Geochronological framework of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, with emphasis on the age of gold mineralization hosted in Archean greenstone belts

Archean terrains of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero comprise a greenstone belt association surrounded by granitoid–gneiss complexes, mainly composed of banded TTG gneisses whose igneous protoliths are older than 2900 Ma. This early continental crust was affected by three granitic magmatic episodes during the Neoarchean: ca. 2780 to 2760 Ma; 2720 to 2700 Ma; and 2600 Ma. Dating of felsic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks defines a felsic magmatic event within the greenstone belt association around 2772 Ma, contemporaneous with emplacement of several of the granitic plutons and constrains a major magmatic and tectonic event in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero. Lead isotopic studies of lode–gold deposits indicate that the main mineralization episode occurred at about 2800 to 2700 Ma.Proterozoic evolution of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero comprises deposition of a continental-margin succession hosting thick, Lake Superior-type banded iron formations, at ca. 2500 to 2400 Ma, followed by deposition of syn-orogenic successions after 2120 Ma. The latter is related to the Transamazonian Orogeny. The western part of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero was also affected by the Brasiliano Orogeny (600 to 560 Ma).     

Geochemistry and geochronology of the Mkhondo suite, Swaziland: evidence for passive-margin deposition and granulite facies metamorphism in the Late Archean of Southern Africa

The Archean Mkhondo suite in southern Swaziland is a multiply deformed succession of metasediments intruded with amphibolite dykes and sills and granitoid gneisses. Mineral and textural relationships indicate an early period of granulite facies metamorphism, followed later by amphibolite facies metamorphism. Geothermobarometry indicates maximum temperatures of 700–900°C and burial depths of 25–3 km. Paragneisses and biotite quartzites have LREE enriched patterns with small negative Eu anomalies, whereas white quartzites show variable REE patterns and low REE concentrations. BIF has slight LREE enrichment and Eu anomalies. Amphibolites have moderate LREE enrichment and depletions in Ta---Nb and P. Unlike many Archean granitoids, the Mkhondo granitoid gneisses are high in K and other LILE, have large negative Eu anomalies and are not depleted in HREE.SHRIMP isotopic analyses of detrital zircons from a biotite quartzite define a source age of 3600–3460 Ma. A deformed granitoid in tectonic contact with the Mkhondo suite yields a zircon evaporation mean age of 3192±5 Ma, which is interpreted as the age of emplacement. A zircon evaporation age of a granitic melt patch in paragneiss, as well as whole-rock and garnet Sm---Nd isotopic ages, suggest that the peak of high-grade metamorphism in the Mkhondo suite occurred at about 2750 Ma. This is the first evidence for Late Archean high-grade metamorphism in the southeastern Kaapvaal craton. The age data of this study restrict deposition of the Mkhondo suite to between 3.2 and 2.75 Ga.Mkhondo paragneisses are interpreted as shales with biotite quartzites as iron- and quartz-rich detrital sediments. Geochemical mixing calculations indicate that the sediment sources were composed of basalt (±komatiite), TTG and Eu-depleted granitoids. The Mkhondo assemblage may have been deposited along a passive continental margin or in a continental interior basin. The presence of minor BIF with positive Eu anomalies suggests minor hydrothermal input into the sedimentary basin. Intense chemical weathering was probably most important in production of the relatively pure quartz sands.     

Permian–Jurassic Mahanadi and Pranhita–Godavari Rifts of Gondwana India: Provenance from regional paleoslope and U–Pb/Hf analysis of detrital zircons

The Permian–Jurassic Mahanadi and Pranhita–Godavari Rifts are part of a drainage system that radiated from the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains in central Antarctica. From 12 samples we analysed detrital zircons for U–Pb ages, Hf-isotopes, and trace elements to determine the age, rock type and source of the host magma, and T_DM model age. Clusters, in decreasing order of abundance, are (1) 820–1000 Ma, host magmas felsic granitoids with alkaline rock, (2) 1500–1700 Ma felsic granitoids, (3) 500 to 700 Ma mafic granitoids with alkaline rock, (4) 2400–2550 Ma granitoids, and (5) 1000–1200 Ma felsic and mafic granitoids, mafic rock, and alkaline rock. T_DM ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 Ga. Joint paleoslope measurements and zircon ages indicate that the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB) and lateral belts and conjugate Antarctica are potential provenances. Zircons from the Gondwana Rifts differ from those in other Gondwanaland sandstones in their predominant 820–1000 Ma and 1500–1700 Ma ages (from the EGMB and conjugate Rayner–MacRobertson Belt) that dilute the 500–700 Ma (Pan-Gondwanaland) ages. The 1000–1200 Ma zircons reflect the assembly of Rodinia, the 500–700 Ma ones that of Gondwanaland; the other ages reflect collisions in the region.     

Time series analysis of mantle cycles Part Ⅱ:The geologic record in zircons,large igneous provinces and mantle lithosphere

Igneous and detrital zircons have six major U/Pb isotopic age peaks in common(2700 Ma,1875 Ma.1045 Ma,625 Ma,265 Ma and 90 Ma).For igneous rocks,each age peak is comprised of subpeaks with distinct geographic distributions and a subpeak age range per age peak ≤100 Myr.There are eight major LIP age peaks(found on≥10 crustal provinces)of which only four are in common to major detrital zircon age peaks(2715 Ma,1875 Ma,825 Ma,90 Ma).Of the whole-rock Re depletion ages,58% have correspo nding detrital zircon age peaks and 55% have corresponding LIP age peaks.Ten age pea ks are fou nd in common to igneous zircon,detrital zircon,LIP,and Re depletion age time series(3225 Ma,2875 Ma,2145 Ma,2085 Ma,1985 Ma,1785 Ma,1455 Ma,1175 Ma,825 Ma,and 90 Ma).and these are very robust peaks on a global scale as recorded in both crustal and mantle rocks.About 50% of the age peaks in each of these time series correspond to predicted peaks in a 94-Myr mantle cycle,including four of the ten peaks in common to all four time series(2875 Ma,1785 Ma,825 Ma and 90 Ma).Age peak widths and subpeak ranges per age peak suggest that mantle events responsible for age peaks are100 Myr and many50 Myr in duration.Age peak geographic distributions show three populations(≤1000 Ma,2500-1000 Ma,2500 Ma),with the number of new provinces in which age peaks are represented decreasing with time within each population.The breaks between the populations(at 2.5 Ga and 1 Ga)fall near the onsets of two transitions in Earth history.The First Transition may represent a change from stagnant-lid tectonics into plate tectonics and the Second Transition,the onset of subduction of continental crust.The major factor controlling geographic distribution of age peaks is the changing locations of orogeny.Before ～2 Ga,age subpeaks and peaks are housed in orogens within or around the edges of crustal provinces,mostly in accretionary orogens.but beginning at 1.9 Ga,collisional orogens become more important.The coincidence in duration between magmatic flare-ups in Phanerozoic arcs and duration of age subpeaks(10-30 Myr)is consiste nt with subpeaks representing periods of enhanced arcrelated magmatism.probably caused by increased subduction flux.The correlation of isotopic age peaks between time series supports a cause and effect relationship between mantle plume activity,continental magma production at convergent margins,and crustal deformation.Correlation of over half of the detrital zircon age peaks(and six of the nine major peaks)with Re depletion age peaks supports an interpretation of the zircon peaks as crustal growth rather than selective preservation peaks.     

Geochronological framework of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero,with emphasis on the age of gold mineralization hosted in Archean greenstone belts

Archean terrains of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero comprise a greenstone belt association surrounded by granitoid–gneiss complexes, mainly composed of banded TTG gneisses whose igneous protoliths are older than 2900 Ma. This early continental crust was affected by three granitic magmatic episodes during the Neoarchean: ca. 2780 to 2760 Ma; 2720 to 2700 Ma; and 2600 Ma. Dating of felsic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks defines a felsic magmatic event within the greenstone belt association around 2772 Ma, contemporaneous with emplacement of several of the granitic plutons and constrains a major magmatic and tectonic event in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero. Lead isotopic studies of lode–gold deposits indicate that the main mineralization episode occurred at about 2800 to 2700 Ma.Proterozoic evolution of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero comprises deposition of a continental-margin succession hosting thick, Lake Superior-type banded iron formations, at ca. 2500 to 2400 Ma, followed by deposition of syn-orogenic successions after 2120 Ma. The latter is related to the Transamazonian Orogeny. The western part of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero was also affected by the Brasiliano Orogeny (600 to 560 Ma).     

Metallogenesis of the Carajás Mineral Province, Southern Amazon Craton, Brazil: Varying styles of Archean through Paleoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic base- and precious-metal mineralisation

The Itacaiúnas Belt of the highly mineralised Carajás Mineral Province comprises ca. 2.75 Ga volcanic rocks overlain by sedimentary sequences of ca. 2.68 Ga age, that represent an intracratonic basin rather than a greenstone belt. Rocks are generally at low strain and low metamorphic grade, but are often highly deformed and at amphibolite facies grade adjacent to the Cinzento Strike Slip System. The Province has been long recognised for its giant enriched iron and manganese deposits, but over the past 20 years has been increasingly acknowledged as one of the most important Cu–Au and Au–PGE provinces globally, with deposits extending along an approximately 150 km long WNW-trending zone about 60 km wide centred on the Carajás Fault. The larger deposits (approx. 200–1000 Mt @ 0.95–1.4% Cu and 0.3–0.85 g/t Au) are classic Fe-oxide Cu–Au deposits that include Salobo, Igarapé Bahia–Alemão, Cristalino and Sossego. They are largely hosted in the lower volcanic sequences and basement gneisses as pipe- or ring-like mineralised, generally breccia bodies that are strongly Fe- and LREE-enriched, commonly with anomalous Co and U, and quartz- and sulfur-deficient. Iron oxides and Fe-rich carbonates and/or silicates are invariably present. Rhenium–Os dating of molybdenite at Salobo and SHRIMP Pb–Pb dating of hydrothermal monazite at Igarapé-Bahia indicate ages of ca. 2.57 Ga for mineralisation, indistinguishable from ages of poorly-exposed Archean alkalic and A-type intrusions in the Itacaiúnas Belt, strongly implicating a deep magmatic connection.A group of smaller, commonly supergene-enriched Cu–Au deposits (generally < 50 Mt @ < 2% Cu and < 1 g/t Au in hypogene ore), with enrichment in granitophile elements such as W, Sn and Bi, spatially overlap the Archean Fe-oxide Cu–Au deposits. These include the Breves, Águas Claras, Gameleira and Estrela deposits which are largely hosted by the upper sedimentary sequence as greisen-to ring-like or stockwork bodies. They generally lack abundant Fe-oxides, are quartz-bearing and contain more S-rich Cu–Fe sulfides than the Fe-oxide Cu–Au deposits, although Cento e Dezoito (118) appears to be a transitional type of deposit. Precise Pb–Pb in hydrothermal phosphate dating of the Breves and Cento e Dezoito deposits indicate ages of 1872 ± 7 Ma and 1868 ± 7 Ma, respectively, indistinguishable from Pb–Pb ages of zircons from adjacent A-type granites and associated dykes which range from 1874 ± 2 Ma to 1883 ± 2 Ma, with 1878 ± 8 Ma the age of intrusions at Breves. An unpublished Ar/Ar age for hydrothermal biotite at Estrela is indistinguishable, and a Sm–Nd isochron age for Gameleira is also similar, although somewhat younger. The geochronological data, combined with geological constraints and ore-element associations, strongly implicate a magmatic connection for these deposits.The highly anomalous, hydrothermal Serra Pelada Au–PGE deposit lies at the north-eastern edge of the Province within the same fault corridor as the Archean and Paleoproterozoic Cu–Au deposits, and like the Cu–Au deposits is LREE enriched. It appears to have formed from highly oxidising ore fluids that were neutralised by dolomites and reduced by carbonaceous shales in the upper sedimentary succession within the hinge of a reclined synform. The imprecise Pb–Pb in hydrothermal phosphate age of 1861 ± 45 Ma, combined with an Ar/Ar age of hydrothermal biotite of 1882 ± 3 Ma, are indistinguishable from a Pb–Pb in zircon age of 1883 ± 2 Ma for the adjacent Cigano A-type granite and indistinguishable from the age of the Paleoproterozoic Cu–Au deposits. Again a magmatic connection is indicated, particularly as there is no other credible heat or fluid source at that time.Finally, there is minor Au–(Cu) mineralisation associated with the Formiga Granite whose age is probably ca. 600 Ma, although there is little new zircon growth during crystallisation of the granite. This granite is probably related to the adjacent Neoproterozoic (900–600 Ma) Araguaia Fold Belt, formed as part of the Brasiliano Orogeny.Thus, there are two major and one minor period of Cu–Au mineralisation in the Carajás Mineral Province. The two major events display strong REE enrichment and strongly enhanced LREE. There is a trend from strongly Fe-rich, low-SiO₂ and low-S deposits to quartz-bearing and more S-rich systems with time. There cannot be significant connate or basinal fluid (commonly invoked in the genesis of Fe-oxide Cu–Au deposits) involved as all host rocks were metamorphosed well before mineralisation: some host rocks are at mid- to high-amphibolite facies. The two major periods of mineralisation correspond to two periods of alkalic to A-type magmatism at ca. 2.57 Ga and ca. 1.88 Ga, and a magmatic association is compelling.The giant to world-class late Archean Fe-oxide Cu–Au deposits show the least obvious association with deep-seated alkaline bodies as shown at Palabora, South Africa, and implied at Olympic Dam, South Australia. The smaller Paleoproterozoic Cu–Au–W–Sn–Bi deposits and Au–PGE deposit show a more obvious relationship to more fractionated A-type granites, and the Neoproterozoic Au–(Cu) deposit to crustally-derived magmas. The available data suggest that magmas and ore fluids were derived from long-lived metasomatised lithosphere and lower crust beneath the eastern margin of the Amazon Craton in a tectonic setting similar to that of other large Precambrian Fe-oxide Cu–Au deposits.     

History of crustal growth and recycling at the Pacific convergent margin of South America at latitudes 29°–36° S revealed by a U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope study of detrital zircon from late Paleozoic accretionary systems

Detrital zircon provides a powerful archive of continental growth and recycling processes. We have tested this by a combined laser ablation ICP-MS U–Pb and Lu–Hf analysis of homogeneous growth domains in detrital zircon from late Paleozoic coastal accretionary systems in central Chile and the collisional Guarguaráz Complex in W Argentina. Because detritus from a large part of W Gondwana is present here, the data delineate the crustal evolution of southern South America at its Paleopacific margin, consistent with known data in the source regions.Zircon in the Guarguaráz Complex mainly displays an U–Pb age cluster at 0.93–1.46 Ga, similar to zircon in sediments of the adjacent allochthonous Cuyania Terrane. By contrast, zircon from the coastal accretionary systems shows a mixed provenance: Age clusters at 363–722 Ma are typical for zircon grown during the Braziliano, Pampean, Famatinian and post-Famatinian orogenic episodes east of Cuyania. An age spectrum at 1.00–1.39 Ga is interpreted as a mixture of zircon from Cuyania and several sources further east. Minor age clusters between 1.46 and 3.20 Ga suggest recycling of material from cratons within W Gondwana.The youngest age cluster (294–346 Ma) in the coastal accretionary prisms reflects a so far unknown local magmatic event, also represented by rhyolite and leucogranite pebbles. It sets time marks for the accretion history: Maximum depositional ages of most accreted metasediments are Middle to Upper Carboniferous. A change of the accretion mode occurred before 308 Ma, when also a concomitant retrowedge basin formed.Initial Hf-isotope compositions reveal at least three juvenile crust-forming periods in southern South America characterised by three major periods of juvenile magma production at 2.7–3.4 Ga, 1.9–2.3 Ga and 0.8–1.5 Ga. The ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf of Mesoproterozoic zircon from the coastal accretionary systems is consistent with extensive crustal recycling and addition of some juvenile, mantle-derived magma, while that of zircon from the Guarguaráz Complex has a largely juvenile crustal signature. Zircon with Pampean, Famatinian and Braziliano ages (< 660 Ma) originated from recycled crust of variable age, which is, however, mainly Mesoproterozoic. By contrast, the Carboniferous magmatic event shows less variable and more radiogenic ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf, pointing to a mean early Neoproterozoic crustal residence. This zircon is unlikely to have crystallized from melts of metasediments of the accretionary systems, but probably derived from a more juvenile crust in their backstop system.     

SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geochronology and geochemistry of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks in Northwestern Fujian, Cathaysia block, China: Tectonic implications and the need to redefine lithostratigraphic units

Northwestern Fujian Province is one of the most important Pre-Palaeozoic areas in the Cathaysia Block of South China. Metavolcano-sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks of different types, ages and metamorphic grades (granulite to upper greenschist facies) are present, and previously were divided into several Formations and Groups. Tectonic contacts occur between some units, whereas (deformed) unconformities have been reported between others. New SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages presented here indicate that the original lithostratigraphy and the old “Group” and “Formation” terminology should be abandoned. Thus the “Tianjingping Formation” was not formed in the Archaean or Palaeoproterozoic, as previously considered, but must be younger than its youngest detrital zircons (1790 Ma) but older than regional metamorphism (460 Ma). Besides magmatic zircon ages of 807 Ma obtained from metavolcano-sedimentary rocks of the “Nanshan Formation” and 751–728 Ma for the “Mamianshan Group”, many inherited and detrital zircons with ages ranging from 1.0 to 0.8 Ga were also found in them. These ages indicate that the geological evolution of the study area may be related to the assembly and subsequent break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent. The new zircon results poorly constrain the age of the “Mayuan Group” as Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic (728–458 Ma), and not Palaeoproterozoic as previously thought. Many older inherited and detrital zircons with ages of 3.6, 2.8, 2.7, 2.6–2.5, 2.0–1.8 and 1.6 Ga were found in this study. A 3.6 Ga detrital grain is the oldest one so far identified in northwestern Fujian Province as well as throughout the Cathaysia Block. Nd isotope t_DM values of eight volcano-sedimentary and clastic sedimentary rock samples centre on 2.73–1.68 Ga, being much older than the formation ages of their protoliths and thus showing that the recycling of older crust played an important role in their formation. These rocks underwent high grade metamorphism in the early Palaeozoic (458–425 Ma) during an important tectono-thermal event in the Cathaysia Block.     

Contrasting ages between isotopic chronometers in granulites: monazite dating and metamorphism in the Higo Complex, Japan

The Higo Complex of west-central Kyushu, western Japan is a 25 km long body of metasedimentary and metabasic lithologies that increase in metamorphic grade from schist in the north to migmatitic granulite in the south, where granitoids are emplaced along the southern margin. The timing of granulite metamorphism has been extensively investigated and debated. Previously published Sm–Nd mineral isochrons for garnet-bearing metapelite yielded ca.220–280 Ma ages, suggesting high-grade equilibration older than the lower grade schist to the north, which yielded ca.180 Ma K–Ar muscovite ages. Ion and electron microprobe analyses on zircon have yielded detrital grains with rim ages of ca.250 Ma and ca.110 Ma. Electron microprobe ages from monazite and xenotime are consistently 110–130 Ma. Two models have been proposed: 1) high-grade metamorphism and tectonism at ca.115 Ma, with older ages attributed to inheritance; and 2) high-grade metamorphism at ca.250 Ma, with resetting of isotopic systems by contact metamorphism at ca.105 Ma during the intrusion of granodiorite. These models are evaluated through petrographic investigation and electron microprobe Th–U–total Pb dating of monazite in metapelitic migmatites and associated lithologies. In-situ investigation of monazite reveals growth and dissolution features associated with prograde and retrograde stages of progressive metamorphism and deformation. Monazite Th–U–Pb isochrons from metapelite, diatexite and late-deformational felsic dykes consistently yield ca.110–120 Ma ages. Earlier and later stages of monazite growth cannot be temporally resolved. The preservation of petrogenetic relationships, coupled with the low diffusion rate of Pb at < 900 °C in monazite, is strong evidence for timing high-temperature metamorphism and deformation at ca.115 Ma. Older ages from a variety of chronometers are attributed to isotopic disequilibrium between mineral phases and the preservation of inherited and detrital age components. Tentative support is given to tectonic models that correlate the Higo terrane with exotic terranes between the Inner and Outer tectonic Zones of southwest Japan, possibly derived from the active continental margin of the South China Block. These terranes were dismembered and translated northeastwards by transcurrent shearing and faulting from the beginning to the end of the Cretaceous Period.     

The timing of ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism in Southern India: U–Th–Pb electron microprobe ages from zircon and monazite in sapphirine-bearing granulites

We report here U–Pb electron microprobe ages from zircon and monazite associated with corundum- and sapphirine-bearing granulite facies rocks of Lachmanapatti, Sengal, Sakkarakkottai and Mettanganam in the Palghat–Cauvery shear zone system and Ganguvarpatti in the northern Madurai Block of southern India. Mineral assemblages and petrologic characteristics of granulite facies assemblages in all these localities indicate extreme crustal metamorphism under ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) conditions. Zircon cores from Lachmanapatti range from 3200 to 2300 Ma with a peak at 2420 Ma, while those from Mettanganam show 2300 Ma peak. Younger zircons with peak ages of 2100 and 830 Ma are displayed by the UHT granulites of Sengal and Ganguvarpatti, although detrital grains with 2000 Ma ages are also present. The Late Archaean-aged cores are mantled by variable rims of Palaeo- to Mesoproterozoic ages in most cases. Zircon cores from Ganguvarpatti range from 2279 to 749 Ma and are interpreted to reflect multiple age sources. The oldest cores are surrounded by Palaeoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic rims, and finally mantled by Neoproterozoic overgrowths. In contrast, monazites from these localities define peak ages of between 550 and 520 Ma, with an exception of a peak at 590 Ma for the Lachmanapatti rocks. The outermost rims of monazite grains show spot ages in the range of 510–450 Ma.While the zircon populations in these rocks suggest multiple sources of Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic age, the monazite data are interpreted to date the timing of ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism in southern India as latest Neoproterozoic to Cambrian in both the Palghat–Cauvery shear zone system and the northern Madurai Block. The data illustrate the extent of Neoproterozoic/Cambrian metamorphism as India joined the Gondwana amalgam at the dawn of the Cambrian.     

Detrital zircon evidence for Hf isotopic evolution of granitoid crust and continental growth

We have determined U-Pb ages, trace element abundances and Hf isotopic compositions of approximately 1000 detrital zircon grains from the Mississippi, Congo, Yangtze and Amazon Rivers. The U-Pb isotopic data reveal the lack of >3.3 Ga zircons in the river sands, and distinct peaks at 2.7-2.5, 2.2-1.9, 1.7-1.6, 1.2-1.0, 0.9-0.4, and <0.3 Ga in the accumulated age distribution. These peaks correspond well with the timing of supercontinent assembly. The Hf isotopic data indicate that many zircons, even those having Archean U-Pb ages, crystallized from magmas involving an older crustal component, suggesting that granitoid magmatism has been the primary agent of differentiation of the continental crust since the Archean era. We calculated Hf isotopic model ages for the zircons to estimate the mean mantle-extraction ages of their source materials. The oldest zircon Hf model ages of about 3.7 Ga for the river sands suggest that some crust generation had taken place by 3.7 Ga, and that it was subsequently reworked into <3.3 Ga granitoid continental crust. The accumulated model age distribution shows peaks at 3.3-3.0, 2.9-2.4, and 2.0-0.9 Ga.The striking attribute of our new data set is the non-uniformitarian secular change in Hf isotopes of granitoid crusts; Hf isotopic compositions of granitoid crusts deviate from the mantle evolution line from about 3.3 to 2.0 Ga, the deviation declines between 2.0 and 1.3 Ga and again increases afterwards. Consideration of mantle-crust mixing models for granitoid genesis suggests that the noted isotopic trends are best explained if the rate of crust generation globally increased in two stages at around (or before) 3.3 and 1.3 Ga, whereas crustal differentiation was important in the evolution of the continental crust at 2.3-2.2 Ga and after 0.6 Ga. Reconciling the isotopic secular change in granitoid crust with that in sedimentary rocks suggests that sedimentary recycling has essentially taken place in continental settings rather than active margin settings and that the sedimentary mass significantly grew through addition of first-cycle sediments from young igneous basements, until after ∼1.3 Ga when sedimentary recycling became the dominant feature of sedimentary evolution. These findings, coupled with the lack of zircons older than 3.3 Ga in river sands, imply the emergence of large-scale continents at about 3.3 Ga with further rapid growth at around 1.3 Ga. This resulted in the major growth of the sedimentary mass between 3.3 and 1.3 Ga and the predominance of its cannibalistic recycling later.     

The Paleoproterozoic North Hebei Orogen: North China craton's collisional suture with the Columbia supercontinent

Understanding the geologic history and position of the North China craton in the Paleoproterozoic Columbia supercontinent has proven elusive. Paleoproterozoic orogenic episodes (2.00–1.85 Ga) are temporally associated with ultimate stabilization of the North China craton (NCC), followed by the development of extensive craton-wide rift systems at 1.85–1.80 Ga. The age difference between the sedimentary cover and the metamorphic basement is up to 500–700 Ma, suggesting that uplift and doming of cratonic basement occurred in the latest Paleoproterozoic. Mafic dike swarms (1.80–1.77 Ga) and anorogenic magmatism (1.80–1.70 Ga) record the extensional breakup and dispersal of the North China craton during this stage. The late Paleoproterozoic tectonic framework and geological events documented provide important constraints for reconstruction of the NCC within the Late Paleoproterozoic supercontinent of Columbia.An east-west striking thousand kilometer long belt of khondalites (granulite facies metapelites) stretches along the northern margin of the North China craton, on the cratonward side of the Northern Hebei orogenic belt. This granulite belt includes Mg–Al (sapphirine bearing) granulites that reached ultrahigh-temperature “peak” metamorphic conditions of  1000 °C at 10 kbars at 1927 ± 11 Ma. Following peak ultrahigh-temperature conditions, the rocks underwent initial isobaric cooling and subsequent isothermal decompression, and these trajectories are interpreted to be part of an overall anti-clockwise P-T evolution indicating that the northern margin of the craton experienced continental collision at 1.93–1.92 Ga. The position of the khondalite belt south of the Northern Hebei orogenic belt makes it analogous to Tibet, a continental collision-related plateau characterized by double crustal thicknesses and granulite facies metamorphism at depth. We suggest that the tectonic evolution of the NCC during this period was closely related to the assembly and break-up of the Columbia supercontinent, and that the NCC was adjacent to the Baltic and Amazonian cratons in the period 2.00–1.70 Ga. Craton-wide extension occurred within 100–150 Ma of collision along the northern margin of the craton at 1.93–1.92 Ga. It is concluded that mantle upwellings are chiefly responsible for the breakup of the NCC from the Paleoproterozoic supercontinent.     

Revised Mesozoic–Cenozoic orogenic architecture and gold metallogeny in the northern Circum-Pacific

The orogenic collages of the northern Circum-Pacific between Japan and Alaska revealed an endowment of about 450 Moz Au in various deposit types and diverse Mesozoic–Cenozoic tectonic settings. The area consists of predominantly late Paleozoic to Cenozoic turbidite to island arc terranes as well as Precambrian cratonic terranes that can be grouped into the Kolyma–Alaska, Kamchatka–Aleutian, and Nipponide collages. The latter can be linked via the Mongol–Okhotsk suture with the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic terranes in the Mongolides.The early Yanshanian magmatic arc terranes in the fossil Kolyma–Alaska collage host copper–gold porphyry deposits, which have only recently received much attention. Exploration has revealed a large and growing gold endowment of more than 30 Moz Au in some individual deposits, with smaller role of epithermal deposits. This mineralization, formed at 140–125 Ma, is partly coeval with the collisions of magmatic arcs with the passive margin sequences of the Siberian craton and related granitoid magmatism. About 200 Moz of gold is known in the Kolyma–Alaska collage in the Mesozoic orogenic gold deposits and related Quaternary placers. The Central Kolyma, Indigirka, South Verkhoyansk, and North Chukotka subprovinces of the collage revealed an endowment of more than 10 Moz Au each. A similar and coeval event in the Mongolides in relation to the collision between Siberia and North China is largely reflected in still poorly dated intrusion-related gold deposits clustered along the Mongol–Okhotsk suture.The overlapping Yanshanian magmatic arcs in Transbaikalia and northeast China and the Okhotsk–Chukotka magmatic arc in the Russian Far East stitch the Kolyma–Alaska collage with the Paleozoic Central Asian supercollage and adjacent cratons. While the Okhotsk–Chukotka arc reveals a relatively simple and broad oroclinal pattern, the Yanshanian arcs in Mongolia, and NE China form a tightly deformed giant Z-shaped feature that was bent in response to the southward movement of the Siberian craton and northward translation of the Nipponides and North China craton to close the Mongol–Okhotsk suture in late Jurassic to Cretaceous times. The Yanshanian arcs host mostly small to medium-sized 100–70 Ma Au–Ag deposits, with the largest endowment discovered in the Baley district in Transbaikalia and at Kupol in the northern part of the Okhotsk–Chukotka arc. Some intrusion-related gold deposits were formed synchronously with this arc magmatism, with the largest known examples in the Tintina belt in Alaska formed at 104 and 93–91 Ma.The Kamchatka–Aleutian collage is still evolving in front of the westward-subducting Pacific plate. It's late Cretaceous to Paleogene magmatic arc rocks form immature island arc terranes, extending from the Aleutian islands towards the Nipponides via Kamchatka peninsula, Kuril islands and eastern Sakhalin. However, in the Nipponides, the Sikhote–Alin portion of the magmatic arc overlaps the Mesozoic turbidite terranes. The oroclinal pattern of this more than 8000 km-long magmatic arc indicates its westward translation in agreement with the movement of the Pacific plate so that the arc is presently colliding with itself along the island of Sakhalin, a seismically active intraplate lineament and a boundary between the Nipponide and Kamchatka–Aleutian collages. This magmatic arc is usually interpreted to be of intra-oceanic origin, with subsequent docking to Asia from the south; however, presence of the Sea of Okhotsk cratonic terrane between Sakhalin and Kamchatka suggests that it may be rather considered as an external arc system that separated from the rest of Asia due to backarc spreading events, therefore, forming the most external arc system at the active margin with the Pacific plate. The subduction-related events in the collage produced numerous late Mesozoic to Cenozoic 1–3 Moz gold epithermal deposit in Kamchatka and Sikhote–Alin as well as Au–Cu porphyry deposits, with currently largest gold endowment in the pre-Tertiary Pebble Copper deposit in Alaska. The westward translation of the Kamchatka–Aleutian collage might have controlled the emplacement of this porphyry deposit, as well as up to 30 Moz into intrusion-related gold deposits at 70–65 Ma in the Kuskokwim belt, immediately north from the porphyry cluster.     

西藏革吉地区沙木罗组碎屑锆石年代学研究:物源及其对班公湖-怒江特提斯洋西段闭合时限的制约

班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆的闭合时限对理解班公湖-怒江结合带的构造演化意义重大。本文采用碎屑锆石年代学的方法,分析了班公湖-怒江结合带西段革吉地区沙木罗组下段与沙木罗组上段的物源特征及差异,为班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆西段的闭合时间提供了新的证据。研究结果表明沙木罗组下段碎屑锆石年龄分布于2586±26Ma～130±1. 5Ma之间,显示出1个主峰年龄约165Ma,1个次峰年龄约240Ma。碎屑锆石年龄分6个组别,集中在2600～2400Ma、2000～1900Ma、1000～840Ma、500～400Ma、340～200Ma和200～130Ma,分别与新太古代克拉通汇聚事件、哥伦比亚超大陆相关的构造热事件、新元古代构造热事件、冈瓦纳大陆边缘安第斯型造山作用的岩浆活动事件、龙木错-双湖结合带岩浆活动事件和班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆俯冲消减的岩浆活动事件一一对应。沙木罗组上段碎屑锆石年龄分布于2558±22Ma～101±1. 0Ma之间,显示出1个主峰年龄约107Ma,2个次峰年龄分别约226Ma、150Ma。碎屑锆石年龄集中分布于1个年龄组为122～101Ma,记录了班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆俯冲消减的岩浆活动。通过与潜在源区的年龄谱峰进行对比,沙木罗组下段物源区与南羌塘地块有良好的亲缘性,表明其沉积物物源主要为南羌塘地块,其中南羌塘岩浆弧可能为其主要贡献者。沙木罗组上段物源区与南羌塘地块和北拉萨地块均具有良好的亲缘性,其沉积物物源具有双源性,分别来源于南羌塘岩浆弧和北拉萨岩浆弧。沙木罗组下段和上段沉积物物源的差异性暗示它们形成的沉积环境和物源区不同。对比分析沙木罗组下段和上段岩石学、碎屑锆石形态学等特征,也揭示了类似的差异性。结合其他相关地质资料,认为班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆在革吉地区的主体闭合时间约115～110Ma,其代表性岩浆事件为南羌塘地块和北拉萨地块的早白垩世岩浆弧,沙木罗组为班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆由俯冲消减到闭合过程中的沉积产物。     

Detrital footprint of the Mozambique ocean: U–Pb SHRIMP and Pb evaporation zircon geochronology of metasedimentary gneisses in eastern Madagascar

The southern East African Orogen is a collisional belt where the identification of major suture zones has proved elusive. In this study, we apply U–Pb isotopic techniques to date detrital zircons from a key part of the East African Orogen, analyse their possible source region and discuss how this information can help in unravelling the orogen.U–Pb sensitive high-mass resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) and Pb evaporation analyses of detrital zircons from metasedimentary rocks in eastern Madagascar reveal that: (1) the protoliths of many of these rocks were deposited between 800 and 550 Ma; and (2) these rocks are sourced from regions with rocks that date back to over 3400 Ma, with dominant age populations of 3200–3000, 2650, 2500 and 800–700 Ma.The Dharwar Craton of southern India is a potential source region for these sediments, as here rocks date back to over 3400 Ma and include abundant gneissic rocks with protoliths older than 3000 Ma, sedimentary rocks deposited at 3000–2600 Ma and granitoids that crystallised at 2513–2552 Ma. The 800–700 Ma zircons could potentially be sourced from elsewhere in India or from the Antananarivo Block of central Madagascar in the latter stages of closure of the Mozambique Ocean. The region of East Africa adjacent to Madagascar in Gondwana reconstructions (the Tanzania craton) is rejected as a potential source as there are no known rocks here older than 3000 Ma, and no detrital grains in our samples sourced from Mesoproterozoic and early Neoproterozoic rocks that are common throughout central east Africa. In contrast, coeval sediments 200 km west, in the Itremo sheet of central Madagascar, have detrital zircon age profiles consistent with a central East African source, suggesting that two late Neoproterozoic provenance fronts pass through east Madagascar at approximately the position of the Betsimisaraka suture. These observations support an interpretation that the Betsimisaraka suture separates rocks that were derived from different locations within, or at the margins of, the Mozambique Ocean basin and therefore, that the suture is the site of subduction of a strand of Mozambique Ocean crust.     

Combining trace-element compositions, U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes in zircons to unravel complex calcalkaline magma chambers in the Upper Cretaceous Srednogorie zone (Bulgaria)

Precise U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotope tracing of zircon is combined with whole-rock geochemical and Sr and Nd isotope data in order to unravel processes affecting mafic to felsic calcalkaline magmas prior to and during their crystallization in crustal magma chambers along the southern border of Central Srednogorie tectonic zone in Bulgaria (SE Europe). ID-TIMS U–Pb dating of single zircons from felsic and mixed/mingled dioritic to gabbroic horizons of single plutons define crystallization ages of around 86.5–86.0, 85.0–84.5 and 82 Ma. Concordia age uncertainties are generally less than 0.3 Ma (0.35%–2σ), and as good as 0.08 Ma (0.1%), when the weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U value is used. Such precision allows the distinction of magma replenishment processes if separated by more than 0.6–1.0 Ma and when they are marked by newly saturated zircons. We interpret zircon dates from a single sample that do not overlap to reflect new zircon growth during magma recharge in a long-lived crustal chamber. Mingling/mixing of the basaltic magma with colder granitoid mush at mid- to upper-crustal levels is proposed to explain zircon saturation and fast crystallization of U- and REE-rich zircons in the hybrid gabbro.Major and trace-element distribution and Sr and Nd whole-rock isotope chemistry define island arc affinities for the studied plutons. Slab derived fluids and a sediment component are constrained as enrichment sources for the mantle wedge-derived magma, though Hf isotopes in zircon suggest crustal assimilation was also important. Inherited zircons, and their corresponding ε-Hf, from the hybrid gabbroic rocks trace the lower crust as possible source for enrichment of the mantle magma. These inherited zircons are about 440 Ma old with ε-Hf of − 7 at 82 Ma, whereas newly saturated concordant Upper Cretaceous zircons reveal mantle ε-Hf values of + 7.2 to + 10.1. The upper and middle crusts contribute in the generation of the granitoid rocks. Their zircon inheritance is Lower Palaeozoic or significantly older and crustal dominated with 82–85 Ma corrected ε-Hf values of − 28. The Cretaceous concordant zircons in the granitoids are mantle dominated with a ε-Hf values spreading from + 3.9 to + 7.     

Geochronological constraints on metamorphism, magmatism and exhumation of deep-crustal rocks of the Kramanituar Complex, with implications for the Paleoproterozoic evolution of the Archean western Churchill Province, Canada

U-Pb and Sm-Nd geochronology establishes an important Paleoproterozoic (~1.9 Ga) history for the Kramanituar Complex, located in the interior of the Archean western Churchill Province, and provides further insight into the Snowbird tectonic zone, a crustal-scale (>2000 km) feature whose role during Precambrian time remains controversial. The Kramanituar Complex is a window of deep-crustal rocks, dominated by a granulite-facies metagabbroic suite of ~1902 Ma age, with minor supracrustal rocks and charnockite. These yield peak equilibrium conditions of 12-15 kbar and 850-900 °C, which are bracketed between ~1910 Ma, the age of prograde metamorphic monazite in sillimanite- and kyanite-bearing paragneiss, and 1901 Ma, the cooling ages of titanite and rutile in gabbroic and paragneissic rocks. Although mineral assemblages reflecting peak metamorphic conditions are widespread, some rocks record near-isothermal decompression to ~8 kbar and 800 °C. The timing of uplift and exhumation is tightly bracketed between magmatic crystallization of gabbroic anorthosite under granulite-facies conditions at 1902 Ma and widespread rutile cooling ages of 1901 Ma. Time-averaged cooling rates of >100 °C/Ma are estimated for gabbroic anorthosite and leucogranite. Rocks surrounding the Kramanituar Complex are mainly amphibolite-facies Archean plutonic and supracrustal rocks. Those to the north were at deep-crustal conditions coeval with the complex, whereas those to the south appear to preserve a record of older, mainly Neoarchean tectonometamorphic assemblages and fabrics. The southern boundary of the complex is inferred to be a normal fault that accommodated tectonic unroofing of the Kramanituar Complex at ~1.9 Ga. This geochronological data set highlights the protracted history of a segment of the geophysically defined Snowbird tectonic zone, a structure along which latest significant magmatism and tectonometamorphism has been interpreted as either ~2600 or ~1800 Ma. Penetrative ~1900 Ma activity in the east-trending Chesterfield segment, as documented at the Kramanituar Complex, suggests that the complex may have represented a favorably oriented segment of a crustal-scale Archean fault that was reactivated during Paleoproterozoic time, possibly in response to collision between the Slave and Churchill cratons (Thelon Orogen) at ~1.97-1.9 Ga.     

Provenance of lateritic bauxite deposits in the Wuchuan–Zheng’an–Daozhen area,Northern Guizhou Province,China: LA-ICP-MS and SIMS U–Pb dating of detrital zircons

The provenance of the large and super-large scale bauxite deposits developed in the Wuchuan–Zheng’an–Daozhen (WZD) alumina metallogenic province in the Yangtze Block of South China is poorly understood. LA-ICP-MS and SIMS U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from bauxite ores and the underlying Hanjiadian Group in the WZD area provide new constrains on the provenance of the WZD bauxite and provide new insight on the bauxite ore-forming process. The ages of the detrital zircons in the bauxites and the zircons in the Hanjiadian Group are similar suggesting that the bauxites are genetically related to the Hanjiadian sediments. The detrital zircon populations of the four samples studied show four primary age peaks: 2600–2400 Ma, 1900–1700 Ma, 1300–700 Ma and 700–400 Ma. The age distribution of detrital zircons indicates that they are probably derived from various sources including Neoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic, Paleoproterozoic, Archean and some minor Paleozoic sources. The most abundant age population contains a continuous range of ages from 1300 to 700 Ma, ages consistent with subduction-related magmatic activities (1000–740 Ma) along the western margin of the Yangtze Block and the worldwide Grenville orogenic events (1300–1000 Ma). Thus, it is suggested that the main provenances of the WZD bauxite and the Hanjiadian Group are the Neoproterozoic igneous rocks in the western Yangtze Block and the Grenville-age igneous rocks in the southern Cathaysia Block. In addition, this work verifies that the global Grenville orogenic events and subduction-related magmatic activities associated with the Yangtze Block had a significant influence on the formation of the WZD bauxite deposits.     

Upstairs-downstairs: supercontinents and large igneous provinces,are they related?

There is a correlation of global large igneous province (LIP) events with zircon age peaks at 2700, 2500, 2100, 1900, 1750, 1100, and 600 and also probably at 3450, 3000, 2000, and 300 Ma. Power spectral analyses of LIP event distributions suggest important periodicities at 250, 150, 100, 50, and 25 million years with weaker periodicities at 70–80, 45, and 18–20 Ma. The 25 million year periodicity is important only in the last 300 million years. Some LIP events are associated with granite-forming (zircon-producing) events and others are not, and LIP events at 1900 and 600 Ma correlate with peaks in craton collision frequency. LIP age peaks are associated with supercontinent rifting or breakup, but not dispersal, at 2450–2400, 2200, 1380, 1280, 800–750, and ≤200 Ma, and with supercontinent assembly at 1750 and 600 Ma. LIP peaks at 2700 and 2500 Ma and the valley between these peaks span the time of Neoarchaean supercraton assemblies. These observations are consistent with plume generation in the deep mantle operating independently of the supercontinent cycle and being controlled by lower-mantle and core-mantle boundary thermochemical dynamics. Two processes whereby plumes can impact continental assembly and breakup are (1) plumes may rise beneath supercontinents and initiate supercontinent breakup, and (2) plume ascent may increase the frequency of craton collisions and the rate of crustal growth by accelerating subduction.     

U–Pb ages of Neoarchean granitoids from the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA: implications for crustal evolution in the Archean Wyoming province

Zircons in basement rocks from the eastern Wyoming province (Black Hills, South Dakota, USA) have been analyzed by ion microprobe (SHRIMP) in order to determine precise ages of Archean tectonomagmatic events. In the northern Black Hills (NBH) near Nemo, Phanerozoic and Proterozoic (meta)sedimentary rocks are nonconformably underlain by Archean biotite–feldspar gneiss (BFG) and Little Elk gneissic granite (LEG), both of which intrude older schists. The Archean granitoid gneisses exhibit a pervasive NW–SE-trending fabric, whereas an earlier NE–SW-trending fabric occurs sporadically only in the BFG, which is intruded by the somewhat younger LEG. Zircon crystals obtained from the LEG and BFG exhibit double terminations, oscillatory zoning, and Th/U ratios of 0.6±0.3—thereby confirming a magmatic origin for both lithologies. In situ analysis of the most U–Pb concordant domains yields equivalent ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages (upper intercept, U–Pb concordia) of 2559±6 and 2563±6 Ma (both ±2σ) for the LEG and BFG, respectively, which constrains a late Neoarchean age for sequential pulses of magmatism in the NBH. Unzoned (in BSE) patches of 2560 Ma zircon commonly truncate coeval zonation in the same crystals with no change in Th/U ratio, suggesting that deuteric, fluid-assisted recrystallization accompanied post-magmatic cooling. A xenocrystic core of magmatic zircon observed in one LEG zircon yields a concordant age of 2894±6 Ma (±2σ). This xenocryst represents the oldest crustal material reported thus far in the Black Hills. Whether this older zircon originated as unmelted residue of 2900 Ma crust that potentially underlies the Black Hills or as detritus derived from 2900 Ma crustal sources in the Wyoming province cannot be discerned. In the southern Black Hills (SBH), the peraluminous granite at Bear Mountain (BMG) of previously unknown age intrudes biotite–plagioclase schist. Zircon crystals from the BMG are highly metamict and altered, but locally preserve small domains suitable for in situ analysis. A U–Pb concordia upper intercept age of 2596±11 Ma (±2σ) obtained for zircon confirms both the late Neoarchean magmatic age of the BMG and a minimum age for the schist it intrudes. Taken together, these data indicate that the Neoarchean basement granitoids were emplaced at 2590–2600 Ma (SBH) and 2560 Ma (NBH), most likely in response to subduction associated with plate convergence (final assembly of supercontinent Kenorland?). In contrast, thin rims present on some LEG–BFG zircons exhibit strong U–Pb discordance, high common Pb, and low Th/U ratios—suggesting growth or modification under hydrothermal conditions, as previously suggested for similar zircons from SE Wyoming. The LEG–BFG zircon rims yield a nominal upper intercept date of 1940–2180 Ma, which may represent a composite of multiple rifting events known to have affected the Nemo area between 2480 and 1960 Ma. Together, these observations confirm the existence of a Paleoproterozoic rift margin along the easternmost Wyoming craton. Moreover, the 2480–1960 Ma time frame inferred for rifting in the Black Hills (Nemo area) corresponds closely to a 2450–2100 Ma time frame previously inferred for the fragmentation of supercontinent Kenorland.