Geochemistry and geochronology of the Neoproterozoic Pan-African Transcaucasian Massif (Republic of Georgia) and implications for island arc evolution of the late Precambrian Arabian–Nubian Shield

The Transcaucasian Massif (TCM) in the Republic of Georgia includes Neoproterozoic–Early Cambrian ophiolites and magmatic arc assemblages that are reminiscent of the coeval island arc terranes in the Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS) and provides essential evidence for Pan-African crustal evolution in Western Gondwana. The metabasite–plagiogneiss–migmatite association in the Oldest Basement Unit (OBU) of TCM represents a Neoproterozoic oceanic lithosphere intruded by gabbro–diorite–quartz diorite plutons of the Gray Granite Basement Complex (GGBC) that constitute the plutonic foundation of an island arc terrane. The Tectonic Mélange Zone (TMZ) within the Middle-Late Carboniferous Microcline Granite Basement Complex includes thrust sheets composed of various lithologies derived from this arc-ophiolite assemblage. The serpentinized peridotites in the OBU and the TMZ have geochemical features and primary spinel composition (0.35) typical of mid-ocean ridge (MOR)-type, cpx-bearing spinel harzburgites. The metabasic rocks from these two tectonic units are characterized by low-K, moderate-to high-Ti, olivine-hypersthene-normative, tholeiitic basalts representing N-MORB to transitional to E-MORB series. The analyzed peridotites and volcanic rocks display a typical melt-residua genetic relationship of MOR-type oceanic lithosphere. The whole-rock Sm–Nd isotopic data from these metabasic rocks define a regression line corresponding to a maximum age limit of 804 ± 100 Ma and εNd_int = 7.37 ± 0.55. Mafic to intermediate plutonic rocks of GGBC show tholeiitic to calc-alkaline evolutionary trends with LILE and LREE enrichment patterns, Y and HREE depletion, and moderately negative anomalies of Ta, Nb, and Ti, characteristic of suprasubduction zone originated magmas. U–Pb zircon dates, Rb–Sr whole-rock isochron, and Sm–Nd mineral isochron ages of these plutonic rocks range between  750 Ma and 540 Ma, constraining the timing of island arc construction as the Neoproterozoic–Early Cambrian. The Nd and Sr isotopic ratios and the model and emplacement ages of massive quartz diorites in GGBC suggest that pre-Pan African continental crust was involved in the evolution of the island arc terrane. This in turn indicates that the ANS may not be made entirely of juvenile continental crust of Neoproterozoic age. Following its separation from ANS in the Early Paleozoic, TCM underwent a period of extensive crustal growth during 330–280 Ma through the emplacement of microcline granite plutons as part of a magmatic arc system above a Paleo-Tethyan subduction zone dipping beneath the southern margin of Eurasia. TCM and other peri-Gondwanan terranes exposed in a series of basement culminations within the Alpine orogenic belt provide essential information on the Pan-African history of Gondwana and the rift-drift stages of the tectonic evolution of Paleo-Tethys as a back-arc basin between Gondwana and Eurasia.     

U---Pb SHRIMP and Sm---Nd age constraints on the timing and sources of the Pan-African Cape Granite Suite, South Africa

Geochemical and isotopic U---Pb SHRIMP and Sm---Nd studies in three granitic plutons from the Pan-African Neoproterozoic/Cambrian Saldania Mobile Belt, southwestern South Africa supports differences in the sources and timing of emplacement of the main plutons related to the Cape Granite Suite as established by previous researchers. The Phase I, early syn-tectonic Darling Batholith Granitoid reflects an overall peraluminous chemical signature compatible with derivation mainly from melts extracted from paraderived crustal sources (Sa1 association). The Phase II, late to post-tectonic Robertson Pluton, reflects affinities to the Australian l-type granites (1a association). Despite the good structural constraints on the syn- and post-tectonic origin, the U---Pb ages point to a broadly synchronous crystallisation episode at 547±6 Ma and 536±5 Ma, respectively. In addition to U---Pb, Nd isotopic studies were also carried out for both plutons, as well as for the Riviera Granite, another phase II (1a association) pluton. The initial ε_Nd (550 Ma) based on a depleted mantle model range from −3.5 (Darling), to −3.1 (Robertson) and to −2.6 (Riviera). The Nd mean crustal residence ages are 1559 Ma for Darling, 1626 Ma for Robertson and 1243 Ma for Riviera. Despite the small databank, a dominant Mesoproterozoic ( 1600 Ma) crust may be seen as the best candidate to explain the model T_DM ages obtained. All the data largely overlap with others recently obtained for other plutons within the Cape Granite Suite and cast doubts on the current correlation between Saldania and the southeastern Brazilian, Dom Feliciano Belts.     

a revised age for the granites of the central Somuncura Batholith, North Patagonian Massif

The age of the granites of the La Esperanza region of the Somuncura Batholith, North Patagonian Massif has been revised, based in part on Rb---Sr whole-rock data obtained by reanalyzing samples from a previous study. The new ages are 258 ± 15 Ma for the Prieto Granodiorite and 259 ± 16 Ma for the Donosa Granite, both from the older La Esperanza plutonic complex, and 239 ± 4 Ma for the Calvo Granite, from the younger volcano-plutonic Dos Lomas complex. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are all in the range 0.7070–0.7076. The ages probably correspond stratigraphically to Late Permian and Early Triassic for the two complexes, respectively, consistent with traditional geologic interpretation. Together with recently published Triassic ages from the Batholith of Central Patagonia, it is clear that the acidic volcano-plutonic associations of northern Patagonia are very latest Paleozoic and Mesozoic in age. They are not obviously related to terrane collision but are part of a Permo-Triassic acid magmatic province that extends throughout the central Andes and that preceded, or was associated with, the early rifting of Gondwana.     

Late Paleozoic–Early Triassic magmatism on the western margin of Gondwana: Collahuasi area, Northern Chile

The basement in the ‘Altiplano’ high plateau of the Andes of northern Chile mostly consists of late Paleozoic to Early Triassic felsic igneous rocks (Collahuasi Group) that were emplaced and extruded along the western margin of the Gondwana supercontinent. This igneous suite crops out in the Collahuasi area and forms the backbone of most of the high Andes from latitude 20° to 22°S. Rocks of the Collahuasi Group and correlative formations form an extensive belt of volcanic and subvolcanic rocks throughout the main Andes of Chile, the Frontal Cordillera of Argentina (Choiyoi Group or Choiyoi Granite-Rhyolite Province), and the Eastern Cordillera of Peru.Thirteen new SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages from the Collahuasi area document a bimodal timing for magmatism, with a dominant peak at about 300 Ma and a less significant one at 244 Ma. Copper–Mo porphyry mineralization is related to the younger igneous event.Initial Hf isotopic ratios for the ~ 300 Ma zircons range from about − 2 to + 6 indicating that the magmas incorporated components with a significant crustal residence time. The 244 Ma magmas were derived from a less enriched source, with the initial Hf values ranging from + 2 to + 6, suggestive of a mixture with a more depleted component. Limited whole rock ¹⁴⁴Nd/¹⁴³Nd and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic ratios further support the likelihood that the Collahuasi Group magmatism incorporated significant older crustal components, or at least a mixture of crustal sources with more and less evolved isotopic signatures.     

Late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Felsic Magmatism Along Transcrustal Shear Zones in Southern India: U-Pb Electron Microprobe Ages and Implications for the Amalgamation of the Gondwana Supercontinent

We report U-Pb electron microprobe ages for zircon and monazite from two granitic plutons from southern India, the Vattamalai granite within the Palghat-Cauvery Shear Zone system and the Pathanapuram granite within the Achankovil Shear Zone. A zircon grain from the Vattamalai granite has a core age of 693±132 Ma and is surrounded by a thick overgrowth with an age of 504±104 Ma. Monazites from the Vattamalai granite show a small range of ages between 500-520 Ma. PbO vs. ThO₂* plots of the monazites define a precise isochron age of 517±6.7 Ma (MSWD = 0.25). The oldest zircons in the Pathanapuram pluton are in the range 961-1149 Ma, with younger overgrowths at ~540-560 Ma. Monazite cores from the granite lie in the range of 526-574 Ma, whereas rims and bright overgrowths range from 506-539 Ma. These monazites define two linear arrays in PbO vs. ThO₂* plots with cores yielding an isochron age of 550±25 Ma (MSWD = 0.58) and the rims defining an age of 515±15 Ma (MSWD = 0.68).The age data from the granite plutons indicate multiple thermal imprints in southern India with the latest orogeny during the Late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian (Pan-African). The older zircon cores up to 1149 Ma from the Pathanapuram pluton suggest inherited components of late Mesoproterozoic age, caught up within the granite magma. However, the dominant 570-520 Ma ages obtained from both zircons and monazites closely compare with similar ages for magmatism and metamorphism from throughout the East African Orogen. Late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian felsic magmatism occurred along both the Palghat-Cauvery Shear System and the Achankovil Shear Zone, indicating that these shears were active at this time and may have served as pathways for the emplacement of magmas generated at depth. The magmatism represents part of the various collisional-extensional episodes that marked the final amalgamation of the Gondwana supercontinent.     

Neoproterozoic adakitic plutons in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block, China: Partial melting of a thickened lower crust and implications for secular crustal evolution

Numerous Neoproterozoic felsic and mafic–ultramafic intrusions occur in the Hannan region at the northern margin of the Yangtze Block. Among these, the Wudumen and Erliba plutons consist of granodiorites and have SHRIMP zircon U–Pb ages of  735 Ma. The rocks have high K₂O (0.8–3.6 wt.%) and Na₂O (4.4–6.4 wt.%) and low MgO (0.4–1.7 wt.%). They also have high Sr/Y (32–209) and (La/Yb)_n ratios (4.4–38.6). Their εNd values range from − 0.41 to − 0.92 and zircon initial ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios from 0.282353 to 0.282581. These geochemical features are similar to those of adakitic rocks produced by partial melting of a thickened lower crust. Our new analytical results, combined with the occurrence of voluminous arc-related mafic–ultramafic intrusions emplaced before 740 Ma, lead us to propose that the crustal evolution in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block during Neoproterozoic involved: (1) rapid crustal growth and thickening by underplating of mafic magmas from the mantle which was modified by materials coming from the subducting oceanic slab from  1.0 to  0.74 Ga, and (2) partial melting of the thickened lower crust due to a thermal anomaly induced by upwelling of asthenosphere through an oceanic slab window, producing the  735 Ma adakitic Wudumen and Erliba plutons. Our model suggests that the crustal thickness was more than 50 km at the northern margin of the Yangtze Block at  735 Ma, and rule out the possibility of a mantle plume impact causing the > 735 Ma magmatism in the region.     

Ar/Ar thermochronology of the Kampa Dome, southern Tibet: Implications for tectonic evolution of the North Himalayan gneiss domes

Structural and thermochronological studies of the Kampa Dome provide constraints on timing and mechanisms of gneiss dome formation in southern Tibet. The core of Kampa Dome contains the Kampa Granite, a Cambrian orthogneiss that was deformed under high temperature (sub-solidus) conditions during Himalayan orogenesis. The Kampa Granite is intruded by syn-tectonic leucogranite dikes and sills of probable Oligocene to Miocene age. Overlying Paleozoic to Mesozoic metasedimentary rocks decrease in peak metamorphic grade from kyanite + staurolite grade at the base of the sequence to unmetamorphosed at the top. The Kampa Shear Zone traverses the Kampa Granite — metasediment contact and contains evidence for high-temperature to low-temperature ductile deformation and brittle faulting. The shear zone is interpreted to represent an exhumed portion of the South Tibetan Detachment System. Biotite and muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar thermochronology from the metasedimentary sequence yields disturbed spectra with 14.22 ± 0.18 to 15.54 ± 0.39 Ma cooling ages and concordant spectra with 14.64 ± 0.15 to 14.68 ± 0.07 Ma cooling ages. Petrographic investigations suggest disturbed samples are associated with excess argon, intracrystalline deformation, mineral and fluid inclusions and/or chloritization that led to variations in argon systematics. We conclude that the entire metasedimentary sequence cooled rapidly through mica closure temperatures at  14.6 Ma. The Kampa Granite yields the youngest biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of  13.7 Ma immediately below the granite–metasediment contact. We suggest that this age variation reflects either varying mica closure temperatures, re-heating of the Kampa Granite biotites above closure temperatures between 14.6 Ma and 13.7 Ma, or juxtaposition of rocks with different thermal histories. Our data do not corroborate the “inverse” mica cooling gradient observed in adjacent North Himalayan gneiss domes. Instead, we infer that mica cooling occurred in response to exhumation and conduction related to top-to-north normal faulting in the overlying sequence, top-to-south thrusting at depth, and coeval surface denudation.     

Stenian A-type granitoids in the Namaqua-Natal Belt,southern Africa,Maud Belt,Antarctica and Nampula Terrane,Mozambique:Rodinia and Gondwana amalgamation implications

We carried out SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating on A-type granitic intrusions from the Namaqua-Natal Province,South Africa,Sverdrupfjella,western Dronning Maud Land,Antarctica and the Nampula Province of northern Mozambique.Zircon grains in these granitic rocks are typically elongated and oscillatory zoned,suggesting magmatic origins.Zircons from the granitoid intrusions analyzed in this study suggest~1025-1100 Ma ages,which confirm widespread Mesoproterozoic A-type granitic magmatism in the Namaqua-Natal(South Africa),Maud(Antarctica) and Mozambique metamorphic terrains.No older inherited(e.g.,~2500 Ma Achean basement or~1200 Ma island are magmatism in northern Natal)zircon grains were seen.Four plutons from the Natal Belt(Mvoti Pluton,Glendale Pluton,Kwalembe Pluton,Ntimbankulu Pluton) display 1050-1040 Ma ages,whereas the Nthlimbitwa Pluton in northern Natal indicates older 1090-1080 Ma ages.A sample from Sverdrupfjella,Antarctica has~1091 Ma old zircons along with~530 Ma metamorphic rims.Similarly,four samples analysed from the Nampula Province of Mozambique suggest crystallization ages of~1060-1090 Ma but also show significant discordance with two samples showing younger~550 Ma overgrowths.None of the Natal samples show any younger overgrowths.A single sample from southwestern Namaqualand yielded an age of~1033 Ma.Currently available chronological data suggest magmatism took place in the Namaqua-Natal-MaudMozambique(NNMM) belt between~1025 Ma and~1100 Ma with two broad phases between~1060-1020 Ma and 1100-1070 Ma respectively,with peaks at between~1030-1040 Ma and~1070-1090 Ma.The age data from the granitic intrusions from Namaqualand.combined with those from Natal,Antarctica and Mozambique suggest a crude spatial-age relationship with the older1070 Ma ages being largely restricted close to the eastern and western margins of the Kalahari Craton in northern Natal,Mozambique.Namaqualand and WDML Antarctica whereas the younger 1060 Ma ages dominate in southern Natal and western Namaqualand and are largely restricted to the southern and possibly the western margins of the Kalahari Craton.The older ages of magmatism partially overlap with or are marginally younger than the intracratonic Mkondo Large lgneous Provinee intruded into or extruded onto the Kalahari Craton,suggesting a tectonic relationship with the Maud Belt.Similar ages from granitic augen gneisses in Sri Lanka suggest a continuous belt stretching from Namaqualand to Sri Lanka in a reconstituted Gondwana,formed during the terminal stages of amalgamation of Rodinia and predating the East African Orogen.This contiguity contributes to defining the extent of Rodinia-age crustal blocks,subsequently fragmented by the dispersal of Rodinia and Gondwana.     

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.     

朝鲜半岛平南盆地中元古代岩浆事件

朝鲜平南盆地翁津地区发育中元古代黄海群和同时期(称之为瓮津期)花岗岩,花岗岩体侵入于黄海群。本文采用锆石原位微区U-Pb定年技术,对黄海群中的酸性火山岩及花岗岩进行了年龄测试。获得的数据表明,黄海群中下部层位及上部层位的酸性火山岩分别在1235±5Ma和1203±7Ma喷发,由此说明黄海群的沉积时代应为中元古代,而不是传统上认为的古元古代;两个翁津期花岗岩体(翁津和黄衣山岩体)的侵位年龄分别为1251±22Ma和1248±13Ma,为中元古代花岗质岩浆活动的产物。上述1251~1203Ma年龄的获得,表明朝鲜半岛发育中元古代岩浆作用,从而明确朝鲜黄海裂谷与华北东缘裂谷在时间上具有同期性,同时也表明中国华北与朝鲜在中元古代具有类似的发展历史。     

Rb-Sr Isotope Dating of Neoproterozoic (Malani Group) Magmatism from Southwest Rajasthan, India: Evidence of Younger Pan-African Thermal Event by Ar-Ar Studies

This paper reports Rb-Sr isotope ages of the Neoproterozoic volcanics, and associated granitoids of the trans-Aravalli belt of northwestern India. All these rocks along with the earlier reported 779±10 Ma old felsic volcanics from Diri, and Gurapratap Singh of Pali district, Rajasthan, constitute the Malani Group. The study indicates that different rock suites belonging to the Malani Group represent a polyphase igneous activity which spanned for about 100 Ma ranging from 780 to 680 Ma. The granitoids of the Malani Group, i.e. peraluminous Jalore type, and peralkaline Siwana type, were emplaced around 730, and 700 Ma ago, respectively. These plutonic suites represent two different magmatic episodes within a short time interval. The initial Sr ratios of these granitoids suggest lower crustal derivation of the magma. The peralkaline granitoids, and the associated peralkaline rhyolites (pantellerites) are coeval, and cogenetic. The ultrapotassic rhyolite exposed at Manihari of Pali district represents the youngest magmatic activity at 681±20 Ma, having a very high initial Sr ratio of 0.7135±0.0033. The high initial Sr ratio of these rocks may be due to incorporation of radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr from the country rock, by assimilation or fusion, into the residual fraction of the magma in the crust which gave rise to other differentiated rocks of the Group.⁴⁰Ar³⁹Ar studies of two Jalore granite samples indicate presence of post crystallisation thermal disturbance between 500550 Ma ago. The timing of this thermal overprinting on the Malani rocks is related to the widespread Pan-African thermo-tectonic event which is witnessed, and magmatically manifested in different part of the Indian shield.     

胶北地块与金成矿有关的郭家岭岩体和上庄岩体年代学及地球化学研究

胶东半岛是我国最主要的原生金矿矿集区,金矿的主要控矿围岩是郭家岭花岗岩,通过研究郭家岭花岗岩的地球化学特征对研究金矿的成因和物质来源具有指示性意义。本文研究的两个花岗岩岩体为上庄岩体和郭家岭岩体,两岩体同属郭家岭型花岗岩。通过对两岩体的花岗岩样进行岩相学矿相学观察、全岩主、微量元素和U-Pb同位素分析,获得胶东半岛中生代岩浆岩的成因机制与源区性质及自然金的产出形式等科学信息。LAICP MS锆石U-Pb年龄得出郭家岭岩体年龄125.4±2.2 Ma,上庄岩体U-Pb年龄128.8±2.0 Ma,都为中生代早白垩世,两岩体年龄相差3Ma,在年龄误差范围来看可以把两岩体作为同一期岩体,也在年龄角度证实两岩体都同属郭家岭花岗岩。两岩体的锆石组成都含有太古宙和晚侏罗纪的继承锆石,指示两岩体的成岩物质来源具相似性,都包含太古宙岩石成分和晚侏罗世花岗岩成分。两岩体具有相似的稀土元素和微量元素分配模式,表现出明显的LREE富集和HREE极度亏损,没有明显的铕负异常。郭家岭岩体和上庄岩体花岗岩都具有类似埃达克岩的特征,都具有高的Sr含量(913×10-6~1325×10-6),低的Y含量(2.2×10-6~8.4×10-6)和Yb含量(0.21×10-6~0.68×10-6),较高的(Dy/Yb)N比值1.62~2.28,暗示花岗岩岩浆形成时石榴石是一个重要的残留相,而没有斜长石作为残留相。两岩体具有较低的MgO、Cr、Ni含量和Mg#,反映郭家岭型花岗岩岩浆的形成可能是岛弧环境榴辉岩相压力条件下洋壳玄武质岩石的部分熔融。     

Age and kinematics of ductile deformation in the Cerro Durazno area, NW Argentina: Significance for orogenic processes operating at the western margin of Gondwana during Ordovician – Silurian times

The Cerro Durazno Pluton belongs to a suite of Paleozoic granitoid intrusions in NW-Argentina, that are central for understanding the tectonic setting of the western margin of Gondwana in Ordovician and Silurian times. The pluton and its host rocks were tectonically overprinted by metamorphic mineral shape fabrics formed under middle greenschist-facies metamorphic conditions and associated with the nearby Agua Rosada Shear Zone. Kinematic analysis of the shear zone based on the geometric relationship between individual segments of the shear plane and principal axes of mineral fabric ellipsoids indicates reverse-sense of shear with a minor component of left-lateral displacement. This is compatible with the kinematics of other ductile deformation zones in this area, collectively forming a network, which accomplished orogen-parallel extension in addition to vertical thickening. Using the Rb–Sr isotopic system, an undeformed pegmatite dike of the Cerro Durazno Pluton was dated at 455.8 ± 3.6 Ma and mineral fabrics of the Agua Rosada Shear Zone formed at middle greenschist-facies metamorphism gave deformation ages of 437.0 ± 3.8 Ma and 428.4 ± 4.5 Ma. Thus, tectonic overprint at low metamorphic grade occurred about 20–30 Ma after terminal magmatism in the Cerro Durazno area. Our data from the Cerro Durazno area and regional considerations suggest that the western margin of Gondwana was characterized by orogen-parallel extension in addition to crustal thickening as well as episodes of magmatism and ductile deformation that varied greatly in time and space.     

Age constraints on the formation and emplacement of Neoproterozoic ophiolites along the Allaqi–Heiani Suture, South Eastern Desert of Egypt

Ophiolites are key components of the Neoproterozoic Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS). Understanding when they formed and were emplaced is crucial for understanding the evolution of the ANS because their ages tell when seafloor spreading and terrane accretion occurred. The Yanbu–Onib–Sol Hamed–Gerf–Allaqi–Heiani (YOSHGAH) suture and ophiolite belt can be traced  600 km across the Nubian and Arabian shields. We report five new SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages from igneous rocks along the Allaqi segment of the YOSHGAH suture in southernmost Egypt and use these data in conjunction with other age constraints to evaluate YOSHGAH suture evolution. Ophiolitic layered gabbro gave a concordia age of 730 ± 6 Ma, and a metadacite from overlying arc-type metavolcanic rocks yielded a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 733 ± 7 Ma, indicating ophiolite formation at  730 Ma. Ophiolite emplacement is also constrained by intrusive bodies: a gabbro yielded a concordia age of 697 ± 5 Ma, and a quartz-diorite yielded a concordia age of 709 ± 4 Ma. Cessation of deformation is constrained by syn- to post-tectonic granite with a concordia age of 629 ± 5 Ma. These new data, combined with published zircon ages for ophiolites and stitching plutons from the YOSHGAH suture zone, suggest a 2-stage evolution for the YOSHGAH ophiolite belt ( 810–780 Ma and  730–750 Ma) and indicate that accretion between the Gabgaba–Gebeit–Hijaz terranes to the south and the SE Desert–Midyan terranes to the north occurred as early as 730 Ma and no later than 709 ± 4 Ma.     

Rb-Sr Geochronology,Nd-Sr Isotopes and Whole Rock Geochemistry of Yelagiri and Sevattur Syenites,Tamil Nadu,South India

Alkaline magmatism during the late Proterozoic is an important event in the northern part of the South Indian granulite terrain. A number of alkaline plutons comprising saturated syenite and ultramafic rocks often associated with carbonatite are found localized along NEHYPHEN;SW trending lineaments, which are considered as deep crustal fractures. Along one such lineament, the alkaline complexes of Yelagiri, Sevattur and Samalpatti have intruded into the country rocks comprising epidote hornblende gneiss. The isotope characteristics and geochemistry of Yelagiri and Sevattur plutons are examined in this paper. Whole rock Rbhyphen;Sr isochron ages of the Yelagiri and Sevattur syenites are 757±32 Ma and 756±11 Ma respectively. The close spatial relationship, similarities in age, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of these plutons strongly suggest their close genetic relationship. The initial Sr and Nd isotope ratios of the Sevattur carbonatites suggest their derivation from an alkali metal and LREE enriched mantle source. However, the silicate rocks of the Yelagiri and Sevattur plutons have distinctly different isotopic characteristics from this enriched mantle source. Combined geochemical and isotopic characteristics of these silicate rocks indicate that silicate rocks of both plutons are derived independently from isotopically different sources from those of carbonatites. Moreover, comparison with the isotopic characteristics of Archean crustal rocks in South India indicates that the source regions of both silicate rocks are lowerhyphen;crustal portions, which are deeper than any other crustal portion exposed in South India, or isotopically metasomatized crustal portions by volatile influx from carbonatite.     

He–Ar and Nd–Sr isotopic compositions of late Pleistocene felsic plutonic back arc basin rocks from Ulleungdo volcanic island, South Korea: Implications for the genesis of young plutonic rocks in a back arc basin

We report analyses of noble gases and Nd–Sr isotopes in mineral separates and whole rocks of late Pleistocene (< 0.2 Ma) monzonites from Ulleungdo, South Korea, a volcanic island within the back arc basin of the Japan island arc. A Rb–Sr mineral isochron age for the monzonites is 0.12 ± 0.01 Ma. K–Ar biotite ages from the same samples gave relatively concordant ages of 0.19 ± 0.01and 0.22 ± 0.01 Ma. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar yields a similar age of 0.29 ± 0.09 Ma. Geochemical characteristics of the felsic plutonic rocks, which are silica oversaturated alkali felsic rocks (av., 12.5 wt% in K₂O + Na₂O), are similar to those of 30 alkali volcanics from Ulleungdo in terms of concentrations of major, trace and REE elements. The initial Nd–Sr isotopic ratios of the monzonites (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.70454–0.71264, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.512528–0.512577) are comparable with those of the alkali volcanics (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.70466–0.70892, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.512521–0.512615) erupted in Stage 3 of Ulleungdo volcanism (0.24–0.47 Ma). The high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values of the monzonites imply that seawater and crustally contaminated pre-existing trachytes may have been melted or assimilated during differentiation of the alkali basaltic magma.A mantle helium component (³He/⁴He ratio of up to 6.5 RA) associated with excess argon was found in the monzonites. Feldspar and biotite have preferentially lost helium during slow cooling at depth and/or during their transportation to the surface in a hot host magma. The source magma noble gas isotopic features are well preserved in fluid inclusions in hornblende, and indicate that the magma may be directly derived from subcontinental lithospheric mantle metasomatized by an ancient subduction process, or may have formed as a mixture of MORB-like mantle and crustal components. The radiometric ages, geochemical and Nd–Sr isotopic signatures of the Ulleungdo monzonites as well as the presence of mantle-derived helium and argon, suggests that these felsic plutonic rocks evolved from alkali basaltic magma that formed by partial melting of subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the back arc basin located along the active continental margin of the southeastern part of the Eurasian plate.     

Tectonic significance of Late Neoproterozoic granites from the Tibesti massif in southern Libya inferred from Sr and Nd isotopes and U–Pb zircon data

The Neoproterozoic crust of the Tibesti massif was stabilized by magmatism that included subduction-generated batholithic suites and post-orogenic granite plutons. All of the magmatism occurred in a period of about 20 million years centered around 550 Ma, and nearly all of the granites have initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of about 0.706. The Wadi Yebigue pluton has U–Pb zircon ages of 563 Ma and 558 Ma on two different phases and ε_Nd at 550 Ma from −0.5 to −2.2. These isotopic data and the geologic history of the massif suggest that granites in the Tibesti massif developed during and shortly after closure of a short-lived ocean basin that developed by fragmentation of pre-existing continental crust of the Saharan region.     

Nd isotopic evidence for the position of southernmost Indian terranes within East Gondwana

Sm-Nd model ages of orthopyroxene-bearing massif charnockites from the Cardamom Hills Massif and adjoining supracrustal rocks from the Kerala Khondalite Belt in southernmost India are used to infer some of the relationships within these rocks and between them and neighboring areas. Most of these rocks have model ages of 2.1–2.8 Ga with most charnockites in the range 2.2–2.6 Ga. Thus, 3.0–3.4 Ga Archean rocks to their north did not contribute material to either suite and the two suites may have been juxtaposed after formation of the supracrustal rocks. The similarity of Sm-Nd isotope systems in the two units studied here supports an argument that the massif charnockites were the primary sole source of the detritus incorporated into the supracrustal rocks. A cordierite gneiss, representative of a relatively minor lithology in the supracrustal belt, has a model age of 1.3 Ga. The protolith of this gneiss not only formed from much younger material than the rest of the belt but also formed significantly after the other metasedimentary rocks. The source material of the gneiss protolith may have been located in the Wanni and Vijayan Complexes of Sri Lanka. The overlap of the model ages of rocks in this area and those in the Highland Complex of Sri Lanka supports the notion that these two sets of rocks were joined to each other in Gondwana. They belong to a belt that ran from Antarctica through Sri Lanka and India into Madagascar. This belt was involved in Pan-African tectono-metamorphism, as reflected in the 550 Ma age of the last, granulite-forming, event throughout the belt.     

Timing of thermal stabilization of the Zimbabwe Craton deduced from high-precision Rb–Sr chronology, Great Dyke

Dating low temperature events such as magmatic cooling or (hydro-)thermal surges in Archean and Proterozoic terranes is crucial in defining cratonal thermal stabilization after episodic continental growth during the Archean and Early Proterozoic. Rubidium–Sr chronology is potentially a powerful tool in this regard because of its low closure temperature, i.e., <400 °C in most minerals, but has until now been hampered by its relatively low precision compared to high-temperature chronometers. Consequently, Rb–Sr age investigations have so far failed to provide high-precision age constraints on the cooling of rocks older than 2 Ga. Here, it is demonstrated that internal Rb–Sr microchrons can yield important, high-precision age constraints on the cooling history of Archean intrusions. After careful mineral selection and chemical treatment, a Rb–Sr age of 2543.0 ± 4.4 Ma was obtained from the Archean Great Dyke, Zimbabwe Craton, in contrast to the intrusion age of 2575.8 ± 1 Ma, yielding an ambient average cooling of 5 ± 2 °C/Ma. The non-disturbed magmatic Rb–Sr cooling age of the Great Dyke marks the final stage of Zimbabwe craton stabilization and that the greater craton area did not experience any intensive later reheating event during metamorphic or tectonic events.