Age and depositional setting of the Permian Black Dyke Formation: Implications for the paleogeography and structural evolution of western Nevada

In western Nevada, the Black Dyke Formation includes volcanic rocks overlain conformably by volcaniclastic sediments. At the base, hornblende-phyric basalts with cognate hornblende-bearing gabbroic cumulates are interbedded with tuffs and pyroclastic breccia. Amphiboles give ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 276 Ma. Clinopyroxene-phyric pillow basalts and plagioclase-phyric andesitic lava flows are present higher in the section. Facies changes between exposures reflect development near volcanic centers.According to our investigations, the Black Dyke Formation is involved in east-west-trending folds overturned toward the south, and overlain unconformably by the Mesozoic Dunlap Formation, which unconformably overlies the Mississippian-Permian Mina Formation. Interpreted until now as tectonic slices within the Luning allochthon, we suggest that the Black Dyke Formation is part of the Sonoma allochthon associated with the Mina Formation. The Sonoma records closure of the Havallah basin (Golconda allochthon), and collision of an arctrench system with the North American margin.The Black Dyke Formation exhibits similarities with the Permian arc sequence of the northern Sierra Nevada. Both sequences are characterized by amphibole-bearing breccias, clinopyroxene-phyric pillow-basalts, plagioclase-phyric andesites and overlying volcaniclastic sediments. These sequences developed in the same geodynamic environment (an islandarc).     

The Geology of the Western Highlands of New Guinea

Abstract

The oldest rocks in the Western Highlands of New Guinea are granite and metamorphic rocks, and these are unconformably overlain by an incomplete marine succession of Permian, Upper Jurassic, Cretaceous, Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene sediments with a maximum thickness of 34,000 ft. The sedimentary succession in the east of the region is much thicker than in the west. Jurassic seas transgressed from the east. Studies of the faunas and petrology of the sediments show that the western part of the region was out of range of the sources of Cretaceous vulcanism and slow pelagic sedimentation continued into the Lower Miocene. By the Middle Miocene a volcanic island arc had developed in the vicinity of the Lai Syncline and the sediments are of shallow-water type, rich in volcanic debris.

Both sediments and basement were folded into a number of anticlines and synclines at the end of the Pliocene. Vigorous erosion was followed by extensive Pleistocene vulcanism in the west. Pleistocene glaciation occurred in the Bismarck Range down to about 13,000 feet above sea-level.     

Late Palaeozoic arc flank and fore‐arc basin sequence of the New England fold belt in the stanage bay region,central Queensland

Devonian and Carboniferous (Yarrol terrane) rocks, Early Permian strata, and Permian‐(?)Triassic plutons outcrop in the Stanage Bay region of the northern New England Fold Belt. The Early‐(?)Middle Devonian Mt Holly Formation consists mainly of coarse volcaniclastic rocks of intermediate‐silicic provenance, and mafic, intermediate and silicic volcanics. Limestone is abundant in the Duke Island, along with a significant component of quartz sandstone on Hunter Island. Most Carboniferous rocks can be placed in two units, the late Tournaisian‐Namurian Campwyn Volcanics, composed of coarse volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks, silicic ash flow tuff and widespread oolitic limestone, and the conformably overlying Neerkol Formation dominated by volcaniclastic sandstone and siltstone with uncommon pebble conglomerate and scattered silicic ash fall tuff. Strata of uncertain stratigraphic affinity are mapped as ‘undifferentiated Carboniferous’. The Early Permian Youlambie Conglomerate unconformably overlies Carboniferous rocks. It consists of mudstone, sandstone and conglomerate, the last containing clasts of Carboniferous sedimentary rocks, diverse volcanics and rare granitic rocks. Intrusive bodies include the altered and variably strained Tynemouth Diorite of possible Devonian age, and a quartz monzonite mass of likely Late Permian or Triassic age.

The rocks of the Yarrol terrane accumulated in shallow (Mt Holly, Campwyn) and deeper (Neerkol) marine conditions proximal to an active magmatic arc which was probably of continental margin type. The Youlambie Conglomerate was deposited unconformably above the Yarrol terrane in a rift basin. Late Permian regional deformation, which involved east‐west horizontal shortening achieved by folding, cleavage formation and east‐over‐west thrusting, increases in intensity towards the east.     

The Byers Basin: Jurassic-Cretaceous tectonic and depositional evolution of the forearc deposits of the South Shetland Islands and its implications for the northern Antarctic Peninsula

ABSTRACT

This paper addresses the Jurassic–Cretaceous stratigraphic evolution of fore-arc deposits exposed along the west coast of the northern Antarctic Peninsula. In the South Shetland Islands, Upper Jurassic deep-marine sediments are uncomformably overlain by a Lower Cretaceous volcaniclastic sequence that crops out on Livingston, Snow and Low islands. U-Pb zircon ages are presented for the upper Anchorage Formation (153.1 ± 1.7 Ma) and the Cape Wallace granodiorite of Low Island (137.1 ± 1.7 Ma) as well as ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 136–139 Ma for Low Island andesites. Data are also presented for a U-Pb age of 109.0 ± 1.4 Ma for the upper volcanic succession of Snow Island. In combination with published stratigraphy, these data provide a refined chrono- and litho-stratigraphic framework for the deposits herein referred to as the Byers Basin. Tentative correlation is explored with previously described deposits on Adelaide and Alexander islands, which could suggest further continuation of the Byers Basin towards the south. We also discuss possible correlation of the Byers Basin with the Larsen Basin, a sequence that shows the evolution of foreland to back-arc deposits more or less contemporaneously with the fore-arc to intra-arc evolution of the Byers Basin.     

黔西南晚二叠世龙潭组物源分析及区域沉积古地理重建

黔西南上二叠统龙潭组为一套以海陆交互相细屑岩为主的沉积地层,与下伏茅口组平行不整合接触。龙潭组砂岩碎屑组分以板片状—微晶状的玄武—安山质火山岩岩屑为主,并含少量霏细晶—隐晶质的酸性火山岩岩屑。泥质岩全岩主量元素以低SiO_2(28.3%~51.9%)、高TiO_2(1.0%~4.1%)和低Al_2O_3/TiO_2比值(3.9~6.9)为特征,与峨眉山高Ti玄武岩的Al_2O_3/TiO_2比值(集中在2.5~5.0之间)较为接近。龙潭组的碎屑锆石显示峰期年龄为~260Ma,与峨眉山大火成岩省的火山喷发期(258~263Ma)相吻合。锆石微量元素指示其与板内/非造山环境的岩浆活动有关,结合同时期北部陆相和南部深水盆地相的沉积物源研究,该结果表明龙潭组碎屑岩的源岩为峨眉山玄武质和长英质火山岩。基于此,本文对晚二叠世滇黔桂地区峨眉山源区—河流—滨岸—右江深水盆地的沉积古地理格局进行重建。     

吐哈盆地及邻区早二叠世沉积特征与构造发育的耦合关系

通过对不同露头剖面和探井资料的分析,在吐哈盆地及邻区区分出三种不同类型沉积相：（1）裂谷型海相火山喷发沉积相;（2）裂谷型陆相火山喷发沉积相;（3）造山带磨拉石相;不同沉积相特征并结合构造分析认为,早二叠世在吐哈及邻区存在二种不同类型的盆地,即前陆盆地和裂谷盆地,同时,还探讨了大陆一大陆碰撞带上两种不同类型盆地的形成机理。     

Sedimentology of the Middle Marker (3.4 Ga), Onverwacht Group,Transvaal, South Africa

The Middle Marker is a thin (3–6 m) sedimentary unit at the base of the Hooggenoeg Formation in the 3.4 Ga old Onverwacht Group, Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa. The original sediments consisted largely of current-deposited volcaniclastic detritus now represented by green to buff-colored silicified volcaniclastic rock and fine-grained gray chert. Black chert, possibly formed by the silicification of a non-volcaniclastic precursor, makes up a significant part of the unit. The Middle Marker is underlain and overlain by mafic and commonly pillowed volcanic flowrock. Although the original sediment has been replaced by and/or recrystallized to a microquartz, chlorite, sericite, carbonate and iron oxide mosaic under lower greenschist-grade metamorphism, sedimentary textures and structures are remarkably well preserved. Textural pseudomorphs indicate the primary volcaniclastic sediment consisted of a mixture of crystal, vitric and lithic debris. Middle Marker sediments were deposited as a prograding, cone-flanking volcaniclastic sedimentary platform in a relatively-shallow and locally current/wave-influenced subaqueous sedimentary environment. Available paleocurrent data indicate a largely bimodal, orthogonal distribution pattern which is quite similar to both ancient and modern shallow marine/shelf systems. Diagnostic evidence for tidal activity is lacking. As felsic volcanic activity waned, an extensive airfall blanket of fine-grained volcanic ash and dust was deposited in a low-energy subaqueous environment. The sedimentary cycle was terminated with a renewal of submarine mafic volcanism. Middle Marker volcaniclastic sediments accumulated in an anorogenic basin removed or isolated from the influence of continental igneous and metamorphic terranes. Although compositionally dominated by a volcanic source, Middle Marker sediments owe their final texture and sedimentary structures to subaqueous sedimentary rather than volcanogenic processes.     

Age of the Mt Boggola volcanic succession and further geochronological constraint on the Ashburton Basin,Western Australia

The age of strata in the Palaeoproterozoic Ashburton Basin is not well constrained, particularly the generally homogeneous, turbiditic and thick Ashburton Formation containing only a small fraction of volcanics suitable for geochronological examination. The Mt Boggola volcanic succession is one of these rare occurrences, consisting of mafic pillow lavas and breccia overlain by BIF, chert, ferruginous pelite, mafic volcaniclastics and possible felsic tuffs identified in the course of mineral exploration. A locality proximal to the volcanic succession is interpreted as a fragmental volcaniclastic unit derived with minimal reworking from a tuff. Zircon extracted from this unit has yielded a SHRIMP ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb weighted‐mean age of 1829 ± 5 Ma (95% conf.: χ² 1.0). This age is significantly older than that of the June Hill Volcanics in the northwest of the Ashburton Basin that had previously been surmised to be potentially coeval, and provides a further constraint on the evolution and diachroneity of the Ashburton Formation.     

The stratigraphy and composition of the Latterbarrow and Redmain sandstones,Lake District,England

The Latterbarrow Formation, 400 m thick, has been mapped and subdivided informally into three members. These consist of quartz wacke sandstone and, in the upper member only, intercalated mudstones. The formation unconformably overlies the fossiliferous Skiddaw Group of late Tremadoc to middle Arenig age and is overlain disconformably by volcanic rocks that have been attributed to the Borrowdale Volcanic Group. Chemically, the sandstones are characterized by very low concentrations of CaO, Na₂O, and K₂O and unusually high total iron. MnO and MgO, such that iron, as Fe₂O₃, exceeds Al₂O₃. Mudstone in the upper member is illite rich, has a high K₂O content and is compositionally similar to K-bentonites derived from volcanic ash. Sedimentary structures and petrography suggest that the sediments were deposited in a sandy estuary and were derived from a similar source area to that of the Skiddaw Group. Throughout the succession there is evidence of distal volcanism, probably representing the earliest eruptions of the Borrowdale volcanic episode. The Redmain Formation, 100 m thick, is unconformably overlain by Carboniferous rocks but its relationship to the underlying Skiddaw Group is unknown. Though this lithic arenite shows some petrographic and geochemical similarities with the Latterbarrow sandstone, differences are such that it is possible they are not equivalent in age. The Redmain sandstone may be derived from the erosion of Skiddaw Group rocks.     

Sedimentary record of explosive silicic volcanism in a Cretaceous deep-marine conglomerate succession, northern Antarctic Peninsula

Lower Cretaceous conglomeratic strata exposed on southern Sobral Peninsula were deposited on a deep‐marine apron in the back‐arc Larsen Basin close to its faulted boundary with the Antarctic Peninsula magmatic arc. The succession is dominated by amalgamated beds of clast‐supported conglomerate, which, together with minor intercalated sandstones, consist of varied, but largely basaltic to andesitic, volcanic material and clasts derived from the Palaeozoic–Triassic (meta)sedimentary basement of the arc. Most of the volcanic clasts are thought to have been derived from lithified volcanic successions or older synvolcanic deposits, rather than from sites of coeval eruption. These mixed‐provenance strata enclose a number of intervals, consisting mainly of inverse–normally graded conglomerate and graded–stratified pebbly sandstone, in which the sand fraction is dominated by crystals and vitric grains considered to have been redeposited in the immediate aftermath of explosive silicic arc volcanism. Like syneruption deposits on non‐marine volcaniclastic aprons, these intervals are more sand‐prone than the enclosing strata and appear to show evidence of unusually rapid aggradation. Plagioclase from one such interval has yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages concordant at ≈121 Ma, similar to those obtained from the non‐marine Cerro Negro Formation, deposited within the magmatic arc. It is suggested that the two successions can be viewed as counterparts, both recording a history of mainly basaltic to andesitic volcanism, punctuated by relatively infrequent, explosive silicic eruptions. Whereas the Cerro Negro Formation consists mainly of syneruption deposits, most of the volcaniclastic material delivered to the eruption‐distal, deep‐marine apron appears to have been derived by normal degradation processes. Only rare silicic eruptions were capable of supplying pyroclastic material rapidly enough and in sufficient quantities to produce compositionally distinct syneruption intervals.     

SOME TRENDS IN THE STUDY OF CARBONATE SEDIMENTS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

A stratigraphically coherent blueschist terrane near Aksu in northwestern China is unconformably overlain by unmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks of Sinian age (～600 to 800 Ma). The pre-Sinian metamorphic rocks, termed the Aksu Group, were derived from shales, sandstones, basaltic volcanic rocks, and minor cherty sediments. They have undergone multi-stage deformation and transitional blueschist/greenschist-facies metamorphism, and consist of strongly foliated chlorite-stilpnomelane-graphite schist, stilpnomelane-phengite psammitic schist, greenschist, blueschist, and minor quartzite, metachert, and meta-ironstone. Metamorphic minerals of basaltic blueschists include crossitic amphibole, epidote, chlorite, albite, quartz, and actinolite. Mineral parageneses and compositions of sodic amphibole suggest blueschist facies recrystallization at about 4 to 6 kbar and 300 to 400° C. Many thin diabasic dikes cut the Aksu Group; they are characterized by high alkali, TiO₂, and P₂O₅ contents and possess geochemical characteristics of within-plate basalts; some of these diabasic rocks contain sodic clinopyroxene and amphibole as primary phases and have minor pumpellyite, albite, epidote, chlorite, and calcite as the prehnite/pumpellyite-facies metamorphic assemblage. This prehnite/pumpellyite-facies overprint did not affect the host rocks of the blueschist-facies lithologies.

K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages of phengite and whole rocks from pelitic schists are ～690 to 728 Ma, and a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of crossite from the blueschist is 754 Ma. The basal conglomerate of the overlying Sinian to Eocambrian sedimentary succession contains clasts of both the blueschist and cross-cutting dike rocks, clearly demonstrating that conditions required for blueschist-facies metamorphism were attained and ceased at least 700 Ma. The northward-increasing metamorphic grade of the small blueschist terrane may reflect northward subduction of an accretionary complex beyond the northern edge of the Tarim craton. Abundant subparallel diabasic dikes indicate a subsequent period of Pre-Sinian rifting and diabasic intrusion along the northern margin of Tarim; a Sinian siliciclastic and carbonate sequence was deposited unconformably atop the Aksu Group and associated diabase dikes.     

Aquifer heterogeneity: Hydrogeological and hydrochemical properties of the Botany Sands aquifer and their impact on contaminant transport

Detailed geological mapping and drilling has shown that the contact between the Cambrian volcano‐sedimentary sequence at Rosebery and the Mt Read Volcanics is formed by a major thrust fault dipping east at 40° and having a displacement of at least 1.5 km. The sedimentary sequence is part of the Dundas Group, a Middle to Late Cambrian forearc‐like sequence which unconformably overlaps the volcanics south of Rosebery. The Rosebery Thrust Fault marks the eastern boundary of a zone of folding, faulting and disruption which affects the Dundas Group and the tectonically interfingered and underlying basaltic greywacke‐mudstone sequence of the Crimson Creek Formation. At least some of this deformation occurred prior to deposition of the Ordovician Limestone, as evidenced by marked angular discordances. The complex area can be interpreted as a Cambrian accretionary prism‐forearc‐arc sequence developed above an east‐dipping subduction zone.

The Henty Fault System, which cuts obliquely through the Mt Read belt and encloses a misfit wedge of sediments, pillow lavas, gabbros and ultramafic rocks, is interpreted as a remnant of an inter‐arc basin. The fault system separates a dacitic‐andesitic arc segment to the northwest from a more rhyolitic segment to the southeast. The latter is overlain by a younger arc sequence, the Tyndall Group, which may have been the source for the Dundas Group volcanic detritus.     

思茅地块西缘龙洞河组放射虫动物群及其地质意义

思茅地块西缘的龙洞河组为一套火山—沉积岩系 ,原定时代为晚石炭世 ,被认为属南澜沧江洋弧后盆地沉积。现在龙洞河组层状硅质岩断片中发现了晚泥盆世放射虫化石 ,在细碧角斑岩之硅质岩夹层中发现了早石炭世放射虫动物群 ,表明龙洞河组不全是晚石炭世地层 ,而是由晚古生代的一些地层断片组成。思茅地块西缘深水沉积盆地的演化始于泥盆纪 ,应为滇西南古特提斯多岛洋的一个分支 ,向南可能与泰国难河带对比。     

The fluvial and pyroclastic deposits of the Cagayan Basin, Northern Luzon, Philippines—an example of non-marine volcaniclastic sedimentation in an interarc basin

ABSTRACT The Cagayan basin of Northern Luzon, an interarc basin 250 km long and 80 km wide, contains a 900 m thick sequence of Plio-Pleistocene fluvial and pyroclastic deposits. These deposits are divided into two formations, the Ilagan and Awidon Mesa, and three lithofacies associations. The facies, which are interpreted as meandering stream, braided stream, lahar, and pyroclastic flow and fall deposits, occur in a coarsening upward sequence. Meandering stream deposits interbedded with tuffs are overlain by braided stream deposits interbedded with coarser pyroclastic deposits; lahars and ignimbrites. The coarsening upward volcaniclastic deposits reflect the tectonic and volcanic evolution of the adjacent Cordillera Central volcanic arc. Uplift of the arc resulted in the progradation of coarser clastics further into the basin, the development of an alluvial fan, and migration of the basin depocentre away from the arc. The coarsening of the pyroclastic deposits reflects the development of a more proximal calc-alkaline volcanic belt in the maturing volcanic arc. The Cagayan basin sediments serve as an example of the type and sequence of non marine volcaniclastic sediments that may form in other interarc basins. This is because the tectonic and volcanic processes which controlled sedimentation in the Cagayan basin also affect other arc systems and will therefore control or significantly influence volcaniclastic sedimentation in other interarc basins.     

华北板块北缘东段二叠纪的构造属性:来自火山岩锆石U-Pb年代学与地球化学的制约

本文对华北板块北缘东段大河深组、关门咀子组火山岩进行了锆石LA-ICP-MSU-Pb定年和岩石地球化学研究以便制约该区的区域构造演化。大河深组和关门咀子组火山岩中的锆石均呈自形-半自形晶,具有清晰的岩浆振荡生长环带和条痕状吸收(玄武安山岩)的特点,其Th/U比值高达0.31～1.56,表明其岩浆成因。测年结果表明,桦甸大河深组流纹岩形成于早二叠世(279±3Ma～293±2Ma),珲春和图们关门咀子组玄武安山岩和玄武岩分别形成于早二叠世(275±7Ma)和晚二叠世(250±5Ma)。大河深组火山岩SiO2含量介于64.9%～75.4%,Mg#值介于0.21～0.57,属于中钾-高钾钙碱性系列,明显富集轻稀土元素(LREEs)和大离子亲石元素(LILEs)、亏损高场强元素(HFSEs,如Nb、Ta、Ti)以及P元素,类似活动大陆边缘火山岩;其锆石的εHf(t)值为+0.9～+10.37,Hf同位素二阶段模式年龄值为785～1240Ma,表明它们均起源于中-新元古代新增生玄武质下地壳的部分熔融。珲春早二叠世关门咀子组属于中钾钙碱性系列;贫硅(53.4%～53.7%)和HFSEs,富铝(16.4%～16.8%)和LILEs,具有较低的稀土元素总量,以及较平坦的稀土配分型式,显示出岛弧火山岩的地球化学属性;该组火山岩的原始岩浆应起源于受俯冲板片脱水熔融交代的亏损地幔楔。图们晚二叠世关门咀子组玄武岩SiO2含量为48.7%～49.6%,Mg#值高达0.64～0.72,相对富集LREEs和LILEs,亏损HREEs和HFSEs,具有火山弧玄武岩的地球化学属性,同时其εNd(t)=+6.01,暗示其原始岩浆起源于亏损的岩石圈地幔。综上所述,我们认为早二叠世至晚二叠世期间,华北板块北缘东段(吉林中部地区)和兴凯地块西南缘均处于古亚洲洋的俯冲作用下。     

The Prince of Wales Formation – post-flood basalt alkali volcanism in the Tertiary of East Greenland

 In the nunataks of the Prince of Wales Mountains the tholeiite flood basalts of the East Greenland Tertiary Province are unconformably overlain by alkaline lavas. The majority of the alkaline lavas are strongly porphyritic picrites, ankaramites and hawaiites. These rocks have lower ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr than the tholeiitic flood basalts and are isotopically akin to ocean island basalts. The alkaline lavas also have high concentrations of incompatible elements which on normalised plots have a pattern which is similar in shape to that of enriched oceanic island basalts. The isotopic and chemical characteristics of these late-stage representatives of the East Greenland volcanic activity are attributed to their derivation from the peripheral regions of the East Greenland plume, the axial region of which was moving progressively eastwards relative to the westwards drift of the Greenland plate. It is proposed that the incompatible element contents of the magmas so produced were dominated by small degree melts formed beneath a cap of continental lithosphere in the marginal regions of the plume. Received: 5 June 1995 / Accepted: 11 December 1995     

羌塘盆地东部那益雄组玄武岩地球化学特征及构造意义

羌塘盆地东部那益雄组玄武岩作为裂谷演化最后阶段的喷发产物,其成岩年龄和地球化学特征为裂谷的关闭时间和二叠纪构造演化提供了重要约束.在剖面地质调查基础上,对那益雄组玄武岩进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年及全岩分析测试,结果显示:那益雄组玄武岩锆石U-Pb年龄为257.2±2.9 Ma,形成于晚二叠世;该玄武岩属于大陆拉斑玄武岩系列,轻微富集Ta元素而轻微亏损Nb元素,是软流圈地幔物质上涌与岩石圈地幔相互作用的产物,形成于裂谷关闭碰撞后的伸展背景.羌塘地块东部二叠纪玄武岩的地球化学数据显示,早二叠世-晚二叠世玄武岩具有由OIB型玄武岩向火山弧型玄武岩过渡的演化趋势,表明羌塘地块东部板内裂谷在早二叠世打开,中二叠世进入裂谷演化阶段,于晚二叠世关闭.      

西秦岭关家沟组地层时代、物源及其构造响应

在西秦岭关家沟组贾昌沟砂板岩所夹的硅质岩层中发现晚石炭世和晚二叠世的古生物化石;在关家沟组砾岩中所采的花岗质和火山质砾石,利用氩-氩(40Ar/39Ar)法测年所获得的年龄为晚三叠世。对关家沟组物源及其古水流分析,其古水流方向230°~356°,其物源主要来自南东侧活动大陆边缘的碧口岛弧,且秦岭全面碰撞造山期为早中生代。由此,初步推测关家沟组形成时代可能与秦岭全面碰撞造山为同期——早中生代。     

Pb,Sr and 10Be isotopic studies of volcanic rocks from the Northern Mariana Islands. Implications for magma genesis and crustal recycling in the Western Pacific

We report Sr and Pb isotope analyses for an extensive suite of volcanic rocks from the N. Mariana arc together with Sr and Pb isotope analyses of sediments from the nearby Mariana and Nauru basins. In addition ten of the most recent volcanic samples were analysed for ¹⁰Be.The Sr isotope compositions cluster tightly around ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ = 0.7035 being slightly but significantly higher than the Pacific ocean floor basalts on either side of the arc and agreeing well with previous data. In contrast, the large number of new Pb isotopic data presented significantly extends the observed range of Pb isotope compositions for volcanic rocks from the Mariana arc to more radiogenic compositions. The concentrations of ¹⁰Be were very low (< 0.5 × 10⁶ atom g^?1).These new data require either that the Pb and Sr isotopic compositions of the Mariana sub-arc mantle be substantially different from those of the mantle source of ocean floor basalts on either side of the arc, or that the enrichment in radiogenic Pb and Sr relative to the values observed in Pacific ocean floor basalts be related to the subduction process. We prefer the latter hypothesis in which radiogenic Sr and Pb in ocean floor sediments are added to M.O.R.B. type mantle either by direct assimilation of the sediments in partial melts or, more probably, by transfer in a fluid phase into the zone of magma production. The low ¹⁰Be concentrations observed suggest the removal of at least the top few metres of sediment during subduction.     

Simultaneous horst-basin formation and magmatism during Late Variscan transtension: evidence from 40Ar/39Ar and 207Pb/206Pb geochronology in the Ruhla Crystalline Complex

40 Ar/³⁹Ar–mica and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb–zircon dates are presented and combined with existing P–T data and the sedimentary record. These data indicate that the RCC was faulted into three segments which underwent different exhumation histories during the Late Carboniferous/Early Permian. The eastern segment shows ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar–biotite data of336 ±4 and 323±3 Ma. Furthermore, it is intruded by the Thuringian Hauptgranite dated at 337±4 Ma by the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb single zircon method. At approximately 300 Ma rocks of the eastern segment were finally exposed and, subsequently, subsided as part of the Oberhof pull-apart basin, filled by Late Carboniferous/Early Permian molasse sediments and volcanic rocks (296–285 Ma; Goll 1996). A similar Late Carboniferous evolution is inferred for the western segment, since it is also overlain by Upper Carboniferous volcanic rocks. In contrast to the eastern and western segments, distinctly younger intrusion and cooling ages were recorded for the central segment of the RCC (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar muscovite: 311±3 Ma; ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar biotite: 293–288±3 Ma) that was intruded by the Trusetal Granite, the Ruhla Granite and Brotterode Diorite (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb single zircon: 298±2, 295±3, 289±4 Ma, respectively). These young data are unique in the MGCR and testify that plutonic activity and cooling of basement rocks took place simultaneously with basin formation and volcanism in the eastern and western segments. Overlying Upper Permian (Zechstein) and Triassic sediments indicate final exposure of the central segment by approximately 260 Ma, as a part of the Ruhla-Schleusingen Horst. Combination of these results with P–T data from the contact aureole of the Trusetal granite indicate that the central segment was unroofed by at least 8.5 km during the Late Carboniferous. The Late Carboniferous/Early Permian horst-basin formation, documented in the RCC, is due to dextral transtensional movements along the NW-trending Franconian fault system. It may have been enhanced by mantle upwelling widespread in Central Europe during the Early Permian that also caused intensive magmatism in the Thuringian Forest region. Received: 2 February 1999 / Accepted: 15 November 1999