Brachinite meteorites: Partial melt residues from an FeO-rich asteroid

Brachinites are ultramafic, dunitic to wherlitic, unbrecciated and essentially unshocked rocks that are low in SiO₂ (∼36–39 wt.%), high in MgO (∼27–30 wt.%) and notably high in FeO (∼26–37 wt.%), and low in Al₂O₃ (∼0.2–2.5 wt.%) and combined alkalis Na₂O and K₂O (∼0–0.7 wt.%). They consist mostly of olivine (∼71–96 vol.%; ∼Fo_64–73), major clinopyroxene (minor to ∼15 vol.%; ∼En_40–63Wo_36–48), with variable small amounts of plagioclase (0 to ∼10 vol.%; ∼An_15–33), and minor to trace amounts of orthopyroxene (none to ∼20 vol.%; En_69–73Wo_2–4), Fe-sulfides (trace to ∼7 vol.%), chromite (none to ∼5 vol.%), phosphates (none to ∼3 vol.%) and metallic Fe,Ni (trace to ∼2 vol.%). Minerals tend to be homogeneous, and textures are medium to coarse-grained (∼0.1–1.5 mm), with olivine commonly displaying triple junctions. Brachina has near-chondritic lithophile element abundances, whereas other brachinites show variable depletions in Al, Ca, Rb, K, Na, and LREE. Siderophile element abundance patterns vary and range from ∼0.01 to ∼0.9 CI. Oxygen isotope composition (Δ¹⁷O) ranges from ∼−0.09 to −0.39‰, with the mean = −0.23 ± 0.14‰. Brachinites are ancient rocks, as was recognized early by the detection, in some brachinites, of excess ¹²⁹Xe from the decay of short-lived ¹²⁹I (half-life 17 Ma) and of fission tracks from the decay of ²⁴⁴Pu (half-life 82 Ma) in phosphate, high-Ca clinopyroxene and olivine. The first precise crystallization age was determined for Brachina using ⁵³Mn–⁵³Cr systematics, relative to the Pb–Pb age of the angrite LEW 86010, and yielded an age of 4563.7 ± 0.9 Ma. Thus, Brachina is at most ∼4 Ma younger that the CAIs whose age is 4567.2 ± 0.6 Ma. There is no consensus on the origin of brachinites, but they most likely are primitive achondrites, i.e., ultra-mafic residues from various low degrees of partial melting. Partial melting experiments suggest that they possibly formed from a parent lithology chemically similar but not identical to the Rumuruti (R) chondrites, although the different oxygen isotopic compositions of the R chondrites and the brachinites put a serious constraint on this hypothesis. The apparent lack of abundant rocks representing the partial melts suggests that brachinites may have formed on a parent body <∼100 km in radius, where early partial melts were removed from the parent body by explosive pyroclastic volcanism. Graves Nunataks 06128 and 06129 are felsic, andesitic basalts which have properties that suggest a relationship to brachinites and thus, may be samples of the elusive partial melts.     

A modified iterative sandwich method for determination of near-solidus partial melt compositions. I. Theoretical considerations

The sandwich technique for determining the composition of partial melts in equilibrium with mantle lithologies may be a particularly powerful method for determining melt compositions at the onset of melting if the method is applied iteratively. However, conventional iterative sandwich experiments, in which the liquid from a preceding experiment is used as the “meat” of the sandwich in the following experiment, may require many iterations before the melts produced can be directly relatable to the melting relations of the target bulk rock composition. A modified iterative sandwich experimental (MISE) technique is proposed that may circumvent many of the problems of more conventional techniques. Consideration of experimental uncertainties, including both random and systematic errors in determination of partial melt compositions as well as the influence of errors in estimates of the solidus temperature of the rock of interest, suggests that the MISE technique may produce robust results even when melt composition errors are significant and that errors in estimation of the solidus location are detectable and therefore avoidable.     

A modified iterative sandwich method for determination of near-solidus partial melt compositions. II. Application to determination of near-solidus melt compositions of carbonated peridotite

We performed modified iterative sandwich experiments (MISE) to determine the composition of carbonatitic melt generated near the solidus of natural, fertile peridotite + CO₂ at 1,200–1,245°C and 6.6 GPa. Six iterations were performed with natural peridotite (MixKLB-1: Mg# = 89.7) and ∼10 wt% added carbonate to achieve the equilibrium carbonatite composition. Compositions of melts and coexisting minerals converged to a constant composition after the fourth iteration, with the silicate mineral compositions matching those expected at the solidus of carbonated peridotite at 6.6 GPa and 1,230°C, as determined from a sub-solidus experiment with MixKLB-1 peridotite. Partial melts expected from a carbonated lherzolite at a melt fraction of 0.01–0.05% at 6.6 GPa have the composition of sodic iron-bearing dolomitic carbonatite, with molar Ca/(Ca + Mg) of 0.413 ± 0.001, Ca# [100 × molar Ca/(Ca + Mg + Fe*)] of 37.1 ± 0.1, and Mg# of 83.7 ± 0.6. SiO₂, TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ concentrations are 4.1 ± 0.1, 1.0 ± 0.1, and 0.30 ± 0.02 wt%, whereas the Na₂O concentration is 4.0 ± 0.2 wt%. Comparison of our results with other iterative sandwich experiments at lower pressures indicate that near-solidus carbonatite derived from mantle lherzolite become less calcic with increasing pressure. Thus carbonatitic melt percolating through the deep mantle must dissolve cpx from surrounding peridotite and precipitate opx. Significant FeO* and Na₂O concentrations in near solidus carbonatitic partial melt likely account for the ∼150°C lower solidus temperature of natural carbonated peridotite compared to the solidus of synthetic peridotite in the system CMAS + CO₂. The experiments demonstrate that the MISE method can determine the composition of partial melts at very low melt fraction after a small number of iterations.     

深俯冲陆壳部分熔融初始熔体的厘定:来自苏鲁超高压地体混合岩中浅色体证据

深俯冲陆壳物质部分熔融产生的熔体,实验岩石学方面已有广泛报道,而天然初始熔体的组分却难以厘定。对此,本文从苏鲁超高压地体荣成混合岩中识别出了深俯冲花岗质陆壳部分熔融产生的天然初始熔体组成。野外露头显示,混合岩中主要矿物组成为钾长石+斜长石+石英的浅色熔体呈不连续的条带状与残余体互层产出,指示了原位或近源区的部分熔融特征。混合岩浅色体锆石CL图像呈明显的核-边结构,继承核部为扬子板块来源的岩浆锆石,形成时代为721±24Ma;新生边部CL图像具震荡环带结构,微量元素上REE呈明显左倾,具有Eu的负异常及Ce的正异常,低的Hf/Y和Th/U比值,具深熔锆石特征,指示形成于花岗质陆壳物质的部分熔融。边部U-Pb谐和年龄为225.9±2Ma,略晚于苏鲁超高压地体超高压峰期变质年龄,表明初始熔融发生在超高压地体折返早期。浅色熔体的全岩地球化学特征表明,主量元素上具有高SiO_2、K_2O及Na_2O含量,低的Fe_2O_3~T、MgO及CaO含量,A/CNK=1.02~1.04,呈弱过铝质亚碱性花岗岩的特征,这与实验岩石学中富硅陆壳物质部分熔融产生的熔体组分极为相近;微量元素上富集大离子亲石元素(如Rb、Ba、Pb等),亏损Nb、Ta、Ti等高场强元素,REE呈较为平坦的配分模式,具弱的Eu负异常并亏损Sr。本文通过上述对天然样品研究,厘定了深俯冲花岗质陆壳部分熔融及其初始熔体的组成,为理解大陆俯冲带壳幔相互作用提供了关键依据。     

Physical properties of the stone meteorites: Implications for the properties of their parent bodies

The physical properties of the stone meteorites provide important clues to understanding the formation and physical evolution of material in the Solar protoplanetary disk as well providing indications of the properties of their asteroidal parent bodies. Knowledge of these properties is essential for modeling a number of Solar System processes, such as bolides in planetary atmospheres, the thermal inertia of atmosphereless solid body surfaces, and the internal physical and thermal evolution of asteroids and rock-rich icy bodies. In addition, insight into the physical properties of the asteroids is important for the design of robotic and crewed reconnaissance, lander, and sample return spacecraft missions to the asteroids. One key property is meteorite porosity, which ranges from 0% to more than 40%, similar to the range of porosities seen in asteroids. Porosity affects many of the other physical properties including thermal conductivity, speed of sound, deformation under stress, strength, and response to impact. As a result of the porosity, the properties of most stone meteorites differ significantly from those of compact terrestrial rocks, whose physical properties have been used in many models of asteroid behavior. A few physical properties, such as grain density, magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity are not functions of porosity. Taken together, the grain density and the magnetic susceptibility can be used to classify unweathered or minimally weathered ordinary chondrites. This provides a rapid screening technique to identify heterogeneous samples, classify new samples, and identify misclassified meteorites or interlopers in strewn fields.     

榴辉岩部分熔融过程中的同位素分馏

本文对榴辉岩部分熔融过程中不同同位素体系是否存在分馏这一当前研究热点进行了综述。榴辉岩作为研究洋陆俯冲、超高压变质以及壳幔相互作用的主要岩石类型,其部分熔融与地壳增生、板片折返过程以及俯冲隧道中元素的迁移分配等具有紧密的联系。作为典型的高压-超高压变质岩石,榴辉岩可通过俯冲带将壳源信息携带至地幔深部,影响地幔的化学组成,并可在大洋玄武岩中得以表现。近些年,随着仪器分析技术的发展,实验研究和理论计算均表明榴辉岩部分熔融过程中稳定同位素可以产生显著的分馏。作为常见的放射性成因子体同位素和传统稳定同位素Sr-Nd-Hf-O被广泛应用于源区示踪、岩浆混合以及结晶分异等过程。但目前有研究指出,在非平衡熔融过程中,熔体和源区的Sr-Nd-Hf-O同位素可发生解耦,导致二者的同位素组成不均一。另外,通过研究榴辉岩及其熔融产物的金属稳定同位素特征,发现榴辉岩部分熔融过程中,由于石榴石效应,会造成Ca、Mg、Fe、Li等金属稳定同位素的分馏。因此,当利用稳定同位素示踪榴辉岩熔体的源区时,需要考虑其分馏的影响。

     

中国大陆科学钻探CCSD-PP3钻孔地幔岩的尖晶石相部分熔融证据

CCSD PP3超镁铁岩表现为高 Mg 和 Cr,低 Ca 和 Al 特征,是中国东部和超高压变质带上极其罕见的亏损地幔岩,通过地球化学和矿物学和 Re-Os 同位素研究发现岩石来自古元古代岩石圈地幔,并在地幔浅部尖晶石相条件下发生部分熔融,最近一次部分熔融作用发生在中-晚元古代,后经岩石圈厚度加大、拆沉或深俯冲过程,岩石转变为石榴石橄榄岩。     

Partial melting of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks at convergent continental margins: Evidences,melt compositions and physical effects

Ultrahigh-pressure(UHP) metamorphic rocks are distinctive products of crustal deep subduction,and are mainly exposed in continental subduction-collision terranes. UHP slices of continental crust are usually involved in multistage exhumation and partial melting, which has obvious influence on the rheological features of the rocks, and thus significantly affect the dynamic behavior of subducted slices. Moreover,partial melting of UHP rocks have significant influence on element mobility and related isotope behavior within continental subduction zones, which is in turn crucial to chemical differentiation of the continental crust and to crust-mantle interaction.Partial melting can occur before, during or after the peak metamorphism of UHP rocks. Post-peak decompression melting has been better constrained by remelting experiments; however, because of multiple stages of decompression, retrogression and deformation, evidence of former melts in UHP rocks is often erased. Field evidence is among the most reliable criteria to infer partial melting. Glass and nanogranitoid inclusions are generally considered conclusive petrographic evidence. The residual assemblages after melt extraction are also significant to indicate partial melting in some cases. Besides field and petrographic evidence, bulk-rock and zircon trace-element geochemical features are also effective tools for recognizing partial melting of UHP rocks. Phase equilibrium modeling is an important petrological tool that is becoming more and more popular in P-T estimation of the evolution of metamorphic rocks; by taking into account the activity model of silicate melt, it can predict when partial melting occurred if the P-T path of a given rock is provided.UHP silicate melt is commonly leucogranitic and peraluminous in composition with high SiO_2,low MgO, FeO, MnO, TiO_2 and CaO, and variable K_2 O and Na_2 O contents. Mineralogy of nanogranites found in UHP rocks mainly consists of plagioclase + K-feldspar + quartz, plagioclase being commonly albite-rich.Trace element pattern of the melt is characterized by significant enrichment of large ion lithophile elements(LILE), depletion of heavy rare earth elements(HREE) and high field strength elements(HFSE),indicating garnet and rutile stability in the residual assemblage. In eclogites, significant Mg-isotope fractionation occurs between garnet and phengite; therefore, Mg isotopes may become an effective indicator for partial melting of eclogites.     

The role of subgrain boundaries in partial melting

Evidence for partial melting along subgrain boundaries in quartz and plagioclase is documented for rocks from the Lost Creek Gneiss of the Llano Uplift, central Texas, the Wet Mountains of central Colorado, and the Albany-Fraser Orogen, southwestern Australia. Domains of quartz or plagioclase crystals along subgrain boundaries are preferentially involved in partial melting over unstrained domains of these minerals. Material along subgrain boundaries in quartz and plagioclase has the same morphology as melt pseudomorphs present along grain boundaries and is commonly laterally continuous with this former grain boundary melt, indicating the material along subgrain boundaries can also be categorized as a melt pseudomorph. Subgrain boundaries consist of arrays of dislocations within a crystal lattice, and unlike fractures would not act as conduits for melt migration. Instead, the presence of former melt along subgrain boundaries requires that partial melting occurred in these locations because it is kinetically more favorable for melting reactions to occur there. Preferential melting in high strain locations may be attributed to strain energy, which provides a minor energetic contribution to the reaction and leads to preferential melting in locations with weakened bonds, and/or the presence of small quantities of water associated with dislocations, which may enhance diffusion rates or locally lower the temperature needed for partial melting.     

喜马拉雅造山带的变质作用与部分熔融

喜马拉雅造山带的核心由高级变质岩系和淡色花岗岩构成,是研究碰撞造山作用和板块构造的天然实验室。本文评述了喜马拉雅造山带变质作用和部分熔融研究取得的新进展和存在的争议,主要内容包括:(1)造山带核部具有"三明治"结构,高级变质和部分熔融的高喜马拉雅系列(GHS)夹持在较低级变质的特提斯喜马拉雅系列(THS)和低喜马拉雅系列(LHS)之中,GHS的变质作用程度具有向上和向下部构造层位降低的特征。高喜马拉雅系列主要由高压麻粒岩相到榴辉岩相的变质岩组成,具有1.2~1.6GPa和700~800℃峰期变质条件,顺时针型变质作用P-T轨迹,其进变质以增温增压为特征,退变质早期为近等温或增温降压过程,晚期为降温降压和近等压降温过程;(2)在造山带西段,紧邻缝合带产出的超高压变质岩具有4.4~4.8GPa和560~760℃的峰期变质条件和顺时针型P-T轨迹,并在退变质中期出现加热过程;(3)尽管造山带的高压和超高压变质岩形成在中、高温条件下,但岩石中的石榴石都保存有明显的主量和微量元素生长成分环带特征;(4)造山带变质核下部发育反转的中、高压型变质序列;(5)在造山带核部,变泥质和长英质麻粒岩的强烈部分熔融主要是增压、增温进变质过程中的白云母和黑云母脱水熔融,和近等温或增温降压过程中的黑云母脱水熔融,可以形成花岗质和英云闪长质熔体。加厚下地壳的高变质温度足以使各种成分岩石(包括基性岩)发生深熔,而不需要外来热源;(6)造山带变质核经历了长期的变质演化过程,其进变质始于~47Ma,峰期变质发生在~25Ma,退变质持续到~15Ma。这些岩石也记录了持续的(超过20Myr)高温变质和部分熔融过程。在造山带西段的超高压变质岩具有~46Ma的峰期变质年龄和~40Ma的退变质年龄,所以经历了一个快速俯冲与折返过程;(7)印度大陆西缘与岛弧的碰撞(造山带西段)和印度大陆东缘与大陆弧的碰撞时间一致,为~50Ma;(8)在造山带西段,印度大陆的深和陡俯冲形成了超高压变质岩;而在造山带中段,印度大陆的平缓俯冲形成了中高压变质岩;(9)构造变质不连续在变质核中广泛存在。多重有序逆冲和无序逆冲导致的岩片叠置控制着造山带的地壳结构;(10)现有的构造模型,包括楔形挤出、隧道流、临界楔和构造楔模型,都不能全面合理地解释造山带变质核部的折返机制。     

水对硅酸盐岩体系部分熔融行为的影响：第二临界端点的重要意义

水对硅酸盐岩体系的许多物理-化学行为有着非常重大的影响.具体对部分熔融过程来说,水可以显著地降低熔融温度、改变熔体性质、影响微量元素在固-液相之间的分配.近年来,科学家们就大量水对硅酸盐岩体系的部分熔融过程的影响进行了许多的高压实验,他们主要关注第二临界端点对熔融过程的重要作用:第二临界端点的出现极大地改变着部分熔融过程中的基本相关系.本文主要针对这些高压实验研究做一总结,并对未来研究方向做一初步探讨.     

压力对辉长岩矿物反应和部分熔融影响的实验研究

本文在高温高压条件下,开展了辉长岩矿物反应与部分熔融实验,利用偏光显微镜与扫描电镜对实验样品微观结构观察,研究实验中的新生矿物与熔体的分布;通过电子探针分析熔体成分特征。实验结果表明,在低压(300MPa)条件下,静压和塑性变形实验样品中,单斜辉石以固体反应方式生成橄榄石,在高压(1300MPa)塑性实验中所有实验样品都没有发现新生矿物颗粒,这与相图中低压条件下斜长石与橄榄石稳定共存,而高压下斜长石-辉石稳定共存相吻合。高压塑性变形条件下,单斜辉石和黑云母首先发生部分熔融,随着温度增高,斜长石逐渐参与熔融,熔体呈薄膜状分布在矿物颗粒边界,熔体成分依赖于参与熔融的矿物成分,表明出现的熔体为非平衡熔融结果。     

Geochemistry of the Pliocene basalts erupted along the Malatya-Ovacik fault zone (MOFZ), eastern Anatolia, Turkey: Implications for source characteristics and partial melting processes

The study area is located on the middle sector of the Malatya-Ovacık Fault Zone (MOFZ) in the eastern Anatolia. Four basaltic flows from bottom to top, which are tholeiitic in character and intercalated with Pliocene sedimentary rocks, were erupted along this fault zone. Chemical compositions of these flows reveal some differences between the first flow and others in terms of high-field strength elements (HFSEs) (e.g. Ti, Zr, Nb). Limited variations in compositions within the first flow and upper flows suggest a limited fractionation range. Trace-element patterns exhibit that all the flows have similar and OIB-like patterns without positive peak at Pb and a trough at Nb—Ta, indicating minimal or no crustal contribution. Rare-earth element (REE) patterns indicate that the first flow has flat patterns with negative Eu anomaly, whereas the upper flows have variable enrichments in LREE and depletions in HREE. La/Sm_N, Dy/Yb_N and Zr/Y ratios exhibit that the degree of partial melting decreases from the first flow to upper flows. Higher values of La/Yb_N ratio for the upper flows and depletions at Y and Yb on the trace-element patterns suggest the presence of garnet as a residual phase, which imply that the depth of partial melting took place solely in the garnet-stability field. OIB-like trace-element patterns and trace-element ratios (e.g. La/Nb, Ce/Y and Zr/Nb) emphasize that the melts forming the Arguvan basalt were originated from the asthenospheric mantle rather than the lithospheric mantle.     

变基性岩部分熔融过程中榍石的微量元素效应:以南迦巴瓦混合岩为例

南迦巴瓦地区广泛出露的中下地壳变基性岩部分熔融形成的层状混合岩和淡色花岗岩,为研究部分熔融过程中榍石的地球化学行为对熔体的微量元素组成的影响提供了良好的机会。相对于源岩或熔融残留体,淡色体亏损Ti、V、REE、Y、Nb、Ta、U等元素,与混合岩中榍石的微量元素特征互补。混合岩、淡色体和榍石微量元素特征表明南迦巴瓦角闪岩部分熔融形成的淡色体的微量元素特征主要受控于榍石的地球化学行为。角闪岩脱水部分熔融过程中,由于长英质熔体的低Ti溶解度,榍石以未熔残留体形式存在于暗色体中,导致熔体亏损Ti、REE、Nb、Ta、V、U等元素和Sr/Y比值相对升高。关键元素在榍石和熔体之间的配分系数受熔体成分影响明显。角闪岩中变质榍石D_Nb/Ta < 1,因此变质榍石残留导致熔体Nb/Ta相对于源岩升高;而高Si-Al花岗质熔体中榍石D_Nb/Ta>1,因此与高Si-Al熔体平衡的榍石的分离（转熔或结晶分异）将导致熔体Nb/Ta比值相对源岩降低。榍石在部分熔融过程中的微量元素效应为理解变基性岩部分熔融产生熔体的地球化学特征提供新的认识。

     

Aluminous granulites from the Pulur complex, NE Turkey: a case of partial melting, efficient melt extraction and crystallisation

In the Pulur complex, NE Turkey, a heterogeneous rock sequence ranging from quartz-rich mesocratic gneisses to silica- and alkali-deficient, Fe-, Mg- and Al-rich melanocratic rocks is characterized by granulite-facies assemblages involving garnet, cordierite, sillimanite, ilmenite, ±spinel, ±plagioclase, ±quartz, ±biotite, ±corundum, rutile and monazite. Textural evidence for partial melting in the aluminous granulites, particularly leucosomes, is largely absent or strongly obliterated by a late-stage hydrothermal overprint. However, inclusion relations, high peak P–T conditions, the refractory modes, bulk and biotite compositions of the melanocratic rocks strongly support a model of partial melting. The melt was almost completely removed from the melanocratic rocks and crystallised within the adjacent mesocratic gneisses which are silica-rich, bear evidence of former feldspar and show a large range in major element concentrations as well as a negative correlation of most elements with SiO₂. Peak conditions are estimated to be ≥800 °C and 0.7–0.8 GPa. Subsequent near-isothermal decompression to 0.4–0.5 GPa at 800–730 °C is suggested by the formation of cordierite coronas and cordierite–spinel symplectites around garnet and in the matrix. Sm–Nd, Rb–Sr and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isotope data indicate peak conditions at 330 Ma and cooling below 300 °C at 310 Ma.     

Characterization of partial melting events in garnet-cordierite gneiss from the Kerala Khondalite Belt,India

Phase equilibria modelling coupled with U–Pb zircon and monazite ages of garnet–cordierite gneiss from Vallikodu Kottayam in the Kerala Khondalite Belt,southern India are presented here.The results suggest that the area attained peak P–T conditions of^900
C at 7.5–8 kbar,followed by decompression to 3.5–5 kbar and cooling to 450–480
C,preserving signatures of the partial melting event in the field of high to ultra-high temperature metamorphism.Melt reintegration models suggest that up to 35%granitic melt could have been produced during metamorphism at^950
C.The U–Pb age data from zircons(~1.0–~0.7 Ga)and chemical ages from monazites(~540 Ma and^941 Ma)reflect a complex tectonometamorphic evolution of the terrain.The^941 Ma age reported from these monazites indicate a Tonian ultra-high temperature event,linked to juvenile magmatism/deformation episodes reported from the Southern Granulite Terrane and associated fragments in Rodinia,which were subsequently overprinted by the Cambrian(~540 Ma)tectonothermal episode.     

The role of partial melting and extensional strain rates in the development of metamorphic core complexes

Orogenic collapse involves extension and thinning of thick and hot (partially molten) crust, leading to the formation of metamorphic core complexes (MCC) that are commonly cored by migmatite domes. Two-dimensional thermo-mechanical Ellipsis models evaluate the parameters that likely control the formation and evolution of MCC: the nature and geometry of the heterogeneity that localizes MCC, the presence/absence of a partially molten layer in the lower crust, and the rate of extension. When the localizing heterogeneity is a normal fault in the upper crust, the migmatite core remains in the footwall of the fault, resulting in an asymmetric MCC; if the localizing heterogeneity is point like region within the upper crust, the MCC remains symmetric throughout its development. Therefore, asymmetrically located migmatite domes likely reflect the dip of the original normal fault system that generated the MCC. Modeling of a severe viscosity drop owing to the presence of a partially molten layer, compared to a crust with no melt, demonstrates that the presence of melt slightly enhances upward advection of material and heat. Our experiments show that, when associated with boundary-driven extension, far-field horizontal extension provides space for the domes. Therefore, the buoyancy of migmatite cores contributes little to the outer envelope of metamorphic core complexes, although it may play a significant role in the internal dynamics of the partially molten layer. The presence of melt also favors heterogeneous bulk pure shear of the dome as opposed to the bulk simple shear, which dominates in melt-absent experiments. Melt presence affects the shape of P-T-t paths only slightly for material located near the top of the low-viscosity layer but leads to more complex flow paths for material inside the layer. The effect of extension rate is significant: at high extension rate (cm yr^− 1 in the core complex region), partially molten crust crystallizes and cools along a high geothermal gradient (35 to 65 °C km^− 1); material remains partially molten in the dome during ascent. At low strain rate (mm yr^− 1 in the core complex region), the partially molten crust crystallizes at high pressure; this material is subsequently deformed in the solid-state along a cooler geothermal gradient (20 to 35 °C km^− 1) during ascent. Therefore, the models predict distinct crystallization versus exhumation histories of migmatite cores as a function of extensional strain rates. The Shuswap metamorphic core complex (British Columbia, Canada) exemplifies a metamorphic core complex in which an asymmetric, detachment-controlled migmatite dome records rapid exhumation and cooling likely related to faster rates of extension. In contrast the Ruby Mountain-East Humboldt Ranges (Nevada, U.S.A.) exhibits characteristics associated with slower metamorphic core complexes.     

The origin of basic rocks of the Korosten AMCG complex, Ukrainian shield: Implication of Nd and Sr isotope data

The Korosten complex is a Paleoproterozoic gabbro–anorthosite–rapakivi granite intrusion which was emplaced over a protracted time interval — 1800–1737 Ma. The complex occupies an area of about 12 000 km² in the north-western region of the Ukrainian shield. About 18% of this area is occupied by various mafic rocks (gabbro, leucogabbro, anorthosite) that comprise five rock suites: early anorthositic A₁ (1800–1780 Ma), main anorthositic A₂ (1760 Ma), early gabbroic G₃ (between 1760 and 1758 Ma), late gabbroic G₄ (1758 Ma), and a suite of dykes D₅ (before 1737 Ma). In order to examine the relationships between the various intrusions and to assess possible magmatic sources, Nd and Sr isotopic composition in mafic whole-rock samples were measured. New Sr and Nd isotope measurements combined with literature data for the mafic rocks of the Korosten complex are consistent and enable construction of Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isochronous regressions that yield the following ages: 1870 ± 310 Ma (Rb–Sr) and 1721 ± 90 Ma (Sm–Nd). These ages are in agreement with those obtained by the U–Pb method on zircons and indicate that both Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd systems have remained closed since the time of crystallisation. In detail, however, measurable differences in isotopic composition of the Korosten mafic rock depending on their suite affiliation were revealed. The oldest, A₁ rocks have lower Sr (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr₍₁₇₆₀₎ = 0.70233–0.70288) and higher Nd (εNd₍₁₇₆₀₎ = 1.6–0.9) isotopic composition. The most widespread A₂ anorthosite and leucogabbro display higher Sr and lower Nd isotopic composition: ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr₍₁₇₆₀₎ = 0.70362, εNd₍₁₇₆₀₎ varies from 0.2 to − 0.7. The G₃ gabbro–norite has slightly lower εNd₍₁₇₆₀₎ varying from − 0.7 to − 0.9. Finally, G₄ gabbroic rocks show relatively high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70334–0.70336) and the lowest Nd isotopic composition (εNd₍₁₇₆₀₎ varies from − 0.8 to − 1.4) of any of the mafic rocks of the Korosten complex studied to date. On the basis of Sr and Nd isotopic composition we conclude that Korosten initial melts may have inherited their Nd and Sr isotopic characteristics from the lower crust created during the 2.05–1.95 Ga Osnitsk orogeny and 2.0 Ga continental flood basalt event. Indeed, εNd₍₁₇₆₀₎ values in Osnitsk rocks vary from 0.0 to − 1.9 and from 0.2 to 3.4 in flood basalts. We suggest that these rocks being drawn into the upper mantle might melt and give rise to the Korosten initial melts. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr₍₁₇₆₀₎ values also support this interpretation. We suggest that the Sr and Nd isotopic data currently available on mafic rocks of the Korosten complex are consistent with an origin of its primary melts by partial melting of lower crustal material due to downthrusting of the lower crust into upper mantle forced by Paleoproterozoic amalgamation of Sarmatia and Fennoscandia.     

苏鲁仰口超高压岩石SHRIMP锆石U/Pb定年与部分熔融时限

在大型碰撞造山带中,在陆壳物质深俯冲或快速折返早期,在超高压-高压条件下,易熔组分可能发生水致或脱水部分熔融,形成花岗质熔体。在超高压-高压条件下,苏鲁超高压岩石发生过部分熔融作用,形成长英质多晶体包裹体和不同尺度的花岗质岩石, 导致可观的地球化学效应。为确定苏鲁超高压岩石部分熔融的时限,对山东仰口超高压副片麻岩和其中平行片麻理的同构造钾质花岗岩脉进行了SHRIMP锆石U/Pb地质年代学、全岩地球化学和锆石内矿物包裹体的研究。副片麻岩的锆石具有典型的核-幔-边结构。核部锆石为碎屑锆石,²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄大于282Ma,可能反映了副片麻岩的原岩包含不同成因的物质;幔部和边部的Th/U比都小于0.1,分别给出233±3Ma和214±4Ma的²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U 年龄,分别对应于超高压变质和角闪岩相退变质年龄。同构造花岗岩脉是富钾过铝质花岗岩(A/CNK=1.2),锆石也具有核-幔-边结构;核部锆石年龄与副片麻岩的核部锆石年龄相当,反映了该花岗岩脉的源区可能是变沉积岩;除幔部锆石的一个点具有²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄为234.6±3.9Ma之外,其它幔部锆石位于谐和线附近,给出²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄为220.8±2.9Ma, 该年龄代表着该花岗岩脉的形成年龄。上述数据表明,在仰口地区,超高压岩石的部分熔融作用早于角闪岩相退变质作用。     

The evolution of continental roots in numerical thermo-chemical mantle convection models including differentiation by partial melting

Incorporating upper mantle differentiation through decompression melting in a numerical mantle convection model, we demonstrate that a compositionally distinct root consisting of depleted peridotite can grow and remain stable during a long period of secular cooling. Our modeling results show that in a hot convecting mantle partial melting will produce a compositional layering in a relatively short time of about 50 Ma. Due to secular cooling mantle differentiation finally stops before 1 Ga. The resulting continental root remains stable on a billion year time scale due to the combined effects of its intrinsically lower density and temperature-dependent rheology. Two different parameterizations of the melting phase-diagram are used in the models. The results indicate that during the Archaean melting occurred on a significant scale in the deep regions of the upper mantle, at pressures in excess of 15 GPa. The compositional depths of continental roots extend to 400 km depending on the potential temperature and the type of phase-diagram parameterization used in the model. The results reveal a strong correlation between lateral variations of temperature and the thickness of the continental root. This shows that cold regions in cratons are stabilized by a thick depleted root.