Granulite-Facies Metamorphism at Molodezhnaya Station, East Antarctica

Granulite-facies quartzofeldpathic gneisses metamorphosed 1000m.y. ago are exposed around Molodezhnaya Station (67°40'S,46°E) in East Antarctica. In addition to quartz, K-feldspar,and plagioclase, the fourteen samples studied in detail consistof the assemblages biotite-orthopyroxene-magnetite, biotite-garnet-orthopyroxene-ilmenite±magnetite, biotite-garnet ± ilmenite ± magnetite,biotite-garnet-sillimanite-ilmenite ± rutile, and biotite-garnet-cordierite-ilmenite-(sillimanite-rutile).Garnets are pyrope-almandine (13 to 34 mol per cent pyrope).Biotite (X_Fe = 0.33 to 0.57) is rich in TiO₂ (4 to 6.3 wt percent) and its Al₂O₃ content depends on the mineral assemblage.Orthopyroxene (X_Fe = 0.45 to 0.60) contains 1.5 to 3.0 weightper cent Al₂O₃. By and large, the minerals are chemically homogeneousand compositional variations are systematic, which indicatecrystallization under equilibrium conditions. On the basis ofthe compositions of coexisting garnet-biotite, garnet-cordierite,garnet-plagioclase (with sillimanite), and garnet-plagioclase-orthopyroxene,temperatures and pressures during the granulite-facies metamorphismare estimated to be 700°C ± 30°C and 5.5 ±1 kb. Water pressure apparently was significantly less thantotal pressure. Alteration during events following the granulite-facies metamorphismhas resulted in chemical zoning in garnet, in which grain edgesare more iron-rich than cores, heterogeneous biotite compositions,and anomalous trends involving MnO. Temperatures based on biotiteand garnet-edge compositions range from 410 to 580°C. Differences in the chemical potential (µ) of water andoxygen in the fluid phase can explain compositional variationsamong the three sillimanite-bearing samples and the relativelyiron-rich compositions of garnet and biotite associated withcordierite. Apparently, the water released by the formationof cordierite remained in the rock, forcing µH₂O to increaseas cordierite formed. Buffering of fluid phase composition bythe mineral assemblage suggests that water was not removed fromthe Molodezhnaya rocks by flushing with CO₂-rich fluids duringmetamorphism, a hypothesis evoked to explain ‘dry’mineral assemblages in other granulite-facies terrains.     

Experimental Constraints on the Thermal Peak of a Granulite from McIntyre Island, Enderby Land, East Antarctica

High-pressure experiments have been carried out at 11-22 kbar and 900-1200°C using a piston cylinder apparatus to constrain the thermal peak condition of a granulite characterized by the mineral assemblage of orthopyroxene+sillimanite+quartz from McIntyre Island, Enderby Land, East Antarctica. The bulk composition of the starting material is 85 wt.% McIntyre granulite+15 wt.% sillimanite. At 11 kbar, orthopyroxene, sillimanite and quartz are stable below 1000°C. At 1050°C sillimanite does not appear, and sapphirine coexists with orthopyroxene and quartz. These experimental results indicate that the McIntyre granulite has undergone the ultra high-temperature metamorphism at 1000-1050°C represented by the diagnostic mineral assemblage of orthopyroxene, sillimanite and quartz.     

The metamorphic evolution of granulites at Fyfe Hills; implications for Archaean crustal thickness in Enderby Land, Antarctica

Abstract Granulites at Fyfe Hills in Enderby Land, Antarctica, crystallized at temperatures in excess of 850°C, and possibly as high as 1000°C, and at pressures of 8-10kbar during the mid to late Archaean. A number of features, including repeated retrograde metamorphism at 5.5-8kbar, retrograde reaction textures, and rimward zoning in pressure sensitive systems, suggest that following peak metamorphism the granulites stabilized at a depth of 18-26 km. After stabilization, the granulites cooled near-isobarically to temperatures of 600-700°C. Assuming a total crustal thickness of 35-40 km during this late Archaean interval of isobaric cooling, the peak metamorphic crustal thickness is estimated at 35-56 km. This estimate is significantly less than the 60-70 km obtained by summing the depths of the present levels of exposure (26-34 km) and the thickness of the crust presently beneath Fyfe Hills (approxi-mately 35km) and is, therefore, consistent with independent evidence for extensive post-Archaean thickening of the Enderby Land crust.     

The Rayner Complex of East Antarctica: complex isotopic systematics within a Proterozoic mobile belt

Abstract New isotopic (Rb–Sr, U–Pb zircon and Sm–Nd) and petrological data are presented for part of an extensive Proterozoic mobile belt (locally known as the Rayner Complex) in East Antarctica. Much of the belt is the product of Mid-Proterozoic (∼ 1800–2000 Ma) juvenile crustal formation. Melting of this crust at about 1500 Ma ago produced the felsic magmas from which the dominant orthogneisses of this terrain were subsequently derived. Deformation and transitional granulite-amphibolite facies conditions (which peaked at 750 ± 50°C and 7–8 kbar (0.7–0.8 GPa) produced open to tight folding about E–W axes and syn-tectonic granitoids about 960 Ma ago. Subsequent felsic magmatism occurred at about 770 Ma and not, as has been widely advocated, at 500–550 Ma, which appears to have been a time of widespread upper greenschist facies (400–500°C) metamorphism, localized shearing and faulting. Sm-Nd model ages of 1.65–2.18 Ga disprove a previously favoured hypothesis that the Rayner Complex mostly represents reworked Archaean rocks from the neighbouring craton (Napier Complex). Models that involve rehydration of the Napier Complex are no longer required, since the Rayner Complex was its own source of water. Two episodes of Proterozoic crustal growth are identified, the later of which occurred between about 1200 Ma and 1000 Ma, and was relatively minor. Sedimentation took place only shortly before Late Proterozoic orogenesis. The multiphase history of the Rayner Complex has resulted in complex isotopic behaviour. Three temporally discrete episodes of Pb loss from zircon have been identified, the earliest two of which are responses to the c. 960 Ma and 540 Ma tectonothermal events. Fluid leaching was operative during the later event for there is a good correlation between degree of isotopic discordance and secondary mineral growth. Pb loss during the high-grade event was probably governed by the same process or by lattice annealing. Some zircon suites also document recent Pb loss. Most lower concordia intercepts have no direct geological meaning and are explicable as mixed ages produced by incomplete Pb loss during two or more secondary events. Whereas all zircon separates from the orthogneisses produce U–Pb isotopic alignments, zircons from the only analysed paragneiss produce scattered data, in part reflecting a range of provenance. The 960 Ma event was also associated with the growth of a characteristically low U zircon (∼ 300 μg/g) in rocks of inferred high Zr content. There is ubiquitous evidence for the resetting of Rb–Sr total-rock isochrons. Even samples separated by up to 10 km fail to produce igneous crystallization ages. Minor mineralogical changes produced by the 540 Ma upper greenschist-facies metamorphism were sufficient to almost completely reset some Rb–Sr isochrons and to produce open system conditions on outcrop scale, at least in one location.     

东南极拉斯曼丘陵地区变质杂岩的层序与构造变形过程

东南极拉斯曼丘陵地区位于兰伯特裂谷东缘普里兹湾东岸,该地区主要出露一套麻粒岩相变质岩,前期对原岩时代、变质过程等进行了详细研究,但是对于变质杂岩的层序和变形过程研究相对薄弱。文章通过大比例尺地质填图,发现拉斯曼丘陵地区变质杂岩总体成层有序,在此基础上建立拉斯曼岩群,并将其划分成6个岩组,原岩形成时代为中元古代。拉斯曼岩群经历了格林维尔期和泛非期变质作用的叠加,变质程度均达到高角闪岩相-麻粒岩相。拉斯曼丘陵地区主体构造线方向为北东东—南西西方向,总体上构成往北东东方向翘起的复式向斜构造,几个岩组的分布也显示由东向西逐渐变新。东部米洛半岛一带明显叠加了北北西—南南东向的构造变形。研究表明,拉斯曼岩群经历了6次重要的构造变形,包括新元古代格林维尔期(D1)、新元古代—早古生代泛非期变质变形作用(D2,D3,D4,D5)以及中新生代伸展作用(D6)。目前岩石中保存的主变形面理是格林维尔期和泛非期两次构造热事件的复合型面理,主要是泛非事件形成,格林维尔期变形面理呈残留状。综合拉斯曼岩群变质年龄及早古生代进步花岗岩体形成时代,认为D2~D5变形时代为550~500 Ma左右。因此,拉斯曼丘陵地区变质变形特征显示,中元古代拉斯曼岩群经历了格林维尔期和泛非期两次重要的造山作用,以及冈瓦纳大陆的裂解。     

拉斯曼丘陵新生代剥露作用的裂变径迹证据

在西南极和横贯南极山脉地区,新生代裂谷和剥露作用非常普遍。但是,文献中很少记录东南极地区的新生代剥露作用。文中根据东南极普里兹湾拉斯曼丘陵地质样品的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄和热历史的模拟,认为在东南极海岸边缘存在新生代的隆升和伸展作用,其年龄为始于(49.8±12)Ma。该年龄略晚于西南极裂谷系的启动年龄(约60~50Ma)。由于差异隆升作用,在拉斯曼丘陵地区发育了更新的正断层作用——拉斯曼丘陵拆离断层的新活动,其年龄为约5.4Ma。东南极周缘新生代裂谷和伸展作用的普遍存在,是冈瓦纳裂解以来大陆分离和印度洋形成的结果。     

拉斯曼丘陵新生代剥露作用的裂变径迹证据

在西南极和横贯南极山脉地区,新生代裂谷和剥露作用非常普遍。但是,文献中很少记录东南极地区的新生代剥露作用。文中根据东南极普里兹湾拉斯曼丘陵地质样品的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄和热历史的模拟,认为在东南极海岸边缘存在新生代的隆升和伸展作用,其年龄为始于(49.8±12)Ma。该年龄略晚于西南极裂谷系的启动年龄(约60~50Ma)。由于差异隆升作用,在拉斯曼丘陵地区发育了更新的正断层作用--拉斯曼丘陵拆离断层的新活动,其年龄为约5.4Ma。东南极周缘新生代裂谷和伸展作用的普遍存在,是冈瓦纳裂解以来大陆分离和印度洋形成的结果。     

Aureoles of Pb(II)-enriched feldspar around monazite in paragneiss and anatectic pods of the Napier Complex,Enderby Land,East Antarctica: the roles of dissolution-reprecipitation and diffusion

Extraordinarily high Pb content in K-feldspar and plagioclase has been found contiguous to monazite in two occurrences in the ultrahigh-temperature Napier Complex of Antarctica. Monazite shows a variety of textures and compositions. In a garnet-sillimanite-orthopyroxene paragneiss at Mount Pardoe (Amundsen Bay), grains range 80–150 μm across and are anhedral; two grains are Th- and Si-dominant. In pods that crystallized from anatectic melts at 2500 Ma at Zircon Point, Casey Bay, monazite grains range 0.05 mm–1 cm in length and are highly variable in texture. The coarsest grains (>0.7 cm) are skeletal and euhedral, whereas the smallest grains are anhedral and associated with fine- to medium-grained quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, garnet, sillimanite and rutile in aggregates that form interstitial veinlets interpreted to be a second generation of anatexis during an event at 1100 Ma. The huttonite component (ThSiO₄) reaches 30 mole% in the cores of the coarsest skeletal grains, whereas other grains, particularly smaller ones, show complex and irregular zoning in Th and U. The latter zoning is attributed to dissolution-reprecipitation, which also resulted in complete Pb loss during the 1100 Ma event. In the paragneiss at Mount Pardoe, K-feldspar and myrmekitic plagioclase (An16) are found in a 70–80 μm band between monazite and orthopyroxene and contain up to 12.7 wt.% and 2.7 wt.% PbO, respectively, corresponding to 18.5% and 3.4% PbAl₂Si₂O₈ component, respectively. Cathodoluminescence of both feldspars increases with distance from a nearby monazite grain and is not correlated with Pb content. Incorporation of Pb in K-feldspar and plagioclase could be a result of diffusion, even though the monazite adjacent to feldspar apparently lost little Pb, i.e., Pb could have been transported by fluid from the Th-rich grains, which did lose Pb. In contrast to the paragneiss, cathodoluminescence correlates with Pb content of K-feldspar in aureoles surrounding skeletal monazite grains 0.7–1 cm across in anatectic pods at Zircon Point. Pb content of K-feldspar decreases monotonically to near detection limits within several millimetres of monazite grains; the greatest PbO concentration is attained in K-feldspar inliers and embayments in monazite, 8.8 wt.%, corresponding to 11.7% PbAl₂Si₂O₈ component. Fine-grained quartz in the K-feldspar suggests that the mechanism for Pb incorporation involved breakdown of feldspar: Pb²⁺ + 2(K,Na)AlSi₃O₈ → PbAl₂Si₂O₈ + 4SiO₂ + 2(K,Na)⁺ . The smooth decrease of Pb in the aureoles is not characteristic of dissolution-reprecipitation, which is characterized by abrupt changes of composition, and it seems more likely that Pb was incorporated in K-feldspar by diffusion at 1100 Ma. We suggest a model whereby fluid introduced during the 1100 Ma event flowed along grain boundaries and penetrated mineral grains. Temperatures were sufficiently high, i.e., 700°C, assuming burial in the mid-crust, for the fluid to induce localized melting of quartzofeldspathic matrix of the anatectic pods. Loss of radiogenic Pb was complete. Some penetration of K-feldspar by aqueous fluid is suggested by the presence of scattered galena specks and by rays of turbidity emanating from monazite. Aqueous fluid or water-rich granitic melt may have mediated the diffusion of Pb in feldspar, but it did not cause dissolution-reprecipitation. Although Pb was mobilized by aqueous fluid or water-rich granitic melt, it was not entirely flushed from the immediate vicinity of the monazite, but nearly half was incorporated in adjacent feldspar. Fluid activity that could cause Pb loss in monazite does not always leave an obvious trace, i.e., hydrous minerals, such as sericite, are very sparse, and biotite is absent in the anatectic pods at Zircon Point. Nonetheless, electron microprobe dating of monazite from the pods could not detect the 2500 Ma age of original crystallization determined by isotopic dating.     

Beryllium and Other Trace Elements in Paragneisses and Anatectic Veins of the Ultrahigh-Temperature Napier Complex, Enderby Land, East Antarctica: the Role of Sapphirine

Anatectic veins containing the Be minerals khmaralite and berylliansapphirine as primary phases (or surinamite derived therefrom)are associated with Mg–Al-rich paragneisses at three localitiesin the ultrahigh-temperature Napier complex, Antarctica, a uniqueBe mineralization in the granulite facies. Likely precursorsof the paragneisses are volcaniclastic deposits that were hydrothermallyaltered by heated seawater prior to metamorphism. Regular distributionof Be among minerals in the paragneisses suggests an approachto equilibrium with Be greatly concentrated in sapphirine (25–3430ppm Be) or cordierite (560–930 ppm Be) relative to plagioclaseAn53–66 (14–43 ppm Be) > cores of coarse-grainedorthopyroxene (0·7–29 ppm Be) > coronitic orthopyroxene(0·4–14 ppm Be) sillimanite (0·1–26ppm Be) plagioclase An18–33 (0·6–15 ppmBe) > biotite (0·06–8 ppm Be) > K-feldspar,quartz, garnet (0·05–0·7 ppm Be). Sapphirine-bearingparagneisses have average Be concentrations, 4·9 ±2·4 ppm (13 samples), about twice that of typical pelites,whereas paragneisses lacking sapphirine and primary cordieritehave only 2·9 ± 2·1 ppm Be (12 samples),implying some loss of Be during metamorphism. The likely sourcerocks for the Be-rich melts were biotitic rocks lacking theBe sinks sapphirine and cordierite. These gneisses were probablyless competent than the sapphirine-bearing gneisses, so themelts were drawn to the latter and collected in spaces openedduring deformation and boudinage of the more competent paragneisses.Fractionation of the melts concentrated Be to the extent thatBe minerals could crystallize. The final result was Be-mineralizedanatectic veins hosted by relatively Be-rich sapphirine-bearingparagneisses. KEY WORDS: Antarctica; beryllium; granulite facies; microprobe; sapphirine     

The Rayner tectonic Province of East Antarctica: Compositional features and geodynamic setting

Geochemical and new isotopic (U-Pb, Sm-Nd) data on the Mesoproterozoic metaigneous complexes of the Rayner Province in central East Antarctica (Enderby Land-Kemp Land and the northern Prince Charles Mountains) are presented. These territories are mainly composed of amphibolite-to-granulite-facies orthogneisses, many of which are Y-depleted tonalite gneisses and mafic schists. The igneous complexes of their protolith are largely products of anatexis of the lower crust; mantle-derived and upper crustal rocks are less abundant. The geochemical features of the mafic rocks indicate that they crystallized from high-temperature plume-related mantle melts and low-temperature lithospheric melts. As follows from the published and new Nd model ages, the Rayner Province formed and evolved over the Paleo-to-Mesoproterozoic in the regime of accretionary and collisional tectonics with predominance of accretion of the juvenile Paleoproterozoic crust between 1500–2400 Ma. New data show that in the northern Prince Charles Mountains, granite-gneiss protoliths were emplaced ca. 1040 and 930 Ma ago. The Rayner Province is considered to be a long-living mobile belt formed as a result of collision of Paleoproterozoic island-arc terranes and Archean blocks amalgamating into a continental massif 1050–1000 Ma ago in the course of the growth of the Rodinia supercontinent. In the northern Prince Charles Mountains, thermal processes related to magmatic underplating at the base of the crust were probably important.     

Age and Geochemistry of the Cape Burks Gabbroids (Russkaya Station Area,West Antarctica)

The paper reports first geological, chemical, mineralogical, Sr–Nd chemical–isotope, and geochronological data on the gabbroid massif discovered on the Hobbs coast in the Cape Burks area, West Antarctica. The area is made up of compositionally diverse gabbroids that are intersected by thin vein and dike bodies of mafic, intermediate, and fesic composition. The gabbroids are represented by olivine and olivinefree gabbros and gabbronorites, with sharply subordinate troctolites, gabbro–anorthosites, and anorthosites. The U–Pb SHRIMP–II zircon age of the gabbroids and vein rocks was estimated at 100 ± 1 Ma. The gabbroids were supposedly emplaced in the upper crust in tectonically active conditions. The thickness of the pluton is no less than 2.5–3 km. The rocks were crystallized from a highly fractionated melt. Their composition was mainly determined by accumulation and fractional crystallization. The origin of vein felsic rocks was likely related to an evolved residual liquid. The igneous complex was formed in a within–plate geodynamic setting, and its primary melts were derived from a weakly LILE enriched lithospheric mantle.     

Garnet-Orthopyroxene Bearing Granulites from Enderby Land, Antarctica: Metamorphic Pressure Temperature-Time Evolution of the Archaean Napier Complex

Garnet-orthopyroxene bearing granulite assemblages from theArchaean Napier Complex, Enderby Land, Antarctica, display avariety of exsolution, recrystallization and corona textureswhich result both from near-isobaric cooling from the peak ofmetamorphism and from later overprinting. Compositional dataon distinct generations of phases and on zoning patterns incoexisting minerals, have been used to estimate (a) peak metamorphicconditions attained between the first and second major deformationphases (Dl and D2); (b) cooling paths from this peak, and (c)ambient metamorphic conditions at the time of a later deformation(D3). Experimentally calibrated geothermobarometers indicateinitial metamorphism at 900–950?C and 7–10 kb duringand subsequent to Dl and D2, at 3100–3000 Ma. The presentlyexposed granulites indicate a regional increase in the pressuresof this metamorphism south-west to the Scott Mountains-CaseyBay region, where minimum crustal thicknesses of 10 kb wereattained at c. 3000 Ma. Subsequently, the Napier Complex granulitesevolved through a prolonged period of near-isobaric coolingprior to further metamorphism at 600–750 and 4–8kb during D3 at c. 2500 Ma. The near-isobaric pressure-temperature-timepath (P-T-t) suggests that the Napier Complex acted as an essentiallystable craton as early as 3000 Ma, and that the major magmaticand tectonic crustal thickening events associated with Dl precededthe thermal peak represented by the earliest recognized metamorphism.     

A sapphirine-cordierite-garnet-sillimanite granulite from Enderby Land,Antarctica: implications for FMAS petrogenetic grids in the granulite facies

A quartz-absent magnesian paragneiss layer from Mount Sones, in the Archaean Napier complex of Enderby Land, Antarctica, contains the stable divariant FMAS assemblage sapphirine (X _Mg=78) — cordierite (X _Mg=87) — garnet (X _Mg=51) — sillimanite. Rare green spinel (X _Mg=53.5, ZnO=2.65wt%) occurs as inclusions mainly within sapphirine, but also within sillimanite and garnet. Late thin coronas of cordierite (X _Mg=90.5) mantle sapphirine in contact with extensively exsolved anorthoclase. The mineral textures are interpreted to indicate the former stability of a hypersthene-quartz absent assemblage followed by the development of the FMAS equilibrium assemblage sapphirine-cordierite-garnet-sillimanite (sp, hy, qz) and further divariant reaction involving the consumption of sapphirine. The (sp, hy, qz) assemblage uniquely defines the stable P-T reaction topology appropriate to granulites from the Napier Complex, as this paragenesis is allowed in the grids of Hensen (1971, 1986) but is not possible in other grids which assume the stability of a sapphirine-absent ([sa]) FMAS invariant point involving the phases spinel, garnet, hypersthene, cordierite, sillimanite and quartz. The observed mineral assemblages and textures are consistent with peak metamorphism between the [sp] and [hy] invariant points of Hensen (1971), at temperatures of 930–990° C, followed by cooling on a lower dP/dT trajectory towards the (sp, qz) univariant line. The initial spinel-bearing assemblage was stabilized by Zn and to a lesser extent by Ni and Cr, and hence does not require a marked decrease in temperature and increase in pressure to produce the (sp, hy, qz) assemblage. It is inferred that fO ₂ conditions substantially lower than those used in the experiments of Annersten and Seifert (1981) prevailed in the high-grade metamorphism in the Napier Complex.     

Late Archaean granites of the Napier Complex,Enderby Land,Antarctica: A comparison of Rb-Sr,Sm-Nd and U-Pb isotopic systematics in a complex terrain

Late Archaean granites have been identified within the northern part of the Napier Complex of Enderby Land, Antarctica, although intrusives of this age are not common elsewhere in the complex. The oldest intrusive (3070 ± 34 Ma), synorogenic granite at Proclamation Island, was probably derived from melting of felsic crustal rocks of igneous origin. Two younger granites were emplaced at about 2840 Ma and 2481 ± 3 Ma, and the latter has geochemical similarities with other late and post-orogenic intrusives elsewhere in the East Antarctic Shield. Because of their fractionated character, it is difficult to discern whether the granites were derived by melting of sedimentary or igneous protoliths, but a granulite-facies source is probable.T^Nd_CHUR model ages of the three analysed granites suggest that the Napier Complex is the product of at least two temporally discrete episodes of continental crust formation. The granite precursors probably formed at about 3100 Ma, whereas most of the exposed Napier Complex is much older (back to almost 4000 Ma). Two of the granites appear to record a significant hiatus (in one case of about 600 Ma) between the formation of this crustal precursor and final emplacement. The 3100 Ma old episode of crustal formation was roughly synchronous with a widespread, intense, and high-grade tectonothermal event (D₁-M₁), which produced metamorphic fabrics and mineral assemblages that are widely preserved within the Napier Complex. It is therefore likely that this new crust formation, deformation and metamorphism are all attributable to a single tectonic episode, possibly related to emplacement of magma into the lower crust. The two younger granites were emplaced at about the time of two subsequent and less intense tectonothermal events (D₂-M₂ and D₃-M₃).Concordant Rb-Sr total-rock and U-Pb zircon ages, which are interpreted as emplacement ages, have been obtained for two of the intrusions. However, the third exhibits the unusual relationship of a Rb-Sr isochron age older than the U-Pb zircon age. In this case the Rb-Sr age is believed to date magmatic emplacement. The complex interpretation required for the zircon data is forewarned by a non-perfect alignment of analytical points, in contrast to the perfect analytical alignments produced by the isotopically coherent granites. Two of the three granites yield similar and relatively precise lower intercepts with the U-Pb concordia but these do not appear to have direct geological significance.The new isotopic data are combined with earlier results to derive an integrated tectonothermal evolution for the Napier Complex.     

Geochronology and geological evolution of metamorphic rocks in the Field Islands area, East Antarctica

Detailed geochronological, structural and petrological studies reveal that the geological evolution of the Field Islands area, East Antarctica, was substantially similar to that of the adjacent Archaean Napier Complex, though with notable differences in late and post Archaean times. These differences reflect the area's proximity to the Proterozoic Rayner Complex and consequent vulnerability to tectonic process involved in the formation of the latter. Distinctive structural features of the Field Islands are (1) consistent development of a discordant, pervasive S₃ axial-plane foliation; (2) re-orientation of S₃ axial planes to approximate to the subsequent E-W tectonic trend of the nearby Rayner Complex; (3) selective retrogression by a post-D₃ static thermal overprint; and (4) relatively common development of retrogressive, E-W-trending, mylonitic shear zones. Peak metamorphic conditions in excess of 800°C at 900 ± 100 M Pa (9 kbar) were attained at one locality following, but probably close to the time of D₂ folding. D₃ took place in late Archaean times when metamorphic temperatures were about 650°C and pressures were about 600 MPa (6 kbar). Later, temperatures of 600 ± 50°C and pressures of 700 MPa (7kbar) were attained in an amphibolite-facies event, presumably associated with the widespread granulite to amphibolite-facies metamorphism and intense deformation involved in the formation of the Rayner Complex at about 1100 Ma. The area was subsequently subjected to near-isothermal uplift. Rb-Sr isotopic data indicate that the pervasive D₃ fabric developed at about 2400–2500 Ma, and this age can be further refined to 2456⁺⁸_-5 Ma by concordant zircon analyses from a syn-D₃ pegmatite. All zircons were affected by only minor (<7–10%) Pb loss and/or new zircon growth during the Rayner event at about 1100Ma. Thus the 450–850 μg/gU concentrations of these zircons were too low to cause sufficient lattice damage over the 1350 Ma (from 2450 Ma) for excessive Pb to be lost during the 1100 Ma event. The emplacement of pegmatite at 522 ± 10 Ma substantially changed the Rb-Sr systematics of the only analysed rock that developed a penetrative fabric during the 1100 Ma event. Monazite in this pegmatite contains an inherited Pb component, which probably resides in small opaque inclusions. A good correlation is found between Rb-Sr total-rock ages and rock fabric. U-Pb zircon intercepts with concordia also mostly correspond to known events. However, in one example a near perfect alignment of zircon analyses, probably developed by mixing of unrelated components, produced concordia intercepts that appear to have no direct geochronological significance.     

Geochemical Characteristics of Jurassic Plume Magmatism in Ahlmannryggen Massif (Queen Maud Land,East Antarctica)

Doklady Earth Sciences - The Mesozoic dykes related to the distribution of Karoo plume on the territory of East Antarctica are studied. It is shown that magnesian high-Ti ferrobasalts are found in...     

Neoproterozoic/Lower Palaeozoic Events in Central Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica)

New geochronological data indicate that central Dronning Maud Land in East Antarctica underwent polyphase Neoproterozoic/Lower Palaeozoic metamorphism that can be correlated with the final amalgamation of E- and W-Gondwana. Central Dronning Maud Land most probably represents part of the southern continuation of the Mozambique Belt into E-Antarctica. The Neoproterozoic/Lower Palaeozoic metamorphism is preceded by a period of anorogenic anorthosite-charnockite magmatism at ca. 600 Ma. Polyphase metamorphism is recorded from ca. 580 to 515 Ma. Voluminous syntectonic magmatism has been documented at ca. 530 Ma, which is probably the most voluminous Neoproterozoic/Lower Palaeozoic syntectonic magmatism so far recorded in E-Antarctica. The Neoproterozoic/Lower Palaeozoic structural evolution evolved in an overall sinistral transpressional setting, and thus can be correlated with the broad tectonic setting of the Mozambique Belt in Africa.     

Separating metamorphic events in the Fosdick migmatite–granite complex,West Antarctica

The Fosdick migmatite–granite complex in West Antarctica records evidence for two high‐temperature metamorphic events, the first during the Devonian–Carboniferous and the second during the Cretaceous. The conditions of each high‐temperature metamorphic event, both of which involved melting and multiple melt‐loss events, are investigated using phase equilibria modelling during successive melt‐loss events, microstructural observations and mineral chemistry. In situ SHRIMP monazite and TIMS Sm–Nd garnet ages are integrated with these results to constrain the timing of the two events. In areas that preferentially preserve the Devonian–Carboniferous (M₁) event, monazite grains in leucosomes and core domains of monazite inclusions in Cretaceous cordierite yield an age of c. 346 Ma, which is interpreted to record the timing of monazite growth during peak M₁ metamorphism (～820–870 °C, 7.5–11.5 kbar) and the formation of garnet–sillimanite–biotite–melt‐bearing assemblages. Slightly younger monazite spot ages between c. 331 and 314 Ma are identified from grains located in fractured garnet porphyroblasts, and from inclusions in plagioclase that surround relict garnet and in matrix biotite. These ages record the growth of monazite during garnet breakdown associated with cooling from peak M₁ conditions. The Cretaceous (M₂) overprint is recorded in compositionally homogeneous monazite grains and rim domains in zoned monazite grains. This monazite yields a protracted range of spot ages with a dominant population between c. 111 and 96 Ma. Rim domains of monazite inclusions in cordierite surrounding garnet and in coarse‐grained poikiloblasts of cordierite yield a weighted mean age of c. 102 Ma, interpreted to constrain the age of cordierite growth. TIMS Sm–Nd ages for garnet are similar at 102–99 Ma. Mineral equilibria modelling of the residual protolith composition after Carboniferous melt loss and removal of inert M₁ garnet constrains M₂ conditions to ～830–870 °C and ～6–7.5 kbar. The modelling results suggest that there was growth and resorption of garnet during the M₂ event, which would facilitate overprinting of M₁ compositions during the M₂ prograde metamorphism. Measured garnet compositions and Sm–Nd diffusion modelling of garnet in the migmatitic gneisses suggest resetting of major elements and the Sm–Nd system during the Cretaceous M₁ overprint. The c. 102–99 Ma garnet Sm–Nd ‘closure’ ages correspond to cooling below 700 °C during the rapid exhumation of the Fosdick migmatite–granite complex.     

高级变质地体中多期变质事件的甄别:以东南极埃默里地区为例

在多期高级变质地体中确定每期变质事件的性质、时代和P-T轨迹是一项非常困难的研究工作,也是变质地质学研究领域的前沿课题。将精细的地质年代学研究与详细的构造解析和岩石学观察相结合,这是建立同位素年龄与变质事件之间有机联系的最好方法。使用这种方法来甄别东南极埃默里地区格林维尔期和泛非期高级变质事件获得了初步的成功,基本上查明了两期变质事件的影响范围、变质时代和P-T演化,但也存在许多尚未解决的科学问题。一般而言,在同一变质地体中发育两期/多期具有不同构造指向的挤压-伸展变形、保存不同类型（如顺时针和逆时针）或者不连续的P-T演化轨迹以及含有两组/多组变质年龄等可视为存在多期变质事件的标志。当前对多期高级变质作用叠加的研究中还存在两个不清楚的岩石学问题,其一是早期变质作用对晚期变质重结晶施加了什么样的影响?其二是晚期变质作用如何叠加在早期变质矿物组合之上?所以,探索多期高级变质事件的叠加机理、变质行为及控制因素仍是未来岩石学家的艰巨任务。

     

Paragenetic and mineral-chemical relationships in orthoamphibole-bearing gneisses from Enderby Land, east Antarctica: a record of Proterozoic uplift

Abstract Polymetamorphic orthoamphibole-bearing gneisses from the vicinity of shear zones in Casey Bay, Enderby Land, Antarctica, record both the overprinting of Archaean granulite lithologies by Proterozoic metamorphism and the subsequent evolution of the latter episode during localized deformation.
Mineral chemistry and zoning relationships in orthoamphibole-garnet-kyanite-quartz and later orthoamphibole-garnet-cordierite-quartz assemblages are used together with interpretation of reaction and corona textures to constrain the Proterozoic pressure-temperature path experienced by the rocks. Consideration of reaction topologies, P-T-X(Fe-Mg-A1) relationships in orthoamphibole-bearing assemblages, and standard geothermobarometry indicate that the gneisses underwent a near-isothermal decompression P-T history (steep positive dP/dT) from ± 8 kbar and 700°C to <5.5kbar and 650°C. This uplift path is correlated with the general effects of Rayner Complex metamorphism and deformation which occurred after 1100 Ma in a major erogenic belt south of Casey Bay.