Mineralogical and geochemical characterization of a rare ultramafic lamprophyre in the Tandilia belt basement,Río de la Plata Craton,Argentina

A metre-thick ultramafic lamprophyre dyke intrudes the basement of the Tandilia belt at the Sierra Alta de Vela, Argentina. A petrological and geochemical study of this rock and associated small dykes indicates a predominantly calc-alkaline trend. Phlogopite K–Ar dating of the ultramafic lamprophyre gave a minimum age of 1928 ± 54 Ma as a late event of the Transamazonian Orogeny, which is well represented in the basement of the Tandilia belt.An electron microprobe study indicates the presence of phlogopite, albite, chromite and Cr-rich phenocrysts and Cr-free microphenocrysts of diopside as primary minerals. Subsequent to deformation at the contacts with the wall rock, metasomatism generated strongly zoned amphibole (edenite, pargasite, Mg-hastingite and tremolite compositions) and andradite as well as chlorite, sericite, albite, apatite and calcite. The central zone of the lamprophyre is almost undeformed and exhibits some ocellar texture. Geochemical and isotopic signatures of the lamprophyre suggest that its magma source may have previously undergone incompatible element enrichment of the mantle source, representing the original precursor magma for the calc-alkaline dyke series of the Sierra Alta de Vela.     

Precambrian geotectonic units of the Río de La Plata craton

The main Precambrian tectonic units of Uruguay include the Piedra Alta tectonostratigraphic terrane (PATT) and Nico Pérez tectonostratigraphic terrane (NPTT), separated by the Sarandí del Yí high-strain zone. Both terranes are well exposed in the Río de La Plata craton (RPC). Although these tectonic units are geographically small, they record a wide span of geologic time. Therefore improved geological knowledge of this area provides a fuller understanding of the evolution of the core of South America. The PATT is constituted by low- to medium-grade metamorphic belts (ca. 2.1 Ga); its petrotectonic associations such as metavolcanic units, conglomerates, banded iron formations, and turbiditic deposits suggest a back-arc or a trench-basin setting. Also in the PATT, a late to post-orogenic, arc-related layered mafic complex (2.3–1.9 Ga), followed by A-type granites (2.08 Ga), and finally a taphrogenic mafic dike swarm (1.78 Ga) occur. The less thoroughly studied NPTT consists of Palaeoproterozoic high-grade metamorphic sequences (ca. 2.2 Ga), mylonites and postorogenic and rapakivi granites (1.75 Ga). The Brasiliano-Pan African orogeny affected this terrane. Neoproterozoic cover occurs in both tectonostratigraphic terranes, but is more developed in the NPTT. Over the past 15 years, new isotopic studies have improved our recognition of different tectonic events and associated processes, such as reactivation of shear zones and fluids circulation. Transamazonian and Statherian tectonic events were recognized in the RPC. Based on magmatism, deformation, basin development and metamorphism, we propose a scheme for the Precambrian tectonic evolution of Uruguay, which is summarized in the first Palaeoproterozoic tectonic map of the Río de La Plata craton.     

The R��o de la Plata Craton: a review of units, boundaries, ages and isotopic signature

A review of the lithostratigraphic units in the Río de la Plata Craton and of new and previously published geochronological, isotopic and geophysical data is presented. Sm?CNd T_DM model ages between 2.6 and 2.2?Ga characterize the Piedra Alta Terrane of this craton. Crystallization ages between 2.2 and 2.1?Ga for the metamorphic protoliths and 2.1?C2.0?Ga for the post-orogenic granitoids indicate juvenile crust, followed by a short period of crustal recycling. Cratonization of this terrane occurred during the late Paleoproterozoic. Younger overprinting is not observed, suggesting it had a thick and strong lithosphere in the Neoproterozoic. A similar scenario is indicated for the Tandilia Belt of Argentina. Sm?CNd T_DM model ages for the Nico Pérez Terrane show two main events of crustal growth (3.0?C2.6?and 2.3?C1.6?Ga). The crystallization ages on zircon ranges between 3.1 and 0.57?Ga, which is evidence for long-lived crustal reworking. The age for cratonization is still uncertain. In the Taquarembó Block, which is considered the prolongation of the Nico Pérez Terrane in southern Brazil, a similar scenario can be observed. These differences together with contrasting geophysical signatures support the redefinition of the Río de la Plata Craton comprising only the Piedra Alta Terrane and the Tandilia Belt. The Sarandí del Yí Shear Zone is regarded as the eastern margin of this Craton.     

Trophic Impacts of Marine Mammals and Seabirds in the Río de la Plata Estuary and the Nearshore Oceanic Ecosystem

As top predators, marine mammals and seabirds play an important role in structuring marine ecosystems, and their trophic role have become a major issue. In this study, we quantify the trophic impact of marine mammals and seabirds in the Río de la Plata estuary based on a previous trophic mass balance model of this estuary. The model comprised 37 functional groups: 3 species of marine mammals (2 cetaceans: Tursiops truncatus, Pontoporia blainvillei and 1 pinniped: Otaria flavescens), 1 coastal bird group comprising 11 species, 17 fish, 12 invertebrates, 2 zooplanktons, 1 phytoplankton, detritus, and 5 fishing fleets. Model results showed that seabirds, O. flavescens and P. blainvillei, are apex predators, with high levels of niche overlap among them, suggesting competition for similar resources such as fish species. Marine mammals and seabirds produce negative effects on commercially important species, while, at the same time, indirect positive effects (increase of the biomass) were also detected in some groups related to trophic cascade effects.     

Mesoproterozoic evolution of the R��o de la Plata Craton in Uruguay: at the heart of Rodinia?

Mesoproterozoic volcanosedimentary units and tectonic events occurring in the Río de la Plata Craton (RPC) are reviewed. A belt consisting of volcanosedimentary successions exhibiting greenschist-facies metamorphism is exposed in the eastern RPC (Nico Pérez Terrane) in Uruguay. The Parque UTE Group consists of basic volcanics and gabbros at the base (1,492?±?4?Ma, U?CPb on zircon), carbonates in its middle part and interbedded carbonates, shales and acid volcanics (1,429?±?21?Ma, U?CPb on zircon) at the top. The Mina Verdún Group is made up of rhyolites and acid pyroclastics at its base and top, and Conophyton-bearing limestones and massive dolostones in the middle. A U?CPb LA-ICP MS zircon age of 1,433?±?6?Ma is reported here for lapilli-tuffs at the base of the Mina Verdún Group (Cerro de las Víboras Formation). This age shows that the Mina Verdún Group immediately postdates the Parque UTE Group, a fact supported by carbon isotope chemostratigraphy. Both units were deformed and metamorphosed between 1.25 and 1.20?Ga, as shown by K?CAr and Ar?CAr ages. This tectonic event affected most of the RPC and led to the accretion of the Nico Pérez Terrane to the remainder of the RPC along the Sarandí del Yí megashear. We report a U?CPb LA-ICP MS zircon age (upper intercept) of 3,096?±?45?Ma for metatonalites of the La China Complex (Nico Pérez Terrane), which yield a lower intercept age of 1,252?Ma. A proto-Andean, Mesoproterozoic belt is envisaged to account for abundant Mesoproterozoic detrital zircon ages occurring in Ediacaran sandstones of the RPC. If the RPC is fringed at both sides by Mesoproterozoic, Grenville-aged belts it is likely that it occupied a rather central position in Rodinia. A possible location between Laurentia and the Kalahari Craton, and to the south of Amazonia, is suggested.     

The Record of the Varanger Glaciation at the Río De La Plata Craton,Vendian-Cambrian of Uruguay

A sedimentary succession included in the lower section of the Playa Hermosa Formation from the Playa Verde Basin, Uruguay, is described. Two facies associations, one mainly coarse- to medium-grained and other one fine-grained, have been defined (FA I-II). In the first one, breccias, conglomerates, sandstones and minor mudstones were deposited in a subaqueous depositional setting (proximal) suggesting slope instability and resedimentation processes. The second one contains diamictites, rhythmites, sandstones and mudstones and presents abundant evidence of soft-deformation, also interpreted to be deposited in a subaqueous environment (distal). Dropstones, clast layers, diamictites, rhythmites and varve-like deposits are interpreted as ice rafting processes generated during a glacial episode. This glacial-related succession constitutes the first record from the Varanger glaciation at the Río de la Plata Craton of the late Neoproterozoic age and also represents one of the oldest sedimentary records after the collision of the Río de la Plata and Kalahari Cratons. A combined interaction of extensional faulting and glaciation in a tectonically active basin with locally high subsidence rates, resulted in high rates of sedimentation and resedimentation processes. As a whole, the sedimentary succession sets a relevant datum to be used in future paleogeographic reconstructions of the Vendian glacial record in southern South America.     

Zircon and Titanite U–Pb SHRIMP dating of unexposed basement units of the Buenos Aires region,southeastern Río de La Plata Craton,Argentina

ABSTRACT

We present U–Pb Sensitive High Mass Resolution Ion MicroProbe (SHRIMP) data of unexposed igneous-metamorphic basement rocks from two areas of the southeastern Río de la Plata craton (RPC; Buenos Aires city) located within the Buenos Aires–Piedra Alta (BAPA) terrane – and the Tapalqué area (Buenos Aires province) – located within the Tandilia terrane, and discuss the tectonic evolution of that portion of the craton based on both the new data and previous work. The newly obtained geochronological data of drill cores indicate that: (a) arc magmatism occurred at 2164–2186 Ma corresponding to early ‘Trans-Amazon’ (early Rhyacian) arc magmatism; (b) the age of collision between the BAPA and Tandilia terranes is inferred to have commenced at ca. 2110 Ma; (c) peak metamorphism occurred at ca. 2069 Ma; and (d) the presence of rocks related to the RPC is confirmed under Cenozoic sediments in a large area between Martin Garcia Island and Tandil. We envisage an early Rhyacian divergent double subduction scheme between the BAPA and Tandilia terranes – i.e. N-dipping towards BAPA and S-dipping towards Tandilia – prior to the late Rhyacian collision between these two terranes.     

Significance of graphite inclusion occurrence in the minerals of the San Miguel skarn for the Palaeoproterozoic basement of Tandilia Belt (Argentina) and for the Río de la Plata Craton

Graphite in Archaean-Palaeoproterozoic rocks has been a subject of interest since it could represent an evidence of early life on Earth. In the Palaeoproterozoic basement of the Tandilia Belt, graphite was found both in fluid inclusions (FI) hosted in the San Miguel skarn calc-silicate minerals, and as solid inclusions in calcite crystals from the protolithic marble (a¹³C enriched carbonate from the “Lomagundi-Jatuli event”). FI microthermometry and oxygen stable isotope ratios indicated the skarn minerals formation within the range of 630–650 °C (at ∼5 kbars) and ∼642–654 °C, respectively. Also, the characterisation of the metasomatic fluid (of a low salinity <7 wt% NaCl eq. NaClH₂O/NaClKClH₂O aqueous system) pointed out that the zonal crystallisation pattern shown by the skarn minerals (wollastonite-vesuvianite, grossular-diopside-calcite and diopside-calcite zones in the exoskarn, and grossular-diopside and diopside-calcic plagioclase zones in the endoskarn) responds to the increase of the involved cation activity gradients (Ca²⁺-Si⁴⁺-Mg²⁺-Fe^2+/3+-Al³⁺) and not to significant changes in the temperature or concentration of CO₂ in the system. Variation in the crystallinity degree of the graphite hosted in the skarn minerals and in marble calcite, shown by Raman spectroscopy, would indicate that the graphite could have been formed from the ripening of organic matter present in the sedimentary rocks during the metamorphic-metasomatic event (Transamazonian Orogeny). In this sense, the increase of the organic carbon productivity in the oceans during the Palaeoproterozoic, represented by the “Lomagundi-Jatuli event”, would support this graphite origin and also the possible existence of a marine sedimentary basin in the previous stages of the Río de la Plata amalgamation (Siderian-Rhyacian), in the San Miguel area of the Tandilia Belt.     

Development and validation of a storm surge forecasting/hindcasting modelling system for the extensive Río de la Plata Estuary and its adjacent Continental Shelf

Natural Hazards - The Río de la Plata (RdP) Estuary is affected by significant surges several times per year. This phenomenon has historically caused catastrophic water-level enlargements of...     

Accretion of Grenvillian terranes to the southwestern border of the R��o de la Plata craton, western Argentina

A comprehensive review of the geological, geochronological, and isotopic features of the Mesoproterozoic Grenvillian terranes attached to the southwest of the Río de la Plata craton in Early Paleozoic times is presented in this paper. They are grouped into the northern (sierras de Umango, Maz and del Espinal and surroundings), central (Sierra de Pie de Palo, southern Precordillera and Frontal Cordillera), and southern (San Rafael and Las Matras Blocks) segments. The Mesoproterozoic basement consists mainly of arc related, intermediate to acidic and mafic?Cultramafic rocks of 1,244?C1,027?Ma, with juvenile, Laurentian affinity. Exception to it is the Maz Group, with a protracted history and reworked character. They are affected by 846?C570?Ma, extensional magmatism in the northern and central segments, which represents the Neoproterozoic breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent. Successive passive margin sedimentation is registered in Late Neoproterozoic (~640?C580?Ma) and Cambro-Ordovician (~550?C470?Ma) times. The southern segment is noted for the younger sedimentation alone, and for showing the exclusive primary unconformable relationship between the Mesoproterozoic basement and Early Ordovician cover. The effects of Early Paleozoic Famatinian orogeny, associated with the collisions of Cuyania and Chilenia terranes, are recorded as main phase (480?C450?Ma), late phase (440?C420?Ma), and Chanic phase (400?C360?Ma). Among them, the tectonothermal climax is the Ordovician main phase, to which klippe and nappe structures typical of collisional orogens are related in the northern and central segments. Preliminary data allow us to suggest a set of paired metamorphic belts, with an outboard high-P/T belt, and an inboard Barrowian P/T belt.     

Provenance and reconnaissance study of detrital zircons of the Palaeozoic Cape Supergroup in South Africa: revealing the interaction of the Kalahari and R��o de la Plata cratons

In order to facilitate the understanding of the geological evolution of the Kalahari Craton and its relation to South America, the provenance of the first large-scale cratonic cover sequence of the craton, namely the Ordovician to Carboniferous Cape Supergroup was studied through geochemical analyses of the siliciclastics, and age determinations of detrital zircon. The Cape Supergroup comprises mainly quartz-arenites and a Hirnantian tillite in the basal Table Mountain Group, subgreywackes and mudrocks in the overlying Bokkeveld Group, while siltstones, interbedded shales and quartz-arenites are typical for the Witteberg Group at the top of the Cape Supergroup. Palaeocurrent analyses indicate transport of sediment mainly from northerly directions, off the interior of the Kalahari Craton with subordinate transport from a westerly source in the southwestern part of the basin near Cape Town. Geochemical provenance data suggest mainly sources from passive to active continental margin settings. The reconnaissance study of detrital zircons reveals a major contribution of Mesoproterozoic sources throughout the basin, reflecting the dominance of the Namaqua-Natal Metamorphic Belt, situated immediately north of the preserved strata of Cape Supergroup, as a source with Archaean-aged zircons being extremely rare. We interpret the Namaqua-Natal Metamorphic Belt to have been a large morphological divide at the time of deposition of the Cape Supergroup that prevented input of detrital zircons from the interior early Archaean Kaapvaal cratonic block of the Kalahari Craton. Neoproterozoic and Cambrian zircons are abundant and reflect the basement geology of the outcrops of Cape strata. Exposures close to Cape Town must have received sediment from a cratonic fragment that was situated off the Kalahari Craton to the west and that has subsequently drifted away. This cratonic fragment predominantly supplied Meso- to Neoproterozoic, and Cambrian-aged zircon grains in addition to minor Silurian to Lower Devonian zircons and very rare Archaean (2.5?Ga) and late Palaeoproterozoic (1.8-2.0?Ga) ones. No Siluro-Devonian source has yet been identified on the Kalahari Craton, but there are indications for such a source in southern Patagonia. Palaeozoic successions in eastern Argentina carry a similar detrital zircon population to that found here, including evidence of a Silurian to Lower Devonian magmatic event. The Kalahari and Río de la Plata Cratons were thus in all likelihood in close proximity until at least the Carboniferous.     

Magnetotelluric characterization through the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range: The connection between the northern and southern trace of the Río de La Plata Craton – Pampean Terrane tectonic boundary

The South American Platform was part of the Western Gondwana, a collage of plates of different ages assembled in late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian times. The Transbrasiliano Lineament, a continental shear belt that transversely intersects this platform from NE to SW, has its southern expression in the tectonic boundary between the Río de La Plata Craton and the Pampean Terrane. Magnetotelluric long-period data in a W–E profile (29°30′ S) that crosses the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range and the Chaco-Pampean Plain were obtained to connect information of this mostly inferred tectonic boundary. A 2-D inversion model shows the Chacoparanense basin, Río Dulce lineament, Ambargasta-Sumampa Range and Salina de Ambargasta in the upper crust. At mid-to-lower crust and 40 km to the east of the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range, a discontinuity (500–2000 Ω m) of 20-km-wide separates two highly resistive blocks, the Río de La Plata Craton (6000–20,000 Ω m) in the east, and the Pampean Terrane (5000–20,000 Ω m) in the west. This discontinuity represents the tectonic boundary between both cratons and could be explained by the presence of graphite. The geometry of the Pampean Terrane suggests an east-dipping paleo-subduction. Our results are consistent with gravimetric and seismicity data of the study area. A more conductive feature beneath the range and the tectonic boundary was associated with the NE–SW dextral transpressive system evidenced by the mylonitic belts exposed in the Eastern Pampean Ranges. This belt represents a conjugate of the mega-shear Transbrasiliano Lineament and could be explained by fluid–rock interaction by shearing during hundreds of years. The eastern border of the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range extends the trace of the Transbrasiliano Lineament. The electrical Moho depth (40 km to the west and 35 km to the east) was identified by a high electrical contrast between the crust and upper mantle. The upper mantle shows a resistive structure beneath the Río de La Plata Craton that could have been originated by stationary delamination by the presence of hydrated lithosphere.     

The basement of the Punta del Este Terrane (Uruguay): an African Mesoproterozoic fragment at the eastern border of the South American R��o de La Plata craton

The Punta del Este Terrane (eastern Uruguay) lies in a complex Neoproterozoic (Brasiliano/Pan-African) orogenic zone considered to contain a suture between South American terranes to the west of Major Gercino?CSierra Ballena Suture Zone and eastern African affinities terranes. Zircon cores from Punta del Este Terrane basement orthogneisses have U?CPb ages of ca. 1,000?Ma, which indicate an lineage with the Namaqua Belt in Southwestern Africa. U?CPb zircon ages also provide the following information on the Punta del Este terrane: the orthogneisses containing the ca. 1,000?Ma inheritance formed at ca. 750?Ma; in contrast to the related terranes now in Africa, reworking of the Punta del Este Terrane during Brasiliano/Pan-African orogenesis was very intense, reaching granulite facies at ca. 640?Ma. The termination of the Brasiliano/Pan-African orogeny is marked by formation of acid volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks at ca. 570?Ma (Sierra de Aguirre Formation), formation of late sedimentary basins (San Carlos Formation) and then intrusion at ca. 535?Ma of post-tectonic granitoids (Santa Teresa and José Ignacio batholiths). The Punta del Este Terrane and unrelated western terranes represented by the Dom Feliciano Belt and the Río de La Plata Craton were in their present positions by ca. 535?Ma.     

Paleoproterozoic migmatitic gneisses from the Tandilia belt (Argentina), Río de la Plata craton,record cooling at deep crustal levels

We studied high-grade metamorphic rocks of the El Cristo hill area of the Tandilia belt. Mineral analyses and thermodynamic calculations were carried out for two adjacent rock samples: an amphibole–biotite gneiss and a garnet–biotite-bearing migmatite. Peritectic garnets in the migmatite show core compositions of pyr_4.5(gro + andr)₁₀spes₆alm_79.5 changing to pyr_3.5(gro + andr)₁₇spes₆alm_73.5 at their thin rims. Garnet compositions in the gneiss are pyr_6.5(gro + andr)₂₆spes₁₂alm_55.5 and pyr_4.5(gro + andr)₃₄spes₁₂alm_49.5 for core and rim, respectively. A P–T path was constructed by calculating pseudosections in the 11-component system Si–Ti–Al–Fe–Mn–Mg–Ca–Na–K–O–H and contouring them by isopleths for garnet components using the PERPLE_X software package. Supra-solidus crystallization of garnet cores in the migmatite began at 5.8 kbar and 660 °C. Garnet rims equilibrated at 7.0 kbar and 640 °C compatible with garnet cores in the amphibole–biotite gneiss (7.6 kbar and 660 °C). The further chemical development of garnet in this rock points to P–T conditions of 11.6 kbar and 620 °C and 12.2 kbar and 595 °C (outermost garnet rim). At this high-pressure stage Ca-amphibole was not stable. Most biotite formed during exhumation whereas the high-pressure accessory minerals, titanite and epidote, persisted. According to the obtained anti-clockwise P–T path the originally partly melted material was tectonically transported from ∼22 km (middle crust) to ∼40 km (lower crust) depths reaching a geothermal gradient as low as 15 °C km⁻¹. This transport probably occurred along a major suture zone, which was active during the Paleoproterozoic (2.25–2.10 Ga), before a terminating collision of terranes near the SW boundary of the Rio de la Plata craton.     

Identification and isotopic studies of early Cambrian magmatism (El Carancho Igneous Complex) at the boundary between Pampia terrane and the Río de la Plata craton,La Pampa province,Argentina

We have identified late Early Cambrian metaigneous rocks very poorly exposed at the Estancia El Carancho, in central La Pampa province, Argentina. They comprise calc–alkaline metadiorite and metagranite, and tholeiitic metapyroxenite and metagabbro. They are jointly referred to as the El Carancho Igneous Complex, and regarded to pertain to the Pampean magmatic arc and backarc, respectively. Titanite U–Pb SHRIMP dating of the metapyroxenite yielded 528 ± 5 Ma, and zircon U–Pb SHRIMP dating of the metadiorite yielded 520 ± 1.4 Ma. Hafnium isotope determinations on the dated zircons show ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios corresponding to positive εHf values from + 7.18 to + 9.37; Hf model ages of the Cambrian zircons yielded 884 Ma. It is interpreted that the metadiorites of the Complex crystallized from an Early Neoproterozoic (Tonian) juvenile source. We argue that the inferred occurrence of juvenile Tonian magmatic rocks in the (otherwise, mostly Paleo-Mesoproterozoic) substratum of the southern Pampia terrane could indicate a zone of thinned basement possibly associated with the early stage of Rodinia's breakup. In addition, the studied segment of the Pampean magmatic arc is contaminated by also juvenile, Late Mesoproterozoic crust, as evidenced by the presence of xenocrystic cores of 1140–1194 Ma – T_DM-Hf 1720 Ma and εHf values of + 3.24 to + 4.85 – in the Cambrian zircons, hence suggesting that the studied segment of the Pampean magmatic arc was intruded into juvenile Late Mesoproterozoic magmatic arc rocks. The El Carancho Igneous Complex would be located at the tectonic boundary between the Pampia terrane and the Río de la Plata craton. This boundary stands out in the aeromagnetic data as a change in the structural orientation about a roughly N-S line located approximately at 65° W and representing the suture zone between the Pampia terrane and the Río de la Plata craton. Our geotectonic model envisages westward dipping subduction of oceanic crust beneath the Pampia terrane; the El Carancho Igneous Complex would, therefore, have been originated on the Pampia side (upper plate) of the suture. Slivers of the arc- and backarc-type rocks would have been tectonically imbricated in the suture zone during the Pampean orogeny.     

The Tandilia System of Argentina as a southern extension of the R��o de la Plata craton: an overview

The southernmost outcrops of the Río de la Plata cratonic region are exposed in the Tandilia System in eastern Argentina. The geological evolution comprises mainly an igneous-metamorphic Paleoproterozoic basement named Buenos Aires Complex, which is covered by Neoproterozoic to Early Paleozoic sedimentary units which display subhorizontal bedding. The basement of calc-alkaline signature consists mainly of granitic-tonalitic gneisses, migmatites, amphibolites, some ultramafic rocks, and granitoid plutons. Subordinate rock-types include schists, marbles, and dykes of acid and mafic composition. Tandilia was recognized as an important shear belt district with mylonite rocks derived mainly from granitoids. The tectonic scenario seems related to juvenile accretion event (2.25?C2.12?Ga) along an active continental margin, followed by continental collision (2.1?C2.08?Ga) after U?CPb zircon data. The collisional tectonic setting caused thrusting and transcurrent faulting favouring the anatexis of the crustal rocks. The tholeiitic dykes constrain the time of crustal extension associated with the last stages of the belt evolution. The basement was preserved from younger orogenies such as those of the Brasiliano cycle. After a long paleoweathering process, the Sierras Bayas Group (c. 185?m thick) represents a record of the first Neoproterozoic sedimentary unit (siliciclastic, dolostones, shales, limestones), superposed by Cerro Negro Formation (c. 150?C400?m thick, siliciclastics) assigned to Upper Neoproterozoic age. The final sedimentary transgression during Early Paleozoic was the Balcarce Formation (c. 90?C450?m thick) deposited over all the mentioned Precambrian units. Based on all the geological background, a tectonic evolution is offered.     

Serpentinization history of the Río Guanajibo serpentinite body,Puerto Rico

The Río Guanajibo serpentinite body (RGSB) near Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, is part of an ophiolite mélange thrust in an oceanic convergent zone. The aim of this study was to characterize the extent and chronology of serpentinization within this peridotite mass. Mineralogy, microstructures, and veining episodes within the RGSB were characterized using optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and structural analyses. This study identified, for the first time, all three serpentine polymorphs (i.e., antigorite, chrysotile, lizardite) in serpentinite samples collected from Puerto Rico. Lizardite, the initial serpentine mineral formed from widespread hydration of olivine, was found throughout serpentinite samples. Chrysotile was the most abundant polymorph observed in sheared serpentinite samples, consistent with conditions favoring low fluid to rock ratios, supersaturation and abundant porosity. Antigorite was observed as a replacement texture in serpentinites that were not exposed to greenschist facies metamorphic conditions, and were frequently found in veins with a shear component. The results indicate that metamorphic conditions do not exclusively dictate polymorph formation.The mineralogy and textures observed within the different vein generations reflect the formation conditions, and deformational mechanisms, that occurred during the serpentinization process; six veining episodes (V1 – V6) were identified and grouped into four stages of serpentinization. Stage one (V1 and V2 type veins) represents the earliest stages of serpentinization and was characterized by microscopic fracture networks that formed as a result of cracking during the initial hydration of olivine under low water/rock ratios. During stage two (V3 and V4 type veins), fibrous crack - seal veins formed to accommodate continued volume expansion, via incremental fracture openings, caused by continued hydration of olivine. The ascension of serpentinite into the upper lithosphere was inferred to occur during Stage three; V5 type veins are associated with this stage. Textures and vein morphologies, representing supersaturated conditions and a decrease in temperature, were observed. Stage 4 (V6 type veins) was characterized by shear deformation features, which formed as a result of thrusting associated with the emplacement of the RGSB or Late Eocene transpression and fault reactivation along the Caribbean plate boundary.