U–Pb ages and trace elements in metamorphic zircon and titanite from UHP eclogite in the Dabie orogen: constraints on P–T–t path

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses of U–Pb isotopes and trace elements in zircon and titanite were carried out on epoxy mounts and thin sections for ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) eclogite in association with paragneiss in the Dabie orogen. The results provide a direct link between metamorphic ages and temperatures during continental subduction‐zone metamorphism. Zircon U–Pb dating gives two groups of concordant ages at 242 ± 2 to 239 ± 5 Ma and 226 ± 2 to 224 ± 6 Ma, respectively. The Triassic zircon U–Pb ages are characterized by flat heavy rare earth element (HREE) patterns typical of metamorphic growth. Ti‐in‐zircon thermometry for the two generations of metamorphic zircon yields temperatures of 697 ± 27 to 721 ± 8 °C and 742 ± 19 to 778 ± 34 °C, respectively. We interpret that the first episode of zircon growth took place during subduction prior to the onset of UHP metamorphism, whereas the second episode in the stage of exhumation from UHP to HP eclogite facies regime. Thus, the continental subduction‐zone metamorphism of sedimentary protolith is temporally associated with two episodes of fluid activity, respectively, predating and postdating the UHP metamorphic phase. The significantly high Ti‐in‐zircon temperatures for the younger zircon at lower pressures indicate the initial ‘hot’ exhumation after the peak UHP metamorphism. There are two types of titanite. One exhibits light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment, steep MREE–HREE patterns and no Eu anomalies, and yields Zr‐in‐titanite temperatures of 551 to 605 °C at 0.5 GPa, and the other shows LREE depletion and flat MREE–HREE patterns, and gives Zr‐in‐titanite temperatures of 782–788 °C at 2.0 GPa. The former is amenable for U–Pb dating, yielding a discordia lower intercept age of 252 ± 3 Ma. Thus, the first type of titanite is interpreted to have grown in the absence of garnet and plagioclase and thus in the early stage of subduction. In contrast, the second one occurs as rims surrounding rutile cores and thus grew in the presence of garnet during the ‘hot’ exhumation. Therefore, there is multistage growth of zircon and titanite during the continental subduction‐zone metamorphism. The combined studies of chronometry and thermobarometry provide tight constraints on the P–T–t path of eclogites during the continental collision. It appears that the mid‐T/UHP eclogite facies zone would not only form by subduction of the continental crust in a P–T path slightly below the wet granite solidus, but also experience decompression heating during the initial exhumation.     

Isotopic constraints on age and duration of fluid-assisted high-pressure eclogite-facies recrystallization during exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust in the Sulu orogen

Fluid availability during high‐grade metamorphism is a critical factor in dictating petrological, geochemical and isotopic reequilibration between metamorphic minerals, with fluid‐absent metamorphism commonly resulting in neither zircon growth/recrystallization for U‐Pb dating nor Sm‐Nd isotopic resetting for isochron dating. While peak ultra‐high pressure (UHP) metamorphism is characterized by fluid immobility, high‐pressure (HP) eclogite‐facies recrystallization during exhumation is expected to take place in the presence of fluid. A multichronological study of UHP eclogite from the Sulu orogen of China indicates zircon growth at 216 ± 3 Ma as well as mineral Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr reequilibration at 216 ± 5 Ma, which are uniformly younger than UHP metamorphic ages of 231 ± 4 to 227 ± 2 Ma as dated by the SHRIMP U‐Pb method for coesite‐bearing domains of zircon. O isotope reequilibration was achieved between the Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr isochron minerals, but Hf isotopes were not homogenized between different grains of zircon. The HP eclogite‐facies recrystallization is also evident from petrography. Thus this process occurred during exhumation with fluid availability from decompression dehydration of hydrous minerals and the exsolution of hydroxyl from nominally anhydrous minerals. This provides significant amounts of internally derived fluid for extensive retrogression within the UHP metamorphosed slabs. Based on available experimental diffusion data, the consistent reequilibration of U‐Pb, Sm‐Nd, Rb‐Sr and O isotope systems in the eclogite minerals demonstrates that time‐scale for the HP eclogite‐facies recrystallization is c. 1.9–9.3 Myr or less. This provides a maximum estimate for duration of the fluid‐facilitated process in the HP eclogite‐facies regime during the exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust.     

Zircon ages and Hf isotopic compositions of Permian and Triassic A-type granites from central Inner Mongolia and their significance for late Palaeozoic and early Mesozoic evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

ABSTRACT

This work presents zircon ages and Hf-in-zircon isotopic data for Permian and Triassic A-type granitoids and reviews the evolution of central Inner Mongolia, China, during the early Permian and Late Triassic. SHRIMP U–Pb dating of zircons of peralkaline granites yielded ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 294 ± 4 Ma and 293 ± 9 Ma that reflect the time of Permian magmatism. Zircon ages were also obtained for Late Triassic granites (226 ± 4 Ma, 224 ± 4 Ma). Our results, in combination with published zircon ages and geochemical data, document distinct magmatic episodes in central Inner Mongolia.

The Permian peralkaline granites show typical geochemical features of A-type granites, which also have highly positive zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+4.9 – +17.1), indicating a significant contribution of an isotopically depleted source, likely formed from mantle-derived magmas. Late Triassic A-type granitoids, however, in central Inner Mongolia show large variations and mostly positive in zircon ε_Hf(t) values (?1.3 – +13.5), suggesting derivation from a mixture of crust and mantle or metasomatized lithospheric mantle with crustal contamination. The geochemical characteristics of the Permian peralkaline granites and Late Triassic A-type granitoids are consistent with a post-collisional setting and were likely related to asthenosphere upwelling during the evolution of the Northern Block and Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB).     

Single zircon evaporation ages: Evidence for the Mesoproterozoic crust in the southeastern Nigerian basement complex

The Ukwortung area of the Obudu Plateau exposes high-grade metamorphic rocks of upper amphibolite to granulite facies. Zircon grains from three locations of Southwest Obudu Plateau were dated by the Pb-Pb dating method. This single zircon radiometric dating method confirms the occurrence of Mesoproterozoic crust in the southeastern Nigeria basement complex. The pyroxene gneiss (granulite facies) sample from Biereberi near Ukpe yielded a mean age of 2061.4±0.4 Ma, suggesting the presence of Paleoproterozoic crust. The combined 207Pb/206Pb ratios from the garnet-biotite gneiss in the area gave a mean age of 1794.4±0.4 Ma. This further confirms the pres-ence of Paleoproterozoic crustal components within the Obudu Plateau. The Mesoproterozoic (1548.8±0.5 Ma) and Neoproterozoic (619.8±0.9 Ma) ages were obtained from two populations of zircon grains from the leucogranite in Okordem, Southwest Obudu. These "signatures" collaborate the occurrence of Mesoproterozoic ages in the Afar region and Cameroon basements along with the southeastern Nigerian basement complex, constituting the major portion of the West Central African mobile belt. The zircon age of 1794.4±0.4 Ma may probably be the maximum depositional age of the meta-sediment (garnet-biotite gneiss) and the age of 1548.8±0.5 Ma may be interpreted as the time of emplacement of the granitoid. The Neoproterozoic age (619.8±0.9 Ma) probably records the metamorphic event that was prevalent during the Pan-African period and thus affected the area.     

Ordovician high-grade metamorphism of a newly recognised late Neoproterozoic terrane in the northern Harts Range,central Australia

Granulite facies rocks from the northernmost Harts Range Complex (Arunta Inlier, central Australia) have previously been interpreted as recording a single clockwise cycle of presumed Palaeoproterozoic metamorphism (800–875 °C and >9–10 kbar) and subsequent decompression in a kilometre‐scale, E‐W striking zone of noncoaxial, high‐grade (c. 700–735 °C and 5.8–6.4 kbar) deformation. However, new SHRIMP U‐Pb age determinations of zircon, monazite and titanite from partially melted metabasites and metapelites indicate that granulite facies metamorphism occurred not in the Proterozoic, but in the Ordovician (c. 470 Ma). The youngest metamorphic zircon overgrowths from two metabasites (probably meta‐volcaniclastics) yield ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 478±4 Ma and 471±7 Ma, whereas those from two metapelites yield ages of 463±5 Ma and 461±4 Ma. Monazite from the two metapelites gave ages equal within error to those from metamorphic zircon rims in the same rock (457±5 Ma and 462±5 Ma, respectively). Zircon, and possibly monazite ages are interpreted as dating precipitation of these minerals from crystallizing melt within leucosomes. In contrast, titanite from the two metabasites yield ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages that are much younger (411±5 Ma & 417±7 Ma, respectively) than those of coexisting zircon, which might indicate that the terrane cooled slowly following final melt crystallization. One metabasite has a second titanite population with an age of 384±7 Ma, which reflects titanite growth and/or recrystallization during the 400–300 Ma Alice Springs Orogeny. The c. 380 Ma titanite age is indistinguishable from the age of magmatic zircon from a small, late and weakly deformed plug of biotite granite that intruded the granulites at 387±4 Ma. These data suggest that the northern Harts Range has been subject to at least two periods of reworking (475–460 Ma & 400–300 Ma) during the Palaeozoic. Detrital zircon from the metapelites and metabasites, and inherited zircon from the granite, yield similar ranges of Proterozoic ages, with distinct age clusters at c. 1300–1000 and c. 650 Ma. These data imply that the deposition ages of the protoliths to the Harts Range Complex are late Neoproterozoic or early Palaeozoic, not Palaeoproterozoic as previously assumed.     

SHRIMP U–Pb dating of coesite-bearing zircon from the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks, Sulu terrane, east China

This paper provides further evidence for the ongoing discussion as to whether the Dabie UHPM belt formed in Triassic or Palaeozoic time, and whether the Sulu UHPM belt formed in Triassic or Neoproterozoic time. Combined use of laser Raman spectrometer (LR), cathodoluminescence imaging (CL), and ion probe U–Pb in‐situ dating (SHRIMP) provided accurate ages of UHPM from rocks collected from Weihai, NE Sulu UHPM belt. LR was used to identify coesite and other UHP minerals as inclusions in zircon separates from an amphibolized peridotite and an eclogite. CL was used to examine the zoning structure of these zircon, and SHRIMP dating was performed on specific spots on zircon to obtain ages of different geological events. An age of 221 ± 12 Ma was obtained for coesite‐bearing zircon from the amphibolized peridotite; an age of 228 ± 29 Ma for eclogite was obtained from the lower intercept of a concordia plot. These ages are interpreted as the time of UHPM in the Weihai region. Ultramafic rocks to the east of Weihai yield a magmatic age at 581 ± 44 Ma. The zircon in the ultramafic rocks possibly also records a thermal event at c. 400 Ma, but no independent geological evidence for this event has been found. The eclogite protolith formed in the Middle Proterozoic (1821 ± 19 Ma), which is similar to the age of country rock gneisses of 1847–1744 Ma. The new geochronological data confirm that UHPM occurred in the Triassic in the Sulu area when subduction took the ultramafic body and the eclogite protolith, together with the adjacent supracrustal rocks, to mantle depths.     

Zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope compositions of migmatite from the North Dabie terrane in China: constraints on partial melting

Migmatite gneisses are widespread in the Dabie orogen, but their formation ages are poorly constrained. Eight samples of migmatite, including leucosome, melanosome, and banded gneiss, were selected for U–Pb dating and Hf isotope analysis. Most metamorphic zircon occurs as overgrowths around inherited igneous cores or as newly grown grains. Morphological and internal structure features suggest that their growth is associated with partial melting. According to the Hf isotope ratio relationships between metamorphic zircon and inherited cores, three formation mechanisms for metamorphic zircon can be determined, which are dissolution–reprecipitation of pre‐existing zircon, breakdown of Zr‐bearing phase other than zircon in a closed system and crystallization from externally derived Zr‐bearing melt. Four samples contain magmatic zircon cores, yielding upper intercept U–Pb ages of 807 ± 35–768 ± 12 Ma suggesting that the protoliths of the migmatites are Neoproterozoic in age. The migmatite zircon yields weighted mean two‐stage Hf model ages of 2513 ± 97–894 ± 54 Ma, indicating reworking of both juvenile and ancient crustal materials at the time of their protolith formation. The metamorphic zircons give U–Pb ages of 145 ± 2–120 ± 2 Ma. The oldest age indicates that partial melting commenced prior to 145 Ma, which also constrains the onset of extensional tectonism in this region to pre‐145 Ma. The youngest age of 120 Ma was obtained from an undeformed granitic vein, indicating that deformation in this area was complete at this time. Two major episodes of partial melting were dated at 139 ± 1 and 123 ± 1Ma. The first episode of partial melting is obviously older than the timing of post‐collision magmatism, corresponding to regional extension. The second episode of partial melting is coeval with the widespread post‐collision magmatism, indicating the gravitational collapse and delamination of the orogenic lithospheric keel of the Dabie orogen, which were possibly triggered by the uprising of the Cretaceous mid‐Pacific superplume.     

Age of the Shirshov submarine ridge basement (Bering Sea) based on the results of investigation of zircons using the U-Pb SHRIMP method

The Shirshov Ridge holds an important position in the structure of the Bering Sea Basin. Stretching from north to south for over 500 km, it divides the Bering Sea into two deep water basins, the Aleutian and Komandorsky basins. The age of oceanic crust of the Aleutian basin based on linear magnetic anomalies is conventionally considered Early Cretaceous, of the Komandorsky basin — Miocene, according to the K-Ar dating of the basalts (9.8 Ma) exposed in 191 deep water drill borehole. Rocks belonging to the basement of the Shirshov Ridge were dredged during the 29th cruise of research vessel Dmitrii Mendeleev and are represented by amphibolitic gabbro whose composition is similar to that of gabbroids of mid-oceanic ridges. The age of metamorphism based on the results of K-Ar dating of amphibole is 47 ± 5 Ma. The U-Pb zircon dating method was used to determine the age of gabbro. Zircons were extracted from a ∼5 kg combined amphibolitic gabbroid sample, and the age of zircons was determined using a SHRIMP-II sensitive high resolution secondary ion microprobe (Center of Isotopic Studies, A.P. Karpinskii Russian Geological Research Institute, St. Petersburg). The average concordant age value for the 25 determinations performed based on 20 points for 18 grains is 72 ± 1.4 Ma (Late Campanian). For 5 grains, the measured age values are within the range of 88 ± 3.5 Ma to 126.5 ± 4.5 Ma. Given the western vergence of the thrust structure of the Shirshov Ridge, the acoustic basement of the Shirshov Ridge is most probably a complexly deformed oceanic crust of the Aleutian Trench, which most likely dates from the Early to Late Cretaceous.     

Exhumation of a Variscan orogenic complex: insights into the composite granulitic–amphibolitic metamorphic basement of south-east Corsica (France)

A structural, petrological and geochronological (U‐Th‐Pb of zircon and monazite) study reveals that the lower crust sequences of the Variscan high‐grade basement cropping out between Solenzara and Porto Vecchio, south‐east Corsica (France) have been tectonically juxtaposed along with middle crustal rocks during the extrusion of the orogenic root of the Variscan chain. We propose that a system of high‐temperature, orogen‐parallel shear zones that developed under a transpressive dextral tectonic regime caused the exhumation of the entire sequence. This tectonic complex is thus made up of rocks having undergone different P–T conditions (eclogite‐?, high‐pressure granulite facies and amphibolite facies) at different times, reflecting the progressive foreland migration of the orogenic front. The Solenzara granulites were derived from burial of continental crust to high‐pressure (1.8–1.4 GPa) and high‐ to ultrahigh‐temperature conditions (900–1000 °C) during the Variscan convergence: U–Pb ELA‐ICPMS zircon dating constrained the timing of this metamorphism at c. 360 Ma. The gneisses cropping out at Porto Vecchio are middle crustal‐level rocks that reached their peak temperature conditions (700–750 °C at <1.0 GPa) at c. 340 Ma. The diachronism of the metamorphic events, the foliation patterns and their geometry suggest that the granulites were exhumed to middle crustal levels through channel flow tectonics under continuous compression. The amphibolite facies gneisses of Porto Vecchio and the granulites of Solenzara were accreted through the development of a major dextral mylonitic zone forming under amphibolite facies conditions: in situ monazite isotope dating (ELA‐ICPMS) revealed that this deformation occurred at c. 320 Ma and was accompanied by the emplacement of syntectonic high‐K melts. A final HTLP static overprint, constrained at 312–308 Ma by monazite U‐Th‐Pb isotope dating, is related to the emplacement of the igneous products of the Sardinia‐Corsica batholith and marks the transition from the Variscan orogenic event to the Permian extension.     

A cold Early Palaeozoic subduction zone in the North Qilian Mountains, NW China: petrological and U-Pb geochronological constraints

The north Qilian high‐pressure (HP)/low‐temperature (LT) metamorphic belt is composed mainly of blueschists, eclogites and greenschist facies rocks. It formed within an Early Palaeozoic accretionary wedge associated with the subduction of the oceanic crust and is considered to be one of the best preserved HP/LT metamorphic belts in China. Here we report new lawsonite‐bearing eclogites and eclogitic rocks enclosed within epidote blueschists in the North Qilian Mountains. Five samples contain unaltered lawsonite coexisting with omphacite and phengite as inclusions in garnet, indicating eclogite facies garnet growth and lawsonite pseudomorphs were observed in garnet from an additional 11 eclogites and eclogitic rocks. Peak pressure conditions estimated from lawsonite omphacite‐phengite‐garnet assemblages were 2.1–2.4 GPa at temperatures of 420–510 °C, in or near the stability field of lawsonite eclogite, and implying formation under an apparent geothermal gradient of 6–8 °C km^?1, consistent with metamorphism in a cold subduction zone. SHRIMP U‐Pb dating of zircon from two lawsonite‐bearing eclogitic metabasites yields ages of 489 ± 7 Ma and 477 ± 16 Ma, respectively. CL images and mineral inclusions in zircon grains indicate that these ages reflect an eclogite facies metamorphism. An age of 502 ± 16 Ma is recorded in igneous cores of zircon grains from one lawsonite pseudomorph‐bearing eclogite, which is in agreement with the formation age of Early Ordovician for some ophiolite sequences in the North Qilian Mountains, and may be associated with a period of oceanic crust formation. The petrological and chronological data demonstrate the existence of a cold Early Palaeozoic subduction zone in the North Qilian Mountains.     

Geochronological constraints on the timing of granitoid magmatism, metamorphism and post-metamorphic cooling in the Hercynian crustal cross-section of Calabria

Exposed cross‐sections of the continental crust are a unique geological situation for crustal evolution studies, providing the possibility of deciphering the time relationships between magmatic and metamorphic events at all levels of the crust. In the cross‐section of southern and northern Calabria, U–Pb, Rb–Sr and K–Ar mineral ages of granulite facies metapelitic migmatites, peraluminous granites and amphibolite facies upper crustal gneisses provide constraints on the late‐Hercynian peak metamorphism and granitoid magmatism as well as on the post‐metamorphic cooling. Monazite from upper crustal amphibolite facies paragneisses from southern Calabria yields similar U–Pb ages (295–293±4 Ma) to those of granulite facies metamorphism in the lower crust and of intrusions of calcalkaline and metaluminous granitoids in the middle crust (300±10 Ma). Monazite and xenotime from peraluminous granites in the middle to upper crust of the same crustal section provide slightly older intrusion ages of 303–302±0.6 Ma. Zircon from a mafic to intermediate sill in the lower crust yields a lower concordia intercept age of 290±2 Ma, which may be interpreted as the minimum age for metamorphism or intrusion. U–Pb monazite ages from granulite facies migmatites and peraluminous granites of the lower and middle crust from northern Calabria (Sila) also point to a near‐synchronism of peak metamorphism and intrusion at 304–300±0.4 Ma. At the end of the granulite facies metamorphism, the lower crustal rocks were uplifted into mid‐crustal levels (10–15 km) followed by nearly isobaric slow cooling (c. 3 °C Ma^?1) as indicated by muscovite and biotite K–Ar and Rb–Sr data between 210±4 and 123±1 Ma. The thermal history is therefore similar to that of the lower crust of southern Calabria. In combination with previous petrological studies addressing metamorphic textures and P–T conditions of rocks from all crustal levels, the new geochronological results are used to suggest that the thermal evolution and heat distribution in the Calabrian crust were mainly controlled by advective heat input through magmatic intrusions into all crustal levels during the late‐Hercynian orogeny.     

Fluid flow during exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust: zircon U-Pb age and O-isotope studies of a quartz vein within ultrahigh-pressure eclogite

Quartz veins in high‐pressure to ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphic rocks witness channelized fluid flow that transports both mass and heat during collisional orogenesis. This flow can occur in the direction of changing temperature/pressure during subduction or exhumation. SHRIMP U‐Pb dating of zircon from a kyanite‐quartz vein within ultrahigh‐pressure eclogite in the Dabie continental collision orogen yields two age groups at 212 ± 7 and 181 ± 13 Ma, which are similar to two groups of LA‐ICPMS age at 210 ± 4 and 180 ± 5 Ma for the same sample. These ages are significantly younger than zircon U‐Pb ages of 224 ± 2 Ma from the host eclogite. Thus the two age groups from the vein date two episodes of fluid flow involving zircon growth: the first due to decompression dehydration during exhumation, and the second due to heating dehydration in response to a cryptic thermal event after continental collision. Laser fluorination O‐isotope analyses gave similar δ¹⁸O values for minerals from both vein and eclogite, indicating that the vein‐forming fluid was internally derived. Synchronous cooling between the vein and eclogite is suggested by almost the same quartz–mineral fractionation values, with regularly decreasing temperatures that are in concordance with rates of O diffusion in the minerals. While the quartz veining was caused by decompression dehydration at 700–650 °C in a transition from ultrahigh‐pressure to high‐pressure eclogite‐facies retrogression, the postcollisional fluid flow was retriggered by heating dehydration at ～500 °C without corresponding metamorphism. In either case, the kyanite–quartz vein formed later than the peak ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphic event at the Middle Triassic, pointing to focused fluid flow during exhumation rather than subduction. The growth of metamorphic zircon in the eclogite appears to have depended on fluid availability, so that their occurrence is a type of geohygrometer besides geochronological applicability to dating of metamorphic events in orogenic cycles.     

Geochronologic Constraints on the Magmatic Underplating of the Gangdise^ Belt in the India-Eurasia Collision： Evidence of SHRIMP II Zircon U-Pb Dating

Abstract  Abundant small mafic intrusions occur associated with granitoids along the Gangdisê magmatic belt. In addition to many discrete gabbro bodies within the granitoid plutons, a gabbro‐pyroxenite zone occurs along the southern margin of the Gangdisê belt to the north of the Yarlung Zangbo suture. The mafic intrusion zone spatially corresponds to a strong aeromagnetic anomaly, which extends ～1400 km. The mafic intrusions consist of intermittently distributed small bodies and dikes of gabbro and dolerite with accumulates of pyroxenite, olivine pyroxenite, pegmatitic pyroxenite and amphibolite. Much evidence indicates that the Gangdisê gabbro‐pyroxenite assemblage is most likely a result of underplating of mantle‐derived magma. Detailed field investigation and systematic sampling of the mafic rocks was conducted at six locations along the Lhasa‐Xigazê segment of the mafic intrusive zone, and was followed by zircon SHRIMP II U‐Pb dating. In addition to the ages of two samples previously published (47.0±1 Ma and 48.9±1.1 Ma), the isotopic ages of the remaining four gabbro samples are 51.6±1.3 Ma, 52.5±3.0 Ma, 50.2±4.2 Ma and 49.9±1.1 Ma. The range of these ages (47–52.5 Ma) provide geochronologic constraints on the Eocene timing of magma underplating beneath the Gangdisê belt at ca. 50 Ma. This underplating event post‐dated the initiation of the India‐Eurasia continental collision by 15 million years and was contemporaneous with a process of magma mixing. The SHRIMP II U‐Pb isotopic analysis also found several old ages from a few zircon grains, mostly in a range of 479–526 Ma (weighted average age 503±10 Ma), thus yielding information about the pre‐existing lower crust when underplating of mafic magma took place. It is believed that magma underplating was one of the major mechanisms for crustal growth during the Indian‐Eurasia collision, possibly corresponding in time to the formation of the 14–16 km‐thick “crust‐mantle transitional zone” characterized by Vp = 6.85–6.9 km/s.     

The Age of the Neoproterozoic Dapingliang Skarn Copper Deposit in Kuruketage,NW China

The Dapingliang Cu deposit is located at the eastern part of the Kuruketage block in NW China. Igneous rocks are widely distributed in the district and skarn are formed at the contact zone between igneous rocks and the carbonates of Beiyixi Formation. The ore is distributed in the skarn. Zircon U-Pb isotopic ages of the plagiogranite, which is related to the Cu deposit, indicate that the lower and upper intercept ages are 826 ± 23 Ma and 1886 ± 61 Ma, respectively. The lower intercept age corresponds to a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 826 ± 13 Ma, yielded by ten analysis points. The upper intercept age may represent the age of the source rock, from which the plagiogranite originated. Re-Os isotopic analysis of six molybdenite samples from L7 orebody in the Dapingliang deposit shows an isochron age of 830 ± 26 Ma, which corresponds to the weighted mean model age of 829.4 ± 9.5 Ma. The concordant ages obtained by zircon U-Pb dating and molybdenite Re-Os dating are compatible with the skarn-type mineralization at Dapingling and confirm that the deposit formed during the Tarim orogeny.     

Geochronology of high-pressure mafic granulite dykes in SW Sweden: tracking the P–T–t path of metamorphism using Hf isotopes in zircon and baddeleyite

Although the U–Pb zircon chronometer has been widely used for dating metamorphism in moderate‐ to high‐grade rocks, it is generally difficult to link the U–Pb age of zircon to specific metamorphic reactions. In this study, the initial Hf isotopic composition of secondary zircon is compared with the evolution of Hf isotopic composition of the bulk sample, back‐projected from the measured value through time. This approach may enhance the interpretation of radiometric ages performed on metamorphic mineral assemblages. Here, U–Pb, Sm–Nd and Lu–Hf geochronology and thermobarometry have been integrated and applied to two metamorphosed diabase dykes in the Sveconorwegian orogen, SW Sweden. The dykes are located ～5 km east of the NNE‐trending Göta Älv deformation zone in the Idefjorden terrane, and trend parallel to this zone. The Lunden dyke is recrystallized into a coronitic, granulite facies assemblage. U–Pb isotopic analyses of baddeleyite in this dyke indicate an emplacement age of c. 1300 Ma. Thermobarometric techniques applied to garnet and omphacitic clinopyroxene coronas indicate high‐pressure metamorphism at ～15 kbar and ～740 °C. The growth of polycrystalline zircon at the expense of baddeleyite occurred at 1046 ± 6 Ma. The identical Hf isotopic composition of polycrystalline zircon and baddeleyite shows that the baddeleyite‐to‐zircon transition took place before Hf equilibration among the other metamorphic minerals and, hence the c. 1046 Ma age of polycrystalline zircon sets an upper age limit of metamorphism of this sample. The Haregården dyke is recrystallized into a granoblastic transitional upper amphibolite to granulite facies assemblage. The estimated P–T conditions are ～10 kbar and ～700 °C. Analyses of small (～30 μm), clear and round zircon in this sample yield a Concordia U–Pb age of 1026 ± 4 Ma, which is indistinguishable from the Lu‐Hf and Sm‐Nd mineral isochron ages of 1027 ± 9 and 1022 ± 34 Ma, respectively. This type of secondary zircon plots at the lower end of the Lu‐Hf isochron and indicates simultaneous growth with garnet at c. 1026 Ma, a time when Hf isotopic equilibrium among minerals must have been reached.     

High-temperature–low-pressure metamorphism and the production of S-type granites of the Hillgrove Supersuite,southern New England Orogen,NSW, Australia

The high-temperature–low-pressure Wongwibinda Metamorphic Complex of the southern New England Orogen is bound by S-type granite plutons of the Hillgrove Supersuite to the north, east and south. New U–Pb geochronology of five samples of the Hillgrove Supersuite demonstrates that plutonism in the complex involved two pulses: ca 300 Ma and ca 292 Ma. This indicates that plutonism partially overlaps the age of high-T–low-P metamorphism (296.8 ± 1.5 Ma), but also postdates it. Zircon grains identified as xenocrysts based on age (≥310 Ma) have U–Pb–Hf isotopic character that largely overlaps detrital grains in the host Girrakool Beds, indicating that accretionary complex crust is the likely source of these xenocrysts. The ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf initial character for zircon for the ca 300 Ma plutons (three samples) is less radiogenic than those in the ca 292 Ma plutons (two samples). The progression in ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf initial character for zircon infers an increasing mantle component in the Hillgrove Supersuite with time. These data are evidence of a rift tectonic setting, where mantle-derived magmas are predicted to more readily migrate to shallower crustal levels as the crust thins and becomes hotter. Additionally, early episodes of partial melting in the system melt-depleted the metasedimentary sources, thus reducing the S-type component as anatexis progressed. The evolution of the Hillgrove Supersuite coincides with a period of early Permian slab roll back and extension accompanied by crustal rifting and thinning, leading to high-T–low-P metamorphism, anatexis and S-type granite production and the development of rift basins such as the Sydney–Gunnedah–Bowen system.     

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.     

Carboniferous and Permian granites of the northern Tasman orogenic belt, Queensland, Australia: insights into petrogenesis and crustal evolution from an in situ zircon study

In situ U–Pb dating and Lu–Hf systematics of zircon in granites of the Hodgkinson Province in the northern Tasman orogenic belt, Queensland, Australia, reveal input of isotopically more evolved crustal magmas and larger ranges in ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf in the Carboniferous I-type granites (0.28219–0.28269; weighted average ~0.28245) than in the Permian S-type granites (0.28249–0.28280; weighted average ~0.28262) and Permian I-type granites (0.28253–0.28274; weighted average ~0.28260). The wide range in the Hf-isotope compositions of zircons in the Carboniferous and Permian granites can be explained by remelting of a heterogeneous Mesoproterozoic crustal source, whereas a narrow range reflects the subsequent dissolution of inherited grains/cores and magma homogenisation before zircon crystallisation. Alternatively, mixing between the most radiogenic and unradiogenic magmas can produce the isotopic variation seen in other Carboniferous granites. Remelting of Neoproterozoic average crust or mafic younger crust can produce the more radiogenic Hf-isotope compositions of zircons in the Permian S-type granites. An overlap between the Hf-isotope signatures of the Carboniferous I-type granites in the southwestern Hodgkinson Province and the northeastern Australian craton (0.28211–0.28254) and evidence for major magmatic events at 1,585–1,545 and 345–300 Ma imply that the southwestern province is underlain by cratonic crust, which wedges out towards the northeast. The more radiogenic Hf-isotope signature of the Permian granites and a lack of evidence for these major magmatic events in the southeastern and central Hodgkinson Province imply that these parts are characterised by different crustal sources and crustal evolution histories.     

^Ar／^39Ar Dating of Deformation Events and Reconstruction of Exhumation of Ultrahigh—Pressure Metamorphic Rocks in Donghai,East China

Abstract Recent investigations reveal that the ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphic (UHPM) rocks in the Donghai region of East China underwent ductile and transitional ductile‐brittle structural events during their exhumation. The earlier ductile deformation took place under the condition of amphibolite facies and the later transitional ductile‐brittle deformation under the condition of greenschist facies. The hanging walls moved southeastward during both of these two events. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of muscovites from muscovite‐plagioclase schists in the Haizhou phosphorous mine, which are structurally overlain by UHPM rocks, yields a plateau age of 218.0±2.9 Ma and isochron age of 219.8Ma, indicating that the earlier event of the ampibolite‐facies deformation probably took place about 220 Ma ago. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of oriented amphiboles parallel to the movement direction of the hanging wall on a decollement plane yields a plateau age of 213.1 ± 0.3 Ma and isochron age of 213.4±4.1 Ma, probably representing the age of the later event. The dating of pegmatitic biotites and K‐feldspars near the decollement plane from the eastern Fangshan area yield plateau ages of 203.4±0.3 Ma, 203.6±0.4 Ma and 204.8±2.2 Ma, and isochron ages of 204.0±2.0 Ma, 200.6±3.1 Ma and 204.0±5.0 Ma, respectively, implying that the rocks in the studied area had not been cooled down to closing temperature of the dated biotites and K‐feldspars until the beginning of the Jurassic (about 204 Ma). The integration of these data with previous chronological ages on the ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphism lead to a new inference on the exhumation of the UHPM rocks. The UHPM rocks in the area were exhumed at the rate of 3–4 km/Ma from the mantle (about 80–100 km below the earth's surface at about 240 Ma) to the lower crust (at the depth of about 20‐30km at 220 Ma), and at the rate of 1–2 km/Ma to the middle crust (at the depth of about 15 km at 213 Ma), and then at the rate of less than 1 km/Ma to the upper crust about 10 km deep at about 204 Ma.     

High‐ to ultrahigh‐temperature metamorphism in the lower crust: An example resulting from Hikurangi Plateau collision and slab rollback in New Zealand

Lower crustal xenoliths erupted from an intraplate diatreme reveal that a portion of the New Zealand Gondwana margin experienced high‐temperature (HT) to ultrahigh‐temperature (UHT) granulite facies metamorphism just after flat slab subduction ceased at c. 110–105 Ma. P–T calculations for garnet–orthopyroxene‐bearing felsic granulite xenoliths indicate equilibration at ~815 to 910°C and 0.7 to 0.8 GPa, with garnet‐bearing mafic granulite xenoliths yielding at least 900°C. Supporting evidence for the attainment of HT and UHT conditions in felsic granulite comes from re‐integration of exsolution in feldspar (~900–950°C at 0.8 GPa), Ti‐in‐zircon thermometry on Y‐depleted overgrowths on detrital zircon grains (932°C ± 24°C at aTiO₂ = 0.8 ± 0.2), and correlation of observed assemblages and mineral compositions with thermodynamic modelling results (≥850°C at 0.7 to 0.8 GPa). The thin zircon overgrowths, which were mainly targeted by drilling through the cores of grains, yield a U–Pb pooled age of 91.7 ± 2.0 Ma. The cause of Late Cretaceous HT‐UHT metamorphism on the Zealandia Gondwana margin is attributed to collision and partial subduction of the buoyant oceanic Hikurangi Plateau in the Early Cretaceous. The halt of subduction caused the fore‐running shallowly dipping slab to rollback towards the trench position and permitted the upper mantle to rapidly increase the geothermal gradient through the base of the extending (former) accretionary prism. This sequence of events provides a mechanism for achieving regional HT–UHT conditions in the lower crust with little or no sign of this event at the surface.