中国东南新生代玄武岩中麻粒岩相捕虏体的新发现及其意义

本文报道了在中国东南地区女山、桂子山、西垄和麒麟等地新生代玄武岩中新发现的麻粒岩相捕虏体。研究显示女山存在多种岩石类型的捕虏体,其中本次研究新发现的石榴子石麻粒岩与二辉麻粒岩在矿物化学和形成条件上明显不同。石榴子石麻粒岩的次透辉石（富Al2O3,Na2O)、紫苏辉石（富Al2O3) 形成于较深（＞40km)的下地壳,厚的地壳和较低的地温梯度（20－24℃/km)表明当时女山处于相对稳定的克拉通环境;女山二辉麻粒岩的次透辉石和紫苏辉石（贫Al2O3,Na2O)形成于较高地温梯度（31－34℃/km）的构造背景,指示当时女山处于活动大陆边缘或裂谷环境。复杂的岩石类型和不同的形成条件表明女山的下地壳是由多期岩浆活动的产物组成。广东麒麟和雷州的二辉麻粒岩的次透辉石以低Al2O3和低Na2O为特征,温压估算显示它们形成于较浅部（23－27km)和高地温梯度的地质背景,指示当时华南处在强烈的拉张减薄的构造环境。浙江西垄和新昌的麻粒岩捕虏体的矿物学特征和形成条件介于女山和广东的麻粒岩捕虏体之间。女山麻粒岩捕虏体的岩石组合和形成条件与华北太古代麻粒岩地体和汉诺坝麻粒岩捕虏体相似,而与华南的明显不同,表明女山的下地壳隶属于华北板块。在华南沿海从北到南基性麻粒岩的发现,显示中生代基性岩浆的底侵作用普遍存在。     

下地壳含水性的演化 ——来自不同时代麻粒岩中长石水含量的证据

利用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和电子探针(EMP)分析了早古生代的松树沟麻粒岩和桐柏麻粒岩地体以及古元古代的莒南麻粒岩包体(其寄主岩石为新生代玄武岩)中长石的水含量和化学成分。结果显示,麻粒岩中的长石均含有以OH和H2O形式存在的结构水;3个地点的长石水含量分别为465×10-6~733×10-6、210×10-6~993×10-6和717×10-6~1 239×10-6。对比前人报道的中生代(道县和汉诺坝包体)和古元古代(女山包体、汉诺坝地体)的麻粒岩研究结果,发现早古生代样品和古元古代样品中长石的水含量都比中生代样品明显的高,而早古生代和古元古代样品之间却没有差别,指示了中国东部下地壳在中生代之前更加富水。     

Derivation of Mesozoic adakitic magmas from ancient lower crust in the North China craton

Three Mesozoic plutons were intruded into the Archean granulite terrains in northern margin of the North China craton adjacent to the granulite xenolith-bearing Tertiary Hannuoba basalts. They are Triassic Guzuizi and Honghualiang granites and Early Cretaceous Zhuanzhilian diorite. Rocks of the three intrusions are characterized by high Sr (576-1216 ppm) and Na₂O (?4.0%), low Y (?18 ppm) and heavy rare-earth elements (Yb < 1.8 ppm). These features are similar to modern adakites (siliceous rocks with high sodium, aluminum and strontium and low heavy rare-earth element and yttrium contents) from island arcs and Archean high-Al tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG). However, they are distinctly potassium-rich and their evolved strontium, neodymium, and hafnium isotopic compositions and inherited zircon ages coincide with those of the Archean granulites and the Hannuoba granulite xenoliths. Such features cannot readily be explained with previous models of the origin of adakites and TTGs. We propose that these adakitic rocks are formed by partial melting of ancient lower crust, and that the restites are represented by some of the Hannuoba granulite xenoliths; we further argue that this could be one major mechanism to generate voluminous Mesozoic adakitic magmas in the eastern North China craton. Our hypothesis can also explain the discrepancies in ages and compositions between the granulite terrains and xenoliths, and implies that crustal anatexis may be one of the major processes controlling the chemical differentiation of the continental crust.     

由深源捕虏体限定的华北克拉通下地壳特征

文中收集了新生代、中生代和古生代由喷出/浅成岩携带的下地壳麻粒岩捕虏体及其锆石年龄的资料。结果显示,它们代表了不同时代、不同地区下地壳最下部的组成及年龄。新生代汉诺坝、女山、莒南和青岛等地的玄武岩和其中捕虏体的资料,几乎可以涵盖华北相当一大部分下地壳底部的状态。金伯利岩虽然只能提供500Ma以前的信息,但它们能够检验并确认古老地质事件发生时间的准确性。内蒙古中生代闪长岩中出露的麻粒岩属于同源捕虏体,只能代表该岩浆活动波及地区下地壳的状态。华北克拉通发育了多次以地幔物质添加为主的地质事件(地壳增生),主要有:2.8～3.0Ga,2.5Ga,1.8Ga,140～90Ma及47～45Ma,其中以2.5Ga和140～90Ma最为重要。2.5Ga的地幔岩浆底侵事件在不少地区出现,推测与地幔柱活动有关。中生代(140～90Ma)的底侵作用在克拉通分布相当广泛,包括华北北部,华北东部及东南部都有明显的记录。女山和莒南地区出现了2.3Ga的年龄,是中生代的底侵岩浆与先存的古老基底发生混合与反应的产物。1.9～2.0Ga以及1.8Ga可能与地壳的造山运动和与其伴随的短暂的热扰动造成的锆石再结晶有关。在研究下地壳捕虏体时一个重要的问题是,要注意构造背景。在一级构造单元的交界处,由于该处块体之间的相互作用复杂,需要注意判别捕虏体的块体归属,以便对华北克拉通不同部位的复杂演化历史获得更全面的认识。     

Lower crustal xenoliths from Junan,Shandong province and their bearing on the nature of the lower crust beneath the North China Craton

Geochronological, petrological and geochemical studies were performed on the granulite xenoliths from a Late Cretaceous basaltic breccia dike in Junan, Shandong province, eastern China. These xenoliths show close similarities to the Nushan granulite xenoliths from the southern margin of the North China Craton (NCC) and the Archean granulite terrains in terms of mineralogy and bulk rock compositions, but are quite different from the Hanuoba mafic granulite xenoliths from the northern NCC. In-situ zircon U–Pb age and Hf isotopic analyses, together with geochemical data reveal that the protolith of these xenoliths was formed around 2.3 Ga ago, through assimilation–fractional crystallization of a mafic magma. P–T conditions of these xenoliths suggest that the lower crust beneath the Junan region reaches to a depth of 35 km, which agree well with the result deduced from various geophysical methods. The consistent petrological and seismic Moho depths, the observed velocity structure and calculated velocity of these xenoliths imply the absence of underplating induced crust–mantle transition zone, which was well formed in the northern NCC. Compared to 40–50 km depth of the lower crust in Early Jurassic, the lower crust beneath Junan extended to a depth of 30 km in Late Cretaceous, suggesting that the lower crust of NCC was significantly thinned during Late Mesozoic.     

华北克拉通岩石圈地幔置换作用和壳幔生长耦合的Re-Os同位素证据

测定了辽宁复县奥陶纪金伯利岩和河北汉诺坝与山东栖霞第三纪碱性玄武岩中产出的地幔包体的Re Os同位素组成。金伯利岩中地幔包体的Re贫化Os同位素模式年龄 (TRD)为 2 .5～ 2 .8Ga ,从Re Os同位素定年角度证明了华北克拉通确实存在太古宙岩石圈地幔。对汉诺坝二辉橄榄岩包体获得了 (1.9± 0 .18)Ga的Re Os同位素等时线年龄 ,表明现今保存在那里的地幔主要是古元古代时形成的。汉诺坝地区出露有大量新太古代岩石 ,表明曾存在太古宙地幔。由于缺乏太古宙年龄 ,说明由汉诺坝所代表的克拉通中部曾存在的太古宙地幔在古元古代时已被减薄 ,并被 1.9Ga的新生岩石圈地幔置换。该事件与华北克拉通中部广泛的古元古代碰撞造山过程导致的麻粒岩相变质作用的时代相同 ,说明有关的岩石圈置换作用可能主要与拆沉作用有关。栖霞地幔包体具有与现代对流地幔相同的Os同位素组成 ,且Os同位素组成与Re/Os比值没有明显相关性 ,表明年龄很新。结合其它地质地球化学证据 ,说明克拉通东部的太古宙岩石圈地幔的置换作用主要发生在中生代 ,且可能与三叠纪华北和扬子陆块的陆陆碰撞造山导致的岩石圈地幔和下地壳的拆沉作用有关。本研究表明华北克拉通岩石圈地幔置换作用在时空上的分布是十分不均一的。 2 .5～ 2 .8Ga与 1.9Ga不仅?     

Links between Mesozoic intermediate–felsic igneous rocks and lower crustal granulite xenoliths,North China Craton: O and Pb isotopic evidence

We present and compare whole-rock and zircon O and Pb isotopic compositions for the Hannuoba granulite xenoliths and Mesozoic intermediate-to-felsic igneous rocks from the Zhangjiakou region, northern margin of the North China Craton, northeast China. The xenoliths have an overall Pb isotopic range similar to rocks from the regionally exposed Neoarchaean granulite terrain. Mesozoic zircons from different types of granulite xenoliths have a narrow range of δ¹⁸O values (6.0–7.7‰) higher than normal mantle δ¹⁸O values (～5.7‰). Mesozoic intermediate–felsic igneous rocks have O and Pb isotopic compositions indistinguishable from the Hannuoba intermediate–mafic granulite xenoliths. Our new data suggest that the Mesozoic igneous rocks and granulite xenoliths are genetically linked and that both were derived from the late Neoarchaean lower crust. This argues against previous proposals that the granulite xenoliths are either products of Mesozoic basaltic underplating or formed by mixing between mantle-derived and pre-existing crustal magmas.     

Constraints on the thermal evolution of continental lithosphere from U-Pb accessory mineral thermochronometry of lower crustal xenoliths,southern Africa

U-Pb isotopic thermochronometry of rutile, apatite and titanite from kimberlite-borne lower crustal granulite xenoliths has been used to constrain the thermal evolution of Archean cratonic and Proterozoic off-craton continental lithosphere beneath southern Africa. The relatively low closure temperature of the U-Pb rutile thermochronometer (~400-450 °C) allows its use as a particularly sensitive recorder of the establishment of "cratonic" lithospheric geotherms, as well as subsequent thermal perturbations to the lithosphere. Contrasting lower crustal thermal histories are revealed between intracratonic and craton margin regions. Discordant Proterozoic (1.8 to 1.0 Ga) rutile ages in Archean (2.9 to 2.7 Ga) granulites from within the craton are indicative of isotopic resetting by marginal orogenic thermal perturbations influencing the deep crust of the cratonic nucleus. In Proterozoic (1.1 to 1.0 Ga) granulite xenoliths from the craton-bounding orogenic belts, rutiles define discordia arrays with Neoproterozoic (0.8 to 0.6 Ga) upper intercepts and lower intercepts equivalent to Mesozoic exhumation upon kimberlite entrainment. In combination with coexisting titanite and apatite dates, these results are interpreted as a record of postorogenic cooling at an integrated rate of approximately 1 °C/Ma, and subsequent variable Pb loss in the apatite and rutile systems during a Mesozoic thermal perturbation to the deep lithosphere. Closure of the rutile thermochronometer signals temperatures of 𙠂 °C in the lower crust during attainment of cratonic lithospheric conductive geotherms, and such closure in the examined portions of the "off-craton" Proterozoic domains of southern Africa indicates that their lithospheric thermal profiles were essentially cratonic from the Neoproterozoic through to the Late Jurassic. These results suggest similar lithospheric thickness and potential for diamond stability beneath both Proterozoic and Archean domains of southern Africa. Subsequent partial resetting of U-Pb rutile and apatite systematics in the cratonic margin lower crust records a transient Mesozoic thermal modification of the lithosphere, and modeling of the diffusive Pb loss from lower crustal rutile constrains the temperature and duration of Mesozoic heating to 𙡦 °C for ₞ ka. This result indicates that the thermal perturbation is not simply a kimberlite-related magmatic phenomenon, but is rather a more protracted manifestation of lithospheric heating, likely related to mantle upwelling and rifting of Gondwana during the Late Jurassic to Cretaceous. The manifestation of this thermal pulse in the lower crust is spatially and temporally correlated with anomalously elevated and/or kinked Cretaceous mantle paleogeotherms, and evidence for metasomatic modification in cratonic mantle peridotite suites. It is argued that most of the geographic differences in lithospheric thermal structure inferred from mantle xenolith thermobarometry are likewise due to the heterogeneous propagation of this broad upper mantle thermal anomaly. The differential manifestation of heating between cratonic margin and cratonic interior indicates the importance of advective heat transport along pre-existing lithosphere-scale discontinuities. Within this model, kimberlite magmatism was a similarly complex, space- and time-dependent response to Late Mesozoic lithospheric thermal perturbation.     

Granulite xenoliths from western Saudi Arabia: the lower crust of the late Precambrian Arbian-Nubian Shield

Mafic and intermediate granulite xenoliths, collected from Cenozoic alkali basalts, provide samples of the lower crust in western Saudi Arabia. The xenoliths are metaigneous two-pyroxene and garnet granulites. Mineral and whole rock compositions are inconsistent with origin from Red Sea rift-related basalts, and are compatible with origin from island arc calc-alkaline and low-potassium tholeiitic basalts. Most of the samples are either cumulates from mafic magmas or are restites remaining after partial melting of intermediate rocks and extraction of a felsic liquid. Initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are less than 0.7032, except for two samples at 0.7049. The Sm-Nd data yield T_DM model ages of 0.64 to 1.02 Ga, similar to typical Arabian-Nubian Shield upper continental crust. The isotopic data indicate that the granulites formed from mantle-derived magmas with little or no contamination by older continent crust. Calculated temperatures and pressures of last reequilibration of the xenoliths show that they are derived from the lower crust. Calculated depths of origin and calculated seismic velocities for the xenoliths are in excellent agreement with the crustal structure model of Gettings et al. (1986) based on geophysical data from western Saudi Arabia. Estimation of mean lower crustal composition, using the granulite xenoliths and the Gettings et al. (1986) crustal model, suggests a remarkably homogeneous mafic lower crust, and an andesite or basaltic andesite bulk composition for Pan-African juvenile continental crust.     

Tectonic controls on metamorphism, partial melting, and intrusion: timing and duration of regional metamorphism and magmatism in the Ni de Massif, Turkey

Mafic high-pressure granulite, eclogite and pyroxenite xenoliths have been collected from a Mesozoic volcaniclastic diatreme in Xinyang, near south margin of the Sino-Korean Craton (SKC). The high-pressure granulite xenoliths are mainly composed of fine-grained granoblasts of Grt+Cpx+Pl+Hbl±Kfs±Q±Ilm with relict porphyritic mineral assemblage of Grt+Cpx±Pl±Rt. P–T estimation indicates that the granoblastic assemblage crystallized at 765–890 °C and 1.25–1.59 GPa, corresponding to crustal depths of ca. 41–52 km with a geotherm of 75–80 mW/m². Calculated seismic velocities (V_p) of high-pressure granulites range from 7.04 to 7.56 km/s and densities (D) from 3.05 to 3.30 g/cm³. These high-pressure granulite xenoliths have different petrographic and geochemical features from the Archean mafic granulites. Elevated geotherm and petrographic evidence imply that the lithosphere of this craton was thermally disturbed in the Mesozoic prior to eruption of the host diatreme. These samples have sub-alkaline basaltic compositions, equivalent to olivine– and quartz–tholeiite. REE patterns are flat to variably LREE-enriched (La_N/Yb_N=0.98–9.47) without Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu*=0.95–1.11). They possess 48–127 ppm Ni and 2–20 ppm Nb with Nb/U and La/Nb ratios of 13–54 and 0.93–4.75, respectively, suggesting that these high-pressure granulites may be products of mantle-derived magma underplated and contaminated at the base of the lower crust. This study also implies that up to 10 km Mesozoic lowermost crust was delaminated prior to eruption of the Cenozoic basalts on the craton.     

华北克拉通中生代破坏前的岩石圈地幔与下地壳

华北克拉通是世界上最古老的克拉通之一,有 38亿年的古老陆壳存在,它经历了复杂的地质变迁,在太古宙末(约2500Ma)基本完成克拉通化,在古元古代(约1900~1850Ma)整体受到了高级变质作用,最终完成了克拉通化。它的东部在中生代发生了重大的构造机制的转变,克拉通基底发生了破坏、置换和再造。在太行山重力梯度带以西的华北克拉通受中生代构造转折的改造程度较低,它们的下地壳和岩石圈地幔结构,大致保持了华北克拉通破坏前的状态。前寒武纪麻粒岩地体代表了掀翻抬升到地表的古元古代下地壳,出露地表的时间大致在1850~1800Ma。中、新生代火山岩中的地幔和麻粒岩捕虏体代表了现代的岩石圈地幔和下地壳的岩石。岩石学、地球化学和地球物理的研究,推测华北克拉通西部的岩石圈厚约200km,地壳厚度约45km~50km,是在古元古代(约1.9Ga)时期终极克拉通化作用形成的,其厚度和结构与全球典型的元古宙克拉通岩石圈相同。而太行山重力梯度带以东的克拉通岩石圈地幔受到程度不等的交代、改造、置换和减薄,下地壳大规模重熔,地壳厚度也发生减薄,指示了强烈的壳幔解耦、物质交换和重新耦合的过程。     

Granulite and pyroxenite xenoliths from the Deccan Trap: insight into the nature and composition of the lower lithosphere beneath cratonic India

Granulite and pyroxenite xenoliths in lamprophyre dykes intruded during the waning stage of Deccan Trap volcanism are derived from the lower crust beneath the Dharwar craton of Western India. The xenolith suite consists of plagioclase-poor mafic granulites (55% of the total volume of xenoliths), plagioclase-rich felsic granulites (25%), and ultramafic pyroxenites and websterites (20%) with subordinate wehrlites. Rare spinel peridotite xenoliths are also present, representing mantle lithosphere. The high Mg #, low SiO₂/Al₂O₃ and low Nb/La (<1) ratios suggest that the protoliths of the mafic granulites broadly represent cumulates of sub-alkaline magmas. All of the granulites are peraluminous and light rare-earth element-enriched. The felsic granulites may have resulted from anatexis of the mafic lower crustal rocks; thus, the mafic granulites are enriched in Sr whereas the felsic ones are depleted. Composite xenoliths consisting of mafic granulites traversed by veins of pyroxenite indicate intrusion of the granulitic lower crust by younger pyroxenites. Petrography and geochemistry of the latter (e.g. presence of phlogopite) indicate the metasomatised nature of the deep crust in this region.Thermobarometric estimates from phase equilibria indicate equilibration conditions between 650 and 1200 °C, 0.7-1.2 GPa suggestive of lower crustal environments. These estimates provide a spatial context for the sampled lithologies thereby placing constraints on the interpretation of geophysical data. Integration of xenolith-derived P-T results with Deep Seismic Soundings (DSS) data suggests that the pyroxenites and websterites are transitional between the lower crust and the upper mantle. A three-layer model for the crust in western India, derived from the xenoliths, is consistent with DSS data. The mafic nature of this hybrid lower crust contrasts with the felsic lower crustal composition of the south Indian granulite terrain.     

Evolution of subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath eastern China: Re–Os isotopic evidence from mantle xenoliths in Paleozoic kimberlites and Mesozoic basalts

The ages of subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the North China and South China cratons are less well-constrained than the overlying crust. We report Re–Os isotope systematics of mantle xenoliths entrained in Paleozoic kimberlites and Mesozoic basalts from eastern China. Peridotite xenoliths from the Fuxian and Mengyin Paleozoic diamondiferous kimberlites in the North China Craton give Archean Re depletion ages of 2.6–3.2 Ga and melt depletion ages of 2.9–3.4 Ga. No obvious differences in Re and Os abundances, Os isotopic ratios and model ages are observed between spinel-facies and garnet-facies peridotites from both kimberlite localities. The Re–Os isotopic data, together with the PGE concentrations, demonstrate that beneath the Archean continental crust of the eastern North China Craton, Archean lithospheric mantle of spinel- to diamond-facies existed without apparent compositional stratification during the Paleozoic. The Mesozoic and Cenozoic basalt-borne peridotite and pyroxenite xenoliths, on the other hand, show geochemical features indicating metasomatic enrichment, along with a large range of the Re–Os isotopic model ages from Proterozoic to Phanerozoic. These features indicate that lithospheric transformation or refertilization through melt-peridotite interaction could be the primary mechanism for compositional changes during the Phanerozoic, rather than delamination or thermal-mechanical erosion, despite the potential of these latter processes to play an important role for the loss of garnet-facies mantle. A fresh garnet lherzolite xenolith from the Yangtze Block has a Re depletion age of ∼1.04 Ga, much younger than overlying Archean crustal rocks but the same Re depletion ages as spinel lherzolite xenoliths from adjacent Mesozoic basalts, indicating Neoproterozoic resetting of the Re–Os system in the South China Craton.     

U–Pb and Hf isotopic analysis of zircon in lower crustal xenoliths from the Navajo volcanic field: 1.4 Ga mafic magmatism and metamorphism beneath the Colorado Plateau

Zircon from lower crustal xenoliths erupted in the Navajo volcanic field was analyzed for U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic compositions to characterize the lower crust beneath the Colorado Plateau and to determine whether it was affected by ∼1.4 Ga granitic magmatism and metamorphism that profoundly affected the exposed middle crust of southwestern Laurentia. Igneous zircon in felsic xenoliths crystallized at 1.73 and 1.65 Ga, and igneous zircon in mafic xenoliths crystallized at 1.43 Ga. Most igneous zircon has unradiogenic initial Hf isotopic compositions (ɛ_Hf=+4.1–+7.8) and 1.7–1.6 Ga depleted mantle model ages, consistent with 1.7–1.6 Ga felsic protoliths being derived from “juvenile” Proterozoic crust and 1.4 Ga mafic protoliths having interacted with older crust. Metamorphic zircon grew in four pulses between 1.42 and 1.36 Ga, at least one of which was at granulite facies. Significant variability within and between xenoliths in metamorphic zircon initial Hf isotopic compositions (ɛ_Hf=−0.7 to +13.6) indicates growth from different aged sources with diverse time-integrated Lu/Hf ratios. These results show a strong link between 1.4 Ga mafic magmatism and granulite facies metamorphism in the lower crust and granitic magmatism and metamorphism in the exposed middle crust.     

华北地台部分麻粒岩地体及包体的地球化学特征对比

华北地台麻粒岩包体（汉诺坝）与麻粒岩地体（西望山、蔓菁沟）存在明显的岩石地球化学特征差异，麻粒岩包体总体成分偏基性，麻粒岩地体总体成分偏长英质。形成时间、空间及构造背景的不同是造成成分差异的重要因素。汉诺坝麻粒岩包体是在拉线环境下玄武质岩浆底侵下地壳后结晶分异过程中堆晶作用的结果，其主、微量元素成分受控于辉石和斜长石堆晶的相对比例；下地壳物质的混染作用不是造成麻粒岩包体Nb、Ta、Th、U亏损的惟一因素，底侵的玄武质岩浆可能发生了含钛矿物相的结晶分离，造成了汉诺坝麻粒岩包体Nb、Ta亏损，而下地壳的麻粒岩相变质作用则使Th、U发生亏损。麻粒岩地体存在两种不同性质的微量元素组成，反映了两种不同构造环境的并置，是构造挤压抬升的结晶。     

Nd isotopic constraints on crustal formation in the North China Craton

Recent tectonic analysis suggests that the North China Craton consists of two Archean continental blocks, called the Eastern and Western Blocks, separated by the Paleoproterozoic Trans-North China Orogen. Although the published geochronological data are not sufficient to constrain the detailed tectonothermal evolution of the craton, the available Nd isotopic data show some important differences in Nd model ages between the tectonic units. The Eastern Block shows two main Nd model age peaks, one between 3.6 and 3.2 Ga and the other between 3.0 and 2.6 Ga. Limited Nd isotopic data from the Western Block show a large range of model ages between 3.2 and 2.4 Ga. These differences are consistent with the recently-proposed model.The Nd isotopic data from mantle-derived mafic rocks indicate that the mantle beneath the North China Craton was depleted in the Archean, consistent with major crustal growth during this period. In the Paleoproterozoic, however, the mantle-derived mafic rocks show negative ε_Nd(t) values, implying crustal contamination. This may have resulted from subduction and collision between the Eastern and Western Block, implying that the mechanisms of crustal formation and evolution may have been different between the Archean and Paleoproterozoic.The North China Craton was re-activated by addition of mantle-derived magma into the lower crust in the late Mesozoic, resulting in rejuvenation of the lower crust. This indicates that underplating is also an important mechanism for continental addition, although in this case it may not equate to crustal growth, since it was preceded by removal of lithospheric mantle and possible some lower crust.     

Continental crust and lithospheric mantle interaction beneath North China: isotopic evidence from granulite xenoliths in Hannuoba, Sino-Korean craton

Mafic granulite and pyroxenite xenoliths from Cenozoic alkaline basalts at Hannuoba, Hebei Province, North China have been selected for a systematic geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic study, which provides a unique opportunity to explore nature of the lower crust and the interaction between the continental crust and lithospheric mantle beneath an Archean craton. The major, compatible and incompatible elements and radiogenic isotopes of these xenoliths suggest great chemical heterogeneity of the lower crust beneath the Hannuoba region. Petrological and geochemical evidences indicate a clear cumulate origin, and most likely, they are related to basaltic underplating in different geological episodes. However, the Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions of the xenoliths reveal a profound enriched source signature (EM I) with some influence of EM II, which implies that some portion of pre-existing, old metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle could have played an important role in their genesis. It is suggested that the interaction between continental crust and subcontinental mantle as manifested by basaltic underplating would be closely related to regional tectonic episodes and geodynamic processes in the deep part of subcontinental lithospheric mantle.     

Origin of high-velocity anomalies beneath the Siberian craton: A fingerprint of multistage magma underplating since the Neoarchean

Despite the violent eruption of the Siberian Traps at ~ 250 Ma, the Siberian craton has an extremely low heat flow (18–25 mW/m²) and a very thick lithosphere (300–350 km), which makes it an ideal place to study the influence of mantle plumes on the long-term stability of cratons. Compared with seismic velocities of rocks, the lower crust of the Siberian craton is composed mainly of mafic granulites and could be rather heterogeneous in composition. The very high V_p (> 7.2 km/s) in the lowermost crust can be fit by a mixture of garnet granulites, two-pyroxene granulites, and garnet gabbro due to magma underplating. The high-velocity anomaly in the upper mantle (V_p = 8.3-8.6 km/s) can be interpreted by a mixture of eclogites and garnet peridotites. Combined with the study of lower crustal and mantle xenoliths, we recognized multistage magma underplating at the crust-mantle boundary beneath the Siberian craton, including the Neoarchean growth and Paleoproterozoic assembly of the Siberian craton beneath the Markha terrane, the Proterozoic collision along the Sayan-Taimyr suture zone, and the Triassic Siberian Trap event beneath the central Tunguska basin. The Moho becomes a metamorphism boundary of mafic rocks between granulite facies and eclogite facies rather than a chemical boundary that separates the mafic lower crust from the ultramafic upper mantle. Therefore, multistage magma underplating since the Neoarchean will result in a seismic Moho shallower than the petrologic Moho. Such magmatism-induced compositional change and dehydration will increase viscosity of the lithospheric mantle, and finally trigger lithospheric thickening after mantle plume activity. Hence, mantle plumes are not the key factor for craton destruction.     

Phanerozoic magma underplating and crustal growth beneath the North China Craton

Evidence for post‐Archaean crustal growth via magma underplating is largely based on U–Pb dating of zircons from granulite‐facies xenoliths. However, whether the young zircons from such xenoliths are genetically related to magma underplating or to anatexis remains controversial. The lower‐crustal xenoliths carried by igneous rocks in the Chifeng and Ningcheng (North China Craton) have low SiO₂ and high MgO, indicating that parental melts of their protoliths were of unambiguous mantle origin. The xenoliths contain abundant magmatic zircons with late‐Palaeozoic ages, and have more radiogenic zircon Hf‐isotope compositions and hence younger model ages than ancient crustal magmas and the “reworking array” of the basement rocks. Our data suggest that the granulites represent episodic magmatic underplating to the lower crust of this craton in Phanerozoic time. Considering the observation that regional lowermost crust (~5 km) is mafic and characterized by Phanerozoic zircons, this work reports an example of post‐Archaean crustal growth via magma underplating.     

Petrology and U–Pb geochronology of lower crustal xenoliths and the development of a craton, Slave Province, Canada

Lower crustal xenoliths recovered from Eocene to Cambrian kimberlites in the central and southern Slave craton are dominated by mafic granulites (garnet, clinopyroxene, plagioclase±orthopyroxene), with subordinate metatonalite and peraluminous felsic granulites. Geothermobarometry indicates metamorphic conditions of 650–800 °C at pressures of 0.9–1.1 GPa. The metamorphic conditions are consistent with temperatures expected for the lower crust of high-temperature low-pressure (HT-LP) metamorphic belts characteristic of Neoarchean metamorphism in the Slave craton. U–Pb geochronology of zircon, rutile and titanite demonstrate a complex history in the lower crust. Mesoarchean protoliths occur beneath the central Slave supporting models of an east-dipping boundary between Mesoarchean crust in the western and Neoarchean crust in the eastern Slave. At least, two episodes of igneous and metamorphic zircon growth occurred in the interval 2.64–2.58 Ga that correlate with the age of plutonism and metamorphism in the upper crust, indicating magmatic addition to the lower crust and metamorphic reworking during this period. In addition, discrete periods of younger zircon growth at ca. 2.56–2.55 and 2.51 Ga occurred 20–70 my after the cessation of ca. 2.60–2.58 Ga regional HT-LP metamorphism and granitic magmatism in the upper crust. This pattern of younger metamorphic events in the deep crust is characteristic of the Slave as well as other Archean cratons (e.g., Superior). The high temperature of the lower crust immediately following amalgamation of the craton, coupled with evidence for continued metamorphic zircon growth for >70 my after ‘stabilization’ of the upper crust, is difficult to reconcile with a thick (200 km), cool lithospheric mantle root beneath the craton prior to this event. We suggest that thick tectosphere developed synchronously or after these events, most likely by imbrication of mantle beneath the craton at or after ca. 2.6 Ga. The minimum age for establishing a cratonic like geotherm is given by lower crustal rutile ages of ca. 1.8 Ga in the southern Slave. Transient heating and possible magmatic additions to the lower crust continued through the Proterozoic, with possible additional growth of the tectosphere.