Cooling and exhumation history of deep‐seated and shallow level,late Hercynian granitoids from Calabria

The thermal and exhumation history of late Hercynian granitoids from Calabria (Sila and Serre massifs) has been studied using thermobarometry and radiometric age determinations. The uplift and erosion which followed contractional tectonics of Tertiary age exposed in Calabria a nearly complete section of the Hercynian crust. Field data, constrained by igneous thermobarometrical data, have enabled us to draw simplified crustal profiles. In both the Sila and Serre massifs, granitoids make up the intermediate portions of the crustal sections and are stacked as tabular intrusions for up to 13 km cumulative thickness. Shallow granitoids are characterized by a weak fabric, mostly developed in the magmatic stage, whereas deep‐seated granitoids display a strong fabric developed in the magmatic state and, with decreasing temperatures, in the subsolidus state. The intrusive bodies were emplaced at 300–290 Ma, at a time when the Calabrian crust was undergoing extensional tectonics and crustal thinning. The subsequent post‐Hercynian evolution is recorded by Rb‐Sr dates of micas and fission track ages of zircon and apatite obtained from granitoids emplaced at different depths. A decrease in Rb‐Sr and fission track ages is observed as depth of emplacement increases. Data on the post‐Hercynian geological evolution of Calabria were used to model in three stages the cooling and exhumation history of deep‐seated and shallow granitoids. The first stage, in Permian to Triassic times, was characterized by slow erosion. It was followed by a second stage of extensional tectonics in Jurassic times. The third stage was exhumation during the Apenninic Orogeny. The model has generated two P–T–t arrays, one for deep‐seated and the other for shallow granitoids of the Serre massif. The T–t paths suggest that the dates of micas, zircon and apatite are cooling ages. They also show that deep‐seated granitoids remained at temperatures above the brittle–plastic transition for a long time, whereas shallow granitoids cooled rapidly. Distinct P–T–t paths explain why deep‐seated and shallow granitoids display different fabric and microstructural features. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

AMS record of brittle dilation,viscous-stretching and gravity-driven magma ascent in area of magma-rich crustal extension (Vosges Mts., NE France)

Orogenic compression-related fabrics (~340–335 Ma) were reworked during regional extensional deformation (~328–325 Ma) in a large anatectic crustal domain of the Central Vosges (NE France). The extension was first accommodated by brittle dilation affecting vertically anisotropic high-grade rocks associated with emplacement of subvertical granitic sheets. The AMS fabric of granitoids is consistent with highly partitioned transtensional deformation marked by alternations of flat and steep foliations and development of orthogonal lineations. This deformation passes to top-to-the-southwest ductile shearing expressed in southerly migmatitic middle crust. The AMS fabric revealed moderately west-dipping foliations bearing subhorizontal NNW–SSE-trending lineations and predominantly plane strain to prolate shapes. This fabric pattern is interpreted as a viscous response of stretched partially molten crust during continuous ductile extension. Vertical ascent of voluminous granites and stoping of the upper crust occurs further south. This gravity ascent triggered by extension leads to development of south-dipping AMS foliations, south-plunging lineations and oblate fabrics in various crustal granites. Vertical shortening related to ascent of these (~325 Ma) granitoids and persistent N–S stretching is responsible for reworking and remelting of originally vertical compression-related fabric in roof supracrustal granites (~340 Ma) and development of highly prolate fabrics in these rocks. This work shows that the finite shape of AMS fabric ellipsoid is highly sensitive to both strain regime and superpositions of orthogonal deformation events.     

黄陵花岗岩基的成因

黄陵花岗岩基位于扬子地台北缘，它连同汉南和鲤鱼寨岩基一起构成扬子地台北缘的低钾花岗岩等，形成于晋宁晚期扬子地台北侧的“秦岭洋”壳向南俯冲导致的大陆边缘造山运动过程中。黄陵花岗岩基可解体为三斗坪、黄陵庙、大老岭、晓峰4个岩套和14个单元，侵位于832－750Ma之间。三斗坪和黄陵庙两个岩套主要由英云闪长岩、奥长花岗岩花岗闪地组成，是在近南北向区域挤压下于约16km深部塑性域定位的同构造花岗岩，前者主要依靠岩浆在构造弱面逐次强力楔入创造定位空间，后者主要在处于活动状态的韧性拉张剪切带内定位。钙碱性系列的大老岭和晓峰岩套则是在本区地壳迅速隆起过程中分别在5km和＜1．5km深度的脆性域定位的构造晚期花岗岩。根据岩石化学和同位素组成推断，三斗坪岩套的源岩主要是晚太古代大陆拉斑玄武岩，母岩浆相当于英安质，岩套内的成分变化主要受角闪石分离结晶作用控制；黄陵庙岩套除受分离结晶作用影响外，成分变化主要与英安质母岩浆和某种长英质岩浆的混合有关；大老岭岩套的源岩亦为早前寒武纪火山岩。     

The Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith (Pampean Ranges,Argentina): structural evidences,emplacement and timing of the intrusion

Within the southern part of the Sierra Pampeanas (the Sierra de San Luis, Argentina), a series of extensive intrusive bodies are regarded to post-date the Famatinian cycle but were emplaced during the Achalian, a period of heterogeneous deformation along crustal scale fault zones. The largest of those is the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith that is situated at the northern end of the transpressive, sinistral Guzmán shear zone. This composite pluton exhibits three sub-domains that comprise two granitoid sub-units each: The southern Potrerillos stock (muscovite-bearing red granite and biotite-bearing red granite) and the central (biotite porphyritic granite and giant porphyritic granite) and northern domain (equigranular granite and porphyritic granite) of the Las Chacras stock. The crystallisation ages of the biotite porphyritic granite is around 381 Ma (U/Pb on zircons and Pb/Pb on sphene), while the host rock was already cooled below 350 °C at 420 Ma. Thermal modelling approaches favour a pulsed intrusion with a duration of 1.5 Ma. The emplacement was followed by rapid cooling below the muscovite cooling temperature. Biotite cooling ages in different sub-units reflect either a long-lasting cooling history of approximately 30 Ma (which is supported by the modelling) or a reheating effect at around 350 Ma. Devonian-age determinations on the fault rocks and granitoids point to a syn-tectonic emplacement of the batholith. The pluton is interpreted to be positioned at the crossover of sinistral shear zones. The origin of this NNE directed extensional setting in a transpressive regime seems to be related to the transfer of displacement along a secondary set of NNW-trending sinistral faults. The final emplacement is due to a subsequent ballooning of the batholith following the direction of space creation. This model is based on the relative timing of the emplacement sequence and macroscopically visible planar fabrics in the field as well as magnetic fabric data. Our results indicate that the emplacement is syn-kinematic with respect to the Achalian deformation event.     

Denudation history of the high T/P Ryoke metamorphic belt, southwest Japan: constraints from CHIME monazite ages of gneisses and granitoids

CHIME (chemical Th–U-total Pb isochron method) monazite ages were determined for gneisses and granitoids from the eastern and western parts of the Ryoke belt separated by about 500 km. The monazite ages for the gneisses are concentrated between 102 and 98  Ma, and are interpreted as the time of monazite formation under lower amphibolite facies conditions. The peak metamorphism seems to be contemporaneous with the emplacement of the geologically oldest plutons that are dated at c . 95  Ma in both the eastern and western parts. In the eastern part plutonism continued from c . 95  Ma to c . 68  Ma at intervals of 2–10  Ma, whereas in the western part it ceased at c . 85  Ma. The CHIME monazite ages agree well with the relative age of granitoids derived from intrusive relationships of granitoids in both parts. These lines of evidence are incompatible with a current view that the plutonometamorphism in the Ryoke belt becomes younger towards the east. The CHIME monazite ages, coupled with available data on the depth at which the Ryoke metamorphism took place and the emplacement of individual plutons, show that the western part was eroded more rapidly (about 1.5  mm year⁻¹) than the eastern part (about 0.8  mm year⁻¹) over the time span from 91 to 85  Ma. The denudation rates agree well with those in active orogenic belts like the Alps and Himalayas.     

Mafic magmatic enclaves and mafic rocks associated with some granitoids of the central Sierra Nevada batholith, California: nature, origin, and relations with the hosts

The calc-alkaline granitoids of the central Sierra Nevada batholith are associated with abundant mafic rocks. These include both country-rock xenoliths and mafic magmatic enclaves (MME) that commonly have fine-grained and, less commonly, cumulate textures. Scarce composite enclaves consist of either xenoliths enclosed in MME, or of MME enclosed in other MME with different grain size and texture. Enclaves are often enclosed in mafic aggregates and form meter-size polygenic swarms, mostly in the margins of normally zoned plutons. Enclaves may locally divert schlieren layering. Mafic dikes, which also occur in swarms, are undisturbed, composite, or largely hybridized. In central Sierra Nevada, with the exception of xenoliths that completely differ from the other rocks, host granitoids, mafic aggregates, MME, and some composite dikes exhibit a bulk compositional diversity and, at the same time, important mineralogical and geochemical (including isotopic) similarities. MME and host granitoids display distinct major and trace element compositions. However, strong correlations between MME–host granitoid pairs indicate interactions and parallel evolution of MME and enclosing granitoid in each pluton. Identical mafic mineral compositions and isotopic features are the result of these interactions and parallel evolution. Mafic dikes have broadly the same major and trace element compositions as the MME although variations are large between the different dikes that are at distinctly different stages of hybridization and digestion by the host granitoids. The composition of the granitoids and various mafic rocks reflects three distinct stages of hybridization that occurred, respectively, at depth, during ascent and emplacement, and after emplacement. The occurrence and succession of hybridization processes were tightly controlled by the physical properties of the magmas. The sequential thorough or partial mixing and mingling were commonly followed by differentiation and segregation processes. Unusual MME that contain abundant large crystals of hornblende resulted from disruption of early cumulates at depth, whereas those richer in large crystals of biotite were formed by disruption of late mafic aggregates or schlieren layerings at the level of emplacement. MME and host granitoids are considered cogenetic, because both are hybrid rocks that were produced by the mixing of the same two components in different proportions. The felsic component was produced by partial melting of preexisting crustal materials, whereas the dominant mafic component was probably derived from the upper mantle. However, in the lack of a clear mantle signature, the origin of the mafic component remains questionable.     

Multiple intrusions and low-pressure metamorphism in the central Old Woman Mountains, south-eastern California: constraints from thermal modelling

The Old Woman Mountains in south-eastern California are a Late Cretaceous low-pressure metamorphic terrane where multiple magmatic intrusions generated broad regions of elevated metamorphic temperatures. In the Scanlon Gulch area, two sheet-like, Late Cretaceous granitoid plutons are in contact with the Scanlon shear zone, a 1-km-thick sheet of isoclinally folded and transposed metamorphic rocks. The metaluminous Old Woman granodiorite underlies the shear zone and the peraluminous Sweetwater Wash granite overlies it. Both plutons record emplacement ages of ∼74 Ma. Thermobarometry and phase relations in the shear zone suggest that peak metamorphism was at 650 ± 50† C and 4.3 ± 0.5 kbar. Late Cretaceous metamorphic temperatures were less elsewhere in the Old Woman Mountains, away from the intrusions.
One-dimensional thermal models are used to investigate how differences in the time between the emplacement of plutons would affect the thermal evolution of the central Old Woman Mountains. The prediction of a thermal history inferred from petrological and thermochronological data requires the rapid emplacement of the two plutons around the shear zone; simulations with delays of more than 1 Myr in the emplacement of the second pluton failed to predict peak metamorphic temperatures. Calculations which consider only the emplacement of a single pluton yield metamorphic temperatures that are too low. The time separating the intrusions is by far the most sensitive parameter in the calculations; assumptions concerning the treatment of the initial geothermal gradient and the latent heat of crystallization have relatively small effects on the predicted thermal histories. Our results suggest that for certain geometries, relatively short-lived magmatic events involving rapid emplacement of multiple intrusions can produce low-pressure metamorphism.     

Mineralogical constraints on the origin of Neoproterozoic felsic intrusions,NW margin of the Yangtze Block,South China

Felsic intrusions in the Hannan region at the northwestern margin of the Yangtze Block mainly include the ca. 730 Ma adakitic Erliba and Wudumen plutons and the ca. 760 Ma calcic-alkali Xixiang and Tianpinghe bodies. These four intrusions were considered to have been formed by melting of the newly formed lower mafic crust. However, the two generations of granitoids have different lithologies and mineral compositions. Thermobarometry calculations reveal that the Erliba and Wudumen granitoids formed under approximately similar emplacement pressures (2.96–3.11 kbar) and temperatures (787–789°C). The Xixiang emplaced body was intruded at high pressure (?3.54 kbar) and low temperature (?676°C), whereas the Tianpinghe pluton solidified at low pressure (?2.00 kbar) and high temperature (～747°C). The four intrusions have similar oxygen fugacity ranges near the nickel-nickel oxide buffer, suggesting oxidized parental magmas. The Erliba and Wudumen are estimated to have been generated under pressures higher than 12 kbar, the Xixiang under a pressure of >10 kbar, and the Tianpinghe under a pressure of >6 kbar. Thus, the petrology and geochemical differences among these four felsic intrusions probably mainly resulted from variations of depth and degrees of partial melting. The whole-rock and mineral compositions have arc affinities, suggesting that they were formed in an active continental margin.     

Geochemistry of a peraluminous granitoid suite from North-eastern Victoria,South-eastern Australia

The Koetong Suite of Silurian, 2-mica granitoids was derived from a metasedimentary source and emplaced into Ordovician sediments and metasediments along the eastern margin of the Western Metamorphic Belt of South-eastern Australia. Whole-rock geochemical considerations preclude derivation of the magmas represented by the granitoids from exposed Ordovician metasediments. The magmas were generated by partial melting of material similar in composition to garnet-cordierite gneisses exposed in the adjacent metamorphic belt. Melting at pressures in excess of 5 Kb and temperatures about 750°C produced peraluminous magmas and, when the degree of partial melting approached 25–30%, these magmas became mobile and moved vertically into the overlying Ordovician sediments. During movement from the source region to the zone of emplacement, separation of the melt and refractory residue components of the magma resulted in a range of compositions so that whole-rock analyses of the granitoids are linearly related on major and trace element variation diagrams. Processes such as crystal fractionation and crystal accumulation may have operated locally. The magmas were largely composed of solid material throughout their emplacement histories and the amount of melt may not have exceeded 30–45% at any stage. Metasedimentary inclusions are a reflection of source heterogeneity.After emplacement of the magmas, in situ crystallization of a relatively anhydrous assemblage of minerals led to water contents in residual, intercrystalline, melts sufficiently high for muscovite to begin crystallization at pressures around 4 Kb. Subsequent saturation of intercrystalline residual melt and loss of the resultant volatile phase caused the development of eutectoid intergrowths involving muscovitebiotite-quartz and alkali feldspar.     

长江中下游地区鄂东南和九瑞矿集区成矿岩体特征及其识别标志

长江中下游地区是我国一条重要的铜多金属成矿带,成矿与燕山期岩浆活动密切相关,矿床类型主要有斑岩型和矽卡岩型。在长江中下游成矿带西段的鄂东南和九瑞地区产有该带中几个十分重要的大型铜多金属矿床,如铜绿山、鸡冠嘴、铜山口、城门山、武山等。通过对该区岩体的系统对比研究表明,成矿岩体和不成矿岩体的矿物组成,主微量元素成分及成岩年龄上并无明显差异。总体而言,九瑞地区岩浆岩的形成年龄集中在141～148Ma之间,略早于鄂东南地区与铜矿相关的岩浆岩(集中在137～140Ma)。对岩浆岩全岩的Sr-Nd同位素和锆石Hf同位素研究表明,一些成矿岩体具有比不成矿岩体更高比例的幔源物质贡献。对岩浆岩中主要造岩矿物,如角闪石和黑云母的详细研究,可以区分它们的不同结晶历史,从而揭示岩浆从早至晚演化过程中,相容元素和不相容元素、成矿元素和挥发份元素的变化规律,判别岩浆分离结晶过程、流体出溶过程,指示成矿与否。通过对角闪石和黑云母温压计的应用,估测了九瑞和鄂东南地区成矿岩体与不成矿岩体的侵位压力和深度,发现成矿岩体一般具有较低的压力(4kbar)和较浅的侵位深度。九瑞和鄂东南地区成矿岩体均具有较高的氧逸度。成矿岩体演化到晚期,氧逸度显示升高的趋势,岩浆中的挥发分/成矿金属含量较高。而不成矿岩体就位前岩浆贫化Cu、S、Cl等元素,不能分异出含足够成矿元素的成矿热液。因此,通过详细的矿物学、特别是造岩矿物角闪石和黑云母以及副矿物锆石和磷灰石的主微量元素和同位素组成的研究,以及由其计算出的温度、压力、氧逸度、流体成分等参数,可以区分成矿与不成矿岩体,从而为长江中下游成矿带乃至其他类似地区的深部找矿工作提供理论指导。     

西藏曲水碰撞花岗岩的混合成因：来自成因矿物学证据

西藏曲水碰撞花岗岩地处冈底斯构造-岩浆带中部,呈东西向平行雅鲁藏布缝合带分布.该岩体以花岗闪长岩、石英闪长岩为主,其次为石英二长闪长岩.岩体内普遍发育微粒镁铁质包体.对花岗闪长岩、石英闪长岩及微粒镁铁质包体的成因矿物学研究结果显示：（1）斜长石发育环带且边缘和核部偏基性,幔部酸性;（2）斜长石斑晶边缘常含有角闪石、黑云母等暗色矿物包体;（3）钾长石X射线结构分析显示自核部向边缘温度呈现逐渐升高的特点;（4）长石矿物中普遍含有较高的Cr、Ni、Co元素,明显不同于壳熔花岗岩;（5）角闪石、黑云母矿物MgO含量高于典型壳熔花岗岩;（6）包体中发育针状磷灰石和角闪石,显示为岩浆淬冷的结果.上述特征不可能用正常岩浆分异作用来解释,而更可能是壳-幔岩浆混合作用的结果.采用矿物温压计所得到的结果也符合混合后的岩浆演化特征.     

花岗岩类分类与定位机制研究动向和进展

近年来国内外花岗岩类研究工作已取得了新的进展。本文综合性地评述了花岗岩类主要岩石成因分类、构造环境分类与对比特点;着重叙述了花岗岩体定位机制研究方法及研究实例;对深化我国特别是华南花岗岩类岩石成因—构造分类及定位机制的研究提出了具体建议。     

Sequence of magmatic events in the Late Paleozoic of Transbaikalia,Russia (U-Pb isotope data)

The Late Paleozoic intrusive rocks, mostly granitoids, totally occupy more than 200,000 km² on the territory of Transbaikalia. Isotopic U-Pb zircon dating (about 30 samples from the most typical plutons) shows that the Late Paleozoic magmatic cycle lasted for 55–60 m.y., from ~330 Ma to ~275 Ma. During this time span, five intrusive suites were emplaced throughout the region. The earliest are high-K calc-alkaline granites (330–310 Ma) making up the Angara–Vitim batholith of 150,000 km² in area. At later stages, formation of geochemically distinct intrusive suites occurred with total or partial overlap in time. In the interval of 305–285 Ma two suites were emplaced: calc-alkaline granitoids with decreased SiO₂ content (the Chivyrkui suite of quartz monzonite and granodiorite) and the Zaza suite comprising transitional from calc-alkaline to alkaline granite and quartz syenite. At the next stage, in the interval of 285–278 Ma the shoshonitic Low Selenga suite made up of monzonite, syenite and alkali rich microgabbro was formed; this suite was followed, with significant overlap in time (281–276 Ma), by emplacement of Early Kunalei suite of alkaline (alkali feldspar) and peralkaline syenite and granite. Concurrent emplacement of distinct plutonic suites suggests simultaneous magma generation at different depth and, possibly, from different sources. Despite complex sequence of formation of Late Paleozoic intrusive suites, a general trend from high-K calc-alkaline to alkaline and peralkaline granitoids, is clearly recognized. New data on the isotopic U-Pb zircon age support the Rb-Sr isotope data suggesting that emplacement of large volumes of peralkaline and alkaline (alkali feldspar) syenites and granites occurred in two separate stages: Early Permian (281–278 Ma) and Late Triassic (230–210 Ma). Large volumes and specific compositions of granitoids suggest that the Late Paleozoic magmatism in Transbaikalia occurred successively in the post-collisional (330–310 Ma), transitional (305–285 Ma) and intraplate (285–275 Ma) setting.     

Fabric evidence for granodiorite emplacement with extensional shear zones in the Variscan Gredos massif (Spanish Central System)

Three granitoid bodies in the central part of the Gredos massif (Spanish Central System batholith) are tabular, around 1 km in thickness, and intruded into a migmatitic middle crust during the D3 deformation phase of the Variscan Orogeny. Petrologically, they are composed of Bt-granodiorite and Crd-monzogranite, and they show varying abundance of large (cm-scale) feldspar megacrysts. A detailed study of the shape preferred orientation (SPO) magmatic fabric defined by these megacrysts, together with a kinematic analysis of the structures due to interactions between them, and the measurement of quartz c-axis fabrics in migmatites and granitoids, suggests that granitic magma and country rocks were mechanically coupled during deformation. The emplacement took place along large-scale, extensional shear zones active during the first stages of the D3 phase. The shape of the SPO ellipsoids varies from constrictional at the centre of the granitic bodies, to flattening or even oblate at their external contacts with the migmatitic host rocks. The favoured interpretation of this spatial fabric variation is the overprinting of the emplacement fabrics by a constrictional tectonic regime associated with the growth of tabular magma chambers along extensional detachments, followed by shear zone development commonly at the top of the granitic bodies. The entire structure was later folded during the last stages of the D3 phase.     

Constraints from geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotopes for the origin of albitite deposits from Central Sardinia (Italy)

Major- and trace-element contents and Sr–Nd isotope ratios were determined in albitite, albitized and unaltered late-Variscan granitoid samples from the world-class Na-feldspar deposits of central Sardinia, Italy. The albite deposit of high economic grade has geological, textural, and chemical features typical of metasomatic alteration affecting the host granitoids. Albitization, locally accompanied by chloritization and epidotization, was characterized by strong leaching of Mg, Fe, K, and geochemically similar trace elements, and by a significant increase of Na. Ca, and P were moderately leached in the most metasomatized rocks. Other major (Si, Ti, Ca) and trace elements (U, Th, Y, and Zr), along with light (LREE) and middle (MREE) rare-earth elements, behaved essentially immobile at the deposit scale. The Nd-isotope ratios (0.512098 to 0.512248) do not provide information on the emplacement age of the unaltered late-Variscan granitoids. On the other hand, their Sr-isotope ratios fit an errorchron of 274±29 Ma (1σ error), in fair agreement with all published ages of Sardinian Variscan granitoids. The very low Rb content of albitized rocks precludes application of the Rb–Sr radiometric system to determine the age of albitization. The Sm–Nd system is not applicable either, because the ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios of albitized rocks and unaltered granitoids overlap. The overlap confirms that Sm and Nd were substantially immobile during albitization. On the other hand, the measured ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the albitized rocks are appreciably lower than those of the unaltered host granitoids, whereas, their initial Sr-isotope ratios are higher. This seems to suggest that a) albitization was induced by non-magmatic fluids rich in radiogenic Sr, and b) albitization occurred shortly after the granitoid emplacement. This conclusion is supported by Nd isotopes, because unaltered granitoids and albitites fit the same reference isochron at 274 Ma. The fluids acquired radiogenic Sr by circulation through the Lower Paleozoic metasedimentary basement. Specifically, it is estimated that Sr supplied by the non-carbonatic basement represents about 22 wt% of total Sr in albitite.     

Late-orogenic Svecofennian deformation in SW Finland constrained by pegmatite emplacement ages

Late stages of the Svecofennian orogeny in SW Finland were related to a tranpressional stress field and dextral movements along crustal scale shear zones under decreasing temperature and pressure conditions. In the Kemiö area, a minimum estimate for the time span of movements along one of these shear zones is obtained from the ages of 1840 to 1830 Myr-old microcline granite sheets, related to early ductile deformation, and by dating structurally late rare-mineral granite pegmatites, related to brittle deformation. One pegmatite was emplaced when the rheological conditions in the gabbro changed from ductile to semi-ductile and brittle. It has U-Pb ferrotapiolite ages ranging between 1807.0 ± 2.9 Myr (2 ) and 1803.1 + 2.9/ -2.0 Myr (2 ). Another pegmatite emplaced under brittle conditions has an U-Pb ferrotapiolite age of 1802.9 ± 1.3 Myr (2 ). These pegmatites were emplaced preferentially in gabbroic rocks, that showed brittle to semi-ductile deformation at a time when their more felsic host-rocks still showed ductile deformation. The age range bracketed by the microcline granite sheets and the structurally late pegmatites indicates that ductile deformation related to the transpressional Late Svecofennian tectonic regime in southwestern Finland, persisted for at least 30–40 Myr.     

Alpine metamorphism in the south-east Tauern Window, Austria: 2. Rates of heating, cooling and uplift

Abstract Existing geochronological data are reviewed and new Rb-Sr, K-Ar and ³⁹Ar–⁴⁰Ar ages are presented, including a suite of 33 mica ages from a 20 km north–south tunnel section. These data are discussed in relation to the thermal history from the overthrusting of the Autroalpine nappes c. 65 Myr ago to the present. The earliest phase of metamorphism, involving lawsonite crystallization, is associated with emplacement of these nappes. Subsequently, temperatures in the rocks beneath rose, at a mean rate of 3–6°C/Myr, until the climax of metamorphism.
At high structural levels, published data indicate an age > 35 Myr for the metamorphic climax. In contrast, a new ³⁹Ar–⁴⁰Ar step-heating age of 23.8 ± 0.8 Myr on amphibole, from near the base of Peripheral Schieferhülle, closely approximates the age of metamorphism and provides the first clear indication that the climax of metamorphism occurred later at deeper structure levels. Following the climax, near-isothermal uplift and erosion reduced pressure to c. 1 kbar before white mica closure at 19 Myr; this implies uplift at >3 mm/yr.
Along the tunnel section, white mica K-Ar ages vary systematically from 24 Myr to 16.5 Myr with position relative to a late 4 km amplitude dome whereas biotite Rb-Sr ages are uniform at 16.5 Myr across the whole profile; doming is thus dated at 16.5 Myr with transient uplift rates >5 mm/yr. At other times uplift rates were <1 mm/yr.     

The role of extensional tectonics at different crustal levels on granite ascent and emplacement: an example from Tuscany (Italy)

The role of regional extension on the rise and emplacement of granites in the crust is still debated. Pluton ascent and emplacement widely occurred in Tuscany (Italy) since late Miocene during the post-orogenic collapse of the inner Apennines, and are presently occurring in the geothermal areas of Amiata and Larderello. Tuscany offers a preferred test site to study the role of regional extension on pluton ascent and emplacement at different crustal levels. Ductile extension enhanced the segregation and ascent of granitic melts in the lower crust, controlling pluton emplacement in correspondence with the brittle–ductile transition. In the brittle crust, magma ascent occurred through subvertical faults and fractures compatible with the regional extension direction; pluton emplacement mainly occurred by means of roof lifting. The case of Tuscany suggests that the extensional structures enhance melt segregation and ascent in the ductile crust, but are not efficient alone to provide a pathway for the ascent of granitic magmas in the brittle-extending crust. The estimated magmatic strain rates due to pluton emplacement in the geothermal areas are much larger than the regional tectonic strain rates. This suggests that regional tectonics did not control magma emplacement in the brittle crust and explains why nontectonic processes (roof lifting) accommodated the space required for pluton emplacement.     

Late Paleozoic – Mesozoic subduction-related magmatism at the southern margin of the Siberian continent and the 150 million-year history of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean

The paper reviews geological, geochronological and geochemical data from the Late Paleozoic – Mesozoic magmatic complexes of the Siberian continent north of the Mongol-Okhotsk suture. These data imply that these complexes are related to the subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean under the Siberian continent. We suggest that this subduction started in the Devonian, prior to the peak of magmatic activity. Studied magmatic complexes are of variable compositions possibly controlled by changes of the subduction regime and by possible input from enriched mantle sources (hot spots).The oceanic lithosphere of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean had shallowly subducted under the Siberian continent in the Devonian. Steeper subduction in the Early – Late Carboniferous led to switching from an extensional to compressional tectonic regime resulting in fold-thrust deformation, to the development of duplex structures and finally to the thickening of the continental crust. This stage was marked by emplacement of voluminous autochthonous biotite granites of the Angara-Vitim batholith into the thickened crust. The igneous activity in the Late Carboniferous – Early Permian was controlled by the destruction of the subducted slab. The allochthonous granitoids of the Angara-Vitim batholith, and the alkaline granitoids and volcanics of the Western Transbaikalian belt were formed at this stage. All these complexes are indicative of extension of the thickened continental crust. A normal-angle subduction in the Late Permian – Late Triassic caused emplacement of various types of intrusions and volcanism. The calc-alkaline granitoids of the Late Permian – Middle Triassic Khangay batholith and Late Triassic Khentey batholith were intruded near the Mongol-Okhotsk suture, whereas alkaline granitoids and bimodal lavas were formed in the hinterland above the broken slab. The Jurassic is characterized by a significant decrease of magmatic activity, probably related to the end of Mongol-Okhotsk subduction beneath the studied area.The spatial relationship of the Late Permian – Middle Triassic granitoids, and the Late Triassic granitoids is typical for an active continental margin developing above a subduction zone. All the Late Carboniferous to Late Jurassic mafic rocks are geochemically similar to subduction-related basalts. They are depleted in Nb, Ta, Ti and enriched in Sr, Ba, Pb. However, the basaltoids located farther from the Mongol-Okhotsk suture are geochemically similar to a transition type between island-arc basalts and within-plate basalts. Such chemical characteristics might be caused by input of hot spot related enriched mantle to the lithospheric mantle modified by subduction. The Early Permian and Late Triassic alkaline granitoids of southern Siberia are of the A₂-type geochemical affinities, which is also typical of active continental margins. Only the basaltoids generated at the end of Early Cretaceous are geochemically similar to typical within-plate basalts, reflecting the final closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean.     

Petrogenesis of granitoid rocks at the northern margin of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt and evidence of syn-collisional magmatism

The northern margin of the Eastern Ghats Mobile belt against the Singhbhum craton exposes granitic rocks with enclaves from both the high-grade and low-grade belts. A shear cleavage developed in the boundary region is also observed in these granitoids. Field features and petrography indicate syn-tectonic emplacement of these granitoids. Petrology-mineralogy and geochemistry indicate that some of the granitoids are derived from the high-grade protoliths by dehydration melting. Others could have been derived from low-grade protoliths. Moreover, microstructural signatures in these granitoids attest to their syn-collisional emplacement.