山东沂水杂岩中变基性岩的岩石地球化学特征及锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年

山东沂水杂岩由新太古代岩浆杂岩和中太古代的变质杂岩组成,其后者中的变基性岩石,特别是基性麻粒岩,常与紫苏花岗岩紧密伴生,而且多呈大小不等的包体或呈层状体产出。本文主要对变基性岩进行岩石地球化学和锆石SHRIMP UPb定年研究。根据岩石学特征,可将变基性岩分为三类：含紫苏辉石斜长角闪岩、含石榴子石角闪二辉斜长麻粒岩和含尖晶石—石榴子石的角闪二辉麻粒岩。它们原岩分别为安山质玄武岩、高铁镁质玄武岩和玄武质科马提岩（？）。三类岩石稀土元素和微量元素配分有一定差别：第一类含紫苏辉石斜长角闪岩富集轻稀土和大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf等高场强元素;后二类麻粒岩相变质岩的稀土配分模式为近平坦型或轻稀土略为富集, K、Rb、Ba等元素也轻微富集,其他元素与MORB的比值接近于1。变基性岩中锆石定年结果显示有四组年龄值,其中2719Ma和2560～2607Ma分别代表早期麻粒岩相变质作用的年龄下限和上限;2509～2522Ma代表另一期角闪岩相—麻粒岩相变质作用的时代,发生在沂水岩浆杂岩侵入之后;2485Ma和2497Ma代表与流体作用有关的变质作用和新生锆石的形成年龄。     

山东沂水杂岩中变基性岩类的Sm—Nd同位素年龄及其地质意义

在山东太古宙沂水杂岩的变基性岩类中首次获得的Sm-Nd全岩等时线同位素年龄为2997Ma,证实了山东中部的郯庐断裂带中有中太古代麻粒岩相表壳岩存在。沂水杂岩的岩石组合主要有二辉斜长麻粒岩、二辉斜长片麻岩、二辉铁英岩(少量)、二辉斜长角闪岩和紫苏花岗岩类等,它们组成了山东最老的汞丹山地块,其时代大致相当于胶东群,但层位可能更为偏下。沂水杂岩为高角闪岩相至麻粒岩相。变基性岩的原岩相当低钾拉斑玄武岩,稀土配分具有较平坦型和轻稀土富集型两种模式。岩石的ε_(Nd)(t)值为+3.8±0.3,物源来自亏损(上)地幔。它与华北陆台北缘麻粒岩相中部分岩石的岩性十分相似,表明其源区的化学特征相似,但主体的稀土模式有所不同,说明太古宙不同地区相似岩石地球化学的不均匀性。     

山东沂水地区英灵山花岗岩及其捕虏体的地质、岩石地球化学特征和锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年

英灵山花岗岩是新太古代沂水岩浆杂岩的重要组成部分之一,主要分布于沂水县城东南部,总体呈北东向分布。花岗岩的片麻理走向北东,南倾,倾角40～50°,侵入于沂水岩群的二辉斜长角闪岩-黑云变粒岩（黑云斜长片麻岩）-二辉斜长片麻岩变质岩组合中,北部与马山岩体、雪山岩体和大山岩体接触,东南与林家官庄岩体接触。岩石呈中—粗粒,略具片麻状,包体发育,SiO2含量73.36%～74.44%,K2O>Na2O>CaO,稀土元素总量较低,为22.25×10-6～88.82×10-6,弱—中等的正Eu异常,轻、重稀土元素分馏较强,La/Yb=11～47,富集K、Rb、Ba等大离子亲石元素和Er、Hf等高场强元素,亏损Sr、Ta、Nb、P等元素,成分上属钾质花岗岩。2个样品YS06-30和YS06-48的锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年结果分别是2530Ma±7Ma和2531Ma±8Ma,属于新太古代。     

辽西太古代建平变质杂岩的地球化学和变质作用的PTt轨迹

太古代建平变质杂岩主要由高Na/K比的、原岩为英云闪长岩-奥长花岗岩-花岗闪长岩系列(TTG)侵入岩的中性麻粒岩和片麻岩、少量变沉积岩、基性麻粒岩、斜长角闪岩和变超基性岩组成。各类岩石具有明显不同的地球化学特征。结合野外关系考虑,斜长角闪岩和基性麻粒岩可与世界其他高级区内的变质拉斑玄武岩对比;TTG片麻岩,中性麻粒岩、紫苏花岗岩和斜长质片麻岩可能由镁铁质源岩部分熔融而成。变质作用的演化轨迹为反时针型。因此,本区可与冀东、内蒙、南印度和苏格兰的刘易斯等高级地体对比。     

北京密云群变质作用的温度、压力研究

密云群分布于华北地台北缘、北京密云县半城子以南到沙厂一带,由一套互层状黑云母角闪辉石质变质岩组成,其中分布最广的是含石榴石、角闪石或辉石的黑云变粒岩和斜长片麻岩,其次是榴辉斜长角闪岩、石榴斜长辉石岩和各种辉石麻粒岩,以及一些规模不     

中国与蒙古之地质

东昆仑中部缝合带清水泉一带发育石榴斜长紫苏麻粒岩、紫苏辉石黑云母石榴子石麻粒岩、石榴二辉斜长麻粒岩和石榴单斜辉石麻粒岩,它们与混合岩化黑云母石榴子石变粒岩、黑云母辉石变粒岩、石墨大理岩、含透辉石透闪石大理岩、透辉石大理岩、黑云斜长角闪岩和片麻岩等高级变质岩系以及纯橄岩、辉橄岩、橄长岩、辉长岩、辉绿岩和玄武岩等共同构成蛇绿混杂岩。麻粒岩相变质作用的温压条件为T=760~880℃,p=830~1200MPa,为高温中高压麻粒岩相变质作用,估算其形成深度为40~45km。麻粒岩相变质作用的SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄为(507·7±8·3)Ma。清水泉地区蛇绿岩形成于~520Ma,到~508Ma时俯冲至地下40~45km深处而发生中高压麻粒岩相变质作用,然后发生构造折返而剥露至地表。证实了清水泉高级变质岩和基性—超基性岩片是形成于早—中寒武世的蛇绿混杂岩,标志一个古生代早期的非常重要的板块汇聚边界,这对于进一步研究东昆仑造山带构造演化、乃至中国西部大地构造格局具有非常重要的意义。     

冀东五重安铁矿床矿区地质特征研究

<正>冀东五重安铁矿位于华北克拉通北缘,马兰峪—山海关东西向复背斜的中部,迁安隆起的西缘。矿区受迁安隆起西缘褶皱带控制,呈向西凸出的弧形带状展布,矿区中部被横山东西向断裂分为南、北两个矿区。矿区发育太古界迁西群变质岩,主要由上川组和三屯营组组成。上川组以辉石麻粒岩为代表,其中又以角闪斜长二辉麻粒岩最发育,混合岩化强烈;三屯营组主要由浅粒岩、黑云变粒岩、黑云紫苏斜长片麻岩、二辉麻粒岩、辉石黑云角闪斜长片麻岩、斜长角闪岩、磁铁石英岩透镜体组成。     

怀安麻粒岩锆石U-Pb年代学及Hf同位素：华北北缘下地壳增生再造过程研究

怀安杂岩体位于华北克拉通中北部,出露太古代-元古代的角闪岩相-麻粒岩相高级变质岩,记录了华北克拉通复杂的地壳形成和演化史.本文对其中的镁铁质麻粒岩和长英质麻粒岩进行了岩石学及锆石U-Pb年代学和Hf同位素组成研究,并在此基础上对其形成过程及所反映的华北北缘古老下地壳的增生再造过程进行讨论.镁铁质麻粒岩主要矿物组合为Cpx+ Pl+ Qz±Opx±Hb±Grt,粒状变晶结构,局部发育石榴子石的“白眼圈”现象,表明经历了高压麻粒岩相及后期近等温减压退变质作用过程.选择其中矿物组成为Cpx、Pl和少量Qz的单斜辉石麻粒岩进行锆石定年获得2461±20Ma的原岩形成年龄.这些岩浆锆石的εHf(t)为+2.1 ～ +9.7,最高值接近当时的亏损地幔值,其Hf亏损地幔模式年龄(tDM)集中在2.6～2.7Ga之间,最小为2412Ma和2461 Ma,接近原岩形成年龄.长英质麻粒岩主要组成矿物为Pl+ Kfs+ Cpx+ Qz+ Opx,粒状变晶结构.锆石测年获得2458±46Ma的原岩形成年龄.这些锆石εHf(t)范围为+2.9～ +5.3,锆石Hf两阶段模式年龄(t.ust)集中在2.8 ～2.7Ga之间.怀安麻粒岩的这些特征显示怀安地区在～2.5Ga发生亏损地幔的部分熔融,为单斜辉石麻粒岩提供了原岩物质,同时可能引起了先存(≥2.7Ga)地壳的重熔,即存在地壳再造,进一步为长英质麻粒岩提供了原岩物质.单斜辉石麻粒岩和长英质麻粒岩原岩都形成于～2.5Ga.     

冀东地区新太古代晚期的岩浆事件与地壳增生:来自岩石地球化学和锆石年龄及Hf同位素的制约

在华北克拉通东部冀东的遵化-迁西-迁安地区广泛分布有新太古代晚期的斜长角闪岩(基性火山岩)、TTG片麻岩和紫苏闪长岩/紫苏花岗岩。锆石U-Pb同位素测定表明,该区的斜长角闪岩、TTG片麻岩和紫苏闪长岩/紫苏花岗岩几乎同时形成于2529±30Ma到2555±14Ma期间。这是华北克拉通新太古代晚期一次重要的岩浆事件,并紧随有2.5Ga左右的麻粒岩相变质作用。阴极发光图像显示,TTG片麻岩和紫苏闪长岩/紫苏花岗岩中一些锆石的核部为灰黑色,具杉树叶结构或无内部结构,意味着这些锆石核部的U-Th-Pb同位素体系在变质作用期间受到了干扰或重置,因此岩浆锆石核部的207Pb/206Pb加权平均年龄通常被解释为代表岩浆事件最年轻的年龄。新太古代晚期TTG片麻岩和紫苏闪长岩/紫苏花岗岩的岩浆锆石具有正的εHf(t)值(-0.08~9.49),计算的tDM1(Hf)模式年龄介于2572~2896Ma之间,峰值年龄为2.72Ga。这表明,TTG片麻岩和紫苏闪长岩/紫苏花岗岩的母岩浆是从亏损地幔源分异出来的,且2.7Ga是研究区和华北克拉通最重要的一次地壳增生事件。地球化学和岩石成因研究表明,本区的TTG片麻岩和紫苏闪长岩/紫苏花岗岩是由来自新生地壳基性岩石部分熔融形成的岩浆通过结晶分离形成的,其中角闪石是主要的分离相矿物。地幔柱模式更有利于解释本区TTG片麻岩和紫苏闪长岩/紫苏花岗岩的成因以及冀东地区的许多其他地质特征。     

华北古陆块北缘退变榴辉岩的矿物化学与退变质作用

华北古陆块北缘退变榴辉岩呈透镜状产于角闪岩相变质的早元古宙红旗营子群黑云斜长片麻岩中，岩相学研究显示它经历了峰期榴辉岩相、减压过程中的高压麻粒岩相和角闪岩相变质作用。峰期榴辉岩相的矿物组合为石榴子石、绿辉石、金红石和石英等，变质条件为680～730℃和大于1．40～1．50GPa。在退变质早期，绿辉石分解形成钠质透辉石和斜长石(An=20．4～30．7)的蠕虫状后生合晶，榴辉岩转变成高压麻粒岩；晚期的退变质作用表现为高压麻粒岩相矿物组合转变成由钙质角闪石和斜长石(An=31．6～54.8)组成的角闪岩相矿物平衡共生组合。在结构上，主要表现为石榴子石颗粒边部的次变边、保留石榴子石假象的粒状后生合晶和保留辉石假象的蠕虫状后生合晶等，其变质温压条件为530～610℃和0．67～0．81GPa。     

Superposition of replacements in the mafic granulites of the Jijal complex of the Kohistan arc, northern Pakistan: dehydration and rehydration within deep arc crust

A deep-level crustal section of the Cretaceous Kohistan arc is exposed in the northern part of the Jijal complex. The occurrence of mafic to ultramafic granulite-facies rocks exhibits the nature and metamorphic evolution of the lower crust. Mafic granulites are divided into two rock types: two-pyroxene granulite (orthopyroxene+clinopyroxene+plagioclase±quartz [1]); and garnet–clinopyroxene granulite (garnet+clinopyroxene+plagioclase+quartz [2]). Two-pyroxene granulite occurs in the northeastern part of the Jijal complex as a relict host rock of garnet–clinopyroxene granulite, where the orthopyroxene-rich host is transected by elongated patches and bands of garnet–clinopyroxene granulite. Garnet–clinopyroxene granulite, together with two-pyroxene granulite, has been partly replaced by amphibolite (hornblende±garnet+plagioclase+quartz [3]). The garnet-bearing assemblage [2] is expressed by a compression–dehydration reaction: hornblende+orthopyroxene+plagioclase=garnet+clinopyroxene+quartz+H₂O↑. Subsequent amphibolitization to form the assemblage [3] is expressed by two hydration reactions: garnet+clinopyroxene+plagioclase+H₂O=hornblende+quartz and plagioclase+hornblende+H₂O=zoisite+chlorite+quartz. The mafic granulites include pod- and lens-shaped bodies of ultramafic granulites which consist of garnet hornblendite (garnet+hornblende+clinopyroxene [4]) associated with garnet clinopyroxenite, garnetite, and hornblendite. Field relation and comparisons in modal–chemical compositions between the mafic and ultramafic granulites indicate that the ultramafic granulites were originally intrusive rocks which dissected the protoliths of the mafic granulites and then have been metamorphosed simultaneously with the formation of garnet–clinopyroxene granulite. The results combined with isotopic ages reported elsewhere give the following tectonic constraints: (1) crustal thickening through the development of the Kohistan arc and the subsequent Kohistan–Asia collision caused the high-pressure granulite-facies metamorphism in the Jijal complex; (2) local amphibolitization of the mafic granulites occurred after the collision.     

Determination of Early Paleozoic metamorphic event in the Longshan Complex and its geological implicationSCIEI北大核心CSCD

长期以来,陇山杂岩的归属问题一直存在争议。本文对出露于秦岭-祁连山结合部位的陇山杂岩中石榴黑云斜长片麻岩和石榴斜长角闪岩进行了详细的岩石学、P-T温压计算、独居石和榍石U-Pb年代学研究。通过详细的岩相学观察,石榴黑云斜长片麻岩的变质峰期矿物组合为石榴子石+黑云母+斜长石+石英;石榴斜长角闪岩中则识别出了以石榴子石+单斜辉石+角闪石+斜长石+石英为峰期的变质矿物组合。通过传统温压计计算,石榴黑云斜长片麻岩(样品21LS40)和石榴斜长角闪岩样品(样品21LS42-1)的峰期变质P-T条件分别为700℃、0.72GPa和710℃、0.74GPa。激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱(LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb数据表明,石榴黑云斜长片麻岩中独居石的206Pb/238U的加权平均年龄为407~435Ma。石榴斜长角闪岩中榍石的下交点年龄分别为410±7Ma、409±5Ma和426±10Ma,榍石中Zr含量温度计的计算结果分别为750℃、751℃和748℃(假定压力为0.7GPa)。本文从变质作用的角度出发,将陇山杂岩与秦岭杂岩进行温压条件和变质时代对比研究,认为陇山杂岩与东秦岭杂岩高压-超高压岩石的最后一期退变质作用和西秦岭天水地区的秦岭杂岩麻粒岩相变质作用类似,可能为北秦岭造山带的西延。     

Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd Mineral Isochron Ages of the Metamorphic Rocks in the Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex, South Africa

Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic studies were carried out for metamorphic rocks in the Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex, South Africa. The metamorphic rocks give the Rb-Sr mineral isochron ages (whole-rock - biotite - felsic fractions) of 844±85 Ma and 811.6±6.6 Ma for the lower granulite zone and of 776.5±5.4 Ma for the upper granulite zone. The rocks yield the Sm-Nd mineral isochron ages of 1071±18 Ma (whole-rock - garnet - felsic fractions) and 1067±158 Ma (whole-rock - hornblende - biotite rich fraction - felsic fractions) for the lower granulite zone and of 1052.0±3.6 Ma and 1002.5±1.4 Ma (whole-rock - garnet - felsic fractions) for the upper granulite zone. These age data suggest that the granulite facies metamorphism took place at 1060-1000 Ma, and that the rocks cooled down at 850-780 Ma. The Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of metamorphic rocks are different between the lower and upper granulite zones.     

新疆西南天山小哈拉军山辉长岩体岩石学及地球化学研究

出露于西南天山特克斯县东南的小哈拉军山辉长岩体主要由角闪辉长岩和含磁铁矿辉长岩组成。角闪辉长岩主要由单斜辉石、角闪石和斜长石组成;含磁铁矿辉长岩主要由斜长石和磁铁矿组成。这两类岩石都含少量方解石。这些方解石均呈独立矿物出现,且与长石、单斜辉石或黑云母平衡共生。这些方解石是原生碳酸盐矿物（不是后期热液蚀变的产物）。两类岩石属于钙碱性系列,富集轻稀土元素,亏损重稀土元素,轻重稀土之间的分异比较明显,但不显示Eu异常。辉长岩相对富集大离子亲石元素而亏损高场强元素。岩石学和地球化学研究表明,小哈拉军山辉长岩是碳酸盐化地幔极低程度部分熔融的产物,斜长石堆晶过程对岩浆演化起重要作用。     

康定杂岩Rb-Sr、Sm-Nd同位素系统及其意义

通过对康定—冕宁地区出露的英云闪长岩、黑云角闪斜长片麻岩、角闪变粒岩全岩及其中所分离出的角闪石、黑云母、斜长石、钾长石的Rb-Sr、Sm-Nd同位素的系统测定,结合岩石的锆石U-Pb年龄结果,确定这些变质杂岩由于经历了复杂的形成过程与变质历史,Rb-Sr、Sm-Nd同位素体系难以确定其结晶年龄。由单矿物与全岩Rb-Sr、Sm-Nd体系拟合的~700 M a的等时线年龄反映了角闪岩相-高角闪岩相的变质作用年龄。Sm-Nd同位素体系由于在变质作用过程中的部分开放性,很容易给出无意义的较老的混合年龄。康定杂岩结晶后并没有经历麻粒岩相变质作用,区域上所含的麻粒岩透镜体可能是新元古代(773~721 M a)期间由Rod in ia超大陆裂解产生的新生洋壳向扬子克拉通陆块俯冲消减过程的变质产物。俯冲到一定深度后,由于板片被拉断,软流圈上涌导致变质洋壳板片岩石、先前底侵变质的镁铁质岩石及扬子陆块长英质基底岩石发生部分熔融,以镁铁质岩石熔融产生的熔浆为主(>70%),与长英质基底岩石熔融产生的熔浆混合形成w(Na2O)/w(K2O)>1的TTG组合。     

辽宁树基沟铜锌矿床黑云斜长角闪片麻岩锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf同位素组成及其地质意义

树基沟铜锌矿床是太古宙花岗-绿岩带中与火山岩有关的块状硫化物矿床（VMS）。本次对赋矿围岩黑云斜长角闪片麻岩开展了锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年,主量元素、微量元素和Hf同位素分析。锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,黑云斜长角闪片麻岩原岩结晶年龄为（2 549.4±5.6） Ma,可近似代表树基沟铜锌矿床成矿时代。地球化学研究表明,岩石富集大离子亲石元素（LILE）、亏损高场强元素（HFSE）、轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损,为一套岛弧环境的火山沉积岩。黑云斜长角闪片麻岩ε_Hf（t）值为5.0~8.7,单阶段模式年龄T_{DM 1}值为2 527~2 649 Ma,指示其源区主要亏损地幔物质,树基沟地区可能存在新太古代地壳增生事件。结合前人研究成果,认为树基沟铜锌矿床成矿于板块俯冲环境,地幔部分熔融形成富含贱金属岩浆向上运移、汇聚、喷发、固结成岩,后经海水淋滤下渗成矿元素富集二次喷发成矿,并经后期鞍山运动变质变形作用的产物。     

Origin of Mg-Metatholeiites of the Schirmacher Region,East Antarctica: Constraints from Trace Elements and Nd-Sr Isotopic Systematics

The mafic granulites of Schirmacher region, East Antarctica, the rocks under study, occur more or less as concordant sills or as lenses or as boudinage structures within the felsic rocks, charnockites or metapelites of the region. They show variation from garnet bearing two-pyroxene granulites and garnet free pyroxene granulites to transitional amphibolite-pyroxene granulites. Their major, trace, REE and isotopic chemistry are not distinct from each other and they represent Mg-basalts with MgO >7% and Al₂O₃ <16%.The majority of the analyzed samples plot in the tholeiitic field or show tholeiitic trends, suggesting their metatholeiitic nature as well as general preservation of original composition. The rocks are characterized by enriched large-ion lithophile elemental concentrations than that of mid-oceanic ridge basalts. Their high-field strength elements and heavy rare-earth elemental concentrations, however, are as that of mid-oceanic ridge basalts, a feature which is also reflected in the ratios of their large-ion lithophile elements against high-field strength elements and heavy rare-earth elements, wherein we find these ratios are higher than N-type MORB. Further, the rocks show negative Nb anomaly, high Th/Ta ratio and low La/Nb ratio, which are also characteristics of subduction-related magmatism.The isotopic studies carried out on these samples show that, the Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr dating did not yield much spread, but suggested a Sm-Nd metamorphic age of ∼960 Ma. Rb-Sr dating gave ages ∼886 Ma, suggesting the reworking of the Rb and Sr elements during subsequent tectonothermal overprinting. The Nd model ages (T_DM^Nd) of these rocks show a relatively restricted range of 1120 to 1357 Ma, suggesting mafic magmatism ∼1200 Ma. The positive eNd values (+4.22 to +6.07) shown by these rocks, represent a juvenile crustal fragment derived from melting of mantle precursors, without significant reworking of older crustal material. It is proposed that these rocks were produced by partial melting of a mantle source, characterized by LILE enrichment, related principally to dehydration of subducted oceanic crust.     

Geochemical modelling of the tonalitic and trondhjemitic granulites from the Itabuna-Salvador-Curaçá Block,Bahia, Brazil

The studied tonalitic and trondhjemitic granulites are located in the SSE granulitic domain of the São Francisco craton, Bahia, Brazil, where they represent most of the southern part of the Archean and Paleoproterozoic Itabuna-Salvador-Curaçá Block (ISCB). Chemically, the tonalitic and trondhjemitic granulites belong to a low-K calc-alkaline suite; their REE patterns are steep with strong LREE/HREE fractionation and no significant Eu anomaly. Garnet-bearing mafic granulites that occur as enclaves in the tonalitic and trondhjemitic granulites were derived from basalts and/or gabbros of tholeiitic affinity. Geochemical modelling showed that the tonalitic and trondhjemitic granulites were produced by moderate fractional crystallization of an assemblage of hornblende and plagioclase, with subordinate amounts of magnetite, apatite, allanite and zircon. The garnet-bearing mafic granulites would be the source of the magmas that generated these rocks. Partial melting left a residue made up of plagioclase, garnet, orthopyroxene and hornblende.     

内蒙古白云鄂博地区基底岩石锆石年代学及对构造背景的指示

白云鄂博地区的克拉通基底岩石主要由糜棱岩化花岗片麻岩(2588±15Ma),正长岩、花岗闪长岩(2018±15Ma)和黑云母花岗片麻岩、含石榴石蓝晶石花岗片麻岩(～1890Ma)等组成,白云鄂博超大型稀土矿床就位于华北克拉通太古代基底之上。太古代克拉通基底在早元古代中晚期(2.0Ga)又经历了一次强烈的碰撞造山运动,造成了闪长质与花岗质岩浆侵位,以及1.9Ga片麻岩相变质事件。     

Petrology and Ar-Ar dating of granulites from the Galicia Bank (Spain): African craton relics in Western Europe

Abstract

Intermediate orthogranulites were collected on the western flank of the Galicia bank during the Galinaute II cruise in 1995. The petrography of these rocks reveals two types of granulites. The first type is hydrous granulites with K-feldspar + plagioclase + quartz + orthopyroxene + hornblende + garnet + biotite + opaque + zircon + apatite assemblage. Both hornblende and orthopyroxene define a weak foliation plane. A late deformation event is expressed by some fractures cross-cutting the foliation. The second is anhydrous granulites with K-feldspar + plagioclase + quartz + orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + opaque + zircon + apatite assemblage. The rocks display a granoblastic texture and are affected by brittle deformation as testified by the development of numerous microfractures. The P-T conditions (7 ± 1 Kbar, 750 ± 50 °C) calculated from two representative samples demonstrate that the rocks equilibrated under granulite facies conditions. Ar-Ar dating gives Precambrian ages ranging between ca. 2500–2000 Ma for the amphibole from the hydrous granulite and 1600–1500 Ma for the core of the K-feldspar from the anhydrous and hydrous granulites. A younger age of 900 Ma is obtained from the recrystallized rims of the K-feldspar from the two samples. These data indicate that the granulitic rocks in the Galicia Bank had already been exhumed and cooled below ca. 140–400 °C (blocking T° for K-feldspar) in Precambrian times (900 Ma). Given the very well preserved granulitic minerals assemblage of the rocks, the granulites behaved as competent and metastable boudins during their exhumation. The granulitic samples were previously interpreted as fragments of the lower continental crust sampled by the main detachment fault during Cretaceous rifting, but they were part of an upper continental crust from the Precambrian. Geochronological data and petrological assemblages suggest that the granulite blocks in the Galicia Bank probably were derived from the North Armorican Domain (northern part of France) where a Precambrian terrain outcrops. The opening of the Bay of Biscay could be responsible for the scattering of the Precambrian terrain and may explain the presence of the granulitic blocks on both sides of the Bay of Biscay. During the subduction of Europe below the Iberian peninsula the granulite blocks were transported southward and incorporated into a Cretaceous conglomerate forming the accrecionary prism on the Northern Iberia Margin. The granulite facies blocks found on the Galicia Bank represent another example of Gondwanian relics supporting the idea that the West European plate belonged to the West African craton during the Proterozoic. © 2000 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS