黔东南地区新元古代下江群的地层年代及其地质意义

黔东南地区下江群是分布在江南造山带西段的一套前寒武纪浅变质陆源碎屑岩夹火山碎屑岩组合, 其地层时代归属与划分特别是区域地层对比一直未能得到很好解决.在对该区前寒武纪地层广泛而详细的剖面测制和地质调查基础上, 运用LA-ICP-MS技术, 对地层中沉凝灰岩、含凝灰质碎屑岩和碎屑岩进行锆石U-Pb年代学测试, 获得一批高精度的年龄.四堡群河村组顶部的碎屑岩和下江群乌叶组第1段顶部的含凝灰质碎屑岩、清水江组底部与中部的沉凝灰岩、平略组中上部的含凝灰质碎屑岩、隆里组中下部的碎屑岩等样品中锆石U-Pb最小年龄组的加权平均年龄分别为819.8±6.4Ma和779.5±4.7Ma、764.0±6.3Ma与(756.8±7.6Ma、756.0±13.0Ma)、733.9±8.8Ma及725.0±10.0Ma.这些数据将四堡群和下江群的时代限制为新元古代.结合研究区隆里组与长安组整合接触关系和全球低纬度南华系冰期起始年龄(717.4Ma)的地质事实, 将下江群沉积时限约束在815~717Ma之间.根据区域岩浆事件进一步约束了下江群各组段的地层时限, 并开展江南造山带下江群及其相当层位的地层划分与对比, 认为新元古代岩浆作用制约着黔东南下江群盆地的演化.      

伊犁果子沟地区新元古代冰成沉积的碎屑锆石 LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

为了对新疆果子沟地区塔里萨依组冰成沉积进行时代限定及前寒武纪地质演化讨论,开展了碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年工作。碎屑锆石最年轻年龄介于620~610 Ma和580~572 Ma之间,表明塔里萨依组冰成杂砾岩代表了埃迪卡拉纪时期的产物,而且在一次大冰期中发生了2次的小冰期旋回,同库鲁克塔格地区的汉格尔乔克组冰碛砾岩对应。碎屑锆石年龄谱没有反映出1000~700 Ma的年龄分布,但这个年龄段相关的岩浆活动在伊犁以北至温泉地区被广泛发现。而在年龄谱中大量存在的650~600 Ma年龄,本区附近却没有相关岩浆活动记录的报道,结合本区同库鲁克塔格地区新元古代冰期沉积存在的相似性,说明塔里萨依组冰期沉积物可能接收了更远的"伊犁块体"以南地区的物源。同时探讨了650~600 Ma岩浆活动可能与"伊犁块体"同塔里木板块分离,向哈萨克斯坦板块聚合有关。     

塔里木盆地西南缘叶城地区新元古代冰期事件

新元古代冰期事件记录了“雪球地球”事件重要的地质信息。塔里木盆地周缘新元古代冰碛岩地层露头发育,是研究新元古代冰期事件的理想基地。由于发育多套新元古代火山岩,盆地东北缘库鲁克塔格地区新元古代冰碛岩地层时代已获得较多年代学数据约束;但盆地周缘其他地区新元古代冰碛岩地层公开报道年代学数据较少,不能准确限定其沉积时代,导致冰期事件对比存在争论。为此,本文选择塔里木盆地研究程度较低的西南缘叶城地区新元古代冰碛岩地层,开展岩石学、同位素年代学、岩石地球化学等研究,明确其冰期沉积特征,约束其沉积时代,开展冰期事件对比,讨论古气候风化条件等。南华系波龙组和雨塘组冰碛岩地层具有较低的化学蚀变指数(CIA),分别代表新元古代2次寒冷的冰川气候记录。冰川沉积及其相邻层位的碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学数据显示,波龙冰期的起始年龄晚于(710±13) Ma,与全球Sturtian冰期对应;雨塘冰期的起始年龄不会早于(656±18) Ma,其结束年龄可被南华系顶界年龄635 Ma或上覆震旦系库尔卡克组碎屑锆石年龄(634±9) Ma限定,与全球Marinoan冰期对应。     

塔里木地块西北缘阿克苏地区新元古代冰碛岩年代与冰期事件

塔里木地块新元古代冰期事件等时性对比存在争议,获得可靠的新元古代冰碛岩沉积时代意义重大.塔里木地块西北缘阿克苏地区出露2套新元古代冰碛岩沉积,通过对其进行岩石学、同位素年代学、岩石地球化学等分析,明确其沉积物岩石组合特征、限定其沉积时代、讨论其古气候风化条件等.化学蚀变指数(CIA)指示研究区的2套新元古代冰碛岩代表了...     

Terminal Precambrian Palaeogeographic Framework of China1

Abstract The original locations and relationships of four plates within the mainland of China from 800 to 600 Ma during the terminal Precambrian were reconstructed based on the palaeomagnetic and geological data. The Tarim, Yangtze and Cathaysian plates were once linked (in 800-700 Ma) and located in the same low-latitude zone of the northern hemisphere. But later, in 700-600 Ma, the Tarim plate was separated from the Yangtze-Cathaysian plate. The Sino-Korean plate was always far away from the Yangtze plate, both being separated by oceanic crust, and lay in the high-latitude zone of the northern hemisphere. The above-mentioned palaeogeographic framework directly led to complete differences in respect to distribution of low- latitude glaciation, sedimentary facies, palaeoclimate, palaeobiogeography and stratigraphic sections between the North and South China domains during the terminal Precambrian.     

Precambrian geology of the Kazakh Uplands and Tien Shan: An overview

A comprehensive review of new data on geology and geochronology of Precambrian terranes in the western Central Asian Orogenic Belt reveals new insights into its evolution. At the present surface, these terranes mostly consist of Meso- to Neoproterozoic sedimentary, magmatic and metamorphic assemblages, with insignificant Paleoproterozoic rocks. Archean material is represented exclusively by detrital and xenocrystic zircons in younger strata. Meso- to Neoproterozoic felsic magmatic rocks were mostly sourced from Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic continental crust, indicating its reworking and potential wider presence at deeper crustal levels. Most Meso- to Neoproterozoic assemblages are of intraplate origin. The supra-subduction assemblages of Neoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic ages are of limited extent.We propose to recognize the Issedonian and Ulutau-Moyunkum groups of terranes, separated by early Paleozoic Z-shaped ophiolitic suture, based on their different tectono-magmatic evolution in the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic. Distinctly different are the Mesoproterozoic and early Neoproterozoic assemblages, with lithological variations at the beginning of the late Neoproterozoic and practically no differences at the end of the Neoproterozoic.The Issedonian group of terranes could be part of a Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1100 Ma) orogen between the Siberian, North China and Laurentian cratons. The pre-Mesoproterozoic crust of these terranes was completely reworked during the younger events. The Ulutau-Moyunkum group of terranes appear to be lithologically and geochronologically similar to the Tarim craton. Both the Issedonian and Ulutau-Moyunkum groups of terranes were metamorphosed during the Ulutau-Moyunkum event at 700 ± 25 Ma.The breakup into currently mappable Precambrian terranes took place during end-Ediacaran to early Paleozoic times after opening of oceanic basins, whose relics are preserved in numerous Paleozoic ophiolitic sutures.     

“白云岩问题”与“前寒武纪之谜”研究进展

白云岩的成因是沉积学界倍受关注的研究主题;众多的白云岩化模式可以用来解释各种成岩白云岩的成因;然而原生白云岩的成因一直是困扰沉积学界的难题,被称为“白云岩问题”。究其原因主要在于：在近地表环境的常温、常压实验条件下不能生成完美有序的白云石矿物。近年来,野外观测和实验模拟研究发现某些微生物的生命活动可导致白云石于地表常温、常压条件下发生沉淀。如硫酸盐还原细菌和产烷菌的调节作用可以克服白云石晶核形成的动力学障碍,在这些厌氧菌的参与下,白云石晶核形成和沉淀并不需要高镁离子和过饱和状态的溶液环境。这种微生物学和沉积学的结合代表了一个新的研究方向,同时也为解决“白云岩问题”带来了新希望。泥晶白云岩化作用（mimetic dolomization）可以保留原矿物（文石或方解石）的晶形、原岩的微细组构,对解释地史时期保存原生构造的白云岩具重要的启示。“前寒武纪之谜”是指前寒武纪叠层石中缺乏钙化蓝细菌化石的现象。参与碳酸盐岩叠层石建造的微生物群组成可能随着地质历史的演化发生变化,蓝细菌在显生宙的叠层石建造过程中起主导作用,细胞体积更小的真细菌很可能是参与前寒武纪叠层石建造的主要微生物。     

Precambrian microcontinents of the Ural-Mongolian Belt: New paleomagnetic and geochronological data

The knowledge on the early stages of evolution of the Ural-Mongolian Belt (UMB) (Late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian) is a key for understanding of its evolution in the Paleozoic. Unfortunately, this stage remains poorly studied. The tectonic reconstructions of the UMB for this time primarily depend on the views on the kinematics and tectonic evolution of numerous sialic massifs with Precambrian basement in the structure of the Tien Shan, Kazakhstan, Altai, and Mongolia. At present, the concept of the origin of these massifs is largely based on the lithostratigraphic similarity of the Neoproterozoic and Lower Paleozoic sections of the Tarim, South China, and Siberian platforms with coeval sections of Precambrian massifs within the UMB. New paleomagnetic and geochronological data can serve as additional sources of information on the origin and paleotectonic position of the microcontinents. In this paper, we present new isotopic datings and a new paleomagnetic determination for the Neoproterozoic volcanic rocks of the Zabhan Formation from the Baydrag microcontinent in central Mongolia. It is established that 805−770 Ma ago (U-Pb LA-MC-ICP-MS age of zircon) the Baydrag microcontinent was situated at a latitude of 47 ± 14° in the Northern or Southern hemisphere. These data provide new insights into the possible origin of the Precambrian micro-continents in the UMB. Analysis of paleomagnetic data and comparison of the age of the basement beneath various plates allow us to state rather confidently that ∼800 Ma ago the micro-continents of the UMB belonged to one of the North Rodinian plates: Indian, Tarim, or South China; their Australian origin is less probable.     

A fundamental Precambrian–Phanerozoic shift in earth's glacial style?

It has recently been found that Neoproterozoic glaciogenic sediments were deposited mainly at low paleolatitudes, in marked qualitative contrast to their Pleistocene counterparts. Several competing models vie for explanation of this unusual paleoclimatic record, most notably the high-obliquity hypothesis and varying degrees of the snowball Earth scenario. The present study quantitatively compiles the global distributions of Miocene–Pleistocene glaciogenic deposits and paleomagnetically derived paleolatitudes for Late Devonian–Permian, Ordovician–Silurian, Neoproterozoic, and Paleoproterozoic glaciogenic rocks. Whereas high depositional latitudes dominate all Phanerozoic ice ages, exclusively low paleolatitudes characterize both of the major Precambrian glacial epochs. Transition between these modes occurred within a 100-My interval, precisely coeval with the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian “explosion” of metazoan diversity. Glaciation is much more common since 750 Ma than in the preceding sedimentary record, an observation that cannot be ascribed merely to preservation. These patterns suggest an overall cooling of Earth's longterm climate, superimposed by developing regulatory feedbacks involving an increasingly complex biosphere.     

武夷山地区前寒武纪地层沉积时代研究

武夷山地区前寒武纪地层出露范围大,目前对该地层的形成时代还存在着不同意见。新获得的武夷山地区前寒武纪地层的4个锆石La-ICPMS U-Pb年龄数据,指示万全群的黄潭组和杜潭组分别形成于746.0±6.2Ma和825±18Ma,马面山群东岩组形成于818±14Ma,麻源群大金山组的形成时间晚于879Ma。通过岩性与形成时代对比,认为武夷山地区新元古界的形成时间可以划分为三期,早期由麻源群大金山组和马面山群龙北溪组的陆源碎屑沉积岩构成,形成时限为879—825Ma;中期包括麻源群南山组、马面山群东岩组和大岭组万全群和龙泉群,以及交溪组、迪口组和桃溪组下段,以火山岩—沉积岩系列为主,可以进一步分为两期,即825—800Ma和751—728Ma;晚期由原"天井坪组"主体、桃溪组上段以及楼子坝群下部的沉积岩组成,形成时限为620—542Ma。根据武夷山地区前寒武纪地层的构造变形记录,前寒武纪地层主要记录了3期构造事件,分别为新元古代早期(900—860Ma)的华夏地块与扬子板块的碰撞、新元古代末期(728—620Ma)的挤压构造事件以及加里东运动。     

Age and nature of Cryogenian diamictites at Aksu,Northwest China: implications for Sturtian tectonics and climate

The Neoproterozoic succession in the Aksu region of northwestern China forms an unconformable boundary with the lower Precambrian Aksu basement group and consists of the Qiaoenbrak, Yuermeinak, Sugetbrak, and Chigebrak Formations. The two lowermost units include distinct glaciogenic diamictites that indicate distinct episodes of glaciation. In this study, we report the LA-ICP-MS U–Pb ages of detrital zircons and geochemical data from the lower Neoproterozoic strata. The age of the detrital zircon constrains the maximum depositional age to between 769 ± 10 and 727 ± 8 Ma for the Qiaoenbrak diamictites, which are associated with the Kaigas glaciation that occurred during the early Cryogenian period. The youngest detrital zircon age of 719 ± 9 Ma corresponds to the maximum depositional age of the Yuermeinak diamictites, which are associated with the Sturtian glaciation. The detrital zircons from the lower Neoproterozoic strata in the Aksu area indicated four peak ages of 2484, 1948, 861, and 647–581 Ma, which are consistent with the major tectonic episodes in the Tarim Block. The peak age of 2484 Ma represents an Archaean basement, which participated in the worldwide continental nuclei growth event from the late Neoarchaean to the early Palaeoproterozoic. The peak age of 1948 Ma may be associated with the assembly of the Columbia supercontinent, and the 861 and 647–581 Ma are likely associated with the break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent. The combination of geological and geochemical characteristics between the Qiaoenbrak Formation and Aksu Group indicates that the Qiaoenbrak Formation may be penecontemporaneous with the Aksu Group in an active continental margin tectonic setting. Following the break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent, the margin of the Aksu evolved into a passive margin and the Yuermeinak and Sugetbrak Formations were deposited.     

Zircon ages of high-grade gneisses in the Eastern Erzgebirge (Central European Variscides)—constraints on origin of the rocks and Precambrian to Ordovician magmatic events in the Variscan foldbelt

This study is an attempt to unravel the tectono-metamorphic history of high-grade metamorphic rocks in the Eastern Erzgebirge region. Metamorphism has strongly disturbed the primary petrological genetic characteristics of the rocks. We compare geological, geochemical, and petrological data, and zircon populations as well as isotope and geochronological data for the major gneiss units of the Eastern Erzgebirge; (1) coarse- to medium-grained “Inner Grey Gneiss”, (2) fine-grained “Outer Grey Gneiss”, and (3) “Red Gneiss”. The Inner and Outer Grey Gneiss units (MP–MT overprinted) have very similar geochemical and mineralogical compositions, but they contain different zircon populations. The Inner Grey Gneiss is found to be of primary igneous origin as documented by the presence of long-prismatic, oscillatory zoned zircons (540 Ma) and relics of granitic textures. Geochemical and isotope data classify the igneous precursor as a S-type granite. In contrast, Outer Grey Gneiss samples are free of long-prismatic zircons and contain zircons with signs of mechanical rounding through sedimentary transport. Geochemical data indicate greywackes as main previous precursor. The most euhedral zircons are zoned and document Neoproterozoic (ca. 575 Ma) source rocks eroded to form these greywackes. U–Pb-SHRIMP measurements revealed three further ancient sources, which zircons survived in both the Inner and Outer Grey Gneiss: Neoproterozoic (600–700 Ma), Paleoproterozoic (2100–2200 Ma), and Archaean (2700–2800 Ma). These results point to absence of Grenvillian type sources and derivation of the crust from the West African Craton. The granite magma of the Inner Grey Gneiss was probably derived through in situ melting of the Outer Grey Gneiss sedimentary protolith as indicated by geological relationships, similar geochemical composition, similar Nd model ages, and inherited zircon ages. Red Gneiss occurs as separate bodies within fine- and medium-grained grey gneisses of the gneiss–eclogite zone (HP–HT overprinted). In comparison to Grey Gneisses, the Red Gneiss clearly differs in geochemical composition by lower contents of refractory elements. Rocks contain long-prismatic zircons (480–500 Ma) with oscillatory zonation indicating an igneous precursor for Red Gneiss protoliths. Geochemical data display obvious characteristics of S-type granites derived through partial melting from deeper crustal source rocks. The obtained time marks of magmatic activity (ca. 575 Ma, ca. 540 Ma, ca. 500–480 Ma) of the Eastern Erzgebirge are compared with adjacent units of the Saxothuringian zone. In all these units, similar time marks and geochemical pattern of igneous rocks prove a similar tectono-metamorphic evolution during Neoproterozoic–Ordovician time.     

Neoproterozoic magmatic complexes of the Songino block (Mongolia): A problem of formation and correlation of Precambrian terranes in the Central-Asian Orogenic Belt

An important role of the early Neoproterozoic juvenile crustal growth in the formation of the Khangai group of Precambrian terranes in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt was demonstrated by the example of the Holbo Nur Zone of the Songin Block. Magmatic complexes of this zone correspond to different settings of the Early Neoproterozoic ocean: oceanic islands, mid-ocean ridges, intraoceanic island arcs, and turbidite basins. Obtained data on volcanic rocks and associated granitoids constrain a timing of the island-arc magmatic complexes, at least within the interval of 888–859 Ma. The comparison of structures of the Songino and Tarbagatai blocks of the Khangai group of terranes showed that they share many common features in their geology and evolution and may be united into the single Songino–Tarbagatai terrane. This terrane was formed owing to the Early Neoproterozoic (~800 Ma) accretion of the ocean island, spreading, island-arc, and turbidite complexes of the oceanic plate to a stable continental massif represented by the Early Neoproterozoic Ider Complex of the Tarbagatai Block. The involvement of the Dzabkhan terrane into a Khangai collage of terranes is constrained between the formation of the volcanic rocks of the Dzabkhan Formation (~770–755 Ma), which are unknown in the Songino–Tarbagatai terrane, and the Tsagaan-Olom carbonate cover (~630 Ma), overlying both the Dzabkhan and Songino–Tarbagatai terranes. It was proposed that the formation of the Precambrian terranes of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt began from the Early Neoproterozoic accretion to the Rodinia supercontinent. The fragmentation of the latter above a mantle superplume at the end of the Early Neoproterozoic spanned also the newly formed fold area. This led to the formation of terranes, which included both fragments of the Paleoproterozoic craton and Early Neoproterozoic structures. Subsequent amalgamation of these Precambrian crustal fragments into composite terranes possibly occurred at the end of the early Baikalian tectonic phase.     

SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geochronology of Neoproterozoic crustal granitoids (Southern Brazil): A case for discrimination of emplacement and inherited ages

SHRIMP U–Pb zircon studies on two post-collisional granitic plutons and reassessment of the data previously reported for two anatectic gneissic granites are used to assess the late Neoproterozoic history of the Florianópolis Batholith, southern Brazil. The results, supported by SEM backscattered and cathodoluminescence imagery, identify inherited zircon populations and confirm the long-lived, crustal recycling processes responsible for the accretion of the batholith. The study casts new lights on the timing of the processes involved in the generation and modification of the internal structure of distinct zircon populations, and enables discrimination to be made between inherited cores and melt-precipitated overgrowths. New dating of two post-tectonic plutons (samples 1 and 2) revealed crystals showing magmatic-textured cores sharply bounded by melt-precipitated overgrowths. The U/Pb isotopic results from both samples spread along concordia by ca. 40 m.y. (sample 1) to 100 m.y. (sample 2), clustering in two closely spaced (bimodal), partially overlapping peaks. Melt-precipitated rims and homogeneous new grains, dated at ca. 600 Ma, furnish the crystallisation age of the plutons. The magmatic textured cores and xenocrysts dated at ca. 630–620 Ma are interpreted as inherited restitic material from supposedly short-lived (meta)granitic sources. The reassessment of previous SHRIMP data of two banded anatectic granitoids (samples 3 and 4) revealed more complex morphological patterns, in which the overgrown inherited cores are sharply bounded against large melt-precipitated rims, dated at ca. 600 Ma and 592±2 Ma, respectively. Major populations of magmatic-textured inherited cores dated at 2006±3 Ma and 2175±13 Ma characterise samples 3 and 4, respectively. The latter additionally shows metamorphic and magmatic inherited cores with a large range of ages (ca. 2900–620 Ma), suggesting partial melting of metasedimentary components. The main magmatic Paleoproterozoic core populations are interpreted as inherited restite from partial melting of the adjacent (meta)tonalitic gneiss and amphibolitic country-rock (paleosome). The recognition of the (melt-precipitated) Neoproterozoic overgrowths and new crystals, and the restite provenance of the cores, supplants a previous interpretation of Paleoproterozoic magmatism (cores) and Neoproterozoic (solid-state) metamorphic overprint. As a major consequence of the former interpretation, the unit was mistakenly considered part of major Paleoproterozoic gneissic remnant within the Neoproterozoic Florianópolis Batholith/arc.     

A review of Precambrian palaeomagnetism of Australia: Palaeogeography,supercontinents, glaciations and true polar wander

This is the first review of the Australian Precambrian palaeomagnetic database since that undertaken by Idnurm and Giddings (1988) 25 years ago. In this period the data have almost tripled in number from about 60 to more than 170 and while some segments of the pole path are now quite well defined, overall the data are sparse. It is debatable whether the extant rock record amenable to palaeomagnetism is complete enough for full palaeogeographic histories to be reconstructed. The SWEAT connection is apparently ruled out for Rodinia as both the 1200 Ma and 1070 Ma poles from (ancestral) Australia and Laurentia disallow it. However, older palaeopoles do support a SWEAT-like configuration for the pre-Rodinia supercontinent Nuna but the geological reasoning for SWEAT applies to Rodinia so a Nuna SWEAT is less than gratifying. The concept of a “grand-pole” is introduced here, which includes all the “key-pole” features but is predicated on the condition that two or more independent laboratories are in agreement.Precambrian data from Australia include the oldest palaeopole yet defined, the record of one of the oldest geomagnetic polarity reversals, the most definitive evidence for low-latitude Neoproterozoic glaciation, the first study of BIFs and the timing/nature of iron-ore genesis, the most unusual ‘field test’ (impact melt rock and ejecta horizon host rocks), some of the best examples of complete contact tests and the timing of craton assembly. Some old caveats that can no longer be ignored, such as corrections for inclination flattening and the permitting of rotations between contiguous intracontinental cratons to bring conflicting palaeopoles into alignment are required. Care should be exercised when inferring palaeolatitudes from sedimentary derived palaeoinclinations. TPW should only be considered if there is evidence from more than one, and preferably more, independent continents. Future work identified includes a complete magnetostratigraphic study of ~ 300 my Adelaidean succession, better age constraints for the Adelaidean and Officer Basin successions and a better age for the Gawler Craton GB dykes.     

Dominant Lid Tectonics behaviour of continental lithosphere in Precambrian times:Palaeomagnetism confirms prolonged quasi-integrity and absence of supercontinent cycles

Although Plate Tectonics cannot be effectively tested by palaeomagnetism in the Precambrian aeon due to the paucity of high precision poles spanning such a long time period,the possibility of Lid Tectonics is eminently testable because it seeks accordance of the wider dataset over prolonged intervals of time;deficiencies and complexities in the data merely contribute to dispersion.Accordance of palaeomagnetic poles across a quasi-integral continental crust for time periods of up to thousands of millions of years,together with recognition of very long intervals characterised by minimal polar motions(～2.6-2.0,～1.5-1.25 and～0.75-0.6 Ga)has been used to demonstrate that Lid Tectonics dominated this aeon.The new PALEOMAGIA database is used to refine a model for the Precambrian lid incorporating a large quasiintegral crescentric core running from South-Central Africa through Laurentia to Siberia with peripheral cratons subject to reorganisation at～2.1,～1.6 and～1.1 Ga.The model explains low levels of tidal friction,reduced heat balance,unique petrologic and isotopic signatures,and the prolonged crustal stability of Earth's"Middle Age",whilst density concentrations of the palaeomagnetic poles show that the centre of the continental lid was persistently focussed near Earth's rotation axis from～2.8 to 0.6 Ga.The exception was the～2.7-2.2 Ga interval defined by～90°polar movements which translated the periphery of the lid to the rotation pole for this quasi-static period,a time characterised by glaciation and low levels of magmatic activity;the～2.7 Ga shift correlates with key interval of mid-Archaean crustal growth to some 60-70%of the present volume and REE signatures whilst the～2.2 Ga shift correlates with the Lomagundiδ～(13)C and Great Oxygenation events.The palaeomagnetic signature of breakup of the lid at～0.6 Ga is recorded by the world-wide Ediacaran development of passive margins and associated environmental signatures of new ocean basins.This event defined the end of a dominant Lid Tectonic phase in the history of Earth's continental lithosphere recorded by the quasi-integral Precambrian supercontinent Palaeopangaea and the beginning of the comprehensive Plate Tectonics which has characterised the Phanerozoic aeon.Peripheral modifications to the lid achieved a symmetrical and hemispheric shape in Neoproterozoic times comparable to the familiar short-lived supercontinent(Neo)Pangaea(～350-150 Ma)and this appears to be the sole supercontinent cycle recorded by the palaeomagnetic record.Prolonged integrity of a large continental nucleus accompanied by periodic readjustments of peripheral shields can reconcile divergent tectonic analyses of Precambrian times which on the one hand propose multiple Wilson Cycles to explain some signatures of Plate Tectonics,and alternative interpretations which consider that Plate Tectonics did not commence until the end of the Neoproterozoic.     

华南扬子陆块成冰纪冰川作用的启动时限及其全球对比*

江口冰期和南沱冰期是华南地区引人注目的2次成冰纪冰川事件,但其确切启动时间及其全球对比关系仍未有定论。为此,对桂北地区成冰系(南华系)长安组底部和南沱组底部冰成杂砾岩开展了碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学研究。长安组碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄集中分布于958—717 Ma,显著峰值为720、753、805及848 Ma,最年轻一组 ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U 年龄的加权平均值为719.6±6.1 Ma,可解释为长安组最大沉积年龄;南沱组碎屑锆石U-Pb 年龄集中分布于987—649 Ma,显著峰值为650、720、753、779、803、823及848 Ma,最年轻一组 ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U 年龄的加权平均值为649.3±6.2 Ma,可解释为南沱组最大沉积年龄。结合已发表的相关年龄数据可知,江口冰期很可能启动于ca.715 Ma,与塔里木、阿拉伯—努比亚、劳伦等陆块的Sturtian冰川作用高度同步;南沱冰期的启动应晚于650 Ma,与西伯利亚、澳大利亚、劳伦等陆块的Marinoan冰川作用基本同步。另外,碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄谱与CL图像显示,长安组和南沱组的物质来源主要为下伏新元古界岩浆—沉积记录,揭示出冰川对下伏地层的强烈刨蚀作用和华南新元古代幕式构造岩浆热事件。扬子陆块成冰纪冰川刨蚀作用可能与Rodinia 超大陆“裂离”有关的强烈伸展活动存在联系,并可能持续至Marinoan 冰期结束。     

The Late Precambrian Timna igneous complex, Southern Israel: Evidence for comagmatic-type sanukitoid monzodiorite and alkali granite magma

New data from a geochemical, geochronological and isotopic study of the Late Precambrian Timna igneous complex suggest the formation of alkali granites from a LIL-enriched, mantle derived, sanukitoid-type monzodiorite (a silica oversaturated rock with Mg# >60). These data also provide new insights into the petrology, timing and regional tectonic control of the transition from the calc-alkaline to the alkaline magmatic activity in the northern Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS) during the Late Precambrian.

The Timna alkali granite was formed by fractional crystallization from the monzodioritic magma in a quasi-stratified magmatic cell which formed 610 Ma ago in the 625 Ma old calc-alkaline, porphyritic granite crust. These monzodiorites are mantle-derived, as demonstrated by their high Mg# (63), Cr (230 ppm), and Ni (120 ppm). They are characterized by initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7034, ε-Nd (610 Ma) = +3.4, and are enriched in K₂O (2.9%), Sr (840 ppm), Ba (1290 ppm) and LREE [(La/Lu)_n= 10–25]. The chemical characteristics and REE patterns of the monzodiorites and andesitic dykes of Timna are very similar to Dokhan andesites from northeastern Egypt and the Archean sanukitoids from Canada. The isotopic, geochemical and geochronologic data all indicate that Timna monzodiorites are comagmatic with the alkali granite. The alkali granite is a typical post-orogenic, borderline A-type granite. It is enriched in potassium (K₂O=4.68–6.64%), has a negative europium anomaly (Eu/Eu^*=0.058–0.38) and ε-Nd (610 Ma) of +3.9. The calc-alkaline granite is a typical I-type granite with a small positive europium anomaly (Eu/Eu^*=1.02–1.16). Its age and the Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic characteristics with ε-Nd (625 Ma) of +5.6 to +5.9 are significantly different from these of the alkali granite and monzodiorites, and indicate little interaction with the monzodiorite during the formation of the alkali granite.

The alkali granites are correlative with the post-collisional extensional granites in Jordan and Egypt while the porphyritic granites can be correlated with the late orogenic types. Crustal thickening associated with orogenic compression resulted in crustal anatexis to form the I-type granitic rocks, whereas crustal thinning associated with extension allowed LIL-enriched mantle melts to rise very near to the surface, where space was available for these to pond and fractionate to alkali granite.     

Sm–Nd isotopic investigation of Neoproterozoic and Cretaceous igneous rocks from southern Brazil: A study of magmatic processes

Nd-evolutionary paths for diversified igneous suites from southern Brazil are here re-evaluated using published results. We interpret the ε_Nd paths considering the secondary fractionation of ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd due to major petrogenetic processes. The inclusion of Nd isotopes and geochemical data for Precambrian and Mesozoic basic rocks allow improving the discussion on the subcontinental lithosphere beneath southern Brazil. Late Neoproterozoic rocks, mostly granitoids, are exposed in two regions of the southern Brazilian shield, an eastern collisional belt and a western foreland. The latter included two geotectonic domains amalgamated at this time, the São Gabriel Arc (900–700 Ma), and the Taquarembó cratonic block. Magma genesis mainly involved mixture of crustal and incompatible-element-enriched mantle components, both with a long residence time. Continental segments are the Neoarchaean–Paleoproterozoic lower crust (ca. 2.55 Ga) in the western foreland, and Paleoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic recycled crust (2.1–0.8 Ga) in the collisional belt. Granitoids with a single crustal derivation are limited in the southern Brazilian Shield. Mixing processes are well-registered in the western foreland, where the re-enriched old mantle was probably mixed with a 900–700 Ma-old subducted lithosphere and a 2.55 Ga-old lower crust. The contribution of the latter increased from the early 605–580 Ma to the later 575–550 Ma Neoproterozoic events, which may be due either to crustal thickening or to delamination of the lithosphere. Magma sources were diversified in the 660–630 Ma collisional belt. Initially, they involved the mixing between two components with similar Nd isotopic ratios, a 2.1–0.8 Ga-old recycled crust and a subduction-processed old mantle. Regional heating and abundant production of granitic melts, with diversified contribution of enriched mantle components, mark the end of the collisional period, at 630–580 Ma. We can also attribute this to the delamination of the lithosphere, so that the same geodynamic process may explain the magmatism in the whole shield at the end of the Dom Feliciano Orogeny. Mesozoic rocks include flood basalts from the Cretaceous Paraná Province and sub-coeval alkalic suites. Multiple processes of metasomatism affected the lithospheric mantle, resulting in some complexity but they mainly register two enriched-mantle components, both generated during Neoarchaean–Paleoproterozoic events. One end-member has a more pronounced subduction signature. The other one probably resulted from the re-enrichment of the first component at the end of the Camboriú collisional orogeny (2.0 Ga).     

Neoproterozoic (800 Ma) orogeny in the Tuva-Mongolia Massif (Siberia): island arc–continent collision at the northeast Rodinia margin

The Tuva-Mongolia Massif is a composite Precambrian terrane incorporated into the Palaeozoic Sayany-Baikalian belt. Its Neoproterozoic amalgamation history involves early (800 Ma) and late Baikalian (600–550 Ma) orogenic phases. Two palaeogeographic elements are identified in the early Baikalian stage — the Gargan microcontinent and the Dunzhugur oceanic arc. They are represented by the Gargan Glyba (Block) and the island-arc ophiolites overthrusting it. The Gargan Glyba is a two-layer platform comprising an Early Precambrian crystalline basement and a Neoproterozoic passive-margin sedimentary cover. The upper part comprises olistostromes deposited in a foreland basin during the early Baikalian orogeny. The Dunzhugur arc ophiolite form klippen fringing the Gargan Glyba, and show a comprehensive oceanic-arc ophiolite succession. The Dunzhugur arc faced the microcontinent, as shown by the occurrence of forearc complexes. The arc–continent collision followed a pattern similar to Phanerozoic collisions. When the marginal basin lithosphere had been completely subducted, the microcontinental edge partially underthrust the arc, and the forearc ophiolite overrode it. Continued convergence caused a break of the arc lithosphere resulting in the uplift of the submerged microcontinental margin with the overthrust forearc ophiolites sliding into the foreland basin. Owing to the lithospheric break, a new subduction zone, inclined beneath the Gargan microcontinent, emerged. Initial melts of the newly-formed continental arc are represented by tonalites intruded into the Gargan microcontinent basement and its cover, and into the ophiolite nappe. The tonalite Rb–Sr mineral isochron age is 812±18 Ma, which is similar to a U–Pb zircon age of 785±11 Ma. A period of tonalite magmatism in Meso–Cenozoic orogenic belts is recognized some 1–10 m.y. after the collision. Accordingly, the Dunzhugur island arc–Gargan microcontinent collision is conventionally dated at around 800 Ma. It is highly probable that in the early Neoproterozoic, the Gargan continental block was part of the southern (in modern coordinates) margin of the Siberia craton. It is suggested that a chain of Precambrian massifs represents an elongate block separated from Siberia in the late Neoproterozoic. The Tuva-Mongolia Massif is situated in the northwest part of this chain. These events occurred on the NE Neoproterozoic margin of Rodinia, facing the World Ocean.