K-Ar ages of intrusive rocks in the Oban-Obudu massif and their significance for the tectonic and plutonic history of southeastern Nigeria

Abstract K-Ar ages have been obtained for mineral separates: plagioclases from two dolerites and biotites from one granite and four granodiorites in the Oban-Obudu massif of southeastern Nigeria. Dolerites in the Oban area give K-Ar plagioclase ages of 204.0 ± 9.9 Ma and 219.9 ± 4.7 Ma. The granite of the Obudu area yields a K-Ar biotite age of 507.6 ± 10.1 Ma whilst the granodiorites in the Oban area yield K-Ar biotite ages ranging from 474.6 ± 9.4 Ma to 511.8 ± 10.0 Ma. The dolerites are related to the tholeiitic basaltic magmatism at the early opening of the central Atlantic, and are compatible in age with the formation of the Ring Complexes and the rifting of the Benue Trough of Nigeria. The granites and granodiorites belong to the syntectonic Older Granite series in the Pan-African orogeny. The emplacement timing deduced from the reported Pb-Pb zircon age of 617 ± 2 Ma and the newly obtained biotite ages suggest that these older granites in southeastern Nigeria had a prolonged cooling history of ∼110 Ma.     

The role of deformation partitioning in the deformation and recrystallization of plagioclase and K-feldspar in the Woodroffe Thrust mylonite zone, central Australia

ABSTRACT In the Woodroffe Thrust mylonite zone, central Australia, recrystallization in plagioclase and K-feldspar involved subgrain rotation, assisted by grain-boundary or kink band boundary bulging, without contribution from a change in the chemical composition from host grains to new grains. The size of subgrains and new grains changes across the mylonite zone, apparently as a function of the strain rate and the H2O content of the rock. The partitioning of deformation into zones of progressive shearing and progressive shortening controls the sites of recovery and recrystallization in feldspar during mylonitization. The size of feldspar porphyroclasts in well developed mylonites is governed by the scale of deformation partitioning reached in the earlier stages of mylonitization, before the formation of a large proportion of fine-grained matrix that can accommodate the progressive shearing component of the deformation. Recrystallization occurs in microcline, apparently without involving a translation to a monoclinic structure, as microcline-twinned new grains are common adjacent to microcline-twinned host grains. K-feldspar triclinicity values calculated from XRD traces increase from the margins to the interior of the mylonite zone, in conjunction with deformation intensity. K-feldspar host grains locally have cores of orthoclase or untwinned microcline, surrounded by mantles of twinned microcline, suggesting a relationship between the presence of microcline twinning and the degree of K-feldspar triclinicity.     

菱切面角温度计作为形变温度计在五台山区的应用

肖钠双晶主要在形变过程中产生,它的结合面是菱形切面。菱形切面的位置既取决于斜长石的化学成分,也取决于它的结构状态。后者本身就是温度的函数。因此,菱切面的位置取决于形变时的温度。在五台山区峨口花岗岩内获得了49个菱切面角温度值。从直方图上可以看出存在有520℃和480℃的两个峰。这温度与围岩的石榴石—黑云母对494—508℃的温度对应。它意味着形变温度与绿片岩相变质温度一致。在五台山区绿片岩相变质时观察到两期形变作用,这与两个温度峰相符。因此,利用菱切面角温度计可以研究形变与变质的关系。     

攀枝花市大田地区古元古代康定岩群斜长角闪岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及岩石地球化学特征

康定岩群出露在四川康定—西昌—攀枝花—云南元谋一带,前人曾测得过较多的康定岩群太古代—古元古代同位素年龄,随着工作的深入,亦获得大量的青白口纪同位素年龄.本文对出露于攀枝花大田地区的康定岩群咱里岩组斜长角闪岩进行岩石学、岩石地球化学特征研究,同时进行了 LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄分析.结果表明,康定岩群咱里岩组...     

Empirical calibration of the silica–Ca-tschermak's–anorthite (SCAn) geobarometer

The pressure-sensitive equilibrium among anorthite, quartz and the Ca-tschermak component in clinopyroxene (CaAl₂SiO₆; CaTs), CaAl₂SiOCpx6+SiOQtz2=CaAl₂Si₂OPl8 (SCAn) ,can be used as a geobarometer in granulites with the proper assemblage, and has been calibrated using mineral composition data from partial melting experiments of natural assemblages and from phase equilibrium experiments on the end-member CMAS system. The experimental data cover the P – T  range 4–32  kbar and 900–1400  °C. Linear least-squares regression analysis of the experimental data resulted in the following empirical expressions for pressure in terms of composition and temperature: P = 5.066 [±0.760]+ 1300 [±800] T  −ln K 276 [±16] · T  [±2.5  kbar]or P = 6.330 [±0.116]−ln K 301 [±9]· T  [±1.0  kbar] ,where K = a PlAn a CpxCaTs  .The first equation incorporates an enthalpy term, but is less accurate than the second equation, in which the enthalpy of reaction is ignored. Application of these expressions to natural and experimental equilibrium mineral assemblages demonstrates that the empirical barometers are applicable over a wide range of pressures (≥4  kbar), temperatures (≥700  °C) and bulk compositions (Mg#≥32.5).     

Deformation-enhanced metamorphic reactions and the rheology of high-pressure shear zones, Western Gneiss Region, Norway

Microstructural and petrological analysis of samples with increasing strain in high‐pressure (HP) shear zones from the Haram garnet corona gabbro give insights into the deformation mechanisms of minerals, rheological properties of the shear zone and the role of deformation in enhancing metamorphic reactions. Scanning electron microscopy with electron backscattering diffraction (SEM–EBSD), compositional mapping and petrographic analysis were used to evaluate the nature of deformation in both reactants and products associated with eclogitization. Plagioclase with a shape‐preferred orientation that occurs in the interior part of layers in the mylonitic sample deformed by intracrystalline glide on the (0 0 1)[1 0 0] slip system. In omphacite, crystallographic preferred orientations indicate slip on (1 0 0)[0 0 1] and (1 1 0)[0 0 1] during deformation. Fine‐grained garnet deformed by diffusion creep and grain‐boundary sliding. Ilmenite deformed by dislocation glide on the basal and, at higher strains, prism planes in the a direction. Relationships among the minerals present and petrological analysis indicate that deformation and metamorphism in the shear zones began at 500–650 °C and 0.5–1.4 GPa and continued during prograde metamorphism to ultra‐high‐pressure (UHP) conditions. Both products and reactants show evidence of syn‐ and post‐kinematic growth indicating that prograde reactions continued after strain was partitioned away. The restriction of post‐kinematic growth to narrow regions at the interface of garnet and plagioclase and preservation of earlier syn‐kinematic microstructures in older parts layers that were involved in reactions during deformation show that diffusion distances were significantly shortened when strain was partitioned away, demonstrating that deformation played an important role in enhancing metamorphic reactions. Two important consequences of deformation observed in these shear zones are: (i) the homogenization of chemical composition gradients occurred by mixing and grain‐boundary migration and (ii) composition changes in zoned metamorphic garnet by lengthening diffusion distances. The application of experimental flow laws to the main phases present in nearly monomineralic layers yield upper limits for stresses of 100–150 MPa and lower limits for strain rates of 10^?12 to 10^?13 s^?1 as deformation conditions for the shear zones in the Haram gabbro that were produced during subduction of the Baltica craton and resulted in the production of HP and UHP metamorphic rocks.     

Using calculated chemical potential relationships to account for replacement of kyanite by symplectite in high pressure granulites

Calculated mineral equilibria are used to account for the formation of sapphirine–plagioclase, spinel–plagioclase and corundum–plagioclase symplectites replacing kyanite in quartz–plagioclase–garnet–kyanite granulite facies gneisses from the Southern Domain of the Athabasca granulite terrane, a segment of the Snowbird tectonic zone in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Metamorphic conditions of >14 kbar and 800 °C are established for the high pressure, garnet–kyanite assemblage using constraints from P–T pseudosections and Zr‐in‐rutile thermometry. Replacement of kyanite by symplectites reflects the reaction of kyanite with the matrix following near‐isothermal decompression to <10 kbar. The chemical potential gradients developed between the kyanite and the matrix led to diffusion that attempted to flatten the gradients, kyanite persisting as a stable phase while it is consumed by symplectite from its edge. In this local equilibrium model, the mineral and mineral compositional spatial relationships are shown to correspond to paths in μ(Na₂O)–μ(CaO)–μ(K₂O)–μ(FeO)–μ(MgO) in the model chemical system, Na₂O–CaO–K₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ (NCKFMAS), with SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ taken to be completely immobile. The values of μ(Na₂O) and μ(CaO) are constrained by fixing P–T conditions and choosing appropriate μ(Na₂O) and μ(CaO) values that correspond to the observed plagioclase compositions. μ(FeO)–μ(MgO) diagrams show the corresponding spatial relationships with kyanite and the symplectite phases. These results demonstrate that the replacement of kyanite by sapphirine–plagioclase and spinel–plagioclase appears to be metastable with respect to replacement by corundum–plagioclase. Replacement by corundum–plagioclase does also occur, apparently overprinting pre‐existing symplectite and also kyanite. Ignoring corundum, the resulting diagrams account for the spatial relationships and compositions observed in the spinel–plagioclase and sapphirine–plagioclase symplectites. They are predicted to occur over both a wide range of P–T conditions (6–11 kbar, 650–850 °C) and plagioclase compositions (X_An = 0.5–0.9). The wide range of P–T conditions that may result in identical spatial and compositional relationships suggests that such reaction textures may be of limited use in accurately quantifying the P–T conditions of retrograde metamorphism.     

Petrographic study of the Miocene Mizunami Group,Central Japan: Detection of unrecognized volcanic activity in the Setouchi Province

A petrographic study of sandstones from the Miocene Mizunami Group in Central Japan has been performed on core samples from a single borehole, in order to evaluate the provenance of the sedimentary rock. Evaluation of the provenance is based on bulk mineral, heavy mineral and plagioclase contents and on whole rock chemical compositions. The sandstones studied are divisible into three types; the first type is characterized by the occurrence of biotite and plagioclase ranging from albite to oligoclase, the second type is characterized by the dominance of amphibole and labradorite with pyroxene (clinopyroxene > orthopyroxene), and the third type is characterized by the dominance of pyroxene (orthopyroxene > clinopyroxene) and andesine with lesser labradorite, bytownite and anorthite. The first type is interpreted to be derived from the basement granite, whereas the others were derived mostly from volcanic ash, judging from their mineral compositions. The volcanic activity that supplied the volcanic ash to the Mizunami Basin occurred in two phases, distinguishable by variations in their mineralogical and geochemical compositions, an indication of change in character of the volcanic activity. This petrographic study of the sandstones in the Mizunami Group suggests that unrecognized volcanic activity occurred around the Mizunami Basin, even though potential provenance of the volcanic ash has not yet been identified.     

Origin of high-An plagioclase in the early Permian (~280 Ma) Xiaohaizi wehrlite,Northwest China: insights from melt inclusions in clinopyroxene macrocrysts and zircon oxygen isotopes

ABSTRACT

The Xiaohaizi wehrlite intrusion in the early Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province, Northwest China, is characterized by unusual high-An (up to 86) plagioclases. It has been suggested that H₂O may have exerted a major control on their formation, but this interpretation requires further direct evidence. Moreover, it remains unclear where the water came from. In order to unravel these questions, we present electron microprobe analyses of minerals and melt inclusions in clinopyroxene macrocrysts in the dikes crosscutting the Xiaohaizi wehrlite intrusion and in situ oxygen isotope data of zircons from the Xiaohaizi wehrlite. The homogenized melt inclusions have restricted SiO₂ (45.5–48.7 wt.%) and Na₂O + K₂O (2.4–3.8 wt.%) contents, displaying sub-alkaline affinity. This is inconsistent with the alkaline characteristic of the parental magma of the clinopyroxenes, suggesting significant modification of melt inclusions by contamination of the host clinopyroxene due to overheating. Nevertheless, the Ca/Na ratios (2.9–4.7) of melt inclusions are the upper limit of the parental magma of the clinopyroxenes due to high CaO (21.5–23.0 wt.%) and very low Na₂O (0.22–0.34 wt.%) contents in the host clinopyroxenes. Thermodynamic calculation suggests that under fixed P (2.7 kbar) and T (1000°C), and assumed H₂O (~1.5 wt.%) conditions, the Ca/Na ratio of the parental magma cannot generate high-An plagioclase in the wehrlite. The results confirm that H₂O exerts a major control. Zircon δ¹⁸O (VSMOW) values (2.99–3.71‰) are significantly lower than that of mantle-derived zircon (5.3 ± 0.6‰). Such low zircon δ¹⁸O values may be due to incorporation of large amounts of low-δ¹⁸O, hydrothermally altered oceanic crust. However, geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data do not support recycled oceanic crust in the mantle source of the Xiaohaizi intrusion. Alternatively this can be explained by incorporation of meteoritic water in the magma chamber. This will increase the H₂O content of the liquid that finally crystallize high-An plagioclases.     

Mineral chemistry and geothermobarometry of Moshirabad pluton,Qorveh, Kurdistan,western Iran

The Moshirabad pluton is located southwest of the Sanandaj–Sirjan Metamorphic Belt, Qorveh, western Iran. The pluton is composed of diorite, monzodiorite, quartz diorite, quartz monzodiorite, tonalite, granodiorite, granite, aplite, and pegmatite. In this study 31 samples from various rocks were chosen for whole‐rock analyses and 15 samples from different lithologies were chosen for mineral chemical studies. The compositions of minerals are used to describe the nature of magma and estimate the pressure and temperature at which the Moshirabad pluton was emplaced. Feldspar compositions are near the binary systems in which plagioclase compositions range from An₅ to An₅₃ and alkali‐feldspar compositions range from Or₉₁ to Or₉₇. Mafic minerals in the plutonic rocks are biotite and hornblende. Based on the composition of biotites and whole‐rock chemistry, the Moshirabad pluton formed from a calc‐alkaline magma. Amphiboles are calcic amphiboles (magnesio‐hornblende or edenite). Temperatures of crystallization, calculated with the hornblende–plagioclase thermometer, range 550–750°C. These temperatures indicate that plutonic rocks have undergone some retrogressive changes in their mineral compositions. Aluminum‐in‐hornblende geobarometry indicates that the Moshirabad pluton was emplaced at pressures of 2.3–6.0 kbar, equal to depths of 7–20 km, but with consideration of regional geology, lower pressures than the above pressure range are more probable. Alteration of amphiboles can be the reason for some overestimation of pressures.