Precambrian to Paleozoic zircon record in the Siviez-Mischabel basement (western Swiss Alps)

U–Pb zircon analyses from three meta-igneous and two metasedimentary rocks from the Siviez-Mischabel nappe in the western Swiss Alps are presented, and are used to derive an evolutionary history spanning from Paleoarchean crustal growth to Permian magmatism. The oldest components are preserved in zircons from metasedimentary albitic schists. The oldest zircon core in these schists is 3.4 Ga old. Detrital zircons reveal episodes of crustal growth in the Neoarchean (2.7–2.5 Ga), Paleoproterozoic (2.2–1.9 Ma) and Neoproterozoic (800–550 Ma, Pan-African event). The maximum age of deposition for the metasedimentary rocks is given by the youngest detrital zircons within both metasedimentary samples dated at ~490 Ma (Cambrian-Ordovician boundary). This is in the age range of two granitoid samples dated at 505 ± 4 and 482 ± 7 Ma, and indicates sedimentation and magmatism in an extensional setting preceding an Ordovician orogeny. The third felsic meta-igneous rock gives a Permian age of intrusion, and is part of a long-lasting Variscan to post-Variscan magmatic activity. The zircons record only minor disturbance of the U–Pb system during the Alpine orogeny.     

Discovery of an albite gneiss from the Ile de Groix (Armorican Massif, France): geochemistry and LA-ICP-MS U–Pb geochronology of its Ordovician protolith

For the first time, an albite orthogneiss has been recognised and dated within the HP–LT blueschist facies metabasites and metapelites of the Ile de Groix. It is characterised by a peraluminous composition, high LILE, Th and U contents, MORB-like HREE abundances and moderate Nb and Y values. A U–Pb age of 480.8?±?4.8?Ma was obtained by LA-ICP-MS dating of zircon and titanite. It is interpreted as the age of the magmatic emplacement during the Early Ordovician. Morphologically different zircon grains yield late Neoproterozoic ages of 546.6–647.4?Ma. Zircon and titanite U–Pb ages indicate that the felsic magmatism from the Ile de Groix is contemporaneous with the acid, pre-orogenic magmatism widely recognised in the internal zones of the Variscan belt, related to the Cambro-Ordovician continental rifting. The magmatic protolith probably inherited a specific chemical composition from a combination of orogenic, back-arc and anorogenic signatures because of partial melting of the Cadomian basement during magma emplacement. Besides, the late Devonian U–Pb age of 366?±?33?Ma obtained for titanite from a blueschist facies metapelite corresponds to the age of the HP–LT peak metamorphism.     

Ordovician passive continental margin magmatism in the Central-European Variscides: U–Pb zircon data from the SE part of the Karkonosze-Izera Massif, Sudetes, SW Poland

Approximately 500-Ma-old orthogneisses are widespread in the eastern part of the Variscan belt and are commonly interpreted to have intruded mica-schist series of assumed Neoproterozoic age. New SHRIMP zircon ages of quartzofeldspathic metavolcanogenic rocks of the mica schist series in the eastern part of the Karkonosze-Izera Massif (SW Poland) indicate that they are late Cambrian/early Ordovician rather than Neoproterozoic in age, based on the zircon age spectra distributed mainly between ca. 500 and 660 Ma (with a few Proterozoic inherited minimum ages of ca. 970 and 1,825 Ma). Younger zircon dates, dispersed between ca. 412 and 464 Ma, are interpreted as a result of Pb-loss likely caused by subsequent metamorphism. Consequently, the felsic metavolcanogenic rocks appear to be roughly contemporaneous with the intrusion of ca. 500-Ma-old orthogneiss protoliths (with the pooled concordia age of 487 ± 8 Ma interpreted as the best approximation of the protolith intrusive age). Field relationships, petrological and geochemical features of the felsic and mafic rocks studied support a model in which the accompanying mica schist series are not the original country rocks to the ca. 500 Ma granite intrusions, and indicate that their recent close proximity is the result of tectonic juxtaposition. However, both the mica schists enclosing the bimodal metavolcanic rocks, and the orthogneisses, are interpreted to represent a Cambro-Ordovician passive continental margin sequence being part of the Saxothuringian domain. They are tectonically overlain to the east by HP/T metamorphic units, comprising MORB-type metaigneous rocks, and delineating a tectonic suture separating the Saxothuringian block in the west from an assumed continental block (Tepla-Barrandian) to the south-east.     

特提斯喜马拉雅构造带雅拉香波穹隆构造热事件LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄证据

雅拉香波穹隆位于特提斯喜马拉雅构造带东部,出露显生宙不同时期的岩石地层,发育强烈韧性剪切变形和多期岩浆热事件,良好地记录了印度大陆俯冲导致的构造变形和岩浆热历史。对雅拉香波穹隆不同构造部位的花岗质岩石进行LAICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素测年,获得4期构造岩浆事件的高精度测年数据。早期锆石年龄520.4±6.3Ma与536±12Ma指示喜马拉雅地块结晶基底泛非期岩浆侵位时代,晚期锆石年龄揭示新生代碰撞造山不同阶段构造热事件的发生时代。其中,45.6±1.2~44.16±0.88Ma反映印度大陆向北俯冲的起始时代,35.00±0.48Ma对应于始新世晚期增厚地壳深部构造热事件年龄,15.67±0.50Ma指示雅拉香波核部花岗岩侵位及穹隆的形成时代。     

Meso–Neoarchaean crustal evolution of the Bundelkhand Craton,Indian Shield: new data from greenstone belts

ABSTRACT

The Mauranipur and Babina greenstone belts of the Bundelkhand Craton are formed of the Central Bundelkhand greenstone complex (CBGC). This complex represents tectonic collage which has not been previously studied in depth. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the main features of the Archaean crustal evolution of the Bundelkhand Craton. The CBGC consists of two assemblages: (1) the early assemblage, which is composed of basic-ultramafic, rhyolitic–dacitic, and banded iron formation units, and (2) the late assemblage, which is a felsic volcanic unit. The units and assemblages are tectonically unified with epidote–quartz–plagioclase metasomatic rocks formed locally in these tectonic zones.

The early assemblage of the Mauranipur greenstone belt is estimated at 2810 ± 13 Ma, from the U–Pb dating (SHRIMP, zircon) of the felsic volcanics. Also, there are inherited 3242 ± 65 Ma zircons in this rock. It is deduced that this assemblage is related to early felsic subduction volcanism during the Mesoarchaean that occurred in the Bundelkhand Craton.

Zircons extracted from metasomatic rocks in the early assemblage’s high-Mg basalts show a concordant age of 2687 ± 11 Ma. This age is interpreted as a time of metamorphism that occurred simultaneously with an early accretion stage in the evolution of the Mauranipur greenstone belt.

The felsic volcanism, appearing as subvolcanic bodies in the late assemblage of the Mauranipur greenstone belt, is estimated to be 2557 ± 33 Ma from the U–Pb dating (SHRIMP, zircon) of the felsic volcanic rocks. This rock also contains inherited 2864 ± 46 Ma zircons. The late assemblage of the Mauranipur greenstone belt corresponds with a geodynamic setting of active subduction along the continental margin during Neoarchaean.

The late assemblage Neoarchaean felsic volcanic rocks from the Mauranipur and Babina greenstone belts are comparable in age and geochemical characteristics. The Neoarchaean rocks are more enriched in Sr and Ba and are more depleted in Cr and Ni than the Mesoarchaean felsic volcanic rocks of the early assemblage.

Through isotopic dating and the geochemical analysis of the volcanic and metasomatic rocks of the CBGC, this study has revealed two subduction–accretion events, the Meso–Neoarchaean (2.81–2.7 Ga) and Neoarchaean (2.56–2.53 Ga), during the crustal evolution of the Bundelkhand Craton (Indian Shield).     

刚果(金)绿纱铜钴矿床黑色页岩Rb-Sr测年及其区域成矿意义

中非铜钴矿带是全球最大最具经济价值的沉积型层状铜成矿带之一.区域内铜钴矿床形成分布主要受区域地层和构造控制,成矿具有多期特征.含矿地层中发育大量褶皱前浸染状和顺层脉状矿化,指示可能存在成岩之后和造山主构造变形之前的矿化叠加作用.本文通过绿纱铜钴矿床矿化黑色页岩全岩Rb-Sr测年及Sr-Nd同位素研究,获得早期浸染状矿化...     

南阿尔金高压-超高温麻粒岩变质作用:大陆地壳超深俯冲与折返过程的记录

南阿尔金造山带是目前报道的具有最深俯冲记录的大陆超高压变质带,其内出露有高压-超高温麻粒岩,它们对深入理解大陆地壳岩石超深俯冲与折返过程具有重要意义.介绍了对南阿尔金巴什瓦克地区长英质麻粒岩和基性麻粒岩的岩相学、矿物化学、相平衡模拟及锆石U-Pb年代学研究成果.其中基性麻粒岩主要记录了深俯冲大陆地壳折返过程的变质演化:包括高压榴辉岩相、高压-超高温麻粒岩相、低压-超高温麻粒岩相及随后的近等压降温演化阶段;长英质麻粒岩除了记录与基性麻粒岩相似的折返过程外,还记录了从角闪岩相到超高压榴辉岩相的进变质演化过程.结合已有研究资料,确定超高压榴辉岩阶段峰期条件> 7~9 GPa和>1 000℃,可达到斯石英稳定域.锆石年代学显示两种岩石类型的原岩和变质年龄均分别在900 Ma和500 Ma左右.变质作用与年代学研究表明,南阿尔金大陆地壳岩石在早古生代发生超深俯冲至200~300 km后,折返至加厚地壳底部发生高压-超高温变质作用,随后被快速抬升至地壳浅部发生低压-超高温变质作用并经历迅速冷却.      

Nature and evolution of the lower crust under central Spain: Inferences from granulite xenoliths (Calatrava Volcanic Field-Spanish central system)

So far, the nature and evolution of the lower crust under central Spain have been constrained mainly on the basis of a heterogeneous suite of granulite xenoliths from the Spanish Central System (SCS). In recent years, ultramafic volcanics from the Calatrava Volcanic Field (CVF) have also provided deep-seated crustal xenoliths which have not been studied in detail. Our data, combining mineral, whole-rock and isotopic geochemistry with U–Pb–Hf isotope ratios in zircons from the CVF and SCS xenoliths, highlight the felsic composition of the lower crust under central Iberia. A number of the Calatrava xenoliths represents Variscan igneous protoliths, which are a minor population in the SCS, and were likely formed by crystallisation of intermediate and felsic melts in the lower crust during the Variscan orogeny (leucodiorite protolith age of 314 ± 3 Ma and leucogranite protolith age of 308 ± 2.5 Ma). U–Pb data of metamorphic zircons show that granulite-facies metamorphism mainly occurred from 299 to 285 Ma in both areas. These ages are slightly younger than those of granitic intrusions that could be genetically related to the granulitic residue, which points to a main role of U–Pb isotope resetting in lower crustal zircons during HT or UHT conditions. The zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopic ratios support the idea that the lower crust in central Iberia consists mainly of Ordovician–Neoproterozoic metaigneous and metasedimentary rocks associated with the Cadomian continental arc of northern Gondwana. These rocks provide evidence of mixing between juvenile magmas and an enriched crustal component, ultimately extracted from an Eburnean crust. Other more evolved components present in detrital zircons are likely related to recycling of Archean crust derived from North Africa cratonic terranes.     

北秦岭高压-超高压岩石的多期变质时代及其地质意义

在岩相学观察和锆石CL图像研究的基础上,利用LA-ICP-MS原位微区定年分析方法,本文确定北秦岭清油河退变榴辉岩的峰期变质时代为490±6Ma,退变质时代为453±9Ma,原岩形成时代为655±9Ma;松树沟超高压长英质片麻岩的峰期变质时代为497±8Ma,两期退变质时代分别为448±4Ma和421±2Ma,原岩形成时代上限832±25Ma;寨根石榴石辉石岩的峰期变质时代为498±2Ma,中压麻粒岩相退变质时代为450±3Ma,角闪岩相退变质时代为426±1Ma,原岩形成时代为573±40Ma;西峡北榴闪岩的角闪岩相变质时代为423±3Ma,原岩形成时代为843±7Ma。新确定的这些岩石的峰期变质时代与前人已报导的区内高压-超高压岩石的峰期变质时代在误差范围内基本一致,结合区内高压-超高压岩石不仅分布在秦岭岩群北缘的官坡-双槐树一带,而且断续出露在秦岭岩群中部或偏南侧的清油河北-松树沟-寨根北甚至西峡北东西一线,进一步表明它们应是同一期构造地质事件的产物。北秦岭已发现的全部正变质的高压-超高压岩石均呈透镜体状分布在围岩片麻岩中,松树沟超高压长英质片麻岩的原岩为典型的陆壳沉积物,因此,这些高压-超高压岩石的形成可能都是陆壳俯冲-深俯冲作用的产物。结合岩相学观察、锆石CL图像和锆石U-Pb定年表明,这些高压-超高压岩石在～500Ma经历了峰期变质作用后,又分别在～450Ma和～420Ma遭受了中压麻粒岩相和或角闪岩相退变质作用的叠加,充分说明这些高压-超高压岩石经历了一个完整的由陆壳俯冲-深俯冲、之后连续两次抬升的构造演化过程。另外,本次研究新获得的这些岩石的原岩形成时代介于843±7Ma～573±40Ma之间,结合官坡榴辉岩的原岩形成时代为791～814Ma以及松树沟榴闪岩原岩时代为787±16Ma的研究,共同表明北秦岭高压-超高压岩石的原岩形成时代均为新元古代,因此,限定俯冲-深俯冲的陆壳物质应来自形成时代为新元古代的大陆地壳或地质体。结合区域地质背景和前人研究成果综合分析,本文初步认为,北秦岭高压-超高压变质岩带的形成是商丹洋向北俯冲拖曳南秦岭新元古代陆壳物质在～500Ma发生陆壳俯冲-深俯冲作用的产物,之后在～450Ma与～420Ma经历了两期抬升。     

柴北缘HP-UHP变质带多期构造热事件的再厘定:鱼卡地区高压变泥质岩锆石和独居石U-Pb定年

柴北缘高压-超高压变质带西段鱼卡地区变泥质岩中夹有榴辉岩透镜体,已有的研究显示变泥质岩的变质程度也达到了榴辉岩相,并与榴辉岩一起经历了高压-超高压变质作用,是柴北缘曾经历早古生代大陆深俯冲作用的直接证据,也是研究柴北缘大陆深俯冲过程重要的岩石"探针"。本文选择柴北缘西段鱼卡超高压变质单元中的3件蓝晶石榴白云母石英片岩HP变泥质岩样品分别进行了SHRIMP、LA-ICP-MS锆石和原位独居石U-Pb定年。样品Q06-1-2的锆石给出了920±18Ma(MSWD=1.3)的加权平均年龄,其CL图像特征和极低的Th/U比显示其为变质年龄,代表了与罗迪尼亚超大陆碰撞拼合相关的变质事件。样品A03-11-2.2的锆石给出了450±7Ma(MSWD=0.2)的年龄,认为其代表变泥质岩的榴辉岩相变质年龄。样品A03-14-11的薄片原位独居石定年给出了439±8Ma(MSWD=0.072)的加权平均年龄,结合岩相学观察,认为其可能为榴辉岩相峰期之后的早期退变质年龄。这些资料显示柴北缘鱼卡地区早古生代大陆深俯冲的时限为440~450Ma。结合已有研究资料,鱼卡高压变泥质岩记录了新元古代早期和早古生代两期变质事件,进一步证明了柴北缘地区经历了格林威尔期和早古生代两期造山事件     

Late Variscan “Basin and Range” magmatism and tectonics in the Central Alps: evidence from U-Pb geochronology

Abstract

Towards the end of the Variscan orogeny, volcano-sedimentary basins were formed within the mountain hell. U-Pb age determinations on zircons of volcanic and plutonic rocks from intramontane basins of the Central Alps allows us to define the age of two volcano-sedimentary units: The former one was dated older than 333 Ma (probably Visean), the younger one was deposited in a short time span between 303 and 298 Ma (Stephanien). The latter contains tuffs (303 ± 4 Ma), ignimbrites and microgranites (299 ± 2 Ma) and intrusive rhyolites (300 ± 2 Ma) that are all coeval within analytical precision. Granitoid rocks intruded into the volcano-sedimentary rocks at 333 ± 2 Ma, 310 ± 3 Ma and 298 ± 2 Ma. An angular unconformity between the older and the younger units in the Tö di area (Aar massif) indicates uplift and erosion between 310 and 303 Ma.

Our results suggest the existence of two periods of late Variscan extension (or transtension) in the Alpine realm, both combined with magmatic activity. The extensional event of Stephaniun age is characterized by a short duration of only a few million years, between 303 and 298 Ma, comprising tectonic activity, volcanism and plutonism. The plutonic rocks are characterized by a dominant lithospheric mantle component, which was contaminated by different amounts of crostai material and might have been increasingly influenced by aslhcnos-pherie mantle melts in the course of crostai thinning. The ealc-alkaline geochemical characteristics of the granites may be explained as an inherited source feature.

The overall tectonic style and the mode of magmatism resembles the situation of the Basin-and-Kange Province (eastern USA). Consequently there is no need to invoke a late-Variscan Andean-type subduction to explain the geochemical composition of the magmatic rocks. We conclude that late-orogenic extension is an important tectonic stage of the Variscan orogeny, which lasted for some 50 million years. The extension led to thinning of the crust and upwelling of hot mantle, causing high heat flow, intrusion of mantle melts and formation of huge volumes of acid melts.     

An Early Palaeozoic HP/HT granulite–garnet peridotite association in the south Altyn Tagh, NW China: P–T history and U-Pb geochronology

High‐pressure kyanite‐bearing felsic granulites in the Bashiwake area of the south Altyn Tagh (SAT) subduction–collision complex enclose mafic granulites and garnet peridotite‐hosted sapphirine‐bearing metabasites. The predominant felsic granulites are garnet + quartz + ternary feldspar (now perthite) rocks containing kyanite, plagioclase, biotite, rutile, spinel, corundum, and minor zircon and apatite. The quartz‐bearing mafic granulites contain a peak pressure assemblage of garnet + clinopyroxene + ternary feldspar (now mesoperthite) + quartz + rutile. The sapphirine‐bearing metabasites occur as mafic layers in garnet peridotite. Petrographical data suggest a peak assemblage of garnet + clinopyroxene + kyanite + rutile. Early kyanite is inferred from a symplectite of sapphirine + corundum + plagioclase ± spinel, interpreted to have formed during decompression. Garnet peridotite contains an assemblage of garnet + olivine + orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene. Thermobarometry indicates that all rock types experienced peak P–T conditions of 18.5–27.3 kbar and 870–1050 °C. A medium–high pressure granulite facies overprint (780–820 °C, 9.5–12 kbar) is defined by the formation of secondary clinopyroxene ± orthopyroxene + plagioclase at the expense of garnet and early clinopyroxene in the mafic granulites, as well as by growth of spinel and plagioclase at the expense of garnet and kyanite in the felsic granulite. SHRIMP II zircon U‐Pb geochronology yields ages of 493 ± 7 Ma (mean of 11) from the felsic granulite, 497 ± 11 Ma (mean of 11) from sapphirine‐bearing metabasite and 501 ± 16 Ma (mean of 10) from garnet peridotite. Rounded zircon morphology, cathodoluminescence (CL) sector zoning, and inclusions of peak metamorphic minerals indicate these ages reflect HP/HT metamorphism. Similar ages determined for eclogites from the western segment of the SAT suggest that the same continental subduction/collision event may be responsible for HP metamorphism in both areas.     

Time of formation and peak of Variscan HP-HT metamorphism of quartz-feldspar rocks in the central Erzgebirge,Saxony, Germany

The Variscan Erzgebirge represents an antiform with a core of gneisses and mica schists, surrounded by a phyllitic mantle. The Gneiss-Eclogite Unit (GEU), in the central part, is a composite tectonometamorphic assemblage characterized by a HP-HT imprint and comprises migmatitic para- and orthogneisses, HT mylonites, HP granulites, eclogites and garnet peridotites. It is tectonically sandwiched between two major units with distinctly lower PT histories. The GEU experienced a characteristic “kinked” retrograde PT path after HP-HT equilibration with: (1) strong near-isothermal decompression at high temperatures; (2) extensive re-equilibration at medium pressures, followed (3) by rapid cooling during continued uplift. We dated zircons (Pb-Pb evaporation) from granitoid orthogneisses and metapelites of the GEU. The orthogneisses contain euhedral, long-prismatic zircons of igneous origin that provided protolith ages between 470 and 524 Ma. Metapelites retain well-preserved granulite-facies mineral assemblages and contain spherical, multifaceted metamorphic zircons that grew near the peak of HP/HT metamorphism. Inclusions of prograde HP phengite (∼15 kbar) and rutile are included in one such zircon. Metamorphic zircons of three samples from different localities yielded identical ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 340.5 ± 0.7 Ma, 341.2 ± 0.5 Ma and 341.6 ± 0.5 Ma respectively. Consideration of these zircon ages with published ³⁹Ar/⁴⁰Ar white mica ages suggests fast cooling and uplift rates in excess of 50 °C/Ma and 4 km/Ma. This is typical for large-scale extensional tectonic unroofing of the ultra-deep part of a fossil, thickened Variscan continental crust (>60 km) during continuing continental collision and orogenic collapse. Received: 5 June 1997 / Accepted: 7 January 1998     

Cambro-Silurian magmatisms at the northern Gondwana margin (Penninic basement of the Ligurian Alps)

The Early Paleozoic evolution of the northern margin of Gondwana is characterized by several episodes of bimodal magmatism intruded or outpoured within thick sedimentary basins. These processes are well recorded in the Variscan blocks incorporated in the Ligurian Alps because they experienced low temperature Alpine metamorphism. During the Paleozoic, these blocks, together with the other Alpine basements, were placed between the Corsica-Sardinia and the Bohemian Massif along the northern margin of Gondwana. In this framework, they host several a variegated lithostratigraphy forming two main complexes(Complexs I and II) that can be distinguished by both the protoliths and their crosscutting relationships, which indicate that the acidic and mafic intrusives of Complex II cut an already folded sequence made of sediments, basalts and granitoids of Complex I. Both complexes were involved in the Variscan orogenic phases as highlighted by the pervasive eclogite-amphibolite facies schistosity(foliation II). However, rare relicts of a metamorphic foliation at amphibolite facies conditions(foliation I)is locally preserved only in the rocks of Complex I. It is debatable if this schistosity was produced during the early folding event e occurred between the emplacement of Complex I and II e rather than during an early stage of the Variscan metamorphic cycle.New SHRIMP and LA ICP-MS Ue Pb zircon dating integrated with literature data, provide emplacement ages of the several volcanic or intrusive bodies of both complexes. The igneous activity of Complex I is dated between 507 ± 15 Ma and 494 ± 5 Ma, while Complex II between 467 ± 12 Ma and 445.5 ± 12 Ma.The folding event recorded only by the Complex I should therefore have occurred between 494 ± 5 Ma and 467 ± 12 Ma. The Variscan eclogite-amphibolite facies metamorphism is instead constrained between ~420 Ma and ~300 Ma. These ages and the geochemical signature of these rocks allow constraining the Early Paleozoic tectono-magmatic evolution of the Ligurian blocks, from a middleeupper Cambrian rifting stage, through the formation of an Early Ordovician volcanic arc during the Rheic Ocean subduction, until a Late Ordovician extension related to the arc collapse and subsequent rifting of the PaleoThetys. Furthermore, the ~420-350 Ma ages from zircon rims testify to thermal perturbations that may be associated with the Silurian rifting-related magmatism, followed by the subduction-collisional phases of the Variscan orogeny.     

Re-interpreting the Devonian ophiolites involved in the Variscan suture: U–Pb and Lu–Hf zircon data of the Moeche Ophiolite (Cabo Ortegal Complex,NW Iberia)

New U–Pb zircon data of a mylonitic greenschist from the Moeche Ophiolite, one of the mafic units involved in the Variscan suture in the Cabo Ortegal Complex (NW of the Iberian Massif), yielded an age of 400 ± 3 Ma. Consequently, this unit can be considered one of the Devonian ophiolites, the most extended group of oceanic units in the Variscan belt. The mafic rocks show transitional compositions between N-MORB and island-arc tholeiites, although Lu–Hf isotope signatures of its zircons clearly indicate contribution from an old continental source. εHf values in the analysed zircons are negative (generally below εHf = ?5), and thence, they are not compatible with their generation from a juvenile mantle source. Accordingly, the igneous protoliths were generated in a setting where juvenile mafic magmas interacted with an old continental crust. The Devonian ophiolites from the Variscan suture have been repeatedly interpreted as remnants of the Rheic Ocean. However, the presence of a continental source in the origin of the mafic rocks of the Moeche Ophiolite allows discarding an intraoceanic setting for their generation, at least for the NW Iberian counterparts. The tectonic setting for the Devonian ophiolites of NW Iberia is very likely represented by an ephemeral oceanic basin opened within a continental realm. Herein, the real Rheic Ocean suture could only be located west of the terrane represented by the upper units of the allochthonous complexes. Apparently that suture is not represented in NW Iberia.     

Ultrahigh-pressure eclogite transformed from mafic granulite in the Dabie orogen, east-central China

Although ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks are present in many collisional orogenic belts, almost all exposed UHP metamorphic rocks are subducted upper or felsic lower continental crust with minor mafic boudins. Eclogites formed by subduction of mafic lower continental crust have not been identified yet. Here an eclogite occurrence that formed during subduction of the mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, east‐central China is reported. At least four generations of metamorphic mineral assemblages can be discerned: (i) hypersthene + plagioclase ± garnet; (ii) omphacite + garnet + rutile + quartz; (iii) symplectite stage of garnet + diopside + hypersthene + ilmenite + plagioclase; (iv) amphibole + plagioclase + magnetite, which correspond to four metamorphic stages: (a) an early granulite facies, (b) eclogite facies, (c) retrograde metamorphism of high‐pressure granulite facies and (d) retrograde metamorphism of amphibolite facies. Mineral inclusion assemblages and cathodoluminescence images show that zircon is characterized by distinctive domains of core and a thin overgrowth rim. The zircon core domains are classified into two types: the first is igneous with clear oscillatory zonation ± apatite and quartz inclusions; and the second is metamorphic containing a granulite facies mineral assemblage of garnet, hypersthene and plagioclase (andesine). The zircon rims contain garnet, omphacite and rutile inclusions, indicating a metamorphic overgrowth at eclogite facies. The almost identical ages of the two types of core domains (magmatic = 791 ± 9 Ma and granulite facies metamorphic zircon = 794 ± 10 Ma), and the Triassic age (212 ± 10 Ma) of eclogitic facies metamorphic overgrowth zircon rim are interpreted as indicating that the protolith of the eclogite is mafic granulite that originated from underplating of mantle‐derived magma onto the base of continental crust during the Neoproterozoic (c. 800 Ma) and then subducted during the Triassic, experiencing UHP eclogite facies metamorphism at mantle depths. The new finding has two‐fold significance: (i) voluminous mafic lower continental crust can increase the average density of subducted continental lithosphere, thus promoting its deep subduction; (ii) because of the current absence of mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, delamination or recycling of subducted mafic lower continental crust can be inferred as the geochemical cause for the mantle heterogeneity and the unusually evolved crustal composition.     

Depositional and tectonic setting of the Paleoproterozoic Lower Aillik Group,Makkovik Province,Canada: evolution of a passive margin-foredeep sequence based on petrochemistry and U–Pb (TIMS and LAM-ICP-MS) geochronology

The Paleoproterozoic Lower Aillik Group is a deformed metasedimentary–metavolcanic succession located in the Makkovik Province of Labrador, eastern Canada. The group is situated near the boundary between reworked Archaean gneiss of the Nain (North Atlantic) craton and juvenile Paleoproterozoic crust that was both tectonically accreted and formed on or adjacent to this craton during the ca. 1.9–1.78 Ma Makkovikian orogeny. The Lower Aillik Group is structurally underlain by Archaean gneiss and structurally overlain by ca. 1860–1807 Ma bimodal, dominantly felsic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the Upper Aillik Group. We present geochemical data from metavolcanic rocks and U–Pb geochronological data from several units of the Lower Aillik Group in order to address the depositional and tectonic history of this group. U–Pb data were obtained using both thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and laser ablation microprobe-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LAM-ICP-MS). Two quartzite units near the structural base of the Lower Aillik Group contain detrital zircons only of Archaean age, and are interpreted to have been deposited on the Nain craton during post-2235 Ma rifting and initiation of a passive continental margin. Overlying mafic metavolcanic rocks contain thin horizons of intermediate tuff, one of which is dated at 2178±4 Ma. This relatively old age, and an inferred stratigraphic relationship with underlying sedimentary units, suggest that the volcanic rocks represent transitional oceanic crust, consistent with their geochemical similarity to tholeiitic rifted margin sequences of Mesozoic age in eastern North America. A package of interlayered psammitic and semipelitic metasedimentary rocks that appears to stratigraphically overlie the mafic volcanic unit is dominated by Paleoproterozoic detrital zircons but also contains Archaean grains. This package was deposited after 2013 Ma, the age of the youngest concordant zircon. The U–Pb data imply a minimum 165 m.y. time gap between mafic volcanism and sedimentation, and are consistent with deposition of the psammite–semipelite unit in an evolving foredeep that heralded the approach of a Paleoproterozoic arc terrane. Accretion of this terrane to the Nain cratonic margin at ca. 1.9 Ga initiated the Makkovikian orogeny. Although the Lower Aillik Group is highly deformed and may contain internal tectonic boundaries or be incomplete, the U–Pb and geochemical data allow quantitative assessment of a prolonged rift-drift-basin closure cycle that characterized the Early Paleoproterozoic evolution of the southern Nain cratonic margin.     

U–Pb Zircon Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Neoproterozoic Liujiaping Group Volcanics in the Northwest Margin of the Yangtze Block:Implications For the Breakup of the Rodinia Supercontinent

Investigation of the petrogenesis and the origin of zircons from the volcanic rocks of the Liujiaping Group of the back-Longmenshan tectonic belt in the northwest margin of the Yangtze Block is conducted by analysis of U–Pb geochronology and geochemistry. Results show that selected zircons are characterized by internal oscillatory zonings and high Th/U ratios(0.43–1.18), indicating an igneous origin. Geochronological results of LA–ICP–MS U–Pb dating of the Liujiaping Group zircons yield an age of 809 ± 11 Ma(MSWD = 2.2), implying that the volcanic rocks were formed in the Late Neoproterozoic. Geochemical analysis shows that the rocks are calc-alkaline, supersaturated in Al, and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous. Rare-earth elements are present at high concentrations(96.04–265.48 ppm) and show a rightward incline and a moderately negative Eu anomaly, similar to that of continental rift rhyolite. Trace element geochemistry is characterized by evident negative anomalies of Nb, Ta, P, Th, Ti, inter alia, and strong negative anomalies of K, Rb, Sr, et al. We conclude that the Liujiaping Group volcanic rocks resulted from typical continental crust source petrogenesis and were formed in a continental margin setting, which had no relation to subduction, and thus, were the products of partial melting of the lower crust due to crustal thickening caused by active continental margin subduction and arc–continent collision orogeny in the northwestern Yangtze Block and were triggered by the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent during the Neoproterozoic.     

Timing of Magma Mixing in the Gangdisě Magmatic Belt during the India-Asia Collision： Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb Dating

Abstract  Abundant mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) extensively distribute in granitoids in the Gangdisê giant magmatic belt, within which the Qüxü batholith is the most typical MME‐bearing pluton. Systematic sampling for granodioritic host rock, mafic microgranular enclaves and gabbro nearby at two locations in the Qüxü batholith, and subsequent zircon SHRIMP II U‐Pb dating have been conducted. Two sets of isotopic ages for granodioritic host rock, mafic microgranular enclaves and gabbro are 50.4±1.3 Ma, 51.2±1.1 Ma, 47.0±1 Ma and 49.3±1.7 Ma, 48.9±1.1 Ma, 49.9±1.7 Ma, respectively. It thus rules out the possibilities of mafic microgranular enclaves being refractory residues after partial melting of magma source region, or being xenoliths of country rocks or later intrusions. Therefore, it is believed that the three types of rocks mentioned above likely formed in the same magmatic event, i.e., they formed by magma mixing in the Eocene (c. 50 Ma). Compositionally, granitoid host rocks incline towards acidic end member involved in magma mixing, gabbros are akin to basic end member and mafic microgranular enclaves are the incompletely mixed basic magma clots trapped in acidic magma. The isotopic dating also suggested that huge‐scale magma mixing in the Gangdisê belt took place 15–20 million years after the initiation of the India‐Asia continental collision, genetically related to the underplating of subduction‐collision‐induced basic magma at the base of the continental crust. Underplating and magma mixing were likely the main process of mass‐energy exchange between the mantle and the crust during the continental collision, and greatly contributed to the accretion of the continental crust, the evolution of the lithosphere and related mineralization beneath the portion of the Tibetan Plateau to the north of the collision zone.     

Permian–Carboniferous arc magmatism in southern Mexico: U–Pb dating,trace element and Hf isotopic evidence on zircons of earliest subduction beneath the western margin of Gondwana

Undeformed felsic to mafic igneous rocks, dated by U–Pb zircon geochronology between 311 and 255 Ma, intrude different units of the Oaxacan and Acatlán metamorphic complexes in southwestern Mexico. Rare earth element concentrations on zircons from most of these magmatic rocks have a typical igneous character, with fractionated heavy rare earths and negative Eu anomalies. Only inherited Precambrian zircons are depleted in heavy rare earth elements, which suggest contemporaneous crystallization in equilibrium with metamorphic garnet during granulite facies metamorphism. Hf isotopic signatures are, however, different among these magmatic units. For example, zircons from two of these magmatic units (Cuanana pluton and Honduras batholith) have positive εHf values (+3.8–+8.5) and depleted mantle model ages (using a mean crustal value of ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf = 0.015) (T _DMC) ranging between 756 and 1,057 Ma, whereas zircons from the rest of the magmatic units (Etla granite, Zaniza batholith, Carbonera stock and Sosola rhyolite) have negative εHf values (?1 to ?14) and model ages between 1,330 and 2,160 Ma. This suggests either recycling of different crustal sources or, more likely, different extents of crustal contamination of arc-related mafic magmas in which the Oaxacan Complex acted as the main contaminant. These plutons thus represent the magmatic expression of the initial stages of eastward subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the western margin of Gondwana, and confirm the existence of a Late Carboniferous–Permian magmatic arc that extended from southern North America to Central America.