Palaeozoic arcs that have been identified along the Pacific margin of South America and the Thurston Island Block. Regions to the east of the Palmer Land Shear Zone (Eastern Domain, Vaughan and Storey, 2000) were located distal from the Terra Australis Margin, and possibly resided within Sunsas-aged belts within Pangaea. Triassic continental arc, calc-alkaline magmatism during 223–203 Ma modified the crust of the Antarctic Peninsula on both sides of the Eastern Palmer Land Shear Zone. Magmatic sources included igneous and sedimentary crustal material, which formed by crustal reworking during Sunsas- and Braziliano-aged orogenesis, and Palaeozoic arc magmatism. Arc magmatism accompanied sinistral extension which brought both domains into the arc and resulted in steady oceanward migration of the Triassic arc during the Middle – Late Triassic. We propose that sinistral displacement occurred along the Eastern Palmer Land Shear Zone, and this structure was active as early as the Triassic. Finally, we conclude that both the Eastern and Central Domains are autochthonous to Gondwana.     

Zircon Hf signatures from granitic orthogneisses of the Spanish Central System: Significance and sources of the Cambro-Ordovician magmatism in the Iberian Variscan Belt

Metagranitic orthogneisses are abundant in the Central Iberian Zone (CIZ). This felsic magmatism has a highly peraluminous composition (A/CNK = 1.07–1.62) defining a typical S-type granite character, common in crustal thickening environments. The studied Spanish Central System (SCS) orthogneisses yield Late Cambrian to Early Ordovician U–Pb zircon ages (496 to 481 Ma), overlapping with the available literature data (mostly from 477 to 500 Ma). These orthogneisses are intrusive into metasedimentary sequences from the northern CIZ that have been recently dated at about 536 Ma. Late Ediacaran inherited zircons are common in the SCS orthogneisses (10% to 75% of the total zircon population). Most inheritance ranges from Neoproterozoic to Late Mesoproterozoic in age (0.52 to 1.25 Ga) and shows marked positive ԐHf_t values (>+5). This long period of Proterozoic juvenile input is only recognized in the metasedimentary rocks of the Schist–Greywacke Complex, outcropping in the southern CIZ. The proposed linkage between the southern CIZ metasediments (as sources) and the studied orthogneisses is reinforced by their similar Nd isotopic signatures (from − 2.81 to − 4.95) and the highly peraluminous character of the orthogneisses. The intrusion of this felsic magmatism within the northern CIZ, having been generated by melting of the more distal southern CIZ metasediments, together with their recycled crustal origin, suggests crustal thickening of the northern Gondwana margin during a period of flat subduction. The orthogneisses define a large linear S-type magmatic belt cropping out for over 650 km from central Spain to Galicia. The ~ 35 Ma delay between sedimentation and granite intrusion is a typical time interval for crustal thickening models. This thickening stage evolved toward a passive margin setting, allowing the deposition of the siliciclastic Ordovician series which covered the previous terranes. Minor Floian-aged tholeiitic magmatism, giving rise to scarce metabasite outcrops in the SCS, probably postdates thickening and marks this tectonic change in central Iberia.     

Petrology,geochemistry, and zircon U-Pb geochronology of the Zambezi Belt in Zimbabwe: Implications for terrane assembly in southern Africa

The Zambezi Belt in southern Africa has been regarded as a part of the 570-530 Ma Kuunga Orogen formed by a series of collision of Archean cratons and Proterozoic orogenic belts.Here,we report new petrological,geochemical,and zircon U-Pb geochronological data of various metamorphic rocks(felsic to mafic orthogneiss,pelitic schist,and felsic paragneiss) from the Zambezi Belt in northeastern Zimbabwe,and evaluate the timing and P-T conditions of the collisional event as well as protolith formation.Geochemical data of felsic orthogneiss indicate within-plate granite signature,whereas those of mafic orthogneiss suggest MORB,ocean-island,or within-plate affinities.Metamorphic P-Testimates for orthogneisses indicate significant P-T variation within the study area(700-780 C/6.7-7.2 kbar to 800-875 C/10-11 kbar) suggesting that the Zambezi Belt might correspond to a suture zone with several discrete crustal blocks.Zircon cores from felsic orthogneisses yielded two magmatic ages:2655±21 Ma and 813士5 Ma,which suggests Neoarchean and Early Neoproterozoic crustal growth related to within-plate magmatism.Detrital zircons from metasediments display various ages from Neoarchean to Neoproterozoic(ca.2700-750 Ma).The Neoarchean(ca.2700-2630 Ma) and Paleoproterozoic(ca.2200-1700 Ma) zircons could have been derived from the adjacent Kalahari Craton and the Magondi Belt in Zimbabwe,respectively.The Choma-Kalomo Block and the Lufilian Belt in Zambia might be proximal sources of the Meso-to Neoproterozoic(ca.1500-950 Ma) and early Neoproterozoic(ca.900-750 Ma) detrital zircons,respectively.Such detrital zircons from adjacent terranes possibly deposited during late Neoproterozoic(744-670 Ma),and subsequently underwent highgrade metamorphism at 557-555 Ma possibly related to the collision of the Congo and Kalahari Cratons during the latest Neoproterozoic to Cambrian.In contrast,670-627 Ma metamorphic ages obtained from metasediments are slightly older than previous reports,but consistent with~680-650 Ma metamorphic ages reported from different parts of the Kuunga Orogen,suggesting Cryogenian thermal events before the final collision.     

Zircon ages,geochemistry, and Nd isotopic systematics of pre-Variscan orthogneisses from the Erzgebirge,Saxony (Germany), and geodynamic interpretation

High grade granitoid orthogneisses occur in several metamorphic units of the Erzgebirge in the Saxothuringian Zone of the Variscan Belt. The determination of protolith ages and the geochemical characterization of these rocks permit a reconstruction of the Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic magmatic and geodynamic history of the Erzgebirge. Single zircon Pb-Pb evaporation and SHRIMP ages combined with major and trace element data and Sm-Nd isotope systematics indicate at least two discrete magmatic events concealed in the so-called red gneisses, one at ~550 Ma in rocks of the medium pressure—medium temperature (MP-MT) unit and the other at ~500–480 Ma in rocks of the high pressure units. The transition zones comprise both Neoproterozoic granitoids and early Palaeozoic metarhyolites. The granitoid gneisses represent Neoproterozoic calc-alkaline granitoids with REE patterns similar to those produced in Andean-type continental margins. The early Palaeozoic muscovite gneisses are geochemically distinct from the older granitoids and may be derived from melts generated in a back-arc setting. Initial _Nd values in all samples overlap and range from –4.1 to –9.2, corresponding to crustal sources with average residence times of 1.5 to 1.9 Ga. Zircon xenocryst ages as old as 2992 Ma provide evidence for Grenvillian, Svecofennian-Birimian-Aazonian and older age components and suggest an association of the Erzgebirge with Avalonia.B. Mingram and A. Kröner have shared senior authorship     

Pe trology and SHRIMP zircon geochronology of granulites from Vesleknausen,Lützow-Holm Complex,East Antarctica: Neoarchean magmatism and Neoproterozoic high-grade metamorphism

We report new petrological data and geochronological measurements of granulites from Vesleknausen in the highest-grade section of the L＆#252;tzow-Holm Complex, part of the Gondwana-assembling collisional orogen in East Antarctica. The locality is dominated by felsic to intermediate orthogneiss （charnockite and minor biotite gneiss）, mafic orthogneiss, and hornblende-pyroxene granulite, with deformed and undeformed dykes of metagranite and felsic pegmatite. Pseudosection analysis of charnockite in the system NCKFMASHTO, supported by geothermometry of mafic orthogneiss, was used to infer peak metamorphic temperatures of 750e850 ？C, approximately 150 ？C lower than those estimated for met-asedimentary gneisses from Rundv？gshetta, 6 km to the northeast. SHRIMP U-Pb analysis of zircons from feldspar-pyroxene gneiss, which corresponds to a partially molten patch around mafic orthogneiss, yielded a Concordia upper intercept ages of 2507.9 ？ 7.4 Ma, corresponding to the time of formation of the magmatic protolith to the orthogneiss. Partial melting during peak metamorphism probably took place between 591 and 548 Ma, as recorded in rims overgrew around magmatic zircon. Our results suggest that Rundv？gshetta-Vesleknausen-Strandnibba region in southwestern L＆#252;tzow-Holm Bay, where orthogneisses are dominant, consists of a single crustal block, possibly formed by ca. 2.5 Ga arc mag-matism. The Neoarchean magmatic terrane was tectonically mingled with other fragments （such as metasedimentary units in northern L＆#252;tzow-Holm Bay） by subduction/collision events during the as-sembly of Gondwana supercontinent, and subsequently underwent w850 ？C granulite-facies meta-morphosed during Neoproterozoic to Cambrian final collisional event.     

Coupled extrusion of sub‐arc lithospheric mantle and lower crust during orogen collapse: a case study from Fiordland,New Zealand

The Anita Peridotite is a ~20 km long by 1 km wide exhumed fragment of spinel facies sub‐arc lithospheric mantle that is enclosed entirely within the ≤4 km wide ductile Anita Shear Zone, and bounded by quartzofeldspathic lower crustal gneisses in Fiordland, south‐western New Zealand. Deformation textures, grain growth calculations and thermodynamic modelling results indicate the mylonitic peridotite fabric formed during rapid cooling, and therefore likely during extrusion. However, insights into the exhumation process are gained through examination of aluminous garnet‐bearing meta‐sedimentary gneisses also enclosed within the shear zone. P–T calculations indicate that prior to mylonitization the gneisses enclosing the peridotite equilibrated at 675–746 °C in the sillimanite stability field (stage I), before being buried to near the base of thickened arc crust (stage II; ~686 ± 26 °C and 10.7 ± 0.8 kbar). From this point on, the peridotite unit and the quartzofeldspathic rocks share a deformation history involving extensive recrystallization (stage III) within the Anita Shear Zone. Coupled exhumation of these portions of lower crust and upper mantle occurred during regional thinning of over‐thickened lithosphere at c. 104 Ma (U–Pb zircon). Our favoured model for the exhumation process involves heterogeneous transpressive deformation within the translithospheric Anita Shear Zone, which provided a conduit for ductile extrusion through the crust.     

中天山东段中元古代晚期—古生代构造-热事件:SHRIMP锆石年代学证据

星星峡杂岩是中天山构造带东段出露的最老岩石,主要岩性为斜长角闪岩和各种副变质岩,并被中—新元古代花岗片麻岩和古生代片麻岩所侵位。文中利用SHRIMP定年方法,对星星峡杂岩的一个片岩和侵入其中的一个花岗片麻岩样品进行了锆石U-Pb测年。其中片岩样品中的碎屑锆石给出1800、1530和1200Ma3组大约年龄,表明其源区不仅包括古元古代和中元古代早期还含有中元古代晚期的地壳物质。在这些碎屑锆石中,最年轻的年龄为(1189±65)Ma,与该区中元古代大约1200Ma岛弧岩浆活动相近,可代表其沉积时的最大年龄。同时获得约910和470Ma的两组较年轻年龄;前者解释为变质年龄,后者为岩浆扰动年龄,与花岗质片麻岩样品的侵位时代相一致。中天山构造带东段的中元古代晚期岩浆(大约1200Ma)和变质作用(大约910Ma)的发生时间与华南、南极洲东部、澳大利亚南部和北美西南部所报道的格林维尔期增生-造山事件在时间上接近,表明中天山构造带东段与Rodinia超大陆的汇聚过程密切相关。     

Episodic and long-lasting Paleozoic felsic magmatism in the pre-Alpine basement of the Suretta nappe (eastern Swiss Alps)

The Suretta nappe of eastern Switzerland contains a series of meta-igneous rocks, with the Rofna Porphyry Complex (RPC) being the most prominent member. We present LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon data from 12 samples representing a broad spectrum of meta-igneous rocks within the Suretta nappe, in order to unravel the pre-Alpine magmatic history of this basement unit. Fine-grained porphyries and coarse-grained augengneisses from the RPC give crystallization ages between 284 and 271 Ma, which either represent distinct magma pulses or long-lasting magmatic activity in a complex magma chamber. There is also evidence for an earlier Variscan magmatic event at ~320–310 Ma. Mylonites at the base of the Suretta nappe are probably derived from either the RPC augengneisses or another unknown Carboniferous–Permian magmatic protolith with a crystallization age between 320 and 290 Ma. Two polymetamorphic orthogneisses from the southern Suretta nappe yield crystallization ages of ~490 Ma. Inherited zircon cores are mainly of late Neoproterozoic age, with minor Neo- to Paleoproterozoic sources. We interpret the Suretta nappe as mainly representing a Gondwana-derived crustal unit, which was subsequently intruded by minor Cambrian–Ordovician and major Carboniferous–Permian magmatic rocks. Finally, the Suretta nappe was thrust into its present position during the Alpine orogeny, which hardly affected the U–Pb system in zircon.     

Response of zircon to melting and metamorphism in deep arc crust,Fiordland (New Zealand): implications for zircon inheritance in cordilleran granites

The Cretaceous Mount Daniel Complex (MDC) in northern Fiordland, New Zealand was emplaced as a 50 m-thick dyke and sheet complex into an active shear zone at the base of a Cordilleran magmatic arc. It was emplaced below the 20–25 km-thick, 125.3?±?1.3 Ma old Western Fiordland Orthogneiss (WFO) and is characterized by metre-scale sheets of sodic, low and high Sr/Y diorites and granites. 119.3?±?1.2 Ma old, pre-MDC lattice dykes and 117.4?±?3.1 Ma late-MDC lattice dykes constrain the age of the MDC itself. Most dykes were isoclinally folded as they intruded, but crystallised within this deep-crustal, magma-transfer zone as the terrain cooled and was buried from 25 to 50 km (9–14 kbar), based on published P-T estimated from the surrounding country rocks. Zircon grains formed under these magmatic/granulite facies metamorphic conditions were initially characterized by conservatively assigning zircons with oscillatory zoning as igneous and featureless rims as metamorphic, representing 54% of the analysed grains. Further petrological assignment involved additional parameters such as age, morphology, Th/U ratios, REE patterns and Ti-in-zircon temperature estimates. Using this integrative approach, assignment of analysed grains to metamorphic or igneous groupings improved to 98%. A striking feature of the MDC is that only?~?2% of all igneous zircon grains reflect emplacement, so that the zircon cargo was almost entirely inherited, even in dioritic magmas. Metamorphic zircons of MDC show a cooler temperature range of 740–640 °C, reflects the moderate ambient temperature of the lower crust during MDC emplacement. The MDC also provides a cautionary tale: in the absence of robust field and microstructural relations, the igneous-zoned zircon population at 122.1?±?1.3 Ma, derived mostly from inherited zircons of the WFO, would be meaningless in terms of actual magmatic emplacement age of MDC, where the latter is further obscured by younger (ca. 114 Ma) metamorphic overgrowths. Thus, our integrative approach provides the opportunity to discriminate between igneous and metamorphic zircon within deep-crustal complexes. Also, without the tight field relations at Mt Daniel, the scatter beyond a statistically coherent group might be ascribed to the presence of “antecrysts”, but it is clear that the WFO solidified before the MDC was emplaced, and these older “igneous” grains are inherited. The bimodal age range of inherited igneous grains, dominated by ~?125 Ma and 350–320 Ma age clusters, indicate that the adjacent WFO and a Carboniferous metaigneous basement were the main sources of the MDC magmas. Mafic lenses, stretched and highly attenuated into wisps within the MDC and dominated by ~?124 Ma inherited zircons, are considered to be entrained restitic material from the WFO. A comparison with lower- and upper-crustal, high Sr/Y metaluminous granites elsewhere in Fiordland shows that zircon inheritance is common in the deep crust, near the source region, but generally much less so in coeval, shallow magma chambers (plutons). This is consistent with previous modelling on rapid zircon dissolution rates and high Zr saturation concentrations in metaluminous magmas. Accordingly, unless unusual circumstances exist, such as MDC preservation in the deep crust, low temperatures of magma generation, or rapid emplacement and crystallization at higher structural levels, information on zircon inheritance in upper crustal, Cordilleran plutons is lost during zircon dissolution, along with information on the age, nature and variety of the source material. The observation that dioritic magmas can form at these low temperatures (<?750 °C) also suggests that the petrogenesis of mafic rocks in the arc root might need to be re-assessed.     

Chronology (SHRIMP II) of magmatism in the Kalguty rare-metal-tungsten-molybdenum ore-magmatic system,Gorny Altai,Russia

The Kalguty ore-magmatic system (OMS) contains economic greisen and vein rare-metal-tungsten-molybdenum mineralization. The data on U-Pb zircon (SHRIMP II) age of nine samples of igneous rocks from the Kalguty OMS are accompanied by chemical, ICP-MS, and ICP-AES analyses of the main rock varieties. Porphyritic biotite granite of the main phase of the Kalguty pluton is characterized by the concordant age of 207.5 ± 1.7 Ma (MSWD = 0.034). The concordant age of the leucogranitic dikes pertaining to the East Kalguty Complex is 204 ± 2 Ma (MSWD = 0.65) for elvan and 200.8 ± 1.1 Ma (MSWD = 0.72) for ultrapotassic rhyolite porphyry. The two-mica and muscovite leucogranite of the Eastern stock is significantly younger: 195 ± 2.7 Ma (MSWD = 0.076) and 193.1 ± 2.1 Ma (MSWD = 0.0009). Thus, the Chingadatui Complex (the main phase of the Kalguty pluton) and dikes of the East Kalguty Complex are Late Triassic in age. The two-mica leucogranites of the Eastern, Zhumaly, and other stocks are most likely correlated to the Early Jurassic Alacha Complex of rare-metal granites. The superposition of greisen mineralization on elvan and ongonite dikes may be related to the emplacement of younger, Early Jurassic ore-forming two-mica and muscovite granites. Judging from zircon xenocrysts in granites, the Mesoproterozoic igneous rocks dated at 1.5 Ga and products of erosion of the rocks dated at 1.7 and 2.5 Ga occur in the basement of the Kalguty volcanic-tectonic structure. This is sound evidence for the occurrence of ancient continental crustal blocks in the southwestern part of the Altai-Sayan region.