A 10Be‐based reconstruction of the last deglaciation in southern Sweden

We present 23 cosmogenic surface exposure ages from 10 localities in southern Sweden. The new ¹⁰Be ages allow a direct correlation between the east and west coasts of southern Sweden, based on the same dating technique, and provide new information about the deglaciation of the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet in the circum‐Baltic area. In western Skåne, southernmost Sweden, a single cosmogenic surface exposure sample gave an age of 16.8±1.0 ka, whereas two samples from the central part of Skåne gave ages of 17.0±0.9 and 14.1±0.8 ka. Further northeast, in southern Småland, two localities gave ages ranging from 15.2±0.8 to 16.9±0.9 ka (n=5) indicating a somewhat earlier deglaciation of the area than has previously been suggested. Our third locality, in S Småland, gave ages ranging from 10.2±0.5 to 18.4±1.6 ka (n=3), which are probably not representative of the timing of deglaciation. In central Småland one locality was dated to 14.5±0.8 ka (n=3), whereas our northernmost locality, situated in northern Småland, was dated to 13.8±0.8 ka (n=3). Samples from the island of Gotland suggest deglaciation before 13 ka ago. We combined the new ¹⁰Be ages with previously published deglaciation ages to constrain the deglaciation chronology of southern Sweden. The combined deglaciation chronology suggests a rather steady deglaciation in southern Sweden starting at c. 17.9 cal. ka BP in NW Skåne and reaching northern Småland, ～200 km further north, c. 13.8 ka ago. Overall the new deglaciation ages agree reasonably well with existing deglaciation chronologies, but suggest a somewhat earlier deglaciation in Småland.     

阿拉善地区新元古代岩浆事件及其地质意义

在阿拉善西部地区分布有一些眼球状片麻岩和条带状片麻岩,以往将它们作为阿拉善群的地层对待。本文研究表明它们是受到变形改造的正片麻岩。通过锆石LA-ICPMSU-Pb分析,4个样品分别获得了913±7Ma、921±7Ma、926±15Ma和904±7Ma的年龄结果。新元古代早期变形花岗岩的发现表明,阿拉善地区经历了新元古代早期(格林威尔期)造山作用的强烈改造,它们可能与祁连地块等相似,应属于不同于华北克拉通的独立的变质地块。     

Evidence for the thrust emplacement of the ‘Lesser Himalaya’ Chur granite,Himachal Pradesh

Numerous peraluminous and porphyritic granitic bodies and augen gneisses of granitic compositions occur in the nappe sequences of the Lower Himalaya. They are Proterozoic-to-lower Paleozoic in age and have been grouped into the ‘Lesser Himalaya granite belt’. The mode of emplacement and tectonic significance of these granites are as yet uncertain but they are generally considered to be sheet-like intrusions into the surrounding rocks. The small and isolated granite body (the Chur granite) that crops out around the Chur peak in the Himachal Himalaya is one of the more famous of these granites. Several lines of evidence have been adduced to show that the Chur granite has a thrust (the Chur thrust) contact with the underlying metasedimentary sequence (locally called the Jutogh Group). The Chur granite with restricted occurrence at the highest topographic and structural levels represents an erosional remnant of a much larger sub-horizontal thrust sheet. The contact relations between the country rocks and many of the other granite and granitic augen gneisses in the Lesser Himalaya belt are apparently similar to that of the Chur granite suggesting that at least some of them may also represent thrust sheets.     

The RbSr age of the Hästefjorden granite and its bearing on the Precambrian evolution of southwestern Sweden

On the basis of a seven-point isochron, the RbSr whole-rock age of the Hästefjorden granite in southwestern Sweden is 1240 ± 30 Ma using a decay constant of 1.39·10^?11 yr^?1. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio is 0.712. This dating sets a lower limit for the beginning of the Dalslandian (Dal sequence) sedimentation and supports suggestions of a chronological diversity of the so-called Gothian Åmål—Kroppefjäll granite complex in western Sweden. It also invalidates correlation of the Åmål—Kroppefjäll complex as a whole with the Småland plutonics of southeastern Sweden. This proves that rocks previously considered as being formed during the “Gothian Cycle” are very different in age.     

Chemical interrelationships in a low-pressure granulite terrain in Namaqualand. South Africa,and their bearing on granite genesis and the composition of the lower crust

The results of a chemical study of a suite of low-pressure granulite facies rocks in Namaqualand, South Africa, are reported. The area is underlain by augen gneisses and quartzites, which contain interlayered granular quartz-feldspar rocks (termed ‘granulites’) derived by extensive partial melting of the gneiss. The K/Rb ratio of the gneiss increases from 140 to 250 over a melting interval of 70%: the rate of increase being influenced by the presence of biotite. Simultaneously K/Ba and Rb/Sr decrease from 80 to 25 and from 4 to 0.3, respectively. The partial melts (granulites), which reflect, in part, a cumulate character, have similar K/Rb ratios to the parent gneiss (175) but larger K/Ba (238) and Rb/Sr (5) ratios, due to the retention of Ba and Sr in the residue.Three granites intrude the gneisses. One of these was produced by very advanced partial melting of the gneiss. Continuity of chemical composition suggests that the remaining two granites, although spatially separate, are comagmatic, and evolved by feldspar fractionation during ascent. Lower Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ ratio coupled with enrichment of Ba, Sr and Rb in the parent magma of these granites relative to the country rocks precludes local derivation and indicates a lower crustal source rock of intermediate composition.The progressive increase in cafemic character of the gneisses, which is similar to that observed in world granulite terrains as a whole, coupled with intrusive granite which reflects reworking of the lower crust in the area studied, supports a partial melting model for the development of a lower crust of progressively more cafemic composition.     

Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd ages and isotopic geochemistry of Archaean granodioritic gneisses from Eastern Finland

Twenty granodioritic rocks and one amphibolitic enclave of the “basement” of the Suomussalmi-Kuhmo Archaean (2.65 Ga) greenstone belts (central-eastern Finland), have been chosen together with one greenstone sample for Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd geochronological and isotopic studies.The granitoïd rocks are subdivided into three groups: two generations of grey gneisses and a post-belt augen gneiss. The Rb-Sr ages of the first and second generation of grey gneisses are 2.86 ± 0.09 and 2.62 ± 0.07 Ga, respectively. These results are corroborated by Sm-Nd data. The post-belt augen gneiss gives an age of 2.51 ± 0.11 Ga. The results show that the two generations of grey gneisses, the greenstone belts and the post-greenstone augen gneiss, were developed over a period > 350 Ma. The two generations of grey gneisses show identical I_Sr values (0.7023 ± 8 and 0.7024 ± 6) which contrast with that of the augen gneiss (0.7049 ± 8). The low I_Sr and the near-chondritic ?_T^CHUR values indicate that the grey gneisses cannot derived from much older continental materials. Trace element studies suggest that these grey gneisses have had a multi-stage development. The augen gneiss with a moderately high I_Sr is likely to be derived from a granodiorite originated by partial melting of older sialic crust. The more probable parent rock seems to be the first generation grey gneisses. The I_Sr and average Rb/Sr values preclude the greenstone belt and the second generation of grey gneisses as the protolith.     

阿拉善地区新元古代晋宁期变形花岗岩的发现及其地质意义

在内蒙古阿拉善地区原划分的阿拉善岩群中识别并划分出了新元古代（晋宁期）的变形花岗岩。该期变形花岗岩主要为眼还需状片麻岩，以高SiO2、碱（NaO2 K2O）、REE，低MgO、TFeO、CaO且K2O大于Na2O，具强烈负Eu异常为特点。两相样品的锆石逐层蒸发法年龄分别为971Ma和845Ma，表明它们是晋宁期岩浆事件的产物。地球化学特征和含有电气石、白云母的矿物组合特点表明，阿拉善地区晋宁期的变形花岗岩形成于同碰撞构造环境。该区晋宁期变形花岗岩的发现意味着新元古代早期的岩浆活动一直影响到华北地台的西北缘。     

The Chinamora batholith, Zimbabwe: structure and emplacement-related magnetic rock fabric

The origin of dome-and-keel structural geometries in Archean granite–greenstone terrains appears to lack any modern analogues and is still poorly understood. The formation of these geometries is investigated using structural and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data for the Chinamora batholith in Zimbabwe. The roughly circular-shaped batholith is surrounded by ca. 2.72–2.64 Ga greenstones. The batholith granitoid suites have been divided on the basis of their ages and fabric relationships into four distinct units: (i) banded basement gneisses; (ii) granodioritic gneisses; (iii) equigranular granites; and (iv) central porphyritic granites. In the gneissic granites a partial girdle (N–S) of poles to the magnetic foliation is developed that has been folded around a consistent, flat lying magnetic lineation plunging at shallow angles to the E or W. In the equigranular granites, the magnetic lineation generally plunges to the NW. The magnetic foliation has a variable strike, no clear trends can be distinguished. The AMS measurements of the porphyritic granite revealed a NW–SE striking foliation and showed subhorizontal magnetic lineations. The magnetic foliation is subparallel to the macroscopic foliation. Wall rocks are moderately inclined and show radial or concentric lineations, triaxial strain ellipsoids and kinematics that demonstrate off-the-dome sliding and coeval pluton expansion. The results of the observations do not point to a single emplacement process. Neither the observed structural data nor the magnetic fabric support a model envisaging spherically ‘ballooning’. It is argued that pluton diapirism played a major part in the formation of the fabrics in the gneisses, whereas the fabrics in the porphyritic granites reflect emplacement as laccolith-like sheets.     

Generation and emplacement of shear-related highly mobile crustal melts: the synkinematic leucogranites from the Variscan Tormes Dome, Western Spain

The Tormes dome consists of S-type granites that intruded into Ordovician augen gneisses and Neoproterozoic–Lower Cambrian metapelites/metagreywackes at different extents of migmatization. S-type granites are mainly equigranular two-mica granites, occurring as: (1) enclave-laden subvertical feeder dykes, (2) small external sill-like bodies with size and shape relations indicative for self-similar pluton growth, and (3) as large pluton bodies, emplaced at higher levels than the external ones. These magmas were highly mobile as it is inferred from the high contents of fluxing components, the disintegration and alignment of pelitic xenoliths in feeder dykes and at the bottom of some sill-like bodies. Field relations relate this 311?Ma magmatism (U–Pb monazite) to the regional shearing of the D₃ Variscan event. Partial melting modeling and the relatively high estimated liquidus temperatures indicate biotite-dehydration partial melting (800–840°C and 400–650?MPa) rather than water-fluxed melting, implying that there was no partial melting triggered by externally derived fluids in the shear zones. Instead, the subvertical shear zones favored extraction of melts that formed during the regional migmatization event around 320?Ma. Nd isotope variation among the granites might reflect disequilibrium partial melting or different protoliths. Mass-balance and trace element partial melting modeling strongly suggest two kinds of fertile crustal protoliths: augen gneisses and metapelites. Slight compositional variation among the leucogranites does not reflect different extent of protolith melting but is related to a small amount of fractional crystallization (<13% for the equigranular granites), which is generally more pronounced in shallower batholitic leucogranites than in the small and homogeneous sill-like bodies. The lower extent of fractional crystallization and the higher-pressure emplacement conditions of the sill-like bodies support a more restricted movement through the crust than for batholitic leucogranites.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of pre-Brasiliano rocks from the Transversal Zone, Borborema Province, Northeast Brazil

Proterozoic metamorphosed sequences are identified in the Transversal Zone (TZ) domain of the Borborema geological province, Northeast Brazil. This TZ domain is located between the well-known E–W Patos and Pernambuco continental shear zones. In its eastern part, in the Taquaritinga region, a large mass of augen gneisses with a conspicuous horizontal to subhorizontal tectonic foliation forms one of the most important rock types in the region that displays U–Pb zircon ages ca. 1.52 Ga. Paleoproterozoic orthogneisses dated by U–Pb on zircon at ca. 1.97 Ga and older paragneisses and banded gneisses represent basement rocks, which were cross-cut by these Mesoproterozoic augen gneisses, and have been in turn intruded by plutonic rocks in upper Neoproterozoic (U–Pb and Rb–Sr, ca. 0.6 Ga) times.Chemical analyses of major, minor, and trace elements (including REE) for the basement orthogneisses indicate calcalkaline affinities and a signature very similar to volcanic arc granites, representing crustal accretion during the Paleoproterozoic Transamazonian/Eburnean orogenesis in the region. In turn, the chemical data for augen gneisses indicate that they are relatively homogeneous and evolved metaluminous metaplutonic rocks with characteristics very similar to A-type granites generated and emplaced in an extensional anorogenic setting. Relatively high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ratio and negative _Nd(t) are signatures of crustal components in these rocks.Based on geochemical, geochronological, and structural data, the Taquaritinga region is composed of Paleoproterozoic (>1.97 Ga) rocks intruded by Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1.5 Ga) anorogenic granites and Neoproterozoic granites (ca. 0.6 Ga). These data also suggest that the tectonometamorphic structures displayed by Meso and Neoproterozoic suites were developed by the Brasiliano/Pan-African orogeny and that the record of Transamazonian/Eburnean orogeny is restricted to basement rocks. This means that there is no evidence for a compressional event in Mesoproterozoic times (Cariris Velhos=Grenville) as suggested for the central and western part of the TZ. It is important to remark that the Taquaritinga augen gneisses are, up to now, the only unit that represents magmatic pulses associated with extensional episodes with this age (ca. 1.5 Ga) in the TZ and in the whole Borborema Province.

Resumen

A zona Transversal da Província Borborema está geologicamente situada entre os lineamentos Pernambuco e Patos. Na sua parte oriental, na região de Taquaritinga (PE), dominam augen gnaisses com uma penetrativa e proeminente foliação tectônica subhorizontal, com idade de cristalização de 1.52 Ga obtida em zircão. Estas rochas são intrusivas em ortognaisses e paragnaisses do embasamento com idade mínima em torno de 1.97 Ga, e são intrudidas por rochas plutônicas associadas ao Ciclo Brasiliano (ca. 0.6 Ga).Análises de elementos maiores, menores e traços (incluindo terras raras) nos augen gnaisses mostram caráter metaluminoso para esta suíte ígnea e fortes semelhanças com os granitos tipo-A gerados em ambiente anorogênico. Razões iniciais ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr relativamente altas e _Nd(t) negativos são assinaturas indicadoras de forte contribuição crustal nestes augen gnaisses.A conjunção dos dados geoquímicos, geocronológicos e de campo indicam que na região de Taquaritinga onde são identificadas rochas de idades paleo (>1.95 Ga), meso (ca. 1.5 Ga) e neoproterozóicas (ca. 0.6 Ga), o ciclo orogênico Transamazônico é restrito às rochas do embasamento, e que todas as estruturas dúcteis identificadas nas rochas meso e neoproterozóicas foram desenvolvidas durante o Ciclo orogênico Brasiliano. Não foram encontradas evidências que atestem a existência do Ciclo Cariris Velhos nesta parte da Província Borborema. Contudo, está bem marcado que nesta Zona Transversal e na Província Borborema, os augen gnaisses de Taquaritinga são, até o momento, os únicos marcadores de pulsos magmáticos associados com eventos extensionais crustais datados do Mesoproterozóico inferior.     

Igneous origin of K-feldspar megacrysts in deformed granite of the Papoose Flat Pluton, California, USA

Many points of evidence, especially igneous microstructures and structures resulting from solid-state deformation, indicate that K-feldspar megacrysts in deformed granites of the Papoose Flat pluton are residual phenocrysts, not porphyroblasts. Evidence of an igneous origin includes features such as crystal shapes, simple twinning, zonally arranged euhedral plagioclase inclusions, oscillatory compositional zoning, and local occurrence in microgranitoid enclaves. Evidence of solid-state deformation of the megacrysts (which is consistent with their existence prior to the mylonitic deformation) includes marginal recrystallization and neocrystallization, microcline twinning, marginal replacement by myrmekite, and recrystallized/neocrystallized “tails”. Evidence of porphyroblastic growth, such as overgrown inclusion trails, is absent. This appears to be the situation in most felsic augen gneisses and mylonites.     

Precambrian basement complexes in the North-Central Scandinavian Caledonides and their pre-Caledonian tectonic evolution

Precambrian basement lithology, as exposed in four tectonic windows of the northcentral Scandinavian Caledonides, comprises uniform sequences of metasedimentary mica schists and gneisses (Børgefjell) as well as mica schists dominated by acid metavolcanics (Bångonåive) with minor basic rocks. The major part, however, is made up of intrusive rocks. Older granites are distributed in the Børgefjell area and to the east of it, obviously related to the Svecofennian Revsund granites. Younger granodiorites/quartzsyenites, subordinate in the Børgefjellet, dominate the Bångonåive window. The Bångonåive area may be tentatively correlated with the Skellefte field, the Børgefjellet with the marine basin of Central Norrland. The younger intrusives may represent marginal parts of a post-Svecofennian orogen farther west. Caledonian deformation considerably affected the Precambrian basement in the tectonic windows, where pre-Caledonian features are only preserved in the innermost parts. A (pre-Caledonian) polyphase structural and metamorphic evolution is evident in both the Børgefjell and Bångonåive windows. Penetrative deformation and medium (?) grade metamorphism prior to acid intrusions were overprinted during succeeding lower grade phases.     

The iron-rich suite from the Amîtsoq gneisses of southern West Greenland: early Archaean plutonic rocks of mixed crustal and mantle origin

A distinctive group of augen gneisses and ferrodiorites (termed the iron-rich suite) is a component of the early Archaean Amîtsoq gneisses of southern West Greenland. The iron-rich suite outcrops south of the mouth of Ameralik fjord in an area that underwent granulite facies metamorphism in the early Archaean. The iron-rich suite forms approximately 30% of the Amîtsoq gneiss of this area and occurs as sheets and lenses up to 500 m thick. The rest of the Amîtsoq gneisses are predominantly tonalitic-granodioritic, banded grey gneisses. Despite intense deformation and polymetamorphism, there is local field evidence that the iron-rich suite was intruded into the grey gneisses after they had been affected by tectonism and metamorphism. The banded grey gneisses are interpreted as 3,700 to 3,800 Ma old; U-Pb zircon ages from the iron-rich suite give concordia intercepts at circa 3,600 Ma.Coarse grained augen gneisses with microcline mega-crysts are the dominant lithology of the iron-rich suite. They are mostly granodioritic, grading locally into granite and diorite, and are generally rather massive, but locally have well-preserved layering or are markedly heterogeneous. Mafic components are commonly concentrated into clots rich in hornblende and biotite and containing apatite, ilmenite, sphene and zircon. Variation in the proportion of these clots is the main reason for the compositional variation of the augen gneisses. The ferrodiorites of the suite occur as lenses in the augen gneisses. Leucocratic granitoid sheets locally cut the iron-rich suite. The augen gneisses and ferrodiorites have geochemical characteristics in common, such as high Fe/Mg values and high contents of FeOt, TiO₂, P₂O₅, Zr, Y and total REE (rare earth elements).The iron-rich suite probably formed as follows:Heating of the lower crust adjacent to mantle-derived basic intrusions caused melting of the lower crust, giving rise to granodioritic magmas. Disruption of partially crystallised basic intrusions caused mixing of the crustal melts and the fractionated mantle melts to produce the augen gneisses with their high FeOt, TiO₂, P₂O₅, Zr, Y and total REE enrichment. Fragmented, crystallised parts of the basic intrusions gave rise to the ferrodiorite inclusions. These heterogeneous plutons rose to higher crustal levels where they crystallised as sheets and possibly were responsible for the local granulite facies metamorphism. The granitoid sheets that cut the iron-rich suite are interpreted as crustal melts of local origin.The iron-rich suite resembles Proterozoic rapakivi granite-ferrodiorite-norite (anorthosite) associations which form characteristic suites in late- to post-tectonic environments in recently thickened sial. The occurrence of this type of magmatism in the early Archaean is evidence of the complex, polygenetic nature of the oldest known continental crust.     

Pre-Tertiary felsic magmatism of the Nepal Himalaya: recycling of continental crust

At least seven different groups of felsic magmatic rocks have been observed in the Lesser and Higher Himalayan units of Nepal. Six of them are pre-Himalayan. The Ulleri Lower Proterozoic augen gneiss extends along most of the length of the Lesser Himalaya of Nepal and represents a Precambrian felsic volcanism or plutono-volcanism, mainly recycling continental crustal material; this volcanism has contributed sediment to the lower group of formations of the Lesser Himalaya. The Ampipal alkaline gneiss is a small elongated body appearing as a window at the base of the Lesser Himalayan formations of central Nepal; it originated as a Precambrian nepheline syenite pluton, contaminated by lower continental crust. The “Lesser Himalayan” granitic belt is well represented in Nepal by nine large granitic plutons; these Cambro-Ordovician peraluminous, generally porphyritic, granites, only occur in the crystaline nappes; they were probably produced by large-scale melting of the continental crust at the northern tip of the Indian craton, during a general episode of thinning of Gondwana continent with heating and mantle injection of the crust. The Formation III augen gneisses of the Higher Himalaya, such as the augen gneiss of the Higher Himalayan crystalline nappes (Gosainkund) are coeval to the “Lesser Himalayan” granites, and their more metamorphic (lower amphibolite grade) equivalents. Limited outcrops of Cretaceous trachytic volcanism lie along the southern limb of the Lesser Himalaya and are coeval with spilitic volcanism in the Higher Himalayan sedimentary series. This volcanism foreshadows the general uplift of the Indian margin before the Himalayan collision. The predominance of felsic over basic magmatism in the 2.5 Ga-long evolution of the Himalayan domain constitutes an unique example of recycling of continental material with very limited addition of juvenile mantle products.     

Microstructures of deformed grains in the augen gneisses of southern Menderes Massif (western Turkey) and their tectonic significance

A detailed fabric and microstructural analysis of the granitic mylonites was carried out on the southern side of Bes,parmak Mountain north of Selimiye (Milas). The mylonitic augen gneisses have?a blastomylonitic texture characterized by large retort-shape porphyroclasts or augen of feldspars, around which a more ductile, medium to fine-grained matrix of muscovite, biotite, quartz and feldspar is deflected. Feldspars behave in both plastic and brittle fashion, because size reduction occurs through grain boundary migration and/or subgrain rotation, and also through fracturing. Typical “core-and-mantle” structure, characterized by a large feldspar core surrounded by a mantle of fine recrystallized grains, is very characteristic. The majority of plagioclase twins obey the albite-twin law; however, the association with pericline-law twinning suggests that many of the twins are mechanical. Evidence of strain, such as deformation twins, bent or curved twins, undulatory extinction, deformation bands and kink bands occur characteristically in plagioclase. Myrmekite is ubiquitous at K-feldspar grain boundaries, most notably on the long sides of inequant grains parallel to the S-foliation direction, which invariably face the maximum finite shortening direction. Deformation of quartz in mylonitic augen gneisses commonly results in the development of core-and-mantle structure and “type-4” quartz ribbons of elongated, preferably oriented, newly recrystallized quartz aggregates suggesting a primary dynamic recrystallization. Undulatory extinction, deformation bands and lamellae are the strain-related features associated with quartz porphyroclasts. Micas, especially biotite, undergo internal deformation by bend gliding and kinking. Most of the micas are completely attenuated and aligned such that their (001) planes are subparallel or parallel to the margins of quartz ribbons and define the foliation in the rock. These microstructures of feldspars, quartz and mica in the mylonitic augen gneisses in this part of the southern Menderes Massif are broadly consistent with fabric development under upper-greenschist- to lower-amphibolite-facies conditions, rather than almandine–amphibolite facies, as was previously believed. This supports the previous contention of the authors that the protoliths of augen gneisses are younger granitoids and do not represent an exposed Precambrian Pan-African basement in the Menderes Massif.     

SWIR ASTER band ratios for lithological mapping and mineral exploration: a case study from El Hudi area, southeastern desert, Egypt

This study aims to discriminate and to map the basement rocks as well as the barite mineralization exposed at El Hudi area, Southeastern Desert, Egypt using the processed short-wave infrared bands of advanced space-borne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) in collaboration with the field verification and petrographic analysis. El Hudi area is covered dominantly by the Late Precambrian high-grade metamorphic complex of metasedimentary rocks (gneisses, schists, migmatites, and minor amphibolites) which are intruded by the younger granitoids. Nubian sandstones unconformably overlie the basement outcrops and occur as a remnant caps. The metasedimentary rocks cover the area of interest forming a belt of biotite gneisses and migmatites intercalated with hornblende biotite schists and minor amphibolites. Their exposures exhibit well-foliated and banded structures. The metasedimentary rocks have gray and dark gray image signatures on the ASTER band ratio image 8/5, which correspond to biotite gneiss, migmatites, and hornblende biotite schists, respectively. Presence of absorption feature near band 8 (2.295 – 2.365 μm) for the chlorite alteration product is probably responsible for the lowering of the 8/5 band ratio value and the dark gray image signature exhibited by hornblende biotite schists. The granitoid rocks in El Hudi area are late to postorogenic younger granitoids including three main rock types, Abu Aggag granites, El Hudi garnetiferous muscovite granites, and coarse-grained biotite granites. The acidic dykes are cutting across the granitoids and the gneisses and they form a highly elevated ridges and peaks showing sharp contact with the invaded rocks. Abu Aggag granites are highly dissected by great number of both strike- and dip-slip faults as well as joints trending in NNW–SSE, NNE–SSW, N–S, ENE–WSW, and WNW–ESE directions. On 7/8 band ratio image, Abu Aggag granites have dark gray image signature whereas postgranitic dykes have white image signature. Under the microscope, Abu Aggag granites are homogenous medium to coarse-grained rocks composed mainly of quartz, plagioclase, microcline, and biotite. Zircon, apatite, and opaques are accessories, while chlorite, kaolinite, and epidote are secondary minerals. Presence of absorption feature around band 7 (2.235–2.285 μm) for the kaolinite mineral may be responsible for the dark gray image signature exhibited by Abu Aggag granites. El Hudi garnetiferous muscovite granites are hosting El Hudi barite veins which extend mainly in NNW–SSE and NW–SE. Garnetiferous muscovite granites have gray image signature on 5/4 band ratio image whereas pegmatites and postgranitic dykes have black image signature. Barite veins can be distinguished within garnetiferous muscovite granites by their dark gray image signature on 5/4 band ratio image. The spectral reflectance curve of barite exhibits absorption feature around 2.1 μm (band 5), which leads to lower the ratio value and yields the dark image signature to barite veins. The above-described ASTER band ratio images were integrated into one false-color composite image (8/5:R; 5/4G; and 7/8B) which was used to produce 1:100,000 geological map for El Hudi area and to locate the barite mineralization.     

Zircon U–Pb geochronology of Ordovician magmatism in the polycyclic Ruitor Massif (Internal W Alps)

Among the Middle Penninic basements of the Internal NW-Alps, the Ruitor massif shows the best preserved remnants of pre-Permian metamorphic rocks. Their Barrovian-type mineral associations are somewhat masked by the greenschist to blueschist Alpine metamorphism of Tertiary age. Four Ruitor gneisses have been analysed, showing geochemical characters of granitoids from orogenic zones. Zircon morphology also suggests magmatic protoliths and a crustal source; some of the morphological zircon types suggest anatectic granites. The first U-Pb ages on zircon for this massif have been obtained concurrently through conventional multigrain and ion microprobe dating. Two metavolcanic rocks at 471LJ and 468ᆪ Ma could be slightly older than the porphyritic augen gneisses at 465ᆟ and 460lj Ma. Regional data from the other Internal basement massifs suggest that the Variscan event is poorly recorded, except in Ruitor-type units. Ruitor and Sapey gneisses belonged to the same unit (Nappe des Pontis), which was affected by a 480-450-Ma event including volcanism and anatexis and ended with a late calc-alkaline granite emplacement at 460-450 Ma. The distribution of Variscan basement units roughly parallels Alpine zonation.     

秦岭造山带中部两河口岩体花岗岩锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学及地质意义

北秦岭两河口岩体位于太白地区,侵位于秦岭群杂岩中,主要岩性为眼球状花岗岩、片麻状花岗岩和二长花岗岩。 本文研究的眼球状花岗岩和片麻状花岗岩的结晶年龄分别为928±19 Ma 和940±12 Ma,岩石中还保留古元古代至中元古代的 继承锆石。眼球状花岗岩含有富铝矿物石榴子石和白云母。岩石的A/CNK 多大于1.1,具有高Si、富铝的特征,属于高钾钙 碱性系列。岩石轻、重稀土分馏明显,具有中等负Eu 异常。岩石富集大离子亲石元素（Rb, Ba, K 等）、亏损高场强元素 （Nb, Ta, Ti 等）,具有明显的Ba, P, Sr 负异常。矿物学和地球化学特征显示眼球状花岗岩和片麻状花岗岩为S 型花岗岩。两河 口岩体初始Sr 同位素组成变化大,87Sr/86Sr(t)=0.701067~0.739451,具有较低的εNd(t)=-5.7~-3.3, 两阶段Nd 模式年龄为TDM2= 1.9~2.1 Ga。样品具有高的放射成因Pb 同位素组成,指示两河口岩体是壳源成因岩石,其源岩可能为秦岭群斜长角闪岩和 片麻岩。结合区域地质背景,认为两河口岩体源于新元古代陆壳碰撞晚期的构造转换阶段古老中下地壳的熔融作用,是对 Rodinia 超大陆汇聚事件的响应。     

U–Pb zircon data of Variscan meta-igneous and igneous acidic rocks from an Alpine shear zone in Calabria (southern Italy)

The paper deals with the U–Pb data of zircon separated from three samples representative of mylonitic leucogranites, trondhjemites and pegmatites occurring along the Alpine tectonic zone between the Castagna and Sila Units in northern Calabria. These mylonites are associated to Variscan granitic-granodioritic biotite-rich augen gneisses derived from Neo-Proterozoic-Early Cambrian protoliths. Apparent ages ranging from Early Cambrian to post-Variscan have been obtained. Th, U and rare earth elements have been determined in two zircon domains of mylonitic leucogranite and trondhjemite giving different ages in order to get information relative to their geological significance. The pegmatite preserves intrusive contact with the augen gneisses and with the other mylonites; it turns out to be emplaced at 290–300 Ma, like the Variscan plutonites of the Castagna Unit. The deformation masks the original contacts of the mylonitic leucogranite and trondhjemite with the biotite-rich augen gneisses. The age-group averaging 540 Ma is interpreted as indicative of the emplacement of the protoliths and it coincides with the age previously determined for the emplacement of the protoliths of the biotite-rich augen gneisses. Zircon from the mylonitic pegmatite includes domains showing concordant and discordant ages younger than 290 Ma, thus reflecting various degrees of partial resetting and Pb-loss caused by post-Variscan events. Zircon from the mylonitic leucogranite and trondhjemite includes apparent ages between 300 and 280 Ma as well as ages younger than 250 Ma. Perturbation of U–Pb system by Alpine shearing appears evident; however, possibile effects caused by thermal input and hydrothermal fluid infiltration from the Variscan plutonites cannot be excluded.     

Latest Precambrian to Early Cambrian U–Pb zircon ages of augen gneisses from Calabria (Italy), with inference to the Alboran microplate in the evolution of the peri-Gondwana terranes

In situ U–Pb dating of zircons from five samples of Calabrian augen gneisses shows that their protoliths are Latest Precambrian to Early Cambrian in age (562 ± 15, 547 ± 7, 540 ± 4, 539 ± 16 and 526 ± 10 Ma), and contain Archaean (3.1 Ga), Palaeoproterozoic (1.7–2.4 Ga) and Neoproterozoic (0.6–0.9 Ga) inheritance. Geochemical signature of augen gneisses is typical of high-K calc-alkaline post-collisional magmatism. Their Sr–Nd isotopic compositions [0.7093 < (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i < 0.7139; −3.2 < ɛ_Nd(t) < −5.4; 1.5 < T _DM < 1.7 Ga] indicate the involvement of a crustal component in significant proportions. The Calabrian augen gneisses have, therefore, to be distinguished from the orthogneisses of Sardinia and northern Algeria, and from the porphyroids of Sicily, which are Middle Ordovician. By contrast, the Calabrian augen gneisses show a close similarity to the Pan-African post-collisional granitoids of the northern edge of the West African craton (e.g. the Moroccan Anti-Atlas). This suggests a peri-Gondwana origin and corroborates previous palaeogeodynamic reconstructions attributing the Alboran microplate to the northern margin of the West African craton.