Palinspastic reconstruction of the Grenville terrane in the Blue Ridge Geologic Province,southern and central Appalachians,U.S.A

Examinations of Grenville massifs in the Blue Ridge Geologic Province of Virginia and North Carolina indicate that the country rocks (∼ 1100–1450 Ma) are layered gneisses that were metamorphosed during Grenville orogenesis (∼ 1000–1100 Ma) to amphibolite to granulite facies and intruded by plutonic suites. Subsequently, the Grenville terrane was intruded by a suite of peralkaline granitic plutons (∼ 700 Ma) and progressively overlapped westward by Upper Precambrian to Cambrian sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Following deposition of Upper Precambrian and Palaeozoic rocks, the Blue Ridge Geologic Province was subjected to Taconic metamorphism (∼ 450–480 Ma) which generally increased in intensity southeastward from greenschist (chlorite grade) to upper amphibolite (sillimanite grade) facies. Large-scale late Devonian thrusting (∼ 350 Ma) along the Fries fault system and the Brevard zone-Yadkin fault system produced the present day distribution of juxtaposed Grenville massifs and Palaeozoic metamorphic zones in the Blue Ridge Geologic Province. Palinspastic restoration of the Taconic metamorphic zones to their pre-late Devonian relative positions yields an ∼ 50 km displacement on the Fries fault system near the Grandfather Mountain window and and an ∼ 80 km displacement on the Smith River allochthon farther east. Restoration of the Grenville massifs to this same palinspastic base shows that Grenville metamorphic grade decreased southeastward from the deeper granulite facies (opx + gar) to the shallower granulite facies (opx ± amp) to amphibolite facies.     

The iron-rich suite from the Amîtsoq gneisses of southern West Greenland: early Archaean plutonic rocks of mixed crustal and mantle origin

A distinctive group of augen gneisses and ferrodiorites (termed the iron-rich suite) is a component of the early Archaean Amîtsoq gneisses of southern West Greenland. The iron-rich suite outcrops south of the mouth of Ameralik fjord in an area that underwent granulite facies metamorphism in the early Archaean. The iron-rich suite forms approximately 30% of the Amîtsoq gneiss of this area and occurs as sheets and lenses up to 500 m thick. The rest of the Amîtsoq gneisses are predominantly tonalitic-granodioritic, banded grey gneisses. Despite intense deformation and polymetamorphism, there is local field evidence that the iron-rich suite was intruded into the grey gneisses after they had been affected by tectonism and metamorphism. The banded grey gneisses are interpreted as 3,700 to 3,800 Ma old; U-Pb zircon ages from the iron-rich suite give concordia intercepts at circa 3,600 Ma.Coarse grained augen gneisses with microcline mega-crysts are the dominant lithology of the iron-rich suite. They are mostly granodioritic, grading locally into granite and diorite, and are generally rather massive, but locally have well-preserved layering or are markedly heterogeneous. Mafic components are commonly concentrated into clots rich in hornblende and biotite and containing apatite, ilmenite, sphene and zircon. Variation in the proportion of these clots is the main reason for the compositional variation of the augen gneisses. The ferrodiorites of the suite occur as lenses in the augen gneisses. Leucocratic granitoid sheets locally cut the iron-rich suite. The augen gneisses and ferrodiorites have geochemical characteristics in common, such as high Fe/Mg values and high contents of FeOt, TiO₂, P₂O₅, Zr, Y and total REE (rare earth elements).The iron-rich suite probably formed as follows:Heating of the lower crust adjacent to mantle-derived basic intrusions caused melting of the lower crust, giving rise to granodioritic magmas. Disruption of partially crystallised basic intrusions caused mixing of the crustal melts and the fractionated mantle melts to produce the augen gneisses with their high FeOt, TiO₂, P₂O₅, Zr, Y and total REE enrichment. Fragmented, crystallised parts of the basic intrusions gave rise to the ferrodiorite inclusions. These heterogeneous plutons rose to higher crustal levels where they crystallised as sheets and possibly were responsible for the local granulite facies metamorphism. The granitoid sheets that cut the iron-rich suite are interpreted as crustal melts of local origin.The iron-rich suite resembles Proterozoic rapakivi granite-ferrodiorite-norite (anorthosite) associations which form characteristic suites in late- to post-tectonic environments in recently thickened sial. The occurrence of this type of magmatism in the early Archaean is evidence of the complex, polygenetic nature of the oldest known continental crust.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of Grenvillian igneous suites in the northern Oaxacan Complex, southern Mexico: tectonic implications

Chemical and U–Pb isotopic analyses of metaigneous rocks in the northern Oaxacan Complex in southern Mexico indicate that they form part of two granitic–gabbroic suites intruded at 1157–1130 and 1012 Ma, which were metamorphosed under granulite facies conditions between 1004 and 980 Ma. Although the older suite has both within-plate and arc geochemical signatures, the arc characteristics (enrichment of La and Ce relative to Nb, Ta, and Th) are inferred to result from crustal contamination, a conclusion consistent with their negative _Nd signatures. The younger suite is spatially associated with anorthosites (from which we were unable to acquire a protolith age), suggesting that collectively it forms part of anorthosite–mangerite–charnockite–granite (AMCG) suites. The tholeiitic nature of the mafic rocks along with the within-plate character of the felsic rocks suggests that they were intruded during extension related to either farfield backarc rifting, rifting above a slab window, or anorogenic intercontinental rifting. Potentially correlative AMCG suites are widespread in Mexico, the Grenville Province of eastern Canada and northeastern USA, and the Andean massifs of Colombia, however, Pb isotopic data most closely resemble those in South America. These data are consistent with published hypotheses that suggest Oaxaquia represents an exotic terrane derived from Amazonia.     

Coexisting K-rich alkaline and shoshonitic magmatism of arc affinities in the Proterozoic: a reassessment of syenitic stocks in the southwestern Grenville Province

Biotite-rich syenitic stocks in the Mont-Laurier area of the southwestern Grenville Province are shown to belong to the first recorded Proterozoic example of an ultrapotassic, K-rich alkaline and shoshonitic rock association with clear arc affinities. The plutons investigated were previously considered mostly syenitic, typical of nepheline syenite alkaline suites, slightly metamorphosed and late-tectonic with respect to the Grenville orogeny. We find that they postdate the regional metamorphism and comprise a felsic to ultramafic range of rock types belonging to two series: (1) a potassic-to-ultrapotassic, silica-undersaturated series of biotite-rich nepheline-bearing syenite, syenite, monzonite, diorite and pyroxenite, and (2) a shoshonitic, critically silicasaturated series of quartz syenite and amphibole-bearing syenite, with rare monzonite and diorite. The ubiquitous biotite, previously regarded as metamorphic, is reinterpreted as igneous and diagnostic of the potassic character. The shoshonitic and potassic series display the strong enrichment in Al, Ca, K and large-ion-lithophile elements relative to the high-field-strength elements (e.g. Ba/Nb722, La/YB45) and the low contents in Mg that are characteristic of arc-related magmas. The syenitic rocks consistently share the distinctive arc-related geochemical signature of their mafic counterparts. Syenites may thus represent a potential source of paleotectonic information for high grade terranes. Geochemical discriminants (Nb_N/Ta_N and Hf_N/Ti_N ratios) indicate that the shoshonitic and potassic series are unrelated by closedsystem fractionation processes. Rather, the chemical differences between the two series probably reflect differences in source characteristics and conditions of melting. Similar plutons occur throughout the Central Metasedimentary Belt of the southwestern Grenville Province. They define a 1089 to 1076 Ma, 450-km-long grenvillian potassic alkaline plutonic (PAP) province. The presence of this K-rich alkaline province indicates that the scarcity of K-rich rocks in the Precambrian could be only apparent and a consequence of misidentification of K-rich plutons in metamorphosed Precambrian terranes. These 1.1 Ga ultrapotassic to shoshonitic plutonic rocks are geochemically similar to shoshonites and leucitites of the Sunda arc. This similarity suggests that subduction-type enrichment processes were operating in the Proterozoic in ways similar to those of modern settings.     

Geochemistry of Precambrian gneisses: relevance for the evolution of the East Antarctic Shield

Archaean granulite-facies orthogneisses of the Napier Complex in Enderby Land, metamorphosed 3070 Maago, comprise two chemically distinct suites. The more abundant, mainly of tonalitic to granodioritic composition, shows strong Y depletion, explicable by hydrous partial melting of a garnet-bearing source (garnet amphibolite or possibly eclogite); it apparently represents new continental crust. Other gneisses (predominantly of trondhjemitic to granitic (s.s) composition) do not show Y depletion, and have higher TiO₂, Zr, Nb, La, Ce and Ga/Al, and lower CaO, Sr and Mg/(Mg + total Fe); they probably originated by relatively dry melting of predominantly felsic crystal rocks. Both suites show evidence for loss of Rb (relative to K), Th, and U during metamorphism. Late Archaean (−2800 Ma) amphibolite-facies gneisses of MacRobertson Land are of ‘undepleted’ type and may be representative of a higher crustal level than those of Enderby land. Late Proterozoic (1000 Ma) granulite-facies gneisses of Enderby Land (Rayner Complex) are to a large extent remetamorphosed Napier Complex rocks of igneous derivation; in contrast, gneisses of similar age in MacRobertson Land include a much higher proportion derived, either directly or by partial melting, from sedimentary protoliths.     

天山冰达坂和拉尔敦达坂花岗片麻岩SHRIMP锆石年代学特征及其地质意义

西天山冰达坂和拉尔敦达坂地区出露前寒武纪花岗片麻岩,具有变余花岗结构和眼球状构造,表明经历了明显的动力变质作用;SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年代学测试表明它们分别形成于（926±8）Ma和（948±8）Ma,代表了9～10亿年左右的一次重要地质热事件,其中冰达坂花岗片麻岩分析数据中有一颗锆石的年龄为1．4Ga,与前人所报道的天山地区更古老的一期岩浆作用时代相同,可能代表了古老地壳物质的残留锆石。结合前人研究成果认为,天山地区普遍存在这一时期的岩浆作用,可能与Rodinia超大陆聚合过程中的Grenville造山运动有关。     

Late Archean magmatic complexes of the Azov terrane,Ukrainian Shield: Geological setting,isotopic age,and sources of material

Geochemical, isotopic-geochemical, and geochronological information was obtained on magmatic rocks from the Saltychan anticlinorium in the Azov domain of the Ukrainian Shield. The rocks affiliate with the calc-alkaline series and a high-Mg series. The rocks of these series notably differ in concentrations of trace elements and REE and range from gabbro to granodiorite-quartz diorite in composition. The NORDSIM ionprobe U-Pb zircons ages of rocks belonging to the Obitochnen Complex and having both elevated and normal mg# correspond to 2908–2940 Ma. The Osipenkovskaya intrusion has an age of 2855 ± 19 Ma. The most alkaline North Obitochnen intrusion was emplaced in the Proterozoic, at 2074 ± 11 Ma. The age of the amphibolite metamorphism of the host gneisses is reliably dated at 3120–3000 Ma. The model Sm-Nd ages of the intrusive rocks do not exceed 3150 Ma. According to geochemical evidence, the parental melts of the magmatic rocks were derived from mantle domains variably enriched in lithophile elements. The results obtained by studying the Sm-Nd isotopic system corroborate the conclusion drawn from geochemical evidence that most of the melts were derived from the mildly enriched mantle, practically without involvement of ancient crustal material. The mantle became enriched in LREE at approximately 3000 Ma, which corresponds to the age of metamorphism of the supracrustal rocks. This process was separated from the derivation of the melts by a time span of 70–80 Ma. The relative age of the intrusive rocks and their variable composition can be most adequately explained by a contribution of heat and material from a plume to the derivation of the parental melts of these rocks.     

阿拉善地区新元古代岩浆事件及其地质意义

在阿拉善西部地区分布有一些眼球状片麻岩和条带状片麻岩,以往将它们作为阿拉善群的地层对待。本文研究表明它们是受到变形改造的正片麻岩。通过锆石LA-ICPMSU-Pb分析,4个样品分别获得了913±7Ma、921±7Ma、926±15Ma和904±7Ma的年龄结果。新元古代早期变形花岗岩的发现表明,阿拉善地区经历了新元古代早期(格林威尔期)造山作用的强烈改造,它们可能与祁连地块等相似,应属于不同于华北克拉通的独立的变质地块。     

PRINCIPAL GEOLOGIC AND METALLOGENIC FEATURES OF THE MOUNTAINOUS TAYMYR

Within the mountainous Taymry the oldest formations are highly metamorphosed sedimentary and extrusive rocks of Proterozoic age, overlain by less altered rocks of the Sinian complex. These in turn are overlain with angular unconformity by Lower Cambrian deposits, whose age has been determined on the basis of fossils. Paleozoic rocks are widespread, and all systems of the era are represented. Proterozoic rocks occur on the northern coast of the peninsula. The younger Sinian and Paleozoic formations are south and southeast of these. Mesozoic rocks constitute small areas in depressions. Quaternary sediments, consolidated by permafrost, are widely distributed throughout the area. Magmatic activity is well developed. The lower Proterozoic magmatic cycles began with intrusion and extrusion of basic rocks, and ended with granitoid injections accompanied by formation of pegmatitic zones. In the upper Proterozoic, magmatic activity is again characterized in early stages by extrusion and intrusion of basic rocks, and later by the formation of granitic intrusions and their facies, as well as by extrusion of felsite porphyry towards the end of the era. Intrusions of granitoids appeared in the middle Paleozoic. The upper Paleozoic was marked by the formation of traprock and sulfide mineralization. In the early Mesozoic, the occurrence of small subalkaline intrusions resulted in the formation of ores of various types.     

Petrology and structure of the Palaeoproterozoic (1.9 Ga) Rytky nickel sulphide deposit,Central Finland: a comparison with the Kotalahti nickel deposit

The Palaeoproterozoic (1.9 Ga) Rytky and Kotalahti mafic-ultramafic intrusions are located in the contact zone between the Archaean craton and Proterozoic supracrustal rocks. During the second deformation event (D₂) the surrounding country rocks were subjected to intensive metamorphism and deformation associated with the Svecofennian orogeny; the Archaean/Proterozoic boundary controlled both D₂ thrusting and magma ascent. Emplacement of the Rytky and Kotalahti intrusions took place at the culmination of D₂, as shown by the gneiss inclusions with S₂ schistosity within the intrusions. Overthrusting continued after emplacement, with detached fragments of the bodies incorporated into the Archaean gneisses. During the third deformation event (D₃) the originally subhorizontal intrusions were rotated into a subvertical position, so that they now have their stratigraphic top towards the west. The Rytky intrusion is composed mainly of medium- and coarse-grained lherzolite, websterite and gabbronorite. The nickel deposit with pentlandite as the main nickel mineral is associated with the lherzolite and websterite. The coarse-grained lherzolite, websterite and melagabbro represent the first rocks to form, and they contain the nickel sulphide mineralisation. Country rock contamination, as indicated by high TiO₂, P₂O₅, Rb, Zr and light rare earth element contents (LREE), is most pronounced in the marginal part of the intrusion, which was the first to form. The variation in olivine composition (Fo 78.6-84.77 mole %; Ni 630–2386 ppm) and the metal ratio of the sulphide (Ni/Co 19.3 – 50.3) along with the internal stratigraphy of the intrusion indicate an in-situ process of sulphide ore formation.Editorial handling: P. LightfootAn erratum to this article can be found at     

The cheyenne belt: analysis of a proterozoic suture in Southern Wyoming

The Cheyenne belt of southeastern Wyoming is a major shear zone which separates Archean rocks of the Wyoming province to the north from 1800-1600 Ma old eugeoclinal gneisses to the south. Miogeoclinal rocks (2500-2000 Ma old) unconformably overlie Archean basement immediately north of the shear zone and were deposited under transgressive conditions along a rift-formed continental margin. Intrusive tholeiitic sills and dikes are interpreted as rift-related intrusions and a date of 2000 Ma on a felsic differentiate of these intrusions gives the approximate age of rifting. There are no known post-2000 Ma felsic intrusions north of the Cheyenne belt.Volcanogenic gneisses and abundant syntectonic calc-alkaline plutons of the southern terrane are interpreted as island are volcanic and plutonic rocks. The volcanics are a bimodal basalt-rhyolite assemblage. Plutons include large gabbroic complexes and quartz diorite (1780 Ma), syntectonic granitoids (1730-1630 Ma) and post-tectonic anorthosite and granite (1400 Ma). There is no evidence for Archean crust south of the Cheyenne belt.Structural data (thrusts in the miogeoclinal rocks, vertical stretching lineations, and the same fold geometries north and south of the shear zone) suggest that juxtaposition of the two terranes took place by thrusting of the southern terrane (island arc) over the northern terrane (craton and miogeocline), probably as a continuation of the south-dipping subduction which generated calc-alkaline plutons of the southern terrane. A metamorphic discontinuity across the shear zone, with greenschist facies rocks to the north and upper amphibolite facies rocks and migmatites to the south, also suggests thrusting of the southern terrane (deeper crustal levels) over the northern terrane (shallower levels).The Cheyenne belt may be a deeply-eroded master decollement, perhaps analogous to a ramp in the master decollement in the southern Appalachians. This interpretation of the Cheyenne belt as a Proterozoic suture zone provides an explanation for the geologic, geochronologic, geophysical, metallogenic, and metamorphic discontinuities across the shear zone.     

滇西哀牢山构造带长安铜钼金矿集区碱性斑岩岩石地球化学、锆石U-Pb定年及其对成矿作用的约束

长安矿集区内的碱性斑岩体(脉)是哀牢山-金沙江碱性岩浆岩带的重要组成部分。锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果表明长安花岗斑岩脉、铜厂正长斑岩和长安冲正长斑岩的形成时代分别为37.1±0.5Ma、35.8±0.4Ma和21.7±0.3Ma。岩石地球化学分析结果表明矿集区内新生代岩浆岩为准铝质-弱过铝质的碱性岩类,其高钾富碱富钙,以及轻稀土富集、Eu弱负异常、大离子亲石元素(Rb、Ba、Th、U和K)强烈富集、高场强元素(Nb、Ta、P和Ti)亏损的地球化学特征与哀牢山-金沙江南段碱性带内的碱性岩浆岩一致,是源于含金云母的相对较浅的尖晶石相地幔的部分熔融形成钾质碱性岩浆,在上升过程中或在岩浆房内发生分异作用,演化出系列碱性岩浆,在较短时间内相继就位形成的,并为矿集区内多金属矿床的形成提供成矿流体和物质。     

The petrology of a metamorphosed netveined acid-basic intrusion from the Østfold area,Southeast Norway

A 1325-1015 Ma old minor netveined acid-basic intrusion within the Sveconorwegian basement terrain of SE Norway is described. The intrusion is well preserved in spite of a superimposed Sveconorwegian amphibolite facies metamorphism (around 1015 Ma).In the netveined intrusion the acid and the basic material represent a potassic quartz monzonite of rapakivi type and a highly fractionated tholeiite enriched in FeO^x, TiO₂, K₂O, P₂O₅ and incompatible trace elements. These two materials have existed side by side as magmas of essentially the same temperature. Interaction between the materials is demonstrated, as there is evidence of: (1) selective element diffusion comprising Sr (and probably K and Rb), (2) phenocryst capturing, where the basic magma well above its solidus temperature at least captured alkali feldspar and quartz phenocrysts from the potassic quartz monzonitic magma, (3) formation of basic hybrids with an emulsion-like structure, and (4) formation of mechanical mixed hybrids. Based on Sr isotope mixing calculations it appears that the two melts existed side by side 1300 Ma ago.It is argued that the potassic quartz-monzonite magma was hot (> 1100°C) and dry (< 0.6% H₂O). It was possibly formed by total melting of a material of similar composition which could have been the basic member of the Moss-Filtvet augen gneiss (granite) which outcrops in the neighbourhood, or alternatively by partial melting of older intermediate or basic rocks at a deeper level in the crust. The heat necessary for the melting was presumably introduced by the injection of the tholeiitic magma that also was the source of the basic component of the netveined intrusion.The formation of the netveined structure of the intrusion has presumably been guided by development of curviplanar joints in the basic material, when the potassic quartz monzonite was still very mobile.     

Early Precambrian tonalite-trondhjemite sialic nuclei

Early Precambrian batholiths evolved by diapiric intrusion of near-liquidus to superheated tonalitic and trondhjemitic magmas into an early greenstones crust. Distribution patterns of enclaves and xenolith screens derived from the latter provide reference markers which define the internal geometry and detailed structure of the “gregarious batholiths” (Macgregor) as polydomal multi-lobal bodies. Near-liquidus temperatures are suggested by the digestion of vast volumes of ultramafic—mafic crust by the acid magmas. Tracing of xenolith trains between low and high grade metamorphic terrains provide key evidence for coeval relations between granite—greenstone type terrains and amphibolite to granulite facies infracrustal root zones of the latter. The formation of the plutonic tonalite—trondhjemite suite was accompanied by dacitic to rhyolitic extrusions, the acid volcanic lenses being located above early greenstone units intruded by the batholiths and below upper greenstone sequences which postdate these intrusions. The geochemical characteristics of high-level and deep-level tonalites and trondhjemites are compared. Both suites display very wide compositional spectra, but data from high-grade terrains tend to define a more basic field than data from granite—greenstone terrains. Effects of source compositions on the geochemistry of the acid plutonic rocks are pointed out. Tonalites dominate in South African terrains whereas trondhjemites dominate in Western Australian terrains — a difference conceivably related to the more ultramafic composition of source rocks represented by early greenstone units in southern Africa. Granodiorites and potassic granites form a comparatively minor component of Archaean batholiths, and may occur in the following forms: (1) bands of augen gneiss in high-grade terrains; (2) components of trondhjemitic to granitic gneisses in high-level plutons; and (3) discrete post-tectonic intrusions typically emplaced at high levels of the batholiths and along older tonalite—greenstone contacts. Migmatites characteristically form in close spatial association with xenolith-rich zones, probably due to depression of the solidus consequent on water addition related to dehydration of the xenoliths. A derivation of the acid sodic magmas by anatexis of sialic materials is inconsistent with geochemical evidence and petrological theory. In contrast, the commonly low to very low LIL element levels and REE evidence indicate derivation by about 30–50% melting of basic rocks. Marked trace element anomalies are characteristic of some Archaean plutonic suites, e.g. very high Sr in some Western Australian rocks, low Rb in some Lewisian (Scotland) and South African rocks, U depletion in South African and southwestern Greenland suites, high Li in some Pilbara rocks and high Zr in some southwestern Greenland rocks. However, the only consistent anomaly observed to date is a well-pronounced depletion in Y and heavy REE, suggesting extensive equilibration of the acid melts with eclogite and/or amphibolite. Uniformitarian interpretations of the Archaean are questioned in the light of the evidence for high temperature and pressure, the unique tectonic style of diapirism and the low initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr as compared to Proterozoic plutonic suites. The diachronous nucleation of tonalite—trondhjemite plutons during the Archaean is seen as the major process effecting a transformation of an early Archaean sima into sial.     

中条山地区绛县群和中条群沉积时限:夹层斜长角闪岩SIMS锆石U-Pb年代学证据

中条山地区出露大量早前寒武纪岩石,是认识华北克拉通晚太古代至早元古代大地构造演化的关键地区。绛县群变质陆缘碎屑-火山岩及中条群变质陆缘碎屑-碳酸盐岩建造是该区最主要的地层单元,同时也是一系列铜矿床的赋矿围岩。目前,对于二者的形成时代仍缺乏直接证据。本文通过高精度的二次离子质谱锆石U-Pb定年,厘定了绛县群和中条群中的斜长角闪岩夹层分别形成于~2189Ma和~2086Ma。结合已有同位素资料,我们认为绛县群变质沉积-火山岩系可能形成于ca.2160~2190Ma,而中条群中段的大理岩和黑色片岩系(余元下组和篦子沟组)形成于ca.2059~2086Ma之间。另外,岩石组合和矿化类型指示,中条山地区在ca.2090~2190Ma可能经历了两次裂谷事件。     

Middle Proterozoic anorogenic magmatism in Sweden and worldwide

Compilation of geochronological data from southeastern Sweden indicates widespread anorogenic intrusive activity between 1.40 and 1.35 Ga ago. This activity was part of a major igneous event in a belt extending from Siberia and the Urals in the U.S.S.R. across southern Scandinavia, southern Greenland, and Labrador to western North America. It was characterized by high-level granites, sometimes rapakivilike, intruded under anorogenic conditions. The source granite melts were probably derived by the fusion of lower crust, i.e. older calc-alkaline Proterozoic granitoids, by mantle magma. These composite melts were mixed at the time of intrusion and gave rise to granitoids showing mixed I- and S-type features. The causes for the igneous activity were probably related to changes in the configuration of the continents with ensuing rifting and associated igneous activity. The 1.40-1.35 Ga old intrusions reset older isotope systems, especially the K---Ar one in southeastern Sweden. Between 1.25 and 1.20 Ga ago, there was a second event of smaller magnitude, characterized by the intrusion of acid and basic dykes. These dykes probably correspond to an initial stage of the Grenvillian (Sveconorwegian) orogeny soon to be followed by a 90° rotation of the Baltic shield.     

Paleoproterozoic Keulik–Kenirim Ore-Bearing Gabbro–Peridotite Complex,Kola Region: A New Occurrence of Ferropicritic Magmatism

Comprehensive research of ore-bearing differentiated intrusions of the Keulik–Kenirim structural unit, which represents a fragment of the Paleoproterozoic Pechenga–Varzuga Belt, has been carried out for the first time. The intrusions are subvolcanic by type and lenticular in shape, nearly conformable and steeply dipping. They are made up of peridotite, olivine and plagioclase pyroxenites, and gabbro metamorphosed under amphibolite facies conditions along with host basic volcanics. All intrusive rocks are enriched in TiO2 and FeO. Sulfide Cu–Ni mineralization is represented by disseminated, pocket, and stringer-disseminated types, which are clustered in the peridotitic zone as hanging units and bottom lodes. The Ni content in disseminated ore is estimated at 0.45–0.55 wt % and 1.15–3.32 wt % in ore pockets; the Cu grades are 0.17–0.20 and 0.46–5.65 wt %, respectively. To determine the age of intrusions and metamorphism of intrusive and volcanic rocks, various isotopic systems have been used: Sm–Nd (TIMS) in rock and U–Pb (SIMS SHRIMP) and Lu–Hf (LA-ICP-MS) in zircon. Conclusions on the origin of zircons are based on concentrations of trace elements including REE therein and Hf–Nd correlation in zircons and rocks. The U–Pb system of zircons reflects episodes of igneous rock formation (1982 ± 12 Ma) and their postmagmatic transformation (1938 ± 20 Ma). The last disturbance of the U–Pb isotopic system occurred 700 and 425 Ma. Xenogenic zircons dated from 3.17 to 2.65 Ga have been revealed in the studied samples. These zircons were captured by magma from the Archean basement during its ascent. The intrusions were emplaced synchronously with economic ore formation in the Pechenga ore field (1985 ± 10 Ma). The peak metamorphism of intrusive rocks under amphibolite facies conditions is recorded at 40 Ma later. The differentiated intrusions of the Keulik–Kenirim structural unit are close in their internal structure, mineralogy, and geochemistry, as well as in age and features of related Cu–Ni mineralization to ore-bearing intrusions of the Pechenga ore field, which are derivatives of ferropicritic (ferriferous) magmatism.     

Two orogenies in the Meatiq area of the Central Eastern Desert,Egypt

The Pan-African basement exposed in the Meatiq area west of Quseir, Egypt, consists of an infracrustal basement overthrusted by a supracrustal cover. The infracrustal rocks were developed as a result of an old orogeny referred to as the Meatiqian orogeny where granite—gneiss, migmatitic gneisses and migmatized amphibolites were formed. The granite—gneiss represents a deformed granite pluton emplaced at 626±2 Ma, whereas the migmatitic gneisses and amphibolites are of mixed igneous and sedimentary parentage. In view of the data so far available, the nature of the Meatiqian orogeny could not be deciphered. In spite of the young isotopic ages, it is suggested that at least the metasedimentary gneisses represent older rocks in the stratigraphic sequence of the infracrustal basement.The supracrustal cover represents a part of an extensive ophiolitic mélange obducted onto the infracrustal basement during the next orogeny (Abu Ziran orogeny) which culminated at 613±2 Ma. An active continental margin-type regime can adequately explain the evolution of such a supracrustal cover. During obduction, the ophiolitic mélange and the upper 2 km thick part of the infracrustal basement were intensely deformed and metamorphosed under PT conditions of the greenschist—epidote amphibolite facies. The deformed infracrustal basement was converted into mylonitic—blastomylonitic rocks and schists composing five thrust sheets, and subsequently intruded by synkinematic granitoid sheets. Later, both the infracrustal basement and the overlying supracrustal cover were isostatically uplifted, subjected to complex shallow folding giving rise to the major Meatiq domal structure, and were intruded by a postkinematic adamellite pluton at 579±6 Ma.     

Geochemistry and Sm–Nd isotopic systematics of Ediacaran–Ordovician,sedimentary and bimodal igneous rocks in the western Acatlán Complex,southern Mexico: Evidence for rifting on the southern margin of the Rheic Ocean

Ordovician igneous rocks in the western Acatlán Complex (Olinalá area) of southern Mexico include a bimodal igneous suite that intrudes quartzites and gneisses of the Zacango Unit, and all these rocks were polydeformed and metamorphosed in the amphibolite facies during the Devono-Carboniferous. The Ordovician igneous rocks consist of the penecontemporaneous amphibolites, megacrystic granitoids and leucogranite, the latter dated at ca. 464 Ma. Geochemical and Sm–Nd data indicate that the amphibolites have a differentiated tholeiitic signature, and that its mafic protoliths formed in an extensional setting transitional between within-plate and ocean floor. The amphibolites are variably contaminated by a Mesoproterozoic crustal source, inferred to be the Oaxacan basement exposed in the adjacent terrane. The most primitive samples have εNdt (t = 465 Ma) values significantly below that of the contemporary depleted mantle and were probably derived from the sub-continental lithospheric mantle. The megacrystic granites were most probably derived by partial melting of an arc crustal source (similar to the Oaxacan Complex) and triggered by the ascent of mafic magma from the lithospheric mantle. Sm–Nd isotopic signatures suggest that metasedimentary rocks from Zacango Unit were derived from adjacent Oaxacan Complex. Trace elements relationships (e.g. La/Th vs. Hf) and REE patterns suggest provenance in felsic-intermediate igneous rocks with a calc-alkaline signature. The Ordovician bimodal magmatism is inferred to have resulted from rifting on the southern flank of the Rheic Ocean and is an expression of a major rifting event that occurred along much of the northern Gondwanan margin in the Ordovician.     

Zircon Dating and Geological Implications of Granitic Gneiss in the Metamorphic Zone of Gaoligong Mountains in Western Yunnan, China

The general classification of intermediate-acid intrusive rocks in the metamorphic zone of Gaoligong Mountains as one of the metamorphic terranes of Proterozoic Gaoligong Mountains is problematic regarding the intrusion stage and age, as well as the subsequent metamorphism and deformation. In this study, we investigated granitic gneiss in the metamorphic zone of Gaoligong Mountains based on the 1:50,000 regional geological survey of Qushi Street (2011-2013) and SHRIMP U-Pb zircon geochronology. Results showed that the SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating of granitic gneiss ranged from 163.5±5.7 Ma to 74.0±2.0 Ma. Thus, the granitic gneiss was grouped into orthometamorphic rocks (metamorphic intrusions). The dating data of granite rocks associated with intense metamorphism and deformation were divided into three groups, 163.5±5.7 to 162.3±3.1 Ma, 132.2-101.0 Ma and 99.4±3.5-74.0±2.0 Ma, which respectively represented three independent geologic events including an important magma intrusion with superimposed metamorphic effects in the late Middle Jurassic, regional dynamic metamorphism and superimposed reformation of fluid action in the early Cretaceous, and dynamic metamorphism dominated by ductile shear and metamorphism starting from the late Cretaceous.