Geochemistry of Precambrian gneisses: relevance for the evolution of the East Antarctic Shield

Archaean granulite-facies orthogneisses of the Napier Complex in Enderby Land, metamorphosed 3070 Maago, comprise two chemically distinct suites. The more abundant, mainly of tonalitic to granodioritic composition, shows strong Y depletion, explicable by hydrous partial melting of a garnet-bearing source (garnet amphibolite or possibly eclogite); it apparently represents new continental crust. Other gneisses (predominantly of trondhjemitic to granitic (s.s) composition) do not show Y depletion, and have higher TiO₂, Zr, Nb, La, Ce and Ga/Al, and lower CaO, Sr and Mg/(Mg + total Fe); they probably originated by relatively dry melting of predominantly felsic crystal rocks. Both suites show evidence for loss of Rb (relative to K), Th, and U during metamorphism. Late Archaean (−2800 Ma) amphibolite-facies gneisses of MacRobertson Land are of ‘undepleted’ type and may be representative of a higher crustal level than those of Enderby land. Late Proterozoic (1000 Ma) granulite-facies gneisses of Enderby Land (Rayner Complex) are to a large extent remetamorphosed Napier Complex rocks of igneous derivation; in contrast, gneisses of similar age in MacRobertson Land include a much higher proportion derived, either directly or by partial melting, from sedimentary protoliths.     

Low-pressure granulite facies metamorphism in the Larsemann Hills area, East Antarctica; petrology and tectonic implications for the evolution of the Prydz Bay area

ABSTRACT Thermobarometric studies on various granulite facies areas along the Prydz Bay coast, East Antarctica (73°-79°E, 68°-70°S), show that, at around 1100 Ma, during a late Proterozoic orogeny, the rocks of the Larsemann Hills suffered a lower pressure metamorphic peak than the surrounding areas. Along the Prydz Bay coast, the rocks affected by this event include parts of the Vestfold Hills block plus all of the Rauer Group, the Larsemann Hills and the Munro Kerr Mountains. The dykes in the south-west corner of the Vestfold Hills were recrystallized during this event with little deformation at temperatures not quite as high as in the areas further south-west (650°C, 6.5 kbar) (Collerson et al., 1983), the Rauer Group was metamorphosed at 800°C and 7.5 kbar (Harley, 1987a), the Larsemann Hills at 750°C and 4.5 kbar, and the Munro Kerr Mountains probably at around 850°C and 5 kbar. Retrograde equilibration in the different areas occurred during decompression to about 10 km depth in all areas, followed by isobaric cooling at this depth. This paper shows that the peak metamorphism in the Larsemann Hills occurred at a pressure which is too low to have been the consequence of thermal relaxation of overthickened crust with normal mantle heat flow. Although other areas in Prydz Bay were metamorphosed at sufficiently high pressures so that their decompression paths are not inconsistent with a continental collision model, the inferred pre-metamorphic peak histories and the requirement of consistency with the Larsemann Hills, make it unlikely that collision followed by erosion-driven decompression is an appropriate model. We suggest that the thermal regime of the crust in the Larsemann Hills region was controlled by a perturbation in the asthenosphere, with magma invasion of the crust. We suggest that the 500 Ma event, represented in Prydz Bay by granitic outcrops at Landing Bluff and by several K/Ar ages from the Larsemann Hills area, was responsible for the final excavation of the terrane.     

Geochemical evolution of Archaean granulite-facies gneisses in the Vestfold Block and comparisons with other Archaean gneiss complexes in the East Antarctic Shield

The Vestfold Block, like other Archaean cratons in East Antarctica and elsewhere, consists predominantly of felsic orthogneiss (Mossel and Crooked Lake gneisses), with subordinate mafic granulite (Tryne metavolcanics) and paragneiss (Chelnok supracrustals). Two major periods of continental crust formation are represented. The Mossel gneiss (metamorphosed about 3,000 Ma ago) is mainly of tonalitic composition, and is similar to much of the roughly coeval Napier Complex in Enderby Land. The Crooked Lake gneiss was emplaced under high-grade conditions about 2,450 Ma ago and comprises a high proportion of more potassic rocks (monzodioritic and monzonitic suites), as well as tonalite and minor gabbro and diorite. Both Mossel and Crooked Lake gneisses are depleted in Y and have moderate to high Sr, Ce/Y, and Ti/Y, consistent with melting of a mafic source (?subducted hydrated oceanic crust) leaving major residual hornblende (± garnet). Most Crooked Lake gneisses are more enriched in incompatible elements (P, Sr, La, Ce, and particularly Rb, Ba, and K) than Mossel gneisses, suggesting derivation from a more enriched mafic source. The Vestfold Block contains few orthogneisses derived by melting of older felsic crustal rocks, in marked contrast to the Archaean Napier Complex and, in particular, southern Prince Charles Mountains. Both Mossel and Crooked Lake tonalites are strongly depleted in Rb, K, Th, and U, and have very low Rb/Sr and high K/Rb; more potassic orthogneisses are depleted in Th, U, and, to lesser extents, Rb. Tryne metavolcanics are depleted in Th and Rb, but appear to have been enriched in K (and probably Na), possibly during early low-grade alteration.     

东南极茹尔群岛超高温麻粒岩的研究进展

茹尔群岛(又称赖于尔群岛)位于东南极普里兹构造带的东部边缘,是一个由太古宙和中元古代岩石组成的复合高级变质地体。中元古代岩石是含有富Fe-Al的含石榴子石-矽线石的费拉副片麻岩组合,经历了格林维尔和泛非两期变质作用。太古宙正片麻岩是含有富Mg-Al的含假蓝宝石的超高温泥质麻粒岩组合(梅瑟副片麻岩组合),主要由经历超高温变质作用的含假蓝宝石的泥质麻粒岩、富Mg的石榴子石-矽线石泥质片麻岩、斜方辉石-矽线石石英岩、含石榴子石镁铁质麻粒岩和钙硅酸盐麻粒岩等组成。其中,含假蓝宝石泥质麻粒岩中石榴子石变斑晶和矽线石集合体(蓝晶石假象)周围分别发育峰期后由假蓝宝石+斜方辉石和假蓝宝石+堇青石后成合晶组成的典型减压结构。含石榴子石镁铁质麻粒岩中石榴子石变斑晶周围则发育峰期后由斜方辉石+斜长石后成合晶组成的典型白眼圈减压结构。不同研究者得出了具有不同超高温峰期条件、峰期前及峰期后演化历史、不同形式的顺时针变质P-T轨迹。对超高温变质事件发生的时间和构造背景的认识也存在较大分歧,有认为超高温变质事件发生于格林维尔期(~1000 Ma)并与碰撞造山和弧岩浆作用有关,也有研究认为发生于泛非期(~590 Ma或~530 Ma)并与普里兹造山及冈瓦纳大陆聚合有关。因此,为理清该区超高温麻粒岩的变质演化历史和构造背景,需要对其进一步进行详细深入的矿物组合-变质结构分析、P-T轨迹重建及高精度的锆石-独居石U-Pb年代学研究,并进行区域上对比。      

(Th+U)-Pb monazite ages from Al-Mg-rich metapelites,Rauer Group,east Antarctica

The age of high-temperature granulite-facies metamorphism (>~800–850 °C) in the Rauer Group, Prydz Bay, east Antarctica, is relevant for establishing the metamorphic and temporal architecture of the Prydz Bay mobile belt. Monazites within Al-Mg-rich granulite-facies metapelites give an overall tanh-estimated Pan-African age of ~511±4 Ma (2) using in-situ electron microprobe-based (Th+U)-Pb chronology, consistent with existing U-Pb zircon geochronology from the Rauer Group and Prydz Bay. Monazite occurs primarily within cordierite-bearing coronae and symplectic mineral reaction textures, and also within biotite. Pan-African granulite-facies metamorphism is preferred as responsible for the development of the cordierite-bearing microstructures, and probably (peak) coarse-grained assemblages, constrained using an integrated geologic, geochronologic and metamorphic framework. Thus, Pan-African granulite-facies metamorphism affected the Rauer Group, within the Prydz Bay mobile belt. Moreover, integrated monazite geochronology may be used to decipher the temporal metamorphic histories of potentially complex high-temperature terrains.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article if you access the article at . A link in the frame on the left on that page takes you directly to the supplementary material.Editorial responsibility: B. Collins     

Pressure–temperature evolution of metapelitic granulites in a polymetamorphic terrane: the Rauer Group, East Antarctica

Distinctive lithological associations and geological relationships, and initial geochronological results indicate the presence of an areally extensive region of reworked Archaean basement containing polymetamorphic granulites in the Rauer Group, East Antarctica.
Structurally early metapelites from within this reworked region preserve complex and varied metamorphic histories which largely pre-date and bear no relation to a Late Proterozoic metamorphism generally recognized in this part of East Antarctica. In particular, magnesian metapelite rafts from Long Point record extreme peak P–T conditions of 10–12 kbar and 100–1050°C, and an initial decompression to 8 kbar at temperatures of greater than 900°C. Initial garnet–orthopyroxene–sillimanite assemblages contain the most magnesian (and pyrope-rich) garnets ( X _Mg= 0.71) yet found in granulite facies rocks. A high-temperature decompressional P–T history is consistent with reaction textures in which the phase assemblages produced through garnet breakdown vary systematically with the initial garnet X _Mg composition, reflecting the intersection of different divariant reactions in rocks of varied composition as pressures decreased. This history is thought to relate to Archaean events, whereas a lower-temperature ( c. 750–800°C) decompression to 5 kbar reflects Late Proterozoic reworking of these relict assemblages.
The major Late Proterozoic ( c. 1000 Ma) granulite facies metamorphism is recorded in a suite of younger Fe-rich metapelites and associated paragneisses in which syn- to post-deformational decompression, through 2–4 kbar from maximum recorded P–T conditions of 7–9 kbar and 800–850°C, is constrained by geothermobarometry and reaction textures. This P–T evolution is thought to reflect rapid tectonic collapse of crust previously thickened through collision.     

U---Pb, Sr and Nd evidence for grenvillian and latest proterozoic tectonothermal activity in the spitsbergen caledonides, arctic ocean

Within the Caledonian complexes of northwestern Spitsbergen, high PT formations provide U---Pb zircon ages of 965±1 Ma of a metagranite and 955±1 Ma of a corona gabbro, indicating the influence of Grenvillian activity in the area. Various isotopic systems suggest that these rocks were partially derived by reworking of ancient crust (as old as Archaean). Eclogites and felsic agmatite indicate latest Proterozoic magmatic or metamorphic events (625₋₅⁺² and 661±2 Ma, respectively) by U---Pb zircon dating. The eclogitic metamorphism age is not fully constrained and ranges between 540 and 620 Ma; this occurred prior to the superimposed Caledonian metamorphism, indicated by a part of the K---Ar and Rb---Sr mineral cooling ages. The new data and other evidence of Precambrian tectonothermal activity on Svalbard suggest that the Early Palaeozoic and Late Proterozoic successions exposed elsewhere on Svalbard may also be underlain by Grenvillian or older basement rocks. Relationships to other Grenvillian and older terrains in the Arctic are reviewed.     

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.     

Geochemical comparison between Archaean and Proterozoic orthogneisses from the Nagssugtoqidian orogen,West Greenland

In the Palaeoproterozoic Nagssugtoqidian orogen of West Greenland reworked Archaean and juvenile Proterozoic orthogneisses occur side by side and are difficult to differentiate in the field. Archaean gneisses have tonalitic to trondhjemitic compositions with relatively low Al₂O₃ and Sr, and may have been derived from magmas formed by melting of basaltic or amphibolitic rocks at moderate pressures. The Proterozoic rocks are on average more mafic, and it is likely that they crystallised from mantle-derived magmas. Felsic varieties of the Proterozoic igneous suite probably formed from the original magma by fractional crystallisation, in which hornblende played an important role, and at SiO₂ > 65% Archaean and Proterozoic rocks have very similar major and trace element compositions (including REE), illustrating that different modes of origin may lead to very similar results.     

吉南夹皮沟金矿带鞍山群的解体及主要地质事件序列的建立

位于华北地台最北缘的夹皮沟金矿带太古代鞍山群主要由两类双峰式灰色片麻岩组成,其原岩均为ＴＴＧ类古侵入体夹拉斑玄武岩质暗色包体,岩石化学上与国外许多太古代高变地体中的灰色片麻岩相似,因而不能作为地层来对待。原“鞍山群”可重新划分为白山镇片麻岩、夹皮沟片麻岩和北西向糜棱岩带三大岩石单元,两类灰色片麻岩之间有一些相似处,但也有许多重要差别,可能代表了不同的构造地体。就现有同位素年代数据和野外产状建立了本区主要地质事件的序列。上述岩石单元的划分及主要地质事件序列的建立对本区构造属性的确定及地壳演化的研究有重要的意义。     

Stratigraphic and geochemical evidence for the depositional environment of the early archaean isua supracrustal belt,southern west greenland

The highly deformed c. 3800 Ma Isua supracrustal belt is a fragment of a more extensive Early Archaean sedimentary and volcanic succession intruded by and tectonically intercalated with tonalitic and granitic Amftsoq gneisses in the period 3800-3600 Ma. The supracrustal rocks recrystallised under amphibolite facies conditions between 3800 and 3600 Ma, in the Late Archaean and locally at c. 1800 Ma. Layered sequences of rock of sedimentary and probable volcanic origin form over 50% of the belt. Bodies of high MgAl basic rocks and ultramafic rocks were intruded into the layered sequences prior to isoclinal folding and intrusion of Amitsoq gneisses. The layered rocks which are < 1 km thick are divided into two sequences, that are in faulted contact with each other. The way-up of these sequences has been determined from facing-directions of locally-preserved graded layering in felsic metasediments at several localities. The overall upwards change in sedimentary succession is interpreted as showing change from dominantly basic to dominantly felsic volcanism which provided the major clastic component of the sediments. Clastic sedimentation took place against a background of chemical sedimentation, shown by interlayers of banded iron formation, metachert and calc-silicate rocks throughout the sequences. The felsic rocks locally preserve graded bedding and possible conglomerate structures, indicating deposition from turbidite flows and possibly as debris flows. Nodules in the felsic rocks contain structures interpreted as fiammé. There is an irregular enrichment in K₂O/Na₂O in many of the felsic rocks at constant SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ content, interpreted as owing to alteration of original andesitic to dacitic volcanic rocks. Banded iron formations locally contain conglomeratic structures suggesting sedimentary reworking, possibly under shallow water conditions. Lithological and geochemical characters of the clastic components of the supracrustal sequences are consistent with derivation from felsic and basic volcanic rocks and do not require a continental source.     

The Central Granites-Gneiss-Migmatite Belt (CGGMB) of Madagascar: the Eastern Neoproterozoic Suture of the East African Orogen

The northeastern part of Madagascar is characterized by Archaean to early Proterozoic rocks composed principally of Archaean granite and greenstone/amphibolite as well as reworked migmatite with subordinate Proterozoic paragneisses. The southern part is mostly occupied by Proterozoic rocks, composed mostly of Meso to Neo-Proterozoic and less metamorphic metasediments (Itremo Group) in the northwest, para- and ortho-gneisses in most other areas, with minor granitic gneisses with some Archaean components in the southeast. The north-northwest trending Central Granite-Gneiss-Migmatite Belt (CGGMB) is situated at the western margin of the Archaean-early Proterozoic terrain. The CGGMB is composed of granite, gneiss and migmatite with distinct lithologies and structures. They are: i) many types of granites including alkaline to mildly alkaline granites, and calc-alkaline granites; ii) batholitic granites, migmatitic granites and granite dyke swarm, iii) eclogite, and iv) the Ankazobe-Antananarivo-Fianarantsoa Virgation.

The CGGMB was formed by the collision of the palaeo-Dharwar Craton to the east and the East African Orogen to the west at ca. 820-720 Ma and suffered indentation by a part of the western part of the East African Orogen at ca. 530 Ma that produced the Ankazobe-Antananarivo-Fianarantsoa Virgation at the centre of the CGGMB. Thus, the CGGMB is proposed to be the continuation of the eastern suture between the palaeo Dharwar Craton and the East African Orogen, and carries the main feature of the Pan-African collisional event in Madagascar.     

A subdivision of the Precambrian of China

Precambrian rocks are widely distributed in China. The Precambrian is divided into two time units, i.e., the Archaean and Proterozoic Eon, each of these is separated into three chronological intervals, also with the status of eras, with the prefixes early, middle or late. The time boundary between the Archaean and Proterozoic Eon is placed at ～ 2500 Ma.According to the present isotopic data, the proposed subdivision for the Archaean of China is two-fold. The age of the Fuping Group is younger than 2800–2900 Ma, and that of the Qianxi Group and the corresponding stratigraphic units of eastern Liaoning are older than 2800 Ma, so that 2800+ Ma is selected as the boundary between the early—middle and late Archaean.Based on the representative stratigraphic units, the Wutai and Huto Groups, and an intervening major unconformity formed by the Wutaiian orogeny at 2200–2300 Ma, the early Proterozoic is further divided into two periods, with a time demarcation at 2200+ Ma. A major episode of orogeny known as the “Luliangian Movement” occurred at the end of the early Proterozoic at ～ 1900 Ma. This disturbance was very extensive and is, in a way, responsible for the difference in geological conditions between the lower and middle—upper Proterozoic in China. The boundary (1900 Ma) that relates to the Luliangian Movement is more important than the boundary corresponding to the age of 1600 Ma, which is recommended as the time boundary between Proterozoic I and II, so we propose to use 1900 Ma as the boundary between the early and middle Proterozoic in China.The time boundary between the middle Proterozoic, including the Changcheng System and the Jixian System, and the late Proterozoic, which is composed of the Qingbaikou and Sinian Systems, is ～ 1000 Ma. The age for the boundary between Cambrian and Precambrian, based upon the recent isochron data, is inferred to be 610 Ma.     

Preliminary magnetic susceptibility characteristics of the Bharati promontory (Grovness Peninsula), Larsemann Hills,Prydz Bay region,East Antarctica

The coastal tract of the Prydz Bay region in the East Antarctica exposes Archean to Late Proterozoic magmatic and medium- to high grade (amphibolite — granulite facies) metamorphic rocks. The para- and ortho gneisses from the Bharati promontory (Grovness Peninsula) forming a part of the Larsemann Hills in the southern segment of Prydz Bay were investigated for magnetic characterization. In this small peninsula the upper amphibolite facies gneisses occur as NE-trending bands. The para-gneisses show a range of mineral assemblages (± cordierite ± sillimanite ±garnet) while ortho-gneiss mineralogy includes quartz, feldspar, biotite, garnet. All the lithological units in Bharati promontory contain ubiquitous magnetite, however, with wide variation in the volume proportions. This has resulted in a wide range in magnetic susceptibility (10^?4 to 10^?2 SI). Magnetic foliations show a correspondence with the general trend of lithounits (050° NE) and define a resulting geometry of mainly D₁ and D₂ foliations. The magnetic lineations show a preferred orientation with moderate easterly plunge (mean vector 093/36). The findings have implications for the magnetic field survey because such fabrics would impart a strong horizontal component of induced magnetization.     

Mesozoic age of the uril formation of the Amur Group, Lesser Khingan terrane of the Central Asian foldbelt: Results of U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic studies of detrital zircons

U-Pb (LA-ICPMS) geochronological studies established the minimum age of detrital zircons from metasedimentary rocks of the Uril Formation of the Amur Group of ～240 Ma, which approximately corresponds to the lower age boundary of formation of their protoliths. The upper boundary of accumulation of sedimentary rocks of this formation is governed by the age of superimposed structural-metamorphic transformations (220–210 Ma). It follows that the age of protoliths of metasedimentary rocks of the Uril Formation is Triassic in contrast to the previously suggested Early Precambrian age. At the same time, previous estimations of the Nd model age of metasedimentary rocks of the Tulovchikha Formation of the Amur Group and intruding gabbroic rocks are 1.7 and 0.5 Ga, respectively. In other words, the age of this formation is 1.7–0.5 Ga. All of this indicates a combination of sedimentary and volcanic rocks of different ages in the section of the Amur Group. Judging from the Lu-Hf isotopic-geochemical studies of zircons, the major sources of protoliths for metasedimentary rocks of the Uril Formation are Neoproterozoic igneous rocks and also Early and Late Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic igneous rocks, the formation of which was related to the reworking of the Neo- and Mesoproterozoic continental crust.     

Tectono-metamorphic and geochronologic studies from Sandmata complex,northwest Indian shield: Implications on exhumation of late-palaeoproterozoic granulites in an archaean-early palaeoproterozoic granite-gneiss terrane

Several bodies of granulites comprising charnockite, charno-enderbite, pelitic and calc-silicate rocks occur within an assemblage of granite gneiss/granitoid, amphibolite and metasediments (henceforth described as banded gneisses) in the central part of the Aravalli Mountains, northwestern India. The combined rock assemblage was thought to constitute an Archaean basement (BGC-II) onto which the successive Proterozoic cover rocks were deposited. Recent field studies reveal the occurrence of several bodies of late-Palaeoproterozoic (1725 and 1621 Ma) granulites within the banded gneisses, which locally show evidence of migmatization at c. 1900 Ma coeval with the Aravalli Orogeny. We report single zircon ‘evaporation’ ages together with information from LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon datings to confirm an Archaean (2905 — ca. 2500 Ma) age for the banded gneisses hosting the granulites. The new geochronological data, therefore, suggest a polycyclic evolution for the BGC-II terrane for which the new term Sandmata Complex is proposed. The zircon ages suggest that the different rock formations in the Sandmata Complex are neither entirely Palaeoproterozoic in age, as claimed in some studies nor are they exclusively Archaean as was initially thought. Apart from distinct differences in the age of rocks, tectono-metamorphic breaks are observed in the field between the Archaean banded gneisses and the Palaeoproterozoic granulites. Collating the data on granulite ages with the known tectono-stratigraphic framework of the Aravalli Mountains, we conclude that the evolution and exhumation of granulites in the Sandmata Complex occurred during a tectono-magmatic/metamorphic event, which cannot be linked to known orogenic cycles that shaped this ancient mountain belt. We present some field and geochronologic evidence to elucidate the exhumation history and tectonic emplacement of the late Palaeoproterozoic, high P-T granulites into the Archaean banded gneisses. The granulite-facies metamorphism has been correlated with the thermal perturbation during the asymmetric opening of Delhi basins at around 1700 Ma.     

The application of single zircon evaporation and model Nd ages to the interpretation of polymetamorphic terrains: an example from the Proterozoic mobile belt of south India

The technique of single zircon dating from the thermal evaporation of ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb (Kober 1986, 1987) provides a means of dating successive periods of growth and nucleation of zircons in polymetamorphic assemblages. In contrast Nd model ages may provide a measure of the period of crustal residency for the sample or its protolith. These two techniques have been combined to elucidate the tectonic history of the Proterozoic mobile belt of southern India, exposed south of the Palghat-Cauvery Shear Zone that marks the southern boundary of the Archaean craton of Karnataka. The two main tectonic units of this mobile belt comprise the Madurai and Trivandrum Blocks, both of which are characterised by massive charnockite uplands and low-lying polymetamorphic metasedimentary belts that have undergone a complex tectonic history throughout the Proterozoic. Evidence for early Palaeoproterozoic magmatism is restricted to the Madurai Block where single zircon evaporation ages from a metagranite (2436 ± 4 Ma) are similar to model Nd ages from a range of lithologies suggesting crustal growth at that time. The Trivandrum Block, to the south of the Achankovil shear zone, is comprised of the Kerala Khondalite Belt, the Nagercoil charnockites and the Achankovil metasediments. Single zircon evaporation ages, together with conventional zircon and garnet chronometry, suggest that all three units underwent upper-amphibolite facies metamorphism at ∼1800 Ma, an event unrecorded in the metagranite from the Madurai Block. This implies that the Madurai and Trivandrum blocks represent distinct terrains throughout the Palaeoproterozoic. Model Nd ages from the Achankovil metasediments are much younger (1500–1200 Ma) than those from the adjacent Kerala Khondalite Belt and Madurai Blocks (3000–2100 Ma), but there is no evidence for zircon growth in these metasediments during the Mesoproterozoic. Hence the comparatively young model Nd ages of the metasediments are indicative of a mixed provenance rather than a discrete period of crustal growth. Zircon overgrowths from the Madurai Block (547 ± 17 Ma) and Achankovil metasediments (530 ± 21 Ma) suggest that all tectonic units of the Proterozoic mobile belt of South India shared the same metamorphic history from the early Palaeozoic. This event has been recognised in the basement lithologies of Sri Lanka and East Antarctica, confirming that the constituent terrains of East Gondwana had assembled by this time. Received: 10 October 1995 / Accepted: 27 October 1997     

海南岛古元宙变质基底性质和地壳增生的Nd、Pb同位素制约

基于海南地壳各类型岩石的63个样品Nd和Pb同位素分析数据,研究了海南地块元古宙地壳变质基底的时代、特征和演化。研究结果表明,海南岛元古宙变质基底成熟度低,基底变质岩系的母岩物质来源于长期亏损的地幔源区,主要形成时代为古元古宙晚期－新元古宙;不同时代花岗岩具有较高的εNd(t)值和较低的Nd模式年龄,主要形成于幔源物质参与下的或含地幔成分较多的初生地壳再循环。地壳增生具幕式增生的特点,并在2．0Ga、1.7Ga、1.2Ga出现高峰;Pb同位素组成既不同于扬子地块又不同于华夏地块,介于两地块之间,和Nd同位素特征具有一致或耦合关系。结合海南岛地质特征,初步认为不能单纯地将海南岛基底理解为华南地块统一南延部分或是华夏古陆的部分,可能为不同的构造块体。     

Paragenetic and mineral-chemical relationships in orthoamphibole-bearing gneisses from Enderby Land, east Antarctica: a record of Proterozoic uplift

Abstract Polymetamorphic orthoamphibole-bearing gneisses from the vicinity of shear zones in Casey Bay, Enderby Land, Antarctica, record both the overprinting of Archaean granulite lithologies by Proterozoic metamorphism and the subsequent evolution of the latter episode during localized deformation.
Mineral chemistry and zoning relationships in orthoamphibole-garnet-kyanite-quartz and later orthoamphibole-garnet-cordierite-quartz assemblages are used together with interpretation of reaction and corona textures to constrain the Proterozoic pressure-temperature path experienced by the rocks. Consideration of reaction topologies, P-T-X(Fe-Mg-A1) relationships in orthoamphibole-bearing assemblages, and standard geothermobarometry indicate that the gneisses underwent a near-isothermal decompression P-T history (steep positive dP/dT) from ± 8 kbar and 700°C to <5.5kbar and 650°C. This uplift path is correlated with the general effects of Rayner Complex metamorphism and deformation which occurred after 1100 Ma in a major erogenic belt south of Casey Bay.     

内蒙集宁群变质岩系U-Pb和Rb-Sr协同位素年龄的讨论

集宁群变质岩系按其岩性共分上、下二个岩组;下岩组以二辉斜长麻粒岩,紫苏斜长片麻岩为主,原岩为基性-中酸性火山岩-沉积岩建造;上岩组主要由硅线石榴钾长片麻岩,透辉石大理岩等组成,原岩为含碳半粘土质岩及碳酸盐建造。变质程度已达麻粒岩相,形成温度800—900℃,压力(8-10)×108Pa。采用锆石U-Pb法和全岩Rb-Sr法进行变质岩的年龄测定文中介绍了集宁群上、下岩组锆石原岩样和锆石的特征以及年龄的测定方法、测定的原始数据并对测得结果进行了讨论。得出集宁群的最大年龄值为2467±2554Ma(下岩组),经