The Early Permian mafic–ultramafic complexes in the Beishan Terrane,NW China: Alaskan-type intrusives or rift cumulates?

The petrogenesis and geodynamic setting of the Early Permian mafic–ultramafic complexes in the Beishan Terrane, NW China have important bearing on the prospects of Ni–Cu–PGE sulfide and Ti–Fe oxide deposits, as well as in understanding the history of evolution of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Here we present results from a detailed study on a representative suit of a mafic–ultramafic rocks from the Bijiashan complex in the Beishan Terrane. The complex is composed of dunite, troctolite, olivine gabbro and gabbro without clinopyroxenite or hornblendite. In addition to olivine and clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and plagioclase are also present in all these rock types, in the absence of chromite or primary hornblende. The minerals display marked compositional variations with the Fo content in olivines ranging from 66 to 83 and the clinopyroxenes ranging from diopside to augite. The whole-rock geochemistry shows good correlations among the major elements, and the trace elements are characterized by flat REE patterns with Eu positive anomalies, and HFSE depletion relative to LILE. These features are comparable to other mafic–ultramafic complexes in the Beishan and Eastern Tianshan terranes, but obviously deviate from the typical features of Alaskan-type intrusives. The present study suggests that the Beishan complexes were formed in a post-orogenic extensional environment with potential for Ni–Cu mineralization, rather than in arc-related setting with Alaskan-type PGE mineralization. Our study confirms that the Beishan area does not conform to an arc-related setting, but was located within a rift setting in Permian probably related to Permian mantle plume event, suggesting that the subduction of the Paleo-Asian ocean had culminated by this time, and the southern CAOB witnessed a post-orogenic extensional regime in late Paleozoic.     

Magmatic ore deposits in mafic–ultramafic intrusions of the Giles Event,Western Australia

More than 20 layered intrusions were emplaced at c. 1075 Ma across > 100 000 km² in the Mesoproterozoic Musgrave Province of central Australia as part of the c. 1090–1040 Ma Giles Event of the Warakurna Large Igneous Province (LIP). Some of the intrusions, including Wingellina Hills, Pirntirri Mulari, The Wart, Ewarara, Kalka, Claude Hills, and Gosse Pile contain thick ultramafic segments comprising wehrlite, harzburgite, and websterite. Other intrusions, notably Hinckley Range, Michael Hills, and Murray Range, are essentially of olivine-gabbronoritic composition. Intrusions with substantial troctolitic portions comprise Morgan Range and Cavenagh Range, as well as the Bell Rock, Blackstone, and Jameson–Finlayson ranges which are tectonically dismembered blocks of an originally single intrusion, here named Mantamaru, with a strike length of > 170 km and a width of > 20 km, constituting one of the world's largest layered intrusions.Over a time span of > 200 my, the Musgrave Province was affected by near continuous high-temperature reworking under a primarily extensional regime. This began with the 1220–1150 Ma intracratonic Musgrave Orogeny, characterized by ponding of basalt at the base of the lithosphere, melting of lower crust, voluminous granite magmatism, and widespread and near-continuous, mid-crustal ultra-high-temperature (UHT) metamorphism. Direct ascent of basic magmas into the upper crust was inhibited by the ductile nature of the lower crust and the development of substantial crystal-rich magma storage chambers. In the period between c. 1150 and 1090 Ma magmatism ceased, possibly because the lower crust had become too refractory, but mid-crustal reworking was continuously recorded in the crystallization of zircon in anatectic melts. Renewed magmatism in the form of the Giles Event of the Warakurna LIP began at around 1090 Ma and was characterized by voluminous basic and felsic volcanic and intrusive rocks grouped into the Warakurna Supersuite. Of particular interest in the context of the present study are the Giles layered intrusions which were emplaced into localized extensional zones. Rifting, emplacement of the layered intrusions, and significant uplift all occurred between 1078 and 1075 Ma, but mantle-derived magmatism lasted for > 50 m.y., with no time progressive geographical trend, suggesting that magmatism was unrelated to a deep mantle plume, but instead controlled by plate architecture.The Giles layered intrusions and their immediate host rocks are considered to be prospective for (i) platinum-group element (PGE) reefs in the ultramafic–mafic transition zones of the intrusions, and in magnetite layers of their upper portions, (ii) Cu–Ni sulfide deposits hosted within magma feeder conduits of late basaltic pulses, (iii) vanadium in the lowermost magnetite layers of the most fractionated intrusions, (iv) apatite in unexposed magnetite layers towards the evolved top of some layered intrusions, (v) ilmenite as granular disseminated grains within the upper portions of the intrusions, (vi) iron in tectonically thickened magnetite layers or magnetite pipes of the upper portions of intrusions, (vii) gold and copper in the roof rocks and contact aureoles of the large intrusions, and (viii) lateritic nickel in weathered portions of olivine-rich ultramafic intrusions.     

The Malpica–Lamego Line: a major crustal-scale shear zone in the Variscan belt of Iberia

The Malpica–Lamego Line (MLL) is a deformation zone in the Variscan belt of NW Iberia (NW Spain and N Portugal) that runs parallel to the chain for at least 275 km, bearing I-type granodiorite plutons along most of its length. The MLL affects previous structures by which high pressure and ophiolitic rocks were exhumed and emplaced on the Iberian plate during earlier deformation phases. Correlation and reconstruction of the stratigraphy of these sheets or tectonic units at both sides of the shear zone allows a preliminary estimate of the accumulated vertical and horizontal offsets after the tectonic activity of the fault. The value of the separations, of crustal-scale proportions, reaches a maximum 15 km of vertical offset that decreases gradually to the south. The structural record found in the rocks indicates a strike-slip regime that, in general, does not fit the geometry of the offsets. We suggest that the MLL went through two different stages during the same orogenic cycle: a first dip-slip episode, a reverse faulting event, overprinted by a later strike-slip reactivation.     

Platinum–palladium–gold mineralization in the Nkenja mafic–ultramafic body, Ubendian metamorphic belt, Tanzania

Significant and widespread enrichment of platinum, palladium, and gold has been found within the Nkenja mafic–ultramafic body located in southern Tanzania in the central part of the Ubendian metamorphic belt. This body is dominated by partly serpentinized chromitiferous dunite, wehrlite and olivine clinopyroxenite, which are tectonically intercalated with amphibolitized metagabbro. The dunites contain both disseminated and seam-type chrome spinel with an Al-rich composition. The seams are thin, impersistent and, together with enclosing dunite, often show deformation at granulite facies conditions. Forsterite contents of olivine in the dunite range from 87 to 92?mol%. Clinopyroxene in wehrlite and clinopyroxenite is diopsidic with significant contents of Al and Na. Clinopyroxene forms irregular bands and crosscutting veins in the dunite, as well as occurring as weakly dispersed isolated grains in the dunite. Elevated levels of Pt, Pd and Au occur in all ultramafic rocks, but not amphibolitized metagabbro, and there is a weak correlation between high abundances of platinum-group element (PGE) and chromitites. PGE values are erratically distributed and are associated with trace to minor amounts of disseminated sulphides (pyrrhotite, pentlandite, heazlewoodite, chalcopyrite and bornite). The abundances of all PGE are consistently anomalous, suggesting a primary igneous control by sulphides in ultramafic rock. However, there has evidently been a strong metamorphic and/or hydrothermal overprint on what was probably an original magmatic concentration of PGE-bearing sulphides. Geological mapping and petrological evidence, as well as the style of PGE sulphide mineralization, are consistent with the Nkenja ultramafic body being part of the crustal section of a dismembered Palaeoproterozoic ophiolite.     

The Bagassi gold deposits on the eastern margin of the Houndé greenstone belt,Burkina Faso

The Bagassi gold deposits are situated on the West African craton and hosted in Palaeoproterozoic rocks of the Houndé greenstone belt, southwest Burkina Faso. High-grade gold mineralisation is hosted in quartz–gold ± pyrite veins-lodes (V_1A), in dilational zones and narrow shears in the Bagassi granitoid, and forms the majority of the resource–reserve portfolio in the Bagassi exploration permits, with gold grades of 18–21 g/t. Shear hosted gold-pyrite mineralisation in quartz veins in dilational jogs (V_1B) occurs along narrow discontinuous shear zones that trend north-northwest in Birimian-aged metabasaltic units, and forms a secondary gold resource. Gold mineralisation is restricted to formation in the late Eburnean Orogeny and formed during a change from east-west to transcurrent compression and shearing. The Bagassi deposits demonstrate that granitoids emplaced prior to onset of the Eburnean Orogeny represent viable gold mineralisation in host rocks that are increasingly seen to be associated with significant gold resources.     

Geochemical features of gold–quartz veins in granitoid intrusives and terrigenous masses of the Yana–Kolyma folded belt in the northeast of Russia

The main task of this study was to reveal geochemical and distinctive features of gold–quartz vein ores of deposits in granitoid intrusive bodies and in terrigenous black-schist masses of the Yana-Kolyma folded belt. The results obtained point to the significant role of metamorphism of the enclosing terrigenous carbonaceous masses in ore formation of both types of deposits. The established facts are not contradictory to the metamorphic–magmagene model of the formation of gold deposits in the Yana–Kolyma belt. The geochemical similarity of both types of deposits shows that these are products of the same orogenic system, which confirms the validity of combining these deposits to form a unified gold–quartz formation.     

How many subductions in the Variscan orogeny? Insights from numerical models

We developed a 2D numerical model to simulate the evolution of two superposed ocean-continent-ocean subduction cycles with opposite vergence, both followed by continental collision, aiming to better understand the evolution of the Variscan belt. Three models with different velocities of the first oceanic subduction have been implemented. Striking differences in the thermo-mechanical evolution between the first subduction, which activates in an unperturbed system, and the second subduction, characterised by an opposite vergence, have been enlighten, in particular regarding the temperature in the mantle wedge and in the interior of the slab. Pressure and temperature (P-T) conditions predicted by one cycle and two cycles models have been compared with natural P-T estimates of the Variscan metamorphism from the Alps and from the French Massif Central (FMC). The comparative analysis supports that a slow and hot subduction well reproduces the P-T conditions compatible with data from the FMC, while P-T conditions compatible with data of Variscan metamorphism from the Alps can be reproduced by either a cold or hot oceanic subduction models. Analysing the agreement of both double and single subduction models with natural P-T estimates, we observed that polycyclic models better describe the evolution of the Variscan orogeny.     

Late Variscan deformation in the Iberian Peninsula; a late feature in the Laurentia–Gondwana dextral collision

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The Late Variscan deformation event in Iberia is characterized by an intraplate deformation regime induced by the dextral oblique collision between...     

Quenched mafic inclusions in ≤2200 years B.P. deposits at Augustine Volcano,Alaska

Origins and positions of gold fields and ores, particularly of placers, in the Yana-Kolyma area and elsewhere in the Northeast, as indicated by the morphostructural analysis and the behavior of gold in endogenic and exogenic processes. – V.P. Sokoloff.     

Genetic and ore-forming ages of the Fe–P–(Ti) oxide deposits associated with mafic–ultramafic–carbonatite complexes in the Kuluketage block,NW China

Abstract

During the past 50 years, many geological and ore-deposit investigations have led to the discovery of the Fe–P–(Ti)-oxide deposits associated with mafic–ultramafic–carbonatite complexes in the Kuluketage block, northeastern Tarim Craton. In this paper, we discuss the genetic and ore-forming ages, tectonic setting, and the genesis of these deposits (Kawuliuke, Qieganbulake and Duosike). LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating yielded a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 811?±?5?Ma, 811?±?4?Ma, and 840?±?5?Ma for Kawuliuke ore-bearing pyroxenite, Qieganbulake gabbro and Duosike ore-bearing pyroxenite, respectively. The CL images of the Kawuliuke apatite grains show core–rim structure, suggesting multi-phase crystallisation, whereas the apatite grains from Qieganbulake and Dusike deposits do not show any core–rim texture, suggesting a single-stage crystallisation. LA-ICP-MS apatite ²⁰⁷Pb-corrected U–Pb dating provided weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 814?±?21?Ma and 771?±?8?Ma for the Kawuliuke ores, and 810?±?7?Ma and 841?±?7?Ma for Qieganbulake and Duosike ores, respectively. The core–rim texture in apatite by CL imaging as well as two different ore-forming ages in the core and rim of the apatite indicate two metallogenic events for the Kawuliuke deposit. The first metallogenic period was magmatic in origin, and the second period was hydrothermal in origin. The initial ore-forming age of the Kawuliuke Fe–P–Ti mineralisation was ca 814?Ma and the second one was ca 771?Ma. On the other hand, the ore-forming ages of the Qieganbulake and Duosike deposits were ca 810?Ma and ca 841?Ma, respectively. Qieganbulake and Duosike deposits were of magmatic origin. Combined with previous geochronological data and the research on the tectonic background, we infer that the Kawuliuke, Qieganbulake and Duosike Fe–P–(Ti)-oxide deposits were formed in a subduction-related tectonic setting and were the product of subduction-related magmatism.     

Uranium-rich accessory minerals in the peraluminous and perphosphorous Belvís de Monroy pluton (Iberian Variscan belt)

The strongly peraluminous, perphosphorous (<0.85 wt% P₂O₅) and low-Ca granites from the Belvís de Monroy pluton contain the most U-rich monazite-(Ce) and xenotime known in igneous rocks. Along with these accessory minerals, P-rich zircon occurs, reaching uncommon compositions particularly in the more fractionated units of this zoned pluton. Monazite displays a wide compositional variation of UO₂ (<23.13 wt%) and ThO₂ (<19.58 wt%), positively correlated with Ca, Si, P, Y and REE. Xenotime shows a high UO₂ content (2.37–13.34 wt%) with parallel increases of LREE, Ca and Si. Zircon contains comparatively much lower UO₂ (<1.53 wt%) but high P₂O₅ (<14.91 wt%), Al₂O₃ (<6.96 wt%), FeO (<2.93 wt%) and CaO (<2.24 wt%) contents. The main mechanism of incorporating large U and Th amounts in studied monazite and U in xenotime is the cheralite-type [(Th,U)⁴⁺ + Ca²⁺ = 2(Y,REE)³⁺] substitution. Zircon requires several coupled mechanisms to charge balance the P substitution, resulting in non-stoichiometric compositions with low analytical totals. Compositional variations in the studied accessory phases indicate that the substitution mechanisms during crystal growth depend on the availability of non-formula elements. The strong P-rich character of the studied granites increases monazite crystallization, triggering a progressive impoverishment in Th and LREE in the residual melts, and consequently increasing extraordinarily the U content in monazite and xenotime. This is in marked contrast to other peraluminous (I-type or P-poor S-type) granite series. The P-rich and low-Ca peraluminous melt inhibits uraninite crystallization, so contributing to the U availability for monazite and xenotime.     

Late Cretaceous extension overprinting a steep belt in the Northern Calcareous Alps (Schesaplana, R?tikon, Switzerland and Austria)

The Triassic to Cretaceous sediment succession of the Lechtal Nappe in the western part of the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA) has been deformed into large-scale folds and crosscut by thrust and extensional faults during Late Cretaceous (Eoalpine) and Tertiary orogenic processes. The following sequence of deformation is developed from overprinting relations in the field: (D1) NW-vergent folds related to thrusting; (D2) N–S shortening leading to east–west-trending folds and to the formation of a steep belt (Arlberg Steep Zone) along the southern border of the NCA; (D3) E–W to NE–SW extension and vertical shortening, leading to low-angle normal faulting and recumbent “collapse folds” like the Wildberg Syncline. D1 and D2 are Cretaceous in age and predate the Eocene emplacement of the Austroalpine on the Penninic Nappes along the Austroalpine basal thrust; the same is probably true for D3. Finally, the basal thrust was deformed by folds related to out-of-sequence thrusting. These results suggest that the NCA were at least partly in a state of extension during the sedimentation of the Gosau Group in the Late Cretaceous.     

Geochemistry of mafic–ultramafic magmatism in the Western Ghats belt (Kudremukh greenstone belt), western Dharwar Craton,India: implications for mantle sources and geodynamic setting

Western Ghats Belt of western Dharwar Craton is dominated by metavolcanic rocks (komatiites, high-magnesium basalts (HMBs), basalts, boninites) with occasional metagabbros. This rock-suite has undergone post-magmatic alteration processes corresponding to greenschist- to lower-amphibolite facies conditions. Komatiites are Al-depleted, characterized by lower Al₂O₃/TiO₂ and high CaO/Al₂O₃. Their trace element distribution patterns suggest most of the primary geochemical compositions are preserved with minor influence of post-magmatic alteration processes and negligible crustal contamination. Chemical characteristics of Al-depleted komatiites imply their derivation from deeper upper mantle with/without garnet involvement. HMBs and basalts are differentiated based on their magnesium content. Basalts and occasionally associated gabbroic sills have similar geochemical characteristics. HMB are characterized by light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment, with significant Nb–Ta and Zr negative anomalies. Basalts and associated gabbros display tholeiitic affinity, with LREE-enriched to slightly fractionated heavy rare earth element (HREE) patterns. Boninites are distinctive in conjunction of low abundances of incompatible elements with respect to the studied komatiites. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of boninites show relative enrichment in LREE and HREE with respect to MREE. Prominent island arc signatures are evident in HMB, basalts, boninites, and gabbros in terms of their Nb–Ta and Zr–Hf negative anomalies, LREE enrichment and HFSE depletion. It is suggested that these HMB–basalts (associated gabbros)–boninites are the products of arc magmatism. Their REE chemistry attests to a gradual transition in melting depth varying between spinel and garnet stability field in an arc regime. The close spatial association but contrasting elemental characteristics of komatiites and HMB–basalts–boninites can be explained by a plume-arc model, in which the ~3.0 Ga komatiites are considered to be the products of plume volcanism in an oceanic setting, while the HMB, basalts, boninites, and associated gabbros were emplaced in a continental margin setting around 2.8–2.7 Ga.     

Geochemical constraints on Cu–Fe and Fe skarn deposits in the Edong district,Middle–Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt,China

Copper and iron skarn deposits are economically important types of skarn deposits throughout the world, especially in China, but the differences between Cu and Fe skarn deposits are poorly constrained. The Edong ore district in southeastern Hubei Province, Middle–Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt, China, contains numerous Fe and Cu–Fe skarn deposits. In this contribution, variations in skarn mineralogy, mineralization-related intrusions and sulfur isotope values between these Cu–Fe and Fe skarn deposits are discussed.The garnets and pyroxenes of the Cu–Fe and Fe skarn deposits in the Edong ore district share similar compositions, i.e., dominantly andradite (Ad_29–100Gr_0–68) and diopside (Di_54–100Hd_0–38), respectively. This feature indicates that the mineral compositions of skarn silicate mineral assemblages were not the critical controlling factors for variations between the Cu–Fe and Fe skarn deposits. Intrusions associated with skarn Fe deposits in the Edong ore district differ from those Cu–Fe skarn deposits in petrology, geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotope. Intrusions associated with Fe deposits have large variations in their (La/Yb)_N ratios (3.84–24.6) and Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.32–1.65), and have relatively low Sr/Y ratios (4.2–44.0) and high Yb contents (1.20–11.8 ppm), as well as radiogenic Sr–Nd isotopes (εNd(t) = − 12.5 to − 9.2) and (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i = 0.7067 to 0.7086. In contrast, intrusions associated with Cu–Fe deposits are characterized by relatively high Sr/Y (35.0–81.3) and (La/Yb)_N (15.0–31.6) ratios, low Yb contents (1.00–1.62 ppm) without obvious Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.67–0.97), as well as (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i = 0.7055 to 0.7068 and εNd(t) = − 7.9 to − 3.4. Geochemical evidence indicates a greater contribution from the crust in intrusions associated with Fe skarn deposits than in intrusions associated with Cu–Fe skarn deposits. In the Edong ore district, the sulfides and sulfates in the Cu–Fe skarn deposits have sulfur isotope signatures that differ from those of Fe skarn deposits. The Cu–Fe skarn deposits have a narrow range of δ³⁴S values from − 6.2‰ to + 8.7‰ in sulfides, and + 13.2‰ to + 15.2‰ in anhydrite, while the Fe skarn deposits have a wide range of δ³⁴S values from + 10.3‰ to + 20.0‰ in pyrite and + 18.9‰ to + 30.8‰ in anhydrite. Sulfur isotope data for anhydrite and sedimentary country rocks suggest that the formation of skarns in the Edong district involved the interaction between magmatic fluids and variable amounts of evaporites in host rocks.     

Progressive shortening axis rotation recorded by Variscan synkinematic granites : example of the South Armorican shear zone in the Vendée (France)

The Variscan continental collision is expressed by large shear zones in Western Europe. The synthesis of granite ages, related to different deformation fields in the Vendée area, suggests a geodynamic model for the tectonic evolution of this part of the Variscan belt between 370 Ma – 320 Ma. After the first step of the continental collision, leading to high temperature and anatexis at 375-360 Ma, the south-eastern part of the Armorican massif underwent large dextral shearing along N110-N125 trending shear zones, related to a bulk NNW-SSE shortening direction, up to early Visean time. Large-scale displacements progressively decreased at around 345-340Ma. During middle Visean time, the shortening axis direction rotated towards a NNE-SSW position implying changes in the regional deformation field. The occurrence of N70-N100 sinistral and N110-N130 dextral conjugate shear zones within leucogranites are related to that epoch. Finally, a new dextral shear zone system, trending N130-N150 along the Parthenay shear zone, occurs during late Visean time. This progressive middle Visean change of shortening direction probably corresponds to a major change in the Iberian plate motion and indentation during the Mississipian collision.     

Re–Os geochronology of Cu and W–Mo deposits in the Balkhash metallogenic belt, Kazakhstan and its geological significance

The Central Asian metallogenic domain (CAMD) is a multi-core metallogenic system controlled by boundary strike-slip fault systems. The Balkhash metallogenic belt in Kazakhstan, in which occur many large and super-large porphyritic Cu–Mo deposits and some quartz vein- and greisen-type W–Mo deposits, is a well-known porphyritic Cu–Mo metallogenic belt in the CAMD. In this paper 11 molybdenite samples from the western segment of the Balkhash metallogenic belt are selected for Re–Os compositional analyses and Re–Os isotopic dating. Molybdenites from the Borly porphyry Cu deposit and the three quartz vein-greisen W–Mo deposits—East Kounrad, Akshatau and Zhanet—all have relatively high Re contents (2712–2772 μg/g for Borly and 2.267–31.50 μg/g for the other three W–Mo deposits), and lower common Os contents (0.670–2.696 ng/g for Borly and 0.0051–0.056 ng/g for the other three). The molybdenites from the Borly porphyry Cu–Mo deposit and the East Kounrad, Zhanet, and Akshatau quartz vein- and greisen-type W–Mo deposits give average model Re–Os ages of 315.9 Ma, 298.0 Ma, 295.0 Ma, and 289.3 Ma respectively. Meanwhile, molybdenites from the East Kounrad, Zhanet, and Akshatau W–Mo deposits give a Re–Os isochron age of 297.9 Ma, with an MSWD value of 0.97. Re–Os dating of the molybdenites indicates that Cu–W–Mo metallogenesis in the western Balkhash metallogenic belt occurred during Late Carboniferous to Early Permian (315.9–289.3 Ma), while the porphyry Cu–Mo deposits formed at 316 Ma, and the quartz vein-greisen W–Mo deposits formed at 298 Ma. The Re–Os model and isochron ages thus suggest that Late Carboniferous porphyry granitoid and pegmatite magmatism took place during the late Hercynian movement. Compared to the Junggar-East Tianshan porphyry Cu metallogenic belt in northwestern China, the formation of the Cu–Mo metallogenesis in the Balkhash metallogenic belt occurred between that of the Tuwu-Yandong in East Tianshan and the Baogutu porphyry Cu deposits in West Junggar. Collectively, the large-scale Late Carboniferous porphyry Cu–Mo metallogenesis in the Central Asian metallogenic domain is related to Hercynian tectono-magmatic activities.     

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.