Temporal association of arc–continent collision,progressive magma contamination in arc volcanism and formation of gold-rich massive sulphide deposits on Wetar Island (Banda arc)

Whole-rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and δ¹⁸O analyses of volcanic rocks and ³He/⁴He analyses of sulphides and sulphates from mineralized rocks on Wetar, Indonesia indicate a variable contribution of assimilated crustal material or sediment sourced from the subducted Australian craton to the south. These new data support the idea of progressive source contamination with precisely dated events showing that Wetar Island hosts the most extreme examples of crustal assimilation in the region. The increased continental contamination occurs during the Pliocene (Zanclian to Piacenzian) during distinct magmatic events between 5 and 4 Ma, and at 2.4 Ma when ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in unaltered lavas, with whole-rock δ¹⁸O values between 5.7 and 9.6‰, increase from 0.707484 to extreme radiogenic values of 0.711656.The earlier of these magmatic events is important in the generation of the hydrothermal systems responsible for the mineralization recorded on Wetar. Samples from this yield radiogenic ³He/⁴He ratios between 0.5 and 1.4 R/R_A, similar to the data from volcanic rocks on nearby Romang. The later magmatic event coincides with the arrival of the Australian Continental Margin at the subduction zone along the Banda arc. Progressive incorporation of continental-sourced components into the source region below the Wetar Island edifice coincides with the formation of gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits hosted within the contaminated volcanic pile.     

Late Palaeozoic arc flank and fore‐arc basin sequence of the New England fold belt in the stanage bay region,central Queensland

Devonian and Carboniferous (Yarrol terrane) rocks, Early Permian strata, and Permian‐(?)Triassic plutons outcrop in the Stanage Bay region of the northern New England Fold Belt. The Early‐(?)Middle Devonian Mt Holly Formation consists mainly of coarse volcaniclastic rocks of intermediate‐silicic provenance, and mafic, intermediate and silicic volcanics. Limestone is abundant in the Duke Island, along with a significant component of quartz sandstone on Hunter Island. Most Carboniferous rocks can be placed in two units, the late Tournaisian‐Namurian Campwyn Volcanics, composed of coarse volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks, silicic ash flow tuff and widespread oolitic limestone, and the conformably overlying Neerkol Formation dominated by volcaniclastic sandstone and siltstone with uncommon pebble conglomerate and scattered silicic ash fall tuff. Strata of uncertain stratigraphic affinity are mapped as ‘undifferentiated Carboniferous’. The Early Permian Youlambie Conglomerate unconformably overlies Carboniferous rocks. It consists of mudstone, sandstone and conglomerate, the last containing clasts of Carboniferous sedimentary rocks, diverse volcanics and rare granitic rocks. Intrusive bodies include the altered and variably strained Tynemouth Diorite of possible Devonian age, and a quartz monzonite mass of likely Late Permian or Triassic age.

The rocks of the Yarrol terrane accumulated in shallow (Mt Holly, Campwyn) and deeper (Neerkol) marine conditions proximal to an active magmatic arc which was probably of continental margin type. The Youlambie Conglomerate was deposited unconformably above the Yarrol terrane in a rift basin. Late Permian regional deformation, which involved east‐west horizontal shortening achieved by folding, cleavage formation and east‐over‐west thrusting, increases in intensity towards the east.     

2D thermomechanical modelling of continent–arc–continent collision

Arc–continent collision is a key process of continental growth through accretion of newly grown magmatic arc crust to older continental margin. We present 2D petrological–thermo-mechanical models of arc–continent collision and investigate geodynamic regimes of this process. The model includes spontaneous slab bending, dehydration of subducted crust, aqueous fluid transport, partial melting of the crustal and mantle rocks and magmatic crustal growth stemming from melt extraction processes. Results point to two end-member types of subsequent arc–continent collisional orogens: (I) orogens with remnants of accretion prism, detached fragments of the overriding plate and magmatic rocks formed from molten subducted sediments; and (II) orogens mainly consisting of the closed back-arc basin suture, detached fragments of the overriding plate with leftovers of the accretion prism and quasi insignificant amount of sediment-derived magmatic rocks. Transitional orogens between these two endmembers include both the suture of the collapsed back-arc basin and variable amounts of magmatic production. The orogenic variability mainly reflects the age of the subducting oceanic plate. Older, therefore colder and denser oceanic plates trigger subduction retreat, which in turn triggers necking of the overriding plate and opening of a backarc basin in which new oceanic lithosphere is formed from voluminous decompression melting of the rising hot asthenosphere. In this case, subducted sediments are not heated enough to melt and generate magmatic plumes. On the other hand, young and less dense slabs do not retreat, which hampers opening of a backarc basin in the overriding plate while subducted sediments may reach their melting temperature and develop trans-lithospheric plumes. We have also investigated the influences of convergence rate and volcanic/plutonic rocks' ratio in newly forming lithosphere. The predicted gross-scale orogenic structures find similarities with some natural orogens, in particular with deeply eroded orogens such as the Variscides in the Bohemian Massif.     

The Tyrrhenian back－arc basin and subduction of the Ionian lithosphere

A deep, narrow, and distorted Benioff zone, plunging from the Ionian Sea towards the southern Tyrrhenian basin, is the remnant of a long and eastward migrating subduction of eastern Mediterranean lithosphere. From Oligocene to Recent, subduction generated the Western Mediterranean and the Tyrrhenian back-arc basins, as well as an accretionary wedge constituting the SouthernAoenninic Arc.In the Tyrrhenian Sea, stretching started in late Miocene and eventually produced two small oceanic areas: the Vavilov Plain during Pliocene (in the centralsector) and the Marsili Plain during Quaternary (in the southeastern sector). They are separated by a thicker crustal sector, called the Issel Bridge. Back-arc exten-sion was rapid and discontinuous, and affected a land locked area where continental elements of various sizesoccurred. Discontinuities in extension were mirrored bychanges in nature of the lithosphere scraped off to form the Southern Apenninic Arc. Part of the tectonic units of the southern Apennines, accreted into the wedge from late Miocene to Pliocene, had originally been laid down on thinned conti-nental lithosphere, which should constitute the deep portion of the present slab. After Plio-cene, only Ionian oceanic lithosphere wassubducted, because the large buoyancy of thewide and not thinned continental lithosphere of Apulia and Africa (Sicily) preserved the seelements from roll back of subduction. After Pliocene, the passively retreating oceanic slabhad to adjust and distort according to the geometry of these continental elements.The late onset of arc volcanism in respect to the duration of extension in the Tyrrhenian-Ionian system may find an expla-nation considering an initial stage of subduc-tion of thinned continental lithosphere. The strong Pleistocene vertical movements that occurred in the whole southeastern system(subsidence in the back-arc basin and upliftin the orogenic arc) may instead be related to the distortion of the oceanic slab.     

Late Cretaceous arc igneous activity: the Eğrikar Monzogranite example

The geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope properties, as well as the Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma and Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb zircon age, of E?rikar Monzogranite in the eastern Pontides, are primarily investigated in this study with the aim of determining its magma source and geodynamic evolution. The U–Pb zircon age obtained from E?rikar Monzogranite is 78 ± 1.5 Ma, thereby re?ecting the age of monzogranite. The I-type E?rikar Monzogranite comprises quartz, plagioclase (An_35–45), orthoclase, muscovite, and biotite. The geochemical analyses of the E?rikar Monzogranite indicate being medium K calc-alkaline, peraluminous, and resembling magmatic arc granite. The E?rikar Monzogranite is enriched in large ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements relative to high field strength elements. Chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns have concave upward shapes (La_N/Yb_N 2.47–8.58) with pronounced negative Eu anomalies (Eu_N/Eu* = 0.29–0.65). Initial εNd_(i) values vary between 1.85 and 2.18 and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values between 0.7048 and 0.7067. Fractionation of plagioclase, hornblende, and apatite played an important role in the evolution of E?rikar Monzogranite. The crystallization temperatures of the melts ranged from 770°C to 919°C based on zircon and apatite saturation temperatures. The geochemical and isotopic data suggest being generated by the partial melting of ma?c lower crustal sources.     

后弧（rear arc）岩浆作用的特征及其意义

后弧岩浆作用（rear arc magmatism）是一个新的术语,国内文献大多认为与弧后（back arc）相当,也译为弧后。实际上rear arc 不同于back arc,前者仍然属于弧的范围,而后者已不属于弧结构。目前,对后弧岩浆作用的研究还十分有限, 原因一是 rear arc 出露较少,二是 rear arc 的鉴别标志不清楚。本文尝试对后弧玄武岩（rear arc basalt, RAB）作一个简单的介绍, 并采用对大量数据进行分析比较的方法与典型的岛弧玄武岩（IAB）和弧后盆地玄武岩（BAB）作一个对比。研究表明,后弧玄武岩主要由中-高 K 钙碱性和钾玄岩系列组成, 与典型的 IAB 和 BAB 相比, RAB 富集 Na₂O、K₂O、P₂O₅ ,贫CaO。后弧岩浆作用的微量元素具有典型的弧岩浆岩的特点,但LILE 及HFSE 比典型的岛弧岩浆的含量更富集,LREE 明显高于岛弧岩浆岩。 与岛弧岩浆相似,后弧岩浆同样具有明显的Nb-Ta 负异常。研究表明,上述3 类玄武岩很难区分开。但是,BAB 和RAB之间还是有一些不同的,如Sc/Nb-Ba/Y、Cu/P₂O₅-Y/Zr、Sc/Nb-Sr/Y 以及F₂O₃ /Zr-Y/Zr 等判别图。本文作者指出,后弧岩浆作用的提出完善了弧结构：一个完整的弧,从海沟向弧的方向,随着板块的俯冲作用,岩浆源区深度增加,地壳混染程度增加,依次出现前弧、弧和后弧岩浆作用, 至弧的后部,洋壳拉张,出现弧后盆地。前弧以玻安岩为代表,弧主要是IAB,后弧为碱性玄武岩,弧后则为MORB（+IAB 的印记）。显然,后弧岩浆作用的提出,对古造山带岛弧结构的恢复、古俯冲方向的确定是有积极意义的。     

Lead isotope systematics of ore systems of the Macquarie Arc — Implications for arc substrate

The Macquarie Arc of New South Wales hosts several major Au and Cu deposits. We present new Pb isotope results for Cadia, the Copper Hill, Little Copper Hill and Cowal deposits, along with data from the CSIRO database. The results generally plot close to established mantle growth curves and are similar to oceanic basalts. Data for individual deposits mostly have Pb model ages consistent with independent age constraints on mineralization. Intrusions associated with the Early Silurian mineralization at Cadia and Goonumbla have narrow and distinct Pb isotope signatures that we interpret to be the result of partial melting of already LILE-enriched mantle-like sources. The data suggest that deposits of the Macquarie Arc derived Pb from one or more long-lived mantle-like Pb isotope reservoirs without significant contributions of crustal Pb prior to the Benambran Orogeny.Data for the Copper Hill deposits includes unradiogenic, possibly old Pb and supports previous workers who suggested that old MORB-like basalts may occur at depth in the area. The Peak Hill deposit has the most unradiogenic signature and has the lowest ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb. These signatures closely match Cambrian MORB-like basalts in the Koonenberry Belt and are unlike Cambrian mafic rocks in Victoria. Similar rocks could form part of the substrate to other parts of the Macquarie Arc.     

HP–UHP metamorphism as an indicator of slab dip variations in the Alpine arc

HP/UHP and LT metamorphic units that commonly occur in the inner parts of mountain belts result from the subduction of continental and oceanic material, most often exhumed prior to continental collision. The prograde pressure–temperature history of HP–UHP rocks strongly depends on the convergence rate and on the subduction zone geometry. The maximum pressure recorded provides a proxy for the depth of shearing off and stacking of HP metamorphic nappes. A 2-D thermal model of continental subduction at lithospheric scale is used to compute the length and pressure peak of detached HP metamorphic units as a function of the slab dip angle and the convergence rate. Model results are applied to the metamorphic nappe pile of the inner Alps. A mean convergence rate of 1 cm/year during the subduction of the Briançonnais terrane is indicated by the paleogeographic reconstructions between 46 and 38 Ma. On this basis, the available petrological data and lengths of metamorphic units are used to compute the variations of the slab dip angle. The slab dip angle is shown to increase, from the northeast to the southwest, along the Alpine arc with estimated values of 20° for Suretta, 30–45° for Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso, and 60° for Dora Maira. From Eocene to Oligocene times, the increase in slab dip angle is controlled by changes of buoyancy, due to the spatial configuration of the Valaisan trough and the incoming of crustal material within the subduction zone.     

Jurassic–Cretaceous granitoids and related tectono-metallogenesis in the Zapug–Duobuza arc,western Tibet

The Zapug–Duobuza magmatic arc (ZDMA), located along the southern edge of the south Qiangtang terrane in western Tibet, extends east–west for ~ 400 km. Small scattered granite and porphyry intrusions crop out in the ZDMA, but a large amount of granite may be buried by Late Cretaceous to Paleogene thrusting. Two stages of magmatism have been identified, at 170–150 Ma and 130–110 Ma. The widely distributed Middle–Late Jurassic granite intrusions in the ZDMA exhibit SrNd isotopic characteristics similar to those of ore-bearing porphyries in the Duolong giant CuAu deposit, and their εHf(t) values mostly overlap those of other porphyry CuMo deposits in the ZDMA and the Gangdese zone. The SrNdHf isotopic geochemistry suggests variable contributions of mantle and Qiangtang crustal sources, and indicates the presence of two new ore districts with potentials for CuAu, Fe, and PbZn ores, located in the Jiacuo–Liqunshan and Larelaxin–Caima areas. Except for the Duolong ore-forming porphyries, which show significant contributions of mantle components intruded into an accretionary mélange setting, the Early Cretaceous granites in other areas of the belt are of mostly crustal origin, from sources in Qiangtang felsic basement and Permo-Carboniferous strata, indicating the weak ore-forming potential of skarn-type Fe and PbZn deposits. The ephemeral but deep Bangong Co–Nujiang ocean in the Early Jurassic evolved into a shallow compressional marine basin in the Middle–Late Jurassic, possibly transitioning to northward flat subduction of oceanic crust at this time. The subducted slab broke off in the Early Cretaceous, initiating a peak in arc magmatism and metallogenesis at 125–110 Ma.     

Fractional crystallization of primitive,hydrous arc magmas: an experimental study at 0.7 GPa

Differentiation of mantle-derived, hydrous, basaltic magmas is a fundamental process to produce evolved intermediate to SiO₂-rich magmas that form the bulk of the middle to shallow continental and island arc crust. This study reports the results of fractional crystallization experiments conducted in a piston cylinder apparatus at 0.7 GPa for hydrous, calc-alkaline to arc tholeiitic magmas. Fractional crystallization was approached by synthesis of starting materials representing the liquid composition of the previous, higher temperature experiment. Temperatures ranged from near-liquidus at 1,170 °C to near-solidus conditions at 700 °C. H₂O contents varied from 3.0 to more than 10 wt%. The liquid line of descent covers the entire compositional range from olivine–tholeiite (1,170 °C) to high-silica rhyolite (700 °C) and evolves from metaluminous to peraluminous compositions. The following crystallization sequence has been established: olivine → clinopyroxene → plagioclase, spinel → orthopyroxene, amphibole, titanomagnetite → apatite → quartz, biotite. Anorthite-rich plagioclase and spinel are responsible for a marked increase in SiO₂-content (from 51 to 53 wt%) at 1,040 °C. At lower temperatures, fractionation of amphibole, plagioclase and Fe–Ti oxide over a temperature interval of 280 °C drives the SiO₂ content continuously from 53 to 78 wt%. Largest crystallization steps were recorded around 1,040 °C and at 700 °C. About 40 % of ultramafic plutonic rocks have to crystallize to generate basaltic–andesitic liquids, and an additional 40 % of amphibole–gabbroic cumulate to produce granitic melts. Andesitic liquids with a liquidus temperature of 1,010 °C only crystallize 50 % over an 280 °C wide range to 730 °C implying that such liquids form mobile crystal mushes (<50 % crystals) in long-lived magmatic systems in the middle crust, allowing for extensive fractionation, assimilation and hybridization with periodic replenishment of more mafic magmas from deeper magma reservoirs.     

The Cryogenian arc formation and successive high-K calc–alkaline plutons of Socotra Island (Yemen)

The Socotra Island belongs to the southern rifted margin of the Gulf of Aden and occupied in Neoproterozoic times a key position to constrain the age and the nature of the largely hidden Neoproterozoic rocks of the Arabian plate. Our integrated field, petrographic, geochemical and geochronological study in the Neoproterozoic rocks recognises three main successive events: (a) high-temperature ductile deformation and metamorphism forming probably in a compressive or transpressive regime; (b) mafic to intermediate intrusions as vertical sheets, kilometre-scale gabbro laccoliths, mafic dike swarm and lavas which present mainly a depleted arc signature with some evidences of evolution from an enriched-arc signature; (c) felsic intrusions mainly composed of highly potassic calc–alkaline and pinkish granites dated between 840 and 780 Ma. Relationships between the various petrographic types and U–Pb data suggest that these events occurred during a relatively short time span (80 Ma at max). Earlier high-temperature–low-pressure metamorphism stage as well as geochemical signature of mafic rocks show that development of Cryogenian formations of Socotra were controlled successively by an Andean-arc and a back-arc setting. These features cannot be easily reconciled with those of the Arabian–Nubian shield to the west of Socotra and of the Mozambique Belt to the south. We propose that the Socotra basement was developed at an active margin close to the India block in Cryogenian times.     

Remediation of electric arc furnace dust leachate by the use of cementitious materials： A column-leaching test

Disposal of industrial solid wastes in a hydrologic environment can cause environmental risks due to the mobility of toxic trace elements. It is increasingly important to find simple and inexpensive treatments to remove undesirable elements from industrial solid wastes. One of the most important problems in the secondary steel mill industry is the disposition of dusts produced from electric arc furnace. A large quantity （10-20 kg） of electric arc furnace dust （EAFD） is generated per ton of steel produced. The Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure （TCLP） shows that the total Cr and Cr （Ⅵ） concentrations （9.7 and 6.1 mg/L respectively） from the EAFD studied exceeded the Toxicity Characteristic Regulatory Level. Some heavy metals of EAFD like chromium are toxics and have high solubility. Chromium （Ⅵ） is particularly problematic because it must initially be reduced before fixed in an insoluble phase. To counter this problem, the use of ordinary Portland cement （OPC） and ground granulated blast furnace slag （GGBFS） was investigated. Column leaching test was performed to evaluate the leaching of EAFD amended with GGBFS and OPC under dynamic conditions simulating heap leaching. The goal of this study is to find a simple and economic way to decrease contaminants in the leachate. Test columns have been set up to evaluate the effect of alkaline additives （OPC and GGBFS） on the geochemistry of drainage water. The control column consists of EADF only. A set of columns presents the effect of the addition of 5% by mass of OPC or GGBFS mixed homogeneously with the EAFD. Another set of columns was set up with the same quantities of OPC and GGBFS but concentrated at the base of the EAFD simulating a liner. Columns were fed three times weakly during 1 month. The parameters monitored after each flush of water include leachate volume, pH, electrical conductance and water quality （Cr-Ni-Pb-Zn concentrations）. The leaching of the control （EAFD only） presents high Cr concentration.     

Timing of juvenile arc crust formation and evolution in the Sapat Complex (Kohistan–Pakistan)

The combination of age determination and geochemical tracers allows understanding the source evolution during magmatism. We studied the Sapat Complex, in the exhumed Cretaceous Kohistan Paleo-Island Arc, to reconstruct the formation of the juvenile lower arc crust and the evolution of the mantle source during arc magmatism. High precision ID-TIMS U/Pb dating on zircon, shows that a protracted period of magmatic accretion formed the Sapat Complex between 105 and 99 Ma. Since continued melt percolation processes that formed the lower crust obscured the original bulk rock Nd–Pb–Sr isotopic composition, we rely on the Hf isotopic composition of zircons of different ages to unravel the source evolution. Nd and Pb bulk isotopic compositions coupled with Hf isotopic composition on zircons allow reconstructing a geodynamical scenario for the Sapat Complex, and the Cretaceous history of the Arc. We suggest that trenchward migration of the hot mantle source at 105 Ma explains the small heterogeneous εHf signal between + 14 and + 16. This heterogeneity vanished within ca. 2 million years, and the εHf of the source evolved from + 16 to + 14 at 99 Ma. Integrated to the Kohistan Cretaceous history, which has a baseline of εHf ≈ 14, these data pinpoint two geodynamical events, with slab retreat and the formation of the Sapat Complex followed by splitting of the Kohistan island arc at 85 Ma.     

Fore‐arc evolution in the Tasman Geosyncline: The origin of the southeast Australian continental crust

A new general model describing the extended evolution of fore‐arc terrains is used to analyse the evolution of the southern Tasman Geosyncline and the concomitant growth and kratonisation of the continental crust of southeast Australia during the Palaeozoic. The southern Tasman Geosyncline comprises ten arc terrains (here defined), most of which are east‐facing, and several features formed by crustal extension. Each arc terrain consists of several strato‐tectonic units: a volcanic arc, subduction complex and fore‐arc sequence formed during subduction; and an overlying post‐arc sequence which post‐dates subduction and is composed of flysch, neritic sediments or subaerial volcanics.

When these materials attained a thickness of c. 20 km their internal heat‐balance caused partial melting of the subduction complex and the hydrated oceanic lithosphere trapped beneath it, to yield S‐ and I‐type granitic magma. The magma rose, inducing pervasive deformation of each arc terrain and emplacement of granitoid plutons at high levels in the evolving crust. Transitional basins then developed in many terrains on top of their volcanic arcs or the thinner parts of the buried accretionary prisms. After deformation of the transitional sequences, platform cover accumulated, marking the completion of kratonisation.

Analysis of each arc terrain in terms of the above units leads to a predicted ‘stratigraphy’ for the continental crust of southeast Australia. The crust is complexly layered, with lateral discontinuities reflecting the boundaries of arc terrains which were successively accreted, principally back‐arc to fore‐arc, during crustal development.     

Geochemistry and tectonic significance of peridotites from the South Sandwich arc–basin system, South Atlantic

Petrographic and geochemical studies of peridotites from the South Sandwich forearc region provide new evidence for the evolution of the South Sandwich arc–basin system and for the nature of interactions between arc magma and oceanic lithosphere. Peridotites from the inner trench wall in the north-east corner of the forearc vary from clinopyroxene-bearing harzburgites, through samples transitional between harzburgites and dunites or wehrlites, to dunites. The harzburgites are LREE depleted with low incompatible element abundances and have chromites with intermediate Cr# (ca. 0.40). Modelling shows that they represent the residues from 15–20% melting at oxygen fugacities close to the QFM buffer. The dunites have U-shaped REE patterns, low incompatible element abundances and high Cr# (0.66–0.77). Petrography and geochemistry indicate that the latter are the product of intense interaction between peridotite and melt saturated with olivine under conditions of high oxygen fugacity (QFM + 2). The transitional samples are the product of lesser interaction between peridotite and melt saturated with olivine ± clinopyroxene. The data demonstrate that the harzburgites originated as the residue from melting at a ridge (probably the early East Scotia Sea spreading centre), and were subsequently modified to transitional peridotites and dunites by interaction with South Sandwich arc magmas. The second dredge locality, near the South Sandwich Trench–Fracture Zone intersection, yielded rocks ranging from lherzolite to harzburgite that could similarly have resulted from a two-stage melting and enrichment process, but involving a more fertile mantle residue and a reacting melt that is transitional between MORB and island arc tholeiite. The South Sandwich peridotites have a similar petrogenetic history to those from Conical Seamount in the Mariana forearc in the sense that both involved interaction between arc magma and pre-existing mantle lithosphere of different provenance. However, the precise compositions of the magma and mantle components vary from location to location according to the precise tectonic setting and tectonic history. Overall, therefore, data from the South Sandwich and Izu–Bonin–Mariana systems emphasise the potential significance of peridotite geochemistry in unravelling the complex tectonic histories of forearcs past and present. Received: 31 August 1999 / Accepted: 3 December 1999     

A possible transition from island arc to continental arc magmatism in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen,South China: Insights from a Neoproterozoic (870–860 Ma) gabbroic–dioritic complex near the Fuchuan ophiolite

The Fuchuan ophiolite belt in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen of South China provides important constraints on the tectonic setting and evolution of the Neoproterozoic suture zone between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks. Combined UPbHf isotopic and REE analysis of zircon from gabbroic and dioritic samples of the Shexian complex, located 10 km southwest of the main Fuchuan ophiolite body, indicate that the complex crystallized at ca. 870–860 Ma with a large variation of zircon ε_Hf(t) values from − 4.80 to + 13.30. Whole-rock geochemistry reveals that the magma mainly experienced fractionation of olivine, clinopyroxene and plagioclase and was partly affected by crustal contamination, which resulted in elevated Th/Nb, Th/La and La/Sm ratios, as well as the scattered ε_Hf(t) values. The most mafic and least contaminated sample shows MORB affinity and was probably formed by partial melting of a depleted subduction-metasomatized mantle wedge. Other samples exhibit arc-like signatures and were probably modified by both melt- and fluid-related subduction metasomatism. The emplacement of the Shexian complex corresponds to the time that subduction switched from a ca. 1000–880 Ma intra-oceanic island arc to a 870–830 Ma continental arc along the southeastern Yangtze Block. The sequence of igneous rocks associated with this continental arc resemble those preserved in forearc Tethyan ophiolites, with magma evolving from ca. 870–860 Ma MORB to ca. 860–850 Ma arc tholeiite and ca. 830 Ma boninite. Arc magmatism concluded with the final assembly of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks at 830–800 Ma.     

U–Th–Pb monazite dating and the timing of arc–continent collision in East Timor

The Timor Orogen represents one of the youngest arc–continent collisions exposed on the Earth. It has the potential to provide some of the key parameters about how this style of orogeny evolves. However, the metamorphic age of the highest-grade rocks formed in the collision remains controversial. Using U–Th–Pb dating of monazite from amphibolite-grade sillimanite and garnet-bearing schists we show the peak metamorphism occurred at 5.5–4.7 Ma. The young age of the monazite and the presence of significant amounts of common Pb required the development of a new protocol to simultaneously account for the ²³⁰Th disequilibrium and the ²⁰⁷Pb common Pb correction. The new estimate of metamorphic age is consistent with the estimates based on plate reconstructions for the initiation of arc–continent collision in East Timor. The metamorphic event is a result of this collision.     

Neoproterozoic arc–back-arc system in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt: Evidence from supra-subduction zone ophiolites

Ophiolites are widely distributed in the Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt, occurring as clusters in the northern (NCEDO) and southern (SCEDO) segments. Mineralogical and geochemical data on the volcanic sections of Wizer (WZO) and Abu Meriewa (AMO) ophiolites as representatives of the NCEDO and SCEDO, respectively, are presented.The WZO volcanic sequence comprises massive metavolcanics of MORB-like compositions intruded by minor boninitic dykes and thrust over island-arc metavolcanic blocks in the mélange matrix. Such transitional MORB-IAT-boninitic magmatic affinities for the WZO metavolcanics suggest that they most likely formed in a protoarc–forearc setting. Chemical compositions of primary clinopyroxene and Cr-spinel relicts from the WZO volcanic section further confirm this interpretation. The compositional variability in the WZO volcanic sequence is comparable with the associated mantle rocks that vary from slightly depleted harzburgites to highly depleted harzburgites containing small dunite bodies, which are residues after MORB, IAT and boninite melt formation, respectively. Source characteristics of the different lava groups from the WZO indicate generation via partial melting of a MORB source which was progressively depleted by melt extraction and variably enriched by subduction zone fluids. MORB-like magma may have been derived from ~ 20% partial melting of an undepleted lherzolite source, leaving slightly depleted harzburgite as a residuum. The generation of island-arc magma can be accounted for by partial melting (~ 15%) of the latter harzburgitic mantle source, whereas boninites may have been derived from partial melting (~ 20%) of a more refractory mantle source previously depleted by melt extraction of MORB and IAT melts, leaving ultra-refractory dunite bodies as residuum.The AMO volcanic unit occurs as highly deformed pillowed metavolcanic rocks in a mélange matrix. They can be categorized geochemically into LREE-depleted (La/Yb_CN = 0.41–0.50) and LREE-enriched (La/Yb_CN = 4.7–4.9) lava types that show an island arc to MORB geochemical signature, respectively, signifying a back-arc basin setting. This is consistent, as well, with their mantle section. Source characteristics indicate depleted to slightly enriched mantle sources with overall slight subduction zone geochemical affinities as compared to the WZO.Generally, CED ophiolites show supra-subduction zone geochemical signature with prevalent island arc tholeiitic and minor boninitic affinities in the NCEDO and MORB/island-arc association in the SCEDO. Such differences in geochemical characteristics of the NCEDO and SCEDO, along with the abundance of mature island arc metavolcanics which are close in age (~ 750 Ma) to the ophiolitic rocks, general enrichment in HFSE of ophiolites from north to south, and lack of a crustal break and major shear zones, is best explained by a geotectonic model whereby the CED represents an arc–back-arc system above a southeast-dipping subduction zone.     

Zedong terrane revisited: An intra-oceanic arc within Neo-Tethys or a part of the Asian active continental margin?

Precise timing of the India-Asia collision is important to constrain the evolution history of both the Himalayan orogen and the Tibetan Plateau. It has been proposed that the Indian plate first collided with an intra-oceanic arc at ∼55 Ma, and then the composite terrane collided with the Asian continent at ∼35 Ma. The Zedong terrane has been suggested to represent the vestige of such an intra-oceanic arc developed within the Neo-Tethys Ocean, as some volcanic rocks with high K₂O have been classified as shoshonites. In this study, we present detailed geochemical and geochronological data of various types of magmatic rocks (including volcanic, cumulate and granitic rocks) widely exposed in the Zedong terrane to constrain the formation age and tectonic setting of the Zedong terrane. We found that the Zedong volcanic rocks belong to calc-alkaline series rather than shoshonites and high K₂O contents in some volcanic rocks resulted from alteration. The basalts are highly enriched in LREE and LILE, but strongly depleted in HFSE, indicating they were derived from a metasomatized mantle. Presence of hornblende phenocryst in both gabbros and hornblendites indicates that the cumulates were produced from hydrous basalts through crystallization. The granitic rocks have adakite-like compositional characteristics, i.e., high Sr/Y ratios but low Y contents, which were formed by melting of a thickened lower crust. Zircons from six samples, including a volcanic rock (an andesite), three cumulates (a hornblendites, a hornblende-bearing gabbro and a gabbro) and two granitic (a tonalite and a granodiorite) rocks, have been dated to yield identical ages of ∼155–160 Ma. This suggests that the volcanic eruption and plutonic emplacement were coevally developed in the Zedong terrane. Zircons from both the andesite and the cumulates have similar positive ε_Hf(t) values (∼+11.6 to +16.7), indicating they were stemmed from similarly depleted mantle sources. Meanwhile, zircons from the granitic rocks also have positive ε_Hf(t) values of ∼+12.6 to +15.2, implying their derivation from a juvenile lower crust. Therefore, we proposed that the basalts in the Zedong terrane were formed through partial melting of the mantle wedge metasomatized by slab-released fluids/melts. A part of hydrous basalts were underplated in the thickened lower crust beneath the Zedong terrane, which gave rise to the cumulate and granitic rocks. By comparison, magmatic rocks in the Zedong terrane show compositional similarities with the Jurassic rocks exposed in the Gangdese arc. This suggests that the Zedong terrane represents a slice of the active continental margin developed on the southern margin of the Lhasa terrane as a result of the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the Late Jurassic, rather than the vestige of an intra-oceanic arc.     

Paleoproterozoic (1.90–1.86 Ga) arc volcanism in the Flin Flon Belt,Trans-Hudson Orogen,Canada

Geochemical and isotopic (Nd, Sr) data are reported on Paleoproterozoic (1904–1864 Ma), maficintermediate (<63% SiO₂), arc metavolcanic rocks from the Flin Flon greenstone belt, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Major element criteria permit subdivision of the rocks into tholeiitic (TH), calc-alkaline (CA), alkaline, and boninitic (BO) magma series. Subaqueously erupted, TH and related CA basalt-basaltic andesite, and rare high-Ca boninites dominated between 1904 Ma and 1890 Ma. The TH rocks are similar to modern island are tholeiites, having low high-field-strength element (HFSE) and rare earth element (REE) abundances, and chondrite-normalized light REE depletion to slight enrichment. The boninites have even lower HFSE and REE abundances (1–2X chondrites). Along with their extreme ratios of refractory incompatible elements (e.g., high Al/Ti, Ti/Zr, low Ti/V, Zr/Y), these features indicate that the arc mantle source was strongly depleted, probably residual after MORB or back-arc basin basalt extraction. Elevated Th/Yb, Ba/La, La/Nb values, and the spread in Nd isotopic compositions (initial _Nd=–0.4 to +4.8) suggest recycling of small amounts (0–8%) of Archean and possibly older Proterozoic crust via sediment subduction and, locally, intracrustal contamination. Calcalkaline andesite-rhyolite and rare shoshonite and trachyandesite, erupted between 1890 Ma and 1864 Ma, are more strongly light REE enriched and have comparatively higher HFSE abundances, and higher Zr/Y and Nb/Y values. The rocks have strong arc trace element signatures (e.g., high Th/Nb, La/Nb), and initial _Nd values (+2.3 to +4.6) indicate that depleted mantle contributions to the magmas continued to be dominant. The geochemistry and geology of these younger volcanic rocks suggest a mature island arc setting in which the arc lithosphere was thicker than in the previous period, and a more fertile sub-arc mantle source was tapped. The pre-1890 Ma volcanism occurred in one or more separate arcs, probably characterized by rapid subduction of oceanic lithosphere, relatively thin, tholeiitic arc crust, and extensive backarc basin formation. In contrast, post-1890 Ma volcanism is dominantly calc-alkaline to (rarely) alkaline, and is interpreted to reflect crustal thickening due to longterm growth of arc edifice(s) and tectonic thickening associated with intraoceanic arc-arc (>1870 Ma) collision and subsequent intra-arc deformation.