Sedimentary provenance in the central Ribeira belt based on laser-ablation ICPMSPb/Pb zircon ages

²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages from 420 zircons from 9 upper amphibolite and granulite facies quartzites of the post-1.8 Ga metasedimentary cover from the Occidental and Oriental terranes from the Neoproterozoic central Ribeira belt, in eastern Brazil, are discussed. Ages from the Occidental terrane show that Proterozoic ages predominate with a modal class at 2.1–2.2 Ga and that Archean ages are less common and lie within the 2.5–3.6 Ga range. A wider dispersion on Proterozoic ages down to 1.1 Ga and youngest Neoproterozoic ages (550–700 Ma) were also observed and could be related to the Brasiliano/PanAfrican metamorphic events. The data show that detrital sediments of the Occidental terrane were derived predominantly from erosion of a 1.8–2.2 Ga Paleoproterozoic terrane with a small proportion of a 2.6–3.6 Ga Archean crust. Ages from the Oriental terrane are greatly dispersed, but show a significant proportion of ages between 1.7 and 2.1 Ga, although the great majority are between 0.5 and 1.6 Ga. Only 3 out of 144 grains yield Archean ages, between 2.5 and 2.9 Ga. Based on the greatest errors observed on the data from the Oriental Terrane (100–300 Ma), and a continuum of obtained ages between 2072 Ma (Paleoproterozoic) and 517 Ma (Cambrian), the more plausible interpretation is that the dispersion of ages results from partial resetting of the U–Pb system by Brasiliano metamorphism in Proterozoic–Archean zircons, although a Mesoproterozoic source could not be discarded.     

Determination of Pb/Pb ages on zircon and monazite by laser-ablation ICPMS and application to a study of sedimentary provenance and metamorphism in southeastern Brazil

The recently developed method of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) allows the determination of ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of single zircon grains. The main advantages of the method are minimal sample preparation, low cost, and high throughput. In this work we present an analytical routine for geochronological analyses of zircon and monazite by LA-ICPMS and its application to the Ribeira Belt of the Brazilian Orogen in southeastern Brazil. The ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of one hundred and thirty-seven detrital zircons from amphibolite facies quartzites from three lithotectonic domains in the central Ribeira Belt indicate that they are derived mainly from Paleoproterozoic crust of Transamazonian age (2.0−2.3 Ga). A small number of zircons originated in 2.6−2.9 Ga Archean crust. These results are coherent with 2.1−2.2 Ga and 2.6−3.0 Ga U---Pb ages previously obtained for basement gneisses. The viability of the method to date monazite is also assessed. Monazites from the same quartzite samples yield ages between 2.1 Ga and 0.57 Ga. indicating variable resetting of the U---Pb system during amphibolite facies metamorphism. In contrast, monazite from a basement migmatite and syn-metamorphic granitoids yields ages in the 500–700 Ma range, in general agreement with U-Pb ages of 590-565 Ma for the main metamorphic event.

The LA-ICPMS ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages are coherent and agree with expected results based on previous U---Pb geochronology, and show that the method has immediate applicability. At present, the most significant limitations of the method are the inability to yield reliable U/Pb values, analytical precision in the 1–10% range, and the requirement of grains larger than 80 gmm The method may be advantageous for provenance studies of Precambrian detrital sequences.     

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.     

U–Pb geochronology of the southern Brasília belt (SE-Brazil): sedimentary provenance, Neoproterozoic orogeny and assembly of West Gondwana

The Brasília belt borders the western margin of the São Francisco Craton and records the history of ocean opening and closing related to the formation of West Gondwana. This study reports new U–Pb data from the southern sector of the belt in order to provide temporal limits for the deposition and ages of provenance of sediments accumulated in passive margin successions around the south and southwestern margins of the São Francisco Craton, and date the orogenic events leading to the amalgamation of West Gondwana.Ages of detrital zircons (by ID–TIMS and LA-MC-ICPMS) were obtained from metasedimentary units of the passive margin of the São Francisco Craton from the main tectonic domains of the belt: the internal allochthons (Araxá Group in the Áraxá and Passos Nappes), the external allochthons (Canastra Group, Serra da Boa Esperança Metasedimentary Sequence and Andrelândia Group) and the autochthonous or Cratonic Domain (Andrelândia Group). The patterns of provenance ages for these units are uniform and are characterised as follows: Archean–Paleoproterozoic ages (3.4–3.3, 3.1–2.7, and 2.5–2.4 Ga); Paleoproterozoic ages attributed to the Transamazonian event (2.3–1.9 Ga, with a peak at ca. 2.15 Ga) and to the ca. 1.75 Ga Espinhaço rifting of the São Francisco Craton; ages between 1.6 and 1.2 Ga, with a peak at 1.3 Ga, revealing an unexpected variety of Mesoproterozoic sources, still undetected in the São Francisco Craton; and ages between 0.9 and 1.0 Ga related to the rifting event that led to the individualisation of the São Francisco paleo-continent and formation of its passive margins. An amphibolite intercalation in the Araxá Group yields a rutile age of ca. 0.9 Ga and documents the occurrence of mafic magmatism coeval with sedimentation in the marginal basin.Detrital zircons from the autochthonous and parautochthonous Andrelândia Group, deposited on the southern margin of the São Francisco Craton, yielded a provenance pattern similar to that of the allochthonous units. This result implies that 1.6–1.2 Ga source rocks must be present in the São Francisco Craton. They could be located either in the cratonic area, which is mostly covered by the Neoproterozoic epicontinental deposits of the Bambuí Group, or in the outer paleo-continental margin, buried under the allochthonous units of the Brasília belt.Crustal melting and generation of syntectonic crustal granites and migmatisation at ca. 630 Ma mark the orogenic event that started with westward subduction of the São Francisco plate and ended with continental collision against the Paraná block (and Goiás terrane). Continuing collision led to the exhumation and cooling of the Araxá and Passos metamorphic nappes, as indicated by monazite ages of ca. 605 Ma and mark the final stages of tectonometamorphic activity in the southern Brasília belt.Whilst continent–continent collision was proceeding on the western margin of the São Francisco Craton along the southern Brasília belt, eastward subduction in the East was generating the 634–599 Ma Rio Negro magmatic arc which collided with the eastern São Francisco margin at 595–560 Ma, much later than in the Brasília belt. Thus, the tectonic effects of the Ribeira belt reached the southernmost sector of the Brasília belt creating a zone of superposition. The thermal front of this event affected the proximal Andrelândia Group at ca. 588 Ma, as indicated by monazite age.The participation of the Amazonian craton in the assembly of western Gondwana occurred at 545–500 Ma in the Paraguay belt and ca. 500 Ma in the Araguaia belt. This, together with the results presented in this work lead to the conclusion that the collision between the Paraná block and Goiás terrane with the São Francisco Craton along the Brasília belt preceded the accretion of the Amazonian craton by 50–100 million years.     

冀东地区始太古代早期—冥古宙锆石发现

最古老大陆地壳的形成、组成和演化是阐释地球壳幔物质分异、构造演化的逻辑起点。由于长期地质作用改造,地球上保存的古老陆壳物质十分稀少,寻找和研究都极具挑战性。在冀东卢龙喇叭山地区,早期研究发现含有大量3.4~3.8 Ga碎屑锆石的铬云母石英岩,岩石特征和碎屑锆石年龄分布与迁安黄柏峪地区的铬云母石英岩十分类似。本文对喇叭山地区与铬云母石英岩共生的变质碎屑沉积岩进行了锆石定年。黑云斜长片麻岩(J2006)94个数据点分析,碎屑锆石普遍显示强烈铅丢失,数据点主要沿上交点年龄为~3.8 Ga和~3.45 Ga的两条不一致线分布。获得3084±6 Ma的变质锆石年龄。长石石英岩(J2009)68个数据点分析,除大量3.4~3.8 Ga碎屑锆石外,还发现3.92~4.0 Ga碎屑锆石(6颗)。始太古代早期—冥古宙碎屑锆石的发现表明华北克拉通无疑存在4.0 Ga以上的形成演化历史。本文新定义的曹庄-喇叭山岩系形成于3.1~3.4 Ga之间,主要由变质碎屑沉积岩和变质基性-超基性岩组成,可能代表了地幔柱与大陆壳相互作用的构造环境。根据碎屑锆石形态特征和不同样品碎屑锆石年龄分布存在差异,物源区具有近源和规模大的特征,存在3.92~4.0 Ga、3.8 Ga、3.6~3.7 Ga和3.4~3.45 Ga等不同期次花岗质岩浆作用。     

华北克拉通南缘太古宙地壳生长和再造:登封地区五指岭组碎屑锆石U-Pb-Hf同位素制约

对登封地区嵩山群五指岭组二云石英片岩和石英岩中碎屑锆石进行了LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学和原位Hf同位素分析,为探讨华北克拉通南缘太古宙地壳生长和再造提供了制约。结果显示,碎屑锆石多数呈自形–半自形,发育振荡生长环带,结合相对高的Th/U比值(0.07~1.87),暗示它们多数为岩浆成因。二云石英片岩和石英岩中碎屑锆石具有类似的年龄和Hf同位素组成,它们的207Pb/206Pb谐和年龄分别介于2879~2027 Ma和3346~1903 Ma之间,峰期年龄分别为2524 Ma和2528 Ma。~2.5 Ga锆石的εHf(t)值多数为正值,介于+0.10~+9.22之间,tDM2C变化于3028~2453 Ma之间,4颗碎屑锆石的εHf(t)值为负值,变化于-1.68~-0.03之间,tDM2C介于3132~3032 Ma之间。根据上述结果并结合相邻地区的相关研究资料,表明嵩山群沉积于古元古代晚期,五指岭组中碎屑锆石的物源主要为华北克拉通南缘~2.5 Ga具有新生地壳属性的结晶基底物质。华北克拉通南缘存在中–新太古代时期的地壳生长,同时发育中太古代古老地壳物质的再造。     

柴达木盆地北缘全吉群皱节山组碎屑锆石年代学特征及其地质意义

柴达木盆地北缘的全吉群主要为一套未变质的砂砾岩、石英岩、砂页岩、白云岩和冰碛岩的地层,为全吉地块基底之上的最古老的直接沉积盖层.对全吉群上部皱节山组2件紫红色细砂岩样品进行碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄测定,碎屑锆石207Pb/206Pb年龄谱特征显示,皱节山组沉积物主要以1 750~1 990 Ma（约占84.7%）的锆石年龄最为集中,其次为2 400~2 500 Ma的年龄值,结合区域热事件,说明皱节山组沉积物可能主要来自于全吉地块古元古代末达肯大坂岩群,部分来自德令哈杂岩体.此外,~1.95 Ga和~1.85 Ga的碎屑锆石具有显著优势,它记录了全吉地块在古元古代的2期重要的热事件——古元古代末镁铁质岩墙群的侵入作用和古元古代晚期的区域变质-深熔作用.      

SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating of the Neoproterozoic Penglai Group and Archean gneisses from the Jiaobei Terrane, North China, and their tectonic implications

Archean basement gneisses and supracrustal rocks, together with Neoproterozoic (Sinian) metasedimentary rocks (the Penglai Group) occur in the Jiaobei Terrane at the southeastern margin of the North China Craton. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating of an Archean TTG gneiss gave an age of 2541 ± 5 Ma, whereas metasedimentary rocks from the Neoproterozoic Penglai Group yielded a range in zircon ages from 2.9 to 1.8 Ga. The zircons can be broadly divided into three age populations, at: 2.0–1.8 Ga, 2.45–2.1 Ga and >2.5 Ga. Detrital zircon grains with ages >2.6 Ga are few in number and there are none with ages <1.8 Ga. These results indicate that most of the detrital material comes from a Paleoproterozoic source, most likely from the Jianshan and Fenzishan groups, with some material coming from Archean gneisses in the Jiaobei Terrane. An age of 1866 ± 4 Ma for amphibolite-facies hornblende–plagioclase gneiss, forming part of a supracrustal sequence within the Archean TTG gneiss, indicates Late Paleoproterozoic metamorphism. Both the Archean gneiss complex and Penglai metasedimentary rocks resemble previously described components of the Jiao-Liao-Ji orogenic belt and suggest that the Jiaobei Terrane has a North China Craton affinity; they also suggest that the time of collision along the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt was at 1865 Ma.     

阿尔泰递增变质带中夹层石英岩的LA-ICP-MS碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄:对沉积时限及物源的限定

阿尔泰造山带广泛分布各种变质沉积岩并发育典型递增变质带,变质沉积岩变质之前的沉积时代与物源特征对于限定成岩历史以及造山带演化具有重要意义。文章对采自阿勒泰组变质带中石英岩夹层样品进行了岩相学分析并采用LA-ICP-MS方法对其碎屑锆石进行了U-Pb年代学分析。共获得100个谐和或近于谐和的碎屑锆石年龄,表面年龄分布范围为(443±5)Ma至(2682±19)Ma。碎屑锆石年龄主要集中在寒武纪(486~540 Ma)并具有527~535 Ma的年龄峰值,可能源于区域内同时代的岩浆活动。新元古代年龄约占1/4,少量锆石具有古中元古代甚至太古宙年龄。结合年轻碎屑锆石年龄以及直接侵入该变质带中的英云闪长岩年龄可确定石英岩原岩的沉积时限为早志留世—早泥盆世,其后发生变质作用。古老碎屑锆石在该地区缺乏对应的岩石,可能源于区内隐伏的古老基底岩石或邻区古老陆块。     

New Insights into the Late Triassic Nadigangri Formation of Northern Qiangtang,Tibet, China: Constraints from U‐Pb Ages and Hf Isotopes of Detrital and Magmatic Zircons

We report here U-Pb age and in situ Hf isotopic results for detrital and magmatic zircons from one conglomerate and four tuffite samples from the Late Triassic Nadigangri Formation across the North Qiangtang depression, Tibet. Coupled with previously published data in the region, this paper proposes new insights into the geochronological framework for the Nadigangri Formation. The deposition ages of tuffite from top to bottom in the Woruo Mountain, Quem Co and Dongqu River, are 203 Ma, 226 Ma, 221.5 Ma and 221.1 Ma, respectively. The detrital zircons yield a younger cluster of ages of 201.5–225 Ma from the conglomerate of the Quem Co Formation. The Late Triassic Nadigangri Formation defines a temporal range approximately between 201 and 225 Ma(Norian-Rhaetian), including three predominant groups of 220–225 Ma, 210–217 Ma and 201–205 Ma, which correspond with the three main rifting episodes of initial rifting, further rifting and final rifting. Positive εHf(t) value and low model ages in younger detrital zircons suggests a juvenile character. However, the Hf isotopes of magmatic zircons display the presence of reworked ancient crust with 1.1–1.8 Ga. These results provide strong constraints not only on the temporal range of the Late Triassic Nadigangri Formation, but also on the onset of the Qiangtang Mesozoic rift basin.     

Electron microprobe U–Th–Pb monazite dating of the Transamazonian metamorphic overprint on Archean rocks from the Amapá Block, southeastern Guiana Shield, Northern Brazil

The Amapá Block, southeastern Guiana Shield, represents an Archean block involved in a large Paleoproterozoic belt, with evolution related to the Transamazonian orogenic cycle (2.26 to 1.95 Ga). High spatial resolution dating using an electron-probe microanalyzer (EPMA) was employed to obtain U–Th–Pb chemical ages in monazite of seven rock samples of the Archean basement from that tectonic block, which underwent granulite- and amphibolite-facies metamorphism. Pb–Pb zircon dating was also performed on one sample.Monazite and zircon ages demonstrate that the metamorphic overprinting of the Archean basement occurred during the Transamazonian orogenesis, and two main tectono-thermal events were recorded. The first one is revealed by monazite ages of 2096 ± 6, 2093 ± 8, 2088 ± 8, 2087 ± 3 and 2086 ± 8 Ma, and by the zircon age of 2091 ± 5 Ma, obtained in granulitic rocks. These concordant ages provided a reliable estimate of the time of the granulite-facies metamorphism in the southwest of the Amapá Block and, coupled with petro-structural data, suggest that it was contemporaneous to the development of a thrusting system associated to the collisional stage of the Transamazonian orogenesis, at about 2.10–2.08 Ga.The later event, under amphibolite-facies conditions, is recorded by monazite ages of 2056 ± 7 and 2038 ± 6 Ma, and is consistent with a post-collisional stage, marked by granite emplacement and coeval migmatization of the Archean basement along strike-slip shear zones.     

Tonian rift-related, A-type continental plutonism in the Araçuaí Orogen, eastern Brazil: New evidence for the breakup stage of the São Francisco–Congo Paleocontinent

Zircon U–Pb SHRIMP, petrographical and geochemical data lead to the first characterization of the Tonian plutonism (Salto da Divisa Granite Suite), ascribed to the continental rift stage of the precursor basin of the Araçuaí Orogen (Eastern Brazil). The suite includes batholitic plutons and comprises mainly fluorite-bearing, dominantly mesoperthitic hornblende–biotite leucogranites. The presence of mafic (tholeiitic) gabbroic enclaves and syn-plutonic dykes confers to the suite a bimodal character. The plutons were locally deformed and foliated under amphibolite facies conditions, in response to the Neoproterozoic collage of the Araçuaí Orogen against the São Francisco Cratonic margin. However, undeformed magmatic facies are well preserved at inner portions of the plutons. The granitoids are metaluminous, with high SiO₂ and HFSE: Nb, Zr, Y, Ta and REE (except Eu); low CaO, Al₂O₃, Sc, Ba, Sr; high FeOt/MgO ratios, characterizing a chemical signature akin to the subalkaline, A-2 type granites. U–Pb SHRIMP data obtained on zircons from the main pluton yielded a magmatic crystallization age of 875 ± 9 Ma. Some inherited xenocrysts revealed ages of ca. 2080 Ma, corresponding to ages of the host rocks, a Paleoproterozoic basement. Nd isotopic evolution studies confirm the Paleoproterozoic influence on magma genesis with a T_DM model age of ca. 1.6 Ga and ε_Nd of − 5.58 at 880 Ma. The African counterpart, the West Congo Belt, encompasses thick rift-related alkaline volcanic-sedimentary basin (Zadinian and Mayumbian groups, and associated anorogenic granites), dated in the interval of ca. 1000–900 Ma. The age differences between the Salto da Divisa Suite intrusion and the anorogenic magmatic episode at the West Congo Belt suggests a westward migration (i.e. to the Brazilian side) of the thermal axis of the rift, ca. 30 Ma after the ending of the extensional process in Africa.     

U/Pb and Sm/Nd geochronologic studies of the eastern Borborema Province, Northeastern Brazil: initial conclusions

The Borborema Province of NE Brasil comprises the central part of a wide Pan-African-Brasiliano orogenetic belt that formed as a consequence of late Neoproterozoic convergence and collision of the São Luis-West Africa craton and the São Francisco-Congo-Kasai cratons. New Sm/Nd and U/Pb results from the eastern part of this province help to define the basic internal architecture and pre-collisional history of this province, with particular emphasis on delineating older cratonic terranes, their fragmentation during the Mesoproterozoic, and their assembly into West Gondwana during the Pan African-Brasiliano orogeny at ca. 600 Ma.The region can be divided into three major geotectonic domains: a) Rio Piranhas-Caldas Brandão massif, with overlying Paleoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic supracrustal rocks, north of the Patos Lineament; b) the Archean to Paleoproterozoic São Francisco craton (SFC) to the south; and c) a complex domain of Paleoproterozoic to Archean basement blocks with several intervening Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic fold belts in the center (south of Patos Lineament and north of SFC). The northern and central domains comprise the Borborema Province.Archean basement gneiss and Transamazonian granulite of northern SFC are exposed in the southern part of the central domain, underlying southern parts of the Sergipano fold belt. Basement in the Rio Piranhas massif appears to consist mostly of Transamazonian (2.1 to 2.2 Ga) gneissic rocks; Nd model ages (T_DM) of ca. 2.6 Ga for 2.15 Ga gneisses indicate a substantial Archean component in the protoliths to these gneisses. The Caldas Brandão massif to the east yields both Transamazonian and Archean U/Pb zircon and Nd (T_DM) ages, indicating a complex architecture. Metasedimentary rocks of the Jucurutu Formation yield detrital zircons with original crystallization ages as young as 1.8 Ga, indicating that these rocks may be late Paleoproterozoic and correlate with other ca. 1.8 Ga cratonic supracrustal rocks in Brazil such as the Roraima Group and Espinhaço Group.Most metavolcanic and pre-Brasiliano granitic units of the Sergipano (SDS), Pajeú-Paraíba (SPP), Riacho Pontal (SRP), and Piancó-Alto Brígida (SPAB) fold belts in the central domain formed ˜ 1.0 ± 0.1 Ga, based on U/Pb ages of zircons. Nd model ages (T_DM) for these same rocks, as well as Brasiliano granites intruded into them and large parts of the Pernambuco-Alagoas massif, are commonly 1.3–1.7 Ga, indicating that rocks of the fold belts were not wholly derived from either older (> 2.1 Ga) or juvenile (ca. 1.0 Ga) crust, but include mixtures of both components. A simple interpretation of Brasiliano granite genesis and the Nd data implies that there is no Transamazonian or Archean basement underlying large parts of these fold belts or of the Pernambuco-Alagoas massif. An exception is a belt of syenitic Brasiliano plutons (Syenitoid Line) and host gneisses between SPAB and SPP that clearly has a Transamazonian (or older) source. In addition, there are several smaller blocks of Archean to Transamazonian gneiss that can be defined within and among these fold belts. These blocks do not appear to constitute a continuous basement complex, but appear to be isolated older crustal fragments.Our data support a model in which ca. 1.0 Ga rifting was an important tectonic and crust-forming event along the northern edge of the São Francisco craton. Our data also show that significant parts of the Borborema Province are not remobilized Transamazonian to Archean crust, but that Mesoproterozoic crust is a major feature of the Province. There are several small remnants of older crust within the area dominated by Mesoproterozoic crust, suggesting that the rifting event created several small continental fragments that were later incorporated into the Brasiliano collisional orogen. We cannot at present determine if the Rio Piranhas-Caldas Brandão massifs and the older crustal blocks of the central domain were originally part of the São Francisco craton or whether some (or all) of them came from more exotic parts of the Proterozoic Earth. Finally, our data have not yet revealed any juvenile terranes of either Transamazonian or Brasiliano age.     

Zircon U-Pb Age, Trace Element, and Hf Isotope Evidence for Paleoproterozoic Granulite-Facies Metamorphism and Archean Crustal Remnant in the Dabie Orogen

Zircon U-Pb age, trace elements, and Hf isotopes were determined for granulite and gneiss at Huaugtuling (黄土岭), which is hosted by ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Dabie(大别) orogen, east-central China. Cathodolumineseence (CL) images reveal core-rim structure for most zircons in the granulite. The cores show oscillatory zoning, relatively high Th/U and 176 Lu/177 Hf ratios, and high rare earth element (HREE)-enriched pattern, consistent with magmatic origin. They gave a weighted mean 207 Pb/206 Pb age of (2 766±9) Ma, dating magma emplacement of protolith. The rims are characterized by sector ur planar zoning, low Th/U and 176 Lu/177 Hf ratios, negative Euanomalies and flat HREE patterns, consistent with their formation under granulite-facies metamorphicconditions. Zircon U-Pb dating yields an age of (2 029±13) Ma, which is interpreted as a record ofmetamorphic event during the assembly of the supercontinent Columbia. The gneiss has a protolith ageof (1982±14) Ma, which is similar to the zircon U-Pb age for the granulite-facies metamorphism,suggesting complementary processes to granulite-facies metamorphism and partial melting. A fewinherited cores with igneous characteristics have 207 pb/206 Pb ages of approximately 3.53, 3.24, and 2.90Ga, respectively, suggesting the presence of Mesoarchean to Paleoarchean crustal remnants. A fewTriassic and Cretaceous metamorphic ages were obtained, suggesting the influences by the Triassiccontinental collision and postcollisional collapse in response to the Cretaceous extension. Comparingwith abundant occurrence of Triassic metamorphic zircons in ultrahigh-pressure eclogite and granitehydrous melt is evident for zircon growth in theHuangtuling granulite and gneiss during thecontinental collision. The magmatic protolithzircons from the granulite show a large variationin 176 Hf/177 Hf ratios from 0.280 809 to 0.281 289,corresponding to era(t) values of-7.3 to 6.3 andHf model ages of 2.74 to 3.34 Ga. The 2.90 Gainherited zircons show the similar Hf isotope features. These indicate that both growth of juvenile crust and reworking of ancient crust took place at the time of zircon formation. It is inferred that the Archean basement of the Yangtze block occurs in thenorth as the Dabie orogen, with ca. 2.90-2.95 Ga and 2.75-2.80 Ga as two major episodes of crustalformation.     

Zircon geochronology and Sm–Nd isotopic study: Further constraints for the Archean and Paleoproterozoic geodynamical evolution of the southeastern Guiana Shield, north of Amazonian Craton, Brazil

The eastern part of the Guiana Shield, northern Amazonian Craton, in South America, represents a large orogenic belt developed during the Transamazonian orogenic cycle (2.26–1.95 Ga), which consists of extensive areas of Paleoproterozoic crust and two major Archean terranes: the Imataca Block, in Venezuela, and the here defined Amapá Block, in the north of Brazil.

Pb-evaporation on zircon and Sm–Nd on whole rock dating were provided on magmatic and metamorphic units from southwestern Amapá Block, in the Jari Domain, defining its long-lived evolution, marked by several stages of crustal accretion and crustal reworking. Magmatic activity occurred mainly at the Meso-Neoarchean transition (2.80–2.79 Ga) and during the Neoarchean (2.66–2.60 Ga). The main period of crust formation occurred during a protracted episode at the end of Paleoarchean and along the whole Mesoarchean (3.26–2.83 Ga). Conversely, crustal reworking processes have dominated in Neoarchean times. During the Transamazonian orogenic cycle, the main geodynamic processes were related to reworking of older Archean crust, with minor juvenile accretion at about 2.3 Ga, during an early orogenic phase. Transamazonian magmatism consisted of syn- to late-orogenic granitic pulses, which were dated at 2.22 Ga, 2.18 Ga and 2.05–2.03 Ga. Most of the ε_Nd values and T_DM model ages (2.52–2.45 Ga) indicate an origin of the Paleoproterozoic granites by mixing of juvenile Paleoproterozoic magmas with Archean components.

The Archean Amapá Block is limited in at southwest by the Carecuru Domain, a granitoid-greenstone terrane that had a geodynamic evolution mainly during the Paleoproterozoic, related to the Transamazonian orogenic cycle. In this latter domain, a widespread calc-alkaline magmatism occurred at 2.19–2.18 Ga and at 2.15–2.14 Ga, and granitic magmatism was dated at 2.10 Ga. Crustal accretion was recognized at about 2.28 Ga, in agreement with the predominantly Rhyacian crust-forming pattern of the eastern Guiana Shield. Nevertheless, T_DM model ages (2.50–2.38 Ga), preferentially interpreted as mixed ages, and ε_Nd < 0, point to some participation of Archean components in the source of the Paleoproterozoic rocks. In addition, the Carecuru Domain contains an oval-shaped Archean granulitic nucleus, named Paru Domain. In this domain, Neoarchean magmatism at about 2.60 Ga was produced by reworking of Mesoarchean crust, as registered in the Amapá Block. Crustal accretion events and calc-alkaline magmatism are recognized at 2.32 Ga and at 2.15 Ga, respectively, as well as charnockitic magmatism at 2.07 Ga.

The lithological association and the available isotopic data registered in the Carecuru Domain suggests a geodynamic evolution model based on the development of a magmatic arc system during the Transamazonian orogenic cycle, which was accreted to the southwestern border of the Archean Amapá Block.     

赣东北樟树墩早侏罗世水北组碎屑锆石研究及其地质意义

赣东北樟树墩地区早侏罗世盆地处于江南造山带东南缘,揭示盆地沉积物质来源对于认识和探讨周缘早中生代造山事件和古地理格局具有重要意义。对樟树墩早侏罗世盆地开展了岩相学、碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学和Lu-Hf同位素研究。结果表明: 盆地为类磨拉石建造与内陆湖沼含煤建造,碎屑锆石年龄跨度大(2 431~263 Ma),未出现同沉积或准同沉积的碎屑锆石; 碎屑锆石年龄呈现极强的早古生代峰值(420~380 Ma,ε_Hf(t)为-10.7~-3.0, T_DM^C为2.08~1.58 Ga)、弱的新元古代峰值(858~663 Ma,ε_Hf(t)为-18.8~-6.7, T_DM^C为2.79~2.09 Ga)和晚古生代峰值(370~355 Ma),另有少量早中生代((263±5) Ma)、中—古元古代(2 431~1 224 Ma)碎屑锆石记录。碎屑锆石年龄和Hf同位素组成与华夏地块西北武夷山地区所出露地质体组成相似,而与扬子东南缘地质体组成存在显著差异,其碎屑物质主要来自陆内西北武夷山地区前寒武纪基底和古生代地质体,少量碎屑物质可能来源于浙西北地区,具有被动型大陆边缘盆地沉积特征。综合区域上早中生代盆地研究成果,认为江南造山带东段景德镇—黄山东南在早—中侏罗世并未整体隆升剥蚀,华南内陆中生代的构造-岩浆活动是其周缘多板块俯冲汇聚的构造响应,晚三叠世—早侏罗世古太平洋板块向东亚大陆的俯冲造成华南东南部隆升,使其开始为内陆盆地提供物源,至早—中侏罗世之交构造体制转换为古太平洋板块的俯冲消减。     

Study and geological implication of detrital zircons in Shuibei Formation of Early Jurassic in Zhangshudun of northeastern Jiangxi Province

The Early Jurassic basin in Zhangshudun of northeastern Jiangxi Province is located in the southeastern part of Jiangnan orogeny, and revealing the basin depositional source is of great importance for understanding and discussing the orogenic events and ancient geography during Early Mesozoic. The research of petrography, detrital zircons U-Pb geochronology, Lu-Hf isotope geochemistry of Early Jurassic clastic rocks was conducted in this paper. The results show that the Early Jurassic Shuibei Formation includes molasse-like deposits and fluviatile-lacustrine facies, and the detrital zircons U-Pb ages are within the wide scope of 2 431~263 Ma, with no existence of synsedimentary or pensynsedimentary detrital zircons. The detrital zircons display a very obvious peak age in Early Paleozoic of 420~380 Ma, with ε_Hf(t) values between -10.7 and -3 and T_DM^C values between 2.08 and 1.58 Ga. The weak peak ages of 370~355 Ma and 858~663 Ma are displayed in Late Paleozoic and Neoproterozoic,respectively, with ε_Hf(t) values of -18.8 to -6.7 and T_DM^C values of 2.08 to 1.58 Ga. The detrital zircons also contain a few Early Mesozoic (263 Ma) and Paleo-Meso proterozoic (2 431~1 224 Ma) ages. The detrital zircons ages and Lu-Hf isotope are similar with geological entities in northwestern Wuyi area of Cathaysia Block, while they are obviously different from the ages of the geological body in southeastern Yangtze region. The detrital materials are mainly from Early Cambrian basement and Paleozoic geological body northwestern Wuyi area. While little detrital rocks may come from northwestern Zhejiang with sedimentary characters of passive continental margin. Combined with the comprehensive regional research results of Early Mesozoic basin, the authors conclude that the southeastern Jingdezhen-Huangshan of eastern Jiangnan orogenic belt was not uplifting with erosion in Early and Middle Jurassic, and the Mesozoic structural-magmatic activities in the inland of South China were the tectonic response to the dive and influx of multiplates. The uplift in the southezstern part of South China caused by the subduction of the paleo-pacific plate to the East Asian continent from the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic can provide provenance for the inland basin, and the tectonic constitution at the turn of the Early-Middle Jurassic has been transformed into the subduction of the paleo-pacific plate.     

山西云中山-关帝山地区界河口岩群岩石学特征、LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及其归属

山西吕梁山地区界河口岩群（后文简称界河口群）主要由一套变质砂泥质岩石组成,含有一定量的条带状大理岩、斜长角闪岩等。利用LA-ICP-MS对位于关帝山西榆皮、娄烦县杜交曲及云中山三角镇地区的含石榴黑云二长花岗片麻岩（12LL05-1）、片状黑云母石英岩（12LL09-2）和含石榴钾长石英岩（12LL15-1）进行锆石U-Pb年龄测定,获得的二长花岗片麻岩（12LL05-1）岩浆结晶年龄为1941±28Ma、片状黑云母石英岩（12LL09-2）碎屑锆石最小的峰值年龄为2519.5±6.7Ma及含石榴钾长石英岩（12LL15-1）碎屑锆石2个峰值年龄2143±15Ma和2599±11Ma。根据岩石组合和同位素测定结果推测,关帝山西榆皮地区的界河口群与界河口-汉高山一带的界河口群可以对比,沉积时代在1.94Ga之前;娄烦县杜交曲一带的界河口群可与五台岩群相对比,属新太古代;云中山三交镇一带的界河口群可与野鸡山群或岚河群相对比。沿岚县-方山-吕梁一线存在一条大型韧性剪切带,倾向NNW-NWW,表现为右行剪切的运动学性质,将吕梁山区近EW向构造带改造为NNE向。     

Lu–Hf and U–Pb isotope systematics of zircons from the Storgangen intrusion, Rogaland Intrusive Complex, SW Norway: implications for the composition and evolution of Precambrian lower crust in the Baltic Shield

The Storgangen orebody is a concordantly layered, sill-like body of ilmenite-rich norite, intruding anorthosites of the Rogaland Intrusive Complex (RIC), SW Norway. 17 zircon grains were separated from ca. 5 kg of sand-size flotation waste collected from the on-site repository from ilmenite mining. These zircons were analysed for major and trace elements by electron microprobe, and for U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes by laser ablation microprobe plasma source mass spectrometry. Eight of the zircons define a well-constrained (MSWD=0.37) concordant population with an age of 949±7 Ma, which is significantly older than the 920–930 Ma ages previously reported for zircon inclusions in orthopyroxene megacrysts from the RIC. The remaining zircons, interpreted as inherited grains, show a range of ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages up to 1407±14 Ma, with an upper intercept age at ca. 1520 Ma. The concordant zircons have similar trace element patterns, and a mean initial Hf isotope composition of ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf_{949 Ma}=0.28223±5 (_Hf=+2±2). This is similar to the Hf-isotope composition of zircons in a range of post-tectonic Sveconorwegian granites from South Norway, and slightly more radiogenic than expected for mid-Proterozoic juvenile crust. The older, inherited zircons show Lu–Hf crustal residence ages in the range 1.85–2.04 Ga. One (undated) zircon plots well within the field of Hf isotope evolution of Paleoproterozoic rocks of the Baltic Shield. These findings indicate the presence of Paleoproterozoic components in the deep crust of the Rogaland area, but do not demonstrate that such rocks, or a Sveconorwegian mantle-derived component, contributed significantly to the petrogenesis of the RIC. If the parent magma was derived from a homogeneous, lower crustal mafic granulite source, the lower crustal protolith must be at least 1.5 Ga old, and it must have an elevated Rb/Sr ratio. This component would be indistinguishable in Sr, Nd and Hf isotopes from some intermediate mixtures between Sveconorwegian mantle and Paleoprotoerzoic felsic crust, but it cannot account for the initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of the most primitive, late Sveconorwegian granite in the region, without the addition of mantle-derived material.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of the Mkhondo suite, Swaziland: evidence for passive-margin deposition and granulite facies metamorphism in the Late Archean of Southern Africa

The Archean Mkhondo suite in southern Swaziland is a multiply deformed succession of metasediments intruded with amphibolite dykes and sills and granitoid gneisses. Mineral and textural relationships indicate an early period of granulite facies metamorphism, followed later by amphibolite facies metamorphism. Geothermobarometry indicates maximum temperatures of 700–900°C and burial depths of 25–3 km. Paragneisses and biotite quartzites have LREE enriched patterns with small negative Eu anomalies, whereas white quartzites show variable REE patterns and low REE concentrations. BIF has slight LREE enrichment and Eu anomalies. Amphibolites have moderate LREE enrichment and depletions in Ta---Nb and P. Unlike many Archean granitoids, the Mkhondo granitoid gneisses are high in K and other LILE, have large negative Eu anomalies and are not depleted in HREE.SHRIMP isotopic analyses of detrital zircons from a biotite quartzite define a source age of 3600–3460 Ma. A deformed granitoid in tectonic contact with the Mkhondo suite yields a zircon evaporation mean age of 3192±5 Ma, which is interpreted as the age of emplacement. A zircon evaporation age of a granitic melt patch in paragneiss, as well as whole-rock and garnet Sm---Nd isotopic ages, suggest that the peak of high-grade metamorphism in the Mkhondo suite occurred at about 2750 Ma. This is the first evidence for Late Archean high-grade metamorphism in the southeastern Kaapvaal craton. The age data of this study restrict deposition of the Mkhondo suite to between 3.2 and 2.75 Ga.Mkhondo paragneisses are interpreted as shales with biotite quartzites as iron- and quartz-rich detrital sediments. Geochemical mixing calculations indicate that the sediment sources were composed of basalt (±komatiite), TTG and Eu-depleted granitoids. The Mkhondo assemblage may have been deposited along a passive continental margin or in a continental interior basin. The presence of minor BIF with positive Eu anomalies suggests minor hydrothermal input into the sedimentary basin. Intense chemical weathering was probably most important in production of the relatively pure quartz sands.