Lithostratigraphy,deformation history,and tectonic evolution of the basement rocks,Republic of Yemen: an overview

Basement rocks of presumed Precambrian age, in Yemen Republic (105,000 km²), are exposed in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the country. The basement rocks of southern Saudi Arabia and northern parts of Yemen are almost continuous and similar in the lithostratigraphic succession. In spite of the presence of such common basic characteristics for each, there are slight differences of local structural framework and major tectonic events. The structural complexity, great variety of rock units and types, multi-intrusive environments, and multiplicity of metamorphic events in the study basement rocks make the main target of lithostratigraphic analyses, in particular, daunting in the southern Arabian Shield. As reported here, accepting that the southern shield consists of five terranes and suture zones requires a limitation of such tectonic modifications. This led to the renaming of certain formations and groups and the revision of the lithostratigraphic successions for some regions. As a result, new lithostratigraphic relationships and names as well as tectonic events are proposed. Based on field and space image data, the basement rocks in Yemen exhibit at least six major phases of deformation (D1 to D6) including intensive brittle and ductile deformations that trend NW–SE and NNE–SSW (in major). Neoarchean rocks are well developed and restricted in the southeastern exposures (Al Bayda, Al Mahfid, and Al Mukalla terranes), whereas the final Pan-African cratonization of several rock units is widespread on all terranes, in which the major tectonic events and deformation history were concentrated during pre-Pan-African and early to late Pan-African orogenies. A correlation and evolution of the Precambrian rocks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt are taken into consideration.     

江南古岛弧浙赣段基底地壳演化

双溪坞群、双桥山群等为江南古岛弧浙赣段的前寒武纪基底地层。依据基底地层建造的差异及蛇绿岩套和碰撞花岗岩等的分布,可将浙赣段江南古岛弧沿赣东北断裂划分为怀玉地体和九岭地体。怀玉地体基底地层建造以火山岩占主导,10—13亿年是该地体的重要成壳时期。九岭地体基底地层建造以浊流复理石占主导,14—16亿年为该地体的重要成壳时期。距今9亿年左右两地体相互碰撞拼接,与此同时,华夏古陆向江南古岛弧碰撞,至～8亿年、完成碰撞对接,开始震旦系盖层沉积。     

Imposition of a Proterozoic salient on a Palaeozoic orogen at the eastern margin of Gondwana

Regional analysis of the distribution of metamorphic fabrics and shear zones in the Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Curnamona Province has enabled the deconstruction of a Cambrian fold arc that defines part of the eastern margin of Gondwana. We suggest a tectonic model whereby the arc formed at ca. 500 Ma, during accretion of Phanerozoic terranes to the eastern margin of Precambrian Australia. The regional fold arc is interpreted to have formed along an irregular plate margin comprising a SE-convex rigid promontory of Precambrian basement during initial accretion of the Phanerozoic terranes during the Cambrian. An early phase of dextral oblique-slip along shear zones in the south and west of the province indicates an initial WNW transport direction. As the arc was folded, a slightly later phase of sinistral oblique-slip shearing was initiated along shear zones in the east, in response to deflection of the arc around the rigid promontory.     

Tectonic evolution of the West Kunlun Orogenic Belt along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau:Implications for the assembly of the Tarim terrane to Gondwana

The West Kunlun orogenic belt(WKOB) along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is important for understanding the evolution of the Proto-and Paleo-Tethys oceans. Previous investigations have focused on the igneous rocks and ophiolites distributed mostly along the Xinjiang-Tibet road and the China-Pakistan road, and have constructed a preliminary tectonic model for this orogenic belt. However, few studies have focused on the so-called Precambrian basement in this area. As a result, the tectonic affinity of the individual terranes of the WKOB and their detailed evolution process are uncertain. Here we report new field observations, zircon and monazite U-Pb ages of the "Precambrian basement" of the South Kunlun terrane(SKT) and the Tianshuihai terrane(TSHT), two major terranes in the WKOB. Based on new zircon U-Pb age data, the amphibolite-facies metamorphosed volcanosedimentary sequence within SKT was deposited during the late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian(600-500 Ma), and the flysch-affinity Tianshuihai Group, as the basement of the TSHT, was deposited during the late Neoproterozoic rather than Mesoproterozoic. The rock association of the volcano-sedimentary sequence within SKT suggests a large early Paleozoic accretionary wedge formed by the long-term lowangle southward subduction of the Proto-Tethys Ocean between Tarim and TSHT. The amphibolitefacies metamorphism in SKT occurred at ca. 440 Ma. This ca. 440 Ma metamorphism is genetically related to the closure of the Proto-Tethys Ocean between Tarim and the Tianshuihai terrane, which led to the assembly of Tarim to Eastern Gondwana and the final formation of the Gondwana. Since the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic, the northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean along the HongshihuQiaoertianshan belt produced the voluminous early Mesozoic arc-signature granites along the southern part of NKT-TSHT. The Paleo-Tethys ocean between TSHT and Karakorum closed at ca. 200 Ma, as demonstrated by the monazite age of the paragneiss in the Kangxiwa Group. Our study does not favor the existence of a Precambrian basement in SKT.     

Imposition of a Proterozoic salient on a Palaeozoic orogen at the eastern margin of Gondwana

Regional analysis of the distribution of metamorphic fabrics and shear zones in the Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Curnamona Province has enabled the deconstruction of a Cambrian fold arc that defines part of the eastern margin of Gondwana. We suggest a tectonic model whereby the arc formed at ca. 500 Ma, during accretion of Phanerozoic terranes to the eastern margin of Precambrian Australia. The regional fold arc is interpreted to have formed along an irregular plate margin comprising a SE-convex rigid promontory of Precambrian basement during initial accretion of the Phanerozoic terranes during the Cambrian. An early phase of dextral oblique-slip along shear zones in the south and west of the province indicates an initial WNW transport direction. As the arc was folded, a slightly later phase of sinistral oblique-slip shearing was initiated along shear zones in the east, in response to deflection of the arc around the rigid promontory.     

Aeromagnetic and gravity features of Gondwana and theirrelation to continental break-up: More pieces,less puzzle

Regional geophysical mapping techniques were initiated for economic exploration about 50 years ago and have now developed a completeness of coverage that can be exploited for geological research over large areas. The main strength of gravity and magnetic anomaly surveys lies in their ability to map ‘basement’ geology below cover. Suitably assembled and imaged at the continental-scale, the data give new insight into the mosaic of terranes that makes up the Precambrian continental crust, and into the margins of Precambrian continental fragments that have often been complicated by prolonged rifting before the onset of the drifting apart of continental fragments. Intrusions such as dykes, dyke swarms and plugs of small areal extent, that are often associated with continental disruption, can also be mapped with new totality. Examples using mainly aeromagnetic mapping are given to support a tight reassembly of the Precambrian crustal fragments of central Gondwana. In this, the outer margins of Precambrian blocks, known or interpreted from geophysical anomaly maps of the presently dispersed continents, are reassembled parallel and at a separation of only 50-80 km, typical of the width of present-day rift valleys. In the future, the wider availability of geophysical mapping data from both continents and oceans, with computer systems to process and interpret them, should contribute to a more fruitful co-operation of geologists and geophysicists in Gondwana research using more complete data coverage.     

Geochronological and geochemical study of gneiss–schist complexes and associated granitoids,Beishan Orogen,southern Altaids

The tectonic nature of metamorphic terranes and their role in orogenesis are problematic. Here we present new U–Pb ages and geochemical data for widespread metamorphic rocks and associated granitoids from Northwest China. Orthogneisses from the metamorphic complexes have crystallization ages of ～457, ～452, and ～526 Ma. One paragneiss (schist) has a maximum depositional age of 312 ± 7 Ma. Three foliated granites were emplaced at ～450, ～349, and ～410 Ma, and all lack inherited Precambrian ages. The metamorphic terranes may have undergone multiple petrotectonic events as revealed by the metamorphic ages. Both the orthogneisses and granitoids show enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and light rare Earth elements (LREEs), and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs), which indicate that they formed in a subduction-generated accretionary arc setting. Our study demonstrates that the metamorphic terranes in the Beishan area, originally considered as Precambrian basement with suspected Neoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic ages, are actually parts of early Palaeozoic arcs. The protoliths were probably metamorphosed arc plutonic and sedimentary rocks. Combined with other studies, we speculate that the Beishan Orogen formed by progressive arc accretion during the latest Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic time. This new interpretation has implications for other high-grade metamorphic terranes within orogens that have been assumed to represent ancient or pre-existing micro-continental blocks. If so, the importance of collision as a mechanism of mountain building has been overestimated, and the accretionary process as a mechanism of continental growth has been underestimated.     

华北克拉通古老大陆地壳组成及演化

对鞍本、冀东、鲁西、阴山等早前寒武纪典型地区和深部物质进行了深入研究,总结了华北克拉通早期地壳形成演化历史。揭示出鄂尔多斯地块本身强烈卷入了古元古代晚期构造热事件。首次在华北克拉通划分出3个>2.6 Ga古陆块。     

Proterozoic polymetamorphism in the Quanji Block,northwestern China: Evidence from microtextures,garnet compositions and monazite CHIME ages

The Quanji Block, situated close to the triple junction of three major Precambrian terranes in China (i.e., the North China Craton, the Yangtze Block and the Tarim Block), is composed of Precambrian metamorphic crystalline basement and an unmetamorphosed Mesozoic–Paleozoic sedimentary cover; it has been interpreted as a remnant continental fragment. Microtextural relationships, garnet trace element compositions, and monazite CHIME ages in paragneisses, schists and granitic leucosomes show two episodes of regional metamorphism in the Quanji Block basement. The first regional metamorphism and accompaning anatexis took place at ～1.93 Ga; the second regional metamorphism occurred between ～1.75 and ～1.71 Ga. Mineral compositions of the first metamorphism, including those of monazite, were significantly disturbed by the second event. These two regional metamorphic episodes were most likely linked to assembly and breakup of the supercontinent Columbia, respectively.     

华北中部造山带南缘华山地区太华变质杂岩中锆石U-Pb定年

华山太华变质杂岩出露于华北克拉通中部造山带最南缘,区内斜长角闪片麻岩呈"透镜状"或"似层状"产出于黑云斜长片麻岩或TTG片麻岩中。大多数含有石榴子石变斑晶的变质岩中,保留了至少3期变形形迹和3个阶段的变质矿物组合。本文对斜长角闪片麻岩和黑云斜长片麻岩中的锆石,进行了SIMS和LA-ICP-MSU-Pb定年。斜长角闪片麻岩的岩浆锆石年龄为2.29Ga,表明其原岩形成于古元古代。斜长角闪片麻岩、黑云斜长片麻岩中的变质锆石及锆石变质增生边年龄为1.94～1.82Ga,表明华山地区比华北克拉通中部造山带中段及北段其他地区普遍记录的约1.85Ga的变质事件,不仅早了约0.1Ga,且变质事件持续达0.1Ga之久。这说明华北中部造山带前寒武纪期间的构造-变质事件是一个比较漫长的复杂过程。     

新疆大陆基底分区模式和主要地质事件的划分

在同位素年代学和地球化学研究的基础上，概括了1982～2000年间的同位素年代学和地球化学研究成果，特别是1987～2000年"305"项目的研究成果。展现了近年来对新疆大陆前寒武纪基底同位素年代学研究的新成果塔里木北缘灰色片麻岩锆石U-Pb年龄为2600Ma，西昆仑基底石榴黑云母片麻岩中的锆石U-Pb一致年龄则为 （2048±20）Ma，阿尔金灰色片麻岩锆石U-Pb上交点年龄为（1820±277）Ma，测定了东天山星星峡群片麻岩的锆石U-Pb上交点年龄为（1404±18）Ma，与1986年的结果一致（1400±42）Ma，获得西天山温泉群、那拉提群和木扎尔特群混合岩化片麻岩中锆石U-Pb年龄分别为（821±11）～（798±8）Ma，（882±83）Ma和（707±7）Ma；基于Sm-Nd模式年龄统计结果，将新疆大陆基底分为5个区域，即塔里木大陆太古宙－古元古代（3.2～2.2）Ga基底区，昆仑-阿尔金造山带古元古代基底区（2.0～1.8）Ga，天山古中元古代基底区（2.1～1.7）Ga，准噶尔为年轻地壳基底区（1.4～0.7）Ga和阿尔泰古元古代、中新元古代复合基底区（≤2.6～2.4Ga,1.5～0.9Ga）；基于多年研究的积累，并综合了国内外一些可以应用的同位素年代学研究结果，提出以塔里木太古宙大陆地核向南、北逐步增生的新疆大陆地壳基底演化模式；确定了新疆大陆地壳构造演化中15次主要地质事件的时限为（3000～3200）Ma；2800Ma；2600～2500Ma；2200Ma；2000～1700Ma；1400Ma；1000Ma;；800Ma；700～>500Ma；520～480Ma；450Ma；360～300Ma；300～250Ma；210～135Ma；65～5Ma。这些同位素年代学和Nd同位素示踪研究结果无疑将成为进一步探讨新疆大陆地壳构造演化的一些重要依据。     

Detrital zircon age and provenance constraints on late Paleozoic ice-sheet growth and dynamics in Western and Central Australia

U–Pb dating and Hf-isotope provenance analysis of detrital zircons from the glaciogenic lower Permian Grant Group of the Canning Basin indicate sources principally from basement terranes in central Australia, with subordinate components from terranes to the south and north. Integrating these data with field outcrop and subsurface evidence for ice sheets, including glacial valleys and striated pavements along the southern and northern margins of the basin, suggests that continental ice sheets extended over several Precambrian upland areas of western and central Australia during the late Paleozoic ice age (LPIA). The youngest zircons constrain the maximum age for contemporaneous ice sheet development to the late Carboniferous (Kasimovian), whereas palynology provides a minimum age of early Permian (Asselian–Sakmarian). Considering the palynological age of the Grant Group within the context of regional and global climate proxies, the main phase of continental ice sheet growth was possibly in the Ghzelian–Asselian. The presence of ice sheets older than Kasimovian in western and central Australia remains difficult to prove given a regional gap in deposition possibly covering the mid-Bashkirian to early Ghzelian within the main depocentres and even larger along basin margins, and the poor evidence for older Carboniferous glacial facies. There is also no evidence for extensive glacial facies younger than mid-Sakmarian in this region as opposed to eastern Australia where the youngest regional glacial phase was Guadalupian.     

Boron-polymetallic metallogeny of the north and northeast of the Sino-Korean Craton

Based on published data and original investigations, it has been shown that the combination of widely known Ag, Fe, and Fe-Mn ore deposits, as well as boron and Pb-Zn world-class deposits, is typical for metallogenic zones in the north and northeast of the Sino-Korean Craton. The ore genesis was spatially inherited and lasted from the Archean to Mesozoic. The Archean metallogenic zones are related to the protocontinental margin terranes of the craton basement and they comprise banded iron ore and Cu-Zn sulfide deposits. The proterozoic-Early Paleozoic metallogenic zones are related to rift basins, where the ore-bearing Archean folded basement is overlain by volcanic and sedimentary complexes. The Proterozoic metallogenic zones host quartz veins and schistosity zone-related Au deposits, banded iron and Cu-Zn ore deposits, large sedimentary-metamorphogenic borate and magnesite deposits, Cu-W deposits in tourmalinites, exhalation-sedimentary Pb-Zn ore deposits, and large polygenic REE-Fe-Nb ore deposits. The Riphean-Cambrian terrigenous-carbonate strata are represented by stratiform Pb-Zn and fluorite deposits. Mesozoic metallogenic zones related to volcano-plutonic complexes of intraplate series coincide with zones where the folded basement is made of Precambrian ore-bearing series. Gold deposits are typical of all the metallogenic zones, but most of them are related to Mesozoic volcano-plutonic complexes.     

Precambrian geology of the Kazakh Uplands and Tien Shan: An overview

A comprehensive review of new data on geology and geochronology of Precambrian terranes in the western Central Asian Orogenic Belt reveals new insights into its evolution. At the present surface, these terranes mostly consist of Meso- to Neoproterozoic sedimentary, magmatic and metamorphic assemblages, with insignificant Paleoproterozoic rocks. Archean material is represented exclusively by detrital and xenocrystic zircons in younger strata. Meso- to Neoproterozoic felsic magmatic rocks were mostly sourced from Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic continental crust, indicating its reworking and potential wider presence at deeper crustal levels. Most Meso- to Neoproterozoic assemblages are of intraplate origin. The supra-subduction assemblages of Neoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic ages are of limited extent.We propose to recognize the Issedonian and Ulutau-Moyunkum groups of terranes, separated by early Paleozoic Z-shaped ophiolitic suture, based on their different tectono-magmatic evolution in the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic. Distinctly different are the Mesoproterozoic and early Neoproterozoic assemblages, with lithological variations at the beginning of the late Neoproterozoic and practically no differences at the end of the Neoproterozoic.The Issedonian group of terranes could be part of a Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1100 Ma) orogen between the Siberian, North China and Laurentian cratons. The pre-Mesoproterozoic crust of these terranes was completely reworked during the younger events. The Ulutau-Moyunkum group of terranes appear to be lithologically and geochronologically similar to the Tarim craton. Both the Issedonian and Ulutau-Moyunkum groups of terranes were metamorphosed during the Ulutau-Moyunkum event at 700 ± 25 Ma.The breakup into currently mappable Precambrian terranes took place during end-Ediacaran to early Paleozoic times after opening of oceanic basins, whose relics are preserved in numerous Paleozoic ophiolitic sutures.     

塔里木克拉通基底古隆起构造-热事件及其结构与演化

通过盆地内部锆石U-Pb测年分析表明,塔里木克拉通基底存在2950～ 3100Ma、2100 ～ 2400Ma、1900～2000Ma、1300～1600Ma、900 ～ 950Ma、700～800Ma、540 ～ 560Ma、400～ 500Ma和270～290Ma等9期构造-热事件.中央航磁异常带井下花岗岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄测定发现1908.2±8.6Ma前寒武纪基底,表明盆地内部可能存在古元古代构造-热事件形成的古老花岗岩基底.结合新的地质与地球物理资料综合分析,塔里木盆地前寒武纪具有不同年代、不同类型的基底结构,北部为中-新元古代中浅变质岩基底、中部为古元古代花岗岩基底、南部为新元古代早-中期岩浆岩与变质岩基底、东南部为遭受早志留纪区域变质改造的变质岩基底.井震结合发现塔里木盆地寒武系/前寒武系发育广泛分布的大型不整合,形成塔北与塔南两大前寒武纪基底古隆起,可能与550Ma“泛非运动”相关.塔里木盆地基底古隆起主要经历5期演化,古元古代中期形成克拉通化基底,新元古代早期形成统一的变质结晶基底,寒武纪沉积前两大基底古隆起形成,加里东晚期五大基底古隆起基本定型,海西期以来发生局部调整改造.     

Neoproterozoic magmatic complexes of the Songino block (Mongolia): A problem of formation and correlation of Precambrian terranes in the Central-Asian Orogenic Belt

An important role of the early Neoproterozoic juvenile crustal growth in the formation of the Khangai group of Precambrian terranes in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt was demonstrated by the example of the Holbo Nur Zone of the Songin Block. Magmatic complexes of this zone correspond to different settings of the Early Neoproterozoic ocean: oceanic islands, mid-ocean ridges, intraoceanic island arcs, and turbidite basins. Obtained data on volcanic rocks and associated granitoids constrain a timing of the island-arc magmatic complexes, at least within the interval of 888–859 Ma. The comparison of structures of the Songino and Tarbagatai blocks of the Khangai group of terranes showed that they share many common features in their geology and evolution and may be united into the single Songino–Tarbagatai terrane. This terrane was formed owing to the Early Neoproterozoic (~800 Ma) accretion of the ocean island, spreading, island-arc, and turbidite complexes of the oceanic plate to a stable continental massif represented by the Early Neoproterozoic Ider Complex of the Tarbagatai Block. The involvement of the Dzabkhan terrane into a Khangai collage of terranes is constrained between the formation of the volcanic rocks of the Dzabkhan Formation (~770–755 Ma), which are unknown in the Songino–Tarbagatai terrane, and the Tsagaan-Olom carbonate cover (~630 Ma), overlying both the Dzabkhan and Songino–Tarbagatai terranes. It was proposed that the formation of the Precambrian terranes of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt began from the Early Neoproterozoic accretion to the Rodinia supercontinent. The fragmentation of the latter above a mantle superplume at the end of the Early Neoproterozoic spanned also the newly formed fold area. This led to the formation of terranes, which included both fragments of the Paleoproterozoic craton and Early Neoproterozoic structures. Subsequent amalgamation of these Precambrian crustal fragments into composite terranes possibly occurred at the end of the early Baikalian tectonic phase.     

Mesoproterozoic Oaxaquia-type basement in peri-Gondwanan terranes of Mexico,the Appalachians,and Europe: T DM age constraints on extent and significance

The basement of most peri-Gondwanan terranes in Mexico, the Appalachians, the Caledonides, and the Variscides is buried beneath younger Ediacaran arc, Palaeozoic passive margin, and/or Mesozoic–Cenozoic platformal carbonates. However, it is exposed in the Oaxaquia terrane of Mexico (Oaxacan, Novillo, Huiznopala, and Guichicovi complexes), where it is characterized by ca. 1.0–1.3 billion year protolith ages and igneous rocks with depleted mantle model ages (T _DM) of 1.35–1.77 billion years. The T _DM ages represent a bulk average composition of the source and can be used as a tracer; these T _DM ages overlap with those in ca. 546 Ma arc clasts from the 65.5 Ma Chicxulub bolide breccia, suggesting that the northern Maya block is also underlain by Oaxaquia-type basement. Similar T _DM ages occur in Ediacaran arc rocks in Suwannee (Florida), NW Avalonia, Ganderia, Iberia, Armorica, and Bohemia, and in lower Palaeozoic plutons cutting adjacent Palaeozoic passive margin rocks (Acatlán Complex, Gander Group), suggesting that Oaxaquia-type basement underlies these regions. These T _DM ages are intermediate between those of SE Avalonia/Carolinia (0.75–1.1 billion years) and the ca. 2.0 Ga basement typical of NW Africa and the Channel Islands of the United Kingdom. The lateral extent of this Oaxaquia-type basement suggests that it formed a Precambrian rim around the periphery of northern Gondwana (Amazonia and NW Africa). The Oaxaquia-type basement beneath Ganderia and northwestern Avalonia suggests that these terranes were derived from the Oaxaquia margin of Amazonia. The polarity of the T _DM ages in Avalonia (younger to the SE) suggests that, rather than being transferred orthogonally across Iapetus, these peri-Gondwanan terranes rotated clockwise through ～90° before accretion to Laurentia.     

Strontium and oxygen isotopic variations in Mesozoic and Tertiary plutons of central Idaho

Regional variations in initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (r _i) of Mesozoic plutons in central Idaho locate the edge of Precambrian continental crust at the boundary between the late Paleozoic-Mesozoic accreted terranes and Precambrian sialic crust in western Idaho. The r _i values increase abruptly but continuously from less than 0.704 in the accreted terranes to greater than 0.708 across a narrow, 5 to 15 km zone, characterized by elongate, lens-shaped, highly deformed plutons and schistose metasedimentary and metavolcanic units. The chemical and petrologic character of the plutons changes concomitantly from ocean-arc-type, diorite-tonalite-trondhjemite units to a weakly peraluminous, calcic to calcalkalic tonalite-granodiorite-granite suite (the Idaho batholith). Plutons in both suites yield Late Cretaceous ages, but Permian through Early Cretaceous bodies are confined to the accreted terranes and early Tertiary intrusions are restricted to areas underlain by Precambrian crust. The two major terranes were juxtaposed between 75 and 130 m.y. ago, probably between 80 and 95 m.y. Oxygen and strontium isotopic ratios and Rb and Sr concentrations of the plutonic rocks document a significant upper-crustal contribution to the magmas that intrude Precambrian crust. Magmas intruding the arc terranes were derived from the upper mantle/subducted oceanic lithosphere and may have been modified by anatexis of earlier island-arc volcanic and sedimentary units. Plutons near the edge of Precambrian sialic crust represent simple mixtures of the Precambrian wall-rocks with melts derived from the upper mantle or subducted oceanic lithosphere with r _i of 0.7035. Rb/Sr varies linearly with r _i, producing “pseudoisochrons” with apparent “ages” close to the age of the wall rocks. Measured δ ¹⁸O values of the wall rocks are less than those required for the assimilated end-member by Sr-O covariation in the plutons, however, indicating that wall-rock δ ¹⁸O was reduced significantly by exchange with circulating fluids. Metasedimentary rocks of the Belt Supergroup are similarly affected near the batholith, documenting a systematic depletion in ¹⁸O as much as 50 km from the margin of the batholith. Plutons of the Bitterroot lobe of the Idaho batholith are remote from the accreted terranes and represent mixtures of Precambrian wall-rocks with melts dominated by continental lower crust (r _i>0.708) rather than mantle. “Pseudoisochrons” resulting from these data are actually mixing lines that yield apparent “ages” less than the true age of the wall rocks and meaningless “r_i”. Assimilation/ fractional-crystallization models permit only insignificant amounts of crystal fractionation during anatexis and mixing for the majority of plutons of the region.     

Precambrian terranes in the southwestern framing of the Siberian craton: isotopic provinces,stages of crustal evolution and accretion-collision events

We studied geology and main rock assemblages of the Precambrian Kan, Arzybei, and Derba terranes of the Central Asian Fold Belt which border the Siberian craton in the southwest. The Precambrian terranes include three isotopic provinces (Paleoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic, and Neoproterozoic) distinguished from the Sm-Nd isotope compositions of granitoids, felsic metavolcanics, and metasediments. The terranes formed in three stages of crustal evolution: 2.3–2.5, 0.9–1.1, and 0.8–0.9 Ga. Proterozoic juvenile crust was produced by subduction-related magmatism; it was originally of transitional composition and transformed into continental crust by potassic plutonism as late as the Late Vendian-Cambrian. Terrigenous sediments in the Arzybei and Derba terranes vary in T(DM) Nd model ages from 1.0 to 2.0 Ga. The Nd ages of the underlying metavolcanics and lowest T(DM) of metasediments indicate that terrigenous sedimentation started in the Neoproterozoic. It was maintained by erosion of Mesoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic crust and, to a lesser extent, of Early Precambrian rocks on the craton margin or in Paleoproterozoic terranes. Ar-Ar dating of amphiboles and biotites from metamorphic rocks and U-Pb dating of zircons from granitoids yielded 600–555 and 500–440 Ma, respectively, corresponding to the Vendian and Early Paleozoic stages of nearly synchronous metamorphism and plutonism. Accretion and collision events caused amalgamation of the Paleoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic, and Neoproterozoic terranes in the Vendian and their collision with the Siberian craton. The lateral growth of the paleocontinent completed in the Late Ordovician.     

U-Pb geochronology of basement rocks in central Tibet and paleogeographic implications

The ages and paleogeographic affinities of basement rocks of Tibetan terranes are poorly known. New U-Pb zircon geochronologic data from orthogneisses of the Amdo basement better resolve Neoproterozoic and Cambro-Ordovician magmatism in central Tibet. The Amdo basement is exposed within the Bangong suture zone between the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes and is composed of granitic orthogneisses with subordinate paragneisses and metasedimentary rocks. The intermediate-felsic orthogneisses show a bimodal distribution of Neoproterozoic (920-820 Ma) and Cambro-Ordovician (540-460 Ma) crystallization ages. These and other sparse basement ages from Tibetan terranes suggest the plateau is underlain by juvenile crust that is Neoproterozoic or younger; its young age and weaker rheology relative to cratonic blocks bounding the plateau margins likely facilitated the propagation of Indo-Asian deformation far into Asia. The Neoproterozoic ages post-date Rodinia assembly and magmatism of similar ages is documented in the Qaidaim-Kunlun terrane, South China block, the Aravalli-Delhi craton in NW India, the Eastern Ghats of India, and the Prince Charles mountains in Antarctica. The Amdo Neoproterozoic plutons cannot be unambiguously related to one of these regions, but we propose that the Yangtze block of the South China block is the most likely association, with the Amdo basement representing a terrane that possibly rifted from the active Yangtze margin in the middle Neoproterozoic. Cambro-Ordovician granitoids are ubiquitous throughout Gondwana as a product of active margin tectonics following Gondwana assembly and indicate that the Lhasa-Qiangtang terranes were involved in these tectono-magmatic events. U-Pb detrital zircon analysis of two quartzites from the Amdo basement suggest that the protoliths were Carboniferous-Permian continental margin strata widely deposited across the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes. The detrital zircon age spectra of the upper Paleozoic Tibetan sandstones and other rocks deposited in East Gondwana during the late Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic are all quite similar, making it difficult to use the age spectra for paleogeographic determinations. There is a suggestion in the data that the Qiangtang terrane may have been located further west along Gondwana’s northern boundary than the Lhasa terrane, but more refined spatial and temporal data are needed to verify this configuration.