U-Pb and Rb-Sr dating of a polymetamorphic nappe terrain: The Caledonian Jotun nappe,southern Norway

The Caledonian Jotun nappe in the Tyin area of southern Norway has been investigated using U-Pb analysis of zircon and sphene and Rb-Sr measurements of minerals and whole rocks, with special reference to the reaction of the isotope systems to various kinds of metamorphic event. The nappe consists of Precambrian basement rocks and their cover, inversely thrust over the Baltic shield and its parautochthonous, presumably lower Paleozoic sediments during the Caledonian orogeny. While the nappe basement retained its pre-Caledonian structures, the nappe cover was penetratively deformed and metamorphosed to lower greenschist facies conditions.U-Pb analyses of zircon and sphene ofnappe basement rocks point to the crystallization of a syenitic to monzonitic magma at 1694± 20m.y., the intrusion of gabbros into the syenites and monzonites at 1252_?25⁺²⁸ m.y., and the metamorphism (upper greenschist-lower amphibolite facies) and deformation (gneissification and mylonitization) of the whole complex at 909± 16m.y. Although this latest event caused strong lead loss in all zircon populations, it had no influence on the Rb-Sr system on a whole rock scale. The Caledonian movements did not disturb the U-Pb system of zircon and sphene but strongly influenced the Rb-Sr system in certain minerals and zircon and/or its inclusions (K-feldspar and brown biotite partially, green biotite completely reset).In contrast to the nappe basement, zircons from thecover rocks show pronounced lead loss during the Caledonian metamorphism/deformation — U-Pb analysis give discordia lower intercept ages of 415± 21 m.y. and 395± 6m.y. Again, however, the Rb-Sr whole-rock system has not been reset in Caledonian time. Minerals from the same rocks which provided the zircons give Rb-Sr isochron ages of 390± 11m.y. and 386 ± 20 m.y.Comparison of U-Pb and Rb-Sr results from the nappe basement demonstrates that only the analysis of U-Pb systematics in zircon and especially sphene resolved the 900-m.y. event. Rb-Sr mineral data alone yield ambiguous results.The results from the nappe cover confirm that U-Pb analyses from penetratively deformed sediments are very useful in dating a metamorphic/tectonic event in lower greenschist facies conditions.From the measured cell dimensions of the zircon populations it is concluded that lead can be completely retained in zircon during recrystallization.     

“Mantle” Rb/Sr and 87Sr/86Sr ratios for clinopyroxenes from Norwegian garnet peridotites and pyroxenites

Clinopyroxenes separated from garnetiferous ultramafic rocks in the core zone of the Norwegian Caledonides have rubidium concentrations of 0.008 to 0.064 ppm, strontium concentrations of 23.5 to 421 ppm, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7011 to 0.7029. The very low Rb/Sr ratios of the clinopyroxenes (less than 0.0004) suggest that their ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values have not varied significantly over geologic time and may approximate the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of the eclogite-facies ultramafic mineral assemblages at their time of formation. The ultramafic rocks occur in a basement complex that yields Rb-Sr whole-rock and U-Pb zircon ages of about 1800 m.y. Garnetiferous ultramafic rocks are apparently lacking in younger (Sveconorwegian or Caledonian) sialic sequences, raising the possibility that the eclogite-facies metamorphism may have occurred at least 1800 m.y. ago. The Rb/Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the clinopyroxenes are as predicted for the ancient upper mantle under most evolutionary models. However, the data do not preclude the possibility that the eclogite-facies metamorphism occurred in the crust. The garnetiferous ultramafic rocks are generally enclosed by large volumes of dunite which could have shielded the eclogite-facies assemblages from contamination by fluids from the country rock during metamorphism.     

The Shabogamo Intrusive Suite,Labrador: Sr and Nd isotopic evidence for contaminated mafic magmas in the Proterozoic

The Shabogamo Intrusive Suite comprises numerous bodies of variably metamorphosed gabbro which intrude Archean and Proterozoic sequences at the junction of the Superior, Churchill, and Grenville structural provinces in western Labrador. Combined Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr systematics in two bodies, ranging from unmetamorphosed to lightly metamorphosed, document a crystallization age of about 1375 m.y., and suggest that both bodies crystallized from magmas with similar Nd and Sr isotopic compositions. This age is in accordance with the existence of a regional magmatic event in the Churchill Province at approximately 1400 m.y.Rb-Sr systematics in two bodies of amphibolite-grade gabbro suggest a regional metamorphic event at about 950 m.y., corresponding to the waning stages of Grenville activity. Sm-Nd systematics in these high-grade bodies are affected to a much lesser degree than Rb-Sr.Initial ratios for¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr are lower and higher, respectively, than bulk earth values at 1375 m.y. Both these displacements are in the direction of older crustal material at 1375 m.y., and a model is proposed to produce the Shabogamo magma by mixing a mantle-derived magma with a partial melt of crustal rocks (approximately 4: 1 by volume). Young volcanic rocks with anomalous Nd and Sr isotopic ratios, which have previously been taken as evidence for “enriched” mantle, may be interpreted similarly.     

Initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of plutonic and volcanic rocks of the Central Andes between latitudes 26° and 29° south

Initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios have been determined for 34 plutonic and volcanic rocks covering the entire age span of magmatic events associated with the Andean orogeny between latitudes 26° and 29° south. The igneous rocks, the majority dated by K/Ar mineral techniques, range in age from Lower Jurassic (190 m.y.) to Quaternary (0.89 m.y.). In addition, initial ratios were determined for three granitoid plutons and one metasediment from the pre-Mesozoic basement which underlies the entire Andean orogen in this transect at shallow depth. The compositions vary from basalt to rhyolite, and from quartz diorite to granodiorite or trondjemite, for the extrusives and intrusives, respectively.Mid-Cretaceous to Quaternary rocks exhibit a systematic west to east increase in mean strontium isotope ratio from 0.7022 to 0.7077, whereas the initial ratios of Jurassic plutons vary from 0.7043 to 0.7059, and do not correlate with age.The existence of unusually low initial ratios (e.g. 0.7022, 0.7023) for several Mesozoic plutonic rocks strongly implies a sub-crustal source for at least some of the Andean magmas. The time-dependent post-Jurassic increase in initial ratio is considered to reflect a systematic change in the composition of partial melts generated in response to the progressive subduction of a lithospheric slab. It is suggested that a systematic change in the locus of melting takes place from along or close to the upper surface of the subduction slab into hanging-wall mantle peridotite as subduction continues.     

Pan-African ages from a Tibesti Massif batholith,southern Libya

The northwestern portion of the Tibesti Massif in south-central Libya consists of a complex granitic batholith (the Ben Ghnema batholith) surrounded by medium- to low-grade metamorphic wall rocks. Rb-Sr whole-rock analyses of a suite of calc-alkaline rocks from the batholith give an age of about 560 m.y. and an initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of about 0.706.This age is within the accepted range of the Pan-African orogeny which caused extensive plutonism throughout much of northwestern Africa. The relatively low initial ratio suggests that the magma was derived in the lower crust-upper mantle region and perhaps experienced some degree of mixing with older sialic material.     

RbSr radiometric age of late Precambrian fossil-bearing and associated rocks from Sinai

Six samples of metamorphic rocks from three essentially coeval stratigraphic units, two of which contain Precambrian microfossils, have been analyzed by the Rb-Sr whole-rock radiometric method. Least-squares regression of the data yields an isochron date of 934 ± 80m.y. with initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr= 0.7007 ± 0.0011. This date may reflect the approximate age of formation of these rocks or, alternately, a time of major metamorphism. Regardless, the date is significant in that it (a) is in agreement with the 900-m.y. date for rocks containing similar types of fossils from Bitter Springs, Australia, and (b) coupled with structural evidence, supports the time equivalence of these rocks with 1000-m.y. old rocks (“Kibaran cycle”) of Saudi Arabia.     

87Rb-87Sr constraints on the genesis and evolution of the Cantal continental volcanic system (France)

We have investigated 24 whole rocks and mineral separates of five different rock types from the Cantal shield volcano in France, applying high-precision Rb-Sr techniques. The chemical and isotopic systematics suggest the distinction of two series throughout the different rock classes, one practically uncontaminated, the other seriously influenced by wall rock assimilation. The first group comprises basalts and intermediate rocks with⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr= 0.70340–0.70382. The second group in addition includes rhyolites and the corresponding⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios vary between 0.70421 and 0.71270. The data of mineral separates support the hybridization hypothesis and possibly suggest an original⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.7028 for the magma source region. Moreover they provide internal isochron ages which place a period of extensive volcanic activity at 8.1–8.8 m.y. ago in accord with K-Ar ages of volcanic rocks from the center of the Cantal volcano.     

New insights on the origin of the basement of the Xisha Uplift,South China Sea

The study of basement geochronology provides crucial insights into the tectonic evolution of oceans. However, early studies on the basement of the Xisha Uplift were constrained by limited geophysical and seismic data; Xiyong1 was the only commercial borehole drilled during the 1970 s because of the huge thickness of overlying Cenozoic strata on the continental margin. Utilizing two newly-acquired basement samples from borehole XK1, we present petrological analysis and zircon uranium(U)-lead(Pb) isotope dating data in this paper that enhance our understanding of the formation and tectonic features of the Xisha Uplift basement. Results indicate that this basement is composed of Late Jurassic amphibole plagiogneisses that have an average zircon 206 Pb/238 U age of 152.9±1.7 Ma. However, the youngest age of these rocks, 137±1 Ma, also suggests that metamorphism termination within the Xisha basement occurred by the Early Cretaceous. These metamorphic rocks have adamellites underneath them which were formed by magmatic intrusions during the late stage of the Early Cretaceous(107.8±3.6 Ma). Thus, in contrast to the Precambrian age(bulk rubidium(Rb)-strontium(Sr) analysis, 627 Ma) suggested by previous work on the nearby Xiyong1 borehole, zircons from XK1 are likely the product of Late Mesozoic igneous activity. Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous regional metamorphism and granitic intrusions are not confined to Xisha; rocks have also been documented from areas including the Pearl River Mouth Basin and the Nansha Islands(Spratly Islands) and thus are likely closely related to large-scale and long-lasting subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate underneath the continental margins of East Asia, perhaps the result of closure of the Meso-Tethys in the South China Sea(SCS). Controversies remain as to whether, or not, the SCS region developed initially on a uniform Precambrian-aged metamorphic crystalline basement. It is clear, however, that by this time both Mesozoic compressive subduction and Cenozoic rifting and extension had significantly modified the original basement of the SCS region.     

Rb-Sr whole-rock study of the precambrian rocks of the Pedernal Hills,New Mexico

Rb-Sr whole-rock investigation of the Pedernal Hills, New Mexico, indicates a 1471 ± 97-m.y. date for the granites and 1364 ± 27-m.y. date for the schists and quartzite (country rocks) with initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7060 ± 0.0040 and 0.7046 ± 0.0019, respectively. The schists and quartzites are older than the granites based on field and petrographic evidence. The open-system nature of these rocks during the cataclastic metamorphism which affected both the country rocks and the granites is responsible for the apparent younger date of the schists and quartzite, and the 1471 ± 97-m.y. date may be a minimum age for the granites.     

Age of amphibolites associated with alpine peridotites in the Dinaride ophiolite zone,Yugoslavia

Amphibolites associated with alpine peridotites in the Central Ophiolite zone in Yugoslavia have K-Ar ages of 160–170 m.y. These amphibolites and associated peridotites underwent deep-seated metamorphism prior to tectonic emplacement into the sedimentary-volcanic assemblage of the Dinarides. The alpine peridotites and associated local rocks of the ophiolite suite are interpreted as Jurassic oceanic crust and upper mantle.     

Age relationships between greenstone belts and “granites” in the Rhodesian Archaean craton

Whole-rock Rb-Sr age measurements on rocks from the Rhodesian Archaean craton of Southern Africa demonstrate that (a) the Mashaba area gneisses, which are typical of the Rhodesian Basement Complex, are approximately 3600 m.y. old, (b) volcanic rocks from the main greenstone belts, assigned to the Bulawayan Group, were extruded approximately 2600–2700 m.y. ago, (c) a cross-cutting pluton, the Sesombi tonalite, was emplaced2690 ± 70 m.y. ago, (d) the Gwenoro Dam migmatites, which field evidence suggests could be older than the main greenstone belts, were emplaced2780 ± 30 m.y. ago.The initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of most of the rock units of groups b, c and d are in close agreement at about 0.701, suggesting that the later granitic (sensu lato) and andesitic rocks so far analysed were not produced by remelting of, or contamination with, ancient gneissic basement.     

Geochemistry of charnockites from Sa˜o Paulo State,Brazil

REE and Ba, Th, U, Au, Hf, Sb, Sc and Cs were determined by neutron activation techniques on samples belonging to an acidic high-K charnockitic formation outcropping along the coast of Sa?o Paulo State, Brazil. This formation was dated by the Rb-Sr method and gave whole-rock isochron ages of 546–558 m.y. and initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7098–0.7117. A mineral isochron gave an age of 479 m.y. Isotopic and geochemical data support the hypothesis that these rocks derive from the intrusion of a granitic magma produced by crustal anatexis. The source rocks were probably differentiated from the mantle 300–700 m.y. before the solidification of the charnockite. Th/U, K/Cs and Rb/Cs ratios and Au concentrations indicate that the source rock probably was of high metamorphic grade.     

The evolution of early precambrian crustal rocks at Isua,West Greenland — Geochemical and isotopic evidence

Petrographic and chemical evidence suggests that boulders from a conglomeratic unit in the Isua supracrustal succession were derived by the erosion of an acid volcanogenic sediment. Six samples of the boulders and surrounding matrix yield a Rb-Sr whole rock isochron with a slope corresponding to an age of 3860 ± 240 m.y. (2 sigma error), but consideration of the initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio constrains the possible age of formation of 3710 ± 900 m.y. This is in general agreement with a published Pb/Pb age of 3760 ± 70 m.y. on Isua banded ironstones.Pb isotope compositions as well as highly fractionated, heavy element depleted, rare earth element abundance patterns for the boulders suggest that their igneous precursors were derived from a source region with a similar geochemical history to that of some components of the 3700–3800 m.y. old Ami?tsoq gneisses, involving fractionation of garnet during their evolution.A Pb/Pb whole-rock isochron for Ami?tsoq gneisses from Isua yields an age of 3800 ± 120 m.y. (2σ), in good agreement with previously published Rb-Sr age data on the same rocks. The rock leads are highly unradiogenic and demonstrate substantial U depletion at least 3800 ± 120 m.y. ago. A two-stage model for the U-Pb system yields an average²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb (μ₁) value of 9.3 ± 0.2 for the source region, which is significantly different from the published value of 9.9 ± 0.1 for the Isua iron formation. This indicates the existence of U-Pb heterogeneities between the source regions of plutonic and supracrustal rocks by about 3700–3800 m.y. ago. Attempts to apply U-Pb whole-rock dating to the Ami?tsoq gneisses were unsuccessful because of geologically recent U loss, possibly due to groundwater leaching.A Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron on a suite of Ami?tsoq gneiss samples from a different locality in the Isua region has yielded an age of 3780 ± 130 m.y.In contrast to the Godthaab area, there is no geochronological evidence at Isua for major rock-producing or tectonothermal events after about 3700 m.y. ago. The entire gneiss-supracrustal system developed within the approximate interval 3900–3700 m.y. ago.     

The geological significance of Rb-Sr whole-rock isochrons of polymetamorphic Archaean gneisses,Fiskenaesset area,southern West Greenland

Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron ages of gneisses from the Fiskenaesset area are considerably lower (2600–2800 m.y.) than U-Pb zircon ages for the same rocks (2880–2950 m.y.). There is a significant correlation between the isochron ages and the range in Rb/Sr ratios of the samples involved. Higher ages (and lower initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios) are obtained for sample collections with a wide range in Rb/Sr ratios. Lower ages (and higher initial ratios) are obtained for sample collections with a narrow range in Rb/Sr ratios. This relationship is explained by a model of local metamorphic Sr isotope homogenisation in restricted rock volumes. This model implies that the individual isochron ages do not date specific geological events. There is a significant inverse correlation between the isochron ages and the corresponding initial ratios. It is probable that the igneous precursors of the gneisses intruded with initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios well below 0.701.     

3600-m.y. RbSr ages from very early Archaean gneisses from Saglek Bay,Labrador

Field studies in the vicinity of Saglek Bay, Labrador, demonstrated that it was possible to subdivide the Archaean gneiss complex into distinct lithologic units and erect a geologic chronology similar to that recognized in Godthaabsfjord, West Greenland. The Uivak gneisses are the oldest quartzo-feldspathic suite in the area and are distinguished from a younger gneissic suite in the field, the undifferentiated gneisses, by the presence of porphyritic basic dykes (Saglek dykes) within the Uivak gneisses. The Uivak gneisses range in composition from tonalites to granodiorites, with the two chemically distinct suites recognized: a grey granodioritic suite and an iron-rich plutonic igneous suite which locally intrudes or grades into a grey gneiss which strongly resembles the grey Uivak gneiss. Rb-Sr isotopic studies indicate an age of 3622 ± 72 m.y. (2σ) and initial Sr isotopic composition of 0.7014 ± 0.0008 (2σ) for the Uivak gneiss suite, i.e. grey gneiss plus iron-rich suite (λ_Rb = 1.39 × 10^?11 yr^?1). The grey Uivak gneiss suite, treated independently, defines a Rb-Sr isochron with an age of 3610 ± 144 m.y. (2σ) and initial Sr isotopic composition of 0.7015 ± 0.0014 (2σ) which is indistinguishable from the age and initial ratio of the total Uivak gneiss suite, grey gneisses plus iron-rich suite. The undifferentiated gneisses define a Rb-Sr isochron with an age of 3121 ± 160 m.y. (2σ), and initial Sr isotopic composition of 0.7064 ± 0.0012 (2σ). The isotopic data support field observations suggesting the undifferentiated gneisses were derived by local remobilization of the grey Uivak gneisses. The Uivak gneisses resemble the Amitsoq gneisses of Godthaabsfjord both chemically and isotopically. The interpretation of the initial Sr isotopic composition of the Uivak gneisses is interpreted as the time of regional homogenization rather than the initial ratio of the plutonic igneous parents of the Uivak gneisses as suggested for the Amitsoq gneisses. Although the undifferentiated gneisses are contemporaneous with the Nuk gneisses of West Greenland, they do not form a well-defined calc-alkaline suite and may not be associated with major crustal thickening in the Labrador Archaean.     

Uranium-lead isotope systematics in a regionally metamorphosed tonalite from the eastern Alps

U-Pb isotopic analyses were made on sphene, three epidote fractions, apatite, K-feldspar and plagioclase from a 314-m.y.-old tonalite member of the Zentralgneis plutonic suite in the southeast Tauern Window. The tonalite reached temperatures in excess of 550°C during the Tertiary Alpine metamorphism.Apatite, fine-grained clinozoisite and feldspars equilibrated during the metamorphism, and the apatite yields an age of 22 m.y. which is 6 m.y. older than the Rb-Sr age of coexisting biotite.Sphene and coarse-grained iron-rich epidote did not reach equilibrium during Alpine metamorphism and the sphene data indicate crystallisation before 215 m.y. These minerals contain a large proportion of the uranium and thorium in the rock and the data thus imply that the present distribution of heat-producing elements in the tonalite was established long before the Alpine metamorphism.The very high closure temperatures for sphene and epidote implied by the data suggest they may be of value in dating metamorphism.     

An early precambrian age for migmatitic gneisses from Vikan i Bø, Vestera˚len,North Norway

Migmatitic gneisses of overall intermediate composition occur at Vikan i Bø, North Norway. A Pb-Pb whole-rock isochron on these Vikan Gneisses yields an age of3,460 ± 70m.y. A Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron on the same rock samples yields an age of2,300 ± 150m.y., and an initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of0.7126 ± 0.0011.The geochemical implications of the discordance of the Pb-Pb and Rb-Sr whole-rock ages are discussed, and a timetable of the geological events in the early history of Lofoten-Vestera?len is proposed.     

Remelting of subducted continental lithosphere: Petrogenesis of Mesozoic magmatic rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt

The Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt was formed by the Triassic continental collision between the South China Block and the North China Block. There is a large area of Mesozoic magmatic rocks along this orogenic belt, with emplacement ages mainly at Late Triassic, Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. The Late Triassic alkaline rocks and the Late Jurassic granitoids only crop out in the eastern part of the Sulu orogen, whereas the Early Cretaceous magmatic rocks occur as massive granitoids, sporadic intermedi- ate-ma...     

Discordant isotopic ages and excess argon in biotites

Major isotopic age discordances are found at the eastern margin of a terrane in SW Montana which underwent metamorphism 1.6 AE ago (1AE= 10⁹years). In Portal Creek, a one-mile portion of a traverse across this margin yields: (1) discordant whole rock Rb-Sr ages which approximate 2.8 AE; (2) seven biotite Rb-Sr ages concordant at 1.68 AE; (3) fifteen biotite K-Ar ages which are highly discordant and range from 1.63 to 3.25 AE; (4) ten generally concordant hornblende K-Ar ages at 1.9 AE. It is concluded that there was a major resetting event for the hornblendes at 1.9 AE ago. This was followed by a milder (?) event at 1.6 AE when the biotites became open systems while the hornblende did not. During this time, the biotites lost all their radiogenic⁸⁷Sr, but actually gained radiogenic⁴⁰Ar in amounts up to 16.0 × 10⁻⁴ scc Ar/g biotite. There is clear evidence of the incorporation of⁸⁷Sr into minor amphibolitic layers which occur occasionally in these generally quartzo-feldspathic rocks.