Petrological sStudies of Jilang Eclogite and Constraints on the Subduction and Exhumation Processes of the Paleo‐Tethys Oceanic Crust

The (ultra‐) high pressure eclogites from Sumdo area, recorded the subduction and exhumation process of the Paleo‐Tethys oceanic crust. Previous studies showed that there are significant differences in temperature and pressure conditions of the eclogites in four regions, e.g. Sumdo, Xindaduo, Bailang and Jilang. The cause of this differences remains unclear. Studying the peak metamorphic conditions and P‐T path of Sumdo eclogite is of great significance to reveal the subduction and exhumation mechanism of Paleo‐Tethys ocean. In this paper, we choose the Jilang eclogite as an example, which has a mineral assemblage of garnet, omphacite, phengite, hornblende, rutile, epidote, quartz and symplectit (diopside + amphibole + plagioclase), and minor biotite. Garnet has a “dirty” core with abundant mineral inclusions and a “clear” rim with less mineral inclusions, showing typical growth zoning. From the core to the rim, Prp content in garnet increasing while Grs content decreasing. P‐T pseudosection calculated with Domino constrained peak P‐T conditions of Jilang eclogite as 563°C, 2.4 GPa. Combined with petrographical observation, four stages of metamorphism have been recognized: (1) early stage prograde metamorphism represent by the core of garnet and mineral inclusions therein; (2) peak metamorphism represent by the rim of garnet, omphacite, phengite, glaucophane, rutile and quartz; (3) first stage of retrograde metamorphism characterized by decomposition of lawsonite to zoisite; (4) second stage of retrograde metamorphism characterized by symplectites surrounding omphacite and cornona rimmed garnet. Jilang eclogite shows a clockwise P‐T path, and near isothermal decompression during exhumation. It differs from eclogites in other area, which are hosted by garnet‐bearing mica schists or serpentinites. Jilang eclogites are enclosed in metamorphic quartzites, with relatively low P‐T conditions. We infer that the Jilang eclogite was derived from the shallow part of the subduction zone, and was exhumated by low density materials in the subduction channel.     

西藏松多榴辉岩变质作用研究

西藏拉萨地块松多附近新发现一条榴辉岩带,长约100 km,宽约2~3 km。松多榴辉岩主要经历了进变质的绿帘石榴辉岩相-峰期的榴辉岩相-退变质的角闪岩相3个阶段。岩石学研究表明,峰期的特征矿物组合是石榴子石绿辉石多硅白云母金红石,峰期温压条件是760~800 ℃,33~39 GPa。这表明松多地区可能曾经历超高压变质作用,之后快速返回,p T轨迹呈“发卡”状,后期退变质经历了角闪石榴辉岩相阶段。研究松多榴辉岩表明,拉萨地块内部有一条新的缝合带,这对于了解拉萨地块和古特提斯洋的演化有重要意义。     

Indosinian Orogenesis in the Lhasa Terrane,Tibet: New Muscovite 40Ar‐39Ar Geochronology and Evolutionary Process

Muscovite 40Ar-39Ar dating of muscovite-quartz schist, eclogite and retrograde eclogite indicates an Indosinian orogenesis occurred at 220–240 Ma in the Lhasa terrane, which is caused by the closure of Paleo-Tethyan ocean basin and the following collision of the northern Lhasa terrane and southern Gondwana land. This Indosinian orogenesis is further confirmed by the regional sedimentary characteristics, magmatic activity and ophiolite mélange. This evidence suggests that the Indosinian orogenic belt in the Lhasa terrane is widely distributed from the Coqen county in the west, and then extends eastward through the Ningzhong and Sumdo area, finally turning around the eastern Himalayan syntaxis into the Bomi county. Based on the evolutionary process, the geological development of Lhasa terrane from early Paleozoic to early Mesozoic can be divided into seven stages. All of the seven stages make up a whole Wilson circle and reveal a perfect evolutionary process of the Paleo-Tethys ocean between the northern Lhasa terrane and southern Gondwana land. The Indosinian orogenisis is a significant event for the evolution of the Lhasa terrane as well as the Tibetan Plateau.     

The Open of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean: Inferred from the Early Paleozoic Ophiolite in the Qiangtang Area,Northern Tibetan Plateau

The Paleo‐Tethys Ocean was a Paleozoic ocean located between the Gondwana and Laurasia supercontinents. It was usually consider to opening in the early Paleozoic with the rifting of the Hun superterrane from Gondwana following the subduction of the Rheic Ocean/proto‐Tethys Ocean. However, the opening time and detailed evolutionary history of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean are still unclear. The Paleozoic ophiolites have recently been documented in the middle of the Qiangtang terrane, northern Tibetan Plateau, and they mainly occur in the Gangma Co area. These ophiolites are composed of serpentinite, pyroxenite, isotropic and cumulate gabbros, basalt, hornblendite and plagiogranite. Whole‐rock geochemical data suggest that all mafic rocks were formed in an oceanic‐ridge setting. Furthermore, positive whole‐rock εNd(t) and zircon εHf(t) values suggest that these rocks were derived from a long‐term depleted mantle source. The data allow us to conform that these rocks represent an ophiolite suite. Zircon U‐Pb dating of gabbros and plagiogranites yielded weighted mean ages of 437‐501 Ma. The occurrence of the ophiolite suite suggests that a Paleozoic Ocean basin (Paleo‐Tethys) existed in middle of the Qiangtang terrane. We hypothesize that the ophiolite in the middle of the Qiangtang terrane represents the western extension of the Sanjiang Paleo‐Tethys ophiolite in the east margin of the Tibetan Plateau, and they mark the main Paleo‐Tethys Ocean. This is the oldest ophiolite from the Paleo‐Tethyan suture zones and the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean basin probably opened in the Middle Cambrian, and continued to grow throughout the Paleozoic. The ocean was finally closed in the Middle to Late Triassic as inferred from the metamorphic ages of eclogite and blueschist that occur nearby. The Paleo‐Tethys Ocean was probably formed by the breakup of the northern margin of Gondwana, with southward subduction of the proto‐Tethys oceanic lithosphere along the northern margin of the supercontinent.     

青藏高原拉萨地块早中生代高压变质作用及大地构造意义

在西藏拉萨地块的东部,从松多到加兴,在晚古生代石英岩和碳酸岩地层中分布着一条近东西走向的榴辉岩带。尽管受到不同程度的海水蚀变和后期流体/岩浆渗滤的影响,多数松多榴辉岩保存了类似于N-MORB的微量元素地球化学特征,这也与榴辉岩的Sr-Nd同位素系统特征一致。这些榴辉岩经历了压力约为2.6GPa、温度约为650℃的高压变质作用。石榴石-绿辉石-全岩Sm-Nd等时线给出(239±3.5)Ma的等时线年龄,表明在早中生代,拉萨地块内部至少发生过一期洋壳俯冲事件。以松多榴辉岩为代表的洋壳俯冲事件同时表明带状基墨里大陆的形成有可能是一系列微陆块碰撞拼贴而成。     

青藏高原南部拉萨地体的变质作用与动力学

拉萨地体位于欧亚板块的最南缘,它在新生代与印度大陆的碰撞形成了青藏高原和喜马拉雅造山带。因此,拉萨地体是揭示青藏高原形成与演化历史的关键之一。拉萨地体中的中、高级变质岩以前被认为是拉萨地体的前寒武纪变质基底。但新近的研究表明,拉萨地体经历了多期和不同类型的变质作用,包括在洋壳俯冲构造体制下发生的新元古代和晚古生代高压变质作用,在陆-陆碰撞环境下发生的早古生代和早中生代中压型变质作用,在洋中脊俯冲过程中发生的晚白垩纪高温/中压变质作用,以及在大陆俯冲带上盘加厚大陆地壳深部发生的两期新生代中压型变质作用。这些变质作用和伴生的岩浆作用表明,拉萨地体经历了从新元古代至新生代的复杂演化过程。(1)北拉萨地体的结晶基底包括新元古代的洋壳岩石,它们很可能是在Rodinia超大陆裂解过程中形成的莫桑比克洋的残余。(2)随着莫桑比克洋的俯冲和东、西冈瓦纳大陆的汇聚,拉萨地体洋壳基底经历了晚新元古代的(～650Ma)的高压变质作用和早古代的(～485Ma)中压型变质作用。这很可能表明北拉萨地体起源于东非造山带的北端。(3)在古特提斯洋向冈瓦纳大陆北缘的俯冲过程中,拉萨地体和羌塘地体经历了中古生代的(～360Ma)岩浆作用。(4)古特提斯洋盆的闭合和南、北拉萨地体的碰撞,导致了晚二叠纪(～260Ma)高压变质带和三叠纪(～220Ma)中压变质带的形成。(5)在新特提斯洋中脊向北的俯冲过程中,拉萨地体经历了晚白垩纪(～90Ma)安第斯型造山作用,形成了高温/中压型变质带和高温的紫苏花岗岩。(6)在早新生代(55～45Ma),印度与欧亚板块的碰撞,导致拉萨地体地壳加厚,形成了中压角闪岩相变质作用和同碰撞岩浆作用。(7)在晚始新世(40～30Ma),随着大陆的继续汇聚,南拉萨地体经历了另一期角闪岩相至麻粒岩相变质作用和深熔作用。拉萨地体的构造演化过程是研究汇聚板块边缘变质作用与动力学的最佳实例。     

Early Cooling History of Eciogites from the Dabie-Sulu Orogen： Constraints from Diffusion Kinetics of Garnet

Abstract For the first time, we apply different geospeedometric models to garnet zoning patterns that were obtained in this study from detailed EMP analyses for garnets from eclogites and granulite in the Dabie‐Sulu orogen. Various zonings of cation diffusion were preserved in the garnets, enabling the acquirement of average cooling rates for the high‐to ultrahigh‐pressure rocks without using geochronological approaches. The coesite‐bearing hot eclogites yield fast cooling rates of about 20 to 30°C/Ma subsequent to peak metamorphic temperatures, whereas the cold eclogite gives a relatively slow cooling rate of 8°C/Ma at its initial exhumation. A very slow cooling rate of <0.3°C/Ma is obtained for the granulite at Huangtuling, suggesting that the granulite may not be involved in the continental deep subduction.     

西藏松多地区榴辉岩的原岩属性探讨及其地质意义

松多榴辉岩是约束拉萨板块中部古特提斯洋演化的重要材料,前人对其形成年代、变质P-T轨迹等诸多方面已进行了详细的研究,然而对其原岩的研究却较为薄弱,地球化学分析是恢复榴辉岩原岩的重要手段,也是反演区域古特提斯洋演化的重要依据.在系统收集区域地球化学数据的基础上,采集了17件松多榴辉岩样品,进行了地球化学研究,意在对区域构造演化提供新的制约.松多地区主要出露双矿物榴辉岩和退变质榴辉岩,两类榴辉岩都表现出亚碱性拉斑玄武岩的特征,在微量元素和各类构造环境判别图解中,两种榴辉岩分别都落入了N-MORB和E-MORB区域.基于上述分析结果,并结合区域地质资料,表明松多古特提斯洋在演化过程中可能长期存在地幔柱岩浆和正常洋中脊亏损地幔岩浆的相互作用.      

拉萨地块林芝杂岩体石榴角闪岩的地球化学特征和年代学研究

本文对位于青藏高原拉萨地体东南缘林芝杂岩中的两类石榴角闪岩进行了详细的地球化学和锆石U-Pb年代学研究。这两类石榴角闪岩分别为硅不饱和的含十字石石榴角闪岩和硅饱和的含石英石榴角闪岩。含十字石石榴角闪岩矿物组合为十字石、石榴子石、角闪石、钠云母、绿泥石、斜长石。石英石榴角闪岩矿物组合为石榴子石、角闪石、石英、斜长石、黑云母。岩石学及变质相平衡研究表明两类石榴角闪岩均经历了高压角闪岩相变质作用。含十字石石榴角闪岩和石英石榴角闪岩具有MORB的地球化学特征,锆石U-Pb年代学分析获得了800~200 Ma的206Pb/238U年龄范围,出现了~430 Ma、~268 Ma和~216 Ma年龄峰值。~430 Ma年龄可能和拉萨地体岩浆活动有关,~268 Ma变质年龄和~216 Ma变质年龄和拉萨地块经历的高压变质作用有关。其中~268 Ma年龄和拉萨地块内部松多高压带榴辉岩的峰期变质年龄一致,而~216 Ma年龄和榴辉岩的围岩含石榴子石片岩年龄一致。对比该区域的年代学研究成果,这表明林芝杂岩体不仅经历了中新生代的变质和岩浆再造活动,还经历了古特提斯洋闭合,南北拉萨地块发生碰撞的晚二叠世的高压变质作用和三叠纪的中压变质作用。     

Two stages of granulite facies metamorphism in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis,south Tibet: petrology,zircon geochronology and implications for the subduction of Neo‐Tethys and the Indian continent beneath Asia

The eastern Himalayan syntaxis in southeastern Tibet consists of the Lhasa terrane, High Himalayan rocks and Indus‐Tsangpo suture zone. The Lhasa terrane constitutes the hangingwall of a subduction zone, whereas the High Himalayan rocks represent the subducted Indian continent. Our petrological and geochronological data reveal that the Lhasa terrane has undergone two stages of medium‐P metamorphism: an early granulite facies event at c. 90 Ma and a late amphibolite facies event at 36–33 Ma. However, the High Himalayan rocks experienced only a single high‐P granulite facies metamorphic event at 37–32 Ma. It is inferred that the Late Cretaceous (c. 90 Ma) medium‐P metamorphism of the southern Lhasa terrane resulted from a northward subduction of the Neo‐Tethyan ocean, and that the Oligocene (37–32 Ma) high‐P (1.8–1.4 GPa) rocks of the High Himalayan and coeval medium‐P (0.8–1.1 GPa) rocks of the Lhasa terrane represent paired metamorphic belts that resulted from the northward subduction of the Indian continent beneath Asia. Our results provide robust constraints on the Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic evolution of south Tibet.     

Combined U-Pb,Lu-Hf,Sm-Nd and Ar-Ar multichronometric dating on the Bailang eclogite constrains the closure timing of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the Lhasa terrane,Tibet

The Lhasa terrane, the main tectonic component of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen, has received much attention as it records the entire history of the orogeny. The occurrence of Permian to Triassic high-pressure eclogites has a significant bearing on the understanding of the Paleo-Tethys subduction and plate suturing processes in this area. An eclogite from the Bailang, eastern Lhasa terrane, was investigated with a combined metamorphic P–T and U–Pb, Lu–Hf, Sm–Nd and Ar–Ar multichronometric approach. Pseudosection modeling combined with thermobarometric calculations indicate that the Bailang eclogite equilibrated at peak P–T conditions of ~ 2.6 GPa and 465–503 °C, which is much lower than those of Sumdo and Jilang eclogites in this area. Garnet–whole rock–omphacite Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd ages of 238.1 ± 3.6 Ma and 230.0 ± 4.7 Ma were obtained on the same sample, which are largely consistent with the corresponding U–Pb age of 227.4 ± 6.4 Ma for the metamorphic zircons within uncertainty. The peak metamorphic temperature of the sample is lower than the Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd closure temperatures in garnet. This, combined with the core-to-rim decrease in Mn and HREE concentrations, the slightly U-shaped Sm zonation across garnet and the exclusive occurrence of omphacite inclusion in garnet rim, are consistent with the Lu–Hf system skewing to the age of the garnet core and the Sm–Nd system favoring the rim age. The Sm–Nd age was thus interpreted as the age of eclogite-facies metamorphism and the Lu–Hf age likely pre-dated the eclogite-facies metamorphism. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of hornblende from the eclogite yielded ages about 200 Ma, which is interpreted as a cooling age and is probably indicative of the time of exhumation to the middle crust. The difference of peak eclogite-facies metamorphic conditions and the distinct metamorphic ages for the Bailang eclogite (~ 2.6 GPa and ~ 480 °C; ca. 230 Ma), the Sumdo eclogite (~ 3.4 GPa and ~ 650 °C; ca. 262 Ma) and Jiang eclogite (~ 3.6 GPa and ~ 750 °C; ca. 261 Ma) in the same (ultra)-high-pressure belt indicate that this region likely comprises different slices that had distinct P–T histories and underwent (U)HP metamorphism at different times. The initiation of the opening the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the Lhasa terrane could trace back to the early Permian. The ultimate closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the Lhasa terrane was no earlier than ca. 230 Ma.     

Metamorphism and tectonic evolution of the Lhasa terrane,Central Tibet

The Lhasa terrane in southern Tibet is composed of Precambrian crystalline basement, Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary strata and Paleozoic to Cenozoic magmatic rocks. This terrane has long been accepted as the last crustal block to be accreted with Eurasia prior to its collision with the northward drifting Indian continent in the Cenozoic. Thus, the Lhasa terrane is the key for revealing the origin and evolutionary history of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen. Although previous models on the tectonic development of the orogen have much evidence from the Lhasa terrane, the metamorphic history of this terrane was rarely considered. This paper provides an overview of the temporal and spatial characteristics of metamorphism in the Lhasa terrane based mostly on the recent results from our group, and evaluates the geodynamic settings and tectonic significance. The Lhasa terrane experienced multistage metamorphism, including the Neoproterozoic and Late Paleozoic HP metamorphism in the oceanic subduction realm, the Early Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic MP metamorphism in the continent–continent collisional zone, the Late Cretaceous HT/MP metamorphism in the mid-oceanic ridge subduction zone, and two stages of Cenozoic MP metamorphism in the thickened crust above the continental subduction zone. These metamorphic and associated magmatic events reveal that the Lhasa terrane experienced a complex tectonic evolution from the Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic. The main conclusions arising from our synthesis are as follows: (1) The Lhasa block consists of the North and South Lhasa terranes, separated by the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and the subsequent Late Paleozoic suture zone. (2) The crystalline basement of the North Lhasa terrane includes Neoproterozoic oceanic crustal rocks, representing probably the remnants of the Mozambique Ocean derived from the break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent. (3) The oceanic crustal basement of North Lhasa witnessed a Late Cryogenian (~ 650 Ma) HP metamorphism and an Early Paleozoic (~ 485 Ma) MP metamorphism in the subduction realm associated with the closure of the Mozambique Ocean and the final amalgamation of Eastern and Western Gondwana, suggesting that the North Lhasa terrane might have been partly derived from the northern segment of the East African Orogen. (4) The northern margin of Indian continent, including the North and South Lhasa, and Qiangtang terranes, experienced Early Paleozoic magmatism, indicating an Andean-type orogeny that resulted from the subduction of the Proto-Tethys Ocean after the final amalgamation of Gondwana. (5) The Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes witnessed Middle Paleozoic (~ 360 Ma) magmatism, suggesting an Andean-type orogeny derived from the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. (6) The closure of Paleo-Tethys Ocean between the North and South Lhasa terranes and subsequent terrane collision resulted in the formation of Late Permian (~ 260 Ma) HP metamorphic belt and Triassic (220 Ma) MP metamorphic belt. (7) The South Lhasa terrane experienced Late Cretaceous (~ 90 Ma) Andean-type orogeny, characterized by the regional HT/MP metamorphism and coeval intrusion of the voluminous Gangdese batholith during the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean. (8) During the Early Cenozoic (55–45 Ma), the continent–continent collisional orogeny has led to the thickened crust of the South Lhasa terrane experiencing MP amphibolite-facies metamorphism and syn-collisional magmatism. (9) Following the continuous continent convergence, the South Lhasa terrane also experienced MP metamorphism during Late Eocene (40–30 Ma). (10) During Mesozoic and Cenozoic, two different stages of paired metamorphic belts were formed in the oceanic or continental subduction zones and the middle and lower crust of the hanging wall of the subduction zone. The tectonic imprints from the Lhasa terrane provide excellent examples for understanding metamorphic processes and geodynamics at convergent plate boundaries.     

A cold Early Palaeozoic subduction zone in the North Qilian Mountains, NW China: petrological and U-Pb geochronological constraints

The north Qilian high‐pressure (HP)/low‐temperature (LT) metamorphic belt is composed mainly of blueschists, eclogites and greenschist facies rocks. It formed within an Early Palaeozoic accretionary wedge associated with the subduction of the oceanic crust and is considered to be one of the best preserved HP/LT metamorphic belts in China. Here we report new lawsonite‐bearing eclogites and eclogitic rocks enclosed within epidote blueschists in the North Qilian Mountains. Five samples contain unaltered lawsonite coexisting with omphacite and phengite as inclusions in garnet, indicating eclogite facies garnet growth and lawsonite pseudomorphs were observed in garnet from an additional 11 eclogites and eclogitic rocks. Peak pressure conditions estimated from lawsonite omphacite‐phengite‐garnet assemblages were 2.1–2.4 GPa at temperatures of 420–510 °C, in or near the stability field of lawsonite eclogite, and implying formation under an apparent geothermal gradient of 6–8 °C km^?1, consistent with metamorphism in a cold subduction zone. SHRIMP U‐Pb dating of zircon from two lawsonite‐bearing eclogitic metabasites yields ages of 489 ± 7 Ma and 477 ± 16 Ma, respectively. CL images and mineral inclusions in zircon grains indicate that these ages reflect an eclogite facies metamorphism. An age of 502 ± 16 Ma is recorded in igneous cores of zircon grains from one lawsonite pseudomorph‐bearing eclogite, which is in agreement with the formation age of Early Ordovician for some ophiolite sequences in the North Qilian Mountains, and may be associated with a period of oceanic crust formation. The petrological and chronological data demonstrate the existence of a cold Early Palaeozoic subduction zone in the North Qilian Mountains.     

拉萨地体东南部林芝杂岩形成与变质演化的锆石U-Pb年代学限定

本文对拉萨地体东南部林芝地区分布的变质岩进行了岩相学和锆石年代学研究。结果表明,林芝杂岩中的变质沉积岩主要由片麻岩和片岩组成,它们经历了中压角闪岩相变质作用。变质岩中的锆石多由继承的碎屑岩浆核和新生的变质边组成。继承锆石核给出了新太古代至晚古生代的年龄范围,其主要年龄峰值在～1560Ma、～1190Ma、～620Ma和～340Ma,而锆石变质边给出了53Ma和27Ma的变质年龄。这一结果表明,林芝杂岩中的变质沉积岩很可能形成在古生代,其物质源区具有Grenville和Pan-Africa期造山作用的构造热事件记录。这一研究和已有的成果进一步证明,拉萨地体起源于Gondwana大陆北缘,在新生代印度与欧亚大陆的碰撞/俯冲过程中,拉萨地体作为俯冲带的上盘经历了多期变质作用改造。本研究为拉萨地体起源与多期构造演化提供了重要信息。     

Ultrahigh Pressure Metamorphism and Tectonic Evolution of Southwestern Tianshan Orogenic Belt,China: A Comprehensive Review

Recently, a huge ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt of oceanic‐type has been recognized in southwestern (SW) Tianshan, China. Petrological studies show that the UHP metamorphic rocks of SW Tianshan orogenic belt include mafic eclogites and blueschists, felsic garnet phengite schists, marbles and serpentinites. The well‐preserved coesite inclusions were commonly found in eclogites, garnet phengite schists and marbles. Ti‐clinohumite and Ti‐chondrodite have been identified in UHP metamorphic serpentinites. Based on the PT pseudosection calculation and combined U‐Pb zircon dating, the P‐T‐t path has been outlined as four stages: cold subduction to UHP conditions before ～320 Ma whose peak ultrahigh pressure is about 30 kbar at 500oC, heating decompression from the Pmax to the Tmax stage before 305 Ma whose peak temperature is about 600oC at 22kbar, then the early cold exhumation from amphibolite eclogite facies to epidote‐amphibolite facies metamorphism characterized by ITD PT path before 220 Ma and the last tectonic exhumation from epidote amphibolite facies to greenschist facies metamorphism. Combining with the syn‐subduction arc‐like 333‐326 Ma granitic rocks and 280‐260 Ma S‐type granites in the coeval low‐pressure and high‐temperature (LP‐HT) metamorphic belt, the tectonic evolution of Tianshan UHP metamorphic belt during late Cambrian to early Triassic has been proposed.     

U–Pb zircon geochronology of coesite‐bearing eclogites from the southern Dulan area of the North Qaidam UHP terrane,northwestern China: spatially and temporally extensive UHP metamorphism during continental subduction

Coesite‐bearing eclogites from >100 km² in the southern Dulan area, North Qaidam Mountains (NQM) of western China, contain zircon that records protolith crystallization and ultra high pressure (UHP) metamorphism. Sensitive High‐Resolution Ion Microprobe (Mass Spectrometer) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry U–Pb analyses from cathodoluminescence (CL)‐dark zircon cores in a coesite‐bearing eclogite yield an upper intercept age of 838 ± 50 Ma, and oscillatory zoned cores in a kyanite‐bearing eclogite gave a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 832 ± 20 Ma. These zircon cores yield steep heavy rare earth element (HREE) slopes and negative Eu anomalies that suggest a magmatic origin. Thus, c. 835 Ma is interpreted as the eclogite protolith age. Unzoned CL‐grey or ‐bright zircon and zircon rims from four samples yield weighted mean ages of 430 ± 4, 438 ± 2, 446 ± 10 and 446 ± 3 Ma, flat HREE patterns without Eu anomalies, and contain inclusions of garnet, omphacite, rutile, phengite and rare coesite. These ages are interpreted to record 16 ± 5 Myr of UHP metamorphism. These new UHP ages overlap the age range of both eclogite and paragneiss from the northern Dulan area, suggesting that all UHP rock types in the Dulan area belong to the same tectonic unit. Our results are consistent with slow continental subduction, but do not match oceanic subduction and diapiric exhumation UHP model predictions. These new data suggest that, similar to eclogites in other HP/UHP units of the NQM and South Altyn Tagh, protoliths of the eclogites in the Dulan area formed in a continental setting during the Neoproterozoic, and then subducted to mantle depth together with continental materials during the Early Palaeozoic.     

An early Paleozoic Subduction Channel in the North Qilian Mountains,Northwestern China: Structural,Petrological and Chronological Constraints

Detailed geological mapping, structural, petrological and chronological investigation allow us to place new constraints on the tectono‐thermal evolution of the North Qilian high pressure/low temperature (HP/LT) metamorphic belt. The North Qilian HP/LT metamorphic belt manly consists of eclogite, blueschist, metasedimentary rocks and serpentinite. Most of eclogites and mafic blueschists occur as lenses within metasedimentary rocks, and minor eclogites within serpentinite. Petrological and geochemistical data indicate that the protoliths of eclogite and mafic blueschist includes E‐, N‐MORB, OIB and arc basalt. Geochronology and Lu‐Hf isotope of detrital zircons from metasedimentary rocks indicate the detritus materials are derived from Qilian block and likely deposit in continental margin or fore‐arc basin. Zircon U‐Pb datings show that the protolith ages of eclogites vary between 500 Ma and 530 Ma, and the metamorphic age of eclogite between 460 and 489 Ma. The detrital zircon ages of metasedimentary rocks distribute between 532 and 2700 Ma. The structural data show that the deformation related to the subduction during prograde is recorded in eclogite blocks. In contrast, the dominant deformation structures are characterized by tight fold, sheath fold and penetrative foliation and lineation, which are recorded in various rocks, reflecting a top‐to‐the‐south shear sense and representing the deformation related to the exhumation. The petrological data suggest that the different rocks in the North Qilian HP/LT metamorphic belt equilibrated at different peak metamorphic conditions and recorded different P‐T path. Synthesizing the structural, petrological, geochemical and geochronological data suggest a subduction channel model related to oceanic subduction during Paleozoic in the North Qilian Mountains. The different HP/LT metamorphic rocks formed in different settings with various protolith ages were carried by the subducted oceanic crust into different depth in subduction channel, and experienced independent tectono‐thermal evolution inside subduction channel. The North Qilian HP/LT mélange reflects a fossil oceanic subduction channel.     

Constraints on retrograde metamorphism of UHP eclogites in North Qinling,Central China,from 40Ar/39Ar dating of amphibole and phengite

Coesite- and microdiamond- bearing ultra-high pressure (UHP) eclogites in the North Qinling terrane have been widely retrogressed to amphibolites. Previous geochronological studies on these UHP rocks mainly focused on the timing of peak eclogite facies metamorphism. The Kanfenggou UHP metamorphic domain is one of the best-preserved coesite-bearing eclogite occurrences in the North Qinling terrane. In this study, mafic amphibolites and host schists from this domain were collected for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating to constrain their retrograde evolution. Two generations of amphibole are recognized based on their mineral parageneses and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages. A first generation of amphibole from garnet amphibolites yielded irregularly-shaped age spectra with anomalously old apparent ages. Isochron ages of 484–473 Ma and initial ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of 3695–774 are obtained from this generation of amphibole, indicating incorporation of excess argon. Second generation amphibole occurs in epidote amphibolites yielded flat age spectra with plateau ages of 464–462 Ma without evidence for excess argon. These ages suggest that the amphibolite-facies metamorphism has taken place as early as 484 Ma and lasted until 462 Ma for the North Qinling UHP metamorphic rocks. Phengite from the country-rock schists yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 426–396 Ma, with higher phengite Si contents associated with the older the plateau ages. Based on our new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages and previous zircon UPb geochronological data, we construct a new detailed pressure-temperature-time (P-T-t) path illustrating the retrograde metamorphism and exhumation rate of the North Qinling eclogites and host schists. The P-T-t path suggests that these UHP metamorphic rocks experienced initial medium-to-high exhumation rates (ca. 8.7 mm/yr) during the Early Ordovician (489–484 Ma), which was mainly derived from buoyancy forces. Subsequently, the exhumation rate decreased gradually from ~0.8 to 0.3 mm/yr from 484 to 426 Ma, which was probably governed by extension and/or erosion.     

滇西勐库地区退变质榴辉岩锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

滇西双江县勐库地区退变质榴辉岩呈构造透镜体产于湾河蛇绿混杂岩带内,该发现弥补了东特提斯造山带高压-超高压变质岩在云南境内的空缺。在岩石学观察的基础上,借助激光剥蚀等离子体质谱(LA-ICP-MS)技术,对退变质榴辉岩中的锆石开展了精确的U-Pb年龄测定。所测试的3件样品分别采自3个不同的露头:样品PM011-9-1采自勐库控角剖面,样品PM038-15-4采自勐库地界剖面,样品GH1612-1-1采自勐库根恨大寨。测年结果显示,样品PM011-9-1的23个测点中存在2组较集中的~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄,分别为801.0±9.8Ma和227.0±12Ma;样品PM038-15-4的26个测点中存在2组较集中的~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄,分别为447.5±3.6Ma和291.7±6.3Ma;样品GH1612-1-1的30个测点中存在一组较集中的~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄,为229.0±1.3Ma。结合区域资料及锆石阴极发光图像分析,801.0±9.8Ma应属退变质榴辉岩的原岩年龄,可能代表了Rodinia超大陆裂解早期出现的初始洋壳;而447.5±3.6Ma、291.7±6.3Ma和229.0±1.3～227.0±12Ma这3组年龄可能代表了退变质榴辉岩经历的3期变质作用年龄:分别为峰期硬柱石榴辉岩相的变质作用;中期角闪石榴辉岩相-高压麻粒岩相的退变质作用,为一个降压-增温的"热折返"过程;主期角闪岩相的退变质作用,是一个大幅度的降温-减压过程,奠定了勐库地区退变质榴辉岩的主体面貌。     

Zoned Zircon from Eclogite Lenses in Marbles from the Dabie-Sulu UHP Terrane, China： A Clear Record of Ultra-deep Subduction and Fast Exhumation

Eclogite lenses in marbles from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane are deeply subducted meta-sedimentary rocks. Zircons in these rocks have been used to constrain the ages of prograde and UHP metamorphism during subduction, and later retrograde metamorphism during exhumation. Inherited (detrital) and metamorphic zircons were distinguished on the basis of transmitted light microscopy, cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging, trace element contents and mineral inclusions. The distribution of mineral inclusions combined with CL imaging of the metamorphic zircon make it possible to relate zircon zones (domains) to different metamorphic stages. Domain 1 consists of rounded, oblong and spindly cores with dark-luminescent images, and contains quartz eclogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under high-pressure (HP) metamorphic conditions of T = 571-668℃and P = 1.7-2.02 GPa. Domain 2 always surrounds domain 1 or occurs as rounded and spindly cores with white-luminescent images. It contains coesite edogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under UHP metamorphic conditions of T = 782-849℃and P > 5.5 GPa. Domain 3, with gray-luminescent images, always surrounds domain 2 and occurs as the outermost zircon rim. It is characterized by low-pressure mineral inclusion assemblages, which are related to regional amphibolite facies retrograde metamorphism of T = 600-710℃and P = 0.7-1.2 GPa. The three metamorphic zircon domains have distinct ages; sample H1 from the Dabie terrane yielded SHRIMP ages of 245±4 Ma for domain 1, 235±3 Ma for domain 2 and 215±6 Ma for domain 3, whereas sample H2 from the Sulu terrane yielded similar ages of 244±4 Ma, 233±4 Ma and 214±5 Ma for Domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The mean ages of these zones suggest that subduction to UHP depths took place over 10-11 Ma and exhumation of the rocks occurred over a period of 19-20 Ma. Thus, subduction from～55 km to > 160 km deep mantle depth took place at rates of approximately 9.5-10.5 km/Ma and exhumation from depths >160 km to the base of the crust at～30 km occurred at approximately 6.5 km/Ma. We propose a model for these rocks involving deep subduction of continental margin lithosphere followed by ultrafast exhumation driven by buoyancy forces after break-off of the UHP slab deep within the mantle.