The LATEA metacraton (Central Hoggar, Tuareg shield, Algeria): behaviour of an old passive margin during the Pan-African orogeny

Historically, the Tuareg shield is divided into three parts bordered by mega-shear zones with the centre, the Central Polycyclic Hoggar, characterized by Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic lithologies. Nearly 10 years ago, the Tuareg shield was shown to be composed of 23 displaced terranes [Geology 22 (1994) 641] whose relationships were deciphered in Aïr to the SE [Precambr. Res. 67 (1994) 59]. The Polycyclic Central Hoggar terranes were characterized by the presence of well preserved Archaean/Palaeoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic lithologies.We show here that the terranes from Central Hoggar (Laouni, Azrou-n-Fad, Tefedest, Egéré-Aleksod) belonged to a single old passive margin, to which we gave the acronym name LATEA, which behaved as a craton during the Mesoproterozoic and the Early-Middle Neoproterozoic but was partly destabilized and dissected during the Late Neoproterozoic as a consequence of its involvement as a passive margin in the Pan-African orogen.An early Pan-African phase consisted of thrust sheets including garnet-bearing lithologies (eclogite, amphibolite, gneiss) that can be mapped and correlated in three LATEA terranes. In the Tin Begane area, P–T–t paths have been established from>15 kbar––790 °C (eclogite) to 4 kbar––500 °C (greenschist retrogression) through 12 kbar––830 °C (garnet amphibolite) and 8 kbar––700 °C (garnet gneiss), corresponding to the retrograde path of a Franciscan-type loop. Sm–Nd geochronology on minerals and laser ablation ICP-MS on garnet show the mobility of REE, particularly LREE, during the retrograde greenschist facies that affects, although slightly, some of these rocks. The amphibolite-facies metamorphism has been dated at 685 ± 19 Ma and the greenschist facies at 522 ± 27 Ma. During the thrust phase, the Archaean–Palaeoproterozoic basement was only locally affected by the Pan-African tectonics. LATEA behaved as a craton. Other juvenile terranes were also thrust early onto LATEA: the Iskel island arc at ≈850 Ma to the west of LATEA, the Serouenout terrane in the 700–620 Ma age range to the east. No subduction-related magmas have intruded LATEA during this epoch, which behaved as a passive margin.During the main Pan-African phase (625–580 Ma), LATEA was dissected by mega-shear zones that induced several hundreds km of relative displacement and allowed the emplacement of high-K calc-alkaline batholiths. Smaller movements continued till 525 Ma, accompanied by the emplacement of subcircular plutons with alkaline affinity. Here is dated the Ounane granodiorite (624 ± 15 Ma; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i=0.70839 ± 0.00016; 6WR, MSWD=0.87) and the Tisselliline granite (552 ± 15 Ma; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i=0.7074 ± 0.0001; 5WR, MSWD=1.4). Nd isotopes indicate a preponderant Palaeoproterozoic crustal source for these two plutons: _Nd=−14 to −21 at 624 Ma and T_DM=1650–2320 Ma for Ounane and _Nd=−13 to −15 at 555 Ma and T_DM=1550–1720 Ma for Tisselliline. Our model links these intrusions to a linear lithospheric delamination along mega-shear zones, allowing the hot asthenosphere to rise, melt by adiabatic pressure release and inducing the melting of the Palaeoproterozoic and Archaean lower crust.The LATEA cratonic microcontinent remained however sufficiently rigid to preserve Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic lithologies as well as Middle Neoproterozoic oceanic thrust sheets. This corresponds to the notion of metacraton [J. African Earth Sci. 34 (2002) 119], i.e. a craton that has been remobilized during an orogenic event but is still recognizable dominantly through its rheological, geochronological, isotopic and sometimes petrological characteristics.     

The “Taourirt” magmatic province, a marker of the closing stage of the Pan-African orogeny in the Tuareg Shield: review of available data and Sr–Nd isotope evidence

The Tuareg Shield, located between the Archaean to Palaeoproterozoic Saharan metacraton and the West African craton, is composed of 23 recognized terranes that welded together during the Neoproterozoic Pan-African orogeny (750–520 Ma). Final convergence occurred mainly during the 620–580 Ma period with the emplacement of high-K calc-alkaline batholiths, but continued until 520 Ma with the emplacement of alkali-calcic and alkaline high-level complexes. The last plutons emplaced in central Hoggar at 539–523 Ma are known as the “Taourirt” province. This expression is redefined and three geographical groups are identified: the Silet-, Laouni- and Tamanrasset-Taourirts. The Silet-Taourirts are cross-cutting Pan-African island arc assemblages while the two others intrude the Archaean–Palaeoproterozoic LATEA metacraton. The Taourirts are high-level subcircular often nested alkali-calcic, sometimes alkaline, complexes. They are aligned along mega-shear zones often delimiting terranes. Mainly granitic, they comprise highly differentiated varieties such as alaskite (Silet-Taourirts) and topaz–albite leucogranite (Tamanrasset-Taourirts). Different subgroups were defined on the basis of REE patterns and major and other trace elements. The Taourirt province displays a wide transition from dominant alkali-calcic to minor alkaline granite varieties. Sr isotopes indicate that these complexes were affected by fluid circulation during the Ordovician along shear zones probably contemporaneous to the beginning of the Tassilis sandstone deposition. Nd isotope systematic indicates a major interaction with the upper crust during the emplacement of highly differentiated melts, particularly in samples showing seagull wing-shaped REE patterns. On the other hand, all Taourirt plutons are strongly contaminated by the lower crust: _Nd vary from −2 to −8 and T_DM from 1200 to 1700 Ma. This implies the presence of an old crust at depth, also below the Silet-Taourirts, which are emplaced within Pan-African island arc assemblages. A model is proposed for the genesis of the Taourirt province where reworking of the mega-shear zones, which dissected the LATEA metacraton, provoked a linear delamination of the lithospheric mantle, asthenosphere uprise and partial melting of the lower crust (or strong interaction with), giving rise to a mixed source.     

The alkaline–peralkaline granitic post-collisional Tin Zebane dyke swarm (Pan-African Tuareg shield, Algeria): prevalent mantle signature and late agpaitic differentiation

The Tin Zebane dyke swarm was emplaced at the end of the Pan-African orogeny along a mega-shear zone separating two contrasting terranes of the Tuareg shield. It is located along the western boundary of the Archaean In Ouzzal rigid terrane, but inside the adjacent Tassendjanet terrane, strongly remobilized at the end of the Precambrian. The Tin Zebane swarm was emplaced during post-collisional sinistral movements along the shear zone at 592.2±5.8 Ma (19WR Rb–Sr isochron). It is a dyke-on-dyke system consisting of dykes and stocks of gabbros and dykes of metaluminous and peralkaline granites. All rock types have Sr and Nd isotopic initial ratios (Sr_i=0.7028 and _Nd=+6.2) typical of a depleted mantle source, similar to the prevalent mantle (PREMA) at that period. No crustal contamination occurred in the genesis of the Tin Zebane swarm. Even the samples showing evidence of fluid interaction (essentially alkali mobility) have the same isotopic signature. The peralkaline granites have peculiar geochemical characteristics that mimic subduction-related granites: this geochemical signature is interpreted in terms of extensive differentiation effects due to late cumulates comprising aegirine, zircon, titanite, allanite and possibly fergusonite, separated from the liquid in the swarm itself due to magmatic flow turbulence. The Tin Zebane dyke swarm is thus of paramount importance for constraining the differentiation of mantle products to generate highly evolved alkaline granites without continental crust participation, in a post-collisional setting.     

Isotopic (O, Sr, Nd) and trace element geochemistry of the Laouni layered intrusions (Pan-African belt, Hoggar, Algeria): evidence for post-collisional continental tholeiitic magmas variably contaminated by continental crust

The three layered intrusions studied in the Laouni area have been emplaced within syn-kinematic Pan-African granites and older metamorphic rocks. They have crystallized at the end of the regional high-temperature metamorphism, but are free from metamorphic recrystallization, revealing a post-collisional character. The cumulate piles can be interpreted in terms of two magmatic liquid lines of descent: one is tholeiitic and marked by plagioclase–olivine–clinopyroxene cumulates (troctolites or olivine bearing gabbros), while the other is calc-alkaline and produced orthopyroxene–plagioclase rich cumulates (norites). One intrusion (WL (West Laouni)-troctolitic massif), shows a Lower Banded Zone where olivine-chromite orthocumulates are interlayered with orthopyroxene-rich and olivine–plagioclase–clinopyroxene cumulates, whereas the Upper Massive Zone consists mainly of troctolitic and gabbroic cumulates. The other two massifs are more homogeneous: the WL-noritic massif has a calc-alkaline differentiation trend whereas the EL (East Laouni)–troctolitic massif has a tholeiitic one. Separated pyroxene and plagioclase display similar incompatible trace element patterns, regardless of the cumulate type. Calculated liquids in equilibrium with the two pyroxenes for both noritic and troctolitic cumulates are characterized by negative Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf anomalies and light REE enrichment inherited from the parental magmas. Troctolitic cumulates have mantle-derived δ¹⁸O (+5 to +6‰), initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (Sr_i=0.7030 to 0.7054), _Nd (+5 to −1) values whereas noritic cumulates are variably enriched in δ¹⁸O (+7 to +9‰), show negative _Nd (−7 to −12) and slightly higher Sr_i (0.7040–0.7065). Based on field, isotopic ratios are interpreted as resulting from a depleted mantle source (Sr_i=0.7030; _Nd=+5.1; δ¹⁸O=+5.1‰) having experience short term incompatible element enrichment and variable crustal contamination. The mantle magma was slightly contaminated by an Archaean lower crust in troctolitic cumulates, more strongly and with an additional contamination by an Eburnian upper crust in noritic cumulates. Lower crust input is recorded mainly by Sr and Nd isotopes and upper crust input by O isotopes. This is probably due to the different water/rock ratios of these two crust types. Assimilation of low amounts (<10%) of quartz-bearing felsic rocks, coming from both lower and upper crust, can explain the rise of SiO₂ activity, the enrichment in ¹⁸O and ⁸⁷Sr and the lowering of _Nd in the noritic cumulates compared to troctolitic ones. The geodynamic model proposed to account for the Laouni tholeiitic magmatism involves a late Pan-African asthenospheric rise due to a rapid lithospheric thinning associated with functioning of shear zones, which allowed tholeiitic magmas to reach high crustal levels while experiencing decreasing degrees of crustal contamination with time.     

Late Archaean crust-mantle interactions: geochemistry of LREE-enriched mantle derived magmas. Example of the Closepet batholith,southern India

The Closepet batholith in South India is generally considered as a typical crustal granite emplaced 2.5 Ga ago and derived through partial melting of the surrounding Peninsular Gneisses (3.3 to 3.0 Ga). In the field, it appears as a composite batholith made up of at least two groups of intrusions. (a) An early SiO₂-poor group (clinopyroxene quartz-monzonite and porphyritic phyritic monzogranite) is located in the central part of the batholith. These rocks display a narrow range in both initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7017–0.7035) and _Nd(–0.9to –4.1). (b) A later SiO₂-rich group (equigranular grey and pink granites) is located along the interface between the SiO₂-poor group and the Peninsular Gneisses. They progressively grade into migmatised Peninsular Gneisses, thus indicating their anatectic derivation. Their isotopic characteristics vary over a wide range (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios=0.7028–0.7336 and _Nd values from-2.7 to-8.3, at 2.52 Ga). Field and geochronological evidence shows that the two groups are broadly contemporaneous (2.518–2.513 Ga) and mechanically mixed. This observation is supported by the chemical data that display well defined mixing trends in the _Sr vs _Nd and elemental variation diagrams. The continuous chemical variation of the two magmatic bodies is interpreted in terms of interaction and mixing of two unrelated end-members derived from different source regions (enriched peridotitic mantle and Peninsular Gneisses). It is proposed that the intrusion of mantle-derived magmas into mid-crustal levels occurred along a transcurrent shear zone; these magmas supplied additional heat and fluids that initiated anatexis of the surrounding crust. During this event, large-scale mixing occurred between mantle and crustal melts, thus generating the composite Closepet batholith. The mantle-derived magmatism is clearly associated with granulite facies metamorphism 2.51±0.01 Ga ago. Both are interpreted as resulting from a major crustal accretion event, possibly related to mantle plume activity.     

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.     

The Temaguessine Fe-cordierite orbicular granite (Central Hoggar, Algeria): U–Pb SHRIMP age, petrology, origin and geodynamical consequences for the late Pan-African magmatism of the Tuareg shield

The Temaguessine high-level subcircular pluton is intrusive into the LATEA metacraton (Central Hoggar) Eburnian (2 Ga) basement and in the Pan-African (615 Ma) granitic batholiths along a major NW–SE oriented major shear zone. It is dated here (SHRIMP U–Pb on zircon) at 582 ± 5 Ma. Composed of amphibole–biotite granite and biotite syenogranite, it comprises abundant enclaves: mafic magmatic enclaves, country-rock xenoliths and remarkable Fe-cordierite (#Fe = 0.87) orbicules. The orbicules have a core rich in cordierite (40%) and a leucocratic quartz–feldspar rim. They are interpreted as resulting from the incongruent melting of the meta-wacke xenoliths collapsed into the magma: the breakdown of the biotite + quartz assemblage produced the cordierite and a quartz–feldspar minimum melt that is expelled, forming the leucocratic rim. The orbicule generation occurred at T < 850° and P < 0.3 GPa. The Fe-rich character of the cordierite resulted from the Fe-rich protolith (wacke with 4% Fe₂O₃ for 72% SiO₂). Strongly negative ε_Nd (−9.6 to −11.2), Nd T_DM model ages between 1.64 and 1.92 Ga, inherited zircons between 1.76 and 2.04 Ga and low to moderately high I_Sr (0.704–0.710) indicate a Rb-depleted lower continental crust source for the Temaguessine pluton; regional considerations impose however also the participation of asthenospheric material. The Temaguessine pluton, together with other high-level subcircular pluton, is considered as marking the end of the Pan-African magma generation in the LATEA metacraton, resulting from the linear delamination along mega-shear zones, allowing asthenospheric uprise and melting of the lower continental crust. This implies that the younger Taourirt granitic province (535–520 Ma) should be considered as a Cambrian intraplate anorogenic event and not as a very late Pan-African event.     

Geochemistry of Cretaceous mafic rocks from the Lower Yangtze region, eastern China: Characteristics and evolution of the lithospheric mantle

Geochemical and isotopic data for Cretaceous mafic rocks (basalt, gabbro, and diorite) from the Lower Yangtze region, northern Yangtze block, constrain the evolution of the lithospheric mantle. The mafic rocks, separated into the northeast and southwest groups, are alkaline and evolved, with low Mg# values (44–58) and variable SiO₂ contents (47.6–57.4 wt%). Enriched LREEs, LILEs, and Pb, together with depleted Nb, Zr, and Ti, suggest that the mantle sources were metasomatized by slab-derived fluid/melt. All samples show high radiogenic ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb(t) (15.41–15.65) and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb(t) (37.66–38.51) ratios at given ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb(t) (17.65–19.00) ratios, consistent with the mantle sources having been metasomatized by ancient slab-derived material. Mafic rocks of the southwest group show enriched Sr–Nd isotopic characteristics, with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(t) ranging from 0.7056 to 0.7071 and ε_Nd(t) ranging from −5.3 to −8.3, indicating an origin from enriched lithospheric mantle. Mafic rocks of the northeast group, which record ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(t) ratios of between 0.7044 and 0.7050 and ε_Nd(t) of −2.8 to −0.7, possibly formed by the mixing of melts from isotopically enriched lithospheric mantle and isotopically depleted asthenospheric mantle. Taking into consideration the geochemical and isotopic characteristics of Cretaceous mafic rocks, Cenozoic basalts, and basalt-hosted peridotite xenoliths from the Lower Yangtze region, we propose that an isotopically enriched, subduction-modified lithospheric mantle was replaced by or transformed into an isotopically depleted “oceanic-type” mantle. Such a process appears to have occurred in the eastern North China Craton as well as the eastern Yangtze block, probably in response to subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate beneath East Asia.     

Paleoproterozoic subduction-related metasomatic signatures in the lithospheric mantle beneath NE Brazil: inferences from trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions of Neoproterozoic high-K igneous rocks

Late Neoproterozoic (ca. 580 Ma), high-K, mafic-intermediate rocks represent voluminous bimodal magmatism in the Borborema Province, northeast Brazil. These rocks show the following chemical signatures that reflect derivation from a subduction-modified lithospheric mantle source: (1) enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (Rb, Ba, K, Th) and light rare-earth elements (REE) (La/Yb_CN=11–70), (2) pronounced negative Nb anomalies, and (3) radiogenic Sr (0.71202–0.7059) and unradiogenic Nd (_Nd from −9.3–−20.1) isotopic compositions. T_DM model ages suggest that modification of the lithospheric mantle source (metasomatised garnet lherzolite) may have occurred in the Paleoproterozoic during the Transamazonian/Eburnean tectonics that affected the region. Interaction with asthenospheric fluids is believed to have partially melted this enriched source in the Neoproterozoic, probably as a result of asthenosphere-derived fluid percolation in the Brasiliano/Pan-African shear zones that controlled the emplacement of these mafic-intermediate magmas. The involvement of this asthenospheric component is supported by the nonradiogenic Pb isotopic ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=16–17.3, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.1–15.6, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=36–37.5), which contrast with the enriched Sr and Nd compositions and thereby suggest the decoupling of Rb–Sr, Sm–Nd, and U–Pb systems at the time of intrusion of the mafic-intermediate magmas in the crust.     

Permian basaltic rocks in the Tarim basin, NW China: Implications for plume–lithosphere interaction

There are large areas of Permian basaltic rocks in the Tarim basin (PBRT) in northwestern China. Precise Ar–Ar dating of these rocks revealed an eruption age span of 262 to 285 Ma. Most of the PBRT is composed of alkaline basaltic rocks with high TiO₂ (2.43%–4.59%, weight percent), high Fe₂O₃ + FeO (12.63%–17.83%) and P₂O₅ (0.32%–1.38%) contents. Trace elements of these rocks have affinities with oceanic island basalts (OIB), as shown in chondrite normalized rare earth elements (REE) diagrams and primitive mantle normalized incompatible elements diagrams. The rocks show complex Sr–Nd isotopic character based on which they can be subdivided into two distinct groups: group 1 has relatively small initial (t = 280 Ma)⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio ( 0.7048) and positive εNd(t) (3.42–4.66) values. Group 2 has relatively large initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio (0.7060–0.7083) and negative εNd(t) (from − 2.79 to − 2.16) values. Lead isotopes are even more complex with variations of (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)t, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)t and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)t ranging from 17.9265 to 18.5778, 15.4789 to 15.6067 and 37.2922 to 38.1437, respectively. Moreover, these two groups have different trace elements ratios such as Nb/La, Ba/Nb, Zr/Nb, Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf, implying different magmatic processes. Based on the geochemistry of basaltic rocks and an evaluation of the tectonics, deformation, and the compositions of crust and lithospheric mantle in Tarim, we conclude that these basaltic rocks resulted from plume–lithosphere interaction. Permian mantle plume caused an upwelling of the Tarim lithosphere leading to melting of the asthenospheric mantle by decompression. The magma ascended rapidly to the base of lower crust, where different degrees of assimilation of OIB-like materials and fractionation occurred. Group 1 rocks formed where the upwelling is most pronounced and the assimilation was negligible. In other places, different degrees of assimilation and fractionation account for the geochemical traits of group 2.     

Chronology and Geochemistry of the Nadingcuo Volcanic Rocks in the Southern Qiangtang Region of the Tibetan Plateau: Partial Melting of Remnant Ocean Crust along the Bangong-Nujiang Suture

<正>The Nadingcuo high-K calc-alkaline rocks mainly composed of trachyte and trachyandesite are the largest outcrop area of volcanic rocks in southern Qiangtang terrane in the Tibetan plateau. However,their exact source and peterogenesis are still debated.~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar and LAM-ICPMS zircon U-Pb isotopic dating confirm that these rocks erupted in Eocene.In addition,the Nadingcuo volcanic rocks are characterized by high Sr/Y content ratios,similar with the adakite derived from partial melting of oceanic crust.They can be further classified as high Mg~#(Mg~#=48-57) and low Mg~# (Mg~#=33-42) subtypes.The Nadingcuo adakitic rocks have relatively low(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i and highε_(Nd)(t), showing a trend of similarity to the Dongcuo ophiolite present in the Bangong-Nujiang oceanic crust. Simple modeling indicates that the Nadingcuo adakitic rocks are a mix resulting from the basalt of Bangong-Nujiang Ocean with 10%-20%crustal material of Lhasa terrane.On these bases we suggest that the low Mg~# Nadingcuo adakitic rocks are the product of partial melting of remnant oceanic crust with small sediment,and the high Mg~# rocks are the result of reaction between rising melt of remnant oceanic crust with subducted sediment and mantle wedge.Therefore,the origin of Nadingcuo adakitic rocks may be related to intracontinental subduction triggered by collision of India-Asia during Cenozoic.     

Evolution and composition of the lithospheric mantle underneath the western Arabian peninsula: constraints from Sr−Nd isotope systematics of mantle xenoliths

On the basis of their textures and mineral compositions spinel-peridotite xenoliths of the Cr-diopside group (group I) from Cenozoic volcanic fields of Arabia can be classified into different subtypes. Type IA is of lherzolitic to harzburgitic composition; mineral compositions are similar to those of group I mantle xenoliths from worldwide occurrences. Type IB xenoliths have lherzolitic to wehrlitic compositions; Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratios of the clinopyroxenes (0.862–0.916) and olivines (0.872–0.914) are similar too or slightly lower than those of typical IA minerals. Texturally, type IB xenoliths are distinguished from type IA rocks by the presence of intragranular spinel, intragranular relict Cr-pargasite, and subordinate intergranular Ba-phlogopite (11.1% BaO). The hydrous minerals in type IB xenoliths are interpreted to document an earlier metasomatism 1 which did not affect type IA lithospheric mantle. Subsequent recrystallization caused the partial replacement of Cr-pargasite in type IB materials and resulted in the formation of less hydrous mineral assemblages. Some of the type IA xenoliths are characterized by secondary intergranular amphibole which must have formed recently. The absence or presence of this intergranular amphibole is used to distinguish an anhydrous subtype IA1 from a hydrous subtype IA2. Type IB xenoliths may also contain secondary intergranular amphibole (similar to the one in subtype IA2) or they contain abundant formermelt patches now consisting of glass and phenocrysts of olivine, clinopyroxene, amphibole, and spinel. The secondary intergranular amphiboles and the former melt patches, both are interpreted as results of a second metasomatism (metasomatism 2). In their trace element and isotopic characteristics, type IA1 and type IA2 clinopyroxenes do not exhibit any systematic differences. Furthermore, type IA2 clinopyroxenes are in Sr isotopic disequilibrium with intergranular amphiboles. This suggests that type IA2 clinopyroxenes were not modified during the second metasomatism 2. All type IA clinopyroxenes have low Sr contents (100 ppm); most of them show Sm/Nd ratios higher than inferred for bulk earth. In their ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios, type IA clinopyroxenes exhibit a large spread from 0.70226–0.70376 and from 0.51375–0.51251, respectively. Highly variable Sr/Nd ratios (5.0–79.3) and variable T_UR and T_CHUR model age relationships require different evolutions of the respective mantle portions. Nevertheless, all but two type IA clinopyroxenes form a linear array in a Sm–Nd isochron diagram which probably can not be explained by mixing. If taken as an isochron the slope of the array corresponds to an age of around 700 Ma. The mean initial _Nd of 5.8±1.7 (1) is similar to values for juvenile Pan-African (i.e. 850–650 Ma old) crust of the Arabian-Nubian shield. It is suggested that type IA lithospheric mantle and the juvenile Pan-African crust are two counterparts fractionated from a common source during the earlier stages of the Pan-African. Type IB clinopyroxenes have high Sr contents (200 ppm), variable Sr/Nd ratios (9–111) and Sm/Nd ratios generally below that inferred for bulk earth, and show a small spread in their Sr and Nd isotopic compositions (0.70299–0.70318 and 0.51285–0.51278, respectively). In a Sm–Nd isochron diagram the data points form a linear, horizontal array indicating a close-to-zero age for the earlier metasomatism 1 and suggesting a close genetic relationship to mantle processes related to the formation of the Red Sea.     

Petrogenesis of Sierra Nevada plutons inferred from the Sr, Nd, and O isotopic signatures of mafic igneous complexes in Yosemite Valley, California

Mafic complexes in the central Sierra Nevada batholith record valuable geochemical information regarding the role mafic magmas play in arc magmatism and the generation of continental crust. In the intrusive suite of Yosemite Valley, major and trace element compositions of the hornblende-bearing gabbroic rocks from the Rockslides mafic complex and of the mafic dikes in the North America Wall are compositionally similar to high-alumina basalt. Of these rocks, two samples have higher Ni and Cr abundances as well as higher ε_Nd values than previously recognized for the intrusive suite. Plagioclase crystals in rocks from the North America Wall and the Rockslides have prominent calcic cores and sharply defined sodic rims, a texture commonly associated with mixing of mafic and felsic magmas. In situ analyses of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in plagioclase show no significant isotopic difference from the cores to the rims of these grains. We propose that the high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (~0.7067) and low ε_Nd (~?3.4) of bulk rocks, the homogeneity of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in plagioclase, and the high δ¹⁸O values of bulk rocks (6.6–7.3 ‰) and zircon (Lackey et al. in J Petrol 49:1397–1426, 2008) demonstrate that continental crust was assimilated into the sublithospheric mantle-derived basaltic precursors of the mafic rocks in Yosemite Valley. Contamination (20–40 %) likely occurred in the lower crust as the magma differentiated to high-alumina basalt prior to plagioclase (and zircon) crystallization. As a consequence, the isotopic signatures recorded by whole rocks, plagioclase, and zircon do not represent the composition of the underlying lithospheric mantle. We conclude that the mafic and associated felsic members of the intrusive suite of Yosemite Valley represent 60–80 % new additions to the crust and include significant quantities of recycled ancient crust.     

Petrography and geochemistry of the Ngaoundéré Pan-African granitoids in Central North Cameroon: Implications for their sources and geological setting

The Nagoundéré Pan-African granitoids in Central North Cameroon belong to a regional-scale massif, which is referred to as the Adamawa-Yade batholith. The granites were emplaced into a ca. 2.1 Ga remobilised basement composed of metasedimentary and meta-igneous rocks that later underwent medium- to high-grade Pan-African metamorphism. The granitoids comprise three groups: the hornblende–biotite granitoids (HBGs), the biotite ± muscovite granitoids (BMGs), and the biotite granitoids (BGs). New Th–U–Pb monazite data on the BMGs and BGs confirm their late Neoproterozoic emplacement age (ca. 615 ± 27 Ma for the BMGs and ca. 575 Ma for the BGs) during the time interval of the regional tectono-metamorphic event in North Cameroon. The BMGs also show the presence of ca. 926 Ma inheritances, suggesting an early Neoproterozoic component in their protolith.The HBGs are characterized by high Ba–Sr, and low K₂O/Na₂O ratios. They show fairly fractionated REE patterns (La_N/Yb_N 6–22) with no Eu anomalies. The BMGs are characterized by higher K₂O/Na₂O and Rb/Sr ratios. They are more REE-fractionated (La_N/Yb_N = 17–168) with strong negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu^* = 0.2–0.5). The BGs are characterized by high SiO₂ with K₂O/Na₂O > 1. They show moderated fractionated REE patterns (La_N/Yb_N = 11–37) with strong Eu negative anomalies (Eu/Eu^* = 0.2–0.8) and flat HREE features (Gd_N/Yb_N = 1.5–2.2). In Primitive Mantle-normalized multi-element diagrams, the patterns of all rocks show enrichment in LILE relative to HFSE and display negative Nb–Ta and Ti anomalies. All the granitoids belong to high-K calc-alkaline suites and have an I-type signature.Major and trace element data of the HBGs are consistent with differentiation of a mafic magma from an enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle, with possible crustal assimilation. In contrast, the high Th content, the LREE-enrichment, and the presence of inherited monazite suggest that the BGs and BMGs were derived from melting of the middle continental crust. Structural and petrochemical data indicate that these granitoids were emplaced in both syn- to post-collision tectonic settings.     

青藏高原凯蒙蛇绿混杂岩中碱性火山岩的发现及意义

班公湖-怒江洋的关闭时间直接制约青藏高原早期构造演化的认识。最近,在班公湖-怒江缝合带南侧凯蒙蛇绿混杂岩中发现一碱性火山岩,岩性主要是橄榄粗安岩,具粗面结构,斑晶主要是更长石和少量普通辉石,基质主要由更长石、普通辉石和少量填隙的碱性长石组成,有的具辉绿结构。岩石化学成分较一致,Si O2含量介于51.34%~53.91%之间,Ti O2含量为1.02%~1.55%,具有高Al2O3(17.06%~18.46%)和Na2O(4.90%~6.36%)、低K2O(0.05%~0.88%)含量特点,大多数Mg#大于60,最高68.62,里特曼指数(σ)介于3.65~4.47之间,为碱性系列火山岩;富集Sr、Rb、Ba等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Y、Yb等高场强元素,相对富集Zr、Ti,Nb/U、Zr/Nb、La/Yb等比值稳定,分别为7.45~8.51、15.92~17.26和7.26~8.06;(87Sr/86Sr)i值变化范围较小,介于0.706~0.707之间,(143Nd/144Nd)t值在0.512 368~0.512 548之间,说明源区较为一致,结合Ce/Pb-Si O2图解判断结果,认为凯蒙碱性火山岩具有原始地幔、陆壳和深海沉积物源区混合特征。锆石U-Pb同位素定年结果表明该火山岩年龄为101.8±1.1 Ma,可能形成于洋壳俯冲阶段末期,由大陆边缘陆壳与俯冲洋壳板片断离导致软流圈地幔上涌诱发部分熔融所致,推测班公湖-怒江洋大约在早白垩世晚期关闭。     

Late Triassic alkaline complex in the Sulu UHP terrane: Implications for post-collisional magmatism and subsequent fractional crystallization

Continental subduction and its interaction with overlying mantle wedge are recognized as fundamental solid earth processes, yet the dynamics of this system remains ambiguous. In order to get an insight into crust–mantle interaction triggered by partial melting of subudcted continental crust during its exhumation, we carried out a combined study of the Shidao alkaline complex from the Sulu ultrahigh pressure (UHP) terrane. The alkaline complex is composed of shoshonitic to ultrapotassic (K₂O: 3.4–9.3 wt.%) gabbro, pyroxene syenite, amphibole syenite, quartz syenite, and granite. Field studies suggest that the mafic rocks are earlier than the felsic ones in sequence. LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb dating on them gives Late Triassic ages of 214 ± 2 to 200 ± 3 Ma from mafic to felsic rocks. These ages are slightly younger than the Late Triassic ages (225–210 Ma) of the felsic melts from partial melting of the Sulu UHP terrane during exhumation. The alkaline rocks have wide ranges of SiO₂ (49.7–76.7 wt.%), MgO (8.25–0.03 wt.%), Ni (126.0–0.07 ppm), and Cr (182.0–0.45 ppm) contents. The contents of MgO, total Fe₂O₃, CaO, TiO₂ and P₂O₅ decrease with increasing SiO₂ contents. The contents of Na₂O, K₂O, and Al₂O₃ increase from gabbro to amphibole syenite, and decrease from amphibole syenite to granite, respectively. The alkaline rocks have characteristics of an arc-like pattern in trace element distribution, e.g., enrichment of LREE, LILE (Rb and Ba), Th and U, depletion of HFSE (Nb, Ta, P and Ti), and positive Pb anomalies. From the mafic rocks to the felsic rocks, the (La/Yb)_N ratios and the contents of the total REE, Sr and Ba decrease but the Rb contents increase. The alkaline rocks with high SiO₂ contents also display features of an A2-type granitoids, e.g., high contents of total alkalis, Zr and Nb and high ratios of Fe₂O₃^T/MgO, Ga/Al, Yb/Ta and Y/Nb, suggesting a post-collisional magmatism during exhumation of the Sulu UHP terrane. The alkaline rocks have homogeneous initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7058–0.7093) and negative ε_Nd(t) values (− 18.6 to − 15.0) for whole-rock. The Sr–Nd isotopic data remain almost unchanged with varying SiO₂ and MgO contents, suggesting a fractional crystallization (FC) process from the same parental magma. Our studies suggest a crust–mantle interaction in continental subduction interface as follows: (1) hydrous felsic melts from partial melting of subducted continental crust during its exhumation metasomatized the overlying mantle wedge to form a K-rich and amphibole-bearing mantle; (2) partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle generated the Late Triassic alkaline complex under a post-collisional setting; and (3) the alkaline magma experienced subsequent fractionational crystallization mainly dominated by olivine, clinopyroxene, plagioclase and alkali feldspar.     

Multiple sources for the origin of granites: Geochemical and Nd/Sr isotopic evidence from the Gudaoling granite and its mafic enclaves, northeast China

Geochemical and Sr- and Nd-isotopic data have been determined for mafic to intermediate microgranular enclaves and host granitoids from the Early Cretaceous Gudaoling batholith in the Liaodong Peninsula, NE China. The rocks include monzogranite, porphyric granodiorite and quartz diorite. Monzogranites have relatively high ⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.672-0.853), low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7052-0.7086) and ε _Nd(t) values (−18.5 to −20.9) indicating that they were mainly derived from a newly underplated crustal source with a short crustal residence time. Quartz diorites have high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7118-0.7120) and negative ε _Nd(t) values (−13.2 to −18.1) coupled with high Al₂O₃ and MgO contents, indicating they were derived from enriched lithospheric mantle with contributions of radiogenic Sr from plagioclase-rich metagreywackes or meta-igneous rocks, i.e., ancient lower crust. Two groups of enclaves with igneous textures and abundant acicular apatites are distinguished: dioritic enclaves and biotite monzonitic enclaves. Dioritic enclaves have low Al₂O₃ (13.5-16.4 wt%) and high MgO (Mg# = ∼72.3) concentrations, low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7058-0.7073) and negative ε _Nd(t) values (∼−7.2), and are enriched in LILEs and LREEs and depleted in HFSEs, suggesting they were derived from an enriched lithospheric mantle source. Biotite monzonitic enclaves have Sr and Nd isotopic compositions similar to the monzogranites, indicating they were crystal cumulates of the parental magmas of these monzogranites. Granodiorites have transitional geochemistry and Nd- and Sr-isotopic compositions, intermediate between the monzogranites, quartz diorites and the enclaves.Geochemical and Sr- and Nd-isotopic compositions rule-out simple crystal-liquid fractionation or restite unmixing as the major genetic link between enclaves and host rocks. Instead, magma mixing of mafic mantle-derived and juvenile crustal-derived magmas, coupled with crystal fractionation and assimilation of ancient lower crust, is compatible with the data. This example shows that at least some calc-alkaline granitoids are not produced by pure intracrustal melting, but formed through a complex, multi-stage hybridization process, involving mantle- and crustal-derived magmas and several concomitant magmatic processes (crystal fractionation, crustal assimilation and crustal anatexis).     

Origin of the Oligocene Tuolangla porphyry-skarn Cu-W-Mo deposit in Lhasa terrane,southern Tibet

Although some porphyry-skarn deposits occur in post-collisional extensional settings, the post-collisional deposits remain poorly understood. Here the authors describe the igneous geology, and mineralization history of Tuolangla, a newly-discovered porphyry-skarn Cu-W-Mo deposit in southern Tibet that belongs to the post-collisional class. The deposit is associated with Lower Cretaceous Bima Formation. It was intruded by granodiorite porphyry intrusions at about 23.1 Ma. Field investigation indicated that mineralization is spatially and temporally associated with granodiorite porphyry. Molybdenite yielded a Re-Os weighted mean age of 23.5 ± 0.3 Ma and is considered to represent the age of skarn mineralization at the deposit. The δ³⁴S values of sulfides, concentrated in a range between 0.6‰ to 3.4‰, show that the sulfur has a homogeneous source with characteristics of magmatic sulfur. The Pb isotopic compositions of sulfides indicate that ore-forming metal materials were derived from the mantle and ancient crust. The granodiorite porphyry displays high SiO₂ (68.78%–69.75%) and K₂O (3.40%–3.56%) contents, and relatively lower Cr (2.4×10^-6–4.09×10^-6), Ni (2.79×10^-6–3.58×10^-6) contents, and positive ε_Hf(t) values (7.7–12.9) indicating that the mineralization porphyry was derived from the partial melting of juvenile lower crust. The Tuolangla deposit is located in the central part of Zedang terrane. This terrane was once considered an ancient terrane. This terrane is in tectonic contact with Cretaceous ophiolitic rocks to its south and Mesozoic continental margin arc volcanics and intrusions of the Gangdese batholith of the Lhasa terrane to its north. Thus, the authors proposed that the Oligocene porphyry skarn Cu-W-Mo mineralization is probably associated with the Zedang terrane. This finding may clarify why the Oligocene (about 23 Ma) deposits are found only in the Zedang area and why mineralization types of the Oligocene mineralization are considerably different from those of the Miocene (17–14 Ma) mineralization.     

Western Kamchatka-Koryak continental-margin volcanogenic belt: Age,composition, and sources

The isotope-geochemical study of the Eocene-Oligocene magmatic rocks from the Western Kamchatka-Koryak volcanogenic belt revealed a lateral heterogeneity of mantle magma sources in its segments: Western Kamchatka, Central Koryak, and Northern Koryak ones. In the Western Kamchatka segment, magmatic melts were generated from isotopically heterogeneous (depleted and/or insignificantly enriched) mantle sources significantly contaminated by quartz-feldspathic sialic sediments; higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70429–0.70564) and lower ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd(ɛ_Nd(T) = 0.06–2.9) ratios in the volcanic rocks from the Central Koryak segment presumably reflect the contribution of enriched mantle source; the high positive ɛ_Nd(T) and low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in the magmatic rocks from the Northern Koryak segment area indicate their derivation from isotopically depleted mantle source without significant contamination by sialic or mantle material enriched in radiogenic Sr and Nd. Significantly different contamination histories of the Eocene-Oligocene mantle magmas in Kamchatka and Koryakia are related to their different thermal regimes: the higher heat flow beneath Kamchatka led to the crustal melting and contamination of mantle suprasubduction magmas by crustal melts. The cessation of suprasubduction volcanism in the Western Kamchatka segment of the continentalmargin belt was possibly related to the accretion of the Achaivayam-Valagin terrane 40 Ma ago, whereas suprasubduction activity in the Koryak segment stopped due to the closure of the Ukelayat basin in the Oligocene time.     

Terrane assembly and geodynamic evolution of central–western Hoggar: a synthesis

After a review of the rock sequences and evolution of the eastern and central terranes of Hoggar, this paper focusses on the Neoproterozoic subduction-related evolution and collision stages in the central–western part of the Tuareg shield. Rock sequences are described and compared with their counterparts identified in the western and the eastern terranes exposed in Hoggar and northern Mali. The Pharusian terrane that is described in detail, is floored in the east by the Iskel basement, a Mesoproterozoic arc-type terrane cratonized around 840 Ma and in the southeast by Late Paleoproterozoic rock sequences (1.85–1.75 Ga) similar to those from northwestern Hoggar. Unconformable Late Neoproterozoic volcanosedimentary formations that mainly encompass volcanic greywackes were deposited in troughs adjacent to subduction-related andesitic volcanic ridges during the c. 690–650 Ma period. Abundant arc-related pre-collisional calc-alkaline batholiths (650–635 Ma) intruded the volcanic and volcaniclastic units at rather shallow crustal levels prior to collisional processes. The main E–W shortening in the Pharusian arc-type crust occurred through several stages of transpression and produced overall greenschist facies regional metamorphism and upright folding, thus precluding significant crustal thickening. It was accompanied by the shallow emplacement of calc-alkaline batholiths and plutons. Ages of syn-collisional granitoids range from 620 Ma in the western terranes, to 580 Ma in the Pharusian terrane, thus indicating a severe diachronism. After infill of molassic basins unconformable above the Pan-African greenschists, renewed dextral transpression took place in longitudinal domains such as the Adrar fault. The lithology, volcanic and plutonic suites, deep greenschist facies metamorphism, structures and kinematics from the Adrar fault molassic belt previously considered as Neoproterozoic are described in detail. The younger late-kinematic plutons emplaced in the Pharusian terrane at 523 Ma [Lithos 45 (1998) 245] relate to a Cambrian tectonic pulse that post-dates molasse deposition. The new geodynamic scenario presented considers several paleosubductions. The major east-dipping subduction, corresponding to the closure of a large Pan-African oceanic domain in the west (680–620 Ma) post-dates an older west-dipping “Pharusian” subduction (690–650 Ma?) to the east of the eastern Pharusian terrane. Such a diachronism is suggested by the 690 Ma old eclogites of the western part of the LATEA terrane of central Hoggar [J. African Earth Sci. this volume (2003)] that are nearly synchronous with the building up of the Pharusian terrane, thus suggesting that the 4°50^′ lithospheric fault represents a reactivated cryptic suture.