Comment on ‘Paleozoic ages and excess Ar in garnets from the Bixiling eclogite in Dabieshan, China: New insights from Ar/Ar dating by stepwise crushing by Hua-Ning Qiu and J.R. Wijbrans’

In a recent study, Qiu and Wijbrans (2006) [Qiu, H.-N. and Wijbrans, J. R. (2006). Paleozoic ages and excess ⁴⁰Ar in garnets from the Bixiling eclogite in Dabieshan, China: new insights from ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating by stepwise crushing. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta70, 2354-2370.] analyzed Ar-isotopes extracted by crushing garnets from the Dabie Shan Bixiling eclogite and claimed to have constrained a pre-Triassic (∼450 Ma) episode of UHP metamorphism from primary fluid inclusions.However, in the absence of careful sample characterization and stepped heating analyses, the reported ages are more easily explained as experimental artifacts related to Ar extracted from either mineral inclusions or the interface sites between mineral inclusions and the garnet matrix: Dabie Shan garnets commonly contain mineral impurities such as K-rich omphacite and/or K-feldspar.If Dabie Shan UHP metamorphism is of the generally accepted Triassic age (210-240 Ma), the apparent age of a phengite sample in equilibrium with the garnet can be explained by the presence of an extraneous ⁴⁰Ar^∗ component with mean ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar value of ∼5000. This value is similar to the composition of extraneous ⁴⁰Ar^∗ in other eclogite facies terrane.     

Response to the comment by Z.F. Zhao and T.S. Gao (2007) on “Paleozoic ages and excess Ar in garnets from the Bixiling eclogite in dabieshan, China: New insights from Ar/Ar dating by stepwise crushing”

In our paper we supposed that the Paleozoic ages of the Bixiling eclogitic garnets by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar crushing in vacuo were related to the UHP metamorphism. Zhao and Gao [Zhao Z.-F. and Gao T.-S. (2007) Comment on “Paleozoic ages and excess ⁴⁰Ar in garnets from the Bixiling eclogite in Dabieshan, China:Newinsights from ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating by stepwise crushing” by Qiu and Wijbrans (2006). Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta71(24), 6046-6050] dispute our conclusions and re-interpret them as “the age of garnet growth by low-T/HP blueschist/eclogite-facies metamorphism of the UHP eclogite precursor during arc-continent collision in the early Paleozoic” without presenting any new petrological evidence. Based on our present understanding of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar crushing technique and petrological observations, we do not agree with their re-interpretation and still prefer our original interpretation.     

Paleozoic ages and excess Ar in garnets from the Bixiling eclogite in Dabieshan, China: New insights from Ar/Ar dating by stepwise crushing

The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar stepwise crushing technique is applied for the first time to date garnet from ultra-high-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) eclogites. Three garnet samples from the Bixiling eclogites analyzed by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar stepwise crushing yield regular, predictable age spectra, and a clear separation between excess ⁴⁰Ar and concordant plateau and isochron ages. All three age spectra begin with high apparent ages followed by step by step decreasing ages, and finally age plateaux with apparent ages in the range from 427 ± 20 to 444 ± 10 Ma. The data points constituting the age plateaux yield excellent isochrons with radiogenic intercept ages ranging from 448 ± 34 to 459 ± 58 Ma, corresponding to initial ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios from 292.1 ± 4.5 to 294.5 ± 6.7, statistically indistinguishable from the modern air. The high initial ages are interpreted to derive from secondary fluid inclusions containing excess ⁴⁰Ar, whereas the plateau ages are attributed to gas from small primary fluid inclusions without significant excess ⁴⁰Ar. The plateau ages are interpreted to approximate the time of garnet growth during initial UHPM metamorphism. Phengite analyzed by laser stepwise heating yielded a complicated two-saddle age spectrum with a scattered isochron corresponding to age of 463 ± 116 Ma and initial ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio of 1843 ± 1740 indicative of the presence of extraneous ⁴⁰Ar within phengite. These concordant isochron ages measured on minerals diagnostic of eclogite grade metamorphism strongly suggest that Dabie UHPM eclogites were first formed in the early Paleozoic, during the same event that caused the Qinling-Northern Qaidam Basin-Altyn Tagh eclogites.     

The Dabieshan Coesite-bearing Eclogite Terrain-A Late Archaean Ultra - high- Pressure Metamorphic Belt

A U -Pb zircon age of 2774±24 Ma for eclogite from the Bixiling rock body of Anhui Province, central China, indicates that the Dabieshan coesite-bearing eclogite was probably formed in the Late Archaean. A phengite Ar-Ar isochron age of 662±13 Ma for the eclogite confines also an upper limit age of its subsequent retrograde metamorphism in the Precambrian. The results of isotopic dating for such type of eclogite coincide with the geological features of its restricted occurrence within the Archaean metamaorphic terrain composed of the Dabie Group. It is believed that the Dabieshan coesite-bearing eclogite terrain might be a Late Archaean ultra-high-pressure metamorphic belt. The Dabie Mountains area was the eastward extension of the southern Qinling structural belt during the Triassic. Both the Dabie Group and the coesite-bearing eclogite hosted therein underwent a late-stage dynamic metamorphic event. The present authors have obtained a muscovite Ar-Ar isochron age of 192.6±2.8 Ma from plagioclase gn     

U-Pb, Hf and O isotope evidence for two episodes of fluid-assisted zircon growth in marble-hosted eclogites from the Dabie orogen

A combined study of internal structure, U-Pb age, and Hf and O isotopes was carried out for metamorphic zircons from ultrahigh-pressure eclogite boudins enclosed in marbles from the Dabie orogen in China. CL imaging identifies two types of zircon that are metamorphically new growth and recrystallized domain, respectively. The metamorphic zircons have low Th and U contents with low Th/U ratios, yielding two groups of ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age at 245 ± 3 to 240 ± 2 Ma and 226 ± 4 to 223 ± 2 Ma, respectively. Anomalously high δ¹⁸O values were obtained for refractory minerals, with 9.9 to 21.4‰ for garnet and 16.9‰ for zircon. This indicates that eclogite protolith is sedimentary rocks capable of liberating aqueous fluid for zircon growth during continental subduction-zone metamorphism. Most of the zircons are characterized by very low ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios of 0.000001-0.000028, indicating their growth in association with garnet recrystallization. A few of them falling within the older age group have comparatively high ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios of 0.000192-0.000383, suggesting their growth prior to the formation of garnet in the late stage of subduction. The variations in the Lu/Hf ratios for zircons can thus be used to correlate with garnet growth during eclogite-facies metamorphism. In either case, the zircons have variable ε_Hf (t) values for individual samples, suggesting that their protolith is heterogeneous in Hf isotope composition with localized fluid availability in the bulk processes of orogenic cycle. Nevertheless, a positive correlation exists between ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages and Lu-Hf isotope ratios for the metamorphically recrystallized zircons, suggesting that eclogite-facies metamorphism in the presence of fluid has the identical effect on zircon Lu-Hf and U-Th-Pb isotopic systems. We conclude that the zircons of the older group grew in the presence of fluid during the subduction prior to the onset of peak ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism, whereas the younger zircons grew in the presence of fluid released during the initial exhumation toward high-pressure eclogite-facies regime.     

中国大陆科学钻探主孔0～4500米变质岩石锆石中保存的超高压矿物包体

中国大陆科学钻探主孔0-4500米的岩心主要由榴辉岩、斜长角闪岩、副片麻岩、正片麻岩以及少量的超基性岩所组成。岩相学研究结果表明,榴辉岩的围岩普遍经历了强烈角闪岩相退变质作用的改造,峰期超高压变质的矿物组合已完全被后期退变质过程中角闪岩相矿物组合所替代。采用激光拉曼技术,配备电子探针和阴极发光测试,发现主孔224件岩心中有121件(包括榴辉岩、斜长角闪岩、副片麻岩和正片麻岩)样品的锆石中普遍隐藏以柯石英为代表的超高压矿物包体,且不同岩石类型锆石中所保存的超高压矿物包体组合存在明显差异。(含多硅白云母)金红石石英榴辉岩锆石中保存的典型超高压包体矿物组合为柯石英 石榴石、柯石英 石榴石 绿辉石 金红石和柯石英 多硅白云母 磷灰石。黑云绿帘斜长角闪岩锆石中保存的超高压矿物组合为柯石英 石榴石 绿辉石、柯石英 石榴石 多硅白云母和柯石英 绿辉石 金红石,与榴辉岩所保存的超高压矿物组合十分相似,表明该类斜长角闪岩是由超高压榴辉岩在构造折返过程中退变质而成。在副片麻岩类岩石,如石榴绿帘黑云二长片麻岩锆石中,代表性的超高压包体矿物组合为柯石英 多硅白云母和柯石英 石榴石等;而在石榴黑云角闪钠长片麻岩锆石中,则保存柯石英 硬玉 石榴石 磷灰石、柯石英 硬玉 多硅白云母 磷灰石和柯石英 石榴石 磷灰石等超高压矿物包体。在正片麻岩锆石中,标志性的超高压矿物包体为柯石英、柯石英 多硅白云母、柯石英 蓝晶石 磷灰石和柯石英 蓝晶石 榍石等。此外,在南苏鲁东海至临沭一带的地表露头以及一系列卫星孔岩心的锆石中,也普遍发现以柯石英为代表的标志性超高压矿物包体,表明在南苏鲁地区由榴辉岩及其围岩的原岩所组成的巨量陆壳物质(方圆>5000km2,厚度超过4.5km)曾整体发生深俯冲,并经历了超高压变质作用。该项研究对于重塑苏鲁-大别超高压变质带俯冲-折返的动力学模式有着重要的科学意义。     

Ultrahigh-pressure eclogite transformed from mafic granulite in the Dabie orogen, east-central China

Although ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks are present in many collisional orogenic belts, almost all exposed UHP metamorphic rocks are subducted upper or felsic lower continental crust with minor mafic boudins. Eclogites formed by subduction of mafic lower continental crust have not been identified yet. Here an eclogite occurrence that formed during subduction of the mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, east‐central China is reported. At least four generations of metamorphic mineral assemblages can be discerned: (i) hypersthene + plagioclase ± garnet; (ii) omphacite + garnet + rutile + quartz; (iii) symplectite stage of garnet + diopside + hypersthene + ilmenite + plagioclase; (iv) amphibole + plagioclase + magnetite, which correspond to four metamorphic stages: (a) an early granulite facies, (b) eclogite facies, (c) retrograde metamorphism of high‐pressure granulite facies and (d) retrograde metamorphism of amphibolite facies. Mineral inclusion assemblages and cathodoluminescence images show that zircon is characterized by distinctive domains of core and a thin overgrowth rim. The zircon core domains are classified into two types: the first is igneous with clear oscillatory zonation ± apatite and quartz inclusions; and the second is metamorphic containing a granulite facies mineral assemblage of garnet, hypersthene and plagioclase (andesine). The zircon rims contain garnet, omphacite and rutile inclusions, indicating a metamorphic overgrowth at eclogite facies. The almost identical ages of the two types of core domains (magmatic = 791 ± 9 Ma and granulite facies metamorphic zircon = 794 ± 10 Ma), and the Triassic age (212 ± 10 Ma) of eclogitic facies metamorphic overgrowth zircon rim are interpreted as indicating that the protolith of the eclogite is mafic granulite that originated from underplating of mantle‐derived magma onto the base of continental crust during the Neoproterozoic (c. 800 Ma) and then subducted during the Triassic, experiencing UHP eclogite facies metamorphism at mantle depths. The new finding has two‐fold significance: (i) voluminous mafic lower continental crust can increase the average density of subducted continental lithosphere, thus promoting its deep subduction; (ii) because of the current absence of mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, delamination or recycling of subducted mafic lower continental crust can be inferred as the geochemical cause for the mantle heterogeneity and the unusually evolved crustal composition.     

Genesis of garnet peridotites in the Sulu UHP belt: Examples from the Chinese continental scientific drilling project-main hole, PP1 and PP3 drillholes

The main hole (MH), and pre-pilot holes PP1, and PP3 of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project (CCSD) penetrated three different garnet peridotite bodies in the Sulu ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt, which are 80 m, 120 m, and 430 m thick, respectively. The bodies occur as tectonic blocks hosted in eclogite (MH peridotite) and gneisses (PP1 and PP3 peridotites). The peridotites in the MH are garnet wehrlites, whose protoliths were ultramafic cumulates based on olivine compositions (Fo_79-89) and other geochemical features. Zoned garnet and omphacite (with 4-5 wt.% Na₂O) are typical metamorphic minerals in these rocks, and, along with P-T estimates based on mineral pairs, suggest that the rocks have undergone UHP metamorphism. SHRIMP U-Pb isotope dating of zircon from the garnet wehrlite yielded a Paleozoic protolith age (ca. 346-461 Ma), and a Mesozoic UHP metamorphic age (ca. 220-240 Ma). The peridotites in PP1 consist of interlayered garnet (Grt)-bearing and garnet-free (GF) peridotite. Both types of peridotite have depleted mantle compositions (Mg# = 90-92) and they display transitional geochemical features. The intercalated layers probably reflect variations in partial melting rather than pressure variations during metamorphism, and the garnets may have been formed by exsolution from orthopyroxene during exhumation. These peridotites were probably part of the mantle wedge above the subduction zone that produced the UHP metamorphism and thus belonged to the North China Block before its tectonic emplacement. The exhumation of the subducted Yangtze Block brought these mantle fragments to shallow crustal levels. The ultramafic rocks in PP3 are dominantly dunite with minor garnet dunite. Their high Mg# (92-93) and relatively uniform chemical compositions indicate that they are part of a depleted mantle sequence. The presence of garnet replacing spinel and enclosing pre-metamorphic minerals such as olivine, clinopyroxene and spinel suggests that these rocks have undergone progressive metamorphism. SHRIMP U-Pb isotope dating of zircon from these rocks yielded two age groups: 726 ± 56 Ma for relic magmatic zircon grains and 240 ± 2.7 Ma for the newly formed metamorphic zircon. The older group is similar in age to granitic intrusions within the Dabie-Sulu belt, suggesting that the PP3 garnet peridotite may record the early emplacement of the peridotite into the crust. The younger dates coincide with the age of UHP metamorphism during continent-continent collision between the Yangtze and North China Blocks, suggesting that these peridotites were subducted to depths equivalent to the coesite facies and later exhumed. Thus, the garnet peridotites in the CCSD cores include both ultramafic rocks that existed originally in the subducted plate and rocks from the mantle wedge above the subducted plate, i.e., part of the North China Block.     

Constraints on retrograde metamorphism of UHP eclogites in North Qinling,Central China,from 40Ar/39Ar dating of amphibole and phengite

Coesite- and microdiamond- bearing ultra-high pressure (UHP) eclogites in the North Qinling terrane have been widely retrogressed to amphibolites. Previous geochronological studies on these UHP rocks mainly focused on the timing of peak eclogite facies metamorphism. The Kanfenggou UHP metamorphic domain is one of the best-preserved coesite-bearing eclogite occurrences in the North Qinling terrane. In this study, mafic amphibolites and host schists from this domain were collected for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating to constrain their retrograde evolution. Two generations of amphibole are recognized based on their mineral parageneses and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages. A first generation of amphibole from garnet amphibolites yielded irregularly-shaped age spectra with anomalously old apparent ages. Isochron ages of 484–473 Ma and initial ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of 3695–774 are obtained from this generation of amphibole, indicating incorporation of excess argon. Second generation amphibole occurs in epidote amphibolites yielded flat age spectra with plateau ages of 464–462 Ma without evidence for excess argon. These ages suggest that the amphibolite-facies metamorphism has taken place as early as 484 Ma and lasted until 462 Ma for the North Qinling UHP metamorphic rocks. Phengite from the country-rock schists yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 426–396 Ma, with higher phengite Si contents associated with the older the plateau ages. Based on our new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages and previous zircon UPb geochronological data, we construct a new detailed pressure-temperature-time (P-T-t) path illustrating the retrograde metamorphism and exhumation rate of the North Qinling eclogites and host schists. The P-T-t path suggests that these UHP metamorphic rocks experienced initial medium-to-high exhumation rates (ca. 8.7 mm/yr) during the Early Ordovician (489–484 Ma), which was mainly derived from buoyancy forces. Subsequently, the exhumation rate decreased gradually from ~0.8 to 0.3 mm/yr from 484 to 426 Ma, which was probably governed by extension and/or erosion.     

Petrographic and SHRIMP Studies of Zircons fromthe Caledonian Xiongdian Eclogite, NorthwesternDabie Mountains

The Xiongdian eclogite occurring in the Sujiahe tectonic melange zone at Luoshan County, Henan Province, in the western Dabie Mountains, is typical high-pressure (HP)-ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) and medium-temperature eclogite. The occurrence, internal texture and surface characteristics of zircons in eclogite were studied rather systematically petrographically combined with the cathodoluminescence (CL) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) methods. Zircons are mainly hosted in garnet and other metamorphic minerals with sharp boundaries, have a multifaceted morphology and are homogeneous or exhibit a metamorphic growth texture in the interior, thus indicating that they are the product of metamorphism. SHRIMP analyses give zircon 206Pb/238U ages of 335 to 424 Ma and show a certain degree of radiogenic Pb loss; therefore it may be inferred that the age of 424? Ma represents the minimum age of a HP-UHP metamorphic age. From the above analyses coupled with previous Sm-Nd, 40Ar-39Ar, U-Pb and 207Pb/206Pb age d     

柴达木盆地北缘早古生代高压——超高压变质带中发现典型超高压矿物——柯石英

从都兰北带榴辉岩的片麻岩围岩的锆石中发现了柯石英包裹体和石墨包裹体，说明该超高压带的峰期变质作用已达柯石英稳定区间（＞2.8GPa）但小于金刚石的稳定区间（＜3.5GPa），从而确定柴达木盆地北缘存在早古生代超高压变质作用和陆－陆碰撞作用，为中国中部存在一条横贯东西的早古生代（大致500－400Ma）高压超高压变质带的推断提供了新的关键性证据。     

Mineral and fluid inclusions in zircon of UHP metamorphic rocks from the CCSD-main drill hole: A record of metamorphism and fluid activity

The Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) main drill hole (0–3000 m) in Donghai, southern Sulu orogen, consists of eclogite, paragneiss, orthogneiss, schist and garnet peridotite. Detailed investigations of Raman, cathodoluminescence, and microprobe analyses show that zircons from most eclogites, gneisses and schists have oscillatory zoned magmatic cores with low-pressure mineral inclusions of Qtz, Pl, Kf and Ap, and a metamorphic rim with relatively uniform luminescence and eclogite-facies mineral inclusions of Grt, Omp, Phn, Coe and Rt. The chemical compositions of the UHP metamorphic mineral inclusions in zircon are similar to those from the matrix of the host rocks. Similar UHP metamorphic P–T conditions of about 770 °C and 32 kbar were estimated from coexisting minerals in zircon and in the matrix. These observations suggest that all investigated lithologies experienced a joint in situ UHP metamorphism during continental deep subduction. In rare cases, magmatic cores of zircon contain coesite and omphacite inclusions and show patchy and irregular luminescence, implying that the cores have been largely altered possibly by fluid–mineral interaction during UHP metamorphism.

Abundant H₂O–CO₂, H₂O- or CO₂-dominated fluid inclusions with low to medium salinities occur isolated or clustered in the magmatic cores of some zircons, coexisting with low-P mineral inclusions. These fluid inclusions should have been trapped during magmatic crystallization and thus as primary. Only few H₂O- and/or CO₂-dominated fluid inclusions were found to occur together with UHP mineral inclusions in zircons of metamorphic origin, indicating that UHP metamorphism occurred under relatively dry conditions. The diversity in fluid inclusion populations in UHP rocks from different depths suggests a closed fluid system, without large-scale fluid migration during subduction and exhumation.     

SHRIMP U-Pb Dating of Zircons of a Dark Eclogite and aGarnet-bearing Gneissic Granitic Rock from Bixiling, EasternDabie Area, Anhui Province: Isotope Chronological Evidenceof Neoproterozoic UHP Metamorphism

The paper reports SHRIMP U-Pb zircon data of a dark eclogite and a post-eclogite garnet-bearing gneissic granitic rock from the Bixiling area, Yuexi County, Anhui Province, in the eastern Dabie Mountains. The eclogite, which is metamorphosed basic tuff, contains very scarce zircons in omphacite or garnet, but more zircons in quartz. They usually exhibit a double-layered texture, as shown clearly in cathodoluminescence images. Their inner main parts give a 206Pb/238U age of 757±7 Ma, representing the approximate age of the high-pressure (HP)- ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic event during which the eclogite was formed. The outer peripheral parts of the zircons, which have been modified by late-stage fluids, give an age of 223±3 Ma. The granitic rock contains more zircons of anatectic origin found mostly in feldspar and quartz and usually also showing a similar composite texture. The inner main parts of the anatectic zircons with oscillatory zoning give a 206Pb/238U age of 727±15 Ma for the approxim     

北秦岭榴辉岩及相关岩石年代学的进一步确定及其对板片俯冲属性的约束

在岩相学观察和锆石CL图像研究的基础上,利用LA ICP MS原位分析方法,对北秦岭官坡超高压榴辉岩和伴生的石榴石角闪岩(榴闪岩)进行了详细的锆石微区微量元素和U Th Pb同位素分析,在榴辉岩样品中得到变质年龄为(502±11)Ma,原岩结晶年龄>(657±18)Ma;在榴闪岩样品中得到原岩结晶年龄为(791±6)Ma,变质年龄为487~503 Ma,角闪岩相退变质年龄为(366±4)Ma。岩石地球化学研究显示,北秦岭官坡地区的榴闪岩具有低Si(SiO2质量分数为4916%~5078%),高Ti(TiO2质量分数为228%~283%)、富集LREE、LILE和大部分的HFSE元素,不显Nb、Ta负异常的板内玄武岩特征,与北秦岭超高压榴辉岩地球化学特征一致。结合两者的野外产状、岩相学特征、锆石形貌和年代学研究结果,表明本文研究的官坡地区的榴闪岩是超高压榴辉岩在抬升过程中在角闪岩相条件下退变质的产物。综合两者的年代学研究结果,得到北秦岭地区超高压榴辉岩的变质年龄为(502±11)Ma,原岩结晶年龄为(791±6)Ma,角闪岩相退变质年龄为(366±4)Ma。研究得到的(502±11)Ma的榴辉岩相变质年龄与前人得到的该榴辉岩围岩超高压泥质片麻岩的变质年龄(507±38)Ma以及北秦岭松树沟地区的超高压长英质片麻岩的变质年龄485~514 Ma一致,表明它们经历了同期超高压变质作用。而且,榴辉岩(502±11)Ma的变质年龄与其原岩的结晶年龄(791±6)Ma存在近300 Ma的时间间隔,表明原岩具有板内玄武岩性质的北秦岭官坡超高压榴辉岩不可能是秦岭古生代大洋板块深俯冲的产物,而可能是已构造就位的古洋壳或裂谷火山岩在古生代随陆壳一起发生大陆深俯冲作用的产物。     

北秦岭造山带西段早古生代榴辉岩相变质岩石的发现及其地质意义SCIEI北大核心CSCD

西秦岭地处中国中央造山系东西转换衔接部位,随着东秦岭以及祁连、柴北缘和东昆仑早古生代高压-超高压变质岩石的陆续发现和深入研究,西秦岭造山带变质作用研究吸引了大家的普遍关注。本文在大范围野外地质调查基础上,在北秦岭造山带西段天水南部的秦岭岩群长英质片麻岩中发现了一套石榴子石斜长角闪岩(榴闪岩),并开展了详细的锆石形貌和内部结构、微区微量元素和U-Th-Pb同位素研究。CL图像显示榴闪岩锆石普遍具有核-幔-边或核-边结构,部分存在原岩残留锆石。定年结果得到榴闪岩原岩残留锆石年龄为710±52Ma,同时得到497±3Ma、452±3Ma和423±7Ma三期变质年龄。其中497±3Ma变质年龄来自锆石核部并显示出轻稀土亏损、重稀土平坦且没有明显负Eu异常的稀土配分曲线特征,表明该时期的矿物组合中有石榴子石但没有斜长石,与榴辉岩相变质锆石特征一致;452±3Ma变质年龄来自锆石幔部或边部,对应测点重稀土元素的分异加大,并出现弱的负Eu异常,说明此时石榴子石被消耗且出现少量斜长石;423±7Ma变质年龄来自锆石的最边部,对应稀土配分曲线表现出更明显的负Eu异常和更大的重稀土元素分异特征,指示此时岩石中石榴子石含量更少,斜长石含量更多。上述结果表明该榴闪岩可能经历了~500Ma的榴辉岩相变质作用,并在~450Ma和~420Ma叠加了两期退变质改造。天水地区榴闪岩无论是其野外产状,还是变质锆石的形貌和内部结构、稀土配分曲线特征及其所记录的原岩和三期变质年龄都与北秦岭造山带东段大陆俯冲型高压-超高压变质榴辉岩近乎一致,指示早古生代时期,北秦岭造山带西段与东段经历了相似的大陆(深)俯冲和折返过程,它们共同构成一条统一的早古生代高压-超高压变质岩带。     

北秦岭松树沟榴辉岩的确定及其地质意义

松树沟石榴石角闪岩(榴闪岩)呈透镜状产于松树沟超镁铁岩旁侧的斜长角闪岩中,一直以来被认为是形成于接触交代变质或麻粒岩相变质过程。详细岩相学及矿物元素分析,在榴闪岩的基质矿物、石榴石幔部及锆石包体中发现残留的绿辉石,而且石榴石也保存了明显的进变质主、微量元素成分环带,表明松树沟榴闪岩为榴辉岩退变质的产物,至少经历了从角闪岩相到榴辉岩相再到角闪岩相的三阶段顺时针PT演化过程。锆石定年结果得到榴辉岩的变质年龄为500±8Ma,原岩结晶时代为796±16Ma,与秦岭岩群北侧官坡超高压榴辉岩的变质年龄和原岩年龄完全一致,也与北秦岭区域高压-超高压变质时代和原岩的结晶时代一致。表明松树沟榴辉岩与北秦岭造山带已发现的高压-超高压变质岩石一起都应是古生代大陆深俯冲作用的结果,而松树沟超镁铁岩可能是俯冲的大陆板片在折返过程中携带的俯冲隧道中的交代地幔岩。     

Low-T eclogite in the Dabie terrane of China: petrological and isotopic constraints on fluid activity and radiometric dating

While extensive studies have demonstrated fluid release during subduction of oceanic crust, little attention has been paid to fluid activity during subduction and exhumation of continental crust. Abundant occurrence of quartz veins within eclogites in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt of China provides us with an opportunity to study the origin and role of vein-forming fluids with respect to heat and mass transfer during ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphism and its relevant processes. This study focuses on kyanite-quartz vein that occurs as polycrystalline aggregates within the low-T eclogite in the Dabie terrane, which are interpreted as pseudomorphs after former porphyroblasts of lawsonite. Coesite pseudomorphs were found for the first time in eclogite garnet, resulting in a revised estimate of peak P–T conditions at 670°C and 3.3 GPa for the eclogite and thus upgrading the high-P unit to an UHP unit. On the basis of the relationship between calculated P–T path and metamorphic reactions as well as the absence of foliation texture, and undulose extinction of quartzes in the vein, we conclude that lawsonite breakdown into kyanite–quartz–zoisite assemblage took place at the onset of exhumation subsequent to peak pressure. Retrograde metamorphism caused O and H isotope disequilibria between some of the minerals, but the fluid for retrograde reactions was internally buffered in stable isotope compositions. Zircon U–Pb dating and whole-rock Nd–Sr isotope analyses indicate that eclogite protolith is the paleoceanic basalt that was derived from the depleted mantle by magmatism at about 1.8 to 1.9 Ga but experienced hydrothermal alteration by surface waters. The altered basalt underwent UHP metamorphism in the Triassic that caused fluid release for zircon growth/overgrowth not only at about 242±3 Ma prior to the onset of peak pressure but also at about 222±4 Ma during decompression dehydration by lawsonite breakdown and hydroxyl exsolution in the low-T/UHP eclogite. Consistent ages of 236.1±4.2 Ma and 230±7 Ma were obtained from mineral Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr isochron dating, respectively, indicating attainment and preservation of Nd and Sr isotope equilibria during the Triassic UHP eclogite-facies metamorphism. Ar–Ar dating on paragonite from the eclogite gave consistent plateau and isochron ages of 241.3±3.1 Ma and 245.5±9.8 Ma, respectively, which are interpreted to date paragonite crystallization during the prograde eclogite-facies metamorphism. The timing of peak UHP metamorphism for the low-T eclogite is constrained at sometime prior to 236.1±4.2 Ma. Thus the termination age of peak UHP metamorphism may be different in different slices of deep-subducted slab.     

SHRIMP U-Pb dating, trace elements and the Lu-Hf isotope system of coesite-bearing zircon from amphibolite in the SW Sulu UHP terrane, eastern China

In this study, we link mineral inclusion data, trace element analyses, U-Pb age and Hf isotope composition obtained from distinct zircon domains of complex zircon to unravel the origin and multi-stage metamorphic evolution of amphibolites from the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane, eastern China. Zircon grains separated from amphibolites from the CCSD-MH drill hole (G12) and Niushan outcrop (G13) were subdivided into two main types based on cathodoluminescence (CL) and Laser Raman spectroscopy: big dusty zircons with inherited cores and UHP metamorphic rims and small clear zircons. Weakly zoned, grey-white luminescent inherited cores preserve mineral inclusions of Cpx + Pl + Ap ± Qtz indicative of a mafic igneous protolith. Dark grey luminescent overgrowth rims contain the coesite eclogite-facies mineral inclusion assemblage Coe + Grt + Omp + Phe + Ap, and formed at T = 732-839 °C and P = 3.0-4.0 GPa. In contrast, white luminescent small clear zircons preserve mineral inclusions formed during retrograde HP quartz eclogite to LP amphibolite-facies metamorphism (T = 612-698 °C and P = 0.70-1.05 GPa). Inherited zircons from both samples yield SHRIMP ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 695-520 Ma with an upper intercept age of 800 ± 31 Ma. The UHP rims yield consistent Triassic ages around 236-225 and 239-225 Ma for G12 and G13 with weighted means of 229 ± 3 and 231 ± 3 Ma, respectively. Small clear zircons from both samples give ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages around 219-210 Ma with a weighted mean of 214 ± 3 Ma, interpreted as the age of retrograde quartz eclogite-facies metamorphism. Matrix amphibole from both samples indicate Ar-Ar ages of 209 ± 0.7 and 207 ± 0.7 Ma, respectively, probably dating late amphibolite-facies retrogression. The data suggest subduction of Neoproterozoic mafic igneous rocks to UHP conditions in Middle Triassic (∼230 Ma) times and subsequent exhumation to an early HP (∼214 Ma) and a late LP stage (∼208 Ma) over a period of ∼16 and 6 Myr, respectively. Thus, early exhumation from a mantle depth of 120-100 km to about 60 km occurred at an average rate of 0.3 cm/y, while subsequent exhumation to a middle crustal level took place at approximately 0.54 cm/y. These exhumation rates are considerably slower than those obtained for UHP rocks in the Dora Maira and Kokchetav massifs (2-3 cm/y).Based on similar P-T estimates and trace element and Hf isotope compositions, Sulu amphibolites can be identified as retrograde UHP eclogites. The εHf₍₈₀₀₎ of +8 implies a significant input from the depleted mantle to the Sulu-Dabie terrane during the middle Neoproterozoic. Overgrown rims are characterized by a distinct trace element composition with low Lu/Hf and Th/U and significantly higher ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios than inherited cores, consistent with formation during/after garnet (re-)crystallization and fractionation of the Lu-Hf system during UHP metamorphism. The combined dataset suggests homogenization of the ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratio within the metamorphic mineral assemblage and during protolith formation. Observed variations are explained by mixing of material from both domains during laser ablation, e.g., due to partial recrystallization of inherited cores.     

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating from Sulu-Dabie dolomitic marble, eastern China: constraints on prograde, ultrahigh-pressure and retrograde metamorphic ages

Laser Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL) images show that zircon from Sulu‐Dabie dolomitic marbles is characterized by distinctive domains of inherited (detrital), prograde, ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) and retrograde metamorphic growths. The inherited zircon domains are dark‐luminescent in CL images and contain mineral inclusions of Qtz + Cal + Ap. The prograde metamorphic domains are white‐luminescent in CL images and preserve a quartz eclogite facies assemblage of Qtz + Dol + Grt + Omp + Phe + Ap, formed at 542–693 °C and 1.8–2.1 GPa. In contrast, the UHP metamorphic domains are grey‐luminescent in CL images, retain the UHP assemblage of Coe + Grt + Omp + Arg + Mgs + Ap, and record UHP conditions of 739–866 °C and >5.5 GPa. The outermost retrograde rims have dark‐luminescent CL images, and contain low‐P minerals such as calcite, related to the regional amphibolite facies retrogression. Laser ablation ICP‐MS trace‐element data show striking difference between the inherited cores of mostly magmatic origin and zircon domains grown in response to prograde, UHP and retrograde metamorphism. SHRIMP U‐Pb dating on these zoned zircon identified four discrete ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age groups: 1823–503 Ma is recorded in the inherited (detrital) zircon derived from various Proterozoic protoliths, the prograde domains record the quartz eclogite facies metamorphism at 254–239 Ma, the UHP growth domains occurred at 238–230 Ma, and the late amphibolite facies retrogressive overprint in the outermost rims was restricted to 218–206 Ma. Thus, Proterozoic continental materials of the Yangtze craton were subducted to 55–60 km depth during the Early Triassic and recrystallized at quartz eclogite facies conditions. Then these metamorphic rocks were further subducted to depths of 165–175 km in the Middle Triassic and experienced UHP metamorphism, and finally these UHP metamorphic rocks were exhumed to mid‐crustal levels (about 30 km) in the Late Triassic and overprinted by regional amphibolite facies metamorphism. The subduction and exhumation rates deduced from the SHRIMP data and metamorphic P–T conditions are 9–10 km Myr^?1 and 6.4 km Myr^?1, respectively, and these rapid subduction–exhumation rates may explain the obtained P–T–t path. Such a fast exhumation suggests that Sulu‐Dabie UHP rocks that returned towards crustal depths were driven by buoyant forces, caused as a consequence of slab breakoff at mantle depth.     

Petrogenesis of Eclogites in the Light of Punctuated Metamorphic Evolution in Dabie Terrane，China

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