Geochronology and Petrogenesis of Granitoid Intrusions in the Feidong District, Southern Tan–Lu Fault Zone, China

The Feidong district is located in the southern segment of the Tan–Lu fault zone that separates the South China Block (NCB) from the North China Craton (NCC). We report zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf isotope data, as well as whole-rock geochemistry for Xishanyi granodiorite and Jianshan granite in the Feidong district. Zircon U-Pb dating results show that the emplacement ages of the Xishanyi and Jianshan intrusions are 124 ± 3 Ma and 130 ± 1 Ma respectively, coeval with magmatic events linked to large-scale lithospheric thinning in eastern China. The whole-rock geochemistry of the Xishanyi and Jianshan intrusions demonstrate that they are peraluminous, high potassium calc-alkaline I-type granites with adakitic characteristics. Both intrusions underwent weak crustal assimilation during emplacement. The in situ zircon εHf(t) values of the Xishanyi granodiorites range from ?26.4 to ?21.8, with TDM2 model ages of 2552 to 2841 Ma. The in situ zircon εHf(t) values of the Jianshan granite are from ?27.5 to ?23.0 with TDM2 model ages of 2632 to 2904 Ma. The peak age of inherited zircon grains from the Xishanyi granodiorite and the Jianshan granite were ~2.07 Ga and ~1.94 Ga, respectively. After compared with the regional magmatism, we suggest that both the Xishanyi and Jianshan granitoid intrusions were derived from partial melting of the NCC lower crust.     

U-Pb Age and Hf Isotope Study of Detrital Zircons from the Wanzi Supracrustals： Constraints on the Tectonic Setting and Evolution of the Fuping Complex, Trans-North China Orogen

Located in the middle segment of the Trans-North China Orogen, the Fuping Complex is considered as a critical area in understanding the evolution history of the North China Craton （NCC）. The complex is composed of various high-grade and multiply deformed rocks, including gray gneiss, basic granulite, amphibolite, fine-grained gneiss and marble, metamorphosed to upper amphibolite or granulite facies. It can be divided into four rock units： the Fuping TTG gneisses, Longquanguan augen gneisses, Wanzi supracrustals, and Nanying granitic gneisses. U-Pb age and Hf isotope compositions of about 200 detrital zircons from the Wanzi supracrustals of the Fuping Complex have been analyzed. The data on metamorphic zircon rims give ages of 1.82-1.84 Ga, corresponding to the final amalgamation event of the NCC, whereas the data for igneous zircon cores yield two age populations at -2.10 and -2.51 Ga, with some inherited ages scattering between 2.5 and 2.9 Ga. These results suggest that the Wanzi supracrustals were derived from the Fuping TTG gneisses （-2.5 Ga） and the Nanying granitic gneisses （2.0-2.1 Ga） and deposited between 2.10 and 1.84 Ga. All zircons with -2.51 Ga age have positive initial εHf values from ＋1.4 to ＋10.9, suggesting an important crustal growth event at -2.5 Ga through the addition of juvenile materials from the mantle. The Hf isotope data for the detrital zircons further imply that the 2.8 Ga rocks are important components in the lower crust, which is consistent with a suggestion from Nd isotope data for the Eastern Block. The zircons of 2.10 Ga population have initial εHf values of-4.9 to ＋6.1, interpreted as mixing of crustal re-melt with minor juvenile material contribution at 2.1 Ga. These results are distinct from that for the Western Block, supporting that the Fuping Complex was emplaced in a tectonic active environment at the western margin of the Eastern Block.     

Geochemistry of Granitoid Rocks from Zhejiang Province and Crustal Evolution—Ⅰ.Phanerozoic Granitoid Rocks

The Phanerozoic granitoid rocks include the Caledonian,Indosinian and Yenshanian granitoid rocks.The existence of Caledonian and Indosinian granites was evidenced by zircon U-Pb ages,The study of the characteristics of major,trace and rare-earth elements,isotopic composition and petrogenesis for the granitoid rocks has been made,The Caledonian and Indosinian granites were derived from partial melting of the Proterozoic basement rocks and the two tectonic activities were weak,The Yenshanian grantoid rocks were derived from mixing of mantle and crustal materials,It implies that the crustal accretion took place in Mesozoic time.     

Neoarchean (2.5-2.8 Ga) crustal growth of the North China Craton revealed by zircon Hf isotope: A synthesis

The crustal growth of the North China Craton(NCC) during the Neoarchean time(2.5—2.8 Ga) is a hotly controversial topic,with some proposing thai the main crustal growth occurred in the late Neoarchean (2.5—2.6 Ga),in agreement with the time of the magmatism,whereas others suggest that the main crustal accretion took place during early Neoarchean time(2.7—2.8 Ga),consistent with the time of crustalformation of other cratons in the world.Zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotope compositions can provide rigorous constraints on the time of crustal growth and the evolution and tectonic division of the NCC.In this contribution, we make a comprehensive review of zircon Hf isotope data in combination with zircon U-Pb geochronology and some geochemistry data from various divisions of the NCC with an aim to constrain the Neoarchean crustal growth of the NCC.The results suggest that both 2.7—2.8 Ga and 2.5—2.6 Ga crustal growth are distributed over the NCC and the former is much wider than previously suggested.The Eastern block is characterized by the main 2.7—2.8 Ga crustal growth with local new crustal-formation at 2.5—2.6 Ga,and the Yinshan block is characterized by～2.7 Ga crustal accretion as revealed by Hf-isotope data of detrital zircons from the Zhaertai Group.Detrital zircon data of the Khondalite Belt indicate that the main crustal growth period of the Western block is Paleoproterozoic involving some～2.6 Ga and minor Early- to Middle-Archean crustal components,and the crustal accretion in the Trans-North China Orogen(TNCO) has a wide age range from 2.5 Ga to 2.9 Ga with a notable regional discrepancy.Zircon Hf isotope compositions,coupled with zircon ages and other geochemical data suggest that the southern margin may not be an extension of the TNCO,and the evolution and tectonic division of the NCC is more complex than previously proposed,probably involving multi-stage crustal growth and subduction processes.However, there is no doubt that 2.7—2.8 Ga magmatism and crustal-formation are more widely distributed than previously considered,which is further supported by the data of zircons from Precambrian lower crustal rocks, overlying sedimentary cover,modern river sediments and Late Neoarchean syenogranites.     

Zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope constraints on Archean crustal evolution in Southeastern Guyana Shield

The southeastern Guyana Shield,northeast Amazonian Craton,in the north of Brazil,is part of a widespread orogenic belt developed during the Transamazonian orogenic cycle(2.26-1.95 Ga)that includes a large Archean continental landmass strongly reworked during the Transamazonian orogeny,named Amapa Block.It consists mainly of a high-grade metamorphic granulitic-migmatitic-gneiss complex,of Meso-to Neoarchean age and Rhyacian granitoids and supracrustal sequences.For the first time,coupled U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope data were obtained on zircon by LA-ICP-MS from five tectono-stratigraphic units of the Archean basement and one Paleoproterozoic intrusive rock,in order to investigate the main episodes of crustal growth and reworking.Whole-rock Sm-Nd isotope data were compared to the zircon Lu-Hf data.Three main magmatic episodes were defined by U-Pb zircon dating,two in the Mesoarchean(~3.19 Ga and 2.85 Ga)and one in the Neoarchean(~2.69-2.65 Ga).SubchondriticεHf(t)values obtained for almost all investigated units indicate that crustal reworking processes were predominant during the formation of rocks that today make up the Amapa Block.Hf-TDMC model ages,ranging from2.99 Ga to 3.97 Ga,indicate that at least two important periods of mantle extraction and continental crust formation occurred during the Archean in southeastern Guyana Shield,an older one in the Eoarchean(~4.0 Ga)and a younger one in the Mesoarchean(~3.0-3.1 Ga).The latter is recognized as an important period of crustal accretion worldwide.The recognition of an Eoarchean episode to the southeastern most part of the Guyana Shield is unprecedented and was not recorded by whole-rock Sm-Nd data,which were restricted to the Meso-Paleoarchean(2.83 Ga to 3.51 Ga).This finding reveals t hat continental crust generation in the Amazonian Craton began at least 500 Ma earlier than previously suggested by the SmNd systematics.     

Paleoproterozoic juvenile magmatism within the northeastern sector of the São Francisco paleocontinent: Insights from the shoshonitic high Ba–Sr Montezuma granitoids

New,integrated petrographic,mineral chemistry,whole rock geochemical,zircon and titanite UPb geochronology,and zircon Hf isotopic data from the Montezuma granitoids,as well as new geochemical results for its host rocks represented by the Corrego Tingui Complex,provides new insights into the late-to post-collisional evolution of the northeastern Sao Francisco paleocontinent.U-Pb zircon dates from the Montezuma granitoids spread along the Concordia between ca.2.2 Ga to 1.8 Ga and comprise distinct groups.Group I have crystallization ages between ca.2.15 Ga and 2.05 Ga and are interpreted as inherited grains.Group II zircon dates vary from 2.04 Ga to1.9 Ga and corresponds to the crystallization of the Montezuma granitoids,which were constrained at ca.2.03 Ga by the titanite U-Pb age.Inverse age zoning is common within the ca.1.8 Ga Group III zircon ages,being related to fluid isotopic re-setting during the Espinhaco rifiting event.Zircon ε_(Hf)(t) analysis show dominantly positive values for both Group I(-4 to+9) and Ⅱ(-3 to+8) zircons and T_(DM2) model ages of 2.7-2.1 Ga and 2.5-1.95 Ga,respectively.Geochemically,the Montezuma granitoids are weakly peraluminous to metaluminous magnesian granitoids,enriched in LILES and LREE,with high to moderate Mg#and depleted in some of the HFSE.Their lithochemical signature,added to the juvenile signature of both inherited and crystallized zircons,allowed its classification as a shoshonitic high Ba-Sr granitoid related to a late-to post-collisional lithosphere delamination followed by asthenospheric upwelling.In this scenario,the partial melting of the lithospheric mantle interacted with the roots of an accreted juvenile intra-oceanic arc,being these hybrid magma interpreted as the source of the Montezuma granitoids.The Corrego Tingui Complex host rocks are akin to a syn-to late-collisional volcanic arc granitoids originated from the partial melting of ancient crustal rocks.The results presented in this study have revealed the occurrence of juvenile rocks,probably related to an island arc environment,that are exotic in relation to the Paleo-to Neoarchean crust from the Sao Francisco paleocontinent's core.     

Early Neoarchean Magmatic and Paleoproterozoic Metamorphic Events in the Northern North China Craton: SHRIMP Zircon Dating and Hf Isotopes of Archean Rocks from the Miyun Area, Beijing

The Miyun area of Beijing is located in the northern part of the North China Craton(NCC)and includes a variety of Archean granitoids and metamorphic rocks.Magmatic domains in zircon from a tonalite reveal Early Neoarchean(2752±7 Ma) ages show a small range in ε_(Hf)(t) from 3.1 to 7.4and t_(DM1)(Hf) from 2742 to 2823 Ma,similar to their U-Pb ages,indicating derivation from a depleted mantle source only a short time prior to crystallization.SHRIMP zircon ages of granite,gneiss,amphibolite and hornblendite in the Miyun area reveal restricted emplacement ages from 2594 to2496 Ma.They also record metamorphic events at ca.2.50 Ga,2.44 Ga and 1.82 Ga,showing a similar evolutionary history to the widely distributed Late Neoarchean rocks in the NCC.Positive ε_(Hf)(t) values of 1.5 to 5.9,with model ages younger than 3.0 Ga for magmatic zircon domains from these Late Neoarchean intrusive rocks indicate that they are predominantly derived from juvenile crustal sources and suggest that significant crustal growth occurred in the northern NCC during the Neoarchean.Late Paleoproterozoic metamorphism developed widely in the NCC,not only in the Trans-North China Orogen,but also in areas of Eastern and Western Blocks,which suggest that the late Paleoproterozoic was the assembly of different micro-continents,which resulted in the final consolidation to form the NCC,and related to the development of the Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Columbia or Nuna supercontinent.     

Ages of Lueliang Group and Its Metamorphism in Mt.Lueliang Region,Shanxi Province：Evidence form Single Grain Zircon U—Pb Dating

Presented in this paper are the newly obtained grain zircon U-Pb ages of volcanic rocks of the Lueliang Goup and associated Kuanping granitic migmatitic gneiss in Shanxi Province.The zircon U-Pb ages of bimodal volcanic rocks(basalt and rhyolite)of the Upper Lueliang Group indicate that the rocks erupted at about 2100 Ma.So the Lueliang Group was formed during the Early Proterozoic.In the area studied the second-stage metamorphism experienced by the Lueliang Group is the dominant one which took place at about 1806 Ma.i.e.,during the late Early Proterozoic.     

A new cache of Eoarchaean detrital zircons from the Singhbhum craton,eastern India and constraints on early Earth geodynamics

The dominant geodynamic processes that underpin the formation and evolution of Earth’s early crust remain enigmatic calling for new information from less studied ancient cratonic nuclei.Here,we present U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions of detrital zircon grains from^2.9 Ga old quartzites and magmatic zircon from a 3.505 Ga old dacite from the Iron Ore Group of the Singhbhum craton,eastern India.The detrital zircon grains range in age between 3.95 Ga and 2.91 Ga.Together with the recently reported Hadean,Eoarchean xenocrystic(up to 4.24 Ga)and modem detritus zircon grains from the Singhbhum craton,our results suggest that the Eoarchean detrital zircons represent crust generated by recycling of Hadean felsic crust formed at^4.3-4.2 Ga and^3.95 Ga.We observe a prominent shift in Hf isotope compositions at^3.6-3.5 Ga towards super-chondritic values,which signify an increased role for depleted mantle and the relevance of plate tectonics.The Paleo-,Mesoarchean zircon Hf isotopic record in the craton indicates crust generation involving the role of both depleted and enriched mantle sources.We infer a short-lived suprasubduction setting around^3.6-3.5 Ga followed by mantle plume activity during the Paleo-,Mesoarchean crust formation in the Singhbhum craton.The Singhbhum craton provides an additional repository for Earth’s oldest materials.     

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

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

Genesis of granitoid batholiths of Peninsular Malaysia and implications for models of crustal evolution: Evidence from a NdSr isotopic and UPb zircon study

Nd, Sr and U-Pb isotopic data for the late Triassic West Coast Province batholiths and Permian to Triassic East Coast Province batholiths of Peninsular Malaysia allow estimates of the ages of the crustal fragments comprising the peninsula to be made. Initial ?_Nd and ?_Sr values for granitoids from the West Coast Province range from ?6 to ?10 and +160(0.716) to +660(0.751) respectively. Nd model ages calculated based on a depleted mantle evolution model (T_DM^Nd) range from 1300 Ma to 1800 Ma and are in general agreement with the mid-Proterozoic upper intersection ages of U-Pb zircon reverse discordia (1500–1700 Ma). Initial ?_Nd and ?_Sr values for granitoids from the East Coast Province range from ?0.8 to ?6 and +10(0.705) to +130(0.714) respectively. Calculated T_DM^Nd ages of 900–1400 Ma for these granitoids are comparable to two U-Pb zircon reverse discordia intercepts that yield 800 Ma and 1350 Ma. The general agreement of U-Pb zircon inheritance ages and T_DM^Nd ages are interpreted to correspond to the Proterozoic ‘crust formation’ ages of the continental fragments represented by the West Coast and East Coast batholithic provinces. Mid-Proterozoic (~ 1300–1900 Ma) ‘crust formation’ ages are commonly shown by other Phanerozoic continental margin plutonic and volcanic belts. The ubiquitous mid-Proterozoic ‘crust formation’ ages and the absence of Archaean signatures suggest voluminous juvenile additions to the continental crust in the mid-Proterozoic. Such ages at continental margins would imply that many continental blocks had achieved very much their present-day extent by the mid-Proterozoic.     

Highly evolved Archean basement beneath the western Cathaysia Block, South China

How has the Earth’s continental crust evolved? Most of our knowledge comes from surface exposures, but zircon xenocrysts in volcanic rocks can provide samples of deeper crustal levels. The U-Pb and Hf-isotope systematics of xenocrystic zircons brought to the surface by the Cenozoic (48-49 Ma) Pingnan basaltic rocks and the Mesozoic (166 Ma) Pingle minettes in Guangxi Province (South China), suggest the presence of unexposed relict Archean basement beneath the western Cathaysia Block, where the oldest exposed rocks are Neoproterozoic-Phanerozoic in age. This basement has provided zircons with several distinct age populations: 3.85, 3.55, 3.3-3.2 and mainly 2.9-2.5 Ga. These have Hf depleted-mantle model ages (T_DM) of 2.5 to ?3.9 Ga. The oldest T_DM (∼3.9 Ga) shows the existence of Paleo- to Eoarchean components in this area. This relict basement experienced complex modification, including the addition of juvenile mantle material (with ε_Hf up to +12.7) at ca 3.6-3.2, 2.5, 1.0 and 0.5 Ga. The zircons also record thermal events that reworked (remelted) the older crustal components of the block at ca 2.0-1.8, 1.6-1.5 Ga and ∼80 Ma. Although these younger events have modified the Archean nature of the basement, it seems that they do not represent significant post-Archean crustal growth.     

Combined U-Pb SHRIMP and Hf isotope Complex, Rio Negro Province, Argentina： of the Patagonia composite terrane study of the Late Paleozoic Yaminué Implications for the origin and evolution

We have carried out zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating and Hf isotope determinations on a biotite paraschist and on a tonalitic orthogneiss of the Yaminue Complex,and re-evaluate this complex in the broader context of the tectonic evolution of the Patagonia composite terrane.In the metasedimentary unit （msuYC）,the youngest detrital zircon dated at 318±5 Ma（Mississippian/Pennsylvanian boundary） indicates a Pennsylvanian（or younger） depositional age.The three main age populations peak at 474,454 and 374 Ma.Preliminary Hf isotope data for two detrital zircons（447 and 655 Ma） yieldedε（Hf） values of -0.32 and 0.48,indicating that their primary sources contained small amounts of recycled crustal components(of Calymmian age;T_DM 1.56 Ga).Zircons from the orthogneiss（miuYC;intrusive into msuYC） show a crystallization age of 261.3±2.7 Ma（Capitanian;late middle Permian） which is broadly coeval with deformation,and Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic inheritance.Meaningful core-rim relationship between Neoarchean zircon cores and late Permian rims is well defined,indicating the occurrence of Archean crust in this sector of Patagonia.Hf T_DM of Permian zircons is mainly Meso-Paleoarchean（2.97-3.35 Ga）,with highly negativeε（Hf） values（ca.-33）.Hf T_DM of inherited Neoarchean zircon cores is also Meso-Paleoarchean（3.14-3.45 Ga） but more juvenile（ε（Hf） = -0.3）.Hf isotopes reinforce the presence of unexposed ancient crust in this area. Combining geological and isotope data,as well as geophysical models,we identify the Yaminue Complex within the La Esperanza-Yaminue crustal block flanked by two other,distinct crustal blocks:the Eastern block which forms part of the Patagonia terrane sensu stricto,located in the eastern Patagonian region,and the Western block forming part of the Southern Patagonia terrane.Their origins and timing of amalgamation to form the Patagonia composite terrane are also discussed.     

Paleo- and Mesoarchean TTG-sanukitoid to high-K granite cycles in the southern São Francisco craton,SE Brazil

The generation of the continental crust is widely accepted to have taken place predominantly in the Archean, when TTG magmatism associated with greenstone-belt supracrustal succession development was typically followed by emplacement of high-K granites before crustal stabilization. This study focuses on the Campos Gerais complex (CGC), which is an Archean granite-greenstone belt lithological association in a tectonic window located in the southwesternmost portion of the São Francisco craton (SFC). The CGC is an important segment of Paleo- to Mesoarchean continental crust to be integrated into paleogeographic reconstructions prior to the transition into the Paleoproterozoic. This investigation reports field relationships, 28 major and trace element compositions, U–Pb (zircon) geochronological results, and Hf and Sm–Nd isotope data for orthogneiss and amphibolite samples. The results indicate that the CGC records a complex Archean crustal evolution, where voluminous 2.97 Ga TTG tonalites and trondhjemites (ε_Nd(t) =  ? 4.7; T_DM = 3.24 Ga) were followed by 2.89 Ga sanukitoid tonalite production (ε_Nd(t) =  ? 1.9; T_DM = 3.02 Ga), broadly coeval with the development of the Fortaleza de Minas and Pitangui greenstone-belts. These events are interpreted to represent the initial stage of an important subduction-accretion tectonic cycle, which ended with the emplacement of 2.82–2.81 Ga high-K leucogranites and migmatization of the TTG-sanukitoid crust, with hybrid and two-mica, peraluminous compositions (ε_Nd(t) =  ? 8.0 to ? 8.6; T_DM = 3.57 – 3.34 Ga). The presence of inherited zircons with ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 3.08 Ga, 3.29 Ga, 3.55 Ga and 3.62 Ga indicates that the Mesoarchean tectonic processes involved reworking of Meso- to Eo-archean crust. Renewed TTG magmatism took place at ca. 2.77 Ga represented by juvenile tonalite stocks (ε_Nd(t) = +1.0 to ? 1.5; T_DM = 2.80 – 2.88 Ga) which intrude the TTG-greenstone belt association. Crustal stabilization was attained by 2.67 Ga, allowing for the emplacement of within-plate tholeiitic amphibolites (ε_Nd(t) =  ? 3.1; T_DM = 2.87 Ga). The CGC shows important tectonic diachronism with respect to other Archean terrains in the southern São Francisco craton, including an independent Meso- to Neoarchean crustal evolution.     

The Neoproterozoic-early Paleozoic metamorphic and magmatic evolution of the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas: an overview

The Eastern Sierras Pampeanas were structured by three main events: the Ediacaran to early Cambrian (580?C510?Ma) Pampean, the late Cambrian?COrdovician (500?C440?Ma) Famatinian and the Devonian-Carboniferous (400?C350?Ma) Achalian orogenies. Geochronological and Sm?CNd isotopic evidence combined with petrological and structural features allow to speculate for a major rift event (Ediacaran) dividing into two Mesoproterozoic major crustal blocks (source of the Grenvillian age peaks in the metaclastic rocks).This event would be coeval with the development of arc magmatism along the eastern margin of the eastern block. Closure of this eastern margin led to a Cambrian active margin (Sierra Norte arc) along the western margin of the eastern block in which magmatism reworked the same crustal block. Consumption of a ridge segment (input of OIB signature mafic magmas) which controlled granulite-facies metamorphism led to a final collision (Pampean orogeny) with the western Mesoprotrozoic block. Sm?CNd results for the metamorphic basement suggest that the T _DM age interval of 1.8?C1.7?Ga, which is associated with the less radiogenic values of ??Nd₍₅₄₀₎ (?6 to ?8), can be considered as the mean average crustal composition for the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas. Increasing metamorphic grade in rocks with similar detrital sources and metamorphic ages like in the Sierras de Córdoba is associated with a younger T _DM age and a more positive ??Nd₍₅₄₀₎ value. Pampean pre-540?Ma granitoids form two clusters, one with T _DM ages between 2.0 and 1.75?Ga and another between 1.6 and 1.5?Ga. Pampean post-540?Ma granitoids exhibit more homogenous T _DM ages ranging from 2.0 to 1.75?Ga. Ordovician re-activation of active margin along the western part of the block that collided in the Cambrian led to arc magmatism (Famatinian orogeny) and related ensialic back-arc basin in which high-grade metamorphism is related to mid-crustal felsic plutonism and mafic magmatism with significant contamination of continental crust. T _DM values for the Ordovician Famatinian granitoids define a main interval of 1.8?C1.6, except for the Ordovician TTG suites of the Sierras de Córdoba, which show younger T _DM ages ranging from 1.3 to 1.0?Ga. In Devonian times (Achalian orogeny), a new subduction regime installed west of the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas. Devonian magmatism in the Sierras exhibit process of mixing/assimilation of depleted mantle signature melts and continental crust. Achalian magmatism exhibits more radiogenic ??Nd₍₅₄₀₎ values that range between 0.5 and ?4 and T _DM ages younger than 1.3?Ga. In pre-Devonian times, crustal reworking is dominant, whereas processes during Devonian times involved different geochemical and isotopic signatures that reflect a major input of juvenile magmatism.     

Precambrian history of the Zona Transversal of the Borborema Province,NE Brazil: Insights from Sm–Nd and U–Pb geochronology

The Borborema Province has three major subprovinces. The northern subprovince lies north of the Patos shear zone and is comprised of Paleoproterozoic cratonic basement with Archean nuclei, plus overlying Neoproterozoic supracrustal rocks and Brasiliano plutonic rocks. The central subprovince occurs between the Patos and Pernambuco shear zones and is mainly comprised of the Zona Transversal. The southern subprovince occurs between the Pernamabuco shear zone and the São Francisco craton and is comprised of a tectonic collage of various blocks, terranes, or domains ranging in age from Archean to Neoproterozoic. This report focuses on the Zona Transversal, especially on Brasiliano rocks for which we have the most new information.Paleoproterozoic gneisses with ages of 2.0–2.2 Ga occur discontinuously throughout the Zona Transversal. The Cariris Velhos suite consists of metavolcanic, metasedimentary, and metaplutonic rocks yielding U–Pb zircon ages of 995–960 Ma. This suite is mainly confined to a 100 km wide belt that extends for more than 700 km within the Alto Pajeú terrane. Sm–Nd model ages in metaigneous rocks cluster about 1.3–1.6 Ga, indicating that older crust was involved in genesis of their magmas. Brasiliano supracrustal rocks dominate the Piancó-Alto Brígida terrane, and they probably also constitute significant parts of the Alto Pajeú and Rio Capibaribe terranes. They are only slightly older than early stages of Brasiliano plutonism, with detrital zircon ages at least as young as 620 Ma; most T_DM ages range from 1.2 to 1.6 Ga.Brasiliano plutons range from ca. 640 to 540 Ma, and their T_DM ages range from 1.2 to 2.5 Ga. Previous workers have shown significant correlations among U–Pb ages, Sm–Nd model ages, petrology, and geochemistry, and we are able to reinforce and extend these correlations. Stage I plutons formed 640–610 Ma and have T_DM ages less than 1.5 Ga. Stage II (610–590 Ma) contains few plutons, but coincides with the peak of compressional deformation, metamorphism, and formation of migmatites. Stage III plutons (590 to ca. 575 Ma) have older T_DM ages (ca. 1.8–2.0 Ga), as do Stage IV plutons (575 to ca. 550 Ma; T_DM from 1.9 to 2.4 Ga). Stage III plutons formed during the transition from compressional to transcurrent deformation, while Stage IV plutons are mainly post-tectonic. Stage V plutons (550–530 Ma) are commonly undeformed (except along younger shear zones) and have A-type geochemistry. The five stages have distinct geochemical properties, which suggest that the tectonic settings evolved from early, arc-related magma-genesis (Stage I) to within-plate magma-genesis (Stage V), with perhaps some intermediate phases of extensional environments.     

Growth rate of the preserved continental crust: II. Constraints from Hf and O isotopes in detrital zircons from Greater Russian Rivers

Detrital zircons from the Ob, Yenisey, Lena, Amur, Volga, Dnieper, Don and Pechora rivers have been analyzed for U-Th-Pb, O and Lu-Hf isotopes to constrain the growth rate of the preserved continental crust in Greater Russia. Four major periods of zircon crystallization, 0.1-0.55, 0.95-1.3, 1.45-2.0 and 2.5-2.9 Ga, were resolved from a compilation of 1366 zircon U/Pb ages. The Archean zircons have δ¹⁸O values lying between 4.53‰ and 7.33‰, whereas Proterozoic and Phanerozoic zircons have a larger range of δ¹⁸O values in each of the recognized U/Pb time intervals with maximum δ¹⁸O values up to 12‰. We interpret the zircons with δ¹⁸O between 4.5‰ and 6.5‰ to have been derived from a magmatic precursor that contains little or no sedimentary component. The variable δ¹⁸O values of the zircons were used to constrain the ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios of the crustal source region of the zircons, which, in turn, were used to calculate Hf model ages (T_DM^V). The crustal incubation time, the time difference between primitive crust formation (dated by T_DM^V) and crustal melting (dated by zircon U/Pb age), varies between 300 to 1000 Myr for the majority of analyzed zircon grains, but can be up to 2500 Myr. The average T_DM^V Hf model age weighted by the fraction of zircons in the river load is 2.12 Ga, which is in reasonable agreement with the area-weighted average of 2.25 Ga. The T_DM^V Hf model age crustal growth curve for zircons with mantle-like δ¹⁸O values (4.5-6.5‰), weighted by area, shows that growth of the Great Russian continental crust started at 4.2 Ga, and that there are two principal periods of crustal growth, 3.6-3.3 Ga and 0.8-0.6 Ga, which are separated by an interval of low but more or less continuous growth. An alternative interpretation, in which the average ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratio (0.0115) of the continental crust is used for the Paleoproterozoic zircons from the Lena River, lowers the average T_DM^V age of these grains by about 500 Myr and delays the onset of significant crustal growth to 3.5 Ga.The two principal growth periods recognized in Greater Russia differ from those identified from the Gondwana and the Mississippi river basin, which show peaks at 1.7-1.9 and 2.9-3.1 Ga (Hawkesworth and Kemp, 2006a) and 1.6-2.2 and 2.9-3.4 Ga (Wang et al., 2009), respectively. The older 3.6-3.3 Ga or 3.5-3.3 Ga peak for Greater Russia is slightly older than the older Gondwana-Mississippi peaks, whereas the younger 0.8-0.6 Ga peak is distinctly younger than the youngest peak in either Gondwana or the Mississippi river basin. This suggests that the two major peaks of crustal growth identified in Gondwana and the Mississippi river basin may not be global periods of enhanced continental growth and that the major periods of crustal growth may differ from continent to continent.     

胶北太古宙早期锆石U-Pb定年及Hf同位素研究：华北克拉通古老陆壳增生及再循环的证据

古老陆壳物质的发现与鉴别是探索地球早期陆壳形成与演化历史的重要内容之一,锆石U-Pb年龄结合Hf同位素研究是该研究的重要手段。本文通过对胶北地体内一个长英质副片麻岩中的锆石开展系统的原位U-Pb定年和微量、稀土元素分析,获得了多个太古宙早期的锆石。根据这些锆石的阴极发光图像、Th/U比值及稀土元素球粒陨石标准化配分模式,它们具有典型岩浆锆石的特征,其中2个分析点给出了3413Ma和3400Ma(~3.4Ga)的锆石U-Pb年龄,7个分析点给出3547±19Ma(MSWD=1.16)的锆石U-Pb年龄,指示太古宙早期的陆壳岩浆事件;结合华北克拉通其它地区的类似研究结果,暗示华北克拉通可能曾经存在比现今出露面积更大的太古宙早期的古老陆壳。这些古老锆石的Hf同位素分析显示,它们的εHf(t)值在-6.19~0.95之间,平均为-2.54,两阶段Hf模式年龄在3737~4353Ma之间,平均值为~4.1Ga,远大于锆石的U-Pb年龄,指示华北克拉通存在~4.1Ga的地壳增生作用及古老陆壳(3.55Ga)的再循环。     

Destruction of ancient lower crust through magma underplating beneath Jiaodong Peninsula, North China Craton: U-Pb and Hf isotopic evidence from granulite xenoliths

Zircons from granulite xenoliths entrained in a Late Cretaceous mafic dike in the Jiaodong Peninsula, North China Craton (NCC), show three distinct U-Pb age populations. Part of the old zircon grains yield discordant data that project to ages of about 2.4 to 2.5 Ga, a few grains indicate growth at about 2.0 Ga and a third group yield Cretaceous ages with peaks at 120 and 90 Ma. The oldest zircons give Hf T_DM model ages of 2.6-2.8 Ga. These results demonstrate the existence of original Archean lower crust in the Jiaodong region. Zircons of 2.0 Ga have similar Hf T_DM model ages as the Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic grains, suggesting that these zircons were products of metamorphic recrystallization due to thermal event without juvenile input. Early Cretaceous zircons yield εHf(t) values of − 21 to − 12 and Late Cretaceous zircons large variable εHf(t) from + 4 to − 50. These data suggest that magmatic underplating occurred in the Neoarchean to Earliest Proterozoic lower crust of the NCC, both in the Early and Late Cretaceous. It is suggested that the Mesozoic magma underplating, which also provided the heat source for the voluminous Mesozoic magmatism in the NCC, significantly modified the composition of the Archean to Paleoproterozoic lower crust of the NCC.