超高温变质作用：以华北内蒙古土贵乌拉地区为例

超高温麻粒岩(富Mg-Al)是指温度高于900℃、压力为0.7~1.3GPa条件下形成的麻粒岩相变质岩,它记录了下地壳超高温极端变质作用的地质信息。富Mg-Al典型超高温矿物组合有:假蓝宝石+石英,尖晶石+石英,大隅石+石榴石,斜方辉石+夕线石+石英,高氟黑云母和钙镁闪石,刚玉+石英。目前世界上发现的超高温麻粒岩带(块)地区有非洲阿尔及利亚、南非、东南极、巴西中部、澳大利亚中部、印度南部和东南部等地。我们在华北克拉通北部内蒙古中南部地区孔兹岩区中发现了超高温麻粒岩,岩性主要为灰黑色条带状夕线石榴黑云片麻岩,其中含有尖晶石+石英、假蓝宝石+石英、斜方辉石+夕线石+石英以及刚玉+尖晶石+石榴石等超高温矿物组合,指示温度达1000℃,压力超过1.0GPa的变质作用。独居石定年获得了(1927±11)Ma以及(1819±11)Ma两个峰期年龄,代表变质年龄。华北克拉通北部超高温麻粒岩的发现对研究华北克拉通与哥伦比亚超大陆的演化关系有重要意义。     

内蒙古土贵乌拉孔兹岩带超高温变质作用:变质反应结构及P-T指示

内蒙古土贵乌拉地区分布了含石榴石花岗岩、夕线石榴黑云片麻岩以及二者以不同比例互层状组成的岩石,超高温变质岩以暗色含尖晶石堇青石夕线石榴黑云片麻岩条带或透镜体产于石榴石花岗岩和夕线石榴片麻岩中.基于[K]FMAS[H]系统以及岩石成因格子,认为超高温变质岩经历了三个阶段的变质:早期变质作用阶段,以同一石榴石颗粒中含有夕线石、尖晶石、石英等单相矿物包体为特征,表明变质作用进入到尖晶石 石英组合稳定域;峰期变质作用阶段,以尖晶石 石英、假蓝宝石 石英、斜方辉石 夕线石 石英三种超高温矿物组合为特征,表明峰期变质条件稳定在这三种矿物组合稳定域,指示变质温度高于1000℃;退变质阶段过程中,粗颗粒斜方辉石边部和核部Al含量的重新平衡,指示温度降低到950～970℃左右,表明了近等压冷却的退变质作用,随后由于快速抬升,发生了近等温降压的退变质作用,这个过程以各种反应边和后成合晶结构为标志,例如尖晶石与石英、假蓝宝石与石英之间有堇青石的反应边,石榴石外围有堇青石和斜方辉石的后成合晶.最后黑云母和斜方辉石分解为黑云母标志着高级变质作用的结束.内蒙古土贵乌拉地区超高温变质岩经历了逆时针的P-T演化特点.     

喜马拉雅造山带中段亚东地区石榴角闪岩的成因：岩石学和锆石U- Pb年代学

喜马拉雅造山带中段出露的基性麻粒岩是理解印度大陆前喜马拉雅期演化历史和新生代碰撞造山作用的理想研究对象。本文对亚东多庆湖地区的石榴角闪岩进行了岩石学、全岩主微量元素地球化学和锆石U- Pb年代学研究,揭示了其原岩类型和新生代的变质作用过程。石榴角闪岩的原岩很可能为新元古代(~890 Ma)的玄武岩,具有E- MORB型岩石的地球化学特征。石榴角闪岩具有三期矿物组合：① 进变质矿物组合可能为石榴子石+角闪石+斜长石+钛铁矿+石英,即石榴子石核部及其中包裹体;② 峰期矿物组合为石榴子石+角闪石+斜长石+黑云母+石英,即石榴子石边部和基质矿物;③ 退变质矿物组合为角闪石+斜方辉石+斜长石+黑云母+石英,包括退变质域和石榴子石边部的后成合晶矿物。矿物温压计和相平衡模拟表明,石榴角闪岩进变质、峰期和退变质条件分别为609~621℃和0. 59~0. 65 GPa、805~845℃和0. 91~1. 04 GPa、825~840℃和0. 61~0. 68 GPa,经历了峰期高压麻粒岩相的变质作用。锆石U- Pb年代学研究表明,石榴角闪岩的峰期变质时间为34. 8~20. 3 Ma,退变质时间为18. 1~17. 7 Ma,可能经历了一个较长期的部分熔融过程。本文研究认为,亚东石榴角闪岩是印度板块向欧亚板块长期俯冲、地壳增厚成因的基性麻粒岩,原岩可能与Rodinia超大陆拼合相关;其以加热埋藏、近等温降压为特征的顺时针P- T轨迹指示了喜马拉雅造山带中段的大喜马拉雅岩系上部构造层位经历了长期持续的地壳增厚和高温麻粒岩相变质作用,以及早中新世(21~17 Ma)相对快速的减压抬升和随后(17 Ma之后)相对缓慢的折返至地表的演化过程。     

南阿尔金高压-超高温麻粒岩变质作用:大陆地壳超深俯冲与折返过程的记录

南阿尔金造山带是目前报道的具有最深俯冲记录的大陆超高压变质带,其内出露有高压-超高温麻粒岩,它们对深入理解大陆地壳岩石超深俯冲与折返过程具有重要意义.介绍了对南阿尔金巴什瓦克地区长英质麻粒岩和基性麻粒岩的岩相学、矿物化学、相平衡模拟及锆石U-Pb年代学研究成果.其中基性麻粒岩主要记录了深俯冲大陆地壳折返过程的变质演化:包括高压榴辉岩相、高压-超高温麻粒岩相、低压-超高温麻粒岩相及随后的近等压降温演化阶段;长英质麻粒岩除了记录与基性麻粒岩相似的折返过程外,还记录了从角闪岩相到超高压榴辉岩相的进变质演化过程.结合已有研究资料,确定超高压榴辉岩阶段峰期条件> 7~9 GPa和>1 000℃,可达到斯石英稳定域.锆石年代学显示两种岩石类型的原岩和变质年龄均分别在900 Ma和500 Ma左右.变质作用与年代学研究表明,南阿尔金大陆地壳岩石在早古生代发生超深俯冲至200~300 km后,折返至加厚地壳底部发生高压-超高温变质作用,随后被快速抬升至地壳浅部发生低压-超高温变质作用并经历迅速冷却.      

喜马拉雅造山带两种不同类型榴辉岩与印度大陆差异性俯冲

印度与亚洲大陆新生代碰撞-俯冲形成的喜马拉雅造山带核部由高压和超高压变质岩组成.超高压榴辉岩分布在喜马拉雅造山带西段,由石榴石、绿辉石、柯石英、多硅白云母、帘石、蓝晶石和金红石组成.超高压榴辉岩的峰期变质条件为2.6～2.8GPa和600～620℃,其经历了角闪岩相退变质作用和低程度熔融.超高压榴辉岩的进变质、峰期和退变质年龄分别为～50Ma、45～47Ma和35～40Ma,指示一个快速俯冲与快速折返过程.高压榴辉岩产出在喜马拉雅造山带中-东段,由石榴石、绿辉石、多硅白云母、石英和金红石组成.高压榴辉岩的峰期变质条件为>2.1GPa和>750℃,叠加了高温麻粒岩相退变质作用与强烈部分熔融.高压榴辉岩的峰期和退变质年龄可能分别是～38 Ma和14～17 Ma,很可能经历了一个缓慢俯冲与缓慢折返过程.喜马拉雅造山带两种不同类型榴辉岩的存在表明,印度与亚洲大陆约在51～53Ma碰撞后,印度大陆地壳的西北缘陡俯冲到了地幔深度,导致表壳岩石经历了超高压变质作用,而印度大陆地壳的东北缘平缓俯冲到亚洲大陆之下,导致表壳岩石经历了高压变质作用.     

喜马拉雅造山带核部的变质作用与部分熔融:亚东地区高压泥质麻粒岩的岩石学与年代学研究

喜马拉雅造山带核部的高喜马拉雅结晶岩系是印度大陆深俯冲到欧亚板块之下经历了高压变质作用的产物,记录了喜马拉雅造山带的形成与演化历史。本文对喜马拉雅造山带中段亚东地区高喜马拉雅结晶岩系中的泥质麻粒岩进行了岩石学和锆石U-Pb年代学研究,结果表明泥质麻粒岩经历了复杂的变质演化和部分熔融,可识别出三期变质矿物组合。早期进变质矿物组合为石榴石+斜长石+钾长石+黑云母+白云母+石英,峰期变质矿物组合为石榴石+斜长石+钾长石+黑云母+蓝晶石+石英,晚期退变质矿物组合为石榴石+斜长石+钾长石+夕线石+黑云母+白云母+石英。相平衡模拟表明,该泥质麻粒岩经历了高温、高压的峰期变质条件为800~835℃和12.8~14kbar,在进变质和峰期变质过程中经历了白云母和黑云母脱水熔融,所形成的熔体量至少为5%~8%。麻粒岩的晚期退变质条件为720~740℃和7.6~8.3kbar。这表明泥质麻粒岩经历了一条以高压麻粒岩相峰期变质和降温、降压退变质为特征的顺时针P-T轨迹。锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,麻粒岩相变质和深熔作用发生在28.5~17.0Ma。本研究表明高喜马拉雅结晶岩系的上部构造层位经历了高压麻粒岩相变质作用,而不是以前认为的以高温、低压变质作用为特征,并为喜马拉雅造山带构造演化的研究提供了新的见解。     

喜马拉雅造山带的高压超高压变质作用与印度-亚洲大陆碰撞

喜马拉雅造山带是印度与亚洲大陆碰撞作用的产物,正在进行造山作用,是研究板块构造的天然实验室.高压和超高压变质岩分布在喜马拉雅造山带的核部.这些变质岩具有不同的形成条件、形成时间和形成过程,为印度与亚洲碰撞带的几何学、运动学和动力学提供了重要的限定.含柯石英的超高压变质岩产出在喜马拉雅造山带的西段,它们形成在古新世与始新世之间(53～46Ma),为印度大陆西北边缘高角度超深俯冲作用的产物,并经历了快速俯冲与快速折返过程.在约5 Myr内,超高压变质岩从＞100km的地幔深度折返到了中地壳深度,且仅仅叠加角闪岩相退变质作用.高压榴辉岩产出在喜马拉雅造山带中段,形成时间约为45Ma,为印度大陆低角度深俯冲作用的产物,经历了至少20Myr的长期折返过程,叠加麻粒岩相退变质作用和部分熔融.高压麻粒岩产出在喜马拉雅造山带的东端,是印度大陆东北缘近平俯冲作用的产物,峰期变质作用时间约为35Ma,经历了约20Myr的长期折返过程,叠加了麻粒岩相和角闪岩相退变质作用,并伴随有多期部分熔融.因此,喜马拉雅造山带的变质作用具有明显的时间与空间变化,显示出大陆深俯冲与折返过程的差异性,以及大陆碰撞造山带形成机制的多样性.     

华南晚古生代末超高温变质作用:以十万大山花岗岩中麻粒岩包体为例

广西东南部大容山-十万大山地区过铝质(S型)花岗岩中包含丰富的副变质麻粒岩包体.部分麻粒岩包体保留了尖晶石+石英、斜方辉石+夕线石±石英等超高温变质矿物组合,指示这些麻粒岩包体曾经历了超高温变质作用.矿物温压估算结果显示:峰期温压条件为7.5～8.0kbar,950～1000℃,峰后退变质温压条件为3.2～3.7kba...     

造山带中成对出现的高压麻粒岩与榴辉岩及其地球动力学意义

在一些典型碰撞造山带中,高压麻粒岩与榴辉岩在空间和时间上密切相关,它们之间的关系对揭示碰撞造山带的造山过程和造山机制具有重要意义.本文以中国西部的南阿尔金、柴北缘及中部的北秦岭造山带为例,详细陈述了这3个地区榴辉岩和相关的高压麻粒岩的野外关系、变质演化和形成时代,目的是要建立大陆碰撞造山带中榴辉岩和相关高压麻粒岩形成的地球动力学背景模式.南阿尔金榴辉岩呈近东西向分布在江尕勒萨依,玉石矿沟一带,与含夕线石副片麻岩、花岗质片麻岩和少量大理岩构成榴辉岩一片麻岩单元,榴辉岩中含有柯石英假象,其峰期变质条件为P=2.8～3.0GPa,T=730～850℃,并在抬升过程中经历了角闪岩-麻粒岩相的叠加;大量年代学研究显示其峰期变质时代为485～500Ma.南阿尔金高压麻粒岩分布在巴什瓦克地区,包括高压基性麻粒岩和高压长英质麻粒岩,它们与超基性岩构成了一个大约5km宽的构造岩石单元,与周围角闪岩相的片麻岩为韧性剪切带接触.长英质麻粒岩和基性麻粒岩的峰期组合均具有蓝晶石和三元长石(已变成条纹长石),形成的温压条件为T=930～1020℃,P=1.8～2.5GPa,并在退变质过程中经历了中压麻粒岩相变质作用叠加.锆石SHRIMP测定显示巴什瓦克高压麻粒岩的峰期变质时代为493～497Ma.都兰地区的榴辉岩分布柴北缘HP-UHP变质带的东端,在榴辉岩和围岩副片麻岩中均发现有柯石英保存,形成的峰期温压条件为T=670～730℃和P=2.7～3.25GPa,退变质阶段经过了角闪岩相的叠加;榴辉岩相变质时代为420～450Mao都兰地区的高压麻粒岩分布在阿尔茨托山西部,高压麻粒岩包括基性麻粒岩长英质麻粒岩,基性麻粒岩的峰期矿物组合为Grt+Cpx+Pl±Ky±Zo+Rt±Qtz,长英质麻粒岩的峰期矿物组合为：Grt+Kf+Ky+Pl+Qtz.峰期变质条件为T=800～925℃,P=1.4～1.85GPa,退变质阶段经历了角闪岩-绿片岩的改造,高压麻粒岩的变质时代为420～450Ma.北秦岭榴辉岩分布在官坡-双槐树一带,榴辉岩的峰期变质组合为Grt+Omp±Phe+Qtz+Rt,所计算的峰期温压条件为T=680～770℃和P=2.25～2.65GPa,年代学数据显示榴辉岩的变质时代为500Ma左右.北秦岭高压麻粒岩分布在含榴辉岩单元的南侧松树沟一带,包括高压基性麻粒岩和高压长英质麻粒岩,与超基性岩在空间上密切伴生,高压麻粒岩的峰期温压条件为T=850～925℃,P=1.45～1.80GPa,锆石U-Pb年代学研究显示其峰期变质时代为485～507Ma.以上三个实例显示,出现在同一造山带、在空间上伴生的高压麻粒岩和榴辉岩有各自不同的变质演化历史,但榴辉岩中的榴辉岩相变质时代和相邻的高压麻粒岩中的高压麻粒岩相变质作用时代相同或相近,这种成对出现的榴辉岩和高压麻粒岩代表了它们同时形成在造山带中不同的构造环境中,即榴辉岩的形成于大陆俯冲带中,而高压麻粒岩可能形成在俯冲带之上增厚的大陆地壳根部.     

内蒙古中部早元古代造山事件中麻粒岩相低压变质作用

内蒙古中部早元古代麻粒岩相低压变质地壳,根据富铝片麻岩中的长石种类和岩石组合,可划分为南北2个带、6个岩石组合。它们代表着不同的变质层状岩系序列及其所经历的变质作用的温度、压力条件和构造背景。矿物的包裹结构和反应边组构,记录了高温低压矿物组合取代了中温高压矿物组合:石榴子石+石英→紫苏辉石+斜长石,蓝晶石→矽线石及石榴子石+蓝晶石/矽线石+石英→堇青石。岩石的变形组构、矿物组合的转变关系和变质作用的PTt轨迹表明:本区与变质作用同期的高温正滑韧性剪切作用,是麻粒岩相低压变质地壳形成的主要原因。由中温高压变质环境转入高温低压变质环境是造山事件中推覆作用与拉伸作用联合作用的结果。     

A record of ultrahigh temperature metamorphism in the Dabie orogen during Triassic continental collision

Ultrahigh temperature (UHT) metamorphism is traditionally recognized by the development of characteristic mineral associations in Mg–Al-rich metapelitic rocks. However, recognition of UHT metamorphism in non-supracrustal rocks is more difficult. UHT metamorphic conditions are recorded by a migmatite from the North Dabie Terrane (NDT) of the Dabie orogen, east China. The migmatite is composed of intercalated layers of melanosome and K-feldspar-rich leucosome. Zircon grains in the migmatite have a core–rim structure comprising a metamorphic core and an anatectic rim. The metamorphic cores have low U contents (mainly <657 ppm) and low Th/U ratios (<0.2), and are depleted in heavy rare earth element (HREE). The metamorphic domains yield concordant ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages ranging from 205.1 ± 4.8 Ma to 248.0 ± 4.1 Ma with a weighted mean of 217.7 ± 4.3 Ma (n = 20, MSWD = 4.2). They contain a granulite-facies inclusion assemblage of garnet + clinopyroxene + plagioclase + quartz + rutile. Conventional geobarometry and Ti-in-zircon thermometry constrain P–T conditions to approximately 11–12 kbar and 900–950 °C, suggesting UHT metamorphism. The discovery of Triassic UHT metamorphism in the Dabie orogen, which was previously best known for ultrahigh pressure metamorphism, provides new insights into the thermal structure and geodynamics of the orogeny during continental collision. The anatectic rims of zircon grains have relatively high U contents and low Th/U ratios (<0.14), and are enriched in HREE. They yield concordant ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 133.6 ± 1.1 Ma to 156.4 ± 2.2 Ma, indicating that anatexis occurred during post-collisional collapse of the Dabie orogen.     

Reworking of deep-seated gabbros and associated contact metamorphosed paragneisses in the southeastern part of the Seiland Igneous Province, northern Norway

The Seiland Igneous Province of the North Norwegian Caledonides consists of a suite of deep-seated rift-related magmatic rocks emplaced into paragneisses during late Precambrian to Ordovician time. In the south-eastern part of the province, contact metamorphism of the paragneisses and later reworking of intrusives and associated contact aureoles have resulted in the development of three successive metamorphic stages. The contact metamorphic assemblage (M1) Opx + Grt + Qtz + Pl + Kfs + Hc + Ilm ± Crd is preserved in xenolithic rafts of paragneiss within metagabbro. Geothermobarometric calculations yield 930-960d? C and 5-6.5 kbar for the contact metamorphism. M1 was followed by cooling, accompanied by strong shearing, formation of the gneiss foliation and recrystallization at intermediate-P granulite facies conditions (M2). Stable M2 phases are Cpx + Opx + Pl +Ilm ± Hbl in metagabbro and Grt ± Sil ± Opx + Kfs + Qtz + Pl ± Bt + Ilm in host paragneiss. The M2 conditions are estimated to 700-750d? C and 5-7 kbar. A subsequent pressure increase is recorded in the M3 episode, which is associated with recrystallization in narrow ductile shear zones and secondary growth on M2 minerals. M3 is defined by the assemblages Grt + Cpx ± Opx + Pl + Ru + Qtz in metagabbro, and Grt ± Ky + Qtz + Pl ± Kfs + Bt + Ru in host paragneiss. M3 conditions are estimated to 650-700d? C and 8-10 kbar. The substantial pressure increase related to the M2 → M3 transition is interpreted to be a result of (early?) Caledonian overthrusting. Chemical zoning in cordierite and biotite suggest rapid cooling following the M3 event. The proposed P-T-t evolution implies that the tectonic evolution of the Seiland Igneous Province was long (at least 330 Ma) and complex and involved initial rifting and extension followed by crustal thickening and compression.     

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating from Sulu-Dabie dolomitic marble, eastern China: constraints on prograde, ultrahigh-pressure and retrograde metamorphic ages

Laser Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL) images show that zircon from Sulu‐Dabie dolomitic marbles is characterized by distinctive domains of inherited (detrital), prograde, ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) and retrograde metamorphic growths. The inherited zircon domains are dark‐luminescent in CL images and contain mineral inclusions of Qtz + Cal + Ap. The prograde metamorphic domains are white‐luminescent in CL images and preserve a quartz eclogite facies assemblage of Qtz + Dol + Grt + Omp + Phe + Ap, formed at 542–693 °C and 1.8–2.1 GPa. In contrast, the UHP metamorphic domains are grey‐luminescent in CL images, retain the UHP assemblage of Coe + Grt + Omp + Arg + Mgs + Ap, and record UHP conditions of 739–866 °C and >5.5 GPa. The outermost retrograde rims have dark‐luminescent CL images, and contain low‐P minerals such as calcite, related to the regional amphibolite facies retrogression. Laser ablation ICP‐MS trace‐element data show striking difference between the inherited cores of mostly magmatic origin and zircon domains grown in response to prograde, UHP and retrograde metamorphism. SHRIMP U‐Pb dating on these zoned zircon identified four discrete ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age groups: 1823–503 Ma is recorded in the inherited (detrital) zircon derived from various Proterozoic protoliths, the prograde domains record the quartz eclogite facies metamorphism at 254–239 Ma, the UHP growth domains occurred at 238–230 Ma, and the late amphibolite facies retrogressive overprint in the outermost rims was restricted to 218–206 Ma. Thus, Proterozoic continental materials of the Yangtze craton were subducted to 55–60 km depth during the Early Triassic and recrystallized at quartz eclogite facies conditions. Then these metamorphic rocks were further subducted to depths of 165–175 km in the Middle Triassic and experienced UHP metamorphism, and finally these UHP metamorphic rocks were exhumed to mid‐crustal levels (about 30 km) in the Late Triassic and overprinted by regional amphibolite facies metamorphism. The subduction and exhumation rates deduced from the SHRIMP data and metamorphic P–T conditions are 9–10 km Myr^?1 and 6.4 km Myr^?1, respectively, and these rapid subduction–exhumation rates may explain the obtained P–T–t path. Such a fast exhumation suggests that Sulu‐Dabie UHP rocks that returned towards crustal depths were driven by buoyant forces, caused as a consequence of slab breakoff at mantle depth.     

Polyphase zircon in ultrahigh-temperature granulites (Rogaland, SW Norway): constraints for Pb diffusion in zircon

SHRIMP U–Pb ages have been obtained for zircon in granitic gneisses from the aureole of the Rogaland anorthosite–norite intrusive complex, both from the ultrahigh temperature (UHT; >900 °C pigeonite‐in) zone and from outside the hypersthene‐in isograd. Magmatic and metamorphic segments of composite zircon were characterised on the basis of electron backscattered electron and cathodoluminescence images plus trace element analysis. A sample from outside the UHT zone has magmatic cores with an age of 1034 ± 7 Ma (2σ, n = 8) and 1052 ± 5 Ma (1σ, n = 1) overgrown by M1 metamorphic rims giving ages between 1020 ± 7 and 1007 ± 5 Ma. In contrast, samples from the UHT zone exhibit four major age groups: (1) magmatic cores yielding ages over 1500 Ma (2) magmatic cores giving ages of 1034 ± 13 Ma (2σ, n = 4) and 1056 ± 10 Ma (1σ, n = 1) (3) metamorphic overgrowths ranging in age between 1017 ± 6 Ma and 992 ± 7 Ma (1σ) corresponding to the regional M1 Sveconorwegian granulite facies metamorphism, and (4) overgrowths corresponding to M2 UHT contact metamorphism giving values of 922 ± 14 Ma (2σ, n = 6). Recrystallized areas in zircon from both areas define a further age group at 974 ± 13 Ma (2σ, n = 4). This study presents the first evidence from Rogaland for new growth of zircon resulting from UHT contact metamorphism. More importantly, it shows the survival of magmatic and regional metamorphic zircon relics in rocks that experienced a thermal overprint of c. 950 °C for at least 1 Myr. Magmatic and different metamorphic zones in the same zircon are sharply bounded and preserve original crystallization age information, a result inconsistent with some experimental data on Pb diffusion in zircon which predict measurable Pb diffusion under such conditions. The implication is that resetting of zircon ages by diffusion during M2 was negligible in these dry granulite facies rocks. Imaging and Th/U–Y systematics indicate that the main processes affecting zircon were dissolution‐reprecipitation in a closed system and solid‐state recrystallization during and soon after M1.     

Evidence for late Paleoproterozoic (ca 1690–1665 Ma) high- to ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism in southern Australia: Implications for Proterozoic supercontinent models

Oxidised metasediments in the western Gawler Craton southern Australia record late Paleoproterozoic high-temperature (HT) to ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) metamorphism. The HT-UHT rocks are magnetite-rich and come from drill core in an unexposed region of the Gawler Craton. Coarse-grained cordierite-bearing assemblages that potentially contained osumilite are overprinted by orthopyroxene-sillimanite-bearing assemblages, which in turn are overprinted by garnet. This microstructural record indicates a metamorphic evolution involving early high-T, low-P conditions that were overprinted by lower thermal gradient assemblages. In situ LA–ICP–MS monazite U-Pb age dating yields a range of ages between 1850 and 1530 Ma with large populations at ca 1690–1650 Ma and ca 1600 Ma. Elsewhere in the Gawler Craton HT and UHT metamorphism occurred in the earliest Mesoproterozoic (ca 1580 Ma). The timing of the Australian UHT events coincides with several other documented examples and occurred during the postulated existence of the Columbia supercontinent. If arguments that link the formation of UHT belts to supercontinental amalgamation are valid, then the existence of ca 1700 to 1600 Ma UHT metamorphism may place additional constraints on the timing of Columbian assembly.     

Newly discovered youngest UHT metamorphism on Earth,Western Sulawesi,Indonesia

Ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) metamorphism represents an extreme crustal thermal event with peak conditions exceeding 900 °C at 7–13 kbar. In the modern-style plate tectonic system, records of the UHT metamorphism are relatively rare due to the secular cooling of Earth. In the Palu region of Western Sulawesi, we newly discovered a series of HT-UHT metamorphic rocks including amphibolite, granulite, eclogites and gneiss. Of them, two granulite samples (18CS14-2, 18CS14-4) with high garnet content (>50 mol%) are chosen for petrographic observation, phase equilibrium modelling, and zircon U-Pb dating. These rocks are characterized by a relic M₁ assemblage of Grt + Ky + Bt + Rt and a M₂ assemblage of Grt + Sil + Pl + Spl + Crd ± Qtz + Ilm + melt. Phase equilibrium modelling based on effective bulk compositions yields UHT conditions of 7.2–8.5 kbar/940–1080 °C (18CS14-2) and 7.0–7.3 kbar/1000–1040 °C (18CS14-4). U-Pb analysis reveals two generations of metamorphic zircon with evolving REE content that is intimately related to garnet growth and decomposition. Zircon age of 36–5.3 Ma is ascribed to syn- to post-M₁ metamorphism, whereas the young zircon age of 5.1–3.8 Ma is linked to syn- and post-M₂ stage. The UHT metamorphism was probably the consequence of the upwelling of asthenospheric mantle triggered by post-collisional delamination of lithosphere in the Miocene-Pliocene (ca. 5 Ma). It could represent the youngest known UHT metamorphism on Earth.     

The timing of ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism in Southern India: U–Th–Pb electron microprobe ages from zircon and monazite in sapphirine-bearing granulites

We report here U–Pb electron microprobe ages from zircon and monazite associated with corundum- and sapphirine-bearing granulite facies rocks of Lachmanapatti, Sengal, Sakkarakkottai and Mettanganam in the Palghat–Cauvery shear zone system and Ganguvarpatti in the northern Madurai Block of southern India. Mineral assemblages and petrologic characteristics of granulite facies assemblages in all these localities indicate extreme crustal metamorphism under ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) conditions. Zircon cores from Lachmanapatti range from 3200 to 2300 Ma with a peak at 2420 Ma, while those from Mettanganam show 2300 Ma peak. Younger zircons with peak ages of 2100 and 830 Ma are displayed by the UHT granulites of Sengal and Ganguvarpatti, although detrital grains with 2000 Ma ages are also present. The Late Archaean-aged cores are mantled by variable rims of Palaeo- to Mesoproterozoic ages in most cases. Zircon cores from Ganguvarpatti range from 2279 to 749 Ma and are interpreted to reflect multiple age sources. The oldest cores are surrounded by Palaeoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic rims, and finally mantled by Neoproterozoic overgrowths. In contrast, monazites from these localities define peak ages of between 550 and 520 Ma, with an exception of a peak at 590 Ma for the Lachmanapatti rocks. The outermost rims of monazite grains show spot ages in the range of 510–450 Ma.While the zircon populations in these rocks suggest multiple sources of Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic age, the monazite data are interpreted to date the timing of ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism in southern India as latest Neoproterozoic to Cambrian in both the Palghat–Cauvery shear zone system and the northern Madurai Block. The data illustrate the extent of Neoproterozoic/Cambrian metamorphism as India joined the Gondwana amalgam at the dawn of the Cambrian.     

Granulites record the tectonic evolution from collisional thickening to extensional thinning of the Tongbai orogen in central China

A combined study of petrology and geochemistry was carried out for granulites from the Tongbai orogen in central China. The results reveal the tectonic evolution from collisional thickening to extensional thinning of the lithosphere at the convergent plate boundary. Petrographic observations, zircon U–Pb dating, and pseudosection calculations indicate that the granulites underwent four metamorphic stages, which are categorized into two cycles. The first cycle occurred at 490–450 Ma and involves high-P (HP) metamorphism (M1) at 785–815°C and 10–14 kbar followed by decompressional heating to 840–880°C and 8–9 kbar for medium-pressure granulite facies metamorphism (M2), defining a clockwise P–T path. The high pressure is indicated by the occurrence of inclusions of rutile+kyanite+K-feldspar in the garnet mantle. The second cycle occurred at c. 440 Ma and shows an anticlockwise P–T path with continuous heating to ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) metamorphism (M3) at 890–980°C and 9–11 kbar, followed by decompressional cooling to 740–880°C and 7–9 kbar (M4) till 405 Ma. The HP metamorphism is synchronous with the ultrahigh-pressure eclogite facies metamorphism in the Qinling orogen, indicating its relevance to the continental collision in the Cambrian. The UHT metamorphism took place at reduced pressures, indicating thinning of the collision-thickened orogenic lithosphere. Therefore, the Tongbai orogen was initially thickened by the collisional orogeny and then thinned, possibly as a result of foundering of the orogenic root. Such tectonic evolution may be common in collisional orogens where compression during continental collision switched to extension during continental rifting.     

Ultra‐high temperature metamorphism recorded in Fe‐rich olivine‐bearing migmatite from the Khondalite Belt,North China Craton

We document the first occurrence of Fe‐rich olivine‐bearing migmatitic metapelite in the Khondalite Belt, North China Craton. Petrological analyses revealed two exotic assemblages of orthopyroxene+spinel+olivine and orthopyroxene+spinel+cordierite. Phase relation modelling suggests that these assemblages are diagnostic of ultra‐high temperature (UHT) metamorphism in the Fe‐rich system, with temperatures from 1,000 to 1,050°C at 0.6 GPa. U–Th–Pb SIMS analyses on zircon reveal a similar age of c. 1.92 Ga for the olivine‐bearing migmatite and an adjacent gabbronoritic intrusion that is therefore identified as the heat source for the UHT metamorphism. These results, coupled with additional analysis of the famous Tuguiwula sapphirine‐bearing granulite, lead to a re‐appraisal of the P–T path shape and heat source for the UHT metamorphism. We suggest that UHT metamorphism, dated between 1.92 and 1.88 Ga, across the whole Khondalite belt, proceeded from a clockwise P–T evolution with an initial near‐isobaric heating path at ~0.6–0.8 GPa, and a maximum temperature of 1,050°C followed by a cooling path with minor decompression to ~0.5 GPa. Considering our results and previous works, we propose that the orogenic crust underwent partial melting at temperature reaching 850°C and depth of ~20 to ~30 km during a period of c. 30 Ma, between 1.93 and 1.90 Ga. During this time span, the partially molten crust was continuously intruded by mafic magma pulses responsible for local greater heat supply and UHT metamorphism above 1,000°C. We propose that the UHT metamorphism in the Khondalite belt is not related to an extensional post‐collisional event, but is rather syn‐orogenic and associated with mafic magma supplies.