Geophysical evidence for an extensive Pie de Palo Complex mafic–ultramafic belt,San Juan,Argentina

The recent completion of a high-resolution aeromagnetic survey over the Pie de Palo uplift of the western Sierras Pampeanas has revealed an area of large magnetic anomalies associated with the Pie de Palo Complex. The Las Pirquitas thrust, which has transported and uplifted the Pie de Palo Complex, is recognized for at least 30 km in a roughly NE direction along the western boundary of the Pie de Palo Complex, beyond its limited outcrop. The type of sediments of the Caucete Group in the footwall of the Las Pirquitas thrust, which are regarded as the leading edge of the Precordillera terrane, are associated with much less pronounced magnetic anomalies.In addition, a conspicuous, NNE trending, broad magnetic high stands out in the survey, several kilometers to the east of the main outcrops of the Pie de Palo Complex; this broad magnetic anomaly bisects the Pie de Palo basement block, and continues further south at least as far as 32°S, the southern boundary of the latest aeromagnetic survey. This magnetic anomaly is interpreted to represent a structure corresponding to the Grenvillian Precordillera–Pie de Palo tectonic boundary zone, and would comprise the buried largest part of the mafic–ultramafic belt.The geophysical model of the magnetic data indicates that the boundary zone dips to the east, possibly suggesting the existence of a set of synthetic east dipping, west-verging thrusts, of which only one major structure (Las Pirquitas thrust) is exposed; the possibility of other slivers of upthrust boundary zone material cannot be excluded. It is considered that the Pie de Palo Complex represents a small sliver upthrust from the unexposed boundary zone material (containing highly magnetic mafic–ultramafic rocks).The east-dipping, west verging structures associated with the Pie de Palo Complex are suggested to represent an Ordovician reactivation of a Grenvillian suture zone developed when the Precordillera basement and Pie de Palo terrane docked; this reactivation probably resulted from the collision of the Cuyania terrane onto the western margin of Gondwana.     

Detrital zircon analysis from the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian sedimentary cover (Cuyania terrane), Sierra de Pie de Palo,Argentina: Evidence of a rift and passive margin system?

Metamorphic basement and its Neoproterozoic to Cambrian cover exposed in the Sierra de Pie de Palo, a basement block of the Sierras Pampeanas in Argentina, lie within the Cuyania terrane. Detrital zircon analysis of the cover sequence which includes, in ascending order, the El Quemado, La Paz, El Desecho, and Angacos Formations of the Caucete Group indicate a Laurentian origin for the Cuyania terrane. The lower section represented by the El Quemado and La Paz Formations is interpreted as having an igneous source related to a rift setting similar to that envisioned for the southern and eastern margins of Laurentia at approximately 550 Ma. The younger strata of the El Desecho Formation are correlative with the Cerro Totora Formation of the Precordillera, and both are products of rift sedimentation. Finally, the Angacos Formation and the correlative La Laja Formation of the Precordillera were deposited on the passive margin developed on the Cuyania terrane. The maximum depositional ages for the Caucete Group include ca. 550 Ma for the El Quemado Formation and ca. 531 Ma for the El Desecho Formation. Four different sediment sources areas were interpreted in the provenance analysis. The main source is crystalline basement dominated by early Mesoproterozoic igneous rocks related to the Granite-Rhyolite province of central and eastern Laurentia. Possible source areas for 1600 Ma metamorphic detrital zircons of the Caucete Group include the Yavapai-Mazatzal province (ca. 1800–1600 Ma) of south-central to southwestern Laurentia. Younger Mesoproterozoic zircon is likely derived from Grenville-age medium- to high-grade metamorphic rocks and subordinate igneous rocks that form the basement of Cuyania as well as the southern Grenville province of Laurentia itself. Finally, Neoproterozoic igneous zircon in the Caucete Group records different magmatic pulses along the southern Laurentian margin during opening of Iapetus and break-up of Rodinia. Northwestern Cuyania terrane includes a small basement component derived from the Granite-Rhyolite province of Laurentia, which was the source for detrital zircons found in the middle Cambrian passive margin sediments of Cuyania.     

Thermochronological constraints of the exhumation and uplift of the Sierra de Pie de Palo,NW Argentina

The Sierra de Pie de Palo located between 67°30′–68°30′ W and 31°00′–32°00′ S in the Argentine Western Sierras Pampeanas in Argentina is a distinct basement range, which lacks thermochronological data deciphering its exhumation and uplift history below 200 °C. Integrated cooling histories constrained by apatite fission-track data as well as (U–Th)/He measurements of zircon and apatite reveal that the structural evolution of this mountain range commenced during the Late Paleozoic and was mainly controlled by tectonically triggered erosion. Following further erosional controlled exhumation in a more or less extensional regime during the Mesozoic, the modern topography was generated by denudation in the Paleogene during the early stage of the Andean deformation, whereupon deformation propagated towards the west since the Late Mesozoic to Paleogene. This evolution is characterised by a total of 3.7–4.2 km vertical rock uplift and by 1.7–2.2 km exhumation with a rate of 0.03–0.04 mm/a within the Sierra de Pie de Palo since ca. 60 Ma. Onset of uplift of peak level is also referred to that time resulting in a less Pliocene amount of uplift than previously assumed.     

The Western Sierras Pampeanas: Protracted Grenville-age history (1330–1030 Ma) of intra-oceanic arcs,subduction–accretion at continental-edge and AMCG intraplate magmatism

New U–Pb SHRIMP zircon ages combined with geochemical and isotope investigation in the Sierra de Maz and Sierra de Pie de Palo and a xenolith of the Precordillera basement (Ullún), provides insight into the identification of major Grenville-age tectonomagmatic events and their timing in the Western Sierras Pampeanas. The study reveals two contrasting scenarios that evolved separately during the 300 Ma long history: Sierra de Maz, which was always part of a continental crust, and the juvenile oceanic arc and back-arc sector of Sierra de Pie de Palo and Ullún. The oldest rocks are the Andino-type granitic orthogneisses of Sierra de Maz (1330–1260 Ma) and associated subalkaline basic rocks, that were part of an active continental margin developed in a Paleoproterozoic crust. Amphibolite facies metamorphism affected the orthogneisses at ca. 1175 Ma, while granulite facies was attained in neighbouring meta-sediments and basic granulites. Interruption of continental-edge magmatism and high-grade metamorphism is interpreted as related to an arc–continental collision dated by zircon overgrowths at 1170–1230 Ma. The next event consisted of massif-type anorthosites and related meta-jotunites, meta-mangerites (1092 ± 6 Ma) and meta-granites (1086 ± 10 Ma) that define an AMCG complex in Sierra de Maz. The emplacement of these mantle-derived magmas during an extensional episode produced a widespread thermal overprint at ca. 1095 Ma in neighbouring country rocks. In constrast, juvenile oceanic arc and back-arc complexes dominated the Sierra de Pie de Palo–Ullún sector, that was fully developed ca. 1200 Ma (1196 ± 8 Ma metagabbro). A new episode of oceanic arc magmatism at ～1165 Ma was roughly coeval with the amphibolite high-grade metamorphism of Sierra de Maz, indicating that these two sectors underwent independent geodynamic scenarios at this age. Two more episodes of arc subduction are registered in the Pie de Palo–Ullún sector: (i) 1110 ± 10 Ma orthogneisses and basic amphibolites with geochemical fingerprints of emplacement in a more mature crust, and (ii) a 1027 ± 17 Ma TTG juvenile suite, which is the youngest Grenville-age magmatic event registered in the Western Sierras Pampeanas. The geodynamic history in both study areas reveals a complex orogenic evolution, dominated by convergent tectonics and accretion of juvenile oceanic arcs to the continent.     

Age and geotectonic setting of Late Neoproterozoic juvenile mafic gneisses and associated paragneisses from the Ribeira belt (SE Brazil) based on geochemistry and Sm–Nd data — Implications on Gondwana assembly

Mafic gneisses and associated paragneisses from the Cabo Frio Tectonic Domain in the southeastern part of the Ribeira Belt, along the coast of Rio de Janeiro State in southeast Brazil, were subjected to a geochemical and Sm–Nd isotope study. Four lithotypes are distinguished: aluminous paragneisses (mainly sillimanite–kyanite–garnet–biotite gneiss), calcsilicate lenses, quartzo–feldspathic metasedimentary gneisses and mafic–ultramafic lenses. The whole-rock major and trace, including rare earth element distributions in the mafic–ultramafic intercalations indicate that derivation from subalkaline basalt/gabbro of tholeiitic affinity with E-MORB signature from a non-subduction environment. These mafic rocks have positive ε_Nd(t) and T_DM of 1.1 Ga. The metasedimentary rocks have negative ε_Nd(t) and T_DM of 1.7 Ga. A Sm–Nd whole rock isochron of mafic rocks yielded an age of 604 ± 38 Ma for the crystallization. This matches with the age of some detrital zircon grains from the paragneisses. The depositional basin, named Buzios–Palmital, was active at least until 620 Ma (age of the youngest detrital zircon) and was subsequently deformed and metamorphosed at ca. 525 Ma (age of metamorphic zircons) during the Buzios Orogeny. It is interpreted as a back arc basin with relation to the 630 Ma magmatic arc of the Oriental Terrane in the Ribeira Belt to the NW. However, after 600 Ma, the Buzios–Palmital basin changed to an active margin setting because the arc collided with the continental margin and the subduction shifted to the back arc environment. By 610 Ma, most of the Brasiliano belts registered collisional events related to multiple convergent blocks. The stress fields and paleocontinent shapes would have allowed the occurrence of extensional areas with not only sedimentary deposition but also ocean floor spreading. Its remnants are preserved in this Brazilian coastal region as an ancient suture, reworked intensively during the Mesozoic rifting events. The reconnaissance of Late Neoproterozoic basins in the Brasiliano–Pan-African belts is of major importance to partially unravel the final amalgamation events of SW Gondwana. Considering that the Buzios–Palmital basin rock units are mostly covered by the marginal Atlantic basins, it is possible that other evidence could be preserved in the coastal regions of SW-Africa and SE-South America.     

A Back-arc Palaeotectonic Setting for the Augaro Neoproterozoic Magmatic Rocks of Western Eritrea

The Augaro volcano-sedimentary assemblages of western Eritrea are part of the Neoproterozoic, N-S trending belt of low-grade volcano-sedimentary and associated plutonic rocks. In contrast to the volcanic-dominated oceanic-arc assemblages in central Eritrea, the predominant rock types in the west are supracrustal sequences of sedimentary origin with subordinate volcanic rocks. These Augaro supracrustal rocks are overlain, unconformably, by a basin-fill metasedimentary succession known as the Gulgula Group. The Augaro metavolcanic rocks are tholeiitic and range in composition from basalt to basaltic andesite. Comparison of trace element characteristics and N-MORB-normalised spidergrams of these rocks with those of modern volcanic environments and age-comparable metavolcanic rocks of known tectonic association from the Arabian-Nubian Shield suggest that the volcanic assemblages from western Eritrea were generated in a back-arc tectonic setting.

Single zircon Pb-Pb evaporation and vapour-transfer U-Pb analyses of magmatic zircons from pre/syn-tectonic granites yield a mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 849±20 Ma and an upper concordia intercept age of 849±26 Ma. These ages are interpreted to represent the time of major magmatism in western Eritrea and are comparable to ages of early arc magmatism in central and northern Eritrea and in the southern Nubian Shield. Initial eNd values and initial Sr isotope ratios of whole-rock samples of magmatic rocks calculated for an age of 850 Ma range from +4.0 to +7.1 and 0.7026 to 0.7037, respectively. Single zircon ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages, initial eNd value and Sr isotope ratio for a granitic clast in the Gulgula metaconglomerate suggest that the source area for the Gulgula metasedimentary rocks is similar to the surrounding Neoproterozoic rocks of western Eritrea.     

Isotopic equilibrium/disequilibrium in granites, metasedimentary rocks and migmatites (Damara orogen, Namibia)—a consequence of polymetamorphism and melting

The overwhelming part of the continental crust in the high-grade part of the Damara orogen of Namibia consists of S-type granites, metasedimentary rocks and migmatites. At Oetmoed (central Damara orogen) two different S-type granites occur. Their negative ε_Nd values (− 3.3 to − 5.9), moderately high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.714–0.731), moderately high ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (18.21–18.70) and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (37.74–37.89) isotope ratios suggest that they originated by melting of mainly mid-Proterozoic metasedimentary material. Metasedimentary country rocks have initial ε_Nd of − 4.2 to − 5.6, initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.718–0.725, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of 18.32–18.69 and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of 37.91–38.45 compatible with their variation in Rb/Sr, U/Pb and Th/Pb ratios. Some migmatites and residual metasedimentary xenoliths tend to have more variable ε_Nd values (initial ε_Nd: − 4.2 to − 7.1), initial Sr isotope ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr: 0.708–0.735) and less radiogenic ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (18.22–18.53) and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (37.78–38.10) isotope compositions than the metasedimentary rocks. On a Rb–Sr isochron plot the metasedimentary rocks and various migmatites plot on a straight line that corresponds to an age of c. 550 Ma which is interpreted to indicate major fractionation of the Rb–Sr system at that time. However, initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the melanosomes of the stromatic migmatites (calculated for their U–Pb monazite and Sm–Nd garnet ages of c. 510 Ma) are more radiogenic (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr: 0.725) than those obtained on their corresponding leucosomes (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr: 0.718) implying disequilibrium conditions during migmatization that have not lead to complete homogenization of the Rb–Sr system. However, the leucosomes have similar Nd isotope characteristics than the inferred residues (melanosomes) indicating the robustness of the Sm–Nd isotope system during high-grade metamorphism and melting. On a Rb–Sr isochron plot residual metasedimentary xenoliths show residual slopes of c. 66 Ma (calculated for an U–Pb monazite age of 470 Ma) again indicating major fractionation of Rb/Sr at c. 540 Ma. However, at 540 Ma, these xenoliths have unradiogenic Sr isotope compositions of c. 0.7052, indicating depleted metasedimentary sources at depth. Based on the distinct Pb isotope composition of the metasedimentary rocks and S-type granites, metasedimentary rocks similar to the country rocks are unlikely sources for the S-type granites. Moreover, a combination of Sr, Nd, Pb and O isotopes favours a three-component mixing model (metasedimentary rocks, altered volcanogenic material, meta-igneous crust) that may explain the isotopic variabilty of the granites. The mid-crustal origin of the different types of granite emphasises the importance of recycling and reprocessing of pre-existing differentiated material and precludes a direct mantle contribution during the petrogenesis of the orogenic granites in the central Damara orogen of Namibia.     

Detrital and xenocrystic zircon ages from Neoproterozoic to Palaeozoic arc terranes of Mongolia: Significance for the origin of crustal fragments in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt contains many Precambrian crustal fragments whose origin is unknown, and previous speculations suggested these to be derived from either Siberia, Tarim or northern Gondwana. We present an age pattern for detrital and xenocrystic zircons from Neoproterozoic to Palaeozoic arc and microcontinental terranes in Mongolia and compare this with patterns for Precambrian rocks in southern Siberia, the North China craton, the Tarim craton and northeastern Gondwana in order to define the most likely source region for the Mongolian zircons. Our data were obtained by SHRIMP II, LA-ICP-MS and single zircon evaporation and predominantly represent arc-related low-grade volcanic rocks and clastic sediments but also accretionary wedges and ophiolitic environments.The Mongolian pattern is dominated by zircons in the age range ca. 350–600 and 700–1020 Ma as well as minor peaks between ca. 1240 and 2570 Ma. The youngest group reflects cannibalistic reworking of the Palaeozoic arc terranes, whereas the Neoproterozoic to late Mesoproterozoic peak reflects both reworking of the arc terranes as well as Neoproterozoic rifting and a Grenville-age crust-formation event.The 700–1020 Ma peak does not exist in the age spectra of the Siberian and North China cratons and thus effectively rules out these basement blocks as potential source areas for the Mongolian zircons. The best agreement is with the Tarim craton where a major Grenville-age orogenic event and early Neoproterozoic rifting have been identified. The age spectra also do not entirely exclude northeastern Gondwana as a source for the Mongolian zircons, but here the Neoproterozoic age peak is related to the Pan-African orogeny, and a minor Grenville-age peak may reflect a controversial orogenic event in NW India.Our Mongolian detrital and xenocrystic age spectrum suggests that the Tarim craton was the main source, and we favour a tectonic scenario similar to the present southwestern Pacific where fragments of Australia are rifted off and become incorporated into the Indonesian arc and microcontinent amalgamation that will evolve into a future orogenic belt.     

越南中部Kontum地块前寒武纪地壳组成和构造演化

越南中部的Kontum 地块是印支地块中前寒武纪变质岩最重要的出露地区之一。该地块由不同时代不同变质程度的岩石组成。该研究通过对该地区主要变质岩的岩石学、地球化学和锆石U-Pb 年代学分析,探讨了Kontum 地块的物质组成以及其形成的构造背景。岩相学和化学成分分析结果表明,这些基底变质岩主要由变质沉积岩和少量的变质火成岩组成。变质沉积岩的原岩主要是硬砂岩和页岩。锆石U-Pb 定年结果显示,这些沉积岩形成于古元古代晚期到新元古代晚期,并大致可以划分为五期沉积盆地的形成和演化,分别对应岛弧环境、被动大陆边缘环境、活动大陆边缘或大陆弧环境、活动大陆边缘-被动大陆边缘过渡环境和活动大陆边缘的构造背景。二个变质火成岩的原岩分别是拉斑玄武岩和S 型花岗岩,它们分别形成于1424 Ma 和1485 Ma。拉斑玄武岩显示富集Rb、Ba、Sr 等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Zr、Ti 等高场强元素,符合典型岛弧玄武质岩石的地球化学特征。其锆石的εHf(t)值主要为正值（-1.68~+14.2）, 表明其岩浆起源于亏损的岩石圈地幔。地球化学特征表明其形成于岛弧环境,与第三期沉积沉积作用环境相符。S 型花岗岩具有较高的SiO2、ALK和A/CNK（>1.1）,以及中等的稀土含量和中等的Eu 负异常。其原岩岩浆锆石的εHf (t)值变化于+5.97~+12.1,表明源区沉积岩的碎屑主要来自新生地壳。对比显示Kontum 地块与海南岛在中元古代时期很可能曾经相连,在Columbia 超大陆裂解时期处于超大陆的边缘。     

U–Pb geochronological constraints on the Triassic–Jurassic Ayú Complex,southern Mexico: Derivation from the western margin of Pangea-A

We present LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) U–Pb detrital and igneous zircon data of poly-deformed metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Ayú area, southern Mexico. These rocks were previously inferred to be part of the Late Paleozoic Acatlán Complex, but new age data indicate that they formed in the Mesozoic and should be placed in the newly designated Ayú Complex. The Ayú Complex comprises polydeformed metasedimentary rocks (Chazumba Lithodeme) of a turbidite-like protolith that are intercalated with boudinaged ortho-amphibolites with transitional arc- to MORB tholeiitic geochemistry. In the south, the metasedimentary sequence is affected by a ca. 171 Ma partial melting which formed the Magdalena Migmatite. Migmatization was accompanied by 171–168 Ma intrusions of granodioritic, dioritic, and granitic dikes and sheets as well as pegmatite bodies, which are characterized by inherited zircon populations of ca. 260–290, 320–360, 420–480, 880–990, and 1080–1250 Ma that are also found in the Chazumba Lithodeme. U–Pb (detrital zircon) dating of seven metasedimentary samples from the migmatized and unmigmatized Chazumba Lithodeme yielded youngest detrital zircons and clusters of 192, 198, 214, 250, 266, and 291 Ma, and are interpreted to reflect the Late Triassic–Middle Jurassic deposition of turbiditic rocks. The transitional arc–tholeiitic geochemistry of the Chazumba amphibolites is consistent with turbidite sedimentation in a back-arc environment along a rifted passive margin, close to a contemporaneous magmatic arc. Inferred flattening of the subduction zone led to subduction erosion during the Early–Middle Jurassic and underthrusting of the Chazumba Lithodeme to depths equivalent to amphibolite facies metamorphism. Steepening of the subducting slab and diachronous rifting within the Gulf of Mexico contributed to extensional tectonics recorded on the Mexican mainland and facilitated the tectonic exhumation of the Chazumba Lithodeme by normal faulting along the reactivated Providencia shear zone during the Middle–Late Jurassic. More generally, the documentation of arc-back arc assemblages in the Ayú Complex requires deposition adjacent to a subducting ocean, and thus supports a Pangea-A reconstruction that was synchronous with the breakup of Pangea.     

Detrital Zircon U‐Pb Ages and Geochemistry of the Silurian to Permian Sedimentary Rocks in Central Inner Mongolia,China: Implications for Closure of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean

The Solonker suture zone has long been considered to mark the location of the final disappearance of the PaleoAsian Ocean in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). However, the time of final suturing is still controversial with two main different proposals of late Permian to early Triassic, and late Devonian. This study reports integrated wholerock geochemistry and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of sedimentary rocks from the Silurian Xuniwusu Formation, the Devonian Xilingol Complex and the Permian Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan-Xilinhot-Linxi area in central Inner Mongolia, China. The depositional environment, provenance and tectonic setting of the Silurian-Devonian and the Permian sediments are compared to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Solonker suture zone and its neighboring zones. The protoliths of the silty slates from the Xuniwusu Formation in the Baolidao zone belong to wacke and were derived from felsic igneous rocks with steady-state weathering, poor sorting and compositional immaturity. The protoliths of metasedimentary rocks from the Xilingol Complex were wackes and litharenites and were sourced from predominantly felsic igneous rocks with variable weathering conditions and moderate sorting. The Xuniwusu Formation and Xilingol Complex samples both have two groups of detrital zircon that peak at ca. 0.9–1.0 Ga and ca. 420–440 Ma, with maximum deposition ages of late Silurian and middle Devonian age, respectively. Considering the ca. 484–383 Ma volcanic arc in the Baolidao zone, the Xuxiniwu Formation represents an oceanic trench sediment and is covered by the sedimentary rocks in the Xilingol Complex that represents a continental slope sediment in front of the arc. The middle Permian Zhesi Formation metasandstones were derived from predominantly felsic igneous rocks and are texturally immature with very low degrees of rounding and sorting, indicating short transport and rapid burial. The Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan zone has a main zircon age peak of 302 Ma and a subordinate peak of 423 Ma and was deposited in a back-arc basin with an early marine transgression during extension and a late marine regression during contraction. The formation also crops out locally in the Baolidao zone with a main zircon age peak of 467 Ma and a minor peak of 359 Ma, and suggests it formed as a marine transgression sedimentary sequence in a restricted extensional basin and followed by a marine regressive event. Two obvious zircon age peaks of 444 Ma and 280 Ma in the Solonker zone and 435 Ma and 274 Ma in Ondor Sum are retrieved from the Zhesi Formation. This suggests as a result of the gradual closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean a narrow ocean sedimentary environment with marine regressive sedimentary sequences occupied the Solonker and Ondor Sum zones during the middle Permian. A restricted ocean is suggested by the Permian strata in the Bainaimiao zone. Early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 381 Ma and renewed subduction during ca. 310–254 Ma accompanied by the opening and closure of a back-arc basin during ca. 298–269 Ma occurred in the northern accretionary zone. In contrast, the southern accretionary zone documented early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 400 Ma and a renewed subduction during ca. 298–246 Ma. The final closure of the Paleo-Asian ocean therefore lasted at least until the early Triassic and ended with the formation of the Solonker suture zone.     

Provenance of the late Proterozoic to early Cambrian metaclastic sediments of the Sierra de San Luis (Eastern Sierras Pampeanas) and Cordillera Oriental, Argentina

Provenance studies have been performed utilising major and trace elements, Nd systematics, whole rock Pb–Pb isotopes and zircon U/Pb SHRIMP data on metasedimentary rocks of the Sierra de San Luis (Nogolí Metamorphic Complex, Pringles Metamorphic Complex, Conlara Metamorphic Complex and San Luis Formation) and the Puncoviscana Formation of the Cordillera Oriental. The goal was the characterisation of the different domains in the study area and to give insights to the location of the source rocks. An active continental margin setting with typical composition of the upper continental crust is depicted for all the complexes using major and trace elements. The Pringles Metamorphic Complex shows indications for crustal recycling, pointing to a bimodal provenance. Major volcanic input has to be rejected due to Th/Sc, Y/Ni and Cr/V ratios for all units. The εNd_{(540 Ma)} data is lower for the San Luis Formation and higher for the Conlara Metamorphic Complex, as compared to the other units, in which a good consistency is given. This is similar to the T_DM ages, where the metapsammitic samples of the San Luis Formation are slightly older. The spread of data is largest for the Pringles Metamorphic Complex, again implying two different sources. The whole rock ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb isotopic data lies in between the South American and African sources, excluding Laurentian provenances. The whole rock Pb–Pb data is almost indistinguishable in the different investigated domains. Only the PMC shows slightly elevated ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values. Possible source rocks for the different domains could be the Quebrada Choja in the Central Arequipa–Antofalla domain, the Southern domain of the Arequipa–Antofalla basement, the Brazilian shield or southern Africa. Zircon SHRIMP data point to a connection between the Puncoviscana Formation and the Conlara Metamorphic Complex. Two maxima around 600 Ma and around 1000 Ma have been determined. The Nogolí Metamorphic Complex and the Pringles Metamorphic Complex show one peak of detrital zircons around 550 Ma, and only a few grains are older than 700 Ma. The detrital zircon ages for the San Luis Formation show age ranges between 590 and 550 Ma. A common basin can be assumed for the Conlara Metamorphic Complex and the Puncoviscana Formation, but the available data support different sources for the rest of the Complexes of the Sierra de San Luis. These share the diminished importance or the lack of the Grenvillian detrital peak, a common feature for the late Cambrian–early Ordovician basins of the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas, in contrast to the Sierras de Córdoba, the PVF and the Conlara Metamorphic Complex.     

Provenance of metasedimentary rocks of the Western Pernambuco-Alagoas Domain: Contribution to understand the crustal evolution of southern Borborema Province

The Borborema Province is a complex neoproterozoic orogen in northeastern Brazil, made of a mosaic of fault-bounded terrains and several metassedimentary sequences. In the present work, new zircon U–Pb provenance data for metasedimentary rocks in the Western Pernambuco-Alagoas Domain, southern part of the Province, are reported. Detrital zircon ages range from Archean to Neoproterozoic. Three samples of the Cabrobó Complex were investigated: (i) sillimanite-kyanite-garnet-biotite schist, which presented mostly Ediacaran and Cryogenian detrital zircon ages (youngest zircon at ca. 554 Ma) indicating erosion of neoproterozoic sources, (ii) garnet-biotite schist, which has a dominant Tonian/Stenian population, a less abundant Cryogenian (youngest zircon age at ca. 643 Ma) as well as Paleoproterozoic and Archean zircon grains, and (iii) tourmaline-muscovite quartzite, which contains detrital zircon varying in age between ca. 2.08 Ga and 1.57 Ga, and an abundant population close to the Meso/Paleoproterozoic boundary, possibly associated with the erosion of rocks formed during the Statherian taphrogenesis, known in the central part of the São Francisco Craton as well as in other areas of the Borborema Province. Two samples of the Riacho Seco Metasedimentary Complex were also investigated: (i) a biotite schist with a dominant population presenting ages mostly between 2.3 and 2.7 Ga (youngest zircon age at ca. 2023 Ma) and (ii) a magnetite-biotite-muscovite quartzite, having detrital zircon grains with ages ranging between ca. 1.9 and 2.7 Ga. The sedimentary rocks of the Riacho Seco Complex may have their origin related to the erosion of sources within the São Francisco Craton. The data for the Riacho Seco metasedimentary rocks, however, are not conclusive with respect to the depositional age of the original sedimentary rocks. The sequence might represent exposure of an old (Paleoproterozoic) sedimentary pile or, alternatively, it comprises a neoproterozoic passive margin sequence, with the original sediments derived from the erosion of the cratonic areas to the south.     

The Keepit arc: provenance of sedimentary rocks in the central Tablelands Complex,southern New England Orogen,Australia, as recorded by detrital zircon

Detrital zircon from the Carboniferous Girrakool Beds in the central Tablelands Complex of the southern New England Orogen, Australia, is dominated by ca 350–320 Ma grains with a peak at ca 330 Ma; there are very few Proterozoic or Archean grains. A maximum deposition age for the Girrakool Beds of ca 309 Ma is identified. These data overlap the age of the Carboniferous Keepit arc, a continental volcanic arc along the western margin of the Tamworth Belt. Zircon trace-element and isotopic compositions support petrographic evidence of a volcanic arc provenance for sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks of the central Tablelands Complex. Zircon Hf isotope data for ca 350–320 Ma detrital grains become less radiogenic over the 30 million-year record. This pattern is observed with maturation of continental volcanic arcs but is opposite to the longer-term pattern documented in extensional accretionary orogens, such as the New England Orogen. Volcanic activity in the Keepit arc is inferred to decrease rapidly at ca 320 Ma, based on a major change in the detrital zircon age distribution. Although subduction continues, this decrease is inferred to coincide with the onset of trench retreat, slab rollback and the eastward migration of the magmatic arc that led to the Late Carboniferous to early Permian period of extension, S-type granite production and intrusion into the forearc basin, high-temperature–low-pressure metamorphism, and development of rift basins such as the Sydney–Gunnedah–Bowen system.     

Alpine reworking of Ordovician protoliths in the Western Carpathians: Geochronological and geochemical data on the Muráñ Gneiss Complex, Slovakia

Magmatic protoliths of Ordovician age have been identified in the metamorphic rocks of the Muráñ Gneiss Complex, Veporic Unit (Central Western Carpathians). Vapor digestion single zircon U–Pb dating yields an intrusion age of 464 ± 35 Ma (upper intercept) for the granite protolith. A lower intercept age of 88 ± 40 Ma records amphibolite-facies metamorphic overprint in the Cretaceous, during the Alpine orogeny. Geochemical and isotopic data suggest crustal origin of the orthogneiss. Nd_initial are between − 2.6 and − 5.0 and T_DM^Nd between 1.3 and 1.5 Ga (two-step approach). ⁸⁷Sr / ⁸⁶Sr_initial ratios vary between 0.7247 and 0.7120, and a steep REE pattern further constrains the crustal affinity of these rocks. Associated amphibolite bodies have Nd_initial values of 6.5, ⁸⁷Sr / ⁸⁶Sr_initial ratio of 0.7017, and a flat REE pattern. They are interpreted as MORB derived metabasites. Whole-rock Pb isotope analyses define a linear array in a ²⁰⁶Pb / ²⁰⁴Pb vs. ²⁰⁷Pb / ²⁰⁴Pb diagram with an age of ca. 134 Ma, consistent with intense Alpine metamorphism and deformation.

These basement rocks of the Central Western Carpathians are interpreted as Ordovician magmatic rocks intruded at an active margin of Gondwana. They represent the eastern prolongation of Cambro–Ordovician units of the European Variscides, which were part of the peri-Gondwana superterrane and accreted to Laurussia during the Variscan orogeny. Variscan metamorphic overprint is not recorded by the isotopic data of the Muráñ Gneiss Complex. Alpine metamorphism is the most dominant overprint.     

大兴安岭满归地区变中酸性火山岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

对大兴安岭满归地区新元古界—下寒武统大网子组变中酸性火山岩进行锆石U-Pb同位素年代学研究,探讨其形成时代及地质意义。大网子组由变安山岩、变英安岩、变流纹岩和少量变晶屑凝灰岩组成,缺少板岩、变砂岩、片岩等沉积岩夹层。通过对变安山岩进行锆石U-Pb同位素年龄测定,获得其锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄为(199±1) Ma,表明大网子组变中酸性火山岩形成于早侏罗世早期,非前人认为的形成于新元古代—早寒武世。额尔古纳地块早侏罗世火山岩为漠河盆地提供了物源,表明额尔古纳地块在早侏罗世处于火山-岩浆弧构造背景。该研究为蒙古—鄂霍茨克洋闭合过程中的地球动力学研究提供了新资料。     

海南岛东北部木栏头变质杂岩的组成、时代及其区域大地构造意义

新的区域地质调查在海南岛东北部木栏头地区识别出一套从前未知的中级变质杂岩。木栏头变质杂岩主要沿林新—木栏头—虎威岭—赤坡—七星岭—新埠海—铺前海边沿岸呈基岩或不同尺度的无根岩块断续出露，其主体是钙硅酸盐岩和正、副片麻岩，含有少量斜长角闪岩、石英岩和大理岩，并按分布区域可进一步区分出林新片麻岩- 斜长角闪岩组合、木栏头变质火山岩- 钙硅酸盐岩组合、虎威岭- 七星岭片麻岩- 钙硅酸盐岩- 大理岩组合和新埠海- 铺前片麻岩组合等四套岩石组合。对30件变质基性岩、变质中酸性岩、变质碎屑沉积岩、钙硅酸盐岩以及花岗和伟晶岩脉等不同类型岩石的锆石U- Pb定年结果表明，木栏头变质杂岩的原岩主体是一套二叠纪火山- 沉积岩系，其内含有少量二叠纪花岗质侵入岩以及前寒武纪结晶基底的残留。前寒武纪结晶基底主要包括古元古代晚期（1670 Ma）碎屑沉积岩和中元古代早期（1460~1410 Ma）花岗质片麻岩，晚二叠世碱性花岗岩中还存在大量单一的中元古代晚期（1180 Ma）继承锆石。变质沉积岩中的早期碎屑锆石年龄峰值为2550~2490 Ma、1850~1780 Ma、1600~1560 Ma、1450 Ma和1100 Ma，表明其物源主要来自于海南岛中部的抱板群、石碌群和石灰顶组。二叠纪花岗岩的侵入时代主要为280 Ma和260 Ma，与陆缘弧前盆地环境下形成的火山- 沉积岩系的时代基本一致。这些沉积岩中的碎屑锆石除具有395~345 Ma和280~256 Ma两个年龄峰值外，部分样品还含有960~930 Ma和450~410 Ma两个重要年龄峰值，与前人在海南岛晚古生代地层中获得的年代学结果相似。木栏头变质杂岩经历了晚二叠世—中三叠世（254~235 Ma）高角闪岩相区域变质和深熔作用以及花岗和伟晶岩脉的大规模侵入，独居石U- Pb定年表明中侏罗世（159 Ma）花岗岩脉也侵入其中。结合近年发表的研究资料，我们认为海南岛应属于印支陆块的一部分，由中元古代结晶基底和早古生代盖层构成的琼南地体以及该地体演化而来的琼北构造混杂岩带两个次级构造单元组成，邦溪- 晨星构造带或昌江- 琼海断裂不能被视为华南和印支陆块间的构造边界，真正的古特提斯缝合带（即金沙江- 哀牢山- 马江缝合带的东延）应位于木栏头北部，大致相当于现今琼州海峡断裂的位置。华南和印支陆块间古特提斯洋盆的关闭始于石炭纪（340~300 Ma）洋壳的南向俯冲，形成北部的潮滩鼻榴辉岩和南部的邦溪- 晨星弧后盆地，二叠纪时期（280~255 Ma）洋盆持续俯冲形成海南岛主体大陆岛弧以及木栏头弧前盆地，而后洋盆最终关闭并进入到陆- 陆碰撞和碰撞后伸展阶段，从而形成木栏头变质杂岩以及海南岛内部其他三叠纪变质岩和同期花岗质岩石。     

Mantle heterogeneity and crustal recycling in Archean granite-greenstone belts: Evidence from Nd isotopes and trace elements in the Rainy Lake area, Superior Province, Ontario, Canada

The 2685–2752 Ma old granite-greenstone crust in the Rainy Lake area, Ontario, consists of metaigneous and metasedimentary rocks that range in composition from tholeiite to monzogranite and include anorthosite, trachyandesite, monzodiorite and high-silica rhyodacite. Major element, rare earth and other trace element data are the basis for modelling the formation of the crust by melting of large-ionlithophile element enriched and unenriched mantle, by melting of basalt at mantle to crustal levels and by melting of monzodiorite and tonalite at crustal levels.

All metaigneous rocks lie on a ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd vs. ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd isochron with an age of 2737 ±42 Ma and an initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of 0.509178 ±33 (ε_Nd = +1.9). This age is consistent with U-Pb zircon ages, which suggests the Nd isotopic system has been unaffected since the crust-forming events. The positive initial ε_Nd's are further evidence for time-averaged depletion in Sm/Nd relative to CHUR for the Archean mantle. The similarity of the initial Nd isotopic composition for both mantle-derived and crustally-derived rocks suggests rapid recycling of crustal components, which were previously derived from depleted mantle sources.

Initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios on individual rocks range from ε_Nd = +3.3 to ε_Nd = −0.4. Younger granitoids have lower ε_Nd values (+1.5 to −0.1) relative to tholeiites and monzodiorites crystallized from mantle-derived melts (+3.3 to +1.0). Thus, incorporation of slightly older crust (ca. 100–200 Ma) in some of the granitoid source areas is possible. Mantle-derived rocks form an isochron of 2764 ±58 Ma that represents a minimum age for enrichment processes in the mantle sources for the Rainy Lake area. Consideration of data from the Abitibi belt suggests such enrichment processes in the mantle may have preceded crust-forming events in a wide area of the Superior Province, perhaps by as much as 50–70 Ma.     

勉略构造带新元古代中期构造演化特征:来自略阳关天门变质沉积岩碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学和地球化学的证据

秦岭南缘勉略构造带略阳关天门地区发育有一套绿片岩相-低角闪岩相岩石组合,是勉略构造带内强烈韧性变形的变质沉积岩系,其形成时代和构造属性长期存在争议,制约区域大地构造演化的研究。为查明其形成时代与构造背景,对其中的变质细碎屑岩进行系统的岩石学、碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学和岩石地球化学研究。2件碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄样品的年龄分布特征相似,主要年龄区间为新元古代早中期(ca.880~800 Ma),并且显示出ca.830 Ma的显著峰值;最年轻的一组碎屑锆石年龄为747~736 Ma(平均年龄742±6 Ma)。地球化学研究结果表明,关天门变沉积岩原岩应为一套细碎屑岩偶夹碳酸盐岩的沉积组合,原岩经历了较低程度的化学风化和沉积物再旋回,其物源主要为大陆岛弧背景下的中-酸性岩浆岩。结合区域已有研究成果,认为关天门变沉积岩的物源主要为碧口微地块、汉南—米仓山微地块的新元古代早中期岩浆弧。通过野外地质调查,并与已有的区域碎屑锆石年龄谱系进行对比,认为关天门变沉积岩岩片的沉积时代应晚于碧口微地块横丹群形成的时间(720 Ma),即关天门变沉积岩岩片的沉积时限应晚于720 Ma,形成于新元古代中期伸展裂陷体制,是Rodinia超大陆裂解过程的响应。     

华北南缘中元古界高山河群碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学及其地质意义*

为了探讨华北板块南缘中元古代沉积地层的时代归属和物质来源、区域古地理格局和大地构造特征,对豫西灵宝福地地区的高山河群进行碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学和锆石微量元素特征研究。获得的高山河群年龄最小(年轻)的单颗碎屑锆石 ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb 年龄值为1685±39 Ma,从而限制了高山河群最早沉积年龄不早于1700 Ma。结合上覆的龙家园组年代学标定(1594±12 Ma),将高山河群的形成年代限定为1700—1600 Ma,即中元古代长城纪的中晚期,属国际地质年表的“固结纪”。高山河群中碎屑锆石 ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb 年龄范围为1685—2751 Ma,呈现1850 Ma、2150 Ma、2300 Ma和2500 Ma共4个年龄峰值,对应于华北克拉通古元古代重要的地质事件,并且高山河群以1850 Ma和2500 Ma峰值年龄段的地质体为主要的物源区。根据高山河群与云梦山组碎屑锆石年龄频率对比,推测在豫西地区西侧存在以往报道较少的年龄为2500 Ma的地质体。根据熊耳群火山岩及其对应锆石的地球化学特征和熊耳期盆地动力学性质,并结合高山河群沉积相特征和沉积盆地构造属性,认为熊耳群形成于与“岛弧”共生的拉张性质的弧后盆地地区,而其上覆的高山河群为弧后盆地靠近大陆一侧的具有被动大陆边缘性质的滨浅海沉积。