U–Pb dating of silicic lavas,sills and syneruptive resedimented volcaniclastic deposits of the Lower Devonian Crudine Group,Hill End Trough,New South Wales

The Hill End Trough of central‐western New South Wales was an elongate deep marine basin that existed in the Lachlan Fold Belt from the early Late Silurian to late Early Devonian. It is represented by a regionally extensive, unfossiliferous sequence of interbedded turbidites and hemipelagites of substantially silicic volcanic derivation, which passes laterally into contemporaneous shallow‐water sedimentary rocks. The Turondale and Merrions Formations of the Lower Devonian Crudine Group are two prominent volcanogenic formations in the predominantly sedimentary trough sequence. They contain a range of primary and resedimented volcanic facies suitable for U–Pb dating. These include widespread subaqueous silicic lavas and/or lava cryptodomes, and thick sequences of crystal‐rich volcaniclastic sandstone emplaced by a succession of mass‐flows that were generated by interaction between contemporaneous subaerial pyroclastic flows and the sea. Ion microprobe dating of the two volcanogenic formations by means of the commonly used SL 13 zircon standard yields ages ranging between 411.3 ± 5.1 and 404.8 ± 4.8 Ma. Normalising the data against a different zircon standard (QGNG) yields preferred slightly older mean ages that range between 413.4 ± 6.6 and 407.1 ± 6.9 Ma. These ages broadly approximate the Early Devonian age that has been historically associated with the Crudine Group. However, the biostratigraphically inferred late Lochkovian ‐ early Emsian (mid‐Early Devonian) age for the Merrions Formation is inconsistent with the current Australian Phanerozoic Timescale, which assigns an age of 410 Ma to the Silurian‐Devonian boundary, and ages of 404.5 Ma and 395.5 Ma to the base and top of the Pragian, respectively. There is, however, good agreement if the new ages are compared with the most recently published revision of the Devonian time‐scale. This suggests that the Early Devonian stage boundaries of the Australian Phanerozoic Timescale need to be revised downward. The new ages for the Merrions Formation could also provide a time point on this time‐scale for the Pragian to early Emsian, for which no data are presently available.     

华北地块北缘泥盆纪岩浆活动及其构造背景

晚古生代—早中生代岩浆岩广泛分布在华北地块北缘,构成了沿华北地块北缘呈近东—西向分布的上千公里的岩浆岩带。泥盆纪岩浆岩作为其中的组成部分,虽然分布范围不及石炭—二叠纪岩浆岩广泛,但近十多年来随着研究工作的深入,越来越多的泥盆纪岩浆岩被发现,其构造背景及意义也逐渐引起重视。对华北地块北缘近年来发现的泥盆纪岩浆活动进行总结分析表明,泥盆纪岩浆活动时限在400~360 Ma左右,其中碱性侵入岩和基性—超基性侵入岩时代主要集中在400~380 Ma之间,沿华北地块北缘自东向西均有分布;火山岩则主要集中在400 Ma和360 Ma,主要分布在华北北缘东段的赤峰地区。泥盆纪侵入岩在岩石组合上以碱性杂岩及碱性花岗岩为主,其次为二长闪长岩、基性—超基性杂岩。泥盆纪火山岩则以变质流纹质火山岩—次火山岩—火山碎屑岩及变质玄武安山岩、玄武岩（斜长角闪岩）为主,总体上具有双峰式岩石组合特征。综合研究该地区构造演化历史及泥盆纪岩石组合、弱构造变形特征、岩石地球化学与同位素地球化学组成等,认为泥盆纪岩浆活动的形成与白乃庙岛弧和华北地块在晚志留世发生弧—陆碰撞后的伸展背景有关。华北北缘泥盆纪岩浆岩带的形成对于认识古生代期间地壳增生过程、方式及古亚洲洋最终闭合时间有重要科学意义。      

U–Pb zircon geochronology of Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous extension‐related silicic volcanism in the northern New England Fold Belt

Laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) analysis of zircons confirm a Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous age (ca 360–350 Ma) for silicic volcanic rocks of the Campwyn Volcanics and Yarrol terrane of the northern New England Fold Belt (Queensland). These rocks are coeval with silicic volcanism recorded elsewhere in the fold belt at this time (Connors Arch, Drummond Basin). The new U–Pb zircon ages, in combination with those from previous studies, show that silicic magmatism was both widespread across the northern New England Fold Belt (>250 000 km² and ≥500 km inboard of plate margin) and protracted, occurring over a period of ～15 million years. Zircon inheritance is commonplace in the Late Devonian — Early Carboniferous volcanics, reflecting anatectic melting and considerable reworking of continental crust. Inherited zircon components range from ca 370 to ca 2050 Ma, with Middle Devonian (385–370 Ma) zircons being common to almost all dated units. Precambrian zircon components record either Precambrian crystalline crust or sedimentary accumulations that were present above or within the zone of magma formation. This contrasts with a lack of significant zircon inheritance in younger Permo‐Carboniferous igneous rocks intruded through, and emplaced on top of, the Devonian‐Carboniferous successions. The inheritance data and location of these volcanic rocks at the eastern margins of the northern New England Fold Belt, coupled with Sr–Nd, Pb isotopic data and depleted mantle model ages for Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic magmatism, imply that Precambrian mafic and felsic crustal materials (potentially as old as 2050 Ma), or at the very least Lower Palaeozoic rocks derived from the reworking of Precambrian rocks, comprise basement to the eastern parts of the fold belt. This crustal basement architecture may be a relict from the Late Proterozoic breakup of the Rodinian supercontinent.     

The age and tectonic significance of the Warraweena Volcanics and related rocks,southern Thomson Orogen

Abstract

Magmatic-textured zircon from medium- to high-K calc-alkaline Warraweena Volcanics (WV) in two drill holes have yielded concordant U–Pb dates of 417?±?3.5 and 414?±?4.0?Ma and are interpreted as maximum emplacement ages. The Warraweena volcanics were previously considered to be either Neoproterozoic or Macquarie arc equivalents. Whole-rock εNd_t values of these volcanics are +4.5 and +4.8. Along strike of the drill holes, Devonian zircon U–Pb ages (411?±?5.5?Ma) were obtained from coherent S-type rhyolite flows that have highly negative εNd_t values (–7.9 and –7.8). These are a component of the Oxley volcanics. The ages of the Warraweena and Oxley volcanics are identical within uncertainty.

The Oxley volcanics (OV) are interbedded with predominantly fine- to medium-grained metasedimentary and so imply a Lower Devonian deposition age for these host rocks. Based on their geophysical characteristics, the metasediments are widely distributed. These metasedimentary rocks yield a wide range of maximum depositional ages, from Early Devonian to earliest Ordovician–latest Cambrian, similar to the Cobar Basin. The absence of complex fabric development typical of Ordovician supracrustal rocks in the region, and conformity with the OV where observable suggest the widespread sedimentation was synchronous with rift-related volcanism in the Early Devonian.

Regionally, the WV is temporally, geochemically and isotopically (εNd values) similar to the calc-alkaline Louth Volcanics located over 100?km to the southwest of the WV. Louth Volcanics define a complexly folded belt in geophysical data. Other potentially correlative Early Devonian igneous rocks occur in the nearby Cobar Superbasin and elsewhere in the eastern Lachlan Orogen and are considered to represent the products of a post-orogenic, nascent continental back-arc rift system.     

Geochronometry of the Middle Paleozoic volcanics of the Omolon Massif in Northeast Asia: A comparison of the K-Ar, Rb-Sr, and U-Pb data and their geological interpretation

The results of the K-Ar, Rb-Sr, and U-Pb (SHRIMP zircon method) dating of the Middle Paleozoic volcanogenic rocks of the Omolon Massif are summarized. It was concluded that they are principally consistent with each other, as well as with the geological data. The formation of the Kedon Group, which makes up the main volume of the Middle Paleozoic volcanics, began at the Early-Middle Devonian boundary about 400 Ma ago (U-Pb dates of 400.5 ± 4.4 and 387 ± 6.4; Rb-Sr isochron age of 402 ± 6 Ma). The isotopic age of the upper boundary of the Kedon Group remains unclear due to disagreements concerning its stratigraphic assignment. The histogram based on the 111 K-Ar dates of the volcanic rocks from the Kedon Group gives a polymodal distribution, which indicates that the K-Ar isotopic system was disturbed by thermal events, which occurred 310–290 (terminal Carboniferous—beginning of the Permian) and 240–220 (Middle-beginning of the Late Triassic) Ma ago. Both thermal events were associated with mantle (ultrabasic-basic) magmatism, which spanned a significantly wider territory than the distribution area of the Kedon Group     

First U-Pb and Sm-Nd isotopic data on granitoids from the Devonian volcanic belt of Kazakhstan

First U-Pb zircon isotopic dates were obtained for rocks from the Devonian volcanic belt in Kazakhstan. The granodiorites of the Zhabden Massif (Karamendinskii Complex) were dated at 391 ± 1 Ma. The Sm-Nd isotopic system of a whole-rock granodiorite sample (?_Nd = 2.5) suggests a high percentage of mantle material in the initial granite melt, which is in good agreement with known data on granitoids in neighboring territories in Kazakhstan. With regard for the isotopic dates obtained for the granodiorites, the material of their source was separated from the mantle at 946 Ma.     

Micro‐sampling Lu–Hf geochronology reveals episodic garnet growth and multiple high‐P metamorphic events

We present Lu–Hf dates from multiple growth zones within two large garnet porphyroblasts by a micro‐sampling method. A single eclogite sample, taken from the Huwan shear zone in the Hong'an orogen, was investigated with Lu–Hf geochronology by micro‐sampling and traditional bulk separation methods. The sample contains a few large garnet porphyroblasts up to several centimetres in diameter and a second major population of smaller (0.1–2.0 mm) garnet porphyroblasts, comprised of dark cores and pale rims. Elemental compositions and mineral inclusions in the garnet appear consistent with two garnet generations. Lu–Hf dates (c. 400–264 Ma) were determined from twelve micro‐sawed garnet sections from two large garnet porphyroblasts. These Lu–Hf dates overlap with age peaks defined by 115 SIMS zircon U–Pb analyses from the same eclogite sample. Bulk analyses of smaller garnet separates define a minimum date of c. 306 Ma and a maximum date of c. 252 Ma for the dark cores and pale rims respectively. These Lu–Hf dates were interpreted to bracket the period of garnet growth and the broad interval from c. 400 to 264 Ma is best explained by protracted and episodic garnet growth, which may require that these rocks experienced two subduction cycles that were initiated during the Devonian and terminated in the Triassic.     

Timing of orogenic events in the Lachlan Orogen

A substantial database of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages, collected recently from micas in western and central Victoria, has been used in several recent papers as support for continuous, diachronous deformation across western and central Victoria lasting through much of the Early Palaeozoic. This paper reviews these ages, together with field evidence collected over the last ten years. It provides an alternative interpretation, that mica growth and overgrowth in western Victoria was not continuous but episodic, occurring at ca 455 Ma, 440 Ma and 425 Ma, with little or no mica growth recorded from between these times. These ages have been obtained from mica in regional cleavage, crenulation cleavage and in quartz veins, and from across the entire width of the Stawell and Bendigo structural zones of western Victoria. A sharp change in mica ages occurs at the Mt William Fault, east of which no mica growth older than about 380 Ma is recorded. Several ages used in support for diachronous deformation are not related to deformation: an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 417 Ma from Chewton is from the aureole of a Devonian granite, and an age of 410 Ma from the Melbourne Zone is shown to contain a substantial amount of inherited mica. If it is accepted that mica growth can be used to date deformation, then the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages indicate episodic, not continuous, deformation in western Victoria (Stawell and Bendigo Zones). The sharp decrease in the deformation age in the Melbourne Zone, east of the Mt William Fault, agrees well with field evidence that shows continuous sedimentation in the Melbourne Zone in the period (Ordovician to mid‐Early Devonian) during which the Stawell and Bendigo zones were undergoing deformation. Some correlation also exists between the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages from western Victoria and well‐constrained deformational events in the eastern Lachlan Orogen. The pattern of deformation has important corollaries in any model that attempts to understand what drives the deformation. While plate convergence must be the ultimate driving force, the pattern is quite inconsistent with deformation of a crust that was being drawn progressively into subduction zones, as proposed in recently published models. Rather, the observed pattern suggests that deformation happened in several very brief events, probably on semi‐rigid plates.     

Coupled garnet Lu–Hf and monazite U–Pb geochronology constrain early convergent margin dynamics in the Ross orogen,Antarctica

The Ross orogen of Antarctica is an extensive (>3000 km‐long) belt of deformed and metamorphosed sedimentary rocks and granitoid batholiths, which formed during convergence and subduction of palaeo‐Pacific lithosphere beneath East Gondwana in the Neoproterozoic–early Palaeozoic. Despite its prominent role in Gondwanan convergent tectonics, and a well‐established magmatic record, relatively little is known about the metamorphic rocks in the Ross orogen. A combination of garnet Lu–Hf and monazite U–Pb (measured by laser‐ablation split‐stream ICP‐MS) geochronology reveals a protracted metamorphic history of metapelites and garnet amphibolites from a major segment of the orogen. Additionally, direct dating of a common rock‐forming mineral (garnet) and accessory mineral (monazite) allows us to test assumptions that are commonly used when linking accessory mineral geochronology to rock‐forming mineral reactions. Petrography, mineral zoning, thermobarometry and pseudosection modelling reveal a Barrovian‐style prograde path, reaching temperatures of ~610–680 °C. Despite near‐complete diffusional resetting of garnet major element zoning, the garnet retains strong rare earth element zoning and preserves Lu–Hf dates that range from c. 616–572 Ma. Conversely, monazite in the rocks was extensively recrystallized, with concordant dates that span from c. 610–500 Ma, and retain only vestigial cores. Monazite cores yield dates that overlap with the garnet Lu–Hf dates and typically have low‐Y and heavy rare earth element (HREE) concentrations, corroborating interpretations of low‐Y and low‐HREE monazite domains as records of synchronous garnet growth. However, ratios of REE concentrations in garnet and monazite do not consistently match previously reported partition coefficients for the REE between these two minerals. High‐Y monazite inclusions within pristine, crack‐free garnet yield U–Pb dates significantly younger than the Lu–Hf dates for the same samples, indicating recrystallization of monazite within garnet. The recrystallization of high‐Y and high‐HREE monazite domains over >50 Ma likely records either punctuated thermal pulses or prolonged residence at relatively high temperatures (up to ~610–680 °C) driving monazite recrystallization. One c. 616 Ma garnet Lu–Hf date and several c. 610–600 Ma monazite U–Pb dates are tentatively interpreted as records of the onset of tectonism metamorphism in the Ross orogeny, with a more robust constraint from the other Lu–Hf dates (c. 588–572 Ma) and numerous c. 590–570 Ma monazite U–Pb dates. The data are consistent with a tectonic model that involves shortening and thickening prior to widespread magmatism in the vicinity of the study area. The early tectonic history of the Ross orogen, recorded in metamorphic rocks, was broadly synchronous with Gondwana‐wide collisional Pan‐African orogenies.     

内蒙古朱日和地区早古生代岩浆岩年代学、地球化学特征及其构造意义

中亚造山带早古生代的构造演化一直存在不同的认识,特别是其俯冲转为碰撞的时限.内蒙古朱日和南部的额尔登陶勒盖地区出露的早古生代岩浆岩,对于限定白乃庙岛弧的延伸方向、岛弧演化和拼贴时间具有重要意义.对额尔登地区出露的火山岩和侵入岩进行了精确的锆石SHRIMP和LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年、锆石Lu-Hf同位素和地球化学分析以确定其时代和成因.研究获得4个岩浆岩年龄,1件英安岩年龄为434.0±4.4 Ma,2件花岗岩年龄分别为432.8±2.6 Ma和428.1±1.8 Ma,此3件样品形成于早中志留世;另有1件流纹岩年龄为411.8±1.0 Ma,形成于早泥盆世.早中志留世侵入岩为低钾、过铝质钙碱性中酸性岩石,富集Rb、Th,弱富集Zr、Hf,明显亏损Nb、Ta、P、Ti.在稀土配分曲线上,侵入岩均不存在Eu的负异常.其中2件花岗岩样品的锆石基本为正ε_Hf（t）值（-1.19~11.51,3.32~10.28）,T_DM2为684~1 493 Ma及759~1 202 Ma,主要来自新生地壳;早中志留世火山岩具有中-低钾、偏铝质-过铝质、钙碱性酸性岩石特征,富集Rb、Th,弱富集Zr、Hf,明显亏损Nb、Ta、P、Ti.在稀土配分曲线上,多数火山岩不存在Eu负异常.英安岩中的锆石具有正ε_Hf（t）值（3.70~7.94）,T_DM2为912~1 183 Ma,主要来自新生地壳;而早泥盆世流纹岩（411 Ma）存在明显的Eu负异常,其锆石具有负ε_Hf（t）值（-14.95~-7.07）,T_DM2为1.8~2.3 Ga,应为古老地壳再循环的产物,与早中志留世岩浆岩源区明显不同,可能代表构造环境的转变.综合区域地质和前人研究资料表明,早志留世英安岩和花岗岩形成于俯冲岛弧环境,白乃庙岛弧向东可延伸至本区,而早泥盆世流纹岩可能形成于后碰撞环境.      

Isotopic age determinations on granitic rocks from Tasmania

Potassium‐argon and rubidium‐strontium isotopic age measurements show that emplacement of granitic rocks in Tasmania occurred during the Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous and in pre‐Devonian times, possibly in the Cambrian. In addition, a Precambrian granite, dated at about 750 m.y., has been recognized on the west coast of King Island.

The granitic bodies of pre‐Devonian age include the Murchison River Granite, the Dove River Granite and its correlatives, and the adamellite on the southwest coast of Tasmania at Elliott Bay. These rocks were deformed during the Devonian Tabberabberan Orogeny with the result that leakage of radiogenic daughter products has occurred from minerals. Hence the indicated ages are younger than the true ages. Possibly these granitic rocks were emplaced during the Jukesian Movement of the Tyennan Orogeny, in the Late Cambrian, although a Precambrian age cannot be excluded for some of the bodies.

As recognized by earlier workers the most important period of emplacement of granitic rocks in Tasmania was in the Middle Palaeozoic. The measured dates for this group of rocks range from 375 to 335 m.y., and indicate that intrusion occurred over an extended period from the Late Devonian to the Early or possibly Middle Carboniferous. There are distinct concentrations of measured ages at about 370 and 340 m.y. The granitic bodies of northeast Tasmania mainly yield the older age, whereas those of northwest Tasmania give the younger age. As the granites are post‐tectonic bodies the older age of about 375 m.y. provides a younger limit to the time of completion of the main folding in the Tabberabberan Orogeny, and this is consistent with the stratigraphic evidence.

The evidence suggests that generation of granitic magma was initiated during the main folding associated with the Tabberabberan Orogeny, but that emplacement of the granites into the upper crust continued over a long period subsequently to the main folding phase. Alternatively, the younger granitic bodies, dated at about 340 m.y., may indicate that these rocks are related to the Early Carboniferous Kanimblan Orogeny recognized in Victoria and New South Wales; however, there is no field evidence to support such a proposition.     

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.     

Chronology and evolution of the Middle Proterozoic Albany‐Fraser Orogen,Western Australia

Geochemical and Sm‐Nd isotopic data, and 19 ion‐microprobe U‐Pb zircon dates are reported for gneiss and granite from the eastern part of the Albany‐Fraser Orogen. The orogen is dominated by granitic rocks derived from sources containing both Late Archaean and mantle‐derived components. Four major plutonic episodes have been identified at ca 2630 Ma, 1700–1600 Ma, ca 1300 Ma and ca 1160 Ma. Orthogneiss, largely derived from ca 2630 Ma and 1700–1600 Ma granitic precursors, forms a belt along the southeastern margin of the Yilgarn Craton. These rocks, together with gabbro of the Fraser Complex, were intruded by granitic magmas and metamorphosed in the granulite facies at ca 1300 Ma. They were then rapidly uplifted and transported westward along low‐angle thrust faults over the southeastern margin of the Yilgarn Craton. Between ca 1190 and 1130 Ma, granitic magmas were intruded throughout the eastern part of the orogen. These new data are integrated into a review of the geological evolution of the Albany‐Fraser Orogen and adjacent margin of eastern Antarctica, and possibly related rocks in the Musgrave Complex and Gawler Craton.     

Timing of high-pressure metamorphism and exhumation of the eclogite type-locality (Kupplerbrunn–Prickler Halt, Saualpe, south-eastern Austria): constraints from correlations of the Sm–Nd, Lu–Hf, U–Pb and Rb–Sr isotopic systems

Sm–Nd, Lu–Hf, Rb–Sr and SIMS U–Pb data are presented for meta‐gabbroic eclogites from the eclogite type‐locality ( Haüy, 1822 ) Kupplerbrunn–Prickler Halt and other areas of the Saualpe (SE Austria) and Pohorje Mountains (Slovenia). Mg‐rich eclogites derived from early gabbroic cumulates are kyanite‐ and zoisite rich, whereas eclogites with lower Mg contents contain clinozoisite ± kyanite. Calculated P–T conditions at the final stages of high‐pressure metamorphism are 2.2 ± 0.2 GPa at 630–740 °C. Kyanite‐rich eclogites did not yield geologically meaningful Sm–Nd ages due to incomplete Nd isotope equilibration, whereas Sm–Nd multifraction garnet–omphacite regression for a low‐Mg eclogite from Kupplerbrunn yields an age of 91.1 ± 1.3 Ma. The Sm–Nd age of 94.1 ± 0.8 Ma obtained from the Fe‐rich core fraction of this garnet dates the initial stages of garnet growth. Zircon that also crystallized at eclogite facies conditions gives a weighted mean U–Pb SIMS age of 88.4 ± 8.1 Ma. Lu–Hf isotope analysis of a kyanite–eclogite from Kupplerbrunn yields 88.4 ± 4.7 Ma for the garnet–omphacite pair. Two low‐Mg eclogites from the Gertrusk locality of the Saualpe yield a multimineral Sm–Nd age of 90.6 ± 1.0 Ma. A low‐Mg eclogite from the Pohorje Mountains (70 km to the SE) gives a garnet–whole‐rock Lu–Hf age of 93.3 ± 2.8 Ma. These new age data and published Sm–Nd ages of metasedimentary host rocks constrain the final stages of the eo‐Alpine high‐pressure event in the Saualpe–Pohorje part of the south‐easternmost Austroalpine nappe system suggesting that garnet growth in the high‐pressure assemblages started at c. 95–94 Ma and ceased at c. 90–88 Ma, probably at the final pressure peak. Zircon and amphibole crystallization was still possible during incipient isothermal decompression. Rapid exhumation of the high‐pressure rocks was induced by collision of the northern Apulian plate with parts of the Austroalpine microplate, following Jurassic closure of the Permo‐Triassic Meliata back‐arc basin.     

阿尔泰小土尔根铜矿区岩体LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年及地质意义

小土尔根是近年来阿尔泰诺尔特盆地发现的首例斑岩铜矿床,其成岩成矿年代学的研究可以对矿床模型构建、区域成矿规律的总结提供制约。矿区侵入岩发育,矿化受花岗闪长斑岩控制,少部分赋存在地层中。文章利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年法对矿区岩体进行了成岩年代学研究。含矿花岗闪长斑岩、黑云二长花岗岩和花岗斑岩中锆石的206Pb/238U年龄的加权平均值分别为(401.0±2.9)Ma、(398.1±2.2)Ma和(400.5±2.0)Ma,为早泥盆世同一岩浆侵入活动形成的不同侵入岩。侵入岩年龄结合凝灰岩年龄,将矿区地层划归早泥盆世诺尔特组。含矿花岗闪长斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄限定小土尔根斑岩铜矿床成矿时代略晚于401 Ma,即矿床形成于早泥盆世。     

内蒙古北山哈珠东山泥盆系雀儿山群火山岩锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf同位素特征及其地质意义

北山地区是研究古亚洲洋最终闭合过程的热点地区之一.前人对红石山-百合山-蓬勃山蛇绿混杂岩带的研究多集中在其俯冲作用的时限、极性及相关的石炭纪火山岩的源区及构造属性上,而对该蛇绿混杂岩带北侧出露的泥盆纪火山岩的构造背景和岩浆演化过程研究较为薄弱.对哈珠东山地区泥盆系雀儿山群哈珠组火山岩开展了岩石学、地球化学、锆石U-Pb年代学及Hf同位素研究,结果表明:哈珠东山地区雀儿山群哈珠组火山岩形成于中泥盆世晚期（386.9±1.7 Ma）,属低钾拉斑-钙碱性系列,具富钠、低钾特征,微量元素亏损Nb、Ta、P、Ti等高场强元素,推测其形成于洋壳俯冲的岛弧环境,可能为古亚洲洋向南持续俯冲的产物.流纹岩锆石Hf同位素组成较为均一,ε_Hf（t）值为+4.4~+15.0,二阶段Hf模式年龄为424~1 109 Ma,表明流纹岩源于早古生代-中新元古代新生年轻地壳的重熔.而安山岩岩浆源区为俯冲消减板片流体交代的地幔楔,岩浆上升中经历了一定的分离结晶作用和上地壳物质的同化混染.综合前人区域研究成果,红石山-百合山-蓬勃山洋的发育应形成于晚泥盆世之后雀儿山弧后盆地的扩张环境.      

新疆阿尔泰凯勒克赛依铁矿地质特征、锆石LA MC ICP MS U Pb年龄及其意义

凯勒克赛依铁矿床是新疆阿尔泰唯一的小型镜铁矿床,赋存于一套变质火山-沉积岩系中,近矿围岩为白云母石英片岩,矿体呈层状,与地层产状一致,矿石具有块状、条带状、条纹状构造,矿石中金属矿物主要为镜铁矿(TFeO=87349%~88988%,TiO2=0~1042%,Al2O3=0036%~0256%),矿化具有沉积特征。近矿围岩镜铁矿白云母石英片岩锆石LA MC ICP MS U Pb谐和年龄为(3756 ± 06)Ma,限定成矿时代在376 Ma左右,即中泥盆世成矿,是阿尔泰为数不多的中泥盆世成矿作用的产物。同时也厘定含矿的变质火山-沉积岩系属中—晚泥盆世阿勒泰镇组,不是前人认为的早泥盆世康布铁堡组。     

哀牢山构造带两侧上志留统-下泥盆统碎屑锆石年代学:物源及其构造意义

哀牢山古特提斯洋的打开时限及其缝合带的具体位置对理解哀牢山古特提斯洋构造演化具有非常重要的意义。本文采用碎屑锆石年代学方法,分析了哀牢山构造带及其两侧不同时期沉积物源的特征及其变化,解译了其物源差别所指示的哀牢山古特提斯洋盆打开时限以及缝合带的构造位置。碎屑锆石年代学显示,哀牢山构造带两侧上志留统碎屑锆石都记录一个~450 Ma的最年轻的峰值和一个格林威尔期造山事件的年龄群(1100~800 Ma),以及一个2600~2400 Ma的次峰;不同于上志留统,构造带东侧下泥盆统碎屑锆石并未出现年轻的~450 Ma峰值年龄信息,西侧U-Pb年龄分布模式与上志留统一致,记录~450 Ma峰值年龄信息,而且构造带两侧下泥盆统碎屑锆石的2600~2400 Ma的峰值明显要强于上志留统。区域上发表的碎屑锆石年代学资料,也揭示相同的年龄峰值。因此,综合区域上的其他地质资料,我们认为哀牢山古特提斯洋盆的打开时限应该在晚志留世-早泥盆世,哀牢山断裂带代表了哀牢山洋盆闭合的位置。     

Pleistocene stratigraphy of the Boco Plain,western Tasmania

The Late Devonian‐Early Carboniferous Mansfield Basin is the northernmost structural sub‐basin of the Mt Howitt Province of east‐central Victoria. It is comprised predominantly of continental clastic sedimentary rocks, and is superimposed upon deformed Cambrian to Early Devonian marine sequences of the Palaeozoic Lachlan Fold Belt. This paper documents evidence for synsedimentary deformation during the early history of the Mansfield Basin, via sedimentological, structural and stratigraphic investigations. Repeating episodes of folding, erosion and sedimentation are demonstrated along the preserved western margins of Mansfield Basin, where fold structures within the lower sequences are truncated by intrabasinal syntectonic unconformities. A convergent successor basin setting (an intermontane setting adjacent to, or between major fault zones) is suggested for initial phases of basin deposition, with synsedimentary reverse faulting being responsible for source uplift and subsequent basin deformation. Palaeocurrents within conglomerate units indicate derivation from the west and are consistent with episodic thrusting along basin margin faults providing elevated source regions. Periods of tectonic quiescence are represented by finer grained meandering fluvial facies (indicative of lower regional topographic gradients) which display drainage patterns that appear not to have been influenced by bounding faults to the west. An up‐sequence increase in the textural and compositional maturity of basin sandstones and conglomerates is proposed to be a result of the incorporation of basin fill into ongoing basin deformation, with unstable metapelitic rocks being progressively winnowed from clast populations. Rather than resulting from Carboniferous (Kanimblan) reactivation of extensional structures, as is generally assumed, the deformation observed within the lower units of the Mansfield Basin is suggested here to be essentially syndepositional and at least Late Devonian in age.     

Tectonothermal history of the western Lachlan Fold Belt, Australia: insights from white mica studies

Detailed b lattice parameter and illite crystallinity (IC) studies of K-white micas in slates from the Stawell and Ballarat-Bendigo Zones (SZ, BBZ) in the western Lachlan Fold Belt of Victoria, Australia, reveal a metamorphic pattern characterized by regional metamorphism associated with crustal thickening and younger contact metamorphism accompanied by deformation. The IC data indicate that rocks regionally metamorphosed prior to the intrusion of the Early and Late Devonian granitoids, vary in grade from epizonal (greenschist facies) to diagenetic (zeolite facies) and that most are of epizonal to anchizonal (prehnite–pumpellyite facies) grade. In the BBZ, a decrease in grade from west to east occurs. Across fault zones, IC values show little change, indicating that limited vertical displacement has occurred. This is in accord with the thin skinned deformation model proposed for the western Lachlan Fold Belt. The b lattice parameters (x=9.022 Å; n=137; σ_n=0.009) indicate baric conditions intermediate between those of New Hampshire (P=Al₂SiO₅ triple point) and Otago (intermediate P ). Thus, a moderately low geothermal gradient existed 450–430 Ma ago, when these rocks were deformed. K_D Fe/Mg (actinolite)/Fe/Mg (chlorite) values (0.52–0.70) obtained from coexisting actinolite and chlorite in metabasites from fault zones support the moderately high-P (c. 4 kbar) metamorphism suggested by the b cell parameter values. The metamorphic conditions indicated by these data are contrary to the low-P/high-T conditions proposed by previous authors, who inferred an intimate association between deformation, granitoid intrusion and gold mineralization. The b lattice parameter of white micas in slates adjacent to Early Devonian (c. 400 Ma) granitoids with schist bearing aureoles in the north-eastern part of the BBZ (x=9.002 Å; n=27; σ_n=0.007), indicate pressures in the order of c. 2.5 kbar which are in accord with those obtained from andalusite–cordierite and zoisite–garnet bearing assemblages observed in the higher grade metapelitic and calcareous rocks. This contrasts with the higher pressure (c. 4 kbar) existing during regional metamorphism and implies that c. 6.5–8 km of metasedimentary rocks in the BBZ were removed before the emplacement of the Early Devonian granitoids. Metamorphic assemblages in hornfelses associated with Late Devonian granitoids indicate a further 5–6 km of metasediment were removed in the next 40 Ma prior to their emplacement. This study shows the value of white mica studies in elucidating the tectonothermal history of a low-grade metamorphic terrane dominated by metapelitic rocks.