High- to ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) ductile shear zones in the Sulu UHP metamorphic belt, China: implications for continental subduction and exhumation

High‐ to ultrahigh‐pressure (HP‐UHP) metamorphic rocks that resulted from deep continental subduction and subsequent exhumation in the Sulu orogenic belt, China, have experienced multiphase deformation and metamorphic overprint during its long journey to the mantle and return to the surface. HP‐UHP shear zones are strain‐localized weak zones on which the UHP slab is transported over long distances. HP‐UHP shear zones are well exposed along a 200‐km belt in the Sulu UHP metamorphic belt. The shear zones lie structurally below the UHP rocks and above the non‐UHP rocks, suggesting the early exhumation of the UHP rocks by thrusting. The large area distribution, HP‐UHP nature, high strain and structural association of the shear zones with the UHP rocks suggest that the shear zones are probably a regional detachment developed during the early stage of exhumation of the UHP rocks. Kinematic indicators suggest top‐to‐the N–NW motion of the UHP slab during the exhumation, which, combined with isotope signature in Mesozoic igneous rocks, leads us to the interpretation that the subduction polarity is the North China plate down to the south rather than the Yangtze plate down to the north in the Sulu region.     

北苏鲁超高压变质带中斜长角闪岩的成因

在北苏鲁超高压变质带的威海地区的正片麻岩中,存在大量规模不一的含石榴石斜长角闪岩的透镜体或不规则团块。锆石中矿物包体的激光拉曼测试、阴极发光图像分析、稀土元素和微量元素以及Lu-Hf同位素的LA-(MC)-ICP-MS测试等综合研究结果表明,含石榴石斜长角闪岩 (WH17) 只存在一种成因类型的锆石,即变质锆石。该类锆石自核部到边部均保存了典型的超高压包体矿物组合：柯石英 (Coe)+石榴石 (Grt)+绿辉石 (Omp)+多硅白云母 (Phe)+金红石 (Rt)+磷灰石 (Ap),相应的阴极发光图像自核部到边部十分均匀,具有典型变质锆石的特点。锆石核部和边部的稀土元素含量特征和配分模式也十分相似,主要表现为轻稀土元素相对亏损,而重稀土元素相对平坦,无Eu异常 (Eu/Eu^*=0.94~1.04), 具较明显的正Ce异常 (Ce/Ce^*=83.4~111.0),低的Th/U (<0.02) 和 Lu/Hf (<0.00010) 比值以及极低的 Th (1×10^-6~4×10^-6) 含量。锆石核部到边缘的重稀土元素亏损与石榴石稳定有关,而无Eu异常则与斜长石分解关系密切。上述特征表明,含石榴石斜长角闪岩中的锆石均是在超高压变质阶段形成的变质锆石,而研究样品中继承性岩浆结晶锆石的缺乏,是由于含石榴石斜长角闪岩在原岩形成时Zr的成分明显匮乏所致。SHRIMP U-Pb定年结果表明,含柯石英锆石自核部到边部记录了十分一致的²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U 年龄,变化于 240.2±3.3Ma 到220.2±2.8Ma 之间,加权平均年龄为229.8±2.0Ma, 这组年龄与前人对苏鲁超高压变质带中榴辉岩、正片麻岩、副片麻岩和大理岩等含柯石英锆石微区记录的年龄完全吻合,应代表苏鲁地体超高压变质时代。Lu-Hf同位素研究结果表明,含石榴石斜长角闪岩中变质锆石的Hf同位素特征与苏鲁超高压变质带中榴辉岩的继承性岩浆锆石和变质锆石均存在本质差别,其中¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf=0.00001~0.00003, ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf (_t)=0.282052~0.282107, 相应的ε_Hf(t)=-21.1~-18.8, 模式年龄t_DM2=2.14~2.24Ga,这些Lu-Hf同位素特征与围岩正片麻岩含柯石英锆石微区的Hf同位素性质十分相似, 充分表明了北苏鲁含石榴石斜长角闪岩在超高压变质阶段形成的变质锆石所必须的Zr和Hf成分不是来自体系本身,而是来源于围岩正片麻岩。     

苏鲁超高压变质带含褐帘石正、副片麻岩中变质锆石的地球化学性质及其SHRIMP U-Pb定年

贪褐帘石正、副片麻岩是苏鲁地体重要的超高压变质岩石.矿物包体激光拉曼鉴定、阴极发光图像分析、锆石微区LA-ICP-MS成分测试及SHRIMP U-Pb定年结果表明,含褐帘石正、副片麻岩中的锆石具有明显的三层结构.即弱发光效应的继承性(碎屑或岩浆结晶)锆石的核、强发光效应的含柯石英变质增生幔部和弱发光效应的退变边.继承性岩浆结晶锆石核部记录了新元古代(＞810Ma)的原岩形成年龄,含柯石英锆石微区记录了241～223Ma的超高压变质年龄(正、副片麻岩的加权平均年龄分别为230±7Ma和229±7Ma),锆石的退变边记录了217～200Ma的角闪岩相退变质年龄(正、副片麻岩的加权平均年龄分别为211±3Ma和210±2Ma),由此限定苏鲁地体构造抬升速率为5.3km/Myr,表明苏鲁超高压岩石经历了一个相对快速抬升的变质演化过程.与苏鲁-大别其它超高压岩石变质增生锆石对比,含褐帘石正、副片麻岩中的超高压变质增生锆石微区具有十分独特的地球化学性质,主要表现为重稀土元素(HREE)明显富集,U含量明显偏低(10～29×10-6),而Th/U比值则明显偏高(0.45～0.92).HREE的明显富集与寄主岩石普遍存在超高压矿物褐帘石(富集轻稀土元素)有关,而低U含量和高Th/U比值的特点则表明超高压峰期变质阶段处在高氧逸度(fO2)的体系环境.     

Cumulates of arc magmas incorporated into the Sulu UHP metamorphic belt,eastern China

ABSTRACT

The Hujialin ultramafic complex in the central region of the Sulu ultra-high pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt consists of discontinuous lenses of garnet-bearing clinopyroxenite and dunite surrounded by marginal serpentinite. The clinopyroxenite shows relatively low concentrations of compatible elements, such as Cr (≤1670 ppm) and Ni (≤514 ppm) and Ir-group platinum group elements (IPGE; Ir, Os, and Ru; ≤4.8 ppb in total). They show varying ratios (0.02–2.50) of IPGE to Pd-group PGE (PPGE). Their chondrite-normalized rare earth elements (REE) patterns are convex and the total REE concentrations range from 18 to 63 times that of Cl chondrite. The bulk rocks show a ‘subduction-related’ geochemical signature, with high concentrations of fluid-mobile elements (i.e. Sr, Ba) relative to high-field strength elements (i.e. Nb, Y, Zr). Clinopyroxene is diopside and contains low Al₂O₃ (<2.76 wt.%) and high SiO₂ (54.6–56.9 wt.%). Olivine grains enclosed by clinopyroxene and in the matrix show relatively low Fo (76.6–80.7) and NiO contents (0.18–0.29 wt.%). The bulk rock compositions and mineral chemistry of olivine and clinopyroxene suggest that the unit was a cumulate of a subduction-related melt. On the other hand, dunite and its hydration product, serpentinite, have a different origin. The bulk rock and mineral chemistry suggest that dunite represents a mantle wedge peridotite in a spinel-stable field. Both clinopyroxenite and spinel-bearing dunite were once located in the mantle wedge below the southern margin of the North China craton (NCC), and were dragged by a mantle flow into the continental subduction channel along the interface between the subducting Yangtze craton (YZC) and the overlying NCC. Although clinopyroxenite and dunite are dense (2.8–3.2 g/cm³), the buoyancy-driven exhumation of voluminous granitic rocks of the YZC likely brought clinopyroxenite and dunite to shallow crustal depths. The lack of the evidence for high pressure to ultra-high pressure (HP-UHP) metamorphism in spinel-bearing dunite may be explained by overall low Al and Ca in the bulk rocks. Alternatively, dunite was not subducted to deep levels, but exhumed together with the deeply subducted clinopyroxenites and granite during their exhumation.     

Petrogenesis of Maobei rutile eclogites from the southern Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt, eastern China

The Maobei complex in the southern Sulu ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt, eastern China, mainly consists of layered eclogites, garnet peridotites and orthogneisses. Based on the modal mineral and whole‐rock compositions, eclogites from the Maobei complex are divided into quartz eclogite, quartz‐rich eclogite, rutile eclogite, rutile‐rich eclogite and eclogite. The distinct spatial changes in the lithology and related chemical compositions indicate that this complex includes 10 rhythmic layers. The rutile eclogites have high TiO₂ (2.4–5.9 wt%), commonly coupled with high P₂O₅ (up to 4.1 wt%) contents; most show fractionated REE patterns with slight positive Eu anomalies. The rutile‐rich eclogites have very high TiO₂ (3.3–5.7 wt%), FeO^T (17.5–25.3 wt%), V (126–1163 ppm) and Co (14–132 ppm), and very low SiO₂ (38.0–42.3 wt%), Zr (24–85 ppm), Nb (0.3–6.9 ppm), Ta (<0.1–0.6 ppm) and total REE (10.7–334.0 ppm) contents, variable degree of LREE depletion, and positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 1.1–2.9), and the Ti is decoupled from other high‐field‐strength elements. These characteristics are consistent with Fe‐Ti gabbros of typical layered intrusions, implying a cumulate of plagioclase, clinopyroxene and abundant accessory magnetite in an evolved basaltic magmatic chamber. Based on a normal stratigraphic sequence, the Maobei complex shows an iron‐enrichment trend, followed by alkaline enrichment with increasing fractionated crystallization and stratigraphic height. These facts, together with SHRIMP U‐Pb zircon ages of 773.7 ± 8.0 Ma, indicate that the protolith of the Maobei complex is a Neoproterozoic layered intrusion consisting of a base of peridogabbro, a main body of gabbro and minor granodiorite. Unusually high Ti, V and P contents in three rutile eclogite layers suggest that they are potential economic ore deposits.     

南苏鲁超高压变质带东海地区富钛榴辉岩及金红石矿的成因

苏鲁超高压变质带南部的东海地区有富Fe—Ti的钛铁矿榴辉岩和富Ti的金红石榴辉岩。富Fe—Ti榴辉岩的次要矿物主要由钛铁矿和钛磁铁矿组成,可舍少量金红石,具有很低的Si02（38．0％-42．3％）、Na20＋K20（0．48％～2．13％）和Zr、Nb、Ta、Ba、1Kb、REE含量,很高的FeO（18．24％-25．33％）、V和Co含量,并具有不同程度的LREE亏损、明显的正Eu异常;富Ti金红石榴辉岩舍有丰富的金红石和磷灰石,SiO2含量范围（38．0％-54．8％）较宽,FeO含量较低,P2O5含量较高（可达4．1％）,而X-TiO2与P205含量具正相关性。相对于原始地慢岩．富Ti金红石榴辉岩具有Rb、Th、K、Nb、Pr、Nd、Eu、Ti、Lu的负异常和Ba、Sr、Zr的正异常．并具相对较高的IKEE含量,LREE富集和HREE亏损的1KEE分配型式。岩石学和地球化学特征揭示,Fe—Ti榴辉岩的原岩是变质的Fe—Ti辉长岩,是基性岩浆强烈分离结晶作用形成的超基性-基性-中酸性层状侵入体的特征组成部分。     

苏鲁造山带池庄超高压榴辉岩中变质脉:大陆俯冲带超临界流体活动的证据

高压-超高压变质岩中的变质脉能够反映俯冲带变质流体的组成和演化。为了探究大陆俯冲带超临界流体活动及伴随的元素迁移,本文系统地研究了苏鲁造山带南部江苏东海池庄地区的超高压榴辉岩及变质脉。变质脉主要是由石英、石榴石、绿辉石、多硅白云母、蓝晶石、黝帘石、金红石和锆石等矿物组成,与寄主榴辉岩的矿物组成类似。相比于榴辉岩,脉体中的石榴石更加富集重稀土元素(HREE);黝帘石强烈富集轻稀土元素(LREE)。变质脉和榴辉岩中各主要矿物的氧同位素组成在误差范围内一致(石英的δ18O分别为2.42‰和2.79‰;石榴石为-0.30‰和0.010‰;绿辉石为0.25‰和0.071‰),说明变质脉的形成与榴辉岩释放的内部流体有关。综合已有的研究,发现大别-苏鲁造山带不同地区的变质脉和榴辉岩具有极不均一的氧同位素组成,说明在陆壳深俯冲和折返过程中,流体活动有限。利用矿物温压计得到变质脉的峰期变质温压条件为692±65℃和3.6±0.3GPa,脉体中锆石U-Pb定年结果表明锆石的形成时代为218±2.4Ma,指示变质脉形成于深俯冲陆壳折返初期的超高压变质阶段。变质脉中矿物组合和矿物的主微量元素特征说明成脉流体富集Si、Al、Ca、K、LILE、REE和HFSE等元素,表明成脉流体可能是溶解能力极强的超临界流体。     

南苏鲁造山带毛北超高压变质岩体的成因与成矿作用

毛北超高压变质岩体位于苏鲁造山带南部,是由石榴石橄榄岩、榴辉岩、硬玉石英岩和石榴石多硅白云母石英片岩组成的层状岩体.富金红石榴辉岩和富钛铁矿榴辉岩在岩体中呈连续的层状产出,总厚度达200m,深度＞700m,构成了一个大型的钛矿床.岩石学、地球化学和年代学研究表明,毛北岩体的原岩形成在新元古代Rodinia超大陆裂解过程中,基性岩浆经历了强烈的分异结晶作用,形成了由橄榄辉长岩-辉长岩-闪长岩-花岗岩组成的复杂层状侵入体,并在新元古代的全球冰期与高纬度大气降水发生强烈的水-岩交换作用.在印支期的大陆深俯冲过程中,经历了超高压变质作用,其峰期变质温度＞800℃,压力＞4.5GPa,富钛磁铁矿辉长岩转变成了富金红石榴辉岩,形成了超高压变质的钛矿床.     

大别山超高压变质带燕山期花岗岩地球化学特征及成因探讨

依据花岗岩类的岩性组合、产出状况、结构、侵位机制和地球化学特征等,将大别山超高压变质带中燕山期花岗岩大致可以划分为两大类一类为高钾钙碱性系列,以大同岩体和司空山早、主期岩体为代表,岩性为花岗闪长岩-二长花岗岩,表现为SiO2＞56%,Al2O3一般≥14%,MgO＜3%富集LREE,低HREE和Y、Yb(如Y＜18×10-6,Yb＜1.9×10-6),高Sr、Ba,高La/Yb＞39和Sr/Y≥30,Sr、Eu异常不明显,与Adakite岩相似;另一类属正常钙碱性系列,以英山尖岩体为代表,岩性以二长花岗岩为主,具有高硅、低铝的特点,一般SiO2>70%,Al2O3＜14%,LREE略显亏损,HREE略显富集和高Y、Yb(如Y＞18×10-6,Yb＞1.9×10-6),低Sr和La/Yb＜10、Sr/Y＜10,Sr、Eu负异常明显.高钾钙碱性花岗岩可能为增厚的下地壳部分熔融的产物,正常钙碱性花岗岩可能为正常的地壳重熔形成.     

大别山超高压变质岩带的岩石磁学和磁组构研究及其地质意义

本文对采自大别山碧溪岭、新店、石马、花凉亭和朱家冲等地点的102块定向超高压和高压变质榴辉岩、片麻岩和大理岩等样品,进行了岩石磁学和磁化率各向异性（AMS）研究。磁化率和磁化强度随温度变化以及磁滞回线参数的分析结果表明,岩石剩磁载体以假单畴-多畴磁铁矿为主。新鲜榴辉岩和大理岩的磁化率很低,经过退变质作用的榴辉岩具有最大磁化率值,片麻岩的磁化率变化范围较大。这表明这些岩石中的磁性矿物含量主要受退变质作用和原岩成分差异的控制。磁化率各向异性度（P）主要受磁面理（F）的控制,显示出在其发育期以挤压构造环境为主;新鲜榴辉岩、退变质榴辉岩和片麻岩的F和P值依次增大。榴辉岩和片麻岩的AMS椭球的展布近似。在地理坐标下,这些AMS椭球的最小主轴（K3）以向北倾为主,最大主轴（K1）多为南倾。     

苏鲁超高压变质带胡家林超镁铁质岩成因及构造意义

胡家林超镁铁质杂岩体产于苏鲁超高压变质带中部,纯橄岩和(石榴)单斜辉石岩呈不连续透镜体产于蛇纹石化橄榄岩中。纯橄岩遭受了部分蛇纹石化(烧失量=6.6%～13.2%),全岩富集强相容元素(Ni、Cr、Co)和Ir族PGE(IPGE;Ir、Os、Ru)及高IPGE/PPGE值,亏损Al、Ti、V,具高Mg~#橄榄石(Fo=91.7～92.4)和高Cr~#(0.68～0.76)尖晶石。纯橄岩高耐熔地球化学及矿物化学特征和古老的大陆岩石圈地幔相一致,表明其原岩来源于弧前地幔,代表了华北克拉通古老的大陆岩石圈地幔残留。(石榴)单斜辉石岩全岩呈相对低含量的强相容元素(Cr、Ni、Co)和IPGE,高含量的Al、Ti、V和流体迁移元素(Sr、Pb和Ba),球粒陨石标准化REE配分图呈明显"上凸"型,具低Mg~#橄榄石(Fo=76.6～76.8)和低Al_2O_3(2.76%)和高SiO_2(54.56%～56.87%)的单斜辉石。全岩组成和矿物化学表明其原岩为俯冲带内超镁铁质火成堆晶岩,最初岩浆由地幔岩高程度部分熔融的熔体和俯冲带中富H_2O流体和/或熔体构成。(石榴)单斜辉石岩原岩曾被地幔流带入扬子大陆俯冲板片和上覆地幔楔之间的俯冲通道,经历了超高压变质作用和生成大量石榴石。(石榴)单斜辉石岩在折返过程中,与大陆岩石圈地幔楔剥离的蛇纹石化橄榄岩及纯橄岩相结合,形成超镁铁质杂岩体,整体被低密度的俯冲板片(主要由花岗质片麻岩和变质沉积岩组成)裹挟,折返至地壳浅部。     

Linking continental deep subduction with destruction of a cratonic margin: strongly reworked North China SCLM intruded in the Triassic Sulu UHP belt

The collision between the North and South China cratons in Middle Triassic time (240–225 Ma) created the world’s largest belt of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism. U–Pb ages, Hf isotope systematics and trace element compositions of zircons from the Xugou, Yangkou and Hujialing peridotites in the Sulu UHP terrane mainly record a ~470 Ma tectonothermal event, coeval with the Early Paleozoic kimberlite eruptions within the North China craton. This event is interpreted as the result of metasomatism by fluids/melts derived from multiple sources including a subducting continental slab. The peridotites also contain zircons with ages of ~3.1 Ga, and Hf isotope data imply a component ≥3.2 Ga old. Most zircon Hf depleted mantle model ages are ~1.3 Ga, suggesting that the deep subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the southeastern margin of the North China craton experienced a intense mid-Mesoproterozoic metasomatism by asthenospheric components, similar to the case for the eastern part of this craton. Integrating data from peridotites along the southern margin of the craton, we argue that the deep lithosphere of the cratonic margin (≥3.2 Ga old), from which the Xugou, Yangkou and Hujialing peridotites were derived, experienced Proterozoic metasomatic modification, followed by a strong Early Paleozoic (~470 Ma) tectonothermal event and the Early Mesozoic (~230 Ma) collision and northward subduction of the Yangtze craton. The Phanerozoic decratonization of the eastern North China craton, especially along its southern margin, was not earlier than the Triassic continental collision. This work also demonstrates that although zircons are rare in peridotitic rocks, they can be used to unravel the history of specific lithospheric domains and thus contribute to our understanding of the evolution of continental cratons and their margins.     

苏鲁超高压榴辉岩的石榴石生长成分环带及变质作用P—T轨迹

在南苏鲁东海地区,部分超高压榴辉岩中的变斑晶石榴石具有复杂的生长成分环带和多期矿物包体组合,它们记录了超高压变质岩的多阶段变质演化过程,即绿帘角闪岩相进变质、柯石英榴辉岩相峰期变质、石英榴辉岩相和角闪岩相退变质作用。运用相关的地质温、压计,使用代表最高变质温度的变斑晶石榴石慢部（具最低的Fe／Mg比值）和与其平衡的绿辉石包体成分,获得了〉900℃和4．1～4．5GPa的超高压变质务件。联合其他变质阶段的温、压条件,一个顺时针的变质作用P—T轨迹得以建立。它的特征是进变质与退变质路径近于平行,早期退变质作用为降温、降压过程．榴辉岩石榴石生长成分环带的保存说明超高压变质岩在峰期变质阶段有非常短暂的停留时间,并以很快的折返速率抬升到地壳浅部,超高压变质岩折返过程中的明显降温是石榴石生长环带得以保存的另一个有利条件,     

北苏鲁威海地区超基性岩的原岩形成时代和超高压变质时代

超基性岩是苏鲁超高压变质地体中一类特殊且十分重要的岩石类型,它们通常呈规模不一的块状、条带状或不规则透镜状 (体) 赋存于区域大面积出露的花岗质片麻岩中。锆石中矿物包体激光拉曼测试、阴极发光图像分析和不同性质锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年等综合研究结果表明,北苏鲁威海地区含橄榄石辉石岩 (样品W1和W2) 中锆石的成因十分复杂,可进一步划分3种不同类型锆石。其中第一类锆石呈自形-半自形晶,阴极发光图像显示清晰的岩浆结晶环带,矿物包体主要为Ol+Cpx+Ap, 记录的²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb年龄为1835~1845Ma,应代表含橄榄石辉石岩的原岩形成时代;第二类为变质重结晶锆石,呈半自形-他形晶,阴极发光图像显示模糊的岩浆结晶环带,矿物包体与第一类完全一致,记录的²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄变化范围大,为250~784Ma之间,表明部分继承性岩浆结晶锆石明显受到后期岩浆-变质热事件的影响而发生不完全重结晶和Pb丢失,进而使其记录的年龄相对偏新;第三类锆石呈他形晶,为典型的变质锆石,阴极发光图像十分均匀,矿物包体相对少见,主要为Grt+Cpx,记录的²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄为230~234Ma, 且与苏鲁地体榴辉岩及其围岩中含柯石英锆石微区记录的超高压变质年龄 (225~235Ma) 十分一致,应代表含橄榄石辉石岩的峰期超高压变质时代。超基性岩中超高压变质锆石的准确识别表明苏鲁地体在峰期超高压变质阶段的确存在流体,流体的存在对超高压变质锆石的形成起着至关重要的作用。该项研究不仅准确厘定北苏鲁威海地区超基性岩的原岩形成时代和超高压变质时代,而且对于深入探讨苏鲁-大别超高压地体流体行为、演化规律及其水-岩相互作用机理具有重要的科学意义。     

Petrogenesis of the garnet peridotite and garnet-free peridotite of the Zhimafang ultramafic body in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt, eastern China

The CCSD‐PP1 drillhole penetrated a 110‐m‐thick sequence of the Zhimafang ultramafic body in the Sulu ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt, east China. The sequence consists of interlayered garnet‐bearing (Grt) and garnet‐free (GF) peridotite. Eleven layers of Grt‐peridotite, ranging from 1.2 to 9.5 m in thickness, have an aggregate thickness of 54.49 m, whereas eight layers of GF‐peridotite, ranging from 2.2 to 14.2 m in thickness, have a total thickness of 57.53 m. The boundaries between the two rock types are gradational. The Grt‐peridotites have slightly higher contents of Al₂O₃, CaO and SiO₂, and lower Mg^#s (0.90–0.92) than the GF‐peridotites (Mg^#s 0.91–0.93). Both contain low TiO₂ (<0.05 wt%) and have higher modal abundances of enstatite (average 10 vol.%) than diopside (1–5 vol.%), typical of depleted‐type upper mantle. The diopside in these rocks has high and relatively uniform Mg^# members (0.93–0.95), but highly variable Al₂O₃ (0.2–2.3 wt%), Na₂O (0.5–2.5 wt%) and Cr₂O₃ (0.38–2.09 wt%). Enstatite (En_92?93) contains very low Al₂O₃ (0–0.3 wt%). Both porphyroblastic and equigranular garnet are present. The equigranular varieties are zoned, from core to rim in Cr₂O₃ (3.4–4.2 wt%), MgO (18.4–17.5 wt%) and Al₂O₃ (21.1–20.1 wt%). Titania is very low in all the garnet, mostly <0.05 wt%. Chromite or chromium (Cr)‐spinel occur both in the Grt‐ and GF‐peridotite, and are characterized by high contents of Cr₂O₃ (49–58 wt%) and FeO (24–43 wt%), similar to that in iron‐rich Alpine‐type peridotites. Based on the bulk‐rock MgO–FeO compositions, the Zhimafang Grt‐peridotite probably underwent 20–30% partial melting, whereas the GF‐peridotite may have undergone as much as 35–40% partial melting, suggesting that the two rock types owe their differences to different degrees of partial melting rather than to pressure differences during metamorphism.     

Crustal large-scale serpentinized mantle peridotite body in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt,eastern China: Evidence from gravity and magnetic anomalies

From analysis of the geological and geophysical data (gravity, magnetic, seismic and petrophysics), we propose that geophysical anomalies are produced by a serpentinized mantle peridotite body (SMPB) situated in the middle to lower crust in the Sulu Belt. The SMPB was formed by crustal emplacement of mantle peridotites accompanied by ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism. Our finding suggests an emplacement mechanism for the serpentinized mantle wedge (SMW), early in the subduction process. This is different from the classic view, which holds that the serpentinized forearc mantle is formed by in situ hydration processes (Blakely et al., 2005). The petrophysical properties of the SMPB are similar to those of the serpentinized forearc mantle or SMW in modern subduction-zones worldwide, but the formation mechanisms for SMPB and SMW are different. This observation is important for understanding the geodynamic processes that operated in the large UHP metamorphic belt in the Dabie-Sulu area, eastern China.     

SHRIMP U–Pb dating of coesite-bearing zircon from the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks, Sulu terrane, east China

This paper provides further evidence for the ongoing discussion as to whether the Dabie UHPM belt formed in Triassic or Palaeozoic time, and whether the Sulu UHPM belt formed in Triassic or Neoproterozoic time. Combined use of laser Raman spectrometer (LR), cathodoluminescence imaging (CL), and ion probe U–Pb in‐situ dating (SHRIMP) provided accurate ages of UHPM from rocks collected from Weihai, NE Sulu UHPM belt. LR was used to identify coesite and other UHP minerals as inclusions in zircon separates from an amphibolized peridotite and an eclogite. CL was used to examine the zoning structure of these zircon, and SHRIMP dating was performed on specific spots on zircon to obtain ages of different geological events. An age of 221 ± 12 Ma was obtained for coesite‐bearing zircon from the amphibolized peridotite; an age of 228 ± 29 Ma for eclogite was obtained from the lower intercept of a concordia plot. These ages are interpreted as the time of UHPM in the Weihai region. Ultramafic rocks to the east of Weihai yield a magmatic age at 581 ± 44 Ma. The zircon in the ultramafic rocks possibly also records a thermal event at c. 400 Ma, but no independent geological evidence for this event has been found. The eclogite protolith formed in the Middle Proterozoic (1821 ± 19 Ma), which is similar to the age of country rock gneisses of 1847–1744 Ma. The new geochronological data confirm that UHPM occurred in the Triassic in the Sulu area when subduction took the ultramafic body and the eclogite protolith, together with the adjacent supracrustal rocks, to mantle depths.     

Metasomatism of garnet peridotite from Jiangzhuang,southern Sulu UHP belt: constraints on the interactions between crust and mantle rocks during subduction of continental lithosphere

The Jiangzhuang ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic peridotite from south Sulu, eastern China occurs as a layer within gneiss with eclogite blocks, and consists of coarse‐grained garnet porphyroblasts and a fine‐grained matrix assemblage of garnet + forsterite + enstatite + diopside ± phlogopite ± Ti‐clinohumite ± magnesite. Both types of garnet are characterized by high MgO content and depletion of light rare earth element (LREE) and enrichment of heavy rare earth element, but the matrix garnet has lower MgO, TiO₂ and higher Cr₂O₃ and REE contents. Diopside displays LREE enrichment, and has low but variable large‐ion lithophile element (LILE) contents. Phlogopite is a major carrier of LILE. Ti‐clinohumite contains high Nb, Ta, Cr, Ni, V and Co contents. The P–T conditions of 4.5–6.0 GPa and 850–950 °C were estimated for matrix mineral assemblages. Most peridotites are depleted in Al₂O₃, CaO and TiO₂, and enriched in SiO₂, K₂O, REE and LILE. In contrast to phlogopite‐free peridotites, the phlogopite‐bearing peridotites have higher K₂O, Zr, REE and LILE contents. Zircon occurs only in the phlogopite‐bearing peridotites, shows no zoning, with low REE contents and Th/U ratios, and yields tight U–Pb ages of 225–220 Ma, indicating the peridotites experienced consistent Triassic UHP metamorphism with subducted supercrustal rocks. These data demonstrate that the Jiangzhuang peridotites were derived from the depleted mantle wedge of the North China Craton, and experienced various degrees of metasomatism. The phlogopite‐free peridotites may have been subjected to an early cryptic metasomatism at UHP conditions of the mantle wedge, whereas the phlogopite‐bearing peridotites were subjected to a subsequent strong metasomatism, characterized by distinctly enrichment in LILE, LREE, Zr and K as well as the growth of zircon and volatile‐bearing minerals at UHP subduction conditions. The related metasomatism may have resulted from the filtration of fluids sourced mainly from deeply subducted supracrustal rocks.