Geochronological Constraints on Evolution of Singhbhum Mobile Belt and Associated Basic Volcanics of Eastern Indian Shield

The Singhbhum Mobile Belt (SMB) of the eastern Indian shield represents a roughly east-west-trending arcuate belt of folded supracrustals overlying the granite-greenstone basement of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton along its northern, eastern and western margins and is bounded by the Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex to further north. The radiometric ages of the basement Singhbhum and equivalent granites and the intrusive anorogenic Mayurbhanj granite pluton constrain the time of evolution of this mobile belt between 3.12 and 3.09 Ga. Hence, the SMB supracrustals also known as Singhbhum Group, is late Mesoarchaean in age and not Proterozoic as thought earlier. The evolution of the SMB was followed by emplacement of some major basic igneous rocks within or adjacent to the supracrustals. These include Simlipal volcanics at >3.09 Ga on the SMB, Mayurbhanj gabbro along with Mayurbhanj granite at 3.09 Ga along the marginal part of the craton near the SMB, and the Dalma volcanics on the SMB along with the Dhanjori volcanics adjacent to SMB at 2.80 Ga. The 2.80 Ga old basic volcanics is also associated with emplacement of some small granite plutons occurring along the marginal part of the craton, one of them, the Tamperkola granite intrudes the SMB. The >3.09 Ga onward igneous activities along the marginal part of Singhbhum-Orissa Craton took place essentially under anorogenic tectonic setting before being affected by a major metamorphism at 2.50 Ga, which is recorded on the Dalma volcanics and on some small granite pluton occurs along the marginal part of the craton. The Jagannathpur and stratigraphically equivalent Malangtoli volcanics, occurring within the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton at the west, were erupted at 2.25 Ga. The boundary between the SMB supracrustals and the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton is demarked by a prominent shear zone known as the Singhbhum Shear Zone, which shows multiple reactivation, the oldest being at 3.09 Ga, followed by subsequent reactivation during Palaeo- and Mesoproterozoic periods at 2.2, 1.8, 1.6-1.5, 1.4 and 1.0 Ga respectively. The Singhbhum Group and the adjacent Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex appear to have evolved from a near shore syn-rift and a distal post-rift stable shelf sedimentary assemblages respectively, which were deposited without any stratigraphic break in a marine basin existed in the present north of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton. Both of these assemblages were deformed and metamorphosed together during Proterozoic at 2.5 to >2.3 Ga, 1.6 Ga and 1.0 Ga.     

Paleo- and Mesoarchean TTG-sanukitoid to high-K granite cycles in the southern São Francisco craton,SE Brazil

The generation of the continental crust is widely accepted to have taken place predominantly in the Archean, when TTG magmatism associated with greenstone-belt supracrustal succession development was typically followed by emplacement of high-K granites before crustal stabilization. This study focuses on the Campos Gerais complex (CGC), which is an Archean granite-greenstone belt lithological association in a tectonic window located in the southwesternmost portion of the São Francisco craton (SFC). The CGC is an important segment of Paleo- to Mesoarchean continental crust to be integrated into paleogeographic reconstructions prior to the transition into the Paleoproterozoic. This investigation reports field relationships, 28 major and trace element compositions, U–Pb (zircon) geochronological results, and Hf and Sm–Nd isotope data for orthogneiss and amphibolite samples. The results indicate that the CGC records a complex Archean crustal evolution, where voluminous 2.97 Ga TTG tonalites and trondhjemites (ε_Nd(t) =  ? 4.7; T_DM = 3.24 Ga) were followed by 2.89 Ga sanukitoid tonalite production (ε_Nd(t) =  ? 1.9; T_DM = 3.02 Ga), broadly coeval with the development of the Fortaleza de Minas and Pitangui greenstone-belts. These events are interpreted to represent the initial stage of an important subduction-accretion tectonic cycle, which ended with the emplacement of 2.82–2.81 Ga high-K leucogranites and migmatization of the TTG-sanukitoid crust, with hybrid and two-mica, peraluminous compositions (ε_Nd(t) =  ? 8.0 to ? 8.6; T_DM = 3.57 – 3.34 Ga). The presence of inherited zircons with ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 3.08 Ga, 3.29 Ga, 3.55 Ga and 3.62 Ga indicates that the Mesoarchean tectonic processes involved reworking of Meso- to Eo-archean crust. Renewed TTG magmatism took place at ca. 2.77 Ga represented by juvenile tonalite stocks (ε_Nd(t) = +1.0 to ? 1.5; T_DM = 2.80 – 2.88 Ga) which intrude the TTG-greenstone belt association. Crustal stabilization was attained by 2.67 Ga, allowing for the emplacement of within-plate tholeiitic amphibolites (ε_Nd(t) =  ? 3.1; T_DM = 2.87 Ga). The CGC shows important tectonic diachronism with respect to other Archean terrains in the southern São Francisco craton, including an independent Meso- to Neoarchean crustal evolution.     

Sm–Nd isotope geochemistry of metamorphic volcano-sedimentary successions in the São Gabriel Block,southernmost Brazil: evidence for the existence of juvenile Neoproterozoic oceanic crust to the east of the Rio de la Plata craton

Juvenile Neoproterozoic dioritic, tonalitic, trondhjemitic and granodioritic gneisses in the São Gabriel block, southern Brazil, have been identified by geochronologic studies. Age proposals for associated (ultra-)mafic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks, however, range from Archean to Neoproterozoic. Whole rock Sm–Nd analyses presented here support a Neoproterozoic age for these rocks. TDM model ages of the (ultra-)mafic metavolcanic rocks range between 0.65 and 1.35 Ga with ɛNd(t) positive values between 3.16 and 6.87; TDM model ages of metasedimentary and metavolcanoclastic rocks vary between 0.77 and 1.19 Ga with ɛNd(t) values between 1.2 and 6.23; tonalitic calc-alkaline gneisses show ɛNd(t) values of 4.34 and 6.3 and TDM model ages of 0.89 and 0.72 Ga, respectively. A late-kinematic granite (Santa Zélia granite) display slightly negative ɛNd(t) values (−1.6) and a higher TDM model age of about 1.4 Ga. These data support the existence of Meso/Neoproterozoic juvenile oceanic crust and island arc rocks during the Brasiliano orogenic events. The main source rocks of the metasedimentary units are previously formed juvenile rocks. The data also indicate minor assimilation of older crustal material and/or contamination of the melts by radiogenic Nd released from older rocks on the subducting slab. Existence of widespread old sialic crust in the subduction zone environment, however, can be ruled out indicating important orogenic accretion between 0.9 and 0.7 Ga. A geotectonic model for the São Gabriel block and the eastern margin of the Rio de la Plata craton comprises eastward subduction and following accretion of an intra-oceanic island arc between 0.9 and 0.8 Ga and a subsequent westward subduction with formation of an active continental margin at the eastern margin of the Rio de la Plata craton between 0.8 and 0.7 Ga. We postulate that the juvenile rocks of São Gabriel block represent relics of a Neoproterozoic ocean between the Rio de la Plata craton and a continental block (Encantadas block) possibly derived from the Kalahari craton. Subduction and arc accretion began roughly coeval with the initial stages of the break-up of Rodinia (0.9 Ga) and indicate a peripheric Rio de la Plata craton in relation to the Rodinia supercontinent with evolution from a passive margin to an active margin in the beginning of the Neoproterozoic Brasiliano orogenic events.     

The ~1.4 Ga A-type granitoids in the “Chottanagpur crustal block” (India), and its relocation from Columbia to Rodinia?

In paleogeographic reconstructions of the Columbia and Rodinia Supercontinents, the position of the Greater India landmass is ambiguous. This, coupled with a limited understanding of the tectonic evolution of the mobile belts along which the mosaic of crustal domains in India accreted, impedes precise correlation among the dispersed crustal fragments in supercontinent reconstructions. Using structural, metamorphic phase equilibria, chronological and geochemical investigations, this study aims to reconstruct the tectonic evolution of the Chottanagpur Gneiss Complex (CGC) as a distinct crustal block at the eastern end of the Greater Indian Proterozoic Fold Belt (GIPFOB) along which the North India Block (NIB) and the South India Block (SIB) accreted. The study focuses on two issues, e.g. dating the Early Neoproterozoic (0.92 Ga) accretion of the CGC with the NIB contemporaneous with the assembly of Rodinia, and documenting the widespread (>24,000 km²) plutonism of 1.5–1.4 Ga weakly peraluminous, calc-alkalic to alkali-calcic and ferroan A-type granitoids (± garnet) devoid of mafic microgrannular enclaves and coeval mafic emplacements in the crustal block. These dominantly within-plate granitoids arguably formed by asthenospheric upwelling induced partial melting of garnet-bearing anatectic quartzofeldspathic gneisses that dominate the Early Mesoproterozoic basement of the block. The major and trace element chemistry of the granitoids is similar to the 1.35–1.45 Ga A-type granitoids in Laurentia/Amazonia emplaced contemporaneous with the 1.5–1.3 Ga breakup of the Columbia Supercontinent.This study suggests the Chottanagpur Gneiss Complex occured as a fragmented crustal block following the breakup of the Columbia Supercontinent; the crustal block was subsequently integrated within India during the Early Neoproterozoic oblique accretion between the NIB and SIB contemporaneous with the Rodinia Supercontinent assembly.     

A new cache of Eoarchaean detrital zircons from the Singhbhum craton,eastern India and constraints on early Earth geodynamics

The dominant geodynamic processes that underpin the formation and evolution of Earth’s early crust remain enigmatic calling for new information from less studied ancient cratonic nuclei.Here,we present U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions of detrital zircon grains from^2.9 Ga old quartzites and magmatic zircon from a 3.505 Ga old dacite from the Iron Ore Group of the Singhbhum craton,eastern India.The detrital zircon grains range in age between 3.95 Ga and 2.91 Ga.Together with the recently reported Hadean,Eoarchean xenocrystic(up to 4.24 Ga)and modem detritus zircon grains from the Singhbhum craton,our results suggest that the Eoarchean detrital zircons represent crust generated by recycling of Hadean felsic crust formed at^4.3-4.2 Ga and^3.95 Ga.We observe a prominent shift in Hf isotope compositions at^3.6-3.5 Ga towards super-chondritic values,which signify an increased role for depleted mantle and the relevance of plate tectonics.The Paleo-,Mesoarchean zircon Hf isotopic record in the craton indicates crust generation involving the role of both depleted and enriched mantle sources.We infer a short-lived suprasubduction setting around^3.6-3.5 Ga followed by mantle plume activity during the Paleo-,Mesoarchean crust formation in the Singhbhum craton.The Singhbhum craton provides an additional repository for Earth’s oldest materials.     

The distinct metamorphic stages and structural styles of the 1.94–1.86 Ga Snowbird Orogen,Northwest Territories,Canada

Palaeoproterozoic orogenesis within the Archean southeastern Rae craton is related to the initial amalgamation of Laurentia. Characterizing the accompanying tectonic processes during this time has been complicated due to polymetamorphism, which results in the obscuring of the age record of the terranes involved. To improve the knowledge of the tectonic evolution of the South Rae Craton, petrologic and structural analyses are applied in conjunction with in situ trace element chemistry, inclusion barometry, U–Pb monazite and titanite, and Lu–Hf garnet chronology. The data robustly constrain Palaeoproterozoic pressure–temperature–time paths of major deformational events along the southeastern Rae craton margin. D₁ occurred between 1.94 and 1.93 Ga in the Dodge-Snowbird domain, which included prograde burial of metasedimentary rocks, deposited at 2.2–2.0 Ga, and the development of migmatitic layering and east-southeast trending folds (S₁, F₁). Peak metamorphism is recorded in metasedimentary units at c. 1.93 Ga when rocks reached conditions of 9.0–10.5 kbar and 810–830°C. Within the Dodge-Snowbird domain, D₂ imparted north-northeast trending open folds and associated axial planar cleavage (S₂, F₂) between 1.93 and 1.90 Ga during east-west compression that appears to have been synchronous with cooling and exhumation. Later D₂ deformation, localized within the Wholdaia Lake shear zone (WLsz; S_T1), developed in the footwall of this thrust-sense structure at 1,873 ± 5 Ma at conditions of 9.5–11.0 kbar and 820–850°C. The hangingwall Dodge-Snowbird domain had already cooled to below 300°C by then, indicating a significant structural and metamorphic break across the domain's western boundary. A new phase of unroofing (D₃) involved pervasive amphibolite- to greenschist facies extensional shearing (S_T2) within the WLsz, which overprinted S_T1 foliations between 1.87 and 1.86 Ga. Continued greenschist facies shearing younger than 1.86 Ga likely ended by c. 1.83 Ga when lamprophyre dykes cut the structure, which was followed by cooling until c. 1.80 Ga. This work highlights the utility and application of multiple chronometers (zircon, monazite, titanite, garnet) along with structural and petrologic analysis that together can resolve precise orogenic cycles in polymetamorphic terranes that may otherwise be undetected. The time-resolved P–T–D histories derived here enable more robust interpretations regarding the nature and evolution of 1.9 Ga tectonism along the southeast Rae craton margin, which may be used to refine models for Laurentian terrane amalgamation.     

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.     

Detrital zircons from Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks in the Yili Block: Constraints on the affinity of microcontinents in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

The Yili Block is one of the Precambrian microcontinents dispersed in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Detrital zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic data of Neoproterozoic meta-sedimentary rocks (the Wenquan Group) are presented to constrain the tectonic affinity and early history of the Yili Block. The dating of detrital zircons indicates that both the lower and upper Wenquan Groups have two major populations with ages at 950–880 Ma and 1600–1370 Ma. Moreover, the upper Wenquan Group has two minor populations at ~ 1100 Ma and 1850–1720 Ma. According to the youngest age peaks of meta-sedimentary rocks and the ages of related granitoids, the lower Wenquan Group is considered to have been deposited during the early Neoproterozoic (900–845 Ma), whereas the upper Wenquan Group was deposited at 880–857 Ma. The zircon ε_Hf (t) values suggest that the 1.85–1.72 Ga source rocks for the upper Wenquan Group were dominated by juvenile crustal material, whereas those for the lower Wenquan Group involved more ancient crustal material. For the 1.60–1.37 Ga source rocks, however, juvenile material was a significant input into both the upper and lower Wenquan Groups. Therefore, two synchronous crustal growth and reworking events were identified in the northern Yili Block at ca. 1.8–1.7 Ga and 1.6–1.3 Ga, respectively. After the last growth and reworking event, continuous crustal reworking took place in the northern Yili Block until the early Neoproterozoic. Comparing the age patterns and Hf isotopic compositions of detrital zircons from the Yili Block and the surrounding tectonic units indicates that the Yili Block has a close tectonic affinity to the Chinese Central Tianshan Block in the Precambrian. The Precambrian crustal evolution of the Yili Block is distinct from that of the Siberian, North China and Tarim Cratons. Such difference therefore suggests that the Yili Block and the Chinese Central Tianshan Block may have been united in an isolated Precambrian microcontinent within the CAOB rather than representing two different blocks rifted from old cratons on both sides of the Paleo-Asian Ocean.     

Constraints from monazite and xenotime growth modelling in the MnCKFMASH‐PYCe system on the P–T path of a metapelite from Shillong‐Meghalaya Plateau: implications for the Indian shield assembly

The Palaeo‐Mesoproterozoic metapelite granulites from northern Garo Hills, western Shillong‐Meghalaya Gneissic Complex (SMGC), northeast India, consist of resorbed garnet, cordierite and K‐feldspar porphyroblasts in a matrix comprising shape‐preferred aggregates of biotite±sillimanite+quartz that define the penetrative gneissic fabric. An earlier assemblage including biotite and sillimanite occurs as inclusions within the garnet and cordierite porphyroblasts. Staurolite within cordierite in samples without matrix sillimanite is interpreted to have formed by a reaction between the sillimanite inclusion and the host cordierite during retrogression. Accessory monazite occurs as inclusions within garnet as well as in the matrix, whereas accessory xenotime occurs only in the matrix. The monazite inclusions in garnet contain higher Ca, and lower Y and Th/U than the matrix monazite outside resorbed garnet rims. On the other hand, matrix monazite away from garnet contains low Ca and Y, and shows very high Th/U ratios. The low Th/U ratios (<10) of the Y‐poor garnet‐hosted monazite indicate subsolidus formation during an early stage of prograde metamorphism. A calculated P–T pseudosection in the MnCKFMASH‐PYCe system indicates that the garnet‐hosted monazite formed at <3 kbar/600 °C (Stage A). These P–T estimates extend backward the previously inferred prograde P–T path from peak anatectic conditions of 7–8 kbar/850 °C based on major mineral equilibria. Furthermore, the calculated P–T pseudosections indicate that cordierite–staurolite equilibrated at ~5.5 kbar/630 °C during retrograde metamorphism. Thus, the P–T path was counterclockwise. The Y‐rich matrix monazite outside garnet rims formed between ~3.2 kbar/650 °C and ~5 kbar/775 °C (Stage B) during prograde metamorphism. If the effect of bulk composition change due to open system behaviour during anatexis is considered, the P–T conditions may be lower for Stage A (<2 kbar/525 °C) and Stage B (~3 kbar/600 °C to ~3.5 kbar/660 °C). Prograde garnet growth occurred over the entire temperature range (550–850 °C), and Stage‐B monazite was perhaps initially entrapped in garnet. During post‐peak cooling, the Stage‐B monazite grains were released in the matrix by garnet dissolution. Furthermore, new matrix monazite (low Y and very high Th/U ≤80, ~8 kbar/850–800 °C, Stage C), some monazite outside garnet rims (high Y and intermediate Th/U ≤30, ~8 kbar/800–785 °C, Stage D), and matrix xenotime (<785 °C) formed through post‐peak crystallization of melt. Regardless of textural setting, all monazite populations show identical chemical ages (1630–1578 Ma, ±43 Ma). The lithological association (metapelite and mafic granulites), and metamorphic age and P–T path of the northern Garo Hills metapelites and those from the southern domain of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ) are similar. The SMGC was initially aligned with the southern parts of CITZ and Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex of central/eastern India in an ENE direction, but was displaced ~350 km northward by sinistral movement along the north‐trending Eastern Indian Tectonic Zone in Neoproterozoic. The southern CITZ metapelites supposedly originated in a back‐arc associated with subducting oceanic lithosphere below the Southern Indian Block at c. 1.6 Ga during the initial stage of Indian shield assembly. It is inferred that the SMGC metapelites may also have originated contemporaneously with the southern CITZ metapelites in a similar back‐arc setting.     

Detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology of a Cenozoic foreland basin in Northeast India: Implications for zircon provenance during the collision of the Indian and Asian plates

Geochronology is useful for understanding provenance, and while it has been applied to the central and western Himalaya, very little data are available in the eastern Himalaya. This study presents detrital zircon U–Pb ages from the late Palaeocene–Eocene Yinkiong Group in NE India. The samples are from the late Palaeocene to early Eocene Lower Yinkiong Formation, and the Upper Yinkiong Formation deposited during the early to mid‐Eocene within the Himalayan foreland basin. The U–Pb ages of the detrital zircon within the Lower Yinkiong Formation are older than late Palaeozoic, with a cratonic and early Himalayan Thrust Belt affinity, whereas the Cenozoic grains in the Upper Yinkiong Formation indicate a Himalayan Thrust Belt source and possibly a granitic body within the Asian plate. The shift of the sources and the changes in the foreland basin system strongly suggest that the India–Asia collision in the Eastern Himalaya began before or immediately after the deposition of the Upper Yinkiong Formation, i.e., within the early Eocene (c. 56 to 50 Ma).     

U-Pb zircon ages and Sm-Nd isotopic characteristics of the Lesser and Great Himalayan sequences,Uttarakhand Himalaya,and their regional tectonic implications

Detrital zircons (DZ) and Nd isotopic characteristics constraint maximum depositional ages of two distinct Paleoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic terranes across the Main Central Thrust zone (Munsiari Group) in the Himalaya. New DZ ages and Nd isotopic characters are reported from the Inner Lesser Himalaya (iLH) sedimentary belt (Berinag Group quartzite) and the Munsiari Group through the Great Himalayan Sequence (GHS–Vaikrita Group) across the MCT to the lower parts of the Tethyan Himalayan Sequence (THS) along the Alaknanda–Dhauli Ganga valleys, Uttarakhand Himalaya. The iLH Berinag Group quartzite yielded nearly unimodal DZ U-Pb ages between 2.05 and 1.80 Ga with ε_Nd(0) values of −17 and −23, while the overthrust Munsiari Group, bounded by the Munsiari Thrust at the base and the Vaikrita Thrust (MCT) at the top, represents the Proterozoic magmatic arc with ∼1.95 and 1.89 Ga U-Pb zircon age population with an average of −25 ε_Nd(0) value; the arc developed during the Columbia Supercontinent assembly. In contrast, overthrust Great Himalayan Sequence (GHS–Vaikrita Group) above the MCT is characterized by entirely new Neoproterozoic 1.05–0.85 Ga zircon population, which appears for the first time in this sequence, and has higher ε_Nd(0) values (average −16). Tectonically overlying the GHS, the Tethyan Himalayan Sequence (THS) has first appearance of the Early Paleozoic detrital zircons, with its ε_Nd(0) values like the GHS. Broadly, these characters persist throughout the Himalayan belt from Himachal to NE Himalaya. The iLH sediments were possibly derived from northernly ∼1.9 Ga magmatic arc, and southern the Archean–Proterozoic Aravalli–Bundelkhand nuclei of the Indian craton. Potential sources for the GHS sediments may be a northerly ‘destroyed’ Neoproterozoic magmatic arc whose remnants exists within the Himalaya as the Neoproterozoic granitoids, and possibly be the iLH sedimentary belt, an ‘In-board’ Aravalli–Delhi Fold Belt (ADFB)–Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ) in the south.     

Neoproterozoic glacial deposits from the Araçuaí orogen,Brazil: Age,provenance and correlations with the São Francisco craton and West Congo belt

Glacigenic diamictite successions of the Macaúbas Group are widespread in the western domain of the Araçuaí orogen, east of the São Francisco craton (Brazil). Diamictites also occur on this craton and in the African counterpart of the Araçuaí orogen, the West Congo belt. Detrital zircon grains from the matrix of diamictites and sandstones from the Macaúbas Group were dated by the U–Pb SHRIMP technique. The geochronological study sets the maximum depositional age of the glacial diamictites at 900 Ma, and indicates multiple sources for the Macaúbas basin with ages ranging from 900 to 2800 Ma. Sm–Nd T_DM model ages, determined on whole rock samples, range from 1.8 Ga to 2.5 Ga and get older up-section. Comparison of our data with those from the cratonic area suggest that these glacial deposits can be correlated to the Jequitaí and Carrancas diamictites in the São Francisco craton, and to the Lower Mixtite Formation of the West Congolian Group, exposed in Africa. The 900–1000 Ma source is most probably represented by the Zadinian–Mayumbian volcanic rocks and related granites from the West Congo belt. However, one of the most voluminous sources, with ages in the 1.1–1.3 Ga interval, has not been detected in the São Francisco-Congo craton. Possible sources for these grains could occur elsewhere in Africa, or possibly from within the Brasília Belt in western central Brazil.     

天然火山作用探测华北下地壳组成、结构及其形成过程

与中上地壳相比，对下地壳组成、结构的认识受限于样品的获取，然而天然火山作用携带的下地壳捕虏体可以为了解下地壳提供关键样品。华北克拉通是世界上最古老的克拉通之一，显生宙以来的火山作用携带有丰富的下地壳捕虏体，为探测华北下地壳组成、结构及其形成过程提供了可能。通过对这些捕虏体定深、定性及定年的综合研究，构建了以信阳，莒南，汉诺坝和女山等典型地区为代表的下地壳组成、结构剖面模型。这些剖面表明，华北克拉通下地壳具有分层的特点，且上老下新，暗示可能与底侵作用有关。其中捕虏体的锆石U- Pb年龄和Hf同位素的研究，揭示了该克拉通下地壳复杂的形成与演化过程：最古老的组成部分可能老至~4. 0 Ga冥古宙，此后经历了3. 80~3. 65 Ga古太古代的再造作用，2. 8~2. 5 Ga 新太古代和2. 3~1. 8 Ga 古元古代的增生与再造共存，同时还经历了显生宙以来包括462~220 Ma，140~90 Ma和47~45 Ma的增生与再造事件。     

Paleoproterozoic UHT metamorphism with isobaric cooling (IBC) followed by decompression–heating in the Khondalite Belt (North China Craton): New evidence from two sapphirine formation processes

Interpretation of reaction microstructures may provide constraints on the P–T path followed by rocks, with implications for the geodynamic evolution. Sapphirine generally occurs in diverse microstructures in ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) Mg–Al-rich granulites. Understanding multi-stage sapphirine formation processes and the resultant P–T path may provide insights into the cause of UHT metamorphism, which is otherwise under broad debate. Here, we investigate samples of UHT granulite containing two distinct types of sapphirine from the Dongpo locality in the Khondalite Belt, North China Craton, with the aim of understanding the processes of sapphirine formation and the metamorphic evolution of the host rocks. Petrographic observations show that early sapphirine, which occurs as coronas on spinel and as single porphyroblasts, formed together with biotite, sillimanite, and inclusion-rich garnet. Late symplectitic sapphirine along with fine-grained plagioclase and spinel plus plagioclase symplectites, formed by consumption of sillimanite, biotite, and garnet. Three pseudosections based on the bulk compositions of microdomains inferred to reflect spatially restricted equilibrium suggest that the rocks record near isobaric cooling (IBC) from ~980 to 830ºC at ~0.9 GPa for early sapphirine formation, and decompression and heating to ≤0.7 GPa and ~900ºC for late sapphirine formation. Our study in combination with other metamorphic P–T and age information reveals the common occurrence of IBC paths and long duration (c. 1.93 to 1.86 Ga) regional UHT metamorphism in the Khondalite Belt, North China Craton. Locally, this is followed by decompression–heating paths at c. 1.86 Ga. The Palaeoproterozoic UHT metamorphism with long-lived IBC path in the Khondalite Belt, North China Craton supports large hot orogen model in the amalgamation of this part in the supercontinent Nuna.     

Microstructural evolution of the Seridó Belt, NE-Brazil: the effect of two tectonic events on development of c-axis preferred orientation in quartz

The polyphase evolution of the Seridó Belt (NE-Brazil) includes D₁ crust formation at 2.3–2.1 Ga, D₂ thrust tectonics at 1.9 Ga and crustal reworking by D₃ strike-slip shear zones at 600 Ma. Microstructural investigations within mylonites associated with D₂ and D₃ events were used to constrain the tectono-thermal evolution of the belt. D₂ shear zones commenced at deeper crustal levels and high amphibolite facies conditions (600–650 °C) through grain boundary migration, subgrain rotation and operation of quartz c-prism slip. Continued shearing and exhumation of the terrain forced the re-equilibration of high-T fabrics and the switching of slip systems from c-prism to positive and negative a-rhombs. During D₃, enhancement of ductility by dissipation of heat that came from syn-D₃ granites developed wide belts of amphibolite facies mylonites. Continued shearing, uplift and cooling of the region induced D₃ shear zones to act in ductile-brittle regimes, marked by fracturing and development of thinner belts of greenschist facies mylonites. During this event, switching from a-prism to a-basal slip indicates a thermal path from 600 to 350 °C. Therefore, microstructures and quartz c-axis fabrics in polydeformed rocks from the Seridó Belt preserve the record of two major events, which includes contrasting deformation mechanisms and thermal paths.     

Silurian collisional suturing onto the southern margin of the North China craton: Detrital zircon geochronology constraints from the Qilian Orogen

The Qilian Orogen of north western China records mid-Paleozoic collisional suturing of arc and continental blocks onto the south western margin of the North China craton. Silurian strata from the retroarc foreland basin mark the transition from ocean closure and northward subduction to the initiation of collision suturing. Detrital zircons were analysed from the western and eastern parts of the basin and show a spectrum of ages from Archean to Paleozoic with major age concentrations at around 2.5 Ga, 1.6 Ga, 1.2 Ga, 0.98 Ga, 0.7 Ga and 0.45 Ga. Archean age grains are derived from the North China craton, whereas the Central Qilian Bloc, which lies to the south provides the likely source for the bulk of the Proterozoic detritus. Paleozoic grains are restricted to Early Silurian samples from the western part of the basin and are considered to have been derived from the magmatic arc related to ocean closure and ultimate collision of the Central Qilian Belt with the North China craton.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of A-type Barabazar granite: Implications on the geodynamics of South Purulia Shear Zone,Singhbhum craton,Eastern India

The Barabazar granite, exposed at the northern margin of Singhbhum craton, Eastern India, occurs along the South Purulia Shear Zone (SPSZ) and is emplaced into the Palaeoproterozoic metapelites and felsic volcanics of Singhbhum Group. Geochemical, petrographical and geochronological studies on the Barabazar granite addressed in the work have wide implications on understanding the geodynamics of SPSZ during Palaeoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic. Geochemically, Barabazar granite displays limited range of major oxides, alkali enrichment and highly fractionated features (SiO₂ > 75%; Eu/Eu* = 0.16–0.33; enrichment of K, Rb, Th, U and Nb; depletion of Ba, Sr, P and Ti). It is predominantly peraluminous (molar Al₂O₃/CaO+Na₂O+K₂O (A/CNK) =1.14–144) and contains abundant alkali feldspar, perthite, and minor plagioclase, biotite and accessory minerals. Geochemical and petrological data indicates that it is A-type granite, which formed in ‘Within plate granite’ tectonic set up. The Barabazar granite was emplaced at ca. 1771 Ma (Pb-Pb) in rift related environs and evolved by partial melting of stabilized lower/middle crust (initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7302 ± 0.0066 and μ₁ = 8.5 ± 0.5). Subsequently, the shear zone (SPSZ) developed during the closure of the riftogenic basin and was reactivated during the Grenvillian orogeny (Ca. 900–1300 Ma), resulting in rehomogenisation of the strontium isotopes and thereby yielding younger whole-rock Rb-Sr isotope age of c. 971 Ma for the Barabazar granite. Probably during this tectonic event, the Singhbhum craton (Southern India Shield) would have finally juxtaposed with Northern Indian Shield along Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ) during the global Grenvillian orogeny.     

Detrital zircon reference for the North China block

U–Pb analyses of 250 single detrital zircons from Upper Proterozoic to Ordovician strata collected from the Zhuozi Shan in north-central China provide a detrital zircon reference for the North China block, a major crustal entity in the Asian tectonic collage. The results, which range in age from 1.72 to 2.97 Ga, shed new light on the age of the crystalline basement in North China, much of which is covered by younger sedimentary units. In addition, this detrital zircon reference can be used to help determine the provenance of clastic sedimentary units and for assessing validity of paleogeographic and regional tectonic models that include the complex history of Asian continental amalgamation, terrane accretion, and subsequent translation that is ongoing today.     

Neoproterozoic evolution and Cambrian reworking of ultrahigh temperature granulites in the Eastern Ghats Province,India

The time‐scales and P–T conditions recorded by granulite facies metamorphic rocks permit inferences about the geodynamic regime in which they formed. Two compositionally heterogeneous cordierite–spinel‐bearing granulites from Vizianagaram, Eastern Ghats Province (EGP), India, were investigated to provide P–T–time constraints using petrography, phase equilibrium modelling, U–Pb geochronology, the rare earth element composition of zircon and monazite, and Ti‐in‐zircon thermometry. These ultrahigh temperature (UHT) granulites preserve discrete compositional layering in which different inferred peak assemblages are developed, including layers bearing garnet–sillimanite–spinel, and others bearing orthopyroxene–sillimanite–spinel. These mineral associations cannot be reproduced by phase equilibrium modelling of whole‐rock compositions, indicating that the samples became domainal on a scale less than that of a thin section, even at UHT conditions. Calculation of the P–T stability fields for six compositional domains within which the main rock‐forming minerals are considered to have attained equilibrium suggests peak metamorphic conditions of ~6.8–8.3 kbar at ~1,000°C. In most of these domains, the subsequent evolution resulted in the growth of cordierite and final crystallization of melt at an elevated (residual) H₂O‐undersaturated solidus, consistent with <1 kbar of decompression. Concordant U–Pb ages obtained by SHRIMP from zircon (spread 1,050–800 Ma) and monazite (spread 950–800 Ma) demonstrate that crystallization of these minerals occurred during an interval of c. 250 Ma. By combining LA‐ICP‐MS U–Pb zircon ages with Ti‐in‐zircon temperatures from the same analysis sites, we show that the crust may have remained above 900°C for a minimum of c. 120 Ma between c. 1,000 and c. 880 Ma. Overall, the results suggest that, in the interval 1,050 to 800 Ma, the evolution of the Vizianagaram granulites culminated with UHT conditions from c. 1,000 Ma to c. 880 Ma, associated with minor decompression, before further zircon crystallization at c. 880–800 Ma during cooling to the solidus. However, these rocks are adjacent to the Paderu–Anantagiri–Salur crustal block to the NW that experienced counterclockwise P–T–t paths, and records similar UHT peak metamorphic conditions (7–8 kbar, ~950°C) followed by near‐isobaric cooling, and has a similar chronology during the Neoproterozoic. The limited decompression inferred at Vizianagaram may be explained by partial exhumation due to thrusting of this crustal block over the adjacent Paderu–Anantagiri–Salur crustal block. The residual granulites in both blocks have high concentrations of heat‐producing elements and likely remained hot at mid‐crustal depths throughout a period of relative tectonic quiescence in the interval 800–550 Ma. During the Cambrian Period, the EGP was located in the hinterland of the Denman–Pinjarra–Prydz orogen. A later concordant population of zircon dated at 511 ± 6 Ma records crystallization at temperatures of ~810°C. This age may record a low‐degree of melting due to limited influx of fluid into hot, weak crust in response to convergence of the Crohn craton with a composite orogenic hinterland comprising the Rayner terrane, EGP, and cratonic India.     

Triassic <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar ages from the Sakaigawa unit,Kii Peninsula,Japan: implications for possible merger of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt with large-scale tectonic systems of the East Asian margin

The 218.4 ± 0.4, 228.8 ± 0.9 and 231.9 ± 0.7 Ma ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar laser probe pseudo-plateau ages (2σ; 49–63% ³⁹Ar-release) of very low-grade meta-pelitic whole-rocks from the Sakaigawa unit date high-P/T metamorphism. We argue that this event occurred in a subduction–accretion complex, not along the East Asian continental margin, but on the Pacific side of the proto-Japan superterrane. Proto-Japan was a Permian magmatic arc, presently dispersed in the Japanese islands, which also contained older subduction–accretion complexes. The arc system was fringing but not yet part of the Eurasian continent. The Middle to Late Triassic high-P/T tectono-metamorphic event was partly coeval with proto-Japan’s collision with proto-Eurasia along the southward extension of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, causing the main metamorphism in the Hida-Oki terrane. It is possible that this system continued via the Cathaysia block (China) to Indochina. The Late Permian to Middle Triassic Indosinian event might stem from docking of Pacific-derived terranes with Southeast Asia’s continental margin. The concept of the proto-Japan superterrane implies that the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu suture zone joined the Central Asian Orogenic Belt to the east of the North China craton and did not continue to Japan, as commonly assumed.