Thermal evolution of the Tseel terrane,SW Mongolia and its relation to granitoid intrusions in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

The timing and thermal effects of granitoid intrusions into accreted sedimentary rocks are important for understanding the growth process of continental crust. In this study, the petrology and geochronology of pelitic gneisses in the Tseel area of the Tseel terrane, SW Mongolia, are examined to understand the relationship between igneous activity and metamorphism during crustal evolution in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Four mineral zones are recognized on the basis of progressive changes in the mineral assemblages in the pelitic gneisses, namely: the garnet, staurolite, sillimanite and cordierite zones. The gneisses with high metamorphic grades (i.e. sillimanite and cordierite zones) occur in the central part of the Tseel area, where granitoids are abundant. To the north and south of these granitoids, the metamorphic grade shows a gradual decrease. The composition of garnet in the pelitic gneisses varies systematically across the mineral zones, from grossular‐rich garnet in the garnet zone to zoned garnet with grossular‐rich cores and pyrope‐rich rims in the staurolite zone, and pyrope‐rich garnet in the sillimanite and cordierite zones. Thermobarometric analyses of individual garnet crystals reveal two main stages of metamorphism: (i) a high‐P and low‐T stage (as recorded by garnet in the garnet zone and garnet cores in the staurolite zone) at 520–580 °C and 4.5–7 kbar in the kyanite stability field and (ii) a low‐P and high‐T stage (garnet rims in the staurolite zone and garnet in the sillimanite and cordierite zones) at 570–680 °C and 3.0–6.0 kbar in the sillimanite stability field. The earlier high‐P metamorphism resulted in the growth of kyanite in quartz veins within the staurolite and sillimanite zones. The U–Pb zircon ages of pelitic gneisses and granitoids reveal that (i) the protolith (igneous) age of the pelitic gneisses is c. 510 Ma; (ii) the low‐P and high‐T metamorphism occurred at 377 ± 30 Ma; and (iii) this metamorphic stage was coeval with granitoid intrusion at 385 ± 7 Ma. The age of the earlier low‐T and high‐P metamorphism is not clearly recorded in the zircon, but probably corresponds to small age peaks at 450–400 Ma. The low‐P and high‐T metamorphism continued for c. 100 Ma, which is longer than the active period of a single granitoid body. These findings indicate that an elevation of geotherm and a transition from high‐P and low‐T to low‐P and high‐T metamorphism occurred, associated with continuous emplacement of several granitoids, during the crustal evolution in the Devonian CAOB.     

The Ediacaran radiogenic Sr isotope excursion in the Doushantuo Formation in the Three Gorges area,South China

The Ediacaran period was one of the most important times for the evolution of life. However, the scarcity of well-preserved outcrops of Ediacaran rocks still leaves ambiguity in decoding ambient surface environmental changes and biological evolution.The Ediacaran strata in South China are almost continuously exposed, comprise mainly carbonate rocks with subordinate black shales and sandstones, and they contain many fossils, suitable for study of environmental and biological changes in the Ediacaran. We conducted drilling through the Doushantuo Fm at four sites in the Three Gorges area to obtain continuous, fresh samples without surface alteration and oxidation. We analyzed ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ⁸⁸Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the fresh carbonate rocks, selected on the basis of microscopic observations and the geochemical signatures of Sr contents, Mn/Sr and Rb/Sr ratios, and δ¹⁸O values, with a multiple collector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS).The chemostratigraphy of the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the drilled samples displays a smooth curve and two large positive shifts during Ediacaran time. The combination of the detailed chemostratigraphies of δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values and Mn and Fe contents enables us to decode the surface environmental changes and their causes in the Ediacaran. The first large positive excursion of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr occurred together with negative δ¹³C and positive δ¹⁸O excursions. The higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values indicate an enhancement of continental weathering, whereas the positive δ¹⁸O excursion suggests global cooling. Global regression due to global cooling enhanced the oxidative decay of exposed marine organic sediments and continental weathering. Accelerated influx of nutrients promoted primary productivity, resulting in oxidation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), whereas active sulfate reduction due to a higher sulfate influx from the continents caused remineralization of the large DOC, both of which caused a negative δ¹³C anomaly. The 580 Ma Gaskiers glaciation accounts for the close correlation among the positive ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, negative δ¹³C and positive δ¹⁸O excursions.The second large positive shift of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr firstly accompanied a positive δ¹³C excursion, and continued through the Shuram δ¹³C negative excursion. The positive correlation of δ¹³C and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values is consistent with an enhanced continental weathering rate due to continental collisions that built Trans-Gondwana mountain chains, and with a higher primary activity due to the enhancement of continental weathering and consequent higher nutrient contents in seawater. The accompanied increase in Mn and Fe contents implies a gradual decline of the seawater oxygen content due to more active aerobic respiration and oxidation of reductive materials flowing in the oceans. In the Shuram excursion, higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values and a transition from increase to decrease in Mn and Fe contents were accompanied by the large negative δ¹³C excursion. The higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values are the first compelling evidence for enhanced continental weathering, which was responsible for the large δ¹³C anomaly through the remineralization of the DOC by more active sulfate reduction due to a higher sulfate influx. Higher Mn and Fe contents in the early and middle stages of the excursion suggest a decline in the oxygen content of seawater due to oxidative decay of the DOC, whereas in the late stages the decrease in Mn and Fe contents is consistent with oceanic oxygenation.The emergence of Ediacara biota after the Gaskiers glaciation and the prosperity of the latest Ediacaran is concomitant with the formation of more radiogenic seawater with high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values, suggesting that enhanced continental weathering, and the consequent higher influx of nutrients, played an important role in biological evolution.     

A new approach for mobile and expandable real-time deep seafloorobservation - adaptable observation system

Although submarine cable in-line seafloor observation systems are very effective tools for real-time/long-term geo-scientific measurements,, there are technological difficulties for deploying as many sensors as on land. To solve this problem, JAM-STEC developed an expandable and replaceable satellite measurement station called the adaptable observation system (AOS). The AOS is a battery operated mobile observatory connected to the backbone cable system by a 10 km long thin fiber cable to ensure real-time data recovery. The system consists of a branching system, a junction box, a fiber cable, and a battery system for a six-month operation. Installation and construction of the AOS will be conducted by a towed vehicle and an ROV. A thin fiber cable-laying system was developed and tested for practical operation. This observation system provides a chance to extend existing seafloor networks from an in-line area to a wider area     

Trace Element Composition and Classification of the Chinga Iron Meteorite

A complete microelement analysis of the Chinga meteorite was performed, and the possibility of attributing it together with a number of other iron meteorites into the IVC subgroup, which is transition between IVA and IVB is proposed.     

Secular change in lifetime of granitic crust and the continental growth: A new view from detrital zircon ages of sandstones

U-Pb ages of detrital zircons were newly dated for 4 Archean sandstones from the Pilbara craton in Australia, Wyoming craton in North America, and Kaapvaal craton in Africa. By using the present results with previously published data, we compiled the age spectra of detrital zircons for 2.9, 2.6, 2.3,1.0, and0.6 Ga sandstones and modern river sands in order to document the secular change in age structure of continental crusts through time. The results demonstrated the following episodes in the history of continental crust:(1) low growth rate of the continents due to the short cycle in production/destruction of granitic crust during the Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic(2.9-23 Ga),(2) net increase in volume of the continents during Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic(2.3-1.0 Ga), and(3) net decrease in volume of the continents during the Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic(after 1.0 Ga). In the Archean and Paleoproterozoic, the embryonic continents were smaller than the modern continents, probably owing to the relatively rapid production and destruction of continental crust. This is indeed reflected in the heterogeneous crustal age structure of modern continents that usually have relatively small amount of Archean crusts with respect to the post-Archean ones. During the Mesoproterozoic, plural continents amalgamated into larger ones comparable to modern continental blocks in size. Relatively older crusts were preserved in continental interiors, whereas younger crusts were accreted along continental peripheries.In addition to continental arc magmatism, the direct accretion of intra-oceanic island arc around continental peripheries also became important for net continental growth. Since 1.0 Ga, total volume of continents has decreased, and this appears consistent with on-going phenomena along modern active arc-trench system with dominant tectonic erosion and/or arc subduction. Subduction of a huge amount of granitic crusts into the mantle through time is suggested, and this requires re-consideration of the mantle composition and heterogeneity.