Precambrian granulites of the Aldan shield, eastern Siberia, USSR

Abstract Precambrian granulites of the Aldan shield in southern Yakutia, USSR, form a massif of 200,000 km² bounded by younger fold-belts to the south, west and east. The massif consists of several blocks that reflect a primary heterogeneity of composition and differences in structural and thermodynamic evolution of different parts of the area. According to structural and petrological data the massif can be divided into two megablocks: eastern Aldan and western Aldan. They are separated by a narrow meridional fold-belt. Structural evolution of this central zone was determined by the geodynamics of the mega-blocks and was completed in the late Archaean. Towards the south, this central zone is ‘transformed’into the relatively small Sutam block adjoining the Stanovoy fold-belt that bounds the Aldan shield on the south. The Sutam block is separated from the other structural units of the Aldan shield by a system of north trending grabens filled by post-Archaean sediments. The Aldan shield is composed of Archaean high-grade granulites, while the Stanovoy fold-belt, to the south, consists of highly foliated Proterozoic rocks metamorphosed under relatively lower-grade conditions. However, relics of the granulites are mapped within the fold-belt. They contain high-grade assemblages (e.g. Opx + Sil + Qz, Sap + Qz, Opx + Gr + Sil, etc.). One of the relics, the Tokskii block, which is only slightly touched by diaphthoresis, is located in the southeastern part of the Stanovoy fold-belt. Metamorphic conditions of the Tokskii block are compared with those of the Sutam block and a similar evolution of the units is revealed. Mineral assemblages and mineral compositions do not vary within each unit, but they change in a north-south direction. The Opx + Sil + Qz assemblage has been found only in Sutam and Tok, but not in eastern Aldan and western Aldan. The Sap + Qz assemblage has been found in the Tokskii block but has not yet been found in the Sutam block. The pyrope content in garnets, from metapelites of both blocks, is significantly higher than that from the Aldan (eastern and western blocks) rocks to the north. The most important assemblages from different units of the Aldan shield have been studied using the electron microprobe in order to unravel the metamorphic evolution of the granulites and thus to deduce the thermodynamic regime of this evolution. A geodynamic model for the Aldan shield is discussed in terms of Archaean island arc development.     

Early Precambrian granitoids of the Batomga inlier of the southeastern Siberian Platform basement: Age and geodynamic formation settings

New data on the age, composition, sources, and formation conditions of the Early Precambrian granitoids of the Batomga inlier of the southeastern Siberian Platform basement are discussed. Geochronological SRHIMP II U–Pb study of the zircons reveals that the calc-alkaline granitoids of the Khoyunda Complex are 2056–2057 Ma in age and their formation was related to the Early Proterozoic stage in the development of the Batomga granite–greenstone domain. It is established that the primary melts for these rocks formed in subduction settings through melting of the depleted mantle source with some contribution of ancient crustal material. In terms of temperature, partial melting followed by crystallization of the granitoids under peak metamorphic conditions corresponds to the transition between amphibolite and granulite facies at elevated pressure; high temperature and high-grade metamorphism are subduction-related phenomena reflected in the back-arc settings of the active continental margin. The protoliths of calc-alkaline metavolcanics of the Batomga Group are found to be chronologically and compositionally analogous to the subduction granitoids of the Khoyunda and Dzhagdakan complexes; i.e., these granitoids are coeval with the Batomga island arc. The lower age limit of the Batomga Group is estimated at 2.2 Ga and its upper age limit is defined by the age of the intruded Khoyunda granitoids. The formation of the rocks of the Batomga Group and associated granitoids of the Khoyunda and Dzhagdakan complexes reflects the formation of the continental crust at the Early Paleoproterozoic stage of the evolution of the Batomga lithosphere block (2.2–2.0 Ga ago).     

Geochemical features of zircons from migmatites of the Nimnyr block,Aldan shield

This paper reports the results of chemical and structural study (electron microscopy and ion microprobe) of zircons from different-age generations of migmatite leucosomes in the basement rocks and Kurumkan Formation within the Nimnyr block, Aldan shield. The studied zircons show REE distribution pattern with a positive slope from LREE to HREE and positive Ce anomaly, which is typical of magmatic zircons, but have elevated LREE contents, which implies their crystallization from migmatite melt with subsequent fluid reworking. The transformations of the zircons were caused by fluid, which was separated during crystallization of the last LILE-enriched portions of the melt and inherited the geochemical features of the host rock—leucosome.     

塔里木克拉通早前寒武纪基底层序与组合：颗粒锆石U-Pb年龄新证据

采用颗粒锆石U-Pb定年方法,测得塔里木东北缘库鲁克塔格地区不整合于原兴地塔格群(现双横山组)之下的红卫庄花岗片麻岩结晶年龄为1943±6(2σ)Ma,表明库鲁克塔格地区早前寒武纪结晶基底之上的第一套稳定盖层应为中元古界,与华北长城系相当。在早前寒武纪表壳岩系斜长角闪岩中得到锆石生成年龄为2492±19(2σ)Ma,托格灰色片麻岩锆石结晶年龄为2337±6(2σ)Ma,并同时获得其中可能有2660±2(2σ)Ma、2782±4(2σ)Ma捕获晶年龄。上述年龄新资料表明,以库鲁克塔格地区为代表的塔里木克拉通早前寒武纪基底中可能发育有新太古代岩石,但其主要以残留包体形式分布于托格灰色片麻岩中,以托格灰色片麻岩为主体的早前寒武纪块体可能形成于(新太古代)-古元古代。     

Rb/Sr isotope studies of Cretaceous granitoids in the central Chukchi region: correctness of geochronological interpretation of results

The validity of the Rb/Sr isotopic ages of Cretaceous granitoid complex in the central Chukchi region has been verified. The performed studies showed that the Rb/Sr isotopic ages of late-orogenic granitoids are not reliable. Their variation can be explained in terms of the mixing of primary mantle magmas with continental-crust matter. Most probably, the variation is due to the constant compositions of mixing components and their proportions.     

Geochemistry and metamorphic parameters of rocks in the Batomga granite-greenstone terrane, Aldan Shield

The protoliths of the Early Proterozoic metamorphic complex in the Batomga granite-greenstone terrane are proved to comprise two petrochemical series of volcanic rocks: calc-alkaline and komatiite-tholeiite. The metavolcanic rocks of the calc-alkaline series are metamorphosed basalts, andesites, dacites, and rhyolites. The topology of the trace-element patterns of the acid volcanics is similar to that of Archean gray gneisses in platform basements, and this suggests that the petrologic mechanisms that produced the protoliths could be similar. The metavolcanics of the komatiite-tholeiite series are determined to include komatiite and tholeiite basalts. Their chemical composition is consistent with the fractionation model of high-Mg basalts in intermediate chambers under low pressures. The Nb, Y, and Zr concentrations of the metatholeiites testify that their parental melts were derived from a plume source. The metamorphic culmination parameters of the rocks corresponded to the boundary between the amphibolite and granulite facies of elevated pressure.     

The deep structure,magmatism, and metallogeny of the Central Aldan block,Aldan-Stanovoy shield

Aerogeophysical and gravimetric survey data on the Central Aldan block, Aldan-Stanovoy shield have been summarized; a map of the extensiveness of the Precambrian granitoid magmatism has been drawn; the association of ore districts encompassing large deposits with the margins of the extensive areas of Precambrian granitoids has been recognized; the 3-D density modeling of the lithosphere of this block has been accomplished; the roots of the Mesozoic alkaline massifs down to a depth of 100–150 km have been traced, and the telemagmatic nature of the large gold-uranium deposits related to these massifs has been defined.     

U-Pb dating of the baddeleytte-zircon system from Pt-bearing dunite of the Konder massif, Aldan shield: New data

The U-Pb age was obtained for the coexisting baddeleytte-zircon system from dunites of the Konder massif, Aldan shield. Four groups of zircons are heterogeneous by morphology, habit, age, and geochemistry in contrast to homogeneous baddeleytte. The studied zircon groups are characterized by several U-Pb age clusters in the range of 1895 ± 50 to 125.8 ± 3.8 Ma, which indicates their long evolution in Pt-bearing dunites. The young assemblage of baddeleytte and zircon (124.9 ± 1.9 and 125.8 ± 3.8 Ma, respectively) also differs from ancient zircons in the morphology and geochemistry and probably dates to a much later event of diapir evolution, which may be referred to the formation of apatite-phlogopite ore pyroxenites inside the dunite core and tectono-magmatic activation of the Aldan shield.     

Early Precambrian granite-gneiss complexes in the Central Aldan Shield

The central portion of the Aldan Shield hosts very widely spread Archean and Early Proterozoic granitoids, much of which are granite-gneisses. Geochemical lines of evidence, data on inclusions in minerals, and Sm-Nd isotopic geochemical data suggest that the protoliths of granite-gneisses in the central part of the Aldan Shield were granitoids that had various composition, age, and were derived from distinct sources and under different parameters and were then emplaced in different geodynamic environments. The granitoids belong to at least two types of different composition that occur within spatially separated areas. The protoliths of granite-gneisses in the western part of the Western Aldan Megablock and the junction zone of the Chara-Olekma and Aldan geoblocks (granite-gneisses of type I) had the same age and affiliated to the same associations as the within-plate granitoids of the Nelyukinskii Complex. Their parental melts were derived at 2.4–2.5 Ga by the melting of Archean tonalite-trondhjemite orthogneisses of the Olekma and Aldan complexes. The protolith of granite-gneisses in the eastern portion of the Western Aldan Megablock (granite-gneisses of type II) can be subdivided into two groups according to their composition: granitoids with geochemical characteristics of subduction- and collision-related rocks. The protoliths of the type-II granite-gneisses with geochemical characteristics of subduction granitoids were produced simultaneously with the development of the Fedorovskaya island arc (at 2003–2013 Ma), whereas the protoliths of the type-II granite-gneisses with geochemical characteristics of collision granitoids were formed in the course of accretion of the Fedorovskaya island arc and the Olekma-Aldan continental microplate at 1962–2003 Ma, via the melting of magmatic rocks of the Fedorovskaya unit and older continental crustal material.     

Isotopic-geochronological studies of zircons from the Early Precambrian rocks of the southeastern Aldan-Stanovoy shield: New results and their geological interpretation

The results of the U-Pb (SHRIMP-II secondary ion microprobe) study of zircons from the metamorphic, ultrametagenic, and metamorphosed plutonic rocks of the southeastern Aldan-Stanovoy shield are reported and their geological interpretation is given. The obtained dates represent mainly the timing of the rock transformation at the different stages of prograde and retrograde metamorphism, ultrametamorphism, magmatism, and tectonic dislocations, rather than the age of the rock formation. The age values were united into nine generalized groups corresponding to definite geological events, which, in turn, are correlated with tectonic and petrological events in the western parts of the Stanovoy granite-greenstone and Aldan granulite-gneiss domains.     

U-Pb age of granitoids from the Elenovsk Complex (Kokchetav block, Northern Kazakhstan)

The U-Pb geochronological study of zircons from alkali granitoids of the Elenovsk Complex constituting the Zhilanda and Lesnoi massifs (northern Kazakhstan) located several kilometers away from each other revealed their close ages: 433 ± 2, 440 ± 10, and 426 ± 12 Ma.     

Precambrian geosynclinal metallogeny of Ukrainian shield

The granites of the Ukrainian shield are secondary; the “shield,” in the first instance, is a segment of a fold belt which extends from the Black Sea, via the Voronezh Arch, to the Kola Peninsula. The metamorphic ungranitized anticlines are narrow folds in which are found iron, copper, zirconium and precious metals. Iron, titanium, copper, graphite and mica deposits are found in the folds of granitized gneisses, migmatites, anatektites and granites. The crystalline metal ores are associated with metamorphosed elastics and evaporites; the titanium, copper, cobalt, gold, vanadium, mercury, chromium and nickel deposits – associated with sedimentary volcanics and evaporites. The high-grade metamorphics Contained the deposits of titanium, iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, vanadiuta, lead and zinc. The chromites and nickel silicates are associated with the intrusives. In short, metamorphic history and mineralogy exercised a direct control over the size and grade of ore deposits.     

First U-Pb and Sm-Nd isotopic data on granitoids from the Devonian volcanic belt of Kazakhstan

First U-Pb zircon isotopic dates were obtained for rocks from the Devonian volcanic belt in Kazakhstan. The granodiorites of the Zhabden Massif (Karamendinskii Complex) were dated at 391 ± 1 Ma. The Sm-Nd isotopic system of a whole-rock granodiorite sample (?_Nd = 2.5) suggests a high percentage of mantle material in the initial granite melt, which is in good agreement with known data on granitoids in neighboring territories in Kazakhstan. With regard for the isotopic dates obtained for the granodiorites, the material of their source was separated from the mantle at 946 Ma.     

Geochemistry,origin, and nature of metamorphic rocks of the Batomga granite-greenstone terrane (Aldan Shield)

Two series of volcanic rocks with different petrochemical affinities-calc-alkaline and komatiitetholeiitic series-were identified as protoliths for the Early Proterozoic metamorphic rocks of the Batomga granite-greenstone terrane. The metavolcanic rocks of the calc-alkaline series comprise metabasalts, metaandesites, metadacites, and metarhyolites. The distribution of the trace element abundances in the felsic metavolcanic rocks is similar to that of the Archean grey gneisses from the platform basements, thus suggesting a similar petrological mechanism for the formation of their protoliths. The protoliths for the komatiite-tholeiitic metavolcanic rocks include komatiite and tholeiite basalts. The chemical behavior of the tholeiites tends to support the fractionation of primary high-Mg basaltic magmas in a transient magma chamber at low pressures. The variations in the Nb, Y, and Zr contents of the metatoleiites indicate the derivation of their parental magmas from a plume-related source.     

中条山前寒武纪花岗岩地球化学、年代学及其地质意义

涉及华北克拉通基底拼合的时、空演化近年已成为华北克拉通研究的热点之一.开展对华北克拉通中部带中条山前寒武纪涑水杂岩中非TTG质花岗岩的研究有可能为讨论这一问题提供重要信息.涑水杂岩中非TTG质的花岗岩以横岭关、解州黑云二长花岗岩和烟庄钾长花岗岩为代表,岩相学、地球化学和LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年结果显示,横岭关和解州黑云二长花岗岩具有相似的岩相学、地球化学特征和几乎一致的形成年龄(锆石年龄分别为2609±31Ma和2620±14Ma),表明它们属于同一期岩浆活动的产物.烟庄钾长花岗岩形成于古元古代(2351±37Ma).横岭关、解州黑云二长花岗岩锆石εHf(t)值分别为-2.3～+4.8和+4.4～ +7.6,对应的模式年龄分别为2791～ 3222Ma和2628 ～2823Ma.新太古代横岭关和解州黑云二长花岗岩属于高钾钙碱性Ⅰ型花岗岩,源自～2.7Ga的TTG岩石和下地壳镁铁质岩石部分熔融混合而成.烟庄钾长花岗岩中锆石的εHf(t)值为-1.8～ +7.8,对应的模式年龄为2408～2996Ma,类似低Sr、Yb的喜马拉雅型花岗岩,其成因与地壳加厚引起陆壳熔融相关.综合前人及本项研究成果发现,华北克拉通中部带在2.8～ 1.8Ga这一长达10亿年的地壳演化过程中,并不存在明显的地壳生长“幕式”特点,而显示出小频率持续脉冲生长的特点,表明华北的东部、西部和中部带在晚太古代末之前已经是统一的陆块.     

The age of Kondyor massif dunites (Aldan Province, Russia): First U-Pb isotopic data

The material and isotope-geochemical peculiarities of zircons from dunites of the Kondyor massif (Aldan Province, Southeast Siberian Craton) have been described for the first time. This massif is associated with an economic platinum placer deposit. On the basis of detailed study of the morphology, internal structure, and geochemical characteristics, zircons have been subdivided into two types. The first type is represented by crystals of oval and rounded shapes, characterized by a bimodal distribution of ??ancient?? (2477 ± 18 and 1885 ± 52 Ma) U-Pb (SHRIMP-II) ages. The second type of zircons forms idiomorphic crystals and aggregates of prismatic habitus, forming two ??young?? age clusters (176 ± 1.2 and 143 ± 2.0 Ma). The obtained results allow us to make a conclusion about the long evolution of platinum-bearing dunites. The first type of zircons formed by metamictic cores and homogeneous peripheral rims indicates the time of metamorphism at the Archean-Proterozoic boundary (??2.5 Ga), implying an older age of porous zircon cores. Such zircons characterize the minimal age of the initial mantle substance or a close time when the platinum-bearing dunite was generated. Based on their formation time, the second type of zircons can be referred to the epoch of tectonic-magmatic activation of the Aldan Shield. The new geochronological data, along with the material identity of dunites from the Urals and the Aldan Province, argue for a common genetic origin of platinum-bearing dunites of the fold belts and ancient cratons.