Neoproterozoic high-pressure/low-temperature metamorphic rocks in the Avalon terrane, southern New Brunswick, Canada

High‐P/low‐T metamorphic rocks of the Hammondvale metamorphic suite (HMS) are exposed in an area of 10 km² on the NW margin of the Caledonian (Avalon) terrane in southern New Brunswick, Canada. The HMS is in faulted contact on the SE with c. 560–550 Ma volcanic and sedimentary rocks and co‐magmatic plutonic units of the Caledonian terrane. The HMS consists of albite‐ and garnet‐porphyroblastic mica schist, with minor marble, calc‐silicate rocks and quartzite. Pressure and temperature estimates from metamorphic assemblages in the mica schist and calc‐silicate rocks using TWQ indicate that peak pressure conditions were 12.4 kbar at 430 °C. Peak temperature conditions were 580 °C at 9.0 kbar. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar muscovite ages from three samples range up to 618–615 Ma, a minimum age for high‐P/low‐T metamorphism in this unit. These ages indicate that the HMS is related to the c. 625–600 Ma subduction‐generated volcanic and plutonic units exposed to the SE in the Caledonian terrane. The ages are also similar to those obtained from detrital muscovite in a Neoproterozoic‐Cambrian sedimentary sequence in the Caledonian terrane, suggesting that the HMS was exposed by latest Neoproterozoic time and supplied detritus to the sedimentary units. The HMS is interpreted to represent a fragment of an accretionary complex, similar to the Sanbagawa Belt in Japan. It confirms the presence of a major cryptic suture between the Avalon terrane sensu stricto and the now‐adjacent Brookville terrane.     

Deformation-induced reconstitution and local resetting of mineral equilibria in polymetamorphic gneisses: tectonic and metamorphic implications

A sequence of at least three Al₂SiO₅-bearing mineral assemblages are preserved in successively overprinted ductile shear zones in the Willimantic window, Connecticut. The ductile deformation, localized at and near the boundary between the Putnam-Nashoba terrane and underlying Avalon terrane is characterized by a network of anastomozing shear zones that outline metre-scale tectonic blocks of migmatitic Kfs + Sil + Gt + Bi + Pg + Qtz + Ilm + Ru gneiss. These assemblages record Acadian or older metamorphic conditions of 6 kbar, 700d? C. Mylonitic gneisses in shear zones that define block margins were formed by reconstitution and recrystallization of the migmatitic gneiss. The reconstituted rocks exhibit relict Ky + St + Grt (+Pl + Bt + Qtz + Rt + Ilm) assemblages and require a minimum pressure for the Ky-Str grade metamorphism of 8.5 kbar. Kyanite in block margins is widely replaced by sillimanite, and locally by andalusite, during a period of post-Alleghanian ductile deformation. The interiors of blocks do not record this sequence of polymorphs. The pattern of reconstitution is accounted for by localization of strain along block margins within a regionally extensive terrane-bounding fault zone. Strain provided the activation energy for recrystallization and retrograde mineral reactions. The P-T conditions of post-Alleghanian ductile deformation evolved from 600d? C and 6 kbar to 550d? C and 3 kbar. The occurrence of Ky + Str-bearing assemblages, overprinting Acadian Kfs + Sil-bearing assemblages and subsequently overprinted by Alleghanian sillimanite- and andalusite-bearing assemblages, along with reset hornblende ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹ Ar mineral ages from Mississippian to Permian, requires a prograde Alleghanian metamorphism of rocks previously metamorphosed during the Acadian. Thus, mineral assemblages from gneisses in the Willimantic fault zone retain evidence of a protracted tectonothermal evolution that included high-grade Acadian orogenesis, tectonic loading resulting from Alleghanian collision of Avalon with North America, and tectonic exhumation in Permo-Triassic time. The c.3-kbar pressure decrease between prograde and retrograde Alleghanian metamorphic conditions corresponds to 10 km of crust that must have been tectonically excised from the base of the Putnam-Nashoba terrane cover sequence following Alleghanian orogenesis in south-eastern New England.     

Geologic and geochronologic data from the Guerrero terrane in the Tejupilco area,southern Mexico: new constraints on its tectonic interpretation

The eastern part of the Guerrero terrane contains two tectonically juxtaposed metavolcanic-sedimentary sequences with island arc affinities: the lower, Tejupilco metamorphic suite, is intensely deformed with greenschist facies metamorphism; the upper, Arcelia-Palmar Chico group, is mildly to moderately deformed with prehnite-pumpellyite facies metamorphism. A U–Pb zircon age of 186 Ma for the Tizapa metagranite, and Pb/Pb isotopic model ages of 227 and 188 Ma for the conformable syngenetic Tizapa massive sulfide deposit, suggest a Late Triassic–Early Jurassic age for the Tejupilco metamorphic suite. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and K–Ar age determinations of metamorphic minerals from different units of the Tejupilco metamorphic suite in the Tejupilco area date a local early Eocene thermal event related to the emplacement of the undeformed Temascaltepec granite. The regional metamorphism remains to be dated. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 103 and 93 Ma for submarine volcanics support an Albian–Cenomanian age for the Arcelia-Palmar Chico group, although it may extend to the Berriasian. U–Pb isotopic analyses of zircon from the Tizapa metagranite, together with Nd isotopic data, reveal inherited Precambrian zircon components within units of the Tejupilco metamorphic suite, precluding the generation of Tejupilco metamorphic suite magmas from mantle- or oceanic lithosphere-derived melts, as was previously considered to be the case. Instead, these data, together with high-grade gneiss xenoliths with Grenvillian Nd isotopic affinity in Oligocene subvolcanics, indicate the presence of pre-Mesozoic continental crust beneath at least the eastern part of the Guerrero terrane. As a Late Triassic–Early Jurassic basement unit in the eastern part of the Guerrero terrane, the Tejupilco metamorphic suite may therefore represent an evolved volcanic arc developed on old crust with assimilated craton-derived sediment. This would imply a tectonic cycle of deformation, metamorphism and erosion during the Middle–early Late Jurassic that was probably related to the accretion and consolidation of part of the Guerrero terrane into the Acatlán Complex, the pre-Mississippian poly-deformed and metamorphosed basement of the Mixteco terrane.     

Polystage deformation of the Gaoligong metamorphic zone: Structures, 40Ar/39Ar mica ages,and tectonic implications

The Gaoligong metamorphic zone is located southeast of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis in western Yunnan, China. The zone is characterized by four stages of deformation (D1–D4). D1 structures record early compressive deformation during the Indosinian orogeny, which formed tight to isoclinal F1 folds of bedding with a penetrative S1 foliation developed parallel to fold axial planes. Mid-crustal horizontal shearing during D2 resulted in overprinting of D1 structures. D1 and D2 structures are associated with granulite facies metamorphism. D3 doming resulted in late crustal thickening and the development of a regional NW–SE trending F3 antiform. Synchronous with or slightly subsequent to D3 deformation, the zone experienced D4 ductile strike-slip shearing, resulting in its exhumation to shallow crustal levels and retrograde metamorphism. Granitic D4 mylonites predominantly yield ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar mica ages of 15–16 Ma, indicating that D4 dextral strike-slip shearing occurred in the Miocene. Weakly deformed leucogranite and protomylonite yield ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 10–11 Ma, suggesting that ductile strike-slip shearing continued to the Late Miocene. The new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data indicate that escape-related deformation along the Gaoligong strike-slip shear zone occurred in the Miocene. In association with recent geophysical studies, and on the basis of the structural, crystal preferred orientation (CPO), and geochronological data presented in this paper, we suggest that the Gaoligong metamorphic zone formed in response to intracontinental transpression in the southeast of Tibet, characterized as intense deformation and metamorphism at middle–upper crustal levels.     

Microstructure,metamorphism, thermochronology and P-T-t-deformation history of the Port aux Basques gneisses,south-west Newfoundland,Canada*

Abstract The Port aux Basques gneisses comprise three lithostratigraphic units separated by major fault zones: the Grand Bay Complex; the Port aux Basques Complex; and the Harbor le Cou Group. A similar regionally developed polyphase history of penetrative deformation characterizes each of these units. Thickening during D1 produced rare recumbent folds (F1) and an axial planar schistosity (S1), overprinted by D2 recumbent folds (F2), and transposed during development of a locally penetrative, differentiated crenulation cleavage (S2). In western sectors of the area, D2 was associated with NW-directed reverse shearing. The NE-trending structural grain reflects D3 transpression, partitioned into dextral transcurrent movement along major shear zones and development of upright-to-steeply inclined, periclinal folds (F3) and a variably penetrative schistosity (S3). Amphibolite facies metamorphism increases in grade from west to east across the area. Microstructures, including porphyroblast-matrix foliation relations and internal textural unconformities in garnet, indicate episodic porphyroblast nucleation and growth, which reflect a prograde traverse sequentially across univariant reactions during syntectonic metamorphism. Garnet, kyanite and staurolite porphyroblasts are wrapped by the S2 foliation, but each may contain trails of inclusions that define S1; commonly these trails preserve early stages of S2 crenulation cleavage development. Progressive and sequential reaction out of kyanite, staurolite and muscovite in favour of sillimanite, garnet, biotite and K-feldspar, and the development of an increasing volume of anatectic migmatite in south-eastern sectors of the area record syn- to late-D2 peak metamorphic conditions. Microstructural relationships and petrogenetic grid considerations indicate clockwise trajectories in P-T space for units of the Port aux Basques gneisses. Peak metamorphic conditions are estimated to have been 620–650° C at ≤8kbar in the west and 700–750° C at ≤8 kbar in the east. Titanite from an upper amphibolite facies calc-silicate gneiss yields U-Pb ages of c. 420 Ma, interpreted to date cooling shortly after the thermal peak in these gneisses. Variable D3 strain was associated with some recrystallization of hornblende and micas. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar hornblende plateau isotope correlation ages range from c. 419 to c. 393 Ma, from east to west across the area, and are interpreted to record cooling through c. 500° C coeval with or soon after D3 deformation. The range in ages may record the effects of heterogeneous D3 deformation and differential uplift from south-east to north-west associated with displacement on major shear zones. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar muscovite plateau ages cluster at c. 390 Ma, and date cooling through c. 375° C during regional exhumation. Cooling rates are moderate to fast and may indicate a component of tectonic exhumation. The Port aux Basques gneisses are a product of Silurian collisional tectonics. The higher grade of metamorphism in comparison with adjacent areas of the Canadian Appalachians is interpreted to reflect greater thickening due to juxtaposition of the St Lawrence promontory (Laurentian margin) with the Cabot promontory (Avalonian margin) during closure of the Iapetus Ocean.     

西昆仑库地韧性剪切带的40Ar/39Ar年龄

西昆仑库地以南有一套变质变形较强的岩系,前人依照区域对比关系将其划为前寒武的古老基底。对西昆仑早期构造演化的论述均基于该观点,但没有提供确凿的同位素年代学证据。笔者通过野外观察、室内研究,确认库地以南的变质变形岩系是大型韧性推覆剪切作用的产物。通过对新生变质矿物角闪石和黑云母单矿物的⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar年龄分析,确定剪切变质年龄为426-451Ma,说明库地的变质变形岩系是形成于早古生代晚期的一条大型韧性剪切带,这对于解释西昆仑的早期构造演化具有重要意义。     

40Ar/39Ar dating of the Jiali and Gaoligong shear zones: Implications for crustal deformation around the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis

We conducted a comprehensive ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronological study of the Jiali and Gaoligong shear zones to obtain a better understanding of crustal deformation and tectonic evolution around the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis (EHS). The new age data reveal that the main phase of deformation in the Jiali and Gaoligong shear zones occurred from 22 to 11 Ma and from 18 to 13 Ma, respectively. Structural data collected during this study indicate that the Jiali shear zone underwent a change in shear sense from sinistral to dextral during its movement history. Based on a comparison with the deformation histories of other major shear zones in the region, we argue that the initial sinistral motion recorded by the Jiali shear zone was coincident with that of the Ailao Shan–Red River shear zone, which marked the northern boundary of the southeastward extrusion of the Indochina block during the Early Miocene. From the Middle Miocene (～18 Ma), the Jiali shear zone changed to dextral displacement, becoming linked with the dextral Gaoligong shear zone that developed as a consequence of continued northward indentation of the Indian continent into Asia. Since this time, the Jiali and Gaoligong shear zones have been united, defining the southwestern boundary of the EHS during clockwise rotation of the eastward-extruding Tibetan block, as revealed by recent GPS data. The temporal change in regional deformation pattern from southeastward block extrusion to clockwise rotation of crustal fragments may have played an important role in the development of the eastern Himalayan drainage system around the EHS.     

Structural and geochronological constraints on the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the North Dabashan zone,South Qinling,central China

Structural and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data from the mylonitic rocks of the North Dabashan zone (NDZ) document kinematic and tectonothermal characteristics of the Mesozoic collisional and intra-continental orogenesis in the southern part of the Qinling orogenic belt. The NDZ underwent two deformational phases during the Mesozoic period. The earlier one is characterized by top-to-the-SW thrust ductile shearing along a NW-trending shear zone (DSZ-1), while the later one is featured by dextral strike-slip ductile shearing along another NNW-trending shear zone (DSZ-2). The timing of the two deformation events have been constrained to be 245–189 Ma and 178–143 Ma respectively, by using mica ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology. It is proposed that the earlier deformation event was associated with the Middle Triassic–Early Jurassic collision between the North and South China Blocks, which generated the initial framework of the NDZ; and the later one was related to the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous intra-continental orogeny in East Asia, which caused a significant eastward extrusion of the South Qinling and led to the formation of the SW-convex Dabashan foreland orocline. The distinguishing between these two deformation events sheds a new insight into the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the Qinling orogenic belt.     

Differential unroofing within the central metasedimentary Belt of the Grenville Orogen: constraints from 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology

An ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar thermochronological investigation of upper greenschist to granulite facies gneiss, amphibolite and marble was conducted in the Central Metasedimentary Belt (CMB), Ontario, to constrain its cooling history. Incremental ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar release spectra indicate that substantial differential unroofing occurred in the CMB between 1000 and 600 Ma. A consistent pattern of significantly older hornblende and phlogopite ⁴⁰Ar/³Ar cooling ages on the southeast sides of major northeast striking shear zones is interpreted to reflect late displacement due to extensional deformation. Variations in hornblende ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age plateaus exceeding 200 Ma occur over distances less than 50 km with major age discontinuities occurring across the Robertson Lake shear zone and the Sharbot Lake mylonite zone which separate the Sharbot Lake terrane from the Elzevir and Frontenac terranes. Extensional displacements of up to 14 km are inferred between the Frontenac and Elzevir terranes of the CMB. No evidence for significant post argon-closure vertical displacement is indicated in the vicinity of the Perth Road mylonite within the Frontenac terrane. Variations of nearly 100 Ma in phlogopite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages occur in undeformed marble on either side of the Bancroft Shear Zone. Phlogopites from sheared and mylonitized marble within the shear zone yield ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar diffusional loss profiles, but have older geologically meaningless ages thought to reflect incorporation of excess argon. By 900 Ma, southeast directed extension was occurring throughout the CMB, possibly initiated along previous zones of compressional shearing. An easterly migration of active zones of extension is inferred, possibly related to an earlier, overall easterly migration of active zones of regional thrusting and easterly migration of an ancient subduction zone. The duration of extensional shearing is not well constrained, but must have ceased before 600 Ma as required by the deposition of overlying undeformed Cambrian and/or Ordovician sedimentary rocks.Contribution No. 481 from the Mineralogical Laboratory, University of Michigan     

苏北锦屏地区构造变形及片麻岩舌状体成因研究

通过对锦屏山地区详细填图,确认了苏鲁造山带南缘超高压变质带与高压变质带的界线性质为一韧性剪切带,锦屏地区不存在区域性褶皱,而是由于朐山花岗质片麻岩和云台岩群变质火山岩构成强干岩层,锦屏岩群变质沉积岩构成软弱岩层,形成夹心饼式(layer cake assemble）组合。在印支期右行剪切作用下,形成不均一剪切,使朐山花岗质片麻岩形成长约10km,宽约5km的无根剪切舌状体,物质运动方向指向南。     

High-pressure amphibolite facies dynamic metamorphism and the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of an ancient continental margin, east-central Alaska

Abstract Ductilely deformed amphibolite facies tectonites comprise two adjacent terranes in east-central Alaska. These terranes differ in protoliths, structural level and cooling ages. A structurally complex zone of gently north-dipping tectonites separates the two terranes. The northern, structurally higher Taylor Mountain terrane includes garnet amphibolite, biotite ± hornblende gneiss, marble, quartzite, metachert, pelitic schist and cross-cutting granitoids of intermediate composition (including the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic Taylor Mountain batholith). Lithological associations and isotopic data from the granitoids indicate an oceanic or marginal basin origin for the Taylor Mountain terrane. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar metamorphic cooling ages from the Taylor Mountain terrane are latest Triassic to earliest Middle Jurassic. The southern, structurally lower Lake George subterrane of the Yukon-Tanana terrane is made up of quartz-biotite schist and gneiss, augen gneiss, pelitic schist, garnet amphibolite and quartzite; we interpret it to comprise a continental margin and granitoid belt built on North American crust. Metamorphic cooling ages from the Lake George subterrane are almost entirely Early Cretaceous. Geothermobarometric analysis of garnet rims and adjacent phases in garnet amphibolite and pelitic schist from the Taylor Mountain terrane and Lake George subterrane indicate peak metamorphic conditions of 7.5-12 kbar at 555-715° C in the northern part of the Taylor Mountain terrane, in which NNE-vergent shear fabrics are preserved; 6.5-10.8 kbar at 520-670° C within the contact zone between the two terranes, in which NW-vergent shear fabrics predominate; and 6.8-11.8 kbar at 570-700° C in the Lake George subterrane of the Yukon-Tanana terrane, in which NW-vergent shear is recorded in the northern part of the study area and SE-vergent shear in the southern part. Where the two shear-sense directions occur together in the northern Lake George subterrane and, locally, in the contact zone, fabrics that record NW-vergent shear are more penetrative and preceded fabrics that record SE-vergent shear. We interpret the pressure, temperature, kinematic and age data to indicate that the metamorphism of the Taylor Mountain terrane and Lake George subterrane took place during different phases of a latest Palaeozoic through early Mesozoic shortening episode resulting from closure of an ocean basin now represented by klippen of the Seventymile-Slide Mountain terrane. High- to intermediate-pressure metamorphism of the Taylor Mountain terrane took place within a SW-dipping (present-day coordinates) subduction system. High- to intermediate-pressure metamorphism of the Lake George subterrane and the structural contact zone occurred during NW-directed overthrusting of the Taylor Mountain, Seventymile-Slide Mountain and Nisutlin terranes, and imbrication of the continental margin in Jurassic time. The difference in metamorphic cooling ages between the Taylor Mountain terrane and adjacent parts of the Lake George subterrane is best explained by Early Cretaceous unroofing of the Lake George subterrane caused by crustal extension, recorded in its younger top-to-the-SE fabric.     

40Ar/39Ar ages of detrital white mica from Upper Austroalpine units in the Eastern Alps, Austria: Evidence for Cadomian and contrasting Variscan sources

Five detrital white mica concentrates from very low-grade, metaclastic sequences within pre-Variscan basement and post-Variscan cover units of the Upper Austroalpine Nappe Complex (Eastern Alps) have been dated with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar incremental heating techniques to constrain the age of tectonothermal events in their respective source areas. Two samples from early Palaeozoic sandstone exposed within the same Alpine nappe record slightly discordant age spectra. The maximum age recorded in one is 562.2±0.7?Ma, whereas the other yielded a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 607.3±0.3?Ma. These results indicate a source area affected by Cadomian tectonothermal activity. Three detrital muscovite concentrates from post-Variscan, Late Carboniferous and Permian cover sequences exposed within three different Alpine nappes yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 359.6?±?1.1?Ma, 310.5±1.2?Ma, and 303.3±0.2?Ma. The contrasting detrital white mica ages are interpreted to reflect different source areas. Detrital muscovite from a post-Variscan Carboniferous molasse-type sequence and from a Permian Verrucano-type sequence record ages which indicate “late” Variscan (e.g. 330–300?Ma) metamorphic sources. By contrast, detrital white mica from another Permian Verrucano-type sequence suggests a source area affected by “early” Variscan (e.g. 400–360?Ma) metamorphism. These results help clarify palinspastic relationships and tectonic correlations between pre-Late Carboniferous metamorphic basement sequences and Carboniferous to Permian cover sequences.     

北祁连南缘右行韧性走滑剪切带的同位素年代学及其地质意义

北祁连南缘右行韧性走滑剪切带位于祁连地块与北祁连俯冲碰撞杂岩带边界 ,长约 80 0km ,走向NWW SEE ,面理向北陡倾 ,中西部宽 5～ 6km ,东部由四条呈帚状撒开的强应变带组成。构造指向及向南东低角度倾伏的拉伸线理揭示出韧性剪切带的右行走滑和转换挤压性质。TIMS法测定的单颗粒锆石U Pb上交点年龄为 96 5～ 95 6Ma ,代表韧性剪切带原岩———基底变质岩的变质时代。糜棱岩中钾长石、黑云母单矿物40 Ar/ 3 9Ar同位素测年结果及与地层和岩浆活动的关系表明韧性剪切带形成于 4 4 0～ 380Ma。北祁连南缘右行韧性走滑剪切带是在祁连加里东造山带形成过程中 ,祁连地块与阿拉善地块间斜向碰撞诱发大规模转换挤压作用的产物。     

Deciphering the Neoproterozoic history of the Hollow Fault,Avalon terrane,mainland Nova Scotia

Recognition and deciphering of the early history of fault zones is difficult because younger fabrics commonly overprint and obscure older ones. The Hollow–Greendale Fault system in the Avalon terrane of the northern Antigonish Highlands in mainland Nova Scotia has suffered many episodes of motion in the Paleozoic during development of the Appalachian orogen. Field relationship and petrographic observations indicate that its Neoproterozoic history is preserved as ca. 610 Ma NE- and NW-trending ductile shear zones within the Georgeville Group contact aureole of the intrusive syn- to late-tectonic Greendale Complex. Kinematic indicators within the NE-trending shear zone along the southwestern contact indicate dextral shear and are compatible with dextral shear indicators within the Greendale Complex and with the orientation of coeval regional F₁ fold structures within the Antigonish Highlands. The NW-trending shear zone along the northeastern contact represents either a step-over fault within a dextral shear zone or a zone of localized transpression associated with the emplacement of the Greendale Complex. Local preservation of Neoproterozoic shear zone fabrics within the Georgeville Group host rocks is attributed to the shielding effects of the proximal Greendale Complex, which acted as a rigid unit during Paleozoic deformation so that subsequent motion along the Hollow Fault was partitioned along the northeastern and southwestern contact of the complex. The Neoproterozoic history, combined with paleocontinental reconstructions, indicates that the Hollow–Greendale fault system was part of an important regional strike-slip fault zone within a volcanic arc regime along the periphery of Gondwana (Murphy et al., 1999a, Murphy et al., 1999b).     

拉萨地体东南缘始新世早期变质作用及其构造意义

本文对位于青藏高原拉萨地体东南缘林芝杂岩中的片麻岩进行了岩石学和锆石U-Pb年代学研究.所研究的样品包括正片麻岩和副片麻岩,它们经历了中压角闪岩相变质作用.岩石地球化学分析结果表明,所研究的正片麻岩的原岩具有钙碱性岛弧岩浆岩的特征.锆石U-Pb年代学分析结果表明,副片麻岩中的碎屑锆石核部为岩浆成因,它们给出的206Pb/238U年龄范围为3012～ 522Ma,其锆石的增生边给出了～51Ma的变质年龄.在正片麻岩中,黑云母片麻岩给出了～67Ma的原岩结晶年龄和～ 55 Ma的变质年龄;石榴石角闪黑云斜长片麻岩给出了～58Ma的原岩结晶年龄和～54Ma的变质年龄.因此,所研究的林芝杂岩并不能代表拉萨地体中的前寒武纪变质基底,而是古生代的沉积岩和晚白垩纪至早新生代的岩浆岩在始新世早期变质而成.这一时期,表壳岩和侵入岩一起经历的中压角闪岩相变质作用很可能跟新特提斯洋俯冲导致的地壳增生、加厚有关.     

Imposition of a Proterozoic salient on a Palaeozoic orogen at the eastern margin of Gondwana

Regional analysis of the distribution of metamorphic fabrics and shear zones in the Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Curnamona Province has enabled the deconstruction of a Cambrian fold arc that defines part of the eastern margin of Gondwana. We suggest a tectonic model whereby the arc formed at ca. 500 Ma, during accretion of Phanerozoic terranes to the eastern margin of Precambrian Australia. The regional fold arc is interpreted to have formed along an irregular plate margin comprising a SE-convex rigid promontory of Precambrian basement during initial accretion of the Phanerozoic terranes during the Cambrian. An early phase of dextral oblique-slip along shear zones in the south and west of the province indicates an initial WNW transport direction. As the arc was folded, a slightly later phase of sinistral oblique-slip shearing was initiated along shear zones in the east, in response to deflection of the arc around the rigid promontory.     

Constraints on retrograde metamorphism of UHP eclogites in North Qinling,Central China,from 40Ar/39Ar dating of amphibole and phengite

Coesite- and microdiamond- bearing ultra-high pressure (UHP) eclogites in the North Qinling terrane have been widely retrogressed to amphibolites. Previous geochronological studies on these UHP rocks mainly focused on the timing of peak eclogite facies metamorphism. The Kanfenggou UHP metamorphic domain is one of the best-preserved coesite-bearing eclogite occurrences in the North Qinling terrane. In this study, mafic amphibolites and host schists from this domain were collected for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating to constrain their retrograde evolution. Two generations of amphibole are recognized based on their mineral parageneses and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages. A first generation of amphibole from garnet amphibolites yielded irregularly-shaped age spectra with anomalously old apparent ages. Isochron ages of 484–473 Ma and initial ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of 3695–774 are obtained from this generation of amphibole, indicating incorporation of excess argon. Second generation amphibole occurs in epidote amphibolites yielded flat age spectra with plateau ages of 464–462 Ma without evidence for excess argon. These ages suggest that the amphibolite-facies metamorphism has taken place as early as 484 Ma and lasted until 462 Ma for the North Qinling UHP metamorphic rocks. Phengite from the country-rock schists yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 426–396 Ma, with higher phengite Si contents associated with the older the plateau ages. Based on our new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages and previous zircon UPb geochronological data, we construct a new detailed pressure-temperature-time (P-T-t) path illustrating the retrograde metamorphism and exhumation rate of the North Qinling eclogites and host schists. The P-T-t path suggests that these UHP metamorphic rocks experienced initial medium-to-high exhumation rates (ca. 8.7 mm/yr) during the Early Ordovician (489–484 Ma), which was mainly derived from buoyancy forces. Subsequently, the exhumation rate decreased gradually from ~0.8 to 0.3 mm/yr from 484 to 426 Ma, which was probably governed by extension and/or erosion.     

Imposition of a Proterozoic salient on a Palaeozoic orogen at the eastern margin of Gondwana

Regional analysis of the distribution of metamorphic fabrics and shear zones in the Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Curnamona Province has enabled the deconstruction of a Cambrian fold arc that defines part of the eastern margin of Gondwana. We suggest a tectonic model whereby the arc formed at ca. 500 Ma, during accretion of Phanerozoic terranes to the eastern margin of Precambrian Australia. The regional fold arc is interpreted to have formed along an irregular plate margin comprising a SE-convex rigid promontory of Precambrian basement during initial accretion of the Phanerozoic terranes during the Cambrian. An early phase of dextral oblique-slip along shear zones in the south and west of the province indicates an initial WNW transport direction. As the arc was folded, a slightly later phase of sinistral oblique-slip shearing was initiated along shear zones in the east, in response to deflection of the arc around the rigid promontory.     

A new understanding of Demala Group complex in Chayu Area,southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Evidence from zircon U-Pb and mica 40Ar/39Ar dating

The Chayu area is located at the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This region was considered to be in the southeastward extension of the Lhasa Block, bounded by Nujiang suture zone in the north and Yarlung Zangbo suture zone in the south. The Demala Group complex, a set of high-grade metamorphic gneisses widely distributed in the Chayu area, is known as the Precambrian metamorphic basement of the Lhasa Block in the area. According to field-based investigations and microstructure analysis, the Demala Group complex is considered to mainly consist of banded biotite plagiogneisses, biotite quartzofeldspathic gneiss, granitic gneiss, amphibolite, mica schist, and quartz schist, with many leucogranite veins. The zircon U-Pb ages of two granitic gneiss samples are 205 ± 1 Ma and 218 ± 1 Ma, respectively, representing the ages of their protoliths. The zircons from two biotite plagiogneisses samples show core-rim structures. The U-Pb ages of the cores are mainly 644 –446 Ma, 1213 –865 Ma, and 1780 –1400 Ma, reflecting the age characteristics of clastic zircons during sedimentation of the original rocks. The U-Pb ages of the rims are from 203 ± 2 Ma to 190 ± 1 Ma, which represent the age of metamorphism. The zircon U-Pb ages of one sample taken from the leucogranite veins that cut through granitic gneiss foliation range from 24 Ma to 22 Ma, interpreted as the age of the anatexis in the Demala Group complex. Biotite and muscovite separates were selected from the granitic gneiss, banded gneiss, and leucogranite veins for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating. The plateau ages of three muscovite samples are 16.56 ± 0.21 Ma, 16.90 ± 0.21 Ma, and 23.40 ± 0.31 Ma, and the plateau ages of four biotite samples are 16.70 ± 0.24 Ma, 16.14 ± 0.19 Ma, 15.88 ± 0.20 Ma, and 14.39 ± 0.20 Ma. The mica Ar-Ar ages can reveal the exhumation and cooling history of the Demala Group complex. Combined with the previous research results of the Demala Group complex, the authors refer that the Demala Group complex should be a set of metamorphic complex. The complex includes not only Precambrian basement metamorphic rock series, but also Paleozoic sedimentary rock and Mesozoic granitic rock. Based on the deformation characteristics, the authors concluded that two stages of the metamorphism and deformation can be revealed in the Demala Group complex since the Mesozoic, namely Late Triassic-Early Jurassic (203 –190 Ma) and Oligocene –Miocene (24 –14 Ma). The early stage of metamorphism (ranging from 203 –190 Ma) was related to the Late Triassic tectono-magmatism in the area. The anatexis and uplifting-exhumation of the later stage (24 –14 Ma) were related to the shearing of the Jiali strike-slip fault zone. The Miocene structures are response to the large-scale southeastward escape of crustal materials and block rotation in Southeast Tibet after India-Eurasia collision.©2021 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Petrogenesis of Eclogites in the Light of Punctuated Metamorphic Evolution in Dabie Terrane，China

Ｐｅｔｒｏｇｅｎｅｓｉｓ　ｏｆ　Ｅｃｌｏｇｉｔｅｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　Ｌｉｇｈｔ　ｏｆ　ＰｕｎｃｔｕａｔｅｄＭｅｔａｍｏｒｐｈｉｃ　Ｅｖｏｌｕｔｉｏｎ　ｉｎ　Ｄａｂｉｅ　Ｔｅｒｒａｎｅ，Ｃｈｉｎａ￥ＹｏｕＺｈｅｎｄｏｎｇ；ＨａｎＹｕｊｉｎｇ；ＺｈｏｎｇＺ...