拉斯曼丘陵新生代剥露作用的裂变径迹证据

在西南极和横贯南极山脉地区,新生代裂谷和剥露作用非常普遍。但是,文献中很少记录东南极地区的新生代剥露作用。文中根据东南极普里兹湾拉斯曼丘陵地质样品的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄和热历史的模拟,认为在东南极海岸边缘存在新生代的隆升和伸展作用,其年龄为始于(49.8±12)Ma。该年龄略晚于西南极裂谷系的启动年龄(约60~50Ma)。由于差异隆升作用,在拉斯曼丘陵地区发育了更新的正断层作用——拉斯曼丘陵拆离断层的新活动,其年龄为约5.4Ma。东南极周缘新生代裂谷和伸展作用的普遍存在,是冈瓦纳裂解以来大陆分离和印度洋形成的结果。     

拉斯曼丘陵新生代剥露作用的裂变径迹证据

在西南极和横贯南极山脉地区,新生代裂谷和剥露作用非常普遍。但是,文献中很少记录东南极地区的新生代剥露作用。文中根据东南极普里兹湾拉斯曼丘陵地质样品的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄和热历史的模拟,认为在东南极海岸边缘存在新生代的隆升和伸展作用,其年龄为始于(49.8±12)Ma。该年龄略晚于西南极裂谷系的启动年龄(约60~50Ma)。由于差异隆升作用,在拉斯曼丘陵地区发育了更新的正断层作用--拉斯曼丘陵拆离断层的新活动,其年龄为约5.4Ma。东南极周缘新生代裂谷和伸展作用的普遍存在,是冈瓦纳裂解以来大陆分离和印度洋形成的结果。     

Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic Exhumation History of the Lüliang Mountains, North China Craton: Constraint from Fission-track Thermochronology

The Lüliang Mountains, located in the North China Craton, is a relatively stable block, but it has experienced uplift and denudation since the late Mesozoic. We hence aim to explore its time and rate of the exhumation by the fission-track method. The results show that, no matter what type rocks are, the pooled ages of zircon and apatite fission-track range from 60.0 to 93.7 Ma and 28.6 to 43.3 Ma, respectively; all of the apatite fission-track length distributions are unimodal and yield a mean length of ~13?μm; and the thermal history modeling results based on apatite fission-track data indicate that the time-temperature paths exhibit similar patterns and the cooling has been accelerated for each sample since the Pliocene (c.5 Ma). Therefore, we can conclude that a successive cooling, probably involving two slow (during c.75-35 Ma and 35-5 Ma) and one rapid (during c.5 Ma-0 Ma) cooling, has occurred through the exhumation of the Lüliang Mountains since the late Cretaceous. The maximum exhumation is more than 5 km under a steady-state geothermal gradient of 35°C/km. Combined with the tectonic setting, this exhumation may be the resultant effect from the surrounding plate interactions, and it has been accelerated since c.5 Ma predominantly due to the India-Eurasia collision.     

阿齐山—雅满苏地区中-新生代构造隆升裂变径迹 证据:兼论构造活动对核废选址场的意义

构造活动性是核废处置场评价的一项基本判别要素。文中通过对东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区磷灰石裂变径迹测年及 构造隆升剥蚀过程的模拟来评价核废处置场的构造活动性。结果表明阿齐山—雅满苏地区样品磷灰石裂变径迹年龄集中分 布在81.7~51.4 Ma之间,反映出东天山地区晚白垩世—始新世存在一次明显的构造冷却事件,这与天山地区晚白垩世的抬 升剥露事件相一致。磷灰石裂变径迹长度介于13.60±0.11~14.36±0.10 μm之间,其长度标准差为0.98~1.22 μm,显示该区 磷灰石径迹形成后没有发生过明显的退火作用。根据地温梯度计算得到晚白垩世—始新世东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区隆升 剥蚀速率为270~580 m/Ma。现有地质资料及热史模拟结果表明,东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区在晚白垩世—始新世(84~49 Ma)期间经历了强烈的构造隆升—剥露事件,自始新世以后50 Ma以来,地壳处于稳定状态,新生代构造活动不明显,其 活动强度明显有别于天山其他地段。东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区现在的构造地貌基本继承了晚白垩世的特征,处于构造活 动平稳期,符合核废处置场选址的构造要求。     

滇西石鼓杂岩南部早白垩世以来剥露隆升的锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹证据

石鼓杂岩位于青藏高原东南缘经历了多期变质变形作用叠加。为了揭示杂岩体的低温热演化与浅部剥露历史,采集了石鼓杂岩南段石鼓镇-拉巴支村剖面变质岩中的锆石和磷灰石,开展裂变径迹分析。结果表明,石鼓杂岩从早白垩世(133~145Ma)到渐新世(31Ma)经历了一次缓慢的剥露(1.08℃/Ma),而从渐新世开始,其南部经历了较快速的剥露过程(3.23℃/Ma)。磷灰石热史模拟也反映出第二阶段较为快速的冷却过程。结合区域构造分析认为,拉萨与羌塘板块碰撞的远程效应影响早白垩世以来藏东地区地壳结构的调整,导致石鼓杂岩南部出现了第一阶段的剥露作用;而印度与欧亚板块碰撞与后碰撞过程对于石鼓杂岩的新生代剥露具有重要影响。     

缅甸中央盆地北部新生代隆升的裂变径迹证据

缅甸中央盆地北部新生代隆升作用的研究,不仅对全面认识西缅地块的演化具有重要的意义,而且对该地区的油气勘探也具有重要的指导意义.对采自研究区的2个碎屑岩样、1个钻井基底样品进行了磷灰石裂变径迹测年及热历史模拟分析.在弧前钦敦坳陷西缘冲断带、东缘冲起带和西缅岛弧带获得了逐渐变年轻的裂变径迹年龄（分别是70.6±9.3 Ma、53.4±7.5 Ma和22.7±3.0 Ma）,表明缅甸中央盆地北部在空间上存在自西向东的递进变形过程.磷灰石的热历史模拟分析显示,缅甸中央盆地北部自晚白垩世（80±1 Ma）开始,经历了隆升→快速隆升→平稳→缓慢隆升4个阶段.缅甸中央盆地29~20 Ma的快速隆升冷却事件是缅甸北部区域性隆升剥露作用的体现;4 Ma以来缅甸中央盆地缓慢隆升,这一构造事件是印度板块向东挤压碰撞作用的响应.研究表明缅甸中央沉积盆地的空间发育演化与递进式构造变形（隆升）是新特提斯洋/印度洋岩石圈在新生代期间向西缅地块下的多期次俯冲的直接响应.      

Cooling and exhumation of the oldest Sanqiliu uranium ore system in Motianling district,South China Block

The Sanqiliu uranium deposit belongs to a uranium ore system in Motianling district. It is the oldest uranium deposit in South China. Primary uranium mineralization occurred almost simultaneously with the emplacement of the host granites and subsequent dykes, and it has a relatively high grade of uranium (0.421%). We clarify the age of mineralization and investigate the cooling history through new pitchblende U–Pb and apatite fission‐track thermochronology. The pitchblende U–Pb results indicate that uranium mineralization occurred at ~801–759 Ma. Fractionation of uranium and lead at ~374–295 Ma is interpreted as remobilization and resetting of the original uranium. The Motianling area has apatite fission‐track ages of 57 to 18 Ma. By combining our results with previous work, we conclude that the deposit cooled slowly and was exposed at the surface during the Cenozoic. The timing and depth of exhumation helped to preserve and avoid erosion of the uranium deposit, and highlight the potential for regional uranium exploration.     

哀牢山-红河剪切带渐新世的构造体制转换与剥露历史:来自哀牢山南段磷灰石裂变径迹的证据

哀牢山-红河剪切带是东南亚重要的构造边界,其记录了青藏高原东南缘新生代以来的陆内变形和地貌演化。本次研究对该剪切带哀牢山南段开展了基于LA-ICPMS法测试的磷灰石裂变径迹低温年代学分析。磷灰石裂变径迹年龄数据和热史反演模拟揭示哀牢山段存在晚始新世-早中新世(40～20Ma)的快速剥露事件,而早中新世(大约20Ma)之后处于稳定的慢速剥露过程。磷灰石裂变径迹年龄-海拔分布曲线特征暗示:快速剥露机制存在差异,早期阶段(40～26Ma)的剥露过程受控于伸展为主的左旋走滑体制影响;晚阶段(26～20Ma)的快速剥露归因于简单剪切为主的左旋走滑剪切体制,上述结果暗示哀牢山-红河构造带在晚渐新世发生了一次重要的构造体制转换,即从走滑伸展变形转换为简单剪切变形。哀牢山杂岩带北段、中段、南段冷却路径对比,表明北-中段可能存在两阶段快速冷却作用,而南段只发生单一快速冷却作用;结合青藏高原东南缘低温热年代学数据,暗示自中-晚中新世,青藏高原中、下地壳物质可能向东南缘扩展,并已到达哀牢山中段,同时诱发哀牢山杂岩带以北广大地区的抬升和快速冷却。     

Mesozoic and Cenozoic thermal history of the Western Reguibat Shield (West African Craton)

Using low‐temperature thermochronology on apatite and zircon crystals, we show that the western Reguibat Shield, located in the northern part of the West African Craton, experienced significant cooling and heating events between Jurassic and present times. The obtained apatite fission track ages range between 49 and 102 Ma with mean track lengths varying between 11.6 and 13.3 μm and Dpar values between 1.69 and 3.08 μm. Zircon fission track analysis yielded two ages of 159 and 118 Ma. Apatite (U–Th)/He uncorrected single‐grain ages range between 76 and 95 Ma. Thermal inverse modelling indicates that the Reguibat Shield was exhumed during the Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous, Palaeocene–Eocene and Quaternary. These exhumation events were coeval with regional tectonic and geodynamic events, and were probably driven by a combined effect of plate tectonics and mantle dynamics.     

Late Mesozoic‐Cenozoic exhumation history of the Lesser Hinggan Mountains,NE China,revealed by fission track thermochronology

This study uses zircon and apatite fission‐track (FT) analyses to reveal the exhumation history of the granitoid samples collected from the Lesser Hinggan Mountains, northeast China. A southeast to northwest transect across the Lesser Hinggan Mountains yielded zircon FT ages between 89.8 ± 5.7 and 100.4 ± 8.6 Ma, and apatite FT ages between 50.6 ± 13.8 and 74.3 ± 4.5 Ma with mean track lengths between 11.7 ± 2.0 and 12.8 ± 1.7 µm. FT results and modelling identify three stages in sample cooling history spanning the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. Stage one records rapid cooling from the closure temperature of zircon FT to the high temperature part of the apatite FT partial annealing zone (∼210–110 °C) during ca. 95 to 65 Ma. Stage two records a period of relative slow cooling (∼110–60 °C) taking place between ca. 65 and 20 Ma, suggesting that the granitoids had been exhumed to the depth of ∼1−2 km. Final stage cooling (60–20 °C) occurred since the Miocene at an accelerated rate bringing the sampled rocks to the Earth's surface. The maximum exhumation is more than 5 km under a steady‐state geothermal gradient of 35 °C/km. Integrated with the tectonic setting, this exhumation is possibly led by the Pacific Plate subduction combined with intracontinental orogeny associated with asthenospheric upwelling. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

东昆仑造山带多期隆升历史的地质热年代学证据

对格尔木附近东昆仑山花岗岩类侵入岩体中锆石和磷灰石进行裂变径迹（FT）定年与热历史的模拟,得到了中、新生代东昆仑山多阶段冷却与隆升的构造热历史。锆石FT年龄反映了东昆仑山中生代2期冷却历史,分别为第1期侏罗纪（194.1~ 144.4Ma）和第2期早白垩世（115.7~100.2Ma）冷却历史。磷灰石FT年龄和热历史模拟给出新生代3期冷却历史,分别为第1期始新世早期（约52.9Ma）、第2期中新世中期（16.3~10.0Ma）和第3期上新世（5.1~0.9Ma）冷却历史。东昆仑山新生代3期冷却历史与逆冲断层系的发育紧密相关。新生代第1期（约52.9Ma）可能反映了柴达木盆地南缘一个夭折了的前陆盆地的存在。新生代第2期（16.3~10.0Ma）和第3期（5.1~0.9Ma）冷却年龄具有规律性的空间分布,反映了东昆仑山背驮式逆冲断层系的发育历史,表明柴达木盆地主要是作为东昆仑山的背驮式盆地而建立盆山耦合关系的。根据新生代第2期冷却历史的结束与昆仑断裂大规模左行走滑运动开始的年龄对比,推测东昆仑山区域变形作用由挤压向剪切转换的时间可能在10.0Ma左右。     

循化-化隆盆地晚白垩世以来盆山耦合过程: 来自物源与磷灰石裂变径迹年代学分析的证据

循化-化隆盆地新生代沉积及盆地基底和周缘山系磷灰石裂变径迹年代学分析揭示了青藏高原东北缘晚白垩世以来经历过3期隆升剥露事件: (1)盆地基底及拉脊山和西秦岭北缘构造带磷灰石裂变径迹年龄分析普遍记录了晚白垩世-始新世中期相对快速的区域性的隆升剥露事件, 西秦岭北缘快速抬升的起始时间为84Ma, 受控于向北的逆冲抬升; 向北到循化-化隆盆地中部的拉目峡抬升的起始时间为69Ma; 更北的拉脊山一带快速抬升期主要为40~50Ma, 从而反映晚白垩世-始新世中期的快速抬升由南向北逐渐扩展.这一期构造隆升事件导致循化-化隆盆地和临夏盆地缺失了北部西宁-民和盆地古近纪所具有的西宁群沉积.隆升剥露结束于31Ma左右, 此时化隆-循化盆地向东与同时期的临夏盆地相连为一个统一的大型西秦岭山前盆地, 两者具有相同的构造、沉积演化史, 因此循化-化隆盆地他拉组底部地层年龄最老不会超过临夏盆地最老地层的古地磁年龄, 即29Ma.(2)渐新世晚期约26Ma拉脊山开始双向逆冲隆升, 并可能延续到中新世早期约21Ma, 隆升作用使循化-化隆盆地成为挟持于拉脊山逆冲带和西秦岭构造带之间的山前挤压型前陆盆地, 循化-化隆盆地开始大规模沉积巨厚的他拉组冲积扇相粗碎屑岩.(3)通过循化-化隆盆地咸水河组和临夏组的沉积相分析、古流方向和砾石成分分析, 揭示出拉脊山构造带在中新世8Ma左右发生的最大规模的双向逆冲隆升事件, 这次事件直接导致循化-化隆盆地由前陆挤压盆地转变为山间盆地, 形成现今青藏高原东北缘的盆山地貌基本格局.      

中、新生代天山隆升过程及其与准噶尔、阿尔泰山比较研究

根据穿越天山地质剖面观察、系统裂变径迹(FT)测年年龄与热演化模拟结果分析,并综合前人研究结果,天山陆内造山带中、新生代主要经历2次明显的隆升事件,分别为晚侏罗世—早白垩世和中新世以来(25~0Ma)。从天山地区磷灰石FT年龄结果来看,主要记录了早期隆升年龄,但热演化模拟结果显示普遍经历了中新世以来的快速隆升。在天山北缘从盆山边缘的近25Ma开始隆升到前缘带的现今活动,表明天山陆内造山带在隆升的同时还逐渐“增生”扩展。系统研究和分析表明,东西准噶尔和阿尔泰地区则主要记录了晚中生代以来的持续隆升过程,新生代构造活动不明显或强度相对天山要弱。上述事实表明,天山及其中亚地区新生代的陆内活动是受喜马拉雅碰撞与青藏高原隆升的影响,具有向北渐弱的特征。     

天山、西昆仑山中、新生代幕式活动的磷灰石裂变径迹记录

通过对天山独山子—库车公路、西昆仑山新疆—西藏公路出露的7个花岗岩样品的磷灰石裂变径迹分析，研究了天山、西昆仑山脉低温（＜110℃）热历史。磷灰石裂变径迹年龄范围为（9.6±0.8）～（89.2±2.3）Ma，平均裂变径迹长度变化范围为（7.9±3.7）～（11.6±1.9）μm。磷灰石裂变径迹年龄反映冷却作用时代，地质资料和磷灰石裂变径迹分析数据表明，天山在白垩纪存在一次抬升作用，天山和西昆仑山在中新世发生另一次抬升作用。     

龙门山冲断隆升及其走向差异的裂变径迹证据

大量的低温年代学研究用来讨论龙门山晚新生代的隆升,但很少涉及其走向差异和中生代隆升。本文分别沿龙门山北、中、南段3条剖面进行了锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹测试,结合已有的热年代学数据,以期揭示整个中-新生代期间龙门山隆升历史及其时空变化。中生代以来,龙门山主要有印支期(约200 Ma)、早白垩世末(约100 Ma)、早新生代(65～30 Ma)以及晚中新世(15～9 Ma)等或快或慢的冷却事件,总体上经历了中生代至早新生代的缓慢冷却和晚新生代快速冷却2个阶段,快速剥露开始于15～9 Ma,剥蚀速率由早期的0.1 mm/a增加到0.15～0.3 mm/a左右,局部可达0.9 mm/a左右。走向上,龙门山北段相对偏小的锆石裂变径迹年龄和相对偏大的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄反映其在中生代较中、南段隆升更快,而裂变径迹年龄总体上从北段向中、南段减小,表明中、南段在新生代发生了更快的隆升。倾向上,多种热年代学数据显示新生代期间在北川断裂和彭灌断裂两侧存在明显的差异剥露,这种差异在中、南段表现比北段更为突出。龙门山晚新生代快速隆升和剥露是青藏高原区域隆升背景上叠加的冲断活动所致,而非下地壳流动驱动。     

青海东昆仑东山根矿区构造活动的磷灰石裂变径迹分析

对青海东昆仑东山根矿区所采集的7个磷灰石样品进行分析,所获得的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄分布在136~67 Ma,具体分为136~112 Ma、101~95 Ma和74~67 Ma 3个年龄组,这较好地体现了该地区所经历的构造隆升事件。东山根矿区热历史可分为4个阶段：第1阶段(160~80 Ma),是羌塘地块与拉萨地块发生向欧亚板块挤压拼贴作用的响应阶段;第2阶段(120~80 Ma),经历了阿尔金断裂走滑,青藏高原北部隆升,以及燕山晚期冈底斯地体向北俯冲运动,直到早白垩世晚期发生快速冷却抬升;第3阶段(80~23 Ma),构造事件相对平稳,整体呈轻微抬升,样品随地质体隆升缓慢降温;第4阶段(23 Ma至今),快速冷却抬升,对应印度板块对欧亚板块的碰撞作用。     

Thermo-tectonic history of the Junggar Alatau within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(SE Kazakhstan,NW China):Insights from integrated apatite U/Pb,fission track and(U-Th)/He thermochronology

The Junggar Alatau forms the northern extent of the Tian Shan within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) at the border of SE Kazakhstan and NW China.This study presents the Palaeozoic-Mesozoic post-collisional thermo-tectonic history of this frontier locality using an integrated approach based on three apatite geo-/thermochronometers:apatite U-Pb,fission track and(U-Th)/He.The apatite U-Pb dates record Carboniferous-Permian post-magmatic cooling ages for the sampled granitoids,reflecting the progressive closure of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean.The apatite fission track(AFT) data record(partial)preservation of the late Palaeozoic cooling ages,supplemented by limited evidence for Late Triassic(~230-210 Ma) cooling and a more prominent record of(late) Early Cretaceous(~150-110 Ma) cooling.The apatite(U-Th)/He age results are consistent with the(late) Early Cretaceous AFT data,revealing a period of fast cooling at that time in resulting thermal history models.This Cretaceous rapid cooling signal is only observed for samples taken along the major NW-SE orientated shear zone that dissects the study area(the Central Kazakhstan Fault Zone),while Permian and Triassic cooling signals are preserved in low-relief areas,distal to this structure.This distinct geographical trend with respect to the shear zone,suggests that fault reactivation triggered the Cretaceous rapid cooling,which can be linked to a phase of slab-rollback and associated extension in the distant Tethys Ocean.Similar conclusions were drawn for thermochronology studies along other major NW-SE orientated shear zones in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt,suggesting a regional phase of Cretaceous exhumation in response to fault reactivation at that time.     

Timing and mechanisms of Central Himalayan exhumation: discriminating between tectonic and erosion processes

The ability to deduce exhumation mechanisms from thermochronological data is hampered by the fact that assumptions on the thermal state of the lithosphere have to be made. Additional argumentation is generally required to discriminate between erosion-controlled and tectonically induced exhumation. This problem can be overcome by studying the spatial distribution of zircon and apatite (U-Th)/He and fission track data. In this work the variation of four different low temperature isotopic systems generating age trends along a sampling line is used to infer mechanisms of Quaternary exhumation in the Central High Himalayan Metamorphic Belt. Observed zircon age trends with southwards increasing cooling ages (from 0.5 to 1.7 Ma) are attributed to tectonically induced exhumation. The uniform apatite cooling ages clustered c. 0.5 Ma are attributed to erosion.     

Late Neoproterozoic to Holocene thermal history of the Precambrian Georgetown Inlier,northeast Australia

Carboniferous‐Permian volcanic complexes and isolated patches of Upper Jurassic — Lower Cretaceous sedimentary units provide a means to qualitatively assess the exhumation history of the Georgetown Inlier since ca 350 Ma. However, it is difficult to quantify its exhumation and tectonic history for earlier times. Thermochronological methods provide a means for assessing this problem. Biotite and alkali feldspar ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and apatite fission track data from the inlier record a protracted and non‐linear cooling history since ca 750 Ma. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages vary from 380 to 735 Ma, apatite fission track ages vary between 132 and 258 Ma and mean track lengths vary between 10.89 and 13.11 μm. These results record up to four periods of localised accelerated cooling within the temperature range of ～320–60°C and up to ～14 km of crustal exhumation in parts of the inlier since the Neoproterozoic, depending on how the geotherm varied with time. Accelerated cooling and exhumation rates (0.19–0.05 km/10⁶ years) are observed to have occurred during the Devonian, late Carboniferous‐Permian and mid‐Cretaceous — Holocene periods. A more poorly defined Neoproterozoic cooling event was possibly a response to the separation of Laurentia and Gondwana. The inlier may also have been reactivated in response to Delamerian‐age orogenesis. The Late Palaeozoic events were associated with tectonic accretion of terranes east of the Proterozoic basement. Post mid‐Cretaceous exhumation may be a far‐field response to extensional tectonism at the southern and eastern margins of the Australian plate. The spatial variation in data from the present‐day erosion surface suggests small‐scale fault‐bounded blocks experienced variable cooling histories. This is attributed to vertical displacement of up to ～2 km on faults, including sections of the Delaney Fault, during Late Palaeozoic and mid‐Cretaceous times.     

Low-pressure granulite facies metamorphism in the Larsemann Hills area, East Antarctica; petrology and tectonic implications for the evolution of the Prydz Bay area

ABSTRACT Thermobarometric studies on various granulite facies areas along the Prydz Bay coast, East Antarctica (73°-79°E, 68°-70°S), show that, at around 1100 Ma, during a late Proterozoic orogeny, the rocks of the Larsemann Hills suffered a lower pressure metamorphic peak than the surrounding areas. Along the Prydz Bay coast, the rocks affected by this event include parts of the Vestfold Hills block plus all of the Rauer Group, the Larsemann Hills and the Munro Kerr Mountains. The dykes in the south-west corner of the Vestfold Hills were recrystallized during this event with little deformation at temperatures not quite as high as in the areas further south-west (650°C, 6.5 kbar) (Collerson et al., 1983), the Rauer Group was metamorphosed at 800°C and 7.5 kbar (Harley, 1987a), the Larsemann Hills at 750°C and 4.5 kbar, and the Munro Kerr Mountains probably at around 850°C and 5 kbar. Retrograde equilibration in the different areas occurred during decompression to about 10 km depth in all areas, followed by isobaric cooling at this depth. This paper shows that the peak metamorphism in the Larsemann Hills occurred at a pressure which is too low to have been the consequence of thermal relaxation of overthickened crust with normal mantle heat flow. Although other areas in Prydz Bay were metamorphosed at sufficiently high pressures so that their decompression paths are not inconsistent with a continental collision model, the inferred pre-metamorphic peak histories and the requirement of consistency with the Larsemann Hills, make it unlikely that collision followed by erosion-driven decompression is an appropriate model. We suggest that the thermal regime of the crust in the Larsemann Hills region was controlled by a perturbation in the asthenosphere, with magma invasion of the crust. We suggest that the 500 Ma event, represented in Prydz Bay by granitic outcrops at Landing Bluff and by several K/Ar ages from the Larsemann Hills area, was responsible for the final excavation of the terrane.