大别—苏鲁超高压—高压变质带伸展构造格架及其动力学意义

构造分析结合变质作用PTt轨迹和同位素年代学资源指出，现今观察到的大别－苏鲁超高压－高压变质带区域构造框架，主要是在印支期中－朝与扬子克拉通斜向碰撞及超高压－高压变质作用期后伸展体制下形成的（200－170Ma)。构造样式类似于北美科迪勒拉型变质核杂岩并发育多层低缓角度地壳尺度的伸展拆离带。几何形态表现为大型穹窿或小型穹窿群。区域伸展构造叠加于先期碰撞或挤压构造之上，控制了超高压和高压变质岩石的空间分布。大规模的近水平韧性伸展流动，是在超高压－高压变质岩石从地幔深处折返到中、下地壳层次及角闪岩相环境下发生的。广泛的减压部分熔融作用反映的壳－幔动力学过程和地壳热结构的变化，是促使造山带从挤压体制向伸展体制转换的因素之一。证明造山带尺度的地壳伸展和薄化作用，在超高压和高压变质岩石折返到地表动力学过程中，曾起过重要作用。     

秦岭大别碰撞造山带根部结晶基底隆升的变质岩石学证迹

秦岭大别碰撞造山带中隆升最高的结晶基底便是大别杂岩，在超高压变质岩和某些高级变质岩中均发现典型的近等温减压（ＩＴＤ）型的退变质结构，多呈后成合晶或冠状体的形式取代或包绕原生矿物晶粒（主晶），显示退变质不平衡反应的过程．然而超高压变质岩与大别杂岩中的高级变质岩，变质地温梯度截然不同，暗示它们形成的构造条件极不相同，超高压变质岩早期由岩石圈深处（１２０ｋｍ±）折返到下地壳与那里的高级变质岩构造混合，平行并置，而后才一起隆升．退变质不平衡结构与寄主岩的面理无关，说明这种近等温的减压退变质作用发生于后造山时期近绝热条件下的隆升体制，近绝热隆升的热源可能是中生代以来大别山地区岩石圈减薄所引起     

大别山超高压变质岩的退变质赤微构造：折返过程的启示

大别山超高压变质岩中发现了一系列退变质显微构造,其主要类型有：①由于出溶而产生的定一包裹物;②由于多型转变而产生的假像替代;③固→固反应产生的冠状体;④涉及流体的退变质反应产生的冠状体或后成合晶。借助显微构造关系,可以建立超高压变质岩的退变质演化阶段,从而构筑其ＰＴ演化趋势、识别出碰撞造山和超高压变质峰期之后的两阶段隆升历史;早期为“挤出”作用诱发的近等温减压退变质;晚期则是地壳伸展体制下的退变质     

喜马拉雅造山带的变质作用与部分熔融

喜马拉雅造山带的核心由高级变质岩系和淡色花岗岩构成,是研究碰撞造山作用和板块构造的天然实验室。本文评述了喜马拉雅造山带变质作用和部分熔融研究取得的新进展和存在的争议,主要内容包括:(1)造山带核部具有"三明治"结构,高级变质和部分熔融的高喜马拉雅系列(GHS)夹持在较低级变质的特提斯喜马拉雅系列(THS)和低喜马拉雅系列(LHS)之中,GHS的变质作用程度具有向上和向下部构造层位降低的特征。高喜马拉雅系列主要由高压麻粒岩相到榴辉岩相的变质岩组成,具有1.2~1.6GPa和700~800℃峰期变质条件,顺时针型变质作用P-T轨迹,其进变质以增温增压为特征,退变质早期为近等温或增温降压过程,晚期为降温降压和近等压降温过程;(2)在造山带西段,紧邻缝合带产出的超高压变质岩具有4.4~4.8GPa和560~760℃的峰期变质条件和顺时针型P-T轨迹,并在退变质中期出现加热过程;(3)尽管造山带的高压和超高压变质岩形成在中、高温条件下,但岩石中的石榴石都保存有明显的主量和微量元素生长成分环带特征;(4)造山带变质核下部发育反转的中、高压型变质序列;(5)在造山带核部,变泥质和长英质麻粒岩的强烈部分熔融主要是增压、增温进变质过程中的白云母和黑云母脱水熔融,和近等温或增温降压过程中的黑云母脱水熔融,可以形成花岗质和英云闪长质熔体。加厚下地壳的高变质温度足以使各种成分岩石(包括基性岩)发生深熔,而不需要外来热源;(6)造山带变质核经历了长期的变质演化过程,其进变质始于~47Ma,峰期变质发生在~25Ma,退变质持续到~15Ma。这些岩石也记录了持续的(超过20Myr)高温变质和部分熔融过程。在造山带西段的超高压变质岩具有~46Ma的峰期变质年龄和~40Ma的退变质年龄,所以经历了一个快速俯冲与折返过程;(7)印度大陆西缘与岛弧的碰撞(造山带西段)和印度大陆东缘与大陆弧的碰撞时间一致,为~50Ma;(8)在造山带西段,印度大陆的深和陡俯冲形成了超高压变质岩;而在造山带中段,印度大陆的平缓俯冲形成了中高压变质岩;(9)构造变质不连续在变质核中广泛存在。多重有序逆冲和无序逆冲导致的岩片叠置控制着造山带的地壳结构;(10)现有的构造模型,包括楔形挤出、隧道流、临界楔和构造楔模型,都不能全面合理地解释造山带变质核部的折返机制。     

喜马拉雅碰撞造山过程：变质地质学视角

本文从变质地质学视角出发，介绍了喜马拉雅造山带的研究意义、地质概况和近年来作者在喜马拉雅碰撞造山过程研究中的进展。喜马拉雅造山带是威尔逊旋回中陆陆碰撞造山带的典型代表，从中揭示的大陆碰撞造山过程、规律及效应，可为探索地球从古至今的碰撞造山带演化研究所借鉴。其中，大陆碰撞造山机制的研究是其核心内容。大陆碰撞造山机制存在临界楔和隧道流两种端元模型之争，其分别对造山带核部高级变质岩折返的P T t轨迹和时空演化序列进行了不同的预测。上述争议可通过研究喜马拉雅核部高级变质岩（高喜马拉雅）的P T t轨迹和折返过程来限定，据此可将喜马拉雅碰撞造山过程划分为三个演化阶段。阶段一：60～40 Ma，软碰撞期，造山带地壳加厚至约40 km并发生小规模部分熔融，这些早期地壳加厚记录大多已被剥蚀，零星保存于前陆飞来峰和北喜马拉雅片麻岩穹隆中；喜马拉雅山从海平面以下抬升至>1000 m。阶段二：40～16 Ma，硬碰撞期，造山带地壳加厚至60～70 km，发生大规模高级变质和深熔作用，高喜马拉雅内部的三个次级岩片沿着“原喜马拉雅逆冲断层”、“高喜马拉雅逆冲断层”、“主中央逆冲断层”顺序式向南挤出，形成了现今喜马拉雅造山带的核部主体，地壳堆叠使喜马拉雅山快速隆升至≥5000 m。阶段三：16～0 Ma，晚碰撞期，造山带山根榴辉岩化发生局部拆沉，但大陆汇聚仍在持续、造山带尚未发生垮塌，小喜马拉雅折返、前陆盆地形成，喜马拉雅山达到和维持现今平均高度~6000 m。因此，喜马拉雅生长过程的一级次序是顺序式向南扩展的，受控于临界楔模型，而隧道流只起次级作用。山根深部热流过程对造山带的地壳结构和地表高程有巨大的改造作用。未来对喜马拉雅造山带的变质地质学研究可能存在以下几个关键科学问题：① 喜马拉雅极端变质作用与重大碰撞造山事件的关联；② 喜马拉雅稀有金属成矿与接触变质作用的关联；③ 喜马拉雅变质脱碳作用与大陆碰撞带深部碳循环和通量。     

喜马拉雅造山带的部分熔融与淡色花岗岩成因机制

喜马拉雅造山带核部由高级变质岩和淡色花岗岩组成,是研究大陆碰撞造山带部分熔融与花岗岩成因的天然实验室.基于最新研究成果,探讨了喜马拉雅造山带核部变质作用的条件、类型以及P-T轨迹、部分熔融的方式与程度及熔体成分以及变质作用与部分熔融的时间和持续过程.相关证据表明,造山带核部经历了高压麻粒岩相至榴辉岩相变质作用,具有以增温增压进变质和近等温降压退变质为特征的顺时针型P-T轨迹.这些高压变质岩石发生了长期持续的高温变质与部分熔融.在泥质岩石的进变质过程中白云母和黑云母脱水熔融可以形成不同成分的熔体.同时,总结了淡色花岗岩的形成时间、地球化学特征和源区熔融方式,结果表明碰撞造山过程中加厚下地壳的脱水熔融形成了喜马拉雅造山带的淡色花岗岩.      

北祁连加里东造山带从挤压到伸展造山机制的转换

早古生代早期，北祁连造山带发生强烈的挤压变形作用，形成加里东期的俯冲－增生杂岩、高压变质岩，并使造山带岩石圈地壳加厚缩短。志留纪末期，加厚的造山带岩石圈由于垮塌作用及根部的拆沉作用，使造山带从挤压造山机制转换为伸展造山机制，并进入后造山伸展作用阶段，增厚的岩石圈开始减薄，发生不同层次的伸展作用，同时伴随花岗岩及Ａｎ∈变质岩的穹隆以及泥盆纪磨拉石盆地上叠盆地（Ｃ－Ｔ）的形成。石炭纪末，北祁连造山带岩石圈地壳已基本减薄到正常厚度。而现今的北祁连造山带的缩短和抬升则为喜马拉雅期再造山作用的产物     

高喜马拉雅的三维挤出模式

作为喜马拉雅造山带变质核的高喜马拉雅杂岩带,是以高级变质岩石、普遍的深熔反应以及高温韧性变形为主要特征的热碰撞造山带.在高喜马拉雅平行造山的韧性伸展构造发现的基础上,建立高喜马拉雅挤出的3-D构造模式,并提出了挤出的动力学过程:(1)造成高喜马拉雅中弱和热物质产生的局部熔融阶段(46～35 Ma),(2)平行造山的韧性伸展和重力裂陷阶段(28～26 Ma开始),(3)韧性逆冲型剪切带形成阶段(＞626～23 Ma),(4) MCT和STD的形成造成的高喜马拉雅挤出阶段(23～17 Ma).     

三江地区义敦岛弧碰撞造山过程：花岗岩记录

义敦岛弧碰撞造山带是特提斯－喜马拉雅巨型造山带中的一个复合造山带。本文利用义敦岛弧碰撞造山带29个花岗岩体的43件同位素测年数据，结合岩石地球化学特征，建立了造山带花岗岩的时间坐标。初步识别出4套不同成因类型的花岗岩，即印支期弧花岗岩、燕山早期同碰撞花岗岩、燕山晚期A型花岗岩和喜马拉雅期花岗岩。据此，再造了造山带的形成过程与演化历史：印支期的大规模俯冲造山作用（238－210Ma)，形成义敦火山岩浆弧；大约自206Ma始，发生弧－陆碰撞，伴随岛弧地壳挤压收缩和剪切变形，发育同碰撞花岗岩；进入燕山晚期（138－73Ma)，岛弧碰撞造山带发生造山后伸展作用，形成A型花岗岩带；喜马拉雅期发生陆内造山作用（65－15Ma)，岛弧碰撞造山带出现逆冲－推覆和大规模走滑平移，伴随喜马拉雅期花岗岩的侵位和拉分盆地的形成。     

五台山晚太古代碰撞造山带的变质作用演化

五台山晚太古代碰撞造山带的三个构造岩片组成，即南部构造岩片－弧前混杂岩带，中部构造岩片－岛弧系和北部构造岩片－弧后混杂岩带，其间以大型逆冲型韧性剪切带相拼合。对三个构造岩片的矿物共生组合及变质反应研究，确定其具有相似的造山型ＰＴｔ轨迹，变质早期对峰期明显的升温升压过程与地壳的拼合作用有关，变质峰期至晚期的近等温降压过程与地壳的纵向伸展作用相联系，三个构造岩片变质程度的差异是由于其所处的大地构造位置不同造成的。     

Timing of metamorphism,melting and exhumation of the Leo Pargil dome,northwest India

The Leo Pargil dome, northwest India, is a 30 km‐wide, northeast‐trending structure that is cored by gneiss and mantled by amphibolite facies metamorphic rocks that are intruded by a leucogranite injection complex. Oppositely dipping, normal‐sense shear zones that accommodated orogen‐parallel extension within a convergent orogen bound the dome. The broadly distributed Leo Pargil shear zone defines the southwest flank of the dome and separates the dome from the metasedimentary and sedimentary rocks in the hanging wall to the west and south. Thermobarometry and in‐situ U–Th–Pb monazite geochronology were conducted on metamorphic rocks from within the dome and in the hanging wall. These data were combined with U–Th–Pb monazite geochronology of leucogranites from the injection complex to evaluate the relationship between metamorphism, crustal melting, and the onset of exhumation. Rocks within the dome and in the hanging wall contain garnet, kyanite, and staurolite porphyroblasts that record prograde Barrovian metamorphism during crustal thickening that reached ～530–630 °C and ～7–8 kbar, ending by c. 30 Ma. Cordierite and sillimanite overgrowths on Barrovian assemblages within the dome record dominantly top‐down‐to‐the‐west shearing during near‐isothermal decompression of the footwall rocks to ～4 kbar by 23 Ma during an exhumation rate of 1.3 mm year^?1. Monazite growth accompanied Barrovian metamorphism and decompression. The leucogranite injection complex within the dome initiated at 23 Ma and continued to 18 Ma. These data show that orogen‐parallel extension in this part of the Himalaya occurred earlier than previously documented (>16 Ma). Contemporaneous onset of near‐isothermal decompression, top‐down‐to‐the‐west shearing, and injection of the decompression‐driven leucogranite complex suggests that early crustal melting may have created a weakened crust that was proceeded by localization of strain and shear zone development. Exhumation along the shear zone accommodated decompression by 23 Ma in a kinematic setting that favoured orogen‐parallel extension.     

P–T–t evidence for mechanisms of vertical tectonic motion in a contractional orogen: north-western US and Canadian Cordillera

The >1800 km long Coast Mountains–North Cascades orogen of the Canadian Cordillera and north-western US developed as a continental magmatic arc. Metamorphic rocks in the orogen contain widespread evidence for burial of supracrustal rocks to depths of c. 40 km, followed by nearly isothermal decompression to depths of <10 km. Near many shallowly-emplaced, mid-Cretaceous plutons, low-pressure contact metamorphic effects were overprinted by high-pressure regional metamorphic minerals and textures, as evidenced by kyanite±staurolite pseudomorphs after andalusite in metapelitic rocks. Therefore, near-pluton rocks record the loading history of the orogen. Metapelitic rocks not associated with plutons only preserve evidence for high-pressure conditions and/or high-temperature decompression, as indicated, for example, by sillimanite and cordierite after kyanite and garnet, respectively. Petrological evidence for burial and decompression is therefore recorded in different rocks. Various regions of the orogen differ in timing of metamorphism, the overall shape of P–T paths and the relative timing and regional extent of the high-pressure event, but most of these data and observations are consistent with thrusting and/or pure shear thickening as primary loading mechanisms throughout the orogen, as opposed to magma-dominated loading. This interpretation is further supported by comparison with thermal models, which demonstrate that the P–T paths are consistent with simultaneous thrusting and folding at a high initial geothermal gradient (35–40 °C km^?1) in much of the orogen. A high geothermal gradient supports tectonic models invoking intra-arc contraction and suggests that magmatism played an important role in regional temperature-time paths. This tectonic-thermal history may be typical of other contractional orogens and illustrates the importance of large vertical displacement of crust in magmatic arcs.     

华北中部造山带五台-恒山地区古元古代变质作用与构造演化

华北克拉通古元古代造山带的时空分布与构造属性尚有很大争论,一种观点认为华北克拉通从新太古代至古元古代受大洋俯冲闭合控制,在1.85~1.95 Ga之间先后发生3次陆-陆碰撞形成3条造山带,即孔兹岩带、胶-辽-吉带和中部造山带;另一种观点强调华北克拉通这3条元古代造山带在1.80~1.98 Ga之间经历了相同的漫长演化过程,指示当时特有的热俯冲和碰撞环境.通过总结中部造山带中的五台-恒山地区变质作用研究进展,阐述该区古元古代造山时代与构造属性.五台-恒山地区的主要变质岩石-构造单元包括恒山杂岩、五台杂岩和滹沱群.恒山杂岩和五台杂岩主体为新太古代TTG片麻岩和表壳岩,它们在古元古代晚期经历了两期变质作用改造.第一期变质作用为中压型,是由于陆-陆碰撞导致弧后伸展盆地闭合、地壳加厚造山所致,从南向北形成一个递增序列:包括五台群下部和南恒山杂岩南部的低角闪岩相、南恒山杂岩北部高角闪岩相和北恒山杂岩的高压麻粒岩相,其压力峰期所对应的地热梯度为~15 ℃/km.变质锆石所记录的年龄峰值随着变质程度增高而降低,依次为~1.95 Ga、~1.92 Ga和~1.85 Ga,这是因为在变质过程中锆石生长受流体和熔体行为控制:在亚固相线下,变质锆石可记录峰期变质年龄,而在超固相线条件下记录伴随熔体结晶的退变质年龄.由此确定该区中压相系变质作用压力峰期时间为~1.95 Ga,对应地壳加厚造山的峰期.加厚地壳由于重力均衡导致变质岩从深部地壳折返至中部地壳,在P-T轨迹上表现为压力峰期之后发生等温减压（ITD）至0.5~0.7 GPa,岩相学上表现为峰期石榴石分解形成斜长石"白眼圈"等,指示缺流体条件.南恒山北部高角闪岩相岩石中的变质锆石记录的折返时间为~1.92 Ga,指示第一次造山结束.第二期变质作用为中-低压型,系为板内变形所致,表现为折返至中地壳的岩石伴随挤压型剪切变形和流体注入形成平衡矿物组合.朱家坊韧性剪切带就是这次板内变形的强构造域,其中也记录了顺时针型P-T轨迹,但所反映的地壳加厚程度有限,第二期变质-变形峰期时间为~1.85 Ga.由于朱家坊韧性剪切带左行走滑,导致北恒山麻粒岩地体抬升.五台-恒山地区在1.80~1.96 Ga之间经历两期变质-变形事件,这一认识或对讨论华北克拉通其他地区的古元古代造山带演化有一定启示意义.      

辽河群区域变质特征及其大陆动力学意义

辽河群是胶辽吉古元古代造山带的主要组成部分。近年来对其区域变质作用的PTt轨迹研究发现：同一造山带内PTt轨迹具有多样性。进一步研究认为,这一碰撞造山带南、北空间上PTt轨迹的逆向性起因于造山带南、北部的结构构造、变形过程和同变形变质花岗岩空间分布上的差异。就南辽河群和盖县岩组而言,早期、中期变质阶段,因中深部地壳大面积“辽吉花岗岩”的底垫式侵位及其诱发的沉积盖层顺层滑脱减薄作用,变质作用表现为近等压和小幅度增压而温度快速上升的过程;峰期变质阶段,又因收缩挤压增厚,表现为等温升压过程（盖县岩组）或升温升压过程（南辽河群）;最后晚期变质阶段,差异剥蚀引起降温降压（盖县岩组）或近等压降温过程（南辽河群）。对北辽群而言,早期、中期变质阶段,因盖层南辽河群及盖县岩组的大规模向北滑覆增厚作用而及花岗岩浆不发育,仅有正常传导热及放射热,因而△P＞△T;峰期变质阶段温、压同时达峰值,之后等温快速降压过程,与构造剥蚀有关;至晚期变质阶段,同盖县岩组一样,经历降温降压过程。通过对比上述北、南辽河群及盖县岩组的大陆动力学过程,表明早期大陆动力学过程正好是一个互为消长的过程,从而也决定了它们的PTt轨迹的逆反性。最后,本文提出了辽河群变质的底侵＋拆沉模型。     

西藏山南列麦始新世花岗岩独居石U-Th-Pb年龄及地质意义

西藏山南隆子县列麦地区始新世花岗岩的成岩时代和背景对喜马拉雅地区同碰撞阶段的构造演化具有重要意义。本文对隆子县列麦乡界归党村的白云母花岗岩开展独居石LA-ICP-MS U-Th-Pb测年,独居石40个测点的~(208)Pb/~(232)Th加权平均年龄为41±0.1Ma(MSWD=1.4),形成于始新世中期。结合区域上的始新世岩浆岩活动和区域变质作用,本文认为在50～45Ma印度下地壳发生中-高压变质和部分熔融;45Ma新特提斯洋洋壳板片断离,软流圈地幔上涌;45～41Ma喜马拉雅发生短暂的拉张环境导致大量的埃达克质岩浆岩侵位和麻粒岩的折返。     

大别山榴辉岩的包裹体研究

本文对大别山榴辉岩流体包裹体进行了研究。包裹体成分以ＮａＣｌ－Ｈ２Ｏ、Ｈ２Ｏ、ＮａＣｌ－ＣＯ２－Ｈ２Ｏ为主，是在退变质的角闪岩相和绿片岩相条件下捕获的。从变质高峰期至退变质晚期，包裹体成分演化由氧化向还原转化。熔融包裹体的发现，说明榴辉岩在形成过程中伴随局部深熔作用。通过流体包裹体研究，对大别山榴辉岩抬升过程ｐ－Ｔ－ｔ轨迹进行了探讨，认为是一等温降压过程。     

The P-T path of metamorphism and age of migmatites from the northwestern Irkut block (Sharyzhalgai uplift of the Siberian Platform)

We study migmatized aluminous gneisses in the northwest of the Irkut granulite complex in the southeastern Sharyzhalgai uplift of the Siberian Platform basement. Migmatized gneisses with the mineral assemblage Grt + Sil + Bt + Kfs + Pl + Qz (+ Crd + Opx + Spl) contain a leucosome and widespread cordierite-bearing (+ orthopyroxene, quartz, and spinel) symplectites developed after garnet and sillimanite. Study of the microstructural relationships of minerals and modeling using the PERPLEX 672 software have shown a retrograde P-T path of metamorphism for the metasedimentary gneisses, close to the isothermal decompression (ITD). The parameters of the peak of metamorphism are T = 850-870 °C and P > 7 kbar. The weighted average age of zircon from the metasedimentary gneisses (1856 ± 13 Ma, SHRIMP) corresponds to the time of metamorphism. The decompression type of retrograde metamorphism of the rocks in the northwest of the Irkut block indicates their formation in the crust extension and thinning setting. The presence of domal structures in the section of the Irkut block on the shore of Lake Baikal suggests that the dome tectogenesis was involved in the exhumation processes. The Paleoproterozoic metamorphism and granite formation were associated with the same stage of collision processes, when the compression setting was changed by an extension one (1.88-1.85 Ga).     

Formation of the Shuswap metamorphic core complex during late-orogenic collapse of the Canadian Cordillera: Role of ductile thinning and partial melting of the mid-to lower crust

Abstract

The early Tertiary evolution of the Shuswap metamorphic core complex is characterised by low-angle crustal detachments and nearly isothermal decompression followed by rapid cooling of rocks in the footwall of the detachments. Previous work as well as our own observations suggest that Paleogene late-orogenic extension produced the main tectonic features of the region. Furthermore, structural analysis of the migmatites and published geochronological data indicate that partial melting of the mid- to lower crust was coeval with extension in the upper crustal levels, suggesting that these two processes are linked genetically. Consequently, we propose that the formation of the Shuswap metamorphic core complex corresponds to late-orogenic gravitational collapse of the Canadian Cordillera accommodated by normal faulting of the brittle upper crust and by ductile thinning of the mid- to lower crust. The initiation and amplification of extension during the Paleocene in the Shuswap metamorphic core complex are tentatively related to partial melting of the thickened crust which caused drastic mechanical weakening of the crust.     

Oligocene HP metamorphism and anatexis of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline Sequence in Yadong region,east-central Himalaya

The Higher Himalayan Crystalline Sequence (HHCS) provides an excellent natural laboratory to study continental subduction, crustal melting and tectonic evolution of orogenic belt generated through the collision of India with Eurasia. Our petrological study and phase equilibrium modeling reveal that the pelitic migmatites in the HHCS of Yadong region, east-central Himalaya, preserve an early mineral assemblage garnet, kyanite, biotite, quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar, rutile and ilmenite, and a late sillimanite- and/or cordierite-bearing assemblage, and underwent the high pressure (HP) and high temperature (HT) granulite-facies metamorphism and associated partial melting under P–T conditions of ca. 12 kbar and 825–845 °C, followed by nearly isothermal decompression and isobaric cooling. The anatexis of the migmatites occurred dominantly through dehydration-melting of both muscovite and biotite during the prograde metamorphism. The melt produced in the peak metamorphic conditions is about 20 to 30 vol.% of the rocks, and a significant amount of melt has been extracted from the source leading to the formation of Himalayan leucogranites. The zircon U–Pb dating data shows that the migmatites probably witnessed a prolonged melting episode that began at ca. 30 Ma and lasted to ca. 20 Ma. These results show that the thickening lower crust of the Himalayan orogen experienced long-lived and continued HP and HT metamorphism and pervasive anatexis, supporting the models on channel flow.     

Phase equilibria modelling and LASS monazite petrochronology: P–T–t constraints on the evolution of the Priest River core complex,northern Idaho

Phase equilibria modelling, laser‐ablation split‐stream (LASS)‐ICP‐MS petrochronology and garnet trace‐element geochemistry are integrated to constrain the P–T–t history of the footwall of the Priest River metamorphic core complex, northern Idaho. Metapelitic, migmatitic gneisses of the Hauser Lake Gneiss contain the peak assemblage garnet + sillimanite + biotite ± muscovite + plagioclase + K‐feldspar ± rutile ± ilmenite + quartz. Interpreted P–T paths predict maximum pressures and peak metamorphic temperatures of ~9.6–10.3 kbar and ~785–790 °C. Monazite and xenotime ²⁰⁸Pb/²³²Th dates from porphyroblast inclusions indicate that metamorphism occurred at c. 74–54 Ma. Dates from HREE‐depleted monazite formed during prograde growth constrain peak metamorphism at c. 64 Ma near the centre of the complex, while dates from HREE‐enriched monazite constrain the timing of garnet breakdown during near‐isothermal decompression at c. 60–57 Ma. Near‐isothermal decompression to ~5.0–4.4 kbar was followed by cooling and further decompression. The youngest, HREE‐enriched monazite records leucosome crystallization at mid‐crustal levels c. 54–44 Ma. The northernmost sample records regional metamorphism during the emplacement of the Selkirk igneous complex (c. 94–81 Ma), Cretaceous–Tertiary metamorphism and limited Eocene exhumation. Similarities between the Priest River complex and other complexes of the northern North American Cordillera suggest shared regional metamorphic and exhumation histories; however, in contrast to complexes to the north, the Priest River contains less partial melt and no evidence for diapiric exhumation. Improved constraints on metamorphism, deformation, anatexis and exhumation provide greater insight into the initiation and evolution of metamorphic core complexes in the northern Cordillera, and in similar tectonic settings elsewhere.