Interpretation of discordant U-Pb zircon ages: An evaluation

The most widely used technique for the determination of high precision mineral growth ages in igneous and metamorphic rocks is dating of zircons with the U-Pb method. The interpretation of these ages, particularly in metamorphic settings, is hampered by an incomplete understanding of the common phenomenon of partial Pb-loss in zircon. In principle, this Pb-loss may occur in four very different ways: diffusion in metamict zircon, diffusion in pristine zircon, leaching from metamict zircon and recrystallization of metamict zircon. Here it is argued that, under conditions common in the continental crust, Pb-loss is only possible in partially to strongly metamict zircons. Pb-diffusion in the pristine zircon lattice is insignificant up to temperatures of at least 1000 °C. Pb-loss is only possible if the zircons experienced a time interval below their annealing temperature of about 600–650 °C, because only below this temperature can the lattice damage through α-decay and spontaneous fission accumulate. Zircons that remain above this temperature do not lose Pb by diffusion and will stay closed systems. Complete resetting of the U-Pb system in zircon under crustal conditions is only possible through dissolution and reprecipitation of zircon. Partial resetting results from recrystallization, leaching or diffusion in metamict zircon. As a consequence, special care has to be taken to interpret lower intercepts on concordia diagrams defined by discordant U-Pb data. Lower intercept ages may be significant only if they are defined by zircons with low U-content (<100 p.p.m.) or if confirmed by other geochronological methods. In addition, the accuracy of the lower intercept should be confirmed by abrading the zircon fractions that define the discordia.     

大别山造山带东南部天柱山花岗岩类侵入体的特征及其LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄

大别山造山带内广泛发育晚中生代的花岗岩类侵入体,天柱山岩体是其中的一个典型代表,位于分隔南大别超高压变质带与北大别杂岩之间的五河-水吼断裂带附近.该岩体是个由多期次侵位构成的复式岩体,自早到晚依次为闪长岩→石英正长岩/花岗闪长岩→碱长花岗岩.整个杂岩体属高钾钙碱性系列,但碱长花岗岩的地球化学性质与构成杂岩体的其他类型岩...     

变质岩中锆石U—Pb计时问题评述——兼论大别造山带锆石定年

锆石是U－Pb计时的首选对象，对于地质历史复杂的变质岩地区，如大别碰撞造山带的年代学研究，具有不可替代的重要性。变质岩中锆石经历了Pb的扩散丢失作用；晶格损伤导致的蜕晶化作用；增生－混合作用和重结晶作用。这些过程对锆石计时的准确性和有效性带来不同程度的影响。为了使测定的年龄有确定的地质意义，在进行锆石U－Pb定年前，必需对锆石进行成因矿物学和矿物内部结构研究，特别是阴极荧光和背散射电子成像研究，通过内部结构特征确定锆石成因过程。在化学U－Pb法定年时注意普通铅校正和^204Pb测定值对年龄的影响，尽量选择单一成因锆石。特别强调在大别造山带年代学中引入锆石微区离子探针定年技术。     

江西冷水坑矿田火山-岩浆活动时限:SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄证据

冷水坑铅锌银矿是武夷山北缘中生代火山岩带中独具特色的斑岩型矿床,含矿花岗斑岩侵位于打鼓顶组和鹅湖岭组火山岩地层中.笔者采用SHRIMP锆石U-Pb测年技术,对冷水坑矿田含矿花岗斑岩与鹅湖岭组晶屑凝灰岩进行了年代学研究.3个晶屑凝灰岩的锆石U Pb年龄分别为(157.8±1.6) Ma、(157.2±1.5)Ma和(158.2±1.8) Ma,花岗斑岩形成于(157.6±1.3) Ma.含矿斑岩与其赋存的火山岩活动时间高度一致,是同一构造岩浆活动的产物.与区域上其他火山盆地不同,冷水坑矿田鹅湖岭组与打鼓顶组火山岩属于侏罗系.广泛发育于武夷山北坡中生代火山岩盆地的打鼓顶组与鹅湖岭组火山岩,其活动时间在不同火山盆地也各不相同,不能简单地统一划归为侏罗纪或白垩纪,这套地层的时代应予以重新厘定.区域上该套火山岩活动时间的差异,指示武夷山北缘火山岩浆活动具有阶段性或间隙性的演化过程,且构造背景也有很大不同.玲水坑矿田火山岩与含矿斑岩形成于中国东部陆内挤压构造环境.     

40Ar/39Ar and oxygen isotope studies of polymetamorphism from Tinos Island, Cycladic blueschist belt, Greece

Abstract Petrological, oxygen isotope and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar studies were used to constrain the Tertiary metamorphic evolution of the lower tectonic unit of the Cyclades on Tinos. Polyphase high-pressure metamorphism reached pressures in excess of 15 kbar, based on measurements of the Si content in potassic white mica. Temperatures of 450–500° C at the thermal peak of high-pressure metamorphism were estimated from critical metamorphic assemblages, the validity of which is confirmed by a quartz–magnetite oxygen isotope temperature of 470° C. Some ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar spectra of white mica give plateau ages of 44–40 Ma that are considered to represent dynamic recrystallization under peak or slightly post-peak high-pressure metamorphic conditions. Early stages in the prograde high-pressure evolution may be documented by older apparent ages in the high-temperature steps of some spectra. Eclogite to epidote blueschist facies mineralogies were partially or totally replaced by retrograde greenschist facies assemblages during exhumation. Oxygen isotope thermometry of four quartz–magnetite pairs from greenschist samples gives temperatures of 440–470° C which cannot be distinguished from those deduced for the high-pressure event. The exhumation and overprint is documented by decreasing ages of 32–28 Ma in some greenschists and late-stage blueschist rocks, and ages of 30–20 Ma in the lower temperature steps of the Ar release patterns of blueschist micas. Almost flat parts of Ar–Ar release spectra of some greenschist micas gave ages of 23–21 Ma which are assumed to represent incomplete resetting caused by a renewed prograde phase of greenschist metamorphism. Oxygen isotope compositions of blueschist and greenschist facies minerals show no evidence for the infiltration of a δ¹⁸O-enriched fluid. Rather, the compositions indicate that fluid to rock ratios were very low, the isotopic compositions being primarily controlled by those of the protolith rocks. We assume that the fundamental control catalysing the transformation of blueschists into greenschists and the associated resetting of their isotopic systems was the selective infiltration of metamorphic fluid. A quartz–magnetite sample from a contact metamorphic skarn, taken near the Miocene monzogranite of Tinos, gave an oxygen isotope temperature of 555° C and calculated water composition of 9.1%. The value of δ¹⁸O obtained from this water is consistent with a primary magmatic fluid, but is lower than that of fluids associated with the greenschist overprint, which indicates that the latter event cannot be directly related to the monozogranite intrusion.     

云南宁蒗水草坝二长花岗斑岩岩石成因：锆石U-Pb年龄及地球化学约束

云南水草坝岩体位于祥云-宁蒗铜金成矿带北段,是金沙江-红河新生代富碱斑岩成矿带的重要组成部分。对水草坝二长斑岩进行了岩相学、锆石U-Pb年龄和岩石地球化学研究,为该区新生代构造岩浆演化提供新的约束。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb分析结果表明,水草坝二长花岗斑岩形成于古近纪渐新世早期(33.1±0.3 Ma)。岩石地球化学特征显示,岩体具有高硅、富碱的特征,且A/CNK大于1,属于过铝质富碱二长花岗斑岩。岩石稀土元素总量较高(ΣREE = 114.68×10-6~384.79×10-6),稀土元素配分模式呈右倾型,轻、重稀土分馏明显((La/Yb)N = 440.37~114.09),Eu无明显异常(0.84~1.14),具有富集轻稀土元素和大离子亲石元素(Rb、Sr、K等)、亏损重稀土元素和高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Ti等),以及高Sr低Y、Yb的特征,属于典型的C型埃达克岩。综合分析认为,水草坝二长花岗斑岩岩浆源区主要为加厚下地壳的部分熔融,可能有少量幔源组分的参与。结合区域构造演化,认为水草坝二长花岗斑岩形成于印度-欧亚板块晚碰撞走滑期构造应力由挤压向伸展转换的动力学背景。     

北淮阳早白垩世金刚台组火山岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

金刚台组火山岩是大别造山带北缘北淮阳晚中生代火山岩带的重要组成部分,选取金刚台组的粗面安山岩、熔结凝灰岩以及紧邻火山岩的正长斑岩,用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb法进行了年龄测定,结果显示:两个火山岩样品的年龄分别为128.8±0.7 Ma和127.6±0.5 Ma,紧邻火山岩的正长斑岩的年龄为129.8±0.7 Ma,这3组年龄值在误差范围内近于一致,说明金刚台组火山岩和紧邻火山岩的正长斑岩是在很短的时间内形成的。这些年龄与整个苏鲁-大别造山带内早白垩岩世岩浆活动年龄的峰值区间一致,可能意味着它们形成于相同的动力学条件下。     

西秦岭天水地区志留纪利桥花岗岩的岩石成因——来自地球化学和锆石U-Pb年代学与Hf同位素的约束

花岗岩在探讨大陆地壳生长与演化、造山带的形成及地球动力学演化等方面具有重要的意义。西秦岭天水地区利桥花岗岩主要由斜长石、石英、钾长石和黑云母等矿物组成,锆石U-Pb年代学表明岩体结晶年龄为439±3 Ma。利桥花岗岩具有高硅、富碱的特征,其铝饱和指数A/CNK值介于1.01～1.16之间,属于弱过铝质高钾钙碱性-钙碱性花岗岩。利桥花岗岩富集K、Ba等大离子亲石元素和La、Ce等轻稀土元素,亏损Nb、Ta和Ti等高场强元素,显示具有俯冲带岛弧岩浆岩的地球化学特征。利桥花岗岩具有较低的Mg#值（25～41）,且La/Yb-La、La/Sm-La图解显示该花岗岩在形成明显与部分熔融作用相关,此外岩体中的镁铁质微粒包体和正的锆石εHf(t)值,表明这些花岗岩在形成过程中有幔源物质的贡献。结合区域地质背景,我们认为利桥花岗岩是弧-陆碰撞前俯冲洋壳中先存的基性岩或新生地壳发生部分熔融所致,当然也不排除其为大陆边缘弧增厚下地壳部分熔融的产物。     

40Ar/39Ar ages and zircon petrochronology for the rear arc of the Izu-Bonin-Marianas intra-oceanic subduction zone

Long-lived intra-oceanic arcs of Izu-Bonin-Marianas (IBM)-type are built on thick, granodioritic crust formed in the absence of pre-existing continental crust. International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 350, Site U1437, explored the IBM rear arc to better understand continental crust formation in arcs. Detailed petrochronological (U–Pb geochronology combined with trace elements, oxygen and hafnium isotopes) characterizations of zircon from Site U1437 were carried out, taking care to exclude potential contaminants by (1) comparison of zircon ages with ship-board palaeomagnetic and biostratigraphic ages and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology, (2) analysing zircon from drill muds for comparison, (3) selectively carrying out in situ analysis in petrographic thin sections, and (4) minimizing potential laboratory contamination through using pristine equipment during mineral separation. The youngest zircon ages in Site U1437 are consistent with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and shipboard ages to a depth of ~1390 m below sea floor (mbsf) where Igneous Unit Ig 1 yielded an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 12.9 ± 0.3 Ma (all errors 2σ). One single zircon (age 15.4 ± 1.0 Ma) was recovered from the deepest lithostratigraphic unit drilled, Unit VII (1459.80–1806.5 mbsf). Site U1437 zircon trace element compositions are distinct from those of oceanic and continental arc environments and differ from those generated in thick oceanic crust (Iceland-type) where low-δ¹⁸O evolved melts are produced via re-melting of hydrothermally altered mafic rocks. Ti-in-zircon model temperatures are lower than for mid-ocean ridge rocks, in agreement with low zircon saturation temperatures, suggestive of low-temperature, hydrous melt sources. Zircon oxygen (δ¹⁸O = 3.3–6.0‰) and hafnium (εHf = + 10–+16) isotopic compositions indicate asthenospheric mantle sources. Trace element and isotopic differences between zircon from Site U1437 rear-arc rocks and the Hadean detrital zircon population suggest that preserved Hadean zircon crystals were probably generated in an environment different from modern oceanic convergent margins underlain by depleted mantle.     

早侏罗世新特提斯洋俯冲作用——来自松多高镁闪长岩锆石U-Pb定年及Hf同位素的制约

冈底斯岩浆岩带中东部松多地区新发现的高镁闪长岩对于探讨青藏高原新特提斯俯冲演化历史具有重要意义。通过松多高镁闪长岩的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄、锆石Hf同位素和全岩地球化学组成的研究,表明松多闪长岩的锆石U-Pb年龄加权平均值为186.8±1.3Ma。该类岩石具有高硅、高镁的特点,Si O2含量为54.17%~58.81%,Mg O含量较高,介于6.26%~7.29%之间,Mg~#值介于64~67之间,Cr和Ni含量高。该岩石富集轻稀土元素,具有平滑右倾的稀土元素配分曲线及弱负Eu异常。富集Rb、Ba、Pb、K等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti等高场强元素。锆石负εHf(t)值(-5~-14.3)及远大于其侵入年龄的古老Hf模式年龄(1543~2129Ma),揭示松多早侏罗世闪长岩经历了古老地壳物质的部分熔融。Sr/Y-Y和(La/Yb)N-YbN判别图解显示,其形成可能与赞岐岩的岩浆作用过程相似,形成于消减带之上的地幔楔环境。综合研究表明,松多地区在早侏罗世处于雅鲁藏布新特提斯洋板片向欧亚大陆俯冲的活动陆缘构造背景。     

阿尔泰造山带康布铁堡组变质火山岩锆石特征和铀—铅年龄

康布铁堡组的变质程度为绿片岩—低角闪岩相 ,已报道的同位素年龄均为变质年龄。根据锆石颜色、晶形、U Pb同位素组成 ,将该组酸性火山岩中的锆石分为继承性锆石、岩浆锆石、混合锆石 (含继承锆石核 )和变生锆石 4类。通过单颗粒锆石U Pb法年龄测定 ,获得了康布铁堡组火山岩的年龄 (4 0 7.3± 9.2 )Ma ,属早泥盆世 ,同时得出两期变质年龄和火山岩源区的参考年龄。     

内蒙古北山造山带小红山地区三叠纪花岗岩成因—来自锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素的约束

对北山造山带小红山地区三叠纪花岗斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄、锆石Hf同位素和全岩地球化学组成进行了研究。LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年结果显示,2个花岗斑岩样品的锆石206Pb/238U年龄为211.8±1.6 Ma和205.9±1.7 Ma,显示花岗斑岩的侵位时代为晚三叠世晚期。花岗斑岩具有高硅、富碱、准铝,贫钙、镁、铁的特征,属于高钾钙碱性至钾玄岩系列,分异程度较高,属高分异Ⅰ型花岗岩,富集Rb、Th、U、La、Ce等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、P、Ti等高场强元素和Ba、Sr,表现出低Sr,高Yb和Y的特点,并具有明显的负Eu异常。εHf（t）值较高（-1.43~9.93）,Hf同位素地壳模式年龄TDMC为610~1335 Ma,指示花岗斑岩均源于具有幔源烙印的新生地壳并混有重熔的古老地壳。结合最近获得的数据及区域地质资料,提出在后造山伸展体制下,基性岩浆底侵带来的热导致新元古代—古生代新生地壳的部分熔融,并遭受了下元古界古老地壳重熔的岩浆混染,形成的岩浆经过分离结晶作用,最终在中上地壳侵位形成了晚三叠世花岗斑岩。     

An example of high-pressure low-temperature metamorphic rocks from an island-arc: the Paikon Series (Innermost Hellenides, Greece)

Abstract The Paikon Series is considered to be a volcanic arc sequence with a mainly neritic sedimentary sequence and bimodal tholeiitic volcanism of early Mesozoic age. The metamorphic assemblages are syn- to post-kinematic with respect to a pre-Tithonian tectonic phase and range from the lawsonite-chlorite-albite facies through transitional Na-amphibole-greenschist facies to the chlorite sub-zone of the greenschist facies. The metamorphic imprint of the Paikon Series corresponds to a temperature range from less than 330° C to ± 450° C under a total pressure from 3 kbar to 6–7 kbar. The overprinting of these facies on an earlier blueschist assemblage, related either to a subduction zone or to a tectonic overpressure caused by thrusting, is suspected.     

Pressure–temperature evolution of blueschist facies rocks from Sifnos, Greece, and implications for the exhumation of high-pressure rocks in the Central Aegean

The blueschist and greenschist units on the island of Sifnos, Cyclades were affected by Eocene high‐pressure (HP) metamorphism. Using conventional geothermobarometry, the HP peak metamorphic stage was determined at 550–600 °C and 20 kbar, close to the blueschist and the eclogite facies transition. The retrograde P–T paths are inferred with phase diagrams. Pseudosections based on a quantitative petrogenetic grid in the model system Na₂O–CaO–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O reveal coeval decompression and cooling for both the blueschist and the greenschist unit. The conditions of the metamorphic peak and those of the retrograde stages conform to a similar metamorphic gradient of 10–12 °C km^?1 for both units. The retrograde overprint can be assigned to low‐pressure blueschist to HP greenschist facies conditions. This result cannot be reconciled with the (prograde) Barrovian‐type event, which affected parts of the Cyclades during the Oligocene to Miocene. Instead, the retrograde overprint is interpreted in terms of exhumation, directly after the HP stage, without a separate metamorphic event. Constraints on the exhumation mechanism are given by decompression‐cooling paths, which can be explained by exhumation in a fore‐arc setting during on‐going subduction and associated crustal shortening. Back‐arc extension is only responsible for the final stage of exhumation of the HP units.     

U-Pb age of the Diana Complex and Adirondack granulite petrogenesis

U-Pb isotopic analyses of eight single and multi-grain zircon fractions separated from a syenite of the Diana Complex of the Adirondack Mountains do not define a single linear array, but a scatter along a chord that intersects the Concordia curve at 1145 ± 29 and 285 ± 204 Ma. For the most concordant analyses, the²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages range between 1115 and 1150 Ma. Detailed petrographic studies revealed that most grains contained at least two phases of zircon growth, either primary magmatic cores enclosed by variable thickness of metamorphic overgrowths or magmatic portions enclosing presumably older xenocrystic zircon cores. The magmatic portions are characterized by typical dipyramidal prismatic zoning and numerous black inclusions that make them quite distinct from adjacent overgrowths or cores when observed in polarizing light microscopy and in backscattered electron micrographs. Careful handpicking and analysis of the “best” magmatic grains, devoid of visible overgrowth of core material, produced two nearly concordant points that along with two of the multi-grain analyses yielded an upper-intercept age of 1118 ± 2.8 Ma and a lowerintercept age of 251 ± 13 Ma. The older age is interpreted as the crystallization age of the syenite and the younger one is consistent with late stage uplift of the Appalachian region. The 1118 Ma age for the Diana Complex, some 35 Ma younger than previously believed, is now approximately synchronous with the main Adirondack anorthosite intrusion, implying a cogenetic relationship among the various meta-igneous rocks of the Adirondacks. The retention of a high-temperature contact metamorphic aureole around Diana convincingly places the timing of Adirondack regional metamorphism as early as 1118 Ma. This result also implies that the sources of anomalous hightemperature during granulite metamorphism are the syn-metamorphic intrusions, such as the Diana Complex.     

Origin, HP/LT metamorphism and cooling of ophiolitic mélanges in southern Evia (NW Cyclades), Greece

Basic and ultrabasic blocks within ophiolitic mélanges of the Cycladic Blueschist Unit in southern Evia provide a detailed insight into its ocean floor igneous and hydrothermal evolution, as well as the regional poly‐metamorphism occurring during Alpine orogenesis. The upper structural levels (Mt. Ochi exposures) are dominated by metamorphosed wehrlites, gabbros and highly light rare earth element (LREE)‐enriched pillow basalts, whereas the underlying Tsaki mélange consists of basic protoliths with much less fractionated REE patterns as well as mantle harzburgites. Most of the metabasites show Nb anomalies, indicative of derivation from a subduction‐affected mantle. The igneous bodies were juxtaposed and incorporated into the enclosing sedimentary sequences prior to high‐pressure/low‐temperature (HP/LT) metamorphism (M1). Glaucophane, epidote, sodic clinopyroxene and high‐Si phengite constitute the Eocene M1 assemblage, which is estimated to have formed at >11 kbar and 400–450 °C. High δ¹⁸O values of M1 minerals in Ochi metagabbros indicate that the formation of the high‐pressure assemblage was controlled by infiltration of fluids from the dehydrating host sediments. Cooling during decompression is indicated by an overprinting (M2, Early Miocene) pumpellyite–actinolite facies assemblage in metabasic rocks, calculated to have developed at P<8 kbar and T <350 °C. Possible mechanisms for such cooling include: exhumation from shallower burial levels relative to the eclogites of the NW Cyclades, accretion of colder rocks from below and extensional unroofing by low‐angle normal faults and detachments. The occurrence of sodic augite in the M2 assemblage of Tsaki metagabbros indicates that rocks at the base of the Blueschist Unit cooled faster or longer than their higher level Ochi counterparts. This suggests that differential cooling of the blueschists was enhanced by the underthrusting of colder rock units.     

海南儋州兰洋地区发现泥盆纪地层:来自锆石U-Pb年龄的证据

在海南岛中部儋州兰洋镇上番开村附近,发育一套灰绿色变细砂岩、变粉砂岩与深灰色板岩互层的岩石组合,其整合于灰色变细砂岩夹浅灰色中厚层状结晶灰岩或白云质灰岩组合的地层之上,伏于灰黑色炭质板岩、千枚岩与灰色变细砂岩互层,夹薄层硅质岩的地层之下。前人将该套岩石组合划归石炭纪青天峡组。本次在该组合下部新发现了2层沉凝灰岩夹层,对该凝灰岩进行LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄测试,60颗锆石206Pb/238U年龄分成4组,其中年龄最小的一组为349~375 Ma,年龄加权平均值为365±3 Ma,代表了火山喷发的时限,也指示地层的沉积时代为晚泥盆世晚期,这是海南岛首次报道的泥盆系绝对年龄。结合在相邻的上番开村青天峡组结晶灰岩中新采获的泥盆纪弗拉期竹节石Polycylindrites鉴定结果,可以确定海南岛存在中晚泥盆世沉积。据此对海南岛中北部晚古生代地层序列进行了重新厘定,为研究古特提斯洋东延及构造演化等问题提供了新的思路和证据。     

云南腾冲大松坡锡矿成矿年代学研究:锆石 LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄和锡石LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄证据

大松坡锡矿床是三江特提斯成矿域腾冲-梁河锡-钨多金属矿带内的典型锡矿床之一,与古永岩基有密切的成生联系.本文利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年手段对大松坡锡矿床小龙河含锡黑云母花岗岩和二长花岗岩进行制约,两件黑云母花岗岩样品分析结果分别为70.3±3.2Ma和75.3±4.2Ma,一件二长花岗岩样品结果为71.5±2.1Ma,代表了岩浆结晶年龄.LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb方法直接对锡石进行年龄测试在国内外研究报道尚少,本文首次对该矿床云英岩型锡矿石中锡石进行定年尝试,结果为75.5±2.6Ma,与岩体年龄在误差范围内一致.小龙河锡矿床含锡岩体与古永岩基年龄一致,表明该含锡岩体可能是古永岩基的一部分.大松坡锡矿床的成矿年龄与含锡岩体年龄一致,表明二者同时形成,共系新特提斯洋俯冲构造背景的产物.     

Cambrian granitoids in pre-Alpine basement of Crete (Greece): evidence from U-Pb dating of zircon

The pre-Alpine basement of eastern Crete consists of at least three sub complexes which show differences in age and grade of pre-Alpine metamorphism. U-Pb analyses of zircons of two orthogneisses yielded upper intercepts in the concordia diagram at 511±16 Ma (Chamezí crystalline complex) and 514±14 Ma (Myrsini crystalline complex). These values are interpreted as protolith ages of the gneisses, suggesting that parts of the basement underwent Cadomian (Pan-African) imprints at the northern margin of Gondwana. The lower intercept ages are attributed to Alpine subduction which led to high-pressure/low-temperature metamorphism (T=ca. 300 °C), brittle-ductile deformation, and hydrothermal fluid activity. Due to pervasive Alpine fluid migration, the zircons of the Chamezí crystalline complex display disturbed zonation and solution, resulting in 87% radiogenic Pb loss, Ca- and Al-gain, and Zr depletion.