Pan-African eclogite facies metamorphism of ultramafic rocks in the Shackleton Range, Antarctica

In the Shackleton Range of East Antarctica, garnet-bearing ultramafic rocks occur as lenses in supracrustal high-grade gneisses. In the presence of olivine, garnet is an unmistakable indicator of eclogite facies metamorphic conditions. The eclogite facies assemblages are only present in ultramafic rocks, particularly in pyroxenites, whereas other lithologies – including metabasites – lack such assemblages. We conclude that under high-temperature conditions, pyroxenites preserve high-pressure assemblages better than isofacial metabasites, provided the pressure is high enough to stabilize garnet–olivine assemblages (i.e. ≥18–20 kbar). The Shackleton Range ultramafic rocks experienced a clockwise P–T path and peak conditions of 800–850 °C and 23–25 kbar. These conditions correspond to ∼70 km depth of burial and a metamorphic gradient of 11–12 °C km⁻¹ that is typical of a convergent plate-margin setting. The age of metamorphism is defined by two garnet–whole-rock Sm–Nd isochrons that give ages of 525 ± 5 and 520 ± 14 Ma corresponding to the time of the Pan-African orogeny. These results are evidence of a Pan-African suture zone within the northern Shackleton Range. This suture marks the site of a palaeo-subduction zone that likely continues to the Herbert Mountains, where ophiolitic rocks of Neoproterozoic age testify to an ocean basin that was closed during Pan-African collision. The garnet-bearing ultramafic rocks in the Shackleton Range are the first known example of eclogite facies metamorphism in Antarctica that is related to the collision of East and West Gondwana and the first example of Pan-African eclogite facies ultramafic rocks worldwide. Eclogites in the Lanterman Range of the Transantarctic Mountains formed during subduction of the palaeo-Pacific beneath the East Antarctic craton.     

Les phases tardives de l'orogenese pan-africaine dans l'Adrar des iforas oriental (Mali): Lithostratigraphie des formations molassiques et geochronologie U/Pb sur zircon de deux massifs intrusifs

Two main tectono-metamorphic domains are distinguished on both sides of the Adrar fault (Adrar des Iforas, Mali). The western domain is mainly made up of retrogressed Eburnean granulites and various granitoids. The Ibedouyen quartz-diorite pluton which postdates the major tectono-metamorphic event responsible for the mylonitisation of granulites, gives a U/Pb age on zircon of 600 ± 2Ma, a figure which is interpreted as its magmatic crystallisation. The molassic series of the Adrar fault unconformably rest on this unit. The eastern domain includes: (1) a highly deformed molassic series recrystallised under greenschist facies, which we correlate with the unmetamorphic molassic series of the western domain; (2) a pelitic unit affected by a high temperature—low pressure type metamorphism, and cut by several granites. the Tamassahart massif which has intruded this pelitic unit before the metamorphism gives a U/Pb zircon age of 581 ± ₆⁷ Ma. This figure is also interpreted as that of the magmatic crystallisation. These two new geochronologic data are thus in the range of the previously obtained data in other parts of the Pan-African belt from West Africa. They confirm that the Eastern domain is a slightly younger Pan-African province.     

Evolution of a Paleoproterozoic “weak type” orogeny in the West African Craton (Ivory Coast)

The Paleoproterozoic domain of the Ivory Coast lies in the central part of the West African Craton (WAC) and is mainly constituted by TTG, greenstones, supracrustal rocks and leucogranites. A compilation of metamorphic and radiometric data highlights that: i) metamorphic conditions are rather homogeneous through the domain, without important metamorphic jumps, ii) HP-LT assemblages are absent and iii) important volumes of magmas emplaced during the overall Paleoproterozoic orogeny suggesting the occurrence of long-lived rather hot geotherms. Results of the structural analysis, focused on three areas within the Ivory Coast, suggest that the deformation is homogeneous and distributed through the Paleoproterozoic domain. In details, results of this study point out the long-lived character of vertical movements during the Eburnean orogeny with a two folds evolution. The first stage is characterized by the development of “domes and basins” geometries without any boundary tectonic forces and the second stage is marked by coeval diapiric movements and horizontal regional-scale shortening. These features suggest that the crust is affected by vertical movements during the overall orogeny. The Eburnean orogen can then be considered as an example of long-lived Paleoproterozoic “weak type” orogen.     

Paleoceanography of the Santa Barbara Basin during the last 8000 years

The varved sediments of the Santa Barbara Basin off southern California, offer a unique opportunity to study the changes in oceanographic conditions of this nearshore area during the last 8000 yr. Quantitative analysis of Radiolaria found in recent surface sediment samples from the eastern North Pacific allows the identification of four “assemblages” which can be related to the physical oceanography of the California Current. Two assemblages are associated with the southerly flowing California Current, one with the main stream of the current (California Current Assemblage) and the other with the offshore flow along northern California (Central Assemblage). The two other assemblages are associated with the subtropical region of the eastern North Pacific (Subtropical Assemblage) and one found mostly off the coast of Baja California (Baja Assemblage). Analysis of the Radiolaria found in the varved sediments of a core from the Santa Barbara Basin give an 8000-yr continuous record of these four assemblages. The California and Baja Assemblages show only minor fluctuations in their importance in the sediments of the Santa Barbara Basin. The California Assemblage, however, shows a steady increase during this time period. Prior to 5400 yr B.P. the Radiolaria were predominately subtropical in character, whereas after 5400 yr B.P. the Central Assemblage becomes more important. Since 5400 yr B.P. most of the changes in the radiolarian fauna consist of fluctuations in the importance of these two assemblages. Past sea-surface temperatures for the month of February were calculated using the transfer function technique of J. Imbrie and N. G. Kipp (1971, In “The Late Cenozore Glacial Ages” L. K. Turekian, Ed.), (Chap. 5, Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, Conn.). The time series of paleotemperature estimates show major changes in the average February temperature of Santa Barbara Basin waters. The range of estimated temperatures (12°C) exceeds that of the historical observations of February temperatures in the Santa Barbara Basin but does not exceed the observed range for the California Current region. The intervals from 800 to 1800 yr B.P. 3600 to 3800 yr B.P. and 5400 to the end of the record appear to have been generally warmer than today. Comparison of the Holocene record of alpine glacial advances with the radiolarian assemblage and paleotemperature time series shows that the initiations of advances was coincident with a decrease in sea-surface temperatures and an increase in the importance of the Central Assemblage in the Santa Barbara Basin. The terminations of these advances were not marked by any consistent characteristic in the Santa Barbara Basin time series.     

Two stages of zircon and monazite growth in anatectic leucogneiss: SHRIMP constraints on the duration and intensity of Pan-African metamorphism in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica

SHRIMP U–Pb data from two samples of foliated anatectic leucogneiss bracket the high-grade metamorphic history of metasediments from southern Prydz Bay, East Antarctica. Magmatic zircons in these two samples have mean crystallization ages of 535 ± 13 and 536 ± 35 Myr, and provide a good estimate for the timing of peak metamorphism and partial melting. Low-Th monazite grains in the same samples have mean ages of 528 ± 4 and 527 ± 11 Myr, which are within error of the zircon ages but may reflect a lower blocking temperature. High-Th monazite rims with younger mean ages of 518 ± 3 and 512 ± 13 Myr occur around low-Th cores in both samples, and were precipitated from hydrous fluids released during the crystallization of residual melts. These magmatic fluids were channelled along the retrograde foliation present in both samples. All mineral assemblages and fabrics preserved in the metasediments reflect intense Pan-African metamorphism and deformation, associated with high degrees of partial melting and significant vertical displacements of the crust. Continental reconstructions assuming limited Pan-African tectonism in East Antarctica should be reassessed in the light of these new data.     

The Zermatt‐Saas ophiolite: the largest (60‐km wide) and deepest (c. 70–80 km) continuous slice of oceanic lithosphere detached from a subduction zone?

The Western Alps are a classic subduction-related collisional orogen with well-preserved, deeply subducted ophiolitic remnants of oceanic lithosphere. Some (e.g. Monviso, Voltri) were recognized as a palaeo-subduction channel, with tectonic blocks showing a wide range of pressure–temperature conditions. We herein evaluate for the first time the metamorphic homogeneity of the extensive Zermatt-Saas ophiolite. Zermatt-Saas peak eclogitic assemblages are represented by omphacite–garnet ± phengite ± epidote ± lawsonite ± glaucophane in MORB-derived metabasalts and garnet–chloritoid–talc ± lawsonite ± phengite in hydrothermalized metabasalts. Thermobarometric estimates with thermocalc and Raman Spectroscopy of carbonaceous material reveal homogeneous peak burial conditions at around 540 ± 20 °C and 23 ± 1 kbar. P – T paths indicate that the whole of the ophiolite, at least 60 km across, strikingly underwent similar burial and exhumation patterns and detached from the slab at depths around 80 km. The Zermatt-Saas ophiolite thus appears to be the world's largest oceanic lithosphere fragment exhumed from such depths, which provides important constraints on interplate coupling mechanisms.     

Low-P / high-T metamorphism in the Okiep Copper District, western Namaqualand, South Africa

The Okiep Copper District, part of the 1.2–1.0 Ga high-grade terrane in western Namaqualand, is composed of a mid-Proterozoic supracrustal sequence and several pre- to post-orogenic intrusive suites affected by two high-grade events (M2a/M2b, M3) of Kibaran and one low-grade event (M4) of Pan-African age. Peak assemblages in quartz-bearing pelites are characterized either by garnet+cordierite coexisting with sillimanite/biotite, or by biotite+sillimanite±garnet; a difference controlled by bulk composition and variation in water activities (0.1–0.7) during dehydration melting. Maximum P–T conditions were reached during M2a coevally with the major deformational event (D2a) and are estimated at 750–820  °C and 5–6  kbar. A counterclockwise P–T  path is indicated by regionally occurring pseudomorphs of sillimanite after andalusite and by prograde reaction textures preserved as relics in M2a porphyroblasts. Two stages of retrograde metamorphism are distinguished: M2a garnet+cordierite-bearing assemblages were retrogressed to biotite+sillimanite+quartz (M2b) along discontinuous foliation planes and shear zones (D2b). Retrograde M3 corona assemblages formed at similar P–T  conditions (580–660  °C and 5.8±0.5  kbar) to the M2b assemblages but M3 crystallization postdates penetrative D2 deformation, intrusion of 1.06 Ga granitoids and formation of associated W–Mo deposits. It is concluded that: (a) Kibaran high-grade metamorphism in the Okiep Copper District is thermally punctuated and (b) reaction textures documenting apparent isobaric cooling of this low- P high- T  terrane must be interpreted with caution.     

新疆北部泥盆纪床板珊瑚组合特征兼论下、中泥盆统的划分

<正> 新疆北部阿尔泰山、东、西准噶尔及北天山地区,下、中、上泥盆统皆有床板珊瑚,垂直变化明显,形成了自奥陶纪以来第三个繁盛期。本文将本区泥盆纪床板珊瑚分布规律及其组合特征介绍如下:     

塔里木盆地侏罗纪孢粉植物地理区系

塔里木盆地南部地区侏罗纪的孢粉化石 ,可分为 5个孢粉组合 :1) Cyathidites- Classopollis组合 ;2 ) Disac-ciatrileti- Cyathidites- Classopollis- Quadraeculina组合 ;3) Disacciatrileti- Cyathidites- Classopollis- N eoraistrackia组合 ;4) Disacciatrileti- Cyathidites- Classopollis组合 ;5 ) Cyathidites- Classopollis- Disacciatrileti组合。这些组合与塔北地区的组合明显不同 ,与我国华南亚区侏罗纪孢粉组合基本一致 ,属于华南侏罗纪孢粉植物地理亚区的范畴 ,而塔北地区的组合与我国华北亚区侏罗纪孢粉组合大体一致 ,属于华北侏罗纪孢粉植物地理亚区的范畴。因此 ,塔里木盆地侏罗纪孢粉植物地理分区界线应划在盆地的近中间 ,从西北向东南延伸     

An example of very consistent brittle deformation over a wide intracontinental area: The late Pan-African fracture system of the Tuareg and Nigerian shield

Brittle deformation during the latter part of the Pan-African orogeny in the Hoggar and Nigeria was characterized by a conjugate strike slip fault system, consisting of NE—SW dextral and NW—SE sinistral trending sets of faults. This system is considered to be the result of a horizontal maximum stress axis $\text{σ}{}_1$ orientated E—W.In the crystalline basement, the faults have offset the N—S trending Pan-African mylonitic shear zones, and have cut the late orogenic granites (Taourirt) and ring complexes of Adrar des Iforas.In the western Hoggar, folding of the post-orogenic molassic “série pourprée” considered as Cambrian in age (Caby, 1970), is probably associated with the same stress regime. A similar fault system also affects the Phanerozoic sedimentary cover of the North-Saharian platform, the Ténéré desert, and the Djado basin. Later reactivation of this fault system by phanerozoic epeirogenic events, and recent uplift is demonstrated.The geometry of this late Pan-African brittle deformation is very consistent over a large area and may reflect the stress field operative during indentation of a “plastic” Pan-African shield, by a more rigid West-African craton.     

抚顺盆地中-晚始新世古植被与古气候

为重建东北地区中-晚始新世古气候,对抚顺盆地孢粉进行传统鉴定,利用有序聚类分析划分孢粉组合,结合共存分析法对孢粉组合定量化以建立研究区的古气候参数值 . 鉴定出孢粉 67 属,划分出(I)Quercoidites-Tricolpopollenites- Betulaceoipollenites 组合;(Ⅱ) Picea...     

江苏晚古生代孢粉组合序列

结合新得的孢粉材料 ,总结了江苏泥盆纪—二叠纪孢粉组合序列 ,共计 7个组合 (带 ) :1)五通组下部观山段AL组合 (Fa2 b- c) ;　 2 )擂鼓台段中下部 L H组合 (Fa2 d) ;　 3)擂鼓台段中上部 L C组合 (Tn1 a— Tn1 b早期 ) ;　 4a)擂鼓台段顶部 MD组合 (Tn1 b晚期— Tn2 ) ;　 4b)“老坎组”MC组合 (Tn1 b晚期— Tn2 ) ;　 5 )高骊山组 DP组合(Tn3— V1 - 2 ) ;　 6 )龙潭组 GM组合 (P21 — P1 2 ) ;　 7)大隆组 CS组合 (暂名 ) (P22 )。简要介绍了每个组合的内容和特征并对某些地层的时代作了进一步讨论。     

Geochemistry of gold-bearing metamorphic rocks of the Natitingou area,Atacora structural unit,Northwestern Bénin (West Africa): Implications for Au genesis

The Natitingou area within the Atacora Structural Unit (ASU) of the Pan-African Dahomeyide orogenic belt, northwestern Bénin, is characterized by the monocyclic metasedimentary formations, amphibolites and orthogneisses which belong to the Internal zone of the belt. Representative samples of these different gold-bearing rocks have been analyzed geochemically to determine their petrogenesis, mode of emplacement, tectonic setting and role in the genesis of gold mineralization in the area. The orthogneisses are subalkaline, peraluminous and emplaced in a syn-collisional arc setting while the amphibolites are metaluminous, tholeiitic with an E-MORB affinity and emplaced in a rifted lithospheric setting. The metasedimentary rocks, comprising quartzites and mica schists are cross-cut by auriferous quartz veins. The metasedimentary rocks are recycled sediments varying from wackes to sublitharenite in composition and deposited in a passive margin setting. The quartz veins similar to the metasedimentary rocks are enriched in LREE, depleted in HREE and showed a negative Eu-anomaly (0.31–0.72). Their chondrite-normalised REE patterns deciphered them as Upper Continental Crustal materials which were probably derived from the reworking of their host metasedimentary rocks. Gold concentration in quartzites, amphibolites, mica schists, quartz veins and orthogneiss were 0.004–9.587, 0.26–1.76, 0.0005–0.464, 0.023–0.147 and 0.0−0.0005 ppm, respectively. Devolatilization process of the country-rocks, is the most probable mechanism for the ore-forming fluid, which could have been generated during the Pan-African Dahomeyide event. Remobilisation of gold and associated metal (As, W, Cu, Mo, Sb, and Sn) after the Pan-African Dahomeyide orogeny is suggested for enrichment of gold along shear and fault zones of the Natitingou area.     

东海沉积地层矿物研究

本文据东海五口探井的559个碎屑矿物样资料,用主要重矿物的含量及其组合特征编绘了含量变化图,试图进行分层比较。位于西湖凹陷的平湖一井和玉泉1井重矿组合特征可比性较好;龙井2井三潭组以下与上两井缺少可比特点;灵峰1井除东海群外,其余地层与上列3井相比,差异是大的。     

Recent foraminifera in shelf sediments of the Scoresby Sund fjord, East Greenland

A study of sea-bottom samples from shallow waters in the northern part of Scoresby Sund, off Jameson Land, East Greenland, reveals four different foraminiferal assemblages between 1.3 and 35.6 m water depth. The shallowest samples. Assemblage SA (1.3–2.2 m), contain only very few foraminifera, presumably due to the annual repeated formation of an ice foot. Assemblage SB (3.7 and 4.3 m) is characterized by the calcareous species Haynesina nivea and H. orbiculare , while the arenaceous species Spiropleclammina biformis, Reophax arctica , and Recurvoides turbinatus dominate all the faunas of Assemblage SC (9.3–25.9 m depth). The change in fauna to the succeeding Portatrochammina bipolaris - Spiropleclammina biformis fauna (Assemblage SD, 29.6 and 35.6 m) presumably corresponds to the transition from the shallow Fjord water layer to the deeper and relatively more stable Polar water. Elphidiella hannai (Cushman & Grant) is recorded live for the first time in recent assemblages from the Atlantic Ocean.     

新疆西部乌依塔克组的时代

通过对新发现于新疆塔里木盆地西部上白垩统乌依塔克组有孔虫化石的时代分析，认为该组的时限为晚上伦期—赛诺期，综合分析各类化石的时代特征，本区土伦阶和赛诺阶的界线应划在Ｍｉｇｒｏｓ－Ａｍｍｏｂａｃｕｌｉｔｅｓ组合和Ｐａｒａｒｏｔａｌｉａ－Ｎｏｎｉｏｎｅｌｌａ组合之间。     

中国非海相白垩纪腹足类组合序列和分布

中国白垩纪非海相腹足类可划分为4个组合:1)早白垩世凡兰吟期巴列姆期Probaicalia vitimensis-Ptychostylus-口盖化石Reesidella robusta组合;2)早白垩世阿普特期阿尔必期Bellamya clavilithiformis-Mesocoshliopa cretacea-Zaptychius costatus-Brotiopsis组合,由于环境的不同,这一组合可分为2个亚组合:Brotiopsis亚组合和Bellamya clavilithiformis-Mesocoshliopacretacea-Zaptychius costatus亚组合;3)晚白垩世科尼亚克期中马斯特里赫特晚期Mesolanistes nanxiongensis组合,由于产出的层位不同,这一组合又可分为2个亚组合,Mesolanistes ziziformis亚组合和Mesolanistes-nanxiongensis亚组合;4)晚白垩世马斯特里赫特期最晚期Palaeoancylusna nxiongensi组合。     

贵州独山泥盆系－石炭系界线附近的遗迹化石

独山地区的革老河组和汤粑沟组中含有丰富的遗迹化石，可分为：Ｓｋｏｌｉｔｈｏｓ－Ｄｉｐｌｏｃｒａｔｅｒｉｏｎ，Ｒｈｉｚｏｃｏｒａｌｌｉｕｍ－Ｔｈａｌａｓｓｉｎｏｉｄｅｓ，Ｃｈｏｎｄｒｉｔｅｓ－Ｐａｌａｅｏｐｈｙｃｕｓ，Ｔｅｉｃｈｉｃｈｎｕｓ－Ｐｌａｎｏｌｉｔｅｓ，Ｐｌａｎｏｌｉｔｅｓ－Ｃｏｃｈｌｉｃｈｎｕｓ等５个反映不同沉积环境的遗迹组合，并在剖面上展现出较好的海平面变化。通过对遗迹组合所反映环境的研究，独山地区泥盆系－石炭系界线附近的沉积环境受脉动式海平面升降的影响和控制，界线可能在汤粑沟组底部钙泥质条带灰岩明显海退事件之上的第一次海进层附近。     

贵州独山泥盆系－石炭系界线附近的遗迹化石

独山地区的革老河组和汤粑沟组中含有丰富的遗迹化石，可分为：Ｓｋｏｌｉｔｈｏｓ－Ｄｉｐｌｏｃｒａｔｅｒｉｏｎ，Ｒｈｉｚｏｃｏｒａｌｌｉｕｍ－Ｔｈａｌａｓｓｉｎｏｉｄｅｓ，Ｃｈｏｎｄｒｉｔｅｓ－Ｐａｌａｅｏｐｈｙｃｕｓ，Ｔｅｉｃｈｉｃｈｎｕｓ－Ｐｌａｎｏｌｉｔｅｓ，Ｐｌａｎｏｌｉｔｅｓ－Ｃｏｃｈｌｉｃｈｎｕｓ等５个反映不同沉积环境的遗迹组合，并在剖面上展现出较好的海平面变化。通过对遗迹组合所反映环境的研究，独山地区泥盆系－石炭系界线附近的沉积环境受脉动式海平面升降的影响和控制，界线可能在汤粑沟组底部钙泥质条带灰岩明显海退事件之上的第一次海进层附近。     

Metamorphic evolution of the Maud Belt: P–T–t path for high-grade gneisses in Gjelsvikfjella, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica

A metamorphic petrological study, in conjunction with recent precise geochronometric data, revealed a complex P–T–t path for high-grade gneisses in a hitherto poorly understood sector of the Mesoproterozoic Maud Belt in East Antarctica. The Maud Belt is an extensive high-grade, polydeformed, metamorphic belt, which records two significant tectono-thermal episodes, once towards the end of the Mesoproterozoic and again towards the late Neoproterozoic/Cambrian. In contrast to previous models, most of the metamorphic mineral assemblages are related to a Pan-African tectono-thermal overprint, with only very few relics of late Mesoproterozoic granulite-facies mineral assemblages (M₁) left in strain-protected domains. Petrological and mineral chemical evidence indicates a clockwise P–T–t path for the Pan-African orogeny. Peak metamorphic (M_2b) conditions recorded by most rocks in the area (T = 709–785 °C and P = 7.0–9.5 kbar) during the Pan-African orogeny were attained subsequent to decompression from probably eclogite-facies metamorphic conditions (M_2a).The new data acquired in this study, together with recent geochronological and geochemical data, permit the development of a geodynamic model for the Maud Belt that involves volcanic arc formation during the late Mesoproterozoic followed by extension at 1100 Ma and subsequent high-grade tectono-thermal reworking once during continent–continent collision at the end of the Mesoproterozoic (M₁; 1090–1030 Ma) and again during the Pan-African orogeny (M_2a, M_2b) between 565 and 530 Ma. Post-peak metamorphic K-metasomatism under amphibolite-facies conditions (M_2c) followed and is ascribed to post-orogenic bimodal magmatism between 500 and 480 Ma.