Polymetamorphism of the Variscan Basement of the Moldanubian Black Forest （Germany） Documented in Zircon and Garnet Minerals from Gneisses

High-grade metamorphic Variscan basement is exposed in the Moldanubian zone of the Black Forest (BF), being the internal zone of the European Variscan belt. Zircon grains from K-rich felsic orthogneisses and an anatectic paragneiss in the Moldanubian Black Forest demonstrate a multi-stage crystallization at ～ 600 Ma, ～ 480 Ma, ～ 400 - 380 Ma, and ～350 Ma. The last three stages of crystallization probably represent metamorphic overprint during pre-Variscan and Variscan metamorphism.Using stepwise leaching procedures, garnet minerals from felsic orthogneisses as well as paragneisses in the Moldanubian Black Forest yielded Early Carboniferous Sm-Nd ages (～ 330- 340 Ma), which are consistent with the well-constrained Variscan HT metamorphic event,and Early Palaeozoic ( ～480 Ma) to Devonian ( ～400 - 370 Ma) Pb-Pb ages. The coincidence of growth time for zircon and garnet minerals at Early Palaeozoic is interpreted as dating a metamorphic event. These garnet data demonstrate that the Moldanubian BF basement underwent at least two metamorphic events during the Early Palaeozoic and Early Carboniferous.During the Variscan HT metamorphism, the Sm-Nd system of garnet was disturbed, but not the U-Pb system, implying the peak metamorphic temperature was lower than ～800℃.     

Metamorphic evolution of garnet-spinel peridotites from the Variscan Schwarzwald (Germany)

Garnet-spinel peridotites form small, isolated, variably retrogressed bodies within the low-pressure high-temperature gneisses and migmatites of the Variscan basement of the Schwarzwald, southwest Germany. Detailed mineralogical and textural studies as well as geothermobarometric calculations on samples from three occurrences are presented. Two of the garnet-spinel peridotites have equilibrated at 680–770°C, 1.4–1.8 GPa within the garnet-spinel peridotite stability field, one of the samples having experienced an earlier stage within the spinel peridotite stability field (790°C, <1.8 GPa). The third sample, with only garnet and spinel preserved, probably equilibrated within the garnet peridotite stability field at higher pressures. These findings are in line with the distinction of two groups of ultramafic garnet-bearing high-pressure rocks with different equilibration conditions within the Schwarzwald (670–740°C, 1.4–1.8 GPa and 740–850°C, 3.2–4.3 GPa) which has previously been established (Kalt et al. 1995). The equilibration conditions of 670–770°C and 1.4–1.8 GPa for garnet-spinel peridotites from the Central Schwarzwald Gneiss Complex (CSGC) are similar to those for eclogites of the Schwarzwald and also correspond quite well to those for garnet-spinel peridotites from the Moldanubian zone of the Vosges mountains and of ecologites from the Moldanubian s.str. of the Bohemian Massif.     

Petrology and geochronology of eclogites from the Variscan Schwarzwald (F.R.G.)

The Moldanubian basement of the Schwarzwald contains basic to ultrabasic rocks of both crustal and mantle origin which display high-pressure mineral assemblages or relics of such. In order to constrain the P-T-t evolution of the crustal high-pressure rocks, petrological and geochronological studies have been carried out on three eclogite samples. Geothermobarometric estimations indicate minimum metamorphic pressures of 1.6 GPa and equilibration temperatures of 670 750°C. Reaction textures document various metamorphic stages during exhumation of the high-pressure rocks. The age of high-pressure metamorphism is constrained by Sm-Nd isochrons of 332±13 Ma, 334±11 Ma, and 337±6 Ma defined by garnet, whole rock and clinopyroxene. For one sample, large garnets show prominent growth zoning in terms of major elements, Sm, Nd, and inclusions, dividing the grains into two growth stages. Sm-Nd isotope analyses on these garnets indicate that the time span between the two growth stages is too small to be resolved, reflecting a rather rapid metamorphic evolution. This result is further constrained by a Rb-Sr isochron age of 325±6 Ma on retrograde biotite and whole rock on the same sample. For one of the studied eclogites, formation of the magmatic precursor rocks is possibly approximated by the Ordovician U-Pb upper intercept age of a discordia from zircons.     

Behaviour of zircon in high-grade metamorphic rocks: evidence from Hf isotopes,trace elements and textural studies

Hf isotopic data of minerals in a mafic pyroxene granulite from the southern Bohemian Massif, together with their major and trace element composition and petrological observations were used to decipher the metamorphic history and behaviour of zircon in the granulite. The Hf isotopic composition in the minerals was used to estimate whether the decompression reaction, namely the consumption of garnet and rutile, could have provided Zr for the formation of newly grown metamorphic zircon. The age of the decompression reaction indicated by the evolution of Hf isotopes in garnet and orthopyroxene is between 333 and 331 Ma, i.e. ca. 7 Ma younger than the available U–Pb zircon ages from the Moldanubian granulites and than the newly obtained 343 ± 2 Ma laser ablation ICP-MS U–Pb age of zircons. The combination of bulk and in-situ Hf isotopic data, major and trace element composition and petrological modeling of P–T evolution revealed that the formation of zircons can not be related to the decompression phase of the evolution of the mafic granulites. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

柴北缘夹榴辉岩的片麻岩（片岩）地球化学、Sm-Nd和U-Pb同位素研究——深俯冲的前寒武纪变质基底？

在柴北缘的鱼卡-锡铁山-沙柳河一带,出露夹有榴辉岩透镜体的花岗质片麻岩(正片麻岩)和副片麻岩(片岩)。地球化学和Sm-Nd同位素数据显示副片麻岩(片岩)与正片麻岩具有类似的地球化学成分和一致的Nd模式年龄(1.88～2.18Ga),结合副片麻岩(片岩)局部包在正片麻岩中的野外关系,正片麻岩可能为副片麻岩(片岩)原地熔融作用的产物。U-Pb锆石测定表明熔融作用产生的正片麻岩的岩浆形成时代为952Ma。另外,这些夹榴辉岩的片麻岩(片岩)也与柴北缘北侧不夹榴辉岩的深变质基底片麻岩和中南祁连地块的变质基底片麻岩有相似Sm-Nd同位素特征和近一致Nd模式年龄(1.87～2.26Ga)。表明它们具有明显的亲缘关系,可能来源于具有古元古代晚期地壳形成年龄的同一变质基底。然而,与柴北缘北 侧和祁连地块的深变质基底岩石不同的是,这套含榴辉岩的片麻岩(片岩)明显遭受了早古生代变质作用的影响,正片麻岩锆石U-Pb测定获得的下交点年龄为478±44Ma,与柴北缘地区榴辉岩的变质锆石的年龄在误差范围内一致;而已在都兰地区副片麻岩锆石中柯石英包体的发现也证明了含榴辉岩的片麻岩(片岩)与榴辉岩一样同样经历了UHP变质作用。因此,我们认为柴北缘含榴辉岩的片麻岩虽然具有与相邻变质基底相似的早期演化历史,但在早古生代又与所夹的榴辉岩     

U–Pb evidence for a polyorogenic evolution of the HP–HT units of the NW Iberian Massif

. A isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry U-Pb geochronological study was carried out on the high-pressure and high-temperature units (HP-HT units) overlying the oceanic suture in the Allochthonous Complexes of the NW Iberian Variscan Belt. The rocks investigated are seven granulite- to eclogite-facies paragneisses and one leucosome within mafic high-pressure granulites in the Ordenes and Cabo Ortegal Complexes of NW Spain. U-Pb dating of zircon, monazite, titanite and rutile reveal the presence of a pervasive Early Ordovician metamorphic event at ca. 500-480 Ma and a later Early Devonian event at ca. 400-380 Ma. The U-Pb ages, in conjunction with petrological and structural data, indicate that the high-pressure event recorded by these rocks is Early Ordovician in age. Monazite ages in the paragneisses suggest that peak metamorphic conditions were reached at ca. 500-485 Ma. Subsequently, the rock ensemble underwent exhumation accompanied by partial melting and zircon growth at ca. 485-470 Ma. Melting of mafic granulites was coeval with this latter episode as indicated by zircon crystallisation age in the leucosomes dated at ca. 486 Ma. Based on these data and on the general features of magmatism and metamorphic evolution, it is proposed that this process took place at a convergent plate boundary within a peri-Gondwanan oceanic domain. Monazite, titanite and rutile data in some of the samples studied show evidence of a second metamorphic episode that took place between ca. 400 and 380 Ma (with a peak at ca. 390-385 Ma). This Early Devonian event, at variance with the previous one, was not pervasive, but, rather, was localised in areas of intense Variscan tectonothermal reworking. It is claimed that this later metamorphic event was recorded by the U-Pb system in areas where monazite and titanite growth was enhanced by fluid circulation in highly strained rocks (Variscan shear zones). According to previous structural studies and Ar-Ar dating of fabrics, this Early Devonian episode took place as the HP-HT units were deformed and thrusted upon the ophiolitic units in the early stages of the Variscan collision.     

SHRIMP and electron microprobe chronology of UHT metamorphism in the Napier Complex,East Antarctica: implications for zircon growth at >1,000 °C

Zircons in ultra-high-temperature (UHT) metamorphosed paragneisses from Mt. Riiser-Larsen in the Napier Complex, East Antarctica, were dated by using ion microprobe (SHRIMP) and electron microprobe (EMP). Both SHRIMP and EMP analyses yield consistent 2520–2460 Ma age populations for garnet–orthopyroxene-bearing paragneiss and leucosomes enclosed within. The peak UHT event was dated at 2480 Ma by SHRIMP analyses on metamorphic zircons from the garnet–orthopyroxene paragneiss and those on magmatic zircons from the leucosomes which are interpreted to be formed at syn-UHT. As obtained by SHRIMP, the UHT metamorphic event was terminated no later than 2460 Ma. Minor 2520-Ma SHRIMP age suggests either the onset of prograde metamorphism or another high-grade metamorphic event unrelated to the UHT. EMP analyses on metamorphic zircons from sapphirine–quartz and osumilite-bearing magnesian paragneisses give c. 2500–2450 Ma ages. Inherited igneous zircon cores of the magnesian paragneisses yield relatively scattered EMP ages ranging over c. 3000–2650 Ma, suggesting that igneous materials of these ages sourced the protoliths of the paragneisses and that they were deposited during the interval c. 2650–2520 Ma.     

柴北缘大陆深俯冲板片折返过程中的深熔作用研究

柴北缘锡铁山地区长英质（花岗）片麻岩普遍经历了不同程度的部分熔融作用,常见新生的花岗质浅色体呈层状、脉状或网络状分布于长英质片麻岩中,并显示出混合岩化的特征。岩相学观察结果显示长英质片麻岩保留了关键的深熔作用显微结构证据:（1）石榴石内部发育有钾长石、石英和斜长石组成的矿物包裹体;（2）长石颗粒边界出现由石英+钾长石±斜长石±白云母组成的楔形矿物集合体;（3）云母颗粒边界发育尖锐的、不规则的微斜长石,而且云母边界溶蚀明显,形成锯齿状不规则的边界;（4）石英、斜长石或钾长石颗粒边界发育圆珠状（stringofbeads）结构,而且颗粒边界或三联点中尖锐状微斜长石与周围矿物的形成较小的二面角。阴极发光图像和锆石U-Pb定年结果表明花岗质浅色体中的锆石具有明显的核、幔、边三层结构,而且具有明显不同的年龄结果。发光较强的继承性锆石岩浆核部的²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄约为~910Ma,而且具有高的Th/U比值;弱发光的变质锆石幔的²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄结果约为~450Ma。新生的锆石增生边中等程度发光,并发育震荡环带和较低的Th/U比值,与世界典型地区混合岩中深熔锆石的特征十分相似,其²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄结果为432±3Ma。野外关系、显微结构特征和年代学的研究结果显示柴北缘锡铁山地区花岗质浅色体可能是其寄主岩石长英质片麻岩在折返到高压麻粒岩相条件下深熔作用的产物,而且白云母的脱水熔融是引发岩石发生深熔作用的主要机制。柴北缘地区已有的资料综合研究表明,大陆深俯冲板片在俯冲/碰撞和折返过程中可能经历了多重深熔作用。     

Petrology and geochronology of the Namche Barwa Complex in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, Tibet: Constraints on the origin and evolution of the north-eastern margin of the Indian Craton

The Namche Barwa Complex (NBC) in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, south Tibet, is generally interpreted as the north-eastern extremity of the exposed Greater Himalayan Sequence, comprising Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic sedimentary strata along the northern margin of the Indian continent. Field and petrological investigations indicate that the NBC consists mainly of orthogneiss, paragneiss, amphibolites and calc-silicate rocks. U-Pb zircon data demonstrate that the protoliths of the orthogneiss formed during late Paleoproterozoic at ca. 1610 Ma and also in early Paleozoic at ca. 490-500 Ma. The amphibolites were derived from mafic magmatic rocks formed during 1645 to 1590 Ma. Zircons in the paragneisses have highly variable inherited zircon ages ranging from the Neoarchean to early Paleozoic, with four major age populations of 2490 Ma, 1640 Ma, 990 Ma and 480 Ma. The calc-silicate rock has zircons with early Paleozoic metamorphic age of 538 Ma. Almost all the rocks of the NBC have been metamorphosed during Cenozoic with the metamorphic zircon U-Pb ages ranging from 8 to 30 Ma and a peak at 23 Ma. These, together with previous results suggest that the NBC was originally derived from an Andean-type orogeny following the Columbia supercontinent assembly, and experienced multiple reworking during the Grenvillian, Pan-African and Himalayan orogenies. We conclude that the NBC in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis was derived from different provenance and tectonic setting as compared to those of the Greater Himalayan Sequence which constitutes the high-grade metamorphic core of the western and central Himalayan orogenic belt. We thus infer that the NBC was originally part of the eastern segment of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone.     

北秦岭超高压地体折返过程中的多期次部分熔融

本文对丹凤地区秦岭岩群含柯石英超高压变质地体长英质片麻岩中的混合岩化长英质浅色体和含石榴子石暗色包体的花岗质脉体进行了详细的矿物学、地球化学和锆石U-Pb年代学以及Lu-Hf同位素研究。其中,长英质浅色体显示了近原位熔融的高硅、富钾的过铝质花岗岩地球化学特征;锆石的CL图像呈灰黑色,均匀无结构或云雾状内部结构,Th/U比值0. 008,并含有钾长石、斜长石、石英和磷灰石等包裹体,显示深熔锆石的特征;花岗质脉体暗色包体中的石榴子石显示核-边成分环带,其中核部成分与秦岭岩群长英质片麻岩中石榴子石成分一致,边部Sps含量升高,显示熔体改造或退变质扩散特征,寄主花岗质脉体显示重稀土强烈亏损的与石榴子石平衡的熔体特征,指示它们是秦岭岩群含石榴子石长英质片麻岩部分熔融的产物。锆石LA-ICP-MS定年得到长英质浅色体和花岗质脉体的结晶年龄分别为445±4Ma和420±1Ma,明显晚于本区的超高压变质时代,而与折返过程中麻粒岩相和角闪岩相退变质叠加的时代基本一致。结合区域地质和前人的研究成果,提出秦岭岩群在深俯冲板块的折返过程中,分别在445Ma和420Ma发生了两期部分熔融作用。     

Olivine‐bearing symplectites in fractured garnet from eclogite,Moldanubian Zone (Bohemian Massif) – a short‐lived,granulite facies event

Recent petrological studies on high‐pressure (HP)–ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks in the Moldanubian Zone, mainly utilizing compositional zoning and solid phase inclusions in garnet from a variety of lithologies, have established a prograde history involving subduction and subsequent granulite facies metamorphism during the Variscan Orogeny. Two temporally separate metamorphic events are developed rather than a single P–T loop for the HP–UHP metamorphism and amphibolite–granulite facies overprint in the Moldanubian Zone. Here further evidence is presented that the granulite facies metamorphism occurred after the HP–UHP rocks had been exhumed to different levels of the middle or upper crust. A medium‐temperature eclogite that is part of a series of tectonic blocks and lenses within migmatites contains a well‐preserved eclogite facies assemblage with omphacite and prograde zoned garnet. Omphacite is partly replaced by a symplectite of diopside + plagioclase + amphibole. Garnet and omphacite equilibria and pseudosection calculations indicate that the HP metamorphism occurred at relatively low temperature conditions of ~600 °C at 2.0–2.2 GPa. The striking feature of the rocks is the presence of garnet porphyroblasts with veins filled by a granulite facies assemblage of olivine, spinel and Ca‐rich plagioclase. These minerals occur as a symplectite forming symmetric zones, a central zone rich in olivine that is separated from the host garnet by two marginal zones consisting of plagioclase with small amounts of spinel. Mineral textures in the veins show that they were first filled mostly by calcic amphibole, which was later transformed into granulite facies assemblages. The olivine‐spinel equilibria and pseudosection calculations indicate temperatures of ~850–900 °C at pressure below 0.7 GPa. The preservation of eclogite facies assemblages implies that the granulite facies overprint was a short‐lived process. The new results point to a geodynamic model where HP–UHP rocks are exhumed to amphibolite facies conditions with subsequent granulite facies heating by mantle‐derived magma in the middle and upper crust.     

Microstructural evolution and geologic significance of garnet pyriclasites in the Hoher-Bogen shear zone (Bohemian Massif, Germany)

Ductile extensional movements along the steeply inclined Hoher-Bogen shear zone caused the juxtaposition of Teplá-Barrandian amphibolites, granulites, and metaperidotites against Moldanubian mica schists and paragneisses. Garnet pyriclasites are well preserved within low-strain domains of this shear zone. Their degree of metamorphism is significantly higher than that of the surrounding rocks. Microstructural and mineral chemical data suggest in situ formation of the garnet pyriclasite by dehydration of pyroxene amphibolite at T>750–840°C and P<10–13 kbar including recrystallization-accommodated grain-size reduction of plagioclase and clinopyroxene, nucleation of garnet, and breakdown of amphibole into garnet+clinopyroxene+rutile. Subsequent decompression and retrograde extensional shearing led to the formation of mylonitic epidote amphibolite. The presence of lower crustal and mantle-derived slices within the Hoher-Bogen shear zone supports the view that (a) in Upper Devonian times the Teplá-Barrandian unit was thrust over Moldanubian rocks as a complete crustal unit, and (b) that during the subsequent Lower Carboniferous orogenic collapse, the garnet pyriclasite and metaperidotite were scraped off from the basal parts of the Teplá-Barrandian unit being dragged into the Hoher-Bogen shear zone due to dramatic and large-scale elevator-style movements. Received: 23 March 1999 / Accepted: 25 August 1999     

阿尔泰递增变质带中夹层石英岩的LA-ICP-MS碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄:对沉积时限及物源的限定

阿尔泰造山带广泛分布各种变质沉积岩并发育典型递增变质带,变质沉积岩变质之前的沉积时代与物源特征对于限定成岩历史以及造山带演化具有重要意义。文章对采自阿勒泰组变质带中石英岩夹层样品进行了岩相学分析并采用LA-ICP-MS方法对其碎屑锆石进行了U-Pb年代学分析。共获得100个谐和或近于谐和的碎屑锆石年龄,表面年龄分布范围为(443±5)Ma至(2682±19)Ma。碎屑锆石年龄主要集中在寒武纪(486~540 Ma)并具有527~535 Ma的年龄峰值,可能源于区域内同时代的岩浆活动。新元古代年龄约占1/4,少量锆石具有古中元古代甚至太古宙年龄。结合年轻碎屑锆石年龄以及直接侵入该变质带中的英云闪长岩年龄可确定石英岩原岩的沉积时限为早志留世—早泥盆世,其后发生变质作用。古老碎屑锆石在该地区缺乏对应的岩石,可能源于区内隐伏的古老基底岩石或邻区古老陆块。     

An early Paleozoic Subduction Channel in the North Qilian Mountains,Northwestern China: Structural,Petrological and Chronological Constraints

Detailed geological mapping, structural, petrological and chronological investigation allow us to place new constraints on the tectono‐thermal evolution of the North Qilian high pressure/low temperature (HP/LT) metamorphic belt. The North Qilian HP/LT metamorphic belt manly consists of eclogite, blueschist, metasedimentary rocks and serpentinite. Most of eclogites and mafic blueschists occur as lenses within metasedimentary rocks, and minor eclogites within serpentinite. Petrological and geochemistical data indicate that the protoliths of eclogite and mafic blueschist includes E‐, N‐MORB, OIB and arc basalt. Geochronology and Lu‐Hf isotope of detrital zircons from metasedimentary rocks indicate the detritus materials are derived from Qilian block and likely deposit in continental margin or fore‐arc basin. Zircon U‐Pb datings show that the protolith ages of eclogites vary between 500 Ma and 530 Ma, and the metamorphic age of eclogite between 460 and 489 Ma. The detrital zircon ages of metasedimentary rocks distribute between 532 and 2700 Ma. The structural data show that the deformation related to the subduction during prograde is recorded in eclogite blocks. In contrast, the dominant deformation structures are characterized by tight fold, sheath fold and penetrative foliation and lineation, which are recorded in various rocks, reflecting a top‐to‐the‐south shear sense and representing the deformation related to the exhumation. The petrological data suggest that the different rocks in the North Qilian HP/LT metamorphic belt equilibrated at different peak metamorphic conditions and recorded different P‐T path. Synthesizing the structural, petrological, geochemical and geochronological data suggest a subduction channel model related to oceanic subduction during Paleozoic in the North Qilian Mountains. The different HP/LT metamorphic rocks formed in different settings with various protolith ages were carried by the subducted oceanic crust into different depth in subduction channel, and experienced independent tectono‐thermal evolution inside subduction channel. The North Qilian HP/LT mélange reflects a fossil oceanic subduction channel.     

Discovery of Ordovician–Silurian metamorphic monazite in garnet metapelites of the Alpine External Aiguilles Rouges Massif

The pre-Mesozoic, mainly Variscan metamorphic basement of the Col de Bérard area (Aiguilles Rouges Massif, External domain) consists of paragneisses and micaschists together with various orthogneisses and metabasites. Monazite in metapelites was analysed by the electron microprobe (EMPA-CHIME) age dating method. The monazites in garnet micaschists are dominantly of Variscan age (330–300 Ma). Garnet in these rocks displays well developed growth zonations in Fe–Mg–Ca–Mn and crystallized at maximal temperatures of 670°C/7 kbar to the west and 600°C/7–8 kbar to the east. In consequence the monazite is interpreted to date a slightly pressure-dominated Variscan amphibolite-facies evolution. In mylonitic garnet gneisses, large metamorphic monazite grains of Ordovician–Silurian (~440 Ma) age but also small monazite grains of Variscan (~300 Ma) age were discovered. Garnets in the mylonitic garnet gneisses display high-temperature homogenized Mg-rich profiles in their cores and crystallized near to ~800°C/6 kbar. The Ordovician–Silurian-age monazites can be assigned to a pre-Variscan high-temperature event recorded by the homogenised garnets. These monazite age data confirm Ordovician–Silurian and Devonian–Carboniferous metamorphic cycles which were already reported from other Alpine domains and further regions in the internal Variscides.     

A Variscan pressure-temperature-time path for the N-E Mont Blanc massif

The northeastern portion of the Mont Blanc massif in western Switzerland is predominantly comprised of the granitic rocks of the Mont Blanc intrusive suite and the Mont Blanc basement gneisses. Within these metamorphic rocks are a variety of sub-economic Fe skarns. The mineral assemblages and fluid inclusions from these rocks have been used to derive age, pressure, temperature and fluid composition constraints for two Variscan events. Metamorphic hornblendes within the assemblages from the basement amphibolites and iron skarns have been dated using ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, and indicate that these metamorphic events have a minimum age of approximately 334 Ma. Garnet-hornblende-plagioclase thermobarometry and stable isotope data obtained from the basement amphibolites are consistent with metamorphic temperatures in the range 515 to 580 °C, and pressures ranging from 5 to 8 kbar. Garnet-hornblende-magnetite thermobarometry and fluid inclusion studies indicate that the iron skarns formed at slightly lower temperatures, ranging from 400 to 500 °C in the presence of saline fluids at formational pressures similar to those experienced by the basement amphibolites. Late Paleozoic minimum uplift rates and geothermal gradients calculated using these data and the presence of Ladinien ichnofossils are on the order of 0.32 mm/year and 20 °C/km respectively. These uplift rates and geothermal gradients differ from those obtained from the neighbouring Aiguilles Rouges massif and indicate that these two massifs experienced different metamorphic conditions during the Carboniferous and Permian periods. During the early to late Carboniferous period the relative depths of the two massifs were reversed with the Aiguilles Rouges being initially unroofed at a much greater rate than the Mont Blanc, but experiencing relatively slower uplift rates near the termination of the Variscan orogeny. Received: 23 April 1996 / Accepted: 27 August 1996     

Metamorphic evolution of the High Himalayan Crystallines in SE Zanskar, India

ABSTRACT The High Himalayan Crystallines (HHC) of SE Zanskar consist of biotite paragneisses, of orthogneisses that derive from early-Palaeozoic granitoids, of minor metabasics and of post-metamorphic leucogranites of Miocene age. Two main metamorphic events have been documented in the HHC. The first event occurred at P= 12.0 ± 0.5 kbar and T= 750 ± 50° C in rare metabasics intruded by early-Palaeozoic granitoids. In the biotite paragneisses, thermobarometric estimates of the first event point to comparable T at P 4–5 kbar lower. The first event is followed by a pervasive syn-tectonic crystallization characterized by lower P and T. On the basis of the cooling ages of the metamorphic minerals and on the geological evidence, the second event is referred to the Tertiary Himalayan crystallization. Further petrological and geochronological studies are necessary to prove whether a few mineral relics ascribed to the first event define a polyphase Himalayan evolution or if they record the incomplete obliteration of an older history during the Himalayan event. The HHC of SE Zanskar show a decrease in metamorphic grade from the middle structural levels upward, close to the Kade unit, and downward, close to the Lesser Himalaya (from sillimanite-K-feldspar-biotite-bearing assemblages to kyanite-staurolite-muscovite-bearing assemblages). This metamorphic zonation is probably a consequence of the polyphase history of intracontinental thrusts and of the tectonic emplacement of hot crustal slabs within shallower and colder thrust sheets at relatively late stages of the continental collision between India and Eurasia.     

Oblique crustal detachment in the Variscan Schwarzwald,southwestern Germany

The Schwarzwald is part of the central polymetamorphic crystalline belt of the Variscan Orogen (»Moldanubian Belt«). From north to south it consists of four terranes: the metasedimentary Zone of Baden-Baden, the polymetamorphic Central Schwarzwald Gneiss Complex, the sedimentary — metamorphic Zone of Badenweiler-Lenzkirch, and the Hotzenwald Complex. The largest of these terranes is the Central Schwarzwald Gneiss Complex (CSGC) whose rocks record a history of protracted regional metamorphism and anatectic melt generation. During Variscan convergence between 350 and 325 Ma the CSGC became detached from a high-temperature lower crustal substratum and was emplaced southeastward over Paleozoic clastics, volcanic rocks and crystalline slivers of the Zone of Badenweiler-Lenzkirch and the Hotzenwald Complex. Kinematic indicators suggest that these early convergent movements on retrograde shear zones and the concomitant crustal thickening were superseded by movements on divergent shear zones. The ascent of voluminous granitic plutons from a mid-crustal zone of melt generation into the upper crust was probably triggered by a change in the crustal kinematics from overall convergence to overall divergence at about 325 Ma. In detail this process was probably diachronous. Detachment of upper crust and large scale melt generation in the middle crust of the Schwarzwald was probably facilitated by the tectonic stacking of water-rich pelitic clastics and gneiss slivers, with relatively even proportions of crystalline and pelitic materials.     

The Moslavačka Gora crystalline massif in Croatia: a Cretaceous heat dome within remnant Ordovician granitoid crust

For a long time the Moslavačka Gora Massif in Croatia has been regarded as a major outcrop of Variscan crystalline basement of the South Tisia block. However, new geochronological data indicate that this massif consists of a Cretaceous S-type granite pluton intruding a Cretaceous low-pressure/high-temperature (LP/HT) metamorphic envelope. The age of the LP/HT metamorphism is estimated at ~90–100 Ma using the method of electron microprobe based monazite dating. The Central Granite was dated at 82 ± 1 Ma (LA-SF-ICP-MS zircon age). The metamorphic complex comprises mainly felsic anatexites and orthogneisses of granitic composition, some metapelites (paragneisses and mica schists) and amphibolites. Zircons from three different samples of metagranite were dated at 486 ± 6, 483 ± 6, and 491 ± 1 Ma, suggesting that most of the metamorphic complex represents an Early Ordovician granitic series. The Cretaceous regional metamorphism culminated in granulite facies conditions of ~750°C and 3–4 kbar. A retrograde metamorphic event at lower amphibolite facies conditions overprinted the metamorphic complex. This event is probably related to the intrusion of the Central Granite. The southeastern sector of the massif was additionally affected by post-granitic, predominantly NE oriented shearing at greenschist facies conditions. As yet there is no clear evidence for Variscan events in the Moslavačka Gora Massif. Mineral relics of a medium-pressure amphibolite facies metamorphism are preserved in amphibolites. They are older than the Cretaceous LP/HT regional metamorphism, but their age is presently unknown. Some indications for a Permian regional metamorphic event are provided by inherited zircons in the Central Granite that have been dated with a Permian age, and by Permian monazite relics in metapelites. The Cretaceous high heat flow regime recorded in the Moslavačka Gora Massif is unique in the subcrop of the Pannonian Basin and may be a local feature triggered by a mafic intrusion in the lower crust.     

Evolution of Moldanubian rocks in Austria: review and synthesis

The Moldanubian zone in Austria comprises three major lithological units. Despite general agreement that nappe tectonics contributed to its current structure, the number and position of tectonic boundaries, or continental pieces that were involved in its evolution, as well as the age, extent and position of oceanic sutures are disputed. Recent models ascribe the Moldanubian tectonostratigraphic structure to its oblique, N- to NE-directed collision with Moravia only. The rocks of the Moldanubian Bunte series and Gföhl unit experienced a common, intensive overprint in the range 700–800 °C and 8–11 kbar. Textural evidence suggests that this overprint was attained during nearly isothermal decompression, so the rocks experienced higher pressures prior to this overprint. These conditions constrain a continent–continent collision environment that contributed to the formation of the Moldanubian granulites. The estimated metamorphic temperatures are close to T_max. During this Hercynian, high-T overprint, the minerals underwent extensive diffusion-controlled homogenization of elements. The early stages of retrogression of these units were characterized by isobaric cooling at c. 6 kbar in the range 650–500 °C that is related to the oblique collision of the Moldanubian and Moravian zones. Cooling to c. 400 °C is demonstrated by unstrained, diasporized corundum inclusions in garnet of common Moldanubian granulites. The available age data (including cooling ages) from metamorphic rocks show a very wide variation between 490 and 280 Ma that depends on sample characteristics and the dating method used. They demonstrate clearly, however, that the metamorphic overprint is Hercynian. The possibility that the large variation in ages reflects homogenization, resetting and closure of the isotopic systems attained at different, sample- and method-specific times is discussed. Age data varying between c. 370 and c. 346 Ma tentatively date different stages during the Hercynian, high-T decompression. The majority of zircon and monazite U/Pb ages as well as the hornblende and muscovite Ar/Ar cooling ages cluster between c. 345 and c. 326 Ma and date the effective closure conditions and the onset of rapid, nearly isobaric cooling. The continent–continent collision that formed the granulites pre-dates c. 370 Ma. The intra-Moldanubian nappe-stacking pre-dates thrusting of the Moldanubian zone over the Moravian zone. The range c. 340–335 Ma is the lower limit for completion of tectonic activity in the Moldanubian zone. The Moldanubian series are post-tectonically intruded by granitoids of the Southern Bohemian Pluton. Recent age determinations and geochemical evidence suggest that the formation of the early granitoid types took place in the lower crust in connection with the Hercynian high-grade overprint. The Moldanubian Monotone series in Austria is separated from the other Moldanubian units by a conspicuous tectonic horizon. It also differs from them by its characteristic high-T , low-P overprint, which is best demonstrated by a widespread cordierite gneiss.