Metamorphism and metamorphic K–Ar ages of the Mesozoic accretionary complex in Northland, New Zealand

Abstract A southwest dipping Mesozoic accretionary complex, which consists of tectonically imbricated turbiditic mudstone and sandstone, hemipelagic siliceous mudstone, and bedded cherts and basaltic rocks of pelagic origin, is exposed in northern North Island, New Zealand. Interpillow limestone is sometimes contained in the basaltic rocks. The grade of subduction‐related metamorphism increases from northeast to southwest, indicating an inverted metamorphic gradient dip. Three metamorphic facies are recognized largely on the basis of mineral parageneses in sedimentary and basaltic rocks: zeolite, prehnite‐pumpellyite and pumpellyite‐actinolite. From the apparent interplanar spacing d₀₀₂ data for carbonaceous material, which range from 3.642 to 3.564 Å, the highest grade of metamorphism is considered to have attained only the lowermost grade of the pumpellyite‐actinolite facies for which the highest temperature may be approximately 300°C. Metamorphic white mica K–Ar ages are reported for magnetic separates and <2 µm hydraulic elutriation separates from 27 pelitic and semipelitic samples. The age data obtained from elutriation separates are approximately 8 m.y. younger, on average, than those from magnetic separates. The age difference is attributed to the possible admixture of nonequilibrated detrital white mica in the magnetic separates, and the age of the elutriation separates is considered to be the age of metamorphism. If the concept, based on fossil evidence, of the subdivision of the Northland accretionary complex into north and south units is accepted, then the peak age of metamorphism in the north unit is likely to be 180–130 Ma; that is, earliest Middle Jurassic to early Early Cretaceous, whereas that in the south unit is 150–130 Ma; that is, late Late Jurassic to early Early Cretaceous. The age cluster for the north unit correlates with that of the Chrystalls Beach–Taieri Mouth section (uncertain terrane), while the age cluster for the south unit is older than that of the Younger Torlesse Subterrane in the Wellington area, and may be comparable with that of the Nelson and Marlborough areas (Caples and Waipapa terranes).     

北秦岭二郎坪群低压变质作用研究

在对二郎坪群低压变质带进行相图分析后发现，二郎坪群低压变质带是叠加变质带，低压变质作用是在早期中压变质的抬升过程中发生的，中压变质的温压条件为0．5-0．6GPa、560～580℃，低压变质的压力为0．3-0．45GPa，红柱石-十字石带的温度为510～580℃，堇青石带为590-620℃。pT视剖面图在区分岩石中不同条件和期次的矿物组合及分析岩石温压演化历史和温压条件时显得更行之有效。     

多硅白云母压力计在退变质作用中的稳定性探讨

探讨多硅白云母地质压力计在低温退变质过程中的稳定性，在对大别山东缘和苏鲁造山带西缘郯庐左旋走滑韧性剪切带糜棱岩中的多硅白云母残斑由中心向两侧边缘进行电子探针分析后发现：由中心向两侧边缘Si减少,Al增加,Fe，Mg略有降低，部分样品中K，Na有不同程度的增加．而Ti则显示不活动富集。这是由于退变质过程中流体的活动常会改变残斑白云母的成分．并且在流体活动过程相对短暂的情况下，使残斑白云母的成分不能发生充分变化．最终会导致白云母不同部位具有不同的成分。因而,经历了富流体活动的退变质作用后,岩石中的多硅白云母残斑已不能完全保存其形成时的压力信息。     

Paleozoic serpentinite-enclosed chromitites from Tehuitzingo (Acatlán Complex, southern Mexico): a petrological and mineralogical study

The serpentinites and associated chromitite bodies in Tehuitzingo (Acatlán Complex, southern Mexico) are in close relationship with eclogitic rocks enclosed within a metasedimentary sequence, suggesting that the serpentinites, chromitites and eclogitic rocks underwent a common metamorphic history.Primary chromites from the chromitite bodies at Tehuitzingo are of refractory-grade (Al-rich) and have a chemical composition similar to that expected to be found in an ophiolitic environment. The chromite grains in chromitites and serpentinites are systematically altered to ‘ferritchromite’. The alteration trend is usually characterized by a decrease in the Al, Mg and Cr contents coupled by an increase in Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺.The Tehutizingo chromitites have low Platinum Group Elements (PGE) contents, ranging from 102 to 303 ppb. The chondrite-normalized PGE patterns are characterized by an enrichment in the Ir-subgroup elements (IPGE=Os, Ir, Ru) relative to the Pd-subgroup elements (PPGE=Rh, Pt, Pd). In addition, all chromitite samples display a negative slope from Ru to Pd [(Os+Ir+Ru)/(Pt+Pd)=4.78−14.13]. These patterns, coupled with absolute PGE abundances, are typical of ophiolitic chromitites elsewhere. Moreover, all the analyzed samples exhibit chondrite-normalized PGE patterns similar to those found for non-metamorphosed ophiolitic chromitites. Thus, the PGE distribution patterns found in the Tehuitzingo chromitites have not been significantly affected by any subsequent Paleozoic high-pressure (eclogite facies) metamorphic event.The chondrite-normalized PGE patterns of the enclosing serpentinites also indicate that the PGE distribution in the residual mantle peridotites exposed in Tehuitzingo was unaffected by high-pressure metamorphism, or subsequent hydrothermal alteration since the serpentinites show a similar pattern to that of partially serpentinized peridotites present in mantle sequences of non-metamorphosed ophiolites.Our main conclusion is that the chromitites and serpentinites from Tehuizingo experienced no significant redistribution (or concentration) of PGE during the serpentinization process or the high-pressure metamorphic path, or during subsequent alteration processes. If any PGE mobilization occurred, it was restricted to individual chromitite bodies without changing the bulk-rock PGE composition.Our data suggest that the Tehuitzingo serpentinites and associated chromitites are a fragment of oceanic lithosphere formed in an arc/back-arc environment, and represent an ophiolitic mantle sequence from a supra-subduction zone, the chemical composition of which remained essentially unchanged during the alteration and metamorphic events that affected the Acatlán Complex.     

The Relationship between Tectono-metamorphic Evolution and Argon Isotope Records in White Mica: Constraints from in situ 40Ar-39Ar Laser Analysis of the Variscan Basement of Sardinia

The basement of Sardinia represents a nearly complete sectionof a segment of the Variscan belt that experienced a polyphasetectono-metamorphic evolution and Barrovian metamorphism. Thisbasement is well suited to investigate the relationship betweentectono-metamorphic evolution and argon isotope records in whitemica. Micaschists from the garnet zone (maximum T of up to 520–560°C)contain two texturally and chemically resolvable generationsof white mica: (1) deformed celadonite-rich flakes, defininga relict S₁ foliation preserved within the main S₂ foliationor enclosed in rotated albite porphyroblasts; (2) celadonite-poorwhite micas aligned along the main S₂ foliation. The S₁ foliationdeveloped earlier and at a deeper crustal level with respectto that at which the thermal peak was reached. From the staurolitezone (T of up to 590–625°C) to the sillimanite + K-feldsparzone, white mica is nearly uniform in composition (muscovite)and is predominantly aligned along the S₂ foliation or is oflater crystallization. In situ ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar laser analysesof white mica yielded ages of     

Quantitative Constraints on Metamorphism in the Variscides of Southern Brittany--a Complementary Pseudosection Approach

Previous studies of metapelitic rocks from the core of the southernBrittany metamorphic belt suggest a complex clockwise P–Tevolution. We use pseudosections calculated for an average subaluminousmetapelite composition in the MnNCKFMASH system and averageP–T calculations to investigate in more detail the metamorphicevolution of these rocks. For migmatites, sequential occurrenceof kyanite, kyanite + staurolite and sillimanite suggests thata prograde evolution to P > 8 kbar at T     

Metamorphic evolution of garnet-bearing ultramafic rocks from the Gongen area, Sanbagawa belt, Japan

Garnet‐bearing ultramafic rocks including clinopyroxenite, wehrlite and websterite locally crop out in the Higashi‐akaishi peridotite of the Besshi region in the Cretaceous Sanbagawa metamorphic belt. These rock types occur within dunite as lenses, boudins or layers with a thickness ranging from a few centimetres to 1 metre. The wide and systematic variation of bulk‐rock composition and the overall layered structure imply that the ultramafic complex originated as a cumulate sequence. Garnet and other major silicates contain rare inclusions of edenitic amphibole, chlorite and magnetite, implying equilibrium at relatively low P–T conditions during prograde metamorphism. Orthopyroxene coexisting with garnet shows bell‐shaped Al zoning with a continuous decrease of Al from the core towards the rim, consistent with rims recording peak metamorphic conditions. Estimated P–T conditions using core and rim compositions of orthopyroxene are 1.5–2.4 GPa/700–800 °C and 2.9–3.8 GPa/700–810 °C, respectively, implying a high P/T gradient (> 3.1 GPa/100 °C) during prograde metamorphism. The presence of relatively low P–T conditions at an early stage of metamorphism and the steep P/T gradient together trace a concave upwards P–T path that shows increasing P/T with higher T, similar to P–T paths reported from other UHP metamorphic terranes. These results suggest either (1) down dragging of hydrated mantle cumulate parallel to the slab–wedge interface in the subduction zone by mechanical coupling with the subducting slab or (2) ocean floor metamorphism and/or serpentinization at early stage of subduction of oceanic lithosphere and ensuing HP–UHP prograde metamorphism.     

Tourmalinites from the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina

In the eastern Sierras Pampeanas, Central Argentina, tourmalinites and coticules are found in close association with stratabound scheelite deposits in metamorphic terranes. In Sierra Grande (Agua de Ramón and Ambul districts) and Sierra de Altautina, tourmalinites are associated with stratabound scheelite deposits related to orthoamphibolites. In the Pampa del Tamboreo area, tourmalinites are located in biotite schists stratigraphically related to acid to intermediate metavolcanic rocks and scheelite-bearing quartzites.The mineral chemistry and boron isotopic compositions of tourmalinite-hosted and vein-hosted tourmalines are investigated. Overall, the tourmalines belong to the dravite-schorl series and are generally aluminous; Fe/(Fe+Mg) ranges from 0.33 to 0.85, Al/(Al+Fe+Mg) from 0.66 to 0.76 and the amount of X-site vacancy (0.12–0.48) indicates significant foitite components. Their boron isotopic compositions (δ¹¹B) are from −24.0‰ to−15.0‰.Similar mineral chemistries and boron isotopic values for tourmaline in tourmalinites related to stratabound scheelite mineralisation and in tungsten-bearing quartz veins suggest a common source for the boron and probably the tungsten. The field, chemical and isotopic relationships are consistent with tungsten and boron in quartz-vein deposits being remobilised from stratabound scheelite and tourmalinite, dominantly by liquid-state transfer associated with regional shear zones. Tungsten and boron in the original sedimentary sequence (now meta-exhalites) are ascribed to volcanogenic exhalations.     

Tracing the protolith, UHP metamorphism, and exhumation ages of orthogneiss from the SW Sulu terrane (eastern China): SHRIMP U–Pb dating of mineral inclusion-bearing zircons

Orthogneisses are the major country rocks hosting eclogites in the Sulu UHP terrane, eastern China. All of the analyzed orthogneiss cores from the main drilling hole of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project (CCSD-MH) have similar major and trace element compositions and a granite protolith. These rocks have relatively high LREE/HREE ratios, strong negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*=0.20–0.39), and negative Ba anomalies (Ba/Ba*=0.25–0.64). Coesite and coesite-bearing UHP mineral assemblages are common inclusions in zircons separated from orthogneiss, paragneiss, amphibolite, and (retrograded) eclogite of the CCSD-MH. This suggests that the eclogite, together with its country rocks, experienced in situ ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism. Laser Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL) images show that zircons from the orthogneisses are zoned and that they have distinct mineral inclusions in the different zones. Most zircons retain early magmatic cores with abundant low-pressure mineral inclusions, which are mantled with metamorphic zircon-containing inclusions of coesite and other UHP minerals. The outermost rims on these grains contain low-pressure mineral inclusions, such as quartz and albite. SHRIMP U–Pb dating of the zoned zircons gives three discrete and meaningful groups of ages: Proterozoic ages for the protolith, 227±2 Ma for the coesite-bearing mantles, and 209±3 Ma for the amphibolite facies retrograde rims. The widespread occurrence of UHP mineral inclusions in zircons from the Sulu metamorphic belt dated at about 227 Ma suggests that voluminous continental crust experienced late Triassic subduction to depths of at least 120 km and perhaps more than 200 km. Eighteen million years later, the terrane was rapidly exhumed to midcrustal levels, and the UHP rocks were overprinted by amphibolite facies metamorphism. The exhumation rate deduced from the zircon age data and previously obtained metamorphic P–T data is estimated to be 5.6–11.0 km/Ma. Such rapid exhumation of the Sulu UHP terrane may be due to the buoyancy forces produced by subduction of low-density continental material into the deep mantle.     

Field and petrological evidence for a Late Palaeozoic (Upper Carboniferous–Permian) age of the Erfaulet orthogneiss (Gran Paradiso,western Alps)

In the Gran Paradiso massif (western Alps), the boundary between the Erfaulet orthogneiss and the overlying metasediments (Money Complex) is interpreted as a Late Palaeozoic intrusive contact. Major arguments in favour of this hypothesis are: (i) the obliquity of the sedimentary layering with respect to the contact; (ii) the presence of aplitic dykes within the Money Complex; (iii) the lack of a mylonitic zone; and (iv) rare relics of an early generation of garnet in the Money metasediments, interpreted as evidence of the contact metamorphism of the Erfaulet granite. To cite this article: B. Le Bayon, M. Ballèvre, C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).