Low-Pressure Metamorphism of Granulite Facies in an Early Proterozoic Orogenic Event in Central Inner Mongolia1

Abstract According to the kinds of feldspar and rock associations in the Al-rich gneisses, the low-pressure metamorphic crust of the Early Proterozoic granulite facies in central Inner Mongolia can be divided into southern and northern belts which are composed of six rock associations. They represent the relevant rock sequences of the layered metamorphic rock series formed under specific metamorphic temperature and pressure conditions as well as tectonic environments. Mineral inclusions and reaction texture have recorded that the medium-temperature high-pressure mineral assemblages are replaced by the high-temperature low-pressure mineral assemblages, thus, giving rise to: garnet+quartz? hypersthene+plagioclase; kyanite? sillimanite and garnet+ kyanite / sillimanite+quartz? cordierite. The deformation fabrics of the rocks, the change of mineral assemblages and the PTt path of metamorphism indicate that the contempranceous high-temperature normal-slip ductile shearing is the main cause of the formation of the low-pressure metamorphic crust of granulite facies. In the orogenic event, the co-action of thrusting and extension resulted in the change of a medium-temperature high-pressure metamorphic environment into the high-temperature low-pressure metamorphic conditions.     

Archean Regional Metamorphism of the Isua Supracrustal Belt,Southern West Greenland: Implications for a Driving Force for Archean Plate Tectonics

The Isua supracrustal belt (～3.8 Ga) constitutes the oldest accretionary complex in the world. Petrochemical and geothermobarometric studies of more than 1500 rock samples of the Isua belt have enabled us to estimate the extent of regional metamorphism, the petrotectonic environment, and the subduction-zone geothermal gradient in the Archean. The following line of evidence indicates progressive, prograde metamorphism from greenschist (Zone A) through albite-epidote-amphibolite (Zone B) to amphibolite facies (Zones C and D) in the northeastern part of the Isua supracrustal belt: (1) the systematic change of mineral paragenesis in metabasites and metapelites; (2) progressive change of the composition of major metamorphic minerals, including plagioclase, amphibole, chlorite, epidote, and garnet; (3) normal zoning of amphibole and garnet; and (4) the absence of relict minerals of high-grade amphibolitic metamorphism even in the lowest metamorphic zone. Metabasites of the Isua belt vary extremely in Mg#, causing a complex mineral paragenesis throughout the area. For example, a high FeO content of metabasites expands the stability field of hornblende to both lower and higher grades. The compositional and mineralogical characteristics above also indicate that the Isua supracrustal belt underwent a single regional metamorphic event, involving minor contact metamorphism and mylonitization; however, weak ocean-floor metamorphism and low-grade regional metamorphism during accretion cannot be ruled out.

Metamorphic pressures and temperatures are estimated to be 5–7 kbar from garnet-hornblende-plagioclase-quartz geobarometry and 380–550°C from garnet-biotite geothermometry in Zones B to D. These P-T estimates indicate an intermediate P/T ratio metamorphic facies series. Geological investigations and chronological constraints of the Isua metamorphic belt indicate that the regional metamorphism was related to the subduction of Archean lithosphere, and records a geothermal gradient for the Archean subduction zone that is much higher than geotherms for Phanerozoic subduction zones. The high geothermal gradient may have resulted from the young age of subducted lithosphere and high potential temperature of the mantle. The Archean high geothermal gradient led to melting of thick oceanic crust in a thin, descending oceanic plate, creating many huge granitic (tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite [TTG]) batholiths. Slab melting changed the oceanic crust (density = 3.07) to denser garnet-bearing assemblages (density = 3.55), implying that TTG melt extraction provided a potential driving force for Archean plate tectonics.     

华南陆块北缘大陆裂断带高温低压变质作用

高温低压变质岩的形成要求高的热梯度（>30℃/km）,所对应的构造环境一直受到地质学界的关注.本文总结了我们对华南陆块北缘新元古代Rodinia超大陆裂解（breakup）时期形成的变质花岗岩和变质玄武岩所进行的岩石学和地球化学研究成果,强调大陆裂断（rift）带是形成高温低压变质岩最可能的构造环境.高温低压变质作用主要记录在含铝硅酸盐矿物的变质花岗岩中,其中所含的红柱石和夕线石为变质成因,由白云母脱水反应产生.根据含铝硅酸盐矿物的峰期矿物组合和视剖面计算,得到变质温压条件为560~660℃/1.0~3.5 kbar.变质红柱石具有非常负的δ18O值,并且与岩浆锆石处于氧同位素不平衡状态,进一步证明它是岩浆结晶后变质作用的产物.变质榍石U-Pb定年得到高温低压变质作用的年龄为751±11 Ma,与Rodinia超大陆裂解峰期年龄一致.变质玄武岩显示岛弧型微量元素分布特征,指示其源区为受俯冲大洋地壳来源流体交代的地幔楔,因此地幔源区形成于格林威尔期Rodinia超大陆聚合过程中.由此可见,导致超大陆裂解的大陆裂断是在古俯冲带基础上发育的.通过对比形成变质峰期矿物组合所需的热流值和变质花岗岩中产热元素提供的热流值,得知大陆裂断带确实存在来自软流圈地幔的异常高热流,这使得超大陆裂解过程可以发育高温低压变质作用.      

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987114000309

In the early 1980s, evidence that crustal rocks had reached temperatures 〉1000 ℃ at normal lower crustal pressures while others had followed low thermal gradients to record pressures characteristic of mantle conditions began to appear in the literature, and the importance of melting in the tectonic evolution of orogens and metamorphic-metasomatic reworking of the lithospheric mantle was realized. In parallel, new developments in instrumentation, the expansion of in situ analysis of geological ma- terials and increases in computing power opened up new fields of investigation. The robust quantifi- cation of pressure （P）, temperature （T） and time （t） that followed these advances has provided reliable data to benchmark geodynamic models and to investigate secular change in the thermal state of the lithosphere as registered by metamorphism through time. As a result, the last 30 years have seen sig- nificant progress in our understanding of lithospheric evolution, particularly as it relates to Precambrian geodynamics.     

俯冲物质深地幔循环——地球动力学研究的一个新方向

地球上发生的各种地壳运动,大规模的火山喷发,不同深度不同规模的地震活动,规模宏大的山脉和高原的形成,以及地球历史上发生的大陆漂移运动,都被认为与板块构造活动密切相关.但这些运动的动力源究竟来自何方?如何去发现和证明它们的存在以及从理论上去认识和解释,是当今地球科学面临的巨大挑战,也是今后很长一段时间内地球科学的前沿和热...     

变质作用、板块构造及超级大陆旋回

麻粒岩相超高温变质作用（GUHTM）主要发育于新太古代至寒武纪岩石中;推测在深部较年轻的,特别是新生代造山带岩石中也会有GUHTM存在。岩石中最初出现GUHTM记录意味着产生瞬时极高热流处的地球动力学发生了改变。许多GUHTM带可能发育于类似现代大陆弧后的构造背景中。在较热的地球上,超大陆及其裂解形成的循环组合,尤其是经岩石圈减薄的洋盆卷入到其外翻过程中可能产生比现代太平洋边缘更热的大陆弧后。中温榴辉岩 高压麻粒岩相变质作用（EHPGM）也是最先发现于新太古代岩石记录中,并发育于从元古宙至古生代岩石中。EHPGM带是对GUHTM带的补充,并经常认为是记录了从俯冲至碰撞造山作用的过程。在元古宙岩石记录中的蓝片岩明显记录了与现代俯冲作用相关的低热流梯度。以发育柯石英(±硬柱石)或金刚石为特征的硬柱石蓝片岩和榴辉岩（高压变质作用,HPM）及超高压变质岩（UHPM）主要是在显生宙形成。HPMUHPM记录了显生宙俯冲碰撞造山带早期碰撞过程中的低热流梯度及陆壳的深俯冲作用。尽管与直觉不同,在超级大陆聚敛期（Wilson旋回洋盆打开和关闭）的大陆地块增生过程,许多HPMUHPM带看来确实是通过小洋盆关闭而发育起来的,反映双重热体制的双重变质带仅发育于新太古代以来的岩石记录中。双重热体制是现代板块构造的特点,而双重变质作用则是板块构造在岩石记录中的特征性标志。尽管构造样式很可能不同,新太古代以来GUHTM和EHPGM带的发育证明“元古宙板块构造体制”的开始。以冷俯冲和大陆地壳深俯冲至地幔,以及其中的部分又从深达300 km处发生折返为标志,“元古宙板块构造体制”在新元古代进化为“现代板块构造体制”,这个转变可由岩石中的HPMUHPM证明。记录这种极端条件的变质带年龄是不一致的,而变质作用发生时间与各大陆岩石圈聚合到超级克拉通（如Superia/Sclavia）或超级大陆（如Nuna (Columbia), Rodinia, Gondwana, 和Pangea）的时间却是一致的。     

地幔氧逸度与俯冲带深部碳循环

地幔氧逸度通过改变含碳相的存在形式和迁移方式来影响深部碳循环。本文结合最新的地幔氧逸度实验模拟和岩石学研究成果,探讨了地幔氧逸度时空分布对深部碳循环的影响。文章重点结合地幔减压熔融形成洋壳、新生洋壳蚀变、洋壳俯冲变质、深俯冲洋壳熔融以及俯冲洋壳物质(流体和固体)通过岩浆(岛弧和地幔柱)作用循环出地表等重要地质过程,探讨了伴随洋壳俯冲作用的深部碳循环过程。由于地幔氧逸度的时空变化,俯冲带含碳相表现出不同的存在形式和迁移能力。通过对西南天山俯冲带碳循环的岩石学和实验研究,我们认为应当进一步深入研究俯冲带氧化还原状态及其对俯冲带深部碳循环的影响。     

大别山超高压变质带的构造背景

大别山南部的超高压变质带具有特征的榴辉岩相矿物组合，榴辉岩的岩石化学及稀土元素特征及其伴生的岩石组合，表明这个带是以陆壳成分为主混有少量上地幔及洋壳成分的混杂岩，榴辉岩相围岩和大别群具有不同的变质和变形特征。超高压变质带形成于扬子和中朝板块大陆碰撞的构造环境，是扬子板块陆壳向北俯冲到一定深度的变质产物。     

华北克拉通的形成以及早期板块构造

地球上最早的地壳岩石是高钠的花岗质(TTG)岩石,但是否有更老的洋壳存在过、以及陆壳是怎样形成的,涉及到地球动力学几乎所有的问题。其中板块构造是在什么时候开始的,就是个延续了数十年热度不减的前沿科学问题。流行的说法是板块构造始于新元古代,也有一些学者认为在新太古代就已经开始,或者认为自从地球上有了水的记录,就开始有板块构造。在众多的判别板块构造的标志中,蛇绿岩残片和古老的高压变质岩无疑是两个最具影响力的问题。前者可以确定有远古的古老洋壳存在过并成为缝合带中的残片,后者可以指示曾有地表的岩石单元被俯冲到深部,是俯冲、消减与碰撞的岩石学证据。本文在讨论和比较了太古宙绿岩带与蛇绿岩,以及早前寒武纪高温高压(HTHP)麻粒岩/高温—超高温(HT-UHT)麻粒岩与造山带高压变质带之后,认为尚不能作为板块构造的证据。本文还对华北的新太古代末的稳定大陆形成以及古元古代活动带的裂谷-俯冲-碰撞进行了论述。提出华北克拉通在新太古代末的绿岩带-高级区格局可能标志着热体制下有限的横向活动构造,微陆块被火山-沉积岩系焊接,随后发生变质作用和花岗岩化,完成稳定大陆的克拉通化过程。其构造机制可能是适度规模且多发的地幔柱构造控制下小尺度的横向构造运动的机制。华北克拉通的古元古代活动带有与绿岩带-高级区不同的构造样式,表壳岩带状分布,经受了强烈的变形以及中级变质作用,伴随花岗岩的侵入,虽然没有蛇绿岩和高压变质带,但已表现出板块构造的雏形特征。     

青藏高原松多地区温木朗蛇绿岩的发现及其地质意义

在藏南工布江达县松多地区温木朗沟发现了一套蛇绿岩,命名为温木朗蛇绿岩。温木朗蛇绿岩大地构造位置处于中冈底斯板块和南冈底斯板块的交界处。通过详细的野外地质调查和室内岩相学研究,温木朗蛇绿岩露头呈南北向分布,岩石端元包括蛇纹岩、超基性堆晶杂岩、变质辉长岩、变质玄武岩、绿片岩,各端元主要呈断层接触,变形变质较强;在蛇纹岩和变质玄武岩中均发现了花岗质片麻岩,在接触界线处存在冷凝边和烘烤边现象,推测其原岩为斜长花岗岩。温木朗蛇绿岩各端元出露相对齐全,是古特提斯洋壳残留的直接证据,对研究青藏高原古特提斯洋演化及冈底斯板块中部构造演化具有重要意义。     

中祁连地块北缘退变榴辉岩的发现及其地质意义

1∶5万区域地质调查首次在中祁连地块北缘发现的退变榴辉岩,呈构造岩块分布于大羊陇一带的变质基底中。岩相学和矿物学研究显示,石榴石的矿物包体和化学成分具有进变质环带的特征,属于C类榴辉岩。石榴石核部成分以及残留于核部的黑云母、斜长石等矿物包体代表了进变质阶段(M1)矿物组合,计算得到其温压条件为568～580 ℃和0.80～0.82 GPa。大致估算得峰期榴辉岩相阶段(M2)温压条件为(669±5) ℃和(2.1±0.2) GPa。石榴石“白眼圈”结构指示了等温减压退变质作用,利用局部的平衡矿物获得高角闪岩相退变质阶段(M3)的温压条件为681～705 ℃和0.68～0.71 GPa。进一步的退变质作用发生在低角闪岩相条件下,以基质中出现粗粒的角闪石和斜长石为特征,估算得到这一阶段(M4)温压分别为500～545 ℃和0.38～0.43 GPa。上述变质过程形成一个顺时针的p-T演化轨迹,暗示板片经历过快速俯冲和折返。榴辉岩的锆石CL图像显示锆石大部分发光度低,为无分带、弱分带或海绵状分带,边部发育宽约5 μm的强阴极发光带,主体表现为变质增生锆石的特征。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年获得峰期榴辉岩相变质的上限年龄为(485±22) Ma。根据岩石地球化学特征和构造环境判别,大羊陇榴辉岩的原岩为MORB,推测属于北祁连洋壳的组成部分。结合中祁连地块北缘广泛发育弧岩浆岩,确定了晚寒武世-中奥陶世北祁连洋壳存在向南的俯冲作用,其俯冲极性为南北双向俯冲。     

洋板块地质研究进展

中国存在多个时代、多种类型的造山带,发育了多种多样的俯冲增生杂岩带,经历了复杂多变的洋陆转换过程,如何揭示包括洋内演化和洋陆转换等的造山过程一直是一个难题。为此,中国区域地质志项目组提出了洋板块地质研究,试图通过对造山系俯冲增生杂岩带、蛇绿岩带等洋岩石圈地质建造、结构构造进行系统研究,再造洋岩石圈从洋中脊形成到海沟俯冲消亡、转换成陆的地质作用全过程。本文介绍了洋板块地质提出到现今主要的研究进展,包括四个方面。一是,初步建立了洋板块地质格架,洋板块地质的研究包括俯冲增生杂岩的物质组成、蛇绿岩类型及其形成的构造环境、洋板块沉积组合和洋板块地层、岛弧火成岩组合、洋陆转换的过程和机制、洋-陆转换过程与成矿作用等重要内容。二是,识别出北山牛圈子—马鬃山、嘉荫—依兰、陈蔡、东昆仑布青山—阿尼玛卿、鹰扬关、大洪山、甘孜—理塘、新余神山—新干神政桥等中国陆域62条主要的俯冲增生杂岩带/增生杂岩带。俯冲增生杂岩带是认识、理解造山系时空结构、组成和演化的关键。三是,在祁连地区识别出较为完整的洋内弧岩石组合。洋盆演化形成大陆过程中的洋内俯冲带是大陆的诞生地,洋内俯冲作用形成的洋内弧是洋盆演化形成大陆的初始弧。洋内弧火成岩组合序列的发现为研究洋陆转换过程提供了岩石学依据。祁连造山带是洋板块地质研究的经典地区之一。研究显示,当金山出露完整的洋内弧岩石组合,这些岩石记录了洋内弧从初始俯冲到发育成熟的全过程,为探讨祁连造山带原特提斯洋构造演化提供了新的依据。四是,制定了洋板块地质构造图编图方案,编图内容主要包括俯冲增生杂岩带、岩浆弧、高压-超高压带、俯冲期和碰撞期构造形变要素和构造演化等。编图单元分为三级:一级为俯冲增生杂岩带;二级为岩片;三级包括基质和岩块。编图过程中需要明确岩浆弧的性质和归属,明确图面上某一岩浆弧与哪个蛇绿混杂岩或大洋配套。图面上对于构造要素的表达重点是区分俯冲和碰撞阶段。通过构造变形的时态、相态、位态研究,识别俯冲期和碰撞期的构造变形形迹。这是洋板块地质初步的研究成果,以俯冲增生杂岩带的研究为基础,探讨特提斯洋等大洋的演化、中国东部古太平洋/太平洋转换与中新生代成矿关系等重大基础地质问题是洋板块地质研究下一步的工作方向。目前,洋板块地质的研究还处于试点阶段,洋板块地质与成矿的成因联系等重大地质问题尚需今后更深入地研究。     

西南天山造山带超高压变质作用研究新进展

低温超高压变质岩具有极低的地热梯度,其变质演化对于认识板块间相互作用的动力学过程以及弧地壳的生长机制具有重要意义。西南天山造山带发育了世界上少有的经历过深俯冲作用且具有洋壳属性的典型低温超高压变质地质体。近几年来对该造山带中的超高压变质岩开展了大量深入细致的岩石学研究工作,取得了一系列新进展。变基性岩和变沉积岩系岩石中柯石英的普遍发现,直接证明西南天山变质蛇绿混杂岩曾经俯冲到上地幔深度,且具有极低的地热梯度,与热力学模拟结果一致。柯石英的稀少以及大量不同类型柯石英假像的存在,说明在折返过程中发生了强烈的退变质叠加,只有刚性较大且没有经历碎裂-愈合作用的矿物(如石榴石)才有可能保存柯石英。综合岩相学证据和相平衡计算结果,确定西南天山造山带北部的高压地质体(即哈布腾苏-科布尔特单元)整体经历过超高压变质作用,南部的高压地质体峰期压力未达到柯石英稳定域。超高压和高压变质地体的空间分布特点指示了古天山洋由南向北的俯冲极性。这些基础岩石学研究工作的开展对于揭示冷俯冲带的深部物理化学过程以及建立中亚南天山造山带演化的精细模型具有重要意义。     

Collision metamorphism of precambrian complexes in the Transangarian Yenisei Range

Three complexes in the zones of the Ishimbinskii and Tatarka deep faults in the Transangarian part of the Yenisei Range were studied to reproduce their metamorphic evolution and elucidate distinctive features of regional geodynamic processes. The results of our geological and petrological studies with the application of geothermobarometry and P-T metamorphic paths indicate that the Neoproterozoic kyanite-sillimanite intermediate-pressure metamorphism overprinted regionally metamorphosed rocks of low pressure of Middle Riphean age. The kyanite-sillimanite metamorphism was characterized by (1) the development of deformational structures and textures and kyanite-bearing blastomylonites with sillimanite, garnet, and staurolite after andalusite-bearing regional-metamorphic mineral assemblages; (2) insignificant apparent thickness of the zone of intermediate-pressure zonal metamorphism (from 2.5 to 7 km), which was localized near overthrusts; (3) a low geothermal gradient during metamorphism (from 1–7 to 12°C/km); and (4) a gradual increase in the total metamorphic pressure from southwest to northeast with approaching the overthrusts. These features are typical of collisional metamorphism during the thrusting of continental blocks and testify that the rocks subsided nearly isothermally. The process is justified within the scope of a model for the tectonic thickening of the crust via rapid thrusting and subsequent rapid exhumation and erosion. The analysis of our results with regard for the northeastern dips of the thrusts allowed us to consider the intermediate-pressure metapelites as products of collision metamorphism, which were formed in the process of a single thrusting of ancient rock blocks from the Siberian Platform onto the Yenisei Range.     

大陆的起源

太阳系固体星球都有类似的核-幔-壳结构,但唯独人类居住的地球具有长英质组成的大陆壳.太古宙大陆克拉通主要由英云闪长岩(Tonalite)-奥长花岗岩(Trondhjemite)-花岗闪长岩(Granodiorite)为主的TTG深成侵入体变质而成的正片麻岩和由基性-超基性酸性火山岩及少量沉积岩变质的表壳岩(绿岩)组成....     

New evidence for polyphase metamorphism of glaucophane schist and eclogite exotic blocks in the Franciscan Complex, California and Oregon

ABSTRACT The early metamorphic history of high-grade exotic blocks in the Franciscan Complex may be more complicated than previously supposed. The different assemblages of high-grade glaucophane schist, eclogite, amphibolite and hornblende schist are commonly considered to have formed at the same time from essentially unmetamorphosed oceanic crust. However, new textural and mineralogical data presented here suggest that high-grade glaucophane schist and eclogite have replaced an earlier epidote-amphibolite facies assemblage that is identical to the primary assemblages in many of the hornblende-rich blocks. At least some of the hornblende-rich blocks may therefore be well-preserved remnants of the earlier metamorphism. Comparison of the mineral assemblages and element partitioning in the mixed-assemblage blocks suggests that the glaucophane schist and eclogite metamorphism took place at slightly lower temperatures but at the same or higher pressures than the earlier, hornblende-forming stage.     

Plate tectonics,flood basalts and the evolution of Earth’s oceans

The chemical composition of the bulk silicate Earth (BSE) indicates that the present‐day thermal budget of Earth is likely to be characterized by a significant excess of surface heat loss over internal heat generation, indicating an important role of secular cooling in Earth’s history. When combined with petrological constraints on the degree of secular cooling, this thermal budget places a tight constraint on permissible heat‐flow scaling for mantle convection, along with implications for the operation of plate tectonics on Earth, the history of mantle plumes and flood basalt magmatism, and the origin and evolution of Earth’s oceans. In the presence of plate tectonics, hotter mantle may have convected more slowly because it generates thicker dehydrated lithosphere, which could slow down subduction. The intervals of globally synchronous orogenies are consistent with the predicted variation of plate velocity for the last 3.6 Gyr. Hotter mantle also produces thicker, buoyant basaltic crust, and the subductability of oceanic lithosphere is a critical factor regarding the emergence of plate tectonics before the Proterozoic. Moreover, sluggish convection in the past is equivalent to reduced secular cooling, thus suggesting a more minor role of mantle plumes in the early Earth. Finally, deeper ocean basins are possible with slower plate motion in the past, and Earth’s oceans in the Archean is suggested to have had about twice as much water as today, and the mantle may have started as dry and have been gradually hydrated by subduction. The global water cycle may thus be dominated by regassing, rather than degassing, pointing towards the impact origin of Earth’s oceans, which is shown to be supported by the revised composition of the BSE.     

Caledonian Low-Temperature Granulite-Facies Metamorphism in the West Kunlun Orogenic Belt-SHRIMP Chronological Evidence from Zircon

1IntroductionTheWestKunlunorogenicbeltbordersontheTarimplateinthenorth ,linkswiththeKarakorum Qiangtangblockinthesouth ,iscutbytheAltunfaultintheeast,andextendswest wardstothePamirPlateau (BureauofGeologyandMineralResources,Xinjiang ,1 999;JiangChunfaetal.,2 0 0 0 ) .OnthebasisofthediscoveryoftheKudaophioliteandaseriesofstudies(DingDaoguietal.,1 996 ;PanYushengetal.,1 994 ,1 999;WangZhihongetal.,2 0 0 0 ;PanYushengetal.,2 0 0 0 ) ,thepreviousgeologicalworkerscommonlyacceptedthatthereh…     

Petrological evidence for stepwise accretion of metamorphic soles during subduction infancy (Semail ophiolite,Oman and UAE)

Metamorphic soles are tectonic slices welded beneath most large‐scale ophiolites. These slivers of oceanic crust metamorphosed up to granulite facies conditions are interpreted as forming during the first million years of intraoceanic subduction following heat transfer from the incipient mantle wedge towards the top of the subducting plate. This study reappraises the formation of metamorphic soles through detailed field and petrological work on three key sections from the Semail ophiolite (Oman and United Arab Emirates). Based on thermobarometry and thermodynamic modelling, it is shown that metamorphic soles do not record a continuous temperature gradient, as expected from simple heating by the upper plate or by shear heating as proposed in previous studies. The upper, high‐T metamorphic sole is subdivided in at least two units, testifying to the stepwise formation, detachment and accretion of successive slices from the down‐going slab to the mylonitic base of the ophiolite. Estimated peak pressure–temperature conditions through the metamorphic sole, from top to bottom, are 850°C and 1 GPa, 725°C and 0.8 GPa and 530°C and 0.5 GPa. These estimates appear constant within each unit but differing between units by 100–200°C and ~0.2 GPa. Despite being separated by hundreds of kilometres below the Semail ophiolite and having contrasting locations with respect to the ridge axis position, metamorphic soles show no evidence for significant petrological variations along strike. These constraints allow us to refine the tectonic–petrological model for the genesis of metamorphic soles, formed via the stepwise stacking of several homogeneous slivers of oceanic crust and its sedimentary cover. Metamorphic soles result not so much from downward heat transfer (ironing effect) as from progressive metamorphism during strain localization and cooling of the plate interface. The successive thrusts originate from rheological contrasts between the sole, initially the top of the subducting slab, and the peridotite above as the plate interface progressively cools. These findings have implications for the thickness, the scale and the coupling state at the plate interface during the early history of subduction/obduction systems.     

Metamorphic history of eclogites and country rock gneisses in the Aktyuz area,Northern Tien‐Shan,Kyrgyzstan: a record from initiation of subduction through to oceanic closure by continent–continent collision

Eclogites and related high‐P metamorphic rocks occur in the Zaili Range of the Northern Kyrgyz Tien‐Shan (Tianshan) Mountains, which are located in the south‐western segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Eclogites are preserved in the cores of garnet amphibolites and amphibolites that occur in the Aktyuz area as boudins and layers (up to 2000 m in length) within country rock gneisses. The textures and mineral chemistry of the Aktyuz eclogites, garnet amphibolites and country rock gneisses record three distinct metamorphic events (M1–M3). In the eclogites, the first MP–HT metamorphic event (M1) of amphibolite/epidote‐amphibolite facies conditions (560–650 °C, 4–10 kbar) is established from relict mineral assemblages of polyphase inclusions in the cores and mantles of garnet, i.e. Mg‐taramite + Fe‐staurolite + paragonite ± oligoclase (An_<16) ± hematite. The eclogites also record the second HP‐LT metamorphism (M2) with a prograde stage passing through epidote‐blueschist facies conditions (330–570 °C, 8–16 kbar) to peak metamorphism in the eclogite facies (550–660 °C, 21–23 kbar) and subsequent retrograde metamorphism to epidote‐amphibolite facies conditions (545–565 °C and 10–11 kbar) that defines a clockwise P–T path. thermocalc (average P–T mode) calculations and other geothermobarometers have been applied for the estimation of P–T conditions. M3 is inferred from the garnet amphibolites and country rock gneisses. Garnet amphibolites that underwent this pervasive HP–HT metamorphism after the eclogite facies equilibrium have a peak metamorphic assemblage of garnet and pargasite. The prograde and peak metamorphic conditions of the garnet amphibolites are estimated to be 600–640 °C; 11–12 kbar and 675–735 °C and 14–15 kbar, respectively. Inclusion phases in porphyroblastic plagioclase in the country rock gneisses suggest a prograde stage of the epidote‐amphibolite facies (477 °C and 10 kbar). The peak mineral assemblage of the country rock gneisses of garnet, plagioclase (An_11–16), phengite, biotite, quartz and rutile indicate 635–745 °C and 13–15 kbar. The P–T conditions estimated for the prograde, peak and retrograde stages in garnet amphibolite and country rock are similar, implying that the third metamorphic event in the garnet amphibolites was correlated with the metamorphism in the country rock gneisses. The eclogites also show evidence of the third metamorphic event with development of the prograde mineral assemblage pargasite, oligoclase and biotite after the retrograde epidote‐amphibolite facies metamorphism. The three metamorphic events occurred in distinct tectonic settings: (i) metamorphism along the hot hangingwall at the inception of subduction, (ii) subsequent subduction zone metamorphism of the oceanic plate and exhumation, and (iii) continent–continent collision and exhumation of the entire metamorphic sequences. These tectonic processes document the initial stage of closure of a palaeo‐ocean subduction to its completion by continent–continent collision.