华北克拉通阜平杂岩新太古代-古元古代多期地质事件及其构造性质

本文收集了阜平杂岩新太古代早期-古元古代晚期基底岩石的岩石地球化学、锆石U-Pb年代学、同位素地球化学和变质作用资料,以期对阜平杂岩早寒武纪演化历史进行初步总结.阜平新太古代早期~2.7 Ga片麻岩原岩为英云闪长岩,具有TTG质片麻岩的地球化学特征;其锆石ε_Hf（t）具有较高的正值（+5.44~+7.50）,单阶段模式年龄为2 745~2 824 Ma,表明新太古代早期为阜平杂岩强烈的地壳生长时期.新太古代晚期片麻岩的时代集中于2 543~2 484 Ma,主要岩石类型为英云闪长岩-奥长花岗岩-花岗闪长岩（TTG）,同时区域内还存在二长花岗岩.TTG质片麻岩的ε_Nd（t）值为-1.64~+0.96,单阶段模式年龄为2.76~3.04 Ga;锆石ε_Hf（t）值为-1.9~+7.91,单阶段和两阶段模式年龄分别为2 546~2 888 Ma和2 548~3 119 Ma.这些TTG岩石主要为新太古代早期岩石的部分熔融,并有少量中太古代地壳物质参与.近于同期具有岛弧性质的辉长岩和变质作用暗示阜平杂岩新太古代晚期可能经历了俯冲和弧-陆或陆-陆碰撞.古元古代中期（2.1~2.0 Ga）阜平地区花岗质岩浆活动强烈.该阶段花岗岩具有A型花岗岩特征,与同期的火山-沉积岩系形成于华北克拉通古元古代中期伸展的陆内裂谷环境中.阜平杂岩中基性麻粒岩包体记录的变质作用时代为1.89~1.85 Ga,并具有顺时针演化的P-T轨迹,其代表了古元古代晚期裂谷闭合的陆内造山过程,表明华北最终克拉通化.      

U-Pb Age and Hf Isotope Study of Detrital Zircons from the Wanzi Supracrustals： Constraints on the Tectonic Setting and Evolution of the Fuping Complex, Trans-North China Orogen

Located in the middle segment of the Trans-North China Orogen, the Fuping Complex is considered as a critical area in understanding the evolution history of the North China Craton （NCC）. The complex is composed of various high-grade and multiply deformed rocks, including gray gneiss, basic granulite, amphibolite, fine-grained gneiss and marble, metamorphosed to upper amphibolite or granulite facies. It can be divided into four rock units： the Fuping TTG gneisses, Longquanguan augen gneisses, Wanzi supracrustals, and Nanying granitic gneisses. U-Pb age and Hf isotope compositions of about 200 detrital zircons from the Wanzi supracrustals of the Fuping Complex have been analyzed. The data on metamorphic zircon rims give ages of 1.82-1.84 Ga, corresponding to the final amalgamation event of the NCC, whereas the data for igneous zircon cores yield two age populations at -2.10 and -2.51 Ga, with some inherited ages scattering between 2.5 and 2.9 Ga. These results suggest that the Wanzi supracrustals were derived from the Fuping TTG gneisses （-2.5 Ga） and the Nanying granitic gneisses （2.0-2.1 Ga） and deposited between 2.10 and 1.84 Ga. All zircons with -2.51 Ga age have positive initial εHf values from ＋1.4 to ＋10.9, suggesting an important crustal growth event at -2.5 Ga through the addition of juvenile materials from the mantle. The Hf isotope data for the detrital zircons further imply that the 2.8 Ga rocks are important components in the lower crust, which is consistent with a suggestion from Nd isotope data for the Eastern Block. The zircons of 2.10 Ga population have initial εHf values of-4.9 to ＋6.1, interpreted as mixing of crustal re-melt with minor juvenile material contribution at 2.1 Ga. These results are distinct from that for the Western Block, supporting that the Fuping Complex was emplaced in a tectonic active environment at the western margin of the Eastern Block.     

Contrasting provenance of Late Archean metasedimentary rocks from the Wutai Complex, North China Craton: detrital zircon U–Pb, whole-rock Sm–Nd isotopic, and geochemical data

Detrital zircon U–Pb ages, whole-rock Nd isotopic, and geochemical data of metasedimentary rocks from the Wutai Complex in the Central Zone, North China Craton, have been determined. Compositionally, these rocks are characterized by a narrow variation in SiO₂/Al₂O₃ (2.78–3.96, except sample 2007-1), variable Eu anomalies, spanning a range from significantly negative Eu anomalies to slightly positive anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.58–1.12), and positive ε _Nd (t) values (0.1–1.97). The 18 detrital zircons of one sample yielded age populations of 2.53 Ga, 2.60 Ga, and 2.70–2.85 Ga. Geochemical data reveal intermediate source weathering, varying degrees of K-metasomatism in the majority of these metasedimentary rocks, whereas other secondary disturbances seem to be negligible. Detailed analysis in detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology, whole-rock Nd isotope, and geochemistry shows that these metasedimentary rocks are derived from a mixed provenance. The predominant derivation is from the late Archean granitoids and metamorphic volcanics in the Wutai Complex, and there is also input of older continental remnants, except TTG gneisses, from the Hengshan and Fuping Complexes. The sediments were probably deposited in fore-arc or/and intra-arc basins within an arc system.     

华北克拉通南部太古宙大陆地壳的生长和演化

太古宙约占地球已有演化历史的三分之一强,这一时期涉及到大陆地壳起源、陆壳的巨量生长和稳定以及板块构造作用的启动、建立等诸多最根本的全球性重大地质事件.太古宙岩石在华北克拉通南部的涑水、登封、太华、霍邱和五河等杂岩中广泛出露,这为解析上述重大科学问题提供难得的素材.近十年来,在华北克拉通南部古生代-中生代火山岩或早前寒武...     

Late Neoarchean synchronous TTG gneisses and potassic granitoids in southwestern Liaoning Province,North China Craton: Zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes,geochemistry and tectonic implications

Abundant late Neoarchean granitoids occur in southwestern Liaoning Province, part of the Eastern Ancient Terrane of the North China Craton. These rocks include intermediate gneiss, TTG gneisses and potassic granitoids, and we report on the geochemistry and zircon SHRIMP ages as well as Hf-in-zircon isotopes of these granitoids in order to determine their petrogenesis. Field relationships suggest that most of these granitoids experienced widespread metamorphism and deformation, associated with anatexis at some localities. The intermediate gneisses, TTG gneisses and potassic granitoids were all emplaced at the end of the Neoarchean (2.50–2.53 Ga), and CL images document widespread recrystallization in the zircons. The intermediate and TTG gneisses yielded similar Hf isotopic systematics (ε_Hf(t) = −3.73 to +6.42) as the associated potassic granitoids (ε_Hf(t) = −2.44 to +7.80), and both rock types yielded mean Hf crustal model ages of 2.8–2.9 Ga. Combined with the geochemistry, we propose that the formation of the intermediate and TTG gneisses was related to partial melting of mafic rocks at different depth, whereas the potassic granitoids have variable petrogenesis. The nearly coeval TTG gneisses and potassic granitoids and their widespread metamorphism, deformation and zircon recrystallization suggest that a large-scale heat source must have been present at or near the base of the crust in southwestern Liaoning Province at the end of the Neoarchean. We propose that collision and post-collisional extension is the most likely tectonic environment for generation of the above granitoids, and the formation of widespread potassic granitoids played an important role in the maturation of continental crust in the North China Craton.     

华北克拉通南缘太华杂岩组成及演化

太华杂岩位于华北克拉通南部,其组成复杂,记录了几乎所有早前寒武纪各阶段重要的地质事件;此外,由于其所处特殊地理位置,研究太华杂岩对于华北克拉通早前寒武纪地壳形成和演化、构造单元划分和基底拼合等都具有举足轻重的科学价值。本文综合已有的岩石学、变质作用、地球化学以及同位素年代学等诸多研究工作,得到以下阶段性结论和认识:1)将鲁山地区太华划分为以深成侵入岩为主的片麻岩系和以变质沉积-火山岩为主的表壳岩系;前者形成于中太古代晚期-新太古代早期,后者形成于古元古代晚期。而小秦岭地区太华杂岩中变质深成侵入岩形成时间跨度较大,为中太古代晚期-古元古代早期;而其上覆的火山-沉积岩可与鲁山太华杂岩的表壳岩类比,形成时间亦为古元古代晚期。2)中太古代-新太古代(2.91～2.50Ga)为华北克拉通南部大陆最主要的地壳形成时期。提出太华杂岩在太古宙经历了两期明显的地壳生长时间,一期发生在2.85～2.70Ga,以鲁山太华片麻岩系中的深成侵入岩和斜长角闪岩为代表;另一期发生在～2.50Ga,以小秦岭华山和崤山地区太华杂岩中各类花岗质岩石为代表。3)太华杂岩在所谓的全球陆壳生长"沉寂期(2.45～2.20Ga)"岩浆活动异常发育,推测这一时期的岩石形成于古元古代俯冲-汇聚环境,可能是与华北克拉通南部太古宙陆块和其他陆块汇聚-碰撞相关。4)太华杂岩在古元古代晚期普遍遭受了强烈的变质和变形,其变质程度主体为高角闪岩相,局部可达麻粒岩相,且记录了包含近等温降压退变质片段的顺时针变质作用P-T轨迹,经历了一个漫长的变质演化过程(1.97～1.80Ga),变质作用的时限跨度可达150Myr。5)提出华北克拉通南部曾经为一个统一基底,称之为"南部太古宙地块",此地块形成时间为新太古代末期(～2.5Ga)。该古老陆块经历了如下5个构造-演化阶段:(1)冥古宙-始太古代初始陆核形成;(2)中太古代-新太古代陆壳快速生长;(3)古元古代早期(～2.3Ga)岩浆活动异常活跃;(4)古元古代(2.30～1.97Ga)陆内拉伸-破裂;和(5)古元古代末期(1.97～1.80Ga)陆块最终拼合。     

五台杂岩晚太古代花岗质岩石中斜长角闪岩包体的年代学和地球化学研究

华北克拉通中部造山带被认为是由东西部陆块碰撞而产生的陆陆碰撞带,而恒山-五台-阜平地区位于中部造山带的中部,是该地区最大也是最具代表性的基底岩石剖面。总体上,五台杂岩可以分为变质表壳岩和花岗质岩体两大类,前者又被划分为五台群和滹沱群,而后者可划分为2560~2520Ma侵位的强烈变形的闪长岩-英云闪长岩-奥长花岗岩-花岗闪长岩系列、2176~2084Ma侵位的弱变形的斑状正长-钾质花岗岩以及约1810Ma侵位的未变形的A型花岗岩。在晚太古代花岗岩中普遍发育有斜长角闪岩包体,它们在露头上不连续分布,呈绿色到黑色,强烈拉伸成扁条状或透镜状,直径一般在几米到十几米之间。根据地球化学特征恢复它们的原岩为拉斑玄武岩。锆石U-Pb定年结果表明它们的结晶时代为2.7Ga,变质时代为1.85Ga。全岩εNd(t)值为-3.1~+3.5,亏损地幔模式年龄为2.83~3.65Ga。原始地幔均一化蛛网图解上,斜长角闪岩具有明显的Nb、Ta和Ti的负异常,而在球粒陨石均一化稀土元素配分图解中它们具有轻稀土弱富集[(La/Yb)N=1.36~3.52]以及重稀土平坦[(Gd/Yb)N=0.94~1.38]的特征。地球化学以及同位素特征表明它们很可能来自于受到俯冲板片流体改造的轻度富集地幔中尖晶石二辉橄榄岩的部分熔融。更重要地,这些斜长角闪岩包体的锆石U-Pb年龄与全岩Nd亏损地幔模式年龄相似,都为27~28亿年左右,这说明在华北克拉通中部造山带很可能存在过大量的27亿年左右的新生地壳岩石,它们代表了一期重要的地壳生长事件。     

Thickness and geothermal gradient of Neoarchean continental crust: Inference from the southeastern North China Craton

The thickness and geothermal gradient of Archean continental crust are critical factors for understanding the geodynamic processes in Earth's early continental crust. Archean tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) gneisses provide one of the potential indicators of paleo-crustal thickness and geothermal gradient because crust-derived TTG melts are generally thought to originate from partial melting of mafic rocks at the crustal root. In the Western Shandong Province (WSP) of the North China Craton (NCC), two episodes of Neoarchean TTG magmatism are recognized at ~2.70 Ga and ~2.55 Ga which were sourced from partial melting of juvenile crustal components. The ~2.70 Ga TTG gneisses show highly fractionated rare earth element (REE) patterns (average (La/Yb)_N = 39), whereas the ~2.55 Ga TTG gneisses have relatively less fractionated REE patterns (average (La/Yb)_N = 18). Petrogenetic evaluation suggest that the magmatic precursors of the TTG gneisses of both episodes originated from partial melting of juvenile crustal materials at different crustal depths with residual mineral phases of Grt, Cpx, Amp, Pl and Ilm. Together with the garnet proportion in the residue, the P–T pseudosections of equilibrium mineral assemblages, and the temperature calculated from Titanium-in-zircon thermometer, we estimate the Neoarchean crustal thicknesses as 44–51 km with geothermal gradients of 17 to 20 °C/km for the ~2.70 Ga TTG gneisses whereas the ~2.55 Ga TTG gneisses show lesser crustal thicknesses of 35–43 km with geothermal gradients of 19 to 26 °C/km, with an approximately 10 km difference in crustal thickness. Our estimates on the thicknesses and geothermal gradients of the Neoarchean crust are similar to those (~41 km, ~20 °C/km) of the modern average continental crust, indicating that a modern-style plate tectonic regime may have played an important role in the formation and evolution of the Neoarchean continental crust in the NCC.     

Petrology and P–T path of the Fuping mafic granulites: implications for tectonic evolution of the central zone of the North China craton

The Fuping Complex and the adjoining Wutai and Hengshan Complexes are located in the central zone of the North China craton. The dominant rock types in the Fuping Complex are high‐grade tonalitic–trondhjemitic–granodioritic (TTG) gneisses, with minor amounts of mafic granulites, syntectonic granitic rocks and supracrustal rocks. The petrological evidence from the mafic granulites indicates three stages of metamorphic evolution. The M₁ stage is represented by garnet porphyroblasts and matrix plagioclase, quartz, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and hornblende. Orthopyroxene+plagioclase symplectites and clinopyroxene+plagioclase±orthopyroxene coronas formed in response to decompression during M₂ following the peak metamorphism at M₁. Hornblende+plagioclase symplectites formed as a result of further isobaric cooling and retrograde metamorphism during M₃. The P–T estimates using TWQ thermobarometry are: 900–950 °C and 8.0–8.5 kbar for the peak assemblage (M₁), based on the core compositions of garnet, matrix pyroxene and plagioclase; 700–800 °C and 6.0–7.0 kbar for the pyroxene+plagioclase symplectites or coronas (M₂); and 550–650 °C and 5.3–6.3 kbar for the hornblende+plagioclase symplectites (M₃), based on garnet rim and corresponding symplectic mineral compositions. These P–T estimates define a clockwise P–T path involving near‐isothermal decompression for the Fuping Complex, similar to the P–T path estimated for the metapelitic gneisses. The inferred P–T path suggests that the Fuping Complex underwent initial crustal thickening, subsequent exhumation, and finally cooling and retrogression. This tectonothermal path is similar to P–T paths inferred for the Wutai and Hengshan Complexes and other tectonic units in the central zone of the North China craton, but different from anti‐clockwise P–T paths estimated for the basement rocks in the eastern and western zones of the craton. Based on lithological, structural, metamorphic and geochronological data, the eastern and western zones of the craton are considered to represent two different Archean to Paleoproterozoic continental blocks that amalgamated along the central zone at the end of Paleoproterozoic. The P–T paths of the Fuping Complex and other tectonic units in the central zone record the collision between the eastern and western zones that led to the final assembly of the North China craton at c. 1800 Ma.     

龙泉关剪切带眼球状花岗质片麻岩锆石U-Pb年代学和Lu-Hf同位素特征及其地质意义

恒山五台阜平地区地处华北克拉通中部造山带的中段,早前寒武纪地体出露较好,是解析华北克拉通早前寒武纪演化过程的最佳地段。龙泉关剪切带位于五台杂岩和阜平杂岩的交接部位,其主要岩石类型为眼球状花岗质片麻岩、变粒岩和斜长角闪岩。本文利用LA-ICP-MS方法对龙泉关剪切带中的眼球状花岗质片麻岩进行了锆石U-Pb年龄和Lu-Hf同位素的测试。结果显示,龙泉关眼球状花岗质片麻岩原岩结晶年龄为(2 547±7) Ma,其εHf(t)值介于+2.7~+9.2,表明其源区主要为相对年轻的地壳物质,与五台地区新太古代花岗岩非常相似。龙泉关花岗质眼球状片麻岩中锆石两阶段Hf模式年龄(TDM2)为2 477~2 872 Ma,具有2.58 Ga、2.71 Ga和2.81 Ga三个峰值,记录了华北克拉通新太古代初始地壳生长事件。     

Early Neoarchean Magmatic and Paleoproterozoic Metamorphic Events in the Northern North China Craton: SHRIMP Zircon Dating and Hf Isotopes of Archean Rocks from the Miyun Area, Beijing

The Miyun area of Beijing is located in the northern part of the North China Craton(NCC)and includes a variety of Archean granitoids and metamorphic rocks.Magmatic domains in zircon from a tonalite reveal Early Neoarchean(2752±7 Ma) ages show a small range in ε_(Hf)(t) from 3.1 to 7.4and t_(DM1)(Hf) from 2742 to 2823 Ma,similar to their U-Pb ages,indicating derivation from a depleted mantle source only a short time prior to crystallization.SHRIMP zircon ages of granite,gneiss,amphibolite and hornblendite in the Miyun area reveal restricted emplacement ages from 2594 to2496 Ma.They also record metamorphic events at ca.2.50 Ga,2.44 Ga and 1.82 Ga,showing a similar evolutionary history to the widely distributed Late Neoarchean rocks in the NCC.Positive ε_(Hf)(t) values of 1.5 to 5.9,with model ages younger than 3.0 Ga for magmatic zircon domains from these Late Neoarchean intrusive rocks indicate that they are predominantly derived from juvenile crustal sources and suggest that significant crustal growth occurred in the northern NCC during the Neoarchean.Late Paleoproterozoic metamorphism developed widely in the NCC,not only in the Trans-North China Orogen,but also in areas of Eastern and Western Blocks,which suggest that the late Paleoproterozoic was the assembly of different micro-continents,which resulted in the final consolidation to form the NCC,and related to the development of the Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Columbia or Nuna supercontinent.     

阜平杂岩年龄及其地质意义：兼论前寒武高级变质地体的定年问题

本文通过对比锆石TIMS（热电离质谱法），SHRIMP（高灵敏度离子探针）及ICPMS－LP（等离子体质谱－激光探针）分析方法对阜平杂岩中主要岩石获得的年龄结果，讨论了阜平杂岩中几种主要岩石的形成时代及其地质意义。研究结果表明阜平杂岩是由不同时代、不同成因的各种高级变质岩组成，其主体是2．51Ga的TTG片麻岩并包裹了少量2．7Ga的大陆残片。同时阜平地区还发育一期2．05Ga的岩浆活动。阜平杂岩中的湾子表壳岩可能沉积发育于2．5Ga和2．1Ga之间。本文还通过比较三种锆石同位素定年方法的特点，进而讨论了几种方法在高级变质地体定年上的可行性，特别强调了锆石内部结构、化学组成等成因矿物学方面的研究对锆石年代学的主要意义。     

Geochemistry, Nd Isotopic Characteristics of Metamorphic Complexes in Northern Hebei： Implications for Crustal Accretion

The middle segment of the northern margin of the North China Craton （NCC） consists mainly of metamorphosed Archean Dantazi Complex, Paleoproterozoic Hongqiyingzi Complex and unmetamorphosed gabbro-anorthosite-meta-alkaline granite, as well as metamorphosed Late Paleozoic mafic to granitoid rocks in the Damiao-Changshaoying area. The -2.49 Ga Dantazi Complex comprises dioritic-trondhjemitic-granodoritic-monzogranitic gneisses metamorphosed in amphibolite to granulite facies. Petrochemical characteristics reveal that most of the rocks belong to a medium- to high-potassium calc-alkaline series, and display Mg^# less than 40, right-declined REE patterns with no to obviously positive Eu anomalies, evidently negative Th, Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies in primitive mantlenormalized spider diagrams, εNd（t）=＋0.65 to -0.03, and depleted mantle model ages TDM=2.78-2.71 Ga. Study in petrogenesis indicates that the rocks were formed from magmatic mixing between mafic magma from the depleted mantle and granitoid magma from partial melting of recycled crustal mafic rocks in a continental margin setting. The 2.44-2.41 Ga Hongqiyingzi Complex is dominated by metamorphic mafic-granodioritic-monzogranitic gneisses, displaying similar petrochemical features to the Dantazi Complex, namely medium to high potassium calc-alkaline series, and the mafic rocks show evident change in LILEs, negative Th, Nb, Ta, Zr anomalies and positive P anomalies. And the other granitiod samples also exhibit negative Th, Nb, Ta, P and Ti anomalies. All rocks in the Hongqiyingzi Complex show right-declined REE patterns without Eu anomaly. The metamorphic mafic rocks with εNd（t） = -1.64 may not be an identical magmatic evolution series with granitoids that have εNd（t） values of ＋3.19 to ＋1.94 and TDM ages of 2.55-2.52 Ga. These granitic rocks originated from hybrid between mafic magma from the depleted mantle and magma from partial melting of juvenile crustal mafic rocks in an island arc setting. All the -311 Ma Late Paleozoic metamorphic mafic rocks and related granitic rocks show a medium-potassium calc-alkaline magmatic evolution series, characterized by high Mg^#, obviously negative Th, Nb, Ta anomalies and positive Sr anomalies, from no to strongly negative Ti anomalies and flat REE patterns with εNd（t） = ＋8.42, implying that the maflc magma was derived from the depleted mantle. However the other granitic rocks are characterized by right-declined REE patterns with no to evidently positive Eu anomalies, significantly low εNd（t） = -13.37 to -14.04, and TDM=1.97-1.96 Ga, revealing that the granitoid magma was derived from hybrid between maflc magma that came from -311 Ma depleted mantle and granitoid magma from Archean to Early Paleoproterozoic ancient crustal recycling. The geochemistry and Nd isotopic characteristics as well as the above geological and geochronological results indicate that the middle segment of the northern margin of the NCC mainly experienced four crustal growth episodes from Archean to Late Paleozoic, which were dominated by three continental marginal arc accretions （-2.49, -2.44 and 311 Ma）, except the 1.76-1.68 Ga episode related to post-collisional extension, revealing that the crustal accretion of this segment was chiefly generated from arc accretion and amalgamation to the NCC continental block.     

SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating of the Neoproterozoic Penglai Group and Archean gneisses from the Jiaobei Terrane, North China, and their tectonic implications

Archean basement gneisses and supracrustal rocks, together with Neoproterozoic (Sinian) metasedimentary rocks (the Penglai Group) occur in the Jiaobei Terrane at the southeastern margin of the North China Craton. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating of an Archean TTG gneiss gave an age of 2541 ± 5 Ma, whereas metasedimentary rocks from the Neoproterozoic Penglai Group yielded a range in zircon ages from 2.9 to 1.8 Ga. The zircons can be broadly divided into three age populations, at: 2.0–1.8 Ga, 2.45–2.1 Ga and >2.5 Ga. Detrital zircon grains with ages >2.6 Ga are few in number and there are none with ages <1.8 Ga. These results indicate that most of the detrital material comes from a Paleoproterozoic source, most likely from the Jianshan and Fenzishan groups, with some material coming from Archean gneisses in the Jiaobei Terrane. An age of 1866 ± 4 Ma for amphibolite-facies hornblende–plagioclase gneiss, forming part of a supracrustal sequence within the Archean TTG gneiss, indicates Late Paleoproterozoic metamorphism. Both the Archean gneiss complex and Penglai metasedimentary rocks resemble previously described components of the Jiao-Liao-Ji orogenic belt and suggest that the Jiaobei Terrane has a North China Craton affinity; they also suggest that the time of collision along the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt was at 1865 Ma.     

Metallogenesis of Precambrian gold deposits in the Wutai greenstone belt:Constrains on the tectonic evolution of the North China Craton

The Wutai greenstone belt in central North China Craton(NCC) hosts a number of Precambrian gold deposits and ore occurrences. Based on the host rock association, these can be divided into Banded Iron Formation(BIF), meta-volcano-sedimentary and meta-conglomerate types. The two former types formed during ~2.5-2.3 Ga and the third one at ~1.85 Ga. The characteristics of these Precambrian gold deposits are broadly similar with those of the orogenic gold deposits. Based on available geochronological data, here we reconstruct the major tectonic events and their relationship with gold mineralization in the Wutai-Hengshan-Fuping region during Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic as follows.(1)~2.6-2.5 Ga: widespread intrusion of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG) magmas in the Hengshan terrane and Fuping continental arc, formation of the Wutai volcanic arc in the southern margin of Hengshan terrane with granitoids emplacement, and the Hengshan-Wutai intra-oceanic arc accretion to the Fuping arc at the end of Neoarchean.(2) ~ 2.5-2.3 Ga: the subduction of Hengshan arc from north leading to persistent magmatism and orogenic gold mineralization.(3)~2.2-2.1 Ga:extension leading to the formation of graben structure in the Wutai and Fuping region, deposition of the Hutuo and Wanzi Group sediments, formation of placer gold through erosion of the orogenic gold deposits.(4)~2.2-2.0 Ga: widespread magmatism in the Wutai-Hengshan-Fuping region.(5)~1.95-1.8 Ga: regional metamorphism associated with collision of the Western and Eastern Blocks of the NCC and associated orogenic gold deposits. The multiple subduction-accretion-collision history and subsequent deep erosion has significantly affected most of the Precambrian gold deposits in the Wutai greenstone belt.     

Origin and Geological Significance of TTG Gneisses from the Maevatanana Greenstone Belt in North–Central Madagascar, and A Comparison with India

The Maevatanana greenstone belt in north-central Madagascar contains widespread exposures of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG) gneisses,and is important for its concentrations of various metal deposits(e.g.,chromium,nickle,iron,gold).In this paper we report on the petrography,and major and trace element compositions of the TTG gneisses within the Berere Complex of the Maevatanana area,as well as LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages and Lu-Hf isotopic compositions of zircons from the gneisses.The gneisses consist mainly of granitoid gneiss and biotite(±hornblende) plagiogneiss,and analysis of thin sections provides evidence of crushing,recrystallization,and metasomatism related to dynamic metamorphism.Samples have large variations in their major and trace element contents,with SiO_2 = 55.87-68.06 wt%,Al_2O_3 = 13.9-17.8 wt%,and Na_2O/K_2O =0.97-2.13.Geochemically,the granitoid gneisses and biotite plagiogneisses fall on a low-Al trondhjemite to granodiorite trend,while the biotite-hornblende plagiogneisses represent a high-Al tonalite TTG assemblage.Zircon U-Pb dating shows that the Berere Complex TTG gneisses formed at2.5-2.4 Ga.Most ε_(Hf(t)) values of zircons from the biotite(± hornblende) plagiogneisses are positive,while most ε_(Hf(t)) values from the granitoid gneisses are negative,suggesting a degree of crustal contamination.Two-stage Hf model ages suggest that the age of the protolith of the TTG gneisses was ca.3.4-2.6 Ga,representing a period of paleocontinent formation in the Mesoarchean.Geothermometries indicate the temperature of metamorphism of the TTG gneisses was 522-612℃.Based on these data,the protolith of the TTG gneisses is inferred to have formed during the development of a Mesoarchean paleocontinent that is now widely exposed as a TTG gneiss belt(mostly lower amphibolite facies) in the Maevatanana area,and which records a geological evolution related to the subduction of an ancient oceanic crust and the collision of microcontinents during the formation of the Rodinia supercontinent.The lithological similarity of Precambrian basement,the close ages of metamorphism within greenstone belts and the comparable distribution of metamorphic grade all show a pronounced Precambrian geology similarity between Madagascar and India,which can provide significative clues in understanding the possible Precambrian Supercontinent tectonics,and also important constraints on the correlation of the two continental fragments.     

U-Pb Zircon Dating of the Granitic Conglomerates of the Hutuo Group： Affinities to the Wutai Granitoids and Significance to the Tectonic Evolution of the Trans-North China Orogen

1 Introduction The North China Craton (NCC) is considered to be the oldest and largest cratonic block in China. Recent studies to gain understanding of basement architecture of the NCC has led to its division into the Western and Eastern Blocks, separated by a N-S trending Paleoproterozoic Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO) (Fig. 1; Zhao et al., 1998, 1999a, 2000a, 2001a; Wilde et al., 2002). Although there is now abroad consensus that the final assembly of the NCC was completed by th…     

Late Neoarchean reworking of the Mesoarchean crustal remnant in northern Liaoning,North China Craton: A U–Pb–Hf–O–Nd perspective

How the earth's crust formed and evolved during the Precambrian times is one of the key questions to decipher the evolution of the early Earth. As one of the few cratons containing well-preserved Eoarchean to Neoarchean basement on Earth, the North China Craton is an ideal natural laboratory to unravel the early crustal evolution. It is controversial whether the Archean tectonothermal events in this area represents reworking or growth of the continental crust. To solve this issue, we have compelled field-based mapping, zircon U–Pb dating by SHRIMP RG and LA–ICP–MS U–Pb, zircon SHRIMP SI oxygen and LA–MC–ICP–MS Hf isotope, and whole-rock Nd–O isotope analyses from the Archean granitoids in northern Liaoning, North China Craton. On the basis of zircon U–Pb isotopic dating and measured geological section investigation, two distinct magmatic suites as enclaves in the Jurassic granites are recognized, viz. a newly discovered 3.0 Ga crustal remnant and a 2.5 Ga granitoid. The Mesoarchean zircons from the 3.0 Ga granodioritic gneisses exhibit heterogeneous Hf isotopic compositions, with the most radiogenic analysis (ε_Hf(t) = +3.8) following the depleted mantle evolution array and the most unradiogenic ε_Hf(t) extending down to −3.4. This implies that both ancient continental crust at least as old as 3.4 Ga and depleted mantle contributed to the magma source of the protoliths of the Mesoarchean gneisses. The ε_Hf(t) values of the Neoarchean zircons from these gneisses overlap the 3.4–3.0 Ga zircon evolution trend, indicating that the ancient crustal materials have been reworked during the late Neoarchean. The Neoarchean zircons from the 2.5 Ga granitoids have a relatively small variation in the Hf isotope and are mainly plotted in the 3.0–2.8 Ga zircon evolution field. However, taking all the ε_Hf(t) values of the Neoarchean zircons into the consideration, we find that the Hf model age of the Neoarchean zircon does not represent the time of crustal growth or reworking but are artifacts of magma mixing. The interaction between the magmas derived from the ancient crustal materials and the depleted mantle is also supported by zircon O isotopic data and Hf–O isotopic modeling of the Neoarchean granitoids. Both Mesoarchean and late Neoarchean tectonothermal events involved synchronous crustal growth and reworking, which may be applicable to other parts of the world.     

Evolution of the 3.65–2.58 Ga Mairi Gneiss Complex,Brazil: Implications for growth of the continental crust in the São Francisco Craton

The composition and formation of the Earth’s primitive continental crust and mantle differentiation are key issues to understand and reconstruct the geodynamic terrestrial evolution, especially during the Archean. However, the scarcity of exposure to these rocks, the complexity of lithological relationships, and the high degree of superimposed deformation, especially with long-lived magmatism, make it difficult to study ancient rocks. Despite this complexity, exposures of the Archean Mairi Gneiss Complex basement unit in the São Francisco Craton offer important information about the evolution of South America’s primitive crust. Therefore, here we present field relationships, LA-ICP-SFMS zircon U-Pb ages, and LA-ICP-MCMS Lu-Hf isotope data for the recently identified Eoarchean to Neoarchean gneisses of the Mairi Complex. The Complex is composed of massive and banded gneisses with mafic members ranging from dioritic to tonalitic, and felsic members ranging from TTG (Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite) to granitic composition. Our new data point to several magmatic episodes in the formation of the Mairi Gneiss Complex: Eoarchean (ca. 3.65–3.60 Ga), early Paleoarchean (ca. 3.55–3.52 Ga), middle-late Paleoarchean (ca. 3.49–3.33 Ga) and Neoarchean (ca. 2.74–2.58 Ga), with no records of Mesoarchean rocks. Lu-Hf data unveiled a progressive evolution of mantle differentiation and crustal recycling over time. In the Eoarchean, rocks are probably formed by the interaction between the pre-existing crust and juvenile contribution from chondritic to weakly depleted mantle sources, whereas mantle depletion played a role in the Paleoarchean, followed by greater differentiation of the crust with thickening and recycling in the middle–late Paleoarchean. A different stage of crustal growth and recycling dominated the Neoarchean, probably owing to the thickening of the continental crust by collision, continental arc growth, and mantle differentiation.