Geology and geochemistry of the Neoproterozoic Tuludimtu Ophiolite suite,western Ethiopia

The Kemashi Domain, a lithotectonic subdivision of the Neoproterozoic Tuludimtu Orogenic Belt of western Ethiopia, consists of a suite of mafic–ultramafic volcanic and plutonic rocks, and interbedded deep marine sediments, mainly graphite-bearing pelitic schists and phyllites, and graphitic quartzites and cherts. Pillow structures indicate submarine extrusion of the volcanics, whilst partings within some of the basalts may represent sheeted dykes. An associated mélange unit, composed of blocks of the same rock types as above, set in a fine schistose matrix, also occurs. This assemblage is interpreted as a dismembered ophiolite—the Tuludimtu Ophiolite—formed in a deep oceanic environment. A turbiditic sequence is also present in the domain.The Tuludimtu Ophiolite underwent intense compression during the Neoproterozoic Pan African Orogeny, resulting in early recumbent folding and westwards-directed thrusting, followed by reactivation of steeper zones of the thrusts as N–S orogen-parallel strike-slip shear zones, accompanied by refolding of early folds into upright horizontal folds. This was followed by development of deep crustal NNW–SSE orogen-transecting shear zones, which were reactivated as brittle faults during orogenic collapse of the Tuludimtu Belt. Metamorphism to lower greenschist facies grade accompanied orogenesis.Major, trace and REE geochemistry of volcanic and some plutonic igneous rocks, has been employed to define the tectonic setting of the terrane. Tectonic discrimination diagrams, utilising REE and HFSE, indicate a wide distribution spectrum but with the majority of samples plotting in arc basalt and MORB fields, suggesting derivation from sources similar to N-MORB and depleted MORB (typical of many arc basalts). Most of the samples exhibit a slight depletion of immobile elements, relative to N-MORB values and also show depletion of Zr, Ti, Nb and Y, implying that their source had been depleted by an earlier melting episode. Overall, the geochemistry typifies spreading centre basalts with some compositional features transitional to those of arc basalts, a characteristic of back-arc basalts.Lithological association, structural style and geochemistry of the rock assemblage in the Kemashi Domain thus define an ophiolite interpreted to have formed within a deep marine environment. This is thought to have been due to rifting of continental crust within a back-arc basin regime in a continental margin type extensional setting. Comparison with other ophiolitic terranes within the Arabian Nubian Shield, suggests that many of these terranes may represent back-arc basin type tectonic settings, similar to the Kemashi Domain. This supports the multi-stage accretion model for closure of the Mozambique Ocean, for which the Pacific Ocean may be a present day analogue.     

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

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

Isotopic constraints on crustal architecture and Permo‐Triassic tectonics in New Guinea: Possible links with eastern Australia

New U–Pb zircon ages and Sr–Nd isotopic data for Triassic igneous and metamorphic rocks from northern New Guinea help constrain models of the evolution of Australia's northern and eastern margin. These data provide further evidence for an Early to Late Triassic volcanic arc in northern New Guinea, interpreted to have been part of a continuous magmatic belt along the Gondwana margin, through South America, Antarctica, New Zealand, the New England Fold Belt, New Guinea and into southeast Asia. The Early to Late Triassic volcanic arc in northern New Guinea intrudes high‐grade metamorphic rocks probably resulting from Late Permian to Early Triassic (ca 260–240 Ma) orogenesis, as recorded in the New England Fold Belt. Late Triassic magmatism in New Guinea (ca 220 Ma) is related to coeval extension and rifting as a precursor to Jurassic breakup of the Gondwana margin. In general, mantle‐like Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of mafic Palaeozoic to Tertiary granitoids appear to rule out the presence of a North Australian‐type Proterozoic basement under the New Guinea Mobile Belt. Parts of northern New Guinea may have a continental or transitional basement whereas adjacent areas are underlain by oceanic crust. It is proposed that the post‐breakup margin comprised promontories of extended Proterozoic‐Palaeozoic continental crust separated by embayments of oceanic crust, analogous to Australia's North West Shelf. Inferred movement to the south of an accretionary prism through the Triassic is consistent with subduction to the south‐southwest beneath northeast Australia generating arc‐related magmatism in New Guinea and the New England Fold Belt.     

A Back-arc Palaeotectonic Setting for the Augaro Neoproterozoic Magmatic Rocks of Western Eritrea

The Augaro volcano-sedimentary assemblages of western Eritrea are part of the Neoproterozoic, N-S trending belt of low-grade volcano-sedimentary and associated plutonic rocks. In contrast to the volcanic-dominated oceanic-arc assemblages in central Eritrea, the predominant rock types in the west are supracrustal sequences of sedimentary origin with subordinate volcanic rocks. These Augaro supracrustal rocks are overlain, unconformably, by a basin-fill metasedimentary succession known as the Gulgula Group. The Augaro metavolcanic rocks are tholeiitic and range in composition from basalt to basaltic andesite. Comparison of trace element characteristics and N-MORB-normalised spidergrams of these rocks with those of modern volcanic environments and age-comparable metavolcanic rocks of known tectonic association from the Arabian-Nubian Shield suggest that the volcanic assemblages from western Eritrea were generated in a back-arc tectonic setting.

Single zircon Pb-Pb evaporation and vapour-transfer U-Pb analyses of magmatic zircons from pre/syn-tectonic granites yield a mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 849±20 Ma and an upper concordia intercept age of 849±26 Ma. These ages are interpreted to represent the time of major magmatism in western Eritrea and are comparable to ages of early arc magmatism in central and northern Eritrea and in the southern Nubian Shield. Initial eNd values and initial Sr isotope ratios of whole-rock samples of magmatic rocks calculated for an age of 850 Ma range from +4.0 to +7.1 and 0.7026 to 0.7037, respectively. Single zircon ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages, initial eNd value and Sr isotope ratio for a granitic clast in the Gulgula metaconglomerate suggest that the source area for the Gulgula metasedimentary rocks is similar to the surrounding Neoproterozoic rocks of western Eritrea.     

Age and geotectonic setting of Late Neoproterozoic juvenile mafic gneisses and associated paragneisses from the Ribeira belt (SE Brazil) based on geochemistry and Sm–Nd data — Implications on Gondwana assembly

Mafic gneisses and associated paragneisses from the Cabo Frio Tectonic Domain in the southeastern part of the Ribeira Belt, along the coast of Rio de Janeiro State in southeast Brazil, were subjected to a geochemical and Sm–Nd isotope study. Four lithotypes are distinguished: aluminous paragneisses (mainly sillimanite–kyanite–garnet–biotite gneiss), calcsilicate lenses, quartzo–feldspathic metasedimentary gneisses and mafic–ultramafic lenses. The whole-rock major and trace, including rare earth element distributions in the mafic–ultramafic intercalations indicate that derivation from subalkaline basalt/gabbro of tholeiitic affinity with E-MORB signature from a non-subduction environment. These mafic rocks have positive ε_Nd(t) and T_DM of 1.1 Ga. The metasedimentary rocks have negative ε_Nd(t) and T_DM of 1.7 Ga. A Sm–Nd whole rock isochron of mafic rocks yielded an age of 604 ± 38 Ma for the crystallization. This matches with the age of some detrital zircon grains from the paragneisses. The depositional basin, named Buzios–Palmital, was active at least until 620 Ma (age of the youngest detrital zircon) and was subsequently deformed and metamorphosed at ca. 525 Ma (age of metamorphic zircons) during the Buzios Orogeny. It is interpreted as a back arc basin with relation to the 630 Ma magmatic arc of the Oriental Terrane in the Ribeira Belt to the NW. However, after 600 Ma, the Buzios–Palmital basin changed to an active margin setting because the arc collided with the continental margin and the subduction shifted to the back arc environment. By 610 Ma, most of the Brasiliano belts registered collisional events related to multiple convergent blocks. The stress fields and paleocontinent shapes would have allowed the occurrence of extensional areas with not only sedimentary deposition but also ocean floor spreading. Its remnants are preserved in this Brazilian coastal region as an ancient suture, reworked intensively during the Mesozoic rifting events. The reconnaissance of Late Neoproterozoic basins in the Brasiliano–Pan-African belts is of major importance to partially unravel the final amalgamation events of SW Gondwana. Considering that the Buzios–Palmital basin rock units are mostly covered by the marginal Atlantic basins, it is possible that other evidence could be preserved in the coastal regions of SW-Africa and SE-South America.     

Tectonic evolution of Early Paleozoic island-arc systems and continental crust formation in the Caledonides of Kazakhstan and the North Tien Shan

The extended Saryarka and Shyngyz-North Tien Shan volcanic belts that underwent secondary deformation are traced in the Caledonides of Kazakhstan and the North Tien Shan. These belts are composed of igneous rocks pertaining to Early Paleozoic island-arc systems of various types and the conjugated basins with oceanic crust. The Saryarka volcanic belt has a complex fold-nappe structure formed in the middle Arenigian-middle Llanvirnian as a result of the tectonic juxtaposition of Early-Middle Cambrian and Late Cambrian-Early Ordovician complexes of ensimatic island arcs and basins with oceanic crust. The Shyngyz-North Tien Shan volcanic belt is characterized by a rather simple fold structure and consists of Middle-Late Ordovician volcanic and plutonic associations of ensialic island arcs developing on heterogeneous basement, which is composed of complexes belonging to the Saryarka belt and Precambrian sialic massifs. The structure and isotopic composition of the Paleozoic igneous complexes provide evidence for the heterogeneous structure of the continental crust in various segments of the Kazakh Caledonides. The upper crust of the Shyngyz segment consists of Early Paleozoic island-arc complexes and basins with oceanic crust related to the Saryarka and Shyngyz-North Tien Shan volcanic belts in combination with Middle and Late Paleozoic continental igneous rocks. The deep crustal units of this segment are dominated by mafic rocks of Early Paleozoic suprasubduction complexes. The upper continental crust of the Stepnyak segment is composed of Middle-Late Ordovician island-arc complexes of the Shyngyz-North Tien Shan volcanic belt and Early Ordovician rift-related volcanics. The middle crustal units are composed of Riphean, Paleoproterozoic, and probably Archean sialic rocks, whereas the lower crustal units are composed of Neoproterozoic mafic rocks.     

东南极晚新元古—早古生代构造热事件及其在冈瓦纳超大陆重建中的意义

在东南极大陆内部及边缘发育3条晚新元古代—早古生代造山带,即东非造山带（南延部分）、普里兹造山带和罗斯造山带。东非造山带的南延部分主要出露于吕措—霍尔姆湾—毛德王后地—沙克尔顿岭地区,其内发育蛇绿岩、榴辉岩相超镁铁岩及逆冲—推覆构造,因而被解释为东、西冈瓦纳陆块拼合的缝合线。罗斯造山带主要出露于横贯南极山脉地区,其内保存有大陆裂解、洋壳俯冲和地体增生的地质纪录,代表冈瓦纳超大陆的活动大陆边缘。普里兹造山带主要出露于普里兹湾和登曼冰川,因其位于从前假设的统一东冈瓦纳陆块的内部,加之缺少蛇绿混杂岩、岛弧增生杂岩和高压变质岩（如蓝片岩或榴辉岩）等与大洋板块俯冲作用密切相关的岩石,所以当前存在着碰撞造山成因和板内改造成因两种不同的认识。普里兹造山带构造性质的确定不仅决定了冈瓦纳超大陆的汇聚过程和方式,也制约了罗迪尼亚超大陆的形成和演化过程。因此,开展普里兹造山带的研究对于揭示新元古代—早古生代的全球构造演化具有重要的科学意义。     

The Mount Wright Arc: A Cambrian subduction system developed on the continental margin of East Gondwana,Koonenberry Belt,eastern Australia

The Mount Wright Arc, in the Koonenberry Belt in eastern Australia, is associated with two early to middle Cambrian lithostratigraphic groups developed onto the Late Neoproterozoic volcanic passive margin of East Gondwana. The Gnalta Group includes a calc-alkaline basalt-andesite-dacite suite (Mount Wright Volcanics), interpreted to represent the volcanic component of the arc. Volcaniclastic Gnalta Group rocks now buried in the Bancannia Trough represent the continental back-arc, developed immediately behind the arc in a manner analogous to the modern Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand. East of the Gnalta Group is the Ponto Group, a deep marine sedimentary package that includes tholeiitic lavas (Bittles Tank Volcanics) and felsic tuffs, interpreted as part of a fore-arc sequence. The configuration of these units suggests the Mount Wright Arc developed on continental crust in response to west-dipping subduction along the East Gondwana margin, in contrast with some models for Cambrian convergence on other sections of the Delamerian Orogen, which invoke east-dipping subduction and arc accretion by arc-continent collision.This convergent margin was deformed by the middle Cambrian Delamerian Orogeny, which involved initial co-axial shortening followed by sinistral transpression, and oroclinal folding around the edge of the Curnamona Province.     

Geochemical constraints on the evolution of mafic and felsic rocks in the Bathani volcanic and volcano-sedimentary sequence of Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex

The Bathani volcanic and volcano-sedimentary (BVS) sequence is a volcanic and volcano-sedimentary sequence, best exposed near Bathani village in Gaya district of Bihar. It is located in the northern fringe of the Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex (CGGC). The volcano-sedimentary unit comprises of garnet-mica schist, rhyolite, tuff, banded iron formation (BIF) and chert bands with carbonate rocks as enclaves within the rhyolite and the differentiated volcanic sequence comprises of rhyolite, andesite, pillow basalt, massive basalt, tuff and mafic pyroclasts. Emplacement of diverse felsic and mafic rocks together testifies for a multi-stage and multi-source magmatism for the area. The presence of pillow basalt marks the eruption of these rocks in a subaqueous environment. Intermittent eruption of mafic and felsic magmas resulted in the formation of rhyolite, mafic pyroclasts, and tuff. Mixing and mingling of the felsic and mafic magmas resulted in the hybrid rock andesite. Granites are emplaced later, cross-cutting the volcanic sequence and are probably products of fractional crystallization of basaltic magma. The present work characterizes the geochemical characteristics of the magmatic rocks comprising of basalt, andesite, rhyolite, tuff, and granite of the area. Tholeiitic trend for basalt and calc-alkaline affinities of andesite, rhyolite and granite is consistent with their generation in an island arc, subduction related setting. The rocks of the BVS sequence probably mark the collision of the northern and southern Indian blocks during Proterozoic period. The explosive submarine volcanism may be related to culmination of the collision of the aforementioned blocks during the Neoproterozoic (1.0 Ga) as the Grenvillian metamorphism is well established in various parts of CGGC.     

Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic transition: Geochemistry, provenance and tectonic setting of clastic sedimentary rocks on the SE margin of the Yangtze Block, South China

The SE margin of the Yangtze Block, South China is composed of the Mesoproterozoic Lengjiaxi Group and the Neoproterozoic Banxi Group, with Sinian- and post-Sinian-cover. A geochemical study was undertaken on the Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic clastic sediments in order to delineate the characteristics of the sediment source and to constrain the tectonic development and crustal evolution of South China.Our results show that the Mesoproterozoic clastic sediments have a dominant component derived from a metavolcanic-plutonic terrane, with a large of mafic component. There is a minor contribution of mafic rocks and older upper crustal rocks to the provenance. Strong chemical weathering in the source area occurred before transport and deposition. The provenance for the Neoproterozoic clastic sediments was most likely old upper continental crust composed of tonalite–granodiorite-dominated, tonalite–granodiorite–granite source rocks, which had undergone strong weathering and/or recycling. A minor component of older K-rich granitic plutonic rocks and younger volcanogenic bimodal rocks is also indicated.Based on the regional geology, the geochemical data and the inferred provenance, the Mesoproterozoic Group is interpreted as a successive sedimentary sequence, deposited in an extensional/rifting back-arc basin, adjacent to a >1.80 Ga continental margin arc-terrane. The progressive extension/rifting of the back-arc basin was followed by increasing subsidence and regional uplift during continental marginal arc-continent (the Cathaysian Block) collision at 1.0 Ga caused the deposition of the Neoproterozoic Group into back-arc to retro-arc foreland basin. Therefore, the depositional setting of the Proterozoic clastic sediments and associated volcanic rocks within the back-arc basin reflected basin development from an active continental margin (back-arc basin), with extension or rifting of the back-arc basin, to a passive continental margin.     

The Granulite-Facies Rocks of the Northern Segment of the Ribeira Belt, Eastern Minas Gerais, SE Brazil

Granulite rocks are exposed in eastern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Its early neoproterozoic evolution is characterised by a history of an active continental margin, including the accretion of suspect terranes. The Manhuaçu Terrane is one of those which is represented by a granitic continental plutonic arc and terrigeneous metasediments reflecting a continental margin. A metasedimentary gneiss belt at this margin with shallow to deep marine clastic lithologies as well as metavolcanic and metaplutonic mafic rocks was interpreted as an extensive tectonic segment with suspect development in a back-arc setting. Fragments of a volcanic arc are identified and interpreted as an evidence for a probable island-arc domain. The granulites occur as massive rocks as well as high-grade gneisses and show lithological, structural and metamorphic attributes consistent with their host belt type. In the western portion granulites derived from sedimentary protoliths, have been deposited, deformed and metamorphosed together with the mafic intrusions and as well as with their crystallization. Regional uplift exposed these rocks probably immediately after the metamorphism. In these belts the metamorphic grade is not uniform, especially where uplifting has exposed oblique cross sections over the granulitic rocks. Geothermobarometric calculations indicate that the granulites has been generated under T conditions between 800 and 990 ± 50 C and from medium (4.8 kb) to relatively high (10.0 kb) pressures.     

Genesis of the Shear Zone-related Gold Vein Mineralization of the Lega Dembi Gold Deposit, Adola Gold Field, Southern Ethiopia

The Lega Dembi Primary Gold Deposit in southern Ethiopia is related to the shear zone-hosted vein in the Neoproterozoic metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary succession of greenschist- to amphibolite-facies metamorphism. The rocks consists of a sequence of biotite-feldspar-quartz schists, carbonaceous mica-schists, amphibolites and basic to ultrabasic rocks. This unit is separated from a foot wall biotite gneiss by a major shear zone. The ore bodies are hosted in the volcano-sedimentary sequence and consist of swarms of quartz veins, lenses, and stockworks that propagated along mesoscale ductile to brittle-ductile shear zones.The mineralization is defined by a complex paragenesis of gold in association with Cu-Pb-Zn-Fe sulphides, tellurides and sulphosalts. The presence of Ni-bearing minerals in amphibolites of the host sequence, together with the ore mineral association, suggests an origin related to mafic volcanism.     

Propagating rift tectonics of a Caledonian marginal basin: Multi-stage seafloor spreading history of the Solund-Stavfjord ophiolite in western Norway

The Late Ordovician Solund-Stavfjord ophiolite in western Norway represents a remnant of the Iapetus oceanic lithosphere that developed in a Caledonian marginal basin. The ophiolite contains three structural domains that display distinctively different crustal architecture that reflects the mode and nature of magmatic and tectonic processes operated during the multi-stage seafloor spreading evolution of this marginal basin. Domain I includes, from top to bottom, an extensive extrusive sequence, a transition zone consisting of dike swarms with screens of pillow breccias, a sheeted dike complex, and plutonic rocks composed mainly of isotropic gabbro and microgabbro. Extrusive rocks include pillow lavas, pillow breccias, and massive sheet flows and are locally sheared and mineralized, containing epidosites, sulfide-sulfate deposits, Fe-oxides, and anhydrite veins, reminiscent of hydrothermal alteration zones on the seafloor along modern mid-ocean ridges. A fossil lava lake in the northern part of the ophiolite consists of a >65-m-thick volcanic sequence composed of a number of separate massive lava units interlayered with pillow lavas and pillow breccia horizons. The NE-trending sheeted dike complex contains multiple intrusions of metabasaltic dikes with one- and two-sided chilled margins and displays a network of both dike-parallel normal and dike-perpendicular oblique-slip faults of oceanic origin. The dike-gabbro boundary is mutually intrusive and represents the root zone of the sheeted dike complex. The internal architecture and rock types of Domain I are analogous to those of intermediate-spreading oceanic crust at modern mid-ocean ridge environments. The ophiolitic units in Domain II include mainly sheeted dikes and plutonic rocks with a general NW structural grain and are commonly faulted against each other, although primary intrusive relations between the sheeted dikes and the gabbros are locally well preserved. The exposures of this domain occur only in the northern and southern parts of the ophiolite complex and are separated by the ENE-trending Domain III, in which isotropic to pegmatitic gabbros and dike swarms are plastically deformed along ENE-striking sinistral shear zones. These shear zones, which locally include fault slivers of serpentinite intrusions, are crosscut by N20°E-striking undeformed basaltic dike swarms that contain xenoliths of gabbroic material. The NW-trending sheeted dike complex in the northern part of Domain II curves into an ENE orientation approaching Domain III in the south. The anomalous nature of deformed crust in Domain III is interpreted to have developed within an oceanic fracture zone or transform fault boundary.REE chemistry of representative extrusive and dike rocks from all three domains indicates N- to E-MORB affinities of their magmas with high Th/Ta ratios that are characteristic of subduction zone environments. The magmatic evolution of Domain I encompasses closed-system fractional crystallization of high-Mg basaltic magmas in small ephemeral chambers, which gradually interconnected to form large chambers in which mixing of primary magmas with more evolved and fractionated magma caused resetting of magma compositions through time. The compositional range from high-Mg basalts to ferrobasalts within Domain I is reminiscent of modern propagating rift basalts. We interpret the NE-trending Domain I as a remnant of an intermediate-spread rift system that propagated northeastwards (in present coordinate system) into a pre-existing oceanic crust, which was developed along the NW-trending doomed rift (Domain II) in the marginal basin. The N20°E dikes laterally intruding into the anomalous oceanic crust in Domain III represent the tip of the rift propagator. The inferred propagating rift tectonics of the Solund-Stavfjord ophiolite is similar to the evolutionary history of the modern Lau back-arc basin in the SW Pacific and suggests a complex magmatic evolution of the Caledonian marginal basin via multi-stage seafloor spreading tectonics.     

Zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopes and whole rock geochemistry of magmatic rocks from the Posht-e-Badam Block: A key to tectonomagmatic evolution of Central Iran

The Posht-e-Badam Block in Central Iran likely formed part of the Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS). However, its Phanerozoic history is not well constrained. Zircon UPb ages, Hf isotopic compositions and whole-rock geochemistry of igneous rocks from the Bafq district were determined to constrain their source and tectonomagmatic evolution. Two magmatic cycles are identified; early Paleozoic events associated with the Cadomian Orogeny resulting from Proto-Tethys subduction beneath the northern margin of Gondwana, and Cenozoic volcanism related to the Alpine-Himalayan Orogeny and closure of Neo-Tethys. The main plutonic and volcanic rocks record early Cambrian ages. The Zarigan, Narigan and Chahcholeh granitoids, volcanic rocks of the lower Cambrian volcano-sedimentary unit (CVSU) and the Zarigan gabbro have remarkably similar ages of 536 to 528 Ma. The Zarigan and Chahcholeh granitoids and volcanic rocks of the CVSU have positive εHf(t) values of 1.4 to 9.3, with Hf model ages (Hf-T_DM^c) of 715–1034 Ma. They are mostly A₂-types, although some samples show affinity to A₁- and I-types, suggesting an asthenospheric mantle source, modified by various amounts of crustal assimilation. The Narigan granite records εHf(t) values of −3.8 - 3.1, with Hf-T_DM^c of 970 to 1255 Ma and displays I-type characteristics, formed through mixing of mantle-derived melts with predominantly Neoproterozoic crust. All rocks were generated in a post-collisional setting. The Esfordy syenite and mafic dikes are younger and essentially coeval, with weighted mean ages of 457 ± 5 Ma and 451–448 Ma, respectively. The Esfordy syenite has A₁-type characteristics, indicating possible derivation in an intraplate rift environment and was likely plume-related. The mafic dikes have OIB-like characteristics. Mafic rocks related to closure of Neo-Tethys include the ca. 23 Ma Bahabad diorite that records εHf(t) values of −16.8 to 10.1 (Hf-T_DM^c = 241–283 Ma) and an OIB-like signature, indicating assimilation of crustal material by asthenospheric mantle-derived melt.     

Petrography and major element geochemistry of the Permo-Triassic sandstones, central India: Implications for provenance in an intracratonic pull-apart basin

Detrital mode, composition of feldspars and heavy minerals, and major element chemistry of sandstones from the Permo-Triassic succession in the intracratonic Satpura Gondwana basin, central India have been used to investigate provenance. The Talchir Formation, the lowermost unit of the succession, comprises glacio-marine and glacio-fluvial deposits. The rest of the succession (base to top) comprising the Barakar, Motur, Bijori, Pachmarhi and Denwa formations, largely represent variety of fluvial depositional systems with minor fluvio-deltaic and fluvio-lacustrine sedimentation under a variety of climatic conditions including cold, warm, arid, sub-humid and semi-arid. QFL compositions of the sandstones indicate a predominantly continental block provenance and stable cratonic to fault-bounded basement uplift tectonic setting. Compositional maturity of sandstones gradually increases upwards from the Early Permian Talchir to the Middle Triassic Denwa but is punctuated by a sharp peak of increased maturity in the Barakar sandstones. This temporal change in maturity was primarily controlled by temporal variation in fault-induced basement uplift in the craton and was also influenced by climatic factors. Plots of different quartz types suggest plutonic source rocks for the Talchir sandstones and medium-to high-rank metamorphic plus plutonic source rocks for the younger sandstones. Composition of alkali feldspars in the Permo-Triassic sandstones and in different Precambrian rocks suggests sediment derivation from felsic igneous and metasedimentary rocks. Compositions of plagioclase in the Talchir and Bijori sandstones are comparable with those of granite, acid volcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Precambrian basement suggesting the latter as possible source. Rare presence of high-K plagioclase in the Talchir sandstones, however, indicates minor contribution from volcanic source rock. Exclusively plagioclase-bearing metasedimentary rock, tonalite gneiss and mafic rocks are the probable sources of plagioclase in the Upper Denwa sandstones. Quartz-rich nature of the sandstones, predominance of K-feldspar over plagioclase and albite rich character of plagioclase in the sandstones is consistent with deposition in an intracratonic, pull-apart basin like the Satpura Gondwana basin. Composition of garnet and its comparison with that from the Precambrian basement rocks suggests mica-schist and amphibolite as possible sources. Predominance of dravite variety of tourmaline in the Permian sandstones suggests sediment supply from metasedimentary rocks. Presence of both dravite and schorl variety of tourmaline in subequal amount in the Triassic sandstones indicates sediment derivation from granitic and metasedimentary rocks. However, schorl-bearing rocks are absent in the basement complex of the study area. A-CN-K plot suggests granites, acid volcanic rock and meta-sediments of the basement as possible sources of the Talchir sandstones and metasedimentary rocks for the Barakar to Pachmarhi sandstones. The Denwa sandstones were possibly derived from K-feldspar-free, plagioclase-bearing metasediments, mafic rocks and tonalite gneiss. Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values suggest low intensity source rock weathering for the Talchir sandstones and higher intensity source rock weathering for the others. Various bivariate plots of major oxides composition of the sandstones suggest passive to active continental margin setting and even arc tectonic setting for a few samples.     

Terrane assembly and geodynamic evolution of central–western Hoggar: a synthesis

After a review of the rock sequences and evolution of the eastern and central terranes of Hoggar, this paper focusses on the Neoproterozoic subduction-related evolution and collision stages in the central–western part of the Tuareg shield. Rock sequences are described and compared with their counterparts identified in the western and the eastern terranes exposed in Hoggar and northern Mali. The Pharusian terrane that is described in detail, is floored in the east by the Iskel basement, a Mesoproterozoic arc-type terrane cratonized around 840 Ma and in the southeast by Late Paleoproterozoic rock sequences (1.85–1.75 Ga) similar to those from northwestern Hoggar. Unconformable Late Neoproterozoic volcanosedimentary formations that mainly encompass volcanic greywackes were deposited in troughs adjacent to subduction-related andesitic volcanic ridges during the c. 690–650 Ma period. Abundant arc-related pre-collisional calc-alkaline batholiths (650–635 Ma) intruded the volcanic and volcaniclastic units at rather shallow crustal levels prior to collisional processes. The main E–W shortening in the Pharusian arc-type crust occurred through several stages of transpression and produced overall greenschist facies regional metamorphism and upright folding, thus precluding significant crustal thickening. It was accompanied by the shallow emplacement of calc-alkaline batholiths and plutons. Ages of syn-collisional granitoids range from 620 Ma in the western terranes, to 580 Ma in the Pharusian terrane, thus indicating a severe diachronism. After infill of molassic basins unconformable above the Pan-African greenschists, renewed dextral transpression took place in longitudinal domains such as the Adrar fault. The lithology, volcanic and plutonic suites, deep greenschist facies metamorphism, structures and kinematics from the Adrar fault molassic belt previously considered as Neoproterozoic are described in detail. The younger late-kinematic plutons emplaced in the Pharusian terrane at 523 Ma [Lithos 45 (1998) 245] relate to a Cambrian tectonic pulse that post-dates molasse deposition. The new geodynamic scenario presented considers several paleosubductions. The major east-dipping subduction, corresponding to the closure of a large Pan-African oceanic domain in the west (680–620 Ma) post-dates an older west-dipping “Pharusian” subduction (690–650 Ma?) to the east of the eastern Pharusian terrane. Such a diachronism is suggested by the 690 Ma old eclogites of the western part of the LATEA terrane of central Hoggar [J. African Earth Sci. this volume (2003)] that are nearly synchronous with the building up of the Pharusian terrane, thus suggesting that the 4°50^′ lithospheric fault represents a reactivated cryptic suture.     

Origin of the Belomorian Chupa Gneiss in the Light of New Lithogeochemical Data

The stratotype Chupa Sequence, which makes up the synonymous tectonic nappe and is a member of oldest (Late Archean) rocks in the Belomorian Mobile Belt, is scrutinized. The nappe is mainly composed of the migmatized, coarse-grained garnet–biotite gneiss with kyanite. Relic formations are represented by lenses of the fine-grained (possibly primary) garnet–biotite gneiss. Fine-grained gneisses generally represent primary sedimentary formations, while metadacites are rare. The kyanite-bearing gneiss is presumably a restitic rock produced by migmatization. Chupa metasediments are represented by immature (low-differentiated) metagraywackes and are akin to metaterrigenous rocks from Late Archean greenstone belts of Karelia (Kostomuksha) and Canada (Quetico). The provenance of metasediments comprises the following three components: tonalite (dacite) 70%, mafic rocks 20%, and ultramafic rocks 10%. The Chupa metagraywacke presumably deposited in a fore-arc basin.     

Diachronous evolution of volcano-sedimentary basins north of the Congo craton: Insights from U–Pb ion microprobe dating of zircons from the Poli, Lom and Yaoundé Groups (Cameroon)

Ion microprobe U–Pb dating of zircons from Neoproterozoic volcano-sedimentary sequences in Cameroon north of the Congo craton is presented. For the Poli basin, the depositional age is constrained between 700–665 Ma; detrital sources comprise ca. 920, 830, 780 and 736 Ma magmatic zircons. In the Lom basin, the depositional age is constrained between 613 and 600 Ma, and detrital sources include Archaean to Palaeoproterozoic, late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic (1100–950 Ma), and Neoproterozoic (735, 644 and 613 Ma) zircons. The Yaoundé Group is probably younger than 625 Ma, and detrital sources include Palaeoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic zircons. The depositional age of the Mahan metavolcano-sedimentary sequence is post-820 Ma, and detrital sources include late Mesoproterozoic (1070 Ma) and early Neoproterozoic volcanic rocks (824 Ma). The following conclusions can be made from these data. (1) The three basins evolved during the Pan-African event but are significantly different in age and tectonic setting; the Poli is a pre- to syn-collisional basin developed upon, or in the vicinity of young magmatic arcs; the Lom basin is post-collisional and intracontinental and developed on old crust; the tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Yaoundé Group resulted from rapid tectonic burial and subsequent collision between the Congo craton and the Adamawa–Yade block. (2) Late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic inheritance reflects the presence of magmatic event(s) of this age in west–central Africa.     

Elemental and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic geochemistry of Late Paleozoic volcanic rocks beneath the Junggar basin, NW China: Implications for the formation and evolution of the basin basement

The basement beneath the Junggar basin has been interpreted either as a micro-continent of Precambrian age or as a fragment of Paleozoic oceanic crust. Elemental and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions and zircon Pb–Pb ages of volcanic rocks from drill cores through the paleo-weathered crust show that the basement is composed mainly of late Paleozoic volcanic rock with minor shale and tuff. The volcanic rocks are mostly subalkaline with some minor low-K rocks in the western Kexia area. Some alkaline lavas occur in the central Luliang uplift and northeastern Wulungu depression. The lavas range in composition from basalts to rhyolites and fractional crystallization played an important role in magma evolution. Except for a few samples from Kexia, the basalts have low La/Nb (<1.4), typical for oceanic crust derived from asthenospheric melts. Zircon Pb–Pb ages indicate that the Kexia andesite, with a volcanic arc affinity, formed in the early Carboniferous (345 Ma), whereas the Luliang rhyolite and the Wucaiwan dacite, with syn-collisional to within-plate affinities, formed in the early Devonian (395 and 405 Ma, respectively). Positive ε_Nd(t) values (up to +7.4) and low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic ratios of the intermediate-silicic rocks suggest that the entire Junggar terrain may be underlain by oceanic crust, an interpretation consistent with the juvenile isotopic signatures of many granitoid plutons in other parts of the Central Asia Orogenic Belt. Variation in zircon ages for the silicic rocks, different Ba, P, Ti, Nb or Th anomalies in the mafic rocks, and variable Nb/Y and La/Nb ratios across the basin, suggest that the basement is compositionally heterogeneous. The heterogeneity is believed to reflect amalgamation of different oceanic blocks representing either different evolution stages within a single terrane or possibly derivation from different terranes.