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

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

桐柏秦岭岩群的两类变质作用

本文重点对河南桐柏地区的秦岭岩群进行了观察与研究,根据野外地质、岩相关系及同位素测年资料,提出该区秦岭岩群具有明显不同的两类变质作用,一是较早期的高温麻粒岩相变质作用,以包体或长透镜群、甚至巨型条块状局限于中部郭庄组的花岗质片麻岩之中。根据伟晶岩、片麻岩及麻粒岩锆石年龄的综合限定,该变质作用的时间可能为~498Ma,多数人主张的445~430Ma的麻粒岩相变质年龄实际上是早期锆石被后期岩浆或变质事件引起的同位素体系重启年龄。另一种是相对晚期的角闪岩相变质作用,变质程度以角闪岩相为主,局部达高角闪岩相,没有任何早期高温或高压变质的残留迹象,形成秦岭岩群中主导类型的变质作用。同样,采用伟晶岩及有关片麻岩和麻粒岩中锆石测年限定,角闪岩相变质时间可能为~472Ma。高温麻粒岩的产出具有其特殊机制,大量的花岗质岩浆侵位过程中把地壳深部的高温麻粒岩裹挟上升至浅部层次,随后一起遭受区域上的角闪岩相变质作用。     

Timing of magmatism and metamorphism in the Gruinard Bay area of the Lewisian Gneiss Complex: comparisons with the Assynt Terrane and implications for terrane accretion

U-Pb zircon data from selected gneiss samples provide estimates of the timing of igneous protolith emplacement and granulite facies metamorphism in the Gruinard Bay, Badcall Bay and Lochinver areas of the mainland Lewisian Gneiss Complex of north-west Scotland. Zircons from the gneisses contain complex zoning patterns making them amenable to SHRIMP ion microprobe analysis, with inherited zircon distinguishable from magmatic growth and metamorphic recrystallisation. From Gruinard Bay, a tonalitic granulite yielded a protolith age of 2,825±8 Ma for oscillatory-zoned zircon cores, with recrystallised low-U rims preserving an age of 2,733±12 Ma. An inherited 2,905±15 Ma age component was recognised in a sample of trondhjemitic gneiss, the protolith of which is estimated to have been emplaced at 2,858±11 Ma. Low-U rims yielding an age of 2,729±20 Ma are also present, which together with the rim age from the granulite are considered to date granulite facies metamorphism in the Gruinard region. For comparison with the Gruinard Bay gneisses, a trondhjemitic partial melt and trondhjemite sheet were analysed from the granulite facies rocks at Badcall Bay in the Assynt terrane. Age data do not show definitive relationships with zoning patterns in the zircons, and show a spread along concordia typical of previous ion microprobe age data from the Scourie gneisses. Both samples do, however, show a significant isotopic disturbance at 2,480 Ma, the most recent estimate for the Badcallian metamorphism. Protolith ages for components of the Assynt terrane range between ca. 2,900 and 3,030 Ma, and appear to be older than the 2,860–2,825 Ma gneiss protoliths from the Gruinard Bay area. The timing of granulite facies metamorphism also appears to be different between the two areas, suggesting that the two granulite regions of the mainland may not be related as previously thought. Instead, they are interpreted in terms of a terrane accretion model whereby the two areas evolved as separate blocks prior to their juxtaposition during the Palaeoproterozoic. The boundary between the two terranes is thought to lie to the south of Lochinver, corresponding with the Strathan Line, because of the observed 2,480 Ma age signature to the north and 2,730 Ma signature to the south. By defining a new mainland terrane, the Gruinard Terrane, the number of mainland blocks, which includes the Assynt (central), Rhiconich (northern) and Southern terranes, has been expanded.Editorial responsibility: I. Parsons     

华北克拉通南缘鲁山太古宙基底的形成和演化

鲁山地区保存和出露很好的太古宙基底岩石。文章报道了2件魏庄片麻岩的原岩年龄分别为(2867±5)Ma和(2768±5)Ma,变质作用时代分别为(2775±6)Ma和(2775±56)Ma。结合已发表数据,魏庄片麻岩原岩形成时代可大致分为2867~2928 Ma和2765~2768 Ma两个阶段;榆树庄片麻岩原岩形成于2829~2897 Ma、2752~2778 Ma和2723 Ma;斜长角闪岩原岩形成于2838~2845 Ma、2747~2794 Ma和2730 Ma。尽管三者岩性上存在差异,但原岩形成的期次和时代相当,指示它们在成因上可能存在联系。鲁山多地陆续发现2.8~2.9 Ga的岩石,表明该地区存在一定规模的中太古代基底。通过与胶东、霍邱等地对比,笔者认为华北克拉通南缘可能存在中太古代的古老陆块,其重要的初生地壳生长事件发生在2.9~3.0 Ga。     

Internal morphology, habit and U-Th-Pb microanalysis of amphibolite-to-granulite facies zircons: geochronology of the Ivrea Zone (Southern Alps)

Several types of growth morphologies and alteration mechanisms of zircon crystals in the high-grade metamorphic Ivrea Zone (IZ) are distinguished and attributed to magmatic, metamorphic and fluid-related events. Anatexis of pelitic metasediments in the IZ produced prograde zircon overgrowths on detrital cores in the restites and new crystallization of magmatic zircons in the associated leucosomes. The primary morphology and Th-U chemistry of the zircon overgrowth in the restites show a systematic variation apparently corresponding to the metamorphic grade: prismatic (prism-blocked) low-Th/U types in the upper amphibolite facies, stubby (fir-tree zoned) medium-Th/U types in the transitional facies and isometric (roundly zoned) high-Th/U types in the granulite facies. The primary crystallization ages of prograde zircons in the restites and magmatic zircons in the leucosomes cannot be resolved from each other, indicating that anatexis in large parts of the IZ was a single and short lived event at 299 ± 5 Ma (95% c. l.). Identical U/Pb ages of magmatic zircons from a metagabbro (293 ± 6 Ma) and a metaperidotite (300 ± 6 Ma) from the Mafic Formation confirm the genetic context of magmatic underplating and granulite facies anatexis in the IZ. The U-Pb age of 299 ± 5 Ma from prograde zircon overgrowths in the metasediments also shows that high-grade metamorphic (anatectic) conditions in the IZ did not start earlier than 20 Ma after the Variscan amphibolite facies metamorphism in the adjacent Strona–Ceneri Zone (SCZ). This makes it clear that the SCZ cannot represent the middle to upper crustal continuation of the IZ. Most parts of zircon crystals that have grown during the granulite facies metamorphism became affected by alteration and Pb-loss. Two types of alteration and Pb-loss mechanisms can be distinguished by cathodoluminescence imaging: zoning-controlled alteration (ZCA) and surface-controlled alteration (SCA). The ZCA is attributed to thermal and/or decompression pulses during extensional unroofing in the Permian, at or earlier than 249 ± 7 Ma. The SCA is attributed to the ingression of fluids at 210 ± 12 Ma, related to hydrothermal activity during the breakup of the Pangaea supercontinent in the Upper Triassic/Lower Jurassic. Received: 7 July 1998 / Accepted: 4 November 1998     

The Yermakovsky beryllium deposit,Western Transbaikal region,Russia: Geochronology of igneous rocks

The sequence of rock and ore formation at the Yermakovsky beryllium deposit is established on the basis of geological relationships and Rb-Sr and U-Pb isotopic dating. The Rb-Sr age of amphibolitefacies regional metamorphism is determined for quartz-biotite-plagioclase schist (266 ± 18 Ma) and dolomitized limestone (271 ± 12 Ma) of the Zun-Morino Formation. The U-Pb zircon age of premineral gabbro is 332 ± 1 Ma. The Rb-Sr age of gabbro is somewhat younger (316 ± 8.3 Ma), probably owing to the effect of Hercynian metamorphism on sedimentary rocks of the Zun-Morino Formation and gabbroic intrusion that cuts through it. The U-Pb zircon age of gneissose granite of the Tsagan Complex at the Yermakovsky deposit is 316 ± 2 Ma, i.e., close to the age of metamorphism superimposed on gabbro rocks. The U-Pb zircon age of preore granitic dikes, estimated at 325 ± 3 and 333 ± 10 Ma, is close to the age of gabbro. The Ar/Ar age of amphibole from a granitic dike (302.5 ± 0.9 Ma) probably displays a later closure of this isotopic system or the effect of superimposed processes. The Rb-Sr age of alkali syenite intrusion is 227 ± 1.9 Ma. The U-Pb zircon age of alkali leucogranite stock pertaining to the Lesser Kunalei Complex is 226 ± 1 Ma, while the Rb-Sr age of beryllium ore is 225.9 ± 1.2 Ma. These data indicate that beryllium ore mineralization is closely related in space and time to igneous rocks of the Lesser Kunalei Complex dated at 224 ± 5 Ma and varying from gabbro to alkali granite in composition. Thus, the preore Hercynian magmatism at the Yermakovsky deposit took place ∼330 Ma ago and was completed by metamorphism dated at 271–266 Ma. The ore-forming magmatism and beryllium ore mineralization are dated at 224 ± 5 Ma. Postore magmatic activity is scarce and probably correlated with tectonic melange of host rocks.     

Geochronology of zircon megacrysts from nepheline-bearing gneisses as constraints on tectonic setting: implications for resetting of the U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic systems

Nepheline-bearing gneisses from the 75 km² Tambani body in the Mozambique Belt of southern Malawi, are miaskitic biotite-nepheline monzodiorites, reflecting an absence of K-feldspar, alkali amphiboles or pyroxenes, and contain euhedral zircon megacrysts up to 5 cm across. The zircons contain U = 1–1,860 ppm, Th = 0–2,170 ppm and Y = 400–1,100 ppm, and very low concentrations of all other measured trace elements except Hf (HfO₂ = 0.53–0.92 wt. %). Cathodoluminescence images reveal oscillatory sector growth zoning and no evidence for xenocrystic cores, indicating that the zircons represent primary magmatic crystallization products that have survived amphibolite grade metamorphism. U-Pb isotopic analyses (by TIMS) yield an upper intercept age of 730 ± 4 Ma (MSWD = 1.7), which we interpret as the time of magmatic crystallization of the zircons. This is coincident with 11 SHRIMP spot analyses, which yield a mean age of 729 ± 7 Ma (MSWD = 0.37). Metamorphism, at 522 ± 17 Ma as suggested by monazite, caused partial Pb-loss during local recrystallization of zircon. Lu-Hf isotopic data for three whole-rock samples of nepheline-bearing gneiss are collinear with those for zircon megacrysts, and correspond to an age of 584 ± 17 Ma (MSWD = 0.37. We interpret the Lu-Hf array to represent a mixing line defined by the Hf isotopic signature of primary zircon and that of the rock-forming minerals reset during metamorphic (re-)crystallization; hence the 584 Ma age is likely geologically meaningless. Given the well-defined association of nepheline syenites (and phonolitic volcanic equivalents) with continental rifting, we suggest that the Tambani body represents a magmatic product formed at 730 Ma during the break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent. The 522 Ma age is akin to other Pan-African metamorphic ages that record collisional suturing events during the final assembly of Gondwana. Zircon-bearing nepheline gneisses thus preserve a record of intra-continental rifting and of continental collision in southern Malawi.     

Proterozoic zircon growth in Archean lower crustal xenoliths, southern Superior craton – a consequence of Matachewan ocean opening

Granulite-grade, anorthositic and mafic xenoliths recovered from a Jurassic kimberlite pipe near Kirkland Lake, Ontario are fragments of the lower crust that underlies the ca. 2.7 Ga Abitibi greenstone belt of the Superior craton. Cathodoluminescence imaging and/or backscatter electron microscopy of zircon from four individual xenoliths reveals a complex crystallization history, characterized by two main stages of zircon growth. The age of the two stages has been constrained by combining imaging results with isotope dilution U-Pb dating of grain fragments and single grains. Minimum ages for the first crystallization stage in individual xeno liths are 2584 ± 7 Ma, 2629 ± 8 Ma, 2633 ± 3 Ma, whereas an approximate crystallization age for a fourth sample is 2788 ± 57 Ma. The second main stage of growth consists of chemically and isotopically distinct metamorphic zircon overgrowths. Times of solid-state zircon growth are most broadly constrained in three samples to the interval between 2.52 Ga to 2.40 Ga, and most precisely dated in a meta-anorthosite at 2416 ± 30 Ma. These complex zircons are intergrown with garnet and clinopyroxene of the host granulite-facies assemblage, and thus the Paleoproterozoic ages of the metamorphic overgrowths are interpreted to reflect an interval of isobaric, granulite-grade metamorphism of the lower crust beneath the greenstone belt approximately 150 million years after craton formation. This interval of metamorphism is broadly coeval with the intrusion of the Matachewan dyke swarm across the southern Superior craton, and with mafic magmatism and deposition of Huronian rift-margin sediments 200 km to the south during the opening of the Matachewan ocean. It is proposed that a significant volume of magma intruded the crust-mantle interface during rifting, promoting isobaric metamorphism and zircon growth in the deep levels of the Superior craton. Subsequent major rifting events along this margin apparently failed to produce a similar lower crustal response. The results have important implications for the structure of lithosphere beneath Archean continental crust. Received: 3 October 1995 / Accepted: 11 February 1997     

Palaeoproterozoic terrane assembly in the Lewisian Gneiss Complex on the Scottish mainland,south of Gruinard Bay: SHRIMP U–Pb zircon evidence

New SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geochronology and fieldwork integrated with reappraisal of earlier mapping demonstrates that the so-called ‘southern region’ of the mainland Lewisian Gneiss Complex comprises a package of distinct tectono-stratigraphic units. From south to north these are the Rona (3135–2889 Ma), Ialltaig (c. 2000 Ma) and Gairloch (ca. 2200 Ma) terranes. These terranes were metamorphosed and deformed separately until ca. 1670 Ma by which time they had been juxtaposed and were integral with terranes to the north. The northern boundary of the Palaeoproterozoic Gairloch terrane is a shear zone, north of which is the Archaean Gruinard terrane with 2860–2800 Ma protoliths and ca. 2730 Ma granulite facies metamorphism. In contrast, south of the Gairloch terrane, the Archaean gneisses of the Rona terrane have older protolith ages, underwent an anatectic event at ca. 2950 Ma and show no evidence of 2730 Ma granulite facies metamorphism. In current structural interpretations the Gruinard terrane forms a structural klippe over the intervening Gairloch terrane. However, the Rona and Gruinard terranes cannot be equivalent on age grounds, and are interpreted as unrelated different entities. Contained within the southern margin of the Gairloch terrane is the Ialltaig terrane, shown here to comprise an exotic slice of granulite facies Palaeoproterozoic crust, rather than Archaean basement as previously thought. The ca. 1877 Ma granulite facies metamorphism of the Ialltaig terrane is the youngest event that is unique to a single terrane in the mainland Complex, making it an upper estimate for the timing of amalgamation with surrounding tectonic units. U–Pb titanite ages of 1670 ± 12 Ma and ca. 1660 Ma for low-strain zones at Diabaig are interpreted to be cooling through the titanite closure temperature after the amphibolite facies reworking of these southern terranes and the southern margin of the Gruinard Terrane. These new data have implications for the tectonic setting of the mainland in relation to the Outer Hebrides and in the wider evolution of the basement in the North Atlantic.     

Moderate pressure metamorphism and anatexis due to anorthosite intrusion,western Adirondack Highlands,New York

 Garnet-sillimanite-biotite gneiss near Port Leyden, in the western Adirondack Highlands, New York, contains mineral assemblages and textures that formed during high temperature metamorphism and anatexis at mid-crustal pressures. Evidence for melting includes thin, plagioclase-rich veins, sieve textures in biotite, and the presence of small, euhedral garnet neoblasts. Hercynite-silicate equilibria in combination with the solidus for biotite dehydration melting indicate metamorphic pressure was between 4 and 6.4 kbar at the temperature of melting (ca. 735° C). The gneiss is intruded by a small, discordant Fe-Ti oxide-apatite (nelsonite) dike. Reported field occurrences of nelsonite demonstrate its common association with anorthosite plutons. Although no anorthosite bodies are exposed in the Port Leyden region, the presence of nelsonite is evidence of anorthositic magmatism in the western Adirondacks. Post-intrusion metamorphism has caused partial apatite recrystallization and produced a weak foliated texture in the dike. U-Pb ages from zircon and monazite from both the gneiss and the nelsonite dike indicate that these rocks experienced a complex, polymetamorphic history that we interpret to reflect two thermal episodes. An older event is recorded by discordant zircons in the gneiss, which indicate a minimum age of 1129±6 Ma. A linear best fit to the data yields an upper intercept at 1166±53 Ma. This range of ages coincides with anorthosite-suite magmatism in the Adirondacks. A minimum zircon age of 1104±3 Ma was obtained from the nelsonite dike. Lead-loss or late zircon crystallization at about 1020 Ma affected the U-Pb systematics of zircon in the dike. Monazite ages from both rocks also indicate high temperature metamorphism (>700° C) between 1040 and 960 Ma. The older zircon ages and textural relations in the metapelite are viewed as evidence for anatexis at ca. 1150 Ma, and the presence of nelsonite suggests that the intrusion of anorthosite was coincident with partial melting in the gneiss. P-T estimates of metamorphism, therefore, imply that anorthosite was emplaced to about 15 km depth in the western Adirondack Highlands. Received: 13 September 1994 / Accepted: 10 May 1995     

抚顺南部早前寒武纪变质杂岩的地质事件序列

抚顺南部早前寒武纪变质杂岩是华北克拉通北缘辽北-吉南早前寒武纪变质地块的一个重要组成部分,主要由浑南群石棚子组角闪岩相变质火山岩、火山碎屑岩及相伴生的沉积岩等表壳岩系和侵位于其中的石英闪长质片麻岩、英云闪长质-奥长花岗质-花岗闪长质(TTG)片麻岩和花岗闪长岩-二长花岗岩-钾长花岗岩岩石组合组成。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素分析结果显示,侵位于表壳岩中的石英闪长质片麻岩样品12LN39-3的岩浆结晶年龄为2571±7Ma,指示存在老于该年龄的表壳岩系。英云闪长质片麻岩样品12LN04-1和奥长花岗质片麻岩样品13LB49-3的岩浆结晶年龄分别为2544±4Ma和2550±10Ma,记录了一期重要的英云闪长质-奥长花岗质片麻岩侵位事件。斜长角闪岩(样品12LN25-2)的岩浆结晶的最小年龄为2530±5Ma,指示另一火山喷发阶段。晚期钾长花岗岩样品12LN01-1和奥长花岗质片麻岩样品12LN27-1分别侵位于2522±4Ma和2518±23Ma,说明它们的岩浆作用发生于同一时期。而采自于晚期未变形侵入体的石英闪长岩样品12LN30-2的岩浆结晶年龄为2496±18Ma,与上述表壳岩和深成侵入体的主要变质作用(2510~2470Ma)同期发生。这些年代学结果表明,抚顺南部地区新太古代大规模的铁镁质火山喷发作用在大于2571±7Ma已经发生,紧接着2571±7Ma发生石英闪长质岩浆侵位,在2550±10Ma~2544±4Ma之间发生英云闪长质-奥长花岗质岩浆侵位。接下来铁镁质火山再度喷发(~2530±5Ma),随后为钾长花岗岩和奥长花岗质岩浆的侵位(2522±4Ma~2518±23Ma)。晚期为角闪岩相变质作用时期(2510~2470Ma),伴随一定规模的石英闪长岩侵位。     

内蒙古大青山地区新太古代晚期岩浆作用:来自锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年的证据

本文报道了华北克拉通西部大青山地区新太古代晚期变质深成侵入岩的锆石SHRIMP年龄。本文涉及的3个样品取自大青山的石拐南部,岩性为黑云母二长花岗质片麻岩、紫苏石英闪长质片麻岩和闪长质片麻岩。根据矿物组合,黑云母二长花岗质片麻岩和紫苏石英闪长质片麻岩遭受高角闪岩相-麻粒岩相变质,闪长质片麻岩遭受角闪岩相变质。锆石具核-幔-边或核-边结构。岩浆锆石年龄为2484±7Ma、2494±12Ma和2495±10Ma,考虑到岩石遭受后期构造热事件强烈改造,岩浆锆石发生不同程度变质重结晶,振荡环带变得模糊,年龄很可能偏年轻,岩浆锆石真实的形成年龄应更大一些,形成于新太古代晚期。2个样品记录早期变质锆石年龄为2441±7Ma和2481±10Ma;2个样品记录晚期变质锆石年龄为1847±35Ma和为1919±73Ma。结合前人工作,可得出如下结论:1)石拐地区存在新太古代晚期二长花岗岩、石英闪长岩和闪长岩等不同类型变质深成侵入岩。新太古代晚期岩浆作用在整个大青山地区很可能广泛发育,古元古代晚期孔兹岩带是在太古宙基底之上或其邻区发展起来的。2)与大青山地区其它古元古代早期以前的地质体类似,新太古代晚期变质深成侵入岩普遍遭受古元古代早期和晚期构造热事件叠加改造。     

Isotopic Geochronological Evidence for the Caledonian Xiongdian Eclogite in the Northwestern Dabie Mountains,China

A typical HP/MT (high pressure/medium temperature) eclogite from Xiongdian, northwestern Dabie Mountains, has been geochronologically studied using the single-zircon U-Pb, 40Ar-39Ar and Sm-Nd methods. Prismatic zircons occurring as inclusions within garnets define a minimum crystallization age of 399.5±1.6 Ma. 40Ar-39Ar dating on amphibole gives a plateau age.of 399.2 ± 4 Ma, which is interpreted as a retrogression age of amphibolite facies. This integrated study enables us to conclude that the age of high-pressure metamorphism is older than 399.5 ± 1.6 Ma, suggesting Caledonian collision between the North China and Yangtze plates. Round zircon within the aggregate of quartz and muscovite gives a concordant age of 301± 2 Ma, reflecting a later retrogression event. An age profile of post-eclogite metamorphism is documented, including amphibolite facies metamorphism at 399.2 Ma shortly after eclogitization and later retrogressive metamorphism at 301 Ma. Sm-Nd mineral isochron of garnet+omphacite gives     

Age and geochemical constraints for partial melting of granulites in Estonia

Summary The rocks of the crystalline basement of the East European Craton in southern Estonia show effects of partial melting under granulite facies conditions. Zircons extracted from partial melting products (tonalite from the Tapa Zone – 1824 ± 26, tonalite from the South Estonian Zone – 1788 ± 16 Ma and charnockite from the Tapa Zone – 1761 ± 11 Ma) yield U–Pb crystallisation ages that span over approximately 80 Ma, suggesting a prolonged high-grade metamorphism or several separate events. U–Pb zircon age of one sample of charnockite is concordant with the Nd model age of partial melting of its host mafic granulite facies gneiss (intercept at 1.76 Ga). Linear geochemical trends and similar initial Nd isotopic compositions of mafic granulites and charnockites suggest their possible genetic relationship. From our new and previously published data it follows that the peak granulite metamorphic conditions and formation of tonalites and charnockites (850 °C and 6 kbar) in the Estonian basement occurred at 1788–1778 Ma. Then, the rocks cooled down, passing through the garnet closure temperature of approximately 650–700 °C at 1728 ± 24 Ma. The age of metamorphism of the Estonian granulites is lower than the metamorphic ages known from southern Finland, but it is similar to the age of metamorphism reported from the Belarus-Baltic Granulite Belt in Latvia.     

Zircon and monazite response to prograde metamorphism in the Reynolds Range, central Australia

We report an extensive field-based study of zircon and monazite in the metamorphic sequence of the Reynolds Range (central Australia), where greenschist- to granulite-facies metamorphism is recorded over a continuous crustal section. Detailed cathodoluminescence and back-scattered electron imaging, supported by SHRIMP U–Pb dating, has revealed the different behaviours of zircon and monazite during metamorphism. Monazite first recorded regional metamorphic ages (1576 ± 5 Ma), at amphibolite-facies grade, at ∼600 °C. Abundant monazite yielding similar ages (1557 ± 2 to 1585 ± 3 Ma) is found at granulite-facies conditions in both partial melt segregations and restites. New zircon growth occurred between 1562 ± 4 and 1587 ± 4 Ma, but, in contrast to monazite, is only recorded in granulite-facies rocks where melt was present (≥700 °C). New zircon appears to form at the expense of pre-existing detrital and inherited cores, which are partly resorbed. The amount of metamorphic growth in both accessory minerals increases with temperature and metamorphic grade. However, new zircon growth is influenced by rock composition and driven by partial melting, factors that appear to have little effect on the formation of metamorphic monazite. The growth of these accessory phases in response to metamorphism extends over the 30 Ma period of melt crystallisation (1557–1587 Ma) in a stable high geothermal regime. Rare earth element patterns of zircon overgrowths in leucosome and restite indicate that, during the protracted metamorphism, melt-restite equilibrium was reached. Even in the extreme conditions of long-lasting high temperature (750–800 °C) metamorphism, Pb inheritance is widely preserved in the detrital zircon cores. A trace of inheritance is found in monazite, indicating that the closure temperature of the U–Pb system in relatively large monazite crystals can exceed 750–800 °C. Received: 7 April 2000 / Accepted: 12 August 2000     

Dating mafic–ultramafic intrusions by ion-microprobing contact-melt zircon: examples from SW Sweden

Zircons from anatectic melts of the country rocks of three Proterozoic mafic–ultramafic intrusions from the Sveconorwegian Province in SW Sweden were microanalyzed for U–Th–Pb and rare earth elements. Melting and interaction of the wall rocks with the intrusions gave rise to new magmas that crystallized zircon as new grains and overgrowths on xenocrysts. The ages of the intrusions can be determined by dating this newly crystallized zircon. The method is applied to three intrusions that present different degrees of complexity, related to age differences between intrusion and country rocks, and the effects of post-intrusive metamorphism. By careful study of cathodoluminescent images and selection of ion probe spots in zircon grains, we show that this approach is a powerful tool for obtaining accurate and precise ages. In the contact melts around the 916?±?11?Ma Hakefjorden Complex, Pb-loss occurred in some U-rich parts of xenocrystic zircon due to the heat from the intrusion. In back-veins of the 1624?±?6?Ma Olstorp intrusion we succeeded in geochemically distinguishing new magmatic from xenocrystic zircon despite small age differences. At Borås the mafic intrusion mixed with country rock granite to form a tonalite in which new zircon grew at 1674?±?8?Ma. Reworking of zircon occurred during 930+33/–34?Ma upper amphibolite facies Sveconorwegian metamorphism. Pb-loss was the result of re-equilibration with metamorphic fluids. REE-profiles show consistent differences between xenocrystic, magmatic, and metamorphic zircon in all cases. They typically differ in Lu/La_N, Ce/Ce*, and Eu/Eu*, and igneous zircon with marked positive Ce/Ce* and negative Eu/Eu* lost its anomalies during metamorphism.     

Relationship between metamorphism and ore formation at the Sukhoi Log gold deposit hosted in black slates from the data of U-Th-Pb isotopic SHRIMP-dating of accessory minerals

The formation conditions and age of the Sukhoi Log gold deposit are considered on the basis of new isotopic-geochemical data. The U-Pb isotopic study of zircon and monazite from high-grade ore and host black slates at the Sukhoi Log deposit was carried out with SIMS technique using a SHRIMP II instrument. Two generations of monazite are distinguished on the basis of optical and scanning electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence, and micro X-ray spectroscopy. Monazite I is characterized by black opaque porphyroblasts with microinclusions of minerals pertaining to metamorphic slates and structural attributes of pre- and synkinematic formation. Monazite II occurs only within the ore zone as transparent crystals practically free of inclusions and as rims around monazite I. The REE contents are widely variable in both generations. Porphyroblastic monazite I differs in low U and Th (0.01–0.7 wt % ThO₂) contents, whereas transparent monazite II contains up to 4 wt % ThO2. The average weighted U-Pb isotopic age of monazite I is 650 ± 8.1 Ma (MSWD = 1.6; n = 9) and marks the time of metamorphism or catagenesis. The U-Pb age estimates of synore monazite II cover the interval of 486 ± 18 to 439 ± 17 Ma. Zircons of several populations from 0.5 to 2.6 Ga in age are contained in the ore. Most detrital zircon grains have porous outer rims composed of zircon and less frequent xenotime with numerous inclusions of minerals derived from slates. The peaks of ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages in the most abundant zircon populations fall on 570 and 630 Ma and correspond to the age of newly formed metamorphic mineral phases. The discordant isotopic ages indicate that the U-ThPb isotopic system of ancient detrital zircons was disturbed 470–440 Ma ago in agreement with isotopic age of monazite II and the Rb-Sr whole -rock isochron age of black slates (447 ± 6 Ma). The new data confirm the superimposed character of the gold-quartz-sulfide mineralization at the deposit. Black shales of the Khomolkho Formation of the Bodaibo Synclinorium were affected by metamorphism over a long period; the peaks of metamorphism and catagenesis are dated at 570 and 650–630 Ma. The high-temperature ore formation was probably related to a hidden granitic pluton emplaced 450–440 Ma ago, that is, 200 Ma later than the events of greenschist metamorphism. Hercynian granitoid magmatism (320–270 Ma) did not exert a substantial effect on the U-Th-Pb isotopic system in accessory minerals from the ore and could not have been a major source of ore-forming fluids.     

内蒙古乌兰浩特古元古代变质岩系的发现及其地质意义

在乌兰浩特东白音乌苏一带新发现一套斜长角闪片岩、透辉透闪岩、斜长角闪片麻岩的岩石组合,岩石普遍经高绿片岩相-低角闪岩相变质,经受了后期多期构造改造。斜长角闪片岩经原岩恢复为基性火山岩,锆石晶形、阴极发光、背散射图像及高Th/U值等特征显示为岩浆锆石。采用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年技术,在变质岩系中获得了1864.1±7.3Ma的同位素年龄,时代归属为古元古代,该年龄为岩浆形成年龄。此年龄限定了该套变质岩系的形成时代,证明乌兰浩特地区可能存在前寒武纪结晶基底。与区域上松嫩地块南部新发现的古元古元代岩浆锆石年龄进行对比发现,松嫩地块西缘可延伸至乌兰浩特一带。     

Polymetamorphic evolution of the Lewisian complex,NW Scotland,as recorded by U-Pb isotopic compositions of zircon,titanite and rutile

U-Pb isotopic relations in zircon and titanite of granulite and amphibolite gneisses in the Lewisian complex and bordering Laxford Front reveal complex discordance patterns indicating multiple Late Archean and Early Proterozoic crystallization, overgrowth and Pb-loss events. The earliest stages in the evolution of the complex remain poorly resolved. Zircon ages of 2710 Ma date high-grade metamorphism and magmatism probably related to tectonic and magmatic accretion in a continental arc setting. A distinct event at 2490–2480 Ma, possibly initiated by metamorphism and deformation at high-grade conditions, caused amphibolitization of the granulites and emplacement of granitic pegmatites. This event can be correlated with development of Inverian shear zones and formation of granitoid layers along the Laxford Front. The emplacement of a younger generation of granitoid sheets during the Laxfordian event fromed hydrothermal titanite at 1754 Ma in gneisses south of the Laxford Bridge and partially reset older titanite at Scourie. Growth of secondary titanite and rutile also occurred during subsequent low-grade metamorphism at 1690–1670 Ma.     

160 Ma of magmatic/hydrothermal and metamorphic activity in the Gällivare area: Re–Os dating of molybdenite and U–Pb dating of titanite from the Aitik Cu–Au–Ag deposit, northern Sweden

Host rocks to the Aitik Cu–Au–Ag deposit in northern Sweden are strongly altered and deformed Early Proterozoic mica(-amphibole) schists and gneisses. The deposit is characterised by numerous mineralisation styles, vein and alteration types. Four samples were selected for Re–Os molybdenite dating and 12 samples for U–Pb titanite dating in order to elucidate the magmatic/hydrothermal and metamorphic history following primary ore deposition in the Aitik Cu–Au–Ag deposit. Samples represent dyke, vein and alteration assemblages from the ore zone, hanging wall and footwall to the deposit. Re–Os dating of molybdenite from deformed barite and quartz veins yielded ages of 1,876±10 Ma and 1,848±8 Ma, respectively. A deformed pegmatite dyke yielded a Re–Os age of 1,848±6 Ma, and an undeformed pegmatite dyke an age of 1,728±7 Ma. U–Pb dating of titanite from a diversity of alteration mineral associations defines a range in ages between 1,750 and 1,805 Ma with a peak at ca. 1,780 Ma. The ages obtained, together with previous data, bracket a 160-Ma (1,890–1,730 Ma) time span encompassing several generations of magmatism, prograde to peak metamorphism, and post-peak cooling; events resulting in the redistribution and addition of metals to the deposit. This multi-stage evolution of the Aitik ore body suggests that the deposit was affected by several thermal events that ultimately produced a complex ore body. The Re–Os and U–Pb ages correlate well with published regional Re–Os and U–Pb age clusters, which have been tied to major magmatic, hydrothermal, and metamorphic events. Primary ore deposition at ca. 1,890 Ma in connection with intrusion of Haparanda granitoids was followed by at least four subsequent episodes of metamorphism and magmatism. Early metamorphism at 1,888–1,872 Ma overlapping with Haparanda (1,890–1,880 Ma) and Perthite-monzonite (1,880–1,870 Ma) magmatism clearly affected the Aitik area, as well as late metamorphism and Lina magmatism at 1,810–1,774 Ma and TIB1 magmatism at 1,800 Ma. The 1,848 Ma Re–Os ages obtained from molybdenite in a quartz vein and pegmatite dyke suggests that the 1,850 Ma magmatism recorded in parts of northern Norrbotten also affected the Aitik area.