The Las Matras tonalitic–trondhjemitic pluton,central Argentina: Grenvillian-age constraints,geochemical characteristics,and regional implications

The N–S trending belt with Grenvillian-age rocks developed in central western Argentina represents the basement of an allochthonous terrane derived from Laurentia during the Early Paleozoic. The Las Matras pluton (36°46′S, 67°07′W) is located at the southern extension of this belt in the Las Matras Block. It consists of a low-Al tonalitic to trondhjemitic facies characteristic of an arc magmatism. Isotopic studies yielded Grenvillian Rb–Sr (1212±47 Ma) and Sm–Nd (1188±47 Ma) ages which, due to the undeformed and non-metamorphosed character of the pluton, are interpreted to represent a crystallization age of around 1200 Ma. Although this age is slightly older than available dates from other exposures of the same belt, and the undeformed feature is also distinctive for Las Matras, the depleted Sr and Nd isotopic signatures of the pluton agree with those from other magmatic rocks involved in that belt. The differences found between Las Matras and the northern exposures indicate that this belt with Grenvillian-age rocks comprises regions of non-homogeneous evolution. Although the correlation of the Lower Paleozoic platform carbonates from the sedimentary cover of the Grenvillian-age basement rocks suggests the surroundings of the Southern Grenville Province (Texas and northern Mexico) as the probable detachment site for the Argentine belt, comparison of magmatic and tectonic processes involved in these basement rocks does not indicate similar evolutions. This fact can suggest an independent evolution of the Argentine belt prior to amalgamation to the Laurentian Grenville orogen.     

Early Paleozoic Structural and Metamorphic Evolution of Western Sierra de San Luis (Argentina), in Relation to Cuyania Accretion

Structural, metamorphic and isotopic data obtained from the Nogoli Metamorphic Complex of western Sierra de San Luis indicate that the Early Paleozoic Famatinian Orogeny overprinted an already structured and metamorphosed older basement. The older geological features are relict NW trending fabric associated with high-grade (amphibolite facies) regional metamorphism preserved within thin strips of schists and paragneisses and in the core of mafic to ultramafic lenses. Arc magmatism, medium P (Barrovian type)/high T (amphibolite to granulite facies) regional metamorphism and penetrative NNE to NE trending foliation are related to the building of the Famatinian orogenic belt. The P-T conditions of the Famatinian prograde metamorphism reached a pressure peak of ca. 8 kb, with a thermal peak from -750°C up to -820°C. U-Pb conventional and chemical dating and Ar-Ar plateau ages constrain the peak of the main orogenic phase related to the Famatinian belt to 470–457 Ma (Early to Mid-Ordovician). Greenschist facies retrograde metamorphism closely associated with shear zones and secondary Ar-Ar plateau and Sm-Nd ages suggest that a late to post-orogenic phase of the Famatinian belt was active at least since -445 Ma. This phase continued during the Silurian to Late Devonian times through multiple reactivation of early shear zones. The Famatinian Orogeny reset a previous thermal history and therefore, the timing of the relict fabric could not be constrained conclusively with radiometric dates. Despite this difficulty, a range of 520 to 490 Ma suggests some inheritance from Pampean events registered by the older NW-SE fabric. The Early to Mid-Ordovician regional metamorphism and ductile deformation of the western Sierra de San Luis is interpreted as the orogenic effects of the collision of the allochthonous Cuyania terrane with the autochthonous proto-Pacific margin of Gondwana during the Famatinian Orogeny.     

青藏高原南部拉萨地体的变质作用与动力学

拉萨地体位于欧亚板块的最南缘,它在新生代与印度大陆的碰撞形成了青藏高原和喜马拉雅造山带。因此,拉萨地体是揭示青藏高原形成与演化历史的关键之一。拉萨地体中的中、高级变质岩以前被认为是拉萨地体的前寒武纪变质基底。但新近的研究表明,拉萨地体经历了多期和不同类型的变质作用,包括在洋壳俯冲构造体制下发生的新元古代和晚古生代高压变质作用,在陆-陆碰撞环境下发生的早古生代和早中生代中压型变质作用,在洋中脊俯冲过程中发生的晚白垩纪高温/中压变质作用,以及在大陆俯冲带上盘加厚大陆地壳深部发生的两期新生代中压型变质作用。这些变质作用和伴生的岩浆作用表明,拉萨地体经历了从新元古代至新生代的复杂演化过程。(1)北拉萨地体的结晶基底包括新元古代的洋壳岩石,它们很可能是在Rodinia超大陆裂解过程中形成的莫桑比克洋的残余。(2)随着莫桑比克洋的俯冲和东、西冈瓦纳大陆的汇聚,拉萨地体洋壳基底经历了晚新元古代的(～650Ma)的高压变质作用和早古代的(～485Ma)中压型变质作用。这很可能表明北拉萨地体起源于东非造山带的北端。(3)在古特提斯洋向冈瓦纳大陆北缘的俯冲过程中,拉萨地体和羌塘地体经历了中古生代的(～360Ma)岩浆作用。(4)古特提斯洋盆的闭合和南、北拉萨地体的碰撞,导致了晚二叠纪(～260Ma)高压变质带和三叠纪(～220Ma)中压变质带的形成。(5)在新特提斯洋中脊向北的俯冲过程中,拉萨地体经历了晚白垩纪(～90Ma)安第斯型造山作用,形成了高温/中压型变质带和高温的紫苏花岗岩。(6)在早新生代(55～45Ma),印度与欧亚板块的碰撞,导致拉萨地体地壳加厚,形成了中压角闪岩相变质作用和同碰撞岩浆作用。(7)在晚始新世(40～30Ma),随着大陆的继续汇聚,南拉萨地体经历了另一期角闪岩相至麻粒岩相变质作用和深熔作用。拉萨地体的构造演化过程是研究汇聚板块边缘变质作用与动力学的最佳实例。     

Cuyania, an Exotic Block to Gondwana: Review of a Historical Success and the Present Problems

A review of the early history of the Cuyania terrane and the numerous pioneering works of the past century provides the present robust framework of evidence supporting a derivation from Laurentia, travel towards Gondwana as an isolated microcontinent, and final amalgamation to the protomargin of western Gondwana in Middle to Late Ordovician times. The major remaining uncertainties and inconsistencies, such as the time of deformation and collision with Gondwana, the lack of evidence of Famatinian-derived zircons, the effects of strike-slip displacements proposed along the suture, as well as the potential sutures defined by ophiolite assemblages, are discussed. The precise boundary along the northern and southern limits is not yet well defined.

The most suitable hypothesis based on present data is that Cuyania originated as a conjugate margin of the Ouachita embayment, south of the Appalachian platform during Early Cambrian times. The subsequent travel toward the Gondwana protomargin is clearly depicted by the changing faunal assemblages in the carbonate platform. New geochemical and age data on K-bentonites presented by several authors reinforce the strong connection between Cuyania ash-fall tuffs and Famatina volcanics by 468–470 Ma, indicating Cuyania and Gondwana were in close proximity at that time.

Extension related to flexural subsidence, preceded by the drowning of the carbonate platform in early Llanvirnian times, is recorded by abrupt facies changes in the sedimentary cover during late Llanvirnian and early Caradocian times. This episode marked the beginning of contact between Cuyania and Gondwana. The subsequent evolution of the foreland basin indicates that deformation lasted until latest Silurian-Early Devonian times.

The time of collision is tracked by the cessation of arc-related magmatic activity in the upper plate (Gondwana protomargin), at about 465 Ma in western Sierras Pampeanas, and ages around 454 Ma corresponding to syncollisional and postcollisional magmatism. The age of the collision is also preserved in the lower plate (Cuyania), where both angular unconformities in the sedimentary cover and the ages of peak of regional metamorphism in the basement rocks point to 460 Ma as the most probable age for the beginning of the collision. Evidence from the upper plate is essentially identical with an age of 463 Ma. Thermal gradients along this suture vary from 13°C/km in the lower plate, to 18°C/km in the fore arc upper plate, reaching more than 30°C/km along the Famatinian arc. Based on these data, a Llandelian-Caradocian age for the collision can be postulated on firm grounds. Deformation continued through most of the early Paleozoic until amalgamation of the Chilenia terrane by the Late Devonian.     

Cambrian to Devonian Geologic Evolution of the Sierra de Comechingones, Eastern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina: Evidence for the Development and Exhumation of Continental Crust on the Proto-Pacific Margin of Gondwana

Crystalline rocks from the Sierra de Comechingones, eastern Sierras Pampeanas, evolved through three distinct orogenic cycles during the Eopalaeozoic: (1) the first tectono-thermal event named Pampean orogeny (550 to 505 Ma), which peaked in the Early Cambrian, was responsible for extensive metamorphism, partial melting, juvenile magmatism, rapid decompression, and persistent tectonic activity. Large part of the crustal section that was residing at middle levels (c. 27 km) was heated above 800 °C during the thermal peak stage of the Pampean orogeny; decompression of the Pampean orogen's core took place at this high temperature. The exhumation mechanism that assisted rapid uplifting combined the effects of ongoing tectonic forces with a buoyant instability created by a large amount of anatectic magmas in the middle to lower crust. (2) Beginning at the Early Ordovician, the Famatinian orogeny produced an overall shortening, causing pervasive textural reworking of the Cambrian metamorphic sequences under a high-strain regime. By being adjacent to the Famatinian magmatic arc, the western border of the Cambrian crystalline package absorbed imposed deformation along a crustal scale ductile shear zone. Within this zone, the high-grade metamorphic rocks were reworked and re-hydrated to lower temperature assemblages (<600°C and 3–6 kbar). Early Ordovician subduction-related igneous activity, even though manifested as small plutons, intruded Cambrian crystalline sequences, and experienced textural reworking during Late Famatinian tectonic exhumation. Late Famatinian convergence resulted in west-vergent ductile shear zones that placed Cambrian onto Ordovician crystalline sequences. (3) During post-Famatinian times (360–400 Ma) enduring crustal perturbation produced intra-crustal-derived granitic magmatism. West- to northwest-directed thrusting was concentrated in belts nucleated along crustal-scale tectonic boundaries formed between older tectono-stratigraphic units. As a result, Devonian anatectic granites were formed and tectonically extruded among Pampean and Famatinian crystalline sequences. The post-Famatinian event is also characterised by the intrusion of batholith-scale monzogranites into Pampean and Famatinian crystalline sequences residing in the upper crust.

Crystalline rocks currently exposed in the Sierra de Comechingones show that they crystallised and were exhumed in a setting where tectono-thermal activity lasted, even though it might have waned, until the Middle Palaeozoic. From the latest Neoproterozoic (c. 550 Ma) until the Late Devonian (c. 360 Ma) tectonic activity was intermittently acting, indicating continuous convergence along the proto-Pacific margin of Gondwana.     

Provenance and Evolution of the Guarguariiz Complex, Cordillera Frontal, Argentina

The Guarguardz Complex, basement of the Cordillera Frontal, included in the proposed Chilenia Terrane, consists of metasedimentary rocks deposited in clastic and carbonatic platforms. Turbiditic sequences point out to slope or external platform environments. According to geochemical data, the sedimentary protoliths derived through erosion of a mature cratonic continental basement. Volcanic and subvolcanic rocks with N and E-MORB signature were interbeded in the metasedimentary rocks during basin development. A compressional stage, starting with progressive deformation and metamorphism, followed this extensional stage. Continuing deformation led to the emplacement of slices of oceanic crust, conforming an accretionary prism during Late Devonian. The Guarguardz Complex and equivalent units in western Precordillera and also in the Chilean Coastal Cordillera share common evolutional stages, widely represented along the western Gondwana margin. These evidences imply that Chilenia is not an allochthonous terrane to Gondwana, but a portion of its Early Paleozoic margin. Regional configuration indicates that the Guarguardz Complex and equivalent units represent the accretionary prism of the Famatinian arc (Middle Ordovician-Late Devonian).     

滇西高黎贡山群变质岩的锆石年龄及其构造意义

被认为是腾冲-梁河地块前寒武纪结晶基底的滇西高黎贡山群变质岩系,其原岩及变质时代长期争论不休。岩相学和地球化学表明,组成高黎贡山群的黑云二长片麻岩、黑云角闪斜长片麻岩和变粒岩的原岩均为岩浆岩。首次对这些变质岩进行原位锆石U-Pb定年,分别获得497.8±7.2Ma～500±14Ma、83.5±0.9Ma的岩浆结晶年龄和459±5Ma、55.2±1.1Ma的变质年龄。结合相邻区碎屑锆石年龄及其区域对比分析,认为腾冲-梁河地块高黎贡山群中以石英片岩、石英岩为主体的原始沉积岩系可能形成于新元古代,应与拉萨地块有密切的亲缘关系。在早古生代环冈瓦纳大陆周缘造山过程中被寒武纪花岗岩侵入并发生变质作用;在新特提斯俯冲过程中,经历了晚中生代的安第斯型造弧作用;在印度与欧亚大陆碰撞过程中,又经历了新生代的岩浆作用、变质作用以及走滑剪切形成糜棱岩化作用。     

The Guarguaraz Complex and the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian evolution of southwestern Gondwana: Geochemical signatures and geochronological constraints

The Guarguaraz Complex, in western Argentina, comprises a metasedimentary assemblage, associated with mafic sills and ultramafic bodies intruded by basaltic dikes, which are interpreted as Ordovician dismembered ophiolites. Two kinds of dikes are recognized, a group associated with the metasediments and the other ophiolite-related. Both have N-MORB signatures, with ε_Nd between +3.5 and +8.2, indicating a depleted source, and Grenville model ages between 0.99 and 1.62 Ga. A whole-rock Sm–Nd isochron yielded an age of 655 ± 76 Ma for these mafic rocks, which is compatible with cianobacteria and acritarchae recognized in the clastic metasedimentary platform sequences, that indicate a Neoproterozoic (Vendian)–Cambrian age of deposition.The Guarguaraz metasedimentary–ophiolitic complex represents, therefore, a remnant of an oceanic basin developed to the west of the Grenville-aged Cuyania terrane during the Neoproterozoic. The southernmost extension of these metasedimentary sequences in Cordón del Portillo might represent part of this platform and not fragments of the Chilenia terrane. An extensional event related to the fragmentation of Rodinia is represented by the mafic and ultramafic rocks. The Devonian docking of Chilenia emplaced remnants of ocean floor and slices of the Cuyania terrane (Las Yaretas Gneisses) in tectonic contact with the Neoproterozoic metasediments, marking the Devonian western border of Gondwana.     

Crustal Provenance and Cooling of the Basement Complexes of the Sierra de San Luis: An Insight Into the Tectonic History of the Pro to-Andean Margin of Gondwana

The Sierra de San Luis constitutes the southernmost tip of the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas. Its Palaeozoic metamorphic basement units define a key location for the understanding of the accretional history along the proto-Andean margin of Gondwana. Although, it is largely accepted that the polyphase accretional history of the Sierras Pampeanas is preluded by the docking of the Pampean Terrane followed by the Famatinian Orogenic Cycle that involves subduction along the margin of Gondwana and the accretion of the Precordillera (Cuyania) Terrane and finally ceased with the collision of the Chilenia terrane, a vast amount of controversial information concerning the timing and mode of collisions as well as the origin of the different involved crustal fragments within the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas is published. In this paper, those different hypothesis are presented and evaluated under the light of new isotopic data of the Sierra de San Luis. Nd-systematics of the metasedimentary sequences of the Sierra de San Luis indicate that the studied sequences were developed on the Pampean Terrane. An Amazonian origin of the Pampean Terrane that was probably detached from the Arequipa Antofalla Craton is proposed. Furthermore, the correlation of two low-grade phyllitic belts (San Luis Formation) with the widespread Puncoviscana Formation is not supported by Sm-Nd data. It is suggested that the sedimentary precursors of the Pringles Metamorphic Complex and the topping phyllites were sourced on the Pampean Orogen and accommodated in a newly formed back arc basin during the early Famatinian.

The cooling history of the basement complex is recorded by an extensive amount of K-Ar muscovite and biotite ages. A high variability in muscovite ages is only partly related to different intrusion times of two pegmatoid generations. Post Famatinian to Achalian crustal scale mylonite formation (-359 Ma) and a rotational exhumation of the central basement unit are causal for the observed K-Ar muscovite age pattern in the range from 395 Ma to 447 Ma. Therefore, the decrease in metamorphic degree from west to east is the result of the erosion level of a crustal profile from the mid lower crust to the upper crust. An even higher variability in K-Ar biotite cooling ages covering the range from 315 Ma to 418 Ma is related to the slow cooling after the Famatinian Orogenic Cycle or reheating during the Achalian Orogenic Cycle and consequent variable reset of the isotopic system. However, ages recorded by biotite booklets substantiate the hypothesis of a differential exhumation of the basement of the Sierra de San Luis.     

Metamorphism and tectonic evolution of the Lhasa terrane,Central Tibet

The Lhasa terrane in southern Tibet is composed of Precambrian crystalline basement, Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary strata and Paleozoic to Cenozoic magmatic rocks. This terrane has long been accepted as the last crustal block to be accreted with Eurasia prior to its collision with the northward drifting Indian continent in the Cenozoic. Thus, the Lhasa terrane is the key for revealing the origin and evolutionary history of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen. Although previous models on the tectonic development of the orogen have much evidence from the Lhasa terrane, the metamorphic history of this terrane was rarely considered. This paper provides an overview of the temporal and spatial characteristics of metamorphism in the Lhasa terrane based mostly on the recent results from our group, and evaluates the geodynamic settings and tectonic significance. The Lhasa terrane experienced multistage metamorphism, including the Neoproterozoic and Late Paleozoic HP metamorphism in the oceanic subduction realm, the Early Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic MP metamorphism in the continent–continent collisional zone, the Late Cretaceous HT/MP metamorphism in the mid-oceanic ridge subduction zone, and two stages of Cenozoic MP metamorphism in the thickened crust above the continental subduction zone. These metamorphic and associated magmatic events reveal that the Lhasa terrane experienced a complex tectonic evolution from the Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic. The main conclusions arising from our synthesis are as follows: (1) The Lhasa block consists of the North and South Lhasa terranes, separated by the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and the subsequent Late Paleozoic suture zone. (2) The crystalline basement of the North Lhasa terrane includes Neoproterozoic oceanic crustal rocks, representing probably the remnants of the Mozambique Ocean derived from the break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent. (3) The oceanic crustal basement of North Lhasa witnessed a Late Cryogenian (~ 650 Ma) HP metamorphism and an Early Paleozoic (~ 485 Ma) MP metamorphism in the subduction realm associated with the closure of the Mozambique Ocean and the final amalgamation of Eastern and Western Gondwana, suggesting that the North Lhasa terrane might have been partly derived from the northern segment of the East African Orogen. (4) The northern margin of Indian continent, including the North and South Lhasa, and Qiangtang terranes, experienced Early Paleozoic magmatism, indicating an Andean-type orogeny that resulted from the subduction of the Proto-Tethys Ocean after the final amalgamation of Gondwana. (5) The Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes witnessed Middle Paleozoic (~ 360 Ma) magmatism, suggesting an Andean-type orogeny derived from the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. (6) The closure of Paleo-Tethys Ocean between the North and South Lhasa terranes and subsequent terrane collision resulted in the formation of Late Permian (~ 260 Ma) HP metamorphic belt and Triassic (220 Ma) MP metamorphic belt. (7) The South Lhasa terrane experienced Late Cretaceous (~ 90 Ma) Andean-type orogeny, characterized by the regional HT/MP metamorphism and coeval intrusion of the voluminous Gangdese batholith during the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean. (8) During the Early Cenozoic (55–45 Ma), the continent–continent collisional orogeny has led to the thickened crust of the South Lhasa terrane experiencing MP amphibolite-facies metamorphism and syn-collisional magmatism. (9) Following the continuous continent convergence, the South Lhasa terrane also experienced MP metamorphism during Late Eocene (40–30 Ma). (10) During Mesozoic and Cenozoic, two different stages of paired metamorphic belts were formed in the oceanic or continental subduction zones and the middle and lower crust of the hanging wall of the subduction zone. The tectonic imprints from the Lhasa terrane provide excellent examples for understanding metamorphic processes and geodynamics at convergent plate boundaries.     

Accretion of Grenvillian terranes to the southwestern border of the R��o de la Plata craton, western Argentina

A comprehensive review of the geological, geochronological, and isotopic features of the Mesoproterozoic Grenvillian terranes attached to the southwest of the Río de la Plata craton in Early Paleozoic times is presented in this paper. They are grouped into the northern (sierras de Umango, Maz and del Espinal and surroundings), central (Sierra de Pie de Palo, southern Precordillera and Frontal Cordillera), and southern (San Rafael and Las Matras Blocks) segments. The Mesoproterozoic basement consists mainly of arc related, intermediate to acidic and mafic?Cultramafic rocks of 1,244?C1,027?Ma, with juvenile, Laurentian affinity. Exception to it is the Maz Group, with a protracted history and reworked character. They are affected by 846?C570?Ma, extensional magmatism in the northern and central segments, which represents the Neoproterozoic breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent. Successive passive margin sedimentation is registered in Late Neoproterozoic (~640?C580?Ma) and Cambro-Ordovician (~550?C470?Ma) times. The southern segment is noted for the younger sedimentation alone, and for showing the exclusive primary unconformable relationship between the Mesoproterozoic basement and Early Ordovician cover. The effects of Early Paleozoic Famatinian orogeny, associated with the collisions of Cuyania and Chilenia terranes, are recorded as main phase (480?C450?Ma), late phase (440?C420?Ma), and Chanic phase (400?C360?Ma). Among them, the tectonothermal climax is the Ordovician main phase, to which klippe and nappe structures typical of collisional orogens are related in the northern and central segments. Preliminary data allow us to suggest a set of paired metamorphic belts, with an outboard high-P/T belt, and an inboard Barrowian P/T belt.     

U-Pb geochronology of basement rocks in central Tibet and paleogeographic implications

The ages and paleogeographic affinities of basement rocks of Tibetan terranes are poorly known. New U-Pb zircon geochronologic data from orthogneisses of the Amdo basement better resolve Neoproterozoic and Cambro-Ordovician magmatism in central Tibet. The Amdo basement is exposed within the Bangong suture zone between the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes and is composed of granitic orthogneisses with subordinate paragneisses and metasedimentary rocks. The intermediate-felsic orthogneisses show a bimodal distribution of Neoproterozoic (920-820 Ma) and Cambro-Ordovician (540-460 Ma) crystallization ages. These and other sparse basement ages from Tibetan terranes suggest the plateau is underlain by juvenile crust that is Neoproterozoic or younger; its young age and weaker rheology relative to cratonic blocks bounding the plateau margins likely facilitated the propagation of Indo-Asian deformation far into Asia. The Neoproterozoic ages post-date Rodinia assembly and magmatism of similar ages is documented in the Qaidaim-Kunlun terrane, South China block, the Aravalli-Delhi craton in NW India, the Eastern Ghats of India, and the Prince Charles mountains in Antarctica. The Amdo Neoproterozoic plutons cannot be unambiguously related to one of these regions, but we propose that the Yangtze block of the South China block is the most likely association, with the Amdo basement representing a terrane that possibly rifted from the active Yangtze margin in the middle Neoproterozoic. Cambro-Ordovician granitoids are ubiquitous throughout Gondwana as a product of active margin tectonics following Gondwana assembly and indicate that the Lhasa-Qiangtang terranes were involved in these tectono-magmatic events. U-Pb detrital zircon analysis of two quartzites from the Amdo basement suggest that the protoliths were Carboniferous-Permian continental margin strata widely deposited across the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes. The detrital zircon age spectra of the upper Paleozoic Tibetan sandstones and other rocks deposited in East Gondwana during the late Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic are all quite similar, making it difficult to use the age spectra for paleogeographic determinations. There is a suggestion in the data that the Qiangtang terrane may have been located further west along Gondwana’s northern boundary than the Lhasa terrane, but more refined spatial and temporal data are needed to verify this configuration.     

Relics of the Mozambique Ocean in the central East African Orogen: evidence from the Vohibory Block of southern Madagascar

The Vohibory Block of south‐western Madagascar is part of the East African Orogen, the formation of which is related to the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent. It is dominated by metabasic rocks, which have chemical compositions similar to those of recent basalts from a mid‐ocean ridge, back‐arc setting and island‐arc setting. The age of formation of protolith basalts has been dated at 850–700 Ma by U–Pb SHRIMP analysis of magmatic cores in zircon, pointing to an origin related to the Neoproterozoic Mozambique Ocean. The metabasic rocks are interpreted as representing components of an island arc with an associated back‐arc basin. In the early stage of the Pan‐African orogeny, these rocks experienced high‐pressure amphibolite to granulite facies metamorphism (9–12 kbar, 750–880 °C), dated at 612 ± 5 Ma from metamorphic rims in zircon. The metamorphism was most likely related to accretion of the arc terrane to the margin of the Azania microcontinent (Proto‐Madagascar) and closure of the back‐arc basin. The main metamorphism is significantly older than high‐temperature metamorphism in other tectonic units of southern Madagascar, indicating a distinct tectono‐metamorphic history.     

Crustal segments in the North Patagonian Massif,Patagonia: An integrated perspective based on Sm–Nd isotope systematics

New insights on the Paleozoic evolution of the continental crust in the North Patagonian Massif are presented based on the analysis of Sm–Nd systematics. New evidence is presented to constrain tectonic models for the origin of Patagonia and its relations with the South American crustal blocks. Geologic, isotopic and tectonic characterization of the North Patagonian Massif and comparison of the Nd parameters lead us to conclude that: (1) The North Patagonian Massif is a crustal block with bulk crustal average ages between 2.1 and 1.6 Ga T_DM (Nd) and (2) At least three metamorphic episodes could be identified in the Paleozoic rocks of the North Patagonian Massif. In the northeastern corner, Famatinian metamorphism is widely identified. However field and petrographic evidence indicate a Middle to Late Cambrian metamorphism pre-dating the emplacement of the ca. 475 Ma granitoids. In the southwestern area, are apparent 425–420 Ma (?) and 380–360 Ma metamorphic peaks. The latter episode might have resulted from the collision of the Antonia terrane; and (3) Early Paleozoic magmatism in the northeastern area is coeval with the Famatinian arc. Nd isotopic compositions reveal that Ordovician magmatism was associated with attenuated crust. On the southwestern border, the first magmatic recycling record is Devonian. Nd data shows a step by step melting of different levels of the continental crust in the Late Palaeozoic. Between 330 and 295 Ma magmatism was likely the product of a crustal source with an average 1.5 Ga T_DM (Nd). Widespread magmatism represented by the 295–260 Ma granitoids involved a lower crustal mafic source, and continued with massive shallower-acid plutono volcanic complexes which might have recycled an upper crustal segment of the Proterozoic continental basement, resulting in a more felsic crust until the Triassic. (4) Sm–Nd parameters and detrital zircon age patterns of Early Paleozoic (meta)-sedimentary rocks from the North Patagonian Massif and those from the neighboring blocks, suggest crustal continuity between Eastern Sierras Pampeanas, southern Arequipa-Antofalla and the northeastern sector of the North Patagonian Massif by the Early Paleozoic. This evidence suggests that, at least, this corner of the North Patagonian Massif is not allochthonous to Gondwana. A Late Paleozoic frontal collision with the southwestern margin of Gondwana can be reconcilied in a para-autochthonous model including a rifting event from a similar or neighbouring position to its post-collision location. Possible Proterozoic or Early Paleozoic connections of the NPM with the Kalahari craton or the western Antartic blocks should be investigated.     

Detrital zircon analysis from the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian sedimentary cover (Cuyania terrane), Sierra de Pie de Palo,Argentina: Evidence of a rift and passive margin system?

Metamorphic basement and its Neoproterozoic to Cambrian cover exposed in the Sierra de Pie de Palo, a basement block of the Sierras Pampeanas in Argentina, lie within the Cuyania terrane. Detrital zircon analysis of the cover sequence which includes, in ascending order, the El Quemado, La Paz, El Desecho, and Angacos Formations of the Caucete Group indicate a Laurentian origin for the Cuyania terrane. The lower section represented by the El Quemado and La Paz Formations is interpreted as having an igneous source related to a rift setting similar to that envisioned for the southern and eastern margins of Laurentia at approximately 550 Ma. The younger strata of the El Desecho Formation are correlative with the Cerro Totora Formation of the Precordillera, and both are products of rift sedimentation. Finally, the Angacos Formation and the correlative La Laja Formation of the Precordillera were deposited on the passive margin developed on the Cuyania terrane. The maximum depositional ages for the Caucete Group include ca. 550 Ma for the El Quemado Formation and ca. 531 Ma for the El Desecho Formation. Four different sediment sources areas were interpreted in the provenance analysis. The main source is crystalline basement dominated by early Mesoproterozoic igneous rocks related to the Granite-Rhyolite province of central and eastern Laurentia. Possible source areas for 1600 Ma metamorphic detrital zircons of the Caucete Group include the Yavapai-Mazatzal province (ca. 1800–1600 Ma) of south-central to southwestern Laurentia. Younger Mesoproterozoic zircon is likely derived from Grenville-age medium- to high-grade metamorphic rocks and subordinate igneous rocks that form the basement of Cuyania as well as the southern Grenville province of Laurentia itself. Finally, Neoproterozoic igneous zircon in the Caucete Group records different magmatic pulses along the southern Laurentian margin during opening of Iapetus and break-up of Rodinia. Northwestern Cuyania terrane includes a small basement component derived from the Granite-Rhyolite province of Laurentia, which was the source for detrital zircons found in the middle Cambrian passive margin sediments of Cuyania.     

粤西云开地区基底变质岩的组成和形成

云开地块被认为是华南西南部一个重要的前寒武纪变质基底出露区,但对其基底组成的认识仍存在较大争议。本文对云开地块内基底变质岩进行了岩石地球化学、锆石U-Pb-Hf同位素分析。分析结果表明云开地块的基底主要由于新元古代-早古生代的变质沉积岩组成。它们具有比上地壳平均成分更高的Si O2和相对更低的Al2O3、Ca O、Na2O,岩石成熟度中等。微量元素与PAAS相似,但Sr、Cr、Ni等强烈亏损,高场强元素Nb、Ta轻度亏损,而大多数样品的Zr、Hf、Th、U等轻度富集,说明源区更富集长英质组分而贫镁铁组分。地球化学特征和碎屑锆石组成指示这套沉积岩形成于被动大陆边缘环境,源区既有古老的再循环物质,也有大量未经明显改造的新元古代岩浆物质。综合本文和前人的锆石U-Pb定年数据,云开地块基底变质岩原岩可以分为两组:第一组样品形成较早(时代上限为850~522Ma),总体年龄谱特征显示出与华夏南岭地区的亲缘性。这组样品的源区主要有4次岩浆作用(2700~2400Ma、1800~1400Ma、1150~900Ma、850~700Ma),均涉及到古老地壳再循环以及新生地壳的加入,但以再循环的物质为主。最主要的新生地壳生长发生在新太古代和Grenville期。而第二组样品的沉积时代在517Ma之后,具有与扬子南缘新元古代沉积岩的相似性。这组亲扬子沉积物的源区具有不同的4次岩浆事件(2600~2350Ma、2000~1750Ma、1700~1500Ma、900~750Ma),新太古代晚期-古元古早期岩浆主要涉及古老基底再循环。古元古晚期-中元古早期岩浆大多起源于新生地壳物质,而新元古代是最重要的新生地壳生长期,同时也涉及大量古老地壳物质的再循环。不同时代沉积岩的碎屑物质组成变化表明大概在522~517Ma之间云开沉积盆地和物源区受到一定程度的构造运动影响,使得源区由华夏地块变成扬子地块。这期构造事件很可能是早古生代造山事件的初始阶段。根据本文资料和其他证据我们认为云开地块归属于华夏板块,扬子与华夏地块的分界线至少在云开地块以北,且很可能在平乐与平南之间。     

A Paleoproterozoic orogeny recorded in a long-lived cratonic remnant (Wuyishan terrane), eastern Cathaysia Block, China

The Precambrian basement of northern Wuyishan (southern Zhejiang Province, eastern Cathaysia Block, South China), consists mainly of Paleoproterozoic granites and metamorphic rocks of the Badu Complex, which are the oldest rocks found in the Cathaysia Block. LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb ages for a gneiss and five gneissic granites from the Tianhou, Danzhu, Xiaji and Lizhuang plutons indicate that magmatism and metamorphism took place between 1888 and 1855 Ma. The Xiaji (1888 ± 7 Ma) and Lizhuang (1875 ± 9 Ma) granites have high SiO₂, K₂O and Rb contents, high A/CNK (1.09–1.40) and Rb/Sr, and low contents of Sr, REE and mafic components (Mg, Fe, Ti, Mn and other transition metals). They have the geochemical signature of S-type granites, and a sedimentary protolith is confirmed by the presence of abundant inherited zircons with a range of ages and Hf-isotope compositions. The Tianhou and Danzhu granites are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous (A/CNK = 0.80–1.07), and have low SiO₂ contents, high Ga/Al and FeO/(FeO + MgO) ratios, and Zn and HFSE concentrations typical of A-type granites. They also record high crystallization temperatures (885–920 °C), consistent with A-type granites. High Y/Nb ratios (>1.4) indicate that they belong to the A₂ subgroup, suggesting that they probably formed in a post-orogenic tectonic setting. Their ages range from 1867 to 1855 Ma, slightly later than the syn-collisional Lizhuang and Xiaji S-type granites. These granitic rocks and the metamorphic rocks of the Badu Complex define a late Paleoproterozoic orogenic cycle in the area. All the 1.86–1.90 Ga zircons, whether derived from S- or A-type granites, show similar Hf-isotopic compositions, with Hf model ages clustering at 2.8 Ga. These model ages, and inherited zircons (ca. 2.5–2.7 Ga) found in some rocks, indicate that the late Paleoproterozoic magmatism and tectonism of the eastern Cathaysia Block represent an overprint on an Archaean basement. This Paleoproterozoic orogeny in the Wuyishan terrane coincides with the assembly of the supercontinent Columbia, suggesting that the Wuyishan terrane was the part of this supercontinent.Zircon ages also record an early Mesozoic (Triassic) tectonothermal overprint that was very intensive in the northern Wuyishan area, leading to high-grade metamorphism of Paleoproterozoic basement, Pb loss from Paleoproterozoic zircons and overgrowth of new zircon. The central and southern parts of Wuyishan and the Chencai area (northern Zhejiang Province) also experienced strong reworking in Neoproterozoic and early Paleozoic times. The Wuyishan terrane (especially in the north) represents a long-lived remnant of the old craton, which has survived for at least one billion years. The compositions of the basement rocks, the Paleoproterozoic orogeny and the Triassic tectonothermal imprint in the Wuyishan terrane are similar to those recognized in the Yeongnam massif of South Korea, suggesting that the two terranes may have been connected from Paleoproterozoic to Triassic time.     

Proterozoic–Early Paleozoic evolution in western South America—a discussion

The hypothesis of exotic terranes in Perú, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile generated discussions on the mode of transfer and extent of accretional events that may have occurred in the southern Andes during the Late Proterozoic–Early Paleozoic. Initially, a tectogenesis based on autochthonous mobile fold belts was discussed. Following ideas emphasised the fragmentation of the supercontinent Rodinia, Laurentia moving along the West Gondwana border and colliding with the Gondwana western margin. The most important effect of this Laurentia/Gondwana relationship was attributed to the Argentine Precordillera (or Cuyania) terrane splitting off from Laurentia and docking to Gondwana in the Early Paleozoic. In this study, the most cited arguments for this Laurentia/Precordillera relationship are discussed, emphasising paleontological considerations. It is shown that these arguments do not exclude a close original vicinity of the Precordillera terrane to Gondwana.The Precordillera terrane is suggested to be part of a hypothetical platform, which developed between South America, Africa and Antarctica (SAFRAN platform), and which was displaced to its actual position by transcurrent faults. The collisional events in the Sierras Pampeanas ensued from strike–slip movements and were responsible for the S and I type transpressional magmatism along the Pampean and Famatinian terranes. The final result of this continent-parallel movement of terrane slices is similar to that of a terrane split off from Laurentia, but the first-named way of formation easier explains the general continuity of plate convergence at the western border of Gondwana than the Laurentia/Precordillera connection does.     

Late Cambrian to Early Silurian Granitic Rocks of the Gemuri Area, Central Qiangtang, North Tibet: New Constraints on the Tectonic Evolution of the Northern Margin of Gondwana

The Paleozoic tectonic framework and paleo–plate configuration of the northern margin of Gondwana remain controversial. The South Qiangtang terrane is located along the northern margin of Gondwana and records key processes in the formation and evolution of this supercontinent. Here, we present new field, petrological, zircon U-Pb geochronological, and Lu-Hf isotopic data for granitic rocks of the Gemuri pluton, all of which provide new insights into the evolution of the northern margin of Gondwana. Zircon U-Pb dating of the Gemuri pluton yielded three concordant ages of 488.5 ± 2.1, 479.9 ± 8.9, and 438.5 ± 3.5 Ma. Combining these ages with the results of previous research indicates that the South Qiangtang terrane records two magmatic episodes at 502–471 and 453–439 Ma. These two episodes are associated with enriched zircon Hf isotopic compositions(εHf(t) =-10.1 to-3.9 and-16.6 to-6.5, respectively), suggesting the granites were formed by the partial melting of Paleoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks(Two–stage Hf model ages(TCDM) = 2094–1704 and 2466–1827 Ma, respectively). Combining these data with the presence of linearly distributed, contemporaneous Paleozoic igneous rocks along the northern margin of Gondwana, we suggest that all of these rocks were formed in an active continental margin setting. This manifests that the two magmatic episodes within the Gemuri area were associated with southward subduction in the Proto-(Paleo-) Tethys Ocean.     

Age and emplacement of late-Variscan granites of the western Bohemian Massif with main focus on the Hauzenberg granitoids (European Variscides, Germany)

The Variscan Hauzenberg pluton consists of granite and granodiorite that intruded late- to postkinematically into HT-metamorphic rocks of the Moldanubian unit at the southwestern margin of the Bohemian Massif (Passauer Wald). U–Pb dating of zircon single-grains and monazite fractions, separated from medium- to coarse-grained biotite-muscovite granite (Hauzenberg granite II), yielded concordant ages of 320 ± 3 and 329 ± 7 Ma, interpreted as emplacement age. Zircons extracted from the younger Hauzenberg granodiorite yielded a ²⁰⁷Pb–²⁰⁶Pb mean age of 318.6 ± 4.1 Ma. The Hauzenberg granite I has not been dated. The pressure during solidification of the Hauzenberg granite II was estimated at 4.6 ± 0.6 kbar using phengite barometry on magmatic muscovite, corresponding to an emplacement depth of 16-18 km. The new data are compatible with pre-existing cooling ages of biotite and muscovite which indicate the Hauzenberg pluton to have cooled below T = 250–400 °C in Upper Carboniferous times. A compilation of age data from magmatic and metamorphic rocks of the western margin of the Bohemian Massif suggests a west- to northwestward shift of magmatism and HT/LP metamorphism with time. Both processes started at > 325 Ma within the South Bohemian Pluton and magmatism ceased at ca. 310 Ma in the Bavarian Oberpfalz. The slight different timing of HT metamorphism in northern Austria and the Bavarian Forest is interpreted as being the result of partial delamination of mantle lithosphere or removal of the thermal boundary layer.