Granitoid emplacement by multiple sheeting during Variscan dextral transpression: The Saint-Laurent – La Jonquera pluton (Eastern Pyrenees)

The structural study of the Saint-Laurent – La Jonquera pluton (Eastern Pyrenees), a Variscan composite laccolithic intrusion emplaced in metasedimentary and gneissic rocks of the Roc de Frausa dome, by means of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) technique has allowed the determination of the nature and orientation of its magmatic fabrics. The magmatic foliation has a predominant NE–SW strike and the mean lineation is also NE–SW trending with a shallow plunge. A strain gradient is measured so that the tonalites to granodiorites that form the basal parts of the pluton, and are intruded into amphibolite-facies metamorphic rocks, recorded the highest anisotropies, whereas the monzogranites and leucogranites, emplaced into upper crustal, low-grade metamorphic rocks, are weakly deformed. These results point to the synkinematic sequential emplacement of multiple granitoid sheets, from less to more differentiated magmatic stages, during the Late Carboniferous D₂ event characterized by an E–W-trending dextral transpression. The magmatic foliation appears locally disturbed by the effects of two tectonic events. The first of them (D₃) produced mylonitization of granitoids along NW–SE retrograding shear zones and open folds in the host Ediacaran metasediments of the Roc de Frausa massif, likely during late Variscan times. Interference between D₂ and D₃ structures was responsible for the dome geometry of the whole Roc de Frausa massif. The second and last perturbation consisted of local southward tilting of the granitoids coupled to the Mesozoic–Cenozoic cover during the Alpine.     

Isotopic constraints on crustal architecture and Permo‐Triassic tectonics in New Guinea: Possible links with eastern Australia

New U–Pb zircon ages and Sr–Nd isotopic data for Triassic igneous and metamorphic rocks from northern New Guinea help constrain models of the evolution of Australia's northern and eastern margin. These data provide further evidence for an Early to Late Triassic volcanic arc in northern New Guinea, interpreted to have been part of a continuous magmatic belt along the Gondwana margin, through South America, Antarctica, New Zealand, the New England Fold Belt, New Guinea and into southeast Asia. The Early to Late Triassic volcanic arc in northern New Guinea intrudes high‐grade metamorphic rocks probably resulting from Late Permian to Early Triassic (ca 260–240 Ma) orogenesis, as recorded in the New England Fold Belt. Late Triassic magmatism in New Guinea (ca 220 Ma) is related to coeval extension and rifting as a precursor to Jurassic breakup of the Gondwana margin. In general, mantle‐like Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of mafic Palaeozoic to Tertiary granitoids appear to rule out the presence of a North Australian‐type Proterozoic basement under the New Guinea Mobile Belt. Parts of northern New Guinea may have a continental or transitional basement whereas adjacent areas are underlain by oceanic crust. It is proposed that the post‐breakup margin comprised promontories of extended Proterozoic‐Palaeozoic continental crust separated by embayments of oceanic crust, analogous to Australia's North West Shelf. Inferred movement to the south of an accretionary prism through the Triassic is consistent with subduction to the south‐southwest beneath northeast Australia generating arc‐related magmatism in New Guinea and the New England Fold Belt.     

Magmatic changes during the stabilisation of a cordilleran fold belt: the Late Carboniferous–Triassic igneous history of eastern New South Wales, Australia

In a 60 Ma interval between the Late Carboniferous and the Late Permian, the magmatic arc associated with the cordilleran-type New England Fold Belt in northeast New South Wales shifted eastward and changed in trend from north–northwest to north. The eastern margin of the earlier (Devonian–Late Carboniferous) arc is marked by a sequence of calcalkaline lava flows, tuffs and coarse volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks preserved in the west of the Fold Belt. The younger arc (Late Permian–Triassic) is marked by I-type calcalkaline granitoids and comagmatic volcanic rocks emplaced mostly in the earlier forearc, but extending into the southern Sydney Basin, in the former backarc region. The growth of the younger arc was accompanied by widespread compressional deformation that stabilised the New England Fold Belt. During the transitional interval, two suites of S-type granitoids were emplaced, the Hillgrove Suite at about 305 Ma during an episode of compressive deformation and regional metamorphism, and the Bundarra Suite at about 280 Ma, during the later stages of an extensional episode. Isotopic and REE data indicate that both suites resulted from the partial melting of young silicic sedimentary rocks, probably part of the Carboniferous accretionary subduction complex, with heat supplied by the rise of asthenospheric material. Both mafic and silicic volcanic activity were widespread within and behind the Fold Belt from the onset of rifting (ca. 295 Ma) until the reestablishment of the arc. These volcanic rocks range in composition from MORB-like to calcalkaline and alkaline. The termination of the earlier arc, and the subsequent widespread and diverse igneous activity are considered to have resulted from the shallow breakoff of the downgoing plate, which allowed the rise of asthenosphere through a widening lithospheric gap. In this setting, division of the igneous rocks into pre-, syn-, and post-collisional groups is of limited value.     

Granitoid formation time in the Main Kolyma Batholith Belt: Coordination of geological data and isotopic dating results (Northeast Asia)

It is shown that the granitoids of the Main Kolyma Batholith Belt do not penetrate into the Upper Jurassic deposits of the Yana–Kolyma mesozoids. The applicability of U–Pb SHRIMP zirconometry to the Mesozoic period of geological history is subject to critical analysis. It is concluded that analytical limitations preclude the solution of the concordance–discordance alternative of the obtained datings in the Mesozoic U–Pb isotopic systems by computational approaches. The U–Pb isotopic system is established as highly sensitive to the superimposed processes. Based on the reconciliation of the U–Pb, Rb–Sr, Ar–Ar, and K–Ar geochronometric data, the granitoids of the Kolyma Main Batholith Belt intruded 170–160 Ma ago, while their isotopic systems were transformed 150–140, 135–125, and 100–80 Ma ago. The local SHRIMP zirconometry combined with other isotopic methods can be applied to date igneous rocks by the relic dates, to set the time of intrusion into their isotopic systems, and to predict thermal events not identified yet. The U–Pb SHRIMP zirconometry should not be considered as arbitrary.     

Geology and tectonics of Japanese islands: A review – The key to understanding the geology of Asia

The age of the major geological units in Japan ranges from Cambrian to Quaternary. Precambrian basement is, however, expected, as the provenance of by detrital clasts of conglomerate, detrital zircons of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, and as metamorphic rocks intruded by 500 Ma granites. Although rocks of Paleozoic age are not widely distributed, rocks and formations of late Mesozoic to Cenozoic can be found easily throughout Japan. Rocks of Jurassic age occur mainly in the Jurassic accretionary complexes, which comprise the backbone of the Japanese archipelago. The western part of Japan is composed mainly of Cretaceous to Paleogene felsic volcanic and plutonic rocks and accretionary complexes. The eastern part of the country is covered extensively by Neogene sedimentary and volcanic rocks. During the Quaternary, volcanoes erupted in various parts of Japan, and alluvial plains were formed along the coastlines of the Japanese Islands. These geological units are divided by age and origin: i.e. Paleozoic continental margin; Paleozoic island arc; Paleozoic accretionary complexes; Mesozoic to Paleogene accretionary complexes and Cenozoic island arcs. These are further subdivided into the following tectonic units, e.g. Hida; Oki; Unazuki; Hida Gaien; Higo; Hitachi; Kurosegawa; South Kitakami; Nagato-Renge; Nedamo; Akiyoshi; Ultra-Tamba; Suo; Maizuru; Mino-Tamba; Chichibu; Chizu; Ryoke; Sanbagawa and Shimanto belts.The geological history of Japan commenced with the breakup of the Rodinia super continent, at about 750 Ma. At about 500 Ma, the Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate began to be subducted beneath the continental margin of the South China Block. Since then, Proto-Japan has been located on the convergent margin of East Asia for about 500 Ma. In this tectonic setting, the most significant tectonic events recorded in the geology of Japan are subduction–accretion, paired metamorphism, arc volcanism, back-arc spreading and arc–arc collision. The major accretionary complexes in the Japanese Islands are of Permian, Jurassic and Cretaceous–Paleogene age. These accretionary complexes became altered locally to low-temperature and high-pressure metamorphic, or high-temperature and low-pressure metamorphic rocks. Medium-pressure metamorphic rocks are limited to the Unazuki and Higo belts. Major plutonism occurred in Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic time. Early Paleozoic Cambrian igneous activity is recorded as granites in the South Kitakami Belt. Late Paleozoic igneous activity is recognized in the Hida Belt. During Cretaceous to Paleogene time, extensive igneous activity occurred in Japan. The youngest granite in Japan is the Takidani Granite intruded at about 1–2 Ma. During Cenozoic time, the most important geologic events are back-arc opening and arc–arc collision. The major back-arc basins are the Sea of Japan and the Shikoku and Chishima basins. Arc–arc collision occurred between the Honshu and Izu-Bonin arcs, and the Honshu and Chishima arcs.     

Sources of continental magmatism adjacent to the late Archean Kolar Suture Zone,south India: distinct isotopic and elemental signatures of two late Archean magmatic series

 Conspicuous Nd, Sr and Pb isotopic differences exist between the Archean gneiss terranes adjoining the suture at the Kolar Schist Belt, south India. These gneisses, which are the deformed equivalents of plutonic and volcanic rocks, have known or inferred igneous ages of 2630 to 2530 Ma. Initial isotopic ratios of Nd, Sr and Pb suggest that metaplutonic gneisses west of the Kolar Schist Belt were emplaced into, and variably contaminated by, an evolved continental crust that formed prior to 3200 Ma. Felsic metaigneous gneisses that occur as slivers on the western margin of the schist belt have an isotopic character similar to that of the metaplutonic rocks on the same side of the Kolar Schist Belt. On the east side of the Kolar Schist Belt the isotopic evidence suggests that the 2530 Ma granitic gneisses were not derived from or contaminated by an older continental crust. Their source probably evolved with a Nd isotopic composition similar to that of typical Archean mantle, but became light rare earth element enriched after 2900 to 2700 Ma. The inferred tectonic setting for the west side of the Kolar Schist Belt is an Andean continental magmatic arc. For the east side of the Kolar Schist Belt, a possible Phanerozoic analog is an evolved island arc, such as Japan. Received: 24 June 1994/Accepted: 9 January 1995     

The magmatic history of the Vetas-California mining district,Santander Massif,Eastern Cordillera,Colombia

The Vetas-California Mining District (VCMD), located in the central part of the Santander Massif (Colombian Eastern Cordillera), based on U–Pb dating of zircons, records the following principal tectono-magmatic events: (1) the Grenville Orogenic event and high grade metamorphism and migmatitization between ∼1240 and 957 Ma; (2) early Ordovician calc–alkalic magmatism, which was synchronous with the Caparonensis–Famatinian Orogeny (∼477 Ma); (3) middle to late Ordovician post-collisional calc–alkalic magmatism (∼466–436 Ma); (4) late Triassic to early Jurassic magmatism between ∼204 and 196 Ma, characterized by both S- and I-type calc–alkalic intrusions and; (5) a late Miocene shallowly emplaced intermediate calc–alkaline intrusions (10.9 ± 0.2 and 8.4 ± 0.2 Ma). The presence of even younger igneous rocks is possible, given the widespread magmatic–hydrothermal alteration affecting all rock units in the area.The igneous rocks from the late Triassic–early Jurassic magmatic episodes are the volumetrically most important igneous rocks in the study area and in the Colombian Eastern Cordillera. They can be divided into three groups based on their field relationships, whole rock geochemistry and geochronology. These are early leucogranites herein termed Alaskites-I (204–199 Ma), Intermediate rocks (199–198 Ma), and late leucogranites, herein referred to as Alaskites-II (198–196 Ma). This Mesozoic magmatism is reflecting subtle changes in the crustal stress in a setting above an oblique subduction of the Panthalassa plate beneath Pangea.The lower Cretaceous siliciclastic Tambor Formation has detrital zircons of the same age populations as the metamorphic and igneous rocks present in the study area, suggesting that the provenance is related to the erosion of these local rocks during the late Jurassic or early Cretaceous, implying a local supply of sediments to the local depositional basins.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of high‐pressure granulites of the Arthur River Complex,Fiordland, New Zealand: Cretaceous magmatism and metamorphism on the palaeo‐Pacific Margin

The Arthur River Complex is a suite of gabbroic to dioritic orthogneisses in northern Fiordland, New Zealand. The Arthur River Complex separates rocks of the Median Tectonic Zone, a Mesozoic island arc complex, from Palaeozoic rocks of the palaeo‐Pacific Gondwana margin, and is itself intruded by the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss. New SHRIMP U/Pb single zircon data are presented for magmatic, metamorphic and deformation events in the Arthur River Complex and adjacent rocks from northern Fiordland. The Arthur River Complex orthogneisses and dykes are dominated by magmatic zircon dated at 136–129 Ma. A dioritic orthogneiss that occurs along the eastern margin of the Complex is dated at 154.4 ± 3.6 Ma and predates adjacent plutons of the Median Tectonic Zone. Rims on zircon cores from this sample record a thermal event at c. 120 Ma, attributed to the emplacement of the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss. Migmatitic Palaeozoic orthogneiss from the Arthur River Complex (346 ± 6 Ma) is interpreted as deformed wall rock. Very fine rims (5–20 µm) also indicate a metamorphic age of c. 120–110 Ma. A post‐tectonic pegmatite (81.8 ± 1.8 Ma) may be related to phases of crustal extension associated with the opening of the Tasman Sea. The Arthur River Complex is interpreted as a batholith, emplaced at mid‐crustal levels and then buried to deep crustal levels due to convergence of the Median Tectonic Zone arc and the continental margin.     

抚顺南部早前寒武纪变质杂岩的地质事件序列

抚顺南部早前寒武纪变质杂岩是华北克拉通北缘辽北-吉南早前寒武纪变质地块的一个重要组成部分,主要由浑南群石棚子组角闪岩相变质火山岩、火山碎屑岩及相伴生的沉积岩等表壳岩系和侵位于其中的石英闪长质片麻岩、英云闪长质-奥长花岗质-花岗闪长质(TTG)片麻岩和花岗闪长岩-二长花岗岩-钾长花岗岩岩石组合组成。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素分析结果显示,侵位于表壳岩中的石英闪长质片麻岩样品12LN39-3的岩浆结晶年龄为2571±7Ma,指示存在老于该年龄的表壳岩系。英云闪长质片麻岩样品12LN04-1和奥长花岗质片麻岩样品13LB49-3的岩浆结晶年龄分别为2544±4Ma和2550±10Ma,记录了一期重要的英云闪长质-奥长花岗质片麻岩侵位事件。斜长角闪岩(样品12LN25-2)的岩浆结晶的最小年龄为2530±5Ma,指示另一火山喷发阶段。晚期钾长花岗岩样品12LN01-1和奥长花岗质片麻岩样品12LN27-1分别侵位于2522±4Ma和2518±23Ma,说明它们的岩浆作用发生于同一时期。而采自于晚期未变形侵入体的石英闪长岩样品12LN30-2的岩浆结晶年龄为2496±18Ma,与上述表壳岩和深成侵入体的主要变质作用(2510~2470Ma)同期发生。这些年代学结果表明,抚顺南部地区新太古代大规模的铁镁质火山喷发作用在大于2571±7Ma已经发生,紧接着2571±7Ma发生石英闪长质岩浆侵位,在2550±10Ma~2544±4Ma之间发生英云闪长质-奥长花岗质岩浆侵位。接下来铁镁质火山再度喷发(~2530±5Ma),随后为钾长花岗岩和奥长花岗质岩浆的侵位(2522±4Ma~2518±23Ma)。晚期为角闪岩相变质作用时期(2510~2470Ma),伴随一定规模的石英闪长岩侵位。     

STRUCTURAL AND THERMAL EVOLUTION OF THE SOUTH ASIAN CONTINENTAL MARGIN ALONG THE KARAKORAM AND HINDU KUSH RANGES,NORTH PAKISTAN

STRUCTURAL AND THERMAL EVOLUTION OF THE SOUTH ASIAN CONTINENTAL MARGIN ALONG THE KARAKORAM AND HINDU KUSH RANGES,NORTH PAKISTAN     

Early paleozoic granitoids in the Lesser Khingan terrane, Central Asian Foldbelt: Age, geochemistry, and geodynamic interpretations

The U-Pb zircon dates obtained for the Sutara (480 ± 4 Ma), Kabalinskii (471 ± 10 Ma), and Durilovskii (461 ± 5 Ma) massifs reliably confirm an Early Proterozoic orogenic event, which took place after granulite metamorphism at approximately 500 Ma (Wilde et al., 2003) in the Lesser Khingan (Jiamusi) terrane. The rocks emplaced most shortly after the main metamorphic event are the granites of the Sutara Massif and leucogranites of the Kabalinskii Massif, whose geochemistry is close to that of collision granites. The quartz diorites and subalkaline granites of the Durilovskii Massif, whose geochemistry suggests their origin in a postcollision environment with the participation of an enriched mantle source, were emplaced longer after metamorphic event and after the aforementioned massifs.     

Geological framework and Paleozoic tectonic history of the Chinese Altai, NW China: a review

The Chinese Altai, as a key portion of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), is dominated by variably deformed and metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks and granitic intrusions. Its Early Paleozoic tectonic setting has been variously considered as a passive continental margin, a subduction-accretion complex, or a Precambrian microcontinent, and two representative competing tectonic models have been proposed, i.e., open-closure versus subduction-accretion. Recent studies demonstrate that the high-grade metamorphic rocks previously considered as fragments of a Precambrian basement have zircon U-Pb ages (predominantly 528 to 466 Ma) similar to those of the widely distributed low-grade metasedimentary rocks named as Habahe Group in the region, and all these meta-sedimentary rocks were dominantly deposited in the Early Paleozoic. Petrological evidence and geochemical compositions further suggest that these meta-sedimentary rocks were probably deposited in an active margin, not a passive continental margin as previously proposed. The detrital zircons of sediments and igneous zircons from granitoids including the inherited ones (mainly 543–421 Ma) mostly give positive ?_Hf(t) values, suggesting significant contributions from mantle-derived juvenile materials to the lower crust. A modeling calculation based on zircon Hf isotopic compositions suggests that as much as 84% of the Chinese Altai is possibly made up of “juvenile” Paleozoic materials. Thus, available data do not support the existence of a Precambrian basement, but rather indicate that the Chinese Altai represented a huge subduction-accretion complex in the Paleozoic. Zircon U-Pb dating results for granitoids indicate that magmatism was active continuously from the Early to Middle Paleozoic, and the strongest magmatic activity took place in the Devonian, coeval with a significant change in zircon Hf isotopic composition. These findings, together with the occurrence of chemically distinctive igneous rocks and the high-T metamorphism, can be collectively accounted for by ridge-trench interaction during the accretionary orogenic process.     

Rb‐Sr geochronology and Sr isotopic composition of Devonian granitoids,eastern Tasmania

Biotite igneous ages and well‐defined isochron ages of plutons from the composite Blue Tier Batholith and the Coles Bay area in northeastern Tasmania range from 395 to 370 Ma. The older limit of this range, for the George River granodiorite, is considerably older than any age previously recorded for NE Tasmania. The ages of the youngest plutons (Mt Paris and Anchor granites), which host cassiterite ores, record pervasive hydrothermal alteration events. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁰Sr ratios of the granitoids range from 0.7061 to 0.7136 and suggest different protolith compositions, consistent with mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of each pluton. The S‐type garnetbiotite granites (Ansons Bay and Booby alia granites) have initial ratios greater than 0.7119, indicative of enriched, high Rb/Sr ratio, crustal source‐rocks of Proterozoic age (1700–800 Ma). The S‐type biotite granites (Poimena and Pearson granites) have relatively high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7070, 0.7105) but overlap with those of the I‐type granodiorites (George River, Scamander Tier, Pyengana and Coles Bay granodiorites) which are in the range of 0.7061 to 0.7073. The initial ratios of the enriched altered plutons are poorly constrained, and on both hand‐specimen and thin‐section scales, reveal open‐system Sr isotopic patterns.

Isochron ages for the arenite‐lutite and lutite sedimentary associations of the Mathinna Beds, which are intruded by the granitoids, reflect an approach to Sr isotopic equilibrium during regional metamorphism. The metamorphic age (401 ± 7 Ma) of the early Pragian arenite‐lutite association indicates a relatively small time interval between deposition, regional metamorphism and granitoid intrusion. The isotopic age for the lutite sedimentary association (423 ± 22 Ma) is tentatively correlated with a Benambran‐age burial metamorphic event that has not previously been recorded in Tasmania.     

Are the Chinese Altai “terranes” the result of juxtaposition of different crustal levels during Late Devonian and Permian orogenesis?

The general structure of the Chinese Altai has been traditionally regarded as being formed by five tectono-stratigraphic ‘terranes’ bounded by large-scale faults. However, numerous detrital zircon studies of the Paleozoic volcano-sedimentary sequences shown that the variably metamorphosed Cambro-Ordovician sequence, known as the Habahe Group, is present at least in four ‘terranes’. It structurally represents deepest rocks unconformably covered by Devonian and Carboniferous sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Calc-alkaline, mostly Devonian, granitoids that intruded all the terranes revealed their syn-subduction related setting. Geochemistry and isotope features of the syn-subduction granitoids have shown that they originated mainly from the melting of youthful sediments derived from an eroded Ordovician arc further north. In contrast, Permian alkaline granitoids, mostly located in the southern part of the Chinese Altai, reflect a post-subduction intraplate setting. The metamorphic evolution of the metasedimentary sequences shows an early MP-MT Barrovian event, followed by two Buchan events: LP-HT mid-Devonian (ca. 400–380 Ma) and UHT-HT Permian (ca. 300–270 Ma) cycles. The Barrovian metamorphism is linked to the formation of a regional sub-horizontal possibly Early Devonian fabric and the burial of the Cambro-Ordovician sequence. The Middle Devonian Buchan type event is related to intrusions of the syn-subduction granitoids during an extensional setting and followed by Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous NE-SW trending upright folding and crustal scale doming during a general NW-SE shortening, responsible for the exhumation of the hot lower crust. The last Permian deformation formed NW-SE trending upright folds and vertical zones of deformation related to the extrusion of migmatites, anatectic granitoids and granulite rocks, and to the intrusions of gabbros and granites along the southern border of the Chinese Altai. Finally, the Permo-Triassic cooling and thrust systems affected the whole mountain range from ca. 265 to 230 Ma. In conclusion, the Chinese Altai represents different crustal levels of the lower, middle and upper orogenic crust of a single Cambro-Ordovician accretionary wedge, heterogeneously affected by the Devonian polyphase metamorphism and deformation followed by the Permian tectono-thermal reworking event related to the collision with the Junggar arc. It is the interference of Devonian and Permian upright folding events that formed vertical boundaries surrounding the variously exhumed and eroded crustal segments. Consequently, these crustal segments should not be regarded as individual suspect terranes.     

Granites of the intracontinental termination of a magmatic arc: an example from the Ediacaran Araçuaí orogen,southeastern Brazil

The Araçuaí orogen of southeastern Brazil together with the West Congo belt of central West Africa form the Araçuaí–West Congo orogen generated during closure of a terminal segment of the Neoproterozoic Adamastor Ocean. Corresponding to an embayment in the São Francisco–Congo Craton, this portion of the Adamastor was only partially floored by oceanic crust. The convergence of its margins led to the development of the Rio Doce magmatic arc between 630 Ma and 580 Ma. The Rio Doce magmatic arc terminates in the northern portion of the Araçuaí orogen. Granitic plutons exposed in the northern extremity of the arc provide a rare opportunity to study magmatism at arc terminations, and to understand the interplay between calc-alkaline magma production and crustal recycling. The plutons forming the terminus of the arc consist of granodiorites, tonalites and monzogranites similar to a magnesian, slightly peraluminous, calcic- (68%) to calc-alkaline (24%), with minor alkali-calcic (8%) facies, medium- to high-K magmatic series. Although marked by negative Nb–Ta, Sr and Ti anomalies, typically associated with subduction-related magmas, the combined Sr, Nd and Hf isotopic data characterize a crustal signature related to anatexis of metamorphosed igneous and sedimentary rocks, rather than fractional crystallization of mantle-derived magmas. Zircon U–Pb ages characterizes two groups of granitoids. The older group, crystallized between 630 and 590 Ma, experienced a migmatization event at ca. 585 Ma. The younger granitoids, emplaced between 570 and 590 Ma, do not show any evidence for migmatization. Most of the investigated samples show good correlation with the experimental compositional field of amphibolite dehydration-melting, with some samples plotting into the field of greywacke dehydration-melting. The studied rocks are not typical I-type or S-type granites, being particularly similar to transitional I/S-type granitoids described in the Ordovician Famatinian arc (NW Argentina). We suggest a hybrid model involving dehydration-melting of meta-igneous (amphibolites) and metasedimentary (greywackes) rocks for magma production in the northern termination of the Rio Doce arc. The real contribution of each end-member is, however, a challenging work still to be done.     

Late neoproterozoic igneous complexes of the western Baikal-Muya Belt: Formation stages

The paper presents new geological, geochemical, and isotopic data on igneous rocks from a thoroughly studied area in the western Baikal-Muya Belt, which is a representative segment of the Neoproterozoic framework of the Siberian Craton. Three rock associations are distinguished in the studied area: granulite-enderbite-charnockite and ultramafic-mafic complexes followed by the latest tonalite-plagiogranitegranite series corresponding to adakite in geochemical characteristics. Tonalites and granites intrude the metamorphic and gabbroic rocks of the Tonky Mys Point, as well as Slyudyanka and Kurlinka intrusions. The tonalites yielded a U-Pb zircon age of 595 ± 5 Ma. The geochronological and geological information indicate that no later than a few tens of Ma after granulite formation they were transferred to the upper lithosphere level. The Sm-Nd isotopic data show that juvenile material occurs in rocks of granitoid series (?_Nd(t) = 3.2–7.1). Ophiolites, island-arc series, eclogites, and molasse sequences have been reviewed as indicators of Neoproterozoic geodynamic settings that existed in the Baikal-Muya Belt. The implications of spatially associated granulites and ultramafic-mafic intrusions, as well as granitoids with adakitic geochemical characteristics for paleogeodynamic reconstructions of the western Baikal-Muya Belt, are discussed together with other structural elements of the Central Asian Belt adjoining the Siberian Platform in the south.     

Late Paleozoic tectonic -magmatic evolution history of the northeastern ChinaSCIEI北大核心CSCD

Northeastern China is suited in the eastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, and it is mainly composed of Erguna Massif, Xing'an Massif, Songnen-Zhangguangcai Range Massif, Jiamusi Massif, and Nadanhada Terrane. The Late Paleozoic magmatism was relatively intense accompanied with multiple stages of amalgamation in several microcontinents, therefore these magmatic products are an important media in recording the Late Paleozoic tectonic evolution history of the northeastern China. According to the petrological, geochronological, and geochemical characteristics of Late Paleozoic igneous rocks in the northeastern China, we found that the Late Paleozoic magmatism was based on Carboniferous -Permian igneous rocks. The Early Carboniferous magmatic products are gabbro, diorite and granite, the Late Carboniferous magmatic products are mainly composed of granitoids with minor gabbro, and the Permian magmatic products are mainly granitoids. Meanwhile, these Late Paleozoic igneous rocks mostly exhibit typical arc characteristics. In addition, the Late Paleozoic igneous rocks in eastern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces are mainly Permian granitoids with minor gabbro, and these Permian igneous rocks show typical arc characteristics. Combined with petrological, geochronological, geochemical and isotopic characteristics, we suggest that the Late Paleozoic igneous rocks in the Great Xing'an Range and eastern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces underwent different magmatic evolution history, and the microcontinents in NE China had different crustal growth history.     

Geochronological and geochemical study of gneiss–schist complexes and associated granitoids,Beishan Orogen,southern Altaids

The tectonic nature of metamorphic terranes and their role in orogenesis are problematic. Here we present new U–Pb ages and geochemical data for widespread metamorphic rocks and associated granitoids from Northwest China. Orthogneisses from the metamorphic complexes have crystallization ages of ～457, ～452, and ～526 Ma. One paragneiss (schist) has a maximum depositional age of 312 ± 7 Ma. Three foliated granites were emplaced at ～450, ～349, and ～410 Ma, and all lack inherited Precambrian ages. The metamorphic terranes may have undergone multiple petrotectonic events as revealed by the metamorphic ages. Both the orthogneisses and granitoids show enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and light rare Earth elements (LREEs), and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs), which indicate that they formed in a subduction-generated accretionary arc setting. Our study demonstrates that the metamorphic terranes in the Beishan area, originally considered as Precambrian basement with suspected Neoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic ages, are actually parts of early Palaeozoic arcs. The protoliths were probably metamorphosed arc plutonic and sedimentary rocks. Combined with other studies, we speculate that the Beishan Orogen formed by progressive arc accretion during the latest Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic time. This new interpretation has implications for other high-grade metamorphic terranes within orogens that have been assumed to represent ancient or pre-existing micro-continental blocks. If so, the importance of collision as a mechanism of mountain building has been overestimated, and the accretionary process as a mechanism of continental growth has been underestimated.     

Evolution of the Mayo Kebbi region as revealed by zircon dating: An early (ca. 740 Ma) Pan-African magmatic arc in southwestern Chad

The Mayo Kebbi region in SW Chad is part of the NNE-SSW trending Neoproterozoic Central African Fold Belt (CAFB) and is made up of three calc-alkaline granitoid suites emplaced into a metavolcanic–metasedimentary sequence. The first suite is represented by mafic to intermediate rocks (gabbro-diorite and metadiorite) emplaced between 737 and 723 Ma during early Pan-African convergence. The second consists of the Mayo Kebbi batholith and includes tonalites, trondhjemites and granodiorites, emplaced during several magmatic pulses between 665 and 640 Ma. The third suite includes porphyritic granodiorite and hypersthene monzodiorite dated at ca. 570 Ma. The Mayo Kebbi domain extends southward into Cameroon and is interpreted as a middle Neoproterozoic arc stabilized at ca. 650 Ma. This study also revealed a diachronous evolution between Mayo Kebbi and western Cameroon (e.g., the Poli region). The overall evolution of this part of the CAFB is interpreted as the result of successive development of magmatic arcs, since ca. 740 Ma, and tectonic collage of three different domains (Adamawa-Yade, Mayo Kebbi, and West Cameroon) which, after suturing, were intruded by post-collisional granitoids (<600 Ma).     

An alternative model for the Damara Mobile Belt: Ocean crust subduction and continental convergence

The Pan-African Damara Mobile Belt has previously been described as ensialic, possibly resulting from a modified aulacogen.Three features of the Damara Mobile Belt are difficult to reconcile with ensialic models. Firstly, the complex asymmetrical structural pattern of linear zones, with up to 80% shortening across the belt. Secondly, the markedly asymmetric metamorphic pattern broadly follows the structural pattern forming two distinct, parallel metamorphic belts of relatively high (northern belt) and low (southern belt) geothermal gradients, respectively. Abundant granitic intrusions occur in the high-grade metamorphic belt. Thirdly, the evolution of the Damara igneous rocks; the early (Nosib) igneous rocks are alkali; mid-Damara (Matchless Member) amphibolites resemble oceanic-floor basalts. Depleted upper-mantle material representing oceanic lithosphere was tectonically emplaced into the Damara metasediments during early tectonism. An extensive calc-alkali suite (the Salem Suite) intruded the high-grade metamorphic belt during a long period spanning most of the Damara tectonism.A model invoking the formation of alkali rocks, followed by the development of oceanic crust, initiation of northwestward subduction and ocean closure terminating in continental collision is considered to explain the major features.