U/pb dating of precambrian rocks from northern cameroon,orogenic evolution and chronology of the pan-african belt of central africa

Northern Cameroon has been classically divided into an old ‘basement complex’, a Middle Proterozoic cover (‘séries intermédiaires’) and granites emplaced during the Pan-African orogeny. New U/Pb geochronological data on different rock units from this region are presented. A rhyolite from the Poli schists (‘séries intermédiaires’) gives an age close to 800 Ma. Migmatitic gneisses of the ‘basement complex’ seem to derive from different detrital or magmatic sources. The metadiorites and foliated granites of the ‘basement complex’ give ages around 630 Ma. The 800 Ma age is interpreted as dating volcanic activity, probably related to the initial stage of the Pan-African evolution. Ages around 630 Ma date a syn-tectonic plutonism dominated by a regional-scale basic to intermediate plutonic suite (BIP). Zircons of the BIP suite are almost concordant and show no evidence of inheritance; the suite shows calc-alkaline affinity and relatively low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ratios; thus the BIP suite represents material newly added to the crust during the PanAfrican orogeny. These data are at variance with previous interpretations of this part of the mobile belt as old Precambrian crust reactivated during the Pan-African orogeny. The previous distinction between the ‘séries intermédiaires’ and a regional ‘basement complex’ must be reappraised, similar ages being found in both units. A chronological succession of the Pan-African evolution is established and tentatively compared with that of the Trans-Saharan belt in Nigeria and Hoggar.     

Zircon and whole-rock Nd-Pb isotopic provenance of Middle and Upper Ordovician siliciclastic rocks, Argentine Precordillera

Graptolite‐bearing Middle and Upper Ordovician siliciclastic facies of the Argentine Precordillera fold‐thrust belt record the disintegration of a long‐lived Cambro‐Mid Ordovician carbonate platform into a series of tectonically partitioned basins. A combination of stratigraphic, petrographic, U‐Pb detrital zircon, and Nd‐Pb whole‐rock isotopic data provide evidence for a variety of clastic sediment sources. Four Upper Ordovician quartzo‐lithic sandstones collected in the eastern and central Precordillera yield complex U‐Pb zircon age spectra dominated by 1·05–1·10 Ga zircons, secondary populations of 1·22, 1·30, and 1·46 Ga, rare 2·2 and 1·8 Ga zircons, and a minor population (<2%) of concordant zircons in the 600–700 Ma range. Archaean‐age grains comprise <1% of all zircons analysed from these rocks. In contrast, a feldspathic arenite from the Middle Ordovician Estancia San Isidro Formation of the central Precordillera has two well‐defined peaks at 1·41 and 1·43 Ga, with no grains in the 600–1200 Ma range and none older than 1·70 Ga. The zircon age spectrum in this unit is similar to that of a Middle Cambrian quartz arenite from the La Laja Formation, suggesting that local basement rocks were a regional source of ca 1·4 Ga detrital zircons in the Precordillera Terrane from the Cambrian onwards. The lack of grains younger than 600 Ma in Upper Ordovician units reinforces petrographic data indicating that Ordovician volcanic arc sources did not supply significant material directly to these sedimentary basins. Nd isotopic data (n = 32) for Middle and Upper Ordovician graptolitic shales from six localities define a poorly mixed signal [ɛ_Nd(450 Ma) = −9·6 to −4·5] that becomes more regionally homogenized in Upper Ordovician rocks (−6·2 ± 1·0; T_DM = 1·51 ± 0·15 Ga; n = 17), a trend reinforced by the U‐Pb detrital zircon data. It is concluded that proximal, recycled orogenic sources dominated the siliciclastic sediment supply for these basins, consistent with rapid unroofing of the Precordillera Terrane platform succession and basement starting in Mid Ordovician time. Common Pb data for Middle and Upper Ordovician shales from the western and eastern Precordillera (n = 15) provide evidence for a minor (<30%) component that was likely derived from a high‐μ (U/Pb) terrane.     

Transpressional granite-emplacement model: Structural and magnetic study of the Pan-African Bandja granitic pluton (West Cameroon)

The Pan-African NE–SW elongated Bandja granitic pluton, located at the western part of the Pan-African belt in Cameroon, is a K-feldspar megacryst granite. It is emplaced in banded gneiss and its NW border underwent mylonitization. The magmatic foliation shows NE–SW and NNE–SSW strike directions with moderate to strong dip respectively in its northern and central parts. This mostly, ferromagnetic granite displays magnetic fabrics carried by magnetite and characterized by (i) magnetic foliation with best poles at 295/34, 283/33 and 35/59 respectively in its northern, central and southern parts and (ii) a subhorizontal magnetic lineation with best line at 37/8, 191/9 and 267/22 respectively in the northern, central and southern parts. Magnetic lineation shows an ‘S’ shape trend that allows to (1) consider the complete emplacement and deformation of the pluton during the Pan-African D ₂ and D ₃ events which occurred in the Pan-African belt in Cameroon and (2) reorganize Pan-African ages from Nguiessi Tchakam et al. (1997) compared with those of the other granitic plutons in the belt as: 686 ±17 Ma (Rb/Sr) for D ₁ age of metamorphism recorded in gneiss; and the period between 604–557 Ma for D ₂–D ₃ emplacement and deformation age of the granitic pluton in a dextral ENE–WSW shear movement.     

Synmetamorphic Cu remobilization during the Pan-African orogeny: Microstructural,petrological and geochronological data on the kyanite-micaschists hosting the Cu(–U) Lumwana deposit in the Western Zambian Copperbelt of the Lufilian belt

The Pan-African Lufilian orogenic belt hosts world-class Cu deposits. In the Congolese Copperbelt (DRC), Cu(–Co) deposits, are mostly hosted within evaporitic and siliciclastic Neoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks (Mines Subgroup) and are interpreted as syn- to late-diagenetic deposits. In this paper, we present new data on Cu(–U) deposit hosted in metamorphic rocks of the internal zone of the Lufilian belt known as the Western Zambian Copperbelt in which a primary Cu mineralization is overprinted by a second syn-metamorphic Cu mineralizing event. This mineralizing event is synchronous with the Pan-African metamorphism affecting both the pre-Katanga basement and the Katanga metasedimentary sequence. Cu(–U) occurrences in the Western Zambian Copperbelt are hosted by kyanite-micaschists metamorphosed in the upper amphibolite facies.Mineral inclusions of graphite, micas and sulfides in kyanite porphyroblasts of the Cu-bearing kyanite-micaschists in the Lumwana Cu deposit point to a sedimentary protolith with relics of an inherited Cu stock. Based on petrologic, microstructural and geochronological evidence, we propose that this initial Cu-stock was remobilized during the Pan-African orogeny. Graphite, micas and sulfides preserved in a first generation of kyanite poikiloblasts (Ky₁) define an inherited S_0/1 foliation developed during the prograde part of the P–T path (D₁ deformation-metamorphic stage) reaching HP–MT metamorphic conditions.Remobilization during the retrograde part of the P–T path is evidenced by chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite–bornite delineating a steep-dipping S₂ schistosity and by chalcopyrite and bornite delineating a shallow-dipping S₃ schistosity associated with top to the south kinematic criteria. This retrograde path is coeval with ductile deformation in the kyanite field as evidenced by a second generation of synkinematic kyanite porphyroblasts (Ky₂) transposed in the S₃ schistosity (Ky_2–3), and is marked by progressive cooling from ca. 620 °C down to 580 °C (rutile geothermometry). Syn-S_2–3 metamorphic monazite grains yield U–Th–Pb ages ranging from ca. 540 to 500 Ma.Final retrogression and remobilization of Cu is marked by recrystallization of the sulfides in top to the north C₃ shear bands associated with rutile crystals yielding temperatures from ca. 610 to 540 °C. This final remobilization is younger than ca. 500 Ma (youngest U–Th–Pb age on syn-S₃ recrystallized monazite). These data are consistent with successive Cu remobilization for more than 40 Ma during Pan-African reworking of sediment-hosted deposits either from the basement of the Katanga sedimentary sequence or from the Katanga sequence itself marked by burial (D₁), syn-orogenic exhumation (D₂), and post-orogenic exhumation during gravitational collapse (D₃).     

滇西南团梁子岩组分异石英脉锆石U-Pb年龄——晚三叠世澜沧江构造带区域变质变形的时代制约

在滇西南澜沧江构造带东侧、扬子板块西缘中元古代团梁子岩组含有大量的平行于区域面理(S2)的构造热液石英脉,利用LA-ICP-MS对3件石英脉和1件绿片岩中的锆石进行~(206)U/~(238)Pb测年,获得3组明显的组合年龄:395～461Ma、240～260Ma和222～228Ma,大部分集中于222～228Ma。对比研究表明,区域上2期变质变形(M_1D_1、M_2D_2)与获得的锆石年龄有较好的对应性,早期的变质变形(M_1D_1)形成于早古生代(395～461Ma)原特提斯洋盆向东俯冲阶段;晚期的2期变质变形(M_(2a)D_(2a),M_(2b)D_(2b))发生于晚古生代—中生代早期(240～260Ma)古特提斯洋盆向东俯冲阶段和晚三叠世早期(222～228Ma)古特提斯洋盆闭合阶段。晚三叠世早期变质变形(M_(2b)D_(2b))构造热液发生在临沧花岗岩侵位和弧陆碰撞型忙怀组火山岩(229～235Ma)之后,早于小定西组/芒汇河组拉伸期火山岩(210～222Ma),是古特提斯洋与扬子陆块碰撞后的应力松弛阶段俯冲岩片快速折返的证据,同时也反映了古特提斯洋盆在晚三叠世早期之前已经关闭。     

Timing of the Yuchiling giant porphyry Mo system, and implications for ore genesis

The Yuchiling Mo deposit is a recently discovered giant porphyry system in the East Qinling Mo belt, China. Its apparent causative intrusion, i.e., the Yuchiling granite porphyry, is the youngest intrusion (phase 4) of the Heyu multiphase granite batholith, which was emplaced between 143 and 135 Ma. New robust constraints on the formation of the Yuchiling porphyry Mo system are provided by combined zircon U–Pb, biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, and molybdenite Re–Os dating. Zircon grains from the Mo-mineralized granite porphyry yield weighted ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 134.0?±?1.4 Ma (n?=?19, 2σ error, MSWD?=?0.30). Magmatic biotite from the same sample yield a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 135.1?±?1.4 Ma (2σ error), and an inverse isochron age of 135.6?±?2.0 Ma (n?=?7, 2σ error, MSWD?=?10.8), which are effectively coincident with the zircon U–Pb age within analytical error. Three pulses of mineralization can be deduced from the molybdenite Re–Os ages, namely: ～141, ～137, and ～134 Ma, which agree well with the zircon U–Pb ages of granitic phases 1, 2, and the Yuchiling porphyry (phase 4), respectively. These well-constrained temporal correlations indicate that Mo mineralization was caused by pulses of granitic magmatism, and that the ore-forming magmatic-hydrothermal activity responsible for the Yuchiling porphyry Mo system lasted about 8 Ma. The Yuchiling Mo deposit represents a unique style of porphyry Mo system formed in a post-collision setting, and associated with F-rich, high-K calc-alkaline intrusions, which differ from convergent margin-associated porphyry Mo deposits.     

Geology, geochemistry, and age of volcanites of the Tunguda Volcanic Formation: The problem of the Archean-Proterozoic boundary in North Karelia

The geological, geochemical, and isotopic-geochronological data obtained for Sumian moderate-basic metavolcanites of Shombozero and Lekhta structures of the Panayarvi-Vygozero belt shows that the Tunguda Formation is confined to the Paleoproterozoic structural and material complex. This formation is represented by the complex of weakly differentiated andesitobasalts and andesites of calc-alkaline series with higher contents of MgO and moderate contents of Al₂O₃ and rare earth elements. The rocks of the Tunguda Formation are different from the Late Archean basic rocks of the Hiziyarvi Formation represented mainly by tholeiitic basalts with low REE contents and undifferentiated spectrum of REE distribution. The age of volcanites of the Tunguda Formation was determined to be 2439 ± 21 Ma. The xenogenic zircons from metaandesites of the Tunguda Formation have Neoarchean age according to the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratio (from 2536 ± 4 to 2825 ± 7 Ma). The Neoarchean zircons, a negative value of ?_Nd (?3.8), and indicative geochemical parameters are evidence that the crustal component took part in formation of the protolith of the studied rocks.     

Les phases tardives de l'orogenese pan-africaine dans l'Adrar des iforas oriental (Mali): Lithostratigraphie des formations molassiques et geochronologie U/Pb sur zircon de deux massifs intrusifs

Two main tectono-metamorphic domains are distinguished on both sides of the Adrar fault (Adrar des Iforas, Mali). The western domain is mainly made up of retrogressed Eburnean granulites and various granitoids. The Ibedouyen quartz-diorite pluton which postdates the major tectono-metamorphic event responsible for the mylonitisation of granulites, gives a U/Pb age on zircon of 600 ± 2Ma, a figure which is interpreted as its magmatic crystallisation. The molassic series of the Adrar fault unconformably rest on this unit. The eastern domain includes: (1) a highly deformed molassic series recrystallised under greenschist facies, which we correlate with the unmetamorphic molassic series of the western domain; (2) a pelitic unit affected by a high temperature—low pressure type metamorphism, and cut by several granites. the Tamassahart massif which has intruded this pelitic unit before the metamorphism gives a U/Pb zircon age of 581 ± ₆⁷ Ma. This figure is also interpreted as that of the magmatic crystallisation. These two new geochronologic data are thus in the range of the previously obtained data in other parts of the Pan-African belt from West Africa. They confirm that the Eastern domain is a slightly younger Pan-African province.     

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of Early Cretaceous andesitic-dacitic rocks,western Qinling(Central China):Geochronological and geochemical constraints

~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar and zircon U-Pb geochronological and whole-rock geochemical analyses for the Laozanggou intermediate-acidic volcanic rocks from the western Qinling orogenic belt,Central China,constrain their petrogenesis and the nature of the Late Mesozoic lithospheric mantle.These volcanic rocks yield hornblende or whole-rock ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau ages of 128.3-129.7 Ma and zircon U-Pb age of131.3±1.3 Ma.They exhibit Si02 of 56.86-66.86 wt.%,K_2 O of 0.99-2.46 wt.% and MgO of 1.03-4.47 wt.%,with Mg# of 42-56.They are characterized by arc-like geochemical signatures with significant enrichment in LILE and LREE and depletion in HFSE.All the samples have enriched Sr-Nd isotopic compositions with initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratios ranging from 0.7112 to 0.7149 and ε_(Nd)(t) values from 10.2 to 6.3.Such geochemical signatures suggest that these volcanic rocks were derived from enriched lithospherederived magma followed by the assimilation and fractional crystallization(AFC)process.The generation of the enriched lithospheric mantle is likely related to the modification of sediment-derived fluid in response to the Triassic subduction/collision event in Qinling orogenic belt.The early Cretaceous detachment of the lithospheric root provides a reasonable mechanism for understanding the petrogenesis of the Laozanggou volcanic sequence in the western Qinling orogenic belt.     

松辽地块大地构造属性: 古生界碎屑锆石年代学的制约

对松辽地块南部上古生界哲斯组的碎屑锆石应用LA--ICP --MS U --Pb 测试的结果显示了4 个主要的年龄段: 263 ～ 378 Ma ( 峰值年龄274 Ma) ; 405 ～ 547 Ma ( 峰值515 Ma) ; 660 ～ 974 Ma ( 峰值为 923 Ma) ; 其余均为中元古代年龄1 165 Ma、1 369 Ma、1 476 Ma、1 517 Ma。其中最年轻一组锆石年龄263 ± 2 Ma 代表了哲斯组主体沉积的下限年龄; ～ 274 Ma 的峰期年龄与附近地区的大石寨组火山岩和岛弧岩浆岩的年龄一致; ～ 515 Ma 的峰期年龄与东北地区泛非期基底变质杂岩的年龄一致; 其余的古老年龄均反映了松辽地块基底的信息。结合松辽地块的北部上古生界土门岭组、西部本巴图组和东缘黑龙宫组的碎屑锆石年龄,显示松辽地块应存在太古代和元古代的变质基底,为古生界地层提供了丰富的物源。松辽地块应为一个稳定的微地块,而不是长期活动的造山带。     

Redefinition and Formation Age of the Tanjianshan Group in Xitieshan Region,Qinghai

The Tanjianshan Group, which was previously divided into a, b, c and d formations, has been controversial for a long time. It mainly distributes in the northern margin of Qaidam Basin and is an important early Paleozoic greenschist facies metamorphic volcanic sedimentary rock formation. Detailed field investigation and zircon LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating of the key strata suggest that the original lower part of a Formation(a-1) versus the original middle upper of d Formation(d-3 and d-4), the original upper part of a Formation(a-2) and b Formation versus the original lower part of d Formation(d-1 and d-2) of Tanjianshan Group are contemporaneous heterotopic facies volcanicclasolite deposit, respectively. The former formations formed during the middle-late Ordovician(463–458 Ma), while the latter ones formed in the late Ordovician(about 445 Ma). The original c formation of Tanjianshan Group, which formed after 430 Ma, is similar to the Maoniushan Formation of Kunlun Mountains and north Qaidam Basin. According to the rules of stratigraphic division and naming, new stratum formations of Tanjianshan Group are re-built and divided into Duancenggou(O1-2td), Zhongjiangou(O2-3tz) and Xitieshan(O3tx) formations. The original c Formation is separated from Tanjianshan Group and is renamed as the Wuminggou Formation(S3-D1w), which shows a discordant contact with underlying Tanjianshan Group and overlying Amunike Formation(D3a). The zircon U-Pb age frequency spectrogram of Tanjianshan Group indicates three prominent peaks of 430 Ma, 460 Ma and 908 Ma, which is consistent with the metamorphic and magmatic crystallization ages obtained from para- and orthogneisses in north Qaidam HP-UHP metamorphic belt, implying that strong Caledonian and Jinningian tectonic and magmatic events have ever happened in North Qaidam.     

新疆东准噶尔金水泉金矿床地质特征、成矿时代及其地质意义

新疆奇台县金水泉金矿床是东准噶尔卡拉麦里成矿带上一个典型的造山型金矿床,产于清水-苏吉泉大断裂和卡拉麦里深断裂之间的次级断裂带中,其成矿时代尚无确切的年代学资料。通过阴极发光(CL)、背散射图像(BSE)和矿物包体确定含金石英脉中的锆石种类,进行LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素定年。捕获锆石主要呈柱状、长柱状,振荡环带清晰,粒径较热液锆石大,包括岩浆锆石和变质锆石;~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄为365~418Ma、265Ma。热液锆石呈短柱状、棱角状、不规则状、双锥状,常含继承锆石内核,内部包裹体为磷灰石或含金磷灰石,发育不明显的波缓状振荡环带或无振荡环带;~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄加权平均值为314.9±3.2Ma,指示金矿化作用发生于晚石炭世早期碰撞造山向造山后伸展转变的构造环境。成矿时代晚于赋矿围岩姜巴斯套组的年龄(约343Ma),与总结区域构造演化规律所限定的时间范围(320~310Ma)吻合。综合研究认为,金水泉金矿床成矿作用可划分为350~320Ma造山阶段含金流体生成、315Ma挤压-伸展转换阶段金迁移就位、二叠纪陆内变形阶段金矿体破碎变形3个阶段。     

Emplacement age and thermal footprint of the diamondiferous Ellendale E9 lamproite pipe, Western Australia

The diamondiferous Ellendale 9 (E9) pipe is a funnel-shaped maar-diatreme volcano consisting of inward-dipping tuff sequences intruded by lamproite plugs and dykes. The host rocks for the E9 pipe are Permian sandstones. The multiple lithological contacts exposed within the mined maar volcano provide a natural laboratory in which to study the effect of volcanic processes on U–Th–Pb–He systematics. Zircon from the regional sandstone and E9 lamproite display a bimodal distribution of ages on (U–Th)/He–U/Pb plots. The zircon U/Pb ages for the E9 pipe (n?=?52) range from 440 to 2,725 Ma, while the cluster of (U–Th)/He ages for the lamproite dyke zircon indicate that dyke emplacement occurred at 20.6?±?2.8 Ma, concordant with a maximum emplacement age of about ≤22 Ma from phlogopite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar. These ages indicate a xenocrystic origin for the zircon entrained in the E9 dyke. The U/Pb ages of detrital zircon from the regional sandstone host (373–3,248 Ma; n?=?41) are indistinguishable from those of the lamproite zircon xenocrysts, whereas the detrital zircon in the host sandstone yield (U–Th)/He ages from 260 to 1,500 Ma. A thermochronology traverse across the E9 lamproite dyke reveals that the zircon (U–Th)/He ages in the host sandstone have not been significantly thermally reset during dyke emplacement, even at the contact. The capability of the zircon (U–Th)/He method to distinguish deep, mantle source lithologies from upper crustal source lithologies could be used in geochemical exploration for diamonds. Pre-screening of detrital samples using etching and helium assay methods will improve the efficiency and decrease the cost of greenfields exploration.     

Lead isotopes of the carbonate-hosted Kabwe, Tsumeb, and Kipushi Pb-Zn-Cu sulphide deposits in relation to Pan African orogenesis in the Damaran-Lufilian Fold Belt of Central Africa

Lead isotope ratios of galena from the carbonate-hosted massive sulphide deposits of Kabwe (Pb-Zn) and Tsumeb (Pb-Zn-Cu) in Zambia and Namibia, respectively, have been measured and found to be homogeneous and characteristic of upper crustal source rocks. Kabwe galena has average isotope ratios of ^206/204Pb = 17.997 ± 0.007, ^207/204Pb = 15.713 ± 0.010 and ^208/204Pb = 38.410 ± 0.033. Tsumeb galena has slightly higher ^206/204Pb (18.112 ± 0.035) and slightly lower ^207/204Pb (15.674 ± 0.016) and ^208/204Pb (38.276 ± 0.073) ratios than Kabwe galena. The isotopic differences are attributed to local differences in the age and composition of the respective source rocks for Kabwe and Tsumeb. The homogeneity of the ore lead in the two epigenetic deposits suggests lead sources of uniform isotopic composition or, alternatively, thorough mixing of lead derived from sources with relatively similar isotopic compositions. Both deposits have relatively high ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of 10.31 and 10.09 for Kabwe and Tsumeb galenas, respectively. These isotope ratios are considered to be typical of the upper continental crust in the Damaran-Lufilian orogenic belt, as also indicated by basement rocks and Cu-Co sulphides in stratiform Katangan metasediments which have a mean μ-value of 10.25 ± 0.12 in the Copperbelt region of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). The ²³²Th/²⁰⁴Pb isotope ratios of 43.08 and 40.42 for Kabwe and Tsumeb suggest Th-enriched source regions with ²³²Th/²³⁵U (κ-values) of 4.18 and 4.01, respectively. Model isotopic ages determined for the Kabwe (680 Ma) and Tsumeb (530 Ma) deposits indicate that the timing of the mineralisation was probably related to phases of orogenic activity associated with the Pan-African Lufilian and Damaran orogenies, respectively. Galena from the carbonate-hosted Kipushi Cu-Pb-Zn massive sulphide deposit in the Congo also has homogeneous lead isotope ratios, but its isotopic composition is comparable to that of the average global lead evolution curve for conformable massive sulphide deposits. The μ (9.84) and κ (3.69) values indicate a significant mantle component, and the isotopic age of the Kipushi deposit (456 Ma) suggests that the emplacement of the mineralisation was related to a post-tectonic phase of igneous activity in the Lufilian belt. The isotope ratios (^206/204Pb, ^207/204Pb, ^208/204Pb) of the three deposits are markedly different from the heterogeneous lead ratios of the Katangan Cu-Co stratiform mineralisation of the Copperbelt as well as those of the volcanogenic Nampundwe massive pyrite deposit in the Zambezi belt which typically define radiogenic linear trends on lead-lead plots. The host-rock dolomite of the Kabwe deposit also has homogeneous lead isotope ratios identical to the ore galena. This observation indicates contamination of the Kabwe Dolomite Formation with ore lead during mineralisation. Received: 8 September 1997 / Accepted: 21 August 1998     

大兴安岭南段阿鲁科尔沁旗坤都地区林西组碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及其地质意义

大兴安岭南段阿鲁科尔沁旗坤都地区乔洛吐山林西组剖面,岩性为一套黄绿色岩屑长石细砂岩、黄绿色岩屑粉砂岩、灰黑色泥质粉砂岩等细碎屑岩组合,含丰富的双壳类、植物化石,指示时代为晚二叠世。用LA-ICP-MS测得乔洛吐山林西组下部黄绿色岩屑长石细砂岩样品中的碎屑锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄主要集中于267Ma、299Ma、484Ma、726Ma和933Ma五个峰值,最年轻的~(206)Pb/~(238)U锆石年龄为256Ma,最年轻的峰值年龄为267±2Ma,表明该地区林西组的最大沉积年龄不早于晚二叠世吴家坪期。林西组砂岩地球化学特征显示,乔洛吐山林西组物源具有长英质物源特性,沉积时期的水体为陆相开阔的淡水环境。结合古生物学、岩石学、地球化学和同位素年代学研究,推测研究区内古亚洲洋在晚二叠世已经闭合,林西组沉积环境为陆相湖盆,沉积物源显示出复杂性和多样性特点,反映物源区主要来自于兴蒙造山带,少量可能来自于华北板块。     

Metallogenesis of the late Pan-African gold-bearing East Ouzzal shear zone (Hoggar, Algeria)

In the W Hoggar (Algeria), the major transcurrent N–S East Ouzzal shear zone (EOSZ) hosts several world-class gold deposits over a 100-km length. The late Pan-African EOSZ separates two contrasting Precambrian domains: the Archaean In Ouzzal block to the west (orthogneisses with subordinate metasediments, reworked and granulitized in the c. 2 Ga Eburnean event) and a Middle Proterozoic block to the east (again orthogneisses and metasediments, involved in the c. 600 Ma Pan-African event). The EOSZ is a mylonite belt, 1–3 km wide, with a 50-m-wide ultramylonite belt hosting numerous quartz veins and lenses (giant hydrothermal quartz system) associated with a quartz-sericite-pyrite-carbonate (beresite) alteration. These hydrothermal events occurred under ductile (evolving towards brittle) conditions, between 500 and 300 MPa, at 500–300°C, with aqueous-carbonic fluids derived both from underlying devolatilized metamorphic rocks and a mantle source, as recorded by stable (C, O) isotope data. No gold mineralization was associated with these typical mesothermal events. Following a pressure drop (to 130 MPa), related to the inception of extensional tectonics, the EOSZ was later percolated by a new set of hydrothermal fluids, evolved from basinal waters that deeply penetrated into the In Ouzzal basement. These fluids were Ca-bearing brines (up to 25% wt. eq. NaCl), characterized by high δD (-9 to + 18‰ range), mobilized by the thermal energy released by the late Pan-African granite magmatism (Taourirt granites). As demonstrated by Pb isotope data, the brines leached Au from the In Ouzzal granulites (which contain 3 ppb Au). Fluid inclusion studies indicate that gold was deposited from these brines in the EOSZ at a depth of c. 5 km, due to mixing and cooling with descending diluted fluids.     

The long-lived partial melting of the Greater Himalayas in southern Tibet,constraints from the Miocene Gyirong anatectic pegmatite and its prospecting potential for rare element minerals

The Cenozoic Himalayan leucogranite-pegmatite belt has been a hotspot for rare metal exploration in recent years. To determine the genesis of the pegmatite in the Himalayan region and its relationship with the Greater Himalayan Crystalline Complex (GHC), the Gyirong pegmatite in southern Tibet was chosen for geochronological and geochemical studies. The dating analyses indicate that the U-Th-Pb ages of zircon, monazite, and xenotime exhibit large variations (38.6–16.1 Ma), with the weighted average value of the four youngest points is 16.5 ± 0.3 Ma, which indicates that the final stage of crystallization of the melt occurred in the Miocene. The age of the muscovite Ar-Ar inverse isochron is 15.2 ± 0.4 Ma, which is slightly later than the intrusion age, showing that a cooling process associated with rapid denudation occurred at 16–15 Ma. The ε_Hf(t) values of the Cenozoic anatectic zircons cluster between −12 and −9 with an average of −11.4. The Gyirong pegmatite shows high contents of Si, Al, and K, a high Al saturation index, and low contents of Na, Ca, Fe, Mn, P, Mg, and Ti. Overall, the Gyirong pegmatite is enriched in Rb, Cs, U, K, Th and Pb and depleted in Nb, Ta, Zr, Ti, Eu, Sr, and Ba. The samples show a high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_{(16 Ma)} ratio of ca. 0.762 and a low ε_{Nd(16 Ma)} value of −16.0. The calculated average initial values of ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_{(16 Ma)}, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_{(16 Ma)} and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_{(16 Ma)} of the whole rock are 39.72, 15.79 and 19.56, respectively. The Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic characteristics of the Gyirong pegmatite are consistent with those of the GHC. This study concludes that the Gyirong pegmatite represents a typical crustal–derived anatectic pegmatite with low metallogenic potential for rare metals. The Gyirong pegmatite records the long–term metamorphism and partial melting process of the GHC, and reflects the crustal thickening caused by thrust compression at 39–29 Ma and the crustal thinning induced by extensional decompression during 28–15 Ma.©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Pan-African Tectonism in the Western Maud Belt: P-T-t Path for High-grade Gneisses in the H.U. Sverdrupfjella, East Antarctica

Extensive high-grade polydeformed metamorphic provinces surroundingArchaean cratonic nuclei in the East Antarctic Shield recordtwo tectono-thermal episodes in late Mesoproterozoic and lateNeoproterozoic–Cambrian times. In Western Dronning MaudLand, the high-grade Mesoproterozoic Maud Belt is juxtaposedagainst the Archaean Grunehogna Province and has traditionallybeen interpreted as a Grenvillian mobile belt that was thermallyoverprinted during the Early Palaeozoic. Integration of newU–Pb sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe and conventionalsingle zircon and monazite age data, and Ar–Ar data onhornblende and biotite, with thermobarometric calculations onrocks from the H.U. Sverdrupfjella, northern Maud Belt, resultedin a more complex P–T–t evolution than previouslyassumed. A c. 540 Ma monazite, hosted by an upper ampibolite-faciesmineral assemblage defining a regionally dominant top-to-NWshear fabric, provides strong evidence for the penetrative deformationin the area being of Pan-African age and not of Grenvillianage as previously reported. Relics of an eclogite-facies garnet–omphaciteassemblage within strain-protected mafic boudins indicate thatthe peak metamorphic conditions recorded by most rocks in thearea (T = 687–758°C, P = 9·4–11·3kbar) were attained subsequent to decompression from P >12·9 kbar. By analogy with limited U–Pb singlezircon age data and on circumstantial textural grounds, thisearlier eclogite-facies metamorphism is ascribed to subductionand accretion around 565 Ma. Post-peak metamorphic K-metasomatismunder amphibolite-facies conditions is ascribed to the intrusionof post-orogenic granite at c. 480 Ma. The recognition of extensivePan-African tectonism in the Maud Belt casts doubts on previousRodinia reconstructions, in which this belt takes a pivotalposition between East Antarctica, the Kalahari Craton and Laurentia.Evidence of late Mesoproterozoic high-grade metamorphism duringthe formation of the Maud Belt exists in the form of c. 1035Ma zircon overgrowths that are probably related to relics ofgranulite-facies metamorphism recorded from other parts of theMaud Belt. The polymetamorphic rocks are largely derived froma c. 1140 Ma volcanic arc and 1072 ± 10 Ma granite. KEY WORDS: Maud Belt; Pan-African orogeny; geochronology; P–T–t path, East Antarctica     

Neoproterozoic subductions and differential exhumation of western Hoggar (southwest Algeria): new structural, petrological and geochronological evidence

The western terranes exposed east of the Pan-African suture in western Hoggar (southwest Algeria), are reexamined in the light of new structural, petrologic and by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar laser probe data on metamorphic micas and amphiboles. To the north, the Tassendjanet nappe includes the Paleoproterozoic basement, its Mesoproterozoic cover and mafic rocks representing the roots of a ca. 680 Ma arc overlain by Late Neoproterozoic andesites and volcanic greywackes. The nappe preserved at rather shallow crustal level in the east was emplaced southward (D_1a) to southeastward (D₂). In the south, two metamorphic suites are distinguished. The Tideridjaouine–Tileouine high-pressure metamorphic belt (T=550–600 °C, P=1.4–1.8 GPa) represents a slab of subducted continental material exposed along the western edge of the In Ouzzal granulite unit interpreted as a microcontinent. Differential exhumation of tectonic slices from the high-pressure belt occurred around 615–600 Ma through a system of west-directed recumbent folds (D_1b). The Egatalis high grade belt in the west was intruded by syn-metamorphic gabbro–norite bodies. It includes unretrogressed low-pressure granulite facies rocks (T around 750–800 °C, P0.45 GPa) cooled at a rate of 15°/m.y. between 600 and 580 Ma, and followed by the emplacement of several late-kinematic granitic plutons. Final exhumation of the low-pressure, high-temperature metamorphic rocks, that are not found as pebbles in the molasse, took place in the Late Cambrian. The early and relatively fast cooling of the high-pressure and high-temperature metamorphic rocks of the southern part of the Tassendjanet terrane is at variance with the slow cooling of central Hoggar where repeated magmatic activity as young as Late Cambrian occurred [Lithos 45 (1998) 245].     

北秦岭宽坪岩群变质沉积岩年代学及地质意义

宽坪岩群位于北秦岭造山带,主要由广东坪岩组斜长角闪岩、四岔口岩组云母石英片岩及谢湾岩组的大理岩组成。通过LA-MC-ICPMS锆石U-Pb测年研究,宽坪岩群谢湾岩组碎屑锆石年龄为400~3502 Ma,其中最年轻一组的²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄在380~418 Ma,结合黑云母⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar（370.9±2.0）Ma的变质年龄,表明谢湾岩组形成在晚泥盆世。四岔口岩组碎屑锆石年龄介于512~3598 Ma,最年轻的一组锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄在512~549 Ma,其黑云母⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar变质年龄为（370.4±1.8）Ma,表明该组形成于512 Ma（早寒武世）之后,晚泥盆世之前,主体很可能形成于早古生代。宽坪岩群是由不同时代的地层和岩片构成,应该进一步解体。宽坪岩群物源来自华北陆块、秦岭造山带和扬子陆块。其变形变质时代为晚泥盆世,代表了北秦岭造山带碰撞造山的结束时代。