Zircon from charnockite gneiss,charnockite, and leucosome of migmatite in the Nimnyr Block of the Aldan Shield

The microgeochemistry of zircon was studied in three samples: charnockite gneiss (1594), charnockite (1594a), and migmatite leucosome Lc4 (1594c). Prismatic (Zrn I) and oval (Zrn II) zircon morphotypes are distinguished in the first two samples. Most zircon grains consist of two-phase cores and overgrowth rims variable in thickness. The average weighted concordant U–Pb age of Zrn II cores from charnockite gneiss is 2436 ± 10 Ma. The concordant ages of Zrn I and Zrn II cores from charnockite are 2402 ± 16 Ma and 2453 ± 14 Ma, respectively. Some overgrowth rims are 1.9–2.1 Ga in age. In leucosome Lc4, all measured prismatic zircon crystals yielded a discordant age of 1942 ± 11 Ma (the upper intersection of discordia with concordia). These zircons are strongly altered and anomalously enriched in U and Th. Zrn I grains are enriched relative to Zrn II in REE, Li, Ca, Sr, Ba, Hf, Th, and U. Zrn I is considered to be a product of melt crystallization or subsolidus recrystallization in the presence of melt. Zrn II is relict or crystallizing from melt and then partly fused again. Zrn I from charnockite gneiss and especially from charnockite are markedly altered and have a more discordant age than Zrn II. This is probably related to concentration of fluid in the residual melt left after zircon crystallization.     

柴达木盆地北缘都兰地区旺尕秀辉长杂岩的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄及地质意义

详细的地球化学研究表明,柴北缘旺尕秀辉长杂岩(包括辉长岩、辉绿岩和斜长岩)具有岛弧火山岩的特征,形成于岛弧环境。对辉长岩中锆石的阴极发光图像和微量元素的研究显示,所有的锆石均具有相对宽缓的振荡环带结构和轻稀土元素亏损、重稀土元素明显富集的典型基性岩浆锆石的特征。通过锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Th-Pb同位素分析,得到206Pb/238U加权平均年龄468 Ma±2 Ma,同时得到一个最大的谐和年龄522 Ma±9 Ma,表明旺尕秀辉长杂岩的形成时代应介于468~522 Ma之间。岛弧型旺尕秀辉长杂岩时代的确定,结合本区已有的研究成果,表明柴北缘确实存在古生代洋盆事件,至少从中奥陶世开始发生板块的俯冲消减作用,从侧面说明柴北缘陆壳深俯冲的时代不应早于460 Ma。     

Origin of ~2.5 Ga potassic granite from the Nellore Schist Belt,SE India: textural,cathodoluminescence, and SHRIMP U–Pb data

In a geochemical and geochronological investigation of Archean and Proterozoic magmatism in the Nellore Schist Belt, we conducted SHRIMP U–Pb analyses of zircons from two cospatial granitic bodies at Guramkonda and Vendodu. The former is a Ba- and Sr-rich hornblende-bearing tonalite, whereas the latter is a Rb-, Zr-, Pb-, Th-, U-, and REE-rich biotite-bearing leucogranite. The Guramkonda tonalite displays a restitic texture with remnants of trapped granitic melt, whereas the Vendodu leucogranite contains residual/partially melted plagioclase grains. Both rock types contain two generations of zircon: tonalite contains a group of euhedral zoned zircons enclosed within plagioclase and a group of subhedral patchy zircons associated with trapped melt (quartz + feldspar matrix), and leucogranite also contains a group of doubly terminated euhedral zircons included within orthoclase as well as a group of zircons with visible cores mantled by later rim growth. Cathodoluminescence images also clearly document two distinctly textured varieties of zircon: the tonalite contains a population characterized by narrowly spaced uninterrupted oscillatory zoning and a second population lacking zoning but exhibiting a random distribution of dark (U-rich) and light (U-poor) regions; the leucogranite contains U-rich zoned zircons and U-poor zircon cores mantled by U-rich rims. The REE chemistry of zircon cores from the Vendodu leucogranite is very similar to the REE of zoned zircons from the Guramkonda tonalite. Zircon ages from both plutons exhibit bimodal distributions in U–Pb concordia diagrams. The tonalite defines an age of 2,521 Ma ± 5 Ma for zoned magmatic zircons and 2,485 Ma ± 5 Ma for unzoned newly precipitated zircons, whereas the leucogranite has an age of 2,518 Ma ± 5 Ma for U-poor zircon cores (relics of the tonalite pluton) and 2,483 Ma ± 3 Ma for U-rich zoned magmatic zircons. The trace element geochemistry of the ~2,520 Ma zircons is distinctly different from the ~2,485 Ma zircons, irrespective of the host rock. Our textural, CL image, and SHRIMP U–Pb analyses document the origin of the leucogranite by partial melting of the tonalite. High alkalis (Na₂O + K₂O), Rb, Nb, HREE, FeO^t/MgO and low Ca, Al, Ba, Sr, and large negative Eu anomalies characterize the leucogranite as a thermal minimum melt, whereas the very low K and Rb of the tonalite attests to its residual nature. We suggest that the leucogranite formed by high-T (900–950°C), moderate-pressure (<10 kbar) dehydration partial melting of the tonalite under reducing conditions. The calculated source compositions of the leucogranite melt and the tonalite residue show strong similarities to melts that are considered to have been produced in a subduction-zone environment. The leucogranite probably formed in a post-collisional realm immediately after accretion of the tonalitic crust.     

Late Archaean mantle metasomatism below eastern Indian craton: Evidence from trace elements,REE geochemistry and Sr—Nd—O isotope systematics of ultramafic dykes

Trace, rare earth elements (REE), Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd and O isotope studies have been carried out on ultramafic (harzburgite and lherzolite) dykes belonging to the newer dolerite dyke swarms of eastern Indian craton. The dyke swarms were earlier considered to be the youngest mafic magmatic activity in this region having ages not older than middle to late Proterozoic. The study indicates that the ultramafic members of these swarms are in fact of late Archaean age (Rb-Sr isochron age 2613 ± 177 Ma, Sri ∼ 0.702 ± 0.004) which attests that out of all the cratonic blocks of India, eastern Indian craton experienced earliest stabilization event. Primitive mantle normalized trace element plots of these dykes display enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE), pronounced Ba, Nb and Sr depletions but very high concentrations of Cr and Ni. Chondrite normalised REE plots exhibit light REE (LREE) enrichment with nearly flat heavy REE (HREE; (ΣHREE)_N ∼ 2–3 times chondrite, (Gd/Yb)_N ∼ 1). The ε^Nd(t) values vary from +1.23 to -3.27 whereas δ¹⁸O values vary from +3.16‰ to +5.29‰ (average +3.97‰±0.75‰) which is lighter than the average mantle value. Isotopic, trace and REE data together indicate that during 2.6 Ga the nearly primitive mantle below the eastern Indian Craton was metasomatised by the fluid (± silicate melt) coming out from the subducting early crust resulting in LILE and LREE enriched, Nb depleted, variable ε^Nd, low Sr_i(0.702) and low δ¹⁸O bearing EMI type mantle. Magmatic blobs of this metasomatised mantle were subsequently emplaced in deeper levels of the granitic crust which possibly originated due to the same thermal pulse.     

Morphology, Chemistry and U-Pb Geochronology of Zircon Grains In Quartz Monzodiorite from the Sunzhuang Area, Fanshi County, Shanxi Province

The morphology, REE geochemistry and U-Pb geochronology of zircons from quartz monzodiorite in the Sunzhuang area, Fanshi County, Shanxi Province are presented in this study. The zircon crystals can be classified into four main types as: AB, L, S and P, and 24 subtypes such as AB4, AB5, L5, and S3. The maximum crystallization temperature of zircon was estimated as 850°C, with the minimum of 550°C. The peak temperatures of the zircon crystallization range from 650°C to 700°C. The abundances of Th and U in the zircon grains show large variation with the Th/U values 0.4. The Th and U values also show a positive correlation in most zircons. The REE abundance of zircon in the quartz monzodiorite ranges from 280.4 ppm to 2143 ppm with an average of 856.4 ppm. The chondrite normalized zircon REE patterns show two types, one is characterized by HREE enrichment and LREE depletion with positive Ce-anomaly and negative Eu-anomaly whereas the other is HREE enriched and LREE depleted with negative Eu-anomaly but without positive Ce-anomaly, and relatively flat patterns. The LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronology on the zircons yields a mean age of 133±0.87 Ma. Our data on zircon morphology, composition and U-Pb geochronology reveal that the parent magma of the quartz monzodiorite which was emplaced during late Yanshanian had a mixed crust-mantle source, with crustal components dominating. The magma is inferred to have been water rich and alkaline with initial high oxygen fugacity. Post-magmatic hydrothermal activity occurred under relatively reducing conditions which was conductive for gold precipitation in the Yixingzhai gold deposit.     

Geochronology and tectonic significance of Middle Proterozoic granitic orthogneiss, North Qaidam HP/UHP terrane, Western China

Summary Amphibolite-facies para- and orthogneisses near Dulan, in the southeast part of the North Qaidam terrane, enclose minor ultra-high pressure (UHP) eclogite and peridotite. Field relations and coesite inclusions in zircons from paragneiss suggest that felsic, mafic, and ultramafic rocks all experienced UHP metamorphism and a common amphibolite-facies retrogression. Ion microprobe U–Pb and REE analyses of zircons from two granitic orthogneisses indicate magmatic crystallization at 927 ± Ma and 921 ± 7 Ma. Zircon rims in one of these samples yield younger ages (397–618 Ma) compatible with partial zircon recrystallization during in-situ Ordovician-Silurian eclogite-facies metamorphism previously determined from eclogite and paragneiss in this area. The similarity between a 2496 ± 18 Ma xenocrystic core and 2.4–2.5 Ga zircon cores in the surrounding paragneiss suggests that the granites intruded the sediments or that the granite is a melt of the older basement which supplied detritus to the sediments. The magmatic ages of the granitic orthogneisses are similar to 920–930 Ma ages of (meta)granitoids described further northwest in the North Qaidam terrane and its correlative west of the Altyn Tagh fault, suggesting that these areas formed a coherent block prior to widespread Mid Proterozoic granitic magmatism.     

柴达木盆地北缘都兰地区旺尕秀辉长杂岩的锆石LA—ICP—MS U—Pb年龄及地质意义

详细的地球化学研究表明,柴北缘旺尕秀辉长杂岩（包括辉长岩、辉绿岩和斜长岩）具有岛弧火山岩的特征,形成于岛弧环境。对辉长岩中锆石的阴极发光图像和微量元素的研究显示,所有的锆石均具有相对宽缓的振荡环带结构和轻稀土元素亏损、重稀土元素明显富集的典型基性岩浆锆石的特征。通过锆石LA—ICP—MSU-Th-Pb同位素分析,得到^206Pb／^238U加权平均年龄468Ma＋2Ma,同时得到一个最大的谐和年龄522Ma＋9Ma．表明旺尕秀辉长杂岩的形成时代应介于468-522Ma之间。岛孤型旺尕秀辉长杂岩时代的确定,结合本区已有的研究成果,表明柴北缘确实存在古生代洋盆事件,至少从中奥陶世开始发生板块的俯冲消减作用．从侧面说明柴北缘陆壳深俯冲的时代不应早于460Ma。     

阿尔金江尕勒萨依榴辉岩和围岩锆石LA-ICP-MS微区原位定年及其地质意义

阿尔金江尕勒萨依榴辉岩及其直接围岩——石榴子石黑云母片麻岩锆石的阴极发光图像、微区原位LA-ICP-MS微量元素分析研究表明,榴辉岩锆石内部结构比较均匀,少数颗粒保留斑杂状残核;位于锆石斑杂状残核测点的重稀土相对富集,Th/U比值多大于0.4,为岩浆锆石的特征;位于锆石边部与内部结构均匀颗粒上的测点显示HREE近平坦型或弱亏损型的稀土配分模式,显示了与石榴石平衡共生的变质锆石特征;而石榴子石黑云母片麻岩的锆石具有核-幔-边结构,核部为碎屑锆石,幔部则为与石榴石平衡共生的变质锆石。LA-ICP-MS微区定年获得榴辉岩的变质年龄为(493±4.3)Ma,其原岩形成年龄为(754±9)Ma;石榴子石黑云母片麻岩的变质年龄为(499±27)Ma。榴辉岩的变质年龄滞后于其原岩的形成年龄约250Ma,并且榴辉岩与其直接围岩副片麻岩的变质年龄几乎完全一致,充分表明该超高压榴辉岩的形成是陆壳深俯冲作用的产物。     

柴达木盆地北缘都兰地区旺尕秀辉长杂岩的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄及地质意义

详细的地球化学研究表明,柴北缘旺尕秀辉长杂岩(包括辉长岩、辉绿岩和斜长岩)具有岛弧火山岩的特征,形成于岛孤环境.对辉长岩中锆石的阴极发光图像和微量元素的研究显示,所有的锆石均具有相对宽缓的振荡环带结构和轻稀土元素亏损、重稀土元素明显富集的典型基性岩浆锆石的特征.通过锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Th-Pb同住素分析,得到~(206)pb/~(238)U加权平均年龄468 Ma±2 Ma,同时得到一个最大的谐和年龄522 Ma±9 Ma,表明旺尕秀辉长杂岩的形成时代应介于468～522 Ma之间.岛弧型旺尕秀辉长杂岩时代的确定,结合本区已有的研究成果,表明柴北缘确实存在古生代洋盆事件,至少从中奥陶世开始发生板块的俯冲消减作用,从侧面说明柴北缘陆壳深俯冲的时代不应早于460 Ma.     

Character of zircon distribution in dunites of the South Urals (Sakharin and East Khabarnin massifs)

Zircons in dunites of the Sakharin and East Khararnin massifs, situated in the South Urals and part of the platinum-bearing Uralian belt, were investigated for the first time. Several types were identified in the polygene-polychronous zircon assemblage of both massifs. The first is represented by Proterozoic (from 1517 ± 12 to 2693 ± 9 Ma) crystals similar to those widely spread in the Riphean and more ancient Uralian deposits. The second type includes dunite varieties of typical magmatic habit and of ages from 377 ± 3.6 Ma to 402 ± 3 Ma. The third contains crystals and crystal fragments of a high degree of crystallinity. The concordant Archean dating (2808 ± 26 Ma) for zircons of this type determines the minimum age of the dunite substrate. Zircons of Type 4 are heterogeneous, consist of the relict (nuclear) part represented by crystals of Types I and III and the newly formed mantle, and are consistent with zircons of Type II.     

Identification of repeated Alpine (ultra) high-pressure metamorphic events by U–Pb SHRIMP geochronology and REE geochemistry of zircon: the Rhodope zone of Northern Greece

U–Pb sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon geochronology, combined with REE geochemistry, has been applied in order to gain insight into the complex polymetamorphic history of the (ultra) high pressure [(U)HP] zone of Rhodope. Dating included a paragneiss of Central Rhodope, for which (U)HP conditions have been suggested, an amphibolitized eclogite, as well as a leucosome from a migmatized orthogneiss at the immediate contact to the amphibolitized eclogite, West Rhodope. The youngest detrital zircon cores of the paragneiss yielded ca. 560 Ma. This date indicates a maximum age for sedimentation in this part of Central Rhodope. The concentration of detrital core ages of the paragneiss between 670–560 Ma and around 2 Ga is consistent with a Gondwana provenance of the eroded rocks in this area of Central Rhodope. Metamorphic zircon rims of the same paragneiss yielded a lower intercept ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 148.8±2.2 Ma. Variable post-148.8 Ma Pb-loss in the outermost zircon rims of the paragneiss, in combination with previous K–Ar and SHRIMP-data, suggest that this rock of Central Rhodope underwent an additional Upper Eocene (ca. 40 Ma) metamorphic/fluid event. In West Rhodope, the co-magmatic zircon cores of the amphibolitized eclogite yielded a lower intercept ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 245.6±3.9 Ma, which is interpreted as the time of crystallization of the gabbroic protolith. The metamorphic zircon rims of the same rock gave a lower intercept ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 51.0±1.0 Ma. REE data on the metamorphic rims of the zircons from both the paragneiss of Central Rhodope and the amphibolitized eclogite of West Rhodope show no Eu anomaly in the chondrite-normalized patterns, indicating that they formed at least under HP conditions. Flat or nearly flat HREE profiles of the same zircons are consistent with the growth of garnet at the time of zircon formation. Low Nb and Ta contents of the zircon rims in the amphibolitized eclogite indicate concurrent growth of rutile. Based on the REE characteristics, the 148.8±2.2 Ma age of the garnet–kyanite paragneiss, Central Rhodope and the 51.0±1.0 Ma age of the amphibolitized eclogite, West Rhodope are interpreted to reflect the time close to the (U)HP and HP metamorphic peaks, respectively, with a good approximation. The magmatic zircon cores of the leucosome in the migmatized orthogneiss, West Rhodope, gave a lower intercept ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 294.3±2.4 Ma for the crystallization of the granitoid protolith of the orthogneiss. Two oscillatory zircon rims around the Hercynian cores, yielded ages of 39.7±1.2 and 38.1±0.8 Ma (2σ errors), which are interpreted as the time of leucosome formation during migmatization. The zircons in the leucosome do not show the 51 Ma old HP metamorphism identified in the neighboring amphibolitized eclogite, possibly because the two rock types were brought together tectonically after 51 Ma. If one takes into account the two previously determined ages of ca. 73 Ma for (U)HP metamorphism in East Rhodope, as well as the ca. 42 Ma for HP metamorphism in Thermes area, Central Rhodope, four distinct events of (U)HP metamorphism throughout Alpine times can be distinguished: 149, 73, 51 and 42 Ma. Thus, it is envisaged that the Rhodope consists of different terranes, which resulted from multiple Alpine subductions and collisions of micro-continents, rather similar to the presently accepted picture in the Central and Western Alps. It is likely that these microcontinents were rifted off from thinned continental margins of Gondwana, between the African and the European plates before the onset of Alpine convergence.     

北黄海盆地花岗斑岩锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学及其地质意义

北黄海盆地X1和X2钻井岩心揭示上侏罗统中有侵入的花岗质岩石,镜下鉴定其为花岗斑岩。对花岗斑岩进行了主量、微量和稀土元素测试分析,样品的Si O2含量介于70.22%~71.88%之间,K2O/Na2O比值介于0.95~1.68之间,A/CNK比值介于0.75~1.12之间,有高钾钙碱性、弱碱质-偏铝质性质。微量元素组成富集Rb、Th、U等元素,相对亏损Nb、Eu、Sr等元素。稀土总量较高(∑REE=50.38×10-6~162.27×10-6),轻稀土(LREE)相对富集(LREE/HREE=6.86~25.43,(La/Yb)N=10.06~57.76),具有明显的Eu负异常(?Eu=0.65~0.83)。样品的Th含量高,与Rb呈正相关性,综合主量元素特征(A/CNK1.1),判别其为I型花岗岩。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年结果表明X1井花岗斑岩年龄为110±1 Ma,X2井花岗斑岩年龄108±1 Ma、107±1 Ma,形成于早白垩世晚期。结合区域构造背景及岩石地球化学特征认为,北黄海盆地花岗斑岩形成于板块碰撞后的伸展构造背景。     

Zircon from the East Orebody of the Bayan Obo Fe–Nb–REE deposit,China, and SHRIMP ages for carbonatite-related magmatism and REE mineralization events

Extremely U-depleted (<1 ppm) zircons from H8 banded ores in the East Orebody of the Bayan Obo REE–Nb–Fe deposit are presented, with mineral compositions, textures, ²³²Th–²⁰⁸Pb SHRIMP ages and petrological context. Cores of East Orebody zircon contain up to 7 wt% HfO₂ and are zoned, depicting bipyramidal crystal forms. A distinct generation of patchy, epitaxial rim zircon, similarly depleted in U, is intergrown with rare earth ore minerals (bastnäsite, parisite, monazite). Overprinting aegirine textures indicate paragenetically late, reactive Na-rich fluids. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns without Eu anomalies match closely with those from the Mud Tank and Kovdor carbonatitic zircons. Increased HREE in rims ((Lu/Gd)_N 43–112) relative to cores ((Lu/Gd)_N 6–7.5) and the localized presence of xenotime are attributable to reactive, mineralizing fluid compositions enriched in Y, REE and P. Cathodoluminescence further reveals HREE fractionation in rims, evidenced by a narrow-band Er³⁺ emission at 405 nm. The extreme depletion of U in core and rim zircon is characteristic for this mineral deposit and is indicative of a persistent common source. U depletion is also a characteristic for zircons from carbonatitic or kimberlitic systems. ²³²Th–²⁰⁸Pb (SHRIMP II) geochronological data reveal the age of zircon cores as 1,325 ± 60 Ma and a rim-alteration event as 455.6 ± 28.27 Ma. The combined findings are consistent with a protolithic igneous origin for zircon cores, from a period of intrusive, alkaline–carbonatitic magmatism. Fluid processes responsible for the REE–Nb mineralizations affected zircon rim growth and degradation during the widely reported Caledonian events, providing a new example in a localized context of HREE enrichment processes.     

浙东南松阳县枫坪组沉积岩碎屑锆石年代学及地质意义

利用激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子质谱技术(LA-ICP-MS)对浙东南松阳县枫坪组地层底部的细砂岩进行了锆石U-Pb定年及稀土元素分析。样品中大部分碎屑锆石具有较好的振荡环带且Th/U值大于0. 1,表明其为岩浆成因。碎屑锆石中稀土元素含量变化范围较大,(La/Yb)_N值为0～0. 29,LREE/HREE值为0. 003×10~(-6)～0. 977×10~(-6),表明样品中锆石的轻、重稀土元素分异程度较小且重稀土元素相对富集,具有轻稀土元素含量低、重稀土元素含量高的左倾模式且具有负Eu异常、正Ce异常的特征,表明碎屑锆石主要以岩浆锆石为主,同时存在少量的变质锆石。碎屑锆石U-Pb测年结果表明,最年轻的锆石年龄为193 Ma,显示枫坪组沉积岩成岩年龄不晚于193 Ma。碎屑锆石年龄可分为4组,分别为2 461～1 743 Ma、887 Ma、435和422 Ma、330～193 Ma。碎屑锆石的主要年龄区间分别与已知的构造-岩浆热事件时间相对应(吕梁期、晋宁期、加里东期和印支-海西期),表明本区的构造岩浆活动与中国大地构造运动相一致,并具有幕式发展的特征。通过对枫坪组沉积岩碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄的系统分析并与可能物源区的年代学对比研究,认为枫坪组沉积岩物质来源主要是周边出露的中条期侵入岩体和浙东南出露的印支期花岗岩体。     

河西走廊晚泥盆世地层中冥古宙碎屑锆石的发现

河西走廊地区晚泥盆统中宁组地层中,利用LA-ICP-MS法测年获得了3.9Ga和4.0Ga两颗碎屑锆石,其Th/U依次为1.01和0.58,均为岩浆锆石。两颗锆石稀土元素呈轻稀土(LREE)亏损、重稀土(HREE)富集,均具有Ce正异常,其中4.0Ga锆石具有Eu负异常,3.9Ga锆石无Eu负异常。利用锆石中⁴⁹Ti的含量计算原岩岩浆温度分别为792±36℃(3.9Ga)和967±45℃(4.0Ga)。3.9Ga锆石获得原位Hf同位素结果,¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf_i=0.280169,ε_Hf(t)=-3.6,t_DM=4139Ma, t_DM^C=4319Ma。这两颗>3.9Ga碎屑锆石为西北地区首次发现,其微量元素特征说明在冥古宙时地球上可能存在地壳;结合前人古生物和古地磁研究结果,说明河西走廊在晚泥盆世时同澳大利亚西北部可能具有亲缘性。     

Timing of UHP metamorphism in the Hong’an area,western Dabie Mountains,China: evidence from zircon U–Pb age,trace element and Hf isotope composition

The Hong’an area (western Dabie Mountains) is the westernmost terrane in the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogen that preserves UHP eclogites. The ages of the UHP metamorphism have not been well constrained, and thus hinder our understanding of the tectonic evolution of this area. LA-ICPMS U–Pb age, trace element and Hf isotope compositions of zircons of a granitic gneiss and an eclogite from the Xinxian UHP unit in the Hong’an area were analyzed to constrain the age of the UHP metamorphism. Most zircons are unzoned or show sector zoning. They have low trace element concentrations, without significant negative Eu anomalies. These metamorphic zircons can be further subdivided into two groups according to their U–Pb ages, and trace element and Lu–Hf isotope compositions. One group with an average age of 239 ± 2 Ma show relatively high and variable HREE contents (527 ≥ Lu_N ≥ 14) and ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios (0.00008–0.000931), indicating their growth prior to a great deal of garnet growth in the late stage of continental subduction. The other group yields an average age of 227 ± 2 Ma, and shows consistent low HREE contents and ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios, suggesting their growth with concurrent garnet crystallization and/or recrystallization. These two groups of age are taken as recording the time of prograde HP to UHP and retrograde UHP–HP stages, respectively. A few cores have high Th/U ratios, high trace element contents, and a clear negative Eu anomaly. These features support a magmatic origin of these zircon cores. The upper intercept ages of 771 ± 86 and 752 ± 70 Ma for the granitic gneiss and eclogite, respectively, indicate that their protoliths probably formed as a bimodal suite in rifting zones in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block. Young Hf model ages (T _DM1) of magmatic cores indicate juvenile (mantle-derived) materials were involved in their protolith formation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Petrogenesis of Peraluminous Granites, Monashee Mountains, Southeastern Canadian Cordillera

Two-mica granites that locally contain garnet and sillimaniteoccur as dikes, sills, and sheets up to 50 m thick within thesillimanite zonc of the Monashee Mountains in the southeasternCanadian Cordillera of British Columbia. Syn-kinematic and post-kinematicgranites are recognized. U-Pb dating of zircon demonstrates that the syn-kinematic granitesare 100.4?0.3 Ma old, based on duplicate concordant single abradedzircon analyses. Other zircons have slightly older Pb/Pb dates,indicating small amounts of inherited zircons. Monazites are99?10 Ma old. Post-kinematic granites have 62.5?0.2 Ma zirconages and 634+0.1 Ma monazite ages. High initial 87 ratios (0.71492–0.74181)and evidence of Precambrian Pb inheritance indicates that bothsyn- and post-kinematic granites were derived from a crustalsource. Geobarometric estimates suggest that both generationsof granites equilibrated at 6–8 kb (22–30 km). Zirconand monazite saturation temperatures range from 660–824?Cand indicate that these minerals were liquidus phases earlyin the crystallization history of the granites. Because monazitesaturation temperatures generally exceed those of zircon, itis possible that some monazites may be inherited. Apatite saturationtemperatures in excess of 900?C suggest that both generationsof granites contain source inherited apatite. Syn- and post-kinematic granites have essentially identicalmajor and trace element chemistries. Syn-kinematic graniteshave steep light rare earth element (LREE) enriched patternswith pronounced negative Eu anomalies. The REE patterns of post-kinematicgranites range from steep LREE enriched patterns with negativeNd and Eu anomalies to flat patterns with low LREE contents,negative Nd anomalies, and both positive and negative Eu anomalies.Modelling of REE, Rb, Sr, and Ba contents demonstrates thatsyn-kinematic gramtes could have been generated by a low degreeof partial melting (with 10–25% feldspar fractionationof the melt) of Late Proterozoic Horsethief Creek Group metapelitesleaving a monazite-bearing upper amphibolite facies residue.Post-kinematic granites were produced by partial melting ofa geochemically and isotopically similar metapelitic source.The suite of post-kinematic granites can be related by a smallamount (up to 0.1%) of monazite crystal fractionation.     

Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology of stromatolitic carbonates from the greenstone belts of Dharwar Craton and Cuddapah basin of Peninsular India

Oldest rocks are sparsely distributed within the Dharwar Craton and little is known about their involvement in the sedimentary sequences which are present in the Archean greenstone successions and the Proterozoic Cuddapah basin.Stromatolitic carbonates are well preserved in the Neoarchean greenstone belts of Dharwar Craton and Cuddapah Basin of Peninsular India displaying varied morphological and geochemical characteristics.In this study,we report results from U-Pb geochronology and trace element composition of the detrital zircons from stromatolitic carbonates present within the Dharwar Craton and Cuddapah basin to understand the provenance and time of accretion and deposition.The UPb ages of the detrital zircons from the Bhimasamudra and Marikanve stromatolites of the Chitradurga greenstone belt of Dharwar Craton display ages of 3426±26 Ma to 2650±38 Ma whereas the Sandur stromatolites gave an age of 3508±29 Ma to 2926±36 Ma suggesting Paleo-to Neoarchean provenance.The U-Pb detrital zircons of the Tadpatri stromatolites gave an age of 2761±31 Ma to1672±38 Ma suggesting Neoarchean to Mesoproterozoic provenance.The Rare Earth Element(REE)patterns of the studied detrital zircons from Archean Dharwar Craton and Proterozoic Cuddapah basin display depletion in light rare earth elements(LREE)and enrichment in heavy rare earth elements(HREE)with pronounced positive Ce and negative Eu anomalies,typical of magmatic zircons.The trace element composition and their relationship collectively indicate a mixed granitoid and mafic source for both the Dharwar and Cuddapah stromatolites.The 3508±29 Ma age of the detrital zircons support the existence of 3.5 Ga crust in the Western Dharwar Craton.The overall detrital zircon ages(3.5-2.7 Ga)obtained from the stromatolitic carbonates of Archean greenstone belts and Proterozoic Cuddapah basin(2.7-1.6 Ga)collectively reflect on^800-900 Ma duration for the Precambrian stromatolite deposition in the Dharwar Craton.     

Geochronology,mineral inclusions,and geochemistry of zircons in eclogitized gabbronorites in the Gridino area,Belomorian province

A comprehensive (mineralogical, geochronological, and geochemical) study of zircons from an eclogitized gabbronorite dike was carried out in order to identify reliable indicators (mineralogical and geochronological) of the genesis of zircons in their various populations and, correspondingly, the age of certain geological events (magmatic crystallization of the gabbroids, their eclogitization, and overprinted retrograde metamorphism). The three populations of zircons separated from two rock samples comprised xenogenic, magmatic (“gabbroic”), and metamorphic zircons, with the latter found exclusively in the sample of retrograded eclogitized gabbroids. The zircons of group I are xenogenic and have a Meso- to Neoarchean age. Mineral inclusions in them (quartz, apatite, biotite, and chlorite) are atypical of gabbroids, and the geochemistry of these zircons is very diverse. The zircons of group II contain mineral inclusions of ortho- and clinopyroxene and are distinguished for their very high U, Th, Pb, and REE concentrations and Th/U ratios. These zircons were formed during the late magmatic crystallization of the gabbroids at temperatures of 1150–1160°C, and their U-Pb age of 2389 ± 25 Ma corresponds to this process. The eclogite mineral assemblages crystallized shortly after the magmatic process, as follows from the fact that the marginal portions of the prismatic zircons contain clinopyroxene inclusions with elevated contents of the jadeite end member. The zircons of group III contain rare amphibole and biotite inclusions and have low Ti, Y, and REE concentrations, low Th/U ratios, high Hf concentrations, contain more HREE than LREE, and have an U-Pb age of 1911 ± 9.5 Ma, which corresponds to the age of the overprinted amphibolite-facies metamorphism.     

U–Pb zircon geochronology of ferrodiorites and quartz diorites from the Turkel Anorthosite Complex: a Neoarchaean convergent margin in eastern India

The Turkel anorthosite Complex (TAC) in the Eastern Ghats Belt in India is composed of anorthosites and leuconorites at the centre and ferrodiorites and quartz diorites at the periphery. Here we report whole‐rock geochemistry, and zircon U–Pb data and REE geochemistry from a co‐spatial ferrodiorite and two quartz diorites from the TAC. The diorites have low abundance of High Field Strength Elements (HFSE) and REE, exhibit a flat chondrite‐normalized pattern with slight LREE enrichment and negligible or no Eu anomaly. Our results show weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 2433 ± 33 Ma for the ferrodiorite. Two quartz diorite samples from Turkel yield mean²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 2419 ± 32 Ma and 2505 ± 31 Ma. The zircons from all the analysed samples show high REE contents, prominent HREE enrichment and a conspicuous positive Eu anomaly, suggesting a common magmatic source. The prominent Neoarchaean to early Palaeoproterozoic magmatic ages from the anorthosite complex deviate from the late Neoproterozoic ages reported from other anorthosite suites in the Eastern Ghats Belt, and suggest an active convergent margin along SE India during Archaean–Proterozoic transition. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.