Fluid flow during exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust: zircon U-Pb age and O-isotope studies of a quartz vein within ultrahigh-pressure eclogite

Quartz veins in high‐pressure to ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphic rocks witness channelized fluid flow that transports both mass and heat during collisional orogenesis. This flow can occur in the direction of changing temperature/pressure during subduction or exhumation. SHRIMP U‐Pb dating of zircon from a kyanite‐quartz vein within ultrahigh‐pressure eclogite in the Dabie continental collision orogen yields two age groups at 212 ± 7 and 181 ± 13 Ma, which are similar to two groups of LA‐ICPMS age at 210 ± 4 and 180 ± 5 Ma for the same sample. These ages are significantly younger than zircon U‐Pb ages of 224 ± 2 Ma from the host eclogite. Thus the two age groups from the vein date two episodes of fluid flow involving zircon growth: the first due to decompression dehydration during exhumation, and the second due to heating dehydration in response to a cryptic thermal event after continental collision. Laser fluorination O‐isotope analyses gave similar δ¹⁸O values for minerals from both vein and eclogite, indicating that the vein‐forming fluid was internally derived. Synchronous cooling between the vein and eclogite is suggested by almost the same quartz–mineral fractionation values, with regularly decreasing temperatures that are in concordance with rates of O diffusion in the minerals. While the quartz veining was caused by decompression dehydration at 700–650 °C in a transition from ultrahigh‐pressure to high‐pressure eclogite‐facies retrogression, the postcollisional fluid flow was retriggered by heating dehydration at ～500 °C without corresponding metamorphism. In either case, the kyanite–quartz vein formed later than the peak ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphic event at the Middle Triassic, pointing to focused fluid flow during exhumation rather than subduction. The growth of metamorphic zircon in the eclogite appears to have depended on fluid availability, so that their occurrence is a type of geohygrometer besides geochronological applicability to dating of metamorphic events in orogenic cycles.     

Low-T eclogite in the Dabie terrane of China: petrological and isotopic constraints on fluid activity and radiometric dating

While extensive studies have demonstrated fluid release during subduction of oceanic crust, little attention has been paid to fluid activity during subduction and exhumation of continental crust. Abundant occurrence of quartz veins within eclogites in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt of China provides us with an opportunity to study the origin and role of vein-forming fluids with respect to heat and mass transfer during ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphism and its relevant processes. This study focuses on kyanite-quartz vein that occurs as polycrystalline aggregates within the low-T eclogite in the Dabie terrane, which are interpreted as pseudomorphs after former porphyroblasts of lawsonite. Coesite pseudomorphs were found for the first time in eclogite garnet, resulting in a revised estimate of peak P–T conditions at 670°C and 3.3 GPa for the eclogite and thus upgrading the high-P unit to an UHP unit. On the basis of the relationship between calculated P–T path and metamorphic reactions as well as the absence of foliation texture, and undulose extinction of quartzes in the vein, we conclude that lawsonite breakdown into kyanite–quartz–zoisite assemblage took place at the onset of exhumation subsequent to peak pressure. Retrograde metamorphism caused O and H isotope disequilibria between some of the minerals, but the fluid for retrograde reactions was internally buffered in stable isotope compositions. Zircon U–Pb dating and whole-rock Nd–Sr isotope analyses indicate that eclogite protolith is the paleoceanic basalt that was derived from the depleted mantle by magmatism at about 1.8 to 1.9 Ga but experienced hydrothermal alteration by surface waters. The altered basalt underwent UHP metamorphism in the Triassic that caused fluid release for zircon growth/overgrowth not only at about 242±3 Ma prior to the onset of peak pressure but also at about 222±4 Ma during decompression dehydration by lawsonite breakdown and hydroxyl exsolution in the low-T/UHP eclogite. Consistent ages of 236.1±4.2 Ma and 230±7 Ma were obtained from mineral Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr isochron dating, respectively, indicating attainment and preservation of Nd and Sr isotope equilibria during the Triassic UHP eclogite-facies metamorphism. Ar–Ar dating on paragonite from the eclogite gave consistent plateau and isochron ages of 241.3±3.1 Ma and 245.5±9.8 Ma, respectively, which are interpreted to date paragonite crystallization during the prograde eclogite-facies metamorphism. The timing of peak UHP metamorphism for the low-T eclogite is constrained at sometime prior to 236.1±4.2 Ma. Thus the termination age of peak UHP metamorphism may be different in different slices of deep-subducted slab.     

Zircon U–Pb ages, Hf and O isotopes constrain the crustal architecture of the ultrahigh-pressure Dabie orogen in China

The crustal structure of the Dabie orogen was reconstructed by a combined study of U–Pb ages, Hf and O isotope compositions of zircons from granitic gneiss from North Dabie, the largest lithotectonic unit in the orogen. The results were deciphered from metamorphic history to protolith origin with respect to continental subduction and exhumation. Zircon U–Pb dating provides consistent ages of 751 ± 7 Ma for protolith crystallization, and two group ages of 213 ± 4 to 245 ± 17 Ma and 126 ± 4 to 131 ± 36 Ma for regional metamorphism. Majority of zircon Hf isotope analyses displays negative ε_Hf(t) values of − 5.1 to − 2.9 with crust Hf model ages of 1.84 to 1.99 Ga, indicating protolith origin from reworking of middle Paleoproterozoic crust. The remaining analyses exhibit positive ε_Hf(t) values of 5.3 to 14.5 with mantle Hf model ages of 0.74 to 1.11 Ga, suggesting prompt reworking of Late Mesoproterozoic to Early Neoproterozoic juvenile crust. Zircon O isotope analyses yield δ¹⁸O values of − 3.26 to 2.79‰, indicating differential involvement of meteoric water in protolith magma by remelting of hydrothermally altered low δ¹⁸O rocks. North Dabie shares the same age of Neoproterozoic low δ¹⁸O protolith with Central Dabie experiencing the Triassic UHP metamorphism, but it was significantly reworked at Early Cretaceous in association with contemporaneous magma emplacement. The Rodinia breakup at about 750 Ma would lead to not only the reworking of juvenile crust in an active rift zone for bimodal protolith of Central Dabie, but also reworking of ancient crust in an arc-continent collision zone for the North Dabie protolith. The spatial difference in the metamorphic age (Triassic vs. Cretaceous) between the northern and southern parts of North Dabie suggests intra-crustal detachment during the continental subduction. Furthermore, the Dabie orogen would have a three-layer structure prior to the Early Cretaceous magmatism: Central Dabie in the upper, North Dabie in the middle, and the source region of Cretaceous magmas in the lower.     

拉萨地体内松多榴辉岩的同碰撞折返:来自构造变形和40Ar-39Ar年代学的证据

松多地区的区域构造变形与糜棱质白云母石英片岩和绿片岩的白云母单矿物40Ar-39Ar年代学测试表明拉萨地体内的松多地区于220～240 Ma经历过印支期碰撞造山事件.这次造山事件为晚二叠世松多榴辉岩带代表的古特提斯洋盆消失闭合之后北拉萨地体与南冈瓦那大陆碰撞的结果.该区榴辉岩与退变榴辉岩白云母和角闪石的40Ar-39A...     

Isotopic constraints on age and duration of fluid-assisted high-pressure eclogite-facies recrystallization during exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust in the Sulu orogen

Fluid availability during high‐grade metamorphism is a critical factor in dictating petrological, geochemical and isotopic reequilibration between metamorphic minerals, with fluid‐absent metamorphism commonly resulting in neither zircon growth/recrystallization for U‐Pb dating nor Sm‐Nd isotopic resetting for isochron dating. While peak ultra‐high pressure (UHP) metamorphism is characterized by fluid immobility, high‐pressure (HP) eclogite‐facies recrystallization during exhumation is expected to take place in the presence of fluid. A multichronological study of UHP eclogite from the Sulu orogen of China indicates zircon growth at 216 ± 3 Ma as well as mineral Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr reequilibration at 216 ± 5 Ma, which are uniformly younger than UHP metamorphic ages of 231 ± 4 to 227 ± 2 Ma as dated by the SHRIMP U‐Pb method for coesite‐bearing domains of zircon. O isotope reequilibration was achieved between the Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr isochron minerals, but Hf isotopes were not homogenized between different grains of zircon. The HP eclogite‐facies recrystallization is also evident from petrography. Thus this process occurred during exhumation with fluid availability from decompression dehydration of hydrous minerals and the exsolution of hydroxyl from nominally anhydrous minerals. This provides significant amounts of internally derived fluid for extensive retrogression within the UHP metamorphosed slabs. Based on available experimental diffusion data, the consistent reequilibration of U‐Pb, Sm‐Nd, Rb‐Sr and O isotope systems in the eclogite minerals demonstrates that time‐scale for the HP eclogite‐facies recrystallization is c. 1.9–9.3 Myr or less. This provides a maximum estimate for duration of the fluid‐facilitated process in the HP eclogite‐facies regime during the exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust.     

Element mobility during continental collision: insights from polymineralic metamorphic vein within UHP eclogite in the Dabie orogen

Metamorphic dehydration and partial melting are two important processes during continental collision. They have significant bearing on element transport at the slab interface under subduction‐zone P–T conditions. Petrological and geochemical insights into the two processes are provided by a comprehensive study of leucocratic veins in ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks. This is exemplified by this study of a polymineralic vein within phengite‐bearing UHP eclogite in the Dabie orogen. The vein is primarily composed of quartz, kyanite, epidote and phengite, with minor accessory minerals such as garnet, rutile and zircon. Primary multiphase solid inclusions occur in garnet and epidote from the both vein and host eclogite. They are composed of quartz ± K‐feldspar ± plagioclase ± K‐bearing glass and exhibit irregular to negative crystal shapes that are surrounded by weak radial cracks. This suggests their precipitation from solute‐rich metamorphic fluid/melt that involved the reaction of phengite breakdown. Zircon U–Pb dating for the vein gave two groups of concordant ages at 217 ± 2 and 210 ± 2 Ma, indicating two episodes of zircon growth in the Late Triassic. The same minerals from the two rocks give consistent δ¹⁸O and δD values, suggesting that the vein‐forming fluid was directly derived from the host UHP eclogite. The vein is much richer in phengite and epidote than the host eclogite, suggesting that the fluid is associated with remarkable concentration of such water‐soluble elements as LILE and LREE migration. Garnet and rutile in the vein exhibit much higher contents of HREE (2.2–5.7 times) and Nb–Ta (1.8–2.0 times) than those in the eclogite, indicating that these normally water‐insoluble elements became mobile and then were sunken in the vein minerals. Thus, the vein‐forming agent would be primarily composed of the UHP aqueous fluid with minor amounts of the hydrous melt, which may even become a supercritical fluid to have a capacity to transport not only LILE and LREE but also HREE and HFSE at subduction‐zone metamorphic conditions. Taken together, significant amounts of trace elements were transported by the vein‐forming fluid due to the phengite breakdown inside the UHP eclogite during exhumation of the deeply subducted continental crust.     

Comment on “Paleozoic ages and excess Ar in garnets from the Bixiling eclogite in Dabieshan, China: New insights from Ar/Ar dating by stepwise crushing” by Qiu and Wijbrans (2006)

Qiu and Wijbrans [Qiu H.-N. and Wijbrans J. R. (2006) Paleozoic ages and excess ⁴⁰Ar in garnets from the Bixiling eclogite in Dabieshan, China: new insights from ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating by stepwise crushing. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta70, 2354-2370] present three Ar-Ar age spectra for fluid inclusions in garnet from eclogite at Bixiling in the Dabie orogen, east-central China. These Paleozoic ages of 427 ± 20 to 444 ± 10 Ma are interpreted to represent the first formation of Dabie ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) eclogite and thus require subduction of Yangtze crust to have started much earlier than previously accepted. However, no petrographic evidence, such as mineral inclusions in the garnet relating to the particular metamorphic conditions, is presented to substantiate the proposed UHP metamorphic event. Because garnet growth is not uniquely responsible for UHP eclogite-facies metamorphism, a distinction between UHP and high-pressure (HP) metamorphic events must be made in the interpretation of geochronological results. Available data from mineral Sm-Nd and zircon U-Pb dating of eclogites from the same area have firmly established that the UHP eclogite-facies metamorphism took place at Triassic. Neither the age of UHP metamorphism nor the timing of continental collision is reliably constrained by their presented data; the fluid inclusions in garnet must contain inherited ⁴⁰Ar from UHP eclogite precursor, without considerable resetting of the Ar-Ar isotopic system during Triassic UHP metamorphism. Therefore, their data are either meaningless, or at best viewed as the age of garnet growth by low-T/HP blueschist/eclogite-facies metamorphism of the UHP eclogite precursor during arc-continent collision in the early Paleozoic. Furthermore, it is critical for metamorphic geochronology to substantiate the timing of UHP metamorphic event by means of zircon U-Pb in situ dating on coesite-bearing domains of metamorphically grown zircon.     

The structure and timing of lateral escape during the Scandian Orogeny: A combined strain and geochronological investigation in Finnmark, Arctic Norwegian Caledonides

Determining the timing, duration and mechanism of tectonic events within an orogenic cycle, such as ocean subduction, continent–continent collision or gravitational collapse, is challenging, especially in ancient orogenic belts. Variations in the tectonic transport direction, however, can be used as a guide to these stages of orogeny. While thrust sheets within the Caledonian allochthon in north Norway were emplaced broadly eastwards perpendicular to the trend of the orogen, many features indicate material transport in other orientations. One dominant feature of the Magerøy Nappe, sitting above and infolded with the Kalak Nappe Complex, is the development of a strong N–S lineation orthogonal to the main transport direction. Strain measurements, in part determined by a new method, are used, in the context of the regional structural data to identify the critical stage in orogeny when compressional forces are balanced by orogen-parallel lateral escape. Quantitative 3-D strain estimation in the Magerøy Nappe indicates prolate deformation with c. 50% horizontal shortening parallel to the thrusting direction (E–W) and c. 200% extension along the orogenic strike (N–S) with c. 30% vertical shortening. Temporal constraint on this fabric is provided by Ar–Ar isotopic analysis of undeformed white mica in cross-cutting granitic pegmatites. These data show that prolate deformation occurred before the white mica cooling age of 416 ± 4 Ma, while the previously determined depositional age of the Hellefjord Schist indicates that it occurred after 438 ± 4 Ma. A granitic pegmatite that intruded the Hellefjord Schist after an initial deformation phase but during or prior to a later deformation, has been dated at 431 ± 2 Ma by U–Pb zircon. A previous lower age constraint on this deformation of 428 ± 5 Ma is given by metamorphic zircon overgrowths on fractured grains. These results constrain the continental collision between Baltica and Laurentia in Finnmark to the interval c. 431–428 Ma. Placed in a regional context, these results indicate that lateral escape was orthogonal to the thrusting direction and occurred during the continent–continent collision stage in the Scandian Orogeny before gravitationally driven collapse.     

The subducted oceanic crust within continental-type UHP metamorphic belt in the North Qaidam, NW China: Evidence from petrology, geochemistry and geochronology

Three types of eclogite, together with a serpentinized harzburgite, coexist as blocks within granitic and pelitic gneisses along the Shaliuhe cross section, the eastern part of the North Qaidam continental-type ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt, NW China. The olivine (Ol¹) and orthopyroxene in the harzburgite are compositionally similar to present-day abyssal peridotites. The kyanite–eclogite is derived from a troctolitic protolith, whereas the epidote–eclogite from a gabbroic protolith, both having distinct positive Eu anomalies, low TiO₂, and high Al₂O₃ and MgO. The kyanite–eclogite shows inherited cumulate layering. The phengite–eclogite has high TiO₂, low Al₂O₃ and MgO with incompatible trace elements resembling enriched-type MORB. Sr–Nd isotope data indicate that the protoliths of both kyanite–eclogite and epidote–eclogite ([⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr]_i ~ 0.703–0.704; ε_Nd(T) ~ 5.9–8.0) are of mantle origin (e.g., ocean crust signatures). On the other hand, while the lower ε_Nd(T) value (1.4–4.1) of phengite–eclogite is more or less consistent with an enriched MORB protolith, their high [⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr]_i ratio (0.705–0.716) points to an additional enrichment in their history, probably in an subduction-zone environment. Field relations and geochemical analyses suggest that the serpentinized harzburgite and the three types of eclogite constitute the oceanic lithological section of an ophiolitic sequence from mantle peridotite, to cumulate, and to upper basaltic rocks. The presence of coesite pseudomorphs and quartz exsolution in omphacite plus thermobarometric calculations suggests that the eclogites have undergone ultrahigh pressure metamorphism (i.e., peak P ≥ 2.7 GPa). The harzburgite may also have experienced the same metamorphism, but the lack of garnet suggests that the pressure conditions of ≤ 3.0 GPa. Zircon U–Pb SHRIMP dating shows that the eclogites have a protolith age of 516 ± 8 Ma and a metamorphic age of 445 ± 7 Ma. These data indicate the presence of a Paleo-Qilian Ocean between Qaidam and Qilian blocks before the early Ordovician. The ophiolitic assemblage may be the relics of subducted oceanic crust prior to the subduction of continental materials during Ordovician–Silurian times and ultimate continent collision. These rocks, altogether, record a complete history of ocean crust subduction, to continental subduction, and to continental collision.     

幕阜山复式花岗岩体多期次演化与白垩纪稀有金属成矿高峰:年代学依据

花岗岩浆的分异过程是制约稀有金属成矿的重要因素,造山过程中多期次岩浆活动的叠加作用易导致伟晶岩熔体的大量聚集成矿.华南幕阜山复式花岗岩体由多期次多阶段的花岗岩侵入体构成,在区域持续而频繁的多期次岩浆活动作用下形成了华南地区重要的稀有金属矿集区.对幕阜山复式花岗岩体边部的断峰山含铌钽铁矿白云母钠长石伟晶岩以及岩体中部大兴含绿柱石白云母钠长石伟晶岩进行了40Ar/39Ar同位素定年研究,其白云母40Ar/39Ar坪年龄分别为127.7±0.9 Ma和130.5±0.9 Ma.结合野外观察基础及区域已有的同位素年代学数据,推断出在燕山早期至中期该地区经历了多期岩浆演化,且持续时间较长,而伟晶岩的稀有金属矿化发生在岩浆活动末期的白垩纪,体现了区域岩浆多期次的分异演化作用导致稀有金属逐渐富集成矿的过程.这些地质现象说明,幕阜山区域在印支期经历了广泛的陆陆碰撞造山作用,进入燕山期后构造背景开始由陆内碰撞挤压向伸展减薄转变,在岩石圈伸展过程中经由玄武质岩浆底侵作用的影响,下地壳发生熔融,多期次岩浆活动导致了最终的稀有金属成矿.      

Deciphering polymetamorphic episodes in high-grade metamorphic orogens: Constraints from PbSL, Sm/Nd and Lu/Hf garnet dating of low- to high-grade metasedimentary rocks from the Kaoko belt (Namibia)

Three dating techniques for metamorphic minerals using the Sm–Nd, Lu–Hf and Pb isotope systems are combined and interpreted in context with detailed petrologic data from crustal segments in NW Namibia. The combination of isochron ages using these different approaches is a valuable tool to testify for the validity of metamorphic mineral dating. Here, PbSL, Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd garnet ages obtained on low- to medium-grade metasedimentary rocks from the Central Kaoko Zone of the Neoproterozoic Kaoko belt (NW Namibia) indicate that these samples were metamorphosed at around 550–560 Ma. On the other hand, granulite facies metasedimentary rocks from the Western Kaoko Zone underwent two phases of high-grade metamorphism, one at ca. 660–625 Ma and another at ca. 550 Ma providing substantial evidence that the 660–625 Ma-event was indeed a major tectonothermal episode in the Kaoko belt. Our age data suggest that interpreting metamorphic ages by applying a single dating method only is not reliable enough when studying complex metamorphic systems. However, a combination of all three dating techniques used here provides a reliable basis for geochronological age interpretation.     

SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geochronology of high-grade rocks and charnockites from the eastern Amery Ice Shelf and southwestern Prydz Bay, East Antarctica: Constraints on Late Mesoproterozoic to Cambrian tectonothermal events related to supercontinent assembly

The eastern Amery Ice Shelf (EAIS) and southwestern Prydz Bay are situated near the junction between the Late Neoproterozoic/Cambrian high-grade complex of the Prydz Belt and the Early Neoproterozoic Rayner Complex. The area contains an important geological section for understanding the tectonic evolution of East Antarctica. SHRIMP U–Pb analyses on zircons of felsic orthogneisses and mafic granulites from the area indicate that their protoliths were emplaced during four episodes of ca. 1380 Ma, ca. 1210–1170 Ma, ca. 1130–1120 Ma and ca. 1060–1020 Ma. Subsequently, these rocks experienced two episodes of high-grade metamorphism at > 970 Ma and ca. 930–900 Ma, and furthermore, most of them (except for some from the Munro Kerr Mountains and Reinbolt Hills) were subjected to high-grade metamorphic recrystallization at ca. 535 Ma. Two suites of charnockite, i.e. the Reinbolt and Jennings charnockites, intrude the Late Mesoproterozoic/Early Neoproterozoic and Late Neoproterozoic/Cambrian high-grade complexes at > 955 Ma and 500 Ma, respectively. These, together with associated granites of similar ages, reflect late- to post-orogenic magmatism occurring during the two major orogenic events. The similarity in age patterns suggests that the EAIS–Prydz Bay region may have suffered from the same high-grade tectonothermal evolution with the Rayner Complex and the Eastern Ghats of India. Three segments might constitute a previously unified Late Mesoproterozoic/Early Neoproterozoic orogen that resulted from the long-term magmatic accretion from ca. 1380 to 1020 Ma and eventual collision before ca. 900 Ma between India and the western portion of East Antarctica. The Prydz Belt may have developed on the eastern margin of the Indo-Antarctica continental block, and the Late Neoproterozoic/Cambrian suture assembling Indo-Antarctica and Australo-Antarctica continental blocks should be located southeastwards of the EAIS–Prydz Bay region.     

Origin of retrograde fluid in ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks: Constraints from mineral hydrogen isotope and water content changes in eclogite-gneiss transitions in the Sulu orogen

By taking advantage of having depth profiles between contrasting lithologies from core samples of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) project, a combined study was carried out to examine changes in mineral H isotope, total water and hydroxyl contents in garnet and omphacite across the contacts between ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) eclogite and gneiss in the Sulu orogen, east-central China. The samples of interest were from two continuous core segments from the CCSD main hole at depths of 734.21-737.16 and 929.67-932.86 m, respectively. The results show δD values of −116‰ to  − 64‰ for garnet and −104‰ to −82‰ for omphacite, consistent with incorporation of meteoric water into protoliths of UHP metamorphic rocks by high-T alteration. Both equilibrium and disequilibrium H isotope fractionations were observed between garnet and omphacite, suggesting fluid-assisted H isotope exchange at local scales during amphibolite-facies retrogression. While bulk water analysis gave total H₂O concentrations of 522-1584 ppm for garnet and 1170-20745 ppm for omphacite, structural hydroxyl analysis yielded H₂O contents of 80-413 ppm for garnet and 228-412 ppm for omphacite. It appears that significant amounts of molecular H₂O are present in the minerals, pointing to enhanced capacity of water storage in the UHP eclogite minerals. Hydrogen isotope variations in the transition between eclogite and gneiss show correlations with variations in their water contents. Petrographically, the degree of retrograde metamorphism generally increases with decreasing distance from the eclogite-gneiss boundary. Thus, retrograde metamorphism results in mineral reactions and H isotope variation. Because hydroxyl solubility in nominally anhydrous minerals decreases with dropping pressure, significant amounts of water are expected to be released from the minerals during decompression exhumation. Decompression exsolution of structural hydroxyl from 1 m³ volume of eclogite composed of only garnet and omphacite results in release of a quantitative estimate of 3.07-3.44 kg water that can form 140-156 kg amphibole during exhumation. Therefore, it is concluded that fluid for retrogression of the eclogites away from the eclogite-gneiss boundary was derived from the decompression exsolution of structural hydroxyl and molecular H₂O in nominally anhydrous minerals. For the eclogites adjacent to gneiss, in contrast, the retrograde metamorphism was principally caused by aqueous fluid from the gneiss which is relatively rich in water. Consequently, both the origin and availability of metamorphic fluid during exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust are deciphered by this combined study focusing on the transitions and the retrograde processes between the felsic and mafic UHP rocks.     

P–T–time (phengite Ar closure) history of spatially close-outcropping HP and UHP oceanic eclogites (southwestern Tianshan): implication for a potential deep juxtaposing process during exhumation?

ABSTRACT

The Chinese southwestern Tianshan HP–UHP/LT metamorphic complex possesses well-preserved mafic layers, tectonic slices/blocks, boudins/lens of different sizes, and lithology embedded within dominant metavolcanoclastics. A recent study on the ultra-high pressure (UHP) eclogite revealed a short timescale of exhumation (≤10 Ma, ~315 ± 5 Ma). However, controversies still exist on some key questions: (1) the reasonable interpretation of spatially close-outcropped high pressure (HP) and UHP slices with respect to regional geodynamics, and (2) if the previous regional scatter Ar–Ar ages proved the existence of internally coherent sub-belts or troubled by dating on samples with notable ⁴⁰Ar retention. This study focusses on detailed P–T–time (phengite Ar closure) recovery of samples from a HP eclogite lens and its host rock, the UHP thick-layered eclogite. Based on data from bulk–rock, microprobe analysis, and muscovite Ar–Ar chronological dating, we link phengite growth to potential garnet growth stages via thermodynamic modelling. Facilitated by the P–T–Ar retention% graph, we collect all the regional muscovite Ar–Ar data together with results in this study for evaluating the significance of regional muscovite Ar–Ar ages and set back to geodynamics. According to modelling results, the HP lens eclogite reached peak metamorphism at ~550°C, 2.50 GPa with an Ar–Ar muscovite plateau age of 316.9 ± 1.0 Ma that could date the mass phengite growth event during prograde metamorphism. In contrast, the UHP layered eclogite experienced UHP peak burial at ~510°C, 2.95 GPa, and then to HP peak metamorphism at ~560°C, 2.60 GPa with ~311.6 ± 0.7 Ma plateau age that may constrain the cooling age during early exhumation. Noteworthy, both of them share a quite similar early exhumation path despite bearing contrasting prograde metamorphic experiences. With considering updated regional exhumation pattern, this might imply the existence of a potential deep juxtaposing (capture) process between HP slices and exhumating UHP complex, at about 45–60 km depth along subduction plate interface.     

Temporal and tectonic evolution of the granulite-eclogite association from the Bergen Arcs, western Norway

The U-Pb and Sm-Nd dating of deep crustal rocks from the Bergen Arcs system helps resolve enigmatic aspects of the tectonic evolution of the Caledonian Orogen in western Norway and yields insights into the arrested stages of eclogite development within the granulites of the area. The U-Pb dating of zircon from one of the eclogite facies shear zones yields an upper intercept age of 945 ± 5 Ma [all errors two standard deviations (2σ)], which is similar to other zircon ages from the granulite facies protolith. The age is interpreted to represent the time of late Proterozoic (Sveconorwegian) granulite metamorphism. The U-Pb ages of sphene and epidote show that the eclogites formed early in the evolution of the Caledonian Orogen (pre-Scandian phase) at about 460 Ma. An eclogite facies quartz vein yields a Sm-Nd whole rock-garnet isochron of 440 ± 12 Ma that may reflect the onset of cooling immediately after peak eclogite facies conditions, although the Sm-Nd systematics reveal some isotopic disequilibrium within the sample. In tandem with previous ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations from, an adjacent eclogite of 450 Ma for hornblende and 430 Ma for muscovite, these data indicate that < 30 Ma elapsed between formation of the eclogites and the initial stages of cooling and exhumation to at least mid-crustal levels. This corresponds to minimum cooling rates of 14 °C/m.y. The timing relations suggest that the formation and exhumation of these eclogites from the overlying Caledonian Nappe wedge in western Norway are related to an early phase of crustal subduction during or somewhat before the major phase of continent-continent collision.

The short period of time between the formation of the eclogites and the initial stages of exhumation and rapid cooling is consistent with the only partial and localized transformation of the granulite to eclogite. Isolated occurrences of eclogite within the granulite, the formation of eclogite along metasomatic fronts and the formation of hydrous eclogite facies minerals within the “dry” granulite all point to the importance of fluids in the transformation and re-equilibration of the granulite to eclogite. Together, field and isotopic data demonstrate that both the localized and limited access of fluids and the rapid cycling of continental crust through the deepest portions of the orogen to upper crustal levels resulted in the preservation of the arrested stages of eclogite formation and survival of the granulites metastably through eclogite facies conditions.     

Contrasting ages between isotopic chronometers in granulites: monazite dating and metamorphism in the Higo Complex, Japan

The Higo Complex of west-central Kyushu, western Japan is a 25 km long body of metasedimentary and metabasic lithologies that increase in metamorphic grade from schist in the north to migmatitic granulite in the south, where granitoids are emplaced along the southern margin. The timing of granulite metamorphism has been extensively investigated and debated. Previously published Sm–Nd mineral isochrons for garnet-bearing metapelite yielded ca.220–280 Ma ages, suggesting high-grade equilibration older than the lower grade schist to the north, which yielded ca.180 Ma K–Ar muscovite ages. Ion and electron microprobe analyses on zircon have yielded detrital grains with rim ages of ca.250 Ma and ca.110 Ma. Electron microprobe ages from monazite and xenotime are consistently 110–130 Ma. Two models have been proposed: 1) high-grade metamorphism and tectonism at ca.115 Ma, with older ages attributed to inheritance; and 2) high-grade metamorphism at ca.250 Ma, with resetting of isotopic systems by contact metamorphism at ca.105 Ma during the intrusion of granodiorite. These models are evaluated through petrographic investigation and electron microprobe Th–U–total Pb dating of monazite in metapelitic migmatites and associated lithologies. In-situ investigation of monazite reveals growth and dissolution features associated with prograde and retrograde stages of progressive metamorphism and deformation. Monazite Th–U–Pb isochrons from metapelite, diatexite and late-deformational felsic dykes consistently yield ca.110–120 Ma ages. Earlier and later stages of monazite growth cannot be temporally resolved. The preservation of petrogenetic relationships, coupled with the low diffusion rate of Pb at < 900 °C in monazite, is strong evidence for timing high-temperature metamorphism and deformation at ca.115 Ma. Older ages from a variety of chronometers are attributed to isotopic disequilibrium between mineral phases and the preservation of inherited and detrital age components. Tentative support is given to tectonic models that correlate the Higo terrane with exotic terranes between the Inner and Outer tectonic Zones of southwest Japan, possibly derived from the active continental margin of the South China Block. These terranes were dismembered and translated northeastwards by transcurrent shearing and faulting from the beginning to the end of the Cretaceous Period.     

Variable involvements of mantle plumes in the genesis of mid-Neoproterozoic basaltic rocks in South China: A review

Ca. 825–720 Ma global continental intraplate magmatism is generally linked to mantle plumes or a mantle superplume that caused rifting and fragmentation of the supercontinent Rodinia. Widespread Neoproterozoic igneous rocks in South China are dated at ca. 825–760 Ma. There is a hot debate on their petrogenesis and tectonic affiliations, i.e., mantle plume/rift settings or collision/arc settings. Such competing interpretations have contrasting implications to the position of South China in the supercontinent Rodinia and in Rodinia reconstruction models.Variations in the bulk-rock compositions of primary basaltic melts can provide first order constraints on the mantle thermal–chemical structure, and thus distinguish between the plume/rift and arc/collision models. Whole-rock geochemical data of 14 mid-Neoproterozoic (825–760 Ma) basaltic successions are reviewed here in order to (1) estimate the primary melts compositions; (2) calculate the melting conditions and mantle potential temperature; and (3) identify the contributions of subcontinental lithosphere mantle (SCLM) and asenthospheric mantles to the generation of these basaltic rocks.In order to quantify the mantle potential temperatures and percentages of decompression melting, the primary MgO, FeO, and SiO₂ contents of basalts are calculated through carefully selecting less-evolved samples using a melting model based on the partitioning of FeO and MgO in olivine. The mid-Neoproterozoic (825–760 Ma) potential temperatures predicted from the primary melts range from 1390 °C to 1630 °C (mostly > 1480 °C), suggesting that most 825–760 Ma basaltic rocks in South China were generated by melting of anomalously hot mantle sources with potential temperatures 80–200 °C higher than the ambient Middle Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB)-source mantle.The mantle source regions of these Neoproterozoic basaltic rocks have complex histories and heterogeneous compositions. Enriched mantle sources (e.g., pyroxenite and eclogite) are recognized as an important source for the Bikou and Suxiong basalts, suggesting that their generations may have involved recycled components. Trace elements variations show that interactions between asthenospheric mantle (OIB-type mantle) and SCLM played a very important role in generation of the 825–760 Ma basalts. Our results indicate that the SCLM metasomatized by subduction-induced melts/fluids during the 1.0–0.9 Ga orogenesis as a distinct geochemical reservoir that contributed significantly to the trace-elements and isotope inventory of these basalts.The continental intraplate geochemical signatures (e.g., OIB-type), high mantle potential temperatures and recycled components suggest the presence of a mantle plume beneath the Neoproterozoic South China block. We use the available data to develop an integrated plume-lithosphere interaction model for the ca. 825–760 Ma basalts. The early phases of basaltic rocks (825–810 Ma) were most likely formed by melting within the metasomatized SCLM heated by the rising mantle plume. The subsequent continental rift allowed adiabatic decompression partial melting of an upwelling mantle plumes at relatively shallow depth to form the widespread syn-rifting basaltic rocks at ca. 810–800 Ma and 790–760 Ma.     

Mineral isotope evidence for the contemporaneous process of Mesozoic granite emplacement and gneiss metamorphism in the Dabie orogen

Kinetics of isotopic equilibrium in the mineral radiometric systems of igneous and metamorphic rocks is an important issue in geochronology. It turns out that temperature is the most important factor in dictating isotopic equilibrium or disequilibrium with respect to diffusion mechanism. Contemporaneous occurrence of Mesozoic granites and gneisses in the Dabie orogen of China allows us to evaluate the thermal effect of magma emplacement and associated metamorphism on mineral radiometric systems. Zircon U-Pb, mineral Rb-Sr and O isotope analyses were carried out for a Cretaceous granite and its host gneiss (foliated granite) from North Dabie. Zircon U-Pb dating gave consistently concordant ages of 127 ± 3 Ma and 128 ± 2 Ma for the granite and the gneiss, respectively. A direct correspondence in equilibrium state is observed between the O and Rb-Sr isotope systems of both granitic and gneissic minerals. Mineral O isotope temperatures correlate with O diffusion closure temperatures under conditions of slow cooling, indicating attainment and preservation of O isotope equilibrium in these minerals. The mineral Rb-Sr isochron of granite, constructed by biotite, feldspar, apatite and whole-rock with the O isotope equilibrium, yields a meaningful age of 118 ± 3 Ma, which is in accordance with the mineral Rb-Sr isochron age of 122 ± 1 Ma for the host gneiss. The consistency in both U-Pb and Rb-Sr ages between the granite and the gneiss suggests a contemporaneous process of crystallizing the zircons and resetting the Rb-Sr radiometric systems during magma emplacement and granite foliation. Whereas the zircon U-Pb ages for both granite and gneiss are interpreted as the timing of magma crystallization, the young Rb-Sr isochron ages record the timing of Sr diffusion closure during the slow cooling. Protolith of the gneiss crystallized shortly before intrusion of the granite, so that it was able to be foliated by voluminous emplacement of coeval mafic to felsic magmas derived by anatexis of orogenic lithospheric keel. Therefore, extensional collapse of collision-thickened crust at Early Cretaceous is suggested to trigger the post-collisional magmatism, which in turn serves as an essential driving force for the contemporaneous high-T deformation/metamorphism.     

Crystallization and very rapid exhumation of the youngest Alpine eclogites (Tauern Window,Eastern Alps) from Rb/Sr mineral assemblage analysis

Multimineral Rb/Sr internal isochrons from eclogite facies rocks of the Eclogite Zone (Tauern Window, Eastern Alps) consistently yield an Early Oligocene age of 31.5±0.7 Ma. This age has been obtained both for late-prograde, dehydration-related eclogitic veins, and for rocks variably deformed and recrystallized under eclogite facies conditions (2.0–2.5 GPa, 600°C). Initial Sr-isotopic equilibria among all phases indicate absence of significant post-eclogitic isotope redistribution processes, therefore the ages date eclogite facies assemblage crystallization. Equilibria also prove that no prolonged pre-eclogite facies history is recorded in the rocks. Instead, subduction, prograde mineral reactions, and eclogitization proceeded rapidly. Fast exhumation immediately after eclogitization, with minimum rates >36 mm/a is inferred from a 31.5±0.5 Ma internal mineral isochron age of a post-eclogitic greenschist facies vein assemblage. Such rates equal typical subduction rates. Late Eocene to Early Oligocene subduction of the European continental margin, with subsequent rapid exhumation of high-pressure nappe complexes has previously been recognized only in the Western Alps. The new data signify synchronous continental collision all along the Alpine belt. Our results demonstrate the unique potential of Rb/Sr assemblage system analysis for precise dating of both eclogite facies and post-eclogitic events, thus for precisely constraining exhumation rates of deep-seated rocks, and for straightforward linkage of petrologic evidence with isotopic ages.     

Zircon U-Pb Age, Trace Element, and Hf Isotope Evidence for Paleoproterozoic Granulite-Facies Metamorphism and Archean Crustal Remnant in the Dabie Orogen

Zircon U-Pb age, trace elements, and Hf isotopes were determined for granulite and gneiss at Huaugtuling (黄土岭), which is hosted by ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Dabie(大别) orogen, east-central China. Cathodolumineseence (CL) images reveal core-rim structure for most zircons in the granulite. The cores show oscillatory zoning, relatively high Th/U and 176 Lu/177 Hf ratios, and high rare earth element (HREE)-enriched pattern, consistent with magmatic origin. They gave a weighted mean 207 Pb/206 Pb age of (2 766±9) Ma, dating magma emplacement of protolith. The rims are characterized by sector ur planar zoning, low Th/U and 176 Lu/177 Hf ratios, negative Euanomalies and flat HREE patterns, consistent with their formation under granulite-facies metamorphicconditions. Zircon U-Pb dating yields an age of (2 029±13) Ma, which is interpreted as a record ofmetamorphic event during the assembly of the supercontinent Columbia. The gneiss has a protolith ageof (1982±14) Ma, which is similar to the zircon U-Pb age for the granulite-facies metamorphism,suggesting complementary processes to granulite-facies metamorphism and partial melting. A fewinherited cores with igneous characteristics have 207 pb/206 Pb ages of approximately 3.53, 3.24, and 2.90Ga, respectively, suggesting the presence of Mesoarchean to Paleoarchean crustal remnants. A fewTriassic and Cretaceous metamorphic ages were obtained, suggesting the influences by the Triassiccontinental collision and postcollisional collapse in response to the Cretaceous extension. Comparingwith abundant occurrence of Triassic metamorphic zircons in ultrahigh-pressure eclogite and granitehydrous melt is evident for zircon growth in theHuangtuling granulite and gneiss during thecontinental collision. The magmatic protolithzircons from the granulite show a large variationin 176 Hf/177 Hf ratios from 0.280 809 to 0.281 289,corresponding to era(t) values of-7.3 to 6.3 andHf model ages of 2.74 to 3.34 Ga. The 2.90 Gainherited zircons show the similar Hf isotope features. These indicate that both growth of juvenile crust and reworking of ancient crust took place at the time of zircon formation. It is inferred that the Archean basement of the Yangtze block occurs in thenorth as the Dabie orogen, with ca. 2.90-2.95 Ga and 2.75-2.80 Ga as two major episodes of crustalformation.