Deformational history of the Precambrian Kolar Schist Belt,South India: Constraints for the tectonic evolution

In the Kolar Schist Belt well-preserved small-scale diastrophic structures suggest four phases of folding (F₁ — F₄). The near coaxial F₁ andF ₂folds are both isoclinal with long-drawn out limbs and sharp hinges. The axial planes of bothF ₁andF ₂folds are subvertical with N-S strikes; these control the linear outcrop pattern of the Schist belt. The later folds (F ₃and F₄) are important in small-to-intermediate scales only and are accommodation structures formed during the relaxation period of the early folding episodes. Mesoscopic shear zones, post-F₂ but pre-F₃ in age, are present in all the rock types in this area. The F₁ and F₂ folds and the mesoscopic shear zones were formed during a continuous E-W subhorizontal compression. Available geochemical and isotopic data show that the Kolar Schist Belt with ensimatic setting is bounded by two granitic terrains of contrasting evolutionary histories. This, together with E-W subhorizontal compression over a protracted period of time, strengthens the recent suggestions that the Kolar Schist Belt represents a suture. This belt then marks the site of a continent-continent collision event of late Archaean-early Proterozoic age.     

Ultra high temperature-metamorphism and its significance in the Central Indian Tectonic Zone

In the present study from the southern margin of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone, it is demonstrated how the metamorphic P–T path of ultrahigh-temperature granulite terranes can be reconstructed using the metamorphic transition in corundum granulites from early biotite melting to later FMAS solid–solid reaction. The extreme metamorphism in these rocks caused two-stage biotite melting, resulting in initial porphyroblastic garnet₁ and later sapphirine–spinel₁ incongruent solid mineral assemblages. During this process, the leucocratic and melanocratic layers in the corundum granulites evolved from an initial silica-oversaturated to a later silica-undersaturated domain. In the melanocratic layer, this allowed localized concentration of sapphirine-spinel₁ and residual sillimanite₁, producing an extremely restitic assemblage, at the culmination of peak metamorphism, BM₁. BM₁ is constrained at  1000 °C at relatively deep crustal levels (P  9 kbar) from the stability of ferroaugite in a co-metamorphosed Iron Formation granulite. During subsequent metamorphism (BM₂), the reaction path and history in the corundum granulites shifted to the restitic domain allowing reacting sapphirine, spinel₁ and sillimanite to produce coronal garnet₂–corundum assemblage via a FMAS univariant reaction. In the final stages of reaction history, biotite₂–sillimanite₂–spinel₂ assemblage was produced after garnet₂–corundum due to localized melt–crystal interaction. The metamorphic sequence, when interpreted with the help of a newly constructed, qualitative KFMASH petrogenetic grid, reveals successive stages of heating, increasing pressure and cooling around the KFMASH invariant point, [Opx,Crd], which is consistent with a counterclockwise metamorphic P–T path. The near isobaric nature of post-peak cooling (ΔT  250–300 °C) is also evident from multistage pyroxene exsolution and by the appearance of lamellar and coronal garnets in the Iron Formation granulites. This study provides the first tight constraint for ultrahigh-T metamorphism along a counter clockwise P–T trajectory in the Central Indian Tectonic zone, and has important bearing for terrane correlations in this part of East Gondwanaland. In addition, the new KFMASH grid allows evaluation of metamorphic phase relations in ultrahigh-T, corundum-bearing and corundum-absent aluminous granulites.     

Magnetotelluric Constraints on the Occurrence of Lower Crustal Earthquakes in the Intra-plate Setting of Central Indian Tectonic Zone

Lower crustal earthquake occurrence in the Central Indian Tectonic Zone(CITZ) of the Indian sub-continent was investigated using magnetotelluric(MT) data. MT models across the CITZ, including the new resistivity model across the 1938 Satpura lower crustal earthquake epicenter, show low resistive(80 ?m) mid-lower crust and infer small volume(1 vol%) of aqueous fluids existing in most part of lower crust. This in conjunction with xenoliths and other geophysical data supports a predominant brittle/semi-brittle lower crustal rheology. However, the local deep crustal zones with higher fluid content of 2.2%–6.5% which have been mapped imply high pore pressure conditions. The observation above and the significant strain rate in the region provide favorable conditions(strong/moderate rock strength, moderate temperature, high pore pressure and high strain rate) for brittle failure in the lower crust. It can be inferred that the fluid-rich pockets in the mid-lower crust might have catalyzed earthquake generation by acting as the source of local stress(fluid pressure), which together with the regional stress produced critical seismogenic stress conditions. Alternatively, fluids reduce the shear strength of the rocks to favor tectonic stress concentration that can be transferred to seismogenic faults to trigger earthquakes.     

Neoproterozoic Deformation at a Boundary Zone Between the Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt and Pakhal Basin, SE India: Strain Analysis of Deformed Pebbles

In the Kinnerasani area in southeastern India, the terrain boundary between the Archean Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt and the Proterozoic Pakhal Supergroup overlying the Dharwar-Bastar cratons can be observed. We analyzed the mesoscopic and microscopic structural features of the highly deformed pebbles in the basal conglomerate bed of the Pakhal Supergroup that occurs at the terrain boundary. The results of the analysis of the pebbles suggest that: 1) deformation of pebbles resulted from ductile deformation during peak metamorphism 2) the mode of strain is plane strain to constrictive and maximum elongation located to be vertical and 3) the apparent stretch of the pebbles is up to 300%.In the Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt, quartz grains constituting the quartz layer of the feldspathized gneiss folded by the last-phase deformation also show vertical maximum stretching in constrictive strain. This observation suggests that the deformational features, at least the mode of strain, during the last-phase deformation is comparable to the deformation forming elongated pebbles of the Pakhal conglomerate. The last-phase deformation structures of the Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt are well observed near the terrain boundary. This indicates that the Pakhal deformation overprinted the rocks of the Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt near the boundary, and that their tectonic juxtaposition occurred during or before this deformation period. Because the Pakhal deformation took place during or soon after the peak metamorphism of the Pakhal Supergroup, which is known to be 1000 Ma, and the last metamorphism of the Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt in the Khammam area were reported to be 1100 Ma. The tectonic juxtaposition between the Pakhal Supergroup and Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt was around 10001100 Ma.     

Geochronology and provenance of detrital zircons from late Palaeozoic strata of central Jilin Province,Northeast China: implications for the tectonic evolution of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Here we present new U–Pb and Hf isotopic data for detrital zircons obtained from six samples of late Palaeozoic units from central Jilin Province, Northeast China, and use these data and sedimentary formations to constrain the late Palaeozoic tectonic evolution of the eastern segment of the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The majority of the detrital zircons from the six samples are euhedral–subhedral and exhibit oscillatory zoning, indicating a magmatic origin. Zircons from sandstones in the Devonian Wangjiajie and Xiaosuihe formations yield seven main age populations (399, 440, 921, 1648, 1864, 1911, and 2066 Ma) and two minor age populations (384 and 432 Ma), respectively. Zircons from a quartz sandstone in the Carboniferous Luquantun Formation yield four age populations (~332, 363, 402, and 428 Ma), and zircons from quartz sandstones of the Permian Shoushangou, Fanjiatun, and Yangjiagou formations yield age populations of 265, 369, 463, 503, and 963 Ma; 264, 310, 337, 486, and 529 Ma; and 262, 282, 312, 338, 380, 465, and 492 Ma, respectively. These data, together with the ages of magmatic zircons from interbedded volcanics and biostratigraphic evidence, as well as analysis of formations, give rise to the following conclusions. (1) The Wangjiajie and Xiaosuihe formations were deposited in an extensional environment during Middle and Middle–Late Devonian time, respectively. The former was sourced mainly from ancient continental material of the North China Craton with minor contributions from newly accreted crust, while the latter was sourced mainly from newly accreted crust. (2) The Luquantun Formation formed in an extensional environment during early–late Carboniferous time from material sourced mainly from newly accreted crust. (3) The Shoushangou, Fanjiatun, and Yangjiagou formations formed during a period of rapid uplift in the late Permian, from material sourced mainly from newly accreted crust.     

Tourmaline growth in pelitic schist and quartzite: A textural,chemical and B-isotopic study from the Gangpur Schist Belt,eastern India

Tourmaline is the principal repository of boron in crustal rocks and therefore useful for tracing B-cycling during prograde dehydration and retrogression of supracrustal rocks. Here, we use the major-trace element, and B isotope composition of tourmaline from schists, quartzites, and tourmaline-quartz veins of the Gangpur Schist Belt in eastern India to constrain the source of boron and the physicochemical evolution of B-rich fluids during prograde dehydration metamorphism. Tourmaline growth and re-equilibration in rocks of the Gangpur Schist Belt was a multi-stage process involving several fluid sources. The δ¹¹B varies between ?6‰ and ?18‰, indicating a dominantly continental source for boron. Tourmaline in schists, quartzites, and tourmaline-quartz veins grew over a wide range of P-T conditions and record multiple episodes of metamorphic dehydration between ca. 1.6 Ga and ca. 0.95Ga. The tourmaline in tourmaline-quartz veins and quartzites has lighter B-isotope composition, typical of continental detritus, while those in the schists and quartzites record pelite-dehydration signature with values decreasing gradually from ca. ?12‰ in the cores to ca. ?17‰ in the rims. Heavier isotopic compositions (δ¹¹B of ca. ?6‰) measured in some grains in the pelites and quartzites indicate boron contribution from meta?carbonate sources. The mixing of a heavier B-rich metacarbonate-derived fluid with pelite-derived metamorphic fluids could explain the lower B-isotope values in such tourmaline. The study also attempts to constrain the controls on the intake of trace elements in tourmaline. The results suggest that the partitioning of Mn, Y, V, Co and Ti in tourmaline is affected by the growth of porphyroblast phases such as garnet, staurolite, and biotite, while Li, Sr, Zn and Sn reflect the signature of the metamorphic fluid.     

Fold-Thrust-Belt Structure of the Proterozoic Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt: A Proposed Correlation Between India and Antarctica in Gondwana

The Proterozoic Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt along the east coast of India shares a thrusted lower contact with the surrounding cratons. The thrust, known as the Terrane Boundary shear zone, is associated with two large lateral ramps resulting in a curved outline on the northwestern corner of the mobile belt. The Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt is divided into two lithotectonic units, the Lathore Group and the Turekela Group, based on their lithological assemblages and deformational history. On the basis of published data from a Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS) profile of the Eastern Ghats crust, the Terrane Boundary Shear Zone is considered to be listric in nature and acts as the sole thrust between craton and mobile belt. The Lathore and Turekela Groups are nappes. With this structural configuration the NW part is described as a fold thrust belt. However, the thrusting postdates folding and granulite metamorphism that occurred in the Eastern Ghats, as in the Caledonide type of fold thrust belt of NW Scotland. The Terrane Boundary Shear Zone is interpreted to be contiguous with the Rayner-Napier boundary of the Enderby Land in a Gondwana assembly.     

The timing of sub-solidus hydrothermal alteration in the Central Zone, Limpopo Belt (South Africa): Constraints from titanite U–Pb geochronology and REE partitioning

In the Central Zone of the Limpopo Belt (South Africa), Palaeoproterozoic granulite-facies metamorphism was superimposed on an earlier Archaean orogenic history. Previously determined ages of  2030–2020 Ma obtained from high-temperature chronometers (zircon, garnet, monazite) are generally thought to provide the best estimate of the peak of Palaeoproterozoic granulite-facies metamorphism in the Central Zone, whereas ages as young as  2006 Ma from late melt patches suggest that temperatures remained above the wet solidus for an extended period. We present a new MC-ICP-MS ²⁰⁷Pb–²⁰⁶Pb age of 2030.9 ± 1.5 Ma for titanite found in amphibolite- to greenschist-facies alteration zones developed adjacent to quartz vein systems and related pegmatites that cut a strongly deformed Central Zone metabasite. This age could potentially date cooling of rocks at this locality to temperatures below the wet solidus. Alternatively, the titanite could be inherited from the metabasite host, and the age determined from it date the peak of metamorphism. Integration of the geochronology with LA-ICP-MS trace element data for minerals from the metabasite, the hydrothermal vein systems and comparable rocks elsewhere shows that the titanite formed during the amphibolite-facies hydrothermal alteration, not at the metamorphic peak or during the greenschist-facies phase of veining. This suggests that high-grade rocks in the Central Zone have cooled differentially through the wet solidus, and provides timing constraints on when Palaeoproterozoic reworking in the Central Zone began. This study illustrates the potential of combined geochronological and high-resolution geochemical studies to accurately match mineral ages to distinct crustal processes.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of metasedimentary rocks from the Dongnancha Formation in the Huadian area,central Jilin Province,Northeast (NE) China: Implications for the tectonic evolution of the eastern segment of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

To constrain the tectonic evolution of the eastern segment of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, we conducted zircon U–Pb-Hf dating and whole-rock geochemical analyses for metasedimentary rocks from the Dongnancha Formation in the Huadian area in central Jilin Province, Northeastern (NE) China. Most detrital zircons from the metasedimentary rocks display clear oscillatory zoning and striped absorption in cathodoluminescence (CL) images and have Th/U ratios of 0.1–1.8, thus indicating a magmatic origin. U–Pb isotopic dating using LA-ICP-MS method for zircon samples from the metasedimentary rocks reveals that the depositional age can be constrained to the period between 250 and 222 Ma. Geochemical data reveal low to intermediate degrees of weathering of the source material and compositionally low to intermediate maturity. Detailed analyses of detrital zircon U–Pb-Hf geochronology and geochemistry show that these metasedimentary rocks are derived from a bidirectional provenance. The predominant derivation is from Permian–Early Triassic felsic-intermediate igneous rocks of central Jilin Province and adjacent regions in the northern margin of the North China Craton, although felsic-intermediate igneous rocks and continental material in the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt from the Cambrian–Carboniferous represent additional sources and minor amounts of Paleoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic material have been input from the North China Craton. A number of geochemical indicators and tectonic discrimination diagrams collectively indicate a continental island arc-active continental margin setting for the deposition of the protoliths of the metasedimentary rocks. The results of geochemical and geochronological analyses of the provenance and tectonic setting of the metasedimentary rocks indicate that the Dongnancha Formation was likely deposited in an intermountain basin in a post-orogenic fast uplift setting, suggesting that the final closure of the eastern segment of the Paleo-Asian Ocean in the Huadian area of central Jinlin Province likely occurred between the Early Triassic and Middle Triassic.     

Petrology and geochronology of the Namche Barwa Complex in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, Tibet: Constraints on the origin and evolution of the north-eastern margin of the Indian Craton

The Namche Barwa Complex (NBC) in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, south Tibet, is generally interpreted as the north-eastern extremity of the exposed Greater Himalayan Sequence, comprising Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic sedimentary strata along the northern margin of the Indian continent. Field and petrological investigations indicate that the NBC consists mainly of orthogneiss, paragneiss, amphibolites and calc-silicate rocks. U-Pb zircon data demonstrate that the protoliths of the orthogneiss formed during late Paleoproterozoic at ca. 1610 Ma and also in early Paleozoic at ca. 490-500 Ma. The amphibolites were derived from mafic magmatic rocks formed during 1645 to 1590 Ma. Zircons in the paragneisses have highly variable inherited zircon ages ranging from the Neoarchean to early Paleozoic, with four major age populations of 2490 Ma, 1640 Ma, 990 Ma and 480 Ma. The calc-silicate rock has zircons with early Paleozoic metamorphic age of 538 Ma. Almost all the rocks of the NBC have been metamorphosed during Cenozoic with the metamorphic zircon U-Pb ages ranging from 8 to 30 Ma and a peak at 23 Ma. These, together with previous results suggest that the NBC was originally derived from an Andean-type orogeny following the Columbia supercontinent assembly, and experienced multiple reworking during the Grenvillian, Pan-African and Himalayan orogenies. We conclude that the NBC in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis was derived from different provenance and tectonic setting as compared to those of the Greater Himalayan Sequence which constitutes the high-grade metamorphic core of the western and central Himalayan orogenic belt. We thus infer that the NBC was originally part of the eastern segment of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone.     

Alkaline Magmatism Versus Collision Tectonics in the Eastern Ghats Belt, India: Constraints from Structural Studies in the Koraput Complex

Linear domains of deformed alkaline rocks and carbonatites have recently been identified as representing sites of ancient suture zones. In peninsular India, the western margin of the Proterozoic Eastern Ghats Belt (EGB) is characterized by a series of alkaline plutons that are aligned close to the contact with the Archaean Craton. Most of the complexes were deformed and metamorphosed during a subsequent orogenic event. Unlike other plutons in the belt, the alkaline complex at Koraput reportedly escaped deformation and granulite facies metamorphism forming an anomalous entity within the zone. Multiply-deformed country rocks hosting this complex underwent syn-D_1CR granulite facies metamorphism followed by D_2CR thrusting, with pervasive shearing along a NE-SW trending foliation. A second granulite facies event followed localized D_3CR shearing. Within the Koraput Complex, strain partitioning was responsible for preserving igneous textures in the gabbroic core, but aligned magmatic amphibole needles and plagioclase laths occasionally define a S_1AC fabric. Along the margins, S_1AC is rotated parallel to a NE-trending, east-dipping S_2AC fabric in the gabbro, fringing syenodiorite and nepheline syenite bands. Locally, D_3AC shearing follows D_2AC deformation; S_2AC and S_3AC parallel S_2CR and S_3CR in the country rocks. High-grade metamorphism represented by recrystallization of amphibole and plagioclase, and breakdown of amphibole and biotite to garnet, pyroxene and K-feldspar in the complex follows D_3AC. Unlike earlier reports, therefore, the Koraput body is also deformed and metamorphosed. The aligned alkaline complexes in the EGB probably represent deformed alkaline rocks and carbonatites formed by rifting related to an earlier episode of continental break-up that were deformed during subsequent juxtaposition of the EGB with the Archaean Craton. This supports the contention that the western margin of the EGB and its contact with the Archaean Craton is a suture zone related to the Indo-Antarctica collision event.     

Zircon U‐Pb/Lu‐Hf and monazite chemical dating of the Tirodi biotite gneiss: implication for latest Palaeoproterozoic to Early Mesoproterozoic orogenesis in the Central Indian Tectonic Zone

In this investigation, we reconstruct the latest Palaeoproterozoic to Early Mesoproterozoic orogenic events along the southern margin of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ), using sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U‐Pb zircon dating and Lu‐Hf isotope analyses of zircon and Th‐U‐Pb chemical dating of monazite from samples of the Tirodi biotite gneiss (TBG) unit in the Sausar Mobile Belt (SMB), the latter constituting the southernmost litho‐tectonic component of the CITZ. U‐Pb zircon dating of one migmatitic gneiss sample from the type locality of the Tirodi biotite gneiss in the northern domain of the SMB has yielded an age of 1618 ± 8 Ma, which is considered to be the time of magmatic crystallization of its protolith. Combined U‐Pb zircon and monazite chemical dating of two granite gneiss samples from the southern domain of the SMB broadly constrain magmatic crystallization between 1603 ± 23 Ma and 1584 ± 17 Ma and an overprinting metamorphic recrystallization event at 1572 ± 7 Ma. Monazites from the granite gneiss samples also record a terminal metamorphic event at 1415 ± 23 Ma. Lu‐Hf isotopic analyses of zircons reveal fundamentally different source rock reservoirs for the protoliths of these magmatic rocks across the SMB. While the type TBG from the northern domain was derived from an Early Palaeoproterozoic source T(Hf) from 2093 to 2523 Ma, with a mean value at 2379 Ma) of essentially juvenile material with minor crustal components (εHf(t) from −3.3 to + 3.7), the granite from the southern domain had a mature crustal source (εHf(t) from −12.5 to −21.9) of Palaeoarchaean age T(Hf) from 3051 to 3630 Ma, with a mean value at 3218 Ma). When integrated with metamorphic information previously obtained from the 1.6 Ga ultra‐high temperature granulite facies metamorphic event in the SMB, the discrete magmatic and metamorphic events between 1.62/1.60 Ga and 1.42 Ga can be correlated with the formation of an Early Mesoproterozoic accretionary orogen in the CITZ. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mesoproterozoic Reworking of Palaeoproterozoic Ultrahigh-temperature Granulites in the Central Indian Tectonic Zone and its Implications

In the southern periphery of the Sausar Mobile Belt (SMB), thesouthern component of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ),a suite of felsic and aluminous granulites, intruded by gabbro,noritic gabbro, norite and orthopyroxenite, records the polymetamorphicevolution of the CITZ. Using sequences of prograde, peak andretrograde reaction textures, mineral chemistry, geothermobarometricresults and petrogenetic grid considerations from the felsicand the aluminous granulites and applying metamorphosed maficdyke markers and geochronological constraints, two temporallyunrelated granulite-facies tectonothermal events of Pre-Grenvillianage have been established. The first event caused ultrahigh-temperature(UHT) metamorphism (M₁) (T 950°C) at relatively deepercrustal levels (P 9 kbar) and a subsequent post-peak near-isobariccooling P–T history (M₂). M₁ caused pervasive biotite-dehydrationmelting, producing garnet–orthopyroxene and garnet–rutileand sapphirine–spinel-bearing incongruent solid assemblagesin felsic and aluminous granulites, respectively. During M₂,garnet–corundum and later spinel–sillimanite–biotiteassemblages were produced by reacting sapphirine–spinel–sillimaniteand rehydration of garnet–corundum assemblages, respectively.Applying electron microprobe (EMP) dating techniques to monazitesincluded in M₁ garnet or occurring in low-strain domains inthe felsic granulites, the UHT metamorphism is dated at 2040–2090Ma. Based on the deep crustal heating–cooling P–Ttrajectory, the authors infer an overall counterclockwise P–Tpath for this UHT event. During the second granulite event,the Palaeoproterozoic granulites experienced crustal attenuationto 6·4 kbar at T 675°C during M₃ and subsequentnear-isothermal loading to 8 kbar during M₄. In the felsic granulites,the former is marked by decomposition of M₁ garnet to orthopyroxene–plagioclasesymplectites. During M₄, there was renewed growth of garnet–quartzsymplectites in the felsic granulites, replacing the M₃ mineralassemblage and also the appearance of coronal garnet–quartz–clinopyroxeneassemblages in metamorphosed mafic dykes. Using monazites frommetamorphic overgrowths and metamorphic recrystallization domainsfrom the felsic granulite, the M₄ metamorphism is dated at 1525–1450Ma. Using geochronological and metamorphic constraints, theauthors interpret the M₃–M₄ stages to be part of the sameMesoproterozoic tectonothermal event. The result provides thefirst documentation of UHT metamorphism and Palaeo- and Mesoproterozoicmetamorphic processes in the CITZ. On a broader scale, the findingsare also consistent with the current prediction that isobaricallycooled granulites require a separate orogeny for their exhumation. KEY WORDS: Central Indian Tectonic Zone; UHT metamorphism; counterclockwise P–T path; monazite chemical dating     

印度次大陆中央构造带沉积—变质型锰矿的矿物学和地球化学

对印度中央构造带sauaar带锰矿及其围岩的31个样品进行了显微镜仔细的观察和鉴定,并分析了其主量元素、微量元素和稀土元素的地球化学特征,发现该带的锰矿主要是软锰矿和硬锰矿,锰矿主要富集在锰榴石英岩内.含锰岩系样品具非常高的Mn/Fe比值,说明热液运输和成矿作用期间锰和铁的强烈分异;MnO/TiO2为67.98-1417.52,说明有大量陆源物质经风化、搬运加入并混合沉积而成.用太古界平均澳大利亚页岩（PAAS）标准化后,稀土元素含量中δEu,δCe都有明显的正异常,说明该带锰矿床是在较强氧化海洋环境和有大量陆源物质加入的条件下沉积,并经过热液的变质交代作用而成的沉积一变质型锰矿床.该沉积—变质型锰矿的发现和研究对我国南方扬子克拉通中元古代浅变质岩系的锰矿寻找具有一定的借鉴意义.     

Early Palaeozoic high‐pressure granulites from the Dunhuang block,northeastern Tarim Craton: constraints on continental collision in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is one of the largest accretionary collages in the world, and records a prolonged sequence of subduction‐accretion and collision processes. The Tarim Craton is located at the southernmost margin of the CAOB. In this study, the discovery of early Palaeozoic high‐pressure (HP) granulites from the Dunhuang block in the northeastern Tarim Craton is reported, and these rocks are characterized through detailed petrological and geochronological studies. The peak mineral assemblage of the HP mafic granulite is garnet + clinopyroxene + plagioclase + quartz + rutile, which is overprinted by amphibolite facies retrograde metamorphic assemblages. The calculated P–T conditions of the peak metamorphism are ～1.4–1.7 GPa and ～800 °C. The retrograde P–T conditions are ～0.7 GPa and ～700 °C. The metamorphic zircon grains from the HP mafic granulite show homogeneous CL‐images, low Th/U ratios and flat HREE patterns and yield a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 444 ± 5 Ma. The metamorphic zircon grains from the associated kyanite‐bearing garnet gneiss and garnet‐mica schist show a similar ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 429 ± 3 and 435 ± 4 Ma, respectively. The c. 440–430 Ma age is interpreted to mark the timing of HP granulite facies metamorphism in the Dunhuang block. The results from this study suggest that the Dunhuang block experienced continental subduction prior to the early Palaeozoic collisional orogeny between the northeastern Tarim Craton and the southern CAOB, and the Dunhuang area could be considered as the southward extension of the CAOB. It is suggested that the continental collision in the eastern part involving the Dunhuang block of the southern CAOB may have occurred c. 120 Ma earlier than in the western part involving the Tianshan orogen.     

Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt in NE China

The eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) in NE China is a key area for investigating continental growth. However, the complexity of its Paleozoic geological history has meant that the tectonic development of this belt is not fully understood. NE China is composed of the Erguna and Jiamusi blocks in the northern and eastern parts and the Xing’an and Songliao-Xilinhot accretionary terranes in the central and southern parts. The Erguna and Jiamusi blocks have Precambrian basements with Siberia and Gondwana affinities, respectively. In contrast, the Xing ’an and Songliao-Xilinhot accretionary terranes were formed via subduction and collision processes. These blocks and terranes were separated by the Xinlin-Xiguitu, Heilongjiang, Nenjiang, and Solonker oceans from north to south, and these oceans closed during the Cambrian (ca. 500 Ma), Late Silurian (ca. 420 Ma), early Late Carboniferous (ca. 320 Ma), and Late Permian to Middle Triassic (260 –240 Ma), respectively, forming the Xinlin-Xiguitu, Mudanjiang-Yilan, Hegenshan-Heihe, Solonker-Linxi, and Changchun-Yanji suture zones. Two oceanic tectonic cycles took place in the eastern Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO), namely, the Early Paleozoic cycle involving the Xinlin-Xiguitu and Heilongjiang oceans and the late Paleozoic cycle involving the Nenjiang-Solonker oceans. The Paleozoic tectonic pattern of the eastern CAOB generally shows structural features that trend east-west. The timing of accretion and collision events of the eastern CAOB during the Paleozoic youngs progressively from north to south. The branch ocean basins of the eastern PAO closed from west to east in a scissor-like manner. A bi-directional subduction regime dominated during the narrowing and closure process of the eastern PAO, which led to “soft collision” of tectonic units on each side, forming huge accretionary orogenic belts in central Asia.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

中亚造山带东段西拉木伦构造带的性质与演化：来自变形和低温热年代学的约束

中亚造山带东段何时与何地关闭,从俯冲到关闭的过程以及随后的陆内演化又经历了什么主要事件,目前还存在不同认识。中亚造山带东段林西地区的蛇绿混杂岩及其周围地区的区域地质调查表明,以杏树洼蛇绿混杂岩和双井片岩为代表的西拉木伦河构造带是一个晚古生代的增生楔,在该混杂岩带中发育了典型的岩块被包裹在基质中的构造。该楔体被中、晚二叠世克德河砾岩所覆盖。增生楔中最早的近东西向构造代表了向南俯冲阶段的变形,随后继续经历向北的逆冲推覆,卷入了中、晚二叠世地层,形成了碰撞期的变形;在晚二叠世末期—三叠纪早期,蛇绿混杂岩以及上覆的克德河砾岩又经历了区域性的强烈的右行韧性剪切,并发生应变分解。晚二叠世区域性的右行韧性剪切在中亚造山带南缘普遍发育,代表了中亚造山带已经全部进入陆内环境。双井片岩也经历了与蛇绿混杂岩类似的变形事件,在增生楔下部经历变质作用,并在碰撞期抬升至地表,晚期为区域性的右行剪切。同时,结合锆石与磷灰石低温热年代学测试表明,双井片岩和蛇绿混杂岩共同经历了中、晚侏罗世源自北侧蒙古-阿霍茨克大洋关闭导致的近南北向挤压、早白垩世期间遍及东亚的区域性伸展以及晚白垩世短暂的构造反转事件。     

北山造山带马鬃山增生楔时空演化历史：来自野外精细解剖、碎屑锆石年代学和岩石地球化学的约束

北山造山带围限于华北克拉通、西伯利亚克拉通和塔里木克拉通之间, 是中亚造山带南缘的重要组成部分, 学界对其构造-地层区划和地质演化历史长期存在着不同认识。其中贾不泉口子地区的马鬃山增生楔是研究北山地区构造演化的天然载体, 本文针对该增生楔的不同地质体开展了详细的识别和解剖, 共识别出蛇绿混杂岩岩片、洋岛-海山岩片、洋内弧岩片、深海-半深海硅质岩岩片、活动陆缘-海沟浊积岩岩片和陆缘增生弧岩片等多种岩片类型。在马鬃山增生楔活动陆缘-海沟浊积岩岩片中的两件凝灰质粉砂岩样品(P3-57、P3-110)和一件含砾岩屑砂岩样品(P3-82)获得最大沉积年龄分别为410Ma、430Ma和286Ma。本研究对北山地区古生代的构造古地理格局演变具有重要的约束作用, 具体表现为: (1)贾不泉口子地区的马鬃山增生楔岩石组合、变质变形程度与年代学研究存在一定差异, 应该对不同类型岩片予以解构分析, 还原不同类型岩片的构造古地理背景; (2)贾不泉口子地区的马鬃山增生楔中的3件基质样品的碎屑锆石年龄谱表现出~2.5Ga、~1.5Ga、~0.9Ga、~450Ma、~430Ma、~410Ma、~350Ma和~288Ma的多峰值频谱特征, 分别记录了北山地区的变质结晶基底、哥伦比亚和罗迪尼亚超大陆的聚合-裂解事件、活动大陆边缘多期次构造-岩浆事件、残留洋盆以及同碰撞造山快速携入马鬃山增生楔; (3)北山造山带的碎屑锆石年龄频谱占比分布规律存在明显的南北差异, 表明马鬃山增生楔的物源区整体上由前寒武纪时期缝合带北侧提供转向由二叠纪时期缝合带南侧提供。

     

Early Mesoproterozoic metamorphism in the Barossa Complex,South Australia: links with the eastern margin of Proterozoic Australia

LA-ICP-MS U–Pb geochronological data from metamorphic monazite in granulite-facies metapelites in the Barossa Complex, southern Australia, yield ages in the range 1580–1550 Ma. Metapelitic rocks from the Myponga and Houghton Inliers contain early biotite–sillimanite-bearing assemblages that underwent partial melting to produce peak metamorphic garnet–sillimanite-bearing anatectic assemblages. Phase equilibrium modelling suggests a clockwise P–T evolution with peak temperatures between 800 and 870°C and peak pressures of 8–9 kbar, followed by decompression to pressures of ～6 kbar. In combination with existing age data, the monazite U–Pb ages indicate that the early Mesoproterozoic evolution of the Barossa Complex is contemporaneous with other high geothermal gradient metamorphic terranes in eastern Proterozoic Australia. The areal extent of early Mesoproterozoic metamorphism in eastern Australia suggests that any proposed continental reconstructions involving eastern Proterozoic Australia should share a similar tectonothermal history.     

中亚造山带北山南部柳园洋晚古生代两阶段古地理演化

甘蒙北山地区位于中亚造山带中段,其间的柳园洋是古亚洲洋的重要分支之一,关于该洋盆的演化过程存在两阶段裂谷盆地和单阶段长期俯冲两种认识。柳园洋位于北山南部石板山地块和双鹰山地块之间,石板山地块的晚古生代沉积序列和物源变化完整记录了洋盆的古地理演化过程,对于重建区域构造演化有重要意义。此次研究聚焦石板山地块独山地区的上古生界火山- 沉积序列,通过砂岩碎屑颗粒组分和碎屑锆石U- Pb- Hf同位素分析,提供柳园洋古地理演化的约束证据。本文数据表明：独山地区下—中泥盆统碎屑锆石年龄为早古生代单峰式分布（~415 Ma）,来自于柳园洋向南俯冲在石板山地块边缘而形成的岩浆弧;上石炭统—下二叠统样品中出现了明显的中元古代碎屑锆石年龄（~1426 Ma）,来自于北侧的双鹰山地块和中天山地块,指示洋盆闭合事件;下二叠统碎屑锆石年龄主要为晚石炭世—早二叠世单峰式分布（301~290 Ma）,来自于裂谷火山活动。此外,本次研究通过对北山南部已发表物源学数据的统计计算,进一步证明并完善了古生代柳园洋两阶段演化模型：中奥陶世—中泥盆世,柳园洋双向俯冲至敦煌- 石板山地块和双鹰山地块之下;晚泥盆世,柳园洋闭合,直至石炭纪晚期,敦煌- 石板山- 双鹰山地块形成了统一的陆缘环境;早—中二叠世,柳园裂谷盆地逐步发育至原洋盆地。